From the Pastor

June 2008

Build us up, Lord, build us up; set in us a strong foundation. Lead us to do your holy will; form and shape your new creation. Build us up, Lord, build us up; as we guide and teach each other, help us to share your love with the world; ev’ry sister, ev’ry brother.

Build us up, Lord, build us up; let our lives reflect your glory. Cast away all our doubts and fears; help us tell the world your story. Build us up, Lord, build us up; help us bear good fruit for you, Lord, give us vision and keep us sure. Grant us faith that’s steadfast and true.

Growing in Christ, we plant seeds for the kingdom; we follow in faith what’s begun! Lord, set in our hearts the pow’r of your word to spread the news of your Son!

--Build Us Up, Lord ELW #670, used in worship 9 and 10 May 2008

As I write this, we are in an "in-between" time here at Holy Redeemer. The informational meetings regarding the potential building project are over, and those who did not attend the meetings have had packets delivered to them. The information is in our hands so that we can study, consider, and pray … and now we wait for the 1 June meeting.

The Growing to and for Christ committee and the building committee who met with the architect have done a fantastic job getting us to this point. They have been prayerful, thoughtful, congenial, attentive, and have always kept the expressed needs of Holy Redeemer first and foremost in their thoughts throughout this process. I feel good about that, and I thank God for their work.

The congregation has been, I think, engaged and interested to this point. The pledges from the initial 6 month campaign are one indicator of that, as are all the questions I personally have fielded (from timelines, to finances, to dishwashers and color schemes) about this project. I know many committee members have addressed similar questions. The Holy Spirit has clearly been at work, building anticipation and excitement, and I feel good about that.

But there is still work to be done, and perhaps this work will be the hardest of all. We are now at the point where each one of us must ask: How will I support this project? How much am I willing to commit—in terms of my prayers, my time, and my money to see this vision through to completion? How much will I commit to enhancing and expanding the ministries of Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church? How much am I willing to commit to help spread God's great Good News?

This work, this consideration, will require all of us to pray, to seek discernment, and most important of all, to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit and the promise of God‘s constant presence with us.

There is no doubt that this is a monumental moment in the life of Holy Redeemer, and this is not a decision that should be taken lightly—by anyone. What we decide on 1 June will change our lives together, and change is always a scary prospect. We will have to trust the Holy Spirit and God to sustain us, and we will have to trust that each one of us will take seriously our personal commitment to prayer, to open-mindedness, and to the financial support of this project. The Spirit has gotten us this far by calling, inspiring, and even nudging, and will continue to walk with us—no matter what.

Yes, I too, have some anxiety as we enter this phase of our life together, but I also have enormous faith that God will provide all that we need. This community of faith has so much to give the world, and this project has tremendous potential to help us do that very thing.

I feel good about all of that. More than that, I feel blessed.

In Christ,
Pastor Brenda