Lent is upon us!  Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 22^nd this year, and ends on Easter Sunday which falls on April 8^th this year.  Lent is a period in the church calendar that is designed to be a penitential season of reflection and preparation.  The word Lent derives from a root word meaning “lengthen.”  In the season of Spring the days are lengthening. That’s perhaps a part of what Lent is about.  But also, historically in the Church, the practice of observing the Easter vigil was “lengthened” to 40 days – and thus this period of time became known as Lent. 

Why forty days?  In the Bible, 40 days is a holy and complete time.  We see significant events in the Bible occurring in 40 days.  Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the 10 commandments for 40 days.  During the flood of Noah it rained for 40 days and 40 nights.  When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, it was for 40 days.  And so the early Christian Church set the calendar for Lent at 40 days. (Note – when you add up the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday you actually get more than 40 days. That’s because the Sundays in Lent don’t count toward the 40 days.  On Sunday, the Lord’s day, the Church breaks from the penitence for one day of rejoicing and praise recognizing that Christ has overcome the grave and is alive and reigning! (See Matt. 9:15).

So what happens during the 40 days?  Since Scripture does not mandate what is to happen during Lent, there is freedom and variety in how to observe this period of preparation.  I would suggest that anything that we can do to increase our awareness of Christ’s sacrifice, and what it means for us, is beneficial.  So at our church this means that we change things a bit by adding some things and taking some things away.  During Lent, we add midweek worship services that provide an extra opportunity to gather for prayer, meditation and reflection of the Lord’s passion and crucifixion.  And we also take some things away.  Usually decorations and celebrations are kept to a minimum, and in our worship services we generally choose hymns with a more somber tone, meaning that hymns and liturgical responses with “Alleluia’s” (a word expressing jubilation) are usually avoided.   

What about for you?  I likewise recommend that in your individual observance of Lent that you also add some things and take some things away. For the period of Lent, you may want to consider adding some extra devotion time.  For your convenience, we make free Lenten devotional booklets available so you can have some special time of focus through Scripture and prayer. You also may want to add in some time of corporate worship. Each Wednesday in Lent we offer a special evening service that is simpler in form and allows you the opportunity to sing and pray with other believers.  But also for the forty day period of Lent you may want to take something away.  We call this “fasting” and it is a spiritual discipline that has been practiced for centuries.

When we talk about spiritual disciplines we tend to focus on prayer, study, quiet time and tithing but often neglect fasting. However we see that in the Bible fasting is a spiritual discipline that was practiced by prophets, kings and apostles.  We see that many significant Biblical characters were blessed by God through fasting - Moses, David, Elijah, Nehemiah, Ester, Daniel and Paul, for example. Even our Lord Jesus used fasting as a way to draw closer to the Father while He was being tempted by the devil in the desert (see Matthew 4).

What comes to mind when you think of fasting? Is it something that only “super-spiritual” people do?  Is it something you think people do for attention?  Is it a gimmick?  Is it something that’s too difficult for you to do or something that’s out of your reach? Let me address a few of these opinions and hopefully shed some light on this important spiritual discipline of fasting, and then let me suggest how you might use fasting as a way to draw closer to the Lord this coming Lent.

First, what is fasting not? Fasting is not a diet program. If you need to lose weight, a fast is not the way to do it.  Fasting is not for personal glory; it’s something that’s between you and God.  In fact, Jesus spoke out against those who drew attention to themselves when they were fasting. So what is fasting?  A simple definition of fasting is abstaining from something for spiritual purposes.  Usually it’s food that we forgo when fasting, but really anything that we give our attention to is something that could be removed in order to create more room for God in your life.  When you fast, your desire is to draw closer to God and to ask God to reveal himself to you. Sometimes our lives get so full of the blessings of God, that we crowd out the One that is doing the blessing – God Himself.  Sometimes we have so much going on that if God wanted to speak to us there is so much noise and so much activity in our life that we couldn’t hear Him if He said something to us.  Remember, God often speaks in a whisper (1 Kings 19:12).  The purpose of fasting is to increase your awareness of and dependence upon God.

So, how might you fast this Lent?  One way is to simply give up something that you frequently crave, but is non-essential.  Chocolate is a popular choice since, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need chocolate to live!  Every time you forgo the pleasure of chocolate, it reminds you of Christ’s sacrifice for you and allows you to depend on God to get you through that craving. All our cravings are something that only God can satisfy anyway.  You might give up something that is sapping your available time – television, video games or surfing the internet.  Consider spending the time that you free up, not with some other activity, but with family, or doing devotions, or enjoying God’s creation while meditating on His greatness!  There are many ways you can fast. 

This year, I am going to encourage you to join me in doing a simple “juice fast.”  It’s a light fast and an easy way to start if you’ve never fasted before, yet it has all the spiritual benefits of drawing closer to the Lord through abstaining from something.  How you do a juice fast is to simply skip a meal or two and replace that meal with some liquid or juice.  This will help you to keep your energy up (diabetics and others, please consult your physician if you have any concerns about this diet change) but it still represents a sacrifice.  I suggest doing this fast each week during Lent.  For example: have a good meal for dinner on Tuesday, then have juices for breakfast and lunch on Wednesday, breaking your fast with dinner (perhaps soup supper at church?) on Wednesday. That’s a 24-hour juice fast!

Considering the challenging Spiritual work that our congregation is doing in preparing to reach many with the Gospel this Easter, shouldn’t we draw close to the Lord through fasting and prayer for the 40 days of Lent that precede Easter?  Won’t we individually benefit from the time spent seeking the Lord? Let’s do what we hear spoken of in Scripture, but seldom do – fast and pray.

To God Alone be the Glory,

Pastor Augie Iadicicco
pastor@redeemerbythesea.org

   Often when I conclude a prayer with a group of people I will say something like, “all for your glory, Lord, and in your Name we pray.”  Sometimes I even sign my newsletter articles with “Soli Deo Gloria,” which is Latin for “To God Alone be the Glory.”  This month at Redeemer we are focusing on our stewardship of God’s gifts, and the point we want to make is that any giving we do needs to be done to God’s Glory. 

   It’s tempting to take the glory of our giving for ourselves; and yet a proper understanding of stewardship begins by recognizing that everything we have – EVERYTHING – comes from God.  So anything that we give is really something that belongs to God already.  When we faithfully and generously give, we glorify God by recognizing him as the owner.

   Another way that we glorify God in our giving is when we realize that God can take our gift, which may seem small to us, and He can make something big out of it!  Think of the little boy with five barley loaves and two small fish in John 6.  The Apostle Peter’s response was, “but how far will [these few loaves and fish] go among so many?”  We can relate to his comment when we are faced with the significant task of conducting ministry and reaching out with the gospel to those in need. It can seem to be an overwhelming and daunting task, one that we aren’t equipped to carry out.  Even our largest gift possible – one year’s salary or a lifetime of savings – still would not accomplish all the work that God has for us to do. Truly, you and I must approach our gift giving in the same way that the young man did.  He simply gave and trusted Jesus to make something more out of his gift.  When you and I give what we have, and we trust God to use it for a significant purpose, we glorify God.

   And we do have a significant calling and purpose before us.  Redeemer by the Sea has a beautiful building, and it took great faith on the part of many to get us to where we are today.  But God wasn’t done when He called Redeemer to build a building.  No, He has plans for our facilities.  He wanted them built so that they could be full. Before us today is just as daunting of a task as construction.  God is calling us today to make the resources available so that the ministry can grow into those facilities, and even beyond!

   This is really a BIG dream.  I am fond of big dreams.  Are you?  If you and I just dream dreams that we can accomplish, then how is God needed in those dreams?  No, it’s important for us to dream God-sized dreams – dreams that are so big that they can only be accomplished by God.  That way, when those dreams are realized, it is God who gets the glory!  It’s all about glorifying God.  And God is glorified when you and I step out on faith and trust God to accomplish our dreams – those dreams that we know He desires to bless.

   Consider the well known story in Matthew 14, where Jesus, walking on water, appeared to His disciples.  Jesus had just finished performing the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 (likely with the loaves and the fish from the young man in John 6), and yet the disciples were afraid.   Why were they surprised to see Jesus walking on water?  Is anything too hard for God?  Of course not.  Why then are we afraid to put our faith in a miracle-working God? 

   It’s very instructive for us to consider what happened next in the story.  Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat and walk on water!  Could anything be more absurd?  And yet Peter stepped out on faith, and he walked on water!  It’s important to note, however: he didn’t do it.  Christ did it. Jesus simply used Peter to demonstrate God’s power to do the impossible.  When Peter tried to accomplish the water-walking on his own, he looked around, saw the waves, was frightened and sank.  On his own, Peter failed.  It wasn’t until he looked to Christ for strength and power that he was able to make the journey.

   In fact, this Bible passage is very clear about who gets the glory.  As you recall, when Peter and Jesus got into the boat, did the disciples cheer for Peter saying, “Yay! Peter, you walked on water?”  No, the Bible says simply, “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matt. 14:33)  God got the glory.

   When you and I give this year – however much God leads us to give – may it be simply that we trust God to make something out of our gift, that we dream God-sized “impossible” dreams, and that we give to glorify God.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Augie

   The Advent season is upon us!  Is it just me, or did it get here fast?  Even though we moved out of New York back in 1993, I still have a hard time realizing that Christmas is approaching while the weather outside is so nice. Thankfully in the Church we start marking the time until Christmas four weeks in advance with the season of Advent. Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” Each week in Advent we celebrate the coming of Christ to humanity as a baby born of a virgin, and we also celebrate His promise to come again. 

   But even if it weren’t for the four colored candles on the Advent wreath, and the slow appearance of Christmas songs on the radio to give me advanced notice, I’d still have another way to know that Christmas was approaching.  Do you know what that is?  The approach of Christmas is also marked by the sale ads in the paper!  Beginning with Black Friday (and now Cyber-Monday), shoppers have ample opportunity to purchase merchandise at the best prices of the year.  Even if you weren’t out looking for anything in particular, you are likely to buy something the week following Thanksgiving because the prices are good and the “deals” are in abundance!  In fact, this year all previous Black Friday records were broken when shoppers spent a record $52.4 Billion, as compared with $45 Billion last year – that’s a 16% increase!  Merchandisers aren’t celebrating yet, though, because Black Friday sales typically only account for 10% of holiday purchases.  So while the children may be counting how many days remain until Santa comes, store owners are counting how many dollars remain to be had before Christmas.

   And you and I are not immune to this sickness.  In fact, we often feed into it.  Perhaps even unwittingly, we slowly and subtly have fanned the flame of consumerism. The more we shop, the more we buy (and the more we borrow to buy) the more that we feed the monster of materialism; a monster that can overshadow Christmas.  Yes, we know Christmas is approaching, but really what we often hear is the stomp of the spending monster thumping down the road saying, “feed me!” … or better, “BUY me!”

   Why do we do it?  Why do we give in?  I would submit that it’s ultimately for spiritual reasons.  You see, we have a deep spiritual need for purpose and fulfillment.  (We have just spent 2 months at Redeemer talking about our search for purpose and significance.)  And every day advertisements tell us that we can find fulfillment and satisfaction in some sort of product – whether it’s a television to provide entertainment, a car to provide adventure, a gadget to save time and money, or a sofa to give rest. Each of these products claims to have an answer to our need.  And we believe them.  After all, this is what we have been told will achieve for us the “perfect life.”  The problem is that we can spend our lives pursuing this dream only to discover that the products fail to deliver.  In fact, in a twist of irony, these very items end up taking more of our enjoyment, adventure, time and money than they have given!

   And so we’ve traded real purpose and significance for a sham, we’ve traded real relationships and love for cheap facsimiles, and most disturbing – we’ve traded real faith for consumerism.  The Bible tells us that we cannot love both God and money – and yet we try.  We don’t realize how much the two can be in conflict. We may not profess faith in any pagan God, or worship Baal on the mountainside, but we pursue money as if it was our functional god.  We trust in dollars (and the things it can buy) to provide us transcendence.  We want our material things to elevate us above our circumstances.  We want our cars, houses, clothes and vacations to offer us status, security, adventure and confidence.   We ultimately look to these things to provide meaning in our lives and make us feel significant.  And while they may do so for a brief moment, ultimately they all lose their luster and we eventually realize their imperfections and limitations. Our inevitable solution to this problem is to begin the hunt again – looking for that purchase that will satisfy.  In the end, even products with a “satisfaction guarantee” ultimately leave us dissatisfied. They have to, because they are just things. 

   Things simply cannot provide what only God provides.  You want security?  Only God will withstand all the tests of time and endurance.  You want significance?  Only the things in life in which you partner with God will amount to anything that matters.  You want confidence? Only finding your identity in God will allow you to feel comfortable with your body.  You want adventure? Only following Jesus wherever He is leading you will truly challenge you and ultimately fulfill you!  See – the only source of satisfaction for these spiritual hungers is Jesus.  We go looking for them to be fulfilled at Christmas, and we hear the promises that they can be fulfilled.  But we take a wrong turn when we head to the mall, department store or on-line shopping site to meet those needs.  Truly the answer to our spiritual cravings can be found at Christmas, but it’s not in a store that it is found.  Instead, it’s found in a manager.  It’s your Lord and Savior Jesus, born as a baby into a family of very little financial means, that ultimately offers everything your heart needs and wants!

   This Christmas I would challenge you to combat consumerism.  I’m not saying that you shouldn’t shop... (our economy needs you –shop responsibly!)  I’m just saying don’t shop in stores for what can only be found in faith. Don’t look to things to satisfy spiritual hungers that can only be satisfied by God. 

Celebrating the CHRIST in Christmas, 

Pastor Augie 

   As we are moving through the Purpose Driven Life message and small group series at Redeemer by the Sea, have you found something that has encouraged you?  Have you found something that has challenged you?  I have – on both accounts.   One chapter of the book, in particular, has caught my attention; that’s the chapter entitled “Cultivating Community.”  The content of this chapter pertains to a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  Next to reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel, there’s probably no single component of the ministry that’s more critical than that of cultivating community.  In fact that is why God has established His Church on earth – so we could exist in community while we wait for the Lord’s return.  The purpose of this community is twofold. First, it exists for the encouragement and edification of the believers who belong to the Body of Christ. Second, it exists to serve and reach those who are outside the Body with the Saving Gospel of Jesus’ sacrifice. We are stronger and we accomplish more for the Kingdom when we are together. 

   I particularly like Rick Warren’s choice of words: “cultivating” community.  Churches often talk about how they might “create” community at their congregation.  Truly, we do exist in a world that seems to be missing much of the sense of community that was enjoyed in days gone by.  Consequently, churches must do what we can in order to provide the means and the channels for people to gather in community.  We should always be thinking about how we can foster relationships and a sense of belonging to fill the gap that so many experience today.  More than ever, families are fractured or displaced due to education and work opportunities; and more than ever schedules are so full that people don’t have the time or energy to gather together with others for encouragement.  And yet, encouragement is what they need.  So churches attempt to create community where there was none.   However, just as with living plants – humans can’t create plants.  All we can do is plant seeds, water them and cultivate the soil to make it amenable to the growth that God provides.  Likewise in Christian community – churches cannot create community.  All we can do is ready the soil, plant the seeds and cultivate the ground to make it amenable to the growth and relationships that God provides.

   This is both encouraging and challenging to me.  I find encouragement in realizing that it is God that creates Community.  It is God who calls and gathers us into His Church; and it is God who enlightens us with His gifts and sanctifies us with His Holy Spirit.  That is a relief to me.  It’s always a relief to know that God is the one doing the work.  However, it is a challenge to me to realize that we have a responsibility to cultivate the community that God provides.  What can we do at Redeemer by the Sea to cultivate, nourish and enrich the community that God is creating among us even as you read this newsletter?  How can we be sure not to cut-off, choke or under-nourish the newly forming and constantly growing relationships that God is enabling?  

   In response to those questions I would propose a few thoughts.  First, as Purpose Driven Life so clearly points out, “Community requires commitment.” (p. 145)  This may be challenging for some, but truly the best congregations and healthiest small groups ask for a commitment from their members.  It is difficult to invest your time and energy into a group of people or a congregation where you are the only one committed to it.  At Redeemer, our membership covenant outlines certain expectations of our members including regular attendance, giving and service. In return, our congregation commits to join together with you along your faith journey and to preach the gospel and administer the Sacraments in a manner faithful to the Holy Scriptures.  Authentic community also takes humility. Selfishness and pride create mini-empires and barriers between people.  Neither serves to cultivate community.  In the Body of Christ, humility and charity become the common language and mode of operation that underlie all our dealings with each other.  This, combined with forgiveness readily given and received, makes a community strong against the attempts of Satan to disrupt what God is building!  Finally, in order to enjoy the benefits of community we must gather – frequently. This means that you and I must “do life together” outside of Sunday morning.  Once a week is not enough to enjoy the kind of community that God desires for us.

   So I end with both encouragement and challenge for you.  I encourage you to relax about being in community.  Recognize that just like each day’s “daily bread,” community is something created and provided by God.  The challenge, however, is for you to make yourself available to receive it.  How are you connecting with other believers in meaningful relationships? Perhaps something in this newsletter will give you an idea or an opportunity.  Or perhaps you have an idea for cultivating community you’d like to explore.  Either way, feel free to share those ideas with me and the other leaders at Redeemer!  We want to do all that we can as a ministry to help you experience the Community that Jesus Christ has died so you can enjoy!

In Christian Community with you, 

Pastor Augie

A Matter of Life or Death!

Greetings Redeemer family and friends,

We recently had the opportunity of bringing our oldest son to college.  What a bittersweet time.  We are excited for him and all the opportunities he has before him and we’re proud of his accomplishments, but we are also sad to let him grow up… many of you know this experience well.  Our trip to Arizona was full of orientation sessions as well as trips to Wal-Mart for last minute dorm necessities!  But what our trip also included was attending a seminar by evangelist Mark Cahill.  A local church was hosting the event, so my two boys and I decided to go.  Let me tell you, Mark Cahill is someone who is not “lukewarm” about sharing his faith!  One of the hosting pastors told us that when he and Mark went to lunch, Mark evangelized all of the serving staff at the restaurant and a number of the patrons near their table!  What I’d like to do in this article is not just stand in awe of his actions, but challenge us to consider what makes someone do the things that Mark Cahill did that afternoon and, in fact, does on a regular basis.

In considering that question, I’d like to use a single word for our focus.  That word is “URGENCY!”  How easy it would have been for Mark to say to himself, “Here I am with a guest, in a strange town.  I’ll just eat lunch and chat, and get back to evangelizing when I get home.”  But as he shared in his seminar, he operates with such a sense of urgency, that he just couldn’t eat his meal in comfort while wondering if the other people around him knew Jesus Christ and were saved.  That, my friends, is URGENCY!  There’s no waiting when you have a sense of urgency.

Let’s put this in terms we can understand.  Consider an airplane[i].  What does the FAA require that the flight attendant instruct you about before every flight – no matter how many times you have flown?  What to do in the case of an emergency!  If you fly, you can recite the speech from memory: “If the cabin should experience pressure loss, oxygen masks will drop from the compartment above you.  First place the mask over your own face, tighten the straps; then assist those around you.”  When you are at 35,000 feet above the surface of the earth, and the oxygen is dissipating rapidly from the metal tube that supports you, you find that your priorities change!  Suddenly, you aren’t as concerned with what you were reading, what you are wearing, or if the flight you are on gives free peanuts! At that moment all your energy, motivation and focus is directed toward, well, salvation really – saving lives. First you are concerned for your own life, then after that, for the lives of others.  You are in a life and death situation; and it’s urgent!

I submit that when it comes to the spiritual salvation of others, it is just as much a matter of life and death – and it’s just as urgent!  Actually it’s more urgent.  According to what we believe, spiritual death for eternity is far worse than earthly death which Jesus describes as just “sleep.” (Matthew 9:24).  So if decreasing cabin pressure triggers this series of events:

1.       Oxygen masks drop

2.       Secure your own mask

3.       Help others secure their masks

How is it possible that pending death and eternal judgment trigger these events?:

1.       God’s grace drops in response to life threatening sin

2.       Secure your own salvation

3.       Go about what you were doing and consider helping others if you don’t have anything better to do.

It shouldn’t, right?  But it often does, doesn’t it? What would be the more appropriate response to this matter of life and death? Step number 3 should be: “help others secure their salvation!”  On the airplane, after you had your mask secure, you would help as many as you could, right?   And so on earth when it comes to sharing the life-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, you and I should help as many as we can while there’s still time!  That’s how the apostle Andrew responded when his “oxygen mask dropped” (when he met Jesus, his Savior).  The FIRST thing he did was share the life-saving message of Jesus with someone else: 

“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:41-42a)

How about you?  Who has God placed in your life – someone sitting in your row on the airplane – who needs your help to secure their salvation?  Who do you need to share the life-saving message of Jesus with?  Don’t wait until later... until you’re more comfortable … until you finish what you’re doing first … it might be too late.  Do it now – it’s urgent!  For them, it is a matter of life and death! 

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

Pastor Augie Iadicicco

Greetings Redeemer family and friends,

Something new is coming to Redeemer by the Sea - weekly prayer meetings!  Prayer is important.  You've heard me talk about it in sermons, and no doubt you've read Scripture references like this one in Ephesians chapter 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."  Prayer is truly the lifeblood of every Christian, and it's the lifeblood of our ministry at Redeemer by the Sea as well. 

However, it's not enough to just talk about prayer - we must do it!  Something amazing happens when brothers and sisters gather together in Christ's Name.  Through the Holy Spirit, the Lord is brought into our midst and His power is brought to bear on problems and concerns as well as people and plans. Not only that, but the old saying is true: "A family that prays together stays together!"  A church family that is constantly gathering in prayer begins to develop a bond and unity that Satan cannot easily tamper with.  It's this kind of unity in calling and purpose that I desire to see for our ministry at Redeemer.  It's this kind of unity and Spirit driven ministry that will enable us to effectively serve and disciple the people that God sends to us and to make a difference in our community and the world!

With that in mind, I am calling us together for regular weekly prayer beginning in August.  Recognizing that people's schedules are varied and yet trying to be accessible to as many people as possible, I've established the following schedule:

• 1^st & 3^rd Wednesday of the Month – 8:00am
• 2^nd & 4^th Wednesday of the Month – 6:00pm
• 5^th Wednesday of the Month – 6:00pm Prayer Service

My hope is that the variation in meeting times will allow you to attend at least one or two meetings a month that fits around your work schedule and other commitments.  The times have also been set so as to avoid small group meetings, leadership meetings (Church Council and Elders) as well as choir practice.  In fact, it may work well to attend a prayer meeting then head to your Bible Study or choir practice right after.

The format for the meetings is very simple: There will be an opening time of devotion, followed by a time of sharing & celebration, and then will conclude with a time for prayer requests and general prayers.  We will take time to pray for any specific needs that we are aware of as well as the needs of the various ministries of the congregation.  The prayer meeting should take about 30 minutes.  But what a valuable 30 minutes! By gathering together and seeing each other face-to-face we will be able to strengthen our relationships with one another, and by spending time in prayer, we will be able to strengthen our relationship with the Lord.   Jesus says in John 15:4 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” For us to bear fruit, we must remain in the Lord – we do this through prayer.

Everyone is invited to every prayer meeting, but a rotation of meetings has been set up to help concentrate our prayers on specific ministry areas.  The ministry areas are defined by our congregational focus of “Worship à Grow à Serve.”  If you are not able to attend every meeting, consider attending meetings where certain ministries will be in focus.  (If you serve in a specific ministry area, please try to attend when that area is in focus to help bring relevant prayers to our attention.)  The rotation of meetings has been setup to make both AM & PM meetings available to each ministry area. The schedule will rotate as follows:

8/3   8am – WORSHIP (Elders, Nursery, Choir, Praise Team, A/V, Ushers, Refreshments, Readers, Altar Guild, Stewardship & other Sunday Servants)
8/10 6pm – GROW (Greeters, Phone Callers, Shepherds, Fellowship, Adult Studies, Growth Groups, LWML, Youth & Children's Ministries)
8/17 8am - Cancelled
8/24 6pm - SERVE & ADMIN (Volunteer Servants, Care Ministry, Visitation, Meals, Cards, Evangelism & Outreach, Church Council, Staff, Pre-School, Trustees, Newsletter & Promotions)
8/31 6pm - WORSHIP
9/7   8am - GROW
9/14 6pm - SERVE & ADMIN
...  etc.  ...

I am so looking forward to these times together when we can gather and lift our ministries and lives to the Lord in prayer and humble submission!  May God use this time that we spend with Him for His good and gracious Kingdom purposes!

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

Pastor Augie Iadicicco
pastor@redeemerbythesea.org

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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