*Pastor's Message
*Financial Statement
Announcements
Communion (Regular services): 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.
Pastor's Newsletter Message - Oct 2021
SCRIPTURES:
*Psalm 107:1 - Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
*Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
*Hebrews 13:15 - Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
*Matthew 6:25-34 - ...Therefore do not be anxious...
Grace and peace to you all,
The month of October leads us through the wonder of thanksgiving: the wonder of food grown and harvested (wheat, barley, canola, potatoes, tomatoes, onions...etc.); the wonder of family, friends and community (ELCIC, MNO Synod, Redeemer Lutheran and countless others); the wonder of our country, Canada, with peace, clean and abundant water, and journeying on the painful path of healing with the past (Truth and Reconciliation). We close with the celebration of the brothers and sisters of believers who carried the faith of Christ from generation to generation. There is much to be thankful for.
A friend of mine told me that Thanksgiving is the one time of the year her family can celebrate together with no hassles. Because, as her brother points out, Thanksgiving is not a church festival but a secular time to be celebrated by everyone. As Christians, we celebrate and praise the One we know to be the provider of all we have. We are encouraged to lift the gratitude and thanksgiving in our hearts as a sacrifice to the Lord.
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. In recent years mental health advocates have been encouraging, teaching and leading us in living our gratitude every day. There are countless books (Christian, medial and lay) explaining what gratitude is and how to stitch it into the tapestry of our lives. One thing they mostly have in common is to have a "gratitude journal". A place to acknowledge the happenings of life with a special lens - speaking gratitude. Long before there were "Gurus" of modern thought, we had the guidance of the Scriptures to teach us the wonder of gratitude and how it keeps our relationship with the Lord strong and "real" as my nephew says.
Yet, in difficult times we question how we can possibly be grateful and thankful: In the face of the pandemic's waves; in the exhaustion of vigilance; in the lives of farmers who have no crops due to no rain; in health issues of body, mind and spirit; and in the fragility of relationships we discover gratitude and thankfulness are in low supply. The Word of God is our guide even in this - the men and women and the people of God are again and again faced with challenges. They acknowledge their anger, fear, loss and separation from their God. Time and again in the scriptures and throughout Christianity we experience the gifts of God's grace to carry us through.
So, grab a notebook or a piece of paper or your computer and create your "gratitude" journal. Be brave. Tell God what is in your heart - the good, the bad and the ugly. Turn to the Word and let David and other writers help you express your heart of gratitude.
May your Thanksgiving be blessed with the treasure of God's grace. And may the month of October fill your heart with the wonder of gratitude for all that has been gifted in your life.
In Christ, Pastor Laurel
A NOTE FROM REDEEMER LUTHERAN COUNCIL
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Council met online for our meeting on Wednesday, September 22.
Our discussion included when to reopen Redeemer for Sunday services, meetings, Sunday school and other gatherings.
Manitoba Health lifted restrictions on August 7th to Code Yellow. In the official order from The Public Health Act, it is written in ORDER 16 that churches can hold indoor services. Attendance shall not exceed 150 persons or 50% of the capacity of the premises, whichever is greater. Social distancing of at least two meters. Masking is recommended but not mandatory.
After much discussion, Council recommends reopening for our first church service to be decided at their next council meeting in October provided the Covid situation stays the same or improves.
Redeemer Lutheran Council
Finance Report: September 2021
Redeemer Council met on September 15th online. Dorothy provided the financial reports for August 2021.
Our Givings for the month of August totalled $4155.00. This is $460.00 short of budget.
Our Total Income from all sources for the month of August was $4966.12 which is $1091.72 short of budget.
Our Expenses for the month of August totalled $8059.53. This is $261.06 less than budgeted.
August Net Income was a deficit of $3034.61.
Council would like to have you participate in a virtual Fall Supper; as we are not able to hold our annual Fall Supper again this year. We must recognize that we have an item in our budget that needs to be addressed. Our annual Fall Supper raises nearly $3000.00. It is listed as an income item in our budget. Your generous gifts to this project will be greatly appreciated. Please designate your donation on your envelope as Fall Supper.
Council would like to remind you that we have not yet met our Winter Shelter goal of $1000.00. As of the end of August, we have collected $560.00.
In God’s Service
Property Finance Committee
Rick Norberg Marv Hollender Don Wrobleski
2021 Elected Executive:
Chair: Heddy Mueller
Vice-Chair: Rick Norberg
Secretary: Kathy Maxon
Envelope Secretary: Sharolyn Molnar
Treasurer: Dorothy Raynor
Financial Committee: Rick Norberg, Don Wrobleski, Marvin Hollender
Mission Committee: Kathy Maxon, Jan Cuggy, Sharolyn Molnar
Parish Committee: Shelley Kretchman, Jerry Erickson, Tyler Foster
Our mailing address is:
Redeemer Lutheran Church
114 Ashgrove Blvd
Brandon, MB R7B 1E1
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