The Friend. Our Savior s Evangelical Lutheran Church December, 2012

Transcription

1 The Friend Our Savior s Evangelical Lutheran Church December, 2012 Contact Information Phone Numbers Office: Pastor Chris Cell: Web Page oursaviorsduluth.org Addresses: Pastor Christine Anttila pastor@ oursaviorsduluth.org Organist/Choir/Media Jennifersimonson@ oursaviorsduluth.org Custodian erdahl@ oursaviorsduluth.org Custodian Hours M-F 9:30-1:30 Office Hours To be determined. I heard a story about one psychologist's Christmas experiment. He picked up a phone book from a large metro area, chose 600 names at random, and mailed each of them a personal Christmas card and letter as though they had known each other for years. To his amazement, his mailbox was soon overflowing with cards and letters in response, complete with well-wishes to the family, photos, and hopes they might drop by for a visit in the coming year, etc. Nearly half of these letters from a perfect stranger elicited a greeting in return! You could say: See? Sending Christmas cards is phony ; or, What a lot of lonely, clueless people there are ; or, What a cool way to do random acts of kindness. I suppose there's a measure of truth in all of these statements. Whatever else his experiment proves, and whatever the response to his cards, one lone(ly?) psychologist managed to touch the lives of about 600 persons he'd never met. The fact that he got a response at all shows that human contact matters, and when in doubt, it's probably kinder to reach out than to ignore a friendly gesture. OSLC has a long-standing tradition of reaching out to our neighbors through From Pastor Chris s Pen the Foodshelf, through donations to Salvation Army and West Duluth Emergency Fund, and sponsoring families in crisis at Lutheran Social Services. Most likely we'll never know whose lives and hearts are touched, how, or how much our gestures of generosity matter to the recipients. That's not ours to know. Our part in this grand experiment called Christian Life is simply to participate. Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40 Christmas reminds us that being a member of the human family matters to God. We matter enough that God chose to enter the experiment as Jesus from Nazareth. And Jesus Christ continues to enter our human drama on a daily basis by the power and presence of his Holy Spirit. Our lives, our gestures, our generosity, touch one another in ways we may never know. But we do know that every human kindness brings a smile of delight to the face of the Christ Child. Blessed Advent and Christmas to you and yours, Pastor Chris

2 You are cordially invited to a special coffee fellowship Sunday, December 2, 2012 Have a Super Sundae to celebrate a Super Staff! Honoring: John Erdahl, Cheryl Reynolds and Jennifer Simonson * Please note: There will be a special coffee fellowship on Sunday, January 20 to recognize Pastor Christine Antilla s 3 rd Anniversary of service to our congregation. Christmas Eve worship On Christmas Eve we will celebrate the birth of our Lord with one service at 9pm. This will be the same candlelight service that has, in the past, been at 11pm. We hope that splitting the difference between the two worship times we've had for many years will encourage more people to attend. Those who thought the early service interrupted their holiday meal will be able to come and those who thought the late service was just simply too late can also come. The adult choir and Grace Notes will sing. Our quietly beautiful service of lessons and carols, special music, sermon and communion at 9pm will allow everyone in our congregation to worship together on Christmas Eve. Celebration of Light and Music Camp Hiawatha December 9 2-7pm Join us for an afternoon of fellowship, holiday fare, winter activities and celebrating the season of Advent. The cost is $5 with a family maximum of $20. Schedule 2-5pm Sledding, bonfire, crafts, sleigh rides, demonstrations, cookie decorating 4:30 Hymn Sing 5pm Candlelight worship 6pm Holiday Dinner (RSVP to stay for dinner, ) The Art of Celebrating Christmas On December 16 th, our congregation will worship the coming Christ child through drama, art and, of course, music. Our children will present the Christmas story in costume (always a favorite!), the confirmation class will further the message with a skit and Pastor Chris will talk about the icon of the nativity. The choir, Grace Notes, Northern Bell Chimes and the youth bell choir will bring their talents to the service and we will all worship in singing our favorite Christmas carols. Don't miss this Christmas tradition. As always, worship begins at 10:15. Afterward, everyone is invited downstairs for birthday cake for Jesus' birthday. Abundance Update Thank you to the many members that have donated to the ABUNDANCE table! We ask that items (no clothes) be in new or next to new condition. Members and food shelf participants may take from the table at any time. If you are able, a donation of any amount will gladly be accepted (place in the container provided) to help support the Care in Action ministry at Our Savior's, which is to be an agent of care, love, and kindness to members at a time of concern. It was humbling for Jenn to be at the Food Shelf and help clients negotiate the goods that were available to them, hear their stories and accept their many words of gratitude for the items they chose. Because of the popularity of this project it will be ongoing. Donations will be accepted year round. -the CIA team: Anita Fraundorf, Alice DeLawyer, Jenn Conboy, Kim Adams, Sandy Zapp and those that support the CIA initiative with their donations of support.

3 5 th Sunday Potluck Mmmm...it's that time again! We hope that many of you will bring a dish, if you can, and stay for a scrumptious meal after service on December 30 th. This Sunday brings a popular addition: 'Share a Plate'. There will be dessert and meal sized containers for you to 'share a plate' with anyone that was missed. This day is a wonderful time to 'invite a friend' to church. Of course, they will be our guest, and they are guaranteed to have a wonderful time meeting others and enjoying Christian fellowship. Hat, Mitten, Scarf, Slipper Tree There will be many more warm heads and hands this winter, thanks to the warm hearts and generosity of the Naomi Circle and other church members. Joann Ahlgren suggested the idea of a mitten tree to collect gloves, mittens, hats and scarves to be donated to people in need in the community. The ladies got busy knitting, crocheting, sewing, and purchasing items that now adorn a tree in the church library. Please stop by the library to see how beautiful the tree looks. All are welcome to contribute additional items up to December 9. Potential Church Rental Agreement Cathy Hannan, Pastor Chris, Sherm Carlson, and Jon Thornton have served as an ad hoc committee of the Parish Planning council to see if Our Savior s is open to leasing space to Westminster Presbyterian Church. Please read and familiarize the enclosure, as the PPC will seek approval to proceed with a formal agreement at the December Congregational Meeting. Prayer Opportunities The Sunday bulletin includes the names of members, family and friends who we are invited to remember in our prayers. In an effort to keep that information current, we will print the names in the bulletin for 4-6 weeks followed by 1-2 months in The Friend. Please keep the office or Lay Ministry Team updated with information. Thank you! A prayer request form is in the weekly bulletin. A form is also included in this edition of The Friend. Please remember these people in prayer: Palesa Buthelezi (Pam Nelson s cousin) health concerns Brenda Choate (Randy & Pam Nelson) cancer Victor Nelson (Randy Nelson s uncle) prostate cancer Michael Nyberg (Lisa Smith s uncle) cancer Barb Ammerman (Jennifer Simonson s sister) cancer Travis Hanson (friend of Teri Hagadorn) health concerns Ethel Thomas (friend of Glenn Tridgell) health concerns Sandy Lund (Lenny Lund s daughter) health concerns PRAYER REQUEST FORM: Please return to the church office or place in offering plate Date of request Your Name Your Phone Prayers for (name) Prayer Request

4 Spiritual Renewal at Our Savior s Via de Cristo was held here at Our Savior s October and October Via de Cristo is a Spiritual renewal weekend where men attend the first and women attend the 2nd weekend. Those who have attended from our church are Cheryl & Steve Reynolds, Jan & Dave Thornton, Jenny & Jon Thornton, Phill & Kathy Janzig, Pastor Chris, Tasha Schnorr and Cindy Neumann. (sorry if I missed anyone) Our very own Pam Nelson attended the October weekend. Her review is printed below. Hello dear friends, my Name is Pamela Nelson and I thought I should share with you my experience at the Via de Cristo. First and fore most, I must say that it was nice to be away from everything even the cell phone and watch. I was told not to worry about anything but what I came here for, which was spending the weekend with Christ. It was Thursday night when the weekend started, and I did not know what to expect or if I should expect anything at all. I have to tell you this though, when I went I knew Jesus already and all I wanted was to just spend peace and quiet connecting to Christ. Let me cut a long story short and tell you that, attending this weekend changed my life, my way of thinking and how I view things. I cried the whole weekend. The tears were tears of realizing how I made a healthy and a very good choice by coming to this weekend with Christ. The best part of the weekend is when it is over and we all got to go back home to our normal lives. The question is, What did I take with me from the weekend? To tell you the truth, when I left, I had the best solution about the relationship I have with Christ. I already knew what was missing in me even though I was saved. Today I am still working on the answer. I found that I have a healthy relationship with Christ and it is worth it. I love the woman I feel in me today because Via de Cristo taught me how to enjoy this abundant love he gave to me. So I just wanted to encourage everybody, to attend a Via de Cristo weekend. Who knows you might get exactly what you need to have which is God's peace, Love and Salvation. You have to be there to experience all this my dear friends. I was very happy to be able to use my phone and my wrist watch when I left by the way. God's Peace my dear Friends. Parish Nurse Notes Healthy Holiday Traditions Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. Yet for many of us, the sacred aspects of advent are lost in the holiday shuffle and it can become the unhealthiest time of the year. Sweet foods seem to be everywhere. Shopping, baking and traveling leave us tired and stressed. This season, use these traditions to change unhealthy habits and build traditions that encourage healthy living during the most wondrous time of the year. Sunrise walk: Take a sunrise walk as a family on Christmas morning. Make time for silence on the walk. Find a stopping point along the way and read the Christmas story. Animal Christmas: Animals surrounded jesus and his parents in the manger. Volunteer at your local animal shelter and take a dog for a walk-good for both of you. Christmas dance: Have a Christmas dance party. Dance and sing with your children to your favorite holiday songs. Make an event of it and invite family and friends. Children love to see adults be silly! Visit a tree farm: Pack up the family or a group of friends and visit a Christmas tree farm. Walk through the fields to find the perfect tree to cut down and drag it back to the car. This is a great way to get active as a group. Healthy baking tradition: Instead of more batches of sugar cookies and brownies, make granola or a healthier sweet together. Replace sugary holiday breakfast treats with a giant fruit salad.

5 Social Ministry News DAMINANO SOUP KITCHEN: Our church will work at the soup kitchen on Saturday, December 1, 2012 from 1:30 to 6:30 pm. A thank you goes out to all who helped serve at the kitchen this past year. We committed to work there three times (March, July, and December). The social ministry team would like to know if our church is committed to do this again next year. Contact Dave Thornton if you are interested in serving or have comments about this service opportunity. DISASTER RESPONSE: With the onslaught of disasters that have fell upon us this year, there is a need to consider a gift to the organizations that respond to people in need during these difficult times. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) has an excellent record for helping people in these tough times. You can send your gifts to them directly by mailing them to the following address or place in church offering noting what your intentions are. The form below can be used. ELCA Disaster Response: Hurricane Sandy Caribbean $ IDG0080 ELCA Disaster Response: Hurricane Sandy U.S. $ DDG0079 ELCA Disaster Response: Hurricane Sandy $ DDG0078 Name Address City State ZIP code Address Give through your congregation or send your check directly to: ELCA Disaster Response, Treasury Center, Chicago, IL write Hurricane Sandy or Where Needed Most on your check s memo line. ELCA WORLD HUNGER: The ELCA World Hunger campaign has an opportunity to have all financial gifts matched dollar for dollar up to $100 if you personally give to the campaign by the end to the year. You can visit the web site and get more information. You can also call them at CHILI COOK OFF: We will be holding our annual Chili Cook Off on January 22, 2013 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. This is a fundraiser for you social ministry efforts (CHUM, Mission to Honduras, LDR, and World Hunger). There are entry form available in the church office and at the welcome table at the back of the church. We will need donations for shredded cheese, sour cream, milk, crackers, home baked bread and bars and cookies or pies. We will also need help with set up and clean up. Please contact Dave Thornton if you can help out. HONDURAS MISSION TRIP: The group from Salem Lutheran Church in Deerwood, MN is planning a return trip to work at the Kids Ark project in Honduras, February 18 to 27, They will be doing construction at the camp and hosting youth groups there. Dave Thornton is thinking about going again, and will be asking for donations of games, health care and school supplies to load into a duffel bag to take to Honduras. Dave Thornton, Social Ministry Team New Members The Evangelism Team would like to recognize new members: Peter & Tina Anderson Jake Bjortomt Bill Ellingson Cullen Flaherty Noah Hobbs & Tricia Tappe Joseph & Mary Kitto Mary Ann Lahde Stacy Nylund (Brian & baby) Jim & Mary Unden (Johanna & Jenna) Emily Wagner Amber Laura Young

6 New Bible Study to Begin in December! Many of us have heard of the Daily Discipleship Study which follows our Sunday texts. We will now have an open study group that will meet on Tuesday mornings in the church lounge at 9:30 a.m. Coffee will be provided and everyone is welcome! Youth Team Update October brought about Halloween activities for the Youth. On Sunday, Oct. 21st, we started off with the Youth helping the Sunday School students carve pumpkins followed by a hotdog and marshmallow roast. A few Youth and adults went to Engwalls on Oct 27th and took a walk through their Field of Screams. November will be a pretty quiet month but December will become busy. The Youth are planning a Christmas Cookie sale event as well as a holiday/end of year party. You may also see the Flamingo flock gathering for winter migration from house to house in December as well. Watch for details in the weekly Service bulletins for additional information. Parish Planning Council Meeting Minutes The October Parish Planning Council minutes are not available at this time. Members Bulletin Board Derek Defrang is in Marine Basic Training. Please keep him in your prayers. His address: RCT Defrang, Derek J 3 rd BN India CO PLT Midway Ave. San Diego, CA Welcome Home from Afghanistan! Aaron Janzig Ken Lippert Please pray for our members unable to attend services at this time: Alice Botsford Pat Erickson Kay Evanson Dora Hughes Thelma Kortkamp June Lindberg Marilyn Olson Julia Pugliesi Eldora Swenson Grace Vittorio Pearl Wang Wesley Winter Glenn Tridgell Elsie Benson June Brooks Former Staff Member Sighting Greetings from former Youth Leader and member, Melanie (Josephson) Davis! She is presently living in the Twin Cities and working for Lyngblomsten (senior housing). She finished her ministry degree and worked for Operation Noah (helping children who have experienced flooding) for about 10 years. (She believes that she was at seminary at the same time as Pastor Chris). Both her children, Scott and Seth are in college. Melanie thanks Our Savior s for the wonderful memories and for the support we gave her to attend seminary! (Anita Fraundorf was at a workshop with Melanie Nov 12-14). Thank You --to the Youth for donating pies for the coffee fellowship on November 4, to the people who baked the pies, and to those who served the pie and coffee --to Esther Schroeder and Sandy Andler for preparing the altar and candles for All Saints Sunday and to Shari Mlodozyniec and Kelsey Mlodozyniec for ringing the bells --to the Northern Bell Chimes for the Veterans Day music and for serving cake and coffee --to Sara Rice (flute) and Jennifer Simonson (keyboard) for playing with the bells on the special song dedicated to the memory of Dale Peterson --for the coffee fellowship donations on Veterans Day. A check for $50.00 was sent to MACV Duluth (Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans). This organization helps veterans who are homeless or who may become homelessness. For more information, visit their website: --to Betty Melde for the donation to the bell fund -Andre Bijold and Ray & Joanne Ahlgren for setting up the hat and mitten tree in the Library/ Lounge. Thank you to everyone who donated items to hang on the tree. -Parish Fellowship for cooking and serving the meal on Nov 19. Thank you to Dr. Van Delen, St. Lukes Emergency, for speaking and to Kathy Janzig for arranging the Healthy Families event.

7 An Invitation to Coffee Fellowship Jenn Conboy and Paige Williams will be baking special gingerbread men for everyone to enjoy during Coffee Fellowship on Dec. 23 rd. Many members come down to visit during coffee time, but we are encouraging everyone to stop by. We would like to remember Juanita Lippert, who began and supported the Prayer Partner ministry at Our Savior's. She introduced Paige, then in 3 rd grade, and Jenn as prayer partners. Paige is now in college...so we have a LONG history and many memorable moments because of this pairing. Part of our special time together is to do holiday baking, so we have decided to honor the special gift of being prayer partners. A freewill donation for the Care in Action program will be taken. Quilting Group The newly formed church quilting group has been stripping in the church...strip piecing that is. Several members have been learning and refreshing their sewing skills making a strip pieced quilt to donate to the synod Assembly Quilt Auction in the spring. Even if you have never stripped, er, sewed before, you are welcome to join us. For questions or additional sewing dates, contact Roxanne Bijold at Window Update Dollars are coming in with $14, as of November 27, If you have not made a commitment yet, now is the time to help us put this fund over the top! Funeral Lunches There will be a meeting at 5pm on Monday, December 5, 2012 in the library of Our Savior s. We will be restructuring our funeral lunches. All who are interested in this important outreach are asked to attend and bring your ideas. Patsy Lehr, Funeral Lunch, Coordinator Rebekah Circle The Rebekah Circle will meet at 7pm on Tuesday, December 11 at the home of Barb Mathson, 16 N 64th Ave W for a Christmas gathering to fill bags of personal items for the women at the CHUM drop in Center. This will be the 9th year that Rebekah Cirlce will deliver 15 gift bags each with the following items: hand knitted scarf and gloves, socks, hair brush, candy, shower sponge, nail clipper and emery board, lip balm, tissue, tooth paste, and tooth brush, prayer and devotional booklets, note pads, and/or pocket calendars, plus samples of varieties of lotions, shampoos and other cosmetics that this year many of you in the congregation helped us collect and for which we greatly thank all who helped. Anyone who would like to join us to fill the bags will be most welcome. Naomi Circle Naomi Circle meets the second Thursday of every month at noon in the church Library/Lounge Dorcas Circle Dorcas Circle meets the second Thursday of every month at 9:30am at Thurley Ling s House. The current topic of Bible study is Women of the Bible. Bible Study Everyone is welcome to join us for weekly Bible study at Faith Haven, Thursdays, 9-10am. Alice DeLawyer will be available to greet you at the door between 8:45 and 9am. 55 Plus Join us on December 10 in Fellowship Hall at 11am for a special musical presentation and a light lunch. After the holidays... There is not a 'scheduled' group to provide Coffee Fellowship on the first Sunday of the new year. Instead Sunday, Jan. 6,th will be our customary 'Goodie Potluck'. We invite members to contribute any holiday goodies (cookies, bars or breads) that you might have from the holiday season. Simply drop them off at the kitchen and our servers will take it from there.

8 Parish Planning Council December Birthdays Jon Thornton, President John Jacobson, Vice President Shari Mlodozyniec, Vice President Jan Thornton, Treasurer Roxanne Bijold Secretary Stewardship: Sherm Carlson Education: Roger Lofald Lay Ministry: Anita Fraundorf Worship & Music: Robyn Lunke Evangelism/Soc.Ministry: Alice Delawyer Youth: Bob Jenko Parish Fellowship: Cathy Hannan Property: Mike Simonson Public Relations: Theresa Jacobson Vacation Bible School: Jen Conboy Other Leadership Financial Secretary: Dodo Erickson Camp Delegate: Pam Merrier Bell Choir: Anita Fraundorf Chum/Thrivent Delegate: Jen Conboy Alice DeLawyer Staff Pastor: Rev. Christine Anttila Music Director: Jennifer Simonson Web Page: Jennifer Simonson Custodian: John Erdahl Unpaid Staff Parish Nurses Kathy Janzig Jan Thornton Kris Benson EVAN VIK 12/2 BETH ANDERSON 12/5 MICHAEL CASEY 12/8 KIM DANIELSON 12/8 RICHARD SMITH 12/9 ERNEST WINTER 12/9 DANIEL NILSEN SR. 12/11 DIANE THOMPSON 12/11 LOUISE CARLSON 12/13 MARTIN LARSON 12/13 LORNA AUGE 12/16 LAIKEN ETTESTAD 12/17 ADDISON METZ 12/18 ADAM NELSON 12/19 CHRISTINE MIELKE 12/20 LAUREN POZNIAK 12/20 JANET THORNTON 12/20 ISABELLA MERRIER 12/21 SCOTT LUNKE 12/22 BETTY CRAVEN 12/23 JOHN REIDER 12/25 Thank you for your dedication to Our Savior s! SARAH ZAPP 12/26 MAE ANDERSON 12/27 CAROL ANDERSON 12/29 DEAN LINDER 12/29 ROGER LOFALD 12/29 SHARI MLODOZYNIEC 12/29

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10 God Lives Under the Bed My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped outside his closed door to listen. "Are you there, God?" he said. "Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed." I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6- foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7- year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas, and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them. I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, returning to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme are laundry days, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores. And Saturdays oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. "That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. I don't think Kevin knows anything exists outside his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth or power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. He recognizes no differences in people, treating each person as an equal and a friend. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be. His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God to really be friends with him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion. In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances they all become disabilities when I do not submit them to Christ. Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of the Lord. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won't be surprised at all.

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12 Our Savior s Lutheran Church 4831 Grand Avenue Duluth, MN Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Duluth, MN Permit No Tel: Fax: s addresses: pastor@oursaviorsduluth.org jennifersimonson@oursaviorsduluth.org erdahl@oursaviorsduluth.org Simonson Frame Design Open by appointment Call Jennifer Simonson for your custom framing needs