Our Savior Lutheran Church

A Message from Pastor

Ash Wednesday, March 1 this year, begins the Church's observance of the season of Lent. The 40 days of Lent will take us to Holy Week, which begins April 10 culminated by our celebration of Easter on April 16.

Usually the first thing I hear when the subject of "Lent" comes up is: "Oh, it's late this year!" Which is true. The day of Easter is still determined as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox (March 21). So, the earliest Easter could be is March 21st and the latest is about April 18th.

I noted that the date of Easter is still determined this way because there is some discussion going on about fixing the date of Easter so that it's always on the same Sunday each year, like the first Sunday in April for example. People argue that planning vacations, spring breaks, etc. around Holy Week would be a lot simpler if the "holiday" didn't move … like Labor Day.

Well, the reason that the date of Easter has been set this way by the church for over 1500 years, is that Easter is tied to the Jewish keeping of the Passover. Jesus and His disciples were eating the Passover on Maundy Thursday. In fact, we remember the urgency of getting the bodies off their crosses on Good Friday before the Passover Sabbath (Saturday). And, as you may have guessed, the Jewish tradition for the date of the Passover is governed by the lunar cycle as set forth by Moses.

So as we begin Lent on March 1st, that date this year really has its roots going back to the Jewish practice from the time of Moses … roughly 1400 B.C., well over 3000 years of tradition. Time for a change? You be the judge.

In Him,

Pastor Fausel

Lenten Devotional Booklets

"Proclaiming the Cross" is the Lenten devotional booklet provided by the Lutheran Hour Ministries. The author of the messages is Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, to whom this booklet is dedicated. "The Gospel is not being preached," stated Dr. Hoffmann, "when we say merely that men are saved by grace through faith." Rather, justification by faith derives its real meaning from the cross: "Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead to be Lord!" This selection of messages reveals that the proclamation of the cross is as relevant for today as it was in those times and in those places. As you journey from the somber reflection of Lent to the glorious celebration of Easter, may this proclamation of the cross be with you from today...into eternity. And to paraphrase Dr. Hoffmann: "And there's nothing more to say, except...AMEN!"

You may pick up your copy in the church lobby or the church narthex.

No Fast Food In The Bible

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. --Psalm 119:15

I love the sight of cows lying in the field, chewing their cud. But what is cud? And why do they spend so much time chewing it?
Cows first fill their stomachs with grass and other food. Then they settle down for a good, long chew. They bring the food back up from their stomachs and rework what they've already eaten, assimilating its goodness and transforming it into rich milk. Time-consuming? Yes. A waste of time? Not if they want to give good milk.
The phrase "chewing the cud" is used to describe the process of CONTINUING IN GOD'S WORD. The writer of Psalm 119 obviously did a lot of mental chewing as he read God's Word. No fast food for him! If we follow his example of careful and prayerful Scripture reading and study, we will:
Be strengthened against sin (v.11).
Find delight in learning more about God (vv.15-16).
Discover wonderful spiritual truths (v.18).
Find wise counsel for daily living (v.24).

CONTINUING IN GOD'S WORD is more than reading the Bible and believing it. It's applying Scripture to everyday life. God's Word is not meant to be fast food. Take time for a good long chew.

TO BE A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN, DON'T TREAT THE BIBLE AS SNACK FOOD.

SUNDAY MORNING (9:45 AM) BIBLE STUDY SCHEDULE

The Lutheran Difference: God The Holy Spirit - Fellowship Hall - Pastor Fausel and Paul Nickel
Romans: Righteous By Faith - Faculty Lounge - Kyle Lohmeyer

TUESDAY MORNING (10:15 AM) BIBLE STUDY

The Gospel of Matthew - Fellowship Hall - Paul Nickel

Women's Bible Studies

Jesus The One And Only - Monday Nights (6:00 PM) - Fellowship Hall - Melissa Nelson
The Patriachs - Tuesday Nights (7:00 PM) - At The Nickel's - Paul Nickel
Authentic Relationships: Being Real in an Artificial World - Thursday Mornings (8:30 AM) - Fellowship
Living Your Life as Beautiful Offering - Friday Mornings (9:30 AM) - Fellowship Hall - Paul Nickel

Men's Ministry Bible Study

Overcoming Adversity: Insights Into The Life of Joseph
Thursday Evenings (5:45 PM) - LoneStar Steak House (Whittington Parkway) - Paul Nickel

Sunday School

Don't miss the Lenten meal on Wednesday, March 15th. The Sunday School department will be serving macaroni and cheese, Kiebalsa sausage, salad and dessert.

Mark on your calendar and please try to attend the early service on March 26th when the children will be singing at that 8:30 service.

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 song "God Loves Me Dearly." (AGPS #109). This hymn is a sung to the tune GOTT IST DIE LIEBE, a German folk tune.

God loves me dearly, grants me salvation,
God loves me dearly, loves even me.

Refrain: Therefore I'll say again: God loves me dearly,
God loves me dearly, loves even me.

I was in slavery, sin, death, and darkness;
God's love was working to make me free (refrain)

He sent forth Jesus, my dear Redeemer,
He sent forth Jesus and set me free (refrain)

Jesus, my Savior, Himself did offer;
Jesus, my Savior, paid all I owed. (refrain)

Now I will praise You, O Love Eternal;
Now I will praise You all my life long. (refrain)

Notes from the Music Director

Dear friends,

This morning I was greeted by a chirping male cardinal singing from the tree in my back yard. At first I scowled at him, thinking, "Doesn't he know that yesterday was not such a good day for me? Doesn't he know that the weatherman is forecasting snow? Doesn't he know that it is still dark?!!" After a while, though, I began to think about his cheerful expression. Perhaps it is a harbinger of things to come! Perhaps spring is right around the corner! Even in the midst of this sometimes cold, snowy weather, the gray clouds, and the long, dark nights, there is a promise of spring in the air. Even the daffodils and crocuses are ready to push their foliage up to give me a good sign that something great is near.

The season of Lent is also a reminder of good things to come. We may feel slightly depressed when we focus so much of our worship on our sinfulness and need for God's forgiveness. Our songs and hymns are often in minor modalities. We omit the joyful Alleluias and Hymns of Praise. It almost makes us want to crawl back in our den and retreat from the darkness. But just like those signs of spring, we begin to hear pieces of that wonderful story that brings us closer and closer to Easter, that bright and glorious morning when our lives were changed forever! Some of the greatest hymns of the Christian church are Lenten hymns. They teach us so much and help us visualize the suffering, death, and finally, the resurrection of our Lord. Read the words to "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" sometime. Do they not give you great beacons of hope? Are you looking forward to singing Alleluia again on Easter Sunday?

So, I'll let that cardinal sing all he wants to. I know that something greater is yet to come!

Yours in Him,

Scott Kamman, Director of Music

Our Savior Music Notes

Lenten Schedule

Mark your calendar! Our Lenten midweek services begin on Ash Wednesday, March 1, and continue through Wednesday, April 5. All services are at 7:00 PM. The theme of our services this year is "Valleys of Lent." On March 29, we will be hosting the choir from Lutheran High Northwest of Rochester Hills, MI. They will be providing special music during our worship and singing a few concert anthems after the service. Come and worship!

Host Homes Needed

We will be needing housing for the 50 + members of the Lutheran High Northwest choir coming on Wednesday, March 29. What all does that involve you ask? It would mean taking a minimum of 2 students home with you after the worship service, providing them with conversation, a snack, a place to sleep, a breakfast the next morning, and a ride back to Our Savior on Thursday morning. If you would be willing to open your home to help out, please contact the church office or Scott Kamman.

Worship Reminders

Please respect the quiet time of meditation before the service begins. Enter the sanctuary reverently and with worship in mind. Socializing is best done in the narthex or lounge areas before and after the service. Also, please remember that if you arrive late for church, wait until the congregation begins singing a hymn or piece of the liturgy before being seated. That is the appropriate time to enter into worship. Thank you for maintaining a worshipful atmosphere.

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. This quarter our chapel offerings are going to a program called "Go Here!" - Involving Kids in God's Mission at Their Doorstep. This program assists congregations in ministering to international students in their midst.

Answer to the February Quiz

The hymn that proclaims, "His kingdom stretch from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more" is the mission hymn "Jesus Shall Reign." (LW 312)

March Quiz

Which hymn urges us to "Take the life that lasts forever; trust this soul-renewing flood"?

Spring Sing '06

Spring Sing '06 is in the works at Our Savior Lutheran School. The upper grade choirs will be putting together a production of the famous tale "The Princess and the Pea." The show is scheduled for Thursday, April 27. We will be in need of volunteers from the congregation to help with different preparations for the production (set, props, costumes, etc.). Please help us out if you can!

National Lutheran Schools Week

Our celebration with Lutheran schools around the world begins March 6. The school children will be assisting in the leadership of the closing worship service on March 12. Students in 3-day preschool, Kindergarten, and grades 6-8 will be leading the 8:30 AM service. Grades 1-5 will be leading the 11:00 AM service. All school choirs and handbell groups will be singing and ringing. Come celebrate with us the special gift of Our Savior Lutheran School! (There will be no Holy Communion on this special Sunday.)

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!"

The Peace of the Lord

At some point in each service, the pastor greets us with the peace of the Lord and encourages us to share that same peace with others around us. Sharing the Peace is an opportunity to greet each other. 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.

St. John's Passion

By John Ferguson

Adult Choir preparing Good Friday cantata - singers needed! Our Adult Choir will be singing "St. John's Passion" by John Ferguson. All interested singers in the congregation who would like to help us out on a temporary basis are invited to attend rehearsals during the remainder of March. We will begin working on the piece each Thursday at 7:30. You are also welcome to stick around and help us with our Lenten and Easter music if you like! Questions? Talk to Scott!

Ten Reasons Why We Need ChristCare Groups

Reason 1: ChristCare Groups will invite and challenge each of us to become more actively involved with our Lord and with one another.

Reason 2: ChristCare Groups will provide a sense of Christian community for people in and around our congregation.

Reason 3: ChristCare Groups will provide a place where each member of our congregation will "fit in" and feel comfortable.

Reason 4: ChristCare Groups will keep our members involved and active in the church and will cut down on "back door" losses.

Reason 5: ChristCare Groups will be an ideal starting point for many people who don't have a church home. We can comfortably invite neighbors and friends from our community to join.

Reason 6: ChristCare Groups will give each of us a sense of acceptance and the knowledge that we need not struggle alone through life's difficulties.

Reason 7: ChristCare Groups will increase our response to people during life's ups and downs. People will not become disillusioned because "nobody cared."

Reason 8: ChristCare Groups will lead individuals to discover their gifts and talents, and will provide a place to begin developing and using those blessings.

Reason 9: ChristCare Groups will equip people to live their faith in daily life.

Reason 10: ChristCare Groups will encourage us to be caring Christians.

Preschool Childcare Needs Survey

Our Savior Lutheran School has noticed a trend in inquiry phone calls it receives asking about full time child care for preschool aged children. Since we do not at the current time offer any childcare opportunities for preschoolers, we are unable to meet a large number of parents' needs. We are presently studying whether we should add full time preschool childcare to our existing school program beginning with the 2007- 08 school year. Please take a moment to help us out by responding to the questions below and return it to the special boxes in the church and school lobbies.

Good, Better, & Great School News

Here's the Good News: On February 15 we were notified by the Federal Government that our petition to issue I-20 (Visiting Foreign Student Visa Forms) has been accepted. This means that foreign students may now attend Our Savior for an entire school year after we fill out the proper paper work for the Federal Government. Previously, many of our Korean students were only allowed to stay in the United States and study for six months or less. We anticipate this may be a significant step to helping Our Savior School continue to grow. During the course of this school year, 8 Korean students have attended.

Here's the Better News: Earlier in February, we were contacted by JCPS personnel asking us to fill out forms identifying students enrolled who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. As you may know, we do have three such students who have been a real blessing to our school. The reason for the paperwork was so the Federal Government can send us $6,000 for each displaced student. That means that we will be receiving an unexpected $18,000 in the next few months.

Here's the Great News: At the end of the day on February 15 we had enrollment forms from 161 students for the 2006-07 school year. Last year on the same date the number was 149. We rejoice in the knowledge that the efforts to share God's Word through our school ministry continue to be blessed. Last year we added 30 students between Feb. 15 and the start of the school year making our enrollment 179. If that happens again this year, we should start 2006-07 with over 190 students.

In Christ,

Martin A. Brieschke
Principal

Golden Oldies

Joining together in Christian
Fellowship ~ Education ~ Recreation
At each gathering you generally will find:
1. Lunch at 12:00 PM
2. Devotions
3. Speakers on a variety of topics or entertainment
4. Brief business meeting
5. Usually meet the 3rd Monday of each month
6. Occasional field trips or outings

UPCOMING EVENT

March 29, 2006, Our meeting will be a lunch at church followed by a program:

THE KING OF INSTRUMENTS

Scott Kamman will tell us all about our ORGAN as well as demonstrate the features and virtues of the organ. Come and learn more. We will have an opportunity to play a few notes or bring your own music to play.

GLASSWORKS on April 17. Beauty is ours to behold, when we visit the workshops of the superb artists at the Glassworks. A video explains the history and art of glass blowing. The actual process is experienced in the hot shop.

Depart church at 10:30 AM. Return 2:30 PM. $5 Guided Tour Fee for Glassworks is payable to Marion Faulkner. Sign up on Golden Oldies Bulletin Board.

Statistics

January Finances

Income: $ 54,202.49
Expenses: $ 44,851.74

Fiscal Year

Income: $ 394,273.97
Expenses: $ 429,291.51

WE MOURN

2/13/06 ~ Celebration and Thanksgiving for the life of Joe Conder. Joe was called to His heavenly Father's home on February 9, 2006.

MARCH BOOK CLUB

"Barrabas"
by Par Lagerkvist

This book is available at Wellspring Bookstore.
(ISBN 0-679-72544-X)

March 31, at 7 PM everyone will gather at the home of Karen Osborne. Please contact Karen with any questions.

ATTENTION ALL BRIDGE PLAYERS

PLAYERS WANTED

If you are interested in playing bridge, please contact Harry or Anita Head