A Christmas Treasure
Friendship Club took a wonderful Christmas trip to Nora, South Dakota, on December 13. Everyone had fun singing Christmas carols, eating Christmas goodies, and viewing the treasures of the old Nora Store. Thank you to Ed Elkins for sharing his knowledge of the pipe organs at both Nora and OSL, and thank you to the Senior Ministries Board for organizing this trip. Watch for new adventures to come in 2017!

Spring Women’s Gathering
It’s not too soon to mark your calendars for OSL’s Spring Women’s Gathering, on Saturday, April 1, from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m., in The Gathering Place. The presenter is a past member, Ann Marie Rossing, who will be speaking on “Forgiveness.” Plans for music and other special features are still in the works—stay tuned for details!

Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry Is Church Community, by Margot Nelson

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The OSL congregation has a rare opportunity to celebrate a community anniversary: Stephen Ministry has been a part of this church community for 28 years! Currently active Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders are listed below in hopes that our entire congregation can recognize their ministry (Stephen Leaders are denoted with an asterisk). The list does not include the large number of Stephen Ministers who are not currently active but who completed the training and served with diligence and compassion for a significant period of time. Please pray for all of them and give thanks for their ministry.

20 to 25 years
Arlen Viste* (25 years)

10 to 14 years
Curt Olson* (10 years)
Suzie Rusch (10 years)

5 to 9 years
Pastor Tim Lemme* (9 years)
Karen Zimbeck (7 years)
Brenda Beninga (6 years)
Kristi Mader (6 years)
Joan Bacon* (5 years)
Larry Budahl (5 years)
Erin Kaiser* (5 years)
Margot Nelson* (5 years)
Janiece Peterson* (5 years)
Arlette Villaume* (5 years)

1 to 4 years
Allison Boyd (Hauck) (4 years)
Paul Davidson (4 years)
Mitzi Drey (4 years)
Marino Melsted (4 years)
Sharon Dannenbring (3 years)
Deb Harlan* (3 years)
Rhonda Anderson* (2 years)
Dennis Franz (2 years)
Arlys Johnson (2 years)
Pam Johnson (2 years)
Betsy Sittig (2 years)
Ellen Smook* (2 years)
Barb Vogel (2 years)
Anne Anderson (2 years)
Jill Joyce Hazard (1 year)

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

OSL Women of the ELCA
Christian Faith and Christian Freedom: Children of God through Faith, by Tami Skorczewski

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:26–27

Our current Bible study (source: gathermagazine.org) illustrates that God’s grace and the new life we have in Christ are gifts we receive rather than things we can earn or accomplish.

The Sweets for Your Valentine Sale will be held on Sunday, February 12, from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m.., in The Gathering Place. This will be a great opportunity to purchase all types of sweets and chocolates for your favorite Valentine. The sale is one of WELCA’s annual fundraisers to support the Unit Wide Mission Project for 2017.

The 2017 Unit Wide Mission Project, “OSL WELCA Has It in the Bag,” focuses on different types of “Bag Projects”—for example, Comfort Bags given to the Sanford Cancer Center, filled with a variety of items that patients really appreciate as they receive treatment.

“LOVE makes our friends a little dearer. JOY makes our hearts a little lighter. FAITH makes our paths a little clearer. HOPE makes our lives a little brighter. PEACE brings us all a little nearer.”

Blessings,
Tami Skorczewski
OSL WELCA President

Friendship Club
A guided tour of the Visual Arts Center at the Washington Pavilion will highlight the next Friendship Club gathering, on February 21. Meet at OSL at 10:30 that morning, and carpool downtown for the tour (admission is free), then back to OSL for lunch.

Health Ministries
Our Savior’s has a number of ongoing health ministries that meet on a weekly or monthly basis. Feel free to join any of the following sessions. For more information, contact Michelle Anderson, Faith Community Nurse, 336-2942, ext. 48, or mianderson@oslchurch.com.

Footcare Clinic
Cost is $25 per person. Wednesday, February 1, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call the Church Office, 336-2942, to schedule your appointment.

Hope for Living with Illness or Cancer
Every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in the Friendship Room. People and their families who have or are experiencing the challenge of cancer are welcome. If you cannot attend, but would like to be on our prayer and devotional mailing list, contact Michelle Anderson, Faith Community Nurse, 336-2942, ext. 48, or mianderson@oslchurch.com.

Knitting/Crocheting Ministry
Learn how to knit or crochet prayer shawls (to be given to people to remind them of God’s presence and love in their lives) and mittens and scarves (for missions).
Wednesdays, February 8 and 22, 9:30 a.m., Sonshine Rm.
2nd Saturday Knitters, February 11, 9:30 a.m., Sonshine Rm.

Good Grief
Every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in Room 103. Offers support to anyone dealing with loss and crisis in their lives.

Pickleball
OSL-sponsored Pickleball: Mondays, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, 8:00 a.m. to noon
Wednesdays and Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursdays, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Memory Care Support Group
Saturdays, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Friendship Room or Chapel. For caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, the group is a place for caregivers to share and to receive understanding and empathy. Contact Michelle Anderson, Faith Community Nurse, 336-2942, ext. 48, or mianderson@oslchurch.com.

A Renewed Commitment: Facing Addiction
Our Savior’s identifies itself as a Community Facing Addiction, together with other churches in the area who believe that addiction recovery isn’t about making bad people good, it’s about getting sick people well, because addiction is a chronic disease. And our faith teaches us, “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

OSL’s partnership with Face It TOGETHER Sioux Falls provides free, confidential recovery coaching in Face It TOGETHER’s office, 5020 S. Tennis Ln., #4, or by telephone, 274-2262. Face It TOGETHER Sioux Falls’ Recovery Coaches provide individuals and family members with informal, personalized service over an extended period of time. They help clients overcome barriers to addiction wellness and develop skills and knowledge to manage their disease and stay well. Coaches use their training and experience to provide structure, hold clients accountable to their goals, and act as advocates. What’s more, OSL has trained Recovery Advocates who can speak with you confidentially in a peer-to-peer relationship.

OSL’s Recovery Advocates are Bruce Hasche, Bruce Peterson, Carol Prouty, Michelle Anderson, Deb Dodge Harlan, and Delaine Shay. You may contact one of them by calling Caring Ministries, 336-2942, or you may speak directly to a Recovery Coach at Face It TOGETHER Sioux Falls, 274-2262.

Would you like to be trained to help others as a Recovery Advocate? Contact Pastor Tim Lemme (336-2942, ext. 19; tlemme@oslchurch.com), Michelle Anderson (336-2942, ext. 28; mianderson@oslchurch.com), or Deb Harlan (336-2942, ext. 48; dharlan@oslchurch.com).

Update: OSL – A Community Facing Addiction
At the first “All Hands on Deck,” on January 23, Community Facing Addiction participants
heard status updates from partner churches, as well as an update from Dave Jansa of Face It TOGETHER. Dave presented the following statistics, which were quite enlightening:

Since the kickoff on September 25—
• Seven loved ones have sought coaching services at Face It TOGETHER, as they learn how to care for themselves while being concerned for a loved one who struggles with addiction.
• Three persons with addiction have sought coaching services, saying they were referred by their Lutheran Church or one of its members.
• Prior to the kickoff, Face It TOGETHER had 37 clients who were identified as loved ones seeking coaching help. They now have 73—a 97% change!
• Prior to the kick off, Face It TOGETHER had 422 clients with the disease of addiction. They now have 514, a 22% increase.

A surprising number of loved ones of those with the disease of addiction have come forth since the kickoff of this program, which is making a difference in many lives throughout the community. As a Community Facing Addiction member, OSL continues to provide support to persons and families struggling with the disease of addiction. If you would like to speak with a Recovery Advocate from OSL, contact Caring Ministries, 336-2942, to be put in touch with someone on the Face It TOGETHER team.

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