www.oswlc.org 703-858-9254 43115 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, VA www.openarms-ccdc.org At Your Service Pastor Bill Mann pastor.mann@oswlc.org Pastor Ralph Wiechmann pastor.wiechmann@oswlc.org Pastor Eric Peterson pastor.peterson@oswlc.org Pastor Justin Kumfer pastor.kumfer@oswlc.org Tyson Labuhn tyson@oswlc.org Lindsey Kilgannon Director, Open Arms lindsey.kilgannon@openarms-ccdc.org Raymond Dubert Director, Education, Family Life & Youth Raymond@oswlc.org Jim Merkle Operations Manager jim@oswlc.org Tom Deary Church Administrator tom@oswlc.org Barb Yarbrough Faith Life Encourager barb@oswlc.org Nikki Deacon Fellowship & Women s Ministry nikki@oswlc.org Emily Sonstroem Minister to Youth & Young Adults Emily@oswlc.org Dan Ehlert Accounting Dan@oswlc.org From the Pastor The end of 2016 will bring some big changes. We will be saying, Good bye and God bless! to our Business Manager Jim Merkle and the Executive Director of Open Arms Lindsey Kilgannon. Jim and Lindsey have been tremendous blessings to our church and school ministry over the past few years, working tirelessly to accomplish the many things that need to happen in order to keep things running smoothly. We pray that God will continue to bless them as they continue to serve Him in a new areas. And we look forward to seeing the Merkle and Kilgannon families regularly as they continue to participate in the life and ministry of Our Savior s Way as members of the congregation. Change is a part of life. We all experience changes. God created change. Genesis 8:22 says, As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night." These are changes! Some days we may be shouting, Praise God! while other days we may be crying out, I need a miracle! Whatever comes, God promises to give us the strength we need to handle each day. Recently, as I was thinking about the changes life brings, God dropped a little pearl of wisdom into my heart. It is an acronym for the word changes. Christ Has A New Gift Each Second It s amazing! Every new day every new second is a new opportunity for God to bless us. Each moment contains a gift from God if we want to look for it. It may be a smile from a child or a kind word from a friend or a helping hand from someone at work. Whether the blessing is large or small we need to celebrate! The best news of all is that there is one thing that does not change the love God has for us in Jesus Christ. In Malachi 3:6 God says, For I am the Lord, I change not. Isn t this beautiful? With all the changes we face in life the one thing that does not change is the love that God our Father has for us. So, every second, we can find a blessing. Changes can be our friend if we look for God in them. In Christ s peace, Pastor Bill Mann
E V E N T S Men s Breakfast Saturday, November 12 At 8:00 am In the Fellowship Hall Please join us for food, fellowship, and bible study. Pastor Eric Peterson Pastor.Peterson@oswlc.org Decorate the Church! Saturday, November 26 9:00 am 1:00 pm We need help putting up our Christmas decorations! Please come help any time between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on November 26. It is always a good time and more hands makes the work go faster! Jim Merkle jim@oswlc.org 2017 Men's Retreat April 28-30, 2017 Save the date! www.oswlc.org/men Darren Broemmer darren.broemmer@gmail.com Election of Officers Sunday, November 20 at 12:30 pm The election of officers for 2017 is scheduled to take place at the Voters Meeting. For election: Mission and Ministry Servant Leaders Group - Vice President - Secretary - 2 At-Large positions These individuals serve as the Our Savior s Way Board of Directors. They are responsible for the long-range vision and planning for our congregation. The M&M s is made up of nine voting members five at-large members elected from the congregation and the four church officers. Board of Governance - 3 At-Large positions The Board of Governance is responsible for maintaining the relationship between the congregation of Our Savior s Way Lutheran Church and the Open Arms Christian Child Development Center. The Board sets the policies and works to fulfill the objectives of the Open Arms Christian Child Development Center. The BOG is made up of no less than five and no more than nine voting members elected by the congregation. The Nominating Committee has been collecting names and contacting those who have been nominated. If you are asked to serve please prayerfully consider sharing your gift of leadership and time. Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service For the Beauty of the Earth Wednesday, November 23 at 7:30 pm Thanksgiving is a time where we remember what we are thankful for. In many homes, the custom is that each person around the table name something for which they are thankful. As we sit around the table thinking about what we are thankful for our thoughts wander from family and friends, to food and shelter, to those moments, like this one, where we see before us those things we give thanks to God for. This year, we invite you to join us for Thanksgiving Eve worship as we give thanks to God our Creator for the beauty of the earth and for all of His gifts especially the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ. With psalms and hymns and readings we will praise God for the beauty of His creation and the beauty of His grace in Christ.
E V E N T S Come Celebrate the Gifts of Christmas!! The time has come! Not only do we begin looking ahead towards our festival worship season, we also look to the coming of our Savior. During the Advent and Christmas season we celebrate the Savior of all coming into our world. This is the greatest gift, God s greatest gift to us, His Son! This year we will be reflecting on the different ways that God s gift bless us. Christ is a gift which brings us through other gifts as well. Gifts of hope and love, peace and life, joy and glory. We hope and pray that you join us as often as possible during this season in celebration of all the gifts given through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Advent Worship: 11/30, 12/7 & 12/14-5:30 pm - Family ADVENTures 6:00 pm - Dinner 7:30 pm - Advent Worship Christmas Worship Services: December 18 9:30 am - Children's Christmas Worship Service 7:00 pm - Candlelight Service of Remembrance December 21 7:00 pm - Christmas Praise Worship Service Christmas Eve Worship: December 24 3:00 pm - Family Christmas Worship 5:00 pm - Family Christmas Worship 7:00 pm - Candlelight and Carols Worship 11:00 pm - Candlelight and Communion Worship Christmas Day Worship 11:00 am (note: this will be the only worship service on Sunday, December 25.) Master Singers Concert A Charlie Brown Christmas Saturday, December 10 At 4:00 pm In the Sanctuary For tickets and more information, visit www.msva.org/christmas. Christmas Is Coming and So Is the Ladies Advent Tea! Sunday, December 4 12:00-3:00 pm (note the time change from previous years) In the Great Room Who: ALL ladies - grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, cousins, friends from your neighborhood and their daughters, granddaughters the more the merrier!!! Program: The Gifts of Christmas Music: Phil Kuhn Food: Your favorite recipes from hors d oeuvres to desserts! Bobbie Peterson bpeterson073@icloud.com
E V E N T S November OSW Middle School Schedule Every Sunday, 9:30-10:30 am Middle School Bible Study 11/6, 3:00-8:30 pm Middle School Hayride 11/13, 4:30-6:00 pm Confirmation Class and Thanksgiving Bag Packing 11/20, 4:30-6:00 pm Confirmation Class 11/27 No Confirmation, Thanksgiving Break College Care Package Donations We re beginning to collect donations for the college care packages, which we will be packing on November 20. Please sign up to donate items at tinyurl.com/ OSWCollegeCarePackages so we make sure each student has the same amount of love and goodies in their care packages. Bring your items in to the box outside Emily, Ray, and Barb s office by November 17. If you have a college student in your life, make sure to send their name, school, mailing address, email, and cell phone number to Emily so they can receive a care package! Emily Sonstroem emily@oswlc.org Middle School Youth Quake Don t forget to sign up your 6-9th grade student for the Baltimore Youth Quake no later than December 4! The Quake takes place on January 13-15 in Hunt Valley, MD, and is a chance for students to grow in faith alongside a group of about 200 of their peers! There are speakers, bands, and breakout sessions that will help them experience their faith in new ways. Doing Life Together Small Group Leader s Luncheon Sunday, November 13 12:30 2:00 pm In the Fellowship Hall There will be a luncheon for all the small group leaders who have served OSWLC and for those who are presently serving. The purpose of the luncheon is to thank you for your service to OSWLC and to share with you some new resources for your small group. Please contact Pastor Peterson if you aren t able to attend. Pastor Eric Peterson pastor.peterson@oslwc.org The Family of Trish Stach Invites You to an Inurnment Sunday, November 13 at 12:30 pm At the OSW columbarium An inurnment is a ceremony during which the cremated remains of a loved one are placed inside a niche their final Earthly resting place until the Day of Resurrection. This will be the first inurnment in our new columbarium, and will be performed by Pastor Dax Jordan. The columbarium will also be dedicated at this time. All Saints Observance November 6 at all services We are compiling a list with names of members and friends that have died since November 1, 2015. A reading of these names with a candle processional will begin each service. Please send your loved ones names and relationship to the office, for inclusion. Also RSVP if you would like to carry a candle and for which service(s). Anyone may carry a candle in honor of any loved one, even for previous years, although their names prior to November 1, 2015 will not be read. Contact: Barb Yarbrough, barb@oswlc.org or Tom Deary, tom@oswlc.org
Did You Know? Thanksgiving Bag Collection List Thanksgiving Bag collection will begin on Sunday, October 23 and continue through Sunday, November 13. The youth will pack the bags on November 13. Drivers will also be needed to deliver bags to Loudoun Interfaith Relief on Tuesday, November 15. To create a healthier menu for their clients, some items have been changed or deleted. Please make your selections from the list below as priority in your donations. Additional side items will also be accepted from the regular list as will your own personal holiday favorites. Each bag must contain: stuffing mix canned vegetables (3 cans) boxed potatoes or rice gravy (mix or jar) cornbread or biscuit mix cranberry sauce dessert mix or item We would also appreciate $10 grocery store gift cards to accompany each bag that goes toward the purchase of a turkey or other holiday item. Gift cards may be put in offering plate marked for Thanksgiving Bags or checks made payable to OSW (please indicate on the memo line-thanksgiving Bags). Andie Wessell socialministry@oswlc.org Hurricane Matthew Disaster Relief During the Month of October, Hurricane Matthew made its way through Haiti and up the coastline of the Southeastern US before colliding with a low front and dissipating out into the Atlantic Ocean. The effects of this storm caused rivers to rise well above flood stage, especially in Lumberton, NC. However, Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere - experienced the most devastation. Hundreds of people died, cases of cholera were reported and many more were left homeless. As you might already be aware, Our Savior s Way supports organizations that work in Haiti. And we have received word concerning the devastation they are experiencing. The Village of Hope indicated that the children and physical building were fine however several of their staff members are dealing with the loss of family members. They are experiencing fear of loss and continued threat of cholera. Dr. Franco of Go-Haiti, (Dr. Franco spoke at our worship services this past summer and this is where some of our members visited this past June), shared with us that, with the exception of some minor physical damage to their buildings and loss of the vegetation trees that they rely on for sustenance and money, everyone is safe. Lutheran World Relief, a Lutheran agency that works throughout the world, also reached out to us early on concerning the overall need in Haiti. In the short term, they have worked to set up shelters to accommodate approx. 300,000 people and are continuing to work toward the long term recovery of this storm. As such, on October 9, Our Savior s Way had a door offering, collecting $1708.82 for LWR Hurricane Matthew Haiti recovery fund. In addition to the collection of the door offering, our mission committee decided to augment this amount to provide $2000 to Lutheran World Relief and also decided to provide $500 each to the Village of Hope, Go- Haiti and the Southeastern District Disaster Relief in the Carolinas, to help in their recovery efforts. We continue to pray for these recovery efforts and others ongoing from this past summer. Serving Opportunities Sign up to volunteer for OSWLC service events at oswlc.org/act/ opportunities-to-serve. Fall Quarter Activities include Backpack Buddies, Church Christmas Decorating and Project Linus. If you have questions or would like more information on additional ways to find service hours, please contact us. Linda Merkle & Penny Payne 571-309- 0353 Serve@oswlc.org
Did You Know? How to Become a Member of Our Savior s Way Lutheran Church Start by worshipping with the people of Our Savior s Way on Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, or 11:00 am. Attend a First Connect class to learn more about OSW and its ministries. November 6 Then, attend our Faith Connect classes to learn some of the basics about the Lutheran faith. Starting November 26 You can also transfer from another Lutheran Church, by having a transfer letter sent from your former church congregation. Then, attend a First Connect class to learn more about OSW and its ministries. Please consider joining a Doing Life Together small group so that you might begin to connect with more people in your new church family. If you are a new Christian, please speak to one of the Pastors about the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Tyson Labuhn 703-858-9254 tyson@oswlc.org Do You Hear the Call? When you see someone who is hurting, anxious, scared, grieving, do you want to help? Stephen Ministry is a group of like -minded, caring people who provide support to those in need. They walk with those individuals, providing empathy and non-judgmental support. They listen, truly listen to that person who sometimes sees no path forward. If you feel Jesus calling you to this type of service you are in luck. In January 2017, OSW is starting the 50 hour training series required to become a Stephen Minister. You will learn skills needed to provide this loving support. If you are willing to commit your time to truly listen to someone in need, now is the time to act. Please contact Tom and Kay Lewis for more information. Tom and Kay Lewis (540) 338-8259 StephenMinistry@oswlc.org Open Hands, Open Hearts For some of us, when uncertainty and worry creep into our lives, we hold tightly to our resources. We cling to our earthly possessions believing it is the only way we can guarantee financial security. The concept of living with open hands goes against both what we may have been taught and what we may think of as plain old common sense, but there can be great rewards in living with our hands open. Throughout scripture we are encouraged to share what we have with others. In Deuteronomy 15 it reads, You shall not shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him. This idea is great in theory, but becomes uncomfortable when it s time to put it into practice in our own lives. Perhaps it s worth considering how keeping open hands may enrich our own lives. Need a few ideas to help you get started? Embrace gratitude: Writing in a gratitude journal can be a fulfilling spiritual practice. Many studies have shown that writing three things you are grateful for each day has the power to transform your outlook and help you appreciate the fullness of your own life. Value contentment: Be on the lookout for things that bring a smile to your face. Maybe it s waking up to birds singing, the sound of a baby s laughter or watching God s daily artistry in the sunrise or sunset. None of these things can be bought or owned, yet they bring joy to your life in awesome ways! Live generously: The art of giving may take a while to learn, so here s an idea: Try adding a giving line item in your monthly budget to help make it a normal part of your monthly expenses. The more consistently you give, the more natural it will become. By living in response to God s grace with an open hand, you can look forward to experiencing an emotional and spiritual return that will come your way, pressed down, shaken together and running over! This article provided compliments of Thrivent Financial Dulles Group, 703-631-3898, dullesgroup@thrivent.com.
43115 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, VA 20148 Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Dulles, VA Permit No. 751 Return Service Requested - Dated Material - Do Not Delay Sunday Service Times 8:00am Traditional 9:30am Traditional November 6 and 20 9:30am Contemporary November 13 and 27 11:00am Contemporary Sunday School and Adult Classes at 9:30 am Holy Communion is celebrated at all Sunday morning worship services. A nursery is available on Sunday mornings from 7:45am-12:00pm. Communication Submissions Please use our online web form for all requests for publication (bulletin, mid-week email, newsletter). Hover over the Members tab and choose Submit an Article/Event or go to www.oswlc.org/submissions Please don t hesitate to contact the Communications Team with any questions or suggestions. The Communications Team 703-858-9254 communications@oswlc.org www.oswlc.org 703-858-9254 43115 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, VA www.openarms-ccdc.org