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Read the December 2017 edition of The Pines, the monthly newsletter of OSLC!
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December 2017
We hope you and your loved ones will join us for a special Christmas Eve worship service on Sunday, December 24.
Family Service - 4 pm, Fellowship Hall
Traditional Worship - 7 pm, Sanctuary
We'll continue to celebrate the Christmas Season with a Lessons & Carols service on Sunday, January 31 at 10 a.m.
*Regular Worship times and Sunday School will resume January 7:
9 am Traditional Worship
10:15 am Sunday School
11 am FLOW Contemporary Service
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Christmas for Moore
Help us fill food baskets
through
Christmas for Moore!
The food we collect together will provide Christmas dinner for 30 families which OSLC has "adopted" through Christmas for Moore.
Items needed:
- Canned fruit of any kind
- Canned green beans, corn and peas
- Canned sweet potatoes
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Cranberry sauce
- 46 oz. canned fruit juices
- Box Cereal
- Powdered milk
- Dessert (such as instant pudding, cake mixes, or boxed cookies)
Thank you for picking up the items you can, together we will fill these Christmas baskets!
You may leave your donations in the food chest by the Fellowship Hall any time through Wednesday, December 13.
The Social Ministry Committee is also collecting monetary donations with hopes to purchase a ham for each family this year. We appreciate your continued support of this outreach to our neighbors in need. Thank you!!
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Direct Choice Dollars to OSLC
During this season, we reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. Eligible Thrivent financial members can show thanks by directing Choice Dollars to Our Saviour Lutheran Church to financially support the church.
Instructions: Visit their website at
thrivent.com/thriventchoice OR call 800-847-4836 and say "Thrivent Choice" after the prompt.
Together we can make a difference, thank you!
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Dinner and a Show on December 10
You don't want to miss Our Saviour's Christmas Program!
You're invited to join us Sunday, December 10 at 5 pm for Dinner and A Show: a delicious dinner prepared by Matthew 25 followed by a sure-to- be-entertaining Christmas program presenting our preschool kids dressed as angels, shepherds, Wise Men, and stable animals!
Join us in the Fellowship Hall. A free-will offering will be accepted for dinner.
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Have you ordered your Christmas Poinsettias yet?
It's time to order poinsettias to adorn the sanctuary on Christmas Eve. As an alternative to ordering a poinsettia you may make a donation (for the same amount as the price of a poinsettia) to OSLC Matthew 25 Ministry. Orders will be accepted through December 10. All donations and memorials will be listed in the bulletin on Christmas Eve. You may send your order to the church office, place it in the offering plate on Sundays or bring it to the Welcome Center.
Many thanks!
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Mark your calendar for our last Chick-fil-A Spirit Night of 2017! All you have to do is feed the family and the preschool receives a portion. A big thank you to all of you that came!
Tuesday, December 19th anytime from 5pm-7pm
Preschool News from the Preschool Board
When you visit Our Saviour Lutheran Church on weekday mornings, the sounds of little ones can be heard throughout the church! We are thrilled to have 54 students ages 1-5 this year, with a waitlist of 34 students hoping for a spot to open up! Isn't that incredible?!
We have such a strong team of teachers, and our director Rebecca Marchetti has worked so hard to cement our reputation as one of the best preschools in the Sandhills. She is a treasure and if you see her, please give her a big hug and a THANK YOU for the countless hours she's spent growing this program - far more than the 30 hours per week for which she is paid.
Did you know that each month, Our Saviour Preschool makes a donation of $270 to Family Promise? Part of our mission is to give back to the community, and $5 from each student's monthly tuition is donated to this wonderful organization that Our Saviour Lutheran Church helped to start several years ago.
Thank you so much to Thrivent for your donation of $1000, which will allow us to send five of our teachers to a special professional development workshop in Raleigh focused on teaching handwriting to our preschoolers. This is such an important skill to set our kids up for success.
Preschool registration for the 2018-2019 school year will open for church members the week of December 25, and for the general public on January 1. Please visit our website at
www.oursaviourpreschool.com for more information! If you'd like to set up a tour, please contact Rebecca Marchetti at 910-638- 0798. Please spread the word!
Finally, Patty Peeples and I are stepping down from the Preschool Board at the end of the year, after four years of service. It's truly been our pleasure to help grow this ministry of the church and we look forward to a great 2018!~
-Krissy Yoder
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Youth News!
High School Youth
This past month, our high school youth enjoyed seeing the movie
Thor
in theaters, and they partnered with the Property Team to paint new lines in the church parking lot. Our gatherings for the month of December will be on
December 3 from 5 -7pm
at the church and
December 17
at Pastor Linn's house for a joint Christmas party with our confirmation classes. Check your email or contact Pastor Meghan for more information about upcoming events.
In November, our confirmation kids had their first lock-in at the church. We walked through stations on the Lord's Prayer, played all kinds of Ga-G
a ball, and enjoyed spending time together. In December, we will be wrapping up our unit on Lutheranism (Dec. 3) and joining the high school youth and their families at Pastor Linn's house for a Christmas party (Dec. 17)!
Kids on Fire (3rd-5th grade youth)
This group of fun kids met for a service project with some of the Sew Special women. We tied blankets for Lutheran World Relief and shared a devotion together on Matthew 25. Our next gathering is
2 - 4pm on
December 10 at the church for a fun Christmas celebration.
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Do you have pictures or information to share in the next newsletter?
by the 20th of the month.
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Prayers & Cares
FRIENDS AND FAMILY - All Military Flood, Earthquake and Fire Victims, Ruth Adkin, Bonnie Bischof, Jim Constantino, Ann Fuhrmann, Tami Gonzalez, Mary Lou Kenna, Diane Lewis, Linda Boles Parke, Shawn Plotz, Shawn Quigley, Jeff Santos, Sandy Scholl's son-in-law, Jim Seibold, Fran Starke, Pat Streicker, Holly Wohlfert
AT HOME- Eloise Anderson, Richard Barnes, Pat Bock, Shirley Braisted, Cris Crisafulli, Dorothy Cullen, Jack and Sue Diffily, Leatha Ferebee, Dianne Forsberg, Gunter Fuhrmannek (Wisconsin), Ed and Nadine Garrett, Florence McCormick, Catherine Sigmon-Mitchell, Janet Nelson, Joan Nelson, Marian Oswalt, Marilyn Quintana, Barbara Reid, Jean Sherrill, Dale Streicker, Rosanne Thein, Bill Weber, Pat Williams
IN EXTENDED CARE- Penick Village Skilled Care: Grace Bergstedt, Ken Sparke; Pinehurst Rehab: John Loeser, Peggy Smith, Quail Haven Rehab: Bill Bradley, Florence Ward, Mary McNabb
IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY- Sean Barnes, Jon Drew, Luke Erickson, Pastor Linn Fisher, Mark Jennings, Michael Karlowicz, Ian Lilyquist, Jon Kempenich, Mark Ochoa, Matt Prairie, Amy Ramirez, Sean Ramirez
OUR MISSION PARTNER - Water of Life Lutheran, Wilmington
OUR MISSIONARY IN COSTA RICA - Pastor Stephen Deal
EXPECTING PARENTS- Amy and Sean Ramirez ; Eric and Pastor Meghan Richter
Please note any prayer requests you have on your Welcome Card at Sunday morning worship or email the
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December Worship Assistant Schedule
Thank you for serving this month!
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The sign up chart for Altar Flowers is posted for 2018 in the glass case in the church hallway. The cost of each altar v
ase is $35 plus tax and you will be billed by the florist. Be sure to sign up early to select your special day!
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Anniversaries & Birthdays
December Birthdays
Happy Birthday to....
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01
01
01
01
02
02
03
03
05
06
07
07
08
11
12
16
17
17
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Florrie Crisafulli
Jaleigh Jensen
Ellen Klingener
Karyn Molnar
Eloise Anderson
Bob Stolting
Johnny Ransdell
Ruth Stolting
Cinnamon LeBlanc-Johnson
Bernie Taubersmith
Tom Adams
Riley Wilson
Wes Merchant
Sam Peterson
Pastor Linn Fisher
Graham Mataxis
Chuck Crum
Jean Henning
Nancy Blasingame
David Mello
Jordan Odom
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19
20
20
20
20
20
21
22
24
25
26
26
26
26
26
27
28
28
29
29
30
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Doris Weinberg
Peggy Benson
Carol Bruno
Mary Fee
Emma Gast
Karenna Levin
Barbara Vainio
Josh Brown
Barbara Skora
Jeff Binney
Margaret Cochran
Stephanie Gast
Greg Groff
Graham Haulsee
Kay Kish
Doreen Cangemi
Ioulia Chatham
John Loeser
Phyllis Bradley
Nancy O'Brien
Susan Simmons
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December Anniversaries
Happy Anniversary to....
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04
08
11
16
18
22
22
23
23
26
27
28
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Harry & Carole Carter
Steve & Margaret Cochran
David & Abby Mello
David & Frances Clayton
Jay & Heidi Pittard
Pastor Linn & Jenijoy Fisher
Johnny & Melinda Ransdell
David & Ioulia Chatham
Fritz & Marilyn Flemming
Franklin & Florence Ward
James & Paulette Aanrud
Steve & Libby Carter
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25 years
55 years
13 years
28 years
35 years
05 years
44 years
04 years
51 years
66 years
50 years
42 years
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Advent Sunday School Class
Dec. 3 &10
Youth Wing | 10:15 am
All adults, middle school and high school youth are invited to attend a four session Advent Study.
Based on the Advent scriptures readings, each week includes a discussion on the theme and
reflection questions:
Movers and shakers
Dec 3 - John 1:6-8, 19-28
The world is about to turn
Dec 10 - Luke 1:26-38
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Thanks to all of you for volunteering to help make our church home beautiful. It is not an easy task to clean up the courtyard, trim all the bushes, trim trees, blow out the parking lots, move yard waste around and clean everything up in three hours on a Saturday morning. But many hands makes for lighter work. Let it be known that your dedication to OSLC is appreciated!
- The OSLC Property Ministry Team
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Help us adorn the Our Saviour Mitten Tree
with donations of hats, gloves, scarves or children's underwear for children in need at Family Promise. You may hang these unwrapped items on the tree located near the Welcome Center until December 22. Thank you for supporting our Community Partner Family Promise.
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Gifts in Honorarium
In Celebration of Terry Dorsey's Wedding
Tom and Martha Mills
To Matthew 25 Ministries
Andy Paris Eagle Scout Recognition
Jim and Patty Peeples
The OSLC Scholarship Fund
In honor of Gerald F. and JoAn Phillips
Jacey Berecek
To the General Fund
Thank you for supporting the many ministries of Our Saviour through your financial contributions!
2017 Tax Credit Information
In order to receive 2017 tax credit for your tithes and offerings, contributions must be given to the church by Dec. 31, 2017, or postmarked on or before Dec. 31, 2017. Monies received after the start of 2018 cannot be attributed to the 2017 year.
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A Letter from Thomas L. Adams, Council President
Dear Fellow OSLC Member,
As you know we held our Annual Congregational meeting on Sunday, November 19 followed by a luncheon catered by Scott and Karen Margolis of Scott's Table in Southern Pines. If you
weren't there you missed an important meeting in the life of our congregation and an excellent
lunch!
After a moving opening prayer by Pastor Linn, and approval of old minutes, we moved to the
election of 4 members to 3 year terms on the Church Council. Jenny Jennings and Barbara
Vainio were re-elected to their 2 nd term and Joe Stewart and Bill Van O'Linda were elected to
their 1 st term. Tiffany Flack, Cindy Gass, Karen Margolis, and Catherine Sigmon-Mitchell also ran and would have made excellent council members. I encourage them to run again.
The congregation also received the Treasurer's Report and after spirited debate approved the
2018 Spending Plan noting that we would revisit the Plan in the May time frame. The Synod has not yet completed its review of the Constitution and Bylaw's we approved in September. Because of this, there will be a special congregational meeting in early 2018 to complete that process.
I want to take the opportunity to share with you my Annual Report to the congregation as your
President this past year. Nearly 12 months ago I addressed you for the first time as your Council President. I laid out a number of decisions the Council made at its annual retreat in January. Our council members committed to you then that we would do our best to be transparent, consult with you, remain open to your suggestions and report to you on a regular basis. I trust that you will agree that we kept that covenant with you this year.
In the wake of Todd Rauscher's resignation and Bishop Tim Smith's meeting with the congregation we knew that 2017 would be a year of examining who we are as a congregation,
our staffing needs, and what we needed to do to put the events of 2016 behind us in order to
continue our faith journey. God blessed us in the spring of 2016 when Pastor Linn accepted our call as co-pastor. His experience as Senior Pastor with three prior congregations, and tenure as a senior Air Force Chaplain in charge of 6 other pastors gave us the professional guidance to renew and revise some of our programming decisions. His leadership of three congregations through development or crisis re-development, gave us the gift of theological leadership as we have dealt with issues this year that have been necessary for reform. Thank you, Pastor Linn, for being here for us.
At the retreat, we laid out a plan for the year, which, with your help, we have executed. We
began by redefining who we are as the Lutheran Church in the Sandhills.
Worship In Christ
Spiritual Growth in Christ
Community in Christ
You see that mission statement proclaimed in the church building today. The Council has
endeavored to keep our mission central in every decision we made this year. It's amazingly
simple: Worship, spiritual growth and community. We believed then, and even more so today,
that those are the three foundation stones of why we fill these old pews on Sunday.
We also took an in depth look at our committee structure and set out to recast those individual
activities into a new ministry concept. The movement from committees to ministries and
greater individual involvement is underway today.
In January we promised that within 6 months we would have additional assistance in place to
assist Pastor Linn while we studied ourselves and discerned future needs. Since we had already concluded we were too large a congregation for one minister, we were especially thankful to find Pastor Meghan to come along side Pastor Linn part time during a difficult time.
While her time with us has been and is limited, her wisdom, strength, and youthful leadership have been a real asset. Thank you for that, Pastor Meghan.
There have been lots of other changes during the year. Our highly successful Pre-School has
blossomed. The Matthew 25 program providing meals for the poor in Robbins has grown, we
eliminated the Sunday night live program which was not meeting its potential, we have
reinvented Sunday School for all ages and our commitment to Family Promise is strong. My only disappointment is I can't talk anyone into having the kids line up and sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" while marching into their classrooms on Sunday morning the way I did as a kid. Oh well, just because you get to be council president doesn't mean you get everything you want!.
OK.... you may be asking yourself, that was last year, but we're here today to talk about where we are headed as a congregation in 2018. So....let's do that.
The week of November 6 over 50 of you responded to questions we posted in an online
survey. Up until that point, the council was under the impression that you, the congregation,
believed as we did, that we were headed in the right general direction in our decisions
regarding Worship, Spiritual Growth and Community in Christ. At our council meeting on
November 16, we reviewed all of the different data we have gathered, primarily the survey
results and pledges for 2018, and we now believe we have additional work to do to prepare a
foundation for the Reformation of the Lutheran Church in the Sandhill's-- Our Saviour.
Jen Jennings will be putting the 2018 Draft Spending Plan in front of you shortly. It is missing
one important item. Every single member of the church council believes we need a second full
time Pastor. We did not include that number in the Draft Spending Plan. When we reviewed
the approximately 50 surveys, around 25 felt that while it might be nice, the money is just not
coming in to hire a second pastor.
That demographic, while only based on small total number taking the survey, gave us the
information that we had not made a case to you about the need for a second pastor. Based on
other comments in the survey, the council is concerned that there is a portion of our
congregation who is unsure of our identity.
The good news is that pledges are up both in number submitted and in amounts to be given over 2017.
So what's next? We are going to put the congregation to work determining our key
missions....the building blocks of our foundation.....so that we can clearly state that mission
together. I'm not talking about a catch-phrase here, but a serious defining of who we are today
and who we want our church to be tomorrow?
This week we have had conversations with our friends at the synod who tell us they have
resources to help us through this process. In fact our Pastors will be in Salisbury to have initial
conversations about this process the week after Thanksgiving. After we complete the process
we'll know what kind of ministries God wants us to undertake and the resources we will need
to make those happen.
I do know this.....This congregation can do whatever we have the WILL to do in obedience to
God's calling. With your participation we are going to prayerfully seek what God has in store
for us.
In closing I want to thank the Pastor's for being there for us, and yes, for me. Thanks to an
excellent church council, whose members give generously of their time and treasure, a thank
you to our choirs and praise band, the volunteers who make this congregation tick, and
particularly to Holly Lohse, our operations manager, and Trudy Blake.
Thanks to all of you, for what you do.
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