Redeemer News

I saw a funny internet meme a few days before the first of January that went something like this: I was looking forward to 2022 until I realized it's pronounced twenty twenty-too!

As we are about to enter our third year of the Pandemic, many of us are wondering out loud and often whether we are in for yet another year of divisive political rhetoric, conflicting and confusing public health advice, and long internet posts by high school friends apparently moonlighting as armchair epidemiologists and virologists thanks to extensive internet "research." I know the Pandemic is a serious matter, but when I've feared all I can fear and worried all I can worry, the last thing left to me is the impulse to laugh at it all.

And then, unbidden, I hear the 96th Psalm ringing in my head:

1. O SING unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth.
2. Sing unto the Lord, and praise his Name: be telling of his salvation from day to day.
3. Declare his honour unto the heathen: and his wonders unto all people.
4. For the Lord is great, and cannot worthily be praised: he is more to be feared than all gods.
5. As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but idols: but it is the Lord that made the heavens.
6. Glory and worship are before him: power and honour are in his sanctuary.
7. Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people: ascribe unto the Lord worship and power.
8. Ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name: bring presents, and come into his courts.
9. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
10. Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King: and that it is he who hath made the round world so fast that it cannot be moved; and how that he shall judge the people righteously.
11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad: let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is.
12. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.
13. For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: and with righteousness to judge the world, and the people with his truth.

As much as our Pandemic predicament seems like a broken record in need of  constant lament, the Scriptures teach us of God's unparalleled steadfastness worthy of our attention, our proclamation, and a new song. The psalmist tells us that the whole of creation is singing God's praises and that as part of creation, we must join our song to theirs! If we get caught in yet another annual cycle of Pandemic confusion and lament instead of joining the songs of the heavens, the earth, the seas, the fields and the forests, we will miss out on knowing God. Our God's lovingkindness is louder and wiser than the confusion of the myriad would-be-wisdoms vying for our time and attention. This new year deserves a new song and so do we! Thanks be to God.

Dear Friends of the Redeemer,

As we enter into the fourth week of the Advent season, I can say without hesitation, that this has been the most joyous and wonderful Advent I have ever had. We began with the overwhelming beauty of Advent Lessons and Carols, the remarkable and hopeful Christmas Market and Auction, an early Christmas present in the visit of our friend Bishop Dorsey McConnell, and still with so much more to come! Christmas Lessons and Carols tonight, Advent IV, the Christmas Pageant, Christmas Eve with brass and timpani, and the quiet beauty of Christmas Day all await us. What an extraordinary season the Lord has given!

And all of this has felt wonderfully normal. Attendance has grown every week as children are vaccinated and boosters are had. Smiling faces of those we haven't seen in almost two years return to enjoy the gift of Christian community, transcendent worship and God's abiding love for the world in the coming of Jesus Christ. It has been a gift.

But, I would like to offer a word of caution as we travel towards Christmas Eve. COVID-19 is still among us. Even with the gift of vaccines for kids and boosters, the arrival of the Omicron variant means that breakthrough cases are happening along with reinfections. I believe this is a time not for fear but for vigilance. With Christmas Eve coming and the desire of normal within so many of us, crowded worship spaces will be a reality we will soon face. So I offer here some vigilant actions we can take together specifically around Christmas Eve.

1. If you are sick, please stay home. A sniffle might be just a sniffle, but just in case it isn't, please consider tuning in for the live-streams of our coming liturgies. I have committed the Redeemer to hybrid worship opportunities indefinitely. So if you are feeling under the weather, please stay warm and comfy and tune in on Facebook or YouTube.

2. Be mask vigilant. Masks are the best protection we have in public indoor places. Please be vigilant with your mask ensuring it covers your nose and mouth before, during and after a service at the Redeemer. It's a small price to pay to be together in the joy of the Christmas season.

3. Use the whole space. Beginning tonight, we are opening every pew for worshippers. Please make sure to spread out where you can. I know you love your customary seats (I love knowing where you will be from the pulpit!) but if you can, make some space between your family and others just in case.

4. Bring your coat. Windows and doors will be open throughout the winter even as the HVAC system recirculates the air through our ultraviolet filters. This helps reduce any viral load in the space, but it can get chilly. (I will probably be wearing extra vestments!) So, please bring a coat or a sweater to stay warm.

This Advent has been an absolute joy, and our Christmas season looks to be even better. Please remain vigilant, get those boosters, wear those masks, and join in the sacred mystery of this most glorious season.

Warmly, Vigilantly, and Hopeful,

Mike+

Max has joined the team at Redeemer to assist with the spiritual formation of children and young people. Click here to read his bio.

We are continuing our discussions on Thursday evenings from 7:30- 9pm. This fall we are reading:

"The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We can Prosper Together" by Heather McGhee (New York: One World, 2021)

We welcome all to our discussions.  If you are interested in participating, please please email the Redeemer office.  

Thank you to Oklahoma native, Alex Ewing, for presenting his perspective on the Tulsa Massacre. 

Dear Friends of the Redeemer:

Spring has arrived! And with this new season of sun and flowers, the pandemic appears to be on the wane. Thanks be to God! For the last 18 months we have lived under a shadow that now seems to be passing over, and our little corner of the world turns to new life and new possibilities.

Yesterday, our bishops offered a letter to the diocese lifting most of the restrictions of the “Four Stages” document promulgated in March of 2020. Declining cases, fewer deaths and diminishing positivity rates are great news. Rising numbers of vaccinations and the governor’s lifting of restrictions mean that things at the Redeemer are set to change in earnest. Below you will find a comprehensive list of changes and dates for their implementation. Unless a date is stated specifically, the listed change will begin immediately. If you have any questions about this list or matters contained within it, please give me a call or drop me an email. I am thrilled for these welcome changes.

In Christ,

Mike+

Worship

•           Reservations will no longer be required for attendance. Beginning immediately.
•           Restroom access will return to pre-COVID practice.
•           Attendance will be limited to 60% of total capacity.
•           Masks will be worn indoors for all worshippers, choir and clergy. Outdoor mask wearing is optional.
•           The choir will be seated within the choir stalls.
•           Congregational singing is permitted.
•           Streaming of services will continue indefinitely.
•          Social distancing between households should be observed when possible.
•           The offering plates will be available at the baptismal font before and after services. We will not pass the offering plates for the time being.
•           Physical contact at the Peace is still discouraged.
•           Reception of communion will take place from the broadstep. Worshippers will be dismissed by rows keeping physical distance as much as possible. The cup will continue to be withheld for the time being. We are investigating other options for the consumption of the wine at communion.
•           Service Assistant scheduling will resume for Sundays beginning Sunday, September 12, 2021.
•          All parishioners, volunteers and staff are encouraged to be vaccinated.

Coffee Hour

•           Outdoor Coffee Hour consisting of lemonade and cookies will return to the Rectory Garden on Sunday, June 13, 2021.
•           Indoor Coffee Hour will return to the Parish Hall on Sunday, September 12, 2021.

Children, Teens and Family Ministries

•           Outdoor Sunday School for children will be held beginning on June 27^th at 9:45am continuing throughout the entire summer.
•          Two Family Picnic Eucharists and Activity Days will take place at Lars Anderson Park on Sunday, July 25^th and Sunday, August 29^th from noon until 2pm.
•           Homecoming Sunday for Children, Teens and Family programming registration will take place on Sunday, September 19^th.
•           Indoor Sunday School will return on Sunday, September 26^th. An outdoor and streaming Sunday School option are being considered for the fall.
•           Nursery care will return on Sunday, September 12^th.

Parish Offices

•           Beginning on Monday, May 24^th the offices will be open for normal business hours (8:30am – 4:30pm).
•           On June 21^st the offices will be open for summer hours (M-Th 9am– 3pm and closed on Fridays.)

A regular in-person calendar of events, classes, fellowship opportunities and outreach activities will begin on September 12, 2021.

Meet Barrie Rose Bliss (Again!)

Several weeks ago, I had the great joy of announcing to the parish the hiring of Ms. Barrie Rose Bliss as our next Director of Children, Teens and Family Ministries. Over the last several years many of you have gotten to know Barrie through her work as a youth ministry volunteer and then as the Redeemer's Youth Minister.

Now, as our new Director of Children, Teens and Youth Ministry, Barrie and I sat down a couple of weeks ago for an informal interview of sorts so that we might take the time to introduce (re-introduce) her to the Redeemer. Barrie brings with her many years of volunteer and professional ministry experience along with several ministry specific undergraduate and graduate level degrees. Most of all she brings a thoughtful, kind, insightful, and joyful spirit to her ministry.

Barrie, when and where did ministry begin for you as a vocation?

I was seventeen years old, and I had to make a hard decision of whether to pursue dance or give my life to be part of the church. I was a very serious ballet dancer as a young person,  but also desired to be deeply involved in my parish youth group. Dance demanded all my attention, passion, and focus, so I decided to quit dance in order to have more room in my life to pursue what my soul felt called to do. In my times of private and public prayer as well as my study of scripture, I felt a strong pull to serve in the church. Ministry as a vocation really arrived in a deep spiritual experience when I was 18 that overwhelmed me and convinced me to pursue a vocation in ministry.

Could you tell us a little bit about the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee and how it shaped your understanding of ministry among young people?

The Youth Pastor of my church had a passion for deepening discipleship among members of our youth group. This meant encouraging us to practice or devote ourselves to prayer, worship, scripture, and outreach. Through my participation in this intensive discipleship program, I led a small group of teens as a teen myself. This all took place within a Pentecostal Christian denomination known as the Church of God which was headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee. After my undergraduate work at the Moody Bible Institute, I returned to Cleveland, Tennessee to help lead and guide our 200 youth and 200 college student strong discipleship program.

What was it like being a church leader at such a young age?

I wasn’t so much seeking leadership opportunities as leading was part of the natural outflow of my deepening life of faith. It was also sobering! Understanding that I was responsible for the spiritual formation of these other teens who were nearly the same age as I or nearly my age! It was a humbling experience to have that much impact on others; this led me to consider deep questions about being authentic, open and vulnerable with my peers while leading and guiding.

What led you to study Biblical Languages at the Moody Bible Institute?

I began studying at Lee University (Where Faye Bodley-Dangelo went to college!) in Cleveland, Tennessee, but I found myself having expanding notions of scripture, ministry and my call as a minister. So I found Moody Bible Institute which provided me a very serious educational and discernment opportunity. I felt deeply called to go there, and I knew it would both challenge me and expand my horizons. Biblical Language studies opened a deeper window into the life of Jesus and the text of scripture as a whole. There are things about the Bible which really benefit one’s study when one can read the text in its original language.

 How did you first come across the Episcopal Church? What attracted you to this new denomination?

Throughout my time of discernment, my notions of God, the Church and ministry began to collapse under the weight of my new understandings of scripture.  I began to explore other Christian denominations to help me find a place more hospitable. The Episcopal Church grounded me in history and tradition while welcoming my whole being with all of my doubts and questions; it also gave me a deep sense of belonging. I eventually walked into St. Francis’ Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee and immediately felt at home and welcomed.

Could you tell us a little about your graduate work at Boston College? How has it shaped your spiritual life and your vocation as a youth minister and now director?

I studied historical theology at Boston College beginning in the fall of 2017. Boston College provided me with an educational context that showed me that deep theological thinking and “on the ground” ministry could be united. Our hearts and heads are not divided into separate things. Boston College helped me integrate my sense of vocational call with my desire for theological investigation in a way that I had never experienced. 

Do you have further professional goals in academia?

Professionally, I am applying to pursue a PhD program in clinical depth psychology. Clinical depth psychology addresses the psyche, but it does so in a way that integrates history, theology, spirituality and meaning into a holistic space for healing and wholeness. In the long term, I would like to pursue further work into the intersection of spirituality and psychology.

What excites you most about this new position, and how would you like to see your ministries develop here?

I’m really excited to get to know, connect and love the families at the Redeemer. I’m also excited about bringing all of my ministerial, personal, spiritual and academic experience into my ministry. I’m excited to creatively address the many issues of children’s and teens’ ministry and at the same time take part in this strong and well-grounded program. This is my first full ministry leadership position as a director. As such, I am looking forward to developing experiences and spaces where families can truly and deeply connect with one another.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

The strangeness of hearing this annual call and response from the tinny tininess of a computer's speaker arrests me. Oh, to hear the voices of this parish shouting it with as one! But the difference between this Easter and last! Last year those first weeks of the pandemic cast a pall of fear and strangeness over Easter like none in my lifetime. But, this Easter offers us anticipation and joy because we might just be coming to the end of this unholy pandemic.

What will the months ahead hold for us? What will our gradual transition back to social normalcy look and feel like? Will normal ever really return? Our faith teaches us that Easter is a sign of Divine triumph. Death, no matter how still, cold or seemingly permanent was broken of its power on Easter Day. We are no longer prisoners of death's bleak thrall. We are raised with Christ to a new life and a new kind of living even if a pandemic should last a thousand years. We Christians have both the right and the responsibility to pattern our lives in whatever new normal reflecting the Easter confidence of Christ himself; living without fear or dread of death's broken power.

But what lessons will we bring with us? What have we learned over this last year that we should carry with us into this new season. I hope that you experienced Christ's presence amidst this year of suffering. I hope that you saw in suffering not godforsakeness, but I hope you witnessed Christ, the Sufferer, walking with us as both pattern and pioneer. Friends, suffering will find us again, perhaps not on such a universal scale, but it will find us in the days ahead. As Christ is risen indeed, so Christ suffered indeed. And as He suffered and triumphed, I hope we can see in our own suffering Christ the Sufferer and Christ the Risen Conqueror. May He be our model and our hope for whatever we meet in the days ahead.

Mike+

We are close now. Just a few more days until we return to the city of Jerusalem. Every year, about this time, we turn our attention to the last and holiest week of Jesus' life spent within and just outside the walls of Jerusalem. The palms are green and ready. The crosses are shrouded in red, and our Lent takes a turn from the preparatory and penitential to the re-creative. We join in the mystery of the retelling of the story of Jesus and his disciples. We travel the palm-paved road to the city. We receive his commandment at the last supper. We hear the confusion and chaos of his betrayal. We see the scourge and the suffering that ends in his unjust death.

This turning towards Jerusalem allows me the chance to pray into those final earthly days of Jesus. This year, I imagine myself on the road with all of the other pilgrims. Herod's Temple calls us from around the known world from our Diaspora to the Holy City of Jerusalem. I imagine the dry dust-clouded roads filled with other pilgrims and pack animals; these are last pilgrimages and first pilgrimages. I imagine the hardships of what it must have been like to bring my family from Nineveh or even Babylon across the desert and through the wilderness to gather with Jews of every language and many different lands.

Did Jesus know that it would be his last journey to Jerusalem? The Gospels tell us that he did. And so, I imagine being in his band of disciples eager for the Passover and the liveliness of Jerusalem's teeming crowds. I imagine passing through the gates of ancient limestone with Jesus, purpose-driven but sad. Then as the collect reads, "...not up to joy, but first he suffered pain."

I invite you to join me in this holy journey to Jerusalem. The Palms and Passion of this coming Sunday, Maundy Thursday's commandment, Good Friday's suffering, Holy Saturday's silence-- each of them their particular re-creation of the dark prelude to Easter's radiant triumph. 

Mike+