Redeemer Announcements & Prayers of Intercession | September 17, 2020

THANK YOU from RCFL’s GALA COMMITTEE // The 2020 RCFL Gala: Rooted in Community virtual event was a phenomenal success. Thanks to our generous supporters, donors and partners who helped us surpass our fundraising goal and raise over $115,000! These funds will go towards our workforce development opportunities, youth leadership programs and attainable housing.​

VIRTUAL WORSHIP with LUTHERANS RESTORING CREATION  // This Sunday we are excited to share virtual worship provided by Lutherans Restoring Creation, a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The LRC-provided bulletin and sermon transcript will be available online at www.redeemermpls.org/virtual-worship.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for PARKED CAR WORSHIP // We plan to host outdoor worship on September 27, October 4, 11, 18, and November 1 weather permitting, and we need your help! Each week we’ll need five hospitality volunteers to help with set-up, tear-down, and with distributing communion cups, bulletins, and the like to our siblings who come to worship. You will be provided gloves (and a mask if you don’t have one). Please sign up here for one or more of these five Sundays!

HELPERS NEEDED for GET OUT THE VOTE EVENTS // We invite you to prayerfully consider walking a short mapped physically distanced area to distribute nonpartisan Get Out the Vote door hangers. Hold a date of your choosing for Nestor (of the Harrison Neighborhood Association), Holly, and Maggie. Pastor Kelly will join with flyers announcing our parked car worship services in September, October, and November, as well as Health Commons weekly and monthly events. Looking forward to seeing you walking with good news!

PARKED CAR WORSHIP & OUTDOOR BIBLE STUDY // We will be hosting parked car worship followed by outdoor Bible study (with physical distance) on September 27th and October 4th, 11th, and 18hth. Water will be available from the Redeemer building; bring your own Bible and snacks. We will conclude by 11:30am or earlier.

SAVE the DATES for FLU SHOTS // In partnership with Fairview Health Commons, we will host Miniflu clinics on October 25th (during Reformation Zoom worship with Salem and Westwood Lutheran) and November 1st (parked car worship) in Redeemer’s backyard!

ZOOM FELLOWSHIP & MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY // Along with hosting 9:30am zoom fellowship on virtual worship Sundays (including this week, Sept 20th), Pastor Kelly is hosting a weekly Wednesday evening Bible study on zoom from 7-8pm in September, when we will dig into and discuss each of the five chapters of First Peter. There is a posted recording by Pastor Kelly on each chapter. The existing recordings (available online) by Pastor Kelly were shaped by perceiving the rebellion, uprising and social unrest in Minneapolis. Through this bible study, we will examine how we perceive ourselves as agents of hope.

SEASONS of CREATION Lectionary-Based Devotional Online //  The ELCA, Anglican Church of Canada, and the Episcopal Church have joined together to provide a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon “repairing and restoring our commitments to God, to one another and to all of creation” through a series of devotionals written by various ecumenical leaders. They follow the lectionary and are offered for each Sunday, September 6th - October 4th, and are available for free online. Download the devotional guide today!

HARRISON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (HNA) CALL for PARTNER SUPPORT // As partners in the work to advance housing equity and racial justice in Minneapolis and throughout the Twin Cities region, HNA needs the Minneapolis Area Synod’s and Redeemer’s support as they face severe city budget cuts that will deeply impact their capacity to continue this critical work. For context regarding what HNA and other Minneapolis Neighborhood Organizations are asking for, please see their letter. Will you send an email by September 30th (the sooner the better) to the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Frey in support of increasing funding for Neighborhood Organizations? HNA believes that hearing from their partners in the work will increase the City Council and Mayor's understanding of the important role Neighborhoods play in advancing equity in our communities. For city leader contact info, talking points, or a suggested letter template, click here.

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. Their next social gathering (distanced & with masks!) will be October 6th from 3-6pm. Come on out for community and light snacks! Follow them on Facebook to get current schedules, events, and other resources: Health Commons at the Living Room.

REDEEMER COMMUNITY GARDEN EVENTS  // Summertime is busy in Redeemer garden! Along with our weekly garden work days from 1-4pm and free veggie distribution from 2-4pm every Sunday afternoon, we’d love for you to join this Sunday from 4:30p-7:30p for our last Pizza Party & Drum Circle of the season. All activities are socially-distanced & masked events. For more information, contact our garden coordinator Greta.

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. Visit MHC’s website to learn more or contact Mali, Redeemer's MHC ambassador.

16th Sunday after Pentecost | Readings & Gospel
​Jonah 3:10-4:11 | Psalm 145:1-8 | Philippians 1:21-30 | Matthew 20:1-16

Intercessor: Drawn together in the compassion of God, we pray for the church, the world, and all those in need:  

Generous God, you make the last first, and the first last by equipping your church for its works of service where the gospel challenges the church. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Nothing in creation is outside your concern, mighty God; have us tend to all that you have made with a spirit of generosity. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bring peace to places of conflict and violence especiallyEthiopia, Lebanon, and the Church in the Holy Land, for siblings across the US  so that inspired negotiators, peacekeepers, and development workers know your blessing upon your work. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Accompany judges and lawyers, victims of crime and those serving sentences, revealing all their needs for your grace and mercy that is slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Even beyond our expectations, you choose to give generously. Grant life, health, and courage to all who are in need especially any seeking fruitful labor and the livelihood provided by paid work , the grieving survivors of the migrant fire in Lesbos, Claudia, Mark, MarySue, Robin, Shoonie, Tatiana, our local and global siblings living with COVID-19 and quarantines, for any dealing with loss of life, livelihood, and home in the wildfires on the west coast and its air pollution, for the first responders, disaster volunteers, and all who sacrifice of themselves for the care and love of others; Marylou, Ione, and Sarah living in care, for Bill and all receiving hospice and resting on our hearts and minds. . . Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pastor: All these things and whatever else you see that we need, we entrust to your mercy; through Christ our Lord. Amen.