Redeemer Announcements & Prayers of Intercession - May 21, 2020

​Venture North Garage Sale >>
Grab your mask and stop by the Redeemer Backyard tomorrow, May 22nd, for Venture North’s Garage Sale! All bikes are $20 straight out of the garage. The sale will be outside with social distancing precautions in place to minimize risk. We encourage customers to wear a mask, and all staff will wear masks as well.
Learn more here

"Rejoice" Video Collaboration! >> The Redeemer Education/Youth team is making a virtual worship video with the whole congregation and we need your help! Please send us videos of your crew dancing to Agape's Rejoice Song by email or text, so that we can combine clips from the congregation into one video! You can sing/lip sync along with this track and dance the "Rejoice Dance" (tutorial here, or just freestyle!). Be as creative as you like, just please join the *virtual* celebration! Please email your video clips to Anna Kottkamp!  Thanks! Let us know if you have questions!
FOR EXAMPLE: 

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Virtual Worship Continues into June >> 
As the state begins to open again, Bishop Svennungsen and the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA remain wholly committed to making the health of all our congregants the top priority. In accordance with the Synod's guidelines, Redeemer will continue to host online worship services every Sunday through at least June 7th, which are available on our website, YouTube Channel, or on our Facebook Page. We hope you are being fed and enjoying the services from the courtyard! Please let us know how we can serve you well as we continue worshiping from home and practicing physical distancing.

The Minneapolis Synod will also host worship over two holiday weekends -- Memorial Day Weekend (this Sunday, May 24th) and Independence Day Weekend (July 5th). We will share those recordings on our media outlets and include the week's bulletin in announcements. (This week's bulletin, provided by the Synod, can be found here.)

Pastor Kelly Vacation >>
​Pastor Kelly will be on vacation this holiday weekend, May 23rd-25th. The Bishop's office will provide Synod-wide worship, and for anyone in need of pastoral care while she’s away, Pastor Eric Hoffer of Salem is on-call. You may reach him at 952-240-9861 or pastor@salem-elca.org.

Budget Update >>
We’ve attached a budget update below from Mike Tarras so that anyone who’s interested can learn about where we stand financially amid the Covid-19 pandemic and as we begin the process of calling a new pastor. If you have questions or concerns, email Mike: mtarras@gmail.com ​

Redeemer's 2020 Stewardship Campaign Continues 'til May 31st >> 
​As we continue the work of calling a new pastor, we invite everyone for whom Redeemer is home to pledge their gifts - time, money, and talent - to sustaining Redeemer in the coming months. Redeemer needs all of us! Pledge online here.

Wednesday Night Transition & Pastoral Call Discussions >> 
​Every Wednesday at 7pm, we are hosting zoom meetings to discuss Who and Why We Are (with our transition questions) and preparing to call a new pastor to Redeemer. If you want your voice heard and to share what you believe are Redeemer’s core values and needs, please join the calls via this link!

Sunday Zoom Fellowship >>Are you missing Redeemer fellowship or our signature time of passing the peace? We know it’s not the same, but as we await the time when we can again gather safely in-person, we invite you to join us each Sunday at 10:30am on Zoom for a time of checking in, centering, and praying for each other through this unprecedented pandemic. Join us here!
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Health Commons continues to offer their amazing services through this pandemic! Zumba classes are hosted outdoors when weather permits, and online either via Zoom or Facebook Live when not. They also offer their free  nurse consultations via zoom!
Click Here to learn more!

Join Our Church Directory! >> We have transitioned from Instant Church Directory to Breeze Church Management for our online directory and we need your updates! Click Here to create your Breeze account. You can then view your own family profile and gain (limited) access to fellow Redeemer congregants’ contact information. If you need help, email Amy.
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Mental Health Connect (MHC) is a local non-profit based out of Bethlehem Lutheran in South Minneapolis offering free, non-biased support for anyone seeking mental health resources. Click Here to learn more or contact Redeemer’s ambassador Mali Jensen. 

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Sunday, May 24, 2020 (Seventh Sunday of Easter)
Readings & Gospel: Acts 1:1-11 | Psalm 47 | Ephesians 1:15-23 | Luke 24:44-53

Intercessor: Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need— [a brief silence.]
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O God, unite your church in the truth of your gospel, the love of our neighbor, and the call to proclaim your reign to all people. Call us to be one as you are one with Christ as we seek our next pastor. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Guide your people as we explore the mysteries of the universe especially as our globe is under siege by a novel coronavirus. We pray for the work of scientists and mathematicians whose skill enriches our public health and understanding like Nicholas Copernicus and Leonard Euler whom the church remembers today. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Protect the vulnerable living under severe flooding Michigan and where nations are currently in crisis by redirecting their authority towards justice rather than the weapons of violence and greed. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those engulfed in grief, those without support, and for all who are isolated, powerless, or afraid, that all may rest in your care Bud, Mark, Sarah, Karen and Kayla,  and those we name before you now... Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give courage to all who embark on new ventures, any risking their lives to serve in our armed forces whether at home or abroad. Grant safety and assure them of your never-failing strength. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pastor: With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord. Amen