Stay Focused! by Pastor Bill Wangelin

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2 Stay Focused! by Pastor Bill Wangelin One of the most given instructions in driver s training is focus forward! There are many distractions for drivers, and they seem to be multiplying. Winter weather requires us to be even more vigilant. It can be dangerous to lose our focus while driving, and in life. Our families and even churches can lose focus. There are a lot of things competing for our attention these days. Culture and society attract our gaze with wealth, beauty, and power. Terror and violence grip our attention with fear and uneasiness. Politics, health issues, and technology are all vying for our attention. Hebrews 12:2 says, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. As disciples, as Christian families, and as a church and school, we want to keep Jesus the center of our lives. The centrality of Jesus in our worship at Our Savior is demonstrated by the stained glass cross that commands our view during worship. In this cross, the life of Jesus is portrayed in seven panels. Jesus Birth, Baptism, Transfiguration, Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension are set before us. It is through the life of Jesus that we find our life, our salvation, and our hope. What keeps your family focused on Jesus throughout the week? Is it reading and discussing the Bible together, or going over lessons from Christ Connections or Christian Studies? Is it making weekly worship a priority and setting aside every Sunday as the Lord s day? Maybe it is Christian art in your home, or Bible verses that you place at your desk or in your car. Especially as we decorate our homes for the holidays, we have the opportunity to stay focused on the Reason for the Season. During Advent and Christmas, the front of our church fills with decorations each of them pointing to the Reason for the Season. Beginning in January, we will spend four months going through the Gospel of John. This Gospel begins with John the Baptizer saying, Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! (John 1:29). John s Gospel helps us to stay focused on Jesus. In this edition of Learn, Live, Share, you will see examples of how young and old alike at Our Savior are fixing their eyes on Jesus through worship, Bible Study, and service. There is amazing ministry happening here! Your participation, your support, and your prayers, are providing opportunities for people to grow in faith as they follow Jesus. We pray that as we grow in faith as a church family, we would keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and the peace, joy, and hope we have in Him. In Joyful Service to Jesus, Pastor Bill Wangelin <>< First Bible Milestone Ministry by Kristine Julien & Meghan Morris In this season of thankfulness we wanted to extend our thanks to Mrs. Engelbrecht and Mr. Wright for teaching the First Bible Milestone Ministry class this fall for the parents and first graders here at OSL. As parents, one of our most important responsibilities is teaching our kids to be hands on with the bible on a daily basis but sometimes that can feel a little daunting. The Bible Milestone class was a wonderful refresher on how to have family devotions and to use that time together to grow as a family in our faith. It was also a great way to spend some time navigating the bible with our kids. One of the things we enjoyed most about the class was going on a bible scavenger hunt. Finding verses with our kids, using the contents page in the bible to find books of the bible and watching them get excited about their own bible was such a blessing. Another neat part of the class was watching the kids sign their bibles, put a thumb print in it and reading together the notes we as parents wrote to our kids in their bibles. Besides the scavenger hunt the Bible Milestone booklet also had some great suggestions on how to incorporate devotions throughout the day and key verses in the bible to share with our kids. This class was a great way to enhance family devotion time and also help equip our kids for their own individual faith walk. Thank you to OSL, Mrs. Engelbrecht and Mr. Wright.

3 Advent Services & Events Advent Midweek Worship 2nd - 3rd Grade O Christmas Tree Wednesday, December 2 7 pm Advent by Candlelight Saturday, December 5 2 pm Early Childhood Christmas Program Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten & 1st Grade Let s Dress Up for Christmas Sunday, December 6 4 pm Advent Midweek Worship 4th - 5th Grade Tell the World Jesus Is Born Wednesday, December 9 7 pm Advent Midweek Worship 6th - 8th Grade The Carols of Christmas Wednesday, December 16 7 pm The Living Nativity Saturday, December 19 5 pm 7 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship (communion at each service) Thursday, December 24 4 pm - worship band 7 pm - organ, handbells, choir, brass 10pm - piano, organ, strings New Year s Eve Worship Thursday, December 31 7 pm (Communion) How Can You Support Life? by Deb Kamm "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 These words of Jesus tell the story of Lutherans for Life! He came and paid the ultimate price so that we may have life. He wants us to choose life. We make countless choices each day ranging from the easy and obvious to the completely overwhelming. Isn t it great to have His holy Word that states I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live Deuteronomy 30:19 Our culture bases human value upon what we are able to do or not do. God bases human value upon what He has done created, redeemed, called! But now thus says the Lord, he who created you... Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1). That Good News is the theme for Life Sunday, a special day set aside for focusing on life issues such as crisis pregnancy, abortion, adoption, creation, end of life, sexual purity, post-abortion healing, and more. There are several ways we can choose to support life all through the year! Participate in our annual Statewide Diaper Shower (Mother s Day Father s Day) Participate in 40 Days For Life and/or Life Chain Establish a Life Team in our congregation Participate in Bible Studies on Life Issues Attend the District Theological Conference on Life Issues on April 16 th (hosted by Our Savior) Volunteer at and support our local pregnancy resource center or other FOR LIFE organizations in our community Choosing life has nothing to do with political or social agendas. It has everything to do with what God has done! I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." AMEN! ~for more information, contact Deb Kamm at or d.kamm@comcast.net.

4 Financial Peace University by Michelle Stahl According to personal money-management expert Dave Ramsey, 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Back in 2013, that was Mark and me. Despite being well educated with a healthy income, we somehow found ourselves in the trap of believing that more is better and better is best. Our poor financial state caused more than a few disagreements and a whole lot of stress on our relationship. Then the storm hit. We found ourselves needing a large sum of money; money that we didn't have. With no emergency fund and a whole lotta debt, we knew something had to change. A local church was offering Financial Peace University (FPU) and we jumped at the opportunity to take it. 21 months later our consumer debt was reduced from $33,000 to zero, we had a healthy emergency fund established and we were giving generously and gladly to our church. But even more, FPU strengthened our marriage and brought us to God. Prior to then, we were not part of a church family nor did we have much of a relationship with God. By helping us refocus on the truly important things in our lives and look beyond all the stuff that goes back into the box, we were able to dramatically change our lives for the better. Financial Peace University is a nine-week program that helps people eliminate their debt, take control of their money, and learn new behaviors around money that are founded on scripture. I'm so excited to share that Paula Manning and I will be hosting FPU, here at Our Savior beginning on January 14th. (childcare available) To learn more about the course, review the course outline and register, visit locations/class/ If you have questions about the course, please feel free to me at stahl.michelle22@gmail.com. A Mountain Top Experience by Vicar Aaron Hauser A few weeks ago our confirmation class went on their confirmation retreat to Camp Arcadia. It was truly a mountain top experience; one of those memories from your life that you ll always remember. It s one of those places that you always want to go back to no matter how elusive. This was my (Vicar Hauser) first time at Camp Arcadia. I had heard plenty of hype the weeks leading up to it so I was curious as to how awesome it would truly be. I must say, it did not disappoint. Aside from it being an indubitably beautiful place, the true beauty lies in the people you are with, in the conversations, in the memories made, and of course, in all of that wrapped in Jesus. It was an honor sharing all these memories with the confirmation students in 7th & 8th grade, ranging from the drive up, to playing soccer-tennis, to the meals, to conversations about faith, to the game of biffer and so many more. It is a unique place where you can really get to know everyone better, have fun, be deepened by an incredible faith experience, and come away with a more personal relationship with God. I thank God and OSL for giving me the opportunity to go to Camp Arcadia with this FANTASTIC group of students and staff. All of you who shared these memories with me have a special place in my heart. Thank you.

5 Start the New Year Off on the Right Foot by Jennifer Smith At the end of 2012, I was scheduled to have foot surgery. As a runner, it was extremely frustrating. I wanted to be out there pounding the pavement with others who shared my passion. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be that winter. However, I found a way to stay involved. I had received a couple of s requesting volunteers to work at the Resolution 5k on New Year s Day. I had never participated in this run but this was my chance. My chance to volunteer, like so many had done at races I ran. I signed up, showed up New Year s Day and worked registration. After the race, I assisted with presenting medals to the top 3 finishers in each age group. What an amazing experience! Seeing the joy on the faces of these runners was awesome! The next year I decided that I would volunteer and run! What a great decision! The course was well marked, the Eaton County Sheriff s Department assisted with traffic control and safety, and course volunteers were helpful and encouraging. I have made this run one on my annual events. I would highly recommend that you come out to the Resolution 5k on January 1, 2016, as a volunteer or participant. Get 2016 started on the right foot and the left! Register online or by mail-in form: For questions or to volunteer, contact Ryan Cummins at or oursavior5k@gmail.com. Coming Soon -- New Early Childhood Outdoor Play Space The little ones at Our Savior will have a new outdoor play space this spring, providing preschool through 1 st graders a single-level playing space. Currently, only two structures on our existing playground are certified for this age group, and they are at opposite ends of the playground. Having an outdoor, fenced in, level play space opens up many opportunities for outdoor play for younger students, extension program, and summer camp. It greatly enhances our early childhood program and can serve as an outdoor classroom. Watch for the fence going up on the south side of the building, just outside the kitchen. Volunteers will be needed to help install box gardens, a canopy, and other features. Special donations can help us to enhance this space with a tricycle track, outdoor kitchen, and more!

6 National Lutheran Schools Week January Life Together God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ~1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) Jan. 23 Jan. 25 Jan. 26 Jan. 27 Jan. 28 Jan. 29 PTL Winter Ball - Family Dance All-School Sing at 8:00am & 10:45am Services Pray Together Learn Together Reaching Out Together, All-School Chapel 8:30AM Service Together School Spirit Day Blue Out Our Savior Basketball Games 5pm Boys JV, 6pm Girls Varsity, 7pm Boys Varsity Play Together Fall Field Experiences for 1 st Grade & Kindergarten Church Members Enjoy Sharing God s Creation This fall students were invited to the garden and pumpkin fields of Our Savoir Lutheran members Mr. & Mrs. Krause. Being in close proximity to the church and school, the Krauses have been inviting early childhood classrooms for science investigation and pumpkin picking for decades. The Krauses love sharing the goodness and joy of Jesus with others in God s creation. Their hospitality begins with a school door to field tractor ride. This year Ms. Allen s kindergarten class and Mrs. Engelbrecht s first grade class toured the friendly confines examining milkweed, learning about Monarch butterflies, and exploring the fish-filled pond. Thank you for your generosity and kindness as neighbors and friends in Christ, Al and Mary Lou Krause. Jesus loves you and we love you too. From all your student smiling friends!

7 Annual Our Savior Auction: Did You Know? The 2016 Auction Hoedown on Saturday, March 5th at 4:30pm will be the 4th year that the auction will be held in the Our Savior Gymnasium In the past 3 years, over $100,000 Has been raised to further the ministries at Our Savior Each year, an average of 150 items are up for bid. Every donation makes a difference! All desserts are donated for the dessert auction each year. Many of which are delicious homemade creations made by our church and school families! The generous donors who sponsor the auction each year help offset the cost of food, decorations and more, allowing more funds to support Our Savior. It only costs $35 per person or $240 for a table of 8 to attend this fantastic event supporting the many ministries of Our Savior! OSL Food Bank Serves, Honors Veterans by Brad Ritter One of the ongoing missions of the OSL Food Bank has been an outreach to veterans in Ingham County. Often, veterans from past service and more recent deployments have found providing for their families difficult, especially service members from Iraq and Afghanistan who have had difficulty re-entering the job market. About 30 veterans were recognized this past Veterans Day by Our Savior Lutheran School students, who created pictures to send to veterans served by the OSL Food Bank. The vets also received cards honoring and thanking them for their service to our nation. As wintertime approaches, the need for warm winter clothing increases at the OSL Food Bank. Clients may pick up a selection of clothing from the free room when they pick up their food orders on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays from 12:30-2:30 p.m. We always have a need for winter coats, snow pants, hats, mittens and gloves, scarves and winter -weight sweaters, said Sharon Miller, OSL Food Bank Director. Clothing items may be dropped off at the OSL Food Bank at 1515 W. Holmes Rd. during service times, or in the church lobby donation station, near the nursery. Through October, the OSL Food Bank has served 7,731 people, representing more than 2,300 families. Of that service number, more than 3,000 are children under the age of 17. We issue five or six new pink cards (the ID cards that OSL Food Bank clients use when they pick up their food packages) each day we re the open the last several weeks, said Frank Carman, who oversees the statistical records for the Food Bank. The number keeps increasing every day. To drop off food or gently-used clothing at the Food Bank, call during service hours.

8 Winter Events at Our Savior December (See Advent schedule on page 3 for all Events) 19 5pm Living Nativity 24 Christmas Eve Worship 25 Christmas Day 31 New Year s Eve Worship January 1 New Year s Day 10am Resolution 5K 14 Discover Our Savior begins Financial Peace University begins 23 7pm Blizzard Blast Family Dance 24 Congregational Meeting National Lutheran Schools Week February 8 Re-enrollment Begins 10 7pm Ash Wednesday Worship Learn Live Share Quarterly Newsletter Winter Our Savior Lutheran Church and School 7910 E. St. Joe Hwy, Lansing, MI Church Office Hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm School Office Hours: Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 4:00pm Worship Times Sunday: 8:00am & 10:45am Hmong Worship Sunday: 10:45am Our Savior Lutheran Church and School 7910 E. St. Joe Hwy Lansing, MI NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE PERMIT NO. 3