Church of the
Redeemer
Redeemer Review
From the Vicar
Notes from the Coach
Seasons of the Soul
Just as sports each have their seasons, so does the Church. Acknowledging that we are a people of
hope in a world that is often dark, we begin our Church year with Advent’s darkening days and lowering tem-
peratures, awaiting the birth of the Christ Child. Advent gives way to Christmas, to Epiphany, to the spring
seasons of Lent and Easter and finally the long expanse of what is called Ordinary Time. Ordinary is not a
synonym for boring or prosaic, however. Ordinary derives from “order,” as in “the ordering of our days.” Thus,
the season of Ordinary Time in the Church is when we put our lives in order.
Why do this you might ask. Aren’t our lives ordered as it is? Of course they are. Ordinary Time never
doubts that. It only encourages us to ask who or what orders our lives. Are we driven to win? Are we driven by
fear? How much of our lives do we give over to be ordered by God? This is the kind of question I love, because
I know it will take at least as long as I live to answer it. It invites me to get to know God. It invites me to get
to know me. It invites me to get to know the others with whom I share my ordered days. It invites me to pon-
der what I’m investing in, what I believe in, what I depend upon to live.
In keeping with the ordered rhythms of nature and of God, we come once more to the season of Offer-
ing. Back when we were farmers, this was when we worked the harvest, when we laid aside supplies for our win-
ter, made provisions for those entrusted to our care, sold the surplus to those who needed it and otherwise
stewarded the bounty of the year. Kids’ Karnival opened our own season of Offering, as we offered a Saturday
of celebration and play, honoring the fact that care for our young may be the most important thing that we do.
Our young people, with their vibrant energy and creativity take such wondrous spiritual care of us.
November 20th is Harvest Sunday at Redeemer. We will decorate the church in such a way as to honor
the abundance of our gifts and our lives. It is also the time that we will begin to bless our offerings, both fi-
nancial and spiritual: the financial pledges that you make to Redeemer and the gift of faith that our young peo-
ple bring us as they begin the journey toward adulthood through the Rite of Confirmation. Eucharist is just an-
other word for “Thank You.”
Love,
The Coach
November 2005
THE REV’S NOVEMBER SCHEDULE
I’m going to be away for part of November attending conferences
Nov. 8th in the afternoon through November 10th – Vicars’ Conference at the Bishop’s Ranch
November 14th through November 18th – Start up Start Over Church Growth Conference
at the Hilton in Santa Fe with Liesje Blank and Cindy Poulos.
I can be reached at both places on my cell phone, 350-9482
or email cluther@well.com
or
Bishop’s Ranch, 707-433-2440,
Santa Fe Hilton, 1-800-336-3676
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