News - July 2017 RSS Feed

Dear friends in Christ,
Allow me this week to give you an update on the progress of the Redeemer Activity Center construction. As you drive around our campus it is clear that we are well underway with the new building. The trailer for the General Contractor (Paradigm) is onsite and there are plenty of big trucks bulldozers, and other equipment on the back 10 acres that we formerly called “the field.” Drive further around to the back of the Parish Life Center and you'll see additional work being done on the outside of the second floor of that building. From the driveway, however, it's difficult to see just what all is going on.

Dear friends in Christ,
I wrote in last week’s bulletin how we are in the middle of a long stretch of readings at Mass that all come from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. On this 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time we read a snippet (it’s only two verses) from Chapter 8 of one of the most well-known passages of the letter. Here it is in full: “Brothers and sisters: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches the hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.”

Dear friends in Christ,
Throughout this summer at the Sunday liturgies, we are hearing from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans in the Second Reading. In fact, we are in the middle of 16 weeks of reading from this particular letter. Get used to it as you’ll be hearing it until well into September!

Dear friends in Christ,
Our gospel reading on this 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time is one of the most comforting in all of the New Testament. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30). I don’t know about you, but every time I read that passage my heart is filled with an inner peace. It’s like being wrapped in a big warm hug by Jesus. If you are burdened by life – and all of us are at some time and in some way – then let these words of Jesus be your comfort and strength. Then go and bring that same comfort and strength to others.