A Message From Our Pastor - Advent and Christmas Events

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This weekend is the Fourth (and last) Sunday in Advent, and our worship theme centers around the proclamation Emmanuel – God is with us. The Gospel lesson is Matthew's account of the Christmas story, with the focus on Joseph as one who trusted God and "did the right thing." As we frantically prepare for the holiday, we are reminded to trust in God, and not in our own abilities, and do what is the right thing to do – always.

During the 10:30 worship Sunday, the Joyful Noise Children's Choir will present special music prior to the Children's Moment, and the Hand Bell Choir will present music during the offering.

Weekend Activities

Friday Spiritual Journey – 10:00 p.m. in the Parish House foyer around the fire place

Saturday Adopt-A-Family Delivery – 9:30 a.m. The Social Ministry Committee is coordinating this major project that will benefit many children and adults in the Miami Valley.

Saturday Worship – 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary

Sunday Worship – 8:15 a.m. in the sanctuary
Children's Choir Rehearsals – 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School – 9:15/9:30 a.m.
Worship – 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary
Sacred Harp Singers – 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Parish House Blue Room

CHRISTMAS EVE SCHEDULE

3:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant Rehearsal

4:00 p.m. Family Christmas Eve Service, with pageant, carols, and celebration of Holy Communion .

10:00 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Service, with candles, readings, carols, celebration of Holy Communion, and music presented by the Chancel Choir.


Special thanks to everyone who helped with the decorating in the sanctuary – it is beautiful. And special thanks to everyone who assisted in leading worship last weekend while Debby and I were in Chicago, especially Harriet Uphoff, Ginger and Dan Minneman, and Rachel Spry.

May God fill the remainder of this Advent season with hope, and bring joyous blessings to you all this Christmas!

In Christ's peace,
Gary

A Big Ending to the Choir Season

Yesterday was the end of the choir season, and all of the choirs participated in the service. Thank you to all of the choir members and their directors:

• Chancel Choir - Ginger Minneman, Director
• Sonshine Choir - Elizabeth Beal, Director (thanks to her husband Joe for substituting for Elizabeth, who was unable to attend yesterday)
• Joyful Noise Choir - Celeste Hoerner, Director
• Bell Choir - Richard Freudenberger, Director

Thanks also go to Sonia Davila for accompanying the Sonshine Choir and to Phil Hanna for singing a solo with them.

As always, we appreciate the talents of our organist, Rachel Spry.

Our music team is lead by Ginger Minneman as Music Director. Ginger's talent, creativity, cheerfulness and enthusiasm make her a joy to work with, and inspire us to keep pushing ourselves to grow as church musicians.

The choirs will resume in September. In the meantime, we look forward to hearing soloists and small groups singing and playing through the summer.

Choir Rehearsals on June 3

Choir rehearsal times for Sunday, June 3:

• 8:55 a.m. - Bell Choir
• 9:00 a.m. - Sonshine Choir
• 9:00 a.m. - Joyful Noise Choir
• 9:15 a.m. - Chancel Choir
• 9:45 a.m. - service begins

Join Us for Easter

If you are looking for a church to attend in the Dayton Ohio area on Easter and would like take part in a service with a traditional liturgy and fine music, please join us at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior at 10:30 a.m. Details of the service:

Setting Four of the Service of Holy Communion from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (this setting is taken largely from Setting II in the Lutheran Book of Worship), festival version with brass and timpani.

Prelude - Prelude on Victimae Pascali, R. Spry
Entrance Hymn - Jesus Christ is Risen Today, ELW 365
Joyful Noise Children's Choir - That Easter Day With Joy was Bright
Sonshine and Joyful Noise Children's Choirs - Alleu!
Hymn of the Day - Alleluia! Jesus is Risen!, ELW 377
Offertory - Chancel Choir - My Master From a Garden Rose, E. Daley
Chancel Choir - Agnus Dei, from Solemn Mass, L. Vierne, sung in Latin
Music During Communion -

• Chancel Choir - Salvation is Created, P. Chesnokov
• Hymn - This Joyful Eastertide, ELW 391
• Bell Choir - Joyful Alleluia, C. Dobinsky
• Hymn - Alleluia! Sing to Jesus, ELW 392
• Hymn - Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness, ELW 488

Final Hymn - Thine is the Glory, ELW 376
Postlude - Toccata from Symphony V, C. M. Widor

There is an intergenerational Sunday School gathering before the service at 9:15 a.m. Please join us - visitors are always welcome, whether you live in town or are just passing through. Click here for a location map.

Pastor: Rev. Gary Eichhorn
Music Director and Director of the Chancel Choir: Ginger Minneman
Organist: Rachel Spry
Director of Sonshine Children's Choir: Elizabeth Beal
Director of Joyful Noise Children's Choir: Celeste Hoerner

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

The first Sunday snow of the winter last weekend proved to be a challenge for some, and a breeze for others. Nine of us braved the elements for 8:15 a.m. worship, as we gathered in the chancel for a “spoken” service. But by 10:30 a.m., nearly 100 of us were “rollicking” for God with the members of the Sonshine and Joyful Noise Children’s Choirs! Special thanks to the children, their parents, and the choir directors Elizabeth Beal and Celeste Hoerner for refusing to allow a little snow to keep us from worshiping God!!

This weekend, snow or no snow, our lessons remind us that God’s love calls and gathers us together in the Lord’s mission. During the 10:30 a.m. worship, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Baptism for two new disciples of Christ.

And, as of Saturday, January 27 the 2006 Annual Report Booklets are available to be picked up in the narthex (one per household, please). I invite you to read through the reports in preparation for our annual congregation meeting . . . which is Sunday, February 4, 11:45 a.m. (the Annual Congregation Meeting, that is). Mark your calendars, plan which food dish you plan to bring to share (fried chicken, drinks and place settings provided), and keep our community of faith in your prayers as we strive to discern God’s will for our congregation this year and in the years to come. On that day, we will also join forces with others throughout the United States, as we participate in the Annual Souper Bowl – please bring at least one can of hearty soup to the annual meeting to combat hunger. Our donations will be given to the New Hope Food Pantry.

LOOKING AHEAD . . . .

We still need volunteers to serve as Lenten Soup Chefs – help prepare one or more soup meals for our Wednesday mid-week Lenten services. Use the bulletin insert this weekend to sign up, or contact the church office.

“Go Red” Healthy Heart Women’s Valentines Tea – Saturday, February 10, 3:00 p.m. A representative from the American Heart Association will be the guest speaker. Door prizes will be awarded. This event is free, open to the public, and is sponsored by our Health Ministries Team. Please RSVP to Rachel Spry (ras@oursaviordayton.org) by February 6.

Valentines Brunch – Sunday, February 11, 11:30 a.m., in the church fellowship hall. Sponsored by the Youth Group, this event is a fundraiser to support this year’s Youth Mission Event. Plan to stop by for great food and fellowship!

Let’s gather together this weekend in worship to celebrate the wonders of our God!

In Christ,

Gary