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From Pr. Jared Rakness
I cannot begin to thank you all for the kind words, cards, and gifts that you gave me in recognition of the tenth anniversary of my ordination. It was an awesome day that I was blessed to share with all of you, my family, and friends. I have been deeply moved by your words, and will treasure the notes and cards for many years to come. A special thank you to the staff and leadership at OSL, especially the committee members and staff who planned the event. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
In Christ,
Pr. Jared
Stephen Ministry
A Fall Full of Change, by Erin Kaiser
Fall is full of change. A change of colors: The green trees of summer making way for the beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges of a new season. A change of weather: The warm, humid days making way for crisp days and cooler nights. A change of scenery: School starts again for a new year.
With the start of school, there are many changes—for students of all ages, including teachers, parents, friends, even retirees. There are new schedules, new people to meet, even new adventures in familiar settings.
With change and adventures, have you ever considered starting something new? Particularly, have you considered becoming a Stephen Minister? Or has someone suggested that you are a great listener, empathetic or compassionate with people?
Our Savior’s will be starting a Stephen Ministry class in January. Stephen Ministers go through 50 hours of training, after which they are commissioned and paired with someone in need of a compassionate ear. Along with regular meetings with their care-receivers, Stephen Ministers meet regularly with one another as a way to share ideas and support one another. However, what is discussed between a Stephen Minister and his or her care-receiver stays confidential.
Want to find out more about how you may serve your fellow OSL members through Stephen Ministry? Pr. Tim Lemme (tlemme@oslchurch.com or 336-2942, ext. 19) or Deb Harlan (dharlan@oslchurch.com; 336-2942, ext. 48).
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
OSL Women of the ELCA
When God Blesses the Undeserving, by Tami Skorczewski
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard…” Matthew 20:1–7: The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Bible Study. In October, we continue with the second installment of Meghan Johnston Aelabouni’s fall Bible study from Gather magazine (gathermagazine.org), “When God’s Not Fair.” The author ponders how our human ideas of “fairness” differ from God’s vision for the world. From a missionary in Slovakia to Girl Scout rivalries to a conversation about race and privilege between friends, this month we learn that what’s “fair” to one person isn’t always what’s fair for us all.
Upcoming Events:
• Annual Pie & Lefse Sale Fundraiser –Sunday, November 20. Supports WELCA’s 2016 Unit Wide Mission, “The Golden Years.”
• Christmas Luncheon – Saturday, December 3, at 11:00 a.m. in The Gathering Place. All ages are welcome to this multigenerational event—preschoolers on up! The program will be “The Greatest Gift,” presented by Tom Roberts, author and storyteller. Tickets will go on sale on November 13.
“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Blessings,
Tami Skorczewski
OSL WELCA President
Friendship Club
A guided tour of the Center for Western Studies is on the schedule for the next Friendship Club, on October 18. The group will meet at OSL at 10:30 a.m. and then walk or carpool over to Augustana University. After the tour, lunch will be served back at OSL, in The Gathering Place. Plan to be on hand for this great program, and bring a friend!
Guiding Renewal and Recovery from Sexual and Domestic Violence
Michelle Markgraf, Executive Director of the Compass Center, will be at OSL on Sunday, October 9, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., in the Friendship Room, to discuss Compass Center’s services.
The Compass Center is committed to assisting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence through the healing process. The Survivor Empowerment Program serves primary and secondary victims of violence, which includes family members, and serves both men and women, as well as children. Learn more at thecompasscenter.org.
The Gifts of Advent: 2016 Advent Devotional
A gift is given freely and offered in love. In the weeks before Christmas, we often race around finding just the right gifts for friends and family. The season of Advent is itself a gift—a time set apart to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. We give thanks for God’s gift to us in the baby of Bethlehem.
Again this year, OSL will publish an Advent devotional with contributions from members, staff, and friends of Our Savior’s. This devotional, The Gifts of Advent, is an opportunity for us to reflect daily on the four aspects of Advent that become blessings and gifts in our lives—patience, speech and silence, hope, and family—which will be the focus of OSL’s Advent midweek worship series (beginning on November 30), using stories and experiences from our lives and those we love and/or admire.
A template for contributions to The Gifts of Advent may be found at the Information Center and at oslchurch.com. The deadline is October 31; send contributions to Bill Reynolds, breynolds@oslchurch.com, preferably as a Word document attached to an email message.
Adult Education: “My Neighbor Is Muslim”
Back by popular demand, this short course explores the basic beliefs of Islam in an accessible read-and-discuss format. The primary resource was assembled and distributed by Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and has received high praise from within the Muslim community as a “useful educational tool, not only for non-Muslims but also Muslims.” If possible, the fourth session, on November 9, will include interaction with a member of the Muslim Community Center of South Dakota.
The course will meet on Wednesdays, from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., in the Office Conference Room, October 19 through November 9. Pr. Randy Gehring will facilitate.
We Are Called to Serve
“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere, but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere, but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere, but God himself is behind it all. Each Person is given something to do that shows who God is. Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people.” 1 Corinthians 12:4–9, The Message Bible.
God’s Spirit works in and through the ministries and members of Our Savior’s. All members of Our Savior’s are called to actively engage with fellow members in the life, ministry, and leadership of this congregation. To those who have volunteered to serve in one of these capacities this past year or other years, thank you! We hope your experience was positive, and encourage you to share your experience with other members of OSL so they will consider serving as well.
The Nominating Committee is once again seeking members who are called to serve a term on a board or the Congregational Council, or as a synod assembly voting member. Before and after worship services on Saturday, October 8, and Sunday, October 9, members of the Nominating Committee, board and council members, and past voting members will be available to answer questions about their duties and leadership opportunities, and also to sign up candidates for open positions. If you have not served on a board or the council, or as a synod assembly voting member, or if it has been awhile since you have done so, prayerfully consider signing up to serve that weekend. As The Message Bible says, “Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits.”
These positions are available at Our Savior’s:
Caring Ministries • Congregational Life • Worship and Arts • Senior Ministries • Nominating Committee • Property • Outreach • Church in Society • Education • Deacons • Youth • Stewardship and Benevolence • Finance • Congregational Council • Synod Assembly Voting Member
Contact any member of the Nominating Committee, OSL staff, or a pastor if you have questions about serving in any of these capacities, or if you would like to offer yourself as a candidate to serve.
Brian Sittig, Pam Hanneman, Barb Vogel, Jackie Payne, Monica Maurer, Jerry Tieszen, Chris Fischer, Dean Buckneberg, and Tom Berkland
OSL Nominating Committee
Reformation Special Feature: Luther
During the early 16th century, the idealistic German monk Martin Luther begins the dialogue that will lead to the Protestant Reformation. Directed by Eric Till; starring Joseph Fiennes, Alfred Molina, Bruno Ganz, and Peter Ustinov. Luther will be shown in the Celebrate Center on Saturday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m. Cost: A freewill or in-kind offering will be accepted in support of Food to You Mobile Food Pantry. Childcare will be available; sign up at the Information Center or contact Amanda Bork, abork@oslchurch.com.
Foundation Notes
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Foundation’s Jubilee Society recognizes individuals who have made legacy gifts to the Foundation’s endowment or have included the Foundation in their estate plans. The Jubilee Society marked its debut last year, with a luncheon to celebrate with joy the generous vision of a growing number of OSL members.
This year’s Jubilee Society luncheon will be held on Sunday, Sunday, November 6, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., in The Gathering Place. Guest speaker will be Joy Smolnisky. Members of the Jubilee Society will receive invitations in late October. To become a Jubilee Society member, contact Jon Oien, 212-5261 or joien@sio.midco.net.
Save
South Dakota Hunger Summit
The Sherman Center at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., will be the site of this year’s South Dakota Hunger Summit on November 3, with keynote speaker Jesse Roesler, the director of Starfish Throwers. (A free pre-conference screening of Starfish Throwers will be held at the Logan Theater in Mitchell on Wednesday, November 2, from 8:00 to 10:00 p,m.) For the schedule of events and registration information, visit www.partnersagainsthunger.org/hunger-summit.
Theology on Tap
Join Pr. Randy at Monk’s House of Ale Repute (420 E. 8th St.) for conversation, reflection, prayer, and Christian community on Thursday, October 20, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., for the next Theology on Tap!
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, October 5 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call the Church Office, 336-2942, to schedule your appointment.
Living with Chronic Illness
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).
Wednesday, October 12 and 26, 9:30 a.m., Sonshine Rm.
2nd Saturday Knitters, October 8, 9:30 a.m., Sonshine Rm.
Recent Loss Group
Wednesdays, November 16 through December 14, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Rm. 101. OSL Community Supper is available at 5:00 p.m.
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.