Announcements & Prayers of Intercession | July 17, 2020

RCFL Welcomes New Executive Director Veronica Hawman! // Redeemer Center for Life is thrilled to welcome our new Executive Director, Veronica Hawman. Veronica has spent her career working in nonprofit development. Earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and her Master of Nonprofit Management degree from Hamline University, Veronica is an experienced and skilled leader and fundraiser passionate about racial justice. We are so excited to have her at RCFL! If you’d like to say hello, you may send her a note of welcome at vhawman@redeemercenter.org. 
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RCFL Instagram Live Open-Mic Night // Join RCFL tomorrow evening (July 18th) from 7-9pm for our first ever Virtual Open-Mic night! This event will feature artists performing hip hop and spoken word. Hear from Antonio Fixx, OKNice, Peace Tha Keeper and more! To watch and join, follow RCFL's Instagram page here and click on our story at 7pm!

Volunteers Needed for Holy Trinity Food Distribution // Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis has been providing goods and services to neighbors who, over the course of the Minneapolis Uprising, lost or experienced significantly reduced access to transportation services and affordable grocers. They plant to continue distribution through Friday, September 4th. They are asking for 5-10 volunteers weekly from Redeemer to help organize and distribute goods to neighbors. Their greatest need is for second-shift volunteers. Please sign up here. If you need more information, please contact Holy Trinity's volunteer director, Grace Corbin: Htlcgeorgefloyd@gmail.com  

VBS At Home Kits // Last Sunday, Redeemer’s EduYouth Ministry Team (Lonna, Jason, and Anna) distributed VBS at Home kits to parents in Redeemer’s backyard. These kits are full of books, activities, and snacks for our kiddos to enjoy at home while we all dig deeper in our faith. Did you miss the event and still want a kit? Contact Lonna or Anna, or Amy in the church office, to arrange pick-up or delivery!

Volunteers Needed // In light of the May 25th murder of George Floyd, we at Redeemer want to show up and do our part for our community. Siri Fiebiger (Redeemer Church Council President) and Mali Jensen (RCFL Director of Volunteers & Partnerships) are working together to make this happen and need your help! If interested in becoming part of Redeemer’s team of volunteers who receive ongoing calls to action (e.g. cleaning, donation supply management, voter registration, etc), please contact Siri and Mali.

Climate Justice Voter Training: Relational Organizing for Transformational Change - Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light // Join Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light to learn how you can be a Climate Justice Voter Champion. During these 90 minute trainings, you will learn about the importance of this year’s election for our climate. You will also get trained in the Empower app, a digital organizing tool that allows you to share messages and connect with the people in your network. Virtual trainings will be held throughout the summer and fall. Currently, trainings are scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 7-8:30pm and Thursday, August 6, 4-5:30 pm. Visit mnipl.org for more information.  Register here.
 
SAVE THE DATE: RCFL Gala on September 12, 2020 // You’re invited to Join us for an online event on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at 7pm. For everyone’s health and safety, this year's Gala will look different, but still exciting. This free online event will allow more people to join us as we gather virtually in community, invest in the future of our programming, and celebrate 22 years of promoting inclusive development in our vibrant North Minneapolis community. From the comfort of your home, join us for our annual Gala on Saturday, September 12, 2020, for an evening of festivities, community, and commitment. Together, let's affirm the many ways we remain Rooted in Community. This event will feature both live and silent auctions, interviews, and more! Registration to open soon!

Redeemer Community Garden Events // Summertime is busy in Redeemer garden! Along with our weekly garden work days every Sunday afternoon from 1-4pm, we’d love for you to join us at these social-distanced events! For more information, contact our garden coordinator Greta.
* Drum Circle + Pizza Party! Bring your friends, family and neighbors for a drum circle + pizza party on Sunday, July 19th from 4-7pm in the Redeemer Community Garden. We will make pizzas in the community bread oven. Drums provided, but feel free to bring your own!
* Sunset Movie Night. Join us in the garden on Friday, July 24th at 8:30 PM for a sunset movie! Bring a blanket/chair, snacks, your friends, family and neighbors. Homegrown popcorn and water will be provided.

ZOOM FELLOWSHIP @ 9:30am Sundays // Join us Sunday mornings at 9:30am for fellowship and prayer. Follow this link to join open the Zoom app and enter the following: Meeting ID: 853 1810 2674 | Password: 557820 or call in by phone to (312) 626-6799.
 
MENTAL HEALTH CONNECT (MHC) // Mental Health Connect is a local non-profit based out of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis offering free, non-biased support for anyone seeking mental health resources. Visit their website to learn more, or contact Mali, Redeemer's MHC ambassador.

HELP US MAKE MASKS! // As this pandemic continues amidst reopening, summer life, and the current Uprising for Justice, the need for cloth masks is growing! If you or someone you know is able and willing to help sew masks for ongoing distribution, please contact Redeemer's minister of service and advocacy, Holly De Souza. 

Health Commons @ The Living Room continues to provide services to the Harrison and North Minneapolis community! You can stay updated on their schedule of services and events, including virtual nurse consultations and Zumba classes, via their facebook page!

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7th Sunday after Pentecost |  July 19, 2020 
Readings: Isaiah 44:6-8, Psalm 86:11-17, Romans 8:12-25; 
Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Intercessor: Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need - (a brief silence) 

God of the harvest, the good seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ that you sow throughout the world, for your church to be both diligent and patient, full of resolve and gentleness, that our witness may be faithful to your intentions as you sow the good seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

God of all space and time, your whole creation groans in labor pains, awaiting the gift of new birth. Renew the earth, sky, and sea, so that all your creation experiences freedom from the bondage of decay. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 
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God of the nations, mend the fabric of the human family, now torn apart by our fearful and warring ways in Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Israel, Iran, and the Persian Gulf, North Korea, Libya, Kashmir, Venezuela, Yemen and these United States, especially Portland, Oregon and New York. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of hope, open our hearts to join you in accompanying the lonely, abandoned, and brokenhearted, feeling trapped by despair, and all who suffer in any way especially Sharon, Zoe, and those living locally and globally with COVID-19  . . . Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of the seasons, in the midst of this summer, give refreshment, renewal, and new opportunities especially within the ministry of the Redeemer Call Committee and Redeemer Center for Life. We pray for the safety of those who travel. For medical personnel, cleaners and deliverers, with any who cannot take the rest they need. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Pastor: In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.