The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that faith and works go hand-in-hand. Together they help form us into the Christians God calls us to be. Redeemer members are well aware of the advantages they have been given. We, therefore, are ready to stand with our neighbors who have not been as blessed.
We take action on behalf of those who have no voice. Clergy and laity have made their presence known to powers and principalities on behalf of immigrants, gun violence, Black Lives, climate change, and moral governance.
We partner with Housing-Up for our annual “Backpack Drive”. We gather toys on “Toy Sunday” for gifts for those less fortunate than ourselves.
We collaborate with other churches to provide services (worship, meals, companionship, toys at Christmas) for our neighbors experiencing hardship, homelessness, and hunger.
We supported an Afghan family who relocated with the clothes on their backs in 2021 and are now settled in and doing well. We continue our support of refugees.
We collect shelf-stable items for the Bethesda Help.
Our Mission
Youth Education
At Redeemer, Christian formation begins at birth. Even the youngest among us participate in worship. Redeemer provides opportunities for all ages to learn about the Christian faith and its history, the story of God’s people as told in Old and New Testaments, how to appreciate other faith traditions, and how to grow deeply in your relationship with God.
At age 3, our youngest members gather for Bible stories in the Godly Play classroom. Trained volunteers help the children learn about the creation, the flood, the Exodus, the life of Jesus, and other biblical events.
The Intermediate Class is for young people who have matured beyond Godly Play but are not quite ready for the Middle School class. The teachers in this class talk about the church, how we grow as Christians, and how we serve God. The class also continues to study the Bible and the history of the people of God.
Middle School and High School students take the knowledge they acquire in Godly Play and the Intermediate Class and apply it to their daily lives. These conversational classes focus on ethics, Christian principles, and decision making.
The Redeemer Youth Group is open to all students between 5th grade and 12th grade. The group meets at least once a month to share a meal and talk about how to be Christians in a world that doesn’t always support them. The focus is to form a community with others in their age group and develop leadership skills to help them in their Christian journey. Youth group also participates in mission opportunities with older Redeemer members as well as on their own.
Anyone seeking to confirm their baptismal promises are invited to participate in Newcomer/Confirmation classes. At this time, these classes are being held online. These classes are designed to inform participants of the history of the Christian Church, the polity of the Episcopal Church, the use of the Book of Common Prayer 1979, and how they might use their gifts to God’s glory and the advancement of God’s reign. Please contact Rev. Park for more information and a schedule of classes.
Adult Forum is led by lay and clergy. Classes have included studying selected books of scripture; hearing from authors on topics such as torture, civil rights, and prayer; and welcoming speakers from the local Jewish and Muslim communities. Upcoming offerings will be announced in This Week at Redeemer and our Facebook page. An archive of resources is available.
Lectionary Bible Study occurs weekly on Wednesdays at Noon. The group gathers on Zoom and discusses one or all of the scriptures assigned for the upcoming Sunday. Clergy members may start the conversation, but insights from the group nearly always find their way into the Sunday sermon. It is an engaging and sometimes challenging exchange. New faces and ideas are always welcome.
For those who wish to deepen their Christian education, Redeemer supports participation in Education for Ministry. EfM offers the same subject matter as you would study in the first 18 months of a seminary education.
