Progress on Space

Much progress is being made on a permanent space for St. Silas!  We have a signed lease with the owner of a storefront in North Liberty.  The address is 1295 Jordan St. Ste. 5 North Liberty, IA 52317 (pictured in screenshot above from Google Maps).  Here's a closeup of the facade:

Note: This is not the final sign.  The final sign will have different colored lettering.  And it will say St. Silas Lutheran Church.

The Ladies Workout Express moved out some time ago and the storefront has been sitting vacant.  A nice perk to this place is it's built out in a way that's very convenient for us.  As you can see in the picture below there's a small hall in the back.  There are two rooms on the right and two on the left.  The back right room is a bathroom.  The other room on the right will be converted to one as well.  The back left room is a boiler room, then the closer room on the left is a small office.  The rest is a big open space, perfect for a sanctuary.  The small wall where the mirrors are will be converted to a little kitchenette.  The total space of this storefront is 1,584 square feet and we will be able to fit around 80 people.  The plan as it stands right now is to orient the seating facing the direction of the following picture:

Needless to say, the bicycle will be disappearing, along with the mirrors.  The owner of the storefront gave us charge of contracting the build out, which is nice because it gives us a little more control over timing (or gives us the delusion of control over timing; clearly we haven't been in control of that up to this point and never will be, which is good).  We currently have requests for bids out to contractors and are waiting to hear back from them.  We will then choose a contractor who will complete the build out.  We will be doing a good deal of work ourselves putting in sweat equity, like carpeting.  We have some nice padded chairs ready to go, which have been delivered and are sitting in a member's garage.  They attach to one another in such a way as to make pews.  Jon Rinderknecht from Atkins, IA has built us an altar, pulpit, lectern, and processional cross.  Gary Landhauser, an architect who is a member at Bethany in Cedar Rapids, has completed the architectural drawings for the space.

The above picture was taken facing the other direction in the space.  One of the nice differences between this picture and the way the storefront looks now is that the "for lease" sign is gone.

Bids from the contractors are due back August 30th.  We start paying rent October 6th and are hoping to be in the space by then.  After a lull in progress with acquiring a more permanent location, suddenly things are picking up.  This coincides nicely with the beginning of the school year as schedules settle down from traveling and people return to the comfort of routine.

As we figure out what contractors will build and what we will contribute to the work, we'll have a better idea of how you can help us.  We plan to publish a needs list of items required to furnish the space.  We also plan to have several work days.

While progress on space has been slow, everything else has been great.  We have a small congregation that the Lord has gathered.  We have been hearing the Gospel preached and receiving the Sacrament every Lord's Day.  We have plans in place for outreach into the community.  We have a constitution and bylaws in to Synod, and upon review we will be an official congregation of The LCMS.  We are also beginning catechesis on Wednesday evenings.  My wife, Renae, and I are hosting that at our house until we're in a storefront.  More details on that later.

I want you to know the devil is kicking and screaming like a toddler having a temper tantrum at the news that we're finally moving into a better location.  He's had many deterrents on his side up to this point, many of which will be destroyed.  Anyone who's visited us can tell you of the locked doors, the stuffy room, the metal folding chairs, the inconveniently located bathrooms, and the uncomfortable feeling of being in borrowed space.  Your prayers have succeeded and I am reminded of the words of the Large Catechism on the Third Petition of the Lord's Prayer:

Such prayer must be our protection and defense now to repulse and vanquish all that the devil, bishops, tyrants, and heretics can do against our gospel.  Let them all rage and try their worst, let them plot and plan how to suppress and eliminate us so that their will and scheme may prevail.  Against them a simple Christian or two, armed with this single petition, shall be our bulwark, against which they shall dash themselves to pieces.  We have this comfort and boast: that the will and purpose of the devil and of all our enemies shall and must fail and come to naught, no matter how proud, secure, and powerful they think they are.  For if their will were not broken and frustrated, the kingdom of God could not abide on earth nor his name be hallowed.  Large Catechism III.69-70

Continue to remember us in your prayers.  More news to come as events warrant.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

St. Silas Lutheran Church
www.stsilaslutheran.org
www.facebook.com/stsilaslutheran
stsilaslutheran@gmail.com   

Gifts from St. Paul, Williamsburg VBS

Last Sunday, August 11th, we had visitors from St. Paul in Williamsburg.  Their Vacation Bible School collected money and some gifts for St. Silas this summer.  The above picture is a presentation of the financial gift.

 And this second picture is the presentation of books and craft supplies.

Here's a close up.

Thank you for thinking of us as you chose your mission project for VBS this year, and thank you for the gifts.  Many of the materials you gave us will last for a good long time to come.  Thank you also for journeying eastward to present these to us in person.  We enjoyed having you with us and hope you enjoyed receiving Christ's gifts with us.  Thank you especially to all those we know neither by face nor by name who gave toward this collection during Vacation Bible School.  Remember us in your prayers, especially our children and youth as they learn to confess the faith.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

St. Silas Lutheran Church
www.stsilaslutheran.org
www.facebook.com/stsilaslutheran
stsilaslutheran@gmail.com   

Benefit Concert and General Update

Free Benefit Concert

For the Iowa District East LCMS Capital Campaign "Proclaiming Christ Jesus"

Friday August 9th, 7-8pm

Refreshments following

At Trinity Lutheran Church

1363 1st Avenue SW

Cedar Rapids, IA

Performance by Hannah Duncan, violin

Daughter of Rev. Dean and Penny Duncan

Casey Rafn, piano

Performance will include works of Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Bach.  Donations will be accepted.  Make checks payable to "Iowa District East" and include "Proclaiming Christ Jesus" in the memo field.

A note from Rev. Dean Rothchild concerning this concert:

Our district has been involved in a Capital Campaign under the banner of "Proclaiming Christ Jesus."  To date we have received gifts and pledges which total a little over $276,000.  Hannah Duncan, daughter of Rev. Dean and Penny Duncan of Belle Plaine, is an accomplished violinist.  Hannah has graciously volunteered to hold a benefit concert for this campaign on Friday August 9th, 2013, 7:00-8:00pm.  This will be held at Trinity Lutheran, 1363 1st Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids.  A free will offering will be received and refreshments will follow.

The "Proclaiming Christ Jesus" capital campaign was approved at the 2012 District Convention.  The purpose of the campaign is to support new mission starts in Iowa District East.  Currently St. Silas Lutheran Church is the primary beneficiary.  As we approach the one-year mark of the capital campaign we also approach the halfway point of the goal.  I will be at the concert and will make myself available during the refreshments to answer any questions you might have regarding the work that's happening in North Liberty.

Speaking of which, we're long overdue for an update.  Since February 3rd A+D 2013 we have been hearing the Gospel preached and receiving our Lord's body and blood each Sunday.  We have had visitors here and there, but mainly this has been a time of growing together as a small congregation, working on getting a more permanent location, and putting together ideas for outreach.  March 17th I posted a brief note mentioning that the first storefront we were looking at ended up costing more than initially indicated and we had to stop pursuing that one.  However another good option had opened up.  We put in an offer to the owner of that storefront and he accepted our offer.  He also bidded out what costs would be to build out the space.  Fortunately this location is basically a big room with a small office, a boiler room with storage space, a bathroom, and a second room that will be the other bathroom.  So no major changes in terms of putting up or taking down walls.  We'll simply be adding a second bathroom and a kitchenette.  We then worked on a lease and submitted that to him.  The owner is in the process of getting permits from the city to begin the build out.  We have yet to hear a definite "Yes" or "No" regarding the lease, but from the owner's behavior it seems he's moving forward.  Hopefully we will have more to say about this soon.

Continue to remember us in your prayers.  The devil has not been idle in this process.  Fortunately a simple petition prayed through Jesus Christ our Lord is all that's needed to still the serpent's forked tongue.  He likes to think he's really something, boasting with great words and threats and flexing his scaly muscles, and then a simple, weak child prays and all the devil's plans come to nothing.  It's kind of anticlimactic: you're all ready for this huge battle and then by mere speaking it's all over in an instant.  It's a war of the words, and we've got the Word of God.

I'll see you August 9th.  The Lord willing we'll have several more updates before then.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

St. Silas Lutheran Church
www.stsilaslutheran.org
www.facebook.com/stsilaslutheran
stsilaslutheran@gmail.com  

Communion Set from Our Savior in Muscatine

On December 30th, 2012 I visited Our Savior Lutheran Church in Muscatine (the post about that visit can be seen here).  I noted that in the hallway of the church there was a communion set in a display case and I thought to myself, "It's not doing them any good just sitting there, and we need one, so I'll ask them for it."  I talked with Pastor Pautz about the set and he said he would ask around and find out more about that set.  After talking to the congregation he found the reason that communion set is in the case is there's something wrong with it, which is why the congregation got a new set themselves.  But, since the congregation knew we had the need for a set and had some funds that they could use to help us, they decided to purchase a new communion set for us.  The new paten, ciborium, chalice, and flagon were delivered to us in time for Easter Sunday.

To Pastor Pautz and the Saints at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Muscatine-

Thank you for giving us a new communion set!  And how fitting that we received it in time to celebrate the greatest feast in the whole Church Year.  On the Resurrection of our Lord we received Christ's body and blood from the vessels you gave to us, and in spite of having a folding table for an altar, in spite of not having a space to call our own, it was like feasting in the halls of heaven from the table of Jesus himself.  These vessels will be a sign to us for a very long time to come, pointing to the great treasure we receive  in the Sacrament of the Altar: forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  We hope by these pictures that you can share in our joy.  Thank you for helping us at the very core of what we are as a mission congregation.  Christ is risen!

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

St. Silas Lutheran Church
www.stsilaslutheran.org
www.facebook.com/stsilaslutheran
stsilaslutheran@gmail.com

General Update

During the announcements after service on the Fifth Sunday in Lent

St. Silas has been gathered for services every Sunday since February 3rd, plus Ash Wednesday.  We also had the opportunity to begin a Bible class before the Divine Service.  We've been studying the book of Acts during Lent, our last class on Acts being next Sunday.  This morning we read the account of Eutychus in Acts 20:7-12, where the young man falls from the third floor window as Paul is preaching and Paul raises him back to life.  John Chrysostom, bishop of Ephesus in the fourth century, had a marvelous comment concerning this passage: "But observe, I beseech you, so fervent was their zeal, that they even assembled in a third loft: for they had not a church yet" (Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XLIII).  Being gathered on the third floor in a borrowed chapel we could not help but feel like this comment had been recorded just for us.  Fortunately no one fell to their death this morning.  During the season of Easter we will be studying the book of Daniel.

During Bible class on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, studying Paul's third journey

We have not yet exceeded the fire code limit on the room, but things are feeling rather full.  I have not been counting each Sunday as it's very easy to rely on numbers to track success.  I can say we've had over twenty people consistently, sometimes closer to thirty, but I have no idea beyond that.  My boast is that without gimmicky programs, without watering down the Gospel, without conforming to this world Jesus has gathered his Church as he promised through the means by which he has promised to work, namely his Word and Sacraments.  This is no accomplishment on our part since we have done none of the things the world says would work.  The blessing we have received is clearly not our own doing, but Christ's.

This past Thursday my wife and I invited the congregation to our home for a Lenten hymn sing.  I accompanied on guitar and took requests from those present.  It was a very nice time, we sang until our vocal chords ached, and we filled the living room with song and hot air.  After everyone left the heat didn't kick on for quite some time.

We have begun discussion of confirmation as we now have two young men and a young lady who are ready to receive instruction.  We are still working on getting a storefront.  The first location we were looking at ended up costing more than initially indicated and so we had to stop pursuing it.  However, we have found another very good option and are waiting to hear back from the owner to begin negotiations.  Today the congregation also decided to support a seminary student.  We don't want to simply see ourselves as the mission and take no part in other mission work.  Rather we want to be involved with mission work in our community, district, Synod, and the world.

Much has been happening here in North Liberty and I hope you see that your prayers on our behalf are being answered.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

St. Silas Lutheran Church
www.stsilaslutheran.org
www.facebook.com/stsilaslutheran
stsilaslutheran@gmail.com