W hat a year this is turning out to be! The Lord God Almighty is blessing Redeemer Lutheran Church in most wonderful ways. The summer is bustling with all kinds of physical activity. Most notable is wiring, dry walling, painting and over all policing by church properties - mostly in the administrative wing of our church plant. You should see the refinished craft room (basement rec room of the old parsonage). It does show a love of Christ when people keep their Sanctuary and adjoining spaces in good repair. We all know and believe that outward appearances have no spiritual value; we also know that good works do follow faith.

Vicar Oscar Castillo and family arrived in Waterloo on August 16th and if you want an interesting report of “good vicarage experience” offered in his first few days in service to the Lord here just ask Vicar. Please join me in making Vicar feel at home and welcomed at Redeemer just as you did for me just over 9 years ago.

Vicar Castillo's office is on the second floor of the afore mentioned wing along side Carol Norman and Heidi Gallas. All three offices have had a paint job along with new electrical outlets and various other clean ups.

Our Sunday School is going to grow. This is going to happen. Everything points in that direction. It is the goal of the Board of Christian Education and the Sunday School staff as they offer to all of our people a Sunday School in which Christ is held up as Lord and Saviour and where the love of God is real. Pray with me that our Sunday School will continue to be an exciting place where people want to be.

Our worship of God -- the most important thing we do here -- will continue to be a real event. There is no worship without sacrifice and there is no worship without you! Every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. we worship the Lord. Holy Communion is offered every other worship day at both services. There is every opportunity for you to worship the Lord who gave His all that you might live forever!

Elsewhere in this Reflections you will read of the upcoming 2010 events. Please begin now to pray for the team of Redeemer souls making a mission journey to León Nicaragua. We want to help with three Vacation Bible Schools there and also encourage all the new Brothers and Sisters who are growing in the Faith as Lutherans. You may also wish to contribute to the extra mission outreach of your congregation. Please be sure not to lessen your regular offerings in order to do so. Next year (2010) is also our celebration of 75 years of blessing by Almighty God. Read about these coming events in this newsletter. Your prayers and contributions are requested for this outreach effort. Yes it is an outreach effort. We pray that the year long party is not self indulgent but rather a gift to our community and all others who are invited.

Rejoicing in His days
Pastor Krestick