<p><span style="color: #6a509f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b> Greetings from Pr. Justin Kosec</b></span><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->This week, I’ve discovered the practical limits of the cardboard box.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->In 2010, my wife and I moved from Minnesota to Connecticut. My wife’s parents kindly stored a few of our boxes in their attic. For years my father-in-law tried to engineer ways to deliver those boxes from their home in Bridgewater to our place in Connecticut—and then, to our place in New York.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->As God would have it, the ministry called me to Our Savior’s. Sensing the long-awaited moment, my father-in-law eagerly hitched up the horse trailer, loaded it with our itinerant boxes, and hauled everything to our lovely new home here in Sioux Falls.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->It turns out moving boxes from Home Depot will contain your stuff for eight years, but you shouldn’t expect them to be happy about it. Everything inside the boxes kept pristine, but more than one piece of cardboard disintegrated at my touch like a piece of ancient parchment.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->When we moved so I could attend seminary, we wondered if we would return to Minnesota. We never imagined God would call us to New York. Once we were at home there, we wondered if God would ever call us back to the Midwest—but we never imagined we’d find our way to Sioux Falls. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->When any of us set out to follow God, we simply do not know where that call will take us. We will inevitably find ourselves in alien territory, far from landmarks we recognize. We will meet people who challenge our expectations and others who will validate our deepest calling. We will find success and make mistakes. Even when we feel we have languished in exile, we will discover God’s faithful hand leading and feeding us along the way. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Now my family’s journey has brought us here, to you. I am overjoyed to serve as your new pastor. I am excited to meet you and accompany you and wrestle together with life’s challenges. We will take one another’s hands, and together we will grasp for God.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Pr. Randy noticed I’ve had a smile on my face since we arrived here in Sioux Falls. How could we not? We’re closer to family; we have received such a radiant welcome from your Call Committee and from the entire congregation; I feel abundantly blessed to work with the superlative pastors and staff and volunteers here at Our Savior’s. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Plus, we have returned just in time to rescue all those old boxes. How could we not celebrate and be glad? What we once lost is now found again!
<p><span style="color: #6a509f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Musical Events and Hosting Opportunities </b></span><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><b>The Gustavus Choir </b>will present a concert at OSL on Saturday, February 3, at 7:00 p.m. (A freewill offering will be received.)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><b>Luther College Nordic Choir </b>will perform at OSL on Saturday, February 10, at 7:00 p.m. (Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for ages 65 and up, and $5 for students. Reserve tickets via (800) 4-LUTHER or <a href="http://www.tickets.luther.edu " shape="rect" target="_blank">www.tickets.luther.edu</a>. Some tickets will be available at the door.) <br><br>OSL members are always generous in opening their homes to two or four students—if you wish to help, contact Gene LeVasseur, <a shape="rect" href="mailto: glevasseur@oslchurch.com ">glevasseur@oslchurch.com</a> or 336-2942, ext. 40.
<p><span style="color: #6a509f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b> Pedals, Pipes, & Pizza on February 10 at First Congregational Church</b></span><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->The South Dakota Chapter of The American Guild of Organists will present Pedals, Pipes, & Pizza, a hands-on opportunity for young musicians to learn about the pipe organ, how it works, and how it has developed through history. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->This event, which will be held on Saturday, February 10, from 9:00 A.M. to noon, at First Congregational Church, 300 S. Minnesota Ave., is open to young musicians, fifth grade and older, who have some piano background. Students will have the opportunity to play organs at First Congregational, First Lutheran, and First United Methodist. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Registration is $5, which includes materials and pizza. Preregistration is required by Wednesday, February 7. For more information, contact <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Marilyn Schempp, <a shape="rect" href="mailto: mmschempp@sio.midco.net "> mmschempp@sio.midco.net </a> or 521-9636.
<p><span style="color: #6a509f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Parents’ Night Out February 9</b></span><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->The next Parents’ Night Out—your opportunity to spend a few hours together while the kids have fun in the OSL Nursery—will be on Friday, February 9, f rom 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Register for Nursery care (infant through age ten) by contacting Nancy Heesch, <a shape="rect" href="mailto: robertheesch@yahoo.com ">robertheesch@yahoo.com</a>, with the names and ages of your children.
<span style="color: #6a509f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Theology Tapped</strong></span><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->If you’re looking for engaging conversation on matters of faith and life in a fun, informal setting, join Pr. Randy for Theology Tapped on Thursday, February 22, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., at Monk’s House of Ale Repute, 420 E. 8th St.
<p><span style="color: #6a509f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b> Prepare Yourself: Chili Cook-Off Returns!</b></span><br>Everyone had so much fun last year at the first OSL Chili Cook-Off that it’s coming around again: Sunday, February 25, in The Gathering Place, immediately after the 11:00 a.m. worship services. Stay tuned for details as they develop!
<p><span style="color: #6a509f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b> New to the OSL Community </b></span><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Welcome these new members, who were received into the OSL church family in January. The next new member orientation will be this fall. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Contact the Church Office, 336-2942, for details.
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