Church of the Redeemer Update

It brings us great joy to look around the sanctuary on Sunday at 10 a.m. and see the pews scattered with the generations, all of whom are a vital part of our congregation. Erica Filler is a sophomore at Glenbrook South High School, a teenager we've been blessed to get to know within the sphere of the Redeemer youth ministry. Almost a year ago a friend from school invited Erica to a Sunday night meeting at Redeemer, and she has been a part of our youth gatherings ever since. Recently, you may have had the opportunity to meet her at the Parent's Night Out, during worship or coffee hour. Today, Erica considers Redeemer, "our church." She feels a sense of belonging to Church of the Redeemer.

One of the primary aims of the Redeemer youth ministry is to build a Christ centered community among the students and leaders. This happens in a few ways. First, we continue to meet together Sunday evenings for a meal, fellowship and time together in Scripture. Sharing a meal is an important part of our gathering together. It allows us to share life at a basic level and gives us time to enter one another's lives in intentional ways. When else are we going to be able to talk about Harry Potter, swim meets, tough tests or funny scenarios at school? During our time in the Scriptures we are working through The Gospel of Matthew, and we hope to grow together in faith as we journey through the life and teachings of Jesus.

As leaders, another way in which we are attempting to build community is by making an effort to connect with the youth and be available to them during the week. We have begun to head out to The Glen each week, letting students know where we'll be, and inviting them to join us for dinner, to work on homework, or to just hang out at a coffee shop. Our hope is simply to be available to them close to where they are without pulling them away from their many responsibilities. Recently we spent an hour helping a young lady with some homework.

Finally, community is being built through other occasional gatherings where we've simply enjoyed one another and whatever friends are brought along. Some of these have included a cookout, a girl's sleep over, and most recently a campfire at the Johnston-Legg's. We roasted hotdogs and marshmallows, huddled by the warm fire and shared a few stories.

Also, of vital importance to the youth ministry at Redeemer are the leaders we serve alongside: Josh and Brooke Block, Ryan Ebling, and Kelsey Nyberg. We would like to invite other individuals, families or small groups to participate in our Sunday night gatherings in a tangible way by providing a meal for the group of about 10-15 people. Please contact Dan or Kari Hanlon if this is a way you would like to serve the youth at Redeemer.

We are so grateful for Church of the Redeemer and the work God is doing within our community. We pray that these students might somehow grow deeper in their relationship with Christ and each other as we continue in life together, across generations.

Peace of Christ to you,

Dan and Kari Hanlon
Youth Ministry Leaders

The first Sunday of the new church year is November 29, as Advent begins. Help us to welcome this season through our worship and serving together:

Hanging of the Greens
The children of Redeemer invite you to attend our third annual "Hanging of the Greens" on Saturday, November 28th, beginning at 5 p.m. in the Redeemer Lutheran sanctuary. Traditionally, decorating churches and homes with wreaths, garlands, and other greenery is a way of preparing these spaces (as well as ourselves) for Advent. Join us for a special time of fellowship as we "spruce up" our church building and usher in this special season of waiting and preparing once again for the birth of Christ.

After decorating the church, we will enjoy a potluck dinner together. For more details, contact Brocki in the church office (redeemer at redeemernorthshore.org, 847-681-2872).

Advent Lessons and Carols
Once again this year, Church of the Redeemer will offer to the community a Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols. This traditional service will feature readings that promise the coming of the Messiah, and music that responds to each reading. The music will vary, utilizing our worship team, a guest organist, special choral music, and congregational singing of worship songs and carols. Join us at 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 6th, at Redeemer Lutheran. For more information, contact Amanda Holm (zaholm at gmail.com, 951-256-0124) or Chris Marchand (cmarch34 at gmail.com, 309-648-7703).

— from Emily Cool Greener, Children's Ministry Leader

Our Parents' Night Out / Kids' Journey to Rwanda was a great success! Many parents were able to enjoy a relaxing evening out, while their children were able to experience a time of building community and learning about Rwanda. The kids made and painted their own mancala games, listened to African music and played a big drum, made and decorated small drums, read a story about a family in an African village, and played with lots of Rwandan toys! We had a lot of fun, and we even saw some new faces! It was a great time for everyone involved.

Debby Richards said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you for the Parent's Night Out!! For Jonathan and me, it was a great time of catching up with each other and our friends (the other parents) who we see often, but with whom we never really have a full conversation. =) And I was thrilled that my kids were not only having their own night off and playing, but that they were able to experience Redeemer's connection with Rwanda. We talk about it at home, but it was nice for them to actually have a "Rwandan Experience" of their own. (Josiah still plays his drum in the car) And I actually learned a few new things myself!"

In these final weeks of the year, as we prepare to wait on the Lord's coming (Advent) and celebrate his arrival (Christmas) we also are offering ourselves to God. We do this in many ways in our lives, including finances.

As we look to the end of the year we have a sizeable need to meet so that our mission as a congregation, through its leaders and various ministries, can continue and can be strengthened in 2010. It's usual that in the fall of each year our giving increases, and we plan accordingly in the budget. This year we are also praying for a substantial response, as in previous years, to help us meet the need.

We are grateful for the generosity of each person at Redeemer, expressed in so many ways. Redeemer people are generous, not only in local giving, but in response to other needs, such as Sonrise School and mission opportunities. The Lord is using Church of the Redeemer in remarkable ways, and as we give, we each share in the work that is being done.

So thank you for praying, asking the Lord to help us meet this need, then responding as the Lord directs. Thanks be to God for his many blessings and the abundance of his provision.

Offering last Sunday: $3,230
Needed by year's end: $91,491

Two of our Redeemer people recently returned from serving in Christ's name outside of the U.S. Otto Zimmerman was in Armenia, and Dr. Dana Harris spent time teaching in the Czech Republic. Here's a brief note from each.

The fall trip to Armenia has to be considered a success story any way you look at it. We distributed food (including over 7 metric tons of potatoes) which will help over 1,000 people thru the winter. We strengthened our relationship with two state orphanages, and we encouraged the medical team composed of Armenian citizens who are living out their faith daily. Perhaps most importantly for ARM (Armenian Relief Mission), we have seen many of the seeds we have planted blossom, and we have been given unexpected seeds that we can't wait to plant. It was a true blessing to be working within the Lord's plan, and I hope to go back and continue to see how the Lord has grown the seeds He has given us.

— Otto

Dear Praying Ones!

I so appreciate your prayers - they were felt and appreciated. The time in Prague went well. I think that both seminars were what the youth pastors needed. There were good questions and a desire for more passages to study. The final seminar in Brno was a great time. I certainly felt surrounded by prayer. I taught on diversity and unity in the body of Christ, beginning with the fact that humanity is created as male and female indicating that diversity and unity is part of God's good plan for creation. Because of the fall, humanity is fractured at every level - separated from God, from each other, inside oneself, and from creation. But because of Christ, God is now reconciling all things back to himself through Christ. I ended with the great vision of diversified redeemed humanity unified in worship before the throne in Revelation 7.

In the Czech Republic (as in the US) many people think that they have to give up all individual personality if they become Christians. There were several non-Christians who attended the seminar, and they shared afterward that they had never heard that God actually creates people with unique, individual personalities. They had never considered the fact that diversity in part of created humanity, and is an integral part of the triune God. Many of the believers present also shared that they had never considered the theological and biblical basis for diversity.

— Dana

— Thanksgiving Worship Service, 10am, November 26th

— 28th ...Greening of the Church for Advent. 5pm with Potluck Supper

— Dec. 6th ...Advent Lessons and Carols 6:30pm