Rector's Report 2008

A Message from our Rector

Welcome to the website of the Church of the Redeemer, an Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Southwest Florida and a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.  At Redeemer, our common life is centered at the altar, for we are a community that is centered on the worship of God, most fully revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our principal act of worship is the Holy Eucharist, instituted by Christ at the Last Supper and through which the crucified and risen Christ makes himself present to the worshipper. The Church of the Redeemer is known for the great beauty of her worship, emanating from the proclamation of the Gospel in its fullness. The ethos of the parish is Anglo-Catholic and we are known throughout the Episcopal Church for our emphasis on the authority of Holy Scripture as the revealed word of God and for our adherence to credal faith.

Central to our rich liturgical life is our excellent Music Program. Every Sunday our choirs perform anthems expressive of the great diversity found in Christian choral literature. Monthly, September through May, the time-honored Anglican tradition of Evensong is performed. Redeemer also hosts many community recitals and concerts throughout the year.

Redeemer is known in Sarasota as a family church, and our Christian education program is second to none. We provide fun and active opportunities for learning and fellowship through our many programs for children and youth, as well as classes, forums, and fellowship groups for adults.

Another prominent and extraordinary feature of the Church of the Redeemer is our commitment to mission and outreach. The Church of the Redeemer is mother church to several congregations in and around Sarasota. In 1985, Redeemer founded a daycare program for the homeless, and by 1986, with the collaboration of several other churches in Sarasota, a daycare center – known as Resurrection House – was officially opened. Resurrection House is now ecumenical and serves over 150 homeless persons every day.

The extensive list of outreach programs in which we are involved also includes Habitat for Humanity, Caritas House (to meet the basic needs of the poor), and the Salvation Army. We send mission teams to the Dominican Republic and have built two churches there as well.  We also provide support within the local Hispanic community through our dedicated Hispanic Mission.

I invite you to experience the Church of the Redeemer personally – to worship, learn, love, and serve with us. God bless you.

Faithfully in Christ,
The Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson, Rector