Announcements: August 12, 2016

​Our Annual Block Party  will take place on Wednesday, August 17th from 6:00-8:00PM. We will be looking for food, supply, and volunteer donations from the congregation in the coming week. If you would like to donate your time or supplies, contact the Sarah in the church office at 612-374-4139 or admin@redeemermpls.org.
We will be having a choir singing at the Block Party this year. Rehearsal will be after worship on Sunday.
 
Interfaith Service to Disarm Hate
Saint Mark’s Episcopal Catherdral will be hosting a service on Sunday, August 14th from 6:30-8:30p.m. The service is being organizaed through Protect Minnesota in order to #DisarmHate. The interfaith service will include a Native American smudging ceremony, organ, Gospel music, poetry, prayers by a Jewish cantor, Christian, Muslim, and Zen Buddhist clergy and the tolling of a bell for those killed by gun fire. After the service all are invited to a presentation about the Interfaith Alliance for Gun Safety and what people of faith can do RIGHT NOW to encourage our congressional leaders to pass universal background checks after the summer recess.
 
Internship Committee
Are you looking for a new way to engage at Redeemer?  I have an opportunity for you!  Every year, Redeemer provides a support committee for our pastoral intern.  With our new intern, Alissa, starting on August 16th, we are looking for some additional committee members.  As a committee, we provide support via monthly meetings with the intern, including feedback on what they are doing at Redeemer (sermons, worship leadership, other projects, etc.) and being a confidential sounding board for any topics the intern may need help with.  I am looking for 3-4 additional members, and would love some representation from the youth of Redeemer.  If you are interested, or know someone who may be, please get in touch with me, Jess Swanson, jess_p_swanson@yahoo.com.  Thank you!
 
Waconia/Redeemer Fishing Trip
On Saturday, August 20th, Faith Waconia will be hosting Redeemer on an annual fishing trip. Meet at Redeemer at 8:00a.m. to caravan down to Lake Waconia. They will have all of the supplies (rod, reel, and bait), but you can bring your own gear also. We will be back at Redeemer by 1:00p.m.
 
Training at Luther Seminary
There is an upcoming training at Luther Seminary on August 18th from 8:00am-9:30am, entitled Practicing Bad Stewardship: Jesus' Reign and the End of White Supremacy.  
"How are white Christians to respond to the United States' present racialized society while understanding that it is shaped by 400 years of history? More specifically, how might following Jesus lead toward faithful in our post-Ferguson moment? Drew Hart, theologian, author, and former pastor, will explore the idea of white privilege and why it frequently fails to provide a robust framework which aids white people towards authentic repentance. That is, merely naming white privilege doesn't necessarily gesture towards any new way of life in resistance to racialized hierarchy and oppression. And at worst, it has the potential of recreating the problem of white supremacy, but with a more benevolent manifestation. Instead, while considering the significance of Jesus' life, Hart will consider how a kind of reckless stewardship of whiteness can potentially provide an unconsidered path forward towards the new humanity in Christ.
 
If you are interested in attending, please register at http://www.luthersem.edu/stewardship/events/default.aspx. The training is free and open to the public. 
 
Churchwide Assembly
This week the Annual ELCA Churchwide assembly has been taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana. We have multiple Redeemer members going to the assembly, including Babette Chatman, Naomi Lewis, Mario Locust, Maren Hulden, Mark & Ione Hanson, and Rachel Birkdal. We thank them for the contribution of their faith and leadership at the assembly.
We also celebrate Cheryl Chatman being elected to the ELCA Church Council.
 
Mark your calendars for Carnival de Resistance
Carnival de Resistance will be at Redeemer starting September 13th until September 26th.
Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the event. They have 33 artists and activists coming from all corners of the US, Mexico and Honduras and they are partnering with dozens of local groups. They asked me to put a call out and share some of the personnel resources that we are looking for.
They are looking for a local firefighter who might volunteer some hours at their fire show each of the two Sat nights. If you know a firefighter who might be willing, let us know.  
 
Announcements
We ask that detailed announcements be submitted to Sarah in the office to put in Friday announcements and newsletters. This will help keep the worship service announcements concise. Send all detailed announcements to admin@redeemermpls.org or call (612) 374-4139.