Due to the most recent COVID surge, we are extending the online only worship one more week to include the next three Sundays (1/9; 1/16, 1/23)  We hope to be back in-person on January 30, the day of the annual meeting. Worship will be live streamed at 10:30 am on each of these Sundays via Facebook Live and can be accessed here.  The link, along with a bulletin for each worship, can also be found on our website www.redeemermpls.org.  We regret having to make this change, but we do so for the protection of our whole community.  Watch the Friday announcements for any changes. Please share this information with anyone you know who is not connected to email or getting information from our website. 
 
Redeemer Kids in January: Mark your calendar! Our Northside Confirmation Collaboration continues on January 23 at Salem Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis from 2-5 PM. More details to come! 
 
The Redeemer Lutheran Church Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 30 following the 10:30 service.  We expect to be able to gather in person but we will also provide an online option via Zoom for those who feel they cannot attend.  We will provide more information about the meeting and the Zoom link in the weeks ahead. The Annual Meeting of the Redeemer Center for Life will follow immediately after the conclusion of the church annual meeting.
 
CHURCH STAFF OFFICE HOURS // Savannah is usually in the office Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, except when otherwise announced.. The office is closed on holidays.  Pastor Peter will be in the church offices on Wednesdays from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and Fridays from 10:00am - 1:00 pm. If you need to stop by the church at any other time during the week, let Pastor Peter know by calling 612-900-8410 and he can make arrangements to meet. 
 
Meal Train Support // Mike Murray underwent surgery last weekend and the Murray family could use some support by way of meals. Heather Hussong has set up a "Meal Train" for them through the following website: https://mealtrain.com/r5e5vd
What is Meal Train? There are times in our lives when friends and family ask, "What can I do to help out?" The answer is usually to help them with a meal. When many friends provide support through a meal, Meal Train keeps everyone organized. Please consider supporting the Murray family at this time if you are able.
 
“THE SNOWY DAY” WINTER STORYWALK® AT ECLC! The community of Redeemer is invited to a brief but special little outdoor event with ECLC on Sunday, January 30th.  Enjoy beloved community as you read. Engage your senses and the great outdoors with a montage of stories and story prompts set up one page at a time, at stations around the outside of ECLC. Meet ECLC, Redeemer, St. Paul’s, and Lake Harriet Childcare Center friends, and walk the story together with hot cocoa, coffee & treats from 10:30-11am on Sunday, January 30th. Can’t make it Sunday? Stop by anytime between the 30thth and February 6th to enter the story at your leisure!
 
Celebrating a Young Artist in our Community: Zephaniah Martin is a young author and is the son of Yordanos Kiflu-Martin and Tootie Martin and the grandson of Dr. Cheryl Chatman and Pastor Kelly Chatman. His new book, Jaheem’s First Kwanzaa, is available from the nonprofit Planting People Growing Justice. It is a great gift for the young and young at heart in your life! We recently gifted a copy of this book to families in Redeemer’s Christmas program, and I got the chance to interview Zephaniah about becoming an author as a fifth grader. He shared that his interest in writing began at a young age out of a love for listening to and sharing stories with friends and family members, and his favorite storyteller is his mom. He really started writing during creative school projects, and he enjoyed those early experiences enough to enter a book contest on the suggestion of his grandma. Editing his book took perseverance and a willingness to try new things as he refined the story he wanted to tell. One of the most fun parts of writing was seeing how quickly things “skyrocketed” after he won the book contest, as friends and family celebrated his success, his book was published, and quickly rose in the ranks of Children’s Kwanzaa Books and Children’s Africa Books online. When asked about what readers should learn from his writing, Zephaniah said, “I just want them to carry around a piece of their culture that is important to them.” Zephaniah looks forward to his own Kwanzaa celebrations, which include stories shared with family and friends shared in the glow of candlelight, coming up this holiday season. 
Jaheem’s First Kwanzaa is available from the nonprofit Planting People Growing Justice, which gets a portion of the profits to support their work with literacy in communities, by clicking this link. Many thanks to Zephaniah and Yordanos Kiflu-Martin for sharing their time with me!


Lector’s Needed for Worship // Now that we are having worship indoors, we are looking for volunteers to be a lector at our services. You can sign up through our SignUp Genius HERE. Please reach out to Savannah in the main office with any questions. admin@redeemermpls.org
HEALTH COMMONS // We are kicking off the year at Health Commons with Kiki’s Dance Cardio class on Zoom. It will be every Monday 6-7pm. Below is the Zoom information. 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85010666116?pwd=dFROa29KOU5FUUZ5K0k4T0JUaHpuQT09​

Meeting ID: 850 1066 6116
Passcode: 568143
 
Prayer Concerns // If you, or anyone you know, has prayer concerns/requests, please contact Savannah in the main office at admin@redeemermpls.org , or Pastor Peter at pastorpeter@redeemermpls.org . We will put your prayer requests in service.
 
The Nominating Committee is continuing to look for candidates for next year’s council.  If you are interested in serving on council, or would like to nominate someone to a position, talk to outgoing council members Anna Kottkamp, Lonna Field, Mary Britt or Stuart Munk, who make up the committee. 
 
To make indoor worship possible, we have purchased two HEPA filter large room air purifiers.  As this was an unexpected expense, we welcome any donations to defray the costs of these machines, which together are costing around $1000.  Thank you for your generous support of Redeemer’s ministry!

Redeemer Giving App // Redeemer now has an online Giving app! In the Google Playstore or Apple App Store, you can search Vanco Mobile, download it, and follow these simple steps to set up your easy and efficient online giving with Redeemer straight from your Smartphone.

Monthly Redeemer Diaper Drive for Area Food Shelf // Diapers are an expensive necessity for families. Our local food shelf at our neighboring church, Minneapolis Central Church of Christ, gives out diapers and wipes every week. Every third Saturday, Evangelism and Outreach minister committee chair, Sally, plans to bring diapers and wipes collected from Redeemer members. If you would like to donate diapers (any amount, any size) or baby wipes, bring them to the church office during office hours or to worship on Sundays where there will be a collection box available. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please indicate that your donation is for the Diaper Drive.
Thank you for considering this important ministry opportunity. As always, if you are interested in volunteering at the food shelf on a Saturday anytime between 11:00-2:00, please let the church office know.  
 
BREEZE ONLINE DIRECTORY SMARTPHONE APP // Good news! Our church management software program, Breeze, is available as a smartphone app, making searching for other members and congregants easier than ever on your mobile devices. Search for the Breeze ChMS app in your device’s app store. When you log in the first time, it will ask for your congregation’s subdomain/ID, which is redeemermpls. Then you can use your same username and password to log in and find each other. If you have questions or need a Breeze login, email Savannah and she’ll send you one!
 
COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT & VACCINATIONS // We encourage everyone to get your COVID-19 vaccinations/boosters if you haven't already! They are free and available to all people aged 5 and older. As we gather, we will continue to practice social distancing and mask-wearing to protect the unvaccinated and the most vulnerable among us who cannot be vaccinated yet.

WATCH OUT FOR PHISHING EMAILS FROM PASTORS // For a few years now, churches & pastors across the country have been dealing with the consequences of data breaches. One of the most persistent results is that congregants and people on church mailing lists receive email requests for direct cash transfers and gift cards. They do this by searching church websites for pastor’s names, creating new, fake email addresses in or with the pastor’s name, and then sending the cash/gift card requests to mailing lists they hacked access to years ago. There is nothing we can do to stop the emails because the addresses are not owned or controlled by anyone at the church. What we can do is remind congregants that you will never receive an email from a Redeemer pastor requesting financial assistance or gift cards. If and when we do a capital campaign or request gifts for, for example, the Christmas Store, they will come from an @redeemermpls.org email address. We never ask for gift card codes to be emailed. If you receive an email from someone that appears to be a church pastor or leader asking for gift cards, always check the email address. If it is not from @redeemermpls.org, do not reply or purchase anything. 

PARKED CAR WORSHIP at 10:30am on SUNDAYS // Join us each Sunday in Redeemer’s Backyard for parked car worship at 10:30am. If you are unable to join us in person, we hope you’ll join the livestream through Facebook Live -- you do not need to login to a Facebook profile to view our livestreams! 
 
COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT & VACCINATIONS // We still hope and plan to begin gathering indoors in Redeemer's sanctuary this fall, and will continue to listen to the guidance of both the CDC, State experts, and Synod directives as cases of the COVID-19 Delta Variant continue to surge across the nation. As such, we remain committed first and foremost to the health and safety of our church family and community, and so we encourage everyone to get your COVID-19 vaccinations if you haven't already! They are free and available to all people aged 12 and older. As we gather, we will continue to practice social distancing and mask-wearing to protect the unvaccinated and the most vulnerable among us who cannot be vaccinated yet.
 
REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH is HIRING! // Our office coordinator Amy Koopman is moving on to her seminary internship as of this Friday, August 13, 2021. The Office Coordinator of Redeemer Lutheran Church is a part-time position (20 hours per week, ideally, 4 hours per day) whose chief responsibilities include representing the church as the first point-of-contact for phone, email, and in-person visitors; coordinating office responsibilities; and supporting relationships with church congregants, our ministry partners and our Harrison neighbors. Familiarity with gmail, google drive, canva, imovie (or similar filmmaking software), garageband (or similar audio manipulation software), microsoft and apple office platforms, and all social media platforms are important. Curiosity, flexibility and humor are vital! Check out the full job description here Please contact Pastor Peter Samuelson (612-259-8976) for more information.
 
BREEZE ONLINE DIRECTORY SMARTPHONE APP // Good news! Our church management software program, Breeze, is available as a smartphone app, making searching for other members and congregants easier than ever on your mobile devices. Search for the Breeze ChMS app in your device’s app store. When you log in the first time, it will ask for your congregation’s subdomain/ID, which is redeemermpls. Then you can use your same username and password to log in and find each other. If you have questions or need a Breeze login, email the office and they’ll send you one!
 
FAMILY & CHILDREN EVENTS THIS SUMMER // Redeemer’s Edu-Youth Team invites families of Redeemer to some really cool events this summer! The next big one is August 23-27: Camp Noah -- Registration is now open to kids rising to grades 1 to 6! Camp Noah is a nationally acclaimed resiliency and preparedness program that is fun, free, and highly recommended by past participants! Camp Noah will be held at Christ the River of Life from 9am to 3pm daily during the week of August 23-27. Reserve your spot now at www.campnoah.org or contact Pastor Deanna Kim for more information (612-234-5655 / crolpastor@gmail.com).
 
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for PARKED CAR WORSHIP // Along with needing weekly lectors to read the week’s first and second readings and Psalm, we are also looking for volunteers to help with set-up each Sunday morning (arrive by 9:30am) and to learn how to run the sound system and livestream videography for when Dave is unavailable. Contact  Pastor Peter to sign up and volunteer! 
 
CHURCH STAFF OFFICE HOURS // Through the summer months, Pastor Peter will be in the church offices on Wednesdays from 1-4pm and Fridays from 10am-noon. Mondays will be their day off when offices are closed. If you need to stop by the church at any other time during the week, let Pastor Peter know and she can make arrangements to meet.
 
TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION for POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY & SYSTEMIC CHANGE // Now that we have a police accountability victory, let’s work toward true systemic change so that no more people are killed by police and no more police go to jail. One way to enact enduring systemic change is through legislative advocacy. We ask you to contact your state representative and senator to support the bills in the linked document. We all have “response-ability” for what happens next and advocacy does not take a lot of time. Please read, act, and pass this document widely through your contacts and ask those you know to do the same.
In the Spirit,
Redeemer Service+Advocacy and Outreach+Evangelism Ministers,    
Holly DeSouza, Sally Ankerfelt, Pastor Babette Chatman 
 
THE HEALTH COMMONS is a drop-in health and wellness space here in North Minneapolis whose services are FREE and open to everyone. They offer Zumba classes every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 6pm. They also host book clubs and healing circles outdoors, along with Health Q & A's online (Facebook Live) or in person with social distancing. For more information and questions, visit their facebook page or contact our Community Liaisons: Bertha 763-843-9988 | Angela 651-529-6003
 
COVID-19 PREVENTION & VACCINES // The best protection from the various mutations of the COVID-19 virus—whether you are vaccinated or not—is to: 
-- stay 6 feet away from others in public spaces; 
-- wear a mask (or two) so that there is adequate filtration and a snug fit over the bridge of your nose, cheeks, and chin; and
-- wash your hands often and well. 
See the MN Department of Health COVID-19 site for more in-depth and current information about symptoms, testing, and vaccines. Minnesotans 16-years of age and older are eligible to be vaccinated.  Vaccine demand often exceeds the supply. MN Department of Health offers a vaccine locator site. You can also attempt to access vaccines through community pharmacies (Walgreens and CVS) or your healthcare provider. When you receive a vaccine appointment, be sure to dress appropriately so that your upper arm is easily accessible (for example, wear a short-sleeve t-shirt under your sweater/jacket). ​

​

Rooted in Christ and sustained by the Spirit, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation.

God of wisdom, enlighten your church. Guide us as we seek greater knowledge and invite others into deeper understanding of your grace and love. Teach us to ask faithful questions and open our minds to new ideas. We pray for our church council and other leaders in our congregation, and continue to pray for the call committee in search for the pastor to lead us into the future you have prepared for Redeemer. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of creation, mend the earth. Cool warming oceans and preserve melting ice caps. Increase our awareness of changing climate patterns and reveal new approaches to the ecological challenges we face. Shield those in the path of hurricanes, tropical storms, wildfires and other natural disasters. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of all nations, direct our leaders. Grant them courage to lay aside political grudges and renew their determination to address difficult conflicts. Guide them in the work of reconciliation. We pray for the legislators who are working on the policies and funding priorities that will best help all in our society flourish. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of compassion, tend to the wounded. Rescue those tormented by mental illness or mired in addiction. Ease the anxiety of those struggling with dementia. Come quickly to help all who are grieving and all those who suffer (Mark Jacobson, Jane Frendshuh, Sharon Peterson’s brother Steven, Rufus and Caroline Campbell at the death of an extended family member). God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of beauty, inspire artists. Bless those whose visual and musical gifts enliven this assembly. Bless the creative work of poets, hymnwriters, composers, painters, sculptors, and others that enrich our worship and daily life. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of peace, we pray for a reduction in the gun violence in our neighborhood and in our city.  Lord, this has hit especially close to home this week for us as a young man – whose name is unknown to us – was shot near our church and died in our back yard last Sunday, the very place we were worshipping you on that day and do worship you today.  May you receive him into the arms of your mercy, O God – and may we honor him by doing what we can to bring peace into our neighborhood, our church, our city, our world. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of resurrection, bring us to new life. Give us the living bread from heaven through which we abide in your love, and on the last day raise us with all the saints to eternal life. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

We lift these and all our prayers to you, O God, confident in the promise of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Rooted in Christ and sustained by the Spirit, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation.

You call your church to be the body of Christ. Awaken all the baptized to the gifts you provide for carrying out the work of ministry. Where the church is divided, knit us together and restore the unity of the faith. Lord in your mercy, 
Hear our prayer.

You command the clouds above and cause the wind to blow in the heavens. Watch over deserts and wilderness places. Regenerate rainforests, defend species at risk of extinction, and strengthen the work of conservation organizations, especially the eco-justice work of the Minneapolis Synod. Lord in your mercy, 
Hear our prayer.

​You summon leaders to respond to the needs of your people. Instill those who govern with patience when confronted with grievances and perseverance in seeking what promotes the well-being of the community. Lord in your mercy, 
Hear our prayer.

You draw near to those who cry out for help. Feed those who are hungry, reassure those who are despairing, and accompany those who are imprisoned. Rain down the true bread from heaven that gives life to the world. Lord in your mercy, 
Hear our prayer.

You receive all who come seeking a sign of grace. Make this congregation a place of hospitality for those accustomed to rejection. To those who have felt excluded here or elsewhere, prepare us to welcome them in the name of Christ. Lord in your mercy, 
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our leaders in this congregation and in the Redeemer Center for Life, that they may discern your will and lead us into the future you are preparing for us.  Bless the work of the call committee as they seek pastoral leadership for our beloved faith community. Lord in your mercy, 
Hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

You provide food that endures for eternal life. Sustain us each day with the bread of life until we are gathered with all the saints and feast together at your heavenly banquet. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We lift these and all our prayers to you, O God, confident in the promise of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Rooted in Christ and sustained by the Spirit, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation.

We pray for the church. Bless the ministries of our neighboring congregations -  the Lutheran Churches of the Northside Parish – Salem and Christ the River of Life – and Minneapolis Central Church – Christ right down 4th St. Empower churches throughout the world and encourage missionaries who accompany global neighbors. Kindle in us a spirit of collaboration, that all people may know your loving works. Lord in your Mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for creation. Send rain to lands experiencing drought and come to the aid of those enduring sweltering heat. Nurture wheat and barley crops grown for the nourishment of your people and conserve aquatic habitats and fish populations. Lord in your Mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who govern. Cast out arrogance, selfishness, and corruption and instruct those who lead to practice compassion and humility. Inspire them with a vision of the common good and a commitment to ensure that all who hunger are fed. We pray especially for equitable access to voting – give our leaders courage to insure this sacred right for all.  Lord in your Mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for those bowed down by heavy burdens: those who are unemployed or underemployed, those unable to find affordable housing, and those without health insurance. Console those who grieve and hear the cries of those who call to you for healing (Jane Frendshuh and Mark Jacobson). Lord in your Mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for this assembly. Deepen our resolve to use what we have to serve those in need. When we worry that we do not have enough resources for ministry, assure us of your abundance. Lord in your Mercy.
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for our community of faith – for our mission to use the blessings you have given us – blessings of people – talents – resources – and passion for the good of your kingdom here in the Harrison Neighborhood. Bless and guide the call committee in their search for a new pastor to lead this congregation to share of its abundance for the good of all. Lord in your Mercy 
Hear our prayer.

We give thanks for those who have died. As you sustained them through all their days, so dwell in our hearts, that we may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. Hear us, O God.
Hear our prayer.

We lift these and all our prayers to you, O God, confident in the promise of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.