Dear Redeemer Family,
So many wonderful things have taken place in our midst in the past twelve months. Before we turn towards the future and consider where the Lord might take us next, let’s pause and reflect on the good gifts our Heavenly Father gave to us this year:
Formalizing: Towards the end of 2018 our Diocese (the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic) voted to receive us as a member congregation, and on January 13th 2019 I was officially installed as your Rector. (Which I count a tremendous honor and privilege).
Church Planting: On May 5th we commissioned the Rev. Steven Breedlove, along with about 40 of our own people, to plant Church of the Incarnation in Short Pump. They are off to a strong start and we
Building the Team: Our Staff has really grown this year, adding: Paul Zach - Director of Worship, Jeff King - Director of Operations, Casey Cisco - Parish Administrator, Rachel Capel - Women’s Ministry, and Ben Lansing - Small Groups Coordinator.
College Fellowships: We also brought on two, full-time college ministers, David Comeau and Tee Feyrer, who are raising their own support in order to launch Redeemer College Fellowship on campus at VCU and U. of R. respectively.
Justice & Mercy: Our work in the areas of Justice and Mercy for our City took a big step forward, with new partnerships with Youth Life Foundation, Arrabon, and Adoption & Foster Care.
Children’s Ministry: As you might have noticed, there are more than a few kids here at Redeemer! We are blessed with growing families and grateful for the work Nancy Reynolds (Dir. of Children’s Ministry) and her army of volunteers are doing to care for and disciple our youngest members.
It has indeed been a year of abundance. Thanks be to God!
As we look ahead to the coming year, we might imagine both the challenges and opportunities we will face:
CHALLENGES
Facilities: We love our location and we are deeply grateful for our partnership with Tikvat Israel. However, we have all probably felt the limits of our rented facility. Moving is difficult and should be approached cautiously. Staying would require some creative solutions - especially if we continue to grow! For the coming year, the plan is to stay put at 2715 Grove Ave. and I invite your prayers for our Vestry as we make facility decisions going forward.
Formation: With almost 100 infants, children, and teenagers that call Redeemer home, we bear (along with their parents) the enormous responsibility of their spiritual formation. As members, we take vows - whenever a child is baptized - to assist parents in raising their children. In 2020, we will all be called to fulfill those vows!
OPPORTUNITIES
Love of Neighbor: Most of our neighbors do not know the love of Christ or the hope of His resurrection. In 2020, what if that began to change? I’m not talking about some dramatic door-to-door evangelism campaign. (I’m sure we can all agree that would be more off-putting than helpful). Rather, what if unusually gracious hospitality became a means by which we reach out to our neighbors in love? From day one, we’ve said, “the front porch of Redeemer is your front porch.” I pray, in the coming year, that many of your neighbors experience the warmth of God’s love through you and your home.
Community & Belonging: So many of us are new. So rather than concluding with some rousing charge to go forth and do a bunch of stuff, I’d rather end by saying that one of the very best things we can do this year is to spend time together. The Lord has, in His kindness, gathered us into a church family. This is a good gift to be enjoyed! I pray that this is a year of deepening in community and an experience of belonging with one another.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
In the Father’s love,
Dan
