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The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
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Rector's Blog: God of Transformation

The blog is also available as a podcast.

One day God changed Abram and Sarai’s names to Abraham and Sarah. While this moment may have been coming for a long time, and while in retrospect, it may seem obvious to us why that name change happened – how it signified a deep transformation in their understanding of themselves and marked a pivotal moment in their relationship with God – there’s no way they woke up that morning knowing it would be the last day they’d be Abram & Sarai. It was likely just another day until God showed up and made everything new.

The last Sunday I went to church before the pandemic, I did not know it would be the last. I did not know how much would change, how much I would change, how much the church would change. I did not know that our staff would change. I did not know that some of our parishioners would never step foot in the building again, or that 15 months later, others would step foot into the church for the first time. I did not know how important our digital ministry would become, or how all our ministers would have to completely change the way they did their jobs. I did not know that we would change service times and locations. In short, Sunday March 8th, 2020, was going to be just another Sunday for me. A good day, sure, but a momentous day? I had no idea.

In retrospect it seems obvious that this moment had been coming for a long time. That this new virus was spreading across the world was not a secret, that it had reached our shores was not a secret either.

But that's not all.

When I went to seminary 14 years ago, we were already inundated by think-pieces about how the church was changing, about how attendance was declining across denominations, about how important online connection, worship, and ministry were going to be, and how Sundays as we knew them were going to go away. What’s happening now feels new, and it is new – but it’s been coming. By the time Abraham & Sarah got their names, they were 24 years into their covenant with God. Their lives were already changing, had already changed.

This past Sunday, during the 9am worship service, we participated in a liturgy of renaming for one of our parishioners who is transgender. In the liturgy we acknowledged and honored our parishioner’s past, the name they’d been given at birth and in baptism, and then we enveloped ourselves in the Scriptural stories of Abraham & Sarah, and Israel and Paul and Peter - people whose names were changed in radical acceptance that God was doing something powerful and life-giving and liberating in their lives. We said twice during the liturgy on Sunday that, “This name is the culmination of a journey of discovery and, at the same time, a new beginning."

In our parishioner’s case, they knew their name would be changing that day because we scheduled it together. But I did not fully grasp how the words we all spoke together would articulate the transformation we are all experiencing together. The culmination of a journey of discovery that is, at the same time, a new beginning. When someone is baptized, we tend to think we’re watching something happen to them. But the truth is we are all changed by someone’s baptism. We are not who we were before they became a part of us. Likewise, this Sunday’s liturgy, while dedicated to one parishioner – was meant for all of us and spoke to a change that God is bringing about in all our lives. Together we prayed this prayer:

Blessed are you, God of growth and discovery; yours is the inspiration that has altered and changed our lives; yours is the power that has brought us to new dangers and opportunities. Set us, your new creation, to walk through this new world, watching and learning, loving and trusting, until your kingdom comes. Amen.

This prayer shook me on Sunday. Not only am I being transformed, but God is in that transformation. Together we uttered the words, “O God, in renaming your servants Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Peter, and Paul, you gave them new lives and new tasks, new love and new hope.” New lives, new tasks, new love, and new hope. This is where God is right now.

As we look to the Fall, to our new schedule, to our programming, to our ministries and our presence in the world, God is pushing us to recognize that we will never be what we were. This change has been building and developing over many years, however sudden it all has felt. The God of growth and discovery has altered and changed our lives. Our following Jesus has brought us to a new beginning. We will continue to call ourselves Church of the Redeemer – but our understanding of who we are when we say that has forever changed. The Love of Christ in which we are all rooted and grounded is the same unchanging Love that redeemed us in the first place, but we are being sent into a different world to serve all people with a new sense of humility, compassion, and faithfulness.

God of transformations, you set us free to change and grow, even while you hold us close in love and grace, in Christ’s holy Name. Amen.


Tags: Rector's Blog

Sermons

  • Mar 20 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    The Present Past
  • Mar 12 | Tym House
    Direct Access to Grace
  • Mar 6 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Being Righteous
  • Feb 27 | The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane
    Two Sides of the Same Coin
  • Feb 20 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Superman Transfigured

Rector's Blog

  • Mar 24 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, When God Feels Like It
  • Mar 17 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, But Through Me
  • Mar 10 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Conversions - Part 2
  • Mar 3 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Conversions - Part 1
  • Feb 24 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Better Not Easier

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2944 Erie Ave. · Cincinnati, OH 45208
(513) 321-6700
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The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
2944 Erie Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45208

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Welcome Children Service Times Membership Contact Us

Welcome to Church of the Redeemer! We invite and welcome ALL to join us in worship and community. In addition to worship, we have a vibrant music community, a fun and welcoming community for children and youth, plus offerings for everyone from young adults to seniors, covering many varied interests.

The Rev. Philip DeVaul, Rector

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We love children, and children love Church of the Redeemer!

Children are at the heart of life at Church of the Redeemer. Children learn about the word of God through our Children's Christian Education programs; they are involved in worship services, they play music in our services, and they form lifelong friendships with each other through their experiences.

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On Sundays we have an 8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I service, a 9:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II service (which is also livestreamed), an 11:00 am Banquet Eucharist service and a 5:00 pm Celtic Eucharist service.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we offer Morning Prayer on our Online Worship Podcast.

On Wednesdays, we offer Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 6:00 pm in the Chapel.

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The community of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer welcomes you! We are glad that you have chosen to explore your faith here and hope that this document can answer some of the questions you may have about Church of the Redeemer. We seek to be an open, inviting community. Our invitation to you is to join us as we grow in faith and reach out in love to others. At Church of the Redeemer we are always seeking to know Jesus and grow in love. We hope that in whatever ministries you undertake will strengthen your relationship with him through your ministry and fellowship here.

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PARKING: Parking is on the street. Please pay attention to the signs indicating proper parking zones. Handicapped parking is available in the front on Erie, in the back parking lot, and on the south side of Raymar.

ACCESSIBLE REDEEMER: The front entrance has a ramp and there is an elevator inside the back door and to the left. Accessible restrooms are located in the Lobby inside the front entrance.


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To give a one time gift, click the button below. To make a financial commitment for 2023, use the Commitment 2023 tab above.

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Flowers in our holy worship spaces are a beautiful gift to God and those who attend services at Church of the Redeemer as well as those being honored or remembered. A contribution to the Flower Fund is a meaningful way to honor or remember a loved one for special life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, confirmations, thanksgivings, or in memory of a loved one.

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The Church of the Redeemer is blessed to have received special gifts from parishioners who wanted Redeemer to have permanent savings to care for our facilities and to supplement our pledge income.

Such permanent savings are often called an “endowment.” The endowed funds are permanently set aside by donors or by the Vestry. Some of our donors have specified uses for their endowment gifts. A limited portion of the funds is distributed each year to supplement our general budget. All funds are invested with professional advice.

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What about your connection to Redeemer changes the way you live in this world? Your financial commitment is a response to the work that God is doing with you here. It is a practical way to ensure that others are able to experience the relationships of holy connection and communion that are shaping your life.

For 2023, we ask that you make your commitment through regular scheduled electronic giving, if possible. Whether it be weekly or annually, giving electronically is a safe and sustainable way to ensure your continued financial support.

MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT NOW

Your planned legacy gift to the Church of the Redeemer is a practical way for you to empower generations to come. It is a powerful witness of faith, love, and gratitude. This type of gift recognizes the heritage left by those who came before us and acknowledges that we bear a responsibility to the future faithful - to insure the continuation of God’s work within and beyond Church of the Redeemer.

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