Pastor's Note

Dear Friends in Christ at Redeemer,

Well, would you look at that! New Redeemer t-shirts to wear out-and-about this summer, perhaps at one of our midweek Beergarden gatherings! The t-shirts are $10 each and will be available at Sunday services, at the Beergarden gatherings, and in the office during regular hours (Tues-Fri, 10am to 3pm).

The choice of a printed t-shirt can project a certain image (“It Took Me 70 Years to Look This Good”), promote a cause (Black Lives Matter), or identify with a group of people (Milwaukee Bucks). A Redeemer t-shirt lets a broader number of people know a little bit about our church.  Special thanks to Alex for her design work!

Even without a t-shirt, sometimes just walking around with your particular face and body can communicate a tie to family. Especially if you grew up in a smaller community like I did, you might recognize “an Uselman” from a block away. In non-adoptive families, physical family resemblances may bring up other associations about the family, too—for better or for worse. The reputations of previous generations, cousins, or siblings might influence how someone initially views you.

I’m working on the Sunday sermon based on verses from Mark 7 where Jesus criticizes people for side-stepping the command to “Honor your father and mother.” And gee, before I went to seminary, I always thought that commandment was for children to do whatever their mom and dad said to do. Nope, that’s not it.  We’ll pray and meditate on what it means to “honor” father and mother according to God’s word.  For many of you, accompanying a parent in their older age and decreasing health has called forward this question of “honoring,” made more difficult by the complexities and hardships of the past.  What is God calling me to do in regard to my aging parents? Is there an escape clause, or not?

We’ve noted the Hallmark Holidays of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in recent weeks; now it’s time to engage Honoring Parents from a Biblical point of view.

Come wearing your favorite printed t-shirt this Sunday, and let’s worship God together.

Peace, PrLisa