Greetings, in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! In the pages of this newsletter you’ll learn all about what’s coming up at Our Savior, now, and in the weeks to come, as we have hit the New Year running. Browse through it and check out those things that are of interest to you.
One thing that a lot of work and energy goes into each year … and I think gets glossed over … is our church’s Annual Report. Unlike a business’ annual report that has a lot of charts and graphs and glossy pictures … Our Savior’s is just text. But if you haven’t read it already, may I strongly encourage you to get a cup of coffee and sit down and READ IT from cover to cover. I think you’ll understand why after you’ve read it.
A major problem we face as a church of this size is keeping everyone current with all that’s going on. You’ll see in the Annual Report that “communication” is a major goal for us in 2010. At least one church in our area has gone to e-mailing out their monthly newsletter… with copies available at church and a short mailing list for those without computers. As a result, people get the news they want to see at least a week earlier … a couple of trees worth of paper is saved … not to mention all the postage. How’s that sound to you?
But that’s just the start of “what could be.” As we communicate better, we will see an elimination of duplicate effort … better recruiting of volunteers and better planning to avoid straining facilities and resources.
This is definitely an area where we can’t stay where we are and go with God. Improving the way (and ways) we communicate will mean making changes in our current practices. But the end result will be that we will grow closer together, and the Message of God’s Love we have to share will move to center stage.
In many and various ways, God has blessed us to be the Church He is calling us to be. My prayer is that the year 2010 will see many of those blessings bear fruit.
In Him,
Pastor Fausel
How Many Enrolled for 2010-11? This is the time of year when people begin asking me how many students are pre-enrolled for the next school year. As of today, January 19, the number has just gone over 50. We are about ¼ of the way to our goal this year of 205.
But…the real question needs to be How many are we touching with the love of Christ each and every day? Or perhaps the question could be, How many children and families is GOD sending to us to minister to? As much as I would like to take credit for increasing opportunities to minister, I know that this is really the work of our God and Father and the Holy Spirit who are working in the hearts and minds of families as they search for educational opportunities for their children. It is always surprising to me that the majority of those who are seeking ask about the religion classes and the worship events of school because they want their children to experience that.
Our joy is being able to minister to those families and share God’s love at every opportunity. And, as always, we give thanks to God for the opportunity He gives us to be in partnership with Him.
In Christ,
Martin A. Brieschke
Give a Broken Heart this Valentine's Day The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.- Psalm 51:17
This month as we think of Valentine's Day we often think of hearts. If we are blessed, we think of the sweet love of someone dear. Others, however, mourn over a heart that has been broken.
How does our passion for God display itself?
Do we busy ourselves in Christian service?
Do we painstakingly count our tithe, making sure we give precisely ten percent and no more?
Do we wear the brazen Christian t-shirt so everyone will know we are a Christian?
How about my favorite: the fish symbol on the bumper that is attached to the speeding car that is cutting off other drivers.
Do we wear the amazingly popular WWJD wrist band in assorted colors?
We do, we say, we act, we show... but do we mourn?
Yes, mourn.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines contrite as, "Feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses; penitent."
We sometimes think that God delights solely in all our efforts and sacrifice. The psalmist paints a different picture, however. God delights in a broken and contrite heart.
I think sometimes we do all the other things so that we don't have to focus on our sin and how utterly broken we are. God sees through all of this and it saddens Him.
There is no amount of Christian service, tithes, or any other thing that will cover the sin that resides in our heart. Forgiveness can never be earned. It’s ours through faith in Christ.
God doesn't want your chocolate hearts, your little candy hearts with endearing words, or even your food for the masses.
He wants a broken and contrite heart for Valentine's Day and every day. He wants to assure you of your forgiveness every Day!
Will you give it to Him? Will you accept what He has to offer you through the forgiveness of your sins – freedom, joy, hope, peace, love.
Buy a chocolate heart. Take some time to consider the sins you have harbored in your life and scratch them into the chocolate. Break the heart as a symbol of your brokenness before the Lord.
Remember our God is a God of love and forgiveness there is nothing in your life that God cannot and will not forgive. We only need to give it over to him and turn to him and live!
In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Notes from the Music Director “Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing. If anyone separates from me, he is thrown away like a useless branch, withers, and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned.” John 15:5,6 LB
Dear friends in Christ,
Well, folks, it is that time of year for me…the time when the seed and plant catalogs that I have received in the mail beg for my attention. I begin to plan what I would like to add to my yard and landscaping in the coming spring. If you have a green thumb, maybe you have a similar routine. Even though there may be snow on the ground and a wind chill factor lower than my shoe size, I am already thinking about spring and what I want to be doing in the yard in a few months. As I glance out the window, I also am glad that I took care of some pruning so that some of my existing trees, bushes, and vines will come back stronger than ever.
When I think about my spiritual development, I am reminded of the analogy of Jesus as the Vine and we, His followers, as the branches. Even people without green thumbs know that a branch cannot live and grow unless it is attached to a nourishing, living vine. It is the only way that the branch can survive and bear fruit.
Our spiritual lives follow a similar pattern. We can’t hope to survive on our own strength. We need Jesus, the Vine, and his life-giving nourishment to help us grow and bear fruit. Without Jesus, our spiritual lives would wither and be useless.
Sometimes pruning is necessary to make a plant flourish and grow. Likewise, we often need to “prune” out the things in our lives that separate us from God. It can be a difficult job, just like pruning a tree, but the end results are much to our benefit!
Keeping attached to the Vine is easier when we spend time with God, both in the study of His Word and in corporate worship with our fellow “branches.” Is God asking you to do a little pruning? Are you still actively attached to the Vine with other branches? What beautiful fruit are you capable of bearing? Depend on Him so that you don’t wither and die!
Yours in Christ,
Scott Kamman
Director of Music
Ash Wednesday February 17 at 7 PM begins our Midweek services during the season of Lent. Mark your calendars, as there will be a light meal serve at 6 PM before each service.
Senior Women’s Group and ChristCare
Senior Single and Widowed Women’s ChristCare Groups, lead by Emily Hayes, will now meet on the same day of the Widow’s Group. The Christ Care will be on the 1st Friday of each month of beginning February 5th at 10:30 AM and then be joined by the Widow’s group for lunch at 12:30 PM. Our lunch in February will be at the Sesame Chinese Restaurant on the corner of Hurstbourne Lane and Shelbyville Road.
Please come and join us for a time of leaning about the “Women of the Bible”, and the joy of Christian Fellowship.
Any questions please contact Caroline Wesley, 244-6761.
Music Notes Lenten schedule: Mark your calendar! Our Lenten midweek services begin on Ash Wednesday, February 17 and continue through Wednesday, March 24. All services are at 7 PM. Come to Calvary’s holy mountain, sinners, ruined by the fall.
Stations of the Cross: Our Adult Choir will be performing the choral work entitled, “Stations of the Cross” by Lani Smith for our evening Good Friday service on April 2. All interested singers in the congregation who would like to help us out on a temporary basis are invited to attend rehearsals during February and March. We will begin working on the piece each Thursday at 7:30, beginning on February 4. You are also welcome to stick around and help us with our Lenten and Easter music if you like! Questions? Talk to Scott! (426-1130)
Looking for brass instrumentalists! If you are a brass player of any kind, please consider stepping up to play some special music for Easter. A bit rusty you say? We’ll make sure the parts are easy and that you have plenty of time to practice. Please talk to Scott Kamman if you are interested.
Our Savior will be hosting a choir concert!: Details have yet to be finalized, but we will be hosting a group from Jackson, Wisconsin in early April. They are the Living Word Lutheran High A Cappella choir, which has 40 members. It is an auditioned choir that tours every year. It is also quickly getting a reputation for being one of the best vocal ensembles in the state. For the second time in three years they have been selected to perform with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra as part of their Teen Choral Concert Series. Past tours have taken them to Denver, St. Louis, Cincinnati, St. Paul, Ft. Wayne and Detroit.
Host homes will be needed: We will be needing housing for the members of the Living Word Lutheran High School A Cappella Choir coming on April 8 or 9. What all does that involve you ask? It would mean taking a couple students home with you after the concert, providing them with conversation, a snack, a place to sleep, a breakfast the next morning, and a ride back to Our Savior the next morning. If you would be willing to open your home to help out, please contact Scott Kamman (254-1308).
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!
Feb. 3 - Scott Kamman, Feb. 10 - Grade 4 Feb. 17 - Guest Feb. 24 - Grade 6 and Mrs. Masterson’s Morning Class
Answer to the January quiz: The hymn that contains, “Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest” is “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise.”
February quiz: Which song prays, “Blaze, Spirit, blaze; set our hearts on fire”?
Song 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 and singing the hymn, “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds,” written by John Newton (1725-1807), writer of “Amazing Grace”.
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
And drives away our fear. Dear Name! The Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place;
My never-failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace! How weak the effort of my heart,
How cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the heart’s unrest;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest. O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,
My Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring. Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death!
This Month’s Worship Notes: What are the Words of Institution?
At the beginning of Holy Communion, the Pastor speaks the Words of Institution which Jesus spoke when He instituted the Supper with His disciples in the Upper Room. With these words, the bread and wine are consecrated, that is, set apart for God’s use in this special meal.
Looking to get involved at Our Savior through music? It is time to hop in! Now is the time to get involved in one of the many music groups at Our Savior. Since we will all begin learning new music this month, it is a great time to get your feet wet. You are invited to join us! Check the church calendar for rehearsal times or talk to Scott! (426-1130)
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, especially those of you talented in bass or guitar. Practices usually are on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
Beginning Handbell Choir meets on Wednesday afternoons, 3:30 - 4:30 PM in the Music Room. (For grades 4 and up)
Advanced Handbell Choir meets on Tuesday afternoons, 3:30-4:30 PM in the Music Room. (For grades 5 and up with ringing experience)
Our Savior Lutheran School Band meets on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 8 AM, and on Thursday mornings at 8:45 AM (For grades 3 and up)
Questions? Director of Music Scott Kamman can be reached at 426-1130 or by email at
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ChristCare Groups PrimeTime Disciples
Focus – Anyone needing Christ’s love in their life (singles or couples)
Leader: - Chris Francik, 381-3643
Email:
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Seniors Sharing Our Faith
Focus: All Seniors
Leader: Norm Kendt, 254-1612
Email:
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BAM—Busy Active Moms
Focus – Any frazzled mom, especially those working outside the home
Leader – Sherry Trotter, 231-6044
Email -
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C2P2—ChristCare’s Proud Parents
Focus: Parents of Elem./Middle Sch. Children
Leader: Scott Kamman, 254-1308
Email:
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Meets: 1st Friday & 3rd Sunday, 6 PM
YTK
Focus: Young families
Leaders: David & Leah Robison, 938-4766
Email:
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Meets: 1st and 3rd Friday, 7PM
Soul Food
Focus: All interested in in-depth Bible Study
Leaders: Mark & Pat Otten
Phone: 558-9253/558-9278
Email:
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MAGIC (Moms and Girls in Christ)
Focus: Moms and daughters in 6-8 grade
Leader: Dana Netherton
Phone: 451-5474
Email:
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JON
Focus: Anyone needing Christ’s love in their life (Couples or singles)
Leaders:
Peggy Tappendorf, 253-9331
Ginny Adams, 495-6559
Karen McKinney, 394-0357
Meets: 1st & 3rd Fridays @ 6:30 PM with
Dinner and meeting from 7:15-9 PM
February Food Pantry Collections EACM Food Pantry Please bring your donations to the Fellowship Hall area and place all food items on the table. All non-perishable food items are needed especially those with meat products in them. There is also an urgent need for toilet paper, bath soap, tooth paste, dish detergent, Kleenex, laundry detergent, shampoo, deodorant for men and women. Also canned meat products.
Radio Ministry Needs With the current status of the Radio Ministry Funds, we do not have enough dollars to complete this years agreement with the radio station through June of 2010. Please consider a special gift to this special fund. Our total cost for the radio ministry program is around $10,500 per year. This is an outreach ministry as well as a ministry that reaches our shut-ins. Thanks for your consideration.
Christian Relations Christian Relations is looking forward to the New Year and has set goals that support the overall congregation goals for improving: Stewardship. Communications, Peacemaking, Evangelism, and the School.
We have established the following Goals for 2010 to support Our Savior’s Mission:
Stewardship Promote and support EACM/NVP and Redeemer Food pantries
Continue Blood Drives
Continue to support and promote the Braille WorkCenter
Partner with school children to make Braille books
Continue to support Fellowship events
Recruit more CR members
Promote and support Habitat “House Raising”
Communication Monthly Newsletter Article to share CR opportunities and achievements
Peacemaking Be an example of addressing conflict in a Christian manner by our behavior
Evangelism Explore jointly with Evangelism Committee to identify mission opportunities where OSLC can give direct support, have direct contact with, and make mission trips to help directly.
School Engage school children in helping to make Braille books
Engage school children in collecting food for Food Pantries
Men’s Ministry Join us on Saturday, February 13 at 8 AM for Breakfast and a Bible Study. FEARLESS LEADERSHIP: “God’s Transforming Power”, led by Paul Nickel. Bring a friend. Come with your ideas as to where you see God at work around us Our Father has an assignment for us!
Redeemer Food Pantry Dear Supporters of the “Food Pantry” Social Ministry,
Another year ended for our “Food Pantry”, an outreach by our Social Ministry to provide emergency food supplies to those in need in the neighborhood. This was only possible through the collaboration of many.
During this year, together we were able to serve:
- 935 clients with 2987 family members
- 574 were senior citizens and 1255 were children
- Each received food supplies for approximately 6 meals (17,922 meals).
- Market value of the food bags was approximately $12, making the total around $11,220.
Amazing!
Collaboration made this possible. Each played an important part.
- Thrivent grant of $1433
- Yum! Brands Foundation partnership with DARE to CARE
- Donations of time, money, and food by Redeemer members and groups
- Donations by our Lutheran sister congregations Our Savior and Shepherd of the Hills
- Donations by Our Savior Lutheran School, Corydon Presbyterian Church, the Governor’s Scholars Program, and by individuals beyond the Redeemer Lutheran family
This year we would especially like to recognize the Confirmation and High School Sunday School classes from Redeemer that has contributed countless hours collecting, sorting, preparing, and bagging the food for distribution.
In November in conjunction with the Food Pantry, we also had a warm clothing give-away. We were able to help 58 families with clothing needs. Again, this was only made possible through the collaboration of many, especially the generous contributions from Our Savior Lutheran School.
Also, several months, in conjunction with the food pantry, we were able to offer some opportunities for medical screening for clients through University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine and the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness.
The Food Pantry continues to be open once each month. At this time we are optimistic that this will be sustainable in 2010, thanks to your continuing caring support. As we all know, the need is growing.
Golden Oldies Please join us for lunch, fellowship, and an interesting informative program on February 15, at 12 Noon.
For our meeting Program we are fortunate to have as guest speaker (and also a member of Our Savior), Dr. Paul McKinney, the Associate Dean for Public Health at the University of Louisville. He will talk about the H1N1 Flu Epidemic and his work.
After our presentation there will be a brief business meeting.
Dining Out Together: Volare Our next Dining Out Together evening will be at Volare on Saturday, February 20 at 6 PM. Our group will only grow if you join us, so we hope you will join us for food, fellowship and fun. Please sign up on the church bulletin board by February 15, so that accurate reservations may be made. For more information, please contact Billie Detroy 905-4834.
News from Resurrection Lutheran Church The momentum is building. Much is on the horizon for your mission – Resurrection Lutheran Church. Unfolding are many “side-door” opportunities for the members of Resurrection to reach out into the community with the Word of Jesus Christ. We continue to host pot-luck dinners the second Sunday of each month immediately following the service. There will be Ash Wednesday and Lenten services preceded by a light supper each week. The whole congregation has begun the EXPERIENCING GOD study during the Bible class hour on Sunday mornings. These opportunities are being communicated throughout Resurrection’s local community.
What I find truly amazing is how the Lord is using the gifts and talents of the individual members in such a way that more ”side-doors” will be opened. Members have been thinking how the facilities they have can be used to touch the hearts and lives of people who don’t know Jesus as their Savior. In the coming months the members of Resurrection will be involved in:
- Hosting a community yard sale in their gym in early spring
- The community is invited not only to buy but also to sell with no charge for a booth
- Hosting a community arts and crafts show in the gym
- Hosting a car show on the parking lot
- Offering a wide variety of classes to the community such as:
- The harvesting, processing and uses of naturally occurring products like nutmeats, roots and beans
- Wine bottle recycling
- Micro-wine making
- Micro-brewing of malt beverages
- Pottery
- Woodworking
- Motorcycle mechanics and restoration
- Sewing
- Knitting, etc.
Offering all these opportunities, well advertized throughout the community, will provide “side-door” opportunities for some who don’t know Jesus as their Savior and who would never attend a church service to have the opportunity to get to know Jesus through the loving arms and hands of members who are participating in or leading the various activities above.
If you would like to participate in any of the above activities and classes, or maybe you even have a gift or talent you would like to share in this way, contact me and I can give you more information.
Please continue to pray for Travis Creek, the church sexton and member. He and his wife are in extreme need, especially for a serviceable car. Pray that God opens that door for them.
More next month from our Mission Church – Resurrection Lutheran Church.
In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Federation Activities The delegates in the January 18 meeting at Faith voted to continue financial support for Risen Lord and Resurrection congregations; for U of L campus ministry; and for circuit wide youth programs. Newly elected officers are: Vice-president Clyde Lang of Concordia; Treasurer Charlotte Campbell of Gloria Dei; Pastoral Advisor Rev Mark Whitsett of Cedar Lake Lodge. Current officers serving are: President Fred Wilbur of Holy Cross; Secretary Anne Phillips of Peace. Gloria Dei pastorate is vacant; Rev Henry Loppnow is vacancy pastor for Divine Savior; Rev Steve Gettinger is serving Risen Lord and Peace. A new mission named Grace is being formed in Vine Grove. The 2010 Reformation service will be celebrated at Concordia.
Camp Lakeview Now Registering for Summer Campers
Camp Lakeview (near Seymour, IN) is currently registering campers, grades K-9, for its 2010 summer season. This is 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 in the school or church office, visit the camp’s website at ww.camplakeview.com, or call the camp office at 812-342-4815.
Registration forms must be postmarked on or after February 1, 2010. 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 by the date indicated (February 1st, postmark, and not any earlier).
Blankets Still Needed If you are interested in continuing to help with blankets throughout the year please contact Carolyn Nowatka or the church office. With the earthquake that hit Haiti the need is great. You can work on these at home or in the Scout Room at your own pace. For instructions on how to make the blankets please contact the church office. Material is available.
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