The opening convocation of the Conference on Monday, January 18, will be Solemn Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m., with special guest organist John Fenstermaker, Director of Music at Trinity-by-the-Cove of Naples, Florida, and conductor Dr. Daniel T. Moe. Fenstermaker is the former Organist and Choirmaster at San Francisco’s famed Grace Cathedral. The public is warmly invited; goodwill offerings gratefully accepted.

Both visiting organists will perform on Redeemer’s Nichols and Simpson Pipe Organ.

David Swain, Captain (Ret.) US Marine Corps in boxes ready for shipment to soldiers in Afghanistan.

left to right: Parishioners Robert Ty Reed, David Swain, Gay Swain, John Meyer, Bonny Connell (woman, seated), John Marshall, and Russ Ryan

For the third year in a row, members of the Church of the Redeemer in downtown Sarasota are sending care packages to US military troops.

This year, the parishioners began gathering supplies on Veteran’s Day, collecting donated toiletries, snacks, socks, DVDS, books, and purchasing 550-minute phone cards and Holy Bibles, to send to American troops fighting in Afghanistan. The group hopes to send 250 boxes out in time for the soldiers to receive them by Christmas.

Each year, the Redeemer effort is led by David Swain, Captain (Ret.) US Marine Corps, in conjunction with the Military Officers Association of Sarasota, of which he is a member.

Swain, who served tours in Vietnam, says he knows what a “morale booster” it is to receive care packages from countrymen and women back home. ““I’ve been there, I know what it’s like,” Swain says. “These boxes will be air-dropped to soldiers serving on the front lines of the war. We’ve got 100-soldier units on the ground spread out far from each other across very rough terrain; air-dropping is the only way to get to them.”

The boxes cost about $11 each to mail and Swain says the postage for up to 250 boxes was donated by parishioners and friends of Redeemer. For more information or to make a donation, contact the Church of the Redeemer at 955.4263, or visit www.redeemersarasota.org.

August 26, 2009 / Sarasota – A well-renowned iconographer and Romanian Orthodox nun, Sister Eliseea Papaciòc, will be at the Church of the Redeemer on Sunday, September 27, 2009, to share and discuss the work of her lifetime: religious icons.

Papaciòc will discuss and exhibit her work at 3:00 p.m., and the public is warmly invited to the event which should last about an hour and offer an opportunity for questions and answers with the artist.

An abbreviated presentation will take place the same day during Redeemer’s morning Adult Forum, which starts at approximately 10:15 a.m. Both presentations will offer light refreshments and will be held in Redeemer’s Gillespie Hall located at 222 South Palm Avenue, in downtown Sarasota (at the corner of Ringling and Palm).

Some of Papaciòc’s icons will available for purchase before and after both presentations.

Papaciòc’s iconic works are deeply founded in the tradition of ancient icon painting, but made contemporary through modern techniques. She is well-known for her intricate brushstrokes; brushstrokes which she says represent the prayer and meditation that goes hand in hand with creating each icon. Christian icons are typically created by tracing a religious scene or image onto wood, and Papaciòc is known to age her wood for up to ten years before beginning work on an icon.

Viewers of Papaciòc’s icons — especially collectors — are often amazed by the richness and depth of color she achieves, as well as by the tiny symbols and words she often imparts to icons. Many people who have an opportunity to experience Papaciòc’s work and individual icons find them inspiring and moving.

Nearly two hundred parishioners crowded the church veranda to wish Father Robinson well, sing, and enjoy a celebratory slice of cake.

Since 1994, Father Robinson has officiated at the marriages, overseen the baptisms, counseled the grief, and celebrated the joys, of nearly every family and individual at Redeemer. And while the responsibilities of a Rector are endless, Father Robinson says the rewards are pretty endless as well.

Among the highlights of those rewards, Father Robinson says, is watching the young people of Redeemer grow from childhood to adulthood. He cites Redeemer’s ministry to children and young people as “one of our parish’s greatest strengths,” and bringing on a full-time Youth Minister as one of his best decisions. “Doing so,” Father Robinson says, “was a symbol to the congregation that we were willing to make an investment in our youth, which made our Children’s and Youth ministries even stronger.”

Another milestone occurred as Father Robinson became aware that many Hispanics in Sarasota were not being served by any church in the community. A Hispanic Mission was formed to serve the needs of this growing segment of Sarasota’s population, and a permanent Spanish Mass was added to Redeemer’s worship schedule in 2002.

The Church of the Redeemer founded Resurrection House prior to his arrival in Sarasota, but for 13 of his 15 years at Redeemer, Father Robinson has been President of the Board of Directors of Resurrection House. During that time, Father Robinson has been integrally involved in helping to guide and grow this venerable and critical support system for Sarasota’s homeless.

Serving the community beyond the immediate community is equally important to Father Robinson. For the past eight years, Redeemer has annually sent a team of about 20 parishioners, including Father Robinson and his wife, Linda, to perform mission work in the Dominican Republic. In the process, Redeemer has funded seven church projects, including four new church buildings and one new school.

The past 15 years have seen many improvements to Redeemer’s parish life and offerings to the Sarasota community — including the addition of a Saturday night Contemporary Service, and the installation of the much-admired and much-enjoyed Nichols and Simpson pipe organ.

As with all things, there’s always more than can be done – as Father Robinson points out: “I do feel Redeemer has the foundation in place to achieve unlimited possibilities, but there is much work to be done still in fine-tuning the numerous ministries that are going on and finding ways to involve more and more people in those ministries.”

Going forward, Father Robinson envisions a parish that is empowered, sustained, and nurtured by and through the infrastructure that has been put in place over the last 15 years. “I think all the pieces are in place for future growth,” Father Robinson says. “We have a multiplicity of parish organizations for all sorts of ministries – both within the parish and outside the parish in the broader community and the world.”

Father Robinson came to Redeemer with a S.T.M. (Magistri in Sancta Theologia) from Nashotah House in 1982; cum laude; as well as a M. Th. (Master of Theology) from the Perkins School of Theology; also cum laude. His undergraduate degree is from Ohio State University.

He currently is the Chairman of the Southwest Florida Diocesan Commission on Liturgy and Music and serves nationally as a Board Member of the American Anglican Council. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Nashotah House where he serves as Chairman of the External Affairs Committee.

The Church of the Redeemer in downtown Sarasota invites the public to join in the discussion — Is God a Delusion? Redeemer will be screening two films — “The God Delusion Debate” and “Science and the God Question” on consecutive Sunday evenings — November 30 and December 7, respectively. Both programs are free and open to the public and will begin at 6:30 p.m., in Redeemer’s Gillespie Hall located at 222 South Palm Avenue. Short discussions will follow and light refreshments will be available.

The first program, “The God Delusion Debate” was taped in 2007 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and showcases two powerful and well-known speakers — world-renowned atheist, Professor Richard Dawkins and Christian apologist and scientist, Dr. John Lennox — debating one of the most important issues of contemporary culture.

Dawkins is regarded by many as the chief spokesman for the “New Atheism.” Heralded by Europe’s Prospect Magazine as one of the world’s most important intellectuals, Dawkins is a Fellow of the Royal Society and Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. He has written numerous best-sellers, most notable among them, his recent book, The God Delusion.

Dr. John Lennox is a popular Christian apologist and scientist who travels widely speaking on the interface between science and religion. He is a Professor of Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green College, University of Oxford. He is the author of God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?

The second film, “Science and the God Question,” includes interviews with Anglican theologian and molecular biophysicist, Alister McGrath along with Lennox.

For more information contact the Church of the Redeemer at 955.4263.

Connie Snyder, Director of Child Care at the Center, said, “This will definitely enhance the children’s preschool experiences. We love to do art, have lunch and to do special projects outside. These tables will allow us to resume these activities with the children.”

The Women’s Outreach Ministry donated nearly $24,000 to local charitable organizations over the last year. The Ministry raises funds for local and global charities throughout the year by holding bazaars, plants and baked good sales, and through the operation of its ministry-run Episcopal Thrift House on Second Street in Sarasota.

The child care center at the Pines was originally created solely for the use of Pines’ employees, but has since opened its doors to the community, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

October 3, 2008 / Sarasota, FL — On Sunday, October 19, several downtown churches are hosting an “Organ Spectacular,” as part of an international event initiated by the American Guild of Organists and designed to celebrate the magnificent music of organs and the talented organists who play them.

Ann Stephenson Moe & Dan Cartlidge

The Sarasota Organ Spectacular will be a progressive recital of Widor’s Symphony No. 5, performed in five movements, by five area organists, on the organs of four downtown churches.
Charles-Marie Widor was organist of Saint Sulpice in Paris in the late 1800s. His organ symphonies were notable for the translation of orchestral sounds into organistic terms.

The community is warmly invited to this free recital, which includes an opening reception.

The Organ Spectacular will begin at 6:00 PM with a wine and cheese reception at the Church of the Redeemer, located at 222 South Palm Avenue; followed by a 7:00 PM Evensong service with the special work being the performance of the First Movement – Theme and Variations — of Widor’s Symphony No. 5, played by Ann Stephenson-Moe, Redeemer’s Organist/Choirmaster.

The recital will then progress to an 8:00 PM performance of the Second Movement — Allegro cantabile — at the First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak Street, performed by Carol Hawkinson, Organist.

At 8:25 PM, Dr. Robert Reeves, Minister of Music at St. Boniface Church on Siesta Key, will perform the Third Movement – Scherzo – at the First United Methodist Church, located at104 Pineapple Avenue.

At 8:50 PM the recital will progress to the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1031 South Euclid Avenue, where the Fourth Movement — Adagio — will be performed by Gregory Chestnut, Organist/Minister of Music and Fine Arts.

At 9:15 PM the recital will return to the Church of the Redeemer for a performance of the final Fifth Movement — the famous Toccata –by Daniel Cartlidge, Assistant Organist/Choirmaster for Redeemer.

With the exception of the 6:00 PM reception, all times given are approximate. A nightcap of coffee and dessert will be offered in Gillespie Hall at the Church of the Redeemer after the final recital.

For more information about this event, contact Ann Stephenson-Moe at the Church of the Redeemer (941.955.4263) or contact any of the churches and organists identified in the bio/background detail which follows this press release.

The theme of this year’s Vacation Bible School is “For I Know the Plans I Have for You.”  Activities include interactive study of lessons from the Bible, water-sliding, painting, singing, and more.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enroll your child in a stimulating, Christian “summer camp” environment conveniently located in downtown Sarasota.  The entire week-long session requires only a $10 registration fee and includes a mid-morning snack for the children.  Some scholarships are available to those in the community who have need of financial assistance. 

Advance registration is required and may be done by phone at 941.955.4263, or by visiting www.redeemersarasota.org/vbs.html, and following the instructions for registration.

Between June 4 and 9, fifteen youth from Redeemer worked on several sites in and around Biloxi, doing demolition, painting, general site clean up and removal of waste. They were housed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Biloxi, which has been serving as a Katrina Relief Shelter, providing housing and meals for up to one hundred hurricane volunteers every day. Bethel also functions as a free medical clinic during the week for hundreds of hurricane victims.

In addition to their site work, while at Bethel Lutheran, the Redeemer young people assisted in the preparation and serving of meals for other hurricane volunteers, as well as taking care of kitchen-clean up after each meal.

The group also devoted considerable time at the former site of their “sister church” – the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Biloxi, which was tragically completely swept away by Hurricane Katrina. The Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota was, in fact, named after the Redeemer Biloxi, and the congregations have exchanged visits in the past.

According to Adelaide Boedecker, 17, and a soon-to-be senior at Pine View School, the mission trip was “a life changing experience.”

“We saw all of the destruction and all of the pain that these people [in Biloxi] went through,” Boedecker said. “We helped a lot of people, but you can see that they still need so much more help …” she added.

The Reverend Richard Marsden, a priest at the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota, was one of the chaperones for the mission trip. While sifting through debris on the Biloxi Redeemer church site, according to Marsden, one of the adult chaperones spotted a plaque dedicating a pew to Jefferson Davis, the former president of the Confederacy who settled in the area and was a member of the parish following the Civil War. The mission group was very happy to be able to return the plaque intact to the members of the Biloxi parish.

The youth also collected hundreds of shards of stained glass from the original church windows. They gave the stained glass remnants to the Biloxi church which may use them in a commemorative stained glass window when their new church is constructed.

Boedecker described the mission trip as having a great impact on all of the Redeemer Youth. “It was amazing for us to see the devastation firsthand,” she said.

“But the greatest impact,” Boedecker added, “was for all of us to see that in the face of losing so much, these folks still have hope.”

While working on the site of one Biloxi family’s home, now just a frame with no walls, the youth recovered paintings, a couch, even the daughter’s senior photo album, all of which had been swept away by the hurricane storm surge into the nearby woods, according to Boedecker. The youth collected the items and returned them to the family, who, in return, made homemade deep-fried potato chips for the youth as a way of thanking them.

The Senior High Youth who participated in the “Building on the Bayou” mission trip include: Patrick Brown, Priscilla Brown, Erin Berg, Adelaide Boedecker, Grier Ferguson, David Pascal-Black, Christoph Stephenson-Moe, Davis Dunlap, William Crouse, James Montgomery, Caitlyn Turner, Lizzy Lewis, Clifton Lewis, Anise Veldkamp, Matt Mercurio.

The Mission Trip was led by Scott Merritt, Redeemer’s Youth Minister, and adult chaperones included Father Richard Marsden, Liz Berg, Jacki Boedecker, Laura Crouse, Jay Crouse, and Tony Veldkamp.

Each morning before beginning the day’s work, adult chaperones would lead morning devotion for the group. At their mid-day lunch breaks they led an informal Bible study and held evening devotions as well. The group attended services at Bethel Lutheran one evening, and Father Marsden also held a special Eucharist amidst the ruins of what once was the Church of the Redeemer, Biloxi.

In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota collected and donated close to $62,000 to the Episcopal Dioceses of Mississippi and Louisiana for hurricane relief efforts in those areas. Additionally, knowing of the loss of everything at Redeemer, Biloxi, the church school classes of Redeemer, Sarasota, collected materials to completely restock their Sunday School supplies, gathering everything from paper, pencils and markers to costumes for their Christmas and Easter pageants.

For more information about youth activities at the Church of the Redeemer, call 955.4263. The Church of the Redeemer is located at 222 South Palm Avenue, in downtown Sarasota.

Nearly 60 people from the church and Sarasota community attended the talk on Wednesday, 11 January, and many were moved to make donations to Orphans Hope on the spot.

At the end of Gentry’s talk, children from the LOGOS program at the Church presented Gentry with 35 hand-crafted “Dolls of Love.” The dolls were individually sewn, stuffed, and decorated by the children, and women from the parish assisted them with using sewing machines and following the doll pattern.

Each doll had a red heart sewn on to its chest, and was personalized and signed with a message of love and support from a Redeemer child.

The dolls have no gender or ethnic identifiers – they are meant to convey a message of collective humanity and give the Ugandan orphans a symbol of love and compassion to play with or just hug.

The dolls were made from a pattern provided by Rag Dolls 2 Love, Inc., a nonprofit project devoted to putting “a soft cloth doll in the hands of children” in countries ravaged by war, HIV/AIDS, natural disasters, and the loss of one or both parents. For more information about Rag Dolls 2 Love, visit http://www.ragdolls2love.org.

Gentry is a life-long Episcopalian who has worked as a missionary in Uganda for over 22 years. She spends several months each year in Uganda working alongside her Orphans Hope Project co-founder and Ugandan native, Edward Gitta Mussisi.

Gentry and Mussisi founded Orphans Hope in 1997 as a way to meet this most critical need of Ugandan orphans – education. The Orphans Hope Project provides funding for young children to go to the local schools in their villages. The cost per student is $30 per year for pre-schoolers and $60 per year for students through 7th grade.

According to Gentry, an educated population will help avoid the terrible prospect of genocide in the African country. “When children are not provided with stimulation and an opportunity to learn, they become frustrated,” Gentry said. “Once they become teenagers, that frustration leads to anger,” she continued, “and anger leads to violence.” Through education, she and Mussisi hope the Orphans Hope Project will plant the seeds for work opportunities, financial independence, and peace in Uganda.

To make a donation to Orphans Hope, please make your check payable to “Church of the Redeemer,” including a special notation on the front of the check “ for Orphans Hope Project/Uganda,” and mail to Church of the Redeemer at 222 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.

LOGOS is an opportunity for Christian fellowship for children grades K-5, and meets from 4:00 to 6:30 PM on Wednesdays during the school year. LOGOS provides a format for playtime/homework, worship, art, choir and Bible study.

For more information about ECW, LOGOS, or the Church of the Redeemer and its support of various ministries in Sarasota and throughout the world, please visit redeemersarasota.org or call 955.4263 for more information.