NO GARAGE SALE AT OSLC THIS SPRING!!

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1 Our Saviour s Lutheran Church April, 2015 Shepherd s Staff LCMC Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Knowing Jesus, Growing in Jesus, Sharing Jesus OSLC address: 326 Leroy Street, Audubon, Iowa OSLC Telephone: (712) OSLC oslc@iowatelecom.net OSLC Fax #: (712) OSLC Website: oslcauduboniowa.org Pastor Doug s Phone numbers: (home) (cell phone) Pastor Doug s address: pastordoug@iowatelecom.net Youth Leader Position Available We are looking for a highly motivated adult or married couple who loves youth and may be sensing the call to join a team of youth leaders who share responsibility for the youth ministry at OSLC. Our hope is to identify one or more individuals who especially possess organizational and communication skills. This is a paid part time staff position. A job description is available if you are interested in learning more. For further information please contact: Jennifer Fliflet, Sara Slater, Pastor Doug or the church office. NO GARAGE SALE AT OSLC THIS SPRING!! Please do not leave garage sale items at the church. Items left will be discarded as there is no room to store them. Thank You. Confirmation Sunday will be celebrated at OSLC on Sunday, April 26 th. Congratulations and God s Blessing to the following Confirmands: Gracye Albertsen, Westly Borkowski, Garrett Hansen, Dylan Obermeier & Jayden Nielsen. The coffee fellowship on Sunday, April 26 th will be in honor of the Confirmands. On Sunday, March 15 th the following youth from Our Saviour s Lutheran Church celebrated their First Communion. God s blessings to these youth. Chloe Jackson, Brandon Jensen, Allison Elmquist, Grace Slater, Gavin Smith & Hannah Thygesen. Preschool through 6 th Graders and Kids Choir will be singing at the Friendship Home during the Sunday School hour on Palm Sunday, March 29 th. We will leave from the Social Room and return by 11:15 a.m. dismissal. We look forward to sharing some of our favorite songs with our friends at the Friendship Home! Anyone is welcome to walk to the Friendship Home with the Sunday School students and teachers to listen to the kids sing praises to our Lord. 1

2 Greetings from Pastor Doug, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! are the words we begin worship with on Easter Sunday and the seven Sundays of the Easter Season that follow. Easter is certainly the most magnificent Day, Sunday, Season, Reason we know as sinners redeemed by the grace of God through the person and work of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Martin Luther points out that St Paul stakes everything on the basic factor with which he began, namely that Christ rose from the dead. This is the chief article of the Christian doctrine. No one who at all claims to be a Christian or a preacher of the Gospel may deny that fact. We are Easter people, baptized believers celebrating the Good News of Jesus life, death and resurrection. If we were to sum up in one word what resurrection means to us it would be the word everything. The resurrection of Jesus Christ means everything to us as disciples of Christ, as followers of Jesus. Without it, our faith is empty and useless. This is why the Apostle Paul so emphatically states in 1 st Corinthians 15:14, If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. Three vital points of the significance of this Biblical understanding for each of us are: 1 - Jesus resurrection validates His claims. Over and over again, Jesus made the claim that He is the Son of God. Romans 1:4 teaches us that, Jesus was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead. 2 - Jesus resurrection vindicates us in the presence of God. To vindicate means to justify, support, defend, prove right, clear, pardon, absolve, acquit, etc. This is what St. Paul teaches us regarding Jesus resurrection in Romans 4:25, He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. 3 - Jesus resurrection asserts His victory over sin and death. St. Paul writes in 1 st Corinthians 15:54, 57, Death has been swallowed up in victory Thanks be to God for He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! We all have reason to praise the risen Lord this Easter Season and throughout our lifetimes because Christ has triumphantly been raised from the earthly grave! Therefore we can be certain that our Christian faith is not in vain! Let s live our daily lives accordingly! Easter Blessings, Pastor Doug Sunday Morning Adult Christian Education Opportunities Continue to grow in the Lord! Bring a friend or neighbor, your coffee or snack, enjoy the conversation and fellowship and join us in the Chapel at 10:20 a.m. on these Sundays: No Class Palm Sunday No Class Easter Sunday April 19 th Pastor Mark Hansen from St. Peter s Lutheran Church, Loxton, South Australia April 12 th & 26 th The Role of the Church in today s culture by Eric Metaxas & Dr. Erwin Lutzer 2

3 HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Palm Sunday, March 29 th : 9:00 a.m. Worship Children are invited to participate in a Palm Processional at the beginning of the Palm Sunday service. The Rock Youth Group will do a reenactment of The Crucifixion. Maundy Thursday, April 2 nd : 7:00 p.m. Worship with Holy Communion Good Friday, April 3 rd : 7:00 p.m. Tenebrae Worship Prayer Vigil Good Friday, noon through Saturday at noon. Easter Sunday, April 5 th : 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Service with Holy Communion 8:00 a.m. Easter Breakfast served by The Rock 9:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Worship with Holy Communion Good Friday Prayer Vigil-Jesus, Our Shepherd Leads Us: Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed him Luke 22:39. Jesus gave us a crucial warning there in the Garden of Gethsemane, in verses 40 and 46, pray that you will not fall into temptation. Jesus prayed in anguish there as drops of blood fell to the ground, pleading for the Father s will to be done. So we too welcome present day disciples to come to the Chapel to pray. The Vigil begins at noon on Friday, April 3 rd until Saturday at noon. There will be no sign ups, just come, in remembrance of Jesus battle there in Gethsemane and of Christ s death on the cross. As we watch and wait and pray expectantly we can be assured of the Spirits promptings and presence. Anyone who has a passion for making music in praise of our Lord, and will be in high school or college next fall, please prayerfully consider becoming a member of the Behind the Cross Praise Band! Along with Pastor Doug, the Praise Band leads worship the fourth Sunday of the month, August May. Please contact Director Jo Beane at or the church office for more information. Audubon Ecumenical Lenten Prayer Breakfasts (men & women) Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. March 31 st United Methodist Church It s so uplifting to hear the instrumental ensemble at the 9:00 a.m. Easter morning service as we sing Jesus Christ is Risen Today! Brandon Toft will be leading the ensemble and is in need of musicians, high school age on up. Please contact the church office or Brandon ( ) if you are interested in playing in the ensemble. Thank you to the many faithful volunteers who put in extra time during the Lenten and Easter services and Lenten suppers. Your time and dedication is greatly appreciated! Christian author, Randy Alcorn has written a book titled The Treasurer Principle-Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving that has sold well over 1 million copies. Over a six month period of time, we will print the six principle keys to help us become joyful stewards of God s amazing Grace. 4. I SHOULD LIVE NOT FOR THE DOT BUT FOR THE LINE. From the dot our present life on earth extends a line that goes on forever, which is eternity in heaven. 3

4 CHURCH WEBSITE oslcauduboniowa.org It is updated on a regular basis and is a great source for information on dates and times of worship services, events, activities, Bible studies, etc. Also, OSLC now has facebook, search Our Saviour s Lutheran Church on your facebook account. Check it out!! Current and past monthly Shepherd Staff newsletters are available on the church website. EVEREST CONQUERING CHALLENGES WITH GOD S MIGHTY POWER VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Sunday, July 12 th (following worship) & Monday, July 13 th -Wednesday, July 15 th (5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) Adult & Youth helpers needed. Please contact the church office to volunteer for this amazing week sharing God s word with the children of OSLC and the community! Spring Clean Up Day at OSLC Saturday, March 28 th from 8:00 a.m.-noon Organized by the Building & Property Committee and Custodians Brad & Kylie Stroeher. Come when you can, leave when you need or projects may be done on your own time! Projects we will be working on are not part of the Custodian s job description and will be listed on the bulletin board above the water fountain. For example, painting, cleaning kitchen cupboards, removing wax from pew cushions, conditioning pew woodwork, etc. Donuts and juice will be provided! OSLC has had a ministry relationship with Hope Ministries of Des Moines for many years through benevolence donations, donations of supplies, and by volunteering at their shelters. Hope Ministries scope of outreach to homeless, near-homeless and hungry men, women and children requires significant resources. Donation drives for much-needed items help supplement their resources and stretch their budget. The following is a request from their latest newsletter: Hope Ministries: Fill Our Cups... Warm Our Hearts... Hold a Coffee Drive! If you re a coffee drinker, you know how much you look forward to starting your day with a fresh, hot cup. The morning brew is also appreciated by the men and women in our ministry centers who are preparing for a day of life-skills classes, job training and the many other activities of putting their lives back together. We go through more than 30 pounds each month, so we re asking our church partners to hold drives for ground coffee. If you can help, please collect bags or cans of regular (not decaf) coffee. Thank you for filling our cups and warming our hearts. If you would like to help, look for the basket on the tables by the entryway area for your coffee donations to Hope Ministries. Volunteers are needed to run the sanctuary projection system for worship services. The whole service is prepared and ready to go for those who volunteer to run it. It is a relatively easy system to operate. Come to the balcony any Sunday to observe the system and to check it out. Please contact the church office, Jane Weber or Pastor Doug for more information. 4

5 Wellness Tip A monthly feature from the OSLC Wellness Ministry Team Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child Immunizations can save your child s life. Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, are no longer common in the U.S. primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. Polio was once America s most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States. Vaccination is very safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children. Immunization protects others you care about. Children in the U.S. still get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, we have seen resurgences of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years. While some babies are too young to be protected by vaccination, others may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia, or other reasons. To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones. Immunizations can save your family time and money. A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or daycare facilities. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long -term disability care. Immunization protects future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. By vaccinating children against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States. If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future. Sunday Prayer for LCMC Congregations We have begun offering prayer during worship each Sunday morning for five of the now over 840 different Lutheran faith communities which are included in the association of LCMC churches throughout the world. A one page flyer will be posted on the entryway bulletin board each Sunday listing the five congregations with their addresses, s and congregational statistics. You are invited to partner in prayer on behalf of each of the faith families. If you would like a copy of which five churches we pray for prior to Sunday morning, please contact Pastor Doug. 5

6 April, 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 9:30 Caring & Sharing 2:30 Kids Choir 2 7:00 Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Worship 3 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Noon-Noon Saturday Prayer Vigil 7:00 Good Friday Worship 4 8:00 The Rock setting up for Easter Breakfast 5 Easter 7:00 Easter Worship with Holy Communion 8:00 Easter Breakfast 9:00 Easter Worship with Holy Communion 2:00 Pastor Jail Visit 6 2:00 Staff Meeting 5:00 Grief & Loss Support Group 7 8 2:30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation 9 10:30 Friendship Home Communion 10 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) 3:00-8:)0 Meals from the Heartland Hunger Fight at the National Guard Armory Second Sunday of Eater 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship-Baptism 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Senior Choir rehearsal 11:15 Praise Band practice, Worship Committee, Bible School Meeting (with Education Committee to follow) 5:00 Healing Service 13 1:15 Quilting 2:00 Staff Meeting 5:00 Grief & Loss Support Group 6:30 Building & Property Committee Meeting 14 2:00 Naomi Circle 15 2:30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation 7:00 Church Council Meeting 16 9:30 Rachel Circle 9:30 Ruth Circle 1:30 Mary Circle 17 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Shepherd Staff newsletter deadline at noon 18 2:00-4:30 Baby Shower in downstairs social room 5:00 Kids Night Out in downstairs social room 19 Third Sunday of Easter 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Holy Communion-BTC Worship 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir rehearsal, Blood Pressure Checks 3:30 Exira Vespers 20 2:00 Staff Meeting 5:00 Grief & Loss Support Group :30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation (8th grade only) :30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) The Rock going to Newsboys in Des Moines :15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship-Confirmation Sunday 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir rehearsal 11:00 Social Room reserved 11:15 BTC Praise Band practice 27 1:15 Quilting 2:00 Staff Meeting 5:00 Grief & Loss Support Group 7:00 South Africa Meeting :30 Kids Choir

7 Kids Night Out Saturday, March 28 th & Saturday, April 18 th 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. To sign up, call or the church office or sign up on bulletin board no later than the Thursday before Kid s Night Out. Children 3 years old through 6 th grade! Would you like to sponsor an Easter Lily to adorn our sanctuary on Easter morning? The cost is $12 each and you may take your Lily home after the 9:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Worship service. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board above the water fountain. Thank you! The 2 nd Regional Meals from the Heartland packing event Friday, April 10 th, at Audubon Iowa National Guard Armory. The goal is to raise $30,000 in order for volunteers of all ages to pack 150,000 meals. Donations are welcome. $26, has been gifted to this regional event as of March 22 nd. The volunteer sign up for individuals/teams is posted on entryway bulletin board. APRIL VOLUNTEERS USHERS Randy Nelsen, Captain Lyle Hansen Kurt Nelson Bill Moore Dean Lauritsen Mitchell Nelsen Todd Nelsen Chip Hansen TAXI DRIVER ALTAR GUILD Cindy Vokt Lois Baier Linda Hansen VIDEO OPERATORS 5- Dan Christensen 12- Frank Olsen 19- David Madsen 26- Jeff Albertsen SOUND OPERATORS 2- Ron Christensen 3- Bob Weber Tyler Riebhoff David Graeve 5-7:00 a.m.? 5- Bob Weber (9:00) 5- Tyer Riebhoff (9:00) 5- David Graeve (9:00) 12- Curtis Frederiksen 19- Ron Christensen 26- Tim Morgan ACOLYTES 2- Mallory Riebhoff Amy Burns 3- Jayden Nielsen Melissa Deist 5 Westly Borkowski (7:00 a.m) Garrett Hansen (7:00 a.m.) Dylan Obermeier (9:00 a.m.) Gracye Albertsen (9:00 a.m.) 12- Dennis Jackson Jackson Jensen Jayden Nielsen Jacob Sauers 26- Amy Burns Noah Morgan NURSERY 5- Ann Guild 12- Sharon Winterboer Lauren Graeve 19- Megan Kelly 26- Linda Keller PROJECTION SYSTEM 5- Shannon Jensen (7:00) 12- Bob Weber (9:00) Tyler Riebhoff (9:00) David Graeve (9:00) 19- Julie Opp 26- PRAYER PARTNERS 5- Lee Nielsen Barb Christensen 12- Lee Nielsen Julie Opp 19- Dan Smith Barb Christensen 26- Julie Opp Dan Smith

8 THE ROCK YOUTH GROUP (7 th Grade-12 th Grade) *The youth will be presenting This Blood by Carman during the Palm Sunday, March 29 th worship service. They do an excellent job of portraying the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. *The youth would like to invite you to join us for Easter Celebration, April 5 th, worship services are held at 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. An Easter breakfast of egg bake, muffins, fresh fruit, coffee and juice will be served at 8:00 a.m. All are welcome to the table of the Lord. *The Youth group conference in February was cancelled, so we have a new plan. The youth will be going to Des Moines on Friday, April 24 th to see the Newsboys in concert at Hope Lutheran Church, 7:00 p.m. Then we will stay overnight and go to Sky Zone (indoor trampoline) and will include a service project. We plan to return to Audubon by Saturday, April 25 th at 5:00 p.m. Partial attendance is possible. This wonderful opportunity is only $10, sorry no refunds. If youth are interested they should immediately contact Jen or Sara Slater We must know by April 8 th, because we need the tickets for all events in advance, so don t hesitate! *Sunday, May 3 rd at 10:15 a.m. we will be hosting Game Day! Come check out live Hungry, Hungry Hippo The Rock Co-Leaders: Jennifer or Sara Facebook: The Rock OSLC website: oslcauduboniowa.org The Rock therockaudubon@gmail.com A committee of five people, plus Pastor Doug, has been working with Anne Anderson of Interwoven Studio in Forest City to create new hanging paraments for the altar, pulpit and lectern. The first set will soon be ready to hang. The remaining deteriorating paraments also need replaced, but financial assistance is necessary to proceed. If you would like to sponsor a set as a gift to the church, or to contribute to this project, please contact Altar Guild Chair Janice Hemmingsen ( ) or the church office. Thank you to all who volunteer for the Altar Guild Ministry throughout the year. Thanks to several new volunteers, our monthly ministry teams are filled for the year Upcoming Events and Worship Opportunities March 28 th : Spring Clean Up Day March 29 th : Palm Sunday Holy Week Services: April 2 nd & 3 rd Good Friday Prayer Vigil: (noon to noon Sat.) April 5 th : Easter Breakfast & Easter Sunday April 26 th : Confirmation Sunday May 3 rd : Sunday School End of Year Celebration May 10 th : Senior Breakfast June 20 th -27 th : Workcamp in Racine, WI July 12 th -15 th : Vacation Bible School August 23 rd : Praise in the Park 9 September 13 th : Rally Sunday October 4 th -7 th : LCMC Annual Gathering in Frisco, TX October 11 th : Consecration Sunday November 1 st : All Saints Sunday with All Saints Altar Professional November 25 th : Thanksgiving Eve Worship December 2 nd, 9 th, 16 th : Advent Services December 24 th /25 th : Christmas Eve/Day Worship with Community Christmas Dinner

9 Online Giving To donate online, go to the OSLC website and click on the online giving tab located at the upper right hand corner of the webpage. Questions, contact Pam Steckler at or or Dan Madsen at or The Tuckpointing Project giving option is also available on the OSLC website. OSLC is planning to proceed with the church building tuckpointing project in 2015 which was voted on at the annual meeting on January 25 th, If you would like to donate financially to this project, you may donate online through the church website, by putting in the offering plate marked Tuckpointing or mail/drop off at the church office. Tuckpointing is exterior cleaning of entire church building and repair where necessary. Contact a Building Committee members with any questions: Kurt Nelson, Bob Sornson, Arch Andersen, Wes Thygesen or Mike Kuchel To date, $23, has been raised for the Tuckpointing Project! Thy Will Be Done presented by Audubon Choirs and Individuals Palm Sunday, March 29th at 7:00 p.m. at the Exira Lutheran Church Lunch to following the Exira Lutheran Church basement Living Free Grief & Loss Support Group for community members is being offered at OSLC for nine weeks beginning Monday, March 30 th at 5:00 p.m. Nancy Poore and Barb Jacobsen will facilitate the group. Questions, contact Nancy, Barb or Pastor Doug. Omelet Breakfast Sunday, March 29 th, :30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Memorial Building Adults ($7.00) Children 4-12 (4.00) Children under 4 (free) Proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity of West Central Iowa. Christian Butterfly Have you ever wondered why we have a stained glass butterfly hanging in our sanctuary beginning Easter morning and throughout the Easter season? The butterfly emerging from the chrysalis has traditionally been a representation of Christ s rising from the tomb. The stages of the butterfly egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly are also wonderful analogies to our life as Christians. *The miracle starts with an egg the size of the top of a straight pin...just as human life starts with a tiny fertilized egg. A few short days later a tiny caterpillar emerges through the shell of the egg... a baby is born. *The caterpillar stage of eating, eating, eating is symbolic of life on earth...preoccupied so often with the physical and material. *In the chrysalis stage it appears the caterpillar is lifeless inside the chrysalis...symbolizing death and the darkness of the tomb, an inevitable reality. But, lo, inside of the chrysalis a miracle is taking place... *The butterfly emerges... symbolic of our souls rising from the grave and ascending into heaven and eternal life! Pastor Kyle Idlemen s Not a Fan and gods at War DVD series are available to check out and view in your home or in a small group setting. Please contact Pastor Doug if you are interested in viewing these excellent resources. 10

10 OSLC APRIL PRAYER INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES: April 5 th April 11 th Ethel Rasmussen, Kathy Rasmussen, Joel & Rhonda Rattenborg & family, Monte & Kaylene Riebhoff & family, Lorayne Ringen, Bill Roth. April 12 th -April 18 th Leroy & Nancy Sand, Will & Tammy Sauers & family, Gina Scheffler, Catherine Schmidt. April 19 th -April 25 th Dan & Chris Schmidt, Duane Schmidt, LaVerne Schmidt, Troy & Michelle Schoon, Dennis & Jeanne Schwab, Peter Schwab. April 26 th -May 2 nd Lynette Sievers, Elayne Sinow, Brad & Sara Slater & family, Dan & Barb Smith, Jason & Betsy Smith & family, Nick & Jenny Smith & family. April Sponsored Altar Flowers 5-No Altar Flowers, Easter 12-Lyle, Paula, Chip & Carrie Hansen 19-The Family of Louise Chehak 26-Betsy Nelsen Stewardship Square Regular offerings 03/01 $6, /08 $5, /15 $8, /22 $2, Weekly Worship Attendance 03/ / / / / / / March 1 Loose Offering to Caring & Sharing: $66.00 Needed Weekly to meet budget $6, If you have any questions regarding the OSLC financial report, you are welcome to contact our Office Manager Pam Steckler or our Council Treasurer Dan Madsen. 11