From the Pastor
January 2010
January marks the beginning of a new calendar year. However, in the Church Year, we are more than a month away from its beginning. While we are celebrating New Year’s Day, on the Church Year calendar we are celebrating the Circumcision and Name of Jesus 8 days after his birth. On January 6, we observe that Epiphany of Our Lord. On this day we remember the coming of the wise men to the infant Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. January 10 fast-forwards us 29 years to the Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. It’s almost hard to believe that since Christmas, we will have moved ahead 30 years or so through history.
But that is the blessing of the Church Year. As we move through the Church Year, we move through holy history, God’s history of our salvation. During the month of January we will hear of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as true God. He will call the 1st disciples to make you fishers of men. He will reveal His divinity in his miracles. Jesus will show us that He is the God-Man who became flash in order to be our Savior.
That’s what we as a Christian congregation want to show our community also. Through word and action we want the people around us to know Jesus as their only Savior from sin and death. This is part of our specific mission to the Enfield Food Shelf. January will mark our fourth month of service there. We are just beginning to get to know the clients and they are just starting to get to know and to trust us. Building these relationships is very important so that we can meet not only their physical needs, but also their need for salvation in Jesus Christ.
You already know that you can be involved in the Enfield Food Shelf Ministry by donating personal care items and marking Bibles for outreach. But if you have not yet had the opportunity to join us at the Food Shelf on Ministry day, please do so. It will really change your whole outlook on this mission and the mission of our church. The Holy Spirit will touch your hearts in ways that you cannot imagine. He will light a fire within your soul, a passion to reach out to those who do not know Jesus Christ.
Our January Ministry day is the 21st from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Please continue to support this vital ministry with your prayers, with your donations, and with your time as you are able. YOU are making a difference in the lives of many people. YOU are putting into their hands God’s Word that shows them Jesus, their Savior. I don’t know of any better way to start a new calendar year than by loving people enough to give them Jesus.
May our gracious God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–richly bless you in this new year with joy and peace as you serve Him and tell people about the God-Man, Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit enable us to bear abundant fruit this year for His kingdom. Amen.
Lutheran Church of our Redeemer 