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Dear Members and Friends of Our Savior's Lutheran Church,
I am home, and in the office, for two days in the midst of an almost two-week vacation. My family and I spent the past week tent camping at two of Minnesota's most beautiful state parks - Lake Carlos near Alexandria and Sibley near New London. These parks are very different in their landscape, unique in their own ways and yet similar in that they provide a perfect place for rest, relaxation and renewal. I am grateful for our state's natural resources and park system. We are blessed!
This Wednesday I head up north to visit friends at their cabin near Nashwauk, MN.
I will be back in worship with you this coming Sunday, August 21. I remind you, if
in need of any urgent pastoral care, to contact Pastor Janel Kuester at St. Paul's Lutheran here in Stillwater or Pastor Rich Larson at Bethlehem Lutheran in Bayport. Our parish nurse, Becky Hulden, is available this week for the more usual or routine pastoral care. We are certainly blessed to have her on staff with us!
I just finished listening to Pastor Mick Dobbin's sermon from Sunday on our church website. I am thankful for his presence with you and for his willingness to fill in for me this past Sunday. Pastor Mick reached out to me shortly after I started serving as your pastor and offered to help out whenever needed. What a blessing he and many retired pastors in our congregation and synod are in this way. I enjoyed his interpretation
of Psalm 121, his personal anecdotes and his ability to connect the Psalm to our everyday life. If you missed it and would like to listen, check out the sermon page on our website.
I am now already looking ahead to this coming Sunday, August 21, and we still find ourselves in the gospel of Luke. This week we hear from the 13th chapter, verses 10-17, the account of Jesus healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath. This is
another powerful example of how Jesus sees us and our needs, and responds with compassion and healing without our even asking. It may be the woman's response, however, that is most important in this text, for as soon as he laid hands on her, she stood upright for the first time in eighteen years and immediately began praising God! It truly was a miracle of grace, unmerited and unsolicited!
I remind you this week to not forget the power and compassion of our Savior, Jesus. He is ready and willing and wanting to help you, regardless of your readiness, willingness or desire to have him help. What another powerful example of God's love for us expressed through Jesus and His Holy Spirit.
I missed you last Sunday and I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday as we celebrate Holy Communion (at both services) and a baptism (at 9:30 am). It seems our Summer days are quickly winding down and our staff is busily preparing for Fall programming.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Dale
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Worship & Music This Week
8:00 am
Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
9:30 am Blended Worship in the CLC
Special Music (8:00 & 9:30 am): Charlotte Schuld
Childcare available at all worship services
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NEW PROGRAM! "Time for Parents" on Sundays, 9:15 am
Hello parents!
We hope your summer is going well and that you have had some time to relax and renew! We want to tell you about a new and exciting weekly opportunity we have for you here at OSLC!
Starting September 18th at 9:15 am in the Narthex (area outside the sanctuary) we will be meeting for discussion around special topics that may interest you as parents. This is your chance to be able to connect with other parents, give your input on the selected topic for the day, or just to listen to what others might have to say.
Our Youth & Family Ministry Director, Chad Larson, will be facilitating the conversation with the intention to create a healthy environment for people to share their experiences and opinions in topics like communication, managing conflict, boundaries, social media, dealing with hardship and much more! Coffee, donuts, and childcare will be provided!
If you have any questions about this amazing opportunity, please contact Chad Larson or Darla Goble for more information. We are so excited for you to be involved in this new opportunity and for you to grow in relationships with other parents! We hope you choose to participate! Let's get the ball rolling!
Chad Larson
Darla Goble
425-281-8315
651-439-5704, ext. 32
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Jr. High Evolve Youth Group (Time Change)
This year we are making some slight changes to our Sunday morning Jr. High Youth group. Due to the limited space available on Sunday mornings, we have decided to move this group from 9:15 am, Faith Formation hour, to after church at 11:45 am. This will give us the opportunity to use the whole church space for our activities. Also, with the time change happening, we will now be having lunch as a part of our time as well! This time change will also open up the opportunity for our Jr. High students to volunteer in our Faith Formation program during the education hour, helping them to grow in their leadership skills and experience. If you are interested in providing lunch for our Jr. High students for a Sunday, please let Chad know or sign up on the youth board! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email
chad@oslcstillwater.org or call Chad at 651-439-5704, ext. 15. We are so excited to have your student involved in our Jr. High Youth group and we can't wait to see what God has planned for this year!
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Confirmation Small Group Leaders Needed!
Here at OSLC we are blessed to offer such a strong and vibrant confirmation program for our students. One of the biggest reasons for the success of this program has been due to the base of small group leaders who are willing to give a small piece of their time to help our students grow in their faith. This year we are in need of small group leaders who can commit to being here for a couple hours on Wednesday nights to lead a group of 8-10 students in faith conversations. You're not expected to know everything about the bible and no previous prep is required. We just want you to use your gifts to lead our students in the given topic for the night. I will provide you all the tools you need. If you are interested, please talk with Chad to discuss details! (
chad@oslcstillwater.org or 651-439-5704, ext. 15)
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Register for Faith Formation!
Please register for Fall Faith Formation (Sundays/Wednesdays). We have something available for children & youth age 3 through 12th grade. We are preparing for volunteers and classroom space.
Register Now!
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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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New Member Classes
Interested in Becoming a Member at Our Savior's Lutheran Church?
Please attend one of the New Member Orientation sessions on Sunday, August 21, at 10:45 am or Wednesday, August 31, at 6:30 pm. We will meet in the Family Room across from the church office and childcare will be available at both sessions. New members will be received on Rally Sunday, September 11 at both services.
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PEP Summer Picnic at Boutwell's, August 22!
Mark your calendars for the PEP summer picnic which will be held on Monday, August 22nd, at Boutwell Landings picnic area. The picnic starts at noon. Bring a folding chair and a dish to share. Plates, napkins and tableware will be provided. Beverage will also be provided.
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A Time for Fellowship - Blessing of the Backpacks & OSLC's Picnic August 28
Bring your backpacks & briefcases for a special blessing on August 28!
The church picnic will immediately follow the 9:30 am outdoor service at the church. Please bring a dish to share! A grill will be available for grilling any meat you choose to bring! Lemonade, water, potato chips, plates, napkins and silverware will be provided. We'll set up the food in the CLC. Tables will be available in the CLC or you may wish to eat under the awnings outside.
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Faith Formation Supply Tree!
Take a leaf from the Faith Formation Tree
! We are in need of a few key supplies. If you are able to donate a few items, take a leaf off the tree
in the Gathering Area and return it with the donated item by Sept. 11th.
Your gracious donations help keep the Faith Formation programs alive and thriving! If you have any questions, please contact Darla Goble, at 651-439-5704, ext. 32 or
darla@oslcstillwater.org
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Coffee and Conversation - August 2016
Here are dates and times for the Coffee and Conversation visits in August. If you are able to attend, please contact Becky Hulden, Parish Nurse or Pastor Dale for details.
Oakridge Place, Wednesday, 8/17 @1:00 pm
Oak Park Senior Housing, Tuesday, 8/23 @ 2:00 pm
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Simply Giving
A more convenient way to give! In a few short minutes, you can make a one-time gift or set up a donation that will process automatically on a recurring basis. Recurring donations are convenient and provide our church with much needed consistent support throughout the year.
To give online, visit our church's website and get set up!
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Stewardship is about love:
serving others through our time, talent, and treasure.
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