Redeemer Announcements & Prayers | February 5, 2021

VIRTUAL COMMUNION THIS SUNDAY //  We welcome you to Redeemer’s first Virtual Sacrament of Holy Communion next Sunday, February 7th. Whether you partake by sharing bread and wine or grape juice at home, or simply join our prayers, know that all are included in the loving and forgiving communion of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus for our life together.

WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES // We need readers for February worship!! 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 months of January and February. Know that you can speak aloud the readings linked on the sign-up or from a children’s or other translation in your home. 
 
ASH WEDNESDAY DRIVE-UP IMPOSITION OF ASHES & COMMUNION // Weather permitting, Redeemer invites you to come to the Redeemer Logan parking lot On Ash Wednesday, February 17th at 12 noon or from 5pm-7pm for Drive-Up Ashes Imposition and Distribution of Prepackaged Sacrament of Holy Communion. Pastor Kelly will place ashes on a spoon for you to make the cross on your forehead, and will speak the blessing for ash imposition and the promise for Holy Communion (distributed with gloved hand) and offer a prayer. 
 
ZOOM FELLOWSHIP: SUNDAY at 10:30AM // Please join us at 10:30am this Sunday, 2/7, for Zoom Fellowship hosted by Dr. Bell, Redeemer Council minister for Racial Justice and the recently-trained Redeemer community organizers.They will share their experiences of the weeklong Community Organizing for Faith Leaders training and discuss what you might experience should you join the June 2021 training! We join in blessing for Dr. Bell who has been endorsed by a Minneapolis Area Synod theological review panel for ordained ministry. (Meeting ID: 828 2807 5412 | Passcode: 371196 |  or dial-in to  +1 312 626 6799)
 
ORDER YOUR “REDEEMER BELIEVES BLACK LIVES MATTER” T-SHIRTS // Redeemer’s Service & Advocacy ministry (led by Holly De Souza) is offering new “Redeemer Believes Black Lives Matter” shirts for a suggested donation of $10 (or more which will fund the ongoing work of the S&A committee). These high quality, no shrink t-shirts come in sizes: Youth small and medium & Adult S, M, L, XL, and XXL. Order your t-shirts by filling out the online order form.

PRAYERS FOR REDEEMER BABIES // Please hold in your prayers Redeemer households expecting new births in the coming weeks and months: Alyssa Schwitzer (and Elizabeth Hanson), Linnae Nelson-Seys (with Jamie and Abraham Seys), Rachel Birkedahl (and Derwim Halim), and our accompanist Steven Hobert’s partner Sarah Lindsey. We can’t wait to meet these little ones and shower their families when it’s safe to do so!

COVID-19 VACCINES // M Health Fairview will begin scheduling COVID-19 vaccination appointments for people 75 years of age or older in addition to front-line health care workers who cannot perform their job remotely. The M Health Fairview COVID-19 vaccination effort is a phased approach, per guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health. Those eligible willl be asked to show identification including a driver’s license or other government issued ID or proof of employment at the time of your vaccination, whichever is applicable. COVID-19 vaccines require two doses. Please choose a first appointment that allows you to return exactly 21 days later at the same location. Your second vaccine appointment will be scheduled when you receive your first dose

HEALTH COMMONS at the LIVING ROOM currently offers Zumba, Book Club Discussions, and Health Q&A's online and via Zoom. Follow them on Facebook to get current schedules, events, and other resources: Health Commons at the Living Room.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany | Readings & Gospel 
​Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39

Gracious God, by day and night we pour out our prayer to you. We are crying out for justice, yearning for what is right, longing for your peace. Come quickly to help us, O God; save those who call upon your name.

We hear of hateful violence and senseless killings . . .
We feel the suffering, sorrow, and shame of the oppressed . . .
We fear that justice will again be delayed or denied . . .
We recognize patterns of privilege and systems of discrimination . . .
We see your creation destroyed by carelessness and greed . . .
We weep for the victims of COVID-19, police brutality, anti-LGBTQIA bigotry, and more. . .
We grieve in the aftermath of the insurrection at the Capitol, and with those who’ve lost family, friends, and loved ones to ignorance, conspiracy, and violence birthed from hate and fear. . .
We pray for an end to systemic racism, white supremacy, institutionalized greed and legislated oppression. . .
We long for a day when Your justice and mercy will topple empires through changed hearts and transformed cultures . . .
We remember the deaths of Fessehatsion Kiflu Berhane, Chris, and those who’ve passed on from this life  . . .

Gracious God, keep us working and praying for the day when your justice will roll down like waters, and your righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Replenish our strength and stir up our hope as we look for signs of your coming reign. And fill us with the peace that passes understanding—the deep peace of Jesus Christ our Savior, in whose holy name we pray. Amen.

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