Redeemer Lutheran
Church- Richland WA
Messages from the
Pastor and Staff
July 2008
A Message from our
Pastor
One of the cool new gadgets I got a few months back was a
GPS unit for my car. What a device! Technology surely has advanced in
recent years. With these GPS units in cars, I wonder if women will stop
giving men a hard time about stopping and asking for directions when
lost?
We recently used our GPS on a trip to the Oregon Coast, a few months
back. Amazing. Simply amazing! Type in an ending address and the device
gives you directions right to the front door. What's also amazing is
that if you take a wrong turn, the device will recalculate your route
to get you back on track.
With all of our new technology today, we still have an "old fashioned"
GPS unit for the Christian. It's called the Bible. Sure, the Bible can
be found in many computers and other electronic devices today, but it's
the same Bible found on your bookshelf or by your bedside.
Today, the Bible is being attacked by many different organizations:
political groups, churches and others. They take a position that the
Bible is not relevant for our daily life today. After all, how can a
document written some thousand years ago, still be current and
applicable today?
As many of you know, I'm a product manual freak. Yes, I do read manuals
that come with products today. The day I purchased the GPS unit, my
first task was to read the manual. What caught me by surprise was this
bold statement on the first page - trust this GPS unit! It goes on
further to say that many have gotten lost while using a GPS device. The
reason? They don't trust the directions are accurate.
I can attest to this, While coming back from the Coast, I failed to
"trust" one of the directions the device gave me and consequently,
ended up in downtown Portland.
The same can be said of the Bible. The basic premise that we have as
Missouri Synod Lutherans is that the Bible is 100% trustworthy,
truthful and applicable to our daily life. You can put your confidence
in this book knowing that God's directions will help you in any
situation.
Are we making use of His Word? It takes just a few minutes a day to
begin reaping the benefits of His Word. My encouragement for you this
month is to begin a daily Bible reading program, if you are not reading
His Word daily. You don't need "formal" training or a PhD in Bible
history to read His Word. When we read it, the Holy Spirit guides us
and helps us to make it applicable to our daily life.
Don't know where to begin? Begin with the Psalms, or Romans, or John.
Read a few verses a day and then ponder on them throughout the day. If
you do, you'll gain vital directions to keep you from getting lost in
our world today.
Pastor Todd
Elders' Corner
Dear Christian Friends:
We are beginning a new year in service to our Lord in administering the
spiritual needs of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Some new Elders have been
chosen by lot to serve with those of us who remain on the Board.
Members of a congregation's board of elders are not assistant pastors.
They assist their pasior. They are not officially called to perform the
Office of the Keys. They work closely with the pastor, who is called to
perform this office. We might say that elders are assistants to the
pastor. They help generate excitement and support for the preaching and
teaching of the Word of God. To that end our board members have been
assigned specific tasks as follows:
IST YEAR ELDER DAN NIEBUHR - Worship and Ushers - Dan will be the
primary elder contact for the members listed from Congdon through Gilk
IST YEAR ELDER JOHN STREGE - Elder Rep. to the Board of Congregational
Care - John will be the primary elder contact for the members listed
from Landrum through Pitman
2ND YEAR ELDER DON PETERSEN - Elder Rep. to the Board of Evangelism -
Don will be the primary elder contact for the members listed from
Gjerdevig through Kutrowski
2ND YEAR ELDER RICK STUTHEIT - Music and Altar - Rick will be the
primary elder contact for the members listed from Raabe through Strege
3RD YEAR ELDER DON DARSOW - Vice Chairman Board of Elders, Rep. to the
Board of Education, and Acolyte scheduling - Don will be the primary
elder contact for the members listed from Stutheit through Ziemer
3RD YEAR ELDER MARK ROGERS - Chairman Board of Elders - Mark will be
the primary elder contact for the members listed from Albertson through
Clarkson
We are dedicated to serving the congregation with the goal of meeting
our Mission which is TO SHARE AND TEACH GOD'S WORD SO THAT PEOPLE
BECOME BELIEVERS AND COMMITTED DISCIPLES OF CHRIST. We ask for your
prayers in support of our servanthood so that with God's direction and
Spirit we may do our parts in bringing people to Faith and in
strengthening the Faith of those already faithful to our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
May God truly bless your efforts and ours.
Elder Don Darsow
Presidents Pantry
I am calling my monthly column the
Presidents Pantry because of all the goodies in the column for the
Congregation of Redeemer Lutheran Church. I will try my best to keep
the information in the Pantry upbeat and directional for the
congregation.
In this respect, in June, the Voter's
should have made a decision about the frequency and time of the Voter's
meetings. More on that subject next month.
An issue of huge importance is the
use or future of the Parsonage. It will be a challenge. That challengo
is in the hands of our extremely capable Head Trustee and the newly
formed Facilities Committee headed by Facilities Trustee Don Geise. If
you have any suggestions as to facility matters, contact these very
capable persons. You can also contact me, Guy McCoy, on any matter
concerning life at Redeemer. My door or ear is always open to our dear
members.
There are several new Boards needing
board members. The Community Service Board, chaired by Susan McCoy and
the Fellowship Board chaired by Dian Mauth are in need of members.
Robin Giese chairs the Youth Board and is in need of new members as is
the Congregational Care Board chaired by Shirley Mellick, Evangelism
Board, chaired by Roy Wolfe, the Facilities Committee, chaired by Don
Geise. All these boards as well as virtually every board need members.
I challenge the Redeemer congregation to get behind these wonderful
Board Chairs and volunteer to help. The boards are the lifeblood to the
congregation and give direction and meaning to our church life. And a
great big thank you from the office of President and the Council to
each and every Board Chair and Board member, doing the work of the Lord.
Council and Elders pictures are on
the wall outside the parish hall for all to see. If you have a matter
for a particular board, the Chairperson is shown if you don't know them
by sight.
One last "goodie" is our super
wonderful youth and adult Sunday School classes. The teachers are doing
a superb job. Please support them by attending and tell them of the
great job they are doing.
I will close the pantry door for now.
There are great "goodies" in there for Redeemer folks only if we praise
the Lord and stock the shelves with our spirit and help.
Guy McCoy,
Congregation
President
06/29/08