PARISH LIFE OF OUR LORD S LUTHERAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 PARISH LIFE OF OUR LORD S LUTHERAN CHURCH From the desk of Pr. Amanda September 2015 Seeking welcome: being a place and people of value in lives of those around us. Last month, we started imagining what it would look like to have our top priority as seeking welcome in the hearts of others instead of our primary goal being to be welcoming. Of course, we still work to be welcoming, but with the knowledge that the activity of welcoming usually comes second to being welcomed. One of the ways we seek welcome is to be a people and a place which they value, regardless of whether they are looking to become members, attend worship, or are even Christian. Many of the events we have planned for this fall have the possibility to be something which people value in their lives. As I tried to decide which of the events to write about, it seems that they are all so different and important in their own ways that I am going to summarize all of them. Hopefully I haven t missed anything! Sept 13: Sunday School Rally Day and Evening Fall Kick-off The adults will make strands of prayer beads in the morning Sunday School hour, which can be meaningful and thought provoking gifts to share the light and love of God, and the kids will be having fun with their new Whirl series. Then in the evening, we will have a time of food, games, and fellowship outside where people have the opportunity to meet their neighbors, have intergenerational fun, and a great meal! Sept 19: Movie Night (and every third Saturday) A truly family friendly place to have a whole evening of entertainment for free is a great entry point for seeking welcome for the congregation in people s lives! Have you thought about who might like to come along with you this month? Sept 20: KAIROS Prison Ministry While KAIROS is a distinctively Lutheran ministry, there are many people who care deeply about the state of the penitential system in Oklahoma. Perhaps, if you know one of these people, you could invite them to bake cookies and come hear Deacon Way speak about her ministry and how we (which now includes the person you invited) make a difference in the lives of these people. Sept 27: Quilt Blessing Day Do you know somebody who is passionate about helping refugees or ending poverty? You could seek welcome in their life by engaging them in conversation about how our congregation cares for the impoverished and those who flee for their lives through our quilt and kit ministry, and then invite them to come see for themselves and take part in the blessing. Oct 4: St. Francis Day, with animal blessing and St. Paddy Cakes food truck We will gather outside for worship to bless the animals and then stay for fellowship with lunch available from St. Paddy Cakes food truck. This event reaches a large range of people! If you know somebody who would love to have their pet blessed and have fellowship with other pet-people, seek welcome on behalf of the church by inviting them. Other people will be interested in having lunch from St. Paddy Cakes, one of the premier OKC food trucks, which rarely comes to this part of the city! [continued on pg. 2] 2900 WEST HEFNER ROAD OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (405) ourlordsokc@gmail.com

2 Deadline for October newsletter is Sunday, September 20. Articles may be ed to the church or placed in Mike Evans s mailbox. Flower Orders may be placed by filling out the form located below the flower chart at the church office. Please leave completed forms in Mike Evans s mailbox. Bulletin Articles must be submitted before 11am Monday morning to be included in the weekly announcements. Christ in Our Home devotion for October - December are available at the information counter. [Pastor Amanda cont d.] Oct 18: Fall Festival With all the crafts and amazing German food, what s not to love? Seek welcome for the congregation by inviting them to join the fun, and start their Christmas gift shopping early. Nov 8: Thanks-gathering of food So many people are concerned about hunger in this community and beyond! Could you seek welcome in their passion by challenging them to make somebody else s Thanksgiving holiday great? Perhaps they would also welcome an opportunity in their lives to be part of our ministry at the Regional Food Bank the Saturday before. Nov 25: Thanksgiving pie and worship Most people welcome great pie in their lives, but especially anybody who might not have a place to go for Thanksgiving. Do you know anybody who would welcome some fellowship and great desert? Make sure to invite them early! September 13 Adults will be making prayer bead strands during the Sunday School hour. Children will begin the year with the ELCA Whirl Lectionary Sunday School series. Fall Kickoff 4pm-8:30pm Invite friends and family to join us for food, games for all ages, a movie, and good fellowship in the Parish Hall and adjoining patio area. Sign up at the Information Center if you plan to attend. On the horizon: Dec 20: Christmas Children s program; Dec 24 Christmas Eve candlelight worship; Lent 2016 (staring Feb. 10): Walking Together in Shoes of Peace a Wednesday series presented by leaders of various faith communities to help bring understanding and information about living together in a pluralistic world. As we continue to seek welcome, both individually and as a congregation, we always follow the one who first sought welcome in our lives, our Lord, Jesus Christ. And, we remember how God continues to seek welcome in the world. If seeking welcome seems daunting to you, then ask in prayer for words and opportunity, and watch for what comes your way. Perhaps God will work through you to find welcome for the people of Christ wherever you are. Blessings on your search! Updated church directories will be available next week. A draft is on the information counter. Please either mark your information as ok or make any corrections. This is your last chance to make any necessary changes before the directories are printed. N ew O ffice H ours in S eptem ber Monday 9:30am-6pm, Wednesday, Friday 9:30am-2pm H A N D S O F M E R C Y Q uilters S aturday, S eptem ber 12, 9am Thursday, S eptem ber 24, 9am Quilters (and quilter wannabes) are invited to join us for a time of caring and sharing and fellowship. The only talents needed are the ability to thread a needle and to snip thread.

3 Interfaith Y outh Tour V ital E xploration S unday, S eptem ber 20 1pm - 5:30pm Students of all faiths, from 7th grade through college, are invited to explore their neighbor s faith during the 2015 Annual Interfaith Youth Tour. The Interfaith Tour offers a unique opportunity to hear from a diverse group of individuals in our faith community and develop a stronger appreciation of different belief systems. This Interfaith Tour seeks to promote understanding and respect among all cultures, races, and religions. Houses of worship from the three Abrahamic faith traditions will be open for this vital exploration and community building experience. Christian: St. Paul s Episcopal Cathedral Muslim: Raindrop Turkish House Jewish: Emanuel Synagogue Tour begins with check-in at 1 p.m. and program starting at 1:30 at St. Paul s Episcopal Cathedral, 127 N.W. 7th St, Oklahoma City, OK For a complete schedule or to register, visit: When Lutheran World Relief distributes Personal Care Kits, it s often to people who have lost everything. In the wake of an earthquake, or having fled from violence as their homes were overtaken, they clasp a towel from a faraway place, with a bar of soap, a toothbrush and washing up, they know that they have not been forsaken by the world. The very simple gesture of giving a Personal Care Kit can give someone the encouragement to start anew, starting with a bath. You can share God s grace and love by providing that simple comfort. Health Kit items may be placed in the green box in the Narthex. A printed list of items needed is provided at the Information Counter. For the month of September we will be collecting one light-weight bath-size towel (between 20 x40 & 27 x52 ), dark in color. SEPTEMBER CHURCH COUNCIL meeting will be Tuesday, September 15 at 7pm due to the Fall Kickoff activities. S undays, 9am There is som ething for all ages. Adults will be meeting in the conference room, where Pastor Amanda is leading a study on the Gospel of Mark. This will continue through October 4. Then, on October 11, we will begin a study on the Book of Revelation. Children ELCA Whirl Lectionary Sunday School Series. Experiences rooted in church life, through engaging leaflets, captivating videos, and Bible reading and stories. On September 6, we will have inter-generational fellowship before worship instead of formal classes. S upport B reast C ancer R esearch Please save all pink Yoplait lids and place them in the pink sack on the counter in the Narthex. They raise money for breast cancer research. Carolyn Zachritz will make sure they are sent in for you. O ur Lord s M ovie N ight S aturday, S eptem ber 19 Join us for Movie Night in the conference room. Snacks and soda will be provided. We will be hosting a movie night each month on the third Saturday of the month. If you would like to suggest a movie for the event, please write it on the form located at the Welcome Center. P rayer B ead P roject The kids kicked off our prayer bead making days with their "God's Work, Our Hands" project on August 30. Anyone who would like to help lead the adult class or small groups within the church will gather to learn all the details at 5:30pm on September 9. Please sign up for this class on the information counter. The adults will continue the "God's Work, Our Hands" project on September 13 during the Sunday School hour. Please join us!

4 C hurch Fam ily in S ervice Assisting Ministers (D. Gillson) 6 Sally Ziebell 13 Lois Patrick 20 Deacon Sue Way 27 Larry Eberhardt Cantors (Bill Fuller) 6 Deborah Gillson 13 Wayne Craney 20 Chris Henkel 27 Lois Carlton Greeters (Dee Sundholm) 6 Amanda Green, Anna & Gene Naukam 13 Jacob Edingfield, Lynn Little 20 Diane Milligan, Linda Sheidt, Karen Foran 27 Connie & Len Erikson, Toni & Evie Henson Money Counters (Diane Milligan) 6 Dolores Spang, Diane Milligan 13 Cal & Judy Benhardt 20 Wayne & Karen Karst 27 Dick & Gloria O Brien Flowers ($22.00 per bouquet) 6 Karst / 13 / 20 / 27 Collings/ Flower Pick Up Judy Spencer Altar Guild Deborah Gillson, Susan Maxfield Usher Ken Carlton, Larry Eberhardt July Attendance Duncan McAnally 10 Bill Fuller 13 Jim Collings 23 Kari Boyce 27 Dolores Spang 7 Wayne & Karen Karst 23 Jim & Julie Collings 28 Kathy & Jeff Fletcher If your special day is not listed, please let us know. We don t want to leave anybody out! Drop us a line: ourlordsokc@gmail.com Sunday, September 20 Help us by baking plain oatmeal, chocolate chip, smooth peanut butter cookies for the KAIROS Prison Ministry Retreat. Pastor Amanda will be presiding, and Deacon Sue Way will be preaching. M en s G roup The Men s Group will meet on Thursday, September 3, at 6:30pm, in the Library Conference Room. Following a light supper and a short devotion, the topic Why Bad Things Happen to Good People will be explored. C hoir R ehearsals R esum e W ednesday, S eptem ber 7, 6:30pm S aturday, S eptem ber 12 9am - 12pm

5 S eptem ber 2015 For the m ost current event inform ation, visit our w ebsite: ollc.org. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30pm Men s Group Pentecost XV 7 Labor Day Office Closed pm Wednesday Circle 5:30pm Prayer Bead Leaders Meeting am-12pm 9am Quilting 13 Pentecost XVI 4:30pm Fall Kickoff 14 9:30am-6pm 7pm Confirmation 15 6pm Germans from Russia 7pm Council Meeting pm Movie Night 20 (Deacon Way Preaching) 1pm Interfaith Youth 21 9:30am-6pm 22 Pastor Fall Theological Conference am Quilting 4pm Worship Committee Pentecost XVIII / Blessing of the Quilts 28 9:30am-6pm 7pm Confirmation New Church Monday 9:30am -6pm Wednesday 11am - 8pm Friday