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
May, 2005
FROM THE VICAR
Declaring the Wonders of God in Our Own Tongues
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the
mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9, from the Proper for 5
Easter)
On May 15th, Redeemer will bless a very special birthday. It is special because it belongs to us all. It is the day of
Pentecost, when we read about the Holy Spirit appearing as divided tongues of flame and filling the disciples with
the ability to speak to people in their own language. On that day the Church was born. Pentecost is always a
surprising Sunday, spirited, playful, eye-opening. It is a Sunday when even the quietest person in the pews may
find their heart aflame.
As Julie so eloquently reminded us at a recent Kids’ Church, all of us, by the fact of our Baptism, have won the
Gold! Baptism is what makes us Ministers of the Gospel, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We are called to be
bearers of light and good news. In this spirit, the Church recognizes and supports the ministry of her people by
hosting a Ministry Conference at Grace Cathedral. This year it will be on the Saturday after Pentecost, May 21,
2005. Entitled “Declaring the Wonders of God in Our Own Tongues,” the conference will explore the themes of
Pentecost through a day of worship, learning, connecting, sharing, and play. There will be reflection groups on
Mission, Worship, Youth and Formation, followed by workshops on Stewardship, Peer Ministry and Electronic
Ministry for Youth, Benedictine Spirituality, Choir, Family Faith Formation, Preschool, Social Justice, Altar Guild,
Pastoral Care and much, much more ending with time to play in the Peace Village, walk the Labyrinth, sing with
others or lose yourself in art. Registration opens at 8:15, opening worship and keynote address begins at 9:00 and
the day ends promptly at 4:00. To register the very easy way, just call 456-0508 or email cluther@well.com or you
can go online at http//diocal.org/mincon, check out the offerings and register yourself. The day includes lunch, so
you’ll need to decide whether it’s ham, turkey or veggie!
The very next day is Trinity Sunday, which always falls the Sunday after Pentecost. Trinity is the absolute end of
Eastertide, and marks the last time you’ll see the Church in white until Christmas except for weddings and
memorials. Another name for Trinity, which celebrates our Three-Personed God, might be “Relationship Sunday,”
since God is Love. Jesus came to earth to show us God’s love and healing. Therefore, our Trinity celebration will be
about both these things. We will feature the ministry of healing at our 10:30 service with a sermon by long term
healing minister The Rev. Francis Geddes. And we will celebrate love as we lay hands upon our Deacon Julie on her
last Sunday with us. We will have a special coffee hour for Julie between the services so that the whole Redeemer
community might come together to sing her praises. Thank you, Julie!
Blessings,
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