NEWS Our Savior s/opdal Lutheran Parish Monthly Newsletter September 2018 SEPTEMBER EVENTS September is full of wonderful events here at Our Savior s/opdal parish! Here is the overview more detailed information can be found on subsequent pages of newsletter. God s Work, Our Hands: Sunday, September 9, starting at 8:30 am Harvest Fest: Wednesday, September 12, 4:00-7:30 pm Rally Sunday/New Members: Sunday, September 16 3rd Graders Enrolling in Affirmation of Baptism Classes: Hampton Hebrink, Addison Jordet, Kaedyn Morris, Chasity Schmitz New Members: Malana Niemeyer, Carson and Abigail Duis, Ron & Melissa Johnson, Ian Engstrom, Diane Gunderson-Jacobson, Tyler Enestvedt & Amanda Kohls Noisy Can Offering will begin and continue on the 2nd Sunday of the month bring your spare change for our Compassion Child. Houston National Youth Gathering: High School Youth will share their experiences of the trip that was taken in June on September 23 during the worship service. 150th Anniversary Celebration: Sunday, September 30 5th Graders will be receiving their 1st Communion: Taya Halvorson, Tegan Jordet, Keaira Morris, Connor Peterson, Katelyn Park Looking Ahead to October: Affirmation Sunday will be October 28. These students will be affirming their faith: Julian Flores, Erika Hoff, Payton Timm, & Axel Zaragoza FALL SCHEDULES RESUME Starting September 16, Sunday morning fall schedules will resume: Opdal Worship Service- 8:45 AM Sunday School- 8:45 AM Our Savior s Worship Service- 10:00 AM *Note Usually Holy Communion is served the 1st and 4th Sundays of the month. However, during the month of September, it will be served the 1st and 5th Sundays (September 2nd and September 30th) Office Hours: Jess secretary office hours starting September 1st will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 AM 4:00 PM. If Jess is not in the office and you need assistance, please call #320-296-9406 or email: oursaviorsopdalparish@hcinet.net. Pastor s office hours will continue to be Monday-Thursday. September Events Fall Schedules Vacation Bible School Adult & Children Education Events Bridal Showers Christmas Cantata God s Work Our Hands Pastor s Message Financial Report Harvest Fest 150th Anniversary Celebration September Worship Hosts September Calendar
Vacation Bible School was held the first week of August. Over 80 children came together each day to GET LOST in Jesus love for all of God s children! Children from Our Savior s, First Lutheran in Renville, Emden Christian Reformed, Ebenezer Presbyterian, along with other community children gathered together in fellowship over supper, Bible studies, worship, music, crafts and games. Green Lake Bible Camp counselors led the daily activities. THANK YOU to all of the volunteers to make the week go great and to those that donated money and food items for the week. 2
AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM CLASSES 3rd Grade: Class will include both students and their parent(s) on Tuesdays in September: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th. All classes will meet in the Fireside Room at 6:30 pm. 5th Grade students: Sacrament classes began in August. The last two classes will be Wednesday, September 5 at 4:00 pm and Sunday, September 16 after worship service (this last one is for students and parents) 6th Grade students: Classes begin on Wednesday, September 26 and will meet Wednesdays through December, from 4:00-5:00 pm. 9th Grade students: Will meet once each month after Sunday worship service. The first meeting will be on Sunday, September 16 at Noon. ADULT BIBLE STUDY Starting the first week of October, Pastor will begin a 4 part on-line Bible Study, called: A Great-Grandma to a King, A King-Maker, A King, and A Royal Pain. Each week the bible study will be emailed and posted on the website, OR a hard copy will be kept in a folder by the church office for you to pick up. Sign up by contacting Pastor or Jess at the church office via email, phone or in person. At the end of the four weeks, the group will gather for discussion and refreshments. Those that cannot make the final discussion meeting will have the opportunity to participate in a video conference that will be set up for all to view. WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE Wednesday Night Live (WNL) is a joint youth event with Rock Valle/Hawk Creek, Frist Lutheran, and Ours Savior s/opdal parishes. It is held every first Wednesday evening of the month from 6:00-7:15 PM. WNL is for all youth grades 7-12. The group gathers for a meal first and follows with a bible study/discussion and worship. All churches involved rotate hosting duties. The first Wednesday Night Live of the school year will be on October 3rd at Our Savior s. Open House Come & Go Bridal Shower honoring Laura Jean Hamre bride-to-be of Mitch Agre. On Saturday, September 15, 2018 from 9:30 11:00 am at Hawk Creek Lutheran Church. Parents are David & Annie Hamre and Jeff & Amy Agre. Registered at Menards, Macys, and Amazon. All are welcome! A Bridal Shower honoring Dana Elliot, bride-to-be of Ian Engstrom will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 from 6:30 8:30 pm in Our Savior s Fellowship Hall. Dana s parents are Dan and Beth Elliot. Open House all are welcome! Dana is registered at Target and Menards. 3
Looking ahead to holiday time. A Christmas Cantata is in the works! You are invited to either participate in the choir or hold a speaking/acting part OR simply come to watch! Directed by Mardi Hawbaker. Practices will begin in October. Contact Carla Hamre at 320-212-0146 or chamre@farmward.net for more information. Good News from Home a Christmas Cantata will be presented jointly by OSL and First Lutheran, Sunday, December 16 at 3:00 PM at First Lutheran Church in Renville - with supper to follow served by the Ecumenical Youth Group as a fundraiser. At Christmastime, our hearts and minds long for home. Some journey home to gather with family and friends. Some reflect on the memories of years gone by and joyfully await their eternal home. This Cantata reflects on home and reminds us that for all, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. Please join us as we celebrate this joyous season together! On Sunday, September 9th starting at 8:30 AM we will be using Our Hands to engage in service work right here in our community. We are two of nearly 9,300 congregations participating in God s work. Our hands. Sunday, on September 9, 2018. Across the country, thousands of members will engage in service work to make a positive change in our communities, build and deepen relationships and share God s love. Join us as we do God s work with our hands! First Lutheran Church and Our Saviors Lutheran Church will work together to package meals for an organization called Food for Kidz at the Sacred Heart Community Center followed by worship and a meal at Our Saviors Lutheran. The Gospel worship at Our Saviors will feature Kris Nelson and Steve Mahlum joining our worship team. 8:30 10:30 a.m. Food for Kidz packing at the Sacred Heart Community Center 11:00 a.m. Worship & Meal hosted at Our Saviors Lutheran Church 4
September is here and that means the beginning of another school year. When I think back to my school days and the beginning of the school year, one thing that comes to mind is how everything was new. New clothes, new paper/pens/folders; a new room, new teacher and for middle and high school new buildings. As great as it was to have all the new stuff, the best part of the start of the school year was that last year was last year. All my grades/ tests from last year was last year. This was a new year - a time for a fresh start. That feeling: starting fresh is what living out our faith each day is all about. Our name sake Martin Luther spoke of waking each day with the knowledge that through the waters of baptism you and I, Christian people have been washed clean of sin and thus can begin that day with a fresh start. Though we have been washed in the waters of baptism: claimed and named a child of God, sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Though scripture tells us As far as the east is from the west, so far God removes our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12) and God will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:34b) It can be hard for us to believe that God doesn t remember because we do. But you and I need not doubt this action of God. We need not be afraid and can trust in this promise of new life, in the fresh start made to us through our baptism. It is this promise that enables you and me to start each day fresh and new. It is this promise that enables you and me to start each day looking for the opportunities to see Christ in others. It is this promise that enables you and me to start each day looking for opportunities to reveal Christ to others. Just like that first day of school: last year was last year this is a new year, a time for a fresh start so too is each day of our faith. As a result of our baptism and its promise from God, you and I can start each day fresh and new. A new creation ready to go forth and live Christ. Pastor Dale Financial Summaries as of 8.1.18: Cemetery Fund $7,817.74 Family Service Mission $6,478.89 General Fund -$17404.30 Improvement Fund $2,120.36 Opdal Fund -$2,526.53 Seminary Youth Scholarship $74.66 Trust Fund $10,619.53 Lift Update: The new lift is up and working; however it is not paid for yet. See below for the financial status on the lift fund: Financial update on Lift (as of 8.25.18): Expenses = $44,898.45 Revenues (contributions) = $14,705.00 Bank Total, All Funds $7,180.35
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Decorating/Flowers: September Pam Hemze Altar Committee: September Evie Elliot, Pam Hemze Communion Bread Baker: September Sharon Sietsema September 2 (9 am service) Ushers Randy and Kelly Johnson, Dave and Shirley Grove Reader Carla Hamre Communion Assistants Paul and Carla Hamre Money Counters Carla Hamre, Morgan Lecy September 9 (God s Work Our Hands Event begins at 8:30 am/service estimated at 11:00 am) Ushers Scott Thompson Family Money Counters Nicole Morris, Brian Peterson September 16 (10 am service resumes) Ushers Matt and Nicole Morris Family Acolyte Anayansi Flores Reader Pam Benson Money Counters Scott Refsland, Daniel Wolfe September 23 Ushers Curt Dirksen Family, Charlie Grams Acolyte Alexandra Dirksen Reader Janet Dirksen Money Counters Carla Hamre, Amy Agre September 30 (Anniversary celebration) Ushers Craig and Tami Hebrink, Dan Wolfe, Lamont Jacobson Acolyte Hudson Hebrink Reader Marie Hoff Communion Assistants JoLene Groen Money Counters Pam Benson, Penny Christy
1 2Time After Pentecost 9:00 AM OS Service (HC) 3 4 6:30 pm 3rd Grade students and parents Bible Class 5 4:00 pm 5th Grade Sacrament Class 6 7 8 9 Time After Pentecost 10 11 12 13 14 15 8:30 AM-10:30 PM Food Packing at SH C.C. Joint Worship and Meal Following at OS 6:30 pm 3rd Grade students and parents Bible Class 4:30-7:00 pm Harvest Fest at OS Open House Bridal Shower for Laura Jean Hamre, bride-to-be of Mitch Agre, 9:30-11:00 AM, Hawk Creek 16Time After Pentecost Rally Sunday New Member Sunday 8:45 AM Opdal Service 8:45 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM OS Service 5th Grade Sacrament class following worship 9th Grade ABC at Noon 17 18 6:30 pm 3rd Grade students and parents Bible Class 19 (Pastor on Vacation for Open House Bridal Shower for Dana Elliot, 6:30-8:30 PM 20 21 Daughter s wedding (19th-25th) 22 23 Time After Pentecost 24 25 26 27 28 29 8:45 AM Opdal Service 8:45 AM Sunday School 10::00 AM OS Service 6:30 pm 3rd Grade students and parents Bible Class 4:00-5:00 pm 6th Grade AFC 30Time After Pentecost 150th Anniversary Celebration 8:00 AM Choir Rehearsal 8:30 AM OS Fellowship 8:45 AM Opdal Service 8:45 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM OS Service 11:00 AM Celebration Dinner 9