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As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we reflect on giving and gratitude. Barbara Leafblad writes about her own thank-you list, and Sarah Lundgren writes about packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child. By Barbara Leafblad At our Thanksgiving meal this year, we will go around the table and say what we are thankful for. This always throws me off, because my list is long. I will look at the faces of my spirited grandchildren, at the hearts of my two stepchildren…

The women of Church of the Redeemer gathered last month for a weekend retreat to fellowship, pray and study Henri Nouwen’s book, Life of the Beloved. More than 30 women (and one infant!) participated. Today’s blog post features reflections from three women who attended the retreat.   I came away from the women’s retreat with my soul refreshed and with deeper connections with my sisters in Christ. For me, one of the most meaningful parts of the weekend was hearing the…

By Andy Bramsen As we reflect on the horrific acts of evil in Beirut and Paris that have killed scores  and inflicted terror on the people of those cities and beyond, we grieve with them and pray for the Lord’s mercy and comfort. Yet it is all too easy to turn from mourning with the suffering to becoming hardened toward anyone who shares a national, religious, or ethnic identity with the perpetrators. This turn from sorrow to a hatred fueled…

Today’s post is by Calleigh McRaith, who encourages us to think creatively about missions. Calleigh started coming to Church of the Redeemer a little over two years ago after moving back to the Twin Cities from Virginia, where she had been attending law school. She went to Wheaton, lives in St. Paul and works as an immigration attorney. One thing I’ve been reminded of since moving back to Minnesota a few years ago is that Minnesotans tend to hate asking…

Today’s post is by Nancy Bergstrom. Nancy and her husband, Ken, are part of Church of the Redeemer’s prayer ministry. Nancy and Ken are proud parents and grandparents — not just to their own daughter and grandson, but also to families they have befriended over the years. She spoke this past weekend at Church of the Redeemer’s women’s retreat.   The windows in the Sanctuary at Bethel Lutheran, our host church, are lovely.  I especially like the one recently used…

Many of you know Dawn Lundgren, who leads our prayer ministry. Dawn and John have four adult children and nine (going on 10) grandchildren.  Dawn was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and grew up in St. Cloud, Minn., Wyckoff, N.J., and Elmhurst, Ill. In this week’s post, Dawn describes how she got involved in prayer ministry, who has influenced her, and who some of her favorite authors are.   When I began seminary, I wasn’t sure what direction my degree would…

Edward was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He graduated with a degree in chemistry from Queen’s University in 1962, and moved to Manchester University (England) to the dental school as a junior faculty member in Dental Biomaterials. He spent some 30 years there, acquiring two research doctorates, and had two spells as a visiting faculty member at Northwestern University in Chicago. He is married to Isobel, whom he met in Manchester. They have two daughters and two grandchildren…

We asked Andy about his background, his family, his favorite books, and what he loves about teaching. I was born in South Carolina but moved to Senegal when I was a year and a half old and lived there as a missionary kid through my junior year of high school. In addition to Senegal and Minnesota, I have lived in Iowa, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, and Indiana and have spent a couple of months each in Egypt and Mali.…

David Stewart is originally from British Columbia and grew up ​in a little town​, White Rock,​ on the ​Pacific​, just north of the U.S. border. He’s been in the States for 17 years and retains his Canadian citizenship. He and his wife, Liz, have just marked 34 years of marriage. They have four children: Laura is married and lives in the U.K.; Julia, Greg, and Claire all live here in the metro area. David is the Director of Libraries at…