Redeemer’s Daughters of the King held a special “Happy Birthday” meeting on Monday, April 10 after the 10 o’ clock morning mass to wish Dora Riverol a Happy Hundredth! Yes, Dora turned 100 in April!

The event was held in the Eva Pope Room, and Katie Altmann arranged for a delicious and beautiful carrot cake, balloons, and lovely flowers.

The DOK sang Happy Birthday and two of Dora’s relatives sang “Amazing Grace”.

Dora cut the first piece of cake and Gretchen Rimmel made sure everyone enjoyed a slice.

At a hundred years of age, Dora, still volunteers twice a week at Redeemer’s Episcopal Thrift House, does all her own shopping and cooking, and really enjoys using her computer and the Internet to keep in touch with far-flung friends and relatives. Dora was born in London and grew up in the British Honduras — now Belize — where she worked in the department of public works, among other positions. In September 1993, she was inducted into the Belize National Sports Hall of Fame for her unbroken winning record in that country’s ladies single, ladies doubles and mixed doubles tennis cups. Since moving to the United States — Sarasota — in 1974, Dora worked at the Van Wezel for nearly 25 years.

Sunday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m., Balint Karosi, distinguished concert organist, recording artist, and Minister of Music for the First Lutheran Church of Boston, will perform at the Church of the Redeemer as the opening artist for the January 18 American Guild of Organists Region IV Mid-Winter Conference. Suggested ticket donation is $20 the day of the performance, and $12 if purchased in advance by calling the Redeemer Parish Office at 941.955.4263, M-F/9-5.

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.

Public Invited to Hear Romanian Nun Discuss Religious Icons

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.

On Sunday, June 14, 2009, the Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson, Rector at the Church of the Redeemer in downtown Sarasota, was the recipient of a surprise “Thank You for 15 Years of Service” celebration put on by parishioners in his honor.

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.

World-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins and popular Christian apologist debate the question in film series at the Church of the Redeemer

The Church of the Redeemer in downtown Sarasota invites the public to join in the discussion — Is God a Delusion? Continue reading ‘Is God a Delusion? Film series & discussion’ »

The Women’s Outreach Ministry of the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota recently donated $2,000.00 to the Evalyn Sadlier Jones Child Care and Learning Center at the Pines of Sarasota, to enable the Center to purchase four large, all-weather play tables for the children’s outdoor recreation and learning area. Two of the heavy-duty tables will be for “Tots” and two for “Toddlers” to use in outdoor arts and crafts and learning exercises. Continue reading ‘Women’s Outreach Donates Play Tables to The Pines’ »

A Free Progressive Recital & Reception — Public Warmly Invited!

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 Church of the Redeemer — conveniently located in downtown Sarasota — is offering a fun, faith-filled, and educational Vacation Bible School session for young children throughout the Sarasota community.  Children who have reached age 4 by 9/1/08 through those entering 5th grade for school year 2008-09 are invited to join in the many wonderful activities offered during the one-week session which takes place Monday through Friday, 9 am to noon, August 11 -15. 

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.

Sarasota, FL / 05 July, 2006 – High school youth from the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota recently returned from a week-long Senior High Mission Trip to Biloxi, Mississippi. The purpose of the mission effort, called “Building on the Bayou,” was to perform much-needed site-clean up at buildings and homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Continue reading ‘Redeemer Youth Group Returns from Mission Trip to Biloxi Building on the Bayou’ »