Church of the Redeemer-Episcopal, Kenmore, Washington

06/14/2026

What are your gifts?

The Fire That Keeps Us One. When the world pulls you apart, remember the fire that keeps you one. You are held. You are connected. You are not alone.

The Rev. Theresa Newell preached this sermon on the 7th Sunday of Easter (Year A), May 17, 2026, at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Kenmore, Washington.

All are welcome to fully participate at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer:
✅All races.
✅All religions.
✅All countries of origin.
✅All sexual orientations, including LGBTQ+.
✅All genders.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

06/12/2026

Nor should you.

The Fire That Keeps Us One. When the world pulls you apart, remember the fire that keeps you one. You are held. You are connected. You are not alone.

The Rev. Theresa Newell preached this sermon on the 7th Sunday of Easter (Year A), May 17, 2026, at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Kenmore, Washington.

All are welcome to fully participate at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer:
✅All races.
✅All religions.
✅All countries of origin.
✅All sexual orientations, including LGBTQ+.
✅All genders.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

06/10/2026

What will be your response?

The Fire That Keeps Us One. When the world pulls you apart, remember the fire that keeps you one. You are held. You are connected. You are not alone.

The Rev. Theresa Newell preached this sermon on the 7th Sunday of Easter (Year A), May 17, 2026, at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Kenmore, Washington.

All are welcome to fully participate at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer:
✅All races.
✅All religions.
✅All countries of origin.
✅All sexual orientations, including LGBTQ+.
✅All genders.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

06/10/2026

This is not right.

The Fire That Keeps Us One. When the world pulls you apart, remember the fire that keeps you one. You are held. You are connected. You are not alone.

The Rev. Theresa Newell preached this sermon on the 7th Sunday of Easter (Year A), May 17, 2026, at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Kenmore, Washington.

All are welcome to fully participate at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer:
✅All races.
✅All religions.
✅All countries of origin.
✅All sexual orientations, including LGBTQ+.
✅All genders.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

The Visitation: “From now on, all generations shall call me blessed.” “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

May 31 commemorates the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth. This meeting of two pregnant women is filled with prophetic significance. Mary’s prophetic statement that “all generations” would call her “blessed” was first realized when she was greeted by Elizabeth. Both women bore children in their wombs whose births had been prophesied. The Prophet Malachi had said, centuries before, that Elizabeth’s son, John the Baptist, was to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John, it was prophesied, would “be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). Even before his birth, Scripture records that John began to fulfill this prophetic mission. As Elizabeth greeted Mary, John sensed the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb and proclaimed the coming of the Messiah by leaping in Elizabeth’s womb. In response to these significant events, Mary proclaimed her hymn, “The Magnificat” (“My soul magnifies the Lord,” Luke 1:42-45). This hymn continues to be sung by Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Lutherans and many other Chrisians every day at Evening Prayer.

Almighty God, by whose grace Elizabeth rejoiced with the blessed Virgin Mary and greeted her as the mother of the Lord: Look with favor on your lowly servants, that, with Mary, we may magnify your holy Name and rejoice to acclaim her Son as our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Art & history by Ben Lansing

ORDER the book - www.ourchurchspeaks.com

06/10/2026

“Human life is sacred… From its very inception, it reveals the creating hand of God.” - John XXIII (1881-1963), Bishop of Rome, Ecumenist, and Reformer of the Church

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, later known as “Pope John XXIII,” was born into poverty to a large family of northern Italian sharecroppers. Ordained a priest in his early 20’s, he was known for his good humor, warmth, and compassion. During World War II, at great risk to his safety, Roncalli saved the lives of Jewish people, arranging paperwork and visas that helped them flee Europe. He was elected Pope in 1958 and chose ‘John’ as his papal name. Due to his age, he was expected to have a short and insignificant tenure. Instead, Pope John XXIII became one of the most significant Popes in modern times. In 1962, he called the second Vatican Council because he believed the Roman Catholic Church needed “Aggiornamento” (“updating”) to effectively minister to the secularizing modern world. The reforms initiated by this council were dramatic. The language of the people was encouraged for use in the Mass, and the traditional Latin Mass was de-emphasized . The Ecumenical Movement was endorsed and Protestants and Eastern Orthodox were declared ‘separated brethren,’ instead of heretics. The Jewish people were affirmed and anti-semetism was condemned. Religious liberty for all religions was affirmed. The ministry of laypeople was encouraged and affirmed. These reforms, and many others, transformed the approach of the Roman Catholic Church in the late 20th century and established John XXIII as one of the modern world’s most significant reformers.

Almighty God, we give you thanks for the ministry of John XXIII, who labored that the Church of Jesus Christ might be one: Grant that we, instructed by his teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Art and history by Ben Lansing

ORDER the book 📚 today - ourchurchspeaks.com

06/10/2026

“The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on her course.” - Boniface (675-754), Archbishop & Missionary, Martyr

Boniface was an English monk born with the English name ‘Winfred.’ He ministered in Germanic lands, exhibiting such dedication to the dangerous environment that his work received the attention of Pope Gregory II, who made him a bishop and renamed him ‘Boniface,’ after an early Christian martyr. Martyrdom seemed certain for Boniface in his missionary work. A significant, bloody tradition for German pagans centered around an oak tree named “Thunder Oak” (or “Thor’s Oak”). In an annual festival, a small child was ritually sacrificed at the roots of the tree as the culmination of worship. Vastly outnumbered by the pagans, Boniface appeared at the festival with an ax and proclaimed, “here the cross of Christ shall break the hammer of the false god Thor.” As he set his ax to the tree, a large wind toppled the oak to the ground. Boniface then pointed to an evergreen tree, made visible by the fall of the oak. “This little tree… is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are ever green… Let this be called the tree of the Christ-child; gather about it, not in the wild wood, but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.” Many believe this is the origin of the Christmas tree. Boniface established churches and Benedictine communities throughout Germania. Later, he was set upon by robbers. Holding up a copy of the Gospels as his only defense, a sword pierced through the book and took his life.

Almighty and everlasting God, you called your servant Boniface to preach the Gospel to the Germans: Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Art and history by Ben Lansing

ORDER the book 📚 ourchurchspeaks.com

06/10/2026

Bishop William Alexander Guerry (July 7, 1861-June 9, 1928) explained that to be truly catholic, the church must be fully inclusive.