February 2007 Newsletter

Greetings, in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Joyful Heritage, Majestic Celebration; names of our worship services which reflect the nature of each.  

Joyful Heritage, our 8:30 AM service, reflects the traditional form of worship seen across our entire church body, much of which is found in our hymnals.

Majestic Celebration, our 11:00 AM service, retains the basic elements found in our liturgy, but with forms which reflect more contemporary responses and music.

After speaking with many in our congregation, I have found that there is a desire to worship also in a style similar to what we tried a few years back called “Living Praise.”

Briefly, to that end, I propose the following:

That we gather a team of people to design and hold praise-style services at Our Savior on a regular basis.  Such services would be held once a month, initially, on Saturday or Sunday evenings.  These services would use contemporary music, praise teams, solos, dance, drama, and projection all in the sanctuary.  The Department of Music and Worship would oversee these services as it does all Our Savior’s worship services.

Due to my time constraints, the first offering would have to be after Easter this year (April 8).  I welcome the congregation’s encouragement, support and involvement.

In Him,
Pastor Fausel

School Enrollment goes over 180 students!

For the first time since I have served as principal at Our Savior, our student population has gone over the 180 student threshold.  We have added 10 new students since coming back from Christmas Vacation.  God continues to send to us children in need of hearing the good news of salvation through Christ.  We couldn’t be more pleased and excited to serve Him in this ministry.

And…Enrollment for the 2007-08 school year is in full swing.  As of mid January we have 34 students already signed up for next year.  This is about equal to last year at the same time.  The most popular classes right now are first grade (7 enrolled), fourth grade (6 signed up), and Kindergarten with 5 students.

Priority enrollment for children of our congregation and those already enrolled this year continues through February 15.  Signing up by that date guarantees a place at the reduced registration fee of $100 per child.  After February 15 registration fees increase to $200 per child.

By the time this reaches our homes, the 17th annual “Round Ball Classic” will have concluded.  Once again, Jack Hiegel, our Athletic Director, has done a superb job in bringing in 16 basketball teams representing 8 different schools to participate in the four day event.  Much excitement and energy is present during the weekend.  It’s a great way to expose others to the outstanding facilities and people we have at Our Savior.  I hope you got an opportunity to catch a game or two.

In Christ,
Martin A. Brieschke
Principal

Golden Oldies

Joining together in Christian Fellowship, Education, & Recreation

At each gathering you generally will find:

Lunch at 12:00 PM
Devotions
Speakers on a variety of topics or entertainment
Brief business meeting
Usually meet the 3rd Monday ofeach month
Occasional field trips or outings

On Monday, February 19, instead of one speaker at the Golden Oldies meeting, we will have the attendees share memories of their school days. Whether about a favorite teacher or class, a special sport or extra-curricular activity, or a significant event, come prepared to share your school day memories.  Lunch will be served at noon.  Please call either Norm Kendt or Dorothy Groemling for more information.

Sunday School in February

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL BE SINGING at the 8:30 service, Sunday, March 4.  Thanks for attending early service to hear and see them sing! Mrs. Crespo will be practicing with the children during Sunday School opening.

ASH WEDNESDAY, February 21. This begins our Lenten season where we all can eat and worship together on Wednesday evenings. Please consider incorporating this into your weekly event as the fellowship is tremendous and the meals our great! The Sunday School staff will be serving lasagna on February 28th, which is one not to be missed!

SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFERING ENVELOPES: Your child can get these at Sunday School. Please let us know if they do not have some already. We continue to support our mission child Jose in Quito, Ecuador.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SLEEPOVER AND EASTER EGG HUNT ON PALM SUNDAY April 1st. Have one of your child's friends spend the night at your home and then bring them to Sunday School for a fun Palm Sunday morning which includes crafts in the gym and our traditional Easter Egg Hunt.

PEASE NOTE: There will be no regular Sunday School on Easter Sunday.

Haunted by the Bible

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.--2 Timothy 3:16

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.--2 Peter 1:20-21

Former MTV political correspondent Tabitha Soren said: “No matter how secular our culture becomes, it will remain drenched in the Bible. Since we will be haunted by the Bible, even if we don’t know it, doesn’t it make sense to read it?” For people who don’t even read the Bible, it still remains the most important book in history. But who wrote the Scriptures? Is the Bible true? Can it be trusted?

The Bible itself makes a fantastic claim about its authorship. The author is God. The Scriptures were inspired or breathed out by God. The Bible is a holy and divine book because it comes from a holy and divine source—God.

How did God do it? The writers of the Bible “were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21), and as God spoke to them, they wrote. This means that God used their personalities, vocabularies, experiences, and culture to record exactly what He wanted written, without error. The Bible is not contaminated with misrepresentations about God or the human condition. The Bible is true.

But can it be trusted? Yes, because of its prophecy and unity. The theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ. The Old Testament contains over 300 prophecies, many giving specific details of the life of Jesus. Statistician Peter Stoner has calculated that the probability of five major prophecies coming to pass by chance would be one in two quintillion. The unity of the Bible is another reason we believe it is true. It’s comprised of 66 books, written by some 40 different authors, over 1,500 years. These authors wrote independently and most of them knew very little or nothing at all of the others’ writings. Yet it is a unified book about one theme: Jesus Christ.

Because the Bible is God’s Word, we need spend time reading it every day, studying and discussing it with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and responding to it with humble praise and thanksgiving, allowing its light to shine through us to a sin darkened world. After all, the Bible is God’s love letter to you.

Paul Nickel

ADULT BIBLE CLASS OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Morning 9:45 AM Bible Classes
1. THE LUTHERAN DIFFERENCE: BAPTISM – Fellowship Hall – Pastor Fausel
2. EXODUS – School Library – Kyle Lohmeyer
3. THE END TIMES – 8th Grade Classroom – Dan Broxterman
4. THE MASTERPIECE MARRIAGE – 7th Grade Classroom – Paul Nickel

Tuesday Morning 10:15 AM Class
MATTHEW – Fellowship Hall – Paul Nickel

WOMEN’S BIBLE CLASSES

Monday Evening (6:30 PM – Melissa Nelson – Faculty Lounge) – Walking By Faith: Lesson Learned in the Dark
Friday Morning (9:30 AM – Paul Nickel – Fellowship Hall) - Beth Moore’s DANIEL

Camp Lakeview

REGISTERING SUMMER CAMPERS

Camp Lakeview (near Seymour, IN) is currently registering campers, grades K-9, for its 2007 summer season.  What a great place to have fun and learn about God at the same time!  To get more information and a registration form, pick up a summer brochure in the church office, visit the camp’s website at www.camplakeview.com, or call the camp office at 812-342-4815.

Registration forms must be postmarked on or after February 1st.  Last year, many programs were filled quickly, so if you would like your child to have a Christian camping experience at Camp Lakeview, get your registration ready and mail it in as soon as possible.    

Youth Commitment Pledge and Giving

A simple plan has been developed to accurately track the greater than $34, 000 Youth Pledge already received, separate from the general commitment pledge. Please use the designated  “YOUTH Pledge” envelopes, which are available in the narthex for all to use each time they make a commitment to the ‘Youth Pledge’.  Please continue to use your other envelopes, which you receive in the mail for your General Giving Pledge.

Youth Pledges are still coming in to meet our goal of $50,000 - $60,000.  We are already over the half way mark!  THANK YOU!!  The Call Committee has been appointed and approved.  Now it is up to each of us to complete the commitment so the call can be issued.  PLEASE REMEMBER — Your YOUTH PLEDGE is above and beyond your 2007 general giving tithe for those who did not commit to the 2007 church pledge year.  

Larry Ashley, Stewardship, 2007

Men’s Ministry Breakfast

Pancake Breakfast  
2nd Saturday of the month

SATURDAY , February 10th, 8:00 – 9:30 AM
Bible Study “Hope Under Construction: Insights Into the Life of Nehemiah”
Join Us and Bring a Friend

The  Stewardship Corner

Giving through a zero estate tax plan combines giving gifts to charity with gifts of life insurance. Using this plan, a donor typically transfers an asset to a charitable remainder trust (CRT), which provides an income to the donor.  The donor than acquires a life insurance contract on his or her life with a death benefit equal to the value of the asset given to the CRT.  The life insurance policy is placed in a separate irrevocable life insurance trust.  The donor then uses the income from the CRT to make gifts to the insurance trust as needed so that the trustee of the insurance trust can pay the annual insurance premiums.  This arrangement allows the donor to benefit the charity while maintaining the amount of assets that will pass to his or her family.

Courtesy of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Notes from the Music Director

Cross and Glory

Everyone knows the opening line of the familiar Palm Sunday hymn:  All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King. (LW 102) That word "glory" is an important word in the Christian's vocabulary. Occurring some 300 times in the Scriptures, it provides a fitting description of God's majesty and of the honor and praise that are due Him.

In our hymnal, the word "glory" is also frequently used (some 200 times). Examples that come to mind might include:

A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing
Glory Be to God the Father
Angels From the Realms of Glory

It's not surprising that this little word should find such extensive use. After all, hymns are an excellent way for the people of God to join their voices in praising their Maker and Redeemer.

If you look far enough, however, you begin to see that descriptions of God's glory are not limited only to awe-inspiring moments like the appearance of the angelic choir over the fields of Bethlehem, the transfiguration on the mountaintop, or the earth-quaking resurrection of our Lord. Consider hymn texts like these:

Glory be to Jesus Who in bitter pains
When I survey the wondrous cross On which the prince of glory died.
In the cross of Christ I glory

What are we to make of these seemingly conflicting uses of the word glory?

Once while on Mount Sinai, Moses made this daring request of God: "Show me Your glory." God's response was equally direct: "You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live." God did, however, partially grant Moses' request: He placed Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him as His glory passed by. Then He allowed Moses to see his "back side" (Exod. 33:18-23).

Though God's glory and majesty are beyond our comprehension, He has chosen to reveal that glory in ways that we can grasp. It's not the kind of glory, however, that we might expect. Rather, it is precisely in the suffering and death of His beloved Son that the Father reveals His glory in all of its fullness.

In his popular hymn, "Thy Strong Word," Martin Franzmann reminds us how it is at the cross that God's true glory breaks loose:

           From the cross Thy wisdom shining
           Breaketh forth in conqu'ring might;
           From the cross forever beameth
          All Thy bright redeeming light. (LW 328, st. 4)

Cross and glory do belong together, for it is in the cross of Christ that our salvation has been won. God knows no greater glory than to be Himself, namely, gracious and loving and forgiving.

         Inscribed upon the cross we see
         In shining letters, "God is love."
         He bears our sins upon the tree;
         He brings us mercy from above. (LW 118, st 2)                

Reprinted with permission from LCMS Commission on Worship, February, 2004
Scott Kamman, Director of Music

CHRISTCARE GROUPS WILL BE FORMING SOON!

Our ChristCare Groups are deeply important to our vision of our church as an interdependent Christian caring community. Thus you will be hearing about them regularly.

With great joy, immeasurable hope, and heartfelt care for you, we invite you to learn more about ChristCare Groups because they are places where you can:
  • develop new friendships
  • care and be cared for
  • serve and reach out to others
  • learn and grow through studying the Scriptures
  • pray and worship

Circles of Care with Christ as the Center:  ChristCare Groups are circles of care. Member of ChristCare Groups get to know and genuinely care for one another. They support and encourage one another through life’s ups and downs. They have a deep sense of belonging to a caring Christian community.

ChristCare Groups have Christ at their center. Group members seek to become more fully devoted followers of Jesus. They search the Scriptures where Jesus finds them and takes hold of them. They offer their prayers and worship to God through Jesus Christ. They reach out, in Jesus’ name, to serve and to proclaim the Good News.

Watch for more information about when ChristCare Groups will be forming this Spring. This information will contain the names of the group leaders, dates and times when the groups will be initially meeting, and other specific information.

If you have questions about ChristCare Groups, you may call Charles or Marsha Puckett or Paul Nickel.

We look forward to the ways God will bless both ChristCare Group participants and the entire congregation through this ministry.

With you, in the circle of Christ’s care,
Paul Nickel

Executive Director Sought  at Camp Cedarbrook

Camp Cedarbrook, located near Lanesville, IN, is owned by the Lutheran Laymen’s League.  There are many church related activities that take place at the camp. The Camp’s Board of Trustees is searching for a new Executive Director.  The Executive Director is a compensated, part-time position responsible for handling reservations, creating publicity, developing fund-raising strategies and organizing fund-raising events at the camp.  Additional duties are listed in a more specific job description that is available from Greg Walts, Camp Treasurer.  It is preferred that the Executive Director be a member of an LCMS congregation.  Those interested in applying please contact Greg Walts. The Executive Director does not have to reside at Camp Cedarbrook.

Be on the Look Out!

“Set Sail on the Seven Seas”Saturday, March 17

This is the theme for the 4th Annual “Taste of Our Savior”.  This is an evening filled with excitement from the live and silent auction.  The restaurants are being lined up to provide a wonderful gastronomical delight.  Tickets will go on sale in March.  This is an adult event, so please make arrangements for your children that evening.  

Scrap Booking  Event

February 2 at 6 PM a group of ladies will be gathering in the Fellowship Hall to work on their Scrap Book projects.  Everyone who is interested in joining them are invited.  Just bring your supplies and a snack to share and a beverage to drink.  This is open to beginners and experts as each person works at their own pace and own their own projects.  This is a great way to get together for some wonderful Christian fellowship.   Take this opportunity to give your spouse some one-on-one time with the children and enjoy an evening of relaxing creativity. Call Karen Ranzau with questions.

Narthex Mail Boxes

Each family is assigned a mailbox in which information is placed from the church and school to the congregational members about activities, agendas and minutes from meetings, financial statements, and other materials.  The boxes are to be emptied regularly and are not meant to be a storage place for crayons, books, and toys.  Recently, a continual problem of the names on the mailboxes being removed and shuffled out of alphabetical sequence has occurred.  This created extra work on the staff to re-organize the names and replace the names that are completely missing.  The church office has replaced over 25 of missing names; however, if your name is missing, please contact the church office.  Special attention by all adults to this potential matter would be appreciated when children are around the area.  Thank you.

Hearing Assist Devices  

Had trouble hearing well in our sanctuary?  These small sound amplifying devices are available from the ushers.  Please ask for them!  They amplify what is going through our sound system.  If you would like to purchase your own personal set of earphones for use with the church sound system, please contact the church office.  (These devices do not work outside the sanctuary.)

Our Savior Music “Notes”

Hymn of the Month

The children in our dayschool learn a special hymn or song of the month as part of their worship and religion class experience.  For the month of February, they will be learning the hymn, “Children of the Heavenly Father.”  Shortly before writing this hymn, Karolina W. SandellBerg and her father were on a boat trip, when he fell overboard and drowned before her eyes. It is thought this tragedy gave birth to the lyrics.

Children of the heav’nly Father        
Safely in His bosom gather;            
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven        
Such a refuge e’er was given.        
    
God His own doth tend and nourish;        
In His holy courts they flourish;        
From all evil things He spares them;        
In His mighty arms He bears them.        

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,        
And their sorrows all He knoweth.        

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

Chapel Worship

Everyone is invited to worship with the school children each week as they gather for chapel on Wednesdays at 8:45 AM in the sanctuary.  It is an excellent opportunity for midweek worship.  Come and join us!  

February 7~ Grades K & 7    
February 14 ~ Grade 6
February 21~ Pastor Fausel    
February 28 ~ Grades 2 & 5
   (Ash Wednesday)

Lenten Schedule

Mark your calendar!  Our Lenten midweek services begin on Ash Wednesday, February 21 and continue through Wednesday, March 28.    All services are at 7:00 PM.  Come to Calvary’s holy mountain, sinners, ruined by the fall.

Answer to the January Quiz

The hymn that reminds us “The light has shined on them who long in shades of death have been” is “The People That in Darkness Sat.” (LW 77)

February Quiz

Which hymn utters this lament:  “Bending from your throne on high, Hear our penitential cry!”?

Hearing Assist Devices

Had trouble hearing well in our sanctuary?  These small sound amplifying devices are available from the ushers.  Please ask for them!  They amplify what is going through our sound system.  If you would like to purchase your own personal set of earphones for use with the church sound system, please contact the church office.  (These devices do not work outside the sanctuary.)  

Worship Notes:  What are the Words of Institution?: 

At the beginning of Holy Communion, the Pastor speaks the Words of Institution which Jesus spoke when He instituted the Supper with His disciples in the Upper Room.  With these words, the bread and wine are consecrated, that is, set apart for God’s use in this special meal.  

Pictorial Directory ~ Picture Make-Up Date

Due to the need from our congregation, we have one day, Tuesday, February 13, set aside with Olan Mills to take pictures of those who could not get their pictures at our earlier times.  Please sign-up at church or contact the church office to set your time.  WE NEED YOU in this directory, we want every family in this directory for it to be good.  Thank you.
 

Copyright 2006-2010, Our Savior Lutheran Church