Friendship Club
An old-time Christmas celebration is on tap when Friendship Club travels to Nora, S.D. on December 13. The group will meet at OSL at noon for lunch in The Gathering Place, after which everyone will board a motorcoach to visit the historic Nora Store where Mike Pedersen will lead the singing of Christmas carols and hymns, accompanying on pipe organ and piano. The bus will be back at OSL at around 4:30. Sign up now for this great trip! Sign-up sheet and pricing is available at the Information Center.

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, December 7, 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).
Wednesdays, December 14 and 28, 9:30 a.m., Sonshine Rm.
2nd Saturday Knitters, December 10, 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.

Stephen Ministry
The Gift of Time, by Erin Kaiser

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Advent: a time of great anticipation. A time of hope. A time of peace. A time of change from darkness to light.

As we set our eyes on Christmas, we are given a gift: time—time to sit, be still, and listen. This gift of time can be overlooked in the busyness of buying the next best thing, finding the hottest gadget, or preparing for houseguests. Try to be mindful of this gift even as you go about your tasks.

The gift of being there, the gift of listening, the gift of compassion—these are gifts that we are looking for as OSL prepared to start a new Stephen Ministry class. Beginning in January, prospective Stephen Ministers will be encouraged to encourage others, to listen, and to care. Why not join them? Your gifts, all gifts, will be seen as holy ground, as God’s gift to you. With these gifts, you will help others in times of need.

If you have any questions or would like to join the Stephen Minister class, contact Pr. Tim Lemme (tlemme@oslchurch.com or 336-2942, ext. 19) or Deb Harlan (dharlan@oslchurch.com; 336-2942, ext. 48),

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4–7

Stephen Ministry LAN
OSL members and others from the community joined a Stephen Ministry LAN (Local Area Network) continuing education session on Tuesday, November 1, at Our Savior’s. The topic was “Memory Care Support Group for Families of Loved Ones with Dementia,” with speakers Larry Budahl, facilitator of OSL’s Memory Care Support Group, and a panel consisting of Jean Lounsbery, Bill Anderson, and Emma Budahl, all of whom are members of the support group and shared stories and information about how the group began and functions. Thanks to all who participated and all who attended this successful and inspiring session!

OSL Women of the ELCA
Shhh. Slow Down. Listen. Pay Attention. Advent Is on Its Way
by Tami Skorczewski

“Every year we celebrate the holy season of Advent, O God. Every year we pray those beautiful prayers of longing and waiting, and sing those lovely songs of hope and promise.” Karl Rahner

Bible Study. Sarah Carson, associate editor of Gather (gathermagazine.org), shares with us in the December issue what makes “the Advent season both beautiful and painful. In Advent we wait knowing that the birth of Jesus is coming, but we also wait with hope for what we don’t know is ahead.”

Advent devotional author Sonia Solomonson encourages us to embrace this waiting, to remember that the kind of waiting we encounter in Advent isn’t passive. “It’s preparation. It’s a time to ready our hearts for the ways in which God will soon get our attention.”

WELCA’s First Gathering of the New Year
The January Social will be held on Saturday, January 7, at 10:00 a.m., in the Friendship Room. WELCA board members will provide light refreshments; there is no charge. The morning will include a short Bible study and fellowship; installment of officers for 2017; the 2016 final budget report and 2017 proposed budget; and the introduction of 2017’s Unit Wide Mission Projects. The 2017 slate of officers is:
President – Tami Skorczewski
Vice-President – Jodie Nielsen
Treasurer – Toni LeVasseur
Secretary – Valori Maher
Missions – Sandy Fischer
Advisors – Lori Tendler and Karen Schwartz

Stay Connected. Copies of WELCA’s monthly Circle newsletters are located on the rack between the Church Office and Caring Ministries doors. They’re a good way for OSL members to stay connected with WELCA.

Christmas is not just a season,
Christmas is not just a day,
Christmas is more than a reason
For parties, presents and play.
Christmas is truly the essence
Of joy that the Savior brings;
Christmas is surely the presence
Of Jesus, the Kings of Kings!

William Arthur Ward, “The Presence of Christmas”

Blessings,
Tami Skorczewski
OSL WELCA President

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