An update on our scheduling in this pandemic

            With the Centers for Disease Control now restricting gatherings of fifty people or more due to the Corona Virus pandemic Redeemer Lutheran Church will not be holding the midweek Lenten worship services on Wednesday at 12:15 and 6:00 pm, nor will we be hosting the fellowship meals prior to the services. This next weekend’s worship (March 21 and 22) will also be canceled. 

            We will proceed on a week by week basis and we will provide that information in as timely a fashion as possible. We will also provide online devotion and worship items which we are in the process of readying.

            As was shared with the student body at Concordia Lutheran School on their last day’s chapel this morning, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” (Psalm 46:1). He is great, and we do not need to be afraid. Indeed, as St. Paul reminds us “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32). 

            The church is open, the office is running, and the staff members are here. If you are in need, please get in touch with us at 309.691.2333.

COVID 19

Dear friends in Christ,

At this point we are still planning to have our regular worship services, Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and Wednesday lenten services. If you are not feeling well or are anxious about gathering in larger groups, please stay home. We will continue streaming the sermons from our 8:15 Sunday worship service and we will be adding devotional items to the week. We will let you know in the event something gets canceled.

Lord, please guard and keep us in this time of illness. You are our rock and our fortress. Our future lies securely in your nail-scarred hands. Amen.

Well, that was fun!

            I’m not certain that a worship service could or should be described as fun, but that’s the word that came to mind after yesterday’s “One Service Sunday” at Redeemer. We had a mixture of songs led by the praise team and singing led by the organ. We had some chanting, and a rousing sermon by Pastor Miller. A choir of around thirty was a great addition to the worship as was the welcoming of ten new members. And the adult baptism, with the youth serving as sponsors for the high school freshman, had people smiling from ear to ear at the goodness of our God and the ministry carried out by our youth.

            We originally planned the service to make the time change Sunday a little less uncomfortable (everyone worshipping at 9:30). It also helped that with the leap year we had and extra Sunday to do something with (53 instead of 52). Some have suggested that there are other congregational events that would benefit from being all in the same worship service and we will be looking into these regular but not frequent opportunities.

            Many thanks to Scott for the materials he assembled and led us in carrying out. Thank you, Katie, for the printed orders and the screens we followed. Also, to Sharon and Cheryl for leading the choir (thanks to all of them, too!) and the praise team for leading much of our singing. Thank you, also, to Pastor Miller who is always a gift when he helps us in our worship.  

            Thank you, Lord, for the time we shared, the gifts that were offered, and the grace You so freely provide in the crucified and risen Christ Jesus.