Church of the Redeemer
36 South Street Morristown, NJ 07960 973-539-0703
All content © 2011
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Inclusivity As We Worship
- Both the Episcopal Prayer Book and an Inclusive Language Eucharist
are celebrated each Sunday.
- All people, regardless of their tradition or age, are invited to receive
communion.
- No formal church instruction is required to receive communion.
- Grape juice is consecrated in consideration of those people who do
not wish to receive wine.
- One of the three Sunday lessons is taken from either a secular source
or from the sacred writings of a tradition other than Christianity.
- Collects in the inclusive language service are taken primarily from
Janet Morley’s All Desires Known and often end with the
wording “through Jesus, our Christ.”
- Rather than the Nicene Creed, the inclusive language service often
includes a musical setting of the very first Christian creed, “Jesus
is Lord,” as a meaningful way of expressing our belief.
- The celebrant always receives communion last to model servant leadership
and to discount images of hierarchy.
- Female imagery and references to God are used in conjunction with
male imagery and references.
- Lay and ordained people from various religious traditions are invited
to preach in the Redeemer pulpit. In addition, members of the parish
on a regular basis tell stories that illustrate God’s liberation
within their lives. They speak as women, African-Americans, people in
recovery, Holocaust survivors, gays and lesbians, and people living
with AIDS.
- Redeemer intentionally uses the traditional form of The Lord’s
Prayer, but begins with the words, “Our Mother, our Father.”
People often join hands during this prayer.
- Redeemer performs sacramental marriage for both same-sex and opposite
sex couples. These events are duly recorded in the official parish registry,
which the bishop examines. The vestry resolution regarding same-sex
weddings reads as follows:
“We, the vestry of the Church of the Redeemer,
support the inherently sacred nature of the covenant and commitment
two people make to one another to enter into a life-long relationship,
regardless of the gender makeup of the couple. Therefore, we the vestry,
recognize the commitment of any two people in a life-long relationship,
be they of the same or opposite sex, to be a Sacramental Marriage.”
– adopted at May 10, 1999 Vestry Meeting
- Leaders and members of Redeemer may come from traditions other than
Christian and Episcopalian.
- A Worship Committee reviews and revises the contemporary liturgies,
ever striving to make them speak more clearly to Redeemer’s mission
and vision.
- The Blessing of the Animals Service takes place as part of a Sunday
morning Eucharist in the Creation season. Animals in attendance at the
service each receive a blessing. An Animal Memorial Garden has been
created on the parish grounds.
- Healing Prayer, including the Laying On of Hands, is available in
the side chapel during the Eucharist.
More information: Healing
Prayer page
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