A Place to Worship, to learn and to serve
Christ Our Savior Lutheran
Church is a warm caring fellowship of Faith. Our congregation, which has grown
to over 300, strives to communicate God's awesome gift of love to our ever
changing world. We are a collection of natives of East Tennessee and
transplants from other parts of the country who now call
Our Beginnings:
• 1996 A group of people, led by the Holy Spirit sought to plant a new Lutheran Church in East Tennessee.
• 1997 We worshipped in a store front while purchasing 7 acres on Highway 72 and Wade Road.
• 1998 A building committee was established as Rev. Bob Torgler served as worship leader.
• 1999 Dedicated members paid for the property
• 2000 In May the construction of the new worship facility was begun.
• 2001 The first worship Service in the new church was held on January 7th. On August 26th our first permanent pastor, Rev. Jim Kirk, was installed.
• 2009 The church membership has now grown to over 300. We have added a Christian Ministry Center that will expand our worship and fellowship facilities.
Who we are:
• We are a people who share a common faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
• We are natives of East Tennessee and transplants from other parts of the country.
• We live in Blount, Loudon, Knox, Monroe, and Roane counties.
• We worship with different styles in order to meet people's needs
• We are a growing church with over 200 in worship on a regular basis
Where is the Joy?
Serving God is not always easy. The Bible makes it clear that following Jesus will include trouble, persecution and bearing a cross. Add to that the attacks of our Enemy, the Devil, and you may begin to wonder: “Where is the joy?”
Here you are, trying to serve God by serving others and those “others” keep on doing thoughtless and annoying things that drive you crazy. The efforts you are putting in are not even acknowledged with a simple “thank you.” Where is the joy?
You look around you, and it seems that those who have not made God a priority in their life are having more fun than you are. They are successful and you are struggling. Where is the joy?
We have come through a pandemic, international tension is rising as Russia invades Ukraine, infla-tion is rising, gas prices are rising. Where is the joy?
Sometimes the joy is in seeing a life changed … helping someone see the light at the end of a dark tunnel, or watching the light go on in a person’s life as they discover God’s love for them. Sometimes the joy is being reassured of those things in your own life. Sometimes the joy is in making a difference … in seeing the big picture…God’s ultimate plan and your role or purpose in life.
The joy is not in my circumstances, it’s in my relationship with God … knowing God and being known by God, being made right with God through Jesus Christ, and being privileged to serve as His dis-ciple.
At our Easter service, we will joyfully proclaim: He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! Jesus has risen from the dead, and this changes everything, including our perspective on where to find joy.
When the life of service is getting you down, when you are tired of the frustration and stress and ready to quit, take some time with your risen Savior, Jesus. It’s the joy of knowing Him that led you to serve in the first place, isn’t it?
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiv-ing, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7(NIV)
Pastor Brian Truog
Pastor's Message
Happy Easter!
Why do you look for the risen among the dead?... He has risen! (Luke 24:5b-6a)
Yes, I am aware that we celebrated Easter on April 16. And yes, I am aware that this is the May newsletter. But are you aware that Easter is celebrated on more than one day in the church calendar?
According to the Church calendar, Easter lasts for fifty days—from Easter eve to the day of Pentecost. Thus, the entire month of May is part of the Easter season. Sundays in May are listed as being “of Easter”. Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead is the foundation of the Christian faith and the cornerstone on which the Christian Church is built. Because He lives, we can now live in bold confidence and joy. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
We confess in the Apostle’s Creed, “I believe in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” We take comfort knowing that no matter what we experience in this life on earth, a better life awaits. When Jesus returns, He will raise all the dead and take those who have believed in Him to join Him body and soul in a new heaven and earth. Sin, death and the devil have no power over us.
As we believe and confess this truth, we also struggle to live it out in our daily life. We see pain and suffering all around us. We experience it in our own lives as well. However, this should neither surprise nor discourage us. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” but He immediately went on to say, “take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
One way the Church celebrates the gift of new life is by omitting the Old Testament reading in our worship service. Throughout the Easter season, our first reading is taken from the book of Acts. Each week in the Easter season, we hear stories of the bold confidence and joy present in the early Church. The Holy Spirit worked in people like Peter and Paul to “overcome the world” with the gospel of Jesus. We are encouraged and inspired by these accounts to step out in similar bold confidence and joy.
As we go through this season as a Church “founded in faith and forward in grace” (our 25th anniversary slogan), let us consider how the Lord is calling us to respond. Are there new doors of ministry He is opening for us? As baptized and believing individuals, challenge yourself to new boldness and joy in your daily walk with the risen Lord Jesus.
May we greet each day during this month, in fact, every day until Jesus comes back, with the joyful cry— He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
In His service and yours,
Pastor Mark R. Rhoads
What Does a Pastor Do?
Here’s an interesting comparison by Rev. Dr. James Baneck of the LCMS that might answer that question. The lambs and sheep our Savior sent Peter to feed and tend were not the wooly kind residing on a beautiful hillside. There are, however, rich parallels between shepherding sheep and shepherding God's people.
James Rebanks watches over real four-legged sheep in the United Kingdom. He writes about the parallels in his article, “Are You Hard Enough to Survive as a Shepherd?”
"The romance wears off after a few weeks, believe me, and you will be left standing cold and lonely on a mountain. It is all about endurance. Digging in. Holding on. You will also need to be emotionally. tough … Carrion crows hang over our lambing fields waiting to steal the eyes out of anything sick or dead that cannot resist … You’ll need the patience of a saint, too, because sheep test you to the limit with a million ways to escape, ail, or die … It requires a body of knowledge and skills that shepherds devote decades to learning."
How this applies to our pastors! There is nothing romantic about being a pastor; it is hard work and often lonely. It demands an endurance that comes only from God. Like carrion crows, Satan seeks to devour God’s people. The pastor stands guard. protecting and feeding God’s sheep with Christ in the preached Word and blessed Sacraments. The formation of men for the Holy Ministry begins at Baptism. And while pastoral formation is intensified during seminary, “it requires a body of knowledge and skills that [pastors] devote decades to learning."
Pastors are to be clothed with the humility of Christ, “who humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8). Pastors must be equipped to lead Gods people to the waters of Holy Baptism, where God gives new birth to sinners and opens the kingdom of heaven for them. Pastors are formed to be stewards of the mysteries of God. Pastors feed God’s sheep the Word of God in preaching and teaching and with the body and blood of our Lord at His table. Pastors listen, love and seek the lost.
Looking at all that a Pastor does, how is he prepared for this role at the Seminars’? Can you help with this preparation? Could you sponsor a seminarian? Could you help COS in their sponsoring of eight seminary students? Please help with your gift! ‘For more information, contact John W. Smith. God bless your help.
