OSL’s Spiritual Care team knows winter can get to be long for some of us—even without a pandemic!—so they’ve put together Cabin Fever Bags for Grown-Ups to make these months a bit brighter. Included in these bags are word games, puzzles, arts and craft supplies, daily inspirational Bible verses and reflections, ideas for activities to do on your own or with someone else, and cookie treats made by OSL’s Food Coordinator, Debbie Theis. Cabin Fever Bags are available for pick-up on Sunday mornings, or in the Church Office during the week. One per household, please, while they last! Questions? Call the Church Office, 336-2942, and ask to speak with a Spiritual Care team member.
Among the accomplishments at last Sunday’s Annual Meeting was the election of members of the Governing Board: Alison Sahly, President; Shawn Pritchett, Vice President; Dan Van Schepen, Immediate Past President; Janelle Hoven, Secretary; Joylynn Buus, Treasurer; and Ryan Oorlog, At-large, as well as Pr. Randy Gehring in his role as senior pastor. See oslchurch.com for contact information and photos.
2021 Winter Wellness at OSL: Tips for Connection and Joy. During the long winter season, and especially during the pandemic, maintaining social connections is important for reducing loneliness and anxiety. OSL Caring Ministries has created a Winter Wellness Calendar that provides fun, interactive tips to help you stay connected. Click here to download the calendar.
Matthew Tylutki, OSL Principal Organist, discusses Jesus’ call to his disciples, and relates it to the “beautiful simplicity” of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” in the 17th episode of OSL’s Music Devotion Series. View it here.
OSL’s Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange is more popular than ever! 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.
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.
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…
February’s Cross+Gen event, Held in God’s Love Time Capsule, will take place on February 14—Valentine’s Day! This activity will provide you opportunity to reflect on a short scripture, highs and lows of 2020, where you saw God’s faithfulness, and your hopes and prayers for 2021, as well as space for special items, all held in a capsule. (One per participating household.) Learn more and sign up at SignUpGenius.
View your OSL contribution statements online: Visit My OSL and follow the steps to create a login or, if you already have done so, use the Click Here link to sign in. In My OSL, scroll down to Giving Summary and click on My Giving History, then click on PDF Tax Statement and your statement will appear in a printable format. Questions? Contact Barb Haugan, bhaugan@oslchurch.com.
Last month, OSL confirmation students invited the rest of the congregation to join them in the Laundry with Love Quarter Challenge. A program of Church on the Street, Laundry with Love gathers in a local laundromat twice a month to gift families with quarters to wash up to six loads of laundry. Thanks to your generosity, the total raised was $6,685.00—that’s 26,740 quarters!—meaning OSL will be funding 9.5 of the 24 Laundry with Love events this year. Thank you for your support of this ministry, and special thanks to OSL’s 6A confirmation group for collecting the most quarters of any mentor group. (Pictured: Pr. Shelly Gehring giving OSL’s quarters collection to Harriet Monson, Laundry with Love Director.)
Well, you’ve done it again: In response to the annual January toilet paper collection for Necessities for Neighbors, you stepped up and donated more than 2,400 rolls! These will be handed out to neighbors at this Sunday’s distribution at Peace Lutheran Church. Necessities for Neighbors, a program of OSL’s partner ministry, Charis Ministry, distributes to families personal care items that are not covered by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). Thank you for the impact you are having on the lives of those who depend on this ministry!
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.
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.
If you’re worshiping from home, you can fully participate in the OSL community’s worship life. Here’s how:
• 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; channel 53).
• 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!
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!
Loving and caring for one another is not just the pastor’s job—it’s something Jesus calls us all to do! Stephen Ministry is a ministry in which people with special gifts for caring ministry can put those gifts to use in an organized way, bringing Jesus’ love and care to those who most need it. If you know someone who is going through a difficult time, or you yourself are, contact Pr. Tim Lemme, tlemme@oslchurch.com or 336-2942, to learn how a Stephen Minister can provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care and help someone experience the healing power of Christ’s love.Opportunities to Help
Our Savior’s will serving our neighbors at the Food to You Drive-through Event on February 18 at Augustana Lutheran Church. There are openings for four to six volunteers to come at 4:15 p.m., and another 16 to arrive at 5:15. Middle- and high-school students are welcome to participate, with adult helpers. Especially welcome are people able to lift boxes. Masks are required, and the food will be distributed outdoors. Sign up at the Welcome Center, or contact the Church Office, 336-2942, by February 15.
Looking for a way to give back, safely? Join other OSL members and nourish the community by helping to serve at The Banquet’s downtown location on Tuesday, February 23. You can help prep food for 350 to 450 guests from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., or help serve food from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Safety protocols are in place to protect volunteers, guests and staff: masks and gloves are required, and the food is served in a contact-free to-go fashion behind a plastic shield. Sign up at the Welcome Center or call the Church Office, 366-1942, by February 16. Questions? Contact Lisa Parker, (605) 941-4143 or lparker@sfgmembers.com.
Many OSL members are volunteering to be a pen pal for homebound members —why not join them? Send a card or note once or twice a month—that’s all there is to it! To sign up, contact Deb Harlan, dharlan@oslchurch.com.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 February is any kind of pasta; for March it will be hearty soup. Always appreciated are toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant for Hygiene Packs. 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!
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.