April 4, 2020 - Sunday School Update

Hello Redeemer Family of Believers!

Redeemer’s staff has been working hard to create worship opportunities at home that will bless your faith life. A big part of life and ministry at Redeemer is our Sunday school opportunities. Our Sunday school teachers are working on new ways to connect while we cannot be together.

It is such a joy when we connect as a Family of Believers! Our Sunday school teachers have risen to the occasion to help bring students and families together and keep the connection to the church. Students in these classes will be hearing directly from their teachers through either mailings, phone calls, or emails with links to video calls. For students engaging in video calls, look for the links in the emails from teachers. If you would like to extend an invitation to others for this opportunity, please connect with Josh Heirigs so he can get that connection made to the teacher!

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Sunday School Schedules:

• 3-year-olds: Will be receiving mailings of encouragement, devotions, and at home crafts.
• 4-year-olds: Will be connecting at 9 am on Sundays. Look for an email from Jane Quaintance.
• Kindergarten: Will be receiving mailings of curriculum/ activities, and Easter Cards. Will also be connecting starting on Sunday, April 19. Meeting time at 9:3 0am. Look for an email from Becca Tveten.
• 1st / 2nd Grade: Will be connecting at 10:30 am on Sundays. Look for an email from Paul Collopy.
• 3rd / 4th Grade: Will be connecting at 10 am on Sundays. Look for an email from Lynne Gaunt or Theresa Zafft.
• 5th / 6th Grade: Will be connecting at 11 am on Sundays (also receiving mailings of curriculum as well.) Look for an email from Eric Applen.
• 7th-12th Grade: Will be connecting at 9:20 am on Sundays. Look for an email from Josh Heirigs.

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Our teachers will be giving these opportunities to gather for the remainder of our activity year which concludes on May 19, with the exception of Easter Sunday (4/12).

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.

And, a reminder to us all that God has a plan and purpose in all of this.

God’s peace and blessings!
Your Redeemer Staff – Pastor Koglin, Pastor Loos, Josh Heirigs,
April Beckman, and Michael Harvey

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

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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]

"Hands and Feet of Christ" Care Form   Click Here!

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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.

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Covid19 Community Resources

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.