June 11, 2021

Last week, Pastor Dave talked about Redeemer being at a confluence, when all the good things are coming together to produce a fruitful and valuable experience in the life of our church.

He highlighted:

We are at a time of CONFLUENCE when all of these opportunities are coming together to define this moment in time for Redeemer.

This said we wanted to Thank YOU for sharing your candid feedback as part of our Leading the Hybrid Church assessment. We received 100s of responses and the staff is now using that real data to construct our 2021-2022 ministry plans.

The primary question we sought to answer through those surveys was,"What is your tolerance and/or openness to continuing on -- post COVID-19 -- with a hybrid church model." A model that integrates physical and digital options for Worship, Outreach and Discipleship. The results from our assessment were both interesting and consistent with findings among church congregations nationally. A fact that is both affirming (we're normal) and provides an opportunity to rethink the way we live out our mission to be more relevant in today's world.

Your input is allowing us to craft ministry plans to not only better serve you, our current congregation, but to grow Redeemer's reach, locally and globally.

We'll be revealing findings from the assessment as we roll out our 2021-2022 Ministry plans.

The following data supports why we believe continuing to use both physical (in person) and digital (online) expressions of ministry to complement Redeemer's mission, vision and strategy is the right approach for Redeemer right now.

The findings above indicate that more than 40% of our congregation is participating in Online Worship while 63% believe we should continue to embrace digital channels for faith formations and discipleship. While this is a strong endorsement for the hybrid church post-pandemic, data also shows we need to work through the challenge of engagement online -- across demographics and age groups.

The Ministry Team is actively collaborating on plans for 2021-2022 that will not only address the challenge of engagement but will allow us to grow our reach in the community -- living out the Word and healing ministry of Jesus.

This said we are rethinking our mix of in-person and online Worship options and beginning July 4th we will be moving to a post-pandemic version of our Summer2Gether Worship schedule. 

Stay tuned for more details in the weeks ahead. And in August, we’ll be prototyping a whole new look and feel to our Online Worship service.

It is truly an exciting time here at Redeemer and we are blessed to be on this journey together. Thank you again for your candid feedback.

Related to the Associate Pastor Call, thank you to everyone who joined us for Worship last Sunday to welcome the Bayless Family to Redeemer. We appreciated your presence both in the Worship Center and online.

During the Congregation Meeting we will vote on whether or not Redeemer should extend a Call to Pastor Drew. This is a very important vote and we want your voice to be heard. Between now and Tuesday, June 15, we encourage you to ask questions and submit feedback directly to Redeemer's Call Committee chaired by Bill DeReu. You can email callteam@redeemeralive.org or call our Church Office at 509.926.6363.

As always, we'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to submit your updates, stories, questions, photos, and videos to our Director of Marketing & Communications, Susan Baldwin at sbaldwin@redeemeralive.org. If appropriate and with your permission, we'll feature them here and/or on our social media channels.

Pastor Drew shared a very energetic image of the power of the Holy Spirit. He reminded us that the power of the Holy Spirit is like dynamite launching us forward into mission and ministry.

Now as we look forward, it is time to imagine where the dynamite Holy Spirit is taking us. On June 20 at 11:30 am, immediately after Worship, we’ll be hosting our Annual Congregational Meeting. During this meeting we will be voting on whether to extend a formal CALL to Pastor Drew Bayless for our Associate Pastor position. 

We’ve made the process to submit feedback and questions simple. Please email your comments and/or questions directly to callteam@redeemeralive.org. 

And then mark your calendars for Sunday, June 20, when we hope you will join us as an active participant in the Holy Spirit’s DYNAMITE work here at Redeemer. 

P.S. I know June 20th is Father’s Day… I promise we’ll have you out of here in plenty of time to thoroughly enjoy and honor the Dad’s, Grandad’s and Great Grandad’s in your life.

Please join us THIS Sunday, June 13 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to help the Comfort Dog Team celebrate Isaac's first year of being a comfort dog here at Redeemer. We have officially dubbed June 13th, "Isaac's Day!"

Redeemer's Young Adults Bible Study kicks off Sunday evening (June 13) at 7 p.m. here at Redeemer. This is Redeemer's newest Ministry and we look forward to seeing this Christ-centered community grow and thrive in the months and years ahead.

The group is led by Redeemer's Ministry Intern, Reese Rountree and is designed for adults ages 18-30. Everyone is welcome. No RSVPs are required.

We hope you will join us as part of the founding group who helps shape our Young Adults Ministry for years to come. Please contact Reese Rountree with any questions, comments or ideas at 509-979-2885.

Our Senior High Youth are headed to Camp Shoshone for our annual Summer Mission Trip the week of June 20-25 and it is time to REGISTER! Registration closes on Monday, June 14.

WHAT: Redeemer Senior High Youth Summer Mission Trip -- Idaho Servant Adventures

WHY: An opportunity to serve together as Christ-like Servant Leaders helping families in the Silver Valley who don’t have access to resources like those found in Spokane. We'll be serving outdoors in family groups -- be prepared for a ton of fun!

WHEN: June 20-25, 2021

LOCATION: Camp Shoshone in Idaho

REGISTRATION/COST: $284 (Includes 6 Days/5 Nights -- Transportation/ Food/ Lodging/ Supplies)

Please register/pay ONLINE.  A $50 Deposit is due at the time of registration. If you'd prefer to pay by check, make checks payable to “Redeemer Lutheran Church.” 

Scholarships are available. Contact Trisha Rountree at trountree@redeemeralive.org 

And if you have any questions about our Youth Ministry or the Mission Trip, please contact Maria Devenport, Minister of Youth & Families at mdevenport@redeemeraliv.org

Reserve YOUR Kits -- Staycation Bible School 2021

The KITS are packed and we're just about ready to hit the trail... If you've been waiting to register for Staycation Bible School 2021, now is the time!

Staycation Bible School is FREE. Our gift to the community. Registration is quick and simple at this LINK.

Staycation Bible School Kits are filled with DAILY activities, including Bible Stories, that are easy to follow and designed to bring this year's theme to LIFE! Kits coordinate with online lesson components (brought to you via video) and can be accessed each day on the Children's Ministry page of our website:

Staycation Bible School Kit Pick-up in the Redeemer Lobby -- please bring your kiddos, we'll have picture opportunities and we want to see and meet your children!

You'll want to visit our website each day for updates (redeemeralive.org) and stay connected through our Facebook and Instagram (@redeemeralive) pages.

Again, you'll find everything you need to know about Staycation Bible School 2021 at this LINK. 

Please call our Church Office with any questions about registration or kit pick-up -- (509) 926.6363.

A quick reminder to anyone who leads one of our many Redeemer ministries, Sunday, June 13 is the last day to apply for a Redeemer Endowment Fund Grant.

Endowment Grants are designed to support Redeemer’s various ministries in alignment with our mission and target outcomes of worship, outreach and discipleship. The Endowment Board has now given out upwards of $30,000 in grant funds to various Redeemer ministries. That is $30,000 that has gone to share Jesus' love in our community without touching the church budget or the endowment fund principle!

If your Redeemer Ministry would like to submit for an Endowment Grant, the application process is quick and simple. A copy of the application is attached here. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email Endowment Board member, Bob Sanders at 509-939-8413.

Isaac's Day Celebration (Redeemer/Rooms 120/121)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

Endowment Grant Applications Due (Redeemer)

Redeemer Annual Congregational Meeting

Senior High Youth Summer Mission Trip (Shoshone)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

June 30

4:30 pm-6:00 pm Middle School Youth Event (Redeemer)

6:30 pm-8:30 pm Senior High Youth Event (Redeemer)

LWML Mite Sunday -- (Redeemer)

Staycation Bible School kit pick-up -- bring your kiddos! (Redeemer Lobby)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

4:30 pm-6:00 pm Middle School Youth Event (Redeemer)

6:30 pm-8:30 pm Senior High Youth Event (Redeemer)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

4:30 pm-6:00 pm Middle School Youth Event (Redeemer)

6:30 pm-8:30 pm Senior High Youth Event (Redeemer)

LWML Mite Sunday -- (Redeemer)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

Middle School Youth Summer Service Week (Shoshone)

Middle School Youth End-of-Summer Pool Party

Senior High Youth End-of-Summer Pool Party

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

Summer Family Ranch Camp (Shoshone)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

Young Adults Missional Community/Bible Study (Redeemer)

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Redeemer has adhered to the health and safety guidelines put in place by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Governor Inslee's Office, and the Spokane Regional Health District. We continue to follow the guidance of these organizations.

Washington state has lifted mask and social distancing restrictions for fully vaccinated people, with just a few exceptions (hospitals, travel on planes, trains and buses).

What does this mean for Worship and ministry events at Redeemer? It means if you are fully vaccinated (per the above), you now have a choice as to whether or not you wear a mask indoors and outdoors. You may also sit with other fully vaccinated people without social distancing.

If you have any questions, please call our Church Office (509.926.6363) or connect with Trisha Rountree, Director of Human Resources, at trountree@redeemeralive.org

If you'd like to share your gifts in support of Redeemer Lutheran Church's ministries, you can do so online at this link or via any of the options listed in the image below.