“They devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
Wow! Can you believe it? Summer is almost over. A new school year
has begun, and the
students, teachers, and parents are all very busy
preparing,
planning, and trying to get everything accomplished and get
into new routines.
My family is no
different than other families, except that we have only been here six weeks and
our routine is anything but normal at this point. My oldest son, Jeremy, is home for a week,
and then he heads back to school as a senior at Valparaiso
University. Kristina is getting everything put together
so that she can head back to dorm life at Concordia
University this next weekend. My youngest son, Nathan, began a new school
year at Seward High
School this past Monday and has experienced all
the excitement and nervousness that one has when going to a school for the
first time. My wife Kathy is adjusting
to not having her own classroom this year.
For now, she has her name on the substitute teaching list at seven
different schools in the area. She is
learning to adjust her schedule and routine as calls come in for her to sub at
some schools already. I have been very
busy with my own work, coordinating schedules, chauffeuring others around and
trying to figure out all the ins and outs of ministry here at Our
Redeemer. Everything that is going on,
when it begins and ends has to be put on our calendar at home and in my
personal calendar book so that we don’t forget something. Every day seems to be full of things
happening in our family.
At this time of
year, we also have the opportunity to begin a new Christian Education year here
at Our Redeemer. There is a lot of
planning and preparation necessary in order for you and I
to take advantage of the many opportunities for growth in our faith. But, so often what happens is that everything
else in our lives takes precedence over going to church, Sunday School, Bible Class, Confirmation and studying God’s Word.
St.
Paul reminds us in his letter to the Colossians,
chapter 3:1-2, “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts
on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things.” We still have to spend
time doing all the things we have to do to get along in life. But, we also need to spend time with our
Heavenly Father. We need to devote time
to prayer, worship, and Bible Study.
These things need to be put on our calendars, along with everything else
we schedule, so that we don’t miss out on the transforming power of God’s Word
in our life and the stabilizing affect it has on our hurried and hectic
families. Look elsewhere in The Witness
for information on all the opportunities available. I look forward to our growing in faith
together.
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In the Master’s Service,
Vicar Robert Wiest
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