Redeemer Announcements & Prayers of Intercession | July 30, 2021

REDEEMER GARDEN MOVIE NIGHT TONIGHT at 8:30pm! // Redeemer’s Community Garden + Bread Oven volunteers invite anyone who wants to come Sunday garden workdays from 1-4pm each week. Additionally, you’re invited to these upcoming special events: Garden Movie Night at 8:30pm tonight, July 30th; Garden Pizza Party at 4pm on August 29th. Hope to see you there! For more information, contact Mali!

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 August 13, 2021. We’d like to have our new coordinator in place by August 9, 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 Amy and she’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 and Amy are unavailable. Contact Amy or Pastor Peter to sign up and volunteer! 
 
CHURCH STAFF OFFICE HOURS // Through the summer months, Pastor Peter and Amy 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 Amy 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). ​​

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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.