Our Youth Group Has a New Blog

Our church's youth group has a new blog. It's at www.lcosyouth.blogspot.com. The Links list to the right now has a link to the site. We hope that this new tool will help foster community and creativity. Good luck to the youth group!

Sonshine Children's Choir

Just a reminder that there is also a blog specifically for the Sonshine Children's Choir which will be periodically updated. The link in the Links section to the right will take you directly to it.

Choral Contrasts

The anthem mentioned by Pastor Gary in his message below is Praise the Lord (A Processional Song), arranged by Ralph Johnson. This piece is based on a traditional processional song from the African country of Cameroon. It starts softly with the women of the choir singing in unison, then builds to a joyous peak by adding layers of other voices and instruments--drums, triangle, wood block, and shakers. The choir had fun with this one!

The Chancel Choir anthem for this coming Sunday (Sept. 1, 2006) comes from an entirely different genre: Cantate Domino by Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni (1657-1743). Pitoni was an Italian composer and choir master and is best known for settings of the mass and other music in the style of Palestrina. Cantate Domino is a setting of a traditional text that starts with the opening line of Psalm 96: "Cantate Domino, canticum novum . . . ." "O sing to the Lord a new song . . . ." It is lively and joyous, and will be sung a cappella in Latin.

A Message from Pastor Gary

Our worship theme this weekend, as lifted up in our lessons, calls us to celebrate the rich diversity among God's people and the many ways we the people of God, and let go of the fear-based notion that everyone else has to be like us. The Chancel Choir certainly championed that grace-filled message last Sunday with an anthem that included a number of musical instruments that are usually placed outside the circle of traditional Lutheran worship. [See the posting above.] It was tremendously uplifting!

Next week, on Wednesday, October 4, which is the Feast Day of Francis of Assisi, we will celebrate a Service of Blessing of the Animals in the Prayer Labyrinth at 7:00 p.m. [This is the correct time--the email message sent to the congregation yesterday had an error.] Pets of all sizes and types are welcome: please make sure dogs are on leashes, and all others are in cages/terrariums/ boxes/bowls/etc. We have had lots of fun planning this--we hope you will join us! The service will conclude around 7:30 p.m.

While we await the arrival of the new hymnals--Evangelical Lutheran Worship--you can donate one or more in honor/in memory of loved ones by using the envelope in the October VOICE that was mailed yesterday. There are also envelopes in the church office. Cost is $17.50 per hymnal.

October 1 Prelude

Orgelstucke, Opus 59, No. 8 Max Reger
8. "Gloria in Excelsis"
Orgelstucke is a set of twelve pieces for organ composed by Max Reger in 1901. Gloria in Excelsis is based on the plainsong chant used in the mass. The text of Gloria in excelsis is one of five texts used in the ordinary (used at every mass). On October 1, we will sing This is the Feast, a modern textual variation upon the Gloria text. Reger's setting begins with a grand statement of the plainsong chant tune. Typical of Reger, there is a dense fugal section in the middle of the piece.

Change in the Beginning of the 10:30 Service

Those who attended the 10:30 AM service yesterday may have noticed a change. The announcements will no longer precede the prelude, but will be made at another point in the service. Yesterday, they were made before the Children's Sermon, and in coming weeks Gary may try several other spots to see what works the best. Rachel plays beautiful preludes on our pipe organ that she picks to set the tone for the readings of the day and their themes. We hope that this change will help you prepare your hearts and minds for the worship that follows.

Yesterday's Sermon

In yesterday's sermon, Pastor Gary spoke (among other things) about the passage in Mark 9:30-37 in which Jesus said that "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." There seems to be a human need to feel superior to others. In our lives, we continually rank other people and are in return ranked by them. Gary posed a question for us all to reflect on: "Because you can do something better than another person, does that that make you better than that person?"

Blessing of Pets

For the first time ever, we will be holding a Bldssing of Pets on October 4 at 7:00 PM in the Prayer Labyringh. Come celebrate God's gift of animals, creation, and St. Francis of Assisi, the patron sain of animals and the ecology. (Please keep dogs on leashes and other animals in their cages.)

Radical Service of Others

Last weekend, we heard about Christ's command to pick up your cross and follow him. In this weekend's Gospel Lesson (Mark 9:30-37), Jesus tells the disciples that "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." What a radical notion! To preview this and the other lessons for the weekend, click "Weekly Lessons." To attend a worship service of Word and Sacrament focusing on these lessons, join us this weekend.

Three Distinct Worship Services Each Weekend

As you can tell from the posts below, LCOS has three worship services each weekend: 5:30 PM on Saturday and 8:15 AM and 10:30 AM on Sunday. While every weekend service is a Communion service, there are distinct differences between the three services. Click on the following link to a description of each service: Worship Descriptions.

A Message from Pastor Gary:

It was great to have The Rev. Ed Williams (assistant to the bishop) with us in worship last weekend. The message he brought to us was very timely as we begin to think and plan for ministry in 2007 here at LCOS. Christ's command to pick up your cross and follow me, as Pastor Williams noted, does not include inconveniences and frustrations, but those activities involving sacrifice on our parts that glorify God and share Christ with others. I invite you to think about how you currently do that, both in the context of LCOS ministry and in your lives away from the church. As you do that, I invite you to consider what that may look like for you in 2007. How can you be involved in the life of Lutheran Church of Our Savior in the new year that glorifies God and favorably impacts others?

I challenge you to consider becoming involved in one new cross-bearing ministry next year: worshiping more often and/or assisting with worship leadership, attending Sunday School, attending youth group, serving on a committee/team, participating in a ministry project in which you have not participated before . . . the possibilities are plenty if you are willing!

It was a joy to be with so many of you last weekend in worship and Sunday School! Saturday night worship is bursting at the seams; the 8:15 Sunday service is using a new worship format (Service of Word, Prayer and Communion), and has grown in size from last year; and we have more youth and adults participating in leadership roles in our 10:30 Sunday Service. It is great to have our Chancel Choir back from their summer break. I can't wait for the Sonshine and Joyful Noise Children's Choirs Choirs to share their musical gifts with us in the coming weeks! Our Sunday Church School is also growing, which means that more of you are finding ways to grow in your faith!

Worship Committee Meeting

Most of the Worship Committee members are able to meet this coming Saturday, so we'll hold the meeting. Some topics of discussion: Evangelical Lutheran Worship; Thanksgiving Eve; support of Gary/Ginger/Rachel/Celeste during Advent and Christmas; some new ideas from Sundays and Seasons; early planning for Epiphany Season and Lent 2007.

Bell Choir

While the Bell Choir had a few people missing last week, Ginger told me that the rehearsal went well. We will continue with the plan of playing at the 10:30 AM service on October 8. I hope everybody can make rehearsal this week!

Correction on Blog Address

The Ministry Update that was sent out yesterday to congregation members erroneously said that the URL for this blog was at “blogsite.com.” If you’re reading this, you’ve obviously found the right address (it's at "www.lcosworship.blogspot.com") or a link to this site, but we apologize for the confusion created by the error.

Blogging

I tried to get onto the LCOS blog site as per the email from Pastor Gary, and got only to the blogsite.com website. What is the trick to get to the LCOS blogsite?
Steve Swedlund

Joyful Noise Children's Choir

The Joyful Noise Choir begins rehearsals this coming Sunday, September 17, at 9:00 AM. Questions? Contact Celeste.

Rev. Ed Williams

A message from Gary: This weekend, we are blessed to have The Rev. Ed Williams with us in worship, bringing us the message. Pastor Williams is the new Assistant to the Bishop in the Southern Ohio Synod who relates to the Dayton Conference (he replaces Wally Arnold, who retired in February), and he will be here to get to know us and our ministries. I hope you will take the time to greet Pastor Williams this weekend.

Chancel Choir Starts Strong - New Members Welcome

The Chancel Choir is up and running for the year. As always, Ginger Minneman (the church's Music Director and Director of the Chancel Choir), has picked a wide range of inspiring music for us to present in worship. Pieces we're working on:

• Blessed be the Name of the Lord, Dale Grotenhuis (based on Psalm 13)
• Sanctus in d minor (BWV 239), J.S. Bach (sung in Latin)
• See What Love, from the oratorio St. Paul, Felix Mendelssohn
  
• Praise the Lord (A Processional Song), arranged by Ralph Johnson
• Open Thou Mine Eyes, John Rutter
• Cantate Domino, Guiseppe Pitoni, Ed. by Norman Greyson (sung in Latin)
• The Cross, Pamela Martin/Craig Courtney

If you've thought about joining the Chancel Choir, but haven't gotten around to it, now is a great time to come join us. Adults and high school students are welcome. By participating, you will help lead and enhance worship on Sunday mornings, and will take part in the fellowship inherent in meeting regularly with one of our congregations's largest "small groups." If you have any questions about being part of the Chancel Choir, just ask Ginger Minneman or one of the Choir members. You can reach Ginger by email by clicking on her link on the LCOS homepage. Or, if you would like, call the church office at 293-1147.

This Weekend's Bible Readings

Some people find that a good way to prepare for worship is to read the Bible readings ahead of time. To make this easier for you, the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for the coming weekend are posted on the LCOS web site every week on Tuesday. There is a link on the Links section of this page to take you directly to the web page with these readings.

Sonshine Choir Rehearsals Begin

The Sonshine Choir begins rehearsals this Sunday, Sept. 13. For more information on the year's schedule, see Mrs. Beal's blog - the link is on the Links section of this page and also follows: www.sonshinechoir.blogspot.com

Donations for "Evangelical Lutheran Worship"

When you receive your copy of the October edition of the Voice (via snail mail), it will include an envelope for donations to purchase copies of the new hymnal and service book, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (yes, it's red). All donations, big and small, will be appreciated--you can donate a single copy, several copies, or many copies. (We've ordered 450.) We'll be putting name plates in copies that are donated in someone's memory or honor. Please help our congregation be part of "Renewing Worship" in the ELCA.

Bell Choir Update

The Bell Choir will meet this coming Sunday after the 10:30 AM service.   I will be out of town, but Ginger has graciously agreed to lead the rehearsal.    After considering the calendars of those who met last week, it was decided that we will play at the 10:30 AM service on October 8.  If you cannot play that day, please let me know ASAP.

Get your personal copy of Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Do you want a personal copy of "Evangelical Lutheran Worship" for your home? You can order one through Augsbug Fortress by visiting www.augsburgfortress.org

Bell Choir Rehearsals Begin

Bell Choir will resume rehearsals this Sunday, Sept. 10, after the 10:30 AM service. New members are welcome. Please bring your calendars so we can talk about the schedule for the fall and when people will be out of town.

Fall Worship Schedule Begins this Weekend

Our fall worship schedule starts this coming weekend: Saturday 5:30 p.m. (no change from the summer schedule); Sunday, 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. The setting utilized at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service will be Setting One from the LBW. We will have a guest preacher, Kathy Bengson. Kathy is a consultant from the Parish Resource Center, and will help us kick-off Rally Day. We look forward to seeing you at one of our services!