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| November 2007 Newsletter |
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Greetings, in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! It’s been very humbling for me to see what God is doing as we have undertaken the study of Experiencing God as a congregation. First of all, the number of people involved in the discussion groups has well exceeded our original expectations. And there are many more who are doing the study on their own or with their families. We can only look at all this and say, this is something that God is doing in our midst. Already people have begun asking, “Now what? What comes next?” To be honest with you, I can’t give you a specific answer; only God truly knows. Schedule wise, we will get through the first eight units of Experiencing God before we take a break to celebrate Advent, Christmas and the New Year. Then we’ll finish up in January. As you’ve heard, Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) will then lead us in a program during February where we will come to God with empty hands and seek His direction for our ministry here. What will come out of that only God knows … but whatever it is, what we are doing now is part of His plan. So. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:34: “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Look today to see His hand guiding your life, and even the life of our congregation … and be assured that what’s next will be revealed to us in God’s perfect timing. In Him, Pastor Fausel We Give Him PraiseGod has given His people the gifts to do so much but yet it is said, “I don’t see where God is working”. This monthly feature will spotlight different areas where people have seen God at work through His people . No names will be used for these are acts of service to the Glory of God. For this month we give thanks and praise to God for:
Sunday School NewsSunday School continues to have great attendance! Thank you for supporting your children in this important aspect of their Spiritual Growth and Development. (Do you remember times when you were young and how it WAS exciting to see your friends at Sunday School on Sunday mornings?) This does not happen overnight, so give your child a chance to develop these relationships and memories. Remember, Sunday School starts at 9:45 in their classrooms. Please try to be on time and don't forget your bibles.The chosen mission project, EACM FOOD PANTRY (which the church also supports) has been a SUCCESS! Our very own pre-school teacher, Terry Lindgren, is involved at the pantry and has been able to give us first-hand reports on how well-received our efforts have been in providing food and sundries for many Eastern Jefferson county families! We will continue to collect items throughout the year, and will have "focused" drives off and on. Basic staples like toilet paper, pancake mix, syrup, canned goods, and diapers are always needed. Operation Christmas Child is soon under full swing as the collection dates are November 12-18. See the list of recommended items enclosed in this newsletter. Please peruse the list and consider bringing in any of the items and place them in the church office which can be distributed in the boxes. We pray that you and your family have been able to participate in this worthwhile event. Help your child's class win a prize, as a contest will be held determining which class produces the most number of boxes. Bring in a boy and a girl box, or several! The congregation will pray over the boxes and dedicate them at the 11:00 church service on November 18. If you and your family would like to help deliver the boxes that day to the distribution center, please let Leanne Hardin know. MARK NOVEMBER 18th on your calendars to attend the 11:00 service! Three important events will be happening then. The first through sixth Sunday School grades will be singing. The Operation Christmas Child boxes will be prayed over and dedicated and the Third grade Bible Presentation will also occur. (Fourth graders present the bibles to the Third graders). Don't miss these fine traditions. The Children's Christmas Service is set for December 16th at the 11:00 service. One rehearsal will be held Saturday December 15th. We have already started to practice for this, so it this is another important reason for your children to attend Sunday School. We look forward to having them! God's Blessings, Heidi and Leanne Special Service TimeNovember 11There will be only ONE service on November 11, at 10 AM. This will be a combined service similar to the one held on September 30th. Immediately following the service in the Sanctuary there will be a Voter’s Meeting as directed by our Constitution and By-laws for the election of officers for the coming year. You are urged to attend. Please mark your calendar now and remind those you regularly worship with of the change. Golden OldiesJoining together in Christian Fellowship, Education, & RecreationAt 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 The November 19, Golden Oldies program will feature one of our parochial school teachers, Mark Schultz. Mark will talk and show slides about his 1 month stay in Fuzhou, China. This teaching visit was sponsored by the Asian Cultural Center of Louisville. Come to learn more about life in China. Members of Our Savior are Experiencing GodGOD IS AT WORK AROUND YOU.A significant number within our congregation have answered the above question YES! They have joined Him as He is working through our Experiencing God Small Groups. 137 people and 12 leaders are participating in these small groups. Did you know that these leaders meet together every Saturday morning to prepare to lead their small groups. There are also another 15 people who cannot participate in a small group but participating via independent study. If you are not participating in a small group and Pastor’s sermons and/or Bible classes have captured you interest, it’s not too late to pick up a book from Paul Nickel and work through the study on your own. It’s really all about God pursuing a more loving, intimate relationship with you! He accomplishes that relationship with you as His Holy Spirit works through the Word. The power is in the Word. You are invited to find out what God has in store for you as you work through “Experiencing God.” Widow’s GroupTo all the Widows of the Church,We meet the first Friday of every month at 11 AM after visiting with each other we depart for lunch. I enjoy the gatherings. We never have problems with car pooling; there are always volunteers willing to drive and a big thanks to them. Speaking of thanks, a blessed thanksgiving to all from the Widows Group. If you have any questions about our group please contact Emily Hayes, 253-5541, or Lily Snook, 452-1277. Yours In Christ, Melitta (Lily) Snook Our Savior Lutheran School Open HouseOur Savior Lutheran School cordially invites all members of the congregation, especially those with school-aged children, to our Annual Open House on Sunday, November 11, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.Meet the faculty & staff Hear the students perform See what a SmartBoard is and what it can do Learn about extracurricular programs Find out about Quality Christian Education with a personal touch Camp Cedarbrook News for NovemberCamp Cedarbrook’s elections are here! Elected offices are being held for President, Vice President, Treasurer/Secretary. If you are interested in any of these offices please join us at our next board meeting on November 11th @ 2:00 P.M. in the Grace Lutheran Church Board Room in New Albany.Our constitution allows 2-4 board members from every district Lutheran Missouri Synod Church. Board members help decide the funding, regulations and direction of the camp. The board members meet once a month during the summer on Sunday afternoons at the camp before evening devotions and during the winter at different district churches. Please consider being a board member or elected officer. Keep in mind that if you plan on reserving the camp for the 2008 season you may call Jill McLellen at (502) 797-8743 to get your date on the schedule. Fundraiser T-shirts and Cookbooks are on sale NOW! On the website under the must see fundraisers link. Our newly designed logo T-shirt is selling for $13.00 ea. And our keepsake Camp Cedarbrook Cookbook is selling for $13.50 ea. If you have any questions about ordering these items please contact Sherry Pierce at (812) 207-7569. For those of you who have not had an opportunity to take a look at our new website we invite you to visit www.campcedarbrooklll.com. Sherry our Director of Development designed our website strictly with our users and supporters needs in mind. Good-will to all, Sherry Pierce, Director of Development Notes from the Music DirectorDear friends in Christ,Would you go to school or work in your pajamas? If you are a teenager, would you go on a date without brushing your teeth? (Your date hopes not!) If you are answering “no way!” to these questions, you realize the importance of preparing yourself for certain situations. There are preparations for worship that make our experience of God possible. God is always with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit. However, we so often rush through life that we may fail to realize that God is with us. At its very essence, worship is God’s Spirit touching our spirit. To realize that God is touching us, we need more than space and time set aside. We who are uniting for worship also need a cue to shift from thoughts about ourselves or conversations with others to a corporate worship mindset. Our experience is better if we are prepared. We first need to realize that the best place for our conversations and discussions is in the narthex or lobby area downstairs. It is wonderful to visit and fellowship with others, so long as we do not disturb those in the sanctuary who are preparing to worship. Once we enter God’s House, our voices should show reverence in their volume. The prelude is typically the first act of worship for our services. Prelude literally means “that which is played before.” The prelude is like the school bell that alerts students that class has begun. It is a time to sit quietly and clear our minds of worldly distractions. It is after the prelude has finished that the church bell calls our attention to the light of Christ as it is brought into the sanctuary. This act is a visible reminder that stimulates our awareness that we are in the presence of the Lord. After a brief welcome and pertinent announcements, our service begins with the Invocation to recall our baptismal grace, and often with a Call to Worship, responses between the worship leader and the congregation to introduce the theme or tone of the service. At other times, we may open with a hymn or song that gathers our thoughts and prepares us. With this understanding of these beginning elements of our worship service, how can we prepare? Always allow the Word of God to shape all that we say, sing and do. Realize the presence of the Lord in His temple and open your heart accordingly to respond. Yours in Christ, Scott Kamman “… the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” Hab. 2:20 [Jesus declared,] “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 Our Savior Music “Notes”Thanksgiving Service: This year, we will be offering one service on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 21, at 7:00 PM. Come, you thankful people, come!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 November, they will be learning the hymn, Oh, Sing to the Lord, a new hymn in our Lutheran Service Book. This hymn comes to us from Brazil as a Portuguese folk song, Cantad al Señor. Its South American setting makes it a natural also in Spanish. Oh, sing to the Lord, oh, sing God a new song. Oh, sing to the Lord, oh, sing God a new song. Oh, sing to the Lord, oh, sing God a new song. Oh, sing to our God, oh, sing to our God. For God is the Lord, and He has done wonders. For God is the Lord, and He has done wonders. For God is the Lord, and He has done wonders. Oh, sing to our God, oh, sing to our God. Cantad al Señor un cantico nuevo. Cantad al Señor un cantico nuevo. Cantad al Señor un cantico nuevo. cantad al Señor, cantad al Señor! Porque el Senor ha hecho prodigios, Porque el Senor ha hecho prodigios, Porque el Senor ha hecho prodigios, cantad al Señor, cantad al Señor! 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! Nov. 7- Grades 3 & 6 Nov. 14 - Pastor Peters Nov. 21- Grades 2 & 5 Nov. 28 - Guest Answer to the October quiz: The song that states, “You are the potter, I am the clay; Mold me and make me. This is what I pray” is “Change My Heart, O God.” November quiz: Which hymn implores, “O refresh us; O refresh us, Trav’ling through this wilderness”? 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! 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! Check out this month’s edition of “Worship Notes!” THIS MONTH’S WORSHIP NOTES:What is the difference between a “sacrament” and a “rite” in Lutheran worship?A Sacrament combines the Word of God with an earthly element (water, bread, wine). Jesus told us to perform two sacraments, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper [Matt. 28:19; Luke 22:19]. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God bestows grace, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life through them. A rite is simply a Christian ceremony such as a wedding, funeral, confirmation, installation, etc., which is not commanded by God, nor does it offer forgiveness. Looking to get involved at Our Savior through music?Adult Handbell Choir meets on Thursday evenings, 6:30 PM in the Music Room.Adult Choir meets on Thursday evenings, 7:30 PM in the Music Room. Contemporary Worship Teams still graciously welcome any musician who is interested in using his or her talent to help us in our contemporary worship. Time commitment depends solely on you, as little or as much as you desire. We are in need of singers and instrumentalists. Practices usually are on Friday evening or Saturday morning. Combined Handbell Choir meets on Tuesday afternoons, 3:30 – 4:30 PM in the Music Room. (For grades 4 and up) Our Savior Lutheran School Band meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:00 – 8:45 AM. (For grades 3-6) Questions? Director of Music Scott Kamman can be reached at 426-1130. Rededication service at Holy Cross, ShelbyvilleOn November 18th at 3 PM. the congregation of Holy Cross invites all it’s sister congregations to a service of rededication, as Holy Cross remembers the 10 year anniversary of the dedication of it’s worship facility. With some special guests and invitations to all of our sister congregations it will be a time of joy, of thanksgiving and yes a time to remember what God has done and is continuing to do both at Holy Cross and in your congregation. Please make plans now to join with us in Christ in praise of His grace and love. Reception to follow.Book ClubWe will meet November 4, at the Bristol on Hurstbourne Lane after the late service to discuss Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Call Karen Osborne, 243-1765. We will be taking the month of December off.Lutheran Education Annual Fund (LEAF)The Department of Day School of Education asks for your support through the Lutheran Education Annual Fund (LEAF) Your participation helps the school maintain the quality learning environment at Our Savior. This campaign will run through November14.Entertainment Book 2008Entertainment Books for 2007-2008 are available form LWML for $20 in the church office. Make your checks payable to LWML.. The Entertainment Books have discount Coupons for local restaurants, entertainment activities, services, and other discounts. Come by the church office to purchase one. These books make great gifts. Some restaurants included are Café Emilie, Shalimar, Magdalena’s, Ferd Grisanti, Bootleg Bar-B-Q, Burger King, Steak & Shake, Baskin Robbins, Graeters, Sonics, and numerous local pizza establishments just to name a few. For entertainment there are coupons for the Zoo, Holiday World, movie theaters, Frazier Historical Museum, Speed Museum, Ali Center, Puzzle Dome, Champs, Iceland, Renaissance Park, bowling, golf, and many more. If you have any questions please contact Billie Detroy.Men’s Ministry BreakfastPancake Breakfast2nd Saturday of the month Saturday, November 10, 8:00 - 9:30 am Empowered By God – Insights into the Life of Moses Led by Paul Nickel Join us and bring a friend! ChristCareThe decision to engage in ChristCare Small Group Ministry as a strategy for ministry has the potential to impact the life of Our Savior Lutheran Church as few other decisions we might ever make. Programs come and go; strategies for ministry transform congregations and continue to make a difference. When we talk about doing ministry here at Our Savior, we need to regard ChristCare as a key. Seniors Sharing Our Faith Congregational Voter’s MeetingOn November 11 in the sanctuary immediately following the special service at 10 AM. This Congregational Voter’s Meeting will is in accordance with the Constitution and By-laws to elect the following positions to the church Council: President and Vice President and the department heads of Day School, Evangelism, Building and Grounds, Elders, Parish Education, and Finance and Administration (Treasurer).You’re Invited!Our Savior Lutheran SchoolOPEN HOUSE Sunday, November 11 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm We invite all members and friends of Our Savior to come and see our school ministry. During the course of the afternoon all musical groups will be performing. Our Student Activities Leadership Team (S.A.L.T) members will be your personal guide along with a member of the Department of Day School Education. The building will be filled with present and future students and their families. Why not stop by and take it all in. In fact, why not invite someone you know who is seeking quality Christian education with a personal touch to come with you and introduce them to a school that ranks among the best in Louisville. Camp Cedarbrook Board ElectionsElected offices are President, Vice President, Treasurer/Secretary. If you are interested please come to the next board meeting on November 11 at 2 PM in the Grace Lutheran Church’s Board Room, 1787 Klerner Lane, New Albany, IN.In addition, our constitution allows for 2-4 board members from every district Lutheran Missouri Synod Church. Board members help decide the funding, regulations and direction of the camp. The board meets once a month. During the summer we meet at the camp before evening devotions and during the winter at different district churches. Please consider being on the board or an officer. For questions call Jill McLellen @ 502-797-8743. Missional Planning and Childcare Project Team UpdateSince Our Savior will be participating in Strategic Ministry Planning (SMP) process in February 2008 we will take this opportunity to further explain the process and how we arrived at this point.The entire process started when the Childcare Project Team met with Larry Jung VP of the Indiana District Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) to discuss how much the LCEF could help financially, to build an Open Arms Childcare Center. While the Team members felt it was God’s Will to move ahead, Larry asked the question. “Do we have overwhelming consensus from the congregation to “Grow God’s Kingdom” in this way”? The team was, “we are not sure”. Larry suggested that before we move on, we set our personal agendas aside and participate in the SMP process. The SMP process will ensure that in whatever future direction we move as a congregation, we will be convinced that God is leading us in the direction He wants us to go. The Childcare team and Missional Planning Committee then proposed the SMP process to the Church Council and we all unanimously agreed to let the Lord lead us through SMP. (SMP) is a faith-based process, in which we as individuals and as a congregation set aside our personal agendas. Then we come to God with “empty hands” to seek His guidance in making future ministry decisions for Our Savior. We will learn to trust God to set the example for our actions instead of basing our decisions on “what others are doing.” We will learn to rely on the Holy Spirit for our direction instead of on focus groups and surveys. We will learn to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6. SMP is about developing the foundation for making good decisions. Decisions based on God’s unique calling for Our Savior, as understood by the gathered Body of Christ and grounded in The Word. We will use “The House of Decisions” as a model for making good decisions. If God’s calling is the foundation for decision-making, then Ministry Priorities form the “first floor”. Resting on God’s calling, priorities help order and organize all other decisions. Then, on the solid foundation of God’s calling and the “first floor of Ministry Priorities”, the “second floor” decisions about site, facilities, staffing, programs, and money can be made quickly and confidently, knowing that our best understanding of God’s Will has been considered and included in all decision-making. Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock Matthew 7:24 PLAN ON / RESERVE THE BELOW FUTURE DATES ON YOUR CALENDARFeb. 10, 2008, Congregation Potluck & Session 1- Introduction to SMPFeb. 21, 22, & 23, 2008- Congregation Planning Sessions Feb. 24, 2008- Special Congregation Meeting to approve the SMP The congregation’s participation in Experiencing God will help prepare members to more effectively participate in SMP. All members are requested to participate in SMP so that we can agree on the direction God is leading Our Savior, with an overwhelming consensus. THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKETSOur Savior is assisting EACM to provide Thanksgiving Baskets for those less fortunate in our area. Baskets are provided (with a list) to return the food in. You don’t need a basket to shop.Please return your gifts for others by November11. “God our Maker, doth provide, For our wants to be supplied.” LSB Hymn 892. Here are the items requested for each basket: $10 or $20 gift certificate for a turkey, 4 cans of vegetables, 2 cans of fruit, 1 can of cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, potatoes (instant or fresh), stuffing mix, muffin or biscuit mix, pie crust, canned pumpkin, 1 can of evaporated milk, beverages (coffee, tea, canned juice, kool-aid, etc.) SPECIAL OFFER FROM LUTHERAN CHURCH EXTENSION FUNDContinues through November 30, 2007. LCEF is offering a 6% (6.136% APY) 2-Year Term Investment. You can obtain investment applications more about this special opportunity or other investment opportunities by visiting www.lcef.org. or calling 1-800-843-5233. This is not an offer to sell investments or a solicitation to buy. The offer is made only in states where authorized and solely by LCEF’s Offering Circular. There is also a brochure regarding this program on the church bulletin board.Community Wide Thanksgiving ServiceEastern Area community Ministries (EACM) will have an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, Tuesday, November, 20, 2007 at 7 PM at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 1395 Girard Drive, Louisville, KY 40222. This is located in the City of Graymoor, north of Westport Road. The speaker will be the Reverend Mike Gatton from Hurstbourne Christian Church. |