Redeemer Lutheran Church (ELCA)

May 19. Tons of items available for home, auto, vacation, recreation, decorating, food, lodging and more will be up for bid. This is a wonderful event for families to support a great cause and make a difference to abused and neglected children.

Silent auction and preview from noon until 1:15pm, live auction to begin at 1:30pm. All money raised goes directly to meet the needs of the children living in our care. Location: Central Church of Christ Annex, 2052 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

View the Event Flier.

Singers from upstate Lutheran churches will join in a concert presentation of Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams at 5 PM, May 20, in the Daniel Chapel at Furman University. Area Lutheran choirs will also present selections of their choosing.

• Bruce Schoonmaker, Soloist
• David Rhyne, Director
• Robert Smith, Organist

Rise heart; thy Lord is risen.
Sing his praise without delayes,
Who takes thee by the hand,
that thou likewise with him may’st rise;
That, as his death calcined thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and much more, just.

Admission free. View the event poster.

Lent begins with the Ash Wednesday service on February 22 at 7:00 pm. The service will include Holy Communion and the imposition of ashes. Worship will continue each Wednesday evening throughout the Lenten Season. A soup and sandwich supper will be held from 6:00 to 6:45, followed by a short service. Choir practice will follow. You may sign up on the sheet in the Narthex to bring soup or sandwiches for the supper. Please attend these Lenten services as we share this season of reflection and repentance.

March 2012 marks Redeemer Lutheran Church’s 40th anniversary.

If you have photos that help portray the history of Redeemer’s congregation and activities, please give those to Sharon Calhoun or David Henderson. Details on the March celebration will be coming soon.

Redeemer is proud to offer a live nativity as our Christmas gift to the community. The presentation will be  December 16-18 from 7 pm until 9 pm each night.

Visitors can drive through or park to talk to the characters and pet the animals. It’s fun for children and adults alike.

The children and youth of Redeemer Lutheran Church will present a special program Sunday, December 18 at 9:00, followed by a service of lessons and carols at 10:15. Prepare your heart for Christmas with these special events.

In this month we celebrate Thanksgiving. I suggest we give thanks to God for all God has accomplished through the ministry here at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Greer, SC. Surely we give thanks every  time we remember the church where God has placed each of us. Still, as you pray each day, I am asking to remember and give thanks to God for the ministry of which you are a part.

About 40 years ago, a small group of Lutheran Christians had a vision given to them by God to start a new congregation here in Greer. There has been growth in both people and facilities over this period of time. There have been additional ministries happen during this time as well. We are thankful to God each and every day for all God is accomplishing through the ministry here at Redeemer.

Several months ago, our Church Council here at Redeemer made the decision to look at our congregation’s future. As we discern our congregation’s future, realize that you are part of both the discernment process and the future ministry. There is a still small voice of God that will guide us, yet this is not the only way we hear from God. God will speak to us through the Holy Scripture, Holy Spirit, tradition, community, relationships, events and experiences. We may remember the ways God speaks when we sing, “Listen, Listen God is calling…”.

Our Church Council is ready to hear God’s direction and we invite you to be part of this discernment process with us. After all, corporate discernment is, in most cases, a clearer picture of God’s desire for the congregation. As a community of faith, I invite you to prayerfully join with the whole congregation in this discernment process. Having just celebrated the Reformation once again, may we seek to grow in grace, strong faith, and a greater understanding of God’s direction for us according to the Holy Scriptures. Like a child wanting to please a parent, may we be enthusiastic about God’s call to us. Prayerfully consider what God may be doing through this discernment process. Our founding church family members had a vision to start this congregational ministry here in Greer. These founding church family members are now counting on you to continue this quest to hear God’s voice and direction.

As the decades to by, Redeemer Lutheran Church members will reflect on the history of Redeemer and what God was doing during this time. This is our time to answer the  call to follow God’s direction. We are the family God has placed at Redeemer Lutheran Church now. So I invite you to join with us in this corporate vision and mission direction from God through the Holy Scripture, Holy Spirit, tradition, community, relationships, events and experiences. Christ is counting on us and we are counting on Him. “Listen, Listen God is calling…”.

Living the Great Commission,
Scottie Burkhalter, Pastor

It’s the annual Lutheran Men in Mission Yard Sale, October 29. More and more items are piling up: media, electronics, furniture, clothes, bicycle, art, toys, crafts, decorative items – all priced to sell!

Proceeds will go to community ministry activities.

7 AM until Noon on Saturday.

Update:

The yard sale was a tremendous success netting about $920. Thanks to all that participated, donors, workers and buyers.

The annual worship at Lutheridge in Arden, NC, will be held at 11:00 am on Sunday, October 9 at the Lakeside Lodge. Dress is casual and the service is held outside, so dress for the weather.

The Lakeside Lodge is covered and we will share a potluck lunch directly after service. Please bring a dish or two and a beverage to share.

There is a small playground available nearby and catch and release fishing  available at the lake, so bring your family and a fishing pole.

There will be Sunday School or service at Redeemer, so join us at Lutheridge for a fun and beautiful fall worship.

On November 6, an annual meeting of the congregation will be held following the worship service. During the meeting confirmed members of Redeemer will select church council members to replace those whose terms are ending. Eligible candidates will have been a member of Redeemer for at least a year. If you would like to nominate someone, please share their name with a current council member. members serve three-year terms. A budget will also be presented for approval. All members are encouraged to attend and take part of the business of our congregation.