Redeemer Review           The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer                                           A caring community offering opportunities for spiritual growth                                                  by knowing, loving and serving God through each other July/August, 2004 As I write this, I am coming to the end of my second week at Church of the Redeemer. We have worshiped together, pondered the scriptures, shared meals, discussed books, celebrated the preschool community and much, much more. Most important of all, you have made me feel welcome. Even in this short time, Redeemer feels like home. I am deeply thankful to God and you for calling me here. It is clear, even to this newest of newcomers, that Redeemer is a growing community. Kids’ Church is a fine family liturgy, brimming over with hope and fun – I know if I were a kid, I’d bring my friends to this one! And our 10:30 liturgy as well is a wonderful opportunity for face to face worship, reflection and communion, as appropriate to adult seekers as Kids’ Church is to the young at heart. I’ve had wonderful conversations with many of you about this community’s hopes and dreams and I look forward to having many more.  During his ministry, Jesus taught us a lot about being a community of faith: service and healing and welcoming the stranger. All of these wonderful activities, however, were never intended as ultimate ends in themselves. They are the road we travel on our quest toward God, healing and wholeness. Jesus gives us a taste of that wholeness in John’s Gospel when he Jesus says, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this. . . I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” Or, to put it slightly differently, servant ministry leads to friendship. As we practice the presence of our loving God through prayer, worship, study and service, as we do this together, we also become truer friends. This is one way I know that we at Redeemer are on the right track. As new family in Christ, you have so wonderfully befriended me even as you have cherished and grown your own deep and fine friendships. Many thanks and blessings, Rev. Carol Luther Official Acts: We have new leaders in our community of faith! Greet those who were confirmed or received into the household of faith at Grace Cathedral on Saturday, June 12th: Confirmed: Received: Cody Christopher Blank  Billie Anne Barbash Christopher William Burton Kelly Ann Mason Nicolas Joseph Cassettari Sallie Ann Magruder Wood Catherine Lynne Fox Cynthia Marie Poulos Michael James Providenza For a copy of Rev. Carol’s sermon preached at confirmation, Meredith Catherine Sherrill you may go to: ttp://www.oldstpauls.org/redeemer/sermons.html Dannie Dean Smilie