From the Rector's Desk
On a Journey of Discipleship
New Weekly Time of Prayer
Stewardship
9 a.m. Sunday
Upcoming Events
Redeemer Kids Corner
Redeemer Youth Ministries
Prayer Notes
Birthdays
10/23 Miriam Burns
10/24 Katharine Battaglia
10/25 Sammy Beasley
10/26 David Vroom
10/26 Catharine Bower
10/27 Kim Trinh
MINISTRY NEEDS
Set-up Team: 2-3 people to help with set-ups on Sundays and for special events. Contact Julia at the church office, (847) 681-2872.
SUNDAY READINGS
Genesis 12:1-8
Psalm 145:1-13
Romans 12:1-8
John 4:5-26
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From the Rector's Desk:
Our church leadership is currently reading through two books: This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley and Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala (I really hope that as many as possible in the congregation would join us in this.) They are stories about churches--churches that really needed to catch God's heart or they would face closure. These are true stories told from the perspective of the pastor, and begin at a point in the life of the congregation marked by discouragement and apparent hopelessness. I'm always nervous about books that hold up some shining example of "success" that we should all live into, but that hasn't been my experience with either of these.
Jim Cymbala, of the now well-known Brooklyn Tabernacle, writes of an unusual moment of clarity in those early days when he discovered "an astonishing truth: that God is attracted to weakness. He can't resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for his power."
Both churches moved forward in understanding their call and particular ministries--ministry that God wanted to bless in tremendous ways--only after they called out desperately for God's strength, and owned up to their weakness and powerlessness.
This is very similar to something I am also re-reading from Henri Nouwen. "The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited and unconditional love of God." (In the Name of Jesus, p. 44).
Church of the Redeemer is called to share the love and life of God, but we cannot do that in our own strength or knowledge. We only do that through our weakness and admission of frailty as we depend totally on God. Everything around us in the culture and even the "church world" cries out for our professionalism, competence and expertise, while God seems to be longing for our brokenness and our disappointments that he can transform and use. This only comes through honesty, prayer, and the disciplines of community (confession, forgiveness, mutual care, etc). Self-reliance and self-sufficiency are the enemies. We must rely only on God for what God wants to do in and through us.
I really want to encourage you to get a copy of these books. As I pray for a change in my own heart, it will mean a lot to know that you are also praying for similar clarity of how God will use this church as we offer up our weakness to him. We need to lay down our confidence in what we "know" about how to worship, love and serve and allow God to do something in and through us that we can never do for ourselves.
Please send me a note with your own reflections and responses to these books, or other things that you are learning on the journey, that we might encourage each other. I do look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.
May God continue to lead us in this great adventure,
Blessings!,
Jay+
frjay@redeemernorthshore.org
On a Journey of Discipleship
At Church of the Redeemer we are on a journey of following God, becoming disciples of Jesus. This is a vital part of our faith, and something we need to continually grow in. If you are interested in exploring the topic of discipleship, or if you have insight or experience in this area, please contact Jason Miller. He wants to connect with others who desire to learn and explore together ways we can all grow in this vital aspect of our faith. Please contact Jason at jmiller@stablegroup.com or at 847-274-5532.
New Weekly Time of Prayer
Starting on October 24, we will begin meeting weekly for a time of prayer. This will be a time to join together and pray for our church and our communities. We meet at the Evangelical Church in Highland Park at 7 p.m. (1713 Green Bay Road, Highland Park).
Stewardship
This is just a brief note to say "thank you" for your faithfulness in giving, and to encourage you to continue your support of the Lord's work. The vestry works hard to oversee the financial health of Church of the Redeemer, and I'm impressed with their care and high standards of integrity surrounding the budget. This is not an area that is taken for granted, so we are all able to make investment in the Lord's work with confidence.
You need to know that right now we are behind budget in income, even though we are also under budget in expenses for the year. We have a history, at Church of the Redeemer, of realizing our greatest progress in giving in the last three months of the year. This year we have a real need to see that happen again. Harlan Kerson, our Treasurer, reports that we are looking at a need of $145,000 between now and the end of the year to meet the current ministry needs of Church of the Redeemer. We'll be providing regular updates to keep you informed, so thanks for your commitment to pray for our church, and for faithfully investing your tithes and offerings in the Kingdom.
9 a.m. Sunday Mornings
Dana Harris will continue the outstanding teaching on the vision of Jesus in the book of Revelation. Join us at 9 a.m.
We also have ministry with children and youth during the 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. session before our family worship at 10:00 a.m. Invite some friends and be a part of this unique and exciting opportunity.
Upcoming Events
Newcomer's Lunch - October 21
If you're fairly new to our community at Redeemer, we'd like to invite you to a special lunch following the morning worship this Sunday! You'll be able to meet some folks who have been a part of this community for some time, including some of our leaders. We'll explain more of who we are and what we think God is calling us to on this exciting journey.
It's a great opportunity for us all to invite people to attend worship with us, then lunch, as we share the excitement of this life together at Redeemer.
Leaders' Training - October 27
On Saturday morning, October 27 from 9 to 10:30am those leading ministries at Church of the Redeemer will get together for some coffee, bagels, and encouragement in their leadership. This will be a time for vision casting, information sharing and further equipping for ministry, so that we can all be as effective and faithful as possible in following the call before us.
If your name is listed in the bulletin as leading a ministry or you serve on the vestry then this time is for you. The training will be at the Evangelical Church in Highland Park. The meeting will not go past 10:30am.
 All Saints' Baptism - November 4
November 4 we will observe All Saints Sunday at Redeemer, along with other churches throughout the world. We give thanks for God's people throughout time and around the globe, and its one of the special times when baptisms are particularly appropriate. Baptism is essential in our walk of faith, and we encourage and welcome those who are considering a response of obedience to this call of the Lord.
At Church of the Redeemer we baptize those who are committed to the Christian faith and their children, provided they have not been baptized before. We believe that in this way we are participating in the sacrament of baptism as it was practiced in the New Testament, the early church, and throughout the history of God's people in Jesus Christ. To read more about Church of the Redeemer's beliefs on baptism, click here.
For more information on baptism, and to inquire about participating, please contact Father Jay at frjay@redeemernorthshore.org, or call our church office.
Redeemer Kids Corner: Attention all Redeemer Kids parents
On Monday October 22, all parents are invited to gather for a time to brainstorm ideas for welcoming new young families. We will be meeting at the Ross' home, 141 Robsart Place in Kenilworth, from 8:00-8:45 p.m. Please let Allyson Entner know if you plan on attending. An Advisory Council meeting will precede this from 7:15-8:00 p.m.
Redeemer Youth Ministries: Jr. High Update
We meat with the Jr. High staff last week and we've planned a number of activities that I'd like you to be aware of. Please continue to pray for us this fall. Here are the activities that we have planned.
Saturday October 27 - Harvest Party: 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church
Saturday November 10 - Canned food drive: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Saturday December 1 - Progressive Dinner: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday December 15th - Christmas Shopping Infant & Child Care: Jr. High students are going to watch again the infants and children in the congregation for those parents who'd like to go Christmas shopping.
Prayer Notes. . .
- for the Mission and Vision and Outreach of Church of the Redeemer
- for our Rector, Fr. Jay, and his family
- for Bishop Sandy and Gigi Greene
- for our staff and their families
- for our leadership (Vestry, ministry leaders)
- for our 'settling in' at Redeemer Lutheran
- for the Anglican Church of Rwanda, its leaders and people
- for all who serve within the context of our faith community
- for teachers, students and staff as school, in all its various forms, resumes
- that we would faithfully reach out to the spiritually disconnected and hurting, and bring them into fellowship
- for other congregations in relationship to us
- to enrich and expand our life of prayer
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