Our Ministries at Redemeer Lutheran Church
God’s purpose for Redeemer Lutheran Church is to: Pray, Listen, Trust, while Uniting us to serve all generously with love.
We do this through ministries we’ve started and ministries with which we’ve partnered. We are truly blessed with caring people who love people and have the gifts to make an impact on this world.
Redeemer’s Principles for Ministry are:
- Jesus is Lord and Savior.
- Bring good news to all while showing love and charity.
- We are generous with God’s gifts.
- We make a joyful noise unto the Lord through our worship and fellowship.
- We trust that God will bless our efforts.
- We are devoted to the study of God’s Word.
- Wherever we gather we are the Church.
To learn more about our ministries, contact the church office at 941-792-5990 or click on the ministry of interest below.
- Altar Guild
- Christian Education
- Christian Services
- Cottage Groups
- Decorating Committee
- Game Day
- Memorial Garden
- Prayer Chain
- Prayer Shawl
- Quilters
- Youth and Family
Altar Guild
Every month two of our sacristans lovingly prepare the altar for communion, making sure that the altar linens are clean and the sacrament vessels are in proper order. We also prepare the altar for communion weekly and for special services as requested by the Pastor.
According to the church calendar, altar paraments are cleaned and pressed and placed in the chancel. These paraments are organized according to the designated liturgical color.
We are in need of additional volunteers, please contact the church office if you are able to commit a few weeks or even a month to the altar guild.
Christian Education
Bible study groups are held throughout the year so we do not have a set schedule at this time. Please call the church office for updated information.
Christian Services
Christian Services participates in various community charities and has several services for our own members. Such as:
- Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT)
- Lutheran World Relief
- Our Daily Bread monthly food drives
- Rides to Church
- Sending Birthday, Get Well and Sympathy Cards
- The Twig
Cottage Groups
The purpose of these groups is to improve communication, sustain the continuity of the remaining membership by encouraging fellowship and creating a broader sense of community by geographically concentrating members in a similar geographical grouping.
These groups are NOT created for serving coffee and food after church on Sunday as our old Cottage Groups did in the past. This grouping of members has a specific difference in that they are called COTTAGE CARE GROUPS.
A group of people who gather in the same geographical area who care for each other. They can do this in several ways. While each person on the list may not have their birthdays on our list, I would encourage the group to find out the birthdays and add them. Members can send cards to each other on special occasions or in case of illness. Telephone calls can be made to group members. Gatherings can occur if so desired. The idea is to develop community within these groups where greater relationships can be built.
These groups can be used to meet and greet at church. They can gather in their area or they can use the Community Room at Church. This could be a valuable way for our current Pastor and New Pastor to meet and get to know our members on a personal basis.
This is a new format for Cottage Groups and is not intended to be an overwhelming task. We ask that the groups first just decide something simple. For example, they may agree to each person reaching out to each other by phone once a month. Or ask members to send cards as you would to a grandchild on a special occasion. They may decide to meet socially once every 3 months. Now this will hopefully expand to inviting non-members to church or fellowship events. Or maybe they will decide on an outreach program to benefit our community. These are just ideas that we hope will evolve over time.
If you have any questions regarding the groups please contact the church office.
Decorating Committee
The Decorating Committee is very informal… we gather as needed mainly to beautify the church on special Seasons of the Church Year. Are we essential? Perhaps not, but the beauty brings a warmth to our services and a lift to our hearts. We do not meet in the usual way of most standing committees. We ask for volunteers to help as needed and there you are ready to give a helping hand. Advent, Christmas, and Easter involve the most decorating, but we observe all the seasons of the church Reformation, Pentecost etc. On all occasions you will see us at work even luncheons, dinners and special events as needed. If you would like to help you can contact me at any time. If you would like to help the decorating committee, please contact the church office at 941-792-5990.
Game Day
With the intent of increasing fellowship among the members of the congregation, "Game Day" was started in the fall of 2010. It is held during the afternoon to address night time driving concerns. Refreshments and cleanup is shared among all the participants. We meet on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mainly we play Mexican train dominoes.
We encourage church members to bring friends, neighbors and visiting relatives and have between 12 and 24 players. Please check the dates we meet in our Weekly Reporter inserted in the Bulletin every Sunday.
Memorial Garden
In the times of departing to be with our Lord our Christian community at Redeemer Lutheran Church is here to be of service to those that grieve. We hold fast to the promise of eternal life in the arms of a loving God. Our Christian faith proclaims this promise in scripture, worship and fellowship. We believe in eternal life through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our worship service reflects this with hymns, Bible readings, words of comfort and Holy Communion.
We have a Memorial Garden where ashes may be scattered. We provide this resting place for members, their families and loved ones, and others with the consent of the Pastor. We provide a plaque and care of the garden.
Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain is an important part of the ministry of Redeemer Lutheran Church. At the present time, we have three prayer chains with a total of 23 women participating in this vital ministry. The prayer chain operates in this manner: A prayer concern is communicated to Sandra Agee, the chairperson of the Prayer Chain, via telephone. (It is important that anyone placed on the Prayer Chain is cognizant of being placed on the Prayer Chain and desires to be placed on it.) Sandy then calls the first person on each of the Prayer Chains. That person calls the next, and that person the next, and so on until the last person on the chain has been called. The last person then calls Sandy to indicate the Prayer Chain has been completed.
Many of the women on the Prayer Chain have been on Redeemer’s Prayer Chain for many years and we thank them for their faithfulness. Anyone who wishes to become a part of this ministry, please contact the church office at 941-792-5990 and leave a detailed message of your prayer chain request that will be forwarded to Pastor Geoff in the church office. We welcome newcomers to the Prayer Chain; there are never too many prayers being lifted up!
Prayer Shawl Ministry & More Ministry
Redeemer members are helping give a hug and a prayer when they give one of our handmade shawls to someone at a stressful time in their lives.
Your offerings help to buy yarn and a small number of ladies knit/crochet these shawls with love and prayers for the person to whom it will be gifted.
You are welcome to join our Prayer Shawl Ministry and help spread the love of God by making shawls, knitted knockers or infant caps.
Quilters
The the Quilters make quilts to send to Lutheran World Relief. Our ladies are taking a break at this time but hope to restart at a later date. We do not have a quota, but we usually make 250 quilts a season. We are an out mission for the Florida Bahama Synod. Some of our quilts are kept here in Manatee County to give to the homeless, Meals on Wheels or as needed. We depend on volunteers to give us sheets or fabric. The sheets need not be new, but in good condition. The fabric are cut into 10 ½” or 20 ½” squares to make a quilt top.
There are many steps to make a quilt—make a top and a bottom, tie and tack them together, fold all four sides to make the edge and then it is sewn twice around the edge to make it strong. We then pack the quilt for shipping.
Youth and Family
- Fellowship: We offer a few events throughout the year to keep everyone well fed and socialized!
- Redeemer Friends: The “Wiser” generation continues to enjoy light outings scattered through the year.
- Cross+Generational: All ages of Redeemer work together to express our service and love for The Risen Savior. We bring food items for “Our Daily Bread”, we stuff Thanksgiving bags to help feed needy families, just to name a few. We also enjoy an occasional baseball game, a sunset dinner on the beach, or a movie showing in the fellowship hall.
Please contact the church office with questions and event ideas at 941-792-5990, rlcbradenton@gmail.com.