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Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formaon known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interacve learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives. In approximately 58 days Redeemer high school youth will be part of that 30,000-member crowd gathered in Houston, Texas. For many, serving, learning, faith sharing and worshipping with thousands of others is a life changing experience. This years theme This Changes Everything has a double-meanings as hearts and souls open in a changed way to the life changing truth of Christ risen and busy in todays world. Following our youths lead, we too explore a This Changes Everything theme. The promise and the power of the resurrecon of Christ have endless possibilies. While many of us think of Christs resurrecon only in terms of eternal life with God, that s just half of the story. Resurrecon power is for now, right now, in our everyday lives. God delights in making something from nothing, giving life to the dead. Gods investment in us and Gods creave power gives life to situaons which appear hopeless. Gods resurrecon power surprises and confounds the limited assessments of what we call reality. Pastor Marn Copenhaver puts it this way: Whatever else the disciples would come to understand about what had happened, they knew from the start that the resurrecon was not simply about what happened to Jesus; it is about what happens to all of us who trust in Jesus and about what can happen to all who claim this story as their own.Claim Gods story in Christ as God has claimed you. Every day remember your bapsm into Christ and encourage each other as God says, Behold I make all things new.And dont forget to pray for our kids June 27-July 1. Pastor Mary Peters Redeemer at May –July 2018

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Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.

In approximately 58 days Redeemer high school youth will be part of that 30,000-member crowd gathered in Houston, Texas. For many, serving, learning, faith sharing and worshipping with thousands of others is a life changing experience. This year’s theme This Changes Everything has a double-meanings as hearts and souls open in a changed way to the life changing truth of Christ risen and busy in today’s world.

Following our youth’s lead, we too explore a This Changes Everything theme. The promise and the power of the resurrection of Christ have endless possibilities. While many of us think of Christ’s resurrection only in terms of eternal life with God, that’s just half of the story. Resurrection power is for now, right now, in our everyday lives. God delights in making something from nothing, giving life to the dead. God’s investment in us and God’s creative power gives life to situations which appear hopeless. God’s resurrection power surprises and confounds the limited assessments of what we call reality. Pastor Martin Copenhaver puts it this way: “Whatever else the disciples would come to understand about what had happened, they knew from the start that the resurrection was not simply about what happened to Jesus; it is about what happens to all of us who trust in Jesus and about what can happen to all who claim this story as their own.”

Claim God’s story in Christ as God has claimed you. Every day remember your baptism into Christ and encourage each other as God says, “Behold I make all things new.” And don’t forget to pray for our kids June 27-July 1.

Pastor Mary Peters

Red e em e r at

May –July 2018

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CHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRY

9 A M — 1 2 : 3 0 P M *Free before care at 8:00 am | After-care available until 6:00 pm for a fee

This year VBS is Shipwrecked and Rescued by Jesus. VBS meets June 4-8, for kids age 3 – rising 6th graders; all are welcome, so spread the word and bring friends and neighbors! Registration is open at vbspro.events/p/redeemeratl For a successful VBS ministry, we’d love your help! Here are some ways the Redeemer congregation can be involved: Volunteer! Crew leaders and station assistants needed for the week of VBS. Volunteers can register here: vbspro.events/

p/redeemeratl Create! Many hands make light work for our work days. Join us May 20 from noon – 3, June 1 from noon – 1, or June 2

from 9-3 as we transform Redeemer into an island oasis. Prep! Grab a take-home kit (available from Jen Fuchs or room 103) to cut and trim materials that we will use in Bible

activities during VBS. Donate! Supplies are needed for many of our VBS activities. For the latest supply updates, check out the registration

website: vbspro.events/p/redeemeratl -20 oz plastic water bottles (empty, with caps) -Greenery/palms -large cardboard tubes (i.e. carpet tubes) -Pasta shells (small and large) -White rice -Old suitcases and small trunks

Items can be dropped off at the VBS corner near the library.

This Changes Everything Pastor Mark will be exploring our summer theme by teaching a class on N. T. Wright’s After You Believe; Why Christian Character Matters. We’ll explore such questions as What am I here for? How do a choose the good over the bad? and Does my faith really matter? Reading the book is not required but may help you get more out of the class. VBS is June 4-8, 2018, 9:45 – 11:30 AM in Rudisill Hall. Everyone is welcome. RSVP’s to [email protected] appreciated but not required.

ADULT VBS

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CHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRY

Regular Moms Group meetings are done for the

summer, but don’t miss getting together one more time for the Mom’s Group outing! We will meet at

Redeemer at 6 pm on May 16, and head to Midtown

for dinner out. Please RSVP to

[email protected].

Sunday School

Teacher Appreciation Sunday, May 6

Thank you to our dedicated group of Children’s Sunday School teachers! Teachers

and parents alike should check their inboxes for more details

about this special day.

Bowling Day July 15 | 3-5 pm

Beat the heat this July with an

afternoon of Bowling! Children & Family Ministry is

meeting for bowling fun at The Comet in Decatur.

RSVP to [email protected]

REDEEMER WEEK @ LUTHERIDGE

June 17-23

Redeemer children and youth completing 1st through 12th grade are all welcome to join us for a week on the mountain! Age-grouped programs are available for many levels of camp experience and adventure! Contact Jen Fuchs, [email protected] for scholarship info, and register for camps at www.novusway.com. See you on the mountain!

June 11-15 Registration is now available at

www.redeemer.org.

Rising kindergarteners through 7th

graders will explore music, art, drama

and more! The focus of the week will

be working toward presenting “100%

Chance of Rain,” a short musical about

Noah and the flood. The camp is from

9:00 am-4:00 pm, with free before and

after-care. Tuition for the week is $165,

and includes all activities, a hot lunch,

and a t-shirt. Sibling discounts apply,

and financial need based scholarships are available. Non-members are welcome, so

tell your friends and neighbors. For more information, or to volunteer, please

contact Sarah Hawbecker at 404-874-8664, ext. 206 or [email protected].

Follow the camp and share our posts on Facebook at facebook.com/

RedeemerMusicCamp/

MUSIC & ARTS CAMP

2017 First Camp C3ARE (Bible Study) group

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YOUTH MINISTRY

Graduate Recognition Sunday, May 13

Graduates receive a blessing during 11:00 worship, followed by a reception in Sims Atrium. We congratulate graduates of all degrees and ages – high school, college, even doctoral grads! Graduates should contact Jen Fuchs no later than May 6 to be listed in the bulletin – email [email protected]. Congratulations!

Sunday, May 20

We celebrate our confirmands and give praise for this special milestone

on their faith journey. During 11:00 worships, 8th grade confirmation

students will proclaim their faith and share their faith statements with the

congregation, and we’ll all congratulate them with a reception in Sims

Atrium following the service. Many blessings to the confirmands!

End of the

Year

P a r t y May 6 at 12:30 pm

Bring a friend and join Redeemer

youth for fun, fellowship, and

food! We’ll enjoy games, outdoor

activities, and of course, karaoke!

Please bring $5 for cost of food.

See you on May 6 in the Fireside

parking lot! MISSION CAMP

Afternoons during VBS week, June 4-8

We love it when youth volunteer for Vacation Bible School! It’s a great way to share your faith in a fun and crazy way, and the kids look up to Redeemer youth so much! This year we are excited to offer ‘Mission Camp’ for youth following our volunteer morning in VBS. Each afternoon, youth will join adult leaders for service activities or fellowship outings. For more information about Mission Camp, contact Jen Fuchs at [email protected]. We are still looking for adult leaders to co-chaperone outings – contact Jen Fuchs to talk about volunteering. Thanks!

CONFIRMATION CAMP @

LUTHERIDGE

July 15-21

Confirmation Camp is for those students completing 7th grade confirmation this year. Register for ‘Kairos Camp’ through the Lutheridge summer camp portal at www.novusway.com. When selecting roommates, be sure to specify ‘Redeemer Atlanta’ so your camper can bunk with friends from church. Scholarships are available – contact Jen Fuchs for scholarship information and any camp-related questions. The summer theme for camp is This Changes Everything, and a week on the mountain surely does change everything!

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Over 30,000 youth from across North America are coming together

for the ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston this summer from June 27

to July 1. Pray for the 12 youth and their adult leaders from

Redeemer who will be attending the gathering. They’ll be praying

for you, too. We extend a huge thank you to the congregation for

your generous contributions to the gathering. Remember to mark

your calendars for August 5 for a Thank You Reception for all who

contributed!

YOUTH MINISTRY

Preschool Wraps Up 5 Years! Now enrolling for August! 2017-2018 academic year at Midtown Lutheran Preschool was outstanding as we celebrated our 5th year of operation! We experienced significant growth and now have over 35 students enrolled and five fabulous teachers. This summer during June we will hold three weeks of summer camp. We return for the school year beginning August 8th! Space is still available for 2018-2019 in some of our classes! Please share with friends and family! To learn more visit our website www.mtlps.org and Facebook page (please like us!) www.facebook.com/mtlps. If you’re interested in serving the preschool either with children or on our ministry team, contact Kate Elkins, Director, [email protected].

Midtown Lutheran Preschool

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HABITAT for HUMANITY HOME BUILD PROJECT 2018 Be a part of this exciting and fulfilling outreach opportunity by joining with the members from our three partner Atlanta churches, for Redeemer’s 22nd Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Home Build Project, beginning Saturday, July 14 and concluding Saturday, September 8 - Dedication Day. Visit the Habitat Display and Volunteer Sign-up Table in Sims Atrium, for information about THREE ways you can be a part of this project. You may: 1) Build the house at the job site, on one or more of the eight Saturdays; training and tools are provided, no special skills required and must be age 16 or older, (or)

2) Provide a Housewarming Gift for the new home owner, selected from the Gift Listing, such as cleaning supplies or gardening tools, which will be presented on Dedication Day, (or)

3) Offer a Monetary Offering to help cover the lunch costs of hungry volunteer builders, using a pew envelope, noting your donation as “Habitat Workday Lunches”.

Learn more about this rewarding outreach opportunity and how you can support our 22nd Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Home Build, by visiting the Habitat Display in Sims Atrium or contact Carol and Jim Maxwell at [email protected].

Atlanta’s Professional Firefighters/LCFM CAN FOOD DRIVE On March 17, 2018, Atlanta’s Professional Firefighters, Atlanta City Councilman Amir Farokhi and Redeemer’s Hospitality Coordinator, Maria Welsh, teamed up for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day/LCFM Can Food Drive. We collected over 300 cans of food! At first glance, that might not seem like a lot. But consider these facts and figures: According to the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB), an estimated 1 out of every seven people in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia rely on Food Bank Partner Agencies for food. More than 1 in every four kids in Georgia live in a food insecure household (Feeding America - Map The Meal Gap Study April 2016). Clients visit Food Bank Partner Agencies an average of 8 times a year (Feeding America - Map The Meal Gap Study April 2016).

According to Bill Bolling, former Executive Director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank “An estimated 755,400 people in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families each year. This includes more than 164,000 children and 64,000 seniors.” Redeemer is blessed in so many ways; one of those ways is that we are a Midtown church serving a richly diverse population. However, it’s also a geographical area in which nearly 19% of its residents are ‘food insecure,’ meaning that they don’t know where their next meal is coming from (ACFB 2018). On March 17th, Atlanta’s firefighters, family members, and neighbors united to help feed the hungry. Then they blew off a little stream with a BBQ bash, corn-hole tournament, and a kid-friendly zone complete with a real-life firetruck! Mark your calendar for next year’s St. Patricks’ Day (Saturday, March 16th, 2019) Can Food Drive with Atlanta’s bravest at Redeemer!

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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LUTHERAN COMMUNITY FOOD MINISTRY UPDATE In his Easter sermon, Pastor Mark invited us to volunteer with the Lutheran Community Food Ministry (LCFM) as part of living out Mark’s Gospel and meeting the Risen Christ in our broken world. Volunteering by Redeemer members with the LCFM is at a 10-year low. The average number of years of service for our small pool of dedicated volunteers is well over five years. We need new (or returning) volunteers to join us in this 36-year-old Midtown ministry that will give more blessings back to you than it ever demands in effort. While a 9:30-11:30 a.m. once-a-month shift can be difficult for those with regular work hours, it is great for retirees, stay-at-home parents of school-age children, and those with flexible school or work schedules. Kitchen volunteers help make the plates and serve our lunch guests, and shifts end reliably at 11:30 a.m. There’s no clean-up or washing dishes required! If you are interested in joining a monthly serving team or being on a substitute list, please contact the LCFM Volunteer Coordinator, Stephanie Hart by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (404) 405-0760 (call or

text). We do ask that you contact Stephanie to volunteer rather than just showing up unannounced so that your service time will be more meaningful and so regular volunteers are not displaced after having made advanced plans to serve.

There are other ways to get involved with the LCFM too. You can arrange to pick up food donations from local grocery

stores or restaurants, which is critical as almost all of the food we serve is donated. This is a great way to volunteer if you have some time each week, but that time is not during our morning serving hours. Perhaps you would like to volunteer to be a weekly Communion server in the dining room. Consider joining our greeting card ministry, which provides greeting cards and postage stamps to our lunch guests once a month and for holidays. While helping our guests select the right cards, you have an easy opportunity to get to know their stories better. We take prayer requests from our guests each Wednesday, and we would love to add you to the prayer distribution list. Please bring your plastic grocery bags, travel-size toiletries, new reading glasses, men’s athletic socks, and winter items and leave these donated items in the coat closet at Redeemer. Of course, checks or online donations directly to the LCFM are always welcome, too. If you would like to volunteer for one of these roles or have any questions about the LCFM, please contact LCFM Board Member Mary Howle by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 678-471-4458 (call or text).

Thanks to Redeemer’s former Interim Associate Pastor Tom Kenny, the LCFM has an exciting new partnership with Pastor Joseph Song and Stepping Stone Mission. Pastor Song grew up in South Korea in the difficult years following the Korean War, and he was grateful for the work of American missionaries in his community. That experience of receiving the Good News as well as food and clothing eventually led Pastor Song to begin a vibrant ministry for people experiencing homelessness here in Atlanta. Volunteers from Stepping Stone Mission provided gifts to our lunch guests at our annual Christmas party this past December and Pastor Song was present be with our guests. Also, Redeemer serves as the location for a weekly Bible study for clients of the Stepping Stone Mission who eat at the LCFM and then study the Word together. We look forward to exploring ways to expand this new relationship. If you would like to learn more about Stepping Stone Mission, please visit their website at www.steppingstonemission.net.

Some have asked how this fall’s final closure of the large shelter known as “Peachtree + Pine” has affected the LCFM

and our lunch guests as many of them stayed there at night. We have had a decrease in the number of guests as the City of Atlanta attempted to relocate people experiencing homelessness to temporary housing outside of Midtown. However, the LCFM still serves approximately 100 guests each weekday, the majority of whom come back for at least “seconds” on soup.

Finally, we are grateful to the Redeemer staff (Maria, Virgil, Murray, and Stacey) who keep the LCFM running each

Monday through Friday. Thank you to the faithful volunteers who serve in the kitchen, pick up weekly food donations, knit winter hats and scarves, and work directly with our lunch guests. In addition, we currently have monthly serving teams from nine metro Lutheran churches and one from SunTrust Bank. We hope YOU will join this ministry soon!

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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Dear Friends and Companions in Mission, Easter 2018 I am writing to you from Indonesia in the second week of Easter, when the living Jesus comes to us, his disciples, with words of peace, and lets us see the scars in his hands and side so that we can know how much our God loves us. Your Christian brothers and sisters in Indonesia are celebrating that love and life together with you. I am in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, as the proud former teacher and thesis advisor of Casthelia Kartika, an Indonesian alumna of LTS (the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong, where I teach) who just completed her DTh (Doctor of Theology) program. Now she teaches Church History at Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Amanat Agung (The Great Commission Theological Seminary), a Presbyterian seminary in Jakarta, and she also serves as the seminary’s new President. Casthelia invited me to come for five days to preach, teach, and lecture on the Devil in Christian tradition. A highlight for me has been the four sessions of teaching in the seminary’s Emmaus program of theological education for local pastors and congregational members. The 48 students in the class and I have spent two days tracing the history of the concept of the Devil from the Old Testament until today as I speak in English and two of the seminary’s faculty members translate into Indonesian. We have been looking at how the earliest references to the Devil in the Old Testament describe the Devil as an angelic member of God’s court, serving God as a tester of the quality of people’s faith and as an accuser of sinners. But by the time of the New Testament, the Devil had become an enemy of God as well as of people; this view of the Devil continued in Church History, with the Devil acting either as an oppressor or as a tempter, seeking to destroy people. Bringing the topic up to the present, the class has examined how in our own time some people find it more helpful to convert the Devil from a personal character to an invisible power of evil in the world. Discussion has been lively and questions thoughtful, ranging from the practical “Is it OK to wear t-shirts depicting the Devil?” to the disquieting “Did God create the Devil to fight against God?”. My bottom line for the students is that destruction never has the last word for God. As one of my seminary professors used to remind us, “God’s final word to God’s people is ‘yes’.” That is what the resurrection of Jesus is about. I am heading back to Hong Kong to finish the semester there, and, much as I have loved teaching the students of LTS, this will be my last semester there. After a summer break in the States I will go to San Miguel de Allende, a small town in central Mexico, to take an intensive six-month course in Spanish, which I will practice daily with a Mexican host family. This will enable me to continue my studies of the Devil in Church History as I explore Mexican church history to see if I can find out why it is that the Devil has a role in Mexican Christmas traditions, showing up to try to keep people away from the baby in Bethlehem. I enjoyed sharing my research plans with the faculty and advanced students at Amanat Agung yesterday, and engaging with them the issue of how our understanding of everything related to God is shaped by our historical realities, not only in Mexico but also in Indonesia and the U.S. and everywhere else. I will write one more time before I go to Mexico, to tell you about LTS’s graduation ceremony and to share some thoughts about how you can continue your support for the church’s global ministry. In the meantime, I thank you profoundly for your prayers and companionship over my four years in Hong Kong. I look forward to seeing some of you this summer to thank you in person.

Associate Professor of Church History The Lutheran Theological Seminary, 50 To Fung Shan Road, Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong SAR, China

Dr. Casthelia Kartika and I at Amanat Agung in Jakarta, Indonesia, with Casthelia’s hus-band Robby Indarjono at left and the two professors translating for my class at right: Johan Djuandy (Biblical Studies) and Fandy Tanujaya (Systematic Theology).

MISSION SUPPORT

*Redeemer supports 3 missionaries – Carolyn Schneider and Jenna Bergeson both in Hong Kong and Michael Parker in Egypt.

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PATH TO MINISTRY

The Redeemer Foundation Pastor Jonathan Trapp - Path to Ministry

There is a connection between our Pastor Jonathan Trapp, his path to ordained ministry, and the generosity of Redeemer

Good Shepherds. That connection is House of the Rock – the alternative and creative worship experience held at Redeemer

from 2011 to 2015 and which was funded, in part, by the Baumer-Rudisill-Harris Opportunity Fund. In fact, there are nine

people for whom House of the Rock served as their launching pad to seminary and other avenues of ministry. As is so often the

case, the path to ministry can be a very circuitous one.

Pastor Jonathan grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as a very “high church”

Episcopalian. He graduated from Berry College in Rome, Georgia, with a major in

Political Science and a minor in Religion. He earned a Master in Public

Administration from the University of Georgia. After graduation, he applied for

and was accepted into the Presidential Management Intern Program which

accepts only 400 interns each year. This leadership development opportunity led

him to a position at the Centers for Disease Control in the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health. After the September 11th tragedy, the new office

of Security and Emergency Preparedness was established and Jonathan has

served since 2003 as the CDC’s Emergency Manager for CDC locations worldwide.

Throughout these years, he knew that he had a call to ministry. He explored the

Episcopal denomination but had the chance to worship at Redeemer’s former

Saturday night service. “I realized that I had been a Lutheran all of my life and did

not know it!” Jonathan said. He knew Redeemer’s former pastor Matt Simpkins

who began the Sunday night House of the Rock worship. Jonathan became

involved not only in worship but also the immersion walks into the community

and leading the Synod’s Hunger, Poverty and Justice Task Force. He knew that

seminary was the next step and enrolled in Luther Seminary. He served as chaplain in Emory’s Clinical Pastoral Education

program and two years of internship at Emanuel Lutheran in Atlanta and Christ Our Shepherd in Peachtree City. He was called

to be Redeemer’s Pastor for Faith Formation and was ordained on November 12, 2017. His call to ministry is a strong one

considering that Jonathan continues as the CDC’s Emergency Manager, is husband to Elizabeth Rasmusson (they married in

2005), and father to 5-year-old T.J. whom the couple adopted five years ago and brought him home on the day before Easter

of 2013!

Jonathan credits House of the Rock for fostering leadership and providing opportunities for pastoral care and preaching.

“House of the Rock,” said Jonathan, “provided a place for experimentation and a good environment for learning.” Redeemer is

grateful that the Baumer-Rudisill-Harris Opportunity Fund could play a role in Pastor Jonathan’s path to ministry.

Questions regarding The Redeemer Foundation can be directed to [email protected]

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2017 Goshen Spirit Award presented to

Leslie Paulsen

Leslie Paulsen received the 2017 Goshen Spirit Award for her invaluable contributions

in renovating the houses at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch.

In September 2017, Leslie, along with a crew comprised of many Redeemer members,

took a week off work to serve at Goshen. Leslie raised money to buy the supplies

needed to renovate each of the boys’ bedrooms, providing new headboards, wall art,

and furniture. Special projects also occurred in each of the houses. With Leslie’s help,

Goshen feels even more like an inviting home to the 46 boys in foster care that we

serve.

Goshen Valley thanks the crew that served, the donors who made it possible, and the

efforts of Leslie Paulsen in pulling it all together.

We cannot imagine where we would be without the continued impact of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.

To see some of the work Leslie and her team accomplished, and to hear a word of thanks from one of our house parents, watch the video summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOgk3pbWEK8&feature=youtu.be

At the April Volunteer Appreciation Event of Our House (formerly Genesis Shelter), Jeanne Merritt was honored for her 25 years of service managing the Children's Clothing Closet. She sorts and launders usable donated clothing and stocks the shelves for easy access for staff an residents.

Adele Gipson (L) Chair, Board of Directors Jeanne Merritt (R) Volunteer

COMMUNITY APPRECIATION

Presented by Stacy Cooper (L) to Leslie

at the GVBR Christmas Party 2017

Jeanne Merritt honored for

25 years of service

A plaque has been installed just outside the Closet inscribed:

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Have you selected your summer reading? If not, visit Redeemer’s Library!

In addition to a large collection of religious history, theology, books on devotions

and prayer, and biographies of and writings by religious leaders, we have numerous

volumes by contemporary authors .

Here’s a sampling of what’s available!

Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal

priest and college professor, is also a

prolific writer. We have nine of her

books, including An Altar in the World,

in which Taylor examines her

relationship with creation and explains

how she finds “altars” everywhere in

her world, and how these give her life a

deeper sense of purpose. You will also

find several collections of her sermons

(she has been named one of the top

ten preachers in the United States), and

the popular Learning to Walk in the

Dark.

Another contemporary writer,

Mark Ellingsen, has both

preached and taught classes at

Redeemer. His book, Sin Bravely,

demonstrates how and why

“brave sinning” leads to joy. Our

collection includes other titles by

Ellingsen, including Blessed Are

the Cynical: How Original sin Can

Make America a Better Place. In

this book, Ellingsen maintains

that Augustine’s doctrine of

original sin has been eclipsed in

America’s therapeutic, feel-good

culture and shows how a

renewal of the principle of

original sin can help Americans

find fresh ways of addressing our

social ills.

We have nine titles by popular author

Anne LaMott. The publication

Religion News Service describes

LaMott as “the patron saint of

struggling sinners.” In reviewing

Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on

Faith, the reviewer states: “Lamott

has developed an entirely new genre

of religious writing. Gritty, stark, and

humorous, she catches the reader by

surprise when she points her pen

heavenward.” Another reviewer

says, “Traveling Mercies is not for the

tender footed. But then, neither is

the Christian life.”

We also have a series of contemporary novels by Emily Thomas, books by NPR commentator, Krista Tippett, and To

Dance with the White Dog, by local author, Terry Kay. The Library also has a collection of DVDs for check-out, including one

on the life of Billy Graham.

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Shirley B. Harris Lutheran Towers

It is my pleasure to share with you the story of my journey through life. I have come from a place which was very dark and hopeless, I was homeless, suicidal, on drugs and backslidden from the Lord. I arrived at Beulah Heights University College in August 2011. It was at that time my life began to change. I arrived there with only a year’s sobriety and I was unsure about my future, if I even wanted to continue to live. It was at Beulah Heights University where I found a purpose and meaning to my life. I have succeeded in obtaining an Associates Degree in Religious Studies and Leadership. I have also pressed my way forward and I now have a Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership and am now graduating on May 5, 2018 with my Master’s

Degree in Leadership. I am pressing forward to obtain my Master of Divinity Degree in the fall. Thank you very much for taking an interest in my life’s journey of success.

Shirley B. Harris

LIFE JOURNEY

WELCOME BOB BOYD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCE Bob served as the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in DeKalb County. Prior to this, he led the Humane Society in Athens Georgia as the Executive Director. He served in various leadership and program roles with the Boy Scouts of America in Miami Florida, Columbus Georgia and Macon Georgia. In addition to his business management skills, Bob has unique gifts in empowering volunteers to accomplish the mission of the organizations he has led. Bob is a graduate of LaGrange College in LaGrange Georgia. He is married to Elizabeth and they have four children. Contact: [email protected] or 404-874-8664 ext. 232

CONGRATULATIONS TO TAWANDA SEARCY

Tawanda has graciously accepted the position of Wedding Coordinator following Cathy Vogel’s

retirement.

Not to worry, you will still see and hear her Monday—Friday at the reception desk.

STAFF NEWS!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

MAY 1 Mary Ann Kuettner

Mahlon Stiles

Phyllis Oblander

Sam Berg

Keith Bruno

Benjamin Street

John Pakkala

Patrick Bello

Matthew Baer

Cindy Holler

2 Douglas Carl

Isabel Benson

Alyce Wise

Shera Taylor

Josephine Durdin

Evan Fowler

Richard Spady

Ken Carrig

Jane Liston

3 Sara Conaway

Rachel Tilley

Ilene Brown

Mallorie Platko

Hilda Holcomb

Nathaniel Pearson

Barbara Dougherty

4 Joyce Sharpe

Karen Cramer

5 Catherine St. John

Allison Englert

Celia O'Shea

Jennifer Cobb

David Sides

6 Elizabeth Currie

Mark Buchanan

Carl Tiegreen

Jonathan Fuller

Samuel Aldridge

Ashley Freudenstein

Wyatt Brune

7 Ezra Hawley

Theodore Mulford

Matthew Wessinger

8 Ryder Keel

9 Ann Otterness

Cathy Ott

Hewan Peterson

Jennifer Meszaros

Morgan Stempler

10 Stacie Kershner

Maureen Hetrick

Hogan Hans

Brendan Jackson

11

Alisa Norvelle

Joe Wilkins

Daniel Kershner

Thomas McPherson

Cynthia Wilson

Natalie Chu

Lydia Van Hoosear

Elyse Van Hoosear

12 William Wiederhold

Christopher Heath

13 Chris Spielmann

John Steinmetz

Steven Sween

Daniel Englert

Amy Nowatzki

Anna Love

Shannyn Serfozo

Jerry Johnson

Brendon Keinath

David Miller

Dylan Frost

14

Mason Nieman

Thomas Forsberg

Barbara Liptak

Elise Bansen

Robert Blatecky

Rick Nemeck

Hugh Anderson

15 Kathy Wray

Sue Frierson

Stan Schubert

Amy Hendershot

16 Elijah Thomas

Cole Flournoy

Kelly Schlegel

Hallie Anderson

Ivan Struensee

Krista Baire

Martha Cantrell

Samuel DeKinder

Isabella Bensch

James Bensch

Myrna Kysar

17 Erin Deebel

Colin Moore

Pam Amy-Cupp

Jacob McCloskey

Julie Bitter

Mary Bowers

Michael McIntire

Kristin Murnahan

18

David Yelich

Ilsa West

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Christian Nowatzki

Andrea Emmel

Brannan Moss

19 Sydney Sosebee

Megan Alexander

Robert Palma

Madison Heath

20

Sidney Robinson

Penny Saunders

Gisela Zimmer

Andrew Pearson

Cheryl Jackson

21 Lori Deuben

Carol Maxwell

Sigrid Spitler

Sally Rosser

Dylan Miranda

Jennifer King

Megan Guetter

John Hickman

22

James Maxwell

Sarah Boone

23 Terrell Weitman

Patrick Volan

Chelsea Beimfohr

John Perantoni

Max Weterrings

Ella Kim

24

Brandon Lambert

Zachary Heisler

Katelyn Warren

Hollis Lichtman

25

Jeanne Andersen

(turning 99)

Matthew Barr

Lauren Hull

Leslie Carson

Cindy Noland

William Porter

26 Matt Reynolds

Ken Wayco

Emily Patterson

Carrie Viberg

Noelle Herren

27 Marykay Gilbert

Cliff Burt

Leslie Paulsen

Harrison Weber

Thomas Forsberg

28

Stine Sides

29 Mabrey Pearson

Sandra Williams

Melita Hobby

Jeremy Smith

30 Bruce Lewis

Randy Rekoske

James Robertson

Loren Hunter

31 Kristin Bitter

Todd Larsen

Robert Stinson

Cecelia Tiller

JUNE 1

Lou Simon

Justin Mason

Jordan Mason

Roberta Miller

Oliver Mullen

Katherine Bastin

Theresa McIlraith

Karen Whitehead

2 Mindy Tanzola

3 Lisa Johanson

Michael Thornton

Gina Carter

Chasity Palma

William Gay

4 Heather Gilbert

Ernestine Vogel

Diane Currence

Michael Medford

Lisa Medford

Lydia Medford

Elsie Richards

Diane Shea

James Price

Eric Boye

5 Chris Brueckner

Barbara Howard

Michael Verner

Darrel Peterson

6 Rudi Wooten

Philip Vogel

Wendy Tiegreen

Julie McWilliams

Renae Parent

William Lotz

7

Tracy Roberts

Peyton Morgan

Jim McCloskey

Bruce Miller

Ellie Broad

Ansley Forsberg

8 Lynn Thomay

Jordan Pakula

Megan Patterson

Robert Doan

9 Sharen Kilpatrick

Jacob Thomas

Deborah Morton

10 Ed Kohler

Robert Tanzola

Amy Platter

Lucy Banks

11 Cole McWilliams

Tyler Wells

Jenny Steele

Joseph Kidd

Katherine Hickman

12 Carey Rosser

Judith Featherstone

Sarah Lanham

Michael Williams

Brant King

Beth Gibble

Paul Frendak

13 Kathryn Morris

Ronald Gilbert

Susan Cordell

Jean Iverson

Jack Verner

Milon Biswas

14

Stephen Gundersen

Ana Walker

Jan Abshire

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Walter Roberts

Betty Ginn

Bill Alexander

Emily Ott

Gwendolyn Johnson

Olivia Stephens

Zane Yntema

15 Leif Johanson

Jilda Kettel

Dexter Beck

Robert Trimble

Lauren Englisbe

16 Nathan Gundersen

Kay Sins

Heyward Jones

Janet Baker

Malorie Switzer

Katherine Tanzola

Jason Steele

Marie Cole

Benjamin Pearson

Henry Puckhaber

17

Bill Wise

Sandi Van Gorder

Lily Cooper

18 Helen Tiegreen

Josefina Wernecke

Paul Cortopassi

19

Myles Rowe

Boyd Mayfield

Lisa Burnett

Nathan May

20 LaVerne Nienow

Phillip Zenoni

Cynthia Zettler

Justin Wilde

Kathryn Elkins

Ansley Freudenstein

Anne-Marie May

21 Barry Spurlock

Eric Kuettner

Alan Borchers

Greg Parent

Matthew Kyle

Janet Hedlund

22 Joyce Autrey

Luise Papaik

23 Cheryl Collier

Adam Kimmich

Jeffrey Beimfohr

Meko McCray

Samuel Gore

Graham Harrison

Gene Chapman

24 Cheryl Smith

Sara Horehled

Reilly Tiegreen

Brian Borchers

Mackenzie Boler

Jennifer Dumont

Charlotte Sexton

Savannah Sexton

25 Charlie Hutsell

Linda Lael

26 Aaron McGaffigan

Adam McGaffigan

Bruce Bohannon

Chase Van Gorder

Brandon Worrell

Sharon Colburn

27 Spencer Barnes

Liz Alexander

Meredith Wieland

Dawn Adamson

Scott Anderson

28 Elise Thomas

Ashley Grice

Jude Elkins

Claire Johnson

Isaac Perantoni

Nicholas Perantoni

Will Lewis

Jonathan Stich

Kristen Sheffield

Ethan Deuson

Beverly Frendak

29 April Tilley

Owen Ritger

Monika Giolito

Oscar Garcia-Ide

Barbara Ulven

30

Deirdre Jennings

Phil West

JULY 1 Claire Marie deNeergaard

Annette Forster

Emma Johnson

Elizabeth Kovack

Lori Hickman

Patrick Sickles

2

Millie West (turning 100)

Sue Zellner

Garrett Anderson

3

John Sabine

Karen Fore

Kendrick McWilliams

Lynne Presdorf Moss

Brenda Bondesen

Phillip Grice

4 Peg Wyse

Margaret Bragg

Ethan Jennings

John Cornwell

5 James Kaukula

Kathy Bihl

Graham Wilde

Stephen Powner

6

Gertrud Detweiler

Dennie Jarrard

Nathan Miller

Jason Liebzeit

Jordan Whitaker

7 Bernard Benson

Cynthia DeKinder

Traci Switzer

Charles Lofstrom

Helena Viberg

Cheryl Bansen

8 Margaret Wooten

Caren Warren

Erin Dawson

Justin Bansen

Alicia Bates

9

Andrea Waterhouse

Lillian Steele

Damien Scott

Jane Forstner

10

Austin Bradley

Andrew Bragg

David Ott

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Dennis Kirr

Megan Dawson

Luke Hawley

Joyce Smith

Bryan McLendon

11 Suzanne Sims

Christopher Bowman

Ingrid Neale

Lance Muller

Heidi Couch

Marlee Hattermann

Jennifer William

Brady Grant

12

Amanda Hoomes

Lesley Robertson

Sarah Al-Hussein

Molly Wyse

13 Ed Kleckley

Madison Tiegreen

Susan Wilson

Robert Altmann

Johanna May

14

Victoria Volan

Beatrix Lay

Bradley Sickles

Mary Peterson

15 Jeffrey Williams

Tiffany Rice

Cecelia Sickles

Valerie Sowers

16

Anneliese Hermann

Julianna LeVorse

Alyssa LeVorse

Don Cornwell

Natalie Tanzola

Alison MacDougall

Bradley Ploeger

Katie Moss

Kathryn Durham

17

Bobby Sigmon

Mike Langford

Joshua Sosebee

Steve Morgan

Elisabeth Giolito

Brian Pakkala

Tim Schroer

Isabella Vargo

Gibby Slappey

18

Roy Wise

Amanda Wolfe

Travis Tolar

Jill Williams

Marika Johnson

Amanda Otey

Natallia Akulenka

19 Sherri Mason

Nancy Anderson

John Nieman

Courtney Bohannon

Dorthey Hurst

Meghan Campbell

Hayes Smith

20 Anders Johanson

Erin Hyde

Katherine Wessinger

Yvonne Whitaker

Max Padgett-Hemsley

21 Susan McCart

Jack Gundersen

Julie Freudenstein

Chris Borchers

Henrik Sides

22 Jacqueline Runningen

John Howard

Evan Leeder

23 Susan Shannon

LaDonna Williams

24

Anne Amos

Jeffrey St. John

Marilyn Grant

R. E. Wolfe

Charles Wessinger

Robin Jonas

Lucie Ide

Dawn Weterrings

25 Bailey Keiger

Peter Olsson

John Olsson

Carol Bloomquist

Carolyn Ramsey

April Jones

Seth Brown

Michelle Spady

26

Solomon Ghebreyesus

Nicholas Wooten

William Rawls III

Rod McMurrey

Penelope Scarpucci

Maria Maxwell

Jane Bastin

Emma Bastin

Richard Sanders

Samuel Stancil

27 Allen Gary

Caroline Iverson

William Fike

28 Lloyd Marquardt

Debra Borchers

Josephine Howard

David Buechner

Barbara Berger

Diana Palma

Lisa Carrig

Kris Weterrings

Rowan Street

29 Jo Adams

Harrison Vassar

Benjamin Williams

Kevin Dougherty

Caroline Hickey

Nicholas Miller

Courtney Williams

Allison Stinson

Steven Miles

30 Terry Massar

Audrey Mullen

Heather Chastain

Ryan Zegarelli

31 Beth Sides

Clare Ranney

Mary Roesel

Darrick Wilkins

Carol Bell

Max Rafferty

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7 3 1 Pe a c h t re e S t . N E | At l a n t a , G e o rg i a | ( 4 0 4 ) 8 7 4 . 8 6 6 4

Website redeemer.org

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This Quarterly Newsletter is published by the Communication Ministry of Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Contact Robin Durdin, [email protected] for information or to submit articles.