August Dates
August 16 - Belmont Church Fair
If you want to help table or engage students at the fair, let me know!
August 18 - Prayer Walk and Neighborhood Canvassing
7:00-8:00 PM. Meet at Flora Wilson Park.
August 20 - Night of Worship
5:30-8:00 PM at The Cookery.
August 23 - Sunday Gathering
10:00 AM at the Slaters'.
August 30 - Sunday Gathering
10:00 AM at the Webers'.
Help Shape the Faith of the Next Generation
If God has given you a heart to help shape the faith of the next generation, we'd love for you to prayerfully consider joining us in setting the culture for our RF Kids ministry.
Open the RF Nashville app, tap the Connect icon at the bottom, select the "Serving" tile, and complete the form by checking RF Kids Ministry.
After our Sunday gathering on August 23, we'll gather with everyone who is interested to dream together, answer questions, and begin laying the foundation for what RF Kids can become.
Life as a Family Around the Table
RF Communities are the foundational place where we are formed in the way of Jesus. It's where Gospel + safety + time create the relational beauty that makes us a creative witness together.
The goal: life as a family, formed by Jesus around the table, for the sake of our neighborhoods.
I'm looking for four leaders to beta test two groups over the next few months.
Respond to this email if you are willing to lead one of these communities!
Read: Why Redeemer Fellowship Communities
Why: Redeemer Fellowship Communities
Vision: Jesus at Every Table. Renewal in Every Neighborhood.
Mission: A people open to Jesus, formed in his ways, setting open tables of renewal for every neighbor.
Formation Rhythm Step: "Formed in the Way of Jesus around the table"
Summary: RF Communities are the foundational place we are formed in the way of Jesus. It's where Jesus + safety + time creates the relational beauty that makes us a creative witness together. The goal, life as a family, formed by Jesus around the table, for the sake of our neighborhoods.
Life as a family:
As a family adopted by God through Jesus, we gather together to share a meal, pray and share life together. These communities are 10-15 who (if possible) live in proximity to one another, to serve and care for one another in practical ways. Family life around the table is where the ordinary stuff of life becomes sacred spaces of celebration, connection and remembrance of what Jesus has done and is doing in us.
Formed by Jesus around the table:
Around the table we learn the language and participate in the ways of Jesus. As often as the community gathers, we pray, share a meal, linger, practice and we participate with the Spirit by moving one step closer to living like Jesus for the sake of others. We believe Spiritual formation primarily takes place in community. Through Jesus + safety + time, our lives are formed to reflect more of Jesus to others.
For the sake of our neighborhoods:
The table of the kingdom is long and abundant. As the family of God in our neighborhoods, we get to witness to Jesus through acts of word and deed. Through everyday life we participate with Jesus by serving in the spaces of need right where we live, work and play. We are asking ourselves "who are we responsible for" and "what would Jesus do if he were us"? Partnering with Jesus to serve at established tables of mercy and justice or create ones where there aren't any.
Ancient Realities in Modern Culture
Redeemer is a church that is intentionally holding together ancient realities in modern culture. In a world with so many things available to pacify us or draw us out of reality, we are asking God to make our gatherings grounded, saturated with Scripture, intentionally relational, and participatory.
Communion is not an add-on to the Christian worship gathering; it's central. Many of us have had different experiences with communion across our walks with the Lord.
At Redeemer, we want to hold together three things when we gather at the table with Jesus: holiness, reverence, and joy.
Attached below is our communion liturgy, which is written with those three things in mind.
Read: Communion - The Table That Forms Us
Communion: The Table That Forms Us
The Invitation
Minister: Church, as we come to the Lord's Table, remember this: our desire to see Jesus at every table begins by coming to His table.
Every time we gather around this table, Jesus reminds us who He is, what He has done for us, and who we are becoming together as His people.
The bread and cup remain bread and cup. Yet through the Holy Spirit, Jesus truly meets His people as we receive this meal in faith. We do more than remember Him. He strengthens us by His grace, reminds us that our life comes from Him alone, and nourishes us for the life He calls us to live.
Minister: This table tells us the truth about ourselves:
People: We are more needy than we ever dared believe.
Minister: And it tells us the truth about God:
People: In Jesus Christ, we can be more satisfied than we ever dared hope.
The Call to Self-Examination & Welcome
Minister: Scripture invites us to examine ourselves - not to see if we are worthy, but to remember why we need Jesus.
If you are trusting in Jesus, turning from sin, and relying on His forgiveness and grace, this table is for you.
This meal belongs to Jesus. To receive this meal is to receive the One who invites us - Jesus Himself. The bread and cup proclaim the saving work of Jesus, who in love took the curse of sin upon Himself for us. Scripture also lovingly warns us not to receive this meal while rejecting the One it points to. This meal is meant to be received with faith, because it is God's gift for those who trust in Christ.
So if you are not yet trusting in Christ, simply let the elements pass as they are served. We are grateful that you are here, and we invite you to use this time to consider the gracious invitation Jesus extends to you today.
The Celebration
Minister: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Minister: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
Minister: It is right - and a good and joyful thing - always and everywhere to give thanks to You, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
In Jesus Christ, You have shown us Your heart. You welcome us into Your family, forgive our sins, and invite us to feast at Your table.
Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all Your people in every place and every generation, we join our voices in praise, proclaiming the glory of Your holy name:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Prayer over the Bread and Cup
Minister: Holy and gracious Father,
In Your great love, You made us for Yourself. When we turned away from You and became captive to sin and death, You did not abandon us. In Your mercy, You sent Jesus Christ, Your only and eternal Son, to become one of us, to live and die in our place, and to reconcile us to You. Amen.
Hear now the words Jesus gave His disciples on the night before His crucifixion:
On the night He was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread.
The Minister breaks the Bread. A period of silence is kept.
When He had given thanks, He broke it, gave it to His disciples, and said,
"Take, eat. This is My body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."
After supper He took the cup. When He had given thanks, He gave it to them and said,
"Drink this, all of you. This is My blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me."
Minister: Therefore, let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:
People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
The Instructions
Instructions for the Congregation: We will pass around the bread and the cup. Please note that the cup contains grape juice. We ask that you hold the elements so that, after everyone has been served, we may take the meal together as one body.
The Distribution
As the elements are distributed, the minister says to all the people:
- Bread: The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven given for you.
- Cup: The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation poured out for you.
After elements are all received: The Body and blood of Christ given for you. Take and eat.
Post-Communion Prayer
Minister: Let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for meeting us at Your table and nourishing us by Your grace through Your Son, Jesus Christ. By Your Holy Spirit, strengthen us to love and serve our neighbors, to bear faithful witness to Jesus, and to set open tables where others may encounter His welcome. To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever.
People: Amen.
Pray With Us
Pray that we find a space where our community can continue to grow together.
Pray for the themes of 1 John to take root in our church plant-that we would become a people of love, walking in the light and centered on Jesus.
Pray for neighbors, coworkers, and friends who are far from Jesus. We want to be a community where the table is open to those who are far from Jesus.
Pray that our personal tables would reflect the kind of people we want to worship alongside on Sundays-a multigenerational, multicultural family gathered around Jesus' table.
Pray that God would provide a long-term gathering space for Redeemer as we look toward 2027.