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| February 2008 Newsletter |
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Greetings, in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! ADAM KUDER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED BY THE SYNOD’S COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS TO SERVE AT OUR SAVIOR AS ASSISTANT PASTOR WITH PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS PRAISE THE LORD! On Sunday, January 13, nearly 100 members of Our Savior were in attendance for our youth director call meeting. This meeting was not only announced … it had been brought before the Lord in prayer prior to both services the week before. And so, when we met, we didn’t vote for or against a motion, but we voted: “Do you believe this is the direction that the Lord is leading us …Yes or No?” And there was a 99% consensus, of “yes, this is the way we feel the Lord is leading us.” This congregation, in my tenure, has never come together with this degree of oneness of mind. And for that, to God be all the glory… the answer to three years of prayer and listening has come from God through His church! This should be a tremendous encouragement to us, as a preview of what is to come as we join together in SiMPly Listening to God this month. In Him, Pastor Fausel One Hundred Ninety-Five (195)…That’s the number of students presently attending your school. Eleven new student’s have joined us since we have returned from Christmas break. What a joy it is to be able to share God’s message with so many. What a joy it is to see God at work through our school ministry. What a joy to join with Him in that work.Enrollment for the 2008-09 school year is in full swing. As of mid January we have 36 students already signed up for next year. This is a little ahead of last year at the same time. Enrollments are spread out over all the grades. Check out the special bulletin board in the school hallway to see how enrollment grows. 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 18th 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. The last week in January is Staff Appreciation Week. Our school PTL will honor all workers employed by Our Savior Lutheran Church at a special luncheon on Friday, February 1. Various other activities during the week lead up to the luncheon on Friday. Our Thanks to Doug Netherton and his helpers who expanded the Preschool Child Care room (church nursery) by removing a wall during the Christmas break. Increasing interest and enrollment in that new program necessitated increasing the square footage to meet licensing requirements for the number of students we have. A special thank you as well to all the other groups who have been inconveniences by this rapidly growing ministry and its space needs. SmartBoard #6 was installed in the Fifth Grade classroom over Christmas. We were able to use Auction funds to make this purchase. Now ½ of our classrooms have and use this cutting edge technology daily. Other efforts are being made to upgrade our church/school computer system. We are phasing out an old server and replacing it with one that can better handle our increasing technological needs. Such changes are often accompanied by “glitches”. We have been no exception. Among our glitches has been the loss of email and internet access. Please bear with us as we work to eliminate these problems. 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 FebruaryPlease continue to help and encourage your Sunday school students to prepare their Sunday morning offering envelopes and make sure they bring them to their class. We continue to donate all offerings from the children to the Eastern Area Food Pantry.The Sunday school staff will be preparing and serving the Wednesday, March 5 Lenten dinner. Please plan on coming at 6:00 p.m. for a lasagna dinner before the 7:00 Lenten service. We are working on another song for the children to sing during the 8:30 service. Details to come. Looking ahead: We are planning to have crafts, donuts and juice in the Sunday school rooms on Palm Sunday in coordination with the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Please plan on participating. It is a fun morning. There will be no Sunday school on Easter Sunday, March 23. 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 welcome any comments or suggestions you might have for the auction. Once again this year a school child will design the cover of the auction booklet.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, February 9, 8:00 - 9:30 am Empowered By God – Insights into the Life of Moses Led by Paul Nickel Join us and bring a friend! Golden OldiesJoining together in Christian Fellowship, Education, & RecreationAt each gathering you generally will find:
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.New Experiencing God Classes?ARE YOU INTERESTED IN AN EXPERIENCING GOD CLASS?!?!We would like to start a second round of Experiencing God Small Group classes in March. You may not have had the opportunity or time to join in the first round of classes. You may want to go through the experience a second time. If you are interested in taking the class, please sign up on the sign-up sheets located on the windows of Mr. Nickel’s office. Please indicate the days of the week and times of the day that you would prefer. We will do our best to schedule classes that meet your needs. If you have any questions or would like to lead an Experiencing God Small Group, please contact Paul Nickel (426-1130 or 458-7826). Notes from the Music DirectorDear friends in Christ,Those of you who know me well or are involved in one of the musical ensembles at Our Savior know that I appreciate a good joke or funny story now and then. (Not just the ones that get circulated and repeated and re-circulated on the internet… they are sometimes so “cute,” I wonder whether that they appear to be the product of a creative mind rather than an actual happening!) I enjoy funny stories that relate to my walk with the Lord and remind me of my faith life. I enjoy the ones that make me think and laugh, ones where I learn a little bit as I chuckle. As we begin the serious season of Lent, when we focus on our temptations and sinfulness and the power of God’s Word, I offer the following for your thought … and for your chuckle. It’s OK….go ahead and laugh. Hope to see you in worship! Temptation:While my wife and I were shopping at a mall kiosk, a shapely young woman in a short, form-fitting dress strolled by. My eyes followed her. Without looking up from the item she was examining, my wife asked, "Was it worth the trouble you’re in?" Brian La Croix, Sermoncentral.com, Reader's DigestDeliverance:I had been teaching my three-year old daughter, Caitlin, the Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime, she would repeat after me the lines from the prayer. Finally, she decided to go solo. I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word, right up to the end of the prayer: "Lead us not into temptation," she prayed, "but deliver us some E-mail…. Amen."Christianstories.com Hokey-Pokey:One night as my family was preparing for bedtime, my four year old daughter Claire began singing “The B-I-B-L-E.” As she came to the end, she combined another song. Here is what she sang: "I stand alone on the word of God, that’s what it’s all about." By mixing up “The B-I-B-L-E” and “The Hokey Pokey”, Claire nailed the way that each of us should view God’s word.Roger Walterhouse, Sermoncenral.com Yours in Christ, Scott Kamman Our Savior Music “Notes”NEW LENTEN SERVICE OPTIONAll members of Our Savior and all families of Our Savior Lutheran School are invited to attend Lenten worship together. We will be having an afternoon Lenten chapel service in the sanctuary at 2:15 on Wednesdays during Lent, beginning on February 6, Ash Wednesday.Assigned leaders and school classes are in charge of the “message” portion of each service. A short one-page order of worship will be provided each week. School choirs and ensembles will be scheduled to sing at these chapel services. This will be an optional alternative time of Lenten worship for those who are unable to worship on Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM. Regular Lenten evening services will also be held on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM beginning on February 6. Our theme for these services will be “Tears Tell the Story.” Our Savior Chapel Leaders Feb. 6 Guest Pastor (Ash Wednesday) Feb. 13 Scott Kamman Feb. 20 Grade 5 Feb. 27 Grade 1 Answer to the January quiz: The hymn that reminds us “Christ our God to earth descending comes our homage to demand” is “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” (LSB 621) February quiz: Which hymn petitions, “Bending from Thy 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.) 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 Lenten hymn, Go to Dark Gethsemane.” As we once more begin the Lenten journey of Christ to the cross, let us also learn from Jesus Christ to pray, die, bear the cross, and to rise. Go to dark Gethsemane, All who feel the tempter’s pow’r; Your Redeemer’s conflict see, Watch with Him one bitter hour; Turn not from His griefs away; Learn from Jesus Christ to pray. Follow to the judgment hall, View the Lord of life arraigned; Oh, the wormwood and the gall! Oh, the pangs His soul sustained! Shun not suff’ring, shame, or loss; Learn from Him to bear the cross. Calv’ry’s mournful mountain climb; There, adoring at His feet, Mark that miracle of time, God’s own sacrifice complete. “It is finished!” hear Him cry; Learn from Jesus Christ to die. Early hasten to the tomb Where they laid His breathless clay; All is solitude and gloom. Who has taken Him away? Christ is ris’n! He meets our eyes. Savior, teach us so to rise. 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. Food Pantry Collection for Redeemer Lutheran ChurchDuring the month of February Our Savior has committed to help supply, along with Redeemer, their food pantry. The items needed are canned meats, dried beans or rice, canned fruit and vegetables, boxed desserts, boxed breads, crackers, muffins, canned juice, dried or canned milk, pancake mix and syrup. Also needed are toilet paper, Kleenex, diapers (all sizes) baby wipes, bath soaps, shampoos (adult and children) and conditioners, dish soap, laundry soap, toothpaste, hairbrushes, deodorants, garbage bags, paper towels and napkins, and women’s feminine needs.YOUTH Representative Sought for the Christian RelationsThe Christian Relations Committee is looking for a Youth Representative to serve on the committee. The committee meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 PM.The Christian Relations Committee is responsible for the relationship that the church has with the community. The committee is responsible for a program of community public relations that identifies the Congregation with the Gospel of Christ and assesses the needs with the community regarding volunteers and resources and encouraging Congregational support. Finally together with the Pastor and other Congregational organizations, study the possibilities of offering spiritual services and care to hospitals, homes for the aged, prisons, and other institutions within the community. The Christian Relations Department assists with 2 blood drive a year at this church, Meals on Wheels, and the food pantries (EACM’s and Redeemer Lutheran Church’s panty). If you feel God has provided you with the gift to serve on this committee, please contact Steve Lingdren, 802-1991 (7 AM—11 PM) God Speaks, It Is So"My word that comes from My mouth; will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and will prosper in what I send it [to do].” Isaiah 55:11When God speaks, nothing remains the same. At the beginning of time, God spoke, and a universe was created out of nothing. God followed a pattern when He created the earth: He spoke; it was so; it was good (Genesis 1:3-4). This pattern continued throughout the Bible. Whenever God revealed His plans, things happened just as He said, and God considered the result “good” (Philippians 2:13). God doesn’t make suggestions. He speaks with the full determination to see that what He has said will come to fruition. Whenever Jesus spoke, what He said came to pass. Lepers found that a word from Jesus meant healing (Luke 5:13; 17:14). The blind man discovered that a word from Jesus meant sight (Luke 18:42). Through a barren fig tree, the disciples saw that a curse from Jesus meant destruction (Mark 11:20). The sinner experienced forgiveness through a word from Jesus (John 8:11). How many attempts did it take Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead? Only one (John 11:43). There was never a time that Jesus spoke that what He said did not happen. What happens when Jesus speaks to you? Have you been reading the words of Jesus in your Bible without experiencing His word that transforms everything around you? Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they assumed that knowledge of the written Scriptures would give them life. They were satisfied with having the words instead of experiencing the person who spoke the words (John 5:39). How powerful a word from God is to your life! As you read your Bible and pray, listen to what God has to say to you about His will. In Christ, Paul Nickel ChristCare Small Group Leaders Training Now To Begin In March!Last month we announced that ChristCare Small Group Leaders Training was to begin this month. But because we want to encourage every member of our congregation to participate in the “SiMPly…Listening To God” process that takes place this month, we did not want to add something else to compete with limited time on people’s schedules. Therefore this training will begin next month.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 ended. Are you missing the koinonia you experienced in and with your group? 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. Sunday Morning Bible Study Continues to Review “The Seven Realities” From Experiencing GodIn December and January the Sunday Morning Bible Study reviewed Realities One, Two and Three. During the month of February we will review the remaining four using video and group discussion. Join with us as share what we each feel God is saying and where we see Him working and how we might join Him.February 3 Reality! God Speaks February 10 Reality! A Crisis of Belief February 17 Reality! Major Adjustments February 24 Reality! Knowing God Widow’s GroupGreetings from the Widows Group,February is the month of love, not just for this month but through out the whole year. God loves us and we should love one another and be supportive. On February 1st, we will get together at 10:45 AM for a brief discussion on our current chapter before we go out for lunch. We are thankful for the group’s development and leadership through Emily Hayes and we keep Nora Horecny in our prayers so that she may quickly return to us. Love and Devotion, Yours in Christ, Lily Snook OSLS - Accepting ApplicationsOSLS has begun accepting applications for the 2008-09 academic year 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 the application fee is $200/child. Missional PlanningSMP is basically a listening process so we have adopted the theme: SIMPLY...LISTENING TO GOD.For this process to be beneficial to Our Savior we need as many members (all confirmed members) as possible, to attend the scheduled SMP Sessions later this month. All members are urged ‘to come with ‘empty hands’ and to listen to where God is leading us as a congregation. Attending these sessions requires a substantial time commitment, but it will well be worth the effort as we come together as the united body of Christ and move forward together in the direction He wants us to go as His Body. A detailed schedule is listed below. 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. All sessions will be led by Jon Lorenz an experienced SMP facilitator from L.C.E.F. To make it convenient for all members to attend all sessions we will provide meals, childcare and refreshments. There will be five (5) sessions in total, beginning on Sunday, February10th with one combined Special Worship Service at 10 AM, followed by a Congregation Potluck and then the Introductory SMP Session at 1:00 PM. The second and third sessions are scheduled for Thursday and Friday evenings February 21st and 22nd, with the fourth and fifth sessions on Saturday, February 23rd immediately followed by a Congregation Meeting at 3 PM. We should conclude by 3:30 to 4 PM. For convenience the Thursday and Friday Sessions we will serve a light supper at 5:30 PM with the session beginning at 6:30 PM, childcare again will be provided. The Saturday Sessions will be preceded by a Continental Breakfast at 8:30 AM, with the fourth session starting at 9:30 AM. A light lunch will be provided with the fifth session at 12:30 PM. A congregation meeting will follow at 3:00 PM. All sessions will be held in the Gym, be two (2) hours long (including breaks), have childcare available, and refreshments provided.
Book ClubThe book we are reading for the month of February is “90 Minutes in Heaven”, by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey. We will meet March 2nd , at the Olive Garden on Hurstbourne Lane after the late service to discuss the book. Call Karen Osborne, 243-1765, with questions.Now registering for Camp at LakeviewCamp Lakeview (near Seymour, IN) is currently registering campers, grade K-9, for its 2008 Summer sessions. 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 at the Welcome Center in the church lobby, 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 as soon as possible. Camp activities include Bible study, swimming, mountain biking, canoeing, horseback riding*, challenge course, outdoor cooking, archery, slip ‘n’ slide, fishing, arts & crafts, basketball, soccer, dodge ball, volleyball, tennis, campfire devotions, and much more. (*additional cost) Evangelism Report on the Backside MinistryThe Christmas celebration with the track workers at Churchill Downs was a great evening, we had 14 people from Our Savior help with the festivities. We guess-timated 800 people in attendance. All the children saw Santa (for some a traumatic experience!) and got their gifts - there were enough for everyone. It was so satisfying and heartwarming to see the gift wrap that I recognized go by with a happy and excited child, thank you again to everyone who assisted in anyway with that great outpouring of God’s love and generosity. What was probably the most humbling thing we saw was all the gifts (way over half) that went home still wrapped, so that they would have something to unwrap on Christmas Day.There was a live nativity in the area where the horses are saddled before they race - Mary and Joseph came in on a donkey, then the shepherds came in with sheep, and then the wise men (but no camels). With each entrance the Christmas Story was read from the Bible, first in English and then in Spanish. At the end we sang Christmas songs in English and Spanish (probably my favorite part). The first Monday night dinner at Trackside went well, there were probably as many workers, families, as there were members from Our Savior! Which tells you we had a lot of volunteers - God is so mightily working in us these days it's an awesome thing. They had two services, one in Spanish and one in English, before dinner and during the prayers it became apparent how different this congregation is . . . one man was in the hospital after being beat with a bat by a girl who wanted his $20 for drugs, another girl from Guatemala was physically dying during our service with no family around her and wasn't expected to make it through the night, and another life-long track worker was in a coma after being kicked in the head by a horse in a freak accident. And yet there was joy and happiness in this new year that God has given us, as His people to celebrate the new song He puts in our new heart with our new spirit as He constantly renews His covenant with us and gives us new names (His). Near the end of February there will be a "No Sale Yard Sale" which is an opportunity for us to donate gently-used items that will be offered for no-charge. Clothing, especially jeans (28-32") and toiletries are also welcomed. More information to follow. Go with God - Vaya con Dios - Karen Osborne Junior Achievement VolunteersThis year’s “Done in a Day” Junior Achievement Program will be on Friday, February 15. If you are interested in teaching one of our school classes the Junior Achievement program (K-8), please contact Melanie Douglas at 214-8480 or 599-6790. All the program materials will be provided by Junior Achievement. This is a great way to serve the children in our school and teach them about economics, business, money, etc.Evangelism Up-date on the Back FamilyGod moved in our congregation to raise $2,480 for the Back Family! In addition, many church and school families donated goods to them including a washer and dryer, bedroom set, furniture, entertainment center, clothes, blankets, food, toys, dishes, a stroller and much more! Through God’s provision, we have been able to assist them with re-instating their car insurance, paying off delinquent bills, paying off an employer loan at Mr. Gatti’s, which has allowed Nathan the freedom to put in a job application for a local factory. They have expressed their gratitude many times for the gifts from Our Savior and were delighted to receive the Christmas presents from the school for their children! We have helped them to open a checking account (which they’ve never had) and will be working with them on family budgeting and financial goals for their future. We are also currently working on helping them refinance their car loan, which is at 32% interest. The only items I know of that still could be used by this family are tools of any kind, bookshelves, a computer and another vehicle to enable Sherry to seek employment at another location.Our congregation truly experienced God at work in the lives of this family and used us to be a tremendous blessing to them! Thank you for your generosity and care that you’ve shown towards this family! Melanie Douglas |
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