Visiting Vicarage and General Update

General update at the end of this post.  This past long weekend Renae, Alexi, and I journeyed to Neligh and Elgin, Nebraska where I served my vicarage.  Alexi was born toward the end of vicarage and baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin (pictured above) by Pastor David Kuhfal.  Pastor Kuhfal and his wife, Tami, serve as baptismal sponsors for Alexi.

Pastor Kuhfal shepherds both Grace Lutheran in Neligh and Trinity Lutheran in Elgin.  This weekend I had the opportunity to preach at both, and I must say it was a welcome change preaching to congregations who knew my voice.  I also had the opportunity to conduct the Service of the Sacrament, something the congregations hadn't seen me do before.  It was a good reminder that vicars aren't vicars forever but become pastors and begin to shepherd in Christ's Church.  And it was a good chance for me to thank them for their service to the Church by continuing the vicarage program and preparing men to be pastors.  During Bible class in Neligh I presented on St. Silas and what I've been doing since they saw me last.

Thank you for having us to visit.  We were glad to come back to see you.  It seems like ages since we had been there, but then again I felt like we hadn't been gone at all.  Our intention is that this is far from the last time we return to visit.  The Lord willing we will come back again.

General update on St. Silas

We are currently working with a designer and realtor to submit a drawing and letter of intent to the owner of the storefront we would like.  Taking into account time for negotiating a lease agreement, time for the owner to build out the space, and time for us to make it look like a sanctuary, we will probably be in a storefront closer to Easter.  In the meantime we're investigating temporary places to meet for a few months.  Counting myself and my family, St. Silas currently stands at 13 people.  Others have expressed interest.  That's over 500% more than is necessary!  "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them" (Matthew 18:20).  Interestingly, the words "are gathered" are passive in the Greek, meaning we don't gather ourselves together.  Rather Christ himself gathers us together, which he has been doing and continues doing.  We're still in good shape to begin meeting for Divine Service on or before February 10th, 2013, the Commemoration of St. Silas.  I will post information on temporary location, storefront location, and services when I know more.

"And [Jesus] said, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.  He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.  The earth produces by itself (Greek: automatically), first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.  But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.'"  Mark 4:26-29

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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

Visits to St. Paul, Wapello and Zion, Wilton

On this past Second Sunday in Advent I visited St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wapello and Zion Lutheran Church in Wilton.  At both congregations I preached, conducted service, and had an opportunity to give an update on St. Silas.  At St. Paul I met the president of the Iowa District East LWML.  The IDE LWML has given St. Silas a grant of $5,100 for worship materials.  I was able to extend a thank you in part while speaking at the LWML Mt. Pleasant Zone Fall Rally in Muscatine not too long ago, but it was a nice opportunity to thank the president herself on behalf of the entire IDE LWML.

My visit to Zion in Wilton was my second.  I was there early on in my time here and had the opportunity to be there again this weekend filling in for Rev. Hinkle, who is pastor at St. Paul and is covering Zion while they have a vacancy.  While at Zion I heard the joyous news that a pastor has accepted a call to serve them; Christ has given a shepherd to his flock in Wilton!

Thank you all for having me.  Continue to remember me in your prayers, the community of North Liberty as well, and especially my wife, Renae, and daughter, Alexi, who are like the people Israel in the wilderness attending the tabernacle at a different location every weekend.  God grant that his Divine Service begin soon locally here in North Liberty.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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

Visit to Trinity, Cedar Rapids

This Saturday and Sunday I was at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.  I had come once before to conduct Chapel service for the school and will be back again for that on January 16th.  This past weekend I preached at the three services and presented on St. Silas at Bible class on Sunday.  I also enjoyed serving alongside Pastor Miller assisting with the Service of the Word and communion distribution.

Thank you for welcoming me, and my family as well.  I was glad to be with you, especially as a church planter.  As Pastor Miller mentioned on Sunday, you have a rich legacy serving as mother to other infant daughter congregations in the Cedar Rapids area.  Now your children have grown and you see a new infant congregation coming to North Liberty.  I appreciate you having me this weekend and supporting St. Silas.

Remember me in your prayers.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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