St. John Lutheran Church in Waverly earlier this summer.
Rev. Andrey Lipnitsky from Russia, Rev. Ronnie Koch, Rev. Eric Rottman (both from USA representing the Good News Magazine) and Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki (in the white shirt) from Kenya.
Pictured in front of the church in Palanga - left to right - Marjorie Arp, Inga Petkunas & daughters Ieva & Augusta, Keith Boehin (representing the Schwan Foundation), Kurtis Velius, (native Lithuanian and major contributer to the Palanga project), Rev. Ronnie Koch, (pastor of St. Paul, Fredericksburg representing Good New Magazine).
Unfinished interior of the Palanga Project - Pastor Petkunas.
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To the Saints of Iowa District East:
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 1:2)
“Better than I deserve, that’s for sure!” That is the response usually given by a friend of mine when he is greeted with the question, “How are you?” This is not just a pious thing for him to say. He is expressing an honest conviction. He is a man who stands at the foot of the cross and knows he deserves what His Savior suffered in his behalf. This man’s home was in the eye of Hurricane Katrina!
As I write this it has been nearly three months since the tornado ripped through eastern Iowa and nearly two months since the flood waters crested in eastern Iowa communities. The physical scars on the landscape and communities of such catastrophes lasts for years. The scars on human lives can last a lifetime.
How do we cope when some great tragedy befalls us. I have found that standing at the foot of Calvary’s Cross enables us to put things in the proper perspective. Five and a half years ago when I learned I had lung cancer I began looking at the suffering of Christ in a new light. As I felt the affects of radiation and chemotherapy and then surgery I kept thinking, “this is nothing compared to what my Savior suffered on the cross for me.” Then as I faced an uncertain future I kept telling myself, “No matter how bad this gets it’s better than I deserve.”
I have been reading a series of devotions by Dr. Martin Luther on the Lord’s Prayer. In these devotions he deals at length (as he does with most subjects!) on the positive effect of suffering in the life a Christian. It drives us to the Gospel - the Good News that no matter what this world or people around us can dish out, God loves us! The ultimate proof of that is God the Son hanging on the cross and His empty tomb!
Here is how the Apostle Paul dealt with suffering: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Rom. 8:18-25 ESV)
“A believing Christian who had just been informed of the death of his son remarked: “Whenever my tragedy becomes baffling, I lay it against Calvary.” There is the real insurance against despair in the midst of misfortune. If God so loved us from eternity that He decreed to give His only begotten Son into the “calamity” of Calvary - so that we might be His own and live under Him in His kingdom–then surely He will not allow any tragedy to rob us of the ultimate enjoyment of that blessed promise.” (“Daily Walk with God” CPH)
I commend all who have and continue to respond to the human suffering caused by the recent storms. We are all recipients of God’s mercy in Christ. Jesus says, “Be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) As Rev. Harrison of LCMS Human Care put it “Mercy received is mercy given.”
As far as I know St. John in Waverly was the only one of our IDE church buildings that suffered damage – and the damage was extensive. St. John congregation is appealing for help and I encourage you to respond. We have placed their information on our website. There are two ways to get to the page: Click on http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=7696 or go to http://www.lcmside.org. On the left column of the home page, click on the “Storm Relief of 2008” Choose St John Waverly Flood Recovery Needs from that drop down menu.
LITHUANIA:
This summer my wife and I again visited Lithuania. I attended a conference in Klaipeda, Lithuania sponsored by Concordia Theological Seminary. Lutheran pastors and bishops from all over Europe and Scandinavia attended. This year there were participants from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belarus, Croatia, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and the USA. This is the third time I have attended this conference. In addition to the conference papers, someone from each of the countries represented gives a brief “state of the church” in their area. I encourage you to remember your fellow Lutherans in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in your prayers. The government in both of these countries is considering legislation that would have a very negative effect on the Lutheran Church in both countries.
In addition to attending the conference we also visited the Palanga Project again. The outside of the building is completed, however the inside is unfinished and is not usable at this point. I met with Pastor Petkunas and Bishop Sabutus to discuss how we can move forward. Although their resources are very limited they are doing what they can to raise some funds also. The work is now at a standstill for lack of funds. I know this project has taken much longer to complete that any of us expected. Again I thank those who have supported this project. We need to raise about $300,000 to complete the project. We must get it finished within a year as prices continue to rise and the value of the U.S. dollar continues to decline.
I thank those who have supported the Palanga Project and encourage you to continue to do so. If you have not yet given an offering to this project, I urge you to help out so we can bring this project to completion and the congregation in Palanga can begin using it to reach out with God’s redeeming love in Christ. Make checks payable to LCMS Human Care - Palanga Project.” You can send them to the district office and we will pass them on.
THANK YOU
I was recently informed that Deaconess Goldfish is retiring from her service at the University of Iowa Hospitals. In behalf of Iowa District East and all the hospital patients she has served: Thank You Carol for your faithful service to our Lord as you served others.
