IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER - APRIL 2023
April 3, 10, 17, 24: Mission Quilters meet at 9:00 am at the white house. All ladies are welcome, no experience necessary.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Pastor’s Wednesday’s Bible study. They meet every Wednesday at 10:00 am to study the upcoming reading for Sunday. Everyone is welcome
April 12, 26: Catechism class meets at 4:30 – 6:00 pm. Parents please make every effort to have your children at these important classes.
April 2: Palm Sunday
April 6: Maudy Thursday service at 7:00 pm. There will not be an evening meal.
April 7: Good Friday service at 7:00 pm. There will not be an evening meal.
April 8: Butterfly hunt at 10:30. Bring your kids and grandkids to enjoy this fun morning.
April 9: Easter Sunday services at 8:30 am and 10:30 am with an Easter egg hunt in-between service. Breakfast provided by the youth.
April 11: Braille- if you would like to help with an important mission project, please contact Marilyn Kirk.
April 14: Keenagers meet at 1:00 pm. Bring your favorite finger foods and games to play and join the fun.
April 20: Morning LWML meets at 9:30. All women are welcome. Council meeting will meet at 6:00 pm. All Council Members are encouraged to be there.
Evening LWML will meet at 7:00 pm at Jan Belchers home.
April 29: All church breakfast at 8:00 am with devotion and work around the church.
HOLY WEEK
There are several activities planned for the week of Holy Week.
There will also be butterfly hunt for the children on Saturday, April 16, at 10:30. Make sure to bring the kids and their friends to this fun activity. The youth will be making and serving breakfast after the 8:00 service. There will be an Easter Egg hunt on Easter Sunday between services.
Holy Week:
April 2 – Palm Sunday – 10:30 am
April 6 – Maundy Thursday – 7:00 pm
April 7 – Good Friday – 7:00 pm
April 9 – Easter Sunday
8:00 am – Sunrise Service
10:30 am – Easter service
CHURCH COUNCIL NEWS
Feb. 19, the church council and elders met to discuss 2023 goals and ways of achieving them. First, they set attendance goals and committed to working to create materials and opportunities that will help all congregation members in one-on-one evangelism. We encourage all members to attend the Everyone His Witness on March 18th (sign-up sheet in the narthex) and to become "Andrews" who bring "Simons" (brothers or friends or others) to Jesus (through Redeemer Lutheran). He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah”. John 1:41
In 2023, we hope you all actively participate in helping us achieve these goals by inviting and bringing individuals to Redeemer. Let’s work together to build our average weekly attendance to at least 100 for Worship, 50 for adult Sunday School, 25 for Children and Youth Sunday School and to have at least 30 children in attendance at our June VBS.
Redeemer Church Council and Elders
GRACE, THE GIFT OF GOD
For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
This gift came at a great price that paid for our salvation. Jesus submitted to His Father’s will to free us from damnation and open the gates of heaven to all believers.
On Saturday, March 18th, many of our members attended a workshop “Every One His Witness”. It offered a presentation that enlightened us on ways to share the “Good News” with unchurched family and friends.
So many people have become distracted by life and things going on in the world and have lost their sense of peace and security. They need God in their lives to give them hope, the affirmation of God’s love and be blessed by the knowledge of forgiveness, healing and the promise of everlasting life in heaven.
I cannot imagine my life without my faith. Oh what a blessing it is to arise each day with the knowledge of how much God loves me and the grace He gives me. I have been blessed, throughout my life, so abundantly.
Be God’s gospel light and shine for Jesus! Submit to God’s will for us to be His witness and PROCLAIM the “Good News” to family and friends.
1. First pray
2. Share the message the heartfelt love.
3. Listen and be nonjudgmental.
4. Invite them to worship with us.
5. Keep them in your prayers and be open to more conversations.
6. You are the witness.
IT IS THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT TO GIVE THEM FAITH
Marilyn Kirk, Evangelism Director
OUR MISSION OFFERINGS
Our mission offerings at Redeemer Lutheran during the Sunday school hour and through “Missionary Prayer Pals” offerings in the Sunday offerings from January through June, 2023 have been designated for Missionary Pastor Jason Steffenson and his family. Pastor Steffenson previously served as pastor at our Lutheran congregations in Ada and Sulphur, Oklahoma, but has now accepted the divine call from our Synod to serve in Tanzania, Africa. There he will teach pastors the Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek at a new seminary in Shinyanga, Tanzania. Pastor Steffenson and his family were in St. Louis in November for new missionary orientation and made a trip to Tanzania in December. The Steffensons will head for the mission field this summer. In the meantime, the Steffensons’ sons, Johanes and Immanuel, are finishing their school year in Ada, and Pastor Steffenson is making presentations across Oklahoma and beyond. You are invited to generously support the Steffensons’ mission work. Also, please pray for this family as they serve in Tanzania. Ask God to bless their efforts to learn Swahili and acclimate to their new home. Pray also for the new seminary where Jason will serve, that it would equip students to serve the church and share the Gospel message. Thank God that the Steffenson will serve His people in Africa.
BUTTERFLY HUNT
To help celebrate Easter we will have a butterfly hunt for kids ages 4 years through 5th grade. There will be crafts, games and take home activity bags. There will be a work day to fill the bags, sign up sheet in the narthex. Refreshments will be served. We will learn about Easter and the symbolism of the butterfly.
EASTER EGG HUNT
There will be an Easter egg hunt for the kids between services on Easter Sunday. Donations of candy and plastic eggs are welcome. There is a box in the narthex to place your donations in. For more information contact Pastor Ryan or Caroline.