Redeemer Announcements & Prayers of Intercession | November 6, 2020

FINAL PARKED CAR WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8th // We were disappointed that extreme weather prohibited us from gathering in person for parked car worship last week, but since this weekend’s weather is promising, we will gather for our final parked-car worship of fall at 9:30am in Redeemer’s backyard when we will worship and receive communion and you may pick up your 2021 offerings envelopes!. See you there!

SIGN UP to SPEAK the READINGS! //  Please register online for speaking aloud the assigned readings and recording yourself as well as those in your household for our prerecorded worships during the season of Advent and Christmas. Know that you can speak aloud the readings located on the website or from a children’s Bible in your home.

GOT QUESTIONS? Call the Redeemer Lutheran office on Wednesdays when Amy can point you to the answers, or email her any time at admin@redeemermpls.org.The Redeemer church office is closed for Veterans Day, Wed. Nov. 11; please leave a voicemail message.

CALL COMMITTEE REQUESTS // Firstly, please continue to review the Ministry Site Profile (attached below) and email Amy Koopman any feedback you may have by Friday, November 13th. She will forward it along to the call committee. Secondly, we are currently accepting pastoral recommendations to be passed along to the Minneapolis Area Synod. Please send any potential pastoral candidates as well as two hyperlinks about each candidate to Kent Goodroad by November 20th.

DRIVE-THRU HOLY COMMUNION in NOVEMBER // We invite you to Redeemer’s alley on Sundays November 15th and November 29th at 10:00 a.m. when you may receive holy communion from the handicap entrance on the west side of the building. Please share your feedback about this sacramental experience preceded by online worship!

GIFTS of THANKS TO CHRISTINE BELFRY JOHNSON and KENDRICK HALL // Would you like to send a gift of thanks or encouragement to Christine or Kendrick? You may view their October 11th conversation from October 11th online, and contact Amy in the church office to receive their personal contact information if you'd like to send encouragement! Expect to hear from these seminary graduates again.

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 this Doodle 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.
Expect more invitations for celebrating these seasons of the church year that commemorate the calendar year.

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.*

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. VisitMHC’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.

Lectionary 32 / Advent Project Readings & Gospel:Amos 5:18-24, Psalm 70, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Matthew 25:1-13

Longing for Christ’s reign to come among us, we pray for the outpouring of God’s power on the church, the world, and all in need --​

Holy God, rouse us to deep praise as we gather for worship with sincere and heartfelt songs. Sustain the work of all church musicians especially Alyssa, Dave, Emander, Steven, and Trai leading us in praise and prayer. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy Creator, surprise and delight us with the beauty of the world you have made. Bless the work of landscapers, architects, artists,  with local and global organizations providing shelter. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy Judge, let justice roll down like waters over this world. Be present in cases, reign over courtrooms, and in the hearts of guardians of the law and with the accused, where all long for both justice and mercy to prevail especially in Belarus, Ethiopia, the U.S.... Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy Companion, console those who feel lonely or abandoned. Share the hours of those who live and eat alone. Comfort those who have few friends or who struggle with their identity and place in this world. We name on our hearts and minds Ione, and Sarah, living in care with Bill and all receiving hospice, our local and global siblings living with COVID-19 and accompanying lockdowns with quarantines, for first responders as well as disaster volunteers, the campers at 2nd Ave North and Van White Memorial Blvd, the nations of France and Italy, brothers James and Bobbie, Bud, Cindy, Linda, Kristen, MarySue, Shoonie, Edina Community Lutheran Church and the family of Pastor Jeff Sartain... Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy Protector, be with all observing Veterans Day. Guard the lives of active duty and retired military personnel. Comfort all who mourn those who have died in the line of duty. Heal the wounds, both physical and mental, experienced by service members. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy and Omnipotent One, guide Redeemer in openness to receive the pastoral candidate knowing that your Spirit is leading and preparing us for this journey in faith. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy and Immortal One, we pray in thanksgiving for the lives of all who have died, Mary Olson Cornils Baich, Melvin Boerner... Remind us of the frailty and shortness of our own lives and inspire us to use them for the building up of your kingdom. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Receive our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, until that day when you gather all creation around your throne where you will reign forever and ever. Amen.

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