Enjoy the rich blessings of August!

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Frank Casey
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Cook after 9:00 worship Welcoming Pastor Olson!

Bishop Jon Anderson, presiding minister Meal

1 Kindred the Spirıt August 2015 Newsletter of Our Savior s Lutheran Church Albany, Minnesota Enjoy the rich blessings of August! Sunday, August 9th Farewell social for Pastor Cook after 9:00 worship Welcoming Pastor Olson! Sunday, August 30th First Sunday at Our Savior s Reception after 9:00 worship Sunday, September 13th Installation at both services Bishop Jon Anderson, presiding minister Meal following second service Rally Sunday ~ September 13th Education Open House

2 The Dash Most congregations have pictures of their former pastors somewhere. Here they are part of the confirmation pictures. At the church I grew up in the pastor pictures were in a hallway. These photos of these formidable old men made an impression on me. (Pastors were all men and all formidable back in the day! And now I m an old man, too!) Each photo had a name and two dates, separated by a dash the years when that Pastor began and ended their ministries at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St Luke. The image of two dates separated by a dash comes to my mind every time I approach leaving a congregation. There is a lot represented by that dash. Just think of what has been accomplished here at Our Savior s in Albany in the last 18 months! Many of you have commented on it! There is a renewed worship life. Committees and individual are excitedly embracing their call to make things happen for Jesus in and through this congregation. Relationships old and new are sharing life together. Now we are at the right side of my dash. My last Sunday as your pastor will be August 9 and I will be here for Wednesday Worship August 12. Between now and then I look forward to greeting many of you. Maybe at VBS! Pastor Don Resig will be back to preach on August 16 & 23 and your new settled Pastor, Steve Olson, will preach here for the first time on August 30. My picture has been added to the gallery of pastors who have served Our Savior s and her precedent congregations through the years. Pastor Olson will have his picture there in time and unless Jesus comes back first so will many Pastors after that. Pastors dash through the life of a congregation and the work of God through the Church goes on and on and on Peace and joy Pastor Steve from Pastor Steve 3

3 YOUTH & FAMILY ministry Diana Brown Ministry Associate It's the week before VBS. Students are returning from the mission trip and camp. Summer will soon fade into a memory. This means that after nearly three months of my soon-to-bekindergartener asking me almost every day if school is tomorrow, that very soon, I can finally tell him YES! It's an exciting time; calendars are being laid out, curriculum is falling into place, students are preparing for school. However, along with excitement for a new adventure there is often an underlying anxiousness it's a fine line. A prayer for those walking the line between excitement and anxiety: Dear Lord, I pray you go before me. I need you to guide me through the unknown. May you lead me in your direction. Please show me your way. 4 I pray you go behind me. I need you to motivate me through the unfamiliar. May you inspire me to be your light. Please encourage me on my journey. I pray you go beside me. I need you to assist me through the hesitations. May you uphold me in your spirit. Please comfort me in my doubts. I pray you go above me. I need you to protect me through the hardships. May you keep me safe in your presence. Please watch over me on my path. I pray you go within me. I need your everlasting love. May your grace shine through me. Please grant me peace so that I may share your peace with others. I pray that you go with me always. I need you. Give me rest. Goodnight & Amen. Youth Group Night Twice monthly, Wednesdays 7 9 pm for all youth grades 9 12 August 19th Bring a friend!

4 Reflections on the Synod Assembly Delegate Mike Aronson God is doing, has been doing, and will continue to do great things in our church! What a remarkable experience it was to go to this year's ELCA SW MN synod assembly in St. Peter, MN. Thank you for the opportunity to represent OSLC's eyes, ears, and voice during these few days. It was truly a blessing to spend the time with Lisa, Kevin, Wendy, and Pastor Steve, along with 700+ others from our neighboring congregations and mission out reaches. It was exciting to reinforce that "We Are Church Together," and to hear about and see the work that our whole church is doing locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. Praise God for the work that He is doing through Our Savior's to serve and be a witness to our neighbors in the communities of Albany, Avon, and surrounding areas! June 12 14, 2015 Delegate Wendy Womack I wanted to share how excited and proud I was to find out all of the things that the Lutheran Church is doing in the state, the country, and the world. Short videos showed us what our Synod is accomplishing through youth ministry, camping and campus ministry, and supporting new pastors and congregations. Meetings I attended made me realize how integral the work of the Lutheran Church is in dealing with world hunger and in international crisis through Lutheran World Relief. I was humbled to find out how much a quilt from LWR means to a refugee family or an earthquake victim struggling to recover from hardships most of us cannot even imagine (luckily). Choosing a bishop was a challenge and listening to the candidates answer round after round of questions made me appreciate the amazing people called to serve through the Lutheran Church. Thank you for letting me represent you. Mark your calendar! 3September dates to note: Sunday, September 6 9:00 am Worship Wednesday, September 16 Confirmation: Parent/student orientation Sunday, September 20 First Day of Sunday School Wednesday, September 23 Confirmation begins 5

5 Life congregational Deb Solarz. 6 & mission committee Welcoming Pastor Olson! Pastor Olson s first Sunday with us is August 30th. We will meet and greet him with a coffee and cookies reception following the 9:00 service. September 13th will be the installation of Pastor Olson, with Bishop Jon Andersen presiding. We will celebrate that day with a meal following the 10:30 a.m. service. Anyone interested in planning these celebrations is invited to our next meeting on August 12th, 5:30 p.m. Harvest Dinner Think Fall! The Harvest Dinner was chosen as the highest priority for fellowship events in the survey we conducted last winter. We are now looking for: Team Leaders to plan/organize, and supervise! This is a short-term commitment. The dinner has been held in October. The size, menu, etc. is up to you. Let Wendy Womack know, , womack@albanytel.com Thank you for your leadership! Please come to the next meeting: August 12th 5:30 pm Chair: Wendy Womack Mary Adelman, Diana Brown, Lynda Hartwig, Kaye Schmainda, School Supplies needed! for Albany Area School District ~ helping children in need. In our community, there are children in crisis, or their families are, who cannot afford school supplies. Often these kids are dealing with homelessness. From our survey, helping those who are homeless is one mission area that was high priority for you. We spoke with Nancy Trehey, Coordinator for Family Outreach, and asked her what Our Savior s could do to help. She suggested school supplies, especially items that are less frequently donated. Those are: Sturdy backpacks Calculator model Texas Instruments TI 30 IIS Art sketch pads, unlined, spiral bound You can choose to donate other supplies too; pick up a list is in the Narthex. We will be collecting supplies until the beginning of school. And, VBS students are challenged to contribute! Look for the yellow bus box to place your items let s fill the bus!

6 OSLC Hi Hospıtality ministry Our Savior s is a welcoming congregation! And, we wear name tags! Everyone is invited to practice hospitality with an Our Savior s Lutheran Church name tag of your own! Fill in your name(s), choose a clip-on tag or lanyard style tag and the office will make yours for you. Take it with you, leave it in your car or purse so it is ready to wear when you come to church. Or, leave it in the box in the Narthex. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 Please fill in the information below and drop off in the Narthex. Your name tag(s) will be ready for you at church! Name Committee you serve on, if you like Praise in the Park August 19th St. Benedicts Parish Avon 6:30 pm A light meal will be served followed by time of praise and worship. We are looking for folks from both congregations to be a part of the evening, including musicians in all areas (instrumentalists and vocalists). Anyone can talk to Mike if they would like more information or interested in being involved in the evening(s). Thank you! Mike Aronson, Worship and Music Committee women s monthly Bible Study On the second Wednesday each month, all women are invited to attend Bible Study and fellowship time. The group uses the Bible study from Gather magazine, an ELCA publication. August 19th Noon Potluck! Daily Devotional Pick up your free copy of Christ in our Home daily devotional, available in the Narthex. Read your Bible every day with the help of this insightful book. 7

7 Simply Giving Program Our Savior s is excited to announce you can now manage your giving online! Giving online can be easy and allows you to set up secure, automatic recurring contributions and view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet. Follow easy steps: 1. Visit the church website at oursaviorslutheranalbany.org 2. Click the Online Giving button 3. Click the Create Profile button Then follow the onscreen instructions to create your profile and schedule your contributions. 8 Looking for spiritual refreshment? Devotion writers are Luther Seminary alumni/ae: OurSaviorsLutheranAlbany.org Our Savior s Church Staff Pastor: Stephen Cook Ministry Associate for Youth & Families: Diana Brown Music Coordinator: Mike Aronson Parish Office Coordinator & Treasurer: Stephanie McGuinness Custodians: Jim & Deb Kurtz Summer Church Office Hours: M, W, F: 8:30 11:30am T, Th: 8:30am-12:30pm Summertime is a G.I.F.T. Growing in Faith Together 2nd & 4th Thursdays each month 9:30 to 11:30 at OSLC Make time to connect with your children and others in the community, while enjoying Bible stories together. Families of all ages are welcome. Fellowship, snacks, storytime/songs and crafts. Contact Diana Brown with questions, music opportunities Music Team We are looking for those who have a desire to share their musical talents by being part of a Worship Team. We are looking for singers to lead the congregation in hymns, instrumentalists (keyboard, piano, guitar, drums, etc.) and a few people who may be interested being part of our Sound Tech Crew. See Mike Aronson for more information. O U R M I S S I O N Our Savior s Lutheran Church is one people united in Christ, empowered by God s grace through worship and the study of His Word, to glorify God by serving and witnessing in the community and the world.

8 Rural Stearns Faith in Action Volunteers Needed! Occasional Transportation Drivers and Friendly Visits OSLC is the Albany/Avon hub for calls from seniors, caregivers, and people facing difficult life circumstances needing services, which are provided at no cost to the person receiving services. People who call our office are needing help right now, right here in our community...they don t have a car any longer and need a ride to a medical or dental appointment (in Albany, Melrose and St. Cloud); or a friendly visit once in a while; someone to go walking with; light housekeeping and chores; or simple home repairs. The time commitment on your part as volunteer is very minimal, but the service you provide is so greatly appreciated by the care recipient, you can make a BIG difference in their life! Transportation drivers receive a small payment from RSFIA after year-end to help offset gas expenses incurred. Volunteers are needed now! If you would like to help seniors or people in difficult life circumstances in our local area, call Mary Rademacher at or rademacher.mary@ assumptionhome.com Albany Food Shelf Servers Thursday, August 20 5:15 6:30 pm Confirmation Youth Serve The following items are needed this month at the Albany Food Shelf: Peas Cream of Chicken Soup Remember...the first Sunday of every month is Food Shelf Sunday. Bring a food item donation for our local food shelf. The need is great, and with your help, people right here in our community are able to provide food on the table for their families. Donations can be dropped off in the designated bins in the Narthex. Thank you for your support to those in need in our community. Also, Thank you to our Confirmation families who volunteer every month at the Albany Area Food Shelf. Serving Group #6 Co-chairs: Joyce Christen, Jan Koglin, Jannell Boeckermann, Bonita Fox, Molly Lundwig, Lori Ruben, Melissa Christen, Melanie Wege, Carolyn Koglin, Sharon, Lehner, Molly Kohout, Valeria Christen, Jill Hamann 9

9 Prayer Box August 2015 Gratitude 10 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, Ephesians 1:16 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100 Dearest Father, How can I thank you for the blessings You have given me? I have not always been strong in my faith, and during those times I've felt dragged down by circumstances. But, each time I turn around, I see something for which I am grateful. I begin to see how I am constantly and eternally blessed by You. I know that You are always present and working for my highest good. Without faith, I have nothing. With faith in You, I have everything I could ever want and more. I rise each morning knowing in my heart that I am always being loved, watched over and cared for. Thank You, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

10 Summer Worship: Sunday Morning 9:00 am Wednesday Evening 6:30 pm Pastor: Stephen Cook Ministry Associate for Youth & Families: Diana Brown Music Coordinator: Mike Aronson Parish Office Coordinator & Treasurer: Stephanie McGuinness Custodians: Jim & Deb Kurtz Church Summer Office Hours: M, W, F: 8:30 11:30am T, Th: 8:30am 12:30pm (320) Lake Avenue P.O. Box 670 Albany, MN Vol. 21, No. 7 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED U.S. POSTAGE PAID NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PERMIT #2 ALBANY, MN 56307

the New WELCA Women of the ELCA VBS Kick-off Meeting Monday, January 18 7:30 pm New Men s Bible Study Breakfast meetings

the New WELCA Women of the ELCA VBS Kick-off Meeting Monday, January 18 7:30 pm New Men s Bible Study Breakfast meetings Kindred the Spirıt January 2016 Newsletter of Our Savior s Lutheran Church Albany, Minnesota New WELCA Women of the ELCA First Quarterly Meeting Saturday, January 23 10:00 am VBS Kick-off Meeting Monday,