NEWS Our Savior s & Opdal Lutheran Church Monthly Newsletter January 2019 CHRISTMAS SERVICES Their last Christmas Day service was held at Opdal this year. A special Christmas Eve candlelight service was held at Our Savior s. ANNUAL MEETINGS Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 20, 2019 after regular worship service (approximately 11 am) * On January 20 Opdal and OS will switch worship times. OS will be at 8:45 am and Opdal at 10:00 am. Christmas Worship Annual Meetings Pastor s Message Financial Reports Events & Reminders Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2019 after regular worship service (approximately 11 am) January Worship Hosts January Calendar
January is here. Over the years many people have shared with me that January is their least favorite month of the year. There are several reasons for this. With Christmas over there is nothing to look forward to except three more months of snow and cold. There is the chore of all those Christmas decorations that need to be taken down and packed away for another year. Though the winter solstice was December 21st, it will be still be another two months before it will finally be light out when we leave for work in the morning and still light out when we come home after work in the evening. It is it any wonder that January is the doldrums month of winter? We in the church are not immune from this doldrums feeling. The sanctuary that has been brightly decorated with trees, wreaths, lights and poinsettias is bare again. All the energy and expectation that goes into preparing for Christmas season is spent. All we have to look forward to is the start of Lent. It is at this time that we need to turn to the story that gives its name to this season after Christmas, The Epiphany. The word epiphany means to reveal or make known and tells the story of how Jesus is revealed to the magi. A star arose in the east and they traveled to find the one whose birth the star announced. The season of Epiphany challenges us to discover where God is revealed/made known in our lives. This is not something we do on our own, it occurs through the power of the Holy Spirit which is at work leading us. Yes, the Holy Spirit will reveal God to us in the usual places: word and sacrament, worship and prayer but often the Holy Spirit will surprise us. Like what happened to the magi. The first to go to Jerusalem expecting to find Jesus there because that is where the king lives and if a king has been born he would be born to the present king. To their surprise, it is not in the palace that they find Jesus, but in a humble room in Bethlehem. The Holy Spirit leads us in the same way so that we may discover God at work in the expected and unexpected places of our lives. As you move into the winter doldrums, look for the star around you that will reveal to you where God is at work in your lives. Be prepared to be surprised. Pastor Dale Financial Summaries as of 12.1.18: Thank you to those who gave donations in memory of their loved ones. We remember: Cemetery Fund $3,563.28 Family Service Mission $7,036.16 General Fund -$20,421.86 Improvement Fund $18,947.08 Opdal Fund -$1,449.54 Seminary Youth Scholarship -$440.14 Trust Fund $10,827.23 Bank Total, All Funds $18,062.21 Arlen Strandjord Arlys Kranitz Ashley Hebrink Bob Christy Jr. Brynlee Peterson Carly Halvorson Carlyle Harried Dan Rustad Dave and Inie Johnson David & Margaret Hebrink Don Erickson Dorothy Blagsvedt Ed & Johanna Reinholt Eric Mahlum George & Minnie Ruter Harrison Hebrink Harry & Clarice Harried Harvey Refsland Ida Meier John Rustad John & Shirley Giese Joseph Giese June Hahn Lars Mahlum Leonard & Audrey Mahlum Merlin & Grace Shubert Michael Skalbeck Milan Skalbeck O.K. and Gladys Johnson Onell Mahlum Pat Hoff Ray Skalbeck Richard Strandjord Rubin Rustad Ron Peterson Ryan Nellermoe Sanford & Florence Ellingson Steven Jordet Vernon & Melesther Jordet 2
We are reading two books by C.S. Lewis -> The first is The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe from the Cornicles of Narnia series. The second is The Screwtape Letters. Discussion times on the first book will be: Monday the January 14, at 7:00 pm OR Wednesday, January 16 at 10:00 am. Discussion for the second book will both be on Wednesday the 30 at either 10:00 am OR 6:30 pm A four-part bible study on Galatians will begin in February for anyone interested. This will be offered on-line or with hard copies that will be available to pick up by office. Two day time discussion times will be offered: Wednesday February 20 at 10:00 am to discuss first two sessions then Wednesday March 6 at 10:00 am to discuss the second two sessions. One evening discussion on all four lessons will be Monday, March 4 at 6:30 pm. Mission quilting will begin on January 10, and continue on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 am 4:00 pm. All are welcome to come some or all of the times! Offering envelopes are available to pick up in the Narthex. If you do not plan on using giving envelopes, please place yours in the Church office or contact Jess. Thanks! The 2018 Sunday School Christmas Program was held on December 16, 2018 directed by Kiley Jordet.
Decorating/Flowers: January Sue Stai Altar Committee: January Kim Samuelson, Dana Engstrom Communion Bread Baker: January Jerry Erickson January 6 Ushers Matt Morris Family, Al and Sue Schneider Reader Pam Benson Communion Assistants Scott & Sandy Refsland, Pam Benson Acolyte Brenden Peterson Money Counters Marie Hoff, Laurie Thielen January 13 Ushers Randy & Kelly Johnson, Harlen & Gretchen Eliason Reader Brooke Hebrink Communion Assistant Ryan Hebrink Acolyte Ethan Kamps Money Counters LaMont Jacobson, Kiley Jordet January 20 (8:45 am service) Ushers Dan & Beth Elliot, Ruth & Rodney Peterson Reader Kelly Skalbeck Acolyte Yansi Flores Money Counters Morgan Lecy, Scott Refsland January 27 Ushers Paul & Carla Hamre, Darrel & Leslie Refsland Reader Carla Hamre Communion Assistants Evie Elliot & Acolyte Acolyte Alex Dirksen Money Counters Dan Wolfe, Carla Hamre
1 2 3 4 5 6Ephiphany of Our Lord 7 8 9 10 11 12 8:45 AM Opdal Service (HC) 10:00 AM OS Service (HC) 13 The Second Sunday After the Epiphany The Baptism of Our Lord 8:45 AM Opdal Service 10:00 AM OS Service 14 Book Discussion @ 7:00 pm 15 16 Book Discussion @ 10:00 am Our Savior s Church Council Meeting @ 7:00 pm 17 18 19 20Third Sunday after the Epiphany 8:45 AM OS Service *following worship Sunday School at OS 10::00 AM Opdal Service *following worship Opdal Annual Meeting 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany 8:45 AM Opdal Service (HC) 10:00 AM OS Service (HC) 28 29 30 Book Discussions @ 10:00 am AND 6:30 pm 31 5