Announcements & Prayers of Intercession | September 23, 2022

SUNDAY WORSHIP at 10:30am //Join us Sunday morning at 10:30am for worship. As always, our Sunday worship will be streaming on Zoom here (passcode: Redeemer). The worship bulletin can also be found right here on our website.

CONNECTING with Staff // 
    > Phones: Please use the main church phone 612.886.1468. We have a new phone system that we’re learning and navigating. New phone for Pastor Jen Collins, 612.767.3512
    > Drop-in Office Hours: Pastor Jen is at Redeemer on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm. Interim Admin, Amy Koopman is in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30am-2:30pm to prepare bulletins, update the website, and send weekly announcements. If you have announcements or concerns to share with our community, please send them to Amy at admin@redeemermpls.org by Wednesday night!

DIAPERS NEEDED //  Our neighborhood food shelf is in desperate need of diapers for distribution. Remember Redeemer will be dropping off on 3rd Saturdays, if you can help deliver reach out to Sally Ankerfelt. Please bring boxes of diapers of any size (sizes 3, 4, 5, and 6 are the most requested) to church on Sundays or drop off during Pastor Jen’s and Amy’s office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

SPAM EMAIL REMINDER: ALL OFFICIAL EMAILS WILL COME FROM OFFICIAL ADDRESSES // If you receive an email from someone claiming to be Pastor Jen Collins or a redeemer staff member, please make sure you check that it is from an "@redeemermpls.org" email address. If it is NOT then do not reply and know it's most likely a spam or phishing email trying to scam you for personal information or money. Know we will never ask for personal or financial information over an email. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. 

NEIGHBORHOOD CLOTHING SWAP this SUNDAY, 9/25. 2-5pm // You’re invited to bring your own gently used clothing items and accessories to leave on designated tables, and then go "shop" from other neighbors’ donations – but everything is free! We will be donating anything left over behind to PRISM thrift store. More details to come! (Redeemer Backyard)

SAVE THE DATE: RCFL GALA 2022 // Redeemer Center for Life is excited to be back live and in person for this year's GALA! Please SAVE THE DATE and plan to attend this wonderful evening of H.O.P.E. ~ Healing Our People Everyday on Friday November 4th, 2022 at the Historic Capri Theatre. Doors open & silent auction begins at 5pm; A Night of Hope Gala, 6pm; Live music reception & heavy appetizers, 7pm. This is a semi-formal event, and tickets are $150 per person. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or would like to donate items for the silent auction, please contact interim CEO Dawn L. Johnson: dawn@redeemercenter.org 

CONGRATULATIONS to KRISTIN GILBERT & KRISTEN HOYLES! // Kristen & Kristin are excited to announce the arrival of Miriam Rae Gilbert Hoyles, born August 11th. The mamas and baby are doing well! We invite you to sign up for their meal train and help the family out in this time of great joy and little sleep: https://mealtrain.com/zoo61d

COVID-19 PROTOCOL UPDATE // Redeemer’s Council met Tuesday, August 20, 2022 and moved to update the mask policy to “Mask Wearing is Welcomed” for worship services and all other events or meetings that occur at the church. Redeemer remains committed to the health and well-being of our community, and this update affirms and encourages individuals to continue to make good personal choices about COVID-19. As you make decisions to keep yourself and others healthy, the Redeemer Council and Pastor Jen strongly encourage the following:
    > If you are eligible for vaccination, ensure that you are up-to-date on booster shots.
    > Wear a high-quality mask. As we know that SARS-COV-2 spreads through aerosols. N95 or KN95 masks prevent 95% of particles from entering the airway, and Redeemer will strive to offer these masks for both adults and children as needed, especially as we move indoors.
    > Pay attention to local data on COVID-19 spread. You may want to track wastewater data to better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in the metro area.
    > Use rapid tests, particularly before gathering with others, to help gauge your health.
    > If you are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID, please stay home and join online instead of in person.
However you choose to participate in our congregational life, we will continue to do this together! We hope that you know that you are loved, welcomed and valued here at Redeemer. We look forward to moving forward and navigating life together during these next few seasons here at Redeemer. Please reach out to council or Pastor Jen Collins with any questions, concerns or if you need help finding the resources you need to remain healthy and safe.

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LECTIONARY TEXTS::
Amos 6:1a, 4-7 | Psalm 146 | 1 Timothy 6:6-19
 GOSPEL TEXT: Luke 16:19-31

Let us pray for the church, the world and all in need.

O God, rich in mercy, fill us with your faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Empower your beloveds through the power of your Spirit to be stirred to do good, to work for the betterment of each person and be opened up, ready to share with a Spirit of Generosity. God of grace, hear our prayer.

Mighty Creator, protect the earth and its creatures. Provide water, food, shelter, and favorable habitats, especially for those endangered. Preserve threatened ice caps, glaciers, parks, and beaches. In the midst of the fierce storms raging, we ask for calming of the water for the sake of your people, especially those in Puerto Rico, and all those across the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God of Justice increase across nations, local governments, all systems and institutions an openness to be guided by Wisdom. Be with your people as people organize, listen and prepare to vote in the coming months, bring compassion and discernment. God of grace, hear our prayer.

Holy God, may we find pathways to provide food to the hungry. Set the captives free. Lift up those who are bowed down. Watch over the stranger. Tend to those who are ill, we especially lift up those within our Redeemer community. We pray for The Branch Family, with whom we continue to grieve; We pray for Jimmy, brother of LuVene. For Claudia, Jane, Carlos, Bill, Mike and Mary Sue as they seek continued healing. We pray For those who suffer from long COVID, and other effects of the pandemic. For those suffering from mental illness. For caregivers everywhere in their care for the sick and mentally ill. Stir us to act in the best interest of our neighbors, for the sake of the other. God of grace, hear our prayer.

Gathered together in the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit, gracious God, we offer these and all our prayers to you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.