Bethlehem Lutheran Church
The Heart of Bay Ridge
Sunday Service 10:30am
4th & Ovington Avenues
Brooklyn NY 11209
718.748.9502
Dear Members and Friends,
Throughout the church year we have significant worship experiences that are accompanied by traditional inspirational music. What would Christmas be without our beloved Christmas carols? How could I veil the cross on Good Friday without, “Ah, Holy Jesus”? We would be missing a critical piece of our Easter worship without, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today.” In October, could we possibly celebrate Reformation Sunday without, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”?
Last month, I used scripture verses to compose a letter to you from God. Yes, God is still truly speaking to us in the words of the Bible. I believe God is also speaking to us in a powerful way through the words we sing boldly on Sunday morning. Yes, this month we will be singing that wonderful hymn composed and written by Martin Luther. May these meaningful words inspire you in your daily life.
This incredible Reformation hymn correctly describes the battle of good vs. evil. Darkness and evil are a very present danger in this world and we cannot win the fight on our own. God, the Father, sent a champion, Christ Jesus, to give us the victory. And, because of Jesus, we fight the good fight without fear or trembling, for he is right by our side. And, because of Jesus, the victory is ours. People of Bethlehem, may Christ’s bold Reformation blood still flow through our veins.
In the Lord's Service,
Rev. Paul H. Knudsen
Pastor Paul's October Message
Bethlehem Lutheran Church ® | 4th & Ovington Avenues, Brooklyn NY 11209 | 718.748.9502
A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious;
he breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod and wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might he arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
No strength of ours can match his might! We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight, whom God himself elected.
You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.
Though hordes of devils fill the land all threatening to devour us,
we tremble not, unmoved we stand; they cannot overpower us.
Let this world’s tyrant rage; in battle we’ll engage!
His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him.
God’s Word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes, who fear it;
for God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse,
though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day.
The kingdom’s ours forever!
