Interested in joining our Family of Believers – we would love to welcome you! Joining is as simple as these Five steps:

• Step 1: Connect with one of our Pastors. They would love to get to know you and hear how they can encourage you in your faith. Call the church office – 289-5147…or email Pastor Koglin akoglin@redeemer-rochester.com, Pastor Loos pastorbenloos@gmail.com
• Step 2: Our Families Beliefs – As you join a faith family who will help you keep your eyes on Jesus and mature in your faith it is important to know what they believe! This step is done in the comfort of your own home. It consists of Twelve Videos (6 minutes each) that teach you the core pieces of our faith and what our Family of Believers stands on. Finish at your own pace! If you want to go deeper on any video there are discussion guides to each video as well. You can find these at: https://www.lhm.org/godconnects/. Please contact Sarah Finley (finley.sarah@mayo.edu) to let her know that you have started this step so we can connect with you.
• Step 3: Welcome To Our Family – This step will be led by one of our pastors and a member from our church. Here you will learn what you need to know to feel like an important, valued, and loved member of our Family of Believers. This will be hosted on a SECURE ZOOM account. You will get the link in an email with instructions. Two opportunities are September 9, at 6:00 pm, and September 12, at 9:00 am.
• Step 4: Ministry Mentor: Sometime before or after step three a Ministry Mentor will contact you. This person will stay connected with you for your first year. They want to get to know you, pray for you, and help you feel connected here. Many times these form friendships that last!
• Step 5: Welcome to The Family Weekend – These weekends are held in January, May, and September. During this time of COVID, when there are multiple comfort levels with large group gatherings, we will be doing our actual Installation during step 3 during the ZOOM Meeting and play the recording of this in our livestream services.

Prior to Sunday School starting there will be a registration for students. Parents will choose between in-person instruction or virtual connections for their students.

Screen yourself and all family members for symptoms of COVID-19 and please do not attend if anyone in your household has any of these symptoms:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Loss of taste or smell
• Fever of 100F (37.8C) or greater

In addition, if anyone in your household is ill, has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or suspected of having COVID-19 in the last 14 days or may have been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 or if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19, we would ask that you all stay home. If students become ill while at the church, parents will be contacted and asked to take the student home or to a medical facility immediately. If in doubt about you or your child’s health, please stay home.

Remember parents, grandparents, and Redeemer’s wealth of mentors and encouragers, it takes a village to help raise up the next generation of disciples of Christ. Please consider how you can encourage during this unique time in history.

In an effort to alleviate congestion and maintain social distance between students the following will happen:

Use of parking lot/ parent vehicles: We are asking parents to arrive in Redeemer’s parking lot by 9:15am in order to safely walk students to the appropriate entry doors for arrival.

Parents may walk their students to their entry door for drop off. For the safety of all, parents should not enter the church building. We ask parents and students to be masked during this transition across the parking lot and remain socially distant from one another. We also ask parents to be present in the parking lot for drop-off and pick-up as punctually as possible.

Staggered start/end times: This will be noted by signs at the appropriate times for students to start coming into the appropriate doors.

• Grades 5- High School
• 9:15-9:20 a.m.- enter in through Main Narthex Door (Door #3). Following three weeks of teacher guided, socially distant escorting, students will go to room location without parents and on own.
• 9:20-9:55a.m. Classroom instruction time
• 9:55-10a.m. Cleaning time
• 10-10:05 a.m. Departure time through Main Narthex Door (Door #3). Students will depart with teacher in a socially distanced line (Teacher at front and back). There will be designated spots for each class outside to socially distance stand for those unable to be picked up right away by a parent. Teachers would then continue back inside to make sure classrooms are cleaned further (if needed).
• Classroom Locations- 5/6th grade- Youth Room (L-5), 7th Grade- East side of South Fellowship Hall, 8th Grade- West Side of South Fellowship Hall, High School- North Fellowship Hall.
• Grades 1-4
• 9:20-9:25 a.m. enter in through Office Door Entry (Door #2). Following three weeks of teacher guided, socially distant escorting, students will go to room location without parents and on own.
• 9:25-10 a.m. Classroom instruction time
• 10-10:05 a.m. Cleaning time
• 10:05-10:10 a.m.- Departure time through Office Door Entry (Door #2). Students will depart with teacher in a socially distanced line (Teacher at front and back). There will be designated spots for each class outside to socially distance stand for those unable to picked up right away by a parent. Teachers would then continue back inside to make sure classrooms are cleaned further (if needed).
• Classroom Locations: 1/2nd Grade- L-2, 3/4th Grade- L-3.
• Age 3- Kindergarten
• 9:25-9:30 a.m. enter in through Main Narthex Door (Door #3). Teachers and other escorts will be there to escort students to class (one teacher would remain in the room).
• 9:30-10:05 a.m. Classroom instruction time
• 10:05-10:10 a.m. Flex time (possible cleaning, extra instruction on distancing/ masking).
• 10:10-10:15- Departure time through Main Narthex Door (Door #3). Students will depart with teacher in a socially distanced line (Teacher at front and back). There will be designated spots for each class outside to socially distance stand for those unable to picked up right away by a parent. Teachers would then continue back inside to make sure classrooms are cleaned further (if needed).
• Classroom Locations: Age 3- Room 101 (next to Nursery), Age 4/Preschool- Room 102, Kindergarten- Choir Room (203).

If you have any questions, please contact Josh Heirigs at 507-923-6288 for clarification.

March 24, 2020

Hello Family of Believers!

This is to update you on the many ways that we are planning to care for you spiritually during this time. Our spiritual care will look different, but our caregiver is Jesus and His Means of Grace never change!

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." – Acts 2:42

Remember, the spiritual care of a church is much more than the staff! It takes a family! These are the ways we are specifically setting up to care for this family but this family will be cared for much more if we do it together! Together, we can do much more!

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." – Ephesians 4:11-13

In addition, make sure to prioritize your personal devotional life! If you need resources or ideas, contact anyone on staff – we would love to help. Portals of Prayer, youversion.com/the-bible-app/, and cph.org are full of resources to help.

"Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.' " – John 6:68-69

Worship Services – Live Stream

• The staff is committed to planning, preparing, and creating a Christ Centered, Gospel focused service for the midweek and weekends!
• 4:15pm Wednesdays during Lent – Watch Live or Watch Later our Midweek Services
• 8am on Sundays – Watch Live or Watch Later our Weekend Service
• Directions for Livestreaming are at the end of this letter
• Please know we are adapting rapidly and your comments on the experience of the service are helpful. Direct all comments to office@redeemer-rochester.com
• If you are having troubles, some have found that using their ethernet cord and not wireless or watching on laptop and not up on TV has helped increase their speed.

Worship Services – CD delivery

• If watching on the internet is not an option for you OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW. Let the church office know (507-289-5147 or office@redeemer-rochester.com)!
• We can send CD’s out to everyone that will need one as long as we are able to come into the office.

Worship Services – Telephone

• If you CANNOT watch online or use a CD OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO CANNOT
• Rich and Molly have formed a team at our Pastors request to call WEEKLY with a devotional thought from our service.
• Please let the church office know (507-289-5147 or office@redeemer-rochester.com) if this is a need for you.

Communion

• Pastor Loos and Pastor Koglin will offer communion in the parking lot on Sundays after church. 9:30am – 11:30am.
• IF YOU ARE SICK OR COUGHING, PLEASE STAY HOME. IF YOU HAVE HAD A FEVER IN LAST 48 HOURS, PLEASE STAY HOME.
• If a shelter in place rule goes into effect, we will need to suspend this opportunity.
• Sign up for a slot at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054CADA729A7F49-family or call the church office if you cannot sign up online.

Daily Devotions

• Each day at 9am staff will be posting a devotion. You can view these on our facebook page or our new YouTube channel RLC – Family of Believers.
• To view old devotions, check out our YouTube Channel
  • Go to www.youtube.com
  • Search RCL – Family of Believers in YouTube
  • Click on Daily Devotion Playlist

Daily Prayer Time

• Each day at 7pm we encourage everyone to stop and pray! This way, even apart we are praying together.

Adult Education Hour

• Each Week we will post a Bible Study on our Facebook page and website
• These will be posted by 9:20am on Sunday Morning but you can do them anytime.

Pastoral Visit

• If an emergency comes up and you would like a visit from the pastor, please call the church office or pastor directly.
• For non-emergencies, our church office is trying to limit foot traffic to the building for the safety of everyone and to keep our staff healthy. Our staff would still love to talk with you on the phone, set up a meeting over Skype or another platform. Simply call the church office (507-289-5147) to set up a time to talk with a pastor.

Hospital Visitation

• At this point we will continue our daily hospital visitation but it will be by phone.
• If an emergency arises a Pastor will come if allowed by hospital staff. Just call!

Homebound Visitation

• Facilities are not allowing us in with communion right now
• Right now our Pastoral Visitation team will continue to call through our Homebound each month and share a devotion.

YouTube Channel

• Check out our YouTube Channel
  • Go to www.youtube.com
  • Search RLC – Family of Believers in YouTube
• We will be uploading LOTS of content on there as we get caught up with all the changes
• April is currently creating a library of favorite hymns and songs! Check it out and sing along!

Portals of Prayer

• If you typically pick up your portals of prayer from the office. Please let us know so we can get them delivered to you
• If you would like to view electronically
  • Go to cph.org
  • Type in “Portals of Prayer” in the search box
  • Hit search
  • Click the Green Box that says “Learn More”

Other Resources

• Mainstreatliving.com (LCMS resource with recorded sermons and choirs singing all the favorites)
• Bed Time Bible Stories with Skit Guys on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter at 7:30pm CST
• www.lhm.org/studies (many video based bible studies on a large variety of topics)
• www.bibleproject.com (many videos bringing Bible books, themes, words to life with great and engaging videos)
• Lutheran Hour Sermon – KOLM 1520 Sundays at 10am

Livestream Help: You can watch live or watch later!
  If you DO NOT have Facebook:

1. Go to the Redeemer website (redeemer-rochester.com).
2. On the main page you will see a blue rectangle that says, “facebook LIVE” click on the blue rectangle.
3. When prompted select, “not now”
4. Scroll down the screen a little until you see rows of picture rectangles. These are links to videos.
5. If there is a “LIVE” video taking place you will see a RED Rectangle in the top left, of the top left picture box. In the red rectangle there will be the word “LIVE”.
6. Click that picture. The video that comes up will be what is happening right now!
     If the livestream for some reason doesn't work, come back later and watch the video once the livestream is over. It will be the top, left most video.

  If you HAVE Facebook:

1. Go to- (Redeemer Lutheran Church – Rochester, MN)
2. Scroll down and find the video that has a Red Rectangle that says, “LIVE”
3. Click on that video!

We are dedicated to helping you in your spiritual walk! Our staff is working HARD to still offer spiritual care. We will leave you with these great prayers to read and pray for you, your family, our family of believers, and our community!

We am praying for you,

Pastor Koglin, Pastor Loos, Michael Harvey, April Beckman, Josh Heirigs

Ephesians 1:15-23 "15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

Ephesians 3:14-21 "14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Philippians 1:4-7 "4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me."

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 "11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."[a]

Do you need help shopping? Are you able to help shop for someone? Fill out this form with any need/ability so that we can bear one another’s burdens during this difficult time. Whatever our problems are, Jesus is bigger! We as a family of believers know that we are part of the body of Christ. We bring Christ’s care to others and we receive Christ’s care from others. We would love to hear from you, help you, and stay connected in Christ if you can help.

March 21, 2020

In these uncertain times, many are asking, "is the church still running?" The answer is yes! Our neighbors in need, need us more than ever. Our members in need, need us more than ever. Our family of believers is still being a family. Caring for our church is part of being a family and our offerings reflect an act of our faith and worship. We are learning new ways to participate in worship including new ways to gather our offerings in thanksgiving and service to our Lord.

Please consider one of the following options:

1. Mail into the church office (no cash)
2. Drop off inside front office door in the house marked offering from 9am-2pm when staff is there. (encouraging to simply wave but not enter church office)
3. Drop off in Pastor's Door mail slot after hours. Northeast end of the building. (Has three steps to climb)
4. Bring with when you come and take communion and place in house marked offering
5. Fill out the Joyful Response Form ( click here ) and mail into church office
6. Click the "Online Giving" tab on the Orange Menu above.

We are in a storm, but remember Jesus is in the boat with us and with our eyes on Him as our firm foundation, we will have peace.

REMINDER, you can now watch us live streaming on Facebood AND YouTube. You can also watch recordings of many previous worship services. Just go to our Facebook video page: https://bit.ly/38Lsbu8,    OR our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2RcN0IG. Those who have tried it say the watching experience is great. Go ahead. Give it a try.