Cupola Placed on Entrance Canopy

On February 15, 2011, the cupola was installed on top of the canopy over the new main entrance. The cupola creates a visual cue for visitors as they enter the west parking lot and look for the church entrance.The cupola was manufactured by Campbellsville Industries in Kentucky and installed under the supervision of Frank Rewold and Son. The cupola was designed by Ron Cieslak, of Merritt Cieslak Design, to match Redeemer's distinctive exterior decor. The cupola was designed to complement, but not compete with, Redeemer's main steeple erected in 1957. A cross was custom made and place on top of the cupola. The cupola itself is made of maintenance-free materials and is supported by a steel structure just underneath the roof of the new drop-off canopy. A 65 foot crane was used to assemble the cupola and lower it into position before workmen climbed inside the cupola to finish the installation.

Sacred Space Giving Report - 12/31/10

At December 31, 2010, our Sacred Space giving was as follows:

Total gifts given and pledged to the three year capital stewardship campaign totaled $3,998,203. This total of $3.99 million can be broken down as follows:

- Pledged Gifts, $2,490,000,
- Unpledged Gifts, $1,469,000,
- Interest Income, $39,000.

November gifts totaled $85,000 and December gifts totaled $102,000. The pastors, staff and steering committee are all so grateful for the ongoing sacrifices made by each and every family.

Enthusiasm and giving remains high as we near the completion of the construction phase of the capital campaign. Final construction activity will culminate this month (January, ’11) with the placement of the cupola over the new main entrance.

Of the total $3.99 million in gifts, $2.89 million has been collected to date. The difference, just under $1.1 million, represents outstanding pledges spread over the remaining 15 months of the capital stewardship campaign. We are now 21 months into our 36 month capital stewardship campaign, which runs from April 2009 to March 2012.

New gifts, including unpledged gifts, continue to be made each month (over $21,000 in December.)

We are very, very close to topping the $4 million mark for the campaign. We continue to set aside a contingency against pledge receivables. This contingency will assure that we are able to completely pay-off our outstanding construction loan. As of December 31, 2010, the outstanding construction loan was at $873,000.

Town Square Dedication

After the final worship service on Sunday, November 28, hundreds of Redeemer members and guests moved to the new Town Square for the dedication of this new Sacred Space.

Pastor Cary Richert lead those in attendance through a short dedication service, which borrowed from the 1957 order of dedication services for our then renovated sanctuary.Pastor Randy Schlak then invited the assembled group to proceed outside onto the steps of the new Main Entrance where the new date stone, marked "AD 2010", was blessed, before being permanently placed just outside the doors.Hundreds of members in the days leading up to the date stone laying ceremony had each drafted personal letters, to a future generation of Redeemer members. These "2010" letters, written by children and adults, were placed securely behind the new date stone, for the benefit of those in the future.



Below the "2010" stone now lays the "1970" date stone (that was moved 50 feet south from where it had been installed outside the old West Entrance.)

And just above the "2010" stone is a third stone, left blank, as an intentional signal to future Redeemer members to boldly consider what additional work may be needed to expand our mission and ministries in His name.

Many special guests attended the dedication service. Leadership Team President, Joe Conte, spoke, as did our Head Elder, Rick Russ. The services were also attended by our stewardship consultant, Greg Gibbs, our construction superintendent, Craig Collins, and the Mayor of the City of Birmingham, Gordon Rinschler. Also present were Rick McDonald and David Mammel who both served as Leadership Team President and Sacred Space steering committee members over the five year project term.

At the conclusion of the morning's celebration, Steve Scheidt was presented a special plaque for the new lower level classroom "named in thankfulness for his hard work and dedication to this Sacred Space we call Redeemer."

Westmaple Rededication

On Sunday, November 28, as part of our Grand Opening and Dedication celebration we had the special opportunity to rededicate our Westmaple Nursery. After a summer of construction that lead to the renovation of our three existing classrooms, the building of two new classrooms, and a new teacher's workroom, we were happy to once again stand together in the main hallway of Westmaple. Presiding over the rededication was Pastor Mark Wuggazer. This was notable on many levels, not the least of which was the fact that Mark's Grandmother, Myrtle Wuggazer, was the founder and first school director of Westmaple Nursery. Mark's father, Pastor Duane Wuggazer, long-time Senior Pastor at Redeemer, still sits on the Westmaple Board of Directors. Along with our current Westmaple Director, Pat Raezler, and many of our Westmaple teachers, we all enjoyed the children as they serenaded us outside the new classrooms.

Music and Food at Grand Opening

Redeemer's many musical talents were on full display at our Grand Opening celebration. We appreciate all the children, youth and adults that contributed to making our big morning even more special.

We had carolers singing in the Town Square, as well as a brass quintet. We had our littlest children singing, and our high school Heart of Worship band performing on the stage.

And our Chancel Choir performed in their newly renovated music room as well as during worship service along with our Celebration Singers.

A very special menu was prepared by our own Donna Hollis and served by her capable team throughout the morning.

Thanks to all of you.

More Grand Opening Celebration

Enjoy these photographs taken by Dave Peterson...

Grand Opening Celebration

Enjoy these photographs from our November 28 Grand Opening celebration. A special thanks to Bill Leahy for taking these pictures, and so many more, throughout the project.