Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I want to express – on behalf of my family – our gratitude for such a warm and hospitable welcome to Our Redeemer. My first month has flown by!
The vicarage house is a blessing to us and it’s starting to feel like home. All the boxes are unpacked. Routines are getting formed. And yet, just as we are starting to get settled in, things are about to change…
Hawkeye football is just about to kick off, school is in full swing, practices and all sorts of events are filling up the schedule.
With all the hustle and bustle in Iowa City this time of year, Our Redeemer is no exception. So much is “kicking off” at church. Rally Day. Retreats. Programs. Not to mention, the Cross and Entrance construction is right around the corner.
But what I am most excited about is the grand reveal of our brand-new theme (Any guesses on what it might be?!). Our new theme will be central to all we do this next year. The theme will be implemented in the artwork around the building, it will be incorporated in the liturgy, and it will be a guiding feature to various sermon series and Bible studies.
The change of theme at Rally Day presents a great opportunity for the saints at Our Redeemer to recommit themselves to Scripture, prayer, and service to their neighbor. Themes come and go each year, but every theme is unified in motivating us to “let the Word of Christ dwell in [us] richly” (Col. 3:16).
It is tempting – with the business of the calendar – to neglect receiving Christ’s gifts at church or slack in our commitment to daily Scripture reading and prayer. This reminds me of a story from Luther. While he was busy translating the whole Bible, preaching every day, defending the purity of the Gospel, among other things; when he was overwhelmed with all the stuff he had to do. In response, he spent the rest of the day praying about it!
The Lord of heaven and earth is fully devoted to you. Do not let the business of life affect your devotion to Him.
In Christ, Vicar Morse