Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

So have you made up your mind?
Are you going to set a New Year’s resolution?
Have you spent time sitting and pondering?

Excellent ideas can come to people as they sit, think, and dream – what kind of house to buy or build, what kind of car, where to go for vacation, what improvements to make on our house, what improvements to make to our careers, what improvements to make to our lives, to our church – but these remain idle daydreams unless they are acted upon.

We need to think, to meditate, to plan, to learn, to listen in order to raise our sights and deeds above the routines of daily living.

Often when we stop long enough to reflect, we realize much that we have insisted on or pursued has been our own selfish desires or will. However, when our goal is for the good of others, great and wonderful things occur.

The book of James encourages action:
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22)

Jesus, too, spoke often of doing the will of God:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Jesus performed many deeds of love as He went about doing good, healing, and teaching. What is more, He fulfilled the Father’s will by offering Himself on the cross for the salvation of all.

May we continue to model our lives after Jesus Who not only spoke the words of life but did the works of life.

Believe, and be busy. Get to work!
Happy New Year!

Pastor Hartwig

O come, O come, Emmanuel!

We are now entering the Advent season, which is the beginning of the Christian church year. During Advent, Christians wait and sing with joy and anticipation of Emmanuel’s (“God with us”) second coming as judge of the world on the Last Day.

Throughout the Advent season, we celebrate Jesus Christ’s first coming with His Incarnation in Bethlehem. At the same time, Christians throughout the world are waiting with anticipation of Jesus Christ’s second   coming.

Prepare the royal highway; the King of kings is near! Let every hill and valley a level road appear! Then greet the King of Glory foretold in sacred story: Hosanna to the Lord, for He fulfills God’s Word! (LSB 343, v. 1)

Advent is a time of pure joy and prepares us for the four advents or comings of our Lord: the prophetic coming that pointed to Christ’s birth, the incarnate coming of Christ in Bethlehem, the sacramental coming of Christ in Word and Sacraments, and the eschatological coming (Second Coming) of Christ at the end of the world. These four advents are celebrated each week with the lighting of the Advent wreath.

The King shall come when morning dawns and light and beauty brings. Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray; Come quickly, King of kings! (LSB 348, v. 4)

As you are reading this, you have probably begun hearing Christmas music being played on the radio in your car or over the speakers at a department store. This is a great season of hope and joy. But for some reason, the day after Christmas all this joy suddenly comes to a halt. The joy should continue through the season of       Christmas, which begins on December 25 and not immediately after Santa makes his way through the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route. December 25 is just the beginning of the celebration of Christ’s Incarnation in Bethlehem. We should continue celebrating Christ’s Incarnation during the 12 days of Christmas, then through the season of Epiphany and throughout the entire year. At the same time, we can’t overlook what that baby Jesus did for us as an adult upon the Cross at Calvary and Resurrecting from the dead on that Easter morning. He alone gives us the grace of God through His death and resurrection that is beyond all               understanding, which is forgiveness, life and salvation!

Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes, The Savior promised long; Let every heart prepare a throne and every voice a song. (LSB 349, v. 1)

Alleluia! Christ is Incarnate! Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Happy Advent, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Vicar Adelsen

What is the first task of the Christian steward?

It is this time of year that I preach a three-part sermon series on Stewardship. Every year I emphasize that stewardship is time, talent, and treasure, but what is the first task of Christian stewardship?

Could it be to give thanks?

We express our gratitude, first of all, for the Son who has won our salvation for us. We gratefully acknowledge to God all the gifts He daily and richly makes available to us, and we are aware of our responsibility to manage faithfully all the resources our Creator has entrusted to us.
How thankful we can be for all those blessings! What a privilege to be called to be God’s partner in the stewardship of the Gospel! Paul wrote, thanking the Philippians for their “partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5).

How did the Philippians participate with Paul in this partnership?

The verses following tell us that they, along with Paul, received the grace of God which He imparts to us through His Holy Word and Sacraments. They supported, encouraged, and prayed for Paul as he carried out his work for the Kingdom, and his heart rejoiced that they continued steadfastly in faith.

As members of the Body of Christ, the Church, we are all partners in the Gospel. Each of us has been given gifts by the Holy Spirit that enable and equip us for this partnership (1 Peter 4:10). Thus we speak of our faith, telling the message of the Gospel wherever and whenever God gives us opportunity, even if it means that we, along with Paul, suffer for it (Acts 4:20). We perform acts of service that help our neighbors (Matthew 25:34-40). By the grace of God, we “…let [our] light shine before others, so that they may see [our] good works and give glory to [our] Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Being a good steward begins with giving thanks. Hmmm?

Maybe that is why each year we call our stewardship campaign – Thanksgiving, Thanks Living.

Maybe that is why we bring our pledge cards forward on Thanksgiving.

Just maybe, good stewardship begins with thanks giving.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

Thanks be to God for such a great month at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church! Thank you to the congregation for being a part of my learning journey! Thank you for the wide array of gifts upon our arrival! Thank you to the congregation for inviting me to preach and teach the good news of Jesus Christ! Thank you to Pastor Hartwig on being a great mentor!

It is always good to give thanks to God for all of His benefits.

As we are out in the world, we should always give thanks to the Lord for all that we have: for our family, friends, a home, food, clothing, and that list goes on and on. Everything is a gift from God.

We give thanks to God by fearing, loving and trusting in God above all things. When our Lord Jesus Christ was asked what the greatest commandment was, He responded saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).

As we begin a new academic year, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church’s theme verse is perfect: “Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord!” Let us make a joyful noise by thanking our Lord and telling everyone we know what He has done for us! Although Jesus Christ was sinless, he took upon Himself our sins on the cross at Mt. Calvary, He died and rose again! He brings us the peace beyond all human understanding!

This is the peace that is worth sharing with all!

So, thank the Lord and sing His praise! Tell everyone what He has done! Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name! He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with SHOUTS of THANKSGIVING! Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God and to the congregation of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church!

Vicar Adelsen

An Old African Proverb says,
“If you want to go fast, walk alone. If you want to go far, walk with others.”
Which means you must move slowly.
In 2012 we embarked on the Vision 20/20 journey. Committees for zones or regions of our church property were formed. Due to necessity, the roof committee and the sanctuary committee moved forward. The roof was leaking. The carpet was wrinkling.
In 2015 a plan was presented to the congregation. During the forums, concept drawings and floor plans were presented. It was a vast and complex, even expensive plan. If that was what the congregation wanted, then it was up to the leadership of the congregation to figure out how and how long it would take to complete the plan. Through surveys the congregation has spoken and the large multi-purpose room (gymnasium) is out.
“Back to the drawing board,” as they say. Some might feel the process was a failure, but that would be too quick of a conclusion. The goal is not to come up with an answer and get it done, but the goal is to walk together, throughout the process: to dream together, to plan together, to build together. Walking together is the definition of “synod.”
“If you want to go fast, walk alone. If you want to go far, walk with others.”
Which means you must move slowly.

I have been known to even say, “We are moving slowly. We better slow down.”

We were created by God to be in relationships, to love, to laugh, and live together. This means walking together.

You see, God wants us to be in right relationships with our neighbors. We were created to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and we were created to see our neighbors and their well-being in the same way we see our own (Matthew 19:19).

To be in fellowship with our neighbor is how we bear witness to our world that the kingdom of God has come. Jesus prays to His Father that we would be united in love and purpose, “that the world may believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:2 1).

This fellowship is to be so radical in its nature and so outstanding in its witness that it shines out in the darkness of our world as a light. To be in a right relationship means that we care for people out of self-less love.

Is our love for our neighbors evident in our church?

Is our love for our own members evident in our church?

The Apostle Paul tells us, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other” (Romans 13:8).

So, if you want to go far, walk with others. Guess we better slow down.

After the Israelites left Egypt, they were led through the desert for many years. There isn’t a lot of food in a desert, you know, and they got hungry. Then the complaining started. “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” they grumbled. “We had all kinds of good things to eat there. So what if we had to slave 24/7! Let’s go back.”

In spite of their ungrateful attitude, God said, “OK, I’ll give you food. Every morning when you wake up, you’ll see this white stuff on the ground. Its manna. Take as much as you’ll need for each day, but no more.”

Most of the people did just as God said. The moms shared recipes for making roasted manna, toasted manna, and grilled manna. Some people, though, gathered more manna than they really needed and saved it till the next morning. What a mistake! Their manna was full of maggots and, wow, did it stink!

Sometimes we’re just like those Israelites.

God gives us good things every day and asks us to use just what we need and to share our extra with others. But we like to hoard, don’t we?

— How can I give an offering on Sunday when, on Monday, my phone may break and I’ll need a new one?

— What if I rake my elderly neighbor’s leaves after school and then have to study when my friend calls and wants me to do something fun?

What if? What if? And we take care of our own needs and ignore our neighbor’s.

On June 7^th you will have the opportunity to serve your neighbor. During the Christ Cares Community     Service Sunday you can serve. After we worship together at 8:00 am, we will depart Our Redeemer for       various locations in the Iowa City, Coralville, and Johnson County area. From playing Bingo to painting the barn, from washing cars to weeding the yard, there are opportunities for all skill and strength levels. Following two hours of service, we return to Our Redeemer to eat and share our experiences.

Being God’s stewards means using all the gifts God gives us – money, time, strength, energy, knowledge – to serve others. Then everyone wins, because God is pleased, others are helped, and you have satisfaction of knowing you could be of benefit to   others and have obeyed God’s will at the same time.

Dear Christian Friends:

Ascension Day – an often overlooked Christian holiday is coming – Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Then Jesus took them out to a remote area, blessed them, and “was taken up into Heaven” (Luke 24:51) before their eyes. Joyfully they went back home and waited – waited for the gift Jesus had promised would come to them.

Before He departed, He commissioned them:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey  everything [He had] commanded [them]” And He added His promise, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” ( Matthew 28:19-20).

The book of Acts tells the story of what happened as those disciples, armed with Jesus’ promise to be with them, started their own community and then branched out into all nations, preaching and teaching, baptizing and discipling others, performing miracles in Jesus’ name, facing persecution and death for the sake of the Gospel.

The book of Acts ends after 28 chapters, but the work is not over.  The story goes on through the lives and witness of the thousands of Christians who have picked up the task where the first disciples left off.

Your story may never be written down for other Christians to read, but those around you are seeing it     unfold. They are hearing you speak the Gospel message; they are recipients of the good deeds you do in the Lord’s name; other workers for the Gospel are equipped by your financial and prayer support; they take notice of the stand you take in defense of Truth over the lies with which Satan would blind the world.

No, it’s not over. We have the privilege of carrying on Jesus’ work till He comes again to take us to     Himself, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)

In the love of Christ, Pastor Hartwig

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

Throughout Scripture, everyone who has come into the presence of the Lord has been in awe of Him and has adored Him.

Think of Moses and the burning bush. Quietly watching over his father-in-law’s sheep, Moses saw a bush on fire but not being consumed. When God spoke to Moses telling him to remove his shoes, Moses realized who was speaking, and “Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6). But he listened and spent 40 years showing adoration to God by obediently leading God’s people according to God’s direction.

Think of Isaiah and his vision. Isaiah writes about the vision through which God called him to be His prophet: “I saw the Lord…high and lifted up… [and the angel] called to another and said. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.” His reaction was to confess his sinfulness and, like Moses, to adore God by answering His question, “Whom shall I send?” with “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:18).

Think of the Wise Men and their gifts. The Wise Men came in search of the newborn King, bringing their gifts and bowing before Him in adoration. Matthew 2:11 records, “And going into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.” And they offered to the Christ Child the gifts they had brought for Him, “gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Think of the shepherds and their angelic revelation. The shepherds adored Him, too. They heard about Jesus from the angels as they sat outdoors watching their sheep and ran to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child. They didn’t have gifts to bring as the Magi did, but they, too, responded in adoration. Luke writes, “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the Child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them” (Luke 2: 17-18).

God gives gifts to each of us and uses us to tell the Good News of the birth of His Son Who came to bring us forgiveness of sins, salvation, even life eternal.

So think of our response.
Sometimes, like the Wise Men, we give monetary gifts to support mission and ministry.
Other times, like the shepherds, we “make known… [what has] been told [us] concerning the Child.”
And all the time, by God’s grace, all of us can respond in faithful obedience to God’s Word.
In these ways, we adore our Savior.

Merry Christmas!
Pastor Hartwig

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Thanksgiving is coming! At my house, before the turkey and the mashed potatoes and the green bean casserole and the stuffing – can’t forget the stuffing – we have a tradition of sharing one-by-one what we are thankful for in our

Thanksgiving devotion. Each of us list family and friends and many blessings from God.
But here is really something to be thankful for!

How many stars are there in the sky? Who can count them?
God created and knows each of them.

How many different kinds of animals in the forests and deserts and oceans?

We have not come to the end of discovering them all, but God has created each one in its unique way.

Nor has God been less meticulous with us, for, even though all humans have the same body structure, a face with nose, eyes, and mouth, and all our various parts, yet each of us is uniquely different from another.

Not only has God created each of us, He knows us intimately and cares about every facet of our lives and activities. David, the psalmist, wrote about this characteristic of God in Psalm 139:

“0 Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.”

Here is really something to be thankful for!

The Creator of the universe cares so much about you that He searches your heart and mind in order that He might know you! We talk about our need and desire to know God; have you ever thanked Him that He wants to know you?

Are you thankful that you can never get away from God? That He knows when you sit, when you stand, when you go somewhere, and even when you lie down to go to sleep at night?

We can never get away from God. Should we ascend to the clouds or descend to the depths of the ocean, we would not go there alone (Psalm 139:8). God loves us so much that His presence is with us wherever we are. Yes, even when we do not feel, know, or sense it! He is there!

Like the three-year old who stamps his little foot in defiance when his parents make him go to bed when he needs rest, and like the rebellious teen who believes his parents are out to control him, we do not always recognize all that God gives us and does for us and, yes, even demands of us, is for our good because He loves us.

Sometimes we, too, stamp our feet and shout at God in defiance, while we should be thanking Him for His presence,
for His constant care,
for His love that will not let go of us.

Tenderly He forgives our waywardness, restoring us again to His presence, giving us ever more cause for gratitude. This year, I will thank God that He desires to know me. Thanks be to God!

May your thankfulness for all God had done for you overflow this Thanksgiving!

Pastor Hartwig