Luminate ~ Hope is Rising

Blessing for a Journey

On the bus ride to Sioux Center (start town of RAGBRAI) and on the bus ride from Clinton (finish town of RAGBRAI), I read selections from the Contemporary Celtic Prayer Book.  One selection that caught my eye was the Blessing for a Journey.  It's not surprising that this particular Irish verse captured my attention.  I was on a journey to Sioux Center.  I was on a journey by bike from Sioux Center to Clinton.  I was on a journey home.  Isn't life a journey in many ways?  
While I read, my thoughts reflected (in parentheses) on the reading...

Blessing for a Journey (page 106)

May the road rise to meet you.  (Lord, let it be so.)
May the wind be always at your back.  (It is not always so.)
May the sun shine warm upon your face.  (Feel the warmth!)
And the rain fall soft upon your fields.  
                              (Water them, Lord, and bless the harvest.)
And until we meet again, (May it be so.)
May you be held in the palm of God's hand.  
                              (Amen and Amen.  Hallelujah!)

So Close I can Taste it!

I ride a Giant Bicycle

RAGBRAI is so close I can taste it!  For those of you from outside of the bicycle-mad state of Iowa, RAGBRAI is an acronym for Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.  This year it starts in Sioux Center, Iowa and finishes one week later in Clinton, Iowa.  We are going to brave the heat (the forecast calls for 90F weather) while we make our way along 471 miles of county roads with thousands of others.  I'm ready to go - my training has gone well.  And I'm ready to start sampling the best pies the Iowa-church-ladies have to offer.  If last year's pie effort is duplicated in 2012, RAGBRAI may need to be re-named: Rag-Pie!


I ride RAGBRAI for fun but also to raise funds for New Life Prison Community.  We set an outrageous goal of $20,000 a few months ago.  Believe it or not, we're already 95% of the way there.  We only have a few hundred dollars to crash the $20K barrier.  Will you help us get to the finish line?  Donate today!


New Life Prison Community
408 Maple Street
Pella, IA 50219

Great Book

I really enjoyed this read from Henri Nouwen.  I've read it before and I'm sure I'll read it again.  Nouwen wrote about the renewal of people working in ministry.  He describes how the spiritual disciplines of silence, solitude and prayer can draw a person ever closer into the heart of God.  It was a good reminder for me as I seek to serve men in prison with compassion.  Nouwen transports me to Scriptures and the desert fathers in order to make his case. It's a convincing case - those who want to fill others need to be filled themselves: By the Spirit of God.

I give you my heart.

Baptism and Profession of Faith at New Life

 By Rose Admiraal

On Thursday, June 14, I had the privilege to witness the baptism of 8 men and the profession of faith of 2 more men.  Wow!  After a time of fellowship we were welcomed by Pastor Rick in English and Carlos in Spanish.  We began singing a rousing song of “How Great is Our God” followed by a special number written by one of the men professing his faith.  We came to God in confession and concluded by singing  “At the Foot of the Cross” (the men’s favorite song).  Pastor Rick dedicated our new baptistery/Lord’s Supper table to bring glory to God within the walls of the Newton facility.  Eight men came forward to say yes to God and were baptized by Pastor Rick, each praising God as they came up out of the water.  Then 2 more men came forward to profess their faith in front of the body of believers.   The praise team sang “Fill Me Now” as a special number and everyone sang “You are My All in All”.  You could feel the presence of the Lord in that place! 

Pastor Art Van Wolde (from Calvary CRC, Pella) came up to give the message from Philippians 4:4-7, Rejoice Always?  He shared how we can rejoice in the Lord no matter what circumstances in life that we're facing.  It was Pastor Art's last service at the prison before his big move to Zeeland, Michigan.

Pastor Rick and Pastor Art then served communion to the men and volunteers while Rose and Amy Van Wolde sang a duet, “Oh Lord You’re Beautiful”.  The congregation joined the praise team in singing the “Revelation Song” at the conclusion of communion.  Brother Larry played his acoustic guitar while singing a moving rendition of “I Can Only Imagine”.  After Pastor Rick gave the blessing, the praise team led the congregation in singing “My Redeemer Lives”.  Rose urged the congregation to sing boldly so the men in the hallway could hear their testimony in song.  We praise God for a Spirit filled time of worship!

New Life Riders

There will be FIVE New Life Riders this summer attempting RAGBRAI - Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.  It's 471 miles long this year and the event takes one week to complete.    We're doing the big bike ride for two reasons - fun and fundraising.  Will you consider sponsoring one of us?  To support New Life's summer fundraiser, send your check today:


New Life Prison Community
408 Maple Street
Pella, IA 50219

Thank you for your generosity to this important prison ministry.

Left to Right - Bill, Pastor Rick, Corrine, Corinne & Gary

So cool they have to wear shades!