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| January 2008 Newsletter |
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Greetings, in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! With Joy we enter the New Year 2008! We saw some exciting things happen at the end of last year as the Lord invited us to join Him in what He is doing in growing His kingdom. And when those opportunities were put in front of the congregation … this Body of Christ responded in love most generously. This coming year promises to be even more exciting for Our Savior. I see the Lord leading us to our Youth Director. And I see the Lord leading us into mission and outreach with enthusiasm like never before - from all of us, children, youth and adults. Experiencing God has taught us that God is at work building up His Kingdom all around us. And by His grace, He calls us individually and collectively as a congregation to join Him in what He is doing. The key to joining God in what He is doing is listening to Him as He reveals Himself, His purposes and His Ways. We’ve learned about how we do that as individuals, but how do we listen to God, collectively, as a congregation? We’ve been hearing about SMP (Strategic Ministry Planning). Listening is what SMP is all about … listening to God as a congregation and being sensitive to Him as He calls us to join Him in mission and ministry. We will begin “SMP” in February, just as we complete our study of Experiencing God. The “nuts and bolts” … the details and the dates for our “SMP” meetings are laid out in this Newsletter under Missional Planning’s banner. “SMP” is not a program. Like Experiencing God, it is a process … a relational process that will help us take the next steps … listening to and addressing the challenges that God will, by His Grace and in His time, lead us to take. This month of January is designated as the Month of Preparation for “SMP.” How do you “prepare” for a process? We pray. We pray often and we pray specifically. Dave and Ginny Adams will be leading us in this spiritual preparation. Marvin Mueller and David Robison will be providing us with the information we will need as the process goes forward. Meanwhile, Steve Lindgren and Larry Lose will head the team that will ensure that we will be well fed as part of our meetings. I would ask that you NOW set aside the dates in February that are for “SMP” and plan to attend them all. You don’t need to have been in one of the Experiencing God groups to participate; as ALL members of the congregation are part of this Body of Christ, God addresses us all as He calls us to be about His Kingdom work. This Year will be an exciting time, as we individually, and as a congregation, grow in our faith and in our relationship with our Savior and Lord. In Him, Pastor Fausel God at WorkWhat a joy it is to report to you this month that an additional 12 new students will join our school family in January. God continues to send us families seeking Christian education for their children. And He sends them to us from as far away as Korea. For the third consecutive year, 8 Korean students will study with our students for the months of January and February. This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to learn about a culture far different than their own and teach our visitors about our culture as well as our faith. In addition to the 8 Korean students who will be joining grades 3-6, we are welcoming a new 6th and 7th grade family transferring from another school in Louisville, and two preschoolers as well. The end result will be a school enrollment of 196 students through February and 188 after our Korean visitors return to their home.God is also at work in the tremendous outpouring of help for the Back family who recently lost their home in a fire. We thank God that so many of our school families have joined in this effort to help get this family back on their feet. What started out as a small activity to provide the family with a few gifts for their one and five-year-old children has grown to huge proportions. We thank God for this opportunity He’s given us to join Him in His work. Re-enrollment Gears UpSchool families have recently received their re-enrollment packets for the 2008-09 school year. We also send those to all members of our congregation with school aged children. Within the next 6 weeks we’ll be gathering those highest priority applications before officially acting on new applications received. We already have in hand 7 of those spanning preschool through grade 6. You can join God where He is at work sending us students by inviting your friends and neighbors to contact our school office (426-0864) to find out more about becoming a student at Our Savior.We started this school year with 184 students and look forward to reaching 200 when school starts next August. In Christ, Martin A. Brieschke 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 News for JanuaryTHANKS AND GRATITUDEThanks to all who contributed and helped with Operation Christmas Child! Our Savior provided 85 boxes which were handily sent off to the depository by the Romines family!The Children’s Christmas Program on December 16, was a great celebration with a re-creation of Los Posadas. Thank you to all who assisted. It is hoped that in this re-telling of Jesus birth, the children were able to really focus on how things FELT the night of Jesus birth and REJOICE in the JOY of His coming. We would like to especially thank Mr. Jack Hiegel, Mr. Scott Kamman, and Mrs. Lisa Smith for sharing their musical talents! We would also like to thank Thrivent for providing the treats for the Children’s Christmas treat bags and for the bibles that were presented to the Third Grader’s in October. A special thank you to the Kamman ChristCare group, who under the leadership of Sue Francik, shopped and assembled the Christmas treat bags for the children. On the 9th of December the Sunday School was treated to a presentation by Mr. Mark Schulz who shared about his trip to China. Thank you Mr. Schultz! A THANK YOU brunch is planned to be held for the Sunday School teachers in January or February. Please keep them and the Sunday School in your prayers as we continue to serve our children and God in this way. The teachers were wonderful in helping the children learn their parts for the Christmas Program. Lutheran Education Annual Fund (LEAF)The Day School Board would like to thank all those who have donated towards LEAF. This campaign will run through the end of the fiscal year (6/30/2008). Your gift to support the education of the students at Our Savior is appreciated at any time.Men’s Ministry BreakfastPancake Breakfast2nd Saturday of the month Saturday, January 12, 8:00 - 9:30 am Empowered By God – Insights into the Life of Moses Led by Paul Nickel Join us and bring a friend! Taste of Our SaviorThe 5th Annual Taste of Our Savior will be in March 8, 2008. This is our school's largest fundraiser and we couldn't make it happen without the help and support of MANY Our Savior families. Our auction committee is already at work and have begun collecting donations. If you have any contacts for donations or would like to help out in any way please contact Tracy Hannon, 423-7216. We still have a few positions to fill and welcome any comments or suggestions you might have for the auction.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 On Monday, January 21, the Golden Oldies will start 2008 with "Don't Get Scammed", by Bruce Gadamsky, a Vice President of the Better Business Bureau. He will also distribute information about which charities we should be wary of when asked to make a donation. Please come join us and bring a friend. Entertainment Book 2008Entertainment Books for 2008 are available from LWML for $20 in the church office. Make your checks payable to LWML. Available in the church office.Book ClubWe resume on January 13 with "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury. You must get this book on your own. We meet at the Bristol on Hurstbourne Lane after the 11 AM service.Notes from the Music DirectorDear friends in Christ,One of my essential tasks as the music teacher and music director at Our Savior is to try to acclimate our children to the worship service. If you are a parent or grandparent of a school-age child, no doubt you feel the same obligation. It is an age-old challenge that many before us have dealt with, often unsuccessfully. How do we get children to understand the pattern of worship, the materials we use, the words that are repeatedly spoken, and the actions that are performed? We have often assumed that they would learn simply through observation and imitation. But, do they? Our job as parents and teachers is to nurture our children’s worship lives, educating them in our faith, being willing to spend time in both Sunday School (Bible study) and worship. It is even acknowledged to parents and sponsors in the sacrament of Holy Baptism: “It is your task…to [bring him/her] up in the true knowledge and worship of God…[and] to bring him/her to the services of God’s house.” We need to help children feel welcome and included as participants in worship. I encourage you to see this task as extremely important. It is sometimes difficult, but don’t give up! As a small assistance, I even add a “Worship Note” to my newsletter article as a springboard for family discussion. Try it! I would also like to take this idea one step further. Many of our children who do attend church are regularly attending only one style of worship. They are not exposed to the different worship liturgies and music styles. Parents or grandparents, why not attempt to attend one of our other services, step out of your comfort zone for just a Sunday now and then? Experience the full picture of worship at Our Savior! You and your children will certainly learn that God-pleasing worship occurs in many different ways. I believe you will also learn to appreciate other worship styles. Teach your children diversity! Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:15-16 Yours in Christ, Scott Kamman Our Savior Music “Notes”Advent/Christmas Services: Many thanks to those who helped to make our Advent and Christmas services so special. To the choirs, praise teams, instrumentalists, organists, handbell ringers, and soloists: Thank you and to God be the glory!Holiday in Bethlehem: Gracious thanks to all who participated or helped out in any way for our Celebrate Christmas 2007 program. It was a truly blessed event that touched the hearts of many. 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 January, they will be learning the favorite hymn of many, Beautiful Savior, as well as a recent contemporary song, Beautiful One. Compare the lyrics of both to hear the wonderful praise of Jesus, our newborn Savior! Beautiful Savior, King of Creation Son of God and Son of Man! Truly I’d love Thee, truly I’d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown. Public domain. Wonderful so wonderful is Your unfailing love. Your cross has spoken mercy over me. No eye has seen no ear has heard, No heart could fully know How glorious how beautiful You are. Beautiful One I love, Beautiful One I adore, Beautiful One my soul must sing! © 2002 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) 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! Jan. 9 - Principal Brieschke Jan. 16 - DCE Nickel Jan. 23 - Grade 4 Jan. 30 - Grades K & 7 Answer to the December quiz: The hymn that contains, “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” is “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” (LSB 380) January quiz: Which hymn reminds us “Christ our God to earth descending comes our homage to demand”? 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: Sanctus is a Latin word that means “holy.” This part of the sung communion liturgy contains the words from Isaiah’s vision of God (Isaiah 6:3) and the crowd’s response on Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9). We join them in spirit by singing their words as we anticipate Christ’s coming in the Sacrament: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” 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. Camp CedarbrookCamp Cedarbrook hopes that you had a wonderful Christmas as well as a New Years Holiday. 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.We have newly revised contracts for the 2008 year that are available to be downloaded off of our website at: www.cedarbrooklll.com. Fundraiser T-shirts and Camp Cedarbrook Cookbooks are on sale NOW! On the website under the must see fundraisers link. If you have any questions regarding these items please contact Sherry Pierce at (812) 207-7569. We are closed here at the camp for the winter months-for that reason there is not much to report on but we do still have winter bills that accumulate and appreciate any gifts from our supporters for the camp. We have a donation link on the website that allows our supporters to make any size donation through pay pal. We appreciate all of your support through out the year! Good-will to all, Sherry Pierce, Director of Development Stewardship"STEWARDSHIP" Too many times this is a financial conversation piece that makes everyone sit up and then kind of shy away to another conversation like "How about those Cards (or Cats)! Guess What? Apparently not at Our Savior!!2007 was another very good year ( In many areas I might add) where you and the other members came together to create the "ALL FOR ONE" attitude. WORKING TOGETHER, our congregation has seen GOD'S caretaker designation remain intact and active. The commitments are many, the activities are dynamic and the love and caring is showing! My wish for each and everyone of you is this --- Take care of what God has given to you, teach your children the same and most of all, BE VERY VERY THANKFUL everyday for the many blessings God has bestowed on and entrusted to you. Take care of your neighbor in 2008...Bring a friend to church...Share your faith...Smile a lot...Trust in God. Peace! Larry ChristCare —Small Group Leaders Training Begins In February!If you’ve been in an Experiencing God Small Group, you probably have found great benefit from being a part of a small group of Christians where you can share your struggles, and be supported in the process. Your Experiencing God Small Group experience will be ending this month. I am sure there are many of you who would like to continue your small group experience because of the blessings you have received through your experience.A ChristCare Small Group is a natural extension of the Experiencing God Small Group and would be a wonderful place for you to continue that small group experience. We currently have only five ChristCare Small Groups that are limited to 12 participants per group. Some of these groups listed below have openings. I would encourage you to call the leaders listed below for more information about that particular group. In order to make the small group experience available to more that just 60 people – we had about 130 people participating in Experiencing God Small Groups – we need more ChristCare Group Leaders. We are asking you to pray about becoming a ChristCare Group Leader! Is God speaking to you and are you sensing God moving you in this direction? Volunteering to become a ChristCare Group Leader does not mean that you are now a Leader who is turned loose to form a small group. ChristCare Leaders are extensively trained (52 hours) and receive ongoing support once that training is completed. Training is scheduled to begin next month. Our goal is to train 10 new leaders. God may be calling you to be one of them! If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a ChristCare Small Group Leader, please contact Charles or Marsha Puckett at 473-1691 or Paul Nickel at 426-1130. Trembling At God’s Word"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2Do you tremble when God speaks? When was the last time you were physically affected by the reality that almighty God just spoke directly to you? John lost all physical strength when God spoke to him (Revelation 1:17); Paul fell to the ground when Christ met him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4); Moses trembled when God spoke to him (Acts 7:32); and Peter, when he realized who Jesus was, “fell at Jesus' knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” (Luke 5:8). Have you lost your sense of awe that the Creator still chooses to speak to you, His creation? Do you approach the reading of your Bible with a holy expectation, listening for the life-changing words that God has for you that day? Scripture says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). There are things you will see and hear out of your awe and reverence for God that you will not experience in any other way. As we beginning a new calendar year, determine to set aside a few minutes each day to spend time working on your relationship with the Lord. And as you read and study your Bible and meditate on those words, you may sense that God has something to say directly to you through the verses you are reading. Take a moment to consider the awesome reality that the God who spoke and created the universe is now speaking to you. If Jesus could speak and raise the dead, calm a storm, cast out demons, and heal the incurable, then what effect might a word from him have upon your life? The possibilities should cause you to tremble! The next time you open God’s Word, do so with a sense of holy expectation. In Christ, Paul Nickel Widow’s GroupGreetings from the Widows Group,As we start the new year, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and all for which we are thankful. We have been blessed in many ways. As we start the new year we wish everyone a blessed New Year and start our program off with our lunch on January 4, at 11 AM, at the home of Emily Hayes. If you have any questions about our group please contact Emily Hayes, 253-5541, or Lily Snook, 452-1277. Yours In Christ, Lily Snook Our Savior Lutheran SchoolApplications for the 2008-09 academic year will begin to be accepted on January 7, 2008. Those interested in finding out more about Our Savior’s Preschool and Preschool Childcare, Kindergarten, Elementary, or Middle School Programs are encouraged to contact the school office, 426-0864 for an enrollment packet. We encourage all to “Come & See” the quality Christian education programs available.God has blessed Our Savior Lutheran School with a dedicated faculty and staff, supportive school families, and a first-rate curriculum. We are fully accredited by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and National Lutheran School Accreditation. We invite you to be a part of the best-kept secret in Louisville. Applications received on or before February 25 require a $100/child application fee. After February 15, 2008 the application fee is $200/child. EvangelismWhen I opened my Experiencing God book the other day, the first thing I saw was “You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you.” Which got me thinking about the Sunday when I stood in front of the church and shared what was going on in my heart and my life with you. I had no expectations.It’s like there is a stream of the holy Spirit flowing out from the apex of our sanctuary, through the cross, and down the aisle. When I told you about my experience with the Backside Ministry I felt like I stepped into that stream and the current of it started to pull me along. Then I found out that God had reached into your hearts also, because when I looked around there were a lot of you swimming with me in the at stream (it seems the more people that took the jump in—the bigger the stream became)! And like Billie Detroy said, “it became a tidal wave that is carrying us out the door of Our Savior with over 117 gifts and a cash donation for the people of the backside”. We were all touched by God that morning (and week) and He accomplished His work through us! Having made this preface, and using the stream analogy, the current swept me past the Christmas season and I felt so encouraged by what God did in my heart and the response from your hearts that I volunteered our church to provide all the Monday meals in January. (Yes, I did!) Since Churchill Downs is completely closed during the month of January, including the dormitory, the group is much smaller at only 45 to 50 people. Operations move to the training facility south of the Watterson Expressway on Poplar Level Road (the Old Kentucky Downs Track). This is about more than providing a warm meal for people who might not get another one that week, it is about Christian outreach and developing one-on-one relationships with new Christians and people who are just hungry (for food? For Christ? For warmth?). It is not just about supporting another ministry, it is about doing God’s work in this world. God wanted me there that first time so I could tell you about it, and I feel He has opened this door now and wants us to step forth. “The key to evangelism is relationships”, Pastor Merino told us last year (and he knows about being a Christian witness in a non-Christian environment). So by providing several meals in a row and meeting the same people more than once, I feel something else is going to happen. Something big, something God-sized. So my question is: Is anyone still swimming out there with me? If you can help with this task please contact me, 243-1765. It is like a big adventure into obedience to God’s will, are you coming? Vaya con Dios (Go with God), Karen Osborne Missional PlanningALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN STRATEGIC MINISTRY PLANNING (SMP) SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2008The Strategic Ministry Planning (SMP) is a faith-based process. It is a 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. ONLY 6 WEEKS REMAIN UNTIL SMP BEGINS OUR SAVIOR STRATEGIC MINISTRY PLANNING (SMP) PROCESS IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2008. For Our Savior to receive the optimum benefit from this process we need you and as many members as possible to participate in all the sessions (this will ensure that we have a large consensus when we are finished). So that you can now plan ahead on your February 2008 Calendar to participate, we have shown the schedule below. Members should plan to attend all five (5) of the congregation sessions of approximately 2 hours each. The Introductory session #1 is on Sunday Feb. 10th after a Congregation Potluck. The other sessions (2&3) are on Thursday and Friday (Feb. 21st & 22nd) evenings and include a light supper. The final two sessions (4&5) will be Saturday (Feb. 23rd) morning and afternoon. A brief Special Congregation Meeting, to adopt SMP, will follow the last session at 3 PM on Saturday the 23rd. (All sessions will provide childcare.) All members are requested to mark their calendars now and to start praying and continue praying (throughout the entire process) for God to lead Our Savior, as a Congregation, to see His will for us. RESERVE THE BELOW DATES ON YOUR 2008 CALENDER
Thank You from the StaffOn behalf of all the staff here at Our Savior (Church and School) I wish to thank all the members of the congregation and school parents who contributed so generously this year to the “Staff Christmas Gift.” We thank you all for your appreciation. It is a privilege to serve the people of God here at Our Savior.Pastor Fausel |
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