Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Peace of the Lord be with you! Yes, Peace. Even in this strange, anxious, anything-but-ordinary time: Peace.

In an ordinary calendar year, students would be settling into their peaceful routines. In an ordinary calendar year,

parents might enjoy a slightly quieter house.  In an ordinary calendar year, the leaves would be beginning to change.

Well, we all know 2020 has been anything but ordinary. Even the ordinary things don’t seem ordinary! The Church is currently in the Season of ‘Ordinary Time.’ But it does not feel like an ordinary Ordinary Time time. (Yes, that sentence was grammatically correct!) Our worship services and activities have been modified. Some, regrettably, put on indefinite hold or even cancelled.

Yet nothing in the world can disrupt the extra-ordinary work of the Church. God’s Word is still preached here! The

Sacraments are still offered here! God’s promises of forgiveness, new life and salvation are still proclaimed for you here!

The readings in Ordinary Time lead up to Christ’s Second Coming, when He will come again to judge the living and the dead, and bring His eternal, peaceful Kingdom to earth in its fullness. Everything leads up to that wonderful moment, when this strange, anxious, anything-but-ordinary world passes away and the extra-ordinary Peace of the Lord reigns forever. That’s what we Christians should bear in mind: Christ’s victory is assured. Peace is already won!

We get a foretaste of that peace in the Church—not only in worship, but also in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ! For your own spiritual benefit, I encourage you to participate as much as you can in the months ahead.

Worship in person, if possible. Certainly online, if not. Come to as many events outside of worship as you can.

The staff at Our Redeemer have been working hard to develop next year’s Equipping Disciples plan. I know you will be enriched by it! Invite others to take part too! In this way, we can shine as an example for others—a Beacon, if you will—of God’s peace in the world.

It may not be an ordinary time. You will certainly face anything-but-ordinary struggles. (I know I won’t have an ordinary vicarage!) But Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He grants us His Peace—a peace that sends us forth into the world, bringing peace and joy and love to the earth!

LSB 920 “Forth in the Peace of Christ We Go”

1 Forth in the peace of Christ we go;
Christ to the world with joy we bring;
Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips,
Christ in our hearts, the world’s true king.

5 We are the Church; Christ bids us show
That in His Church all nations find
Their hearth and home where Christ restores
True peace, true love to all mankind.

In Christ,

Vicar Stein

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It sure has been a year to remember, hasn’t it? Before going out on Vicarage, I was told that this year would shape me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Even then, I’m sure none of us saw something like the Coronavirus coming our way. The year 2020 certainly has been a year for the books. From the first day I arrived here at Our Redeemer, I constantly heard of Vicars being used to mark the passage of time. It wasn’t uncommon for me to hear, “Was that during Vicar Scheele’s time? I guess it could have been Wolfgram or maybe even Addleson, definitely not as recent as Otterman though.”

Certainly, it’s one of the many blessings you have as the people of Our Redeemer. To mark time with the Vicars who have been blessed to serve here. It is as if the life of the church here is a constant stream and for mere

moments, truly only months at a time, does a Vicar get to dip his toes in the water and see all the wonderful work that God is doing here at Our Redeemer.

This year is no exception. As we have begun packing, Rachel and I have found ourselves discussing our year here and the ways our family has grown and through it all, it is abundantly clear, God has a plan. It wasn’t until I looked at back of a drawing that Rachel gave me back in college that I saw I had jokingly written, “In the year of our lord 2016”. It was an old way of marking time and I’m sure I thought it was hilarious when I wrote it. But it’s true, it was the year of our Lord.

Even through a year of change with quarantines, zoom Bible studies, livestream services, or even the

consistent moments like Pancake Day, Children’s Christmas Service, Vicar’s Installation, it was still the year of our Lord. Through the waters of Baptism, God continued to use Our Redeemer to make disciples for Jesus. The people of God were continually blessed to receive the Lord’s Supper, even if for the first time in Our Redeemer history a service began with cars honking their horns to a pastor speaking to them over the radio. Over YouTube services and in-person worship, you and I have been blessed to hear the Word spoken to us. The Word which is as constant as ever. That Word which became flesh and dwelt among man.

Truly, this year is still the year of our Lord.

The life of the Church is a never-ending stream begun in the Garden of Eden, when God made His first promise of a savior in Genesis 3:15 and it continues flowing until it reaches the end. That final day when you and I will gather before our Lord surrounded by all of the children of God, praising the Lamb who is reigning on His throne. Rachel, Daisy, and I might be leaving you, and we may not see you again on this earth, but we have greatly enjoyed this year of our Lord with you.

We look forward to our reunion on the Day of our Lord.

God’s Richest Blessings,

Vicar Gonzalez-Feliciano

Charlie Brown’s young friend Linus made the mistake of confessing to his big sister Lucy that he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up. Lucy was astounded at her brother’s declaration. “You, a doctor! That’s a laugh! You could never be a doctor! You know why? Because you don’t love humankind!”

Young Linus immediately responded, “I do love humankind! It’s people I can’t stand!”

Linus’ comment may give us a chuckle. We find humor in it because we identify with Linus. Apart from the power of God’s Spirit working in us, our love for others is weak and shallow at best. But God calls us to love all people. His Word tells us to practice hospitality and show hospitality. But more than tell us, the Holy Spirit enables us to show love, show hospitality.

Whether we are doctors, carpenters, policemen, teachers, secretaries, or plumbers, we are to love those whom we work with as well as all people. God places us in different vocations where we can share God’s love. We are His instruments through which He works.

In his letter to the church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul wrote,

“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

We are not left on our own.

God has a purpose, a plan, in mind for each of us. It is the time of year when many are graduating from high school and the child has to decide what career they would like to pursue in life. Like Linus, one might

consider being a doctor, but God may have a much different vocation in mind. We certainly need young men to consider pastoral ministry, and we have seen the importance of store clerks, school teachers, and emergency workers during this COVID-19 time.  No vocation is to be viewed higher or lower than another, we are called, regardless of where we are placed by God, to let His love within us overflow to others. You see, we are to show hospitality.

During this time when many are struggling, practice hospitality! Show forth the love of Christ!

Blessings,

Pastor Hartwig

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen!

I pray that you’re doing well during this incredibly unique time in many of our lives. Yes, nothing is normal, but
perhaps you’ve been able to get used to this “New (and Lord willing, temporary) Normal” or maybe you’re still
struggling. May God give us all peace and patience as some of us are going a little “Stir-Crazy”.

One thing that I know I’m thankful for is Stir-Fry. Rachel is a great cook and innovator in the kitchen. Often, I’ll find myself looking into the cupboard and thinking, “Man, there just aren’t enough things here for me to make a proper meal that I know how to make.” Which normally boils down to us being out of rice, beans, and chicken.  At that time, I normally throw in the towel and make a homemade batch of mac and cheese, cereal, and/or PB&J.

However, Rachel can see combinations of flavors and ingredients that I wouldn’t even think possible! She can look into a bunch of random vegetables and meats and decide to make something as wonderfully delicious as Stir-Fry!  Where I didn’t see connections, Rachel sees an opportunity. All these parts are put together, some heat is added, and a wonderful meal is made.

During this time of Quarantine, I think God is doing the same thing in our lives. You and I can see all the parts: Panic buying, toilet paper shortages, shut-downs, stay at home orders, nursing homes closed, people dying, online school, online church, and the list goes on. You and I look at these parts and think, “Nope. No thank you, I can’t make

anything out of this!” People can’t wait to close the door on this situation and open the doors of their homes and churches. Life feels like it has stopped to a dead halt. You might be feeling a little stir crazy.

God sees it a bit differently.

Yes, there is pain, heartache, even death. Yes, things feel like they’re changed for good. But our God is still in control, wide awake at the wheel. In the midst of this, God is putting together a list of different ingredients: families are spending more time together at home. Parents have chances to educate their children in the faith. Churches can still worship online. Leaders are put forward in a visible way for the people to pray for. People are making masks for each other. Neighbors are signing up to help pick up groceries for those who are unable to go shopping themselves. The Gospel is still being preached to the people of God. God is making something beautiful out of the struggles in our nation right now.

Christ is Risen!

The one who took all the sin, pain, and punishment which should have been ours. He took those ingredients and drank the gall of death.

And then He rose.

He made something new for you and for me.
He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

In Christ,

Vicar Gonzalez-Feliciano

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ –

Last week, Kara and I were doing our weekly Friday grocery shopping. We usually hit the shopping “Bermuda Triangle” of Aldi’s, Costco, and Wal-Mart. It is the triangle where my money goes missing. And quickly too!

Anyway, we were shopping and there was hand sanitizer on the shelf. The person in front of me grabbed four giant bottles. I, then, grabbed the last two bottles. I looked at Kara to ask whether we really needed both of these. Immediately, she said you should put one back. So I did.

Again, at Hy-Vee there were three gallons of 2% milk on the shelf. I only took two. For the third gallon, I took 1% milk. With everyone home all day, we have gone through seven gallons of milk this week alone.

The hoarding that we hear about on the news and that we are warned against by signs posted in stores is truly happening in an exorbitant way. This isn’t a fast shopping burst before a snow storm or a hurricane. The sustained rate of hoarding among some people produces empty aisles and barren shelves which are a visible manifestation of our societies materialism.

Materialism is the love of money and possession and that love of material stuff causes us to find our identity, meaning, and purpose outside of God. It is allowing money and possessions to become the center and the control of our lives.

God created us to love people and use things, but our hearts have changed to loving things and using people. The love of material things will destroy our relationship with Jesus because the blessings that God has provided become more important than the giver Himself.

When we focus on material things, we become independent and self-sufficient. We become very prideful in what we’ve accomplished and own, and our purpose in life is to gain more and more stuff of this world.

Instead, let us focus on Christ.
     “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
          who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
               and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

 At this time, when each of us seems to have more spare time than before, use it to connect to family and friends through phone calls and social media. Yes, practice hospitality. And let us use this time to connect with Christ. Spend time reading the Word of God. Spend time in prayer. Maybe even, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a)

Blessings,
Pastor Hartwig

Greetings in the name of Christ, Our Redeemer!

God’s Word, over and over, tells us to be not afraid.  The Prophet Isaiah speaks God’s Word:
“Fear not, for I am with you always.  Be not dismayed, I am your God.  I will help you, strengthen you and uphold you with My righteous right hand!” (Isaiah 41:10)

With God, the command to “fear not” is always followed with a promise! So, with confidence in our God, we trust in Him to be with us during all times and all circumstances.  That means that during this uncertain time with the coronavirus, we put our trust in God, as well as being proactive in making decisions.

Our Redeemer leadership and staff are monitoring the COVID-19 developments and do not want to be hasty in making decisions. Here are the decisions we have made:

WE WILL SUSPEND THE GREETING BEFORE WORSHIP. During the season of Lent we follow Divine Service Setting 3.  Also during this time, we begin with opening sentences instead of an opening hymn.  These sentences echo King David in Psalm 51 where we cry out to God to forgive and cleanse us from our sins. These sentences are followed by confession and absolution.

It is a somber tone, and a perfect way to begin a Lenten service.  Because we begin with sentences, for years we have forgone the greeting and shaking of hands that follows the Pastor’s welcome and precedes the opening hymn.  Logistically it has been easier to move from welcome to opening sentences.  We will continue this practice.

WE WILL OMIT THE SHARING OF THE PEACE. It has been decided that during this unprecedented time we are suspending the offering of the peace that comes before the Lord’s Supper.

BOTH PASTOR AND VICAR WILL STILL GREET. We will greet members and guests as we leave worship.  Yes, we are shaking hands. We are not offended if you do not want to shake our hands, and we ask that if you are sick and not feeling well to withhold your handshake. It would be even better if you stay at home if you are not feeling well.

STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. This is always a good practice, but especially now be vigilant and stay home.  The Lord will understand if you are home sick. If you are at home, please listen to an online sermon.  Over a decade of sermons are stored on our website: ourredeemer.org. We are working on creating a YouTube Channel so you can watch an entire worship service.  More to come!

OFFERING PLATE. When you arrive at church, the offering plates will be near the usher stands.  Please give your offering before worship. If you forget, you will have an opportunity to put the money in the offering plate in the Narthex.  The offering plates will not be passed. However, the usher will still bring the plates forward for the acolytes to place the offering plates on the altar.  Obviously, our need for offerings and ongoing support to operate our ministry continues.

BIBLE STUDY, SUNDAY SCHOOL, CLASSES AND EVENTS.
For this weekend and next week, all events on our calendar remain.  At this time, we are not canceling LWML, Midweek meals, Bible Studies, or any event on our church calendar between now and March 19th.  There are no confirmation classes because this is ICCSD Spring Break Week.

We are watching the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and awaiting the decision of the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) to determine next steps.  We expect a decision from the ICCSD on March 19th.  This decision will guide Our Redeemer Leadership and Staff in determining what will be done with Bible study, Sunday School, all classes and events. Watch for additional emails and check our website for updates.

WORSHIP
We look forward to seeing you in worship this weekend, if you are able to attend. God’s grace, mercy, and peace covers you.

God’s Word is performative.  That means it does what it says.  So hear this blessing and know that God is at work in your lives.

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen. Amen. Amen!

Pastor Hartwig

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ –

The year 2020 is upon us, in fact, the first month is gone. Only eleven months to go, and that is so hard to believe. Since 2012 we have talked about the year 2020. We named the project Vision 2020. Yes, it was a word play to see if we could envision what we wanted our facilities to look by the year 2020. Could we have perfect vision?

And I think we have. Day in and day out we have people who enter our facility and make comments. Comments like, “This is so beautiful.” “You really have made big changes here.” And my favorite: “This place is so hospitable.” Over the last eight years we have dreamed and planned and gone through a systematic makeover of our facilities. What a makeover!

However, in a much more profound and meaningful way, Christians experience a life-changing makeover when the Holy Spirit transforms us into new people of faith who desire to live in and for Jesus. This is a total makeover because the Holy Spirit, through the Sacrament of Baptism, brings us to faith, and we die in our sinful selves and our old, earthly way of living. We enter upon a whole new way of life in Christ. Our new present life is hidden with Christ in God. When the Holy Spirit brings us to faith in Jesus through the Gospel, we become more Christ-like. Unfortunately, our sinful nature still clings to us, so we live with this constant tension between our new lives in Jesus and our old nature. This new inner nature is a spiritual change, and we are filled with peace of God and the blessing of knowing that we are forgiven.

Our new lives in Jesus need to be continually nourished. Like a growing plant that needs water, sunlight, and nutrients from the soil, our faith needs to be filled with God’s Word and the opportunity to receive Jesus’ body and blood in Holy Communion. Through faithful reading and studying of the Bible, we grow in faith and knowledge. That is why are Our Redeemer we are about Equipping Disciples to Make Disciples for Jesus. We want to equip you and see your faith grow. The more our faith grows, the more others will see the total makeover that God have given us.

Our facility has really grown in the way it supports our ministry. Thank you for all you have done for the project we called Vision 2020 and the first capital campaign we called Immeasurably More. They were both successful programs, and now we embark upon our second capital campaign called A Little Farther. Thank you in advance for what you will be doing.

Thanks be to God for all the makeovers he does in our lives! Amen!

Pastor Hartwig

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Happy New Year! Maybe I’m alone in this, but the year 2020 just doesn’t seem real. The phrase “hindsight is always 20/20” comes to mind as the new year rolls around. I think it’s really fitting as this year marks the end of a decade. Year by year, life has changed for so many in the past ten years. There have been giant trials and miniscule moments. At the turn of the year, you and I can sit back and reflect on those changes and see how God has moved in our lives.

Joy and wonderful moments that still bring a smile to your face today.

Pain and tragedy that has made you into a stronger person.

New experiences that have helped you and me to grow to be the people we are today.

As the year closes, is hindsight truly 20/20 for you? I would say that it is easier for you and me to see the way God has moved, but if you’re like me, that may just be about it. Sure, you and I can understand that God led us to the point we are at today but I’m sure there are still times where we can look to our past and think, “What a miserable sinner, why didn’t God just give up on me?”. Maybe it was when you had a family fight and you knew you were wrong, but you knew you were never going to back down, or perhaps the death of a family member where you doubted God. I know that within the past ten years there have been plenty of times where I can remember these big trials of sin that I went through. In those trials, you and I might have wondered how we were going to get through to the next year. Hindsight may be 20/20, but you still might not be able to grasp how you made it through all the giant trials.

There were giant trials for sure, but God sustained you through miniscule moments. Week in and week out, through simple means of bread and wine, the Word of God, and the community of saints, God sustained you. It may have been for only hours at a time which compared to the hours spent at work seem miniscule, but they contained the colossal infinite love of God. The love God has for you and for me every minute of every day sustains us.

This same love is what gets you and me to face the next moment, the next day, the next trial, and even the new year. Forgiveness of sins, salvation, and life everlasting are still yours every minute of the new year, just as they were yours every minute of the last year. You will have these gifts for all of eternity.

My prayer for you this new year is that you would continue to be strengthened and nourished by the Word. You and I can continue to come have our sins forgiven. And I pray that Christ may come again and come soon. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ abide with you always throughout this new year.

2. Before the cross subdued we bow,

To You our prayer addressing,

Recounting all Your mercies now,

And all our sins confessing;

Beseeching you this coming year

To keep us in Your faith and fear

And crown us with Your blessing

5. Then, gracious God, in years to come,

We pray your hand may guide us,

And onward through our journey home,

Your mercy walk beside us

until at last our ransomed life

is safe from peril, toil and strife

when heav’n itself shall hide us.         (LSB 899)

In Christ, Vicar Gonzalez-Feliciano

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

“Deck the hall with boughs of holly garland – Fa, la, la, la, la…”

This time of year, song fills the air, and it fills my heart too.

Here are five reasons that we sing in worship. God commands us to sing.

1. God commands us to sing. There are hundreds of references to singing within the Bible. Jesus Himself sang songs of praise after the Last Supper. If we are called to replicate the character of Christ, I’m confident that singing should always be involved.
2. Christians have sung throughout history. The earliest Christians put their community beliefs in songs, which is why Christian hymnody began. Songs are recorded in scripture and other historical texts. The Book of Psalms in the Bible is a great resource for reading songs of believers that have gone before us.
3. Songs can give us theology. As you may know, hymns and other Christian songs are full of rich, theological text. The act of singing uses both parts of the brain; therefore, it can educate us and teach us about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Singing connects us emotionally. Songs of celebration have the power to lead us to dance. Songs of lament have the power to lead us to tears. Music has a way of piercing into the deep parts of our soul, that assists in our expression and response to God and to the church.
5. Singing helps unites us to the church. The gospel alone unites believers to one another. However, music is a tool that allows us to do so. As we gather on the Sabbath, we join together as one body and praise God with one voice.

So, during this Advent and Christmas season sing. Now, I know that God gives each of us different gifts. But at the end of the day, we all are called, wanted, and expected to sing.

“Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord! Bless His name! Share the news of his saving work every single day!” (Psalm 96)

Join us for the hymn sing before the evening Advent services. Don’t miss the Christmas and Carol services on December 7 and 8. Enjoy the Christmas and Advent hymns you have sung your whole life.  Rejoice in the liturgy set to Christmas tunes.

During this time of year, there are plenty of great hymns and carols to sing.

After all, “It’s Christmastime. It’s Christmastime.”

Happy Advent, Merry Christmas

Pastor Hartwig