The Firstfruits of an LWML Grant

On July 1st, 2012, the day I was ordained, Rev. Rothchild from the district informed me that the Iowa East District LWML approved a grant for St. Silas in the amount of $5100 to purchase worship materials.  What you see in the picture is the first purchase made with that money: Altar Book, Agenda, Lectionaries for the 3-year series, Accompaniment for the Hymns, and Accompaniment for the Liturgy.  We also purchased 50 hymnals, but unfortunately they are on back order.  St. Paul's and Our Redeemer in Iowa City are lending us some in the meantime.  The new hymnals should be on the way soon.

Concordia Publishing House worked with Iowa District East to get St. Silas declared a mission congregation, which gives us a discount on CPH materials for the first year.  Typically no discount is given for the Lutheran Service Book materials, but for this one purchase they graciously gave 20% off everything except the hymnals.  We still have a majority of the grant remaining to spend on other things pertaining to the worship service, such as an instrument, paraments, etc.

Thank you again to the ladies of the Iowa East District LWML.  Your generous grant is being put to good use to spread the Gospel in North Liberty.  This coming Sunday, February 3rd, is our first service and these materials will be used then.  Since I am unable to directly contact each congregation's LWML chapter, if you happen to know a lady who is a member of the LWML in Iowa District East please pass along that she has helped us immensely and that I extend a most heartfelt "Thank you."

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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

Visit to St. Paul Lutheran School, Latimer

This morning marked my last visit, at least for a while.  I had received an invitation to come up to St. Paul Lutheran School in Latimer, IA to preach at the chapel service and share about St. Silas.  The students there are supporting St. Silas through their chapel offerings, having raised over a hundred dollars so far!  For the Scripture reading I chose Acts 16:16-34, Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi followed by the saving of the jailer and his household.  This was the first time I had preached a sermon on this account, though those of you who have heard me present know I bring it up on a fairly regular basis.

Here's the final list of everywhere I've been, from July until now:

St. Paul's, Iowa City
Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca
Immanuel, Grand Mound
Prince of Peace, Coralville
Zion, Wilton
Our Redeemer, Iowa City
Lutheran Interparish School, Williamsburg
St. John, Homestead
Good Shepherd, Wellman
Peace, Shell Rock
Christ, Waterloo
Our Redeemer, Cedar Falls
Trinity Lutheran School, Cedar Rapids
Concordia, Cedar Rapids
Immanuel, Fairfield
St. John, Clinton
LWML Fall Zone Rally at Our Savior, Muscatine
Trinity, Lowden
St. Paul, Williamsburg
Immanuel, Grinnell
Faith, Mt. Pleasant
Trinity, Cedar Rapids
St. Paul, Wapello
Trinity, Elgin, NE
Grace, Neligh, NE
Our Savior, Muscatine
St. Paul Lutheran School, Latimer

Here's the final map of IDE:

And the final map including the visits to my vicarage congregations:

 
The yellow outline is Iowa District East, the blue dot is North Liberty, and the red dots are the places I've visited.  The only other name to be added to the list is St. Silas Lutheran Church on February 3rd.  Invitations are going out and we're going to see how long a fire code limit of 30 is going to last us.  Hopefully it will at least get us through the first service.  A strange concern though, that too many people might show up.  Church planters have had far worse problems.

To Pastor Lorenz and the teachers and students at St. Paul's:

Thank you for having me to visit, to preach and to tell you about the work that's happening in North Liberty.  Thank you also for your support through your offerings and through your prayers.  Continue to remember me in your prayers, as well as all whom the Lord gathers around his altar at St. Silas.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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

Trinity Chapel in Cedar Rapids

This morning I was at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Cedar Rapids to conduct chapel service, my second time.  We sung Matins again and may I say that just as I was last time so I am this time impressed by how well the students know the services.  I look forward to an opportunity to be back.  Thank you again for having me.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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

Visit to St. Paul's Lutheran Chapel

On Sunday I preached at St. Paul's Lutheran Chapel in Iowa City, aka The Holy Mother of St. Silas, and presented on the church plant after service.  Ironically I have been all over the eastern half of the state, presenting on St. Silas and bringing congregations up to speed, and while Pastor Mons and the church council have been kept in the loop this was my first time presenting to the whole mother congregation.  This was also my last Sunday preaching at a different congregation.  The next sermon I prepare for a Sunday service will be for the saints of St. Silas.  It was fitting that the Sunday I could announce St. Silas's first service was at St. Paul's.

It was a pleasure being with all of you again.  Thank you for having me to present and for serving as mother to St. Silas.  Soon you can rejoice at the birth of a daughter.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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

First Divine Service Scheduled

Back on September 14th, 2012 I posted about conducting chapel services at the North Liberty Living Center.  You can read that post here.  I have continued conducting chapel services there the fourth and fifth Fridays of each month and very much enjoy the group there.  I've gotten to know the manager and she has invited my family and me to things like their Halloween party (picture) and Christmas party.  I also went to lead some Christmas caroling for the community and then conducted a Service of Carols and Lessons on December 28th.  At that Service of Carols and Lessons everyone was asking how things are coming with the church plant.  I told them we were in the process of getting a storefront location, but that wouldn't be ready for several months.  In the meantime we were looking for a temporary location to begin meeting.  One of the residents who coordinates the chapel there approached me afterward and said she would talk to the manager about St. Silas using their chapel.  I e-mailed her some details about our use of the space, saying we would leave it tidy and would even pay rent.  That's where I left things when I went on vacation from January 6th-11th, the three of us setting out on Epiphany like the magi with our gifts to celebrate a late Christmas with family.

When I returned from vacation I had an e-mail saying the residents showed overwhelming approval of having us and the manager was glad to let us use the space.  After a phone conversation I learned that not only do we have as much time there as we want on Sunday, but they're also letting us use the space for free.  We can start in February.  There is another pastor who has a service from 10:00-10:30 on Sunday morning, so we're shooting for 11:00am, Sunday, February 3rd for our first Divine Service.

Quick side note: there has been incredible support of this church plant throughout Iowa District East and many have expressed the intent of attending the first worship service.  Unfortunately the room has a limit of 30 people according to fire code, so I ask that if you want to visit from another congregation please wait until we're in the storefront, hopefully in a few months.  Then we'll have the space to accommodate more people.

So to sum up: Plans, A, B, and C failed, failed, and failed, in that order (if it matters).  While I was in the midst of attempting to grab the flying pieces out of the air to construct a Plan D or E and/or F they all suddenly fell into place, Christ himself clearly forming the plan and answering the prayers of the saints throughout not only our district but the entire country who have been praying that St. Silas would soon be gathered together to meet for Divine Service.  Jesus is building his church (Matthew 16:18), gathering his saints (Matthew 18:20), and causing growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).  More news soon.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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

Visit to Our Savior, Muscatine

On Sunday I was at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Muscatine with Pastor Jeff Pautz.  I preached, assisted in distributing our Lord's blood, and presented on St. Silas during Bible class.  Our Savior has been supporting St. Silas financially by giving generously to the capital campaign.  I also talked with several people who have North Liberty connections.

This was the last major trek across Iowa District East.  I'm keeping the calendar clear in anticipation of the launch of St. Silas on or before February 10th, if the Lord wills.  My only other engagement is at St. Paul's in Iowa City on January 13th.  Ironically, my last visit will be my first time presenting to St. Silas' mother congregation.  While Pastor Mons and the church council are in the loop, the rest of the congregation hasn't had the chance to hear about things in detail yet.

We're currently looking into temporary spaces as a storefront wouldn't be ready by February 10th.  We've hit a couple of dead ends with finding a temporary space, but we do have one good lead.

Thank you for having me to preach and present on St. Silas.  Thank you also for your financial support of this new mission start.  Your help is greatly appreciated.  You can check back here to keep up with the latest.  Hopefully I'll have something to report soon regarding a temporary space and official launch date.  It is now 39 days until February 10th, the Commemoration of St. Silas, and we are praying that God will grant us the opportunity to receive his Divine Service that day here in North Liberty.

In Christ

Pastor Andrew Richard

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