Christmas worship at Our Savior’s this year will be different, to ensure everyone’s safety. Here’s what is planned:Christmas Eve
• A one-hour Festive Christmas Eve worship service will be broadcast on FOX at 9:00 p.m. on December 24.
• Three 30-minute in-person worship services will be held in OSL’s worship spaces at 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 p.m. Worshipers must sign up for the service they will attend and follow the direction provided for parking as well as entrance and egress for their respective service. Pandemic protocols will be observed. Worship will not include Holy Communion.
Click on the link below or call the Church Office, 336-2942, to sign up for the service you plan to attend. Seating capacity is 175, though no one will be turned away.
4:00 Festive worship in the Sanctuary
5:00 Celebrate worship in the Celebrate Center
6:00 Festive worship in the Sanctuary
• Drive-in Christmas Eve worship will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the south parking lot. Worship will be broadcast using an AM radio transmitter. Worshipers may participate in worship while remaining in their cars. To sign up for this new worship opportunity, click the link below or call the Church Office, 336-2942.
7:00 Drive-in Christmas Eve Worship
Christmas Day Worship
• Worshipers will gather in the Sanctuary on Christmas morning at 10:00 to welcome the Christ child. Music will be led by the OSL Jazz Trio and contactless Holy Communion will be celebrated. Pandemic protocols will be observed. No sign-up is necessary for this service.
Ornaments on the Tree of Remembrance, in The Gathering Place, have special meaning to OSL members who have lost a loved one—all the more so this year, in the midst of the pandemic and the loss of life due to COVID-19. You are welcome to place an ornament on this tree in memory of a loved one. Ornaments are placed on the tree again every Advent.
Stop by the ELCA Good Gifts table in The Gathering Place, each weekend in Advent. You see ways to give animals, agricultural assistance, business assistance, Bibles, Sunday School start-up kits, and more, to people all over the world including the U.S. If you’d prefer, you may shop online at goodgifts.elca.org.
In this 16th episode of OSL’s Music Devotion Series, Our Savior’s members and musicians Julie Oien and Jeanne Carter share scripture readings related to the season, and perform “Some Children See Him” by Alfred Burt, arranged by Larry Shackleton. View it here!
The OSL Library’s One Church One Read title is available for checkout: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is a humorous and heartbreaking story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us even in the most anxious times. Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes hostage the worst group of strangers possible. For more information, contact the OSL Library, 336-2942.
Be sure to visit the OSL Library in person or utilize curbside checkout! Details can be found online under “News and Messages” at Atriuum, the OSL Library’s online catalog. Library hours are Sundays, 8:15 to 11:45 a.m; Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m; Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m; second Saturday only of each month, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
OSL’s Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange is going strong! Visit the table near the south windows in The Gathering Place, drop off a puzzle and pick up a new one, for yourself or a friend or family member.
As OSL continues to work to limit the spread of COVID-19, printed bulletins are not being used at worship services. You are welcome to participate using your mobile device and the digital versions of the bulletins on the OSL website: Here is the bulletin for Saturday evening; for Sunday Festive worship; and for Sunday Celebrate worship.Things to Note…
The Shepherd on the Search helps children discover the joy of searching for the Christ Child during Advent. Every Sunday and Wednesday through December 23, children who check out a book from the OSL Library may search for one of the Nativity figures hidden in the front area of the Library, and receive a candy cane and a prize. Be sure to encourage your child to follow the shepherd’s search for Baby Jesus.
Baptism of Our Lord Milestone, for everyone who was baptized in the previous year, will be on January 10, 2021. If you or someone in your household experienced a baptism, sign up for this milestone today! We’ll be mailing a gift and emailing Family Time for you to safely do in your home
Every week (sometimes more frequently!), Our Savior’s produces a short Information Video of upcoming events, activities, and opportunities. It’s shown at the Welcome Center and on monitors in the Sanctuary and Celebrate Center before worship services. And it’s posted to the OSL website as well, so if you haven’t been by for a while, or you’d just like a closer look, find the videos here!
What happens if we become seriously ill or disabled and may not be able to speak for ourselves? Have the conversation about Advanced Care Planning Directives!—make sure your loved ones know your personal choices and wishes. “Go Wish,” a fun, easy-to-use card game, can help get the conversation started. It’s available for check-out from Caring Ministries, or free to play with distant family members at www.codaalliance.org. Faith Community Nurse Michelle Anderson will be happy to visit with you if you have questions or would like help in completing your advanced care planning directives: 336-2942 or mianderson@oslchurch.com.
Are you worshiping from home? In-person church activities at OSL continue, but not everybody is comfortable about venturing out. Here’s how you can participate in the OSL community’s worship life from home:
• View (or print) weekly worship materials at oslchurch.com.
• Watch worship services on TV: Celebrate: 9:00 a.m., FOX-TV (channel 46.2); Festive: 1:00 p.m., KSCB (cable channel 30).
• Catch live-stream worship services at facebook.com/oslchurchsf: Celebrate, 8:45 a.m.; Festive, 10:15 a.m.
• Watch recorded services at oslchurch.com, uploaded on Monday.
• Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!
Look for Freddy the Flamingo and his friends Rosie and Matthew every other Tuesday on OSL’s Facebook page! Freddy, Rosie, and Matthew will teach you a song and help you participate in Sunday worship from home.
Keep an eye on the OSL calendar, at oslchurch.com/calendar, as events and activities are added! The website calendar is continuously updated, so visit it frequently.
The joy of Christmas can turn into a time of painful loneliness and emptiness for those who have suffered a loss, who are going through a difficult time, or are suffering from the stress of COVID-19. But help is available. OSL’s Stephen Ministers will listen, care, encourage, pray with and for you, and support you through the holidays and as long as your need persists. Find out more about Stephen Ministry by contacting Pr. Tim Lemme, tlemme@oslchurch.com or 336-2942.Opportunities to Help
Roll Call: Every year, Our Savior’s collects toilet paper during January, which we then distribute to families, alongside dozens of other personal care items, at Necessities for Neighbors, a program of OSL’s partner ministry, Charis Ministry. This year’s no different—but buying toilet paper sure is! Given the restricted availability of toilet paper, we encourage you to start shopping today for your contribution to OSL’s mountain of TP. In the past, the goal has been to collect 1,000 rolls; last year, your generous contributions totaled 2,784 rolls—nearly three times the goal. Let’s see how this year goes! Bring your donations to OSL anytime from now through January.
The New Year is almost here—meaning it’s time for a new Meals on Wheels volunteer schedule for January through April. Delivery is contactless, due to the pandemic and new procedures are in place to keep drivers and clients safe. Please consider volunteering to deliver meals during these difficult times! You may select the days that are best for you, and training is provided to new drivers. Call Sandy Garnas, 338-5440, to help out our neighbors.
OSL supports the Food to You Mobile Food Pantry by donating various food items to help local families in need, and helping with food distributions. The item for January is mac and cheese; for February it will be any kind of pasta. Place your donations in the marked bins near the south entrance, by the Library.
Thanks to your generosity, OSL’s Campus Cupboard is a big success—so much so that USF students have been invited to use it! Want to help out our university neighbors? Here are some options:• Volunteer to help out—there are slots for two volunteers on each of these days: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3:45 to 7:00 p.m.; Sunday mornings, 9:00 to 11:00. Procedures are in place to ensure everyone’s safety and minimal contact. Get in touch with Pr. Justin Kosec, 336-2942, ext. 44, or jkosec@oslchurch.com.
• Buy some, or all, of the items on the shopping list you’ll find here. You’ll find all the details you need there, too.
• At the moment, because of the number of students who can use some help, these items in particular would be greatly appreciated: Ramen noodles; soup; toothpaste; shampoo; body wash; lotion; toothbrushes; peanut butter; jelly; mac and cheese; tuna or any kind of canned meat; pasta; pasta sauce ; cereal, hot or cold; all kinds of beans; rice; all kinds of vegetables
For your convenience, a cart is set up inside the south entrance during business hours, where you may leave your contributions. Thanks for your support of OSL’s Augie and USF neighbors!
The Banquet serves nearly 200,000 nutritious meals every year to families in the Sioux Falls community. The Banquet is serving meals to-go during the pandemic, which require volunteer groups of right or ten people. If you wish to volunteer at either of the two Banquet locations, call 335-7066. Financial gifts are also appreciated. This could be a wonderful family or community group project.
With winter on the doorstep, why not consider becoming an OSL Pen Pal to let members who are isolated due to the pandemic know they are not forgotten! Drop someone a card or note, or just make a phone call! To sign up, contact Deb Harlan, dharlan@oslchurch.com.
Have you tried OSL’s text giving option? It’s a quick, convenient way to help support OSL’s mission! Just text sharing to 73256 and follow the short instructions to make a gift to Our Savior’s. Thank you for your continued support! Receive Coming Up at Our Savior’s every week!
Just click the button below.