Our Savior Lutheran Church

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

It has come to my own attention that perhaps these Newsletter articles of mine are too much about the business of the Church and the Congregation … and not enough about our spiritual growth as a body of Christ.

So, be gone church calendar!!   Everything worth your attention is well covered on these pages elsewhere.  

A year ago, we had some schedules published to encourage all of us to read through the New Testament during the 40 days of Lent.  And a few of us did.  Some of us read our old trusty Bibles, others listened to those words on tapes or CD’s that were offered.

But given the size of our congregation, the response to that encouragement was … well … what shall I say?

Now … this Newsletter is being published as we are already well into Lent.   And that’s good, because that keeps me from making the same mistake twice.  I think the mistake last year was that the reading period had a definite start time and a very definite end time.  

If you didn’t get started on time, or you had a lapse of a few days, you fell so far behind you could never get caught up before the end time.  Discouragement set in. 

Well, honestly, Jesus Himself never set such a task before His followers.  So I apologize to you, if you were one who fell into the discouraged camp last year.

Let me offer another way.  Try this.  Set aside a certain time … to either read … or to listen to Scripture … most days.  If you’d like tapes or CD’s, see us in the office, we can still get them for you.  A Bible?  We can get that, too.

Some find that the best time is that 15 minutes to half-an-hour just before bed.  Others find that time over lunch.  Others get up just a few minutes early and start their day in the Word.   It’s not about rules, and it’s not about how much you do … it’s just letting God speak to you.   Then, He gives the growth!

In Him,
Pastor Fausel

Looking Ahead!

Reenrollment incentives and discounts officially ended February 15.  At the end of the day we had 155 students enrolled for the 2007-08 school year.  We praise God for leading those families to us for the Christian education of their children.  We will continue to add students throughout the Spring and Summer and invite you to continue to tell others of the outstanding school ministry available at Our Savior.  

Grandparents’ Day is coming March 9.  Grandparents will be invited to join their grandchildren from 8:30 am until about 12:30 pm (after lunch).  These are always fun and exciting days for both students and their grandparents.  

Grandparents’ Day is a part of our National Lutheran Schools Week which we will be celebrating this year from March 5th to 11th. Our celebration will culminate on Sunday morning, March 11, when all students will help lead worship at 11:00 am.  Come celebrate with us.

March 17 is the date set aside for the annual “Taste of Our Savior”.  This will be the fourth annual “Taste”.  Proceeds from the silent and live auctions have funded many significant improvements to both our school and church.  This year will be no different.

The following projects have been approved for funding in the order they are listed.  To fund the entire group will require $76,000.  Please look for your opportunity to support this effort through donations to the auction and attendance that evening.

Auction Proceeds List of Projects
Presch. Child Care Equipment & Supplies $7,000
Language Arts Curriculum Updates       $10,000
Two (2) additional SmartBoards        $8,000
Curriculum Overspending Reimbursement $10,000 (if necessary)
Outside Signage and Electronic Sign       $10,000
New Computer for Preschool        $1,000
New Chairs for the Music Room       $2,500
Flood Abatement (redirecting water run off) $5,000
One (1) additional SmartBoard         $4,000
Additional Curriculum Spending Reimbursement $2,000

In Christ,
Martin A. Brieschke
Principal

Golden Oldies

On Monday, March 19, Rebecca Jackson, Executive Director of the Crusade for Children, will be the guest.  The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. established in 1954 by WHAS-TV, raises money for schools, agencies and hospitals to better the lives of special needs children. In its first 53 years, the Crusade has raised more than $118 million.

Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade is able to return 100% of all donations to organizations that serve special needs children in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 southern Indiana counties. Fire departments raise more than 50 percent of the money each year by staging road blocks and other events. Approximately 3 million children have been helped by the Crusade since 1954.

Sunday School in March

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.

The Sunday School welcomes back Rosie Tinsley, Brenda Luking and Debbie Haswell to our teaching team! They will be involved with the 1/2 classroom.  Thanks Be to God for willing hands and hearts!

If you missed the Wednesday, February 28 dinner, we are so sorry, as the Sunday School staff served up a wonderful Lasagna meal. Thanks to this group for this outreach.

On March, 4th, Mrs. Crespo will led all of the Sunday School voices in "God Loves Me Dearly". Thank you to the parents for seeing that their children made it to this early service.

Palm Sunday, April 1st will be another BIG DAY for Easter Egg Hunters! Come one, come all. Have some friends spend the night, and bring them. It will be another EGGSTRAVAGANZA EVENT!

As Thirsty As You Can Get

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.--Psalm 42:1

It's hard to get really thirsty in our society. There's a soda machine at every turn-you can even find them in churches! Not only soda machines, but you can also find “Starbucks” in some churches as well. Water fountains have to be included in buildings just to meet the code. And even in sports these days, coaches are instructed to let their athletes drink lots of fluids during practice. It's easy to "Obey Your Thirst" in our society, even if there's not a Coke around.  

Yet you've probably faced a time or two when your mouth was so parched you would have even had a V-8 if it were handy. If you've ever gotten that thirsty after strenuous exercise or having worked in the yard on a hot August day, you can relate a little to what the psalm writer was talking about in Psalm 42.  

He used a deer as an example. A deer knows it must have water to survive, so it stays near water sources. But when a hunter is chasing a deer and it moves out of familiar territory, the deer loses his bearings and no longer knows where to find water. Plus, the pressure of the pursuing hunter gives him less time to stop and drink-even if he finds a brook. In that case, Mr. Deer is supremely thirsty, and he "pants for streams of water."  

Have you ever been that thirsty spiritually? The writer of Psalm 42 was. Something-perhaps the pursuit of his enemies-had stopped him from being able to go to the temple to worship. So he was thirsty.

Spiritual thirst should be as easy to quench as physical thirst. If we thirst for God, nothing should stop us from finding the refreshment we need.

We can talk to the Lord and know that His grace and power are sustaining us.

We can read and study both individually and with others God's Word and hear from Him the soothing words of love He has left for us.

We can read good Christian literature and be nourished by the insights of others.

Thirsty? Drink up. There's plenty for everybody!

Drink from the well of God's Word every day.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Morning (9:45 AM) Bible Study

1. The Lutheran Difference: Baptism – Fellowship Hall – Pastor Fausel
2. Exodus – School Library – Kyle Lohmeyer
3. 1, 2, & 3 John – 8th Grade Classroom – Dan Broxterman
4. The Masterpiece Marriage – 7th Grade Classroom – Paul Nickel

Tuesday Morning (10:15 AM) Bible Study

Matthew – Fellowship Hall – Paul Nickel

Women's Monday Night (6:00 PM) Bible Study

Women's Friday Morning (9:30 AM) Bible Study

Beth Moore’s Daniel  - Friday Mornings (9:30 AM) - Fellowship Hall - Paul Nickel

Men's Second Saturday (8:00 AM) Bible Study

Men’s Ministry Breakfast

1, 2, & 3 JOHN

What does it mean to have "Love in Action"? What does it mean to have "fellowship" with one another? What does it mean to be called "Children of God"? What is the "objectivity of grace"? Who are the "overcomers" and what do they have the power to overcome? What is the "anointing" and how does one get it or use it? Learn the answers to these questions and more in the upcoming study of 1, 2, 3 John on Sunday mornings at 9:45am starting Feb 25th through March 25th taught by Dan Broxterman. For any further questions, contact Dan.

The  Stewardship Corner
A Charitable Remainder

Trust is a tax-exempt trust that receives and manages assets to provide an income to a donor and a gift to a charity at the donor’s death.  The income can cover one or more lives or a term of years. It offers multiple tax-saving advantages (an income tax deduction; the bypass or deferral of capital gains tax otherwise due on the sale of an appreciated asset; and an estate tax deduction). In addition, a charitable remainder trust removes asset management responsibilities from the donor.  Income from the trust may fluctuate, and setting up the trust generally requires professional tax, legal and accounting advice.                                                

Courtesy of Thrivent Financial

Denominational Differences  March 4th - 28th

Every Sunday in March from 6:30-8:00pm in the Fellowship Hall (Arrive at 6:15 for snacks and fellowship)

Bring a friend who really wants to know: What's the difference anyway? Does it even matter?

We will be studying the differences in the following denominations:

• Baptist     
• Mennonites    
• Quakers   
• Lutheran      
• Pentecostal/Charismatic       
• Roman Catholic  Mormons
• Presbyterian   
• Episcopalian    
• Reformed     
• Eastern Orthodox      
• Non-Denominational   
• Methodist
• Congregationalist          
• Unitarian     
• Christian Science   
• United Church of Christ   
• Seventh Day Adventist            
• Jehovah's Witnesses     
• New Age Religions

Come and learn for yourself what the differences are in the following topics:

• Sin    
• Forgiveness     
• Faith     The Bible   
• Conversion   
• Lord's Supper   
• Baptism

This will be a very informative class that can help you know what our other brothers and sisters in Christ believe. Come one....come all! Bring a friend! For more info call Dan Broxterman.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

FRIDAY MARCH 2, 2007 at Hurstbourne Baptist Church, 8800 Shelbyville Road.

Registration begins at 10 AM with the Service “United under God’s Tent” beginning at 10:30 AM.  Childcare will be provided.  The only cost will be a can or box of non-perishable food to be donated to Dare to Care.  After the service a luncheon will be served; which will feature a few Paraguayan dishes along with Kentucky food.  

Notes from the Music Director

Dear friends in Christ,

Part of our responsibility of nurturing our children’s spiritual growth is teaching them about worship.  The school children learn much about what it means to worship and why we do the things we do.  We also discuss the physical aspects of worship—the things we can see and touch.  Many ask me questions about our sanctuary—they wonder why it is the way it is.  This month, I thought I’d address some of those “wonderings” so that we all may appreciate our worship space a little bit better.  

When you walk into the sanctuary, to what is your attention drawn first?  Most people would say the large cross, towering high in the open space above the altar.  We can learn a lot from that huge cross.  The largeness of the horizontal beam symbolizes the extreme heaviness that our sins weighed upon Jesus.  It stands tall and reaches upward as a constant reminder of our connection to God the Father.  What direction is the tip of the building pointing?  Note also that it is an empty cross, showing that Jesus rose victorious.

Many ask about the large white walls and why we don’t decorate them or have stained glass windows.  “The sanctuary was designed to emphasize Lutheran commitment to Scripture alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, no element of design distracting attention from the altar, every decoration directing attention towards the focus of liturgical action.”  Our windows allow unfiltered sunlight into the sanctuary to remind us of God’s goodness and constant care.

Some wonder about the placement of our pews and why they are not straight across with a central isle, like many other churches.  I believe that this arrangement enhances our worship with others.  We can be close to God and yet still be in physical and visual contact with other worshippers, the body of Christ.  It makes worship more intimate and warm, (especially when everyone doesn’t sit in the back)!

Children are also fascinated with the baptismal font, placed in the very center of the front chancel area.  If you look closely, you will see that it is actually located closer to the congregation than to the chancel.  It, too, serves as a visual reminder of God’s close presence in our lives and of our daily forgiveness we receive through Baptism.

I hope that this bit of information proves beneficial for you and your worship.  If you have any further questions or if you know more information than I have relayed in this newsletter, I’d love to hear from you.  God’s blessings as we worship the Lord together!

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. --Psalm 84:1-2

I rejoiced with those who said who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” --Psalm 122

Yours in Christ,
Scott Kamman
Director of Music

Meet Some of our New ChristCare Leaders: David and Leah Robison

Leah was raised in Seattle, WA where she met her husband, David, while in high school.  They  went to prom together, then on to the University of Washington. They were married August 28, 1999 between their freshman and sophomore college years.  Leah earned a B.S. in Molecular Biology; they then moved to South Carolina where she earned a Master’s in Genetic Counseling.  They moved to Louisville in June 2005 for Leah’s first genetic counseling job, from which she recently resigned.  Her church home has always been in the LCMS, and she particularly began to grow leaps and bounds in her faith starting in high school, thanks to the support of her parents (Mark and Pat Otten) and her brother, a great youth group, and her youth pastor, Pastor Rogers (yes, PR!).  Leah met a great group of college-and-later age Christians in South Carolina that were a great source of strength and encouragement for her.  Leah loves the music ministry and many bible studies available at Our Savior.  She is looking forward to helping, through Christ Care and in other ways, both the college/young adult and youth ministries grow.  Finally, Leah and Dave are expecting their first child in August!  

David was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. Leah and Dave met and started dating in high school. They got married while in college at the University of Washington. Dave was raised in the Presbyterian church and joined the Lutheran church after his marriage to Leah. They moved to South Carolina for Leah to get her master's degree.  From there, they moved to Louisville for Leah's job. Dave owns a small software development company, which has given him the flexibility to follow Leah around the country. Dave enjoys playing soccer and board games. In addition to helping with ChristCare, he plays drums in the late service, helps out with the high school youth, and maintains the church website (thanks for taking a look at it).

Our Savior Music “Notes”

National Lutheran Schools Week: Our celebration with Lutheran schools around the world begins March 5.  The school children will be assisting in the leadership of the closing worship service on March 12, at the 11:00 AM service.  All school choirs will be singing.  Come celebrate with us the special gift of Our Savior Lutheran School!  (There will be no Holy Communion at this particular service.)

Lutheran Service Book Information:  he word from Concordia Publishing House is that there is quite a demand for the new Lutheran Service Book, and that our hymnals are backordered.  They will hopefully be arriving close to the beginning of April.  In the meantime, we will continue to intersperse small portions of the hymns and liturgy into our services as they are made available to us.

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 March, they will be learning the hymn, “Today Your Mercy Calls Us.”  This hymn text, written by Oswald Alle (1816-1878) reminds us that in mercy, God in Christ calls us to repent and believe in the forgiveness that is already ours. Repentance is the believer's response to both the Law's rebuke and the Gospel's forgiveness.

Today your mercy calls us
To wash away our sin.
However great our trespass,
Whatever we have been,
However lone from mercy
Our hearts have turned away,
Your precious blood can wash us
And make us clean today.

Today your gate is open,
And all who enter in
Shall find a Father’s welcome
And pardon for their sin.
The past shall be forgotten,
A present joy be given,
A future grace be promised,
A glorious crown in heaven.

Today our Father calls us;
His Holy Spirit waits;
His blessed angels gather
Around the heavenly gates.
No questions will be asked us,
How often we have come;
Although we oft have wandered,
It is our Father’s home.

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!  

March 9 ~ Principal  Martin Brieschke, Friday of National Lutheran Schools Week
March 14 ~ DCE Paul Nickel
March 21~ Guest Pastor
March 28 ~ Grade 3  

Lenten Schedule:  Mark your calendar!  Our Lenten midweek services begin on Wednesdays, 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 February Quiz: The hymn that utters this lament:  “Bending from your throne on high, Hear our penitential cry!” is “Savior, when in Dust to You.” (LW 93)

March Quiz: Which song reminds us that “Faith sees, believes God will provide the Lamb of price”?

Spring Sing ’07 is in the works at Our Savior Lutheran School.  The students in 3-day Preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 and 2 will be the stars of our feature performance this year, the musical “BUGZ.”  

Our Hosanna Choir (grades 3-5) will perform the cantata “The Tale of the Three Trees,” and the Gloria choir is putting together a revue of the favorite Broadway show, “Phantom of the Opera.”  The show is scheduled for Thursday, April 26.  The congregation is invited.  We will also be in need of volunteers from the congregation to help with different preparations for the production (costumes, set, props, etc.).  Watch for notices in the Panther Tale or weekly bulletin.  Please help us out if you can!

Contemporary Worship Teams: Singers and musicians, if you are out there, know that we are still in need of volunteers to help us out at our 11 AM Majestic Celebration worship services. We are in special need of a keyboard leader and guitarists, as well as wind instrumentalists and vocalists.  If you would like to sing or play on a regular basis, talk to Scott (426-1130).  Time commitment depends solely on you, as little or as much as you desire.  We need you!

Worship Notes

In an effort to try to help us all learn about our worship life and liturgy, we offer this little “tidbit” of information each month.  It can serve as a review for you, an answer to that question, “Why do we do that?”, or as a teaching tool for our children or grandchildren.  Please share this with your family.  Discuss it prior to worship.  If there is something you would like to have answered, let me know.  I’ll do my best to find out!  

Either after the Words of Institution are spoken, or following the Absolution, the pastor greets us with the peace of the Lord and encourages us to share that same peace with others around us.  Feel free to leave your pew and share a handshake or a hug with as many fellow worshippers as you can.  Especially seek out newcomers to make them feel welcome!  Don’t feel limited to just those in the pew next to you.  Share!

Service in Christ’s Name  

Christ told us that we are committed to service in his name.
WHY IS THIS?
Simply because Christ has no one else on Earth, but those who are committed to God to do God's work. 
WE ARE CHOSEN  --  WE ARE APPOINTED --  WE ARE RESPONSIBLE.
This will be true for as long as we live.  YOU ARE CALLED to do for others what others once did for you.
SHARE THE JOY!

Larry Ashley, Stewardship 2007 

Be on the Look Out!

Mark your calendars now to “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.  

Youth News!

For those in high school, your presence is requested at the church on Sunday, March 25th at 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 22nd at noon.  In addition to the monthly worship, Bible study, and games you have come to know and love, we will be deciding on some service projects.  And watch the Sunday bulletins, as we may come up with something special to add and you'll want to be prepared!  Don't forget to get your homework done early those weekends, and that in March we meet at 5 p.m. and in April we meet at noon!  For questions or rides, call the Otten’s at or the Robison's.

Hurstbourne Hustle

The tentative date for the Hurstbourne Hustle is April 21.  Assistance is needed with the graphic design of t-shirt, marketing/sales person and sponsors and help to organize is needed.  Please contact Karen Osborne.

Book Club Returns

March 4th, after late church meet at the Bristol on Hurstbourne lane and Shelbyville Road for Lunch and to receive your copy of “The Life of Pi”.  Please RSVP to Karen Osborne.  We will set the book club schedule up then.

Scrap Booking  Event

March 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.

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.)  

Holy Week Services

You are invited and encouraged to attend our Holy week services.  Celebrating the joy of Easter is much better comprehended and appreciated as we also ponder His Passion.

Lenten Services:  March 7, 14, 21, 28
Wednesday Evenings at 7 PM

Palm Sunday, April 1
8:30 AM & 11 AM, Communion

Maundy Thursday, April 5
7 PM with Communion

Good Friday, April 6
12 NOON and Tenebrae at 7 PM

Easter Services, April 8 (all with Communion)
6:30 AM Sunrise
9:00 AM Joyful Heritage
11 AM Majestic Celebration