As a people of God, we come together for worship, to care for each other, to engage in spiritual formation, and to reach out to others thoughtfully and compassionately.

Sunday Worship 

8:00 AM

10:15 AM 

Spiritual Formation 

Adult Forum 9:00 AM

Sunday School  

10:00 AM

Confirmation/Post Confirmation Class

10:00 AM 

Church of the Redeemer

145 W. Springfield Rd.

Springfiled, PA 19064

Our Staff

The Rev. Edward Shiley, Rector

The Rev. Vivian Bennett, Priest Associate, Retired

Dave Nelson, Minister of Music

Diane Faison, Executive Assistant to the Rector

Our Vestry

Carol Kane '15

Rector's Warden

Chris Lee '17

People's Warden

Bruce Fillipo '16 

Accounting Warden

Michael Meehan '16

Clerk of the Vestry

Charles Klaniecki '16 

Patricia Haussmann '17

Jane Nyiri '17

Bill Cottman '15

Danielle Danenhower '15

From the Rector

When I was a boy in Winchester, Virginia, we had mostly small local stores in which to shop. Even the department store on Main Street was locally owned. I hate to admit that I remember when the first Sears store came to town, and we thought we had hit the big time.

But like most places today, the notion that "bigger is better" took over my hometown and Winchester has so many malls and "mega-stores" that I find it hard to drive around town any more. When I go there I miss small stores and the open friendly people who served in them. Yes, those were the days when serving was still a part of customer service. Small can be good.

The first Christmas celebrated smallness--the eternal God reducing Himself into a newborn (Jesus). Almighty God becoming of no reputation, arrived with the express purpose of bringing humanity new life. The few who recognized Him were in utter amazement. Yet this huge event, Christ's birth, was about smallness. God reduced God's self to enter our world, reduced Almighty God, creator of the universe to something as small as DNA. And the amazing wonder of the God of the universe entering time and space in such "smallness" is staggering--all to know we stubborn humans and show us a better way to be in relationship with God.

So this Christmas, do not despise the small things. Let us consider becoming unknown and squeezing into small places in the lives of those around us who have great need to know this Babe from Bethlehem, Jesus the Christ. Let us shrink our egos so that we can serve others with joy and love, grace and truth.

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a Father's only son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14 NRSV)

Associate Priest

We have all enjoyed the grace, calm, and depth of The Rev. Vivian Bennett these past months that she has served as Associate Rector. Many of you know her from an earlier time at Redeemer, and many of us have gotten to know her for the first time, but all have been blessed by her presence among us. While Vivian and Norman will still worship with us, and Vivian will remain as Associate Rector for the foreseeable future, she has asked to be relieved from weekly liturgical responsibilities. I will definitely miss her assistance but respect and understand her request. Please take time to thank her for all she has done the past months, and continue to make her and her family welcome.

Everyone is invited to a wonderful Christmas dinner following the Greening of the Church. 

The dinner is free, but reservations are necessary so we know how much food to order.

Sunday School

December will be a busy month for the Sunday School. On November 30, we celebrated the first Sunday in Advent by processing into the church with a banner, leading the church in an Advent opening, and lighting a candle on the Advent Wreath. Each Sunday in Advent we will add a banner and a candle. Also on November 30 all the classes were combined for an activity marking the beginning of Advent. Throughout Advent we will also be finding out who will be here for the Christmas Pageant and wants to perform. On December 21, there will be a special single service at 9:30 so everyone can participate in the greening of the church. We will have Sunday School classes that day, but part of the time we will be rehearsing for the Christmas Pageant. After church we will continue the rehearsal and also decorate the Jesse tree. On Christmas Eve at 5:30, we will be performing the Christmas Pageant. So, in the full spirit of Advent, we are anticipating what is coming in December.      

Adult Forum

In Adult Forum will are discussing how Jesus used scripture from the Old Testament to advance his mission and identify who he was. His knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures was extensive and allowed him to avoid traps by the authorities while he gave the common people a new perspective on their heritage. Come join us between the services at 9:00 to explore the foundations of our faith.

2014 Diocesan Convention

The setting was the lovely, large campus of the Church of the Good Samaritan in Paoli. We gathered there for coffee and then for worship, which featured the choir of "Good Sam" and the St. Andrew and St. Monica's Choir, remarks from Bishop Dan, and his leading the Eucharist's liturgy alternating in English and Spanish. After worship, elections were conducted for various offices in the diocese; it took three ballots to achieve decisions for all offices. We were introduced to new clergy in the diocese, seminarians, the newly ordained, and those in formation for the diaconate. Our own Diane Faison was in the latter group.

Before lunch there were two thirty-minute breakout sessions. One was sponsored by the Anti-Racism Committee, one led by Fr. Peter Stube of the Seamen's Church Institute, another sponsored by St. James School, one led by an officer of the Church Foundation, another about the UTO, Kim Shiley co-led a session explaining the ministry of ECS, and the last was led by staff from the office of Family and Young Adult Ministries. I attended Fr. Peter's presentation during the first session to see how he was settling into his relatively new job at the SCI, the diocese's oldest mission.  I learned about the Church Foundation at the second session and was impressed with its track record of investments and its growth over the last few years. Diane and Fr. Ed went to different sessions so we could benefit from just about the entire menu of offerings.

After a delicious lunch it was back to business, considering and voting on resolutions first presented to the delegates at preliminary meetings throughout the diocese this fall. We heard from the diocesan transition team, saw pictures of the new diocesan building next to the cathedral and learned it would accept its first occupants by the end of the year. There were resolutions of appreciation offered for everyone who helped plan and present the day's programs and a blessing to send us on our way. It was a full day; worship, connecting with old friends and making new ones across the region, and accomplishing the business of the day in an organized, Christ-honoring manner.

Advent, Christmas, Epiphany

Advent

Saturday, December 6, 2014

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Cookie Walk

Thrift Shop

Theme Baskets

Silent Auction

Homemade Baked Goods  

Breakfast & Lunch Items

Donations

Covenant member and high school senior, Paul Schneider, invites the congregation to help him complete his Eagle Scout project. During the month of December, Paul will be collecting new and gently used winter outerwear to be given to Loaves and Fishes for those in need. You can help by donating coats, jackets, sweatshirts, hats, scarves, mittens, and gloves for all ages. A box to receive these donations is located in the back of the church. Any contributions you are able to make will be greatly appreciated and will help our neighbors stay warmer this winter.

Donations Needed!

Please remember that donations are always needed for the Food Cupboard. You can leave non-perishable food in the room to the side of the church.

There is always need!! 

We continue to sell Giant and Acme cards. Giant gift cards may be used for Giant gas. The Giant in Havertown has a gas station. It can be accessed from West Chester Pike or City Line Avenue.

Gift cards are available in denominations of $25, $50, and $100. There is no additional cost to the buyer, and the church makes a 5% profit from the sales. It is one way we can help keep the church in the black without spending a dime.

Heartstart Defibrillator

The Heartstart Defibrillator is located in the hallway outside the vesting room, with constant access from both the sanctuary and the parish hall.

If your birthday is not in this list please let the church office know so that we can update our database.