Category: Parish Life

News stories about parish life at Church of the Redeemer.

  • Memorial Garden workparty, June 12, 2023

    Memorial Garden workparty, June 12, 2023

    Do you need to touch some grass? Do you enjoy gardening?  If so, we’d love to have you join to help us keep our memorial garden looking beautiful all year round at Church of the Redeemer. All are welcome!

    We start at 10:30 am on June 12, 2023. Please bring your own gardening tools and protective equipment. Dress appropriately.

    Memorial Garden at Church of the Redeemer

    The memorial garden is on the north side of the main church building. To enter it, walk as if you are going to enter the main front doors, but then take the walk to the left of the doors.

    The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, reaching out to the world.

    Church of the Redeemer

    Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

    Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

    The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

  • Parish Workparty, June 10, 2023

    Parish Workparty, June 10, 2023

    Saturday, June 10, 2023, is the next workparty at Church of the Redeemer. As always, all are invited to attend and participate. Workparties are typically the second Saturday of the month. Join us!

    Memorial Garden workers

    We will begin at 9:30 am with Daily Morning Prayer and then divide into groups to complete the scheduled tasks of the day. These include the following:

    • Clean the roof drains.
    • General cleaning and prepare for Sunday worship.
    • Hang pictures and prayers in the sacristy.
    • Repair Parish Hall window wall. 
    • Clean Parish Hall bulletin boards and install new labels.
    • Weed and trim the entrance garden.

    There is always something to do for anyone of any age or ability at every workparty.

    Cleaning the church building during a workparty.

    Please bring your favorite tools, dress appropriately, and bring your own protective gear for what you can do.

    If you are unable to help on these projects, there will be future opportunities to participate in a workparty. Ongoing maintenance and new programs at Redeemer all have needs that you can help complete.

    If you have any questions, contact Bill McGlinn. Send him an email at bill.mcglinn@redeemer-kenmore.org.

    See you on Saturday.

    The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, reaching out to the world.

    Church of the Redeemer

    Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

    Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

    The Episcopal Church welcomes you.


  • Workparty results for May

    Workparty results for May

    The Workparty on Saturday, May 14, 2023, focused on cleaning, gardening, and a few improvement projects. As is customary, everyone was invited to attend. The participation was great.  

    Most of the scheduled work was completed. Thank to everyone for their hard work.  

    Some of the accomplishments included the following:

    • Remove seasonal art from the walls of the nave.
    • Paint wood pieces to repair the parish hall window wall.
    • Install a bulletin board in the sacristy. 
    • General cleaning and preparation for Sunday liturgy.
    • Install new light fixtures in the stairway and change light bulbs.
    • Weed and trim the entrance garden.

    June Workparty

    • A couple of people to check the roof drains.
    • Someone to freshen up the bulletin boards.

    In June, we need people for the following at the Workparty:

    The tentative date is on the second Saturday, June 10, as is typical. Start time is 9:30 am. The day starts with morning prayer and refreshments.

    Cleaning the roof drains on Lazarus Saturday

    You can help!

    If you were unable to help on the projects in May, there will be future opportunities to participate in Workparties. Ongoing maintenance and new programs at Redeemer all have needs that you can help to complete. There are things for people of all abilities to do.

    Please contact Bill McGlinn if you have any questions. Talk to him on Sunday mornings or write to him at bill.mcglinn@redeemer-kenmore.org.

    The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, reaching out to the world.

    Church of the Redeemer

    Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

    Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

    The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

  • Canon Carla Robinson: The Way, the Words, and the Works

    Canon Carla Robinson: The Way, the Words, and the Works

    On Sunday, May 7, 2023, Canon Carla Robinson of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia will preach “The Way, the Words, and the Works’ at Church of the Redeemer in Kenmore, Washington. Services are at 8:00 am and 10:30 am. To see Jesus is to see the way of God. To hear Jesus is to hear the words of God. To follow Jesus is the to do the works of God.

    About the sermon, Canon Robinson says, “I’ll be waltzing my way through this sermon. I’ll be cuttin’ a rug in the chancel, as we follow along in our dance with the Spirit.”

    Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. All are welcome at Redeemer:

    • All races
    • All religions
    • All countries of origin
    • All sexual orientations
    • All genders

    The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

    Canon Carla Robinson

    The Rev. Carla Robinson, a graduate of Concordia Seminary in St Louis, Missouri, served as a Lutheran pastor for 13 years before coming to the Episcopal Church. She was received into the Communion in 2001 and was an active member of St Mark’s Cathedral for several years. She initially served as the Administrative Assistant for Multi-Cultural Ministry and the Secretary for Vocations in the Diocese of Olympia.

    Since her ordination in 2009 as an Episcopal priest, she served as the curate at the Church of the Resurrection in Bellevue and as the vicar of All Saints in Seattle’s Rainier Valley neighborhood. She served as associate priest at St Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle, the Church of the Ascension in Magnolia (Seattle), St James in Kent, Christ Church in the University District, and St Matthew-San Mateo in Auburn. In 2022 she became the Canon for Multi-cultural Ministries and Community Transformation in the Diocese of Olympia.

    During her ministry in the Episcopal Church, Carla has also served in several capacities including the following:

    • Deputy to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church
    • Member of the Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Church
    • Instructor at the former Diocesan School of Ministry and Theology (DSOMAT) in the Diocese of Olympia
    • Member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Olympia

    Carla is part of the Circles of Color of the Diocese of Olympia.

    Carla enjoys walking in the various terrains of western Washington, watching an occasional baseball game, and spending lots of time with her family.

    Church of the Redeemer logo

    Church of the Redeemer

    Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County. We welcome you be with us as we walk the way of Jesus.

    Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

    The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

  • Lenten quiet morning

    Lenten quiet morning

    Fr. Jed Fox will lead a Lenten quiet morning on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Church of the Redeemer in Kenmore, Washington. This will begin with Morning Prayer at 9:30 am, followed by a short coffee break. Then Fr. Jed will offer a series of reflections, with time between for private prayer and personal reflection. It ends with noonday prayer starting at 12 noon.

    If you have questions, contact Fr. Jed at rector@redeemer-kenmore.org.

    Lent

    Early Christians observed “a season of penitence and fasting” in preparation for the Paschal feast, or Pascha (Book of Common Prayer, pp. 264-265). The season now known as Lent has a long history. Lent comes from an Old English word meaning “spring,” the time of lengthening days.

    Originally, in places where Pascha was celebrated on a Sunday, the Paschal feast followed a fast of up to two days. In the third century this fast was lengthened to six days. Eventually this fast became attached to, or overlapped, another fast of forty days, in imitation of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. The forty-day fast was especially important for converts to the faith who were preparing for baptism, and for those guilty of notorious sins who were being restored to the Christian assembly.

    In the western church the forty days of Lent extend from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, omitting Sundays. The last three days of Lent are the sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

    Today Lent has reacquired its significance as the final preparation of adult candidates for baptism. Joining with them, all Christians are invited “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 265).

    Taken from Lent .

    The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, reaching out to the world.

    Church of the Redeemer

    Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

    Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

    The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

  • Attend Ash Wednesday services in 2023

    Attend Ash Wednesday services in 2023

    Church of the Redeemer is having two services for Ash Wednesday in 2023. On February 22, the services begin at these times in the main church building:

    • 12:00 noon—In-person only.
    • 7:00 pm—In-person and online

    The main church building is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. To participate online, go to the parish website at redeemer-kenmore.org.

    Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return

    Ash Wednesday

    The first of the forty days of Lent, named for the custom of placing blessed ashes on the foreheads of worshipers at Ash Wednesday services. The ashes are a sign of penitence and a reminder of mortality, and may be imposed with the sign of the cross. Ash Wednesday is observed as a fast in the church year of the Episcopal Church. The Ash Wednesday service is one of the Proper Liturgies for Special Days in the Book of Common Prayer (p. 264). Imposition of ashes at the Ash Wednesday service is optional.

    (Content taken from Ash Wednesday.)

    Blessed Ashes

    Ashes blessed for use on Ash Wednesday as a sign of penitence and a reminder of mortality. The Hebrew Scriptures frequently mentions the use of ashes as an expression of humiliation and sorrow. Ashes are imposed on the penitent’s forehead with the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 265). The imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday is optional.

    (Content edited from Ashes, Blessed.)

    Cross draped with Lenten array colors.

    Lent

    Early Christians observed “a season of penitence and fasting” in preparation for the Paschal feast, or Pascha (Book of Common Prayer, pp. 264-265). The season now known as Lent (from an Old English word meaning “spring,” the time of lengthening days) has a long history.

    Originally, in places where Pascha was celebrated on a Sunday, the Paschal feast followed a fast of up to two days. In the third century this fast was lengthened to six days. Eventually this fast became attached to, or overlapped, another fast of forty days, in imitation of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. The forty-day fast was especially important for converts to the faith who were preparing for baptism, and for those guilty of notorious sins who were being restored to the Christian assembly.

    In the western church the forty days of Lent extend from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, omitting Sundays. The last three days of Lent are the sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

    Today Lent has reacquired its significance as the final preparation of adult candidates for baptism. Joining with them, all Christians are invited “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 265).

    (Content taken from Lent.)

    Church of the Redeemer logo

    Church of the Redeemer

    Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

    Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

    The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

  • He gets us?

    He gets us?

    Everyone of faith seems to have an opinion on the “He Gets Us” ads during the Super Bowl. Some are enamored with the concept of reaching out with a message about Jesus to such a broad audience, something Christians don’t seem to be able to access as much in the United States as they once did.

    Others question both the expense, somewhere around $100 million, and whether such a vast sum could have been put to better use. There is also the concern about who is funding this and what people will see if they go to the website the ad lead views to. Several sources report that the family which owns Hobby Lobby are among the main backers of the campaign. This family, and its company has become infamous for denial of vaccines, masks, female reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights and dignity, and participation in the theft of biblical antiquities. They are associated with a brand of Christianity that is looking more and more like the Christian Nationalism. What if, people wonder, the messages of the ads, which promote care for the marginalized (including refugees), compromise, and relationship, are being used as a smokescreen for the getting people into churches that don’t really practice any of the things that these ideas that the ads preach?

    I confess that, until this week, I have avoided these ads because of their main conceit—He, being Jesus, gets us. That is undeniable true. God knows exactly what it means to be human, with all of the emotion, excitement, and exquisitely mundane existence that entails. But I don’t believe that’s nearly as important for God, or for us as they why of all that. Why would God do that? Because of love. God loves us before Jesus dwelt among us. At the very moment that God’s hands touched the dirt to form us in the divine image it was an act borne of love. It is that love from which all else springs and that, above all else is the Good News that Jesus made manifest to us, and calls us to make manifest to the world.

    The “He Gets Us” campaign lacks the gravity and effect that it could otherwise have because, in a world where information available, people see those who promote these fair words bear fruits that are bitter poison.

    In the Gospels, Jesus commends those who go and do as closest to the kingdom. As Episcopalians, we’ve taken this to heart. We love the idea of letting our actions do the talking, and attracting people without have to preach at them. It would be easy, given this, to dismiss “He Gets Us” out of hand. But then there is Jesus who directed us to preach the Gospel—even us Episcopalians. If we are not ready to tell people what drives our actions, how they are a response to loving gifts that God has given us, most especially in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, then we are also failing to fulfill the request of Jesus, to help people understand what God wants, and to jumpstart people’s relationship with God and God’s people.

    God, and Jesus, may get us, but I don’t think that was ever the question. How do we choose to respond to God’s unrelenting, fathomless love for us and the world, which Jesus shares? This is the question. It can’t be just words, and it can’t be just actions. It must be both. We must do the work of getting ready for God’s kingdom—bearing fruits like love, peace, patience, etc. And we must share the story to plant the seed that might one day bear fruit. It can only be both. I hope we get that.

    —Fr. Jed Fox, Rector
    rector@redeemer-kenmore.org

    Fr. Jed Fox with a cup of coffee.

    Church of the Redeemer

    Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

    Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

    The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

  • 2023 proposed budget

    2023 proposed budget

    The 2023 proposed parish budget totals $285,750.49, to be used as budgeted in the following areas of mission and ministry for the building up of God’s Kingdom in our midst.

    Worship

    Sermon preparation, bulletin preparation, worship planning, Sunday morning worship, special services, scheduling lay liturgical leaders, notifying media of special services.

    Compensation$51,657.55
    Operations/Overhead$7,944.00
    Direct Program costs$6,900.00
    Total$68,901.55

    Faith Formation

    Christian formation, baptism/confirmation/marriage preparation, newsletter, Safe Church.

    Compensation$33,799.73
    Operations/Overhead$10,592.00
    Direct Program costs$1,200.00
    Total$46,191.73

    Outreach

    Parish events, ecumenical relationships, service to diocesan committees/programs, publicity for special events, community bulletin board, building usage, web site, food, and clothing ministry.

    Compensation$9,886.86
    Operations/Overhead$5,296.00
    Direct Program costs$1,000.00
    Total$16,782.86

    Pastoral Care

    Hospital and home visits/communion, individual/crises/grief response pastoral counseling.

    Compensation$31,883.83
    Operations/Overhead$2,648.00
    Direct Program costs$0.00
    Total$34,531.83

    Fellowship

    Parish suppers, coffee hour, postcards/e-mails/other special notes.

    Compensation$27,744.67
    Operations/Overhead$15,888.00
    Direct Program costs$1,500.00
    Total$45,732.67

    Stewardship

    Vestry, stewardship planning, office administration, financial administration, record keeping.

    Compensation$23,605.52
    Operations/Overhead$10,592.00
    Direct Program costs$64,612.33
    Total$100,609.85
    Distribution bar chart for the 2023 Budget
    Distribution bar chart for the 2023 Budget
  • 2023 Annual Meeting Agenda

    2023 Annual Meeting Agenda

    Opening Prayer11:47am
    Norms11:52 am
    Approval of the 2022 minutes11:55 am
    Rector’s Address12:02 pm
    CCD Module12:17 pm
    Time for Discernment
    * Affinity Sheets
    * Sign-ups
    12:27 pm
    Retiring Vestry Members12:34 pm
    Elections12:45 pm
    Budget1:00 pm
    Closing Prayer, Assessment, DVDs, Polls1:10 pm
  • Minutes for the 2022 Annual Meeting

    Minutes for the 2022 Annual Meeting

    While the minutes on this page are copied directly from the PDF file, the PDF file is the official version.


    January 23, 2022

    The meeting opened with prayer at 11:35 AM

    Fr. Jed began the meeting by reviewing the voting process for this meeting.

    Vestry nominations

    Fr Jed stated that Sam Millbank and Ann Walton are appointees to vestry by the nominations committee and he then nominated Richard McAlister for 3 yr vestry term which he accepted.

    Fr. Jed also nominated Tom Byrd for the 1 yr vestry term, which he accepted.

    No additional nominations were put forth and Fr Jed moved that the new vestry nominations be elected by acclimation.  There being no objections, the motion passed, and the new vestry members were elected.

    Music Director’s Report

    Sheila said that this has been a particularly challenging year due to COVID.  She mentioned that she has enjoyed her time here since she began in 2005, and has very much enjoyed working with staph and parishioners.  She recalled all the events she has experienced at Redeemer from changes in clergy, to the remodel of the sanctuary, to the office break-in which caused the storing all the choir music for a long period of time.  She mentioned how grateful she was for the addition of a new grand piano, and new handbells, and that she was able to provide the support of several lead singers from outside the parish to help with the music program.

    Sheila said that the most important reason she stayed for so long at Redeemer was due to the warmth of the congregation in receiving her and for their strong support of the music program. She is also very grateful to the parish for the help she received from them in supporting the music recitals by attending, by providing food and beverages at these events, and for their support of the music program in general. She said how appreciative she is of the choir, who is like a small family, and she is grateful to receive so much clergy support in allowing her to be creative in providing a strong music program to the parish.

    Fr. Jed mentioned that when he came to Redeemer, he quickly noted how wonderful it was to have Sheila as the organist.  He valued that he and Sheila immediately got along and noted that she recognized the experience of worship and how music supports that experience.  He wishes her all the best in her new endeavors.  Fr. Jed hopes to give her a send-off this summer when we can give her going away celebration in person.

    Election of delegates to convention

    (two, 2-year Delegate positions; one, 1-year Delegate position; one 2-year Alternate)

    Fr. Jed mentioned that the Delegates attend the annual convention that runs over a Friday afternoon and Saturday in November. His hope this year is to help the delegates engage with the parish and share their learnings and ideas from convention, and to help adapt these ideas/learnings within our parish.

    Fr. Jed stated that Richard McAllister agreed to be nominated to one of the 2 year positions and asked for nominations from the floor to fill the remaining positions.

    Sharon Villa volunteered to be the alternate.   Bill McGlinn volunteered to be delegate for the remaining 2-yr term.  Bob Chapman volunteered for the 1-yr term.  There being no further nominations, Fr. Jed called to accept the slate by acclimation.  There being no objections to these nominations, the slate was elected by acclimation.

    Budget Presentation

    Fr. Jed presented the budget in the form of bar charts that separate parish spending into five basic categories: Worship, Fellowship, Pastoral Care, Faith Formation and Outreach and describe what is included in each of these categories:

    2022 Budget Worship
    2022 Budget Fellowship
    2022 Budget Pastoral Care
    2022 Budget Faith Formation
    2022 Budget Outreach

    Fr. Jed pointed that the variance in spending is related mostly to where Fr. Jed’s time is divided in pursuing all these endeavors

    Fr. Jed also presented a graphic showing where the income for mission comes from.

    2022 Budget Mission Income

    He noted that 90 percent of our income is from pledges, with the remainder much smaller portions coming from plate, grants other income (gifts or grants from individuals and families) rent, and other funding. 

    Fr, Jed noted that we have a deficit of $36K for 2022, which is the difference between what we feel we are called to do in our mission and what our current in projected income will be.  He demonstrated this difference using the following 2 spread sheets:

    2022 Mission Operational Budget

    The above spread sheet shows the $36K deficit if we cannot raise enough money to completely fund 2022 operations.

    The second spread sheet below shows a balanced budget using funding from our Endowment to support operations. 

    2022 Budget Operational Budget Take 2

    The vestry is committed to balance the budget either by additional fund raising or via supplementing it with money from our Endowment Fund.  We have over $400,000 in the fund thanks to a gift from Shirly Woods, and the money would come from this fund.  The vestry is committed to explore every means possible to make up this $36,000 deficit, but as an absolutely last resort, we will pull from the endowment fund to cover the cost of mission and ministry at Redeemer for 2022. 

    Fr. Jed called for questions about the budget as presented:

    Mark Phillips asked which organizations currently rent space.  Fr. Jed said AA wants to return as soon as we open. 

    Sarah Phillips: do we know who in the parish has left and who are members?  Fr. Jed answered that we don’t have a set list of members, though we do know specific parishioners have left, like Deb Randall who has moved.  An updated parishioner list is one of the main projects to be addressed as soon as we are back in the building.  Fr. Jed mentioned that the parish directory update was on the 2020 plan, but COVID interrupted this process.

    Mavis Karalius:  does membership mean people who have committed to pledge or to anyone who attends.  Fr. Jed stated that a member is a baptized person who has attended church 3 times in past year or who has given financially (undefined – could be pledge or plate or one time gift)

    Earl Beede: did vestry use a percentage or a set of commitments on which to spend money? Fr. Jed said that this is a set of commitments on which to spend money.

    Bill McGlinn: What is included in outreach? Fr. Jed said that this includes all administrative costs of outreach in all areas.  Bill felt that the spread sheet is not too clear in showing the details of outreach spending and suggested that in future we might have more detail relating outreach spending categories.  Fr. Jed will look at this for the 2023 budget. Bill applauded Fr. Jed for his work on representing this information. 

    Mark Phillips: agrees that use of the endowment fund is appropriate use, especially in these challenging times. He feels grateful for the people in the past who have given these gifts and it has given him pause to do the same.  Fr. Jed recalled that the endowment was first established from a gift by Earnie Moore in memory of his mother.  It has since grown through people who have given these gifts as a faith offering to the church during their lives. 

    Fr. Jed called for a vote via polling to approve the 2022 budget.  The poll shows 40 yes, 1 no, and 1 abstention.  The budget passes.

    Children and Family Ministry Report

    Mary Nilsen began her report by saying that since the last annual meeting, church school met every Sunday. Mary felt strongly that the kids needed this time to meet together. Mary mentioned that church school covers a 100-mile geographic spread of children and herself.  Seven children participate, and Mary gave a shout out to parents who have encouraged their kids to meet online and who support their spiritual development.  She said that the light of Christ is in each of us to share throughout the world. 

    Mary strongly felt that the kids need a voice in the church.  Zoom has been a gift, allowing a great learning/teaching tool and she can see at a glance who is engaged and actively involved.  Mary Includes an active art project each week as a means of fostering this engagement.  She sets a focus on prayer where every child shares a prayer, including prayers for vaccine for grandparents, lost pets, new pets etc.  She mentioned that children have joined from many places, such as tents, hiking trails, etc and it is always a pleasant surprise to see where they will show up. 

    The past four years (Mary came on staff 4 yrs ago January) have been amazing.  Mary said that this was a new program and she helped build the program, give it structure, and tailor it to each learning development level.  This includes making children’s program costumes, props, puzzles, and physical classroom tools.  Mary created 6 volumes of Godly Play curriculum programs to save the cost it would have taken to buy the materials pre-made.

    She wanted to build an awareness of the entire parish around the importance of children’s part in our parish, to help them grow into faith filled adults.  Mary made a plea to us all to give the program more help. She asks us to think of how we can share our gifts with our children.  They need, and deserve, a program to teach them about the Kingdom of God and Jesus’ saving grace.  They wonder what will happen when Mary leaves and Mary replied to this question by saying that she has no answer but has faith that one will become apparent. 

    She mentioned that all the material is there, just waiting for someone new to pick it up and move forward with it as is, or even change and grow the program.  She thanked Sheila and Fr. Jed and enjoyed working with them, and she said she will miss us all.  Mary thanks the families, the children, and their grandparents who have helped, and to all the classroom volunteers.

    Mary also recalled the very first class in Easter of 2020.  She promised that when we were all together again that there would be an easter egg hunt on the first Sunday back in church and she strongly encouraged someone to step forward and make that happen when we gather in the main building again.

    Fr. Jed said that Mary knew him from 8th grade and yet she still agreed to be the program leader.  The children she spends Sundays with know that she teaches them to advocate for themselves and for God, helping them to grow in their faith. Mary helped them have a relationship with God that will be different with them for the whole of their lives and is a result of Mary’s help.  His offers Mary his sincere thanks for everything she has done for our children. 

    Mary remembered that she is also grateful to have taught the children to be in church and to be active participants in the church liturgy. 

    Recognition of outgoing Vestry members

    Fr. Jed recognized the outgoing vestry members: Eivind Nilsen as vestry and Sr. Warden and all his incredibly hard work during his one year term. He thanked Lee Darrow for her time as Clerk of the vestry and for serving as delegate to Diocesan Convention. He mentioned that she has served in many capacities at Redeemer and is taking time now to step back. Fr. Jed thanked Peter Donley who stepped into the 2 year vestry term, and Heather Phillips who had clear and decisive insights at vestry meetings.  He thanked Elizabeth Russell and will miss her logical, clear ideas and prayerful demeanor.  Fr. Jed said that Vestry met via zoom monthly and sometimes more often, and all the members have worked extremely hard during this COVID-tide.

    JP thanked Lee Darrow and Liz Mills for their interim bookkeeper work.

    Rector’s address

    Fr. Je said it is two years since COVID started and it has been a time of upheaval. In addition to COVID, we dealt with the furnace outage, worshiping online, wind storms, roof repairs and other issues. 

    He recognized Lee Darrow and Liz Mills for stepping up to help with bookkeeping while we find a new bookkeeper.  Lee spent much time downloading from Deb Randall’s brain and creating a manual for the bookkeeper, and Liz Mills is now taking Lee’s download and putting it into action and working with JP on finishing year end processes. 

    Fr. Jed recognized the Donley family (Peter, Chris and Iris).  Chris was instrumental in taking worship online, monitoring and technically supporting the online worship every Sunday.  Peter and Iris supported the worship liturgy through offering the readings each Sunday.  Fr. Jed also thanked Phillip Lineau, our Parish Intern, who assisted in virtual worship and the parking lot/memorial garden outdoor worship.  The Donely’s and Phillp have made our worship as close to normal as possible during these times of separation. 

    He thanked Mary for connecting us by making and delivering “Apostle bean soup” during lent to parishioners and he thanked the Hopelink Kenmore place volunteers for helping make the familys’ journey to better housing more bearable during the holidays and at other times.

    Fr. Jed hopes that 2022 will bring an end to the pandemic, and that the furnace will be up and running in the next two weeks.  He hopes that we will be back in the church by the time of our 75th anniversary.  In any event, we will not be the same as we were prior to covid. We are changed and we now must determine how God’s mission for us will drive us forward.  If we are to be faithful to God’s promise, we must stand up and go out into the world.  This is the core of who we are in the church, and we must encourage each other in this mission.  We are not alone. The Church is the Body which helps us to work together to carry out Christ’s mission in the world.  This will be the focus of our year – to go out into the world carrying out Christ’s mission.

    He asks us through prayer to discern, pray over, and step out into that part of ministry to which we are called. 

    Fr Jed closed by saying thank you to Sheila and Mary for everything you have given us.  We are better for having you with us and our prayers go with you.

    The meeting closed with prayer and blessing at 1:00

    Respectfully Submitted,

    Lee Darrow, Vestry Clerk

    The Reverend Jedediah Fox, Rector

    Eivind Nilsen, Sr. Warden

Funeral for the Rev. Canon John Fergueson, Saturday, March 2, 2026, at 10:00 am in Church of the Redeemer. Additional parking available at The Vine Church across 181st Street from Redeemer.

The 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A), May 10, 2026. Services at 8:00 am (no music) and 10:30 (music). Xristos Kuxwoo-digoot! Xegaa-kux Kuxwoo-digoot!

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
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