September 10, 2010

Fall into Autumn

This month marks the beginning of a number of things here at Church of the Redeemer, and we’d like to invite you into as much of it as you feel called to share, and also to encourage you to invite others.

This Sunday we’ll have a great time together in our annual picnic, following morning worship. This event is for everyone and guests, so reach out and join in. Our picnic is a cookout (provided by the church) and a potluck (provided by all of us), according to the following schedule:

A-F Salad for 8
G-L Side-dish for 8
M-Z Dessert for 8
(college/graduate students may bring a dish for 4).

There will be some tables set up for those who prefer that, but you can just bring a blanket and/or lawn chairs and find a comfy spot near the tent and church garden. Please be a part of this once a year opportunity to connect.

Confirmation

Our confirmation course gets under way this week as well, beginning at 9am. We’ll probably be meeting in the sanctuary this week as picnic prep will be going on downstairs. There is still an opportunity for you to be involved, even if you haven’t spoken with our office. Join in Sunday morning in preparation and anticipation for confirmations with Bishop John Rucyahana on Oct. 24th.

Alpha

Our adult Alpha course begins September 21st, and will meet each Tuesday evening at the home of Tom and Ricki Rosengren in Wilmette. More than 2 million people have taken the Alpha Course in the US alone, and many have come to faith in Christ. The Alpha course, as part of our regular ministries at Redeemer, helps us learn to be a church not just inwardly focused, but externally, as well. Invite a friend or someone you know into a safe place for questions, searching and support. Visit our Welcome Table for pre-printed invitations, and watch more at the Alpha website.

Our Youth Alpha continues on Sunday mornings at 9am. Please pray for these and other Alpha outreaches in our area.

Sonrise Benefit

We’re now just about 6 weeks out from our annual Sonrise Benefit, the major single supporting effort for Sonrise School in Musanze, Rwanda. Please be asking people now to set aside the date of Oct. 23rd to join you for this important night. It will be the last one involving Bishop John Rucyahana, the visionary leader who launched the school. We’ll celebrate by bringing one of the older students from Rwanda to our banquet to share with us their own story.

Sonrise’s first graduation has now been planned for late March, 2011. Invitations to the benefit have been mailed, but are still available. Be praying for the effectiveness of this time.

Come to the Water

Sunday morning’s worship on September 26th will include a service of baptism, for those in our church who have not yet been baptized and desire to follow Christ in this vital way. Baptism is a mark of our place among the Lord’s people, and the point where we begin our Christian journey.

Read more about baptism at Church of the Redeemer.

Contact our office or leadership if you would like to know more.

A New, Healing Beginning

Are you looking for a way to break out of your spiritual routine? Are you looking for a way to deepen your relationship with the Lord? Do you long for more intimacy and wholeness in your spiritual journey? Then join with us on Wednesday, October 6th, as Church of the Redeemer starts a new, monthly, all church healing prayer service, to be offered the first Wednesday of each month. This gathering will be an opportunity for us, individually and as a congregation, to restore our souls and experience the healing presence of Jesus Christ. This will be a time of respite, a time to sing praises to our risen Lord, to share a psalm/word of encouragement or a short teaching, and a time to pray not only for one another’s physical needs for healing, but for those deeper emotional and spiritual needs of healing for our sense of being, well being, affirmation, and wholeness in Christ. There are many in our communities that need healing, so invite others to join in, as well.

For more information talk to our Prayer Team leader, Dan Babarik, at dblaw7 [at] gmail.com or danjuliebabarik [at] sbcglobal.net

Giving

In transitioning to fall we like to be able to share information on finances at Redeemer. We operate on faith, giving thanks together as we give sacrificially and joyfully to the Lord’s work. But communicating our current situation is always important, and if you’ve been watching income amounts each week you will noticed that they trail what is needed. As is usual for the summer months, our income is behind expenses, even as we have carefully controlled costs for our ministries throughout the year. We have made this up in the fall in previous years, but we don’t presume upon God’s goodness or your generosity. So we pray for God’s provision in our budget, and for our faith and obedience in sacrificial giving. Thank you for your important part in this area of our life together.

Offering last week: $3,188
Average amount needed each week: $6,700

In Need

Last weekend 14 year old Adriana Avila from Highwood, a freshman at Highland Park High School, was shot and killed in North Chicago. This devastating event has left her family in shock and grief, and in need. Her mother, working two jobs to support the family of four, is receiving donations to help cover funeral expenses. You can leave donations at Tacos El Norte, 118 Washington Avenue in Highwood.

Children’s Ministry Training Seminar

As school begins and summer draws to a close, it is time to meet together for a time of fellowship and equipping. Please join us for our training session on Saturday, September 11 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. We’ll meet at Redeemer Lutheran for a short but vital opportunity to prepare our minds, hearts, and bodies for ministering to and with our little ones this fall.

Seminar Schedule:

8:45 – 9:00 am — Arrive at Redeemer Lutheran and drink a cup of coffee (our treat!)

9:00 – 9:20 am — Learn about our new curriculum (Living the Good News, from Morehouse Education Resources), and get an overview of how our ministry in the nursery is becoming more intentional.

9:20 – 10:15 am — Seminar on Biblical Storytelling. Learn about ways to invite children to enter into scripture with their spirits and imaginations. Judy Bayley will help foster discussion, and you will have opportunities to practice finding your voice as you tell God’s Story.

10:15 – 10:30 am — Meet in sub-teams for discussion and prayer (Nursery; 2-4 Yr. Olds’ Class; K – 5th Grade Class).

**For anyone who would like to stay after, we will be doing some cleaning and decoration projects.**

Please let Emily (emily.cool.greener [at] gmail.com) know if you’ll be able to participate, and specify if you would like childcare. Open to anyone interested in learning more about our Children’s Ministry, or about Biblical storytelling!

Calendar

— Saturday, September 11, 9:00 – 10:30 am – Children’s Ministry Training Meeting??
— Sept. 12, our All Church Picnic.??
— Sept. 12, Confirmation Class begins, 9am??
— October 2, Ride for Refuge (and Rwanda) – Contact Jason or Danielle Miller for more info, or contribute
— Saturday, October 9, Growing Leaders Gathering??
— Saturday, October 16 – Parents’ Night Out (Kids’ Journey to Rwanda)
??— October 23rd, our Sonrise Benefit
— October 24, Worship and Confirmations with Bishop John Rucyahana ??

Please pray for . . .

— Alpha courses that we will offer this fall
— the election of a new Archbishop for the Anglican Province of Rwanda
— new small group opportunities at Redeemer
— those who will enter process for Confirmation