Knowing Jesus, Growing in Jesus, Sharing Jesus. November, 2015 Shepherd s Staff LCMC Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

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1 Our Saviour s Lutheran Church November, 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 THANKSGIVING BASKETS A time to be thankful!! Help a local family provide a Thanksgiving meal for their family! $30.00 per basket, checks payable to Our Saviour s Lutheran Church. Deadline to order is November 13 th. To nominate a family to receive a basket, contact the church office or New Opportunities. Thank you to those who donated to or walked the Audubon County CROP Walk! Our Confirmation students, the Rock Youth Group and others from our congregation participated in the walk on October 11 th and raised $ to help fight hunger in our county and around the world. Sunday, November 1 st is All Saints Sunday. Everyone is welcome to come forward at the end of worship to light a candle in memory of a loved one, during our service of remembrance Committee Budgets are due in the church office by November 1 st Committee Reports are due in the church office by December 1 st. October is Clergy Appreciation month and it is a great time for us to thank Pastor Doug and Julie for their ministry here at Our Saviour s Lutheran Church! Christmas Day Community Dinner OSLC Social Room from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Christmas Day Community Dinner is an important community outreach ministry. Because of the generosity and prayers of volunteers and donors, this heart-warming free Christmas Dinner and time of fellowship has steadily grown, serving 240 people from our church and our community last year. Volunteers and Desserts will be needed! Check for the sign up on the bulletin board or contact the church office. 1

2 Greetings from Pastor Doug, Each year, the first Sunday through the following Wednesday of October, LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) hosts their Annual International Gathering. A few weeks ago Jim and Janet Tinker, OSLC voting representatives, and Julie and I, attended this uplifting gathering of God s people who gathered in Dallas, Texas to celebrate our 15 th LCMC anniversary. Thank you for the privilege of participating in the larger church expression of LCMC and for allowing us to show our support of LCMC by attending each of these encouraging annual gatherings. Numerous pastors and lay leaders from Western Iowa were in attendance as well as Pastor Larry and his wife Caroline Lystig the former OSLC interim pastor who was recognized for his 50 th year of ordained ministry at the gathering. Next year we will meet in Denver. Since the theme of this annual international gathering was to revisit our unique DNA, I would like to explain our identity in the body of Christ here in the U.S. and throughout the world. First and foremost we are intentional about being a mission focused association of churches, disciples of Christ who in turn make more disciples of Christ. We are 856 congregations strong, currently in 40 different states, 16 different countries and 2 U.S. territories. Iowa has 57 of those LCMC faith communities as of October LCMC is an association of congregations and individuals who are: Free in Christ; Accountable to one another; Rooted in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; Working together to fulfill Christ s Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. Networking with one another, as well as with other Christian ministries, is a key to our continued spiritual growth and numerical growth. LCMC is an association of congregations who respect the reality that the church is where the people of God gather together around Word and Sacrament. The local congregation is where the church becomes a concrete reality for God s people. Each congregation has significant latitude in ordering and shaping ministry in their local setting. LCMC does not have a bishop, nor do we have a large staff supporting the association of congregations. There are a total of three ordained pastors, three office staff members, an eight member elected board of trustees and a seven member elected ministry board who together make decisions regarding the ministry and mission of LCMC. We believe, teach and confess the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe, teach and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior and the gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe in him. We believe, teach and accept the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the Word of God and the sole authoritative source and norm of our proclamation, faith and life. We believe, teach and accept the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and the Small Catechism as true witnesses to the Word of God, normative for our teaching and practice. We believe, teach and confess the gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran Confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the priesthood of all believers for God s mission in the world. I invite you to go to lcmc.net to learn more. A quote from Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church in Parker, Colorado describes us well, Being in the LCMC means we have the freedom to serve as Jesus calls us to do. We are mission focused. Being in the LCMC makes it easier to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are the LCMC! May our gracious God continue to guide us, encourage us, empower us and embolden us in ministry and mission! Thanksgiving Blessings to each of you, Pastor Doug 2

3 FOLLOWORSHIP Our Saviour s Lutheran Church in Audubon is hosting a new and exciting Christian leadership series titled Followorship. Pastor Friedrich Trost from Grimes, Iowa is teaching the eight week series, Followorship intended to equip, empower and encourage men and women in their faith journey. The results of this powerful leadership training will lead to an individual s spiritual growth and renewal in faith. The titles for each of the evening interactive classes are: Lost, Saved, Baptism, New Creation, Follow, Worship, Multiply and Kingdom. Classes begin in the church sanctuary each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. There are no costs for participants. Call the church office at or oslc@iowatelecom.net with any questions you may have. Followorship, an Eight Week Series Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary (potluck in the downstairs social room at 6:00 p.m.) October 28 th : Follow November 4 th : Worship November 11 th : Multiply November 18 th : Kingdom Friends or neighbors or anyone you would like to invite are welcome! Operation Christmas Child Colorfully wrapped Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes filled with gifts brightened the lives of more than 10 million children last year and over 130 countries have received shoe boxes since For the 15 th year in a row, our Sunday School kids and members of OSLC are collecting and packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Last year 126 boxes were delivered from our church! Please bring donated items to the church by Sunday, November 8 th. Confirmation students and their mentors will be packing boxes on Wednesday, November 11 th. Questions? Contact the church office, Norma Nielsen or Elaine Jorgensen. GIFT SUGGESTIONS (NEW ITEMS ONLY PLEASE) School Supplies: Pens, pencils/sharpeners, crayons/markers, stamps/ink pads, writing pads/paper, solar calculators, coloring/picture books, etc. Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yo s, jump ropes, small Etch-A-Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), slinky, etc. Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc. Other: hard candy & lollipops, mints, gum (please put all candy in ziplock bags), t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries). A personal note: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. If you include your name and address, the child may write back. DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items, war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures, chocolate or food, out of date candy, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers, aerosol cans. The Operation Christmas Child blessing will be Sunday, November 15 th! 3

4 Sunday School for youth will NOT be held on November 29 th (Thanksgiving weekend). Adult Sunday School will be held. Mark your calendars! The Preschool through 6 th Grade Sunday School Christmas program will be held during 9:00 a.m. worship on Sunday, December 13 th. A special coffee will follow worship and there will be no Sunday School that day. Rehearsals will be held during the Sunday School hour on November 22 nd & December 6 th. 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. Followorship: November lessons: Follow, Worship, Multiply, Kingdom. Thanksgiving Eve Thank Offering A table will be available for Caring & Sharing thank offering donations at our Thanksgiving Eve Communion service at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25 th. 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 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 appreciated. What a wonderful way this is for us to share God s blessings with those in need. Funeral Preplanning Forms Preplanning forms are available for celebration of life funeral services on entryway table. Questions, contact the church office or Pastor Doug. Cookies for the Holidays for Military Personnel Deployed Overseas The Evangelism Committee is inviting anyone who may be interested in helping bake cookies for military personnel who will be deployed overseas during the upcoming holidays. Please bring the baked cookies to the church by Monday, November 16 th at 6:00 p.m. and join us in packing the boxes. We have a generous donor who will cover the cost of shipping the boxes to those serving in our Armed Forces stationed in locations other than the United States. This is an opportunity for anyone who loves to bake to show appreciation to those deployed overseas. If you have names and addresses of individuals who would appreciate these holidays treats, please provide the name to the church office, Pastor Doug, Elayne Sinow or Lorri Thygesen. Pre-Thanksgiving Pie Sale On Sunday, November 22 ne, the South Africa Mission Team will be hosting a Pre-Thanksgiving Pie Sale as a mission support opportunity during the fellowship hour. Thank you for your prayers and financial gifts in support of a 2016 South Africa Mission Venture! Questions, contact Pastor Doug or the church office. 4

5 Wellness Tip A monthly feature from the OSLC Wellness Ministry Team This month we will focus on 5 Healthy Eating Strategies for the holidays. In the December newsletter you will see more of these strategies. 1- For potlucks, bring your own healthy dish...there will be at least one item you can indulge in! 2- Here's one we should all know... don't go hungry to the mall...if you must eat out while shopping, plan ahead where and what you will eat. Pick a restaurant with healthy options, avoiding fast food courts if possible. 3- Keep track of what you eat...when you are totally honest with recording your food and beverage intake, you are much more likely to experience success with your weight and health goals. 4- Keep healthy, low calorie snacks available and visible...at home and at the office. And keep the 'communal' goodies that keep showing up at the office out of your view when possible. 5- Manage portion sizes...set the table with smaller plates and serving utensils. You are much more likely to consume less food! Always be mindful that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20)... Treat it well so you can maximize your service to the Lord! :) Look forward to additional tips in the December newsletter. In the meantime, if you want to know more, catch me after church Julie Opp Baptisms: Congratulations and God s Blessings to Cody Budd who was baptized at OSLC on Sunday, September 27 th. Congratulations and God s blessings to Madison Elizabeth Nichols & MaKenna Elaine Nichols who were baptized at OSLC on Sunday, October 11 th. Congratulations and God s blessings to Mason Eugene Wenninger and Brecken Lee Benton who will be baptized at OSLC on Sunday, October 25 th. We welcomed the following new members to OSLC on Sunday, August 30 th : Kara Christensen Jim Jorgensen Robert and Kristie Nielsen & children Taylor, Cooper & Mattie Joe & Valerie Otten & children Kobie, Kayden, Brody & Brielyn We welcomed the following new members to OSLC on Sunday, October 11 th : Dan Budd & son Cody and Janet Wanninger & son Adam Phil & Anna Elmquist Patrick & Genise Hamilton & children Stella & Etta Josh Klever Marissa Nichols Volunteers are needed to run the sanctuary projection and sound systems for worship services. Both systems are easy to run and training is provided. Come to the balcony any Sunday to observe the systems or contact a Worship Committee member, Jane Weber or the church office with questions or to volunteer. 5

6 November, 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 All Saints Day 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Holy Communion 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir 11:15 BTC Praise Band practice 11:15 Nominating Committee Meeting 1:00 Social Room reserved for bridal shower 2:00 Audubon County Jail Visit 3:30 Exira Care Center 2 2:00 Staff Meeting 7:00 Stewardship Committee Meeting 3 4 2:30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation 7:00 Followorship 5 6 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) 7 8Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir 11:15 Education Committee Meeting 4:00 Friendship Home Vespers 5:00 Healing Service 9 1:15 Quilting 2:00 Staff Meeting 6:30 Building Committee Mtg. 7:00 South Africa Missions Meeting 10 2:00 Naomi Circle 11 2:30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation packing Operation Christmas Child boxes 7:00 Followorship 12 10:30 Friendship Home Communion 13 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) Shepherd Staff newsletter deadline at noon 14 9:30-3:15 Iowa District LCMC Annual Meeting 15 Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Holy Communion 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir, Blood Pressure Checks 11:15 BTC Praise Band practice 16 2:00 Staff Meeting 6:00 Packing cookies for Military Iowans stationed overseas :30 Kids Choir 3:00 Confirmation 7:00 Followorship 8:15 Council Meeting 19 9:30 Rachel Circle 9:30 Ruth Circle 1:30 Mary Circle 7:00 Dartball at Methodist Church 20 9:30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) 21 10:00-4:00 Social Room reserved 5:00-9:00 Kids Night Out 22 Christ the King Sunday 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship-BTC 10:15 Coffee, Sunday School, Sr. Choir Pre-Thanksgiving Pie Sale 23 1:15 Quilting 2:00 Staff Meeting :00 Thanksgiving Eve Holy Communion Worship :30 The Weekly Prayer Cell (Barb Christensen s) First Sunday in Advent 8:15 Prayer Power 9:00 Worship 10:15 Coffee, Adult Sunday School, Sr. Choir 30 2:00 Staff Meeting 6 7

7 Upcoming Special Worship Opportunities October 25 th : Reformation Sunday. All are encouraged to wear red. November 1 st : All Saints Sunday. Votive candles will be offered towards the end of the service for all wishing to light a candle in memory of loved ones. November 25 th : Wednesday Thanksgiving Eve Communion service, 7:00 p.m. December 2 nd : Wednesday Advent service, 7:00 p.m. with area church choirs and Advent Supper, 6:00 p.m. December 9 th : Wednesday Advent service, 7:00 p.m. with Zion Lutheran Praise Team and Advent Supper, 6:00 p.m. December 13 th : Sunday School Christmas program during 9:00 a.m. worship. December 16 th : Wednesday Advent service, 7:00 p.m. with BTC Praise Band and Advent Supper, 6:00 p.m. December 24 th : Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. worship services. December 25 th : Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. worship service/christmas Community Dinner, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. November USHERS Mike Kuchel, Captain Jeff Albertsen Joel Rattenborg Colby Rattenborg Wesley Thygesen Bruce Andersen Peter Schwab Steve Mathisen TAXI DRIVER Wes Thygesen ALTAR GUILD Janice Hemmingsen Jolene Burns Shelby Jensen VIDEO OPERATORS 1- Ken Burns 8- Brian Jensen 15- Dan Jorgensen 22- Dan Christensen 29- Frank Olsen SOUND OPERATORS 1- Bob Weber Tyler Riebhoff David Graeve 8- Tim Morgan 15- Curtis Frederiksen 22- Ron Christensen 25- Curtis Frederiksen 29- Bob Weber ACOLYTES 1- Amy Burns Derek Porsch 8- Melissa Deist Noah Morgan 15- Jacob Sauers Johanna Sauers 22- Layne Borkowski Ariea Soll 25- Madison Vorm Jackson Jensen 29- Amy Burns Javyn Bladt 8 NURSERY 1- Ann Guild 8- Sharon Winterboer 15- Ruth Kuchel 22- Ruth Kuchel 29- Kim Heller PROJECTION SYSTEM 1- Bob Weber David Graeve Tyler Riebhoff Julie Opp 22- Shannon Jensen 29- PRAYER PARTNERS 1- Lee Nielsen Barb Christensen 8- Julie Opp Lee Nielsen 15- Barb Christensen Dan Smith 22- Dan Smith Julie Opp 29- Barb Christensen Lee Nielsen

8 THE ROCK YOUTH GROUP (7 th Grade-12 th Grade) Thank you Rock youth for a fun filled evening of Christian music and good company! We had 11 Rock youth attend All The Earth Is Holy Ground Tour with Tenth Avenue North Concert on October 3 rd. We traveled to Stuart first for a quick meal then headed to West Des Moines to Hope Lutheran church and were blessed with three great performances from Dan Bremnes, Sidewalk Prophets and Tenth Avenue North. If you haven t heard them you should check them out! There were 23 in total that traveled with The Rock! $ is what OSLC and confirmation students raised for Crop Walk! Thank you for your donations to this special cause and thank you for supporting our youth. The confirmation class as well as many congregation members met on a beautiful day for Crop Walk on October 11 th. Thank you to those who participated! Mark your calendars for October 31 st!! The Rock is helping put on a CHALK RUN/WALK from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., please come out and help support the youth in our church raise funds to help go on mission trips and youth conferences. You can pre-register in the church office or register the day of the run/walk. Registration is at 2:00 p.m., the run/walk is at 3:00 p.m. Come and run/walk at your own pace, this is for fun! We will have a free meal for each paid participant, or you can come buy a meal for a small fee and bring a lawn chair and listen to the Praise Band play on the church lawn! We will have five chalk stations so wear white if you can so you can get the full color effect! We are still taking donations of bottled water and we could use two or three more volunteers. If you are interested, please contact a Rock leader! Rock Youth, watch your s for our November movie night date! We will get that out soon! The Rock Youth Group Leaders: Sara Slater ( ), Tracie Christensen ( ), Nate Vorm ( ), Mary Jo Burger ( ) Facebook: The Rock OSLC website: oslcauduboniowa.org The Rock therockaudubon@gmail.com Children s Messages Children s Messages are a wonderful way for our kids to be a part of the worship service and are offered the second and fourth Sundays of each month. If you could provide a Children s Message, please talk to Pastor Doug or sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board. Resource materials are provided. Sunday Nursery The nursery is available for children ages three years and younger during Sunday worship services September through May. Nursery volunteers are needed! Contact the church office or a Worship Committee member to volunteer. The Chapel serves as the location for this important ministry. New Altar Paraments We have been enjoying the beauty of our newest altar/chancel paraments for the past several months. New Advent paraments have been ordered and will arrive in time for Advent! Thank you to those who have so generously donated to replace our current deteriorating paraments. If you would like to financially sponsor a portion of or an additional set of paraments as a gift to the church, please contact Altar Guild Chair Janice Hemmingsen ( ) or the church office. We are now receiving donations for replacing the Lenten Altar Paraments. 9

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 has been completed! 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. To date, $38, has been raised for the Tuckpointing Project! The total needed for this project is $66, LCMC Gathering Pastor Doug and wife Julie, and my wife Janet and I attended the LCMC Annual International Gathering in Dallas, Texas October 4 th through October 7 th. Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) was founded in 2001, so this was the fifteenth annual gathering. The theme of the gathering was Our DNA. DNA represents our basic genetic make up, defines us. Consider three aspects; past, present, and future. The past-we are made up of the DNA of our ancestors, rooted and having learned from their faith. (LCMC grew out of a struggle to create a church body free to follow the truth of the gospel, its past DNA). The present-we are rooted and grounded in the faith we have learned, should continue in what we have learned and produce works in accordance with our faith. The future-the makeup of our DNA is God s word, described as seed ; we don t sit on that word but spread it, reproducing ourselves to future generations. This is how the theme of DNA was expressed by the various speakers. The International Gathering consisted of times for Bible study, worship, keynote speakers, breakout sessions where smaller groups met divided into thirty-two areas of church life to share ideas and learn more effective ways of handling those aspects of congregation life; and some business sessions. The business sessions were minimal, LCMC is defined as an association of local congregations which are free to administer their own business without some administrative body over them to answer to or be governed by. And LCMC is an international group not confined by the borders of the United States. There are today congregations in sixteen different countries, many of whom attended the gathering. Finally LCMC is not stagnant; new congregations are forming in this country and in other countries. There is minimal staff working for LCMC, but one individual serves the function of church planting, helping new congregations form and advising existing congregations on how to go about sponsoring new congregations-propagating our DNA, the seed, the word of God. This points out perhaps the major thrust of LCMC; we are not just LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS, worshipping, administering our local affairs, but we are in MISSION to CHRIST. Mission should be the primary focus of our energy. As we and the church organization work in these endeavors I would leave you with one thought, the first verse of Psalm 127; Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Jim Tinker 10

10 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. Brayton Lutheran Church All Saints Soup Spectacular Tuesday, November 3rd from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. At the Brayton Town Hall Soups & Sandwiches & Desserts Free Will Offering Audubon County Hospital Foundation s Big Band Harvest Dance Saturday, November 14 th from 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the Agri Hall $15 per adult & $7.50 per student Cost includes light meal and refreshments. Kids Night Out Saturday, November 21 st 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Sign up by November 19 th by contacting the church office or on the bulletin board at the church. This is for children ages 3-6 th grade attending either Sunday School or Kids Choir. 1-Laurie Gilbert 8-Bob & Jane Weber November Sponsored Altar Flowers 15-Cindy Vokt 22-Darrell Jensen 25-Paul & Shellie Madsen 29- Stewardship Square Regular offerings 09/27 $4, /04 $5, /11 $7, /18 $5, Weekly Worship Attendance 09/ / / / October 4 Loose Offering to Bethany Farm: $30.00 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