Church of the Redeemer Update

From the Rector's Desk

Christmas Week

Vestry Nominations

Christmas Eve

A Helping Hand

Stewardship Update

Redeemer Kids Corner

Redeemer Youth Ministries

Prayer Notes

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.

BIRTHDAYS

12/22 Melissa Ross

SUNDAY READINGS

Isaiah 7:10-17
Psalm 24
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

December 20, 2007

From the Rector's Desk:

Christmas is approaching quickly as we check our schedules for next week, run down all of the plans, and make last minute gift selections. It’s starting to feel (if it doesn’t already) a little crazy.

For many, Christmas and other holidays are not anticipated, but dreaded. Sometimes people know why—difficult family members, social pressures, etc—, at other times it’s just an empty feeling on the inside. Many people say this is their least favorite time of the year, and it gets expressed in overindulgence, increased use of medications and alcohol, and even a jump in the rate of suicides.

As Advent and Christmas people we are not immune from these difficulties, but we do walk in the celebration of the Incarnation, even as we deal with all of the ‘stuff’ that gets attached to this season. The Spirit of God holds us and leads us through this time, if we will consider each day what we are celebrating. Someone told me that during Advent this year they have kept their internet browser on the daily reflections from Henri Nouwen that we posted online, and that these have kept attention and priority focused. Each day they were encouraged and challenged to live in the presence of the coming Christ.

St. Paul told the Christians in Ephesus to be completely humble and gentle, --patient and forbearing with each other in love (Ephesians 4: 2). We’ll probably have a number of occasions over the next week or so to put that into practice! Family times can be complicated, and as we welcome the coming of Christ this presents an opportunity for the Prince of Peace to live through us as we ask to see with His eyes and walk in the Spirit. That next verse in Ephesians calls on us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

A couple of practical thoughts:

--Know your limits. Don’t overdo the schedule, or the food, or the drink, or the people that get under your skin. Maintain healthy boundaries, and if things get tough, or tempers flare as they sometimes do, take a walk. Get some fresh air. Ask God to re-center you in His peace.

--Allow this season to be one of prayer and worship. Some Christians in the 17th century banned Christmas, or at least its public celebration, because of fears that it took away from the worship of the Incarnate One. I would never suggest such an extreme solution, but I do want to encourage you to walk through the next two weeks as we have walked through Advent—in worship and prayer. This is a time rich with God’s blessing and glory, and we don’t want to miss it.

--Rest. Because of our culture we tend to be always pushing forward, especially in our work, and many have lost a sense of balance. Get away from emails, PDAs, and self-imposed expectations for productivity. Enjoy the people you enjoy, and treat yourself with some mercy and tenderness as we welcome Christ again to our life.

I look forward to worshiping with you on this final Sunday of Advent and on Monday evening—Christmas Eve.

May God bless you and provide you with Peace.
Jay+

The Rev. Jay L. Greener, Rector
Church of the Redeemer
frjay@redeemernorthshore.org

Christmas Week

The church office will be closed from Christmas to New Years. Sunday services will continue as usual, but there will be no Wednesday services on December 26. Emergency pastoral contact may be made by calling 847-715-6934.

Vestry Nominations

The vestry is a group of people whose primary responsibility is the oversight of the Redeemer budget. Additionally the vestry lends support to our rector, Jay, through prayer and service. Each member of the vestry is on a three year cycle. Each cycle begins at the annual meeting in January at which time the congregation gives their blessing to the new vestry for 2008. This ensures continuity. As several members are rotating off this year we will again be asking for your nominations. Please consider your nominations prayerfully and submit them to Jay or any current member of the vestry. Please also be sure to thank the vestry for their dedication and commitment.

Christmas Eve

Celebrate the birth of Jesus at our Christmas Eve service, the first worship of Christmastide--sundown December 24th through January 5th. The 6 p.m. service will feature lots of carol singing (beginning around 5:45), the reading of the Christmas story, giving thanks in the Eucharist and singing by candlelight. Bring friends and family with you. Nursery care will be provided.

A Helping Hand

We will collect canned food for local food banks through the end of the year. Bring your donations with you on Sunday mornings and leave at the welcome table. All donations will be distributed in early January to Highland Park-area food pantries that are really struggling at this time.

Stewardship Update

Thank you for praying and for your response to our end of year financial need. We have made much progress and are closing in on the goal, although we’re not there yet. Following last Sunday’s offering and other gifts that have come in, we have received $105,000 of the $145,000 needed in the last three months of this year to meet budget. Thank you for praying that God would release the remaining $40,000 through our response, as the Lord leads.

Thanks be to God.

Redeemer Kids Corner:

Scheduling Change
Sunday, December 30 will be an opportunity for our children to worship with their families in the service. Nursery care will be available as usual.
The children's liturgy will resume the first Sunday in January.

From the mouths of Redeemer Kids
During this season of Advent, our children have been preparing for the birth of Christ during our children's liturgy time. Last Sunday they wrote an Advent prayer...
Here are the words of our children as they began the sentence with-
Come, Lord Jesus, and ...
"help the poor- give them food and shelter"
"help the people who are persecuted for righteousness, not be persecuted"
"cleanse those who have any type of sickness"
"make people more humble to others"
"heal my grandpa"
"bring peace and joy"
"let those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, be filled"
"make my dad's back not hurt so much"
"help our environment"
"forgive sins"
"help the meek"

Redeemer Youth Ministries

As the holiday season is coming upon us, we are slowing down with our weekly activities. But this also means that there is room to dream and plan for our
time in the spring. We are in the process of establishing a Calendar of events for our Jr. High ministries and look forward to unfolding this plan after the New Year. Rick and Judy Bayley, Nate Beasley and I will be sharing after the first of the year our plans for the spring!
Have a wonderful Christmas!

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 finances and stewardship
for this season of waiting and anticipating God’s action and vision at Redeemer
for the Anglican Church of Rwanda, its leaders and people
for all who serve within the context of our faith community
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