Redeemer News

We are starting a bible study on Hebrews. We have six sessions scheduled for Wednesday evenings at 7:30PM. If you would like to join us, please let Mary Lynne Golphy or Pastor Kevin know. The dates will be:

• Sept. 15
• Sept. 22
• Oct. 13
• Oct. 27
• Nov. 3
• Nov. 10

I came back from the ELCA Mission Developer Training Conference in Minneapolis, MN on July 29 – Aug. 2.   I was blessed to be able to attend this event.  Its missional focus really got me pumped.  Its overall purpose was to help “engage leaders in the formation of evangelizing congregations that make disciples for Jesus Christ who use their gifts for God’s Reign in the Church and in the world.”   At this particular conference, there were over 130 Lutheran mission developers/pastors from across the USA-Canada (including 10 pastors from Canada (AB, SK, ON).  Sask Synod sent two pastors including myself and your former pastor, Pr. Fred Schneider

Many there were starting new ministries or congregations; and some like myself, were there to renew existing ministries. Our common purpose was to help develop a healthy and missional mindset within congregations that results in the multiplication of leaders and new ministries.

Yes, we all know that the Lutheran church and other mainline denominations are on a decline, but this conference showed me that there is still hope if we remain open and avail ourselves to God’s purpose and power.   There are glimmers of hope shining in every denomination–even ours.  By evangelizing, teaching, discipling, and shepherding (which is really the exercise of Word and Sacrament), we are doing our part in fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28.  As a congregation, I hope we can work together in this labor of love to renew and strengthen God’s kingdom in our community.

Grace to you,
Pastor Kevin Sam

Confirmation Sunday was on May 30, 2010. In May 2010, our confirmation students were given a comprehensive test (written and oral) in order to encourage them to learn and understand the confirmation material and the bible. Everyone passed.

I would like to thank all you confirmands for your efforts and participation in confirmation class (and thank you to all you parents who faithfully brought your kids to confirmation class).  I am proud of all of you and appreciate your willingness to learn and grow.  I hope you will continue to learn and mature in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and complete your journey of faith and service to the Lord as you live out your baptism until your final days in Christ Jesus. Remember that the essence of our Christian faith is about forgiveness of sins. Jesus loves you :)

Blessings to all of you!!

Pastor Kevin Sam

Our quilters Phyllis M., Kristine C., Elaine S., Nina G., Carol S., Mary W., and Helen M. worked hard together to make at least 60 quilts and sewing kits.  They were sent to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to be given to someone around the world who could use one of these quilts.

During the service of blessing-dedication, each person took a quilt, and placed it on the altar.

Pastor's message:
The quilts we dedicate today are representative of the many items which your servants have put together over the last year. We commend the women of our church who so faithfully have met together to make these beautiful quilts. We thank God for their devoted service and through their work have gathered items to stitch together these quilts. We pray that they will continue to use their talents to create beautiful messages of love to the people in God’s world who may be desperately seeking your word of grace and comfort.  We pray that God would renew our Christian calling in God`s mission to help those in need–-to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, comfort the weary and outcast, welcome the stranger and be a loving neighbor to all the people of the earth.

Then a prayer of blessing was said...

Redeemer Lutheran Church has Holy Communion on the fourth Sunday of each month.  Pastor Kevin is giving communion classes this week for kids who are age 8 and older who would like to be able to receive the Lord's Supper but who are not yet confirmed.  The 6 kids in this class look forward to receiving the Sacrament of the Altar in the future.

On Friday - Sunday, March 5 - 7, our youth will be heading up to Camp Kinasao at Christopher Lake, SK for the Confirmation Retreat.  The weekend would involve fun and fellowship with approximately 80 other confirmation students from the Saskatoon conference.  The itinerary would include indoor and outdoor activities, as well as, time for bible study, music and worship.

Three people are needed for the nominating committee. Please contact Lance Barlow at 567-4390 if you can help with that.

CLWR quilting be held each Wednesday 1-4 p.m. until further notice.  All are welcome.  If you are unfamiliar with what we do, come and see and we are willing to teach you what you choose.  Contact Phyllis at 567-4680.

We are in need of a catering committee (3-4 persons) with one person as chairperson. We have been functioning with one person for several years and this is not working well.  Please pray about this and see if this is one place you can help in your church community.  Interested persons may contact Phillis at 567-4680.

Pastor Kevin will be attending MissionsFest in Edmonton this coming weekend, February 19-21.  Pastor Bob Langdon will be our preacher this Sunday, Feb. 21.

II was truly blessed being able to attend BreakForth in Edmonton, AB, January 29-31.  This was my first time here and my experience allowed me to feel a part of the larger church (which is to be a part of the communion of saints within God's holy catholic church).

The speakers at the general assembly were truly anointed of God.  They brought messages that touched the hearts of the listeners and that transform the lives of believers.  Some of these were Anne Graham Lotz (daughter of Billy Graham), William Paul Young (author of The Shack), Frank Peretti (Christian novelist,author of This Present Darkness), and more.  Alice and I purchased DVDs of these main speakers.  If anyone would like to borrow some to listen, please let me know.

There were also many optional workshops.  I focused my workshops on communications and youth ministry.  There were over a hundred workshops for everyone who wants to be better equipped to do ministry in the church.

I am confident that this equipping conference will bless every single believer to enhance their ministry within the body of Christ, and to bless the believer to move toward and seek spiritual wholeness.  I encourage others to attend in the future.

As a congregation, we came together to work on and finalize Redeemer's response letter to the ELCIC Study on Human Sexuality.  It was an open invitation made to the entire congregation and announced week prior in our service bulletins.  At this point, we are collecting signatures. The signature pages are located on the table just outside the sanctuary.  It will be sent to the Task Force that will be collecting responses from congregations and eventually drafting the ELCIC statement on human sexuality.

May it be our prayer that those on the Task Force will be prayerful and listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to our church.

Our Sunday School Christmas Program involved our children who did a fabulous job.  Here are some pictures of them.