Friendship Club on the Road
In June, Friendship Club will hit the road to the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History. The group will meet at OSL on Tuesday, June 20, at 10:00 a.m., then car-pool to the zoo (on Kiwanis Avenue near 18th Street) at 10:30. You’ll spend time viewing the newly remodeled exhibits and the many wildlife exhibits and attractions, then enjoy a sack lunch just inside the zoo. After lunch the car-poolers will return to OSL. Cost for zoo admission is $11.50 per person; lunch will be provided by the Senior Ministries Board. Come and enjoy some good outdoor fun—and bring a friend or two!—to the June Friendship Club!
A Summer Recent Loss Series
Caring Ministries will offer a Summer Recent Loss Series on Tuesday evenings, June 27 through July 25 (skipping July 4), from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the Chapel. Michelle Anderson, RN, FCN, will facilitate the educational series that allows for time to share and support one another on our grief journeys. Friends and family are encouraged to attend. Questions? No registration is required. Contact Michelle, 336-2942,
ext. 28, or mianderson@oslchurch.com.
Donate Your Lunch Break: Meals on Wheels
Nearly 400 homebound people in the Sioux Falls area depend on Meals on Wheels for a hot, nutritious meal. Without the dedication of outstanding volunteers, Meals on Wheels simply can’t be successful!
There are 28 routes in the community that require volunteers to cover. A typical route delivery often takes no more than one hour. OSL is responsible for a route in north-central Sioux Falls, east of Cliff Avenue and north of 10th Street. There are 12 homes on this route. Meals are picked up at Hope Lutheran, on Cliff Avenue near 28th Street, at around 10:40 A.M., Monday through Friday. Volunteers can work as a team; if there are enough volunteers, the route could be divided in half.
If you wish to help out with this important ministry, contact Sandy Garnas, at 338-5440 or rsgarnas@sio.midco.net . It’s an important and satisfying ministry.
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, June 7, 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, June 14 and 28, 9:30 a.m., Sonshine Rm.
2nd Saturday Knitters, June 10, 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.
Yoga, Mindfulness, and Centering Prayer
All are welcome to experience Yoga, Mindfulness, and Centering Prayer, meeting every other Saturday, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., in the Labyrinth Room. Allison Houg leads this group, which costs $5 per class. Remaining classes for the summer will meet on June 3, June 17, July 1, July 15, and July 29. All ages and abilities are welcome!
Vascular Screening Returns to OSL
Vascular screening for peripheral artery disease will take place on Thursday, June 8, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., in the Caring Ministries area. Conducted by professionals from Avera Planet Heart, the screening will include ankle/brachial index (circulation testing that compares blood pressure measurements taken in the lower leg with those taken in the arm); aortic scan (an ultrasound scan of the abdominal aorta, the body’s main artery, which can detect aneurysms); and carotid scan (a quick ultrasound scan of the carotid artery in the neck, which can detect the most frequent causes of stroke). Results will be shared at the time of the screening; participants are encouraged to share the results with their primary care physician. The screening costs $25 (check or cash only). Register by calling 1-877-282-8372.
Another vascular screening event, conducted by professionals from Sanford Heart Hospital, is being planned; watch The Intercom and weekly bulletin announcements for details.
Young OSL Member Speaks out for Cleaner Air
The Sioux Falls City Council in May discussed a new tobacco policy that would seek to make our shared air cleaner while respecting the rights and needs of all people. Hannah Nesdahl, a nine-year-old member of OSL, shared with the council her story of second-hand smoke’s impact on her asthma, encouraging the council to pass the ordinance. Sioux Falls Public Health Director Jill Franken (another OSL member) and Public Health staff also worked hard to help develop the policy, which the City Council passed and which Mayor Mike Huether signed immediately.
Congratulations to Hannah for her courage, commitment, and desire to make the community better for everyone.
Photo: Hannah Nesdahl with Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether.
Quilters and Knitters Recognized
OSL’s dedicated Quilt and Prayer Shawl Ministry volunteers were recognized for their faithful service on the weekend of May 27 and 28.
Approximately 125 to 150 quilts are made each year by OSL quilters. Quilts are donated to Lutheran World Relief and various other organizations such as the St. Francis House, Salvation Army, and Union Gospel Mission. Each quilt costs about $30 to make, so donations to help with the cost of batting, cotton material, thread, single flat twin sheets for backing, and flannel for baby quilts and lap robes are always welcome. Quilts may be purchased for $50.
Prayer shawls have been made for centuries—they are universal and embracing; they comfort and enfold; wrap and warm; shelter and hug. OSL has two groups of knitters who create beautiful prayer shawls, pocket prayer shawls, and baptismal shawls. Those groups welcome donations, too, for their ministry. Prayer shawls made by the Wednesday knitters require three skeins of four-ply yarn; those made by the Saturday group use 14 to 15 ounces of worsted-weight yarn. Pocket prayer shawls take plain color worsted weight (the softer the better), and baptismal shawls use pure white worsted-weight yarn.
For more information about helping or joining any of these important groups, contact the Church Office, 336-2942.
Many thanks to these dedicated knitters and quilters in the OSL community!
New Stephen Ministers Commissioned, by Margot L. Nelson
Two members of Our Savior’s completed the rigorous Stephen Ministry training course and, at this writing are eligible to be commissioned on Sunday, May 28. Please congratulate and pray for new Stephen Ministers Janice Pettersen and Michelle Anderson, OSL Faith Community Nurse.
This year the Stephen Ministry course was offered in a new format, combining interested people from OSL, Gloria Dei, and Peace. Classes were held at Our Savior’s and taught by pastors and Stephen Leaders from OSL and Gloria Dei. This format was chosen, in part, to assist Peace in launching their new Stephen Ministry program.
A Stephen minister is a lay person who has chosen the opportunity to participate in a training program to provide emotional and spiritual care. After commissioning, a Stephen Minister is available to walk beside someone who is hurting—listening, praying, supporting, and encouraging that person. Stephen Ministers in any congregation enhance the ministry of the whole church, and need everyone’s support. Here’s what you can do:
• Pray for God to bring hope and healing to hurting people through our Stephen Ministry.
• Accept care from a Stephen Minister during your time of need. God doesn’t expect you to bear your burdens alone.
• Tell a hurting friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative about the help available through Stephen Ministry.
To learn more about OSL Stephen Ministry, contact Pr. Tim Lemme, tlemme@oslchurch.com or 336-2942, ext. 19.
All Anew: Ready or Not, by Tami Skorczewski
Bible Study. “Niceness” can sometimes get in the way of “doing good” in our own lives and within our faith community.
“In this section of the study, Scripture holds up a mirror, helping us to think about things a little differently and question what we see in ourselves, in our congregations and in our world.” (Source: gathermagazine.org.)
Comfort Bags for Cancer Patients. As a part of the 2017 Unit Wide Mission Project, OSL Women of the ELCA raised $442 toward making Comfort Bags with the Valentine’s Day Sweets Sale. In addition, WELCA received donations from OSL’s Circles and a $250 Thrivent Grant toward the project.
Community Service/Assembly Day for Comfort Bags will be Thursday, June 15, at 5:30 P.M., prior to the Summer Blast worship service. The group will start with 24 bags and assemble more depending on donations. Leah Circle already completed 15 bags at their circle meeting.
A Quote for Summer: “A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing and the lawn mower is broken.” —James Dent