News from Our Pastor: Ascension, Spiritual Journey, and Other Matters

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The Holy Terrors gathered in the Fellowship Hall last Saturday evening after worship for a raucous night of fun, food, and fellowship. It was "Game Night", hosted by the Auditore and Stowe families, and it was thrilling to see everyone in the large crowd enjoying themselves in such simple, but creative, ways!

Worship

This weekend in worship, we will celebrate the 2^nd major festival in the church year, The Ascension of Our Lord. Our lessons remind us that even though the Risen Christ has been lifted into heaven, we find his presence among us as we proclaim the Word and share the Easter feast.

Spiritual Journey

We will gather at the church this Friday, May 2, 10:00 p.m. This is a great way to explore ways to deepen your relationship with God.

Eagle Project Donations Surpass Goal!

Way to go! Thanks to your generosity, we raised more than the $500 goal for Tyler Maschino's Eagle Project. This Saturday, May 3, Tyler will lead volunteers from his Scout troop and the congregation in building the shed that will house the plastic chairs used in our outdoor worship on Saturdays. If you are interested in helping, or just want to see how things are progressing, stop by the church this Saturday.

Mother's Day Brunch

The Youth will host their annual "Mother's Day Brunch" this Sunday, May 4, 11:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall. This event is a great way to celebrate God's gift of mothers to the family, as well as raise funds for the mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The Youth will also have "Fair Trade" items available for purchase. Make plans to be here this Sunday!

Confirmation Picnic

Sunday afternoon, the Dayton Confirmation cluster will hold it final event, a wrap-up picnic at St. John's Lutheran Church, in Ingomar (West Alexandria) on Enterprise Road. Staff from Lutheran Memorial Camp will be on hand to help lead the event. Families are invited to participate in the day as well. The event will run from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

That Day In May Parade

The Holy Terrors invite the congregation to join them in representing Lutheran Church of Our Savior in the 2008 That Day In May Parade, held on Saturday, May 17. Walkers and riders are welcome. Meet at the church garage at 10:45 a.m. or at the staging area on Far Hills between Peach Orchard and Dorothy Lane at 11:30 a.m. That's right – this year the parade is going down Far Hills Ave. as part of Oakwood's Centennial Celebration. Release forms for minors are available in the narthex. Please RSVP to Rachel Spry at the church by May 15.

FOOD PANTRY DANGEROUSLY LOW!

Yesterday, when volunteers from LCOS delivered to the New Hope Food Pantry the 677 food items that you had donated over the last several weeks, they found the shelves virtually bare. I am hearing similar stories from colleagues about other pantries throughout the Miami Valley. Many people in Dayton are desperately hungry. When you do your grocery shopping, please remember to toss a few extra items into your grocery cart and bring them to the church. Also, the New Hope Food Pantry was just relocated to a new space in New Hope Lutheran Church, and a request is being made for donations of "pull-behind" rolling grocery carts. If you wish to donate one, bring it to the church, and we will include it in our next food delivery. Thank you!!

May God bless you this weekend with the joy of being with others in worship!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

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A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

 

This weekend in worship, our lessons assure us that we are not abandoned in life by God; the Holy Spirit comes to us each day, reminding us of the endless blessings we have already received from God. At Saturday night worship, the Sonshine Children's Choir will help lead us in worship, as they present special music.

 

Rebuilding Together – Dayton

From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., youth and parents in the Dayton Confirmation Cluster will join Lutherans from throughout the Miami Valley in rehabbing a home as part of the Rebuilding Together project. The house captain is Doug Hammer. Anyone under 18 will need to have parental signatures on waiver forms, which can be obtained at the church office, or at the house sight. Call the church office for more details.

 

Remember in Prayer

Some of you will remember Helen Dooley as a member-disciple before moving to Florida. Helen died last Saturday, and she was Vicki Willis' mother. Please keep Vicki and her family in your prayers.

 

Congratulations

Fairmont High School's a cappella group "Eleventh Hour" (they sang at our "Peace Pole" celebration last fall) received the 2008 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for best high school recorded CD with its 2007 release "How Sweet It Is". Our own Chelsie Cooper is a member of this talented group of youth. The group also won the best high school song award with "When Will I Be Loved" from the same CD. Way to go, Chelsie!

 

And, congratulations to Kira Fenstermacher – she is a member of the Oakwood High School Academic Decathlon team, which recently placed third overall in the state at the Ohio Academic Decathlon State Finals. Individually, Kira also received high scores in the areas of speech, language and literature, music, essay, and super quiz. The team will represent Ohio in the United States Academic Decathlon Virtual Nationals next month. Way to go, Kira!

 

Eagle Project

To date, $170.00 has been donated toward Tyler Maschino's Eagle project, which is to build a locking storage structure at the back end of the chapel. This unit will store chairs used for Saturday outdoor worship, and garden supplies/tools. The projected goal is $500.00. To those who donated last week, THANK YOU. To those who wish to help, bring your donation this weekend, and let's help Tyler reach his goal!

 

Mother's Day Brunch

Circle May 4 on your calendar, and plan to attend the annual Mother's Day brunch hosted by the Youth Group, 11:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall. This is a fundraising event for the Youth Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic.

 

May you enjoy discovering and using the blessings God has already given you!

 

In Christ's peace,

Gary

 

 

 

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Bell Choir

The Bell Choir will resume practices this coming Sunday after the 10:30 a.m. service.

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We are an Easter people! That means we believe in and worship a God of extravagant abundance and not scarcity! Our lessons this weekend drive home that point, as we hear again the story of Jesus telling his disciples that God has plenty of blessings for everyone.

This Sunday, at the 10:30 a.m. service, we will also provide prayers and anointing for spiritual/mental/physical healing during the celebration of Holy Communion.

Sunday afternoon, the Dayton Confirmation Cluster will travel to Wittenberg University to meet with campus pastor Rachel Tune and some college students to discuss putting faith into action after confirmation.

Those of you who still have cards from the Adopt-A-College Student Program are reminded to return them to the church office ASAP!! Some colleges will be concluding for the summer in a few weeks, so the materials need to be in the mail now.

The Spiritual Journey event will resume this Friday, 10:00 p.m. at the church. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Carol Harper and some high school friends hosted a dance in our fellowship hall Saturday night. Entry fee was a canned food donation. 50 youth attended, bringing 120 cans of food and $14 – all of which has been donated to the church food pantry. Way to go, Carol!!

Tyler Maschino is working on his Boy Scout Eagle Award, and his project is to build a storage shed at the backside of the parish house chapel to house the chairs we use for our Saturday outdoor worship. Special thanks to the church Property Committee for the direction they have shared with Tyler. Cost of building materials is about $500, which he is to raise. This weekend, I invite you to bring an additional donation for Tyler's Eagle Project, so he can reach his goal. The "build" is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, with a rainout date set for May 10.

Needed – people willing to serve as ushers for the 10:30 a.m. worship service (and 9:45 a.m. service during the summer). Job description – hand out bulletins, collect the offering, direct people during communion, count heads. Age/gender requirement: none! If you would like to volunteer, respond to this email, or contact Terri Balsom in the church office. Thanks!

LOOKING AHEAD

Rebuilding Together – this annual home-rehabbing project is scheduled for Saturday, April 26. Miami Valley Lutherans will be working on two homes, and our own Terry Bruns and Doug Hammer are the house captains. Volunteers of all abilities can be utilized. Can you help? Contact the church office.

Youth Mother's Day Brunch – May 4, 11:45 a.m., in the fellowship hall. Yes, it's not really Mother's Day, but this way, you can support the youth one week, and then celebrate with your family the next. This annual event is a fundraiser for the youth mission trip to the Dominican Republic in July, where they will be working at an orphanage for a week.

I look forward to being in worship with you this weekend as we sing our praises to the God of abundance!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

 

Last week, I was away helping our daughter Megan celebrate her 21^st birthday – so I'm officially an ol . . . I mean "well-ripened" guy. Special thanks to Terry Bruns for leading worship on Saturday night, and to the Rev. Brian Dillahunt for leading worship on Sunday.

 

This weekend in worship, we will hear again the story of Jesus meeting up with two believers on their way to Emmaus on that first Easter day. It is an account filled with hope in the midst of unfulfilled dreams and expectations, a story very appropriate for us in today's world!

 

On Sunday afternoon, our congregation will host the 7-church Confirmation Cluster, 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. For this day, the cluster pastors have created a version of Trivial Pursuit based upon the theme – What does it mean to be a Lutheran? – with the board superimposed onto the fellowship hall floor. If we can make it work, we will offer our adults opportunities to "play" at various fellowship gatherings.

 

This Saturday, I have the honor of presenting one of the workshops at "SeniorFest – a day for Lutherans Age 50 and Older". The event will be held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, in Centerville, and features 13 different workshops, including opening and closing celebrations with Lutheran musician John Ylvisaker (composer of "Borning Cry"). I will be leading two session of the workshop "I want my grandkids to know their family's history – writing your story". I am told there is still time to sign up for the event and workshops by contacting Rev. Larry Hoffsis at 435-5020 or larryhoffsis@sbcglobal.net. Cost is $15 and includes a box lunch.

 

There will be NO Spiritual Gathering this Friday, but we will resume on Friday, April 18.

 

I look forward to being with you all in worship this weekend. May the God of new life fill your week with blessings beyond your wildest imagination!

 

In Christ's peace,

Gary

 

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Bell Choir

To prepare for Easter, the Bell Choir will have a special rehearsal on Saturday, March 22, at 11:30 a.m. after the Chancel Choir rehearsal.

Holy Week Worship

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Before we move too far into this special week, I want to remind you of the worship opportunities before us as we observe and celebrate the holiest of weeks:

MAUNDY THURSDAY (March 20) – St. Paul Lutheran Church (Wayne Ave.)

6:00 p.m. – dinner in the fellowship hall (upstairs)

7:00 p.m. – service of Holy Communion, the sharing of our last "faith story" (mine), and music from the combined chancel choirs of St. Paul and Our Savior

GOOD FRIDAY (March 21) – Lutheran Church of Our Savior

7:00 p.m. – Good Friday liturgy with reading of the Passion Narrative

HOLY SATURDAY (March 22) – Lutheran Church of Our Savior (in the chapel)

5:30 p.m. – Taize' Prayer Service for Peace and Healing of the nations

EASTER SUNDAY – March 23 – Lutheran Church of Our Savior

9:30 a.m. – Easter Egg Hunt (those hiding eggs are to gather in the parish house meeting room at 9:00 a.m.)

10:30 a.m. – Festival Celebration of the Resurrection, with special musicians, celebration of Holy Communion, and reading of the Easter story

Following worship, those who ordered lilies are invited to take them home.

May God bless you and your family with the faith, courage and wisdom to reserve and spend some of your time in worship and prayer this week. May the Lord of Easter new life breathe new life and joy into you! And, remember – someone you know may be waiting to be invited to attend church on Easter, so invite them to come with you!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

News From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Last Sunday morning, after the "big snow", I walked outside before the start of our 10:30 a.m. (and only) worship service, and listened: the birds were singing as if it were the end of April, and a woodpecker could be heard digging for breakfast on the side of a tree. Spring is really coming! Special thanks to everyone who helped to make sure that we were able to hold worship last Sunday, especially Alan and Scott Nandrasy who are responsible for clearing our walkways and doorways! You guys did a great job – thank you!

This weekend marks the beginning of Holy Week, as we celebrate Palm Sunday. On Saturday, the Sonshine Childrens' Choir will help to lead us in worship at 5:30 p.m. During the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service, we will offer prayers and anointing for healing.

On Sunday, at 11:30 a.m., the Youth will hold an early St. Patrick's Day Brunch in the fellowship hall for all. This is a fund raising activity for the summer mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

HOLY WEEK WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Maundy Thursday (March 20) – St. Paul's Lutheran Church, downtown Dayton on Wayne Ave.

6:00 p.m. salad and sandwich dinner in the fellowship hall

7:00 p.m. Service of Holy Communion and healing; the faith story shared this night will be mine

Good Friday (March 21) – Lutheran Church of Our Savior

7:00 P.M. Service will include the reading of the Passion Narrative, and participation in the ancient "Bidding Prayer"

Holy Saturday (March 22) – LCOS Chapel

5:30 P.M. Taize' Prayer Service with Holy Communion

Easter Sunday (March 23) – Lutheran Church of Our Savior

9:30 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt

10:30 a.m. Festival Celebration of the Resurrection Faith

There is no 8:15 a.m. worship on Easter

The God who turned Good Friday into Easter morning is still the God who provides for us each day – let's gather in worship this weekend to praise our God who turns our Good Fridays into Easter!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

A Message From Our Pastor: Lenten Worship

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

 

This Wednesday, March 12, is the final Wednesday in our Lenten mid-week worship schedule. At noon, we will gather in the chapel to hear the story of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, and then we will move to the fellowship hall for lunch. Special thanks to Judy and Carl Ault for preparing lunch for us throughout this Lenten season.

 

Our 6:30 evening service will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Wayne Ave.), and will feature our own John Buechele sharing his faith story. John is part of the year-round staff at Lutheran Memorial Camp. Come early to share fellowship time at 6:00 p.m.

 

In Christ's peace,

Gary

 

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Sunday, March 9 - 10:30 AM Service WILL Be Held; 8:15 AM Service Will NOT Be Held

A message from our Pastor:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

There will be no 8:15 worship Sunday morning, due to the additional drifting that is to occur tonight as the winds pick up again.  However, we are going ahead with Sunday School and our 10:30 worship service as planned.  If you know of folks who normally worship downtown, please invite them to worship with us - we understand that downtown Dayton is closed, and churches have been asked to cancel their worship services.

Remember to change your clocks tonight - ahead.

In Christ's peace

Gary

No Saturday Services Due to Snow Emergency; Funeral Postponed - March 8

Due to the snow emergency and continuing blizzard conditions our Saturday service has been cancelled. Also, the funeral for Ted Pace which was to take place this morning has been postponed.  

If the weather remains severe enough that our services tomorrow are cancelled, I will post more information when I hear it.

Don't forget the time change tonight.

Stay warm and safe!

A Message From Our Pastor: Worship This Weekend; Time Change; Holy Week

Dear sisters and brothers in the Lord,

CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT – MOVE AHEAD ONE HOUR – IT'S DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our worship theme this weekend is HOPE and WAITING in the Lord, and is grounded in the Old Testament lesson of Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones, and the Gospel account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The Sonshine Children's Choir will be singing special music for those worshiping on Saturday night, and the Joyful Noise Children's Choir will be singing at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. Great sources of hope for us all! The Health Ministries Team will be offering free blood pressure screenings after all three services this weekend.

Holy Week Schedule

MAUNDY THURSDAY (March 20), 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Dinner will precede the service at 6:00 p.m., served upstairs in the fellowship hall.

GOOD FRIDAY (March 21), 7:00 p.m. at Lutheran Church of Our Savior (no food)

HOLY SATURDAY (March 22), 5:30 p.m. – Taize' prayer service with Holy Communion in the LCOS Chapel

EASTER SUNDAY (March 23) – ONE WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:30 A.M. The Holy Terrors will hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt at 9:15 a.m.

So, change your clocks, and join us for worship this weekend as we praise the God who is always "on time"!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

A Message From Our Pastor: Lenten Worship; Time Change

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Just a reminder that we will hold noon Lenten worship in our chapel this Wednesday, and we will be hearing the faith story of Samson from the Old Testament. Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall following worship. The evening Lenten service will be held in our sanctuary at 6:30 p.m., preceded by fellowship and refreshments in the narthex at 6:00 p.m. This week, a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church will share a faith story. Next week’s evening service will be at St. Paul’s downtown.

Reminder: It's early this year – Daylight Savings Time begins Saturday night, March 9, so move your clocks up an hour in order to arrive on time for worship and Sunday School!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This weekend in worship, we hear the story of Jesus healing the blind man on the Sabbath, which caused quite a stir among the members of the local synagogue, since healing on the Sabbath was considered a sin. At the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service, Mary Jane Fulcher will be with us share a special message about the orphanage to which our youth are traveling this summer in the Dominican Republic. Mary's brother is a missionary on the island. Mary is also the mother of our own Shelly Fulcher.

I invite you all to gather together in worship this weekend and praise the God who is good all the time!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

A Message from Our Pastor: Lenten worship

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Our Wednesday Lenten worship schedule for this week is as follows:

Noon – in the chapel; we will be looking at the faith story of the people of Israel as recorded in the account of the Battle of Jericho; a light lunch will follow in the fellowship hall

6:30 p.m. – at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Wayne Ave. Luis Martinez, from LCOS, will share a portion of his faith story regarding his flight from Cuba years ago; prior to worship, at 6:00 p.m., we gather for fellowship time at the back of the sanctuary

God will bless us all with many opportunities to deepen our relationship with our Lord – may we take advantage of them!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It is snowing, as it is supposed to do in February . . . the church lot has been plowed and salted, as well as the walks and steps into the church. Our noon and 6:30 p.m. midweek Lenten services will go on as scheduled today.

And . . . if winter weather ever leaves you wondering if worship (or other ministry activities) are going on as scheduled or cancelled, you can call the church office, watch TV channels 2 and 7, and watch your email for any cancellations. Please know that in the event of snow or ice, our church lot is always plowed/salted in time for mid-week and weekend worship!

This weekend's worship theme is centered on the image of "living water" that Jesus offers a Samaritan woman at "Jacob's well". The ancient Biblical reference to "living water" implies water that is moving, teeming with life, and not stagnant and lifeless. In Baptism, Jesus, the source of this living water, breathes new life into us, and daily fulfills God's promise to be lead us into meaningful life. The flowing fountain in the chancel is an audible reminder of God's living water in Jesus. The series of Lenten banners that present life's contrasts (sin/grace, destruction/redemption, death/life) have been created by a member of the congregation.

Looking Ahead: Holy Week Worship
Maundy Thursday (March 20) – at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Wayne Ave., 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday (March 21) – at LCOS, 7:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday (March 22) – Taize' prayer service w/Holy Communion at LCOS, 5:30 p.m.
Easter (March 23) – one service at 10:30 a.m. celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord

May God's blessings fill your life this week with joy, hope, and the uncontrollable urge to make life better for someone else through your faith!

In Christ's peace,
Gary

Easter Windows

Once again this year, groups and individuals are invited to create a floral arrangement in one of the window bays in the sanctuary for Easter. A sign-up sheet will be in the narthex. Stay tuned for more details.

Today's Services Will Take Place

Our Lenten services today will take place despite the snow. The parking lot has been plowed, and will be again if it snows more before the evening service. See details below on service times.

Lenten Worship - A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Just a reminder that we continue our midweek Lenten services on Wednesday this week. The noon service will be held in the chapel, followed by a light lunch in the fellowship hall. The faith stories we will focus on will be those of Rachel and Leah, from the Old Testament. The evening service, which we share with St. Paul Lutheran Church, will be held at LCOS this week: 6:00 p.m. – fellowship time (with light refreshments) in the narthex, followed by worship in the sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. using Holden Evening Prayer. A member of St. Paul will share her faith story with us.

Gary

Wednesday Lenten Services; Transportation

Wednesday Lenter Services continue tomorrow, February 13, with a service at LCOS at noon (followed by a simple lunch) and a joint service with St. Paul Lutheran Church (downtown Dayton) at 6:30 p.m.

The evening service at St. Paul will be preceded by a fellowship and refreshments starting at 6:00 p.m. Next week's service will be at LCOS. (Click this link for more details and the schedule for the weeks to come.) Each of the evening services will include the Holden Evening Prayer service, and a member of one of the churches will share with us the member's faith story.

If you do not like to drive after dark, we will be glad to provide transportation for you to the evening Lenten services, both at LCOS and St. Paul – just call the church office and ask to be placed on the list. You will be called by your “driver” prior to being picked up. And for those driving to St. Paul, the congregation has plenty of well-lighted parking. We suggest carpooling from the LCOS parking lot. Direction sheets are available in the office and narthex.

Ash Wednesday Service and Supper; Lenten Wednesday Services; Transportation

In observance of Ash Wednesday, the Lutheran Church of Our Savior will hold a service at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow (February 6), preceded by a soup supper at 6:00 p.m. The service will be the traditional liturgy that appears in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, including the imposition of ashes and Holy Communion. We will be joined by members and clergy from St. Paul Lutheran Church (downtown Dayton), and the combined choirs of St. Paul and LCOS will sing. As always, visitors are welcome - join us for fellowship, food, and worship.

During the rest of Lent, we will hold mid-week Wednesday services at noon and 6:30 p.m. The noon services will all be at LCOS; the evening services will alternate between LCOS and St. Paul. The evening service on Feb. 13 will be held at St. Paul.

If you do not like to drive after dark, we will be glad to provide transportation for you to the evening Lenten services, both at LCOS and St. Paul – just call the church office and ask to be placed on the list. You will be called by your “driver” prior to being picked up. And for those driving to St. Paul, the congregation has plenty of well-lighted parking. We suggest carpooling from the LCOS parking lot. Direction sheets are available in the office and narthex.

Worship Committee Meeting

The Worship Committee will meet this coming Saturday, February 9, at 10:00 a.m.

Souper Bowl of Caring 2008 - The Cart Was Overflowing

At our worship services this last weekend, we collected 253 food items and $29 as part of the Super Bowl of Caring. The food and money will be donated directly to the New Hope Food Pantry. Thanks to everybody who contributed and to the people who stayed late to help report the count. Your generosity is appreciated and will be a great help to the food panty in fulfilling their mission. For the national totals, see the web site for the Souper Bowl of Caring, where groups are beginning to report what they collected.

Souper Bowl of Caring on Super Bowl Weekend

"Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us to be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat." Souper Bowl of Caring Founding Prayer

This coming weekend, those who come to worship at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior will participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring. All proceeds will go directly to the New Hope Food Pantry in Dayton. This is an annual event that started with one church in 1990 and has now grown to over 15,000 churches and civic groups nationwide. Approximately $8,26,191 worth of food and money was raised in 2007, with $826,191 of that coming from ELCA congregations. No money or food is sent to the Souper Bowl of Caring itself - all proceeds go directly a charity chosen by each participating group.

We encourage everybody attending our services this weekend to give generously. We will be collecting both food items and monetary donations.

For more information, see http://www.souperbowl.org/ and www.elca.org/hunger/resources/souperbowl.html. If you click on "Social Ministry Projects" below, you'll see more postings about the New Hope Food Pantry.

Driftwood for Window Displays During Lent

Lent starts very early this year - Ash Wednesday is Feb. 6. If you have any driftwood that can be used in the window displays during the season of Lent (a depiction of a dry creek bed), please let Gary or a member of the Worship Committee know, and bring it in by Feb. 3.

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Our worship theme this weekend, grounded in our lessons, deals with our response to God's call to obedience and servanthood. We have the opportunity to reflect on our own responses to God's call as we hear in the Gospel lesson the account of Jesus calling his first disciples to follow him. This is big stuff, and demands that we dream big!

It's here! The "Hearts for the Lord's Will" All-Congregation Birthday Celebration will be held this Sunday, January 23 11:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall. If you have forgotten to make your reservations, not to worry. The Evangelism Team says come on - just bring a covered dish to share (something other desserts, please – from the reservations, it looks like we'll have plenty of sweets!). Not only does this promise to be an exciting event, it also promises to do a great job of "setting the table" for our Annual Meeting, held the following week! We hope you will be with us. Nursery care and activities for children will be provided.

Looking Ahead:

- Annual Meeting - Sunday, February 3, 11:45 a.m. Catered lunch, followed by meeting to act on the proposed budget, celebrate last year's ministries, and act on a Local Benevolence proposal
- Ash Wednesday observance - February 6, 6:00 p.m. dinner; 7:00 p.m. worship (sanctuary). This will be a traditional service using the liturgy for Ash Wednesday from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, including the imposition of ashes.

The volunteers who work at the New Hope Food Pantry have expressed their gratitude to the members of LCOS for their generous support. The food and money you send does make a difference, and is greatly appreciated. Last month, they provided assistance for over 300 people, and they couldn't have done it without us. You've probably read that food pantries and food banks around the country are experiencing shortages of food. While the shelves at the New Hope Food Pantry aren't empty, they are very low. Particular needs right now are for canned fruit and fruit juices (keep in mind that people on blood pressure medication can't eat grapefruit); rice; and high-protein foods such as canned salmon and tuna, beans, prepared dinners, stews, "chunky" soups, etc. The collection point for donations is the kitchen in the parrish house.

Parting thought: the late Episcopal theologian Henri Nouwen once wrote, community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another. Community is the fruit of our capacity to make the interests of others more important than our own (see Philippians 2:4). The question, therefore, is not, "How can we make community?" but "How can we develop and nurture giving hearts?"

As we prepare to gather for worship and fellowship in our community of faith this weekend, may we come with giving hearts. See you in worship!

In Christ's peace,
Gary

A Message from Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Looking toward this weekend, our lessons for worship remind us that identity is not wrapped up in our answers to the question, "What do you do?", but solely in what God does for us, through Jesus, in baptism - making us children of God. As you prepare to worship together this weekend, I encourage all of us to prayerfully ponder the question "Who am I?", comparing what you "do" with that which God has created you to be.

Tonight (Friday), we will hold another Spiritual Journeys event for anyone who wishes to explore a deeper relationship with God. Meet around the fireplace in the parish house foyer at 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, students in the Confirmation Cluster will gather at First Lutheran Church, downtown, to participate in a service project of feeding the community's poor/homeless.

Looking Ahead:

Next Sunday, January 27, the Evangelism Team is hosting the All-Congregation Members' Birthday Party at 11:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Remember to RSVP to your invitations!

Ash Wednesday Service - the start of the Lenten season - February 6. Dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by the service at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. This will be a traditional service using the liturgy for Ash Wednesday from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, including the imposition of ashes. We will be joined by members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Downtown Dayton) for this service and dinner. I will write to you more later about the Wednesday night services for the remainder of Lent, which will alternate between LCOS and St. Paul's.

Question: Whose life have you improved this week by libing our your faith?

I look forward to being with you in worship this weekend!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

Chancel Choir Seeking New Members

The Chancel Choir is seeking new members. If you've ever thought about joining, now would be a good time to do so. We'll be starting to work on music for Easter in a couple of weeks. You don't have to make a long-term commitment; we'll be glad to have you sing with us even if you can only come for a while. If you have any questions, contact director Ginger Minneman.

Thanks . . . .

to all the people who have helped take down and store Christmas decorations! Everybody in the Worship Committee appreciates the assistance.

Prayer Vigil

Thanks to those who attended the Prayer Vigil for Peace last Saturday, and to Joyce Long who played flute for the Taize music. Ginger Minneman picked out a particulary nice selection of Taize music and readings for the 7;30-8:30 p.m. hour. We'll plan similar events in the future. Look for announcements here, in the church news letter The Voice and in worship bulletins.

Chancel Choir Rehearsals Resume This Evening

Just a reminder to members of the Chancel Choir - rehearsals resume this evening at 7:00 p.m.

Epiphany Prayer Vigil for Peace with Taize and Other Matters: A Message from Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Happy New Year! What a way to begin another year – snow as far as the eye can see!!

This weekend, we celebrate the Festival of the Epiphany, one of the oldest festivals in Christianity (January 6). It is a celebration of God revealing ("epiphany" = to reveal) Jesus to the non-Jewish (Gentile) world through the visit of the magi. The season after the Epiphany is often called an "accordion" season, because the magi loved polka music. Not really – actually the length of the season expands or contracts from one year to the next depending upon when Easter occurs in the calendar. This year, it is a short season (5 weeks) because Easter is observed on March 23! The lessons associated with the season after the Epiphany all help the worshipper come to know who Jesus is – the Son of God.

On Saturday, January 5, the Worship Planning Team is hosting an Epiphany Prayer Vigil for Peace. Held in the chapel from 12 noon to 9:00 p.m., prayers will be offered by many throughout the day – prayers for peace in our lives, our homes, communities, nation, and throughout the world. From 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., Ginger Minneman and some musicians will be leading Taize music interspersed with prayers and readings in the chapel. You are invited to come by the chapel at any time from noon to 9 p.m., offer prayers, and light candles. A book of prayers will be available for your use, or you may create your own.

Weekend Activities

Friday There will be NO Spiritual Journey gathering
Saturday

Noon Start of Epiphany Prayer Vigil (chapel)
5:30 p.m. Worship (sanctuary)
7:30 p.m. Taize' Prayer Service (chapel)

Sunday

8:15 a.m. worship (sanctuary)
9:00 a.m. Children's Choirs rehearse
9:15/9:30 a.m. Sunday School classes
10:30 a.m. worship (sanctuary)
3:00 p.m. MUSICA! concert – this is the holiday concert that was postponed due to snow in December; it will be held in our sanctuary – tickets will be available at the door
3:15 p.m. Confirmation youth meet at St. Paul Lutheran
Church on Wayne Ave. for the bus trip to Columbus

FLOWER CALENDAR HAS 7 SPOTS

The following spots remain on the 2008 altar flower calendar:
2/3, 3/30, 4/20, 8/17, 8/24, 11/2, 12/28
If you would like to place flowers on the altar on one of these dates, please respond to this email or call Terri at the church office (293-1147). Cost of each vase is $30, and the florist will bill you directly.

LOOKING AHEAD

Sunday, January 27 - Birthday Party for all members
Sunday, February 3 - Annual Meeting to receive 2007 ministry reports and act on the 2008 proposed budget
Wednesday, February 6 - Ash Wednesday – the start of the season of Lent, with worship opportunities at noon and 6:45 p.m.

May the God who makes all things new, including this new year, breathe into you new passion for ministry this week. I hope to see you in worship this weekend!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope and pray that your Christmas celebration was joyfilled!

As I write this, we have no phone system at the church – it went out Christmas Eve, and we are awaiting service people, which may be a couple days. So, if you have attempted to call, you are sent immediately to voice mail, and can even leave a message. However, we cannot access any messages. So, if you have been awaiting a call back from one of us in the office, please email us instead. I will let you know when we have phones again!

Special thanks to everyone who had a hand in any behind-the-scenes work in preparation for our Christmas Eve services, as well as all the children, youth and adults who helped to lead the two services!

This weekend in worship, our Gospel Lesson confronts with the reality that the birth of Christ does not remove the power of evil in the world – but its light gives us hope as we walk with all the "holy innocents" of past generations and today who have suffered unjustly. In our gathering around Word and Meal, God continues to redeem us, lift us up, and empower us to faithfully live as children of God.

Reminders

Annual Reports are due in the church office by Monday, January 14 (print ready, via email or on disc). If you chair a committee, ministry team, or ministry group, we need you to compile a report for 2007 activities.

There are still some open dates on the 2008 Altar Flower Calendar. Sign up this weekend, or call/email the church office and we'll sign you up. The vases are $30.00 each, and will be billed to you from the florist. If you have not yet picked up your 2008 Offering Envelopes, they are waiting for you in the narthex.

EPIPHANY PRAYER VIGIL FOR PEACE

As part of God's Peace Flowing Through Us initiative, we will be holding a prayer vigil for peace as part of the conclusion of the Christmas season and the start of the Epiphany season. The vigil will be held on Saturday, January 5, noon through 9:00 p.m. in the chapel. From 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., Ginger Minneman and a group of musicians will lead those present in singing Taize music, interspersed with prayers and readings. A sign-up sheet for 30-minute time slots for the prayer vigil is posted in the narthex, and you are invited to "take a time" in the chapel, praying for the peace of our community, our nation, and the world. (Multiple people can sign up for the same time slot, and people should feel free to come at any time even if they did not sign up at all.) Like the September 9 vigil, a book of prayers will be available to use if you wish. Sign up this weekend! Note: the regular Saturday evening worship service will be held, as usual, in the sanctuary, at 5:30 p.m. on this day.

As we come to the conclusion of 2007, we praise God for the fulfilled promise of our Lord being with us each day; as we prepare to walk through the doorway into a new year, we pray that God will continue to walk with us, bringing a fuller sense of peace into our lives, and the lives of all throughout the world. Happy New Year, everybody!

In Christ's peace,
Gary

It's Christmas Eve!

It's Christmas Eve, and we have two services today. The first is at 4:00 p.m. It is the family service, and includes the children's Christmas pagaent and Holy Communion. The second service is at 10:00 p.m. It is a traditional service of Holy Communion. Much of the service will be by candle light. The Chancel Choir, Ginger Minneman, Director, is singing a number of special pieces:

• Betelehemu, a Nigerian Christmas Song, Via Olatunji, Wendell Wahlum, Barrington Brooks (sung in Nigerian)
• The Shepherd's Carol, Bob Chilcott
• A La Nanita Nana, traditional Spanish Carol, Norman Luboff
• Bogoroditse Dyevo, (Hail Mary), Bill Tamblyn, Sergei Rachmaninov
• A Child By Choice, Robert Southwell, Richard Nance

Both services will include many Christmas Carols.

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

January 5 Prayer Vigil for Peace, Including Taize Music and Prayers

Join us at the Lutheran Church of our Savior at the end of the hectic "holiday" season for an event focusing on the peace that only God can bring about in our lives and world. As part of our "God's Peace Flowing Through Us" initiative, we will be holding a prayer vigil for peace during the weekend of Epiphany. The vigil will be held on Saturday, January 5 in the chapel from noon through 9:00 p.m. All members of the Dayton area community are invited to attend.

During the hour from 7:30 p.m. through 8:30 p.m., our Director of Music Ginger Minneman and a group of instrumentalists will lead those present in singing Taize music, interspersed with prayers and readings. If you haven't experienced music and prayers in this kind of setting, perform a Google search on the word "Taize," and you'll find lots of information about it. The chapel will be lit by candlelight.

We'll have a sign-up sheet in the narthex for several weeks before the vigil so that people can volunteer to participate during particular time slots. We're doing this just to make sure that someone will be taking part in the prayer vigil during its entire time. People should feel to come at any time during the vigil, however. At the prayer vigil in September, there were often many people praying at the same time. Visitors are welcome.

FYI, the regular Saturday 5:30 p.m. evening service will be held in the main sanctuary on January 5 - the prayer vigil and Taize music and prayers are in addition to our regular weekend worship schedule.

No 8:15 AM Service or Sunday School Tomorrow-10:30 AM Service Will Be Held

Due to the additional snow and colder temperatures coming in tonight, we will only have the 10:30 AM service tomorrow (December 16). Both the children's choir and the Chancel Choir will sing at this service.

Today's 5:30 PM Service WILL Be Held

If you're wondering, today's service has NOT been called off due to the winter weather.

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

What a great Sunday afternoon last week! Our annual ADVENTure Awaiting Festival was great fun. Kudos to Celeste Hoerner and Shelly Fulcher and the youth for preparing a delicious smorgasbord of food; to Ginger Minneman for the beautiful table decorations; and to Laurie, Walt, and Kira Fenstermacher for coordinating the Holiday Workshop and the Silent Auction. And, special thanks to everyone who donated the items for the auction. As I write this, I do not know how much money we collected for the Adopt-A-Family Program and the Youth Mission Trip – but we had a great time!

WORSHIP THEME
This weekend is the third weekend in the season of Advent. Our lessons call us to remain patient and faithful as we await God's reign to be fully realized in our midst.

SONSHINE CHOIR
The Sonshine Children's Choir will present special music during the 8:15 a.m. worship service this weekend. This is a real treat, as the children normally sing during the 10:30 a.m. service! Special thanks in advance to you parents for getting your children up for early worship!

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
SATURDAY
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal – 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary
Chancel Choir Rehearsal – 10:00 a.m. in the chancel choir room
Worship – 5:50 p.m. in the sanctuary
SUNDAY
Worship – 8:15 a.m. – in the sanctuary
Rehearsals for Children's Choirs – 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School Classes – 9:15/9:30 a.m.
Worship – 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary
Property Committee – 11:30 a.m. in the conference room
Hand Bell Rehearsal – 11:30 a.m. – in the sanctuary balcony
Youth Lunch – 12 noon

MUSICA! CONCERT – 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

May the God of new beginnings fill you with blessings that will make you sing his praises and share his gifts this week, and lead you to join your sisters and brothers in worship this weekend!

In Christ's peace,
Gary

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The first snow of the season – what a treat!!

Our second weekend in the season of Advent presents us with the theme of repentance and preparation for new beginnings. In part, that means actually expecting God to make new things happen in our lives and in the world, and then actively obeying and following the God who makes all things new. This being the second weekend of the month, the Health Ministry Team will provide free, confidential blood pressure screenings following all three of our worship services.

FRIDAY ACTIVITIES
6:30 p.m. – Christmas pageant rehearsal in the sanctuary and blue room for everyone with speaking parts
10:00 p.m. – Spiritual Journey gathering in the parish house foyer around the fireplace

SATURDAY ACTIVITIES
12 noon to 3:00 p.m. – Youth Cooking for Adventure Awaiting – in the basement kitchen
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. – Christmas Caroling, hosted by the Holy Terrors (meet at the church for carpooling)
5:30 p.m. – Worship in the sanctuary

SUNDAY ACTIVITIES
8:15 a.m. – Worship in the sanctuary
9:00 a.m. – Children's Choirs Rehearsal
9:15/9:30 a.m. – Sunday School Classes
10:30 a.m. – Worship in the sanctuary
11:30 a.m. – Congregational Meeting to elect new council members – in the sanctuary
11:40 a.m. – ADVENTure Awaiting – in the fellowship hall
1:30 p.m. – Bridge Group – in the blue room

DEADLINES
This Sunday is the final opportunity to reserve Christmas Poinsettias and submit Christmas Eve Bulletin Cover drawings.

We still have some open Sundays on the 2008 Flower Calendar. Be sure to sign up this weekend!

There are still 2008 Offering Envelopes to be picked up in the narthex. Do you have yours?

May the God of New Beginnings breathe new life into you this day so that you may see and experience life with meaning, excitement and joy! Make worship participation part of that joyous new beginning.

In Christ's peace,

Gary

Still Time Left to Join the Chancel Choir for Christmas Eve

Christmas is coming up quickly, but there is still time to join the Chancel Choir to sing at the Christmas Eve Service. If you sing and would like to join us for this special festival service, contact our Music Director, Ginger Minneman. Rehearsals are on the following days:

• Saturday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m.
• Thursday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m.
• Thursday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m.

Ginger has once again chosen beautiful music for us to sing at this candlelight service. I'll post a list of the music in the next day or two.

Chancel Choir - Special Rehearsals December 1 and 15

A reminder to members of the Chancel Choir - this year's special rehearsals to prepare for Christmas Eve are Saturday, December 1 and Saturday, December 15. Both rehearsals are at 10:00 a.m.

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The late musical storyteller Harry Chapin wrote and sang: "All my life's a circle, sunrise and sundown. . . . The season's spinnin' 'round again, the years keep rollin' by."

We have come full-circle in the life of the church year, and this weekend, we start the story all over again. This Sunday is the First Sunday in Advent; the color for the season is blue (hope); and the worship theme as embodied in our lessons is KEEP ALERT AND AWAKE! For we begin the new year watching and preparing for the daily and final coming of Christ.

This Sunday:

+ Christmas Pageant Rehearsal – 11:45 a.m., in the sanctuary; lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Rachel Spry by this Saturday. If you forget to reply or discover at the last minute your youth is able to attend, there will be enough food for all.
+ Adopt-A-Family Tag Tree – there are still gift tags on the tree in the narthex, and this is the final week! Make sure you pull a tag this weekend.
+ St. Olaf Choir Simulcast – the world-renown St. Olaf (Lutheran) University Choir will present its Christmas Fest Concert this Sunday, and it is being simulcast in two local movie theaters: Hollywood (Farifield Commons) and Dayton South Showcase. Cost is $20/ticket. Elyse Fenstermacher, a junior at St. Olaf, is a member of the Choir.

New Sunday (Dec. 9)

+ Congregational Meeting – we will be "called to order" immediately following the late service to elect 5 new congregation council members. The five nominees are:

Chris Becker (2008-2009)
Wes Boord (2008-2010)
Sonia Davila (2008-2010)
Michelle Jackson Haun (2008-2010)
Nancy Henry (2008-2010)

+ ADVENTure Awaiting – our annual Advent Festival will be held in the fellowship hall after the congregational meeting. Youth are preparing food, and the silent auction and Advent/Christmas workshop will be held. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit our Adopt-A-Family program; donations for the food will go toward the 2008 Youth Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic.
+ Chrismon Trees – anyone who can spare an extra 30-40 minutes after ADVENTure Awaiting is invited to help erect the new, pre-lit Chrismon trees in the sanctuary.

Deadlines
Christmas Eve Bulletin Drawings – Sunday, December 9 is the deadline to submit your artwork (children and youth) to the church office. Forms are available on the tables in the narthex or in the office.
Christmas Poinsettias – Sunday, December 9 is the deadline to submit your green reservation form and $7/plant to the church office. Forms are also on tables in the narthex or in the office.

Christmas Caroling
Saturday, December 8, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. – join the Holy Terrors children's group as we share the Good News of God in Christ in musical form with some of our homebound members. Then, at 3:00 p.m., we'll invade a local ice cream store for ice cream! All ages are invited to join us for this event.

Join me in faithfully starting the New Church Year by gathering in worship this Saturday or Sunday!

In Christ's Peace,
Gary

Advent Begins this Sunday

A new church year begins this Sunday, December 2. That day is the first Sunday of Advent. The liturgical color for Advent is blue, which is used to symbolize hope. (For more information on the use of liturgical colors, visit the ELCA's web site.) During Advent, the background color of this blog will be blue.

During Advent this year, we will use Setting Five of the Communion Service from ELW. This setting is based on plain chant, and is largely the same as Setting III in the LBW and one of the settings in the old "red book." In this setting, the Lord's Prayer is chanted by the congregation and the pastor. We haven't chanted the Lord's Prayer before, so this will be a new experience for some of the people attending our services. Some members have, however, visited other churches where the Lord's Prayer is chanted, and found the practice meaningful. The tune that is used is simple and beautiful.

Prayer Vigil for Peace Set for the Weekend of Epiphany; Including Taize Music, Prayers and Readings

At the end of what can often be a hectic holiday season, join us at the Lutheran Church of our Savior for an event focusing on the peace that only God can bring about in our lives and world. As part of our "God's Peace Flowing Through Us" initiative, we will be holding a prayer vigil for peace during the weekend of Epiphany. The vigil will be held on Saturday, January 5 in the chapel from noon through 9:00 p.m. All members of the Dayton area community are invited to attend.

During the hour from 7:30 p.m. through 8:30 p.m., our Director of Music Ginger Minneman and a group of instrumentalists will lead those present in singing Taize music, interspersed with prayers and readings. If you haven't experienced music and prayers in this kind of setting, perform a Google search on the word "Taize," and you'll find lots of information about it. The chapel will be lit by candlelight.

We'll have a sign-up sheet in the narthex for several weeks before the vigil so that people can volunteer to participate during particular time slots. We're doing this just to make sure that someone will be taking part in the prayer vigil during its entire time. People should feel to come at any time during the vigil, however. At the prayer vigil in September, there were often many people praying at the same time. Visitors are welcome.

FYI, the regular Saturday 5:30 p.m. evening service will be held in the main sanctuary on January 5 - the prayer vigil and Taize music and prayers are in addition to our regular weekend worship schedule.

A Message From Our Pastor - Thanksgiving Eve, the Festival of Christ the King, and Other Matters

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As we celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving this week, we also gather as a community of faith tonight to sing our praises to the God who gives us life, and gives it abundantly! If you are not traveling, join us in the parish house blue room at 6:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve (Wed., Nov. 21), as we gather with members of St. Paul Lutheran Church (Wayne Ave.) for a soup dinner (vegetable beef). At 7:00 p.m., we will retire to the sanctuary for a service of lessons, prayers, song and sharing of memories.

For those of you who will be traveling, be safe, and have a wonderful celebration!

We have come to the end of the church year cycle. This weekend we celebrate the Festival of Christ the King. The following weekend is the beginning of Advent, the start of a new church year. This year, most of the Gospel lessons in worship have been from the Gospel According to Luke. When we begin a new church year, most of our Gospel lessons will be from the Gospel According to Matthew. This weekend, the Festival of Christ the King, we celebrate the victory over sin, death, and evil we have in Jesus as our eternal Lord and King, and the everlasting promise that we are God's children FOREVER!

The 2008 Offering Envelopes will be available for you to pick up this weekend in the narthex. Please take home your pack of envelopes this weekend, or when you return to town.

And, for those who were unable to be in worship last weekend, the 2008 Estimate of Giving Cards are available in the narthex. Please take one home. In prayer, ask God what God wants you to do with your financial gifts in 2008, then complete the form, place it in the addressed envelope, and return it to the church by December 2.

$5825 AND COUNTING! That's right. We've met the challenge with over one month to go! In response to your generosity, a family in our congregation who has already donated $5000 for HVAC, Jeremiah's Letter, and Lutheran World Relief, will donate another $5000. Way to go!

"It doesn't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing." (Duke Ellington and Irving Mills) May the Holy Spirit breathe that "swing" into your lives and give you meaning that can only come from knowing the Lord! See you in worship.

In Christ's peace,
Gary

Chancel Choir Rehearsal on Thanksgiving Eve

A reminder to members of the Chancel Choir: we will rehearse after the Thanksgiving Eve Service on Wednesday, November 21. (Details of the service below.) We will not hold our normal Thursday evening service this week, since Thursday is Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Eve Service and Dinner to be Held Jointly With St. Paul Lutheran Church

If you're looking for a Thanksgiving service to attend in the Dayton area, please consider joining us at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior at 7:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 21.

This year, our Thanksgiving Eve worship service will be a joint celebration of praise to God with the members of St. Paul Lutheran Church (downtown Dayton). The service will be a casual one, with the pastors and musicians from both churches participating.

Beginning at 6:00 p.m., dinner will be held for those attending the service. We look forward to spending time with our sisters and brothers from St. Paul Lutheran Church in worship and fellowship, and invite anyone else who reads this to join us.

Visitors are always welcome!

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

God has richly blessed our community of faith with many gifted people. If you attended last Sunday night's Service of Hope and Remembrance as we observed the Festival of All Saints, you were in the presence of those who shared their diverse gifts. WOW! A number of attendees commented on the blessing of having the time to reflect on those special people from their past who had been lost in the shuffle of busy schedules. Ginger Minneman, Rachel Spry, and members of the Chancel Choir and orchestra shared God's blessings with us in a very moving service. And thanks to Dick Freudenberger, the sanctuary was perfect for the evening.

This weekend in worship:
Worship Theme: Our lessons all deal with God's promise of the resurrection of the dead and God's eternal presence in our lives
Blood Pressure: The Health Ministry Team (HMT) will offer confidential blood pressure screenings following all three worship services
"Donor Sabbath": The HMT will also provide a brief temple talk during all three worship services, lifting up the importance of organ donation, which is strongly supported by the ELCA
Veterans Day: We will give thanks to God for all men and women who have served in the military

SOUP CHEFS NEEDED
If you would like to help create the soup for our November 21 Thanksgiving Eve Service, respond to this email. Supplies will be purchased and delivered to the church.

STEWARDSHIP CHALLENGE
To date, we have received $1,595.00 toward the $5,000.00 challenge that has been presented to us from a family in the congregation. Having already donated $5,000.00, the family will donate another $5,000 if we can raise $5,000 by December 31. The money collected will be disbursed in the following manner: 50% - HVAC project; 30% - Jeremiah's Letter; 20% - Lutheran World Federation. Checks can be made out to "Lutheran Church of Our Savior", and all donations must be newly pledged money.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA ORDERS
Place your orders now for Christmas poinsettias, which will be in place for Christmas Eve worship. Color: white (a fitting color for our "God's Peace Flowing Through Us" emphasis); cost: $7.00. Money should accompany completed reservation forms, which are available in the narthex and the church office. Reservation deadline is Sunday, December 9.

May God bless your weekend, may your favorite football team win (unless you are a Notre Dame fan, 'cause you know that's not happening!), and may you follow God's call to gather in worship with your sisters and brothers in the faith!

In Christ's peace,
Gary

Worship Committee Meeting this Saturday Postponed to Nov. 17

The Worship Committee scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed to Saturday, November 17 at 10:00 a.m., because several people could not attend this week.

Thanks to "Eternal Peace" Participants

The "Eternal Peace" service last Sunday turned out wonderfully. It was a fitting commemoration of All Saints' Sunday. Thank you to everybody who participated - Chancel Choir members, guest choir members, instrumentalists, readers, Bell Choir members, and communion assistants. It's a real treat to be accompanied by a group of string and brass instruments, and the harp was beautiful.

A number of people also worked behind the scenes, and we also appreciate their work. Thanks to those who helped assemble bulletins, decorate the sanctuary, prepare and serve the reception, open and close the building, and (the least glamorous job) clean up.

Special thanks to Ginger Minneman, our Music Director and the Dirctor of the Chancel Choir. The service was Ginger's conception. She chose and arranged the sequence of all of the readings, hymns, and anthems. Her creativity and talents are greatly appreciated.

No Chancel Choir Rehearsal This Thursday

There will be no Chancel Choir rehearsal on Thursday, November 8. We will sing at the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, November 11. We'll be singing "Crossing the Bar" at this service - please come for the normal 10:00 a.m. warm up.

Thanksgiving Eve Service and Dinner to Be Held Jointly with St. Paul Lutheran Church - All Visitors Welcome!

This year, our Thanksgiving Eve worship service will be a joint celebration of praise to God with the members of St. Paul Lutheran Church (downtown Dayton). The service will be held at Luthern Church of Our Savior at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel. Thanksgiving Eve this year is November 21.

A dinner will be held for those attending the service, beginning 6:00 p.m.

We look forward to spending time with our sisters and brothers from St. Paul Lutheran Church in worship and fellowship, and invite anyone else who reads this to join us. Visitors are always welcome!

More details will be announced soon.