February 2021 Newsletter - Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Atlanta GA

FEBRUARY 2021

WWW.REDEEMER.ORG

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER ATLANTA, GA

Lent 2021 Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.

With this invitation from the prophet Joel, we begin our 40 day period of wilderness wandering called Lent.

It's forty days because that's how long Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.

It's forty days

because Israel wandered in the wilderness forty years before reaching the promised land. This is the journey people of faith take every year.

continued...

But this year is special. It seems as if we have been journeying in the wilderness for more than forty days.

It feels more like forty years that we have lived in this state of austerity, isolation, and

vulnerability.

A funny thing happens when you're hiking through the wilderness--you naturally start lightening your pack. All things that were once so important slowly begin to seem like dead weight. You start tossing the extra stuff away so the next step is that much lighter.

It took forty years but Israel learned its lesson. The chosen people began to notice how heavy were the things they were carrying that they thought they loved--but didn't love them back.

They began to

relearn who they were-the beloved of God. They realized they'd never make it through the wilderness without holding on to this identity and letting go of everything else.

Finally, Israel made it to the promised land. But they faced a new temptation.

Were they going to

simply refill their pack with all that dead weight that they had previously discarded? Would they forget how God had brought them through and never left them? What would they keep from their journey?

What new directions would they head out on now that they had emerged from the wilderness?

We too will soon emerge from our pandemic wilderness. But before we do, we are given this gift called Lent.

We are given this time to remember our baptism--that we too are the beloved of God.

As

individuals, families and as a church, we get to ask ourselves the same questions Israel did so long ago:

Where has God been on our journey?

What have we learned?

What must we discard?

What can we add?

What new adventure awaits?

Pastor Mark H. Larson Senior Pastor

ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP FEBRUARY 17, 2021 Livestreamed Worship at 7:00 PM with opportunities for personal prayer via Zoom.

With the continued spread of COVID-19 and the appearance of more virulent strains of the virus, it becomes all the more important for all of us to maintain our practices of social distancing and the wearing of face coverings. We will not be gathering in person for the foreseeable future and the practice of imposing ashes on the forehead of another person outside of your household, so close to one's eyes and nose, poses an unacceptable risk.

That

said,

the

core

purposes

of

Ash

Make sure to do any burning outside your home.

Wednesday can be practiced within your

Make sure to use oil and not water to moisten

own household:

the ashes after they've cooled (ashes mixed with

• To hear the call to personal and corporate

water can irritate the skin).

repentance

Here's

• To face our mortality

https://episcopaldiocesefortworth.org/how-to-

• To take up spiritual disciplines to reaffirm

make-ashes-for-ash-wednesday

our baptismal commitments

A few days before Ash Wednesday, go to your

a

video

with

general

instructions:

yard, garden, or nearby park and collect some In addition to joining worship online, here

soil. Collect enough soil to fill a large bowl.

are

Ash

During Ash Wednesday we are reminded that we

traditional

are dust from the earth and will return to the

some

Wednesday

ideas

to

worship

enrich at

the

your

moment of the imposition of ashes:

earth. Instead of tracing the cross with this soil,

• Instead of using ashes, you can use olive or

you can take some soil from the bowl and hold

cooking oil to anoint each person in your

it.

household with the shape of the cross in

throughout

remembrance of your baptism.

become a focus for prayer and devotion. During

This bowl of soil can remain with you Lent

and

into

Holy

Week

and

Lent 2021, “tend” the soil in that bowl. Such You can do the same remembrance by

tending could include placing a cross in that

tracing the cross with your finger without

soil, or a picture of a loved one many years gone.

any other substance.

You might also plant a seed in the soil as an

If you have palms from previous years or any

indication that our Lenten journey is taking us to

dried plant material, you can make your

Easter Spring

own ashes

Midweek Jazz Vespers: Emerging from the Wilderness Beginning February 24, join us each Wednesday at 7:15 PM for Lenten Vespers Livestreamed from our sanctuary. A new setting of Evening Prayer will be led by our own Jazz Trio. Each week, one of our pastors will reflect on Psalm 63, as we join David's own journey through the wilderness.

FAITH FORMATION

The Book: The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong, by Karen Gonzรกlez. As an immigrant from Guatemala, Gonzรกlez tells her story, skillfully weaves in Ruth, Abraham, Hagar, Joseph, the Syrophoenician woman, and the Holy Family and explores the role the sacraments play in the journey to belong. As a Christian with an eye to history, scripture, and experience, she speaks directly to the immigration issue in the U.S. in a way that is insightful and compelling.

Lent Small Groups Sign-up continues until February 14. To see all the small group options and sign up, email Karen Medford, Kmedford@redeemer.org, follow the link on the website, or search under Groups in Realm.

Order your book.

This year each person will need to get their own copy of the book from your favorite book source.

Small Groups meet for five weeks (Ash Wednesday, February 17, to Easter, April 4) on Zoom with up to 12 participants per group.

FAITH FORMATION "Whether it be through prayers or Bible studies, it's important to spend time with Christ each day."

DEVOTION WRITERS

What will you take with you from this time, and

by Karen Medford

what will you leave

I again want to thank the

behind?

many of you who write

Please consider writing a

devotions. It is a wonderful

devotion, Start with a short

gift you share and a blessing

scripture verse, and end

to so many people. Lent is

with a short prayer. (300-

just around the corner. We

400 words total.) Send the

will continue our tradition of

devotion in the body of an

devotions written by

email, ideally Times New

members of the

Roman 12, to

congregation emailed daily

Kmedford@redeemer.org.

beginning with Ash

There is no hard deadline,

Wednesday, February 17, and

but it is very helpful to

continuing at least until

receive the devotions well

Easter Sunday, April 4.

in advance of the

As we enter spring, with the

publishing date, so please

hope of emerging from the

send as soon as possible.

wilderness of the pandemic

Please contact Karen

we reflect on who we are,

Medford

what we have learned, and

Kmedford@redeemer.org if

answer the question, "Where

you have questions or need

do we go from here?"

assistance.

FAITH FORMATION

Immersed in the Promises of Baptism 9:00 AM SUNDAY MORNINGS BEGINNING FEBRUARY 21 LED BY PASTOR JENNY MCLELLAN FIVE WEEK LENTEN STUDY

As vaccines roll out and we start to ask, what's next? Let us return to our covenant with God and to the promises we made at our baptism.

Living through a pandemic changes us. While life looks different today than a year ago, one thing remains the same: the covenant God made with us in Holy Baptism. Through the water and Holy Spirit, God promised to give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life in Christ. In response to God's promises, we made promises: Week 1: to live among God's faithful people Week 2: to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper Week 3: to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed Week 4: to serve all people, following the example of Jesus Week 5: to strive for justice and peace in all the earth Each week we'll highlight one of the promises through scripture study, discussion, and suggestions for living into these promises as we emerge from the wilderness of the global pandemic.

Be Still...And Journey SUNDAY MORNINGS - WOMEN'S GROUP A women’s group that shares their lives of faith and discusses books and articles. They gather at 8:45 AM and begin the book discussion shortly after 9:00 AM. Join them for their current book God and the Pandemic, by N.T. Wright. The group will start a five-week study of The God Who Sees by Karen González on February 21.

ZOOM LINKS TO ALL CLASSES CAN BE FOUND ON WWW.REDEEMER.ORG

FAITH FORMATION Mysteries of Faith Applying Modern Constructive Christian Theology To Classical Themes Sundays at 9:00 AM

All Redeemer members and guests are warmly invited to explore the rich, kaleidoscopic variety of Christian theological structures, genres, arguments, and insights. We seek to restore

the

classical

tradition's

deep

thinking

by

bringing

contemporary

Christian

theologians, writers, problems, and experiences to bear on building a living theology for our time.

In February, our class will continue to explore Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, by Brian Zahnd, Pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Topics include:

Who

Killed Jesus?, Hell and How to Get There, Anthem of the Lamb, War of the Lamb, and City of the Lamb. We conclude with the topic: Love Alone is Credible.

This class discusses

Christian and Hebrew scripture and creeds with a viewpoint of God's loving nature, best expressed in Jesus and His parable of the Prodigal Son.

Adult Faith Stepping Stones Prayer A look at the Lord’s Prayer, when we pray, and how we pray together.

February 21, 28, and March 7, 2021 Living Out Our Baptism

What baptism means to us now March 21, 28, 2021 Even when you know where you are going, it can be challenging to follow the path. The Adult Faith Stepping Stones are steps in the faith journey that help adults discover meaning in their faith practice. The classes are open to anyone. They correspond with classes offered in the children’s Faith Stepping Stones program but with an adult perspective. A great next step in your faith journey. Class leaders are Michael Medford and Kristin Guthrie.

Contact Karen Medford or Deacon Mary for the link to the class.

FAITH FORMATION Tuesday Morning Bible Study Tuesdays at 7:30 AM A year-round study of the books of the Old and New Testament is led by pastors and experienced lay teachers Don Noland and David Ott. Find the Zoom link on the www.Redeemer.org website.

Book Group led by Pastor Jonathan Trapp

Tuesdays 5:00 - 6:00 PM The current book selection is Might from the Margins: The Gospel’s Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice by

Dennis Edwards.

All are welcome. If you have any questions, please email Pr Jonathan at jtrapp@redeemer.org

Early Bird Bible Study

Wednesdays at 4:00 PM Join David Ott in a discussion studying as they walk through the book of Mark. For Lent, beginning February 17, the group will discuss the Lenten Book, The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible and the Journey to Belong by Karen GonzĂĄlez. Study the scripture stories of

Ruth,

Abraham,

Hagar,

Joseph,

the

Syrophoenician

woman, and the Holy Family and explore the role the sacraments play in the journey to belong.

FAITH FORMATION Wednesday Night Pastor’s Class Led by Pastor Mark Wednesdays at 6:00 pm Journey through the New Testament.

Each week we look at one book from a historical, literary, and of course, theological perspective.

Using

Mark

Allan

Powell’s

Introducing

the

New

Testament . Veteran Bible scholars and anyone wanting

an introduction to the treasures of scripture are sure to find something new and interesting.

For Lent, beginning February 17, Pastor Mark will take an intermission from the New Testament study to lead a discussion on the Lenten book, The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible and the Journey to Belong, by

Karen González. He will study the scripture stories of Ruth,

Abraham,

Hagar,

Joseph,

the

Syrophoenician

woman, and the Holy Family and explore the role the sacraments play in the journey to belong.

ADLA Liberation Theology Book Club Led by Pastor Ron Bonner 4th Saturday of the month - 10 AM Sponsored by the African Descent Lutheran Association – Southeastern Chapter. See www.Redeemer.org for the link and upcoming books.

Our Gates , the

movie

by Austin Channing Brown

February 27, 2021:

Within

March 27, 2021: I’m Still Here

FAITH FORMATION

Attention SINGLE ADULTS at Redeemer!

There's a new group just for us.

Every 3rd Thursday at 7 pm beginning February 18, 2021

FUN, SERVICE, STUDY & SUPPORT

Interested? Sign up here.

Questions? Email: andreahuntington7@gmail.com cswisher@me.com

MIDTOWN LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL

MTLPS is excited for success in its return to learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

We want to thank Redeemer for its continued encouragement in re-opening the preschool ministry to serve its families. It gave children a safe place to spend time, respite for parents, and some life-normalcy to our staff.

As we continue through this academic year, we look forward to 2021-22 for growth and renewal!

Spread the word that MTLPS is NOW enrolling for the 2021-22 academic year for ages 1 year through preK/4 years.

Find more information, www.mtlps.org or contact Kate Elkins, Director, at kelkins@redeemer.org

Be sure to "Like" us at www.facebook.com/mtlps

Click here to join via Zoom

CONGREGATIONAL CARE Stephen Ministry Update We give thanks to God for Ed Kuehn’s faithful service as a Stephen Leader for the last six years. As a Stephen Leader, he helped make referrals to match hurting people with a Stephen Minister to receive emotional and spiritual care, he facilitated Stephen Ministry Supervision meetings, and he provided continuing education opportunities to ensure our Stephen Ministers provide ongoing quality care. Thank you, Ed for your years of faithful service as one of Redeemer’s Stephen Leaders! Ed will continue to serve as a Stephen Minister as Oni Borchers and Sharon Jeffries serve as Stephen Leaders.

Redeemer’s other Stephen Minsters are Oscar Dela Cruz, Jojo Nelson, John Russell, Jeanne Merritt, Marlit Hayslett, and Kay Sins.

New and Expectant Moms group We understand that having a child presents unique challenges for women. Join other expectant and new moms (with children age 2 and under) to share your experience and support one another at this unique time in life. We will meet every fourth Sunday, beginning on February 28 at 3:30 PM. Contact Pastor Jenny for the Zoom link, jmclellan@redeemer.org.

Parents of Young Children Group Parenting is full of joys and challenges at every age.

Starting in March, meet with other parents of infants (newborn-2ish) to share your experience in a non-judgmental and flexible group. Kids are welcome to join or come in and out of this Zoom call! Bring your favorite beverage and get to know other parents who are figuring out this role on Sunday, March 14 at 3:30 PM .

Contact Pastor Jenny for the Zoom link, jmclellan@redeemer.org.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WELCOME BRIA HUNTER Part-time contracted Communications Coordinator through Easter Bria is a versatile writer and storyteller with 4+ years of experience capturing the voice and adapting the style of communication to fit a variety of channels including email, website, social media, advertising,

FAITHFUL HANDS

and print. Experience

We are a group of

generating new ideas to

Redeemer members

deliver value to diverse

(women and men!) who

audiences (front-line

enjoy knitting and

employees, volunteers,

crocheting. In 2004 a

community members,

small group of women

executives), through timely

formed to knit prayer

communications. With a

shawls for members who

deep understanding of

were seriously ill or who

communication tools and

were grieving. Since that

applications including CRM,

time, over 200 shawls

digital media displays, and

have been distributed by

email marketing

the pastors.

technologies.

Though prayer shawls are the specific goal of Faithful Hands, we expanded the ministry to include scarves for the men and women who are served at the Food Ministry.

We meet monthly (and will resume when the pandemic subsides) on the third Wednesday of the month (September through April) at 5 :00 PM in room 119 off the Atrium. You don't need to attend meetings; you just need to knit! Until we are able to meet in person, we will be Zooming with each other on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 4:30 PM. If you would like to meet with us via Zoom, please contact Gayle Morgan (404-255-1801 or ghm5525@gmail.com) to be added to the mailing list.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Many of us know that Inspiritus delivers programs and services to help individuals and families grow in several important areas of a thriving life.

These include basic needs; stability/safety; community integration and selfsufficiency/self-determination. But did you know that Inspiritus has been named a Frontline Hero for its team’s heroic service efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic?

In fact, in 2020, Inspiritus distributed more than $1 million in rent and mortgage

assistance

to

families

in

need

during

the

pandemic

by

partnering with United Way of Greater Atlanta, Gwinnett County, DeKalb County and Tennessee.

Their services are free – including foster care, disaster recovery support, inhome care services, and refugee support.

How can you help? By becoming a friend to a refugee family.

Learn more at www.weinspirit.org.

LEARN MORE AT WWW.WEINSPIRIT.ORG

WWW.REDEEMER.ORG

SHARING THE LOVE OF READING WITH THE GIRLS OF WELLSPRING

Two Redeemer members decided to share their love of reading with the residents of Wellspring Living. Mary Mahoney (Library Ministry Chair) and Joan Vernor (Library Ministry and Leader of Reads and Reels, a Redeemer Book Club) partnered with Amy Carpenter (Wellspring Living Ministry) to make this happen. Amy obtained a wish list of book titles the girls from Wellspring would like to have.

Fortunately, all the titles were available from Amazon at a reasonable cost and quick delivery. Mary and Joan were able to purchase all nine of the wish list books and take them to Amy, who delivered them to Wellspring.

Several weeks later, notes arrived from the girls. Sample verbatim comments from these notes follow: “Hey. How’s your day going? I just stopped by the say thank you for the books. My fav is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. You are awesome.”

“Thank you for all the very inspirational and informative books. I have always loved to read….I am looking forward to reading The Zookeeper’s Wife and Becoming by Michele Obama.”

“Thanks for sending all the books for me to read. I love all you ladies.”

“Thank you for the books. I love The Hate You Give book so much. It’s a little better than the movie. It showed me that some people still think that color defines who you are and what you can do, which is not true….Life is not all about what color you are. It’s about what you do in life. I see life as a place where everyone will and can be something in life. So thank you for the book because it opened my eyes.”

The principal of Wellspring’s virtual school shared in an email that the girls “are ecstatic about the books.” If there’s one thing avid readers love to hear, it’s “books” and “ecstatic” used in the same sentence.

Library Ministry: Mary Mahoney, Chair, Joan Vernor, Carl Tiegreen, Sharon Pike, Harl Pike

REDEEMER CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS

S U N D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 2 1 2 : 0 0 P M

Ensemble Chaconne Concert The ensemble (Peter H. Bloom, baroque flute; Carol Lewis, viola da gamba; and Olav Chris Henriksen, baroque lute, baroque guitar, and theorbo) performs a video-concert called The Splendid Century:

Music of the French Court 1650-1750. The program

transports the audience to the dazzling courts of Louis XIV and Louis XV with gems

by Marin Marais, François Couperin, Jean Marie Leclair, Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre, and other leading composers of the era.

Classical Voice of North Carolina announced, “Ensemble Chaconne, both in its individuals and together, is a powerhouse of great playing.” Hailed for “vitality and character, style and verve” (MusicWeb International), Ensemble Chaconne performs in the United States and abroad.

The concert can be viewed at https://www.redeemer.org/worship/worship-online/.

There will be a Zoom reception immediately following the concert, where you can greet the Boston performers and ask them questions.

We will eventually gather again for concerts, but in the meantime, thank you for your continued support as we share musical experiences in new ways.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS 1 Scott Bitter 1 Lynn Dawson 1 Rob Deebel 1 Debbie Hakes 1 Mark Helsel 1 Keith Hudson 1 Art Roche 2 Rakayla Kapoor 2 Ed Kuettner 2 Afton Mosley 3 Ansley Ashlock 3 Ally Boyd 3 Forrest Davis 3 Christian Kelm 3 Miles Moody 3 Elliot Morrison 3 Monica Ritchie 3 Jillian Serfozo 3 Trudy Swint 4 Beth Gleason 4 Aaron Robinson 4 Carla Schissel 5 Cathi Brostrom 5 Emilia Hermann 6 Karl Burkhardt 6 Chris Heisler 6 Diana Hodnett 6 Madeleine Lawrence 6 Mary Souther 6 Radu Ziub 7 Ashley Burnett 7 Henry Hetrick 7 Max Serfozo 8 Josh Barritt 8 Oscar Dela Cruz 8 Robby Johnson 8 Christina McCoy 8 Paul Simo 8 Marie Smith 9 John Carr 9 Len Studley 9 Jon Waterhouse 10 Russ Ballard 10 Richard Botters 10 David Grice 10 Ed Griner

10 Maeve Jackson 10 Sally Pearson 10 Denise Quinland 10 John Thomas 11 Marlee Krohn 11 Shelley Melton-Hancock 12 Alyssa Degler 12 Marian Knight 12 Mike Stevens 12 Preston Vassar 12 Tenley Vassar 13 Karen Anderson 13 Mason Doan 13 Benjamin LaPlante 13 Debbie LeVorse 13 Jackie Mentz 13 Jeff Mullen 13 Fraser Pearson 13 Kristen Sickles 13 Zachary Volan 14 Frankie Garcia Freel 14 Kerry Jones 14 Charlie Morris 14 Petras West 15 Nolan Dougherty 15 Molly Engle 15 Evan Gundersen 15 David Hansen 15 Wren Kalin 15 Margo Long 15 Christopher Ranney 15 Jennifer Sexton 15 Sherry Stephenson 15 Amanda Stevens 16 Drew Adamson 16 Paul Isaacson 17 Susan Engle 17 Weston Kershner 17 Katrina Sides 17 Mia Vey 18 Courtney Denney 18 Jackie Foster 18 Olivia Grace Summer

19 Melanie Johnson 19 Erica Massaro-Hales 19 Sara Sides 20 Jeff Elkins 20 Sarah Foster 20 Dana Norden 21 Theresa Breuer 21 Marie Gay 21 Bailey Kien 22 Joshua Buchanan 22 Justin Delbrook 22 Graham Ruder 22 Phoebe Sanders 23 Maddie Leonard 23 Sarah Warren 23 Caroline Wayco 24 Alexander Klassen 24 Ed Laird 24 David Wyse 25 Dina Feldman 25 Mike Forster 25 Jude Hawley 25 Donna Matern 25 Mayla McCray 25 Reba Nyen 25 Matt Williams 26 Robert Coursey 26 Doug Hattermann 26 Janet Preston 26 Pat Shannon 26 Rob Stivers 27 Sallie Boone 27 Sandy Deebel 27 Cecil Laird 27 Susan Neuman 28 Valerie Bischoff 28 Tom Ehrensperger 28 Luna Heming 28 Ed Kuehn 29 Martie Barnard 29 Mary Clara Haury 29 Judy Whitmer