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Volume 47—Number 7 July 2017

Voice of Redeemer

Redeemer Lutheran Church

In case you hadn’t heard, 2017 is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

I kid, of course, because we have been trumpeting that for many months now. Even our Vacation Bible School is celebrating! Our theme this summer is “A Mighty Fortress.” The theme comes from one of Martin Luther’s fa-mous hymns. Based on Psalm 46, the hymn is a celebration of the mighty

power of God over all earthly and spiritual forces and of the sure hope we have in God because of Jesus Christ. After its publication it gained immense popularity throughout much of Europe. It was, in many ways, the anthem of the Reformation. It was sung in Augsburg and in all the churches of Saxony, often against the protests of the Roman Church. It was sung in the streets; and thereby it comforted Phillip Melanchthon, Justus Jonas, and Caspar Cruciger, (other Luther-an reformers) as they entered Weimar when banished from Wittenberg in 1547. It was sung by emigrants on their way into exile and by martyrs at their death. The hymn became closely associated with Luther himself, as it embodied in its words and melo-dy so much of the character of the man — bold and confident. The monument to Luther at Wit-tenberg has the first lines of the hymn engraved on the base. There are several theories as to when the hymn was penned by Luther, but the most likely story is that it was written in October 1527 as the plague was approaching. There is debate about where the tune came from. In times past, it was believed to have been borrowed by Luther, per-haps from an old Gregorian melody. More recently, however, scholars are inclined to believe that Luther wrote it himself. (The notion that it was based on a tavern song has been debunked.) During Redeemer’s Mighty Fortress VBS, our children will learn that God is our mighty fortress

who fights for us and protects us. Children learn early that they can’t win every game, ace every

test, or conquer every challenge. But, they will learn that Jesus, their champion, has won the vic-

tory over sin, death, and the evil one. God’s victory will be shown in the Bible accounts of the

fall of Jericho, God’s rescue of King Hezekiah’s kingdom, King Josiah’s reading of God’s Word,

and King Jesus’ triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. The King of kings has won the ultimate victory

for us through his death and resurrection.

A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious; he breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod and wins salvation glorious.

Summer blessings, Pastor Jon Christenson

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SUMMER STEWARDSHIP

The air in July seems to be filled with the music of birds, the hum of insects, and

the sounds of picnickers, boaters, golfers, fireworks and concerts in the park. July

is also a time when many people pause for rest and recreation; taking time for

leisure; time set aside for vacation, to be with family, to do fun things; a time for

relaxing and recharging their inner batteries. There is such a thing as being a good steward of rest

and recreation. Making this a priority is part of leading a healthy, balanced life. It also helps us more

fully appreciate Jesus’ directions to his disciples to “…go off to a secluded place and rest” (Mark

6:31).

Stewardship calls us to nurture and care for God’s gifts which includes taking care of the gift that is

ourselves. So, make leisure a priority. Take time out to rest, recreate and enjoy the beauty of all that

God has laid before us. Perhaps we should consider activities that will add variety to our lives and

our relationships. It will not only prove restorative but will reveal more acutely the blessings of

God’s creation and help us discover in new ways the wonders of our loved ones and ourselves.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory my understanding and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace; that is enough for me. Amen. - St. Ignatius of Loyola

COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 2017

The congregation will vote on opening and closing hymns for July and August. Much work has

been done on our facilities: the old shed has been removed, doormats purchased for the Fellow-ship Hall, and new shelves put up in the storage area. Many old and unused items have been

cleaned out, organized, or donated. Irrigation valves have been replaced at the corner of the Fellowship Hall and a new secured hose bib installed. Repair is under way on the hole in the

parking lot.

New communion chalices will be ordered soon. Handbells have been ordered.

Pastor will hold an evangelism class starting in July. Lutheran Social Services will hold a meet-ing at Redeemer on July 1 to further develop their plan for providing services here. Our charita-ble focus through the end of July is the Tijuana orphanage. Ed will find out when Mercy Ships

may have a matching funds opportunity available so we can maximize our donations to them.

We will have occasional fundraisers for the ELCA's five-year global ministries program.

The Southwest synod is promoting a Dodgers Night on August 12 (Dodgers vs. Padres). Both

Southwest and Pacifica synods are participating. Purchasing tickets in packets of 20 or so would be less expensive. We'll need to see if we have enough interest and possibly charter a ve-

hicle to transport us to the stadium. Laura Haywood, Vice-President

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This will help to keep things organized.

Sometimes we have a hard time helping with functions, if we don’t know where things are. We hope this will help…. Thanks to Jan we have three heavy duty big shelves in the breezeway now. Phyllis has a key in the office to enter

the Janitor room located on the very left of the fellowship hall. The breezeway is between the Janitor room and

the kitchen. The light switch is behind the door. Also behind the door is a low wooden shelf with craft kits, mark-

ers, crayons in boxes, crayons in zip-lock bags, beads, pipe cleaners, foam pages, scissors, glue sticks, etc….all

labeled in individual boxes and the shelves are labeled too, so things can go back where they were. :)

The wood cupboard has sand art supplies, spray bottles and more.

The big shelf has all the Christmas containers and the pageant sheep on it. The Christmas pageant costumes are

across from all the Christmas containers, as well as the big star, myrrh etc. The containers are all labeled and so

are the big shelves so that we can remember where they go after they have been used. The big Nativity set is on

the bottom shelf. (2 boxes) Oktoberfest decorations, the VBS slip and slide and more VBS containers are on that

shelf as well.

The wooden donkey and manger are on your right as you enter the room, next to a large wood box.

The wooden box by the kitchen window and the tall carton left of it has many games for VBS or special functions.

Lots of sports equipment or water games, Badminton set with net, etc.

The green, heavy duty Christmas banner; “our Savior is Born” is covered and labeled in the breezeway behind the

door on hanger . Next to it: all the wreaths, covered and hung along with other signs.

Valentine, Easter, St. Patrick, Super Bowl, Luau, summer, Graduation, Birthday. Fall and other decorations are in

the pantry cupboards.

The Harvest Festival wood games are in the rafters in the garage. The cardboard fences that were used for VBS a

few years ago are also in plastic trash bags and stored in the back of the garage on a marked shelf.

THANKS FOR HELPING TO KEEP REDEEMER ORGANIZED!

WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME AND TALENTS!

Christa

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

David Schroeder—assembled shelves

Christa, Judy, Lilian, Karen and Gary Manes— for all

the great work in getting the breezeway cleaned out,

sorted, placed in containers and organized on our

great new breezeway shelves.

Everything looks great and with everyone's help we

can keep it that way!

Jan

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

Altar Guild Judy Olson-Peterson

Flowers Stilwill family Haywood family Silviera family

Acolyte

Assistant Minister Louise Hall

Communion Assistant

Lector Nate Olson Jan Lemley Judy Peterson Michael Jacobson Pastor Silveira

Head Usher Mark Benson

Greeter Karen Musgrove

Coffee Hour Phyllis Caroline & Carlotta Jan Ice Cream Sunday! Phyllis

Please know that your prayers are so very much appreciated. Thanks and Blessings to all!

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

Ruthann

Lori

Matt Mika

Shooting victims

Lisa

Nick

Ariel

Billie

Katy & family

Charlie

Marge

Pam

Richard

Lucy

Jerry & Kathy McKnight

May –June Prayer Requests

IN HIS SERVICE

Extending

Sincere Sympathy

to Jerry and

Kathy McKnight

in the loss of their son, Sid.

In Loving Memory

Billie Jean Linnebach

June 23, 1935

June 2, 2017

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Just a reminder that our charity for June and July is the Orphanage in Tijuana. There is still time to donate

food, clothing or cash. Checks can be made out to Trinity Lutheran, marked for Tijuana Orphanage and

George will send it on down to them and they in turn give Sarah the cash to purchase goods when she goes

down. Pictured below are the children in the orphanage with Sister Lily.

CHURCH DIRECTORIES

Additional copies of the membership directory are available in the office. If you have not re-

ceived your copy, please stop by the office and pick one up (one copy per household, please).

PLEASE NOTE A FEW CORRECTIONS

Andy & Judy Cantrell: home phone—661- 588- 8378

Lyda Barger: phone # - 661- 843- 7163

Nate Olson: 9421 Eagle Oak Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93311 (same phone #)

Caroline Reid: 11708 April Ann Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93312, clreidoregon@gmail.com , same phone

If there are more changes, please notify the office, (832-7881).

When Christa says we are

going to have ice cream

with an Hawaiian theme—

it’s just that! Has anyone

noticed that Christa loves to

decorate? :) Pictured to the

left is just a bit—the Fellow-

ship was all decked out!

Great job Christa and your

helpers….Tina and Lilian!

Ice cream hit the spot on

another hot, hot day in

Bakersfield.

BIG THANKS!!!

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL JULY 17 –21 : 9:00 am—NOON

REGISTER NOW—CALL 832-7881

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Linda Gaenicke

Kathy Hairfield

Ute Salem

Mickey Rivers `

George Stilwill

Charlie Poehlitz

Jack Kellogg

Lilian Powell

Judy Olson-Peterson

Andrew Cohen

David Schroeder

Jackie Wolford

Aaron Ornoff

Jade Gallegos

Sharon Vieyra

Donella Silviera

The next LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES

meeting will be held at Redeemer on

Sat., July 1 @10 am. Please mark your

calendar and plan to attend. Ron

Drews continues to define the goals and training involved for the

establishing of services to Kern Co. Everyone welcome.

July13 @ 5:30 pm

DATES TO

REMEMBER

Saturday

July 8 – 9am

Saturday

July 1

10:00 am

WINE & DINE is Thursday, July 27/17 at 6:15 pm, @

Please watch the bulletin for more information.

JULY

ACTIVITIES

LUNCH BUNCH is Wednesday 7/5/17 @11am at

China Palace Restaurant, 4142 California Avenue.

Everyone is invited. Please make a reservation with

Judy Olson-Peterson.

QUILTING AND PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY are cancelled for the

month of July. We will resume again in August.

David & Linda Gaenicke

Jack & Dixie Kellogg

Gary & Karen Manes

Ken & Iris Svendsen

AFTERNOON CIRCLE is cancelled for July because of Vacation Bible

School. We will resume in August.

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29

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JULY 17 –21

9 a.m.—Noon

Be sure you join us at

VBS and learn how

these animals enter into

this year’s theme:

MIGHTY FORTRESS

ICE CREAM—SUNDAY, JULY 23

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OUTREACH/EVANGELISM

CLASSES TO BEGIN

JULY 9—8:30 am

Continue: July 16, 23, 30

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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

Inclusion, service - and, of course, synod busi-

ness - were the predominant themes of the As-

sembly held June 2 and 3 at California Lutheran

University in Thousand Oaks.

Bishop Guy Erwin kept the sessions moving, with

quite an array of reports, speakers, resolutions and

elections to get through. Bishop Patricia Lull of the

St. Paul Area Synod (our sister synod) led a lively

Bible study in between the business sessions.

The voting members passed resolutions declaring

the Southwest California Synod as both a sanctu-

ary synod and a Jubilee USA synod. The sanctu-

ary resolution states in part that "the congregations

of our Synod will commit to pray for immigrants

and refugees among us and will strive to be places

of radical welcome, refuge, and protection." Status

as a Jubilee USA synod means that our

"congregations, schools and members (are) en-

couraged to pray for the world's poorest countries;

designate a contact person to be a liaison with Ju-

bilee USA, study, and when possible, become Ju-

bilee USA congregations and take action such as

letter writing to Congress or the Administration call-

ing for economic justice in each country and espe-

cially the world's poorest countries."

A synod budget of $2,163,941 was approved for

2018. Approximately 7.5% of this, or $161,741, will

need to be covered by endowment draws or allo-

cations from property liquidations. The synod en-

deavors to repurpose property rather than sell it

because of the difficulty of re-entering the real es-

tate market at a later time.

The highlight of the Assembly for me was the Fes-

tival Service of Worship on Saturday morning. The

Samuelson Chapel on the Cal Lutheran campus

has walls of beautiful stained glass windows that

let in abundant light. There is a pipe organ and ele-

vated seating on two levels. Although most music

and readings were in English, some were in Span-

ish or Mandarin Chinese (the fourth most common-

ly spoken language in our synod territory). A

"pickup choir" of Assembly attendees sang an an-

them based on "God is Our Strength," and a solo-

ist performed the first stanza of "Amazing Grace,"

with the congregation then joining in. I came away

with a few ideas for expanding Redeemer's musi-

cal repertoire, so consider yourself forewarned!

I truly appreciate the opportunity to represent our

congregation at the annual Synod Assembly. If

you'd like to know more or have any questions,

please contact me.

Yours in Christ,

Laura Haywood

FREED IN CHRIST TO SERVE - SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA SYNOD ASSEMBLY 2017

WEBSITE FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE

There is a great website that I find to be a help

and source of comfort for dealing with the death

of a loved one. If you are on Facebook, in the

search area, type in: This Handbook Doesn’t

Exist , and it gives you access. You can read

posts of others who are dealing with grief and if

you care to post, you are welcome to share your

thoughts and feelings. Very comforting to know

that your are not alone in your grief.

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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Worship 9:30

Fellowship 10:30

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4

Pacifica 3 pm

Lunch bunch

11 am

6

Pacifica 10:15

Council 5:30 pm

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1

LSS 10:00

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Work Day 9 am

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Outreach/Evangelism

Class 8:30 am Worship 9:30

Fellowship 10:30

10

Worship & Music

6 pm

11

Pacifica 3 pm

12

13

Council 5:30

15

16

Outreach/Evangelism

Class 8:30 am Worship 9:30

Fellowship 10:30

17

18

Pacifica 3 pm

19

20

Pacifica 10:15

21 22

23

Outreach/Evangelism

Class 8:30 am Worship 9:30

Fellowship 10:30

Rosewood 3:30

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Pacifica 3 pm

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27

Wine & Dine

6:15

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29

30

Outreach/Evangelism

Class 8:30 am Worship 9:30

Fellowship 10:30

Ice cream

Sunday

July 23

10:30