News from Redeemer 2022.10

Posted October 2022

Welcome Pastor Jen Collins

Pastor Jen Collins was installed as pastor of Redeemer on Sunday, October 16. Pastor Jen comes to Redeemer from the St Paul Area Synod. She is married and has two young daughters. Pastor Jen is excited to be in partnership with and lead Redeemer members in ministry and to get to know ministry partners such as Zion. She recognizes how God’s spirit has the power to strengthen relationships and build community. Redeemer is so excited to have her as their new pastor!

Diaper Distribution

The Diaper Distribution ministry is a vital part of Redeemer’s neighbor, Minneapolis Central Church of Christ’s (MCCC), weekly food distribution. Redeemer Lutheran Church’s Outreach and Evangelism team coordinates the distribution by inviting its ministry partners like Zion to participate in weekly “diaper drops.”

Redeemer Lutheran wants to share the impact of Zion’s recent $1,000 gift and the 20 boxes of diapers that were donated the week of October 10. The reach of the distribution extends from the 55405 church neighborhood to 55411 and some zip codes beyond. It is interesting to note that the 55411 zip code area, which is adjacent and directly north of 55405, comprises a very large number of single-parent homes. The percentage of children under 18 living in this zip code is markedly large compared to the 55405 neighborhood – and even compared to other areas of the country (you can see these stats at unitedstateszipcodes.org/55411).

The numbers explain the high need and demand for diapers. The cost of diapers and wipes is on the rise with a large box of 124 diapers costing an average of $44. When a family receives a weekly sleeve of 32 diapers and a pouch of wipes, they are saving approximately $15/week which can make a difference in a tight budget. On September 24th, the food distribution served a record-breaking 180 families. That day, we gave approximately 108 sleeves of diapers totaling 27 boxes.

Redeemer thanks you at Zion Lutheran for your amazing efforts and contributions! Together, we are clothing the little ones and by doing so, we are caring for the families in and around our church neighborhood.

Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway

Redeemer is participating in the local food pantry turkey giveaway. Donated turkeys will be accepted through November 18 for distribution on November 19. Contact Sally Ankerfelt at Redeemer for more information.

Redeemer Lutheran Church is our Global Missions partner in North Minneapolis.

9th Grade Lock-in 2022

From the evening hours of October 7, well into the morning hours of October 8, our awesome Zion ninth graders…

Fall 2022 at Zion!

Our mission is to partner with families for faith formation and connection. We are always looking for ways to connect with you and to be helpful to families as they seek to raise their children in the faith. There is nothing like fall in Minnesota! But, there is also nothing like the busyness that accompanies it. Registrations, new schedules, new routines, new forms to fill out and keep track of, new school supplies to find and purchase, and new anxieties to calm. We started asking: what if the church found a way to curb some of that, instead of participating in it?

We started asking parents: “Would it be helpful if we moved the start of Sunday School and Confirmation to October?” And, overwhelmingly, parents told us that would be AWESOME and helpful. So, Sunday School (both at 8:30 & 10:30 this year!) will begin Sunday, October 2nd, and Confirmation will begin Wednesday, October 5th.

September will be focused on connecting your family to the joy of Sabbath. We hope you will be connecting back to worship if you’ve taken some time away. To help you focus on Sabbath and worship this Fall, the 10:30am outdoor worship service is continuing into September. Children love the chance to dance, run, and worship under the trees, and Zion has the perfect set-up. It is casual, low-key, a little bit shorter, and filled with music. Bring chairs or a blanket and worship outside the first two Sundays in September. Then, be ready for Z-Fest on the 18th! Food trucks! Games! Fun!

Each Sunday in September will have extra special ways of connecting with children & youth in worship (beyond our ever-popular children’s sermon time. Enjoy the breather and grace this new start date will provide and connect with friends old and new at worship this September. After all, God has commanded Sabbath rest, because we need it!

Choirs & Bells Sunday School Confirmation