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From the Rector's Desk COR@9 BackPack Sunday Alpha Discover Redeemer Stewardship Notes... Prayer Requests
1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43
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I love that the Gospel lection for last Sunday and our annual picnic fell on the same day. It meant that we heard Jesus' words of "feed on me" just as the grill was heating up for our lunch-before-the-downpour. Some might chafe at this overlay, the superimposition of the sacred with the merely mundane (at best). But it's even worse than that. In John chapter 6 Jesus does not just tell his listeners to enjoy a fine meal of bread daintily held and broken (no pinkys please)—but to feed on his flesh. For those who had recently enjoyed the largesse of the bottomless dinner on the hillside this was a shocking statement. They wanted more food, but Jesus wanted them to see what he was really offering—nothing less than his life as sacrifice, and he demanded their willingness to receive it fully.
Alpha is a growing and vital part of our outreach through Church of the Redeemer. We have offered several Alpha opportunities over the last year, and we hope to continue to call people to life in Jesus through Alpha. This fall our Alpha course will be hosted by the Thomas family in Kenilworth, and will begin with an introductory dinner on Sunday evening, September 13th. Please pick up an invitation at the welcome table as you reach out to those who would find encouragement and hope as they encounter faith through Alpha. The course is also a great discipleship series for those who are already Christians but would like to know more about the foundations of our faith.
Have you ever wondered why we do what we do in our worship? Perhaps you want to connect more deeply at Redeemer or desire to learn more of our relationship with Rwanda? Come to our Discover Redeemer course to learn more about our church and how God might be calling you to be a part of things here.
We give thanks to God, and to you, for faithful giving that enables ministry to go forward. We're especially thankful that in this difficult financial time God is blessing—pouring out his goodness on us, in finances and many other ways. May God bless our stewardship for the Kingdom.
— This is Ryan Hofacre's last Sunday with us at Redeemer. We will be sending him off in prayer as he moves to Columbus Ohio to plant a new church. We are deeply grateful that God brought us together and that Ryan has served here faithfully over the last three years.
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We had a great picnic, and at one level, it was a fun time to enjoy each other's company, conversation and companionship. There were the people we have come to know, those we had not seen in some time and some brand new faces; a great summer picnic with games on the lawn. But it also went deeper. The sermon Jesus preached in John 6 on the themes of the Passover took on rich resonance as we filled our plates under the tent, with roasting flesh near by. Like a tabernacle in the wilderness we feasted on the bounty of the season and the Lord's goodness. It was a common-meal that brought our morning worship out into the open. 
Beginning September 6th our whole community will have opportunity to grow together in an extended study of the Life of Jesus, as we encounter him in the Gospel of Matthew. Outstanding teacher Dana Harris will lead a team of teachers as we walk through this fascinating story each week at 9am. The class begins in September and will run through the school year and represents a significant discipleship opportunity at Redeemer.
Our church has many students and teachers, and with school just around the corner we want to bless those whose lives are connected with learning in its many facets. Sunday August 30th will be "Backpack Sunday" at Redeemer, as a time of consecrating and blessing those who study and those who teach, from pre-school through adult education. Bring your backpack (or whatever represents that learning enterprise for you) and we'll bless them and you as school begins. You may want to invite other students and teachers who don't have a church home to participate, so that they can also feel supported in their important work.
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