Sunday 8 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM and 5 PM

  2944 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208  ·   (513) 321-6700  ·         Give

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
  • Welcome
    • Children
    • Service Times
  • About
    • What We Believe
    • Vision Statement
    • Community Covenant
    • The Way of Love
    • Our Clergy & Staff
    • Vestry
    • Calendar
    • Latest News
    • Wedding Guidelines
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Our Worship
    • Worship Online
    • Worship Weekdays
    • Bulletins
    • Music
    • Families in Worship
    • Children's Liturgy
    • Sermons
    • Prayers of the People
    • Ministry Scheduler
  • Serve
    • Mission Ministries
    • Mission Minded Forum
    • Reconcilers
    • Ministry Discernment
  • Care
    • Healthy Church
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Creation Care
    • Dementia Inclusive Cincinnati Initiative
    • Obituaries
  • Learn
    • Family Ministry
    • Redeemer Preschool
    • Book Group
    • Downtown Bible Study
    • Library
    • Theology Circle
    • Thursday Morning Bible Study
    • CoR After School
  • Connect
    • Holy Week 2023
    • Events
    • Church Directory
    • StorySharers
    • Becoming Beloved Community
    • Scotland Pilgrimage and Choir Residency
    • Second Half Ministry
    • Young Adults
    • Membership
    • Calendar
    • Contact Us
    • Giving
    • Planned Giving
    • CoR Portal
  • Media
    • Redeemer Online
    • Rector's Blog
    • Podcasts
    • Annual Report
  • Give
    • Commitment 2022
    • Stewardship
    • Endowment Fund

Rector's Blog: Regathering Ready

This blog is also available as a podcast

I am pleased to be able to tell you that the Church of the Redeemer will resume worship indoors on May 16th. I want to devote the rest of this week’s blog, and likely next week’s as well, describing to you how we came to that decision and what it will look like for us to be able to do this. But before we do that, I just want to pause and sit in the realization that, after 14 months of worship that has been either remote or outdoors, we will once again have the opportunity to gather in our sanctuary and worship God together in person.

This is an overwhelming and joyous reality.

Over the last year, we have become accustomed to a livestream service at 9am. We will continue this practice, and it’s this 9am service that will be opened up to in-person attendance. Due to distancing requirements, we will ask you to register ahead of time. We will be limiting seating, so if you are not able to attend in person one Sunday, or if you’re not ready to resume meeting in person yet, please know that you can still watch the service online. We will also continue the Pop-Up Church at 11:15am at Ault Park through the month of May as we finalize our summer schedule. I know you will have a lot of questions about how this will work. I will be devoting my blog next week to how the service will look, and what your part will be in making it happen.

Now is a perfect time for us to revisit our Community Covenant – an agreement we all make to one another as we gather together again. This Covenant rightly orients our decision-making in Christ’s command to love our neighbor and reminds us that the strength of this church is in the relationships we build and foster together in Jesus’ name. We will adhere to this Covenant as a very practical way to show respect for one another. We will be required to sacrifice some of our comfort, some of our opinions, and some of our preferences in order to share life in this community. This is a basic part of Christian life: obedience to God through the act of loving your neighbor in clear, practical ways.

I understand that for many of us, “coming back indoors” means coming back to “normal”. I have mentioned before my dreams of hugs and handshakes, singing loudly in a crowded sanctuary. We are not there yet, and it will feel disappointing to you. Let me say that again: You will experience some disappointment and frustration as you participate in this regathering. Because the pandemic isn’t over. The virus is still dangerous, people are still getting sick, people are still dying, and we will regather in a way that is safe and careful. And that will feel odd and slightly disappointing to you. But here’s the beauty of real life: something can be disappointing and amazing at the same time. Something can frustrate our expectations and still be deeply nourishing and joyful. So, I promise you that being together in our beloved sanctuary will be worth the extra burdens we bear in order to keep each other safe during this time.

Now, a word about how we came to this decision. Throughout this pandemic, we have sought to be guided by data, numbers, and the best expert interpretation of them. We created our regathering plan based on the Ohio State Public Advisory System. Under this system, Hamilton County is still currently at a level of public emergency which indicates we cannot meet indoors. However, in close consultation with our CARE Team, we have made the decision to rely more on the CDC’s method of data analysis. We believe this is a more accurate representation of the true incidence in our community. By CDC measures, we believe that, with appropriate distancing and masking, we can safely return to indoor worship.

It is essential to me that you understand, we did not make this decision arbitrarily or just because we were tired of not being indoors. Your safety is our main concern. And we believe that we can gather safely at this time. I want to be clear that this means that if the impact of the virus worsens again, we will cease indoor gathering again and move back to solely remote and/or outdoor worship. I also want to be clear that during this next period of time, masking and distancing will be mandatory and strictly observed while we are together on the church campus. We do this, again, for your safety. We also do this because it is our responsibility as a church community to do whatever we can to end this pandemic. This is how we love our neighbor.

Today is a good day. Today we have a date to which we can look forward, we can begin not only to picture ourselves reunited, but plan for that moment of connection. Today we take one step closer to our goal of being through this pandemic. I want to thank you all for your continued patience as we move through this time together. Thank you. It is an honor and a privilege to this work with you, to be in this community with you. I’m so grateful for you and the part you play in all of this. Friends, we are really and truly in this together. God has given us one another, and we will continue to honor that gift in the days to come.


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

© 2023 The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
2944 Erie Ave. · Cincinnati, OH 45208
(513) 321-6700
Privacy Policy · Powered by Membership Vision

  View Entire Post

Service Times

We welcome you to join us at the church building or online.

Learn more about our worship services using the button below.

Our Worship

Please join us online by using the button below!

Online Worship

Location

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
2944 Erie Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45208

Contact Us
(513) 321-6700

Newsletter Signup

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.

LEARN MORE

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.

LEARN MORE

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.

LEARN MORE

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.


CONTACT US
Make a Donation Altar Flowers Endowment Fund Commitment 2023 Planned Giving

Thank you for supporting the mission and ministry of Church of the Redeemer!

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

Donate

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.

Donate

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.

LEARN MORE

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.

Read More