Knowing Jesus, Growing in Jesus, Sharing Jesus. December, 2017 Shepherd s Staff LCMC Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

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1 Our Saviour s Lutheran Church December, 2017 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 Decorating for Advent As we prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, please join us after Thanksgiving Eve worship on Wednesday, November 22 nd to put up the altar trees and after worship on Sunday, November 26 th to decorate the rest of our church for Advent. Your help is greatly appreciated! Sunday School for youth will not be held on November 26 th (Thanksgiving weekend). Adult Sunday School will be held. If Worship or Sunday School is cancelled due to bad weather it will be announced on KSOM 96.5 FM or KJAN 1220 AM and posted on their websites. Please use your best judgement as worship will only be cancelled when city streets are impassable. Kids Choir or Confirmation will not be held if school is cancelled or let out early on a Wednesday for bad weather. Operation Christmas Child For the 17 th year in a row, our Sunday School kids, confirmation students/mentors and congregation members have collected and packed shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Thank you for your support to help pack and send 131 boxes and for helping bring joy and share the love of Jesus with so many children around the world! Free Community Christmas Dinner at OSLC Everyone welcome! Turkey and all the trimmings! Christmas Day, December 25 th 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Reservations appreciated by December 20 th. Last year approximately 250 people from our church and community were served. Volunteers are needed for desserts and to help during the dinner. Additional time to volunteer is food prep/set tables on Friday, December 22 nd at 9:00 a.m. Sign-up sheets with additional information about attending the dinner, volunteering to work, or providing desserts are located on the bulletin board above the water fountain. 1

2 Dear friends in Christ, The Good News of the Gospel in Titus 2:11-14 boldly proclaims, For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. The study of God s Word ultimately points us to Jesus, the Christ, the Word made flesh. The precious and Holy Word of God undeniably communicates to us that our Lord Jesus came to us over 2000 years ago, that our Lord Jesus continues to come to us in the celebration of the Word and Sacrament, and that our Lord Jesus will come for us at the end of the Age. In other words God is with us now and forever. God didn t wait until the world got its act together before he acted. Rather, as Galatians 4:4-5 reminds us, When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters. We do not need to attempt to climb up to God in order to find him, to experience his presence in daily life, rather God came down to us in the person of Jesus Christ and promises to abide with us as we move forward in faith. The good news is that, you and I are saved by God s grace through faith here and now and forever, a precious gift from God rather than the result of our works. May we all embrace the blessings of our Lord Jesus as He graciously bestows upon us His love, peace, hope and joy throughout the upcoming Advent and Christmas seasons! May we worship Him, and only Him, as the Christ-Child, as the Savior of the world, as King of kings and as Lord of lords! Pastor Doug Men of Integrity Daily Devotionals Christianity Today has recently informed all subscribers that after 20 years of supplying a Men of Integrity Daily Devotional they will no longer be publishing this resource for men as of December 31 st, I have been searching for similar Men s Devotional materials that we at OSLC can make available to men who are using the daily devotional but have not yet found one suitable other than online daily resources. Guys, if you have any suggestions, please contact me. I too have used this daily devotional for years and will truly miss how the Lord has used it to encourage me in faith. Tuesday Noon Men s Bible Study! A Men s Bible Study led by Pastor Doug meets on Tuesdays at noon in the downstairs social room. We are studying St. Paul s letter to the Galatians. The coffee will be ready! Bring your Bibles! Bring your lunch and bring friends and neighbors! 2

3 Upcoming Special Worship Opportunities November 22 nd : Wednesday Thanksgiving Eve Holy Communion service, 7:00 p.m. December 6 th : Advent Supper, 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Advent service, 7:00 p.m. with area church choirs December 13 th : Advent Supper, 6:00 p.m. (Fundraiser for 2019 South Africa Mission) Wednesday Advent service, 7:00 p.m. with testimony by Val Small on foster care and adoption December 17 th : Sunday School Christmas program during 9:00 a.m. Worship Christmas Caroling at 2:00 p.m. December 20 th : Advent Supper, 6:00 p.m. (Fundraiser for the Boiler Fund) Wednesday Advent service, 7:00 p.m. w/ BTC Praise Band December 24 th : NO 9:00 a.m. SUNDAY WORSHIP Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m. worship with Holy family portrayal Christmas Eve 9:00 p.m. Holy Communion candlelight worship December 25 th : Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. service Community Christmas Dinner 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Please note! Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year. Regular 9:00 Sunday worship will not be held on Christmas Eve day. Our traditional Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. worship services will be offered. On Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. worship will be held followed by the Community Christmas Dinner Committee Annual Reports ARE DUE IN THE CHURCH OFFICE BY DECEMBER 1 ST! God s blessings to the following who were baptized in November at Our Saviour s Lutheran Church. Luna Jean Flug, Daughter of Ethan & Lexie Flug. Everly Nicole Madsen, Daughter of Dan & Amy Madsen. 3

4 Caroling for confirmation students, their mentors, and the congregation will be Sunday, December 10 th at 2:00 p.m. Dress warmly and meet in the downstairs social room. Please bring some goodies to be shared after caroling if you have them! Bring a friend or neighbor - everyone is welcome! Would you consider purchasing a poinsettia to decorate our church for Advent? The poinsettias are $17 each and may be taken home after either Christmas Eve service. There is a sign-up sheet above the water fountain or call the church office. There will be a Christmas tree located at the back of the sanctuary beginning November 26 th for new or gently used gloves, coats, hats, scarves & socks which will be donated to Caring & Sharing. Grace & Ibrahimu (we have nicknamed Ibrahimu, Ib), both from Tanzania have been sponsored through Compassion International by the OSLC Sunday School children since Thank you to all who have brought Sunday School offering! This money helps Grace & Ib with their schooling, educational/ skills training, provides food, clothing, healthcare, etc. but most of all, it provides the opportunity for these children to learn about Jesus. Through letters, pictures and prayers, we have developed a relationship with Grace & Ib. Thank you to all who have helped us sponsor these wonderful children throughout the years. Please continue to keep Grace & Ib in your prayers! December is Caring & Sharing month at Our Saviour s Lutheran Church Items needed: Kleenex, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Laundry soap, Dish soap, Toilet paper, Spaghetti noodles, Spaghetti sauce, Tuna, Canned fruit, Canned soup, Peanut butter, Macaroni & cheese, Cereal. Special items needed for Christmas boxes are toothpaste and packaged fruit snacks. Please have to the church by December 3 rd. Sunday School Christmas Program The Preschool through 6 th Grade Sunday School Christmas program will be held during 9:00 a.m. worship on Sunday, Dec. 17 th. A special coffee will follow worship and there will be no Sunday School that day. Christmas program rehearsal will be held during the Sunday School hour on December 3 rd & 10 th. 4

5 EIGHT ACTIVITIES WITH HEALTH PERKS THAT AREN T EXERCISE! 1. Knitting and crocheting- Repetitive activities that put your hands to work can help relieve stress by getting you out of your head. 2. Volunteering-Giving back to others has been linked to lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and even a longer lifespan. Generosity also boosts your mood in the short term. 3. Playing with your pet-caring for a pet has been shown to decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and reduce feelings of loneliness, according to the CDC. Walking your dog is a good form of exercise and can prevent weight gain. 4. Cooking-A home-cooked meal is healthier than one you d get at a restaurant, where dishes are often prepared with lots of salt, butter, and oil. And teaching children how to cook healthy meals with fresh ingredients has been shown to help curb obesity. 5. Gardening-Growing your own fruits, veggies, and herbs does more than provide fresh bounty for the dinner table. It might improve depression symptoms since the sights and smells of a garden promote relaxation. 6. Meditation-The ancient practice has been linked to a slew of health benefits, including improved digestion, lowered blood pressure, reduced stress-induced inflammation, and the release of mood-boosting. Meditation can also help ease pain. Be still and know I am God. 7. Coloring-Studies have shown that art therapy can help you relax and ease stress and anxiety. Creative projects like art therapy, music, and expressive writing could have healing benefits. 8. Traveling-Taking time off from work (yes, that means not checking your ) can reduce your risk of heart attack and depression. Planning to visit one of the great wonders of the world? Recent research suggests that people who regularly experience feelings of awe might have reduced risk of getting heart disease Source: Health magazine Thank Offering table A table will be available for Caring & Sharing Thank Offering donations at our Thanksgiving Eve Communion service on Wednesday, November 22 nd, 7:00 p.m. Caring & Sharing has special requests for each community church for items to be used in the Christmas boxes they provide to the families they service. OSLC members have been asked to donate tooth paste and packaged fruit snacks; these items may be brought to the Thanksgiving Eve service or at any time. Nonperishable food items, paper products and monetary donations are also greatly needed. What a wonderful way this is for us to share God s blessings with those in need. Adult Christian Education Sunday School Meet in the chapel, 10:20 a.m., Sunday mornings The Life of Martin Luther An Historical Journey and Bible Study Nine lessons leading up to the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation Taught by Pastor Doug. Please join us in the chapel after worship and coffee for a time of fellowship and learning. 5

6 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 3 First Sunday of Advent 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Holy Communion 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School Christmas Program Rehearsal, Adult Sunday School, Senior Choir 11:15 Worship Committee Meeting 11:15 BTC Praise Band Practice 2:00 Pastoral Jail Visit 4 2:00 Staff Meeting 7:00 Stewardship Committee Meeting 5 12:00 Men s Bible Study 6 9:30 Caring & Sharing 2:30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation 6:00-6:45 Advent Supper 7:00 Advent Worship with Community Choirs 7 1 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) 8 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Second Sunday of Advent 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship-Baptism 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School Christmas Program Rehearsal, Adult Sunday School, Senior Choir 11:15 Education Committee Meeting 2:00 Christmas Caroling 5:00 Healing Service 11 1:15 Quilting 2:00 Staff Meeting 6:30 Building & Property Meeting 12 12:00 Men s Bible Study 2:00 Naomi Circle 13 2:30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation 6:00-6:45 Advent Supper (Fundraiser for 2019 Mission Team) 7:00 Advent Worship with testimony from Val Small 14 10:30 Friendship Home Communion 15 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Shepherd Staff newsletter deadline at noon Third Sunday of Advent 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Holy Communion by Intinction with the Sunday School Christmas Program 10:15 Coffee, Senior Choir, Blood Pressure Checks 11:15 BTC Praise Band practice 3:30 Exira Vespers 18 2:00 Staff Meeting 19 12:00 Men s Bible Study 20 2:30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation 6:00-6:45 Advent Supper (Fundraiser for the Boiler) 7:00 Advent Worship with BTC Praise Band 8:00 Church Council Meeting 21 9:30 Ruth Circle 22 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Christmas Eve 5:30 Christmas Eve Worship with the Holy Family 9:00 Christmas Even Worship 25 10:00 Christmas Day Worship 11:00-1:00 Christmas Dinner No Kids Choir No Confirmation :30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) First Sunday of Christmas 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship 10:15 Coffee, Senior Choir, Take down Christmas decorations 6 7

7 Needed: One or two people to organize the church library and tidy up the books. Contact Pam if you are interested. This is something someone could do a couple times a month. The church library gets used often and we want to continue to offer these wonderful Christian books to our congregation! If you haven t used the church library, stop in the lounge and check out all the great Christian fiction and non-fiction books we offer! USHERS Joel Rattenborg, Captain Wes Thygesen Bruce Andersen Steve Mathisen Mike Kuchel Jeff Albertsen TAXI DRIVER Wes Thygesen ALTAR GUILD Christy Konkler Dona Garber Linda Keller ACOLYTES 3- Keegan Deist Madison Nichols 6- Chloe Jackson Gavin Smith 10- Allison Elmquist Brandon Jensen 13- Collin Bauer Carson Bauer 17- Hannah Thygesen Keegan Deist 20- Sienna Albertsen Cooper Nielsen 24- Brandon Jensen (5:30) Grace Slater (5:30) Tyler Rugaard (9:00) Brittany Huston (9:00) 25- Abby Erickson (10:00) Madison Nichols (10:00) 31- Hannah Thygesen Gavin Smith 8 VIDEO OPERATORS 3- David Madsen 10- Jeff Albertsen 17- Roger Larsen 24- Ken Burns 31- Brian Jensen PROJECTION SYSTEM 3- Shannon Jensen 6- Shannon Jensen 10- Julie Opp 13- Jacob Burns 17- Bob Weber, Tyler Riebhoff, David Graeve 20- Krystal Albertsen 24- Shannon Jensen (5:30) (9:00) 25- Raydene Mathisen (10:00) 31- SOUND OPERATORS 3- Krystal Albertsen 6- Jane Weber 10- Curtis Derry/Logan Nielsen 13- Krystal Albertsen 17- Bob Weber/Tyler Riebhoff/David Graeve 20- Brandon Toft 24- Bob Weber (5:30) 24- Jane Weber (5:30) 25- (10:00) 31- Bob Weber NURSERY 3- Ann Guild 10- Sharon Winterboer PRAYER PARTNERS 3- Lee Nielsen & Barb Christensen 10- Lee Nielsen & Julie Opp 17- Dan Smith & Barb Christensen 31- Barb Christensen & Dan Smith JH SUNDAY SCHOOL ADULT 3- Andy Rugaard 10- Jen Deist

8 THE ROCK YOUTH GROUP (7 th Grade-12 th Grade) Rock News: November 26 th Rock Movie/Pizza night at OSLC & decorating the downstairs Christmas tree at 5:00! December 10 th Christmas Caroling at OSLC at 2:00 p.m. December 13 th High School Bible study at 7:00 p.m., bring a friend and your supper. We have a couple of dates for you to look at & plan for if you are interested in going! Winter Jam is playing in Des Moines only this January 26 th. Also Ignite Youth Conference is March 9 th and 10 th. If you are interested in either please contact a Rock leader so we can get you more information! The Rock leaders want to wish you a very blessed Christmas season and a safe New Year! Merry Christmas! The Rock Youth Group Leaders: Sara Slater ( ) Tracie Christensen ( ) Nate Vorm ( ) Facebook: The Rock OSLC OSLC website: oslcauduboniowa.org The Rock therockaudubon@gmail.com Year-End Financial Gifts Year-end financial gifts are encouraged and appreciated. Please be sure your gift is received in the church office by December 29 th at 9:00 a.m. (our last deposit of the year will be done at 9:00 a.m.). Because of IRS regulations, a back-dated check received in 2018 does not qualify as a 2017 contribution of record. As with any giving, clearly mark your intentions on your offering envelope as well as on your check. If you would like to know what your 2017 year to date giving is, please contact the church office. Lutheran World Relief Kits Once again, Our Saviour s Lutheran Church congregation has responded with generous support for WOW Mission Projects for Lutheran World Relief. This year we recently assembled, packed and delivered 61 quilts, 9 blankets, 38 school kits and 25 personal care kits. We are blessed to share our love of Jesus with so many in need in His kingdom and we thank all who contribute in any way to make this ministry possible each year. Just a reminder...there will be no quilting in December. We will resume in the new year on January 8 th! Janice Andersen & Donis Hansen, Co-chairs of Mission Action 9

9 Staff Appreciation Sunday Our Saviour s Lutheran Church celebrated staff appreciation on Sunday November 19 th to bless and show our gratitude for our employed staff here at Our Saviour s Lutheran Church. Eighteen staff members dedicate themselves to helping the church, the congregation and our mission OSLC Staff Members Pastor Doug Opp Pam Steckler (Office Manager) Jane Weber (Worship & Music Coordinator) Brad & Kylie Stroeher (Custodians) Krystal Albertsen (Office Assistant) Tara Hansen, Patrick Hamilton, Marla Sunberg (Kids Choir Directors) Sara Slater, Nate Vorm, Tracie Christensen (The Rock Youth Leaders) Jo Beane ( Behind the Cross Praise Band Director) Gary Keller (Senior Choir Director) Kelly Polson (Senior Choir Accompanist & Pianist) Janice Hemmingsen, Barb Smith & Ryan Weber (Organists) Congregational Meal Guidelines Advent Suppers, Lenten Suppers, etc. *There is a budgeted amount for expenses incurred for Congregational meals such as soup suppers. *Please charge all supplies (soup ingredients, sandwiches, bars, drinks, etc.) at Audubon Food Land to OSLC. You will be asked to sign a charge slip. Along with signing your name, indicate what you are purchasing supplies for (such as Soup Supper ). This allows Pam to know where to categorize the expense as other groups also charge during the month. *If you need to purchase supplies somewhere other than Audubon Food Land and pay for them personally, please turn in a receipt for reimbursement within one week of the event. *If you have a free-will basket, the proceeds will go into the non-designated Memorial Fund unless a specific need has been pre-determined. *Since there is a budgeted expense for these meals, no one should need to incur personal expense when volunteering to help. Please consider your volunteer time as your donation. Special Congregational Meeting/Boiler Replacement Action Our Saviour s Lutheran Church Council called a special congregational meeting on Sunday, July 16 th, The purpose of the meeting was to seek approval of a recommendation by the Building/Property Committee and the Church Council to replace the 68 year old boiler. There was an unanimous vote to proceed with the boiler replacement project. A boiler replacement fund has been in place for some time now to receive donations for this project. If you have any questions, please contact OSLC Church Council members or Building/Property Committee members. Thank you for your support! Advent Supper Boiler Fundraiser Wednesday, December 20 th 6:00 p.m.-6:45 p.m. At Our Saviour s Lutheran Church All proceeds will go to help support the Boiler Fund! 10

10 CHURCH WEBSITE oslcauduboniowa.org The church website 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 has facebook, search Our Saviour s Lutheran Church Julefest Concert At Elk Horn Lutheran Church November 25 th at 7:00 p.m. Featuring classical and contemporary Christmas music performed by local musicians. Followed by lunch and dancing around the Christmas tree! Free will offering to support the Pipe Organ Fund. 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 the church office. The Gift Goes On The Women of Ebenezer Lutheran Church invite the Women of Our Saviour s to join them at their annual Christmas Luncheon on Saturday, December 2 nd at 11:00 a.m. Join them for fellowship, music and food. Due to limited seating, please RSVP to Marjorie Rudolph at by Monday, November 27 th. There will be a free will offering to be given to the local food pantry. Cookie Walk at St. Patrick s Parish Center Saturday, December 2 nd 9:00 a.m.-noon $9 per box of cookies or $8 per plate of candy For advance order, please call Sue at or Yvonne at ,($10/box and can be picked up after 10:30 a.m.). OSLC members, please refrain from parking east of the alleys during worship in order to leave parking spaces for our brothers and sisters in Christ at First Presbyterian Church. Stewardship Square Regular offerings 10/29 $4, /05 $5, /12 $4, Weekly Worship Attendance 10/ / / November 5 th loose offering to Caring & Sharing: $ Needed Weekly to meet budget $7, If you have any questions regarding the OSLC financial report, you are welcome to contact our Office Manager Pam Steckler or our Council Treasurer Matt Heller. 11