Partners in the Gospel
Partners in the Gospel
We’re beginning a series this Sunday called “Partners in the Gospel,” working through Philippians, our lectionary Epistle focus over the next four weeks.
Philippians has a word that shows up again and again, almost like a drumbeat underneath everything St. Paul writes in this letter: joy; the Greek word chairo. Paul uses some form of that word about sixteen times in four short chapters. And here’s what should stop us in our tracks—he’s writing it from a prison cell, most likely in Rome, awaiting a trial that could very well end in his execution.
So Sunday, Lord willing, we’re going to do two things. First, get a lay of the land—who, why, and what’s going on. And then we’re going to land in one of the most compact, most powerful summaries of the Christian life you’ll find in Scripture: Philippians 1:21-27. Paul’s going to hand us a phrase in verse 27 that I hope will become something like a banner over this series, and over Redeemer: “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
I look forward to exploring this with you Sunday.
Steve+
New Song Sunday—As a response to Holy Communion this week, Eric and Emily will be introducing a beautiful and moving new (to us) song, I Am Not My Own taken from the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism: “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” Answer: “That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” It’s very helpful to become familiar with a song before we sing it together. Listen and view the lyrics here.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Informational Meeting—This Monday, September 21, 5:30–7:30pm, in the Parish Hall, we will host a Parkwood neighborhood informational meeting regarding parking lot environmental planning for stormwater runoff management. We’ll also have the chance to meet some of our immediate neighbors, the principals of Bayview Engineering, the Severn River Association, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust. This environmental planning is being funded by a generous $64,000 grant to Redeemer from the Chesapeake Bay Trust through the Severn River Association.
Annual Volunteer Training—Tomorrow, September 19 and Saturday, September 26, 9:00am–11:30am (need attend only one). The first half will cover safety/security protocols for all adults who serve during our worship service time, regardless of the team. The second half will be training for individual teams. Children’s Formation, Ushers, Readers, and Lay Eucharistic Ministers should attend if possible.
Altar Guild, Hospitality Team, and Crucifers need not attend.
Church Workday—Saturday, October 24, 9:00am–noon (the more who show up, the sooner we’re done!). Our vestry and admin offices are moving to open up a third classroom for Children’s Formation, and we need help to move furniture to new spaces or an outside dumpster.
Weekly:
Youth Formation (ages 10–13)— Sundays, 9:00am, in the Parish Hall.
Around the Table—A prayer time for women, Thursdays, 9:00am, at the Wishart’s. Email Lauren for details.
Morning Prayer—Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:00–8:30am, on Zoom.
Men’s Bible Study—Thursdays, 7:00am, at 1309.
Photo: Getty Images
