Greetings Redeemer family and friends!

Summer is almost upon us.  Even though there will be a lot of vacations and relaxing times this Summer, we do not intend to let ministry stagnate.  To the contrary – Summer can be very much of a ‘building’ time.  In fact, there are a number of new ministry teams that are forming right now to put plans in motion that will prepare our ministries to serve all the new families that are joining our congregation and those that will be coming in the Fall. 

Not only is Summer a building time for the church, Summer can be a building time for you too!  How does God want to grow you and challenge you this Summer?  I encourage you to follow His leading and answer His calling on your life – like Samuel the prophet, saying “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).  During June & July we will embark on a message series that will look at the books of Samuel.  That series is entitled “Samuel: A Life Devoted to God.”  We see much faithful devotion to the Lord in the life of Samuel.  But what about in your life and the life of our church?  Can we say that ours is a life devoted to God?

At my first Church Council meeting in April, I was asked to share some of my thoughts and vision for the ministry of Redeemer by the Sea.  What I shared was much longer than space will permit me to communicate here; but I think it could very well be said that the phrase “A Life Devoted to God” would serve as a brief summary of those thoughts and vision.  Let me explain.

I shared with the leadership that in our life and ministry together, we should very much see ourselves as being a lighthouse to the Community.  The people around our church and the people that we encounter in our daily walk will see us and interpret our actions as a representative of Christ.  But what is the image that we will project?  Will they see in us a life that is devoted to God?  Will they see programs and ministries that are a reflection of the light of Christ?  I also suggested that how we deal with and work with each other in ministry – as leaders, team members, boards and committees – also needs to reflect a life devoted to God.  I am convinced that when we are all seeking to do God’s will and bring Him the glory, then personal agendas and plans take a back seat to the greater ministry that Christ wants to accomplish through us all for the good of His Kingdom!

In my discussion with the Council I also mentioned that as members of God’s Church, our personal spiritual life should be marked as one that is devoted to God.  Are we growing in His Word and are we serving in our areas of Spiritual giftedness?  Finally, I concluded that lives and ministries that are devoted to God are marked with trust, character and communication.  I challenged all of us to have high standards and expectations in terms of how we communicate with, trust and treat each other.  Quite simply, in our devotion to God, if we keep Christ central to the ministry (i.e. He is the “main thing”), then our words and actions will glorify God and demonstrate a life of devotion to Him.

My desire was to convey to them and to you what Paul was meaning in Galatians 4:19 when he said, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” It is my hope that at Redeemer by the Sea, we will always strive to increase our Christ-likeness, such that Christ is more and more formed in each of us!  That is what it means to live a life devoted to God. 

 Soli Deo Gloria (to God Alone be the Glory)!

Pastor Augie Iadicicco