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A Message to Redeemer on Worship Service during Coronavirus
Dear people, loved by God! It is with a very heavy heart that I announce, alongside the Board of Elders of Redeemer, that all live public worship services at Redeemer-Waterloo, ON must cease for a time. At this moment, we do not know for how long. At the very least, we will not resume services until April, but we will keep you informed as we can. This includes any public gathering at Redeemer: Bible Classes, Tea, Toys & Chat, Lenten Mid-Week Services, and any extraneous meetings. All public events at Redeemer have been cancelled. In the meantime, here is what Redeemer is doing. Sermons for Mid-Week Lenten Vespers and for Sunday morning services will be put up online on our website for your viewing and devotional use. As well, please feel free to search out other LCC or even Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations for live-stream services of the Word, to aid in your home devotions. This is a perfect time to resurrect and institute home devotions appropriate to our calling as God’s people to read the Word together, sing hymns together, and encourage one another in the Christian Faith. So maybe even crack open that old Small Catechism on your shelf and read through it together bit by bit! Pastor Kuhl will not be in the office at this time, however you can always call him in any need, email him, text him (he will give you his cell phone number if you email him at the church), and he will get back to you as soon as possible. If you are anxious and really need a visit, one on one times will be arranged for counsel, confession & absolution, and even the holy Sacrament. All precautions will be made for every one-on-one (and small family) encounter to sanitize and limit contact for possibly contamination. But Pastor Kuhl and Vicar Peschel will be available throughout this time for prayer and counsel. Also, please come by the church in the coming days as we will have Redeemer’s LSB hymnals available for you to take home for your home use for the time being. We’ll be trusting that you’ll bring them back when this is all over. Thanks! Rest assured, the leadership of Redeemer will be in constant contact via telephone and emails with anyone in need over the next number of weeks. The Pastors of our Kitchener Circuit here in the East Region of Lutheran Church—Canada will also remain in close communication. These communications will continue to monitor the situation around our area and throughout Canada, and will help us decide quickly and properly when we will be able to resume our public gathering around Christ’s Word and Sacrament. We pray, that by God’s grace, this plague which is threatening the world right now may abate. We will continue to keep that prayer ascending to our heavenly Father every day! We do not make this decision lightly. Some have suggested we decide to meet in smaller groups for Divine Service. We have prayerfully considered this but believe that continuing this way at this time will not limit the bell of this outbreak. Staying quarantined for the 14 day minimum will make sure we do not carry or transmit the virus to any vulnerable people. The sad and difficult issue with COVID-19 is that anyone could be a carrier and transmitter of this bug without having symptoms. We do not want to endanger anyone unknowingly. Our synod President, in consultation with his Ministry Council, are strongly urging all LCC congregations to pull together and do what is right and close our doors for a time. May God have mercy on us all! This is a crazy time. I absolutely despise with my entire being not holding public Sunday morning Divine Services here at God’s House. But it is for the love of our neighbour, respecting our government and our health officials warnings, and it is but for a short time, God willing. Remember that you are baptized into Christ Jesus! You are children of the heavenly Father! Live in that grace and truth! Keep imploring the Holy Spirit to aid you in your reading of God’s Word at home as a family, remembering that where two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name, there he is also! And for those who are alone, remember that you are never alone! God is the great Three in One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! There will always be a gathering of 4 at the bare minimum whenever you call upon the Triune Name of our Most Holy God! Never will our Lord Jesus leave us, never will he forsake us! God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit IS with each and every one of you! God bless you all! In Christ’s service, Rev Joel V Kuhl, Pastor |
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Supporting Redeemer
Dear Fellow Redeemed, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies us with our living breath now and into eternity. In His Church we receive the gifts of life: the washing of Holy Baptism, the precious Words of Absolution that envelop and enliven us when sins pull us down, and of course, the great blessing of Christ’s own body and blood in Holy Communion. We are washed, renewed, fed, and uplifted by our Lord Jesus... so much blessing we want and desire to respond with love and appreciation to the One who has given our very being to us. This is why we give offerings. As Christians, we are not required to tithe as in the Old Testament days. We are free in Christ to give as we are able. For those who cannot give as much are under no compulsion to give, for our Lord Jesus only ever wants to be the One who gives life and grace to us! And for those who have been blessed by much, they can in turn bless others from their storehouses. Your gifts to the Lord’s kingdom work is greatly appreciated. They keep the doors open, the House of the Lord in good order, the services running smoothly, and give us all a place to meet and support one another in any need. During this time of Coronavirus COVID-19 crisis, the bills of the church still arrive, and if you are able to continue giving your gifts, they will go a long way to keeping everything running in order. In Christ’s service, Rev Joel V Kuhl, Pastor |
Location & HoursOffice Hours:
Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm Wednesday: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm Thursday: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm Friday: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm |