Taste of Africa Reflections

Submitted by Kehinde (Kenny) Oyederu

Redeemer Covenant Church held its Third Annual Taste of Africa celebration on Saturday, the 10th of October. It was well-attended by the family of God from all over Minnesota. The program opened with introductions and recognition of the invited guests and Redeemer Covenant Church members, as well as the vision and mission of the event. This was followed by renditions of songs of worship and praise by the Joint African Choir of Redeemer Covenant Church, invited choirs from churches and guest artists. The offering was taken African way (If you know what I mean!), and the program was brought to an end with a closing prayer by Pastor Steve Larson.

The invited guests and church members were treated to an African meal comprising of 18 different African meals from Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sudan. The African members of Redeemer Covenant Church are grateful to the Pastor, Church Council, and the entire congregation for the hand of fellowship and love extended to us. May Almighty God Bless His Church (Amen).

Note: They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Go to the Redeemer Covenant Church Facebook page to the Events section) and enjoy the beautiful pictures taken by Jim Hoffman. The joy-filled faces will bring a smile to your heart. You, too, can get a taste of the Taste of Africa.

Hispanic Celebration Sunday

What a blessing! Hispanic Celebration Sunday on September 20 had 466 in worship! Pastor Andrés Bunch was filled with the Holy Spirit and challenged all of us through his preaching. "Do not be just a servant, but we must be a first-hand witness for the Lord!" The choir sang Santo, Santo, Santo beautifully and the combined worship teams from La Bendición Covenant Church and Redeemer Covenant Church added great enthusiasm to the 11 a.m. service. Thank you, Seth and Alex, for your great work.
 
It was also a blessing to see the ministry of the Covenant Church (El Pacto) in the country of Columbia. Pastor Walter shared his ministry and vision during the adult DU hour. God is truly at work in this land and through the people of the El Pacto churches.

The "Tour of Latin America" in the multipurpose room was still going strong at 3 p.m. with food and items from every Latin American country. This was truly a beautiful Sunday. Thank you, Lord, for such a blessed Sunday! Thank you, La Bendición, for sharing with us!

Fall Study Theme: The Jesus Creed 

What is The Jesus Creed? Scot McKnight, the Karl A. Olsson Professor of Religious Studies at North Park University, has written this fascinating book that looks at the topic of “loving God, loving others.” In the foreword, Pastor John Ortberg writes, “Scot has given a great gift to any follower of Jesus as he invites us back into the world in which Jesus lived. We learn, a step at a time, what it meant to be . . . in first-century Galilee. In these pages, the identities, hopes, and struggles of Joseph and Mary, of John the Baptist, and of Simon Peter are portrayed in ways that are both fresh and deeply illuminating.” 

This fall at Redeemer, the sermon series and small group opportunities will be focused on this theme. Two resources will be offered:

• The Jesus Creed, book for those who want to dive in deep
• 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, devotional guide for regular reading

Grateful for God's Provision
Redeemer welcomes new Associate Pastor of Worship and Outreach

We are excited to welcome Seth and Sandy Lindberg to Minnesota. Arriving in late May from California, Seth began his new position on June 9 as Associate Pastor of Worship and Outreach. The family includes two-year-old Anders and another arrival in October.

Seth graduated in 1998 from Bethel University with an Elementary Education Major. After teaching at a Christian school back home in Rockford, Illinois, he sensed God’s call to full-time ministry. In 2004, he completed his Master of Arts in Christian Education at North Park Seminary, Chicago. Seth has served in worship capacities at First Covenant in Rockford, Illinois; Faith Covenant in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Hinsdale Covenant in Illinois; and Rock Harbor Covenant in Rocklin, California.

A Sunday of Celebration and Installation Service was held on June 28. 

Redeeming Arts Show Highlights Many Talents

God has given the people of Redeemer many gifts and talents in art; and we got to see them, hear them, and taste them at Redeemer's first art show on September 13.

Creative Redeemer members submitted pieces with themes from three main categories:

• The two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. (See Mark 12:28-33 and The Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight.)
• The ideas in our motto: Worship, Community, Learning, Compassion
• Your own personal journey with God

The sanctuary lobby and nearby choir room were the location for displays of everything from poetry to photography, from paintings to cuisine, from music to carvings, and other expressions of art.

"Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!" (1 Corinthians 12:6-7, The Message)