On September 29th St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wartburg held a special single service celebration for the local law enforcement officers of Morgan County Tennessee. The Sheriff, Wayne Potter, and Wartburg Police Chief Teddy Bales were accompanied by thirty of their deputies and officers. The service was the celebration of the feast of St. Michael and All Angels which historically has been linked to law enforcement. St. Michael has authority given by God to expel Satan from Heaven as the Epistle lesson from Revelation 12 pointed out. Both law enforcement and the military have long embraced this vision from Revelation as a parallel to their own duties to enforce the law of the land and to defend the people of our nation. Because of this special day the people of St. Paul wanted to thank and honor our law enforcement and those in active military service and to impart a special blessing. To commemorate the day both the Sheriff and Chief of Police were given a framed print of St. Michael embracing a deputy by LCMS artist Edward Riojas of Michigan. The service of thanksgiving concluded with a blessing for both the Sheriff’s Department and the Wartburg Police Department. A meal was held after the service and was provided by the members of St. Paul Lutheran Church to further thank our men and women who protect and serve.
