NEWSLETTER OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH JULY 2017

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1 OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH Rev. Al Muck 751 N. Maple Grove Ave. Hudson, MI NEWSLETTER JULY 2017 Church Council Church Council meets Sunday, July 2, following service. Ladies Guild Ladies Guild meets Thursday, July 6, at 6:00 PM at the church. A prayer for July 4 Almighty and ever-living God, we humbly praise you for the nation in which you have allowed us to live. We cherish its wonder and its beauty. We are thankful for its fruitful lands, its bountiful waters, its great resources and its unlimited opportunities. We thank you for our founding fathers and mothers, and for their foresight, special wisdom, and steadfast courage in establishing freedom and a lasting document of fairness. Stir up within each of us the will to be good stewards of all the blessings of the land we love. Amen Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28, NRSV). Thank you, Jesus, for this loving promise. Independence Day lessons for church life Return to the basics On July 4 we commemorate the origins of our country. In terms of faith, we also periodically need to hear again the foundational stories of Creation, the Israelites and, of course, Jesus. Honor the gift of freedom For freedom Christ has set us free do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1, ESV). We strive as citizens to preserve and live out our national freedom. Likewise, as citizens of God s kingdom we live gladly in the freedom of salvation and share that gift with others. Enjoy community July 4 is known for picnics, parades and other community gatherings. Similarly, the church is nourished by coming together for worship, meals and other special events. Be light in the darkness As fireworks brighten the sky with light and color, the church is called to display the Gospel s unique light in a dark world. Our word dynamite and the Greek word for power as in, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you (Acts 1:8) share a root. Through God s power in us, we share Jesus dynamically! with others. Heidi Mann

2 The Family of Bud Fowler The Family of Wilma Holloway Sandy Risedorph breast cancer, chemo & radiation Mike Sanborn heart attack Jennifer Ball breast cancer Grayson Rupley sensory disorder Margaret Runnells broken leg complications and cancer Allison Stickel health & anxiety issues Kyle Tanner bone marrow transplant Helen Meyer foot pain & problems Shirley Klinger diagnosed with breast cancer and kidney stones and gall bladder issues Sue Minton cancer treatments Roger Sholl cancer treatments Raelene Prothero throat cancer, she has had trach tube removed, can eat again. Still has some treatments left Adam Messersmith health issues, has GoFundMe page for on going illness Ann Daub healing from breast cancer Ben Rupley unexplained body pain Pam Ely breast cancer Gloria Spencer heart issues, AFib Kathy Surfew house burned, total loss Kennedy Rose brain injury Eric Lewis going through tests Marge Haas gallbladder/liver cancer (hospice called in) Ethel D. lungs Jody A. breast cancer Jayme Lohr the ability to sell house, find a job, a new place, and start of a new and better life John Boehk bypass leg surgery Church Council Ladies Guild Prayer Group Our Saviour Lutheran Missionaries (download prayer cards of missionaries by going to for us and pray for them daily) Communing with God After Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, pilot Buzz Aldrin requested via radio that people pause to give thanks for the achievement in their own way. When his broadcast ended, Aldrin read a verse from the Gospel of John and took communion, which his church had sent to space with him. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements, the astronaut said. At the time, I could think of no better way to acknowledge the enormity of the Apollo 11 experience than by giving thanks to God. Summer growth July is often a slow month in many churches. But it s a good time to seek avenues for spiritual growth, either on your own or in a small group. Study a specific book of the Bible, the history of Christianity, or an area of Christian theology. Volunteer to do mission work in your local community or in other cities, states or countries.

3 A Quick Look Back and a Longer Look Forward There are times in life when it is good to stop and spend a few minutes in reflection and evaluation to take stock of what has happened in our life and where life is headed. It is valuable for us, as the psalmist writes in Psalm 46:10, to Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! As we take a moment to be still, we can come to realize that however we view the past or the future, there is one thing that has and will remain the same. The presence and faithfulness of God is unwavering and ever present. Looking over the first 6 months of 2017 in the Life of Our Saviour, we can attest to the work and presence of God as we move forward to become the church that God has planned for us to be. We have been blessed with faithful attendance for worship on Sunday morning as new faces begin to become regular faces. There is an enthusiasm building in our congregation that is exemplified by a young girl we all know as Taylor who is excited and eager to learn about the marvelous works the Lord has done for her and filled with a desire to serve her Lord and church. There has been the occasional Sunday where there has been 35 people sitting in the pews (30 of them sitting on the pulpit side of the sanctuary)! God is faithful and ever present! Prior to worship, 8-9 people gather around God s Word to dig a little deeper into the Scripture lessons that will be heard in worship, meant to enhance their encounter with God as they worship. God is faithful and ever present. Last April, we continued our reaching out into Hudson by offering an Easter Egg Hunt to the children and families. Over a hundred children and their families participated as we began to build a relationship with the community that God will build upon with nearly 30 volunteers, including several Jr. and Sr. High school girls. God is faithful and ever present! Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, we can continue to expect God s faithfulness and presence. The FiveTwo team (Watson Clark, Mike Osborne, Eric Steinke, Pastor Al) have been spending many hours together in prayer and planning for ways Our Saviour can move out into Hudson. Our ultimate desire is to lead more people to Christ and Our Saviour by first providing help as they raise their family and face the challenges that come with parenting. Over the summer, 25 families will be interviewed to better assess how we can serve them. An online version of the survey will be made available to additional families. The results of the survey will help us to better understand the opportunities for ministry to the families of Hudson. August will be VBS time at Our Saviour! From August 14-17, 5:45-8 pm, we will be inviting the children of Hudson as they learn that God is their Mighty Fortress as through Jesus, the Victory is Won! We are thankful for the support of St. Johns as they will be providing resources, volunteers and leadership during those four nights. Our Saviour members will be needed throughout the week to volunteer to touch the lives of the children in the ways that God has gifted you. God is faithful and ever present! The year is off to a GREAT start but headed for an ever GREATER conclusion! To God be the glory for the wonderful things He does. Oh, go back and read all of Psalm 46! It is great encouragement as you face each day. Pastor Al

4 Our Saviour Lutheran Church Ladies' Guild Minutes June 12, 2017 Attending: Dody F, Gloria S, Betty C., Linda R, Linda F., Diann M., Janice B., Mary B., Helen M. A potluck dinner was enjoyed with Secret Sisters revealed. Pastor Al spoke to the group about our commitment to having VBS this Aug. 14, Mon- Thurs. St. John's will be donating leaders and materials. More information to follow. Opening Devotion: read by Diann from Jesus Always, by Sara Young No Secretary's Report Treasurer's Report: Betty C. gave the current balance. Thank You note read from JoAnn Clark and a generous donation was given. Linda R. has setup a Facebook page on the Ladies' Guild with our ongoing information. More Altar napkins are needed. More flowers needed for Prayer Garden, but also need people to water if we get plants. Janice B. volunteered for Secretary. Betty C. will still be Treasurer. Selected a 10 to 12 year-old girl from Africa for our Compassion child. Motion made by Betty and seconded by Diann. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned with drawing new Secret Sister names. Secretary, Janice B.

5 July - Happy Birthday! 1 Gloria Spencer 2 Pastor Gatz 3 Leanne Anke Kim Messersmith 4 Jackie Anke 5 Lillee Westgate 8 Ellie Aungst Mitzi Turner 11 Kristy Gottschalk 12 Linda Anderson Betty Capper 15 Kim Rieger 19 Amy Wollett Audrey Klinger 21 Jack Best 27 Matt Gibson 30 Dody Fowler Kyle Bush 15 Brad & Linda Ruggles 17 Ron & Jennifer Ball 23 Mike & Ronna McNamara 30 Larry & Amy Wollett 31 Jim & Eleanor Wollett GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS TO ALL Blessed to be a blessing God promised Abram, I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you so that you will be a blessing (Genesis 12:2, NRSV). Especially on the Fourth of July, we in the United States remember that God has blessed us as a nation, too. That isn t to say everyone here has an equal share of resources. Our government isn t perfect, and our land isn t necessarily more beautiful than any other place on earth. It doesn t mean we alone model liberty and justice for all or that we do so flawlessly. Rather, God s promise to Abram and us means we aren t to hoard our blessings. We are to share our wealth generously, cultivate liberty and justice, and pass on to the world the gifts we enjoy in this land.

6 July 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 4th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Worship Service Church Council meets 3 4 Fourth of July 5 6 Ladies Guild meets at 6:00 PM th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Holy Communion 16 6th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Worship Service Newsletter deadline th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Holy Communion Special One Offering th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Worship Service

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