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.