SUNDAY WORSHIP
8 & 10:15 AM
To view the 10:15 am service live-stream, use the following links
for our YouTube Channel and Facebook.
for our YouTube Channel and Facebook.
To view recent past worship services and Pastor's weekly video messages at your leisure, please follow this link to our YouTube Channel, "Lamb and Flag Ministries."
News & Events
June, 2023
Dear friends of Redeemer,
The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament, famously wrote: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; [etc.]" The poem goes on to acknowledge many things that interrupt our lives in their season, but the poet did not include work or rest. It's a strange omission, and only makes sense when you remember that the Jewish religion already celebrates "rest" as opposed to "work" in its account of the creation of the world in the book of Genesis. From the get go, God commands rest on the seventh day, or "sabbath", and this special Jewish practice has since become practically universal in the world we live in. Before the "weekend" or a Sunday rest, there was the "sabbath rest".
And sometimes, we need more rest than once a week. That's what vacations are for. Or going on "leave". Or taking a sabbatical. That's what I'm about to do, starting June 1st and continuing until August 31st. Our denomination, the ELCA, suggests that pastors take a 3-month sabbatical once every seven years. The church council and I started planning this sabbatical back in 2019, but the Covid Pandemic got in the way. While on sabbatical, I will be resting, hanging out at home, spending time at the shore, and taking a 3 1/2 week international trip with my family. I will be paying close attention to activities that rejuvenate the soul, such as prayer, meditation, exercise and self-care. And I welcome you all to pay close attention to these activities for yourself, even if your vacation time or time off may be much shorter than mine. When I return in the fall we will have an opportunity to share our experiences together.
In the meantime, you will be well cared for by Pastor Wayne Plumstead, together with the able leadership of the Church Council. Please know that I will be praying for you all while I'm gone. Please pray for me and my family over the summer. Thank you, and I'll see you all when I'm back in September!
Yours in Christ, +PL
Dear friends of Redeemer,
The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament, famously wrote: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; [etc.]" The poem goes on to acknowledge many things that interrupt our lives in their season, but the poet did not include work or rest. It's a strange omission, and only makes sense when you remember that the Jewish religion already celebrates "rest" as opposed to "work" in its account of the creation of the world in the book of Genesis. From the get go, God commands rest on the seventh day, or "sabbath", and this special Jewish practice has since become practically universal in the world we live in. Before the "weekend" or a Sunday rest, there was the "sabbath rest".
And sometimes, we need more rest than once a week. That's what vacations are for. Or going on "leave". Or taking a sabbatical. That's what I'm about to do, starting June 1st and continuing until August 31st. Our denomination, the ELCA, suggests that pastors take a 3-month sabbatical once every seven years. The church council and I started planning this sabbatical back in 2019, but the Covid Pandemic got in the way. While on sabbatical, I will be resting, hanging out at home, spending time at the shore, and taking a 3 1/2 week international trip with my family. I will be paying close attention to activities that rejuvenate the soul, such as prayer, meditation, exercise and self-care. And I welcome you all to pay close attention to these activities for yourself, even if your vacation time or time off may be much shorter than mine. When I return in the fall we will have an opportunity to share our experiences together.
In the meantime, you will be well cared for by Pastor Wayne Plumstead, together with the able leadership of the Church Council. Please know that I will be praying for you all while I'm gone. Please pray for me and my family over the summer. Thank you, and I'll see you all when I'm back in September!
Yours in Christ, +PL
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