New People, New Location

Sunday evening was one of those goosebumps-inducing, momentous occasions in the life of a local church - the dedication of a new sanctuary for Iglesia Luterana Pueblo Nuevo. 

DRLM missionaries, members from all three Santiago-area congregations, families, and friends first gathered in front of the old location to deconsecrate it. This was a step I hadn't even considered that basically consisted in thanking God for all He did in the space and praying for its future occupants. 

Then, we followed the processional cross the few blocks to the new location. 

Heading for the white building up ahead on the left...

The new building is far more spacious and visible than the old one. The team only thought to look at it when the realtor who was going to show them the house next door didn't show!

I saw the space for the first and only time prior to Sunday during the Spring FORO in March. The before & after is astounding, and the first Divine Service held there was equally impressive.  Missionary pastor Joel Fritsche's sermon was based on the Gospel reading from John 10, specifically verse 16:

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

This is Pueblo Nuevo's 4th location in its 8-year history, and Joel acknowledged that he's just one in a string of pastors, vicars, and seminary students whose voices have been listened to by the congregation. Or so it seems? In reality, the Voice has been the same. The Good Shepherd has been speaking to His flock all along through the lips of a succession of different men, just as He speaks to His flock in every place.  

The celebratory joy continued well past the last Alleluia of the closing hymn as key players in the property acquisition & renovation process were recognized, the Licey and Palmar congregations presented gifts to their sister church, and a potluck was enjoyed by all.

One of the gifts was a pair of banners adorned with 1 Peter 2:10:

Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Pueblo Nuevo ("New People") happens to be the name of the neighborhood in which the church is located, but its theological significance is not lost. We have been mercifully renewed in the waters of Baptism and grafted into the body of Christ; we are His. The "pueblo nuevo" who happen to worship at the urban church closest to my neighborhood now have a beautiful local nuevo ("new location") from which to bring more sheep that are not of the fold to hear the Shepherd's Voice and to be made part of the one flock. To be made one of God's people - God's new people. 

Until next time, blessings!