Not Only With our Lips, But in Our Lives – December 2020

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Church of the Redeemer,

Over the past year, our nation has grieved the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd.  The public outcry in our community drew attention to the disparate experiences and deep generational sins and wounds of our nation.  As a church that seeks to share in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation, Church of the Redeemer earnestly desires to serve as ambassadors of Christ.  In fellowship with him, Jesus Christ brings reconciliation between all people, races and cultures in the household of his Church.  The blood of Christ has the power to mend and heal even the deepest and most grievous betrayals of slavery, discrimination, and violence.  We confess that often the Church does not faithfully manifest that reality.

This summer, Fr. Paul shared a pastoral letter asking us to seek how we can more faithfully, “show forth God’s praise not only with our lips but with our lives.”  Reading groups were offered to help us understand aspects of the public discourse (White Fragility and Citizen) and the promise of the gospel  (The Color of Compromise and Just Mercy).  We were invited to listen to podcasts by Bishop Stewart and theologians N.T. Wright, and Esau McCaulley.  On Oct. 18, Dr. Vince Bacote preached for us from Micah 6:8.  Through our discussions and attention to scripture, we have been exhorted to hear the gospel’s call to honor the image of God in all people and act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

In June, a race and justice task force was convened to identify and begin making long-term commitments to build bridges of love and unity across racial and ethnic divides and to establish mutually enriching cross-cultural relationships.  Many ideas were discussed and considered over the summer and early fall.  We considered existing and emerging connections, keeping in mind where our gifts lie as a community.  We also explored how to make new connections and express and build unity with the African-American community – particularly predominantly African-American churches. The following opportunities have emerged and we’ll need the support of the whole church to see them mature:    

1. A natural opportunity was to reach out to St. John’s Karen Anglican Church in St Paul: a church of the Karen people group from Burma (Myanmar). This summer, Fr. Paul and Kyong Song met twice a month with Fr. Kyi Htoo and Htaw Hser (Nelson) of St. John’s, culminating in a combined gathering and fundraising walk for an orphanage in Thailand, and ongoing regular communication between our leaders.  We are eagerly looking for more opportunities to build upon these mutually edifying connections.
2. In September, we accepted the opportunity to come alongside a refugee family, the Htoos, who arrived on Sept. 29 and are receiving support through Arrive Ministries.  A Refugee Life Group from Church of the Redeemer has been established with room for more to join. Several personal gatherings have taken place over the last few weeks, and winter clothing donations have been gathered and distributed.  Please contact Kyong Song with questions.

3. This Christmas Eve, we will offer financial support to Hope Academy in south Minneapolis through our Christmas Eve offering. Started in 2000, Hope Academy is a private, Christ-centered, classical academy founded as an opportunity-equalizer for urban youth. Within our congregation, there are several individuals with personal connections to the school. Church of the Redeemer has committed to sponsor and hopefully establish a personal relationship with an individual student.  This year’s Christmas Eve offering will be dedicated to the support of our sponsored student at Hope with any surplus being committed to additional students. 
4. Church of the Redeemer contributed $5,000 to the One Fund, which was established this summer to support local African-American ministries in the Twin Cities whose communities suffer from historic inequities and the most recent traumatic events.
5. Fr. Paul, Deacon Dawn, and other members of the team have been prayerfully reaching out to local African-American clergy with a desire to establish personal relationships that might serve as points of connection between our congregations.  Please pray for humility, perseverance, and for the Lord’s guidance into fruitful relationships that cause the Church in our Cities to manifest its unity in Christ.

Those who have participated in the task force this past summer and fall are:

Through these deliberate and committed steps we seek to show and share the love of Christ more faithfully in our community.  Join us in supporting and deepening these commitments as a local body of Christ!

blessings in Christ,

Paul+
with Roger Christensen and John Lundgren