Our Savior Lutheran Church

A Message from our Pastor

Golden Oldies

Joining together in Christian
Fellowship - Education - Recreation

Upcoming Events

April 17 ~ Glassworks

The Hottest Place In Louisville: Beauty is ours to behold, when we enjoy a guided tour of 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.  Golden Oldies will pay for the guided tour and transportation by TARC bus.

Lunch will be at the lovely new Martini Italian Bistro at the Summit.

Widow’s Group

Statistics

Financial Summary for the 8 months ended February 28, 2006

Missional Planning Update

Spring is upon us! Soon we’ll be back outside, working in our yards and gardens.  To me it’s a joy to see the blossoming beauty and growth that God provides us with this time of year.

Much like a garden, our church body blossoms and grows through God’s GRACE and the work of our staff and members.  Recently the church Council met and devoted an entire day to discuss the mission of OSLC (tend to our garden).  We discussed the many gifts and talents God has provided us as His church, and compiled the following purpose statement: 

As in a garden, it is important that we too “grow” in Christ.  We will be able to continue to grow in Christ through the blessings that HE has provided His church.  You’ll hear this theme in future newsletters and meetings as we continue growing in Christ.

Thank You

Our Savior Congregation, 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support when Lauren had her heart procedure done. Truly we felt lifted up and comforted by your thoughtfulness and prayers.  God has truly blessed us.  Lauren is healthy and feeling super. 

Very Sincerely,
The Vaughan Family

As Thirsty As You Can Get

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.--Psalm 42:1

It's hard to get really thirsty in our society. There's a soda machine at every turn-you can even find them in churches! Water fountains have to be included in buildings just to meet the code. And even in sports these days, coaches are instructed to let their athletes drink lots of fluids during practice. It's easy to "Obey Your Thirst" in our society, even if there's not a Coke around.

Yet you've probably faced a time or two when your mouth was so parched you would have even had a V-8 if it were handy. If you've ever gotten that thirsty after strenuous exercise or having worked in the yard on a hot August day, you can relate a little to what the psalm writer was talking about in Psalm 42.

He used a deer as an example. A deer knows it must have water to survive, so it stays near water sources. But when a hunter is chasing a deer and it moves out of familiar territory, the deer loses his bearings and no longer knows where to find water. Plus, the pressure of the pursuing hunter gives him less time to stop and drink-even if he finds a brook. In that case, Mr. Deer is supremely thirsty, and he "pants for streams of water."

Have you ever been that thirsty spiritually? The writer of Psalm 42 was. Something-perhaps the pursuit of his enemies-had stopped him from being able to go to the temple to worship. So he was thirsty.

Spiritual thirst should be as easy to quench as physical thirst. If we thirst for God, nothing should stop us from finding the refreshment we need.

We can talk to the Lord and know that His grace and power are sustaining us.

We can read and study both individually and with others God's Word and hear from Him the soothing words of love He has left for us.

We can read good Christian literature and be nourished by the insights of others.

Thirsty? Drink up. There's plenty for everybody!

Drink from the well of God's Word every day.

Adult Bible Studies

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 Patriarchs - 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 Hall – Paul Nickel
Living Your Life As A 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) – Lone Star Steak House (Whittington Parkway) – Paul Nickel

The Stewardship Corner

Courtesy of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans 

Some donors choose to support their church and favored nonprofit organizations through the gift of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) or other qualified retirement plan assets.  This can result in a potentially substantial gift to the charity and the elimination of income and estate taxes due from heirs on the plans.  This gift is revocable until the owner’s death and is well suited for donors who are concerned about multiple taxation issues, who desire to leave a gift at death, who wish to avoid publicity about the gift, who want ownership, control and use of the assets until death, and who do not need to provide their surviving spouse with income from the IRA or plan.

Nine Methods of Giving

Outright Monetary Gift
Bequest in Will or Trust
Investment Gift
Life Insurance Beneficiary
Life Insurance Contract
Charitable Gift Annuity
IRAs and Qualified Plans
Charitable Remainder Trust
Zero Estate Tax Plan 

A Katrina Thank You

With a tear in my eye, I say thank you for your time-thoughts-gifts and prayers. 

I still can’t believe this has happened to our city and with all the pain-It is SO touching to know that strangers far away stopped for us-for me!

Thanks again from the bottom of my heart.

Meg Farris
Medical Reporter
WWL-TV News

This was in response to the  effort of relief that God worked through this congregation with the linens, bath, and teddy bear gathering  earlier this year.  Praise  be to God for all He has done.

ChristCare

Here is what is going on right now regarding ChristCare Group Ministry. 

We are still actively recruiting ChristCare Equippers. Currently Marsha and Charles Puckett and Paul Nickel are our only Equippers. Remember, these are the people who are responsible for the overall ministry. ChristCare Group Ministry does not happen unless there is a group of Equippers committed to making this ministry happen in our congregation. This is a lay led ministry and we need more people to become Equippers! The burden of leadership would be much lighter if there were more shoulders to carry it. 

Charles Puckett and Paul Nickel will be attending Equippers Training in St. Louis April 30th-May 6th. We are still praying that Marsha will be able to attend also for only God can overcome the obstacles she faces from work. It is still not too late for additional persons whom the Lord may move to become Equippers to attend this training also. Equippers Training is mandatory for all Equippers. It is only offered once a year. And yes, it always conflicts with Derby. 

When Paul and Charles return from Equippers training we will begin recruiting a group of people to become trained as ChristCare Group Leaders. These are the actually people who will lead our small groups. You will be given much more information about what it means to be a trained ChristCare Group Leader. It does involve 50 hours of training! And once training is complete there is mandatory, regular, ongoing support, encouragement, and accountability sessions for leaders. 

Please pray that the Lord of the Church would lead us to the people He has already chosen to join us as Equippers and attend Equippers Training at the end of this month. Ask Him if you are one of those persons He has chosen to serve Him in this way. If you think you might be, contact Marsha, Charles or Paul. Pray for Marsha that if it be God’s will she be able to attend Equippers Training with Paul and Charles. Pray for Charles and Paul that their Equippers Training provide them with the vision and tools to help ChristCare here at Our Savior become a ministry that touches the lives of many with Christ’s love and care.

Holy Week Service Schedule

You are invited to attend and encouraged to attend our Holy Week Services.  Celebrating the joy of Easter is much better comprehended and appreciated as we also ponder His Passion.

Palm Sunday
April 9
Regular Service Times
 
Maundy Thursday Service
(Communion)
April 13
7 PM

Good Friday Services
April 14
12 PM (Noon) and
7 PM ~ “St. John Passion”

Easter Services
April 16
Easter Sunrise Service
(Communion)
6:30 AM

Joyful Easter Heritage Service
(Communion)
9:00 AM

Majestic Easter Celebration
(Communion)
11:00 AM

There will be an Easter breakfast served by the Scout’s, time to be announced later.

Easter Lillies

It is time to order your lilies that will enhance the beauty of the altar during the Easter Services.  Order forms and envelopes are in the display in the Narthex.  Last day to order is April 9th.  The cost for each plant is $9.00.  Please make your checks payable to LWML. 

You may pick up your plant(s) after the late service on Sunday, please do not take the plastic containers in which they reside.

Notes from the Music Director

Dear friends, 

It is very encouraging to see the progress we have made in our worship life here at Our Savior.  Here are some positives worth praising that I’ve noticed lately:

• More children taking part in the action of worship.  I see more parents encouraging them to follow along, pay attention, sing, pray, and participate.
• More willingness to try new things.  The congregation has been singing along well with new and unfamiliar hymns that will be appearing in the upcoming hymnal.  We’ve also been good about trying new and sometimes different pieces of music at our Majestic Celebration service.
• More reaching out to those near us.  We’ve become more accustomed to sharing the peace farther than just the section near our pew.  I also see lots of great fellowship going on before and after each service.
• More volunteers continue to surface to help read, usher, greet, sing in the choir, ring bells, prepare the altar, and serve in other capacities.
  

Sure, there are also areas we continue to work on and improve, but the heartwarming signs of faithful worship continue to flourish and grow at Our Savior.  To God be the glory! 

Yours in Him,
Scott Kamman 

Easter Never on the Same Day?

The date of Easter each year depends on the cycle of the moon. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon falling on or after March 21, the first day of spring.  That is why Easter can be as early as March 22 and as late as April 25.  This way of dating Easter makes it fall just after the Jewish Passover, since the first Easter took place on the third day after Passover.  The season of Easter lasts 50 days till Pentecost and includes seven Sundays.

Our Savior Music “Notes”

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 remainder of the school year after Easter, they will be learning the hymn “Lift High the Cross.”  (LW #311).  The tune’s composer, SYDNEY HUGO NICHOLSON (1875-1947) was born in London and received his schooling at Rugby School, New College, Oxford and the Royal College of Music. He became the organist at Manchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, and, in 1927, founded the School of English Church Music and served as Director until his death. Nicholson was knighted in 1938 and served as musical editor of the later editions of Hymns Ancient and Modern. 

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore His sacred name. 

Come, Christians, follow where our captain trod,
Our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God.  

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conqu’ring ranks combine. 

All newborn soldiers of the Crucified
Bear on their brows the seal of Him who died. 

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
Raise us, and let Your cross the magnet be. 

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory!
Text copyright © 1974 Hope Publishing Co.  CCLI #841158. 

A thank you from Lutheran High Northwest:  Thanks to those of you who opened your homes to house the students from Rochester Hills, MI.  Thanks also to those helping to provide for and prepare the meal before the concert.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated. 

Hymnal Fund:  Our Synod’s new hymnal is expected to be ready this fall.  If you would like to help our church purchase these hymnals when they are available, you can donate to our “Hymnal Fund.”  Memorials may also be designated for this fund. 

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 the Lutheran Agency for Mission to Burmese (LAMB), sponsored by New Life Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne.  This congregation helps to assimilate and teach Burmese immigrants in the Ft. Wayne area about Christ. 
Answer to the March quiz:  The hymn that urges us to “Take the life that lasts forever; trust this soul-renewing flood” is the Lenten hymn “Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain.”  (LW 96)

April quiz:  Which contemporary song describes our praise:  “It’s ev’ry tribe, ev’ry tongue, ev’ry nation; A love song born of a grateful choir”? 

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!”

Habitat For Humanity

Our Savior Lutheran Church and other area Lutheran Churches along with Thrivent are committed to help build a home in Louisville this summer.  Financial donations are necessary to help raise funds for the building materials.  Envelopes are available in the narthex or in the church lobby.  A challenge pledge to match the first $400.00 has been met.  Praise be to God!  For information you may call Steve Lindgren or the Thrivent Hot Line at 802-1991 between the hours of 8 AM – 10 PM.  You may also find additional information regarding Thrivent and Habitat for Humanity by going to Thriventbuilds.com or hfhlouisville.org .  The first work time will be May 17th through May 20th.

Church Nursery News

We will soon be planning a new schedule to staff the church nursery for Sunday morning worship.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Michelle Lehenbauer.  If you are a current volunteer, you will be contacted in the near future.

Hurstbourne Hustle

The Hurstbourne Hustle will be returning on May 13, watch for up-coming details and get ready to walk or run in this 5 K.

NVP Food Pantry In Need

The food pantry shelves are bare.  During the month of January, 790 people were fed from just this one pantry.    Due to the decreased response from the government we will continue to collect  food and items for the food pantry.  The need is indeed great.  Dare to Care had been dropping off USDA food items twice a month, but is now only stopping once a month.  They do not have enough food items to bring and share.  The following items are needed:  toilet paper, shampoo, bath soap, and toothpaste.  Food items include canned meat products, pancake mix and syrup, spaghetti noodles, pasta, meat sauce, peanut butter and jelly.  Please pray for those who work at this food pantry, as well as for the supply of food.  If you find it in your heart to purchase these items, please place them in the church lobby near the front door.  The items will be taken weekly to the pantry for distribution.  Share the blessings God has given to you with others.