Redeemer Journal (Page 7)
Connected To Community: Lenten Soup Suppers and Prayer
By Sarah Lundgren Lenten Soup Suppers have long played a prominent role in the spiritual formation of our church. Our first gatherings as a church family were around the Lenten soup supper table at Roseville Covenant back in 2007 – back when we all still had flip phones. It’s where I first met Theresa holding her baby, Tim, who turns 10 next week. We grew in fellowship with one another as we shared our homemade breads and soups,…
Epiphany
By Steve Baird Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th and falls on the 12th day of Christmas. The word epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation” and is usually associated in Western Christianity with the visit of the wise men (Magi) to the Christ child. Through the Magi, who by tradition came from Persia (modern day Iraq), Christ was first revealed to the gentiles. However, other Christian traditions associate Epiphany with other events in Jesus’s life. In Eastern Orthodoxy, Epiphany (or Theophany)…
Go Forth: Small Acts of Compassion
By Haley Scharf When I read the gospels I am struck by Jesus’ compassion to those who long for hope. He was moved by the suffering he saw and did not turn away from those who came to him for healing. This is at once a great comfort (because we can know he is not unfeeling towards our own brokenness) and a great challenge to those who want to be his disciples (because we must leave our own comfort zones…
Reconciliation
This week’s post is by John Lundgren, a member of Church of the Redeemer and a leader of our men’s prayer ministry. A physician by vocation, John has a heart for spiritual healing as well. Earlier in December, he gave this teaching on reconciliation at a men’s prayer meeting. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ…
Waiting In The Dark – Part Two
By Brynna Jones Part 2: Anticipation — or Waiting for “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Is it? Is it really? Last winter, I spent a lot of time waiting for my anxiety-induced illness and fatigue to pass so that I could do my work; work that mostly consisted of finishing my last research project and writing my doctoral dissertation. This year, after (finally!) completing my graduate degree in February, it has…
Waiting In The Dark – Part One
This week’s post comes in two parts. Both are by Brynna Jones, who will be leaving us soon for a position on the East Coast. We will miss Brynna and the many gifts, including her music, that she shares with our church. We wish her well. By Brynna Jones Part 1: Perseverance — or Waiting on ‘What is real/about us all is that each of us is waiting.’ …
Deacons
Over the past few months, Church of the Redeemer has been blessed several times in our worship services by the ministry of Deacon Liz Stewart, Pastor of Children’s & Family Ministry at Church of the Cross in Hopkins. Along with Bishops and Priests, Deacons belong to what is what is known as the threefold order of ministry. This way of distinguishing between different types of ordained ministry is recognized by many Christians, but particularly by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. In the Anglican…
Giving and Gratitude
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…
Women’s Retreat: Being the Beloved
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…
Reflections on terrorism — and fear
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…