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SUNDAY READINGS
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85
2 Peter 3:8-15a,18
Mark 1:1-8
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December 4, 2008
Advent Worship
This Sunday night Church of the Redeemer will journey through the promises of the coming Lord in scripture and music. Worship leaders Amanda Holm and Chris Marchand have been hard at work to lead us into a worship journey that will take us from Genesis to the Gospel of John, and span musical offerings from traditional ("Once in Royal David's City") to contemporary ("Here I Am to Worship"). There will be congregational singing, as well as other musical offerings that respond to nine scripture lessons, promising God's salvation. This is an Advent service, and will feature the carols and music of this season—rather than the usually heard Christmas carols that predominate in early December.
The tradition of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" was established in England—as the adaptation of an earlier service—on Christmas Eve, 1918, in the chapel of Kings College, Cambridge University, for the university community and for the City of Cambridge. The Kings College service was first broadcast by radio in 1928; and, excepting the year 1930, these broadcasts have continued (for seventy years internationally) to this day. This wonderful tradition, moreover, has been duplicated in churches throughout America and the rest of the world.
This is a great outreach event, even though it will be held at the church. Please invite others to join you in this Advent celebration, 6pm this Sunday at Redeemer Lutheran.
COR@9
This week COR@9 continues with an important opportunity for those new to Redeemer. The Discover Redeemer course is a four-week series that offers our story as a church, shares our vision and mission, and provides teaching on our beliefs. It's a great way to engage with the heart of Redeemer, and to ask questions that may be on your mind. We'll have the coffee on, as well as some treats from Deerfield Bakery. We'll see you this Sunday at 9am in the Fellowship Hall.
This week we enter the discussion of sacraments, specifically Baptism and Eucharist (communion), and our belief and practice in this area at Redeemer.
Reaching Out
Church of the Redeemer is currently sponsoring a coat, (also winter cap, scarf, glove/mitten) drive for the clothing closet operated by Love INC (in the name of Christ), a Christian ministry whose mission is to mobilize the Church to transform the lives of communities and individuals in the name of Christ. The coat drive continues through the last Sunday of Advent. Please consider donating "gently used" items (for example, no broken zippers, unrepaired tears, or noticeable stains). Items most needed are large-size women's coats and children's and men's coats of all sizes, though all donations will be accepted and appreciated.
Danielle Miller and Dan Babarik will be points of contact for the coat, winter cap, scarf, glove/mitten drive. Items may be placed in the foyer prior to or after services on upcoming Sundays or you may make arrangements to give the items to Danielle or Dan. Feel free to contact Danielle or Dan.
Stewardship at Year End
While Advent may mark the beginning of the church year it marks the end of our fiscal year, which runs with the calendar. So by the end of December it's important for Church of the Redeemer to be able to meet all of our financial obligations and begin 2009 in a strong place for growing ministry.
Like you, I have been receiving letters asking for financial help in these tough times from various groups and ministries—most of them doing outstanding work, and I encourage you to consider their requests. But the local church stands in a different place. It is not another religious 501(c)3 organization, but it is the primary place of ministry for the people of God, and the community where we are called to invest our tithes and our lives. It forms the center for worship, formation and evangelism in the Christian community, which is why the scriptures call for such a high level of commitment and devotion toward the church and supporting its work (Malachi 3, Acts 2 and 4, 2 Corinthians 9, etc). Giving to the work of the Lord at Church of the Redeemer is a sacred trust and opportunity, and it is part of our spiritual growth and obedience to God. That may sound 'heavy', but it's responding out of gratitude to God's goodness and generosity that leads to joy and freedom in our lives. So it's a vital discipline for each Christian.
We've seen God move among us this year as we are growing, as we have reached out in various ways to the communities around us, and as new groups and ministries have emerged. New life is being breathed into our fellowship and new faces are seen among us each week, even as connections among us are strengthened. We are being made ready to move forward in our journey as a congregation—prepared for what God has in store for us to be and to do.
So together, as we look at year's end, let us pray and ask God to direct—being ready to respond, according to what each of us can do. Then let's give thanks for God's goodness and that he has called us to be his own. 2008 has been an exciting year for our church, and we look forward to what God has in store for us as we soon begin another year of serving together.
Blessings—Jay
Offering last week: $4,663
Amount still needed by year's end: $76,872
Advent Resources
To enrich your observance of Advent, here are a few publications.
Watch For The Light: Readings For Advent And Christmas
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, et al.
Advent and Christmas Wisdom by Henri Nouwen
Check out our web site for out-of-print devotionals from Henri Nouwen on the season of Advent.
A Poem for Advent
Come, Lord Jesus!
Madeleine L'Engle
Come, Lord Jesus! Do I dare
Cry: Lord Jesus, quickly come!
Flash the lightning in the air,
Crash the thunder on my home!
Should I speak this aweful prayer?
Come, Lord Jesus, help me dare.
Come, Lord Jesus! You I call
To come (come soon!) are not the child
Who lay once in the manger stall,
Are not the infant meek and mild.
You come in judgement on our all:
Help me to know you, whom I call.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come this night
With your purging and your power,
For the earth is dark with blight
And in sin we run and cower
Before the splendid, raging sight
Of the breaking of the night.
Come, my Lord! Our darkness end!
Break the bonds of time and space.
All the powers of evil rend
By the radiance of your face.
The laughing stars with joy attend:
Come Lord Jesus! Be my end!
Please pray for . . .
- The mission and vision of Church of the Redeemer
- Our leadership in the Anglican Mission, and in Rwanda
- God's provision and will in these days
- Our Redeemer staff
- Those in need in body, mind and spirit
- Alpha, and other new ministries and opportunities emerging at Church of the Redeemer
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