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

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1 Our Saviour s Lutheran Church April, 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) 2017 LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICES AND HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE The Mission of Jesus-Triumph of God s Kingdom in a World of Chaos Wednesday, March 29 th Lenten Supper served from 6:00 p.m.-6:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Worship Lesson 4 Ascension, The King Takes His Throne Wednesday, April 5 th Lenten Supper served from 6:00 p.m.-6:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Worship Lesson 5 Pentecost, God Changed His Address Palm Sunday, April 9 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 13 th : 7:00 p.m. Worship with Holy Communion Good Friday Prayer Vigil: Noon Friday to Noon Saturday in the Chapel Good Friday, April 14 th : 7:00 p.m. Tenebrae Worship Easter Sunday, April 16 th : 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Worship Service 8:00 a.m. Easter Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Worship On behalf of the Audubon Area Ministerial I want to extend our gratitude to everyone who participated in the March 10 th, 2017, Regional Mobile Meals From The Heartland Mobile Hunger Fight. As a team of faithful servants, together we gathered $27,223 and packed exactly 135,000 meals! Each of our area schools packed over 33,000 meals during their shifts which was well above what was anticipated. We had about 450 children, youth and adults serving as hunger fighters. The teams of hunger packers were primarily from Audubon, Shelby, Cass and Carroll Counties. We are thankful, as well, to be able to use the Audubon Iowa National Guard Armory as a hunger fighting packing location! Please take the time to thank everyone you know who participated in this year s hunger fight. This year 21 million meals will be packed by MFTH volunteers and distributed in Iowa, in the U.S. and throughout the world by Convoy of Hope. Pastor Doug Opp FIRST COMMUNION God s blessings to the following youth as they celebrate their First Communion April 2 nd at OSLC: Amalie Lansman, Ezekiel Konkler, Mattie Nielsen, Alexis Obermeier, Jordan Porsch, Ashlyn Pruitt, Ava Slater, Morgan Smith, Carson Vorm. In loving memory of Gavin Steckler as his classmates and friends join together in this important faith milestone. He is forever in our hearts and here with us in spirit. 1

2 Dear friends in Christ, I hope What a positive and encouraging thought we convey when we say to someone, I hope the best for you It might be a person facing a medical test or one who is excited about a developing relationship. We offer our hope that things will turn out well. Hope is always at the beginning of a new venture or a new start. It is also at the center of a restart after things have not turned out well. Even a pessimist hopes that the anticipated failure will not be disastrous. Hope is more than being optimistic. There is a billboard near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, sponsored by an emergency agency that reads, Hoping for the best is not an emergency plan. You and I, this world, needs much more than hope for hope s sake. The word hope is seen, read and heard throughout Holy Scripture, appearing more than 180 times. True hope is always connected with the person of God. Hope is the primary operating word for Christians. Why? Because of Jesus, our living Savior, we are guaranteed the fulfillment of the greatest hope we can ever imagine, the hope we will one day be rid of sin and will live forever in a restored, loving relationship with our God of heaven and earth. It is the hope that transcends the grave! Jesus is the one and only true hope-giver this hopeless world has ever known. Hope is something we have when we are anticipating what we do not have. As followers of Jesus, trusting in Him, we believe that when we die, yet shall we live. When our bodies are laid to rest, we believe we will be resurrected to eternal life. We are given the promise of this hope in the evidence of Christ s own death and resurrection. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:23-25, We ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is not hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Easter is a time when we celebrate the Good News of Jesus victory over death. No one has ever died and then come to life again to live forever except Jesus. We can rightly place our hope in Him because He has backed up what He said with what He did. We have a living hope. It lives because Christ lives. We have a joyful hope. Our joy will be complete when we meet Jesus face to face. We can live in peaceful hope. We are at peace with God, reconciled to Him in Christ through the forgiveness of our sins, and at peace in the midst of life s storms because we know who holds us securely in His mighty hands. We trust Him, and our trust is strengthened with the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. We overflow with hope as we share our joy of salvation with others through word and deed. This hope is powerful, so powerful that we sing, Hallelujah, Jesus lives! May the rest of the world hear your hope, my hope, our hope that is eternal!! Pastor Doug Discipling by Design LCMC 2017 Leadership Conference Sunday night, April 30 th, Monday, May 1 st and Tuesday, May 2 nd, 2017 at Lutheran Church of the Master in Omaha, Nebraska LCMC is an Association of Churches of disciples who are invested in making disciples. The four Disciple Making principles covered at the leadership conference will be: Disciple Making Mission, Disciple Making Community, Disciple Making Worship and Disciple Making Leadership. Join Pastor Doug and other church leaders from OSLC at this national LCMC conference. OSLC will pay registration fees for members in attendance. 2

3 On Sunday, March 5 th we welcomed the following as new members of OSLC. Dave LaFoy, Dorothy Wolf, Kandi Tague, Jason Hines, Scot Travis, Tiffany Brown. Also recognized and remembered was Jim Wolf, husband of Dorothy, who became a new member shortly before his passing. Compassion Sunday May 7 th Founded in 1952, Compassion International is a Christian child-development and child-advocacy ministry dedicated to helping over 1.9 million children in need worldwide. Compassion s child sponsorship programs help release children from poverty in Jesus name and enable them to become responsible, fulfilled adults. What makes Compassion distinct: CHURCH-BASED: We partner exclusively with churches, because the church is God s chosen instrument to bring hope to the hurting world. CHRIST-CENTERED: At every level, Jesus Christ is at the very center of this ministry. He s the heartbeat behind everything we do. CHILD-FOCUSED: We focus on the individual child, meeting their spiritual, economic, social and physical needs so they can grow into fulfilled Christian adults. Compassion works through 7,000+ local churches in 26 countries in the developing world by empowering them to release children from poverty in Jesus name. Questions, contact Pastor Doug or the church office. Thrivent Members Thrivent Choice Dollars is a program which Thrivent gives qualifying members the opportunity to designate charitable dollars to a local church, charity, or non-profit organization (enrolled in the program) of their choice. The total amount of Choice Dollars a Thrivent member is eligible to give is based on the member s level of involvement with Thrivent. Last year members designated $3, to Our Saviour s Lutheran Church. The deadline to direct 2016 Thrivent Choice Dollars is March 31 st. Don t miss out on this great opportunity to make a difference! There is currently over $7, available to designate in Audubon County. Please go online to or call to designate your Choice Dollars today. Thrivent Action Teams is another program that helps members to bring a positive change by taking action. Members can apply online, receive $ of seed money, and lead a team of volunteers to meet a community need through a fundraiser, service project, or an educational event. Each member is eligible to lead two Action Teams in a year. We currently have over 616 teams that totals over $127,000 available in Audubon County that can be used to help make positive changes in our community! Please stop in or call the Thrivent office at and we will be glad to help! Matt Heller, Financial Representative & Sara Slater, Office Professional Meals on Wheels volunteers are needed for the month of April Two people are needed per day (one to drive and one to deliver the meals to the homes). Sign up on the bulletin board above the water fountain and be to the Memorial Building by 10:30 a.m. on the days you signed up for. Questions, contact the church office, Carol Albertsen or Mary Kay Lewis. Volunteers are blessed by reaching out to those who depend on this outreach for a hot meal and a friendly face each day. 3

4 VBS July 31 st August 3 rd REGISTER NOW OR SPONSOR A CHILD! VBS is one of our biggest outreach ministries to children at OSLC and the community every summer. $20 per child (or any amount you would prayerfully consider donating). $20 provides materials, fun learning the word of Jesus through stories, music, games and craft experiments. We have a goal of sponsoring 100 children to attend VBS this summer. Look for the VBS sponsorship poster by the coat racks, pick up an envelope to provide a financial donation and place it in the drop box by OSLC Office Manager s office. Thank you in advance for your support! Attention OSLC 2 nd 6 th Graders! All current 2 nd 6 th Grade OSLC kids who have been part of OSLC Kids Choir in the past, and all who would like to be a part of Kids Choir in the future, are invited to play hand bells at the beginning of the Good Friday 7:00 p.m. worship service on April 14 th. If you have never played hand bells with the choir before, please meet at 6:15 p.m. on Good Friday in the downstairs social room to receive hand bell instructions. If you have previously played hand bells with the choir, come at 6:30 p.m. on Good Friday. Parents, those participating will stay with the choir until we play hand bells at the very beginning of the service; when finished playing they will then join their families. Questions? Please contact the church office or Jane Weber Summer Ingham/Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp Opportunities Camps for youth grades K-12 th Grade It s not to late to sign up for summer Bible Camp. Go to okoboji.org or call okoboji to check out the camp opportunities. Call the church office with any questions. OSLC helps fund the cost of your youth camp experience. Many pans and containers have been left at the church following funerals and meals. Please check the downstairs kitchen's north counter to see if any items left belong to you. Unclaimed items which do not have a name on them will be donated after May 1 st. Scout Sunday On Sunday, March 12 th, we celebrated Scout Sunday at Our Saviour s. The following were recognized from our faith family: Boy Scouts: Dennis Jackson & Jacob Sauers. Cub Scouts: Isaac Jackson & Logan Thygesen. Girl Scouts: Karli Burger, Chloe Jackson & Vivian Jackson. We also congratulate Dennis Jackson & Jacob Sauers who have reached the rank of Eagle Scout! Adult Christian Education Hour schedule meet in the chapel, 10:20 a.m., Sunday mornings We continue the Bible Study series with Randy Frazee s The Story. In 31 sessions we will journey from creation through the end times. From Randy s perspective we will learn of the Upper Story and the Lower Story. The Upper Story is God s seeking love, perpetual grace, and longing for relationship with ordinary people. That s you and me. The Lower Story is that we live on earth. We make mistakes, run from God and resist his overtures of love. Sometimes we get so mired in the Lower Story that we fail to recognize God s presence breaking into our world. We forget that the God of heaven longs to have a growing relationship with us. Please join us in the chapel after worship and coffee for a time of fellowship and learning. Lee Nielsen is teaching the class. 4

5 How Hiking Is Good for Body and Mind By Kara Mayer Robinson From the WebMD Archives Hiking outdoors has plenty of perks: nice views, fresh air, and the sounds and smells of nature. It's good for you, too. Hiking is a powerful cardio workout that can: Lower your risk of heart disease Improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels Boost bone density, since walking is a weight-bearing exercise Build strength in your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and the muscles in your hips and lower legs Strengthen your core Improve balance Help control your weight Boost your mood. "Research shows that hiking has a positive impact on combating the symptoms of stress and anxiety," says Gregory A. Miller, PhD, president of the American Hiking Society. "Being in nature is ingrained in our DNA, and we sometimes forget that." Step Up Your Hiking Workout You can get more out of your hiking with these fitness-boosting strategies. Start slow. A short, local hike is best for beginners. Gradually work up to trails with hills or uneven terrain. Use poles. Digging into the ground and propelling yourself forward pushes your upper body muscles to work harder and gives you a stronger cardio workout. 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 14 th 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 Spirit s promptings and presence. Easter Instrumental Ensemble 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. Easter Lilies 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. Look for the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board above the water fountain or contact the church office. Thank you! Kids Choir Please keep in your prayers that co-directors will be available in time for OSLC Kids choir to begin again next fall. The good news is that there has been interest expressed in the Kids Choir assistant s position! We all miss this children s ministry which has been a part of OSLC for many, many years! 5

6 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 2 Fifth Sunday in Lent 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Holy Communion 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir 11:15 Education Committee meeting 11:15 Worship Committee meeting 11:!5 Junior Parents meeting 11:15 BTC Praise Band practice 2:00 Audubon County Pastoral Jail Visit 3 2:00 Staff Meeting 4 6:30 Lenten Breakfast at First United Methodist Church 5 9:30 Caring & Sharing 6:00 Lenten Supper 7:00 Lenten Worship 6 7:00 a.m. Men s Bible Study 7 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) 1 8 8:00-noon Spring Clean Up Day 9 Palm Sunday 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School (Preschool- 6th Grade to Friendship Home), Sr. Choir, Blood Pressure Check 3:30 Exira Vespers 5:00 Healing Service 10 1:15 Quilting 2:00 Staff Meeting 6:30 Building & Property Committee Meeting 11 2:00 Naomi Circle :00 a.m. Men s Bible Study 10:30 Friendship Home Communion 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Worship 14 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Noon-Noon Prayer Vigil 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Tenebrae Worship Easter Day 7:00 Easter Sunrise Worship 8:00 Easter Breakfast 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Easter Worship 4:00 Friendship Home Vespers 17 2:00 Staff Meeting :00 Confirmation 7:00 Church Council Meeting 20 9:30 Rachel Circle 9:30 Ruth Circle 21 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Shepherd Staff newsletter deadline at noon 22 Social Room reserved for a bridal shower 23 Second Sunday of Easter 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship with BTC Praise Band 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir 24 2:00 Staff Meeting 1:15 Quilting :00 Confirmation (8th grade only) :30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Third Sunday of Easter 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship-Confirmation Sunday 9:00 BTC leading worship at Ebenezer Lutheran Church 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir Noon-3:00 Social Room reserved LCMC leadership Conference begins 6 7

7 Lenten Concert A county-wide Lenten concert will be on Palm Sunday, April 9 th at 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. You are welcome to join with others in the community to celebrate the Lenten season. Coffee and fellowship will follow the concert in the fellowship hall. USHERS Randy Blohm, Captain Richard Hemmingsen Jerry Kelly Jason Smith Jeff Edwards David Madsen Gary Englin Dave Albers TAXI DRIVER Jason Smith ALTAR GUILD Cindy Vokt Lois Baier Genese Hamilton VIDEO OPERATORS 2- Dan Christensen 9- Frank Olsen 16- David Madsen 23- Jeff Albertsen 30- Roger Larsen ACOLYTES 2- Kobie Otten Layne Borkowski 5- Tyler Rugaard 9- Madison Vorm Derek Porsch 13- Gavin Smith Brandon Jensen 14- Allison Elmquist Tyler Rugaard 16 Katelyn Nielsen (7:00 a.m.) Ariea Soll (7:00 a.m.) 16- Johanna Sauers (9:00 a.m.) (9:00 a.m.) 23- Grace Slater Kobie Otten 30- Gavin Smith Hannah Thygesen PROJECTION SYSTEM 2- Julie Opp 5- Jacob Burns 9- Raydene Mathisen Shannon Jensen (7:00 a.m.) 16- Bob Weber, Tyler Riebhoff, David Graeve (9:00 a.m.) SOUND OPERATORS Curtis Derry, Logan Nielsen 13- Curtis Derry, Logan Nielsen 14- Brandon Toft 16- Jane Weber (7:00 a.m.) 16- Bob Weber, Tyler Riebhoff, David Graeve (9:00 a.m.) 23- Brandon Toft 30- Bob Weber NURSERY 2- Ann Guild 9- Linda Keller 16- Sharon Winterboer 23- Linda Keller 30- Melissa Starmer PRAYER PARTNERS 2- Lee Nielsen & Barb Christensen 9- Lee Nielsen & Julie Opp 16- Dan Smith & Barb Christensen 23- Dan Smith & Julie Opp 30- Barb Christensen & Lee Nielsen JUNIOR HIGH SS ADULT VOLUNTEER 2- Julie Soll 9- Melanie Jensen 23- Melanie Jensen 30-8

8 THE ROCK YOUTH GROUP (7 th Grade-12 th Grade) Thank you...thank you... to our 11 youth that joined the Rock leaders for the Ignite Conference! We had a great trip and educational leadership conference. These trips always help spark/grow our faith, and make us think. We were blessed with the opportunity to attend! The Rock is planning to present This Blood for Palm Sunday worship service April 9 th. We plan to have a practice Friday night, April 7 th. We will text out time soon. Please consider helping us with this moving piece! The Rock serves Easter breakfast April 16 th. We will have a sign up sheet for those that would consider helping us with muffins and egg bakes posted on the bulletin board by March 26 th. We always appreciate the congregation s willingness to help us. So thank you in advance!! The Rock Youth Group Leaders: Sara Slater ( ) Tracie Christensen ( ) Nate Vorm ( ) Facebook: The Rock OSLC OSLC website: oslcauduboniowa.org The Rock therockaudubon@gmail.com OSLC is in need of one or two additional Sound Operators! Please prayerfully consider if you could join the Sound Ministry Team. Instruction and support is provided. Audubon Ecumenical Lenten Prayer Breakfasts (men & women) Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. March 28 th : St. John s Lutheran Church April 4 th : First United Methodist Church Awakening Lives To World Missions ALWM Hong Kong Mission Trip This summer three mission minded members of OSLC will be partners in mission with others from ALWM who are traveling to Hong Kong, China. Nancy Sand, Norma Nielsen, Danielle Derry and the rest of their team will be hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong, working with the Youth Department of ELCHK and then traveling inland to Wuhan, China to assist a missionary family with their ministry. Pastor Bill Moberly, Director of ALWM, will be leading this team of missionaries. You are invited to pray for each of them as they prepare for their mission venture, while they are serving in a foreign country and for their safe return. Pray that the Lord will use them to help spread the life-changing Good News of the gospel. If you are interested in helping to support them with a financial gift please contact one of the three short term missionaries or Pastor Doug. A commissioning service will be held on Sunday, June 18 th. Readers/Communion Assistants Would you be interested in reading scripture or being a communion assistant during worship? Please call Jean Jensen if you are interested at or the church office to volunteer. Thank you to all who have read or helped with Communion! 9

9 Morning Men s Bible Study! A Men s Bible Study led by Pastor Doug meets on Thursday mornings at 7:00 a.m. in the downstairs social room. We are studying the Gospel of John. The coffee will be ready! Bring your Bibles! Bring your friends and neighbors! 2017 Upcoming Events and Worship Opportunities Wednesday Lent Suppers and Worship: March 29 th and April 5 th April 2 nd : First Communion April 9 th : Palm Sunday Holy Week Services: April 13 th & 14 th April 16 th : Easter Breakfast & Easter Sunday April 30 th : Confirmation Sunday April 30 th -May 2 nd : LCMC Leadership Event in Omaha, Nebraska May 7 th : Sunday School End of Year Celebration May 14 th : Senior Breakfast & Recognition June 23 rd -25 th : Workcamp in Rockford, Ohio July 31 st -August 3 rd : Vacation Bible School August 27 th : Praise in the Park September 10 th : Rally Sunday October 8 th -11 th : LCMC Annual Gathering in Minneapolis, MN October 8 th : Consecration Sunday October 15 th : Mission Sunday November 5 th : All Saints Sunday with All Saints Altar Processional November 22 nd : Thanksgiving Eve Worship November 29 th, December 6 th, 13 th : Wednesday Advent Services December 24 th /25 th : Christmas Eve/Day Worship with Community Christmas Dinner 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 nowhere to store them. Thank You. Spring Clean Up Day April 8 th from 8:00 a.m.-noon See poster on bulletin board. If you have additions to the clean up list, contact the church office. Thank you to the many faithful volunteers and staff who put in extra time during the Lenten and Easter services and Lenten suppers and to those who sponsored Easter lilies. Your time, dedication, and generosity are greatly appreciated! Sunday School singing at the Friendship Home Preschool through 6 th Grade Sunday School children will be singing at the Friendship Home during the Sunday School hour on Palm Sunday, April 9 th. We will leave from the Social Room at 10:15 a.m. 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! 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. 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 now has facebook, search Our Saviour s Lutheran Church on your facebook account. Check it out!! Behind the Cross Praise Band If you have a passion for making music in praise of our Lord, and will be in high school or college next fall, 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 or the church office for more information. Christian Butterfly Beginning Easter morning and throughout the Easter season a stained glass butterfly will be hanging in our sanctuary. Have you ever wondered why? 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! Stewardship Square Regular offerings 02/26 $11, /05 $6, /12 $7, /19 $8, Weekly Worship Attendance 02/ / / / / / / March 5 th Loose Offering to Caring & Sharing: $81.00 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