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Voice of Redeemer

Volume 46—Number 10

Redeemer Lutheran Church

October 2016

Monday Musings

Here’s a few things I’m thinking about, in no particular order.

Next October will mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and Martin Luther’s

posting of the 95 Theses, one of the most important events in world history. So, this year and next we

will have some special occasions to remember our heritage and our faith.

I spoke with Pastor Donella today, and we will be having a Reformation Hymn Festival. As I write this

we are still working on a date, but we will let you know soon. (We will meet at Emmanuel because they

have a pipe organ.) One of the hallmarks of the Reformation was the restoration of congregational

singing. Luther himself is crediting with 36 hymns and it is said that he had a fine tenor voice. He also

mastered the flute and lute. We have always been a singing church, so please watch for further infor-

mation.

As part of our Reformation focus, we are taking a few weeks to take a look at the 95 Theses (and the

events leading up to them) in Sunday School. Feel free to join us at 9:30 Sunday mornings. The coffee is

always on!

It is said that Luther was an avid bowler and there used to be a life size diorama of him in the Bowling

Hall of Fame when it was located in St. Louis. Bowling began in Germany in the 5th century. The num-

ber of pins used varied from three to seventeen. Martin Luther is credited with deciding on nine pins.

Unfortunately, Dr. Luther’s bowling reformation only lasted about 300 years…

In the 1800s, because bowling (or platzbahnkegln as it was then called in Germany) was used for

gambling, it was outlawed. But the law specified nine-pin bowling. Players added a 10th pin to avoid

being illegal!

Speaking of Germany, don’t forget to make reservations for our Oktoberfest on October 8th. There will

be great German food, authentic decorations, and dancing (if you wish). Please invite friends and fami-

ly, but please let Christa Schroeder know so we can plan ahead.

One of the prayers for funerals includes the line “O God, the generations rise and pass away before

you.” I have been reflecting on that a lot lately. We said goodbye to two saints of our congregation re-

cently: Margaret Boyle and Bobbie Sproul, but Bobbie was blessed to welcome a new great granddaugh-

ter just days before she died. We are born and pass away, and God is ever faithful. "I was there to hear

your borning cry,

I'll be there when you are old.” It is hard to say goodbye to those we love, but we know that death is not

the final word. We never need fear death because God will be with us and promises life.

Enough musing for now….

Pastor Jon Christenson

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We are Called to Live as Disciples and Stewards Who Evangelize

At Redeemer, we recognize that stewardship and evangelism are two sides of the same coin. That coin is discipleship. Forming people who are aware of their call to grow as disciples is a

dynamic and life-giving process. It can also be challenging, as is the call itself. Jesus’ way is one that places demands upon us, and yet it is also a way of joy and a life filled with meaning. Let us briefly explore these three interrelated calls: Discipleship: While we are drawn into Christ’s Body through the waters of baptism, many of us grow into a living relationship with Jesus Christ over many years. Once that relationship has been ignited, or re-ignited, people’s lives are shaped by their faith and desire to grow in love of God and all that we believe as Christians. This process of ongoing conversion takes place within the community of faith. We have the opportunity to cre-ate an environment in which those who are already on the journey of discipleship recognize their call to reach out to others, building bridges to living faith. Stewardship: We are Christian stewards because we are followers of Jesus Christ. Stewardship is an expression of discipleship with the power to change how we understand and live out our lives. Through our lives as stew-ards, we embrace Christ’s self-giving, sacrificial way of life. We learn to give, not out of a sense of duty, but because it brings us joy. Evangelism: When we are in love, we cannot help but share that love with others. That is the essence of evan-gelism. We share the love of God as good stewards of our faith, and our sharing has the potential to draw others into a new or deeper relationship with God in Jesus Christ, as disciples and stewards. If you would like to serve on the Discipleship Committee, to encourage others in their stewardship and evange-lism, please contact Pastor Jon (979-4735 or prjon@hotmail.com) (Adapted from an article by Leisa Anslinger for parish stewardship leaders.)

COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

Pastor has been visiting several members with health issues, officiated at the wedding of Andrew and Sarah Gonzales, and led a celebration of life for Bobbie Sproul on September 17 th. He also covered for Donella at Emmanuel while she was on vacation. The after-school program with Evergreen School began on Thursday, August 25th but no children have come yet.

We will continue to offer it for a while to see if this changes.

Our gardener spent a lot of time working on the irrigation valves for our sprinkler system. New door sweeps are being in-stalled in Fellowship Hall. The shed near the garage will be listed on Craig’s List (free to anyone who will remove it). Keep-ing the front door closed before services has been helping reduce our energy cost. Due to Tom Ladd’s treatments we have no one to offer music at the 8:30 services; if anyone is interested, please let Pastor know.

Oktoberfest will be on October 8th and a Relay for Life bunco fundraiser is being planned. The Council addressed items in the Suggestion Box opposing using a stained concrete floor in Fellowship Hall. No decisions have been made regarding the flooring. Our janitor cleaned the carpeting, without charge, to try a new product; if successful, we may be able to wait on this.

Linda Cohen, Secretary

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THE REFORMATION

“As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs”. I

first heard these words in a Martin Luther movie many years ago. On

Sunday, (9/25) Pastor Jon handed me a booklet entitled Papa Luther,

written in comic book style by Daniel D. Maurer. In reading through this

little book, those words appeared again.

It seems that in the 1500’s St. Peter’s Basilica had been neglected and

was in need of repair. This of course was going to cost a lot of money

and the Pope at that time found a brilliant way to raise funds. His plan

was to sell indulgences. A priest by the name of Johann Tetzel, who was known for his skills at raising money,

was commissioned to Germany to raise money for rebuilding the Basilica. But the idea of selling indulgences

with a guarantee that you (and your relatives) would spend less time in Purgatory did not sit well with Martin

Luther, who also was in Germany. And that was the reason Martin Luther proceeded to work on proving this

idea as false and misleading to Christians….and thus compiled his

95 Thesis (complaints), which of course was the basis of the

Reformation.

Pictured above is the Basilica as it stands today, the picture to the

right in part of the interior. It is truly magnificent and the cost must

have been beyond comprehension—hard to believe that it was paid

for, at least in part, by selling indulgences!

Jan Lemley, Editor

FRIDAY—OCTOBER 14 6:30 pm—Fellowship Hall

$10.00 to play—all proceeds go to the Relay for Life American Cancer Society

Join us for good fun—good food– good fellowship and great

prizes! Please sign up in the Narthex

or call 664-9404 Redeemer Lutheran Church,

REDEEMER’S MIGHTY FORTRESS TEAM

BUNCO FUNDRAISER

RELAY FOR LIFE

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REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

2525 BELLE TERRACE, P O BOX 13132-93389, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93304

Pastor: Rev. Jon Christenson ………... 832-7881 ……………. Secretary: Phyllis Elrod

E-mail address: rlcbakersfield@sbcglobal.net Web site address: www.bakersfieldlutheran.org

AREA OF SERVICE OCTOBER 2 OCTOBER 9 OCTOBER 16 OCTOBER 23 OCTOBER 30

Altar Guild Gillespie’s Gillespie’s

Flowers Baker Family Gillespie Family Phyllis Elrod Laura Haywood

Acolyte

Assistant Minister Louise Hall

Communion Aide

Lector Jan Lemley Judy Peterson Jan Lemley Mike Jacobsen

Head Usher

Greeter

Coffee Hour Rosie Baker Mary Ellen Lillian & Karen Jan & Sherry Phyllis

Please know that your prayers are so

very much appreciated. Thanks and

Blessings to all!

The Redeemer Family extends sincere sympathy to

the family and

friends of

Bobbie Sproul June 20, 1924—Sept. 2, 2016

and

Margaret Boyle January 27, 1923—Sept. 11, 2016

IN HIS SERVICE

NOTE: THIS SCHEDULE DOES NOT REFLECT CHANGES MADE AFTER SEPTEMBER 26

September Prayer Requests

Nori’s Mom & Dad

Debby, Aneesah & Mel

Don & Bobbie

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SATURDAY

October 8

4 pm

October 13

5:30 pm

DATES TO

REMEMBER

Sat. Oct. 8

9 am

Monday

October 10 @ 6 pm

Everyone is Welcome

WINE & DINE : is Thursday, 10/27/16 @6:15

pm. Wool Growers Restaurant, 620 East 19th

Street. Everyone is welcome, but please make

reservations with Judy Olson-Peterson.

OCTOBER

ACTIVITIES

LUNCH BUNCH: is Wednesday 10/05/16

@ 11am. at China Palace Restaurant, 4142

California Avenue. Everyone is invited, but

please make your reservation with Judy

Olson-Peterson.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY will meet on Wednesday,

October 12 from 9 am to 2 pm in the Fellowship Hall. All

are welcome to join us for knitting/crocheting prayer

shawls, blankets or quilts. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy

fellowship with friends. Phyllis will furnish snacks..

Pastor Jon 03

Russell Schonewise 05

Rhett Spillers 06

Annalisa Lipes 08

Margaret Niebel 08

Julio Gallegos 15

Sarah Elrod 17

Gary Gillespie 19

Rodney Bruce, Sr. 19

Lynda Champlin 23

Colby Christenson 23

Silesia Johnson 23

Debby Liebzeit 24

Shirley Rice 24

David Peterson 25

Sherry Clayton 27

Audrey Albitre 29

Jerry & Kathy McKnight 14

Rodney & Gladys Johnson 15

RUTH CIRCLE : will meet on Monday, October 3, 7 pm at

Anita Costamagna’s home. Please join us.

AFTERNOON CIRCLE will be on Wed., October 19 @ 1:30 in

the Fellowship Hall. Judy Olson-Peterson will lead the discus-

sion about Jesus and the Evil Eye: When God Blesses the Un-

deserving from Matthew 20 & Gather magazine. Phyllis Elrod

will provide refreshments.

SAVE THE DATE Monday, Oct. 31 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Church parking lot.

GOOD GERMAN FOOD

$12.00

Please sign up in the Narthex,

A.S.A.P.

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RALLY DAY

September 11th The theme for Rally Day

was CARNIVAL FUN. It was well attended and everyone enjoyed great

pot-luck food. The children had fun with

the games that were provided.

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THRUSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1

2

Praise Worship

8:30 am

Sunday School

9:30

Worship 10:30

3

Ruth Circle

7 pm

4

Pacifica 3 pm

5

Lunch Bunch

11 am

Brown bag

super 5:30

Bible Study 6

pm

6

7 8

Work Day 9 am

9 Praise Worship

8:30 am

Sunday School

9:30

Worship 10:30

Fellowship 11:30

10 Worship &

Music 6 pm

Columbus

Day observed

11

Pacifica 3 pm

12

Prayer Shawl &

Quilting

9—2

Brown bag

super 5:30

Bible Study 6

13

Pacifica 10:15

Council 5:30

14 BUNCO

FUNDRAISER

6:30 pm

15

16 Praise Worship

8:30 am

Sunday School

9:30

Worship 10:30

Fellowship 11:30

17 18

Pacifica 3 pm

19

Afternoon Circle

1:30

Brown bag

super 5:30

Bible Study 6

20

21 22

23 Praise Worship

8:30 am

Sunday School

9:30

Worship 10:30

Fellowship 11:30

Rosewood 3:30

24 25

Pacifica 3 pm

26

Brown bag

super 5:30

Bible Study 6

pm

27

Pacifica 10:15

Wine & dine

6:15 pm

28 29

30 Praise Worship

8:30 am

Sunday School

9:30

Worship 10:30

Fellowship 11:30

REFOMATION

SUNDAY

31

5:30-7:30

REFMATION

DAY

OCTOBER 2016

OCTOBER 2 OCTOBER 9