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Tuesday, February 9, 2016
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Remember You Are Dust
"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
These are the words Christians around the world will hear spoken to them tomorrow as they gather for worship on Ash Wednesday.
They are words that remind us of our own mortality. They are words that remind us of our own shortcomings. They are words that remind us of our own failures, temptations, loneliness, emptiness and loss. They are words that accompany each of us throughout these forty days of Lent that we embark on tomorrow.
Lent always begins with the story of Jesus literally being "thrust' into the wilderness by the power of the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that descended upon him as a dove at his baptism just prior to his wilderness experience. Interestingly, the same Holy Spirit that protects and provides, also guides and leads us - sometimes into places or circumstances we'd rather not go. In hindsight, however, the Holy Spirit had a purpose for those places and circumstances.
This Lenten season we will be exploring "The Gift of the Dark Wood" based on the book by Eric Elnes by the same title.
Metaphorically, each Lent, we journey with Jesus through the "dark wood". It is our hope and prayer that we come out of the wood stronger, better equipped and renewed in our mission and purpose in life. This year will be no different. This year we will look specifically at how some of the places and circumstances we have been led to and experienced in our own dark wood, can be viewed as "gifts" from God by way of the Holy Spirit. This is not necessarily easy to do, but it is important as we seek to understand what Elnes says in his book, "One of the great lessons we learn in the Dark Wood is that struggle and challenge provide one of the most reliable contexts in which to discover our path in life, or find our way back when lost."
Join us this Wednesday and Sunday as we explore what it means to rely on our personal experiences of struggle and challenge in order to experience joy and reward.
Our services on Ash Wednesday are at 11:30 a.m. followed by a soup lunch and book study and again at 7:00 p.m. with soup supper offered from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Evening book study will begin at 6:15 p.m.
On a side note, I would like to thank the congregation for their strong and faithful financial support during the first month of 2016. Our January income has exceeded our January expenses (by nearly $3,500) for the first time since 2012. Let's keep it up!
See you in church!
Pastor Dale
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Worship & Music This Week
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Sermon by: Pastor Dale Stiles
11:30am Lenten Worship & Lunch
5:00pm-6:30pm
Lenten Soup Supper:
Lenten Soup (Chicken Noodle) and Assorted Bars and Cookies
6:15pm Book Study
7:00pm Ash Wednesday Worship
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Sermon by: Pastor Dale Stiles
8:00am Blended Worship in the Sanctuary
9:15am Faith Formation & Jr. High Evolve
Adult Faith Formation
10:30am Blended Worship in the CLC
Special Music: (8:00am) Proclaim!
Childcare available at all worship services
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Wednesday Lenten Services: "Gifts of the Dark Wood"
Lenten Schedule
Wednesday morning worship at 11:30 am, lunch following
Evening worship at 5:30 & 7:00 pm, soup supper from 5:00 to 6:30 pm
Note: There is no 5:30 pm worship on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10, Dinner will still begin at 5:00 pm
Wednesday Lenten Services
Feb. 10 (Ash Wednesday), Feb. 17, 24, March 2, 9 & 16
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Ash Wednesday, February 10 - "
Gifts of the Dark Wood
" (Luke 4:1-13)
Wednesday, February 17 - "
The Gift of Uncertainty
" (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)
Wednesday, February 24 - "
The Gift of Emptiness
" (1 Samuel 16:1-13)
Wednesday, March 2 - "
The Gift of Getting Lost
" (Romans 8:18-28)
Wednesday, March 9 -
"The Gift of Temptation"
(Matthew 4:1-11)
Wednesday, March 16 - "
The Gift of Failure"
(Matthew 14:22-23)
Maundy Thursday, March 24 - "
Where We Go From Here
" (Matthew 4:1-11)
*Book Study will take place Wednesdays at 1:00pm & 6:15pm in education room 7-9*
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Parents' Night Out!
On February 19th our mission trip participants and their parents will be hosting a parents' night out to fundraise for their trip to San Francisco, CA. From 5pm-9pm you can bring your child(ren) to OSL
C for pizza, snacks, games, crafts and a movie option. All proceeds will go towards the Youth Mission Trip! Sign up ahead of time in the Gathering Area. Thank you for supporting our youth!
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Photography Class!
February 23rd at 6:30pm come and join us for an exclusive opportunity with Judd Sather's Photography! This class is taught by Judd and his assistant Josh at their studio downtown Stillwater exclusively for Our Savior's. It is $20 a person (normally $100 for a private class). It gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own camera and get new ideas and perspectives on picture taking. Please RSVP to Kristi Hanson by February 16th if you would like to attend.
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Women's Retreat
Now is the time to sign up for the Women's Lavender Springs Spa Retreat that will be happening April 8-9, 2016, at the villa Maria Retreat Center in Frontenac MN. This years focus will be on the book of Psalms, which promises to be a good study. The cost is $100 for a double room and $115 for a single room. Scholarships are available. Registration forms are on the women's bulletin board across from the office work room. Villa Maria needs a number by Feb. 23 so get your registration in now! We look forward to sharing this time with you!
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Request for Prayers and Support
Everyday joys and sorrows...Once in a lifetime joys and sorrows. Your brothers and sisters at Our Savior's want to support you. Email or call our Pastor or the Parish Nurse with any of your needs.
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5th & 6th Grade FaithMarker!
On February 21st Club 56 will have a FaithMarker about the Holy Bible. RSVP to Jane Welsh [email protected].
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Youth Activities & Events!
Jr. High and High School students and parents, please make sure to check out the youth board on a regular basis for upcoming activities and events! If you ever have any questions feel free to contact Chad Larson or Kristi Hanson.
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Lenten Soup Suppers
Got Some Time on Your Hands?
You've enjoyed a hearty bowl of soup and all the other treats offered at the Lenten Soup Supper, but you've got some time before the next service. Please consider stopping in the kitchen and lending a hand. Your help would be
greatly
appreciated.
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Coffee and Conversation
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Oakridge Place
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Wednesday 2/17 1:00-2:00
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Need 1-2 Volunteers
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Oak Park Senior Housing
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Tuesday 2/23 2:00-3:00
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Need 1-2 Volunteers
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Good Samaritan
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Wednesday 2/24 2:00-3:00
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Need 1-2 Volunteers |
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Volunteer Opportunities
We have plenty of volunteer opportunities and would love to use your gifts! Please contact the office and we can find the best fit for you!
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