Four members of Church of the Redeemer participated in the annual golf tournament in support of the Albemarle Pregnancy Resource Center and Clinic (PRC) held on October 23^rd. This community resource has been at the forefront in this area of northeast North Carolina providing a safety net to young women who are faced with the uncertainty of an unplanned pregnancy, providing tools and education to make an informed decision for nearly 25 years. Though the team didn’t finish in first place a great time was had by all and better luck next year. You may help PRC offset costs of providing these free services by donating.

These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:7

Among all of the activities in which a church can engage, prayer is a foremost calling.  God doesn’t consider prayer a secondary function of his people or a special gifting of only a few.  Scripture refers to God’s temple and place of worship as a “house of prayer,” because his purpose and mission in the world requires that people pray.  The more his people inquire of him concerning his will for the church, including Redeemer, then the more we hear him encourage intentional times of prayer.  Not only do we need prayer but the community and nation around us needs prayer.  Prayer to God through Jesus Christ is a privilege that he has given us to change lives and the world.  We must be praying people.  Scripture refers to Christians as the temple of God in whom dwell the Holy Spirit.  Each of us and all of us collectively are called to be a “house of prayer for all peoples.”  So let’s pray – more and more – at home, at the church, in the community.  If you cannot participate in the opportunities below, start a new group at suits your schedule by finding one or more people to join you. 

Here is a list of scheduled times of prayer:

• Morning Prayer Service: Monday – Saturday at 7 a.m. at the church.
• Monday Morning Prayer Group: Mondays 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the church.
• Men’s Prayer Group: Tuesdays 7 a.m. at Groupers Restaurant, Elizabeth City.
• Lectio Divina: Wednesdays 5:45-6:45 p.m. at the church.
• Men’s Bible Study & Prayer Group: Thursdays 7:15-8:15 a.m. currently meeting at the church.
• Prayer for Renewal and Revival: Saturdays 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the church.
• Prayers of the People: Sunday Morning Worship 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Some thoughts made possible from sheltering in place…

I believe, and embrace resolutely, that I (we) are loved by Jesus Christ. As I have expressed, this pandemic is NOT God’s punishment perpetrated on sinful people… oh, it’s sinful people alright, but not my Father’s doing.

Because he loves us, He must want good things to come from what we are enduring. And Christ is THE WAY out! I see that in so many unexpected ways we already are making discoveries… sheltering-in-place is leading many to “rethink” many things previously taken for granted!

Honestly, in some ways, I am enjoying this enforced “containment” as it has offered time to study new books, reflect on a variety of materials, even podcasts have produced new ways of thinking.

Reflection takes time, as does the pursuit of the most powerful and profound gift of our Father’s GRACE… prayer! This makes our opportunities for reflection a most precious resource. I might suggest we take a moment to look at how we spend that time for prayer and self-examination… when we do such, something profound emerges…

We all know, we all sense, life will not go back to the way it was… in the words of Seals and Croft:

We may never pass this way again …

I would encourage us all to take a moment to think about all the things in our life that we might never experience again, or experience in the same way/s that we have in the past.

And it is here that we PRAY… pray that we might mature in our ability not to take people and experiences for granted, pray that we might offer solace to those who are filled by loss and promise, pray that we might grow ever more aware that in the hollowness that threat and fear engender we are not alone, and pray that we have become more aware of the reality of our moment to moment living… that we not take each other for granted… that the power and preciousness of our expressed faith not be smothered by a “return to the usual”…

People, God did not do this terrible thing to us, but through Jesus Christ we will handle it. I have said so many times, and I’m sure you have also, “if I had the time!” Well, you got the time… and you need to hold onto it…

“and, soon, when you go back out into that world, remember Christian, that person next to you is your brother or your sister!”

Don’t waste this time you’ve had alone with yourself and God… we have lived some time now on the fringe of our mortality… we need to ask ourselves… “How did we allow Christ to get us through it all, and how are we going to fill our lives with Him when it all begins again??”

Really missing you, George

We are proud of our friend EMS Captain Martin Surface and our community friends chiropractor Dr. Jason Jones and Pediatrician Dr. John Dimichele.