NEWSLETTER OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH JULY/AUGUST 2018

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1 OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH Pastor Al Muck 751 N. Maple Grove Ave. Hudson, MI NEWSLETTER JULY/AUGUST 2018 Church Council Church Council meets Sunday, July 1, following service. VBS is for ages preschool to 6 th grade. VBS will run from August 13 to August 16 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Our Saviour. Pearls of wisdom A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth the first time he bites off more than he can chew, said Herb Caen. Though his tongue may have been planted firmly in his cheek, right next to said wisdom teeth, we do indeed learn from our mistakes including the mistake of thinking we can handle more than we can, or that we know more than we do, or that we don t need anyone s help (including God s). As far back as Old Testament times, people collected wisdom sayings into books from which we can still learn. Foundational to the book of Proverbs, attributed to King Solomon, is this first nugget of wisdom: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (1:7). May we cut the wisdom teeth of our lives not by foolishly overestimating ourselves but by following God. Harvest time! With harvest underway or imminent, fields of ripe grain, tall cornstalks and soybeans turning brown recall Jesus words to the disciples: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37-38, ESV). Nowadays farmers use fewer laborers and bigger machines than in decades past. But what about harvests of faith? Leading people to know God s love can t be done mechanically. Studies show that newspaper ads or door-hangers left anonymously are less effective at bringing people to church than a warm personal invite. Right after urging his disciples to pray for harvest workers in a classic instance of You might be God s answer to your own prayer! Jesus sends them out as those very laborers! How will they work the harvest? Not by guilting people into faith. Not by pronouncing judgment or biblical law. But by using Jesus authority to counter evil, illness and brokenness among those they befriend. Ponder and pray about where Jesus is sending you as his laborer to cultivate and reap Christian faith and assurance of God s love.

2 The Family of Betty Capper The Family of A.J. Rodin Raelene Prothero strength and healing Shirley Klinger in remission, strength Kay Peterson declining health Jaykob Robinson autism Mike Sanborn heart attack Grayson Rupley sensory disorder Margaret Runnells broken leg complications and cancer Allison Stickel health & anxiety issues Greg Dorfmeyer heart problems Mark Stubli personal and medical problems Josef Kuckelkorn healing from spinal surgery Nadine Padden for direction in making life and medical treatment decisions Lisa Daub s grandson, London, who suffered a leg injury at school. Jim dementia Kerry Hartman recovery from a fall Evelyn Smith recovery from congestive heart failure Diane Jackson blood clots Duane Peterson recovery from surgery Emily change of heart Tracy Padden recovery from wrist surgery John Boehk strength to walk Pat Waldfogel knee problems Bill Price complications from a broken hip DeWayne Bubba Elledge recovery from knee surgery Todd Risedorph diabetes complications Helen Meyer diabetic control & health issues Cami Compeau to stop trying to harm herself Bonnie knee replacement Jeanne Rupley ankle problems David Klinger healing of his left shoulder Church Council Ladies Guild Our Saviour Lutheran Missionaries Prayer from the heart John Bunyan said, In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. A story told by a 19th-century Jewish rabbi shares the same idea: A disheveled old man entered a synagogue for the first time. Not realizing he was holding the prayer book upside down, he tried to follow the congregation s singing, but his words were incorrect. Finally, he simply looked toward heaven, repeating one Hebrew word over and over. After worship, some people complained to the rabbi, Why didn t you ask him to leave? He replied, That man said more to God with his one word than some of us will ever say in our whole lives. God hears the words of the heart. Renewable energy Keep close to nature s heart... break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. John Muir

3 Summer is usually a time when our thoughts drift to taking time off, vacations and sitting back and getting some much needed rest. Taking time off is a healthy practice. God, himself, rested on the seventh day of creation. Even in the life of the church, summertime is seen as a time for a slower pace and getting reenergized for when summer ends. Take a break but don t take a summer long vacation from attendance in worship and Bible study! Satan never takes a break and we are still in need of receiving God s gifts of Word and Sacrament. Our plans as a congregation to reach out into the community with the saving Gospel will not be taking a break this summer. Here is an update of what is ahead for July and August: Last summer, we resumed summer. We had over 20 children from the community participate throughout the week. We will once again be partnering with St. Johns and Hope in Adrian and offer VBS during the week of August from 6-8 pm. St Johns will be helping out with decorations, materials and volunteers but I will be asking for OSL volunteers to help during the week in a variety of tasks. Begin praying for our VBS week, for those who will lead but also for the families in Hudson that the Holy Spirit might move them to join us for the week. If you are member of Thrivent, you are eligible to request two gift cards at $250 each to help with community and mission outreach. Update on the Parsonage During the next couple months, carpet and tile will be installed which will get us one giant step closer to completing the renovation. Why is that important and exciting? As the Five-Two team continues their work, the plan is to offer a series of family workshops beginning in September that will be held monthly. The seminars will be in the areas of parenting, finances and dealing with security in the digital age. We also will be offering a special community outreach and mission opportunity in December. The seminars are not only meant to be instructional but also a means for Our Saviour to begin building relationships with families in Hudson. As those relationships are built and deepened, we will then begin offering simple worship and Bible study opportunities. Continue to pray for the work of the Five-two team and our efforts, as a congregation, to be Christ in the community. Join Jesus on His Mission - Joining Jesus On His Mission will alter the way you see your life as a follower of Jesus and take you beyond living your life for Jesus to living your life with Jesus. Simple, powerful and applicable insights show you how to be on mission and recognize where Jesus is already at work in your neighborhoods, workplaces and schools. You will feel both relief and hope. You may even hear yourself say, I can do this! as you start responding to the everyday opportunities he is placing in your path. Based on a book authored by Greg Finke, we will have a five-week Bible study and sermon series to help us join Jesus on His mission. Finke s book will be made available for you to read. Pastor Al

4 OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN Ladies' Guild Meeting June 7, 2018 Attending: Dody F., Mary B., Linda R., Linda F., Janice B., Betty R., Sharon K. Linda R. opened with devotions: Our cellphone to God through prayer. Secretary's Report: Sharon made a motion to approve as given, Dody seconded, motion carried. Treasurer's Report: none given Old Business: Flowers had been planted in the Prayer Garden by Roger & Diane Sholl and Janice B. Flowers were donated by Raker's Greenhouses, Litchfield, MI. Thank you for your help. New Business: Thrivent money was discussed for better use for next season. Old stamps collected will be taken to the District Convention by Linda R. on July 19th. We will be having a bake sale on July 8th. The money will go to send our delegate on 7/19. Election of officers for next season: Co-Presidents Sharon K. and Gloria S. VP. - Linda R. Treasurer Dody F. Secretary Janice B. Motion to accept the new officers was carried. Altar Duty for July will be Linda F. on 15, 22, & 29 th, with Linda R. on the 1 st and 8 th August duty will be Sharon K., September duty will be Linda F. September meeting; we will have a potluck, with Betty C. and Dody F. having devotions. Secret Sister signup sheets will be in all the ladies' mailboxes. If interested, fill out and put in Linda Ruggles mailbox before July 8, when new names will be given out. Meeting Adjourned Secretary, Janice B.

5 July - Happy Birthday! 1 Gloria Spencer 2 Pastor Gatz Daniel Patrick 3 Leanne Anke Kim Messersmith 4 Jackie Anke 5 Lillee Westgate 8 Ellie Aungst Mitzi Turner 9 Roman Reyes 11 Kristy Gottschalk 12 Linda Anderson 15 Kim Rieger 19 Amy Wollett Audrey Klinger 21 Jack Best 26 Pastor Al Muck 27 Matt Gibson 30 Dody Fowler Kyle Bush 15 Brad & Linda Ruggles Frank & April Styron 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 1 July 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat th Sunday after Pentecost Church Council meets Office Closed 8 7th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Holy Communion th Sunday after Pentecost th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Holy Communion Special One Offering th Sunday after Pentecost 30 31

7 August - Happy Birthday! 1 Caylan Pickford 2 Rex Smith 3 Brad Ruggles 4 Madlynn Bills 6 Madilyn Grayer Linda Ruggles 9 Betty Rupley 10 John Hubinger 11 Ronna McNamara 12 Lisa Daub Brian Nichelson 13 Madeline Wollett 14 Maranda Messersmith 16 Dennis Shaffer 17 Kristen Fowler 19 Sarah (Fowler) Kinsley Dustin Mattison Karen Messersmith 20 Rex Murphy 21 Sharon Shields Micajah Stegg 22 Chad Root 23 Aniston Valentine Jim Wollett 24 Christine Daub Trudy Gatz 25 Bob Rupley 27 Danny Sullivan 7 Ryan & Jessica Smith 8 John & Lisa Lucas 10 Steve & Kim Rieger 11 Justin & Kandyce Butts 23 Bill & Betty Rupley 24 Dennis & Lynn Pickford 27 Pastor & Trudy Gatz Rex & Ruth Smith GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS TO ALL A work in progress A Christian is always in the process of becoming, never in the state of having become. The Christian life is not being pious but becoming pious, not being healthy but becoming healthy, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet [what we are to be], but we are becoming it. It is not yet done and has not yet happened. It is, however, going on and coming to be. It is not the end, but it is the way. Martin Luther

8 August 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat th Sunday after Pentecost Church Council meets th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Holy Communion 6:00-8:00 PM 6:00-8:00 PM 6:00-8:00 PM 6:00-8:00 PM th Sunday after Pentecost Newsletter deadline th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Holy Communion Special One Offering