Redeemer at May –July 2017 From Sally Rosser, Council President Redeemer is enjoying an incredible year! We have a new Senior Pastor, Mark Larson, coming to join our excellent staff on June 12, our “5 for the 500 th Engagement Challenge” program is involving hundreds of us in serving, learning and deepening our faith, our facilies are being restored, our parcipaon has increased, registraon for summer programs has begun; and the ministry calendar is overflowing with opportunies to Come Share Life! Redeemer is truly blessed! I recall fondly one of the first services I aended at Redeemer nearly 40 years ago. Pastor Lee’s sermon remarks included, “The Church of the Redeemer has the mind, the incredibly giſted lay leadership, the sense of desny, the resources, and the eternal giſt of the Holy Spirit working in it, to lead it, in the decades ahead, to ever and ever greater service and praise of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” So much of what makes Redeemer who we are today is as a result of this history of faithful engagement. We are blessed by the vision of those who led the charge in discovering new ways to touch lives, bringing a message of hope and grace through our service! I hope that your selecon of engagement opportunies has led to as many new relaonships and wonderful experiences as mine. I have met members I didn’t know, learned a lot about Redeemer I didn’t know and believe my faith is strengthened from my adventures into new areas with new people. I have been personally inspired by the aenon and kindness of our congregaon as we serve together on the “5 for the 500 th Engagement Challenge”. As we begin the second quarter of 2017, we will focus on relaonships. We will begin inving each of you to meet your Redeemer family and assist you in finding those with whom you share common interests and lifestyle. In the process, we will all get to know our new pastor Pastor Mark and his wife Cindy... and they will get to know us. On Sunday, June 4 we will express our thanks Pastor Dave and Karen at a recepon in Sims Atrium following the services that day. Pastor Dave’s kind and gentle leadership and great sense of humor has made our me of transion smoother and less anxious. We are grateful for his work with our staff and clergy as well as the Senior Pastor Call Commiee. We will miss them both! Perhaps they will decide to become part of the Redeemer family. Pastor Mark Larson and his wife Cindy will arrive on June 12! Thanks be to God! Pastor Mark will preach for the first me at Redeemer on June 18 th . Don’t miss this celebraon of a new chapter in the life of our congregaon as we welcome Pastor Mark and Cindy to our family.
Transcript
Red e em e r at
May –July 2017
From Sally Rosser, Council President
Redeemer is enjoying an incredible year! We have a new Senior Pastor, Mark Larson, coming to join
our excellent staff on June 12, our “5 for the 500th Engagement Challenge” program is involving
hundreds of us in serving, learning and deepening our faith, our facilities are being restored, our
participation has increased, registration for summer programs has begun; and the ministry calendar is
overflowing with opportunities to Come Share Life! Redeemer is truly blessed!
I recall fondly one of the first services I attended at Redeemer nearly 40 years ago. Pastor Lee’s sermon
remarks included, “The Church of the Redeemer has the mind, the incredibly gifted lay leadership, the
sense of destiny, the resources, and the eternal gift of the Holy Spirit working in it, to lead it, in the
decades ahead, to ever and ever greater service and praise of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” So
much of what makes Redeemer who we are today is as a result of this history of faithful engagement.
We are blessed by the vision of those who led the charge in discovering new ways to touch lives,
bringing a message of hope and grace through our service!
I hope that your selection of engagement opportunities has led to as many new relationships and
wonderful experiences as mine. I have met members I didn’t know, learned a lot about Redeemer I
didn’t know and believe my faith is strengthened from my adventures into new areas with new people.
I have been personally inspired by the attention and kindness of our congregation as we serve together
on the “5 for the 500th Engagement Challenge”.
As we begin the second quarter of 2017, we will focus on relationships. We will begin inviting each of
you to meet your Redeemer family and assist you in finding those with whom you share common
interests and lifestyle. In the process, we will all get to know our new pastor Pastor Mark and his wife
Cindy... and they will get to know us.
On Sunday, June 4 we will express our thanks Pastor Dave and Karen at a reception in Sims Atrium
following the services that day. Pastor Dave’s kind and gentle leadership and great sense of humor has
made our time of transition smoother and less anxious. We are grateful for his work with our staff and
clergy as well as the Senior Pastor Call Committee. We will miss them both! Perhaps they will decide to
become part of the Redeemer family.
Pastor Mark Larson and his wife Cindy will arrive on June 12! Thanks be to God! Pastor Mark will
preach for the first time at Redeemer on June 18th. Don’t miss this celebration of a new chapter in the
life of our congregation as we welcome Pastor Mark and Cindy to our family.
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C H I L D R E N & Y O U T H W O W
C O N C E R T W e d n e s d a y M a y 1 0 | 6 : 1 5 p m | S i m s A t r i u m
All are invited, beginning with dinner at 5:15 pm, followed by the concert at 6:15 pm. The program will feature the Cherub Choir, Redeemer Singers, J.O.Y. Choir, Redeemer Ringers and Joyful Rhythm Ringers. The Redeemer Singers will present the musical drama Elijah. All ages will enjoy this festive celebration of children and youth music ministry, so please come!
M a y 7 | L u t h e r a n To w e r s S u n d a y Art Show by Tower Residents in Sims Atrium
Lutheran Towers was established by Redeemer forty- five years ago as an affordable haven for the elderly in Midtown. The goal of Lutheran Towers isn’t just to be a safe place for people to live out their years in affordability. It’s a place for people to “thrive”. The towers mission is a deep rooted, person centered, culture that fosters, dignity, enrichment, and well-being. While HUD supplies the heat and power, it’s up to us to make it a “home”. Your support and contributions allow simple things, like yoga classes, visits to cultural events, jazzercise, coffee socials, bingo, prayer circles, shopping trips, crafts, and ice cream socials to take place. These are just some of the activities that makes the towers a home to its’ over 200 residents. Other services promote physical well-being, like health services, medication management, dental care and transportation. Lutheran Towers was a vision of Dr. Robert E. Lee, Senior Pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Through a partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 15-story tower has served as a home for over 3000 residents since its construction in 1972. It remains the only faith-based residential facility of its kind in Midtown Atlanta. Get involved with Lutheran Towers. Can you drive a van, teach basic computer skills, or other activities to seniors? Why not volunteer a just a little of your time or consider a much needed donation. Help us celebrate this vital outreach ministry as we honor residents, staff, volunteers and donors.
Proverbs 24: 3-4 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
S U N D A Y S C H O O L T E A C H E R A P P R E C I A T I O N | M A Y 7 Thank you to all those who served in the Sunday School program this year! Our lead teachers take on creative lessons and instruct Redeemer children in the faith, while assistants and parent helpers play an important role in helping class to run smoothly. It was a great year with over 110 kids attending Sunday School, and almost 50 adult volunteers contributing to the ministry. Thank you!
2 N D G R A D E FA I T H S T E P P I N G S TO N E | M AY 7
We celebrate the Second Graders’ Faith Stepping Stone, ‘I Believe’. They have been learning about the words of our faith through the Creeds, and we welcome their blessing during 11:00 worship. Faith Stepping Stones is a ministry where Redeemer partners with families to carry out the promises made during their child’s baptism. For more information about Faith Stepping Stone classes for all ages, contact Jen Fuchs at [email protected]. To schedule a baptism, contact Pastor Mary Peters at [email protected].
M I D T O W N A S S I S TA N C E F O O D D R I V E Distributing Bags beginning Sunday, May 7
List of needed foods below: We will be delivering the food to MAC on Sunday, June 4, after the 11:00am service. We need volunteers to go with us to help put away the food we have collected.
M i d t o w n L u t h e r a n P r e s c h o o l w r a p s u p y e a r 4 !
We had a great year welcoming new staff and families. Once again, we will be offering limited summer camp opportunities to our families in June and July.
Preschool will resume for our 5th year on August 9th! We are on rolling admission and would love to have a few more children join our roster for our year so pass our name along! We greatly appreciate your constant support, encouragement, and word of mouth referrals to your friends and families! We look forward to more new adventures in 2017-2018!
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Spring Fling and WELCA Fashion & Doll Show | May 13 | 11 am
S u n d a y, M a y 1 4 | G r a d u a t e R e c o g n i t i o n S u n d a y
Congratulations to all the graduates! If you know someone who is completing their degree at the high school,
college, or Master/Doctoral level, we'd love to know about it. Contact [email protected] by May 7
to be included in the day. We'll have a special blessing for graduates during 11:00 worship followed by a
reception in Sims Atrium.
Redeemer's Sisters of the Good Shepherd and Northside Circle are
sponsoring this fun day of fashion, dolls, and food. Purchase your tickets
this Sunday, May 7 in Sims Atrium. The cost for this luncheon, and the
"American Women in History through Dolls" program is $10.00 for adults
and $5.00 for children. If you would like to sign up to display, share, or
present your own favorite or historic doll in addition to the dolls of the
f r o m C h i l d r e n ’ s C h u r c h Thank you to Fraser Pearson! Tenth grader, Fraser Pearson is working towards the rank of Eagle Scout, and has worked with Children's Ministry for almost a year to plan, design, and build an altar for our Children's Church space. All were blessed to receive communion at the newly dedicated altar during the Children's Easter Celebration in April. Thank you, Fraser, for your service and care.
“ O n c e U p o n a T i m e ” June 12-16 | 9am—4pm with free before & after care
Registration is now available at www.redeemer.org. Rising kindergarteners through 7th graders will explore music, art, drama and more! The focus of the week will be working toward presenting “Joust! A Mighty Medieval Musical.” Tuition for the week is $165, and includes all activities, a hot lunch, and a t-shirt. Sibling discounts apply, and financial need based scholarships are available. Non-members are welcome, so tell your friends and neighbors. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Sarah Hawbecker at 404-874-8664, ext. 206 or [email protected]. Follow the camp and share our posts on Facebook at facebook.com/RedeemerMusicCamp/
R e d e e m e r W e e k at L u t h e r i d g e | J u n e 4 — 1 0 Redeemer children & youth will experience a week on the mountain. They will learn about “The Water of Life” in Bible study and enjoy all sort of adventures with new and old friends. Pray for our campers and adult leaders, and the counselors and camp staff preparing for our arrival!
Night Out Being a mom is tough! It helps to hear from other moms who share the joys, sorrows, and hilarity of our parenting journey. The moms are planning a night out, Wednesday, May 31 at 6 pm. For more information email Jen Fuchs at [email protected].
J U N E 2 6 — 3 0 | 9 A M — 1 2 : 3 0 P M *Free before care at 8:00 am | After-care available until 6:00 pm for a fee The Maker Fun Factory is a place where kids are created by God, built for a purpose. This is a huge ministry of Redeemer where the entire church will be transformed into God’s work-shop. Here are some of the ways you can be involved: -Give a financial contribution to support our Vacation Bible School ministry. A donation of $40 sponsors one
camper for the week, and contributions of all levels support the ministry. Gears for our Wall of Thanks are available at the Welcome Desk.
- Check your garage, attic, and tool shed for old household items that can be repurposed for VBS fun. Wrenches, pots and pans, wooden spoons and the like are all needed. We are also in need of large sheets of peg board and various lengths/ sizes of PVC pipe. Donations are accepted at the Resource Room (across from room 204).
- Collect LARGE cardboard boxes (i.e. appliance boxes), clean tin cans, and clean plastic tubes (i.e. Airborne containers). Bring items to the Resource Room (across from room 204)
- Donate in-kind supplies. Check here (add link: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A45A9A62BA2FD0-maker ) for updates about supply needs.
- Join us during the week of June 20-24 to begin transforming Redeemer into the Factory. - Join us on June 25 & 26 to put on the final touches. June 25, 9 am – 3 pm; June 26, noon – 3 pm. - Register your child or grandchild today at vbspro.events/p/ redeemervbs. - Register as a volunteer! Adults and youth are needed to serve many roles. Lots of volunteers serve the en-
tire morning, but there are roles for people who can only serve one hour a day, or one day in the week. - Listen to VBS music in advance to learn all your soon-to-be-favorite songs from our week together. CDs are
available at the Welcome Desk. - Spread the word. Invite your friends and neighbors for a fun-and-faith-filled week! - For more info, contact Jen Fuchs a [email protected].
H a v e a P h y s i c a l l y & S p i r i t u a l l y H e a l t h y S u m m e r
Eat more berries. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries all are good for you .
Enjoy water. Drink lots of water, swim, canoe, kayak, run in the rain.
Remember your baptism as you enjoy the water.
Wear sunglasses and sunscreen as you rejoice in the light!
Attend Worship regularly. Worship the Son, not the sun.
Relax and read. There are great books in the Redeemer library.
Read something you have been putting off,
maybe a book in the Bible.
Rest, vacation, take time away, to restore yourself and your
relationship with God and others.
Have a great summer, Karen Medford
Faith Community Nurse
“This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.” From Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:6
You Can Change Someone’s Life With Eight Words As we begin our second quarter of our “5 for 500th Engagement Challenge” our emphasis turns to engagement through relationships. Engagement begins with invitation, to us, or by us. Most of us are blessed by a circle of family, friends and colleagues. This circle can remain small and limiting or it can continue to expand as we invite others to share our lives, our interests, and our hearts! We find it easy to extend invitations for dinner, a sports event, a play date, etc. We are eager to share our best experiences, we share the excitement of our favorite places and we welcome new friends into our homes. As we engage others and become engaged we begin to appreciate the value of the larger circle and the importance of community.
Please consider how this applies to your faith life... Sometimes it can be intimidating to talk about our faith or invite someone to join us. Sometimes it can be awkward. Sometimes we feel we are intruding. Sometimes people say no, before they say yes. But that short moment of discomfort in extending an invite is so worth it when we see that invitation may change someone’s life. Perhaps God is using you for that purpose. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is leading you to just the right person.
All it takes is 8 words, Would you join me at Redeemer this week? Joining you at Redeemer means engaging in worship, learning, service and fellowship! There will surely be opportunities that will be a “fit” for those you wish to invite. Pray for specific people in your life who need to know that God loves them, and ask God to give you an opportunity to invite them. Pray that when God gives you the opportunity to invite someone to Redeemer, that you would have the courage to extend that invitation. That is how engagement begins!
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Events
5/7-End of Year Party 5/7-Teacher Appreciation Day (Say a special
“Thank You” to your Sunday School Teacher or Confirmation Teachers/Small Group Leaders)
5/14-Graduation Recognition Sunday 5/14-Mother’s Day Bake Sale 5/20-Confirmation Banquet 5/21-Confirmation Sunday 5/21-Last day of Confirmation Class and HS
Sunday School 6/18-6/23-AFFIRM 6/25-7/1-Confirmation Camp at Lutheridge
We are now utilizing an online tool, Planning Center, for Youth Worship Assistants! All Youth are asked to serve in worship as part of their Confirmation experience and beyond as Youth members of the congregation. Please sign up around your summer plans now. Thanks for your service!
S a t u r d a y, A u g u s t 5 In 2013, Redeemer led the way in the Southeastern Synod and raised $358,000 toward the building of the retreat center facility and named a wing in memory of our beloved former pastor, The Reverend Dr. Carl F.W. Ficken. Construction is now underway! Plan now to join the Ficken family as we gather to celebrate this historic event! For questions, contact Charles Bridgers
S t e p h e n M i n i s t r y Crisis: An emotionally charged time of instability during which a crucial change occurs The Chinese word for "crisis" is a combination of two characters: one for
"danger" (危 - wei) and the other for
"opportunity" (機 -ji). This helps drive
home the idea that every crisis, though it may involve impending danger, also
offers opportunities for personal or spiritual growth. Stephen Ministers are trained to walk with you through the dangers of your crisis and to help you find the opportunities God has in store for you. For more information about Stephen Ministry, please contact Pr. Mary Peters at 404.874.8664 or [email protected]
