Bllessing of the Animals

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

 

Just a reminder that we will hold our annual Blessing of the Animals service tonight, 7:00 p.m., in the sanctuary. Hope you and your pet(s) can be present to help us "make a joyful noise to the Lord"!

In Christ's joy,

Gary

 

News From Our Pastor

Dear People of God,

This weekend, I will be leading a Men's Retreat for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio (LOMO) at Lutheran Memorial Camp, and the Rev. Terry Morgan will be leading worship at LCOS. Pastor Morgan served Good Shepherd, Kettering, before serving the Duke University Lutheran congregation in Durham, NC. His final stop was to serve on the synod staff of the Southern Ohio Synod before his recent retirement. You will enjoy Pastor Morgan as your worship leader! The boilers are on at the church – the weatherman says we'll need it Sunday. It's supposed to be 36 Sunday morning at camp! Ahhhh, sweet autumn . . .

 

Weekend Worship

In our Gospel lesson, Jesus instructs us about the power of faith, and calls us to adopt the attitude of servants responding to our baptismal identity. Part of that servanthood is praying for others. This weekend, we pray for all who wrestle with mental illness, as well as for the family members and friends who care for those dealing with mental illness.

 

Blessing of the Animals

Monday, October 4, 7:00 p.m.! Bring your pets to church for our annual blessing service. If we have enough light, we'll gather in the prayer labyrinth; otherwise, we will be in the sanctuary. You are invited to bring any and all pets. Please have dogs on leashes, and everything else on leashes, in cages, fishbowls, etc.

 

Thank You!

Special thanks to all of you who volunteered your time and talents for the Jeremiah's Letter Oktoberfest last Saturday night. You donated silent auction items and pies; you shared your time in setting up, cleaning up, cooking and serving; and you shared your resources by purchasing tickets, attending, and bidding on the silent auction items. Thank you very much!!

 

Joint Bible Study Starts This Month

This is year three in which St. Paul Lutheran Church and LCOS have met together for monthly Bible Study. Tuesday, October 19 begins a new study: How Lutherans Interpret the Bible. This month, LCOS will host the event, which begins with a light dinner at 6:00 p.m., followed by an hour discussion from 6:45 – 7:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome!

 

May God bless you all with a Spirit-filled weekend!

 

In Christ's joy,

Gary

 

News from the Pews

Dear People of God,

 

Last weekend was a fun way to kick off our Fall Ministries, leaving behind our summer worship schedule and returning to 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. format; launching the Kids' Church ministry during the 10:30 a.m. service; gathering for our SCS Rally Day festivities; and enjoying the glorious weather and great fellowship at the kick off picnic at Schafor Park! This week, our Children's Choirs and SCS classes officially begin.

 

WORSHIP

One of the strangest, most outlandish stories told by Jesus is our Gospel lesson this weekend. Coupled with the Old Testament reading from the prophet Amos, our lessons can really grate on us all, dreamers or practical-minded. It can, and often does, make us both grateful and furious at the same time.

 

CHOIRS BEGIN

The Sunshine and Joyful Noise Children's Choirs will begin rehearsals this Sunday, at 9:00 a.m., upstairs in the parish house. The Hand Bell Choir will also resume rehearsals this Sunday, in the balcony, after the late worship service.

 

LOMO MEN'S RETREAT

There are still spots left for the Men's Fishing Retreat, held October 1-3, at Lutheran Memorial Camp. This retreat is sponsored by Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio, and I was asked to lead it. The retreat topic is What are we fishing around for in life?, and the weekend will also include a pan fish derby on Saturday, ending with a fish fry at the lake. You do not have to like fishing to attend, and there will be other food choices if you do not eat fish. If you are interested, check out the LOMO website – www.lomocamps.org, and click on the "retreats" link, or contact me for more details.

 

FOOD DRIVE

The New Hope Food Pantry has requested donations of dry pinto beans and rice. We will hold a drive for these items on October 9th and 10th. Two smaller packages is better than one large package, as they help more families; and if a large family has a need they can take two bags. We hope you can help; the need for assistance grows every day with more people than ever seeking help.

 

PRAYERS

Received a text late last night that Athens County (southeast Ohio) has been declared a disaster area due to severe tornado damage. Please keep the people of southeastern Ohio in your prayers.

 

OFFEREINGS

Please remember to support our ministries through your weekly/monthly $ donations.

 

May God bring us together in worship this weekend.

 

In Christ's joy,

Gary

 

Remember!

Worship times change this Sunday from one to two services – 8:15 and 10:30 a.m., with Rally Day festivities at 9:30 a.m. Fall Kickoff Picnic at 11:45 a.m. at Schafor Park shelter. Fried chicken and drinks provided – bring a picnic dish to share, as well as lawn chairs or picnic blanket, outdoor games, and a SMILE!

 

Peace!

Gary

 

Worship Schedule

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

 This Sunday, September 12, we move to our Fall/Winter/Spring worship schedule, which means there is no more 9:45 a.m. service. Please note the changes:

             8:15 a.m. – contemplative worship

          10:30 a.m. – liturgical worship, with chancel choir

 We will also hold Rally Day festivities to kick off our Fall Educational Ministries, and these will begin at 9:30 a.m. for all ages.

 Saturday evening worship remains at 5:30 p.m. in the Prayer Labyrinth.

 And, remember – our FALL KICKOFF PICNIC will be held this Sunday, 11:45 a.m. at the Schafor Park pavilion (Patterson Rd. and Schafor Blvd.) down the hill from the church. Fried chicken and drinks will be provided – you are asked to bring:

            - picnic dish to share

            - lawn chairs or picnic blanket

            - outdoor games

 It's time to begin our fall ministry schedule – join us in worship, Sunday School, and the Kickoff Picnic this weekend!

 In Christ's renewing joy,

Gary

 

Chancel Choir Kick-Off Party

The Chancel Choir will resume rehearsals on Thursday, September 2 with a party/rehearsal at the home of our director. We will start gathering around 6:30 for fellowship followed by a meal and an informal rehearsal. Meat and drinks will be provided, but bring a dish to share if you are able.  If you've been thinking about joining the Chancel Choir, this would be a great time to start. Hope to see all the familiar faces and many new ones as well! Call the church office for further details.

News from Our Pastor

Dear People of God,

 

 Weekend Worship

Our lessons this week continue to lift up the concept of relationship. We hear Jesus lift up the importance of prayer as a way of being in relationship with God, which is the way you and I are created – as relational beings.

 

On Sunday, July 25, our pastor emeritus, the Rev. Robert Willauer, will be preaching and leading worship. Pastor Willauer served Lutheran Church of Our Savior from 1966 – 1998.

 

Noah's Ark Lutheran Preschool

Last Sunday, our gathering at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, was quite a day! It was fun to be in worship together, communing with one another, and praising God with our many voices. The post-worship lunch, with homemade ice cream and homemade pies, was truly a blessing. But the fun really escalated when we auctioned 5 of the pies! A total of $1173.00 was raised from donations and the auction. The preschool, which will open next month at St. Paul's (in the space of the old Lutheran School) is under the direction of our own Linda Petersen, and features the following:

-          all day pre-kindergarten program

-          daily Bible instruction and weekly chapel with songs and worship

-          use of the nationally acclaimed Core Knowledge curriculum (www.coreknowledge.org)

-          phonics based pre-reading program "Land of the Letter People"

-          math manipulatives, and introduction to: music instruction, foreign language and computer technology

-          cultural and fine arts enrichment programs

-          off-site field trips

-          on site before and after school child care

If you have a child/grandchild who would benefit from participation in the preschool, or have neighbors/friends with preschool-age children, call the office.

 

Theology on Tap

Next Monday, we will gather at Chappy's Tap Room and Grille (Alex Bell Road) at 6:30 p.m. for our monthly public theological discussion. This month, our discussion topic will utilize pictures from the Hubble telescope to talk about our perceptions of God's power and bigness, and how our perceptions of God impact the ways we live our lives. Everyone is welcome to join in this ever-growing discussion group.

 

Hard to believe that UD students will be back on campus in a few weeks, and public school starts in a month! Enjoy the rest of the summer and remember to spend time with God each day in prayer and reading of the Word.

 

In Christ's joy,

Gary

Worship Time Change

Dear People of God,

Just a reminder that this Sunday we move into our summer worship schedule: one service, 9:45 a.m., with a Youth-hosted cookout after worship. The Saturday worship schedule remains the same: 5:30 p.m. in the prayer labyrinth.

In Christ's joy,

Gary

A Message From Our Pastor

Dear People of God,

 As we gather in worship this weekend, we continue in the Gospel According to John, in which the disciples are still having difficulty fully comprehending the power of the resurrection in their lives. It's a "fishing story" that begs the question: what are we fishing around for in life? Does it really give meaning to our daily lives, or does it just leave us empty and wanting something more?

 Needs for Jeremiah's Letter

Currently, the following items are needed at the Jeremiah's Letter food pantry. I invite you to take this list with you when you go grocery shopping.

Canned Fruit      Canned Meat     Jelly    Broth Based Soups

Juice (regular & child size)   Spaghetti Sauce

Snacks (jello, puddings, pretzels, cookies)

Hotel Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion)

Disposable Razors    Toothbrush    Toothpaste    Deodorant
Towels   Wash Clothes   Blankets   Laundry Soap   Dish Soap

Paper Towels   Poncho/Rain Gear   Sleeping Bags

Financial support is also welcome; donations can be mailed to:

Jeremiah's Letter, Inc.
P.O. Box 842
Dayton, OH 45401

 

Lutheran Course

We will hold our April class discussion on Tuesday, April 20, at St. Paul (Wayne Ave.). Dinner is offered at 6:00 p.m., and the discussion begins at 6:454 p.m. This month, our topic is: Who are our neighbors, and what does that mean for Lutherans? We hope you can join us.

 

In Christ's joy,

Gary

Holy Week Worship

Dear People of God,

 

Below is the schedule for our worship and fellowship for the next 4 days leading up to and including Easter:

 

Maundy Thursday: 6:30 p.m., at St. Paul's; featuring combined choirs and the celebration of Holy Communion (there is no dinner meal).

 

Good Friday: 6:30 p.m. at LCOS; featuring the Tenebrae service with the drama, "I Was There" (there is no dinner meal).

 

Easter Eve (Saturday): 5:30 p.m. in the chapel; featuring sung/spoken/silent prayer, Scripture, and the celebration of Holy Communion.

 

Easter Sunday: 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. Worship Celebrations of the Resurrection;

                         9:00 a.m. – Pancake Breakfast (fellowship hall)

                         9:30 a.m. – Easter Egg Hunt for children

 

May God bless your Holy Week journey and bring you to a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit.

 

In the Risen Christ,

Gary

Lenten Worship

Just a reminder that our midweek Lenten services will be held tomorrow. Worship theme is "Apostles' Creed", and the times/places are as follows:

 

Noon – LCOS chapel, followed by soup.

6:30 p.m. – St. Paul sanctuary, preceded by chili supper at 6:00 p.m.

 

Hope you can make time tomorrow to attend one of the services.

 

In Christ,

Gary

Midweek Services

Dear People of God,

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we hold our second round of Wednesday Lenten services. Both are at LCOS this week, and both are centered around the theme of the 10 Commandments.

 

Times:             

Noon, in the chapel, followed by soup and crackers in the blue room. 

6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary (Holden Evening Prayer), preceded by sandwiches  at 6:00 p.m. (in the blue room)

 

Hope you can make time to be with us.

 

In Christ's peace,

Gary

Ash Wednesday

Dear People of God,

 

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent. We will hold two services tomorrow:

 

Noon - @ LCOS chapel, with simple lunch in parish house meeting room (soup and crackers)

 

6:30 p.m. @ St. Paul, Wayne Ave. (no meal)

 

I hope you can join us.

 

In Christ's renewing love,

Gary

Dear People of God,

 

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent. We will hold two services tomorrow:

 

Noon - @ LCOS chapel, with simple lunch in parish house meeting room (soup and crackers)

 

6:30 p.m. @ St. Paul, Wayne Ave. (no meal)

 

I hope you can join us.

 

In Christ's renewing love,

Gary

Themes for Our Wednesday Lenten Services

Dear People of God,

This Wednesday, February 17, we move into a new season of the church year, the season of Lent. It is a time set aside by the church to help us "get back to the basics of our faith." Originally, Lent was that time when new believers were instructed in the faith in preparation for baptism on Easter eve. This is a wonderful time for each of us to "re-instruct" ourselves in matters of the faith. And our mid-week worship schedule is designed to help us do just that. Our Wednesday worship themes are based upon Martin Luther's Small Catechism, a teaching tool that we still use today.

Below is the schedule for the Wednesday services during the season of Lent. 

 

DATE THEME

2/17 "Confession" 

2/24 "10 Commandments" 

3/3 "Creed" 

3/10 "Lord's Prayer" 

3/17 "Baptism 

3/24 "Communion"

As we move into this new season, may we follow the Spirit's leading to stronger conviction in our faith!  You can find the details of the times of our Wednesday services by clicking the link on the right to the church web site.  (Note that our Wednesday evening services are being held in conjunction with St. Paul's Lutheran Church in downtown Dayton.  The schedule indicates which services are held at which church.)

In Christ's hope and peace, 

Gary Eichhorn

SOUPER BOWL

Reminder - We join others throughout the country in celebrating "Souper Bowl Sunday" this weekend – bring your canned soup and other food/money donations to help feed the hungry and homeless in Dayton and beyond.

Worship This Weekend - A Message From Our Pastor

This Weekend in Worship we are challenged to prepare ourselves for the unexpected encounters with God: Isaiah was totally caught off-guard in the temple; Peter was shocked in his fishing boat; and Paul was knocked off his feet. It is tempting to "put God in a box" and then expect the Lord to act the way we think God should act. But, our lessons this weekend remind us that we need to be prepared to be "blown out of the water" in our encounters with God. What are you expecting to happen when you meet God in worship?

News From Our Pastor

Dear People of God,

Just a quick reminder of this Sunday's Congregational Culture workshop, led by Gary Pecuch, synod staff person for Children, Youth, and Family Ministries. Lunch will be served at 11:45 p.m. (hotdogs, brats, slaw, chips, fruit, cookies); the workshop will begin at 12:15 a.m. and run until 3:00 p.m. Nursery Care will be provided and activities for young children will also be available. I hope you can be with us, for however long you can stay – we need your input.

 

In worship this weekend, our Gospel lesson is a follow-up to last week, when Jesus presented a new interpretation of Scripture. This week is the reaction of his listeners to his new interpretation, which is to try to throw Jesus down a hill. Our lesson points to the necessity of wrestling with Scripture to discern what God may be trying to tell us today.

 

No football (that matters) this weekend, NASCAR doesn't officially start until Valentine's Day – as usual, it's a great time to gather to praise God in worship!

 

In Christ's joy and hope,

Gary

Time for Prayer

Dear People of God in this part of the Kingdom,

 

Did you know that during WWII, Winston Churchill had an advisor who organized a group of people who, at a prescribed hour, dropped what they were doing and spent one minute praying for the safety of England, its people, and for peace throughout the world?

 

I encourage and challenge all of us to join many in our nation who are doing the same thing. Every evening at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (8 p.m. Central Time, 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time, 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time), stop what you are doing and spend one minute in prayer with God. Pray for peace in our homes, schools, cities, and for everyone throughout the world. Pray for the safety of our troops. Pray for our national leaders and for the leaders of the world.

 

If you are in the habit of retiring for the evening before 9:00 p.m., then carve out another minute in your day to participate in this prayer.

 

I look forward to joining you in prayer each night!

 

Your prayer partner,

Gary

 

No Choir Rehearsal Tonight Due To Snow

Epiphany Worship

January 6 is the final day of the 12-day Christmas season.

It is the day of EPIPHANY.

It is the celebration of God proclaiming to the

non-Jewish world that the Word had become flesh and blood

and moved into the world in the person of Jesus.

 

It is "the season of light",

marked, in part, by the star that the Magi followed.

 

Join us for a brief service of light, song, and prayer

on Wednesday, January 6, 6:45 p.m.

 

Following the 30-minute worship, we will dismantle the trees

 (chrismons and lights are already down);

bring any left-over Christmas cookies to share.

 

 

It is a new year!

Come together in worship as we

praise God for the blessings of last year

and ask the Lord to guide us

through 2010.