 CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP // Join us on Christmas Eve for a special worship service brought to you by Redeemer’s worship team! And be sure to also watch this year’s Children’s Virtual Christmas Pageant which was a collaboration with ECLC and families from St Paul’s Lutheran Church / Iglesia Luterana San Pablo, and Christ the River of Life. You may view both the Christmas Eve service and the Children’s Pageant online beginning at midnight on December 24th! WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES // Please register online or email Amy to sign up to record yourself and/or your family speaking the assigned lectionary readings for our prerecorded worships during the month of January. Know that you can speak aloud the readings linked on the sign-up or from a children’s or other translation in your home. WEDNESDAY ADVENT MEDITATIONS // Throughout this Advent season, Pastor Kelly and Alyssa Schwitzer, along with Pastor Kim at Christ the River of Life, have been providing us with weekly Advent meditations following the seven antiphons of Christmas. This week’s meditation will be shared this evening, and you may view it online along with each meditation set to a verse from the ancient Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” 12 DAYS of CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT TREE // For the 12 days of Christmas (Dec. 25th - Jan. 6th), 12 ornaments will be on the ornamental tree at Logan and Glenwood on the Redeemer lawn. Take one; leave one and post your picture on our Facebook page! CORRECTION // In last week's announcements, the cover art -- quilting of the Advent candle -- was mis-attributed. The work was created and gifted to Redeemer by Janet Hagberg. HOLIDAY & NEW YEAR OFFICE HOURS // Redeemer offices will be closed December 24th-27th and again December 31st-January 3rd, reopening on January 4th. Amy Koopman’s office hours will shift to Mondays, 10am-3pm in 2021, and she will be out of the office for synod organizing training January 11th-15th. SAVE THE DATE: EPIPHANY of OUR LORD Worship Service, Jan. 6, 2021 // The ELCA bishops elected in 2019 will preside over a special worship service on January 6, 2021 at 8pm EST (7pm Central) and may be viewed on the ELCA churchwide facebook page or any of the ELCA synod pages. SAVE THE DATE: MLK ANNUAL COMMEMORATION SERVICE on JAN. 10, 2021 // Save the date and plan to join the Metro New York African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA) on January 10th at 4pm (EST) for their annual service commemorating The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s event will be hosted online, and will feature preaching Bishop Patricia A. Davenport of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod and presiding Bishop Paul Egensteiner presiding. Learn more here, or click here to register. MINNEAPOLIS AREA SYNOD COMMUNITY ORGANIZER TRAINING OPPORTUNITY // Through grant funding provided by the Riverside Innovation Hub, Redeemer and RCFL are sending a number of congregants, council members, and staff members to the Minneapolis Area Synod’s community faith organizer training January 11-15, 2021. The training will be held from 9am to 3pm each day that week. We have a few spots open and invite anyone interested to contact Amy or Pastor Kelly for more information. PRE-ORDER YOUR “REDEEMER BELIEVES BLACK LIVES MATTER 2020” TEES // Redeemer’s Service & Advocacy ministry (led by Holly De Souza) partnered with the Northside’s Juxtaposition Arts to create a brand new 2020 “Redeemer Believes Black Lives Matter” shirts. They are now available for pre-order for a suggested donation of $10 or more which will fund the ongoing work of the S&A committee! Please fill out the pre-order form, and if you choose to, you may pay online through our online giving portal! SUNDAY MORNING ZOOM FELLOWSHIP // Join Dr Robin Bell this Sunday morning, December 27th, for zoom fellowship beginning at 10:30am. Click here to join! CHRISTMAS STORE GRATITUDE // Redeemer Lutheran Church and Redeemer Center for Life thank mission partners and congregational members for the 2020 reimagined Christmas Store on Saturday, December 12th. Over 45 families received gift cards, Fairview Health Commons care, and other supports for this Christmas season as we live with the global pandemic. We shared with thanksgiving because we have mercifully received so much! THANK YOU to Dr. and Mrs. Linda Jacobson for providing us with a nativity from their beautiful Tanzanian collection, featured in our Christmas Eve service! THANK YOU from MARY BOLL // Mary Boll sends thanks to those who donated baby yarn for her ongoing project of crocheting and donating baby caps to Hennepin County Obstetrics and Gynecology. If you’d like to donate baby yarn to Mary Boll to help her continue this ministry during our long winter season, please email Amy to bring baby yarn to Redeemer Lutheran marked Mary Boll and a family member will pick it up for her. CAN YOU ATTEND HNA MEETINGS? // The Harrison Neighborhood Association (HNA) is hoping to engage community members and friends in ongoing planning and conversations. All meetings are held via zoom at 7pm on the third Monday of each month. If you can join and represent Redeemer and our community, please do! DISTANCE LEARNING & TUTORING UPDATES // Our Harrison neighbor Kathy thanks us for use of Redeemer’s building for tutoring. We share emerging plans in 2021 between Redeemer and Metropolitan Community Church of Christ who also hosted tutoring. Another neighbor of ours is looking for a tutor to help her high-school aged grandchild with math and history. If you or someone you know can help, please email Amy. PROVISIONS for NEAR-NORTH HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT // A new homeless encampment has moved to near north within blocks of Redeemer and they need a lot of provisions: Firewood, consistent propane refills, winter gear, hand warmers, meals, and more. If you would like to help, you may visit the signup genius or text organizer Kristen (or contact her via Signal) for more information at 760-898-4004. (She responds quickly to text message but does not answer calls from unknown numbers.) STEWARDSHIP BRAINSTORMING // Stewardship minister Kristin Gilbert invites each of you to join her for a meeting to dream and brainstorm about stewardship in the coming year, to align our stewardship plan with our values during this time of Covid, the Minneapolis uprising, and the election, as well as a pastoral transition. Do you or others you know want to be a part of this 1-hour conversation? If so, complete thisDoodle poll so we can find a time that works best for the group. Let her know if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts but can't make the meeting. IRA CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION // We invite you to prayerfully consider sharing with Redeemer Lutheran Church your qualified charitable distribution from your Individual Retirement Account. Basic requirements and limitations for a Qualified Charitable Distribution include: The donor must be at least 70½ years of age at the time of the distribution; The distribution must be from a Roth or Traditional IRA; And the distribution must be made directly from the IRA administrator to a qualifying charity such as Redeemer Lutheran Church. Qualified Charitable Distributions are limited to $100,000.00 per individual per year (a spouse who qualifies may give a similar amount from his or her IRA). Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) benefits include: A QCD from a traditional IRA uses pre-tax dollars; Generally, a QCD is excluded from taxable income*; and a QCD can be applied to required minimum distributions, if applicable.* THRIVENT MEMBERS: Are you a Thrivent member? Consider sharing your Thrivent dollars with Redeemer Lutheran Church ministries! Contact Amy or Pastor Kelly for more info! YEAR-END GIVING // With thanksgiving for you and your end of the year gift to Redeemer Lutheran, we would like to acknowledge and receive your 2020 financial gift by December 30. HEALTH COMMONS at the LIVING ROOM currently offers Zumba, Book Club Discussions, and Health Q&A's online and via Zoom. Follow them onFacebook to get current schedules, events, and other resources: Health Commons at the Living Room. *The SECURE Act, which became effective January 1, 2020, raised to 72 the age for beginning required minimum distributions, but retained the age of 70 ½ for making QCDs. It also authorizes tax-deductible contributions to IRAs after age 70 ½ if the IRA owner is still working. If a tax-deductible contribution is made to an IRA after age 70 ½, the amount that may be excluded from income for a later-made QCD may be affected. Please consult your tax advisors for more information about this and other questions regarding IRA QCDs.  First Sunday after Christmas | Readings & Gospel: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 148, Galatians 4:4-7 & Luke 2:22-40 This Sunday we hear Luke’s story of the ritual at which the infant Jesus is presented in the temple and his mother Mary is “purified” after childbirth. Yet receiving them in the temple are Simeon and Anna, two old people who speak about the redemption that will come through Jesus’ death. When we celebrate Jesus’ birth, we remember his death. Joining our voices with the song of the angels, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need...
Strengthen your church across nations, denominations, and tradition by filling us with wisdom for seeking pastors and other church workers and unifying our proclamation of your forgiveness and mercy. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Send your spirit of discernment with compassion and integrity upon all global legislators grappling with complex decisions for the sake of the common good as we are upheld by your hand. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Send the spirit of your Son into our hearts, O God. Strengthen those who have retired, those who work in older age, and those in need of income, food, company, or health care by connecting young and old across generations. Come quickly to hearts that race with fear, hearts that break with grief, and hearts that long for wholeness. Bless our elders with the peace and joy of Simeon and Anna as we name: Ione,Mary, and Sarah, our local and global siblings living with surging COVID-19 and accompanying lockdowns with quarantines, for first responders as well as disaster volunteers, the unsheltered campers at 2nd Ave North and Van White Memorial Blvd, brothers James and Bobbie, Cindy, Linda, Samantha, Shoonie, Edina Community Lutheran Church and the family of Pastor Jeff Sartain... Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great. Let us depart in peace, O God, according to your word. For John, apostle and evangelist, and Arlene, Bill, John, Kathy and Mary with all your saints who see our salvation prepared as your witness of every time and place, we give you thanks. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of mercy, come quickly to us with grace upon grace as we lift these and all our prayers to you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.  image: handmade quilt work by Redeemer member Janet Hagberg CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP // Join us Christmas Eve at 7pm for a a special worship service brought to you by Redeemer’s worship team, and featuring this year’s Children’s Christmas Pageant which was a collaboration with ECLC. WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES // Pleaseregister online or email Amy to sign up to record yourself and/or your family speaking the assigned lectionary readings for our prerecorded worships during the month of January. Know that you can speak aloud the readings linked on the sign-up or from a children’s or other translation in your home. HOLIDAY & NEW YEAR OFFICE HOURS // Redeemer offices will be closed December 24th-27th and again December 31st-January 3rd, reopening on January 4th. Amy Koopman’s office hours will shift to Mondays, 10am-3pm in 2021, and she will be out of the office for synod organizing training January 11th-15th. MINNEAPOLIS AREA SYNOD COMMUNITY ORGANIZER TRAINING OPPORTUNITY // Through grant funding provided by the Riverside Innovation Hub, Redeemer and RCFL are sending a number of congregants, council members, and staff members to the Minneapolis Area Synod’s community faith organizer training January 11-15, 2021. The training will be held from 9am to 3pm each day that week. We have a few spots open and invite anyone interested to contact Amy or Pastor Kelly for more information. PRE-ORDER YOUR “REDEEMER BELIEVES BLACK LIVES MATTER 2020” TEES // Redeemer’s Service & Advocacy ministry (led by Holly De Souza) partnered with the Northside’s Juxtaposition Arts to create a brand new 2020 “Redeemer Believes Black Lives Matter” shirts. They are now available for pre-order for a suggested donation of $10 or more which will fund the ongoing work of the S&A committee! Please fill out the pre-order form, and if you choose to, you may pay online through our online giving portal! SUNDAY MORNING ZOOM FELLOWSHIP // Join Dr Robin Bell this Sunday morning for zoom fellowship beginning at 10:30am. Click here to join! AUGSBURG ADVENT VESPERS // Redeemer and Pastor Babette invite you to a time of contemplation and worship through Augsburg University’s annual Advent Vespers. You may view Vespers here. EDU-YOUTH MINISTRY // Redeemer’s Edu-Youth invites our families of children and youth to join them this Sunday, December 20th, for Family Zoom Craft Time with ECLC at 10:30am. Also be sure to check out Pastor Kelly’s Holy Communion Instruction -- a short video for children, youth, and families on Communion. CAN YOU ATTEND HNA MEETINGS? // The Harrison Neighborhood Association is hoping to engage community members and friends in ongoing planning and conversations. All meetings are held via zoom at 7pm on the third Monday of each month. If you can join and represent Redeemer and our community, please do! TUTORING ASSISTANCE NEEDED // Our Harrison neighbor Kathy is tutoring 3 Harrison children at Redeemer Lutheran on the mornings of Mondays, Wednesdays and the first two Saturdays of each month. Another community member is looking for a tutor to help her 16-year-old granddaughter with distance learning. Could you help? Please leave a voice message for Pastor Kelly at 612-886-1468 or email Amy. DONATE BABY YARN to MARY BOLL // Mary Boll crocheted and donated 212 baby caps to Hennepin County Obstetrics and Gynecology, all of which are sent home with newborns. Will you donate baby yarn to Mary Boll to help her continue this ministry during our long winter season? Arrange with Amy to bring baby yarn to Redeemer Lutheran marked Mary Boll and a family member will pick it up for her. PROVISIONS for NEAR-NORTH HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT // A new homeless encampment has moved to near north within blocks of Redeemer and they need a lot of provisions: Firewood, consistent propane refills, winter gear, hand warmers, meals, and more. If you would like to help, you may visit thesignup genius or text organizer Kristen (or contact her via Signal) for more information at 760-898-4004. (She responds quickly to text message but does not answer calls from unknown numbers.) WEDNESDAY ADVENT PROJECT MEDITATIONS // Throughout this Advent season, Pastor Kelly and Alyssa Schwitzer, along with Pastor Kim at Christ the River of Life, have been providing us with weekly Advent meditations following the sevent antiphons of Christmas. You may follow the meditations each week at www.redeemermpls.org/advent-2020, where you’ll find each meditation set to a verse from the ancient Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” STEWARDSHIP BRAINSTORMING // Stewardship minister Kristin Gilbert invites each of you to join her for a meeting to dream and brainstorm about stewardship in the coming year, to align our stewardship plan with our values during this time of Covid, the Minneapolis uprising, and the election, as well as a pastoral transition. Do you or others you know want to be a part of this 1-hour conversation? If so, complete thisDoodle poll so we can find a time that works best for the group. Let her know if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts but can't make the meeting. THANK YOU to Dr. and Mrs. Linda Jacobson for providing us with a nativity from their beautiful Tanzanian collection, featured in our Christmas Eve service! IRA CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION // We invite you to prayerfully consider sharing with Redeemer Lutheran Church your qualified charitable distribution from your Individual Retirement Account. Basic requirements and limitations for a Qualified Charitable Distribution include: The donor must be at least 70½ years of age at the time of the distribution; The distribution must be from a Roth or Traditional IRA; And the distribution must be made directly from the IRA administrator to a qualifying charity such as Redeemer Lutheran Church. Qualified Charitable Distributions are limited to $100,000.00 per individual per year (a spouse who qualifies may give a similar amount from his or her IRA). Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) benefits include: A QCD from a traditional IRA uses pre-tax dollars; Generally, a QCD is excluded from taxable income*; and a QCD can be applied to required minimum distributions, if applicable.* THRIVENT MEMBERS: Are you a Thrivent member? Consider sharing your Thrivent dollars with Redeemer Lutheran Church ministries! Contact Amy or Pastor Kelly for more info! YEAR-END GIVING // With thanksgiving for you and your end of the year gift to Redeemer Lutheran, we would like to acknowledge and receive your 2020 financial gift by Dec. 30th. HEALTH COMMONS at the LIVING ROOM currently offers Zumba, Book Club Discussions, and Health Q & A's online and via Zoom. Follow them onFacebook to get current schedules, events, and other resources: Health Commons at the Living Room. *The SECURE Act, which became effective January 1, 2020, raised to 72 the age for beginning required minimum distributions, but retained the age of 70 ½ for making QCDs. It also authorizes tax-deductible contributions to IRAs after age 70 ½ if the IRA owner is still working. If a tax-deductible contribution is made to an IRA after age 70 ½, the amount that may be excluded from income for a later-made QCD may be affected. Please consult your tax advisors for more information about this and other questions regarding IRA QCDs.  Fourth Sunday of Advent Readings & Gospel: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:46b-55, Romans 16:25-27 & Luke 1:26-38 This Sunday, we light all four candles of the Advent wreath, and we read the story from Luke about the angel Gabriel coming to Mary. Christians believe that in baptism we too are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit so that Christ will dwell in us. Despite what the shopping malls suggest to us, Christmas is not yet here: we still anticipate what the book of Romans calls “the revelation of the mystery. God of power and might, fulfill your promise and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need...
Gracious God, all generations call you blessed.In this holy season we pray for the inspired faith of our neighbors of other denominations and faiths Mosque Masjid al Furqaan, the Glendale Seventh Day Adventist Church and faith communities unknown to us. Cultivate understanding among us and strengthen us in love and service to our community. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Righteous God, we pray for the leaders of all nations, that they amplify the voices of people in need by creating societies and protecting seas, mountains, plains, forests, skies, and soils in which everyone can flourish with humility. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Compassionate God, bless the encouraging work of meeting neighbors in need by WE WIN Institute, and Metropolitan Church of Christ who nourish any lacking adequate food and nutrition. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Healing God, you pour out mercy to all who cry out to you by surrounding everyone with your tender presence especially Ione,Mary, and Sarah, our local and global siblings living with surging COVID-19 and accompanying lockdowns with quarantines, for first responders as well as disaster volunteers, the unsheltered campers at 2nd Ave North and Van White Memorial Blvd, brothers James and Bobbie, Cindy, Linda, Samantha, Shoonie, Edina Community Lutheran Church and the family of Pastor Jeff Sartain . . . Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great. Eternal God, you are faithful to the promises you made to our forebears, Katharina von Bora Luther and other ancestors Arlene, Bill, John, Kathy, and Mary who organized, planned, dreamed, encouraged, and reached out as they served you Inspire others with their steadfast witness. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  2021 MEMBERS’ BUDGET MEETING THIS SUNDAY, December 13th // Members! Please plan to join us THIS SUNDAY, December 13th, at 10:30am for our annual budget meeting to be held via zoom. Join here. After that, we invite ALL congregants and friends to join us for fellowship in smaller break-out groups! WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Advent Wreath Lighting & Reading // Please register online or email Amy to sign up to record yourself and/or your family speaking the assigned lectionary readings and/or light Advent candles while speaking Advent blessings (3 for Dec. 13th, or 4 for Dec.20th) for our prerecorded worships during the season of Advent and Christmas. Know that you can speak aloud the readings linked on the sign-up or from a children’s or other translation in your home. Candle Lighting blessings are also linked on the sign up. PRE-ORDER YOUR “REDEEMER BELIEVES BLACK LIVES MATTER 2020” TEES // Redeemer’s Service & Advocacy ministry (led by Holly De Souza) partnered with the Northside’s Juxtaposition Arts to create a brand new 2020 “Redeemer Believes Black Lives Matter” shirts. They are now available for pre-order for a suggested donation of $10 or more which will fund the ongoing work of the S&A committee! Please fill out the pre-order form, and if you choose to, you may pay online through our online giving portal! SUNDAY MORNING ZOOM FELLOWSHIP // Throughout this Advent season we invite you and your families to once again join us Sunday mornings via zoom for a time of fellowship and sharing. This Sunday we’ll host fellowship around noon after our Annual budget meeting. Beginning December 20th and thereafter, fellowship will begin at 10:30am. Click here to join! AUGSBURG ADVENT VESPERS // Redeemer and Pastor Babette invite you to a time of contemplation and worship through Augsburg University’s annual Advent Vespers. You may view Vespers here. EDU-YOUTH MINISTRY INVITATIONS // Along with lighting the Advent candles and speaking lectionary readings, Redeemer’s Edu-Youth team has some exciting opportunities for your families and children to partake of this Advent season! >> Holy Communion Instruction: Pastor Kelly has provided a short video for children, youth, and families on Holy Communion. Check it out! >> Sunday Dec. 20th at 10:30am: Family Zoom Craft Time with ECLC -- Join ECLC and other congregations around the area for half an hour of fellowship and craft time. Join here. >> Virtual Christmas Pageant -- This year, Redeemer is teaming up with ECLC and St Paul Lutheran (in South Minneapolis) to create a children’s Christmas Pageant for Christmas Even worship. Multiple scenes mean many families from different congregations can participate, and Redeemer is seeking at least four families to volunteer to do a scene from home! Please contact Anna or Lonna for more information and instructions! GRATITUDE FOR REIMAGINED 2020 CHRISTMAS STORE //Redeemer Lutheran Church and Redeemer Center for Life thank mission partners and congregational members for the Christmas Store Sharing tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 12. Over 45 families will receive gift cards, Fairview Health Commons care kits, and other supports for this Christmas season as we live with the global pandemic. We shared with thanksgiving because we have received mercifully so much! TUTORING ASSISTANCE NEEDED // Our Harrison neighbor Kathy is tutoring 3 Harrison children at Redeemer Lutheran on the mornings of Mondays, Wednesdays and the first two Saturdays of each month. Could you help? Please leave a voice message for Pastor Kelly at 612-886-1468. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DECEMBER MEMBERS! // Thanks to Bill Dexheimer Pharris for leading us in our Happy Birthday song to all Redeemer congregants and friends celebrating December birthdays! You may join in during this Sunday’s virtual worship. DONATE YARN to MARY BOLL // Mary Boll crocheted and donated 212 baby caps to Hennepin County Obstetrics and Gynecology, all of which are sent home with newborns. Will you donate baby yarn to Mary Boll to help her continue this ministry during our long winter season? Arrange with Amy to bring baby yarn to Redeemer Lutheran marked Mary Boll and a family member will pick it up for her. PROVISIONS for NEAR-NORTH HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT // A new homeless encampment has moved to near north within blocks of Redeemer and they need a lot of provisions: Firewood, consistent propane refills, winter gear, hand warmers, meals, and more. If you would like to help, you may visit the signup genius or text organizer Kristen (or contact her via Signal) for more information at 760-898-4004. (She responds quickly to text message but does not answer calls from unknown numbers.) WEDNESDAY ADVENT PROJECT MEDITATIONS // During the seven weeks leading to Christmas, Redeemer is participating in the Advent Project which follows the early church’s seven-Sunday celebration of Advent. You may follow the meditations each week at www.redeemermpls.org/advent-project-2020, where you’ll find this and the coming weeks’ meditations set to the ancient Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” STEWARDSHIP BRAINSTORMING // Stewardship minister Kristin Gilbert invites each of you to join her for a meeting to dream and brainstorm about stewardship in the coming year, to align our stewardship plan with our values during this time of Covid, the Minneapolis uprising, and the election, as well as a pastoral transition. Do you or others you know want to be a part of this 1-hour conversation? If so, complete thisDoodle poll so we can find a time that works best for the group. Let her know if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts but can't make the meeting. CELEBRATING ADVENT and CHRISTMAS: Seasons of Gratitude // Given that we are gathering online (live and pre-recorded) rather than inside of Redeemer Lutheran for celebrating the seasons of Advent and Christmas, here are some invitations for sharing your household faith expressions with Redeemer Lutheran (and visitor viewers) in quarantine: >> Send your online (video recorded) Advent and Christmas songs, poems, devotionals, and greetings to Redeemer that we can include in our pre-recorded worships. Maybe we will receive enough videos to make a montage! >> Share gratitude with greetings and making ornaments. We welcome your biodegradable ornaments for the ornamental tree of gratitude at Logan and Glenwood. Take a snapshot for sharing on Facebook. THANK YOU to Dr. and Mrs. Linda Jacobson for providing us with a nativity from their beautiful Tanzanian collection! IRA CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION // We invite you to prayerfully consider sharing with Redeemer Lutheran Church your qualified charitable distribution from your Individual Retirement Account. Basic requirements and limitations for a Qualified Charitable Distribution include: The donor must be at least 70½ years of age at the time of the distribution; The distribution must be from a Roth or Traditional IRA; And the distribution must be made directly from the IRA administrator to a qualifying charity such as Redeemer Lutheran Church. Qualified Charitable Distributions are limited to $100,000.00 per individual per year (a spouse who qualifies may give a similar amount from his or her IRA). Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) benefits include: A QCD from a traditional IRA uses pre-tax dollars; Generally, a QCD is excluded from taxable income*; and a QCD can be applied to required minimum distributions, if applicable.* THRIVENT MEMBERS: Are you a Thrivent member? Consider sharing your Thrivent dollars with Redeemer Lutheran Church ministries! Contact Amy or Pastor Kelly for more info! YEAR-END GIVING // With thanksgiving for you and your end of the year gift to Redeemer Lutheran, we would like to acknowledge and receive your 2020 financial gift by December 30. HEALTH COMMONS at the LIVING ROOM currently offers Zumba in Redeemer’s backyard, Book Club Discussions, and Health Q & A's online or in-person -- all with social distance and masking. Follow them onFacebook to get current schedules, events, and other resources: Health Commons at the Living Room. 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 MHC’s website to learn more or contact Mali, Redeemer's MHC ambassador. *The SECURE Act, which became effective January 1, 2020, raised to 72 the age for beginning required minimum distributions, but retained the age of 70 ½ for making QCDs. It also authorizes tax-deductible contributions to IRAs after age 70 ½ if the IRA owner is still working. If a tax-deductible contribution is made to an IRA after age 70 ½, the amount that may be excluded from income for a later-made QCD may be affected. Please consult your tax advisors for more information about this and other questions regarding IRA QCDs.  Third Sunday of Advent Readings & Gospel: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 & John 1:6-8, 19-28 This Sunday we light three candles on the Advent wreath. While our society goes crazy with Christmas preparations and the northern hemisphere grows darker each day, we gather to wait for God to bring us into peace and light. In the gospel reading, John the Baptist calls us to make a pathway for Christ. The poem from Isaiah likens us to a bride or bridegroom dressing for our wedding day. God of power and might, shine your radiance and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need--
God of preachers and messengers, you have entrusted your church with the work of proclaiming good news. Strengthen the witness of Redeemer with new member Joniqua Ankerfelt as we contribute our prayers and presence in calling our next pastor as you embed your word in every heart. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of exiles and wanderers, you repair what was once destroyed, in being present with the leaders of every nation as they govern by caring for one another, for people who have been displaced from their homes by fire, flood, earthquake, or storm inHonduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. Support the work of Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response, and all disaster relief organizations in their recovery efforts. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of the powerful and helpless, you clothe us with strength when our spirits are weak and weary by bestowing your spirit upon this congregation and its communities by empowering us to comfort Ione, Mary, and Sarah, our local and global siblings living with surging COVID-19 and accompanying lockdowns with quarantines, for first responders as well as disaster volunteers, the unsheltered campers at 2nd Ave North and Van White Memorial Blvd, brothers James and Bobbie, Cheryl, Cindy, Linda, Samantha, Shoonie, Edina Community Lutheran Church and the family of Pastor Jeff Sartain . . . Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of sinners and saints, you offer joy even in the midst of our grief. We are grateful for the beloved, imperfect people whose lives testified to your radiant love, especially Lucy, martyr of the church, Nicholas of Myra, Arlene, Bill, John, Kathy and Mary. Anoint the mourning with the oil of gladness. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen  WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Advent Wreath Lighting & Reading // Pleaseregister online or email Amy to sign up to record yourself and/or your family speaking the assigned lectionary readings and/or light Advent candles while speaking Advent blessings (2 for Dec. 6th, 3 for Dec. 13th, or 4 for Dec.20th) for our prerecorded worships during the season of Advent and Christmas. Know that you can speak aloud the readings linked on the sign-up or from a children’s or other translation in your home. Candle Lighting blessings are also linked on the sign up. PRE-ORDER YOUR “REDEEMER BELIEVES BLACK LIVES MATTER 2020” TEES // Redeemer’s Service & Advocacy ministry (led by Holly De Souza) partnered with the Northside’s Juxtaposition Arts to create a brand new 2020 “Redeemer Believes Black Lives Matter” shirts. They are now available for pre-order for a suggested donation of $10 or more which will fund the ongoing work of the S&A committee! Please fill out the pre-order form, and if you choose to, you may pay online through our online giving portal! SUNDAY MORNING ZOOM FELLOWSHIP // Throughout this Advent season we invite you and your families to once again join us Sunday mornings via zoom for a time of fellowship and sharing. These gatherings will be hosted at 9:30am until December 20th, and thereafter at 10:30am. Click here to join! 2021 MEMBERS’ BUDGET MEETING NEXT SUNDAY, December 13th // Members!Please plan to join us NEXT SUNDAY, December 13th, at 10:30am for our annual budget meeting to be held via zoom. Join here. EDU-YOUTH MINISTRY INVITATIONS // Along with lighting the Advent candles and speaking lectionary readings, Redeemer’s Edu-Youth team has some exciting opportunities for your families and children to partake of this Advent season! >> Holy Communion Instruction: Pastor Kelly has provided a short video for children, youth, and families on Holy Communion. Check it out! >> Sundays Dec. 6th & 20th at 10:30am: Family Zoom Craft Time with ECLC -- Join ECLC and other congregations around the area for half an hour of fellowship and craft time. Join here. >> Virtual Christmas Pageant -- This year, Redeemer is teaming up with ECLC and St Paul Lutheran (in South Minneapolis) to create a children’s Christmas Pageant for Christmas Even worship. Multiple scenes mean many families from different congregations can participate, and Redeemer is seeking at least four families to volunteer to do a scene from home! Please contact Anna or Lonna for more information and instructions! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DECEMBER MEMBERS! // Thanks to Bill Dexheimer Pharris for leading us in our Happy Birthday song to all Redeemer congregants and friends celebrating December birthdays! You may join in during this Sunday’s virtual worship. DONATE YARN to MARY BOLL // Mary Boll crocheted and donated 212 baby caps to Hennepin County Obstetrics and Gynecology, all of which are sent home with newborns. Will you donate yarn to Mary Boll to help her continue this ministry during our long winter season? Arrange with Amy to bring baby yarn to Redeemer Lutheran marked Mary Boll and a family member will pick it up for her. PROVISIONS for NEAR-NORTH HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT // A new homeless encampment has moved to near north within blocks of Redeemer and they need a lot of provisions: Firewood, consistent propane refills, winter gear, hand warmers, meals, and more. If you would like to help, you may visit the signup genius or text organizer Kristen (or contact her via Signal) for more information at 760-898-4004. (She responds quickly to text message but does not answer calls from unknown numbers.) WEDNESDAY ADVENT PROJECT MEDITATIONS // During the seven weeks leading to Christmas, Redeemer is participating in the Advent Project which follows the early church’s seven-Sunday celebration of Advent. You may follow the meditations each week at www.redeemermpls.org/advent-project-2020, where you’ll find this and the coming weeks’ meditations set to the ancient Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” STEWARDSHIP BRAINSTORMING // Stewardship minister Kristin Gilbert invites each of you to join her for a meeting to dream and brainstorm about stewardship in the coming year, to align our stewardship plan with our values during this time of Covid, the Minneapolis uprising, and the election, as well as a pastoral transition. Do you or others you know want to be a part of this 1-hour conversation? If so, Let her know if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts but can't make the meeting. CELEBRATING ADVENT and CHRISTMAS: Seasons of Gratitude // Given that we are gathering online (live and pre-recorded) rather than inside of Redeemer Lutheran for celebrating the seasons of Advent and Christmas, here are some invitations for sharing your household faith expressions with Redeemer Lutheran (and visitor viewers) in quarantine: >> Send your online (video recorded) Advent and Christmas songs, poems, devotionals, and greetings to Redeemer that we can include in our pre-recorded worships. Maybe we will receive enough videos to make a montage! >> Share gratitude with greetings and making ornaments. We welcome your biodegradable ornaments for the ornamental tree of gratitude at Logan and Glenwood. Take a snapshot for sharing on Facebook. IRA CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION // We invite you to prayerfully consider sharing with Redeemer Lutheran Church your qualified charitable distribution from your Individual Retirement Account. Basic requirements and limitations for a Qualified Charitable Distribution include: The donor must be at least 70½ years of age at the time of the distribution; The distribution must be from a Roth or Traditional IRA; And the distribution must be made directly from the IRA administrator to a qualifying charity such as Redeemer Lutheran Church. Qualified Charitable Distributions are limited to $100,000.00 per individual per year (a spouse who qualifies may give a similar amount from his or her IRA). Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) benefits include: A QCD from a traditional IRA uses pre-tax dollars; Generally, a QCD is excluded from taxable income*; and a QCD can be applied to required minimum distributions, if applicable.* THRIVENT MEMBERS: Are you a Thrivent member? Consider sharing your Thrivent dollars with Redeemer Lutheran Church ministries! Contact Amy or Pastor Kelly for more info! HEALTH COMMONS at the LIVING ROOM currently offers Zumba in Redeemer’s backyard, Book Club Discussions, and Health Q & A's online or in-person -- all with social distance and masking. Follow them on Facebook to get current schedules, events, and other resources: Health Commons at the Living Room. 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 MHC’s website to learn more or contact Mali, Redeemer's MHC ambassador. *The SECURE Act, which became effective January 1, 2020, raised to 72 the age for beginning required minimum distributions, but retained the age of 70 ½ for making QCDs. It also authorizes tax-deductible contributions to IRAs after age 70 ½ if the IRA owner is still working. If a tax-deductible contribution is made to an IRA after age 70 ½, the amount that may be excluded from income for a later-made QCD may be affected. Please consult your tax advisors for more information about this and other questions regarding IRA QCDs.  Second Sunday in Advent: Readings & Gospel Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, & Mark 1:1-8 On the second Sunday of Advent, we light two candles on the wreath and we listen to John the Baptist, preaching, baptizing, and urging us to prepare for the coming of Christ. The first reading from Isaiah is familiar to anyone who knows Handel’s Messiah, and the psalm includes the beloved line, “righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” God of power and might, comfort your people and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need...
Faithful God, you teach us to wait for you with nurtured faithfulness and patience as we discern and enact your mission in calling our next pastor supported in our doubts and questions. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great. Loving and steadfast God, renew the face of creation where it is in need of your healing touch. Where people suffer from discrimination, judgment, and injustice, speak words of truth and comfort through Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and the World Health Organization. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Tender God, you know sorrow and joy alike. We pray for families in our congregation and community who are not joyful in this holiday season. Sustain and support people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Accompany disability advocates who work for a world accessible to all Comforter, be a companion to all, tend to the sick , the struggling with depression, and gather all people in your healing embrace especially Ione, and Sarah, and all receiving hospice, our local and global siblings living with surging COVID-19 and accompanying lockdowns with quarantines; to first responders as well as disaster volunteers, the grieving Honduran hurricane survivors, the unsheltered campers at 2nd Ave North and Van White Memorial Blvd, brothers James and Bobbie, Cindy, Linda, Samantha, Shoonie, Edina Community Lutheran Church and the family of Pastor Jeff Sartain . . . Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Eternal God, we give thanks for the saints who have prepared your way in the wilderness, made their generous lives an example for all, and taught us to continue their faithful work especially Nicholas of Myra, Arlene, John, Kathy, Mary, and Bill. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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1800 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55405
admin@redeemermpls.org Phone: (612) 886-1468
Limited In-Offices Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10:30am-2:30pm
admin@redeemermpls.org Phone: (612) 886-1468
Limited In-Offices Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10:30am-2:30pm