Redeemer in the New Year
Thanks to everyone whose spirit and joy made Christmas Eve a night to remember! Over 175
people from many faith traditions filled our sanctuary to share our story of God’s seemingly improbable
appearance in a manger. Each in our own way could affirm the suggestion that all children somehow re-
veal God’s love and wisdom. This year’s pageant starred a cat with an attitude – a wondrous and true
touch. If Isaiah could teach that we’ve found the Kingdom of God when a wolf and a lamb lie down to-
gether, why not a cat and mouse?
As Isaiah knew and Jesus taught, our life of faith is a life steeped in hope. While not always
easy to find, hope can be an amazing and powerful thing. It is not simply seeing the good in a bad situa-
tion. Hope acknowledges the world as it is, with all its fearfulness, but it does not give that fearfulness
the last word. It knows that God can turn life’s pains and suffering into fertilizer out of which much
that is good can grow, if we can find the love and courage to participate in the process. “Go the extra
mile,” says Jesus, not because we derive moral benefit from this, but because going the extra mile
helps us to see and learn more of life’s landscape. “Stay awake,” says Jesus, not because he wants us to
lose sleep, but because God works in subtle ways that are not always easy to see and if we zone out, we
can too easily miss it. “Follow me,” says Jesus, not because he wants to win converts but because finding
healing and riches and love and truth is the most exciting adventure that life has to offer and Jesus
knows how to find it. This is what we’re all about.
The Church is the place where good news grows. At this year’s Annual Meeting, we began the
work of growing a parish hall. Our hospitality needs a hearth, a kitchen, a place to gather, and if we al-
ready have a worship space that is warm and welcoming, we now need a place to socialize, to welcome
our greater community. At the annual meeting we did a group process called “Asset Mapping.” It’s fun.
It’s helpful. It’s positive. It’s an exercise in hope, or, in the words of American painter John Singer
Sargent, it revealed to us “just how rich we really are.” If you missed annual meeting, you will still have
a chance to participate. Full details from the annual meeting are posted on our website.
It is my dream that 2006 be a building year, building trust, building team, building truth, building
a home for the soul. This can take many forms. We can build a labyrinth on our field and greet our
neighbors as we gather and lay the stones. We can have a pancake breakfast. We can plant a memory
garden where our neighbors can spend some quiet time or rest after their run or dog walk. We can build
a space where the homeowners can gather to discuss concerns, where our neighbors can celebrate their
joys and mourn their losses. We can build a home for our circle of trust. Happy 2006 to the best
neighbors in the world.
February 2006
Church of the
Redeemer
Redeemer Review
From the Vicar
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