Tuesday, March 21, 2017

 
"Finally, Spring!"     


Dear Members and Friends of Our Savior's Lutheran Church,
 
It is officially Spring! Yet, as with the season of Lent, and living in Minnesota, we know we are not out of the woods yet! With Lent, we know Holy Week is still approaching before arriving at the empty tomb. As Minnesotans, we know there is the strong possibility of more snow before flowers and new life abound. But as always, there is hope - and we cling to it.
 
For many in our community it is spring break. With that, many families at OSLC are traveling and spending quality time together in rest, renewal, and relaxation. It is fun to see some of the pics and updates on my facebook feed! Of course this drastically affects our worship attendance, as expected, so don't be surprised if you show up to worship tomorrow night and find far less people in attendance. "Wherever two or three are gathered ...", Jesus said, "... there I am among them."
 
Also, traveling this week are ten members of OSLC to Jamaica as part of our mission partnership with the Clifton Boys Home. If you haven't already, take the time to check out updates and photos of their trip on our church facebook page. Please keep them in your prayers. They return home Saturday.
 
We continue our "Lent with Luther" series tomorrow as we study the difference between the law and the gospel, according to Martin Luther and how this distinction continues to shape our lives of faith today - 500 years after the Reformation.
 
On Sunday we will hear about the healing of a man born blind (John 9:1-41) - another long gospel reading! It is a powerful story - like last Sunday's story about the Samaritan woman at the well. In this story, the Pharisees ask Jesus, regarding the man, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" I love the answer that Jesus gives! "It was neither" he says. He was saying that, "Blindness and sin are not necessarily related." But then Jesus goes on to say that, in this case, the man's blindness would allow the power of God to be displayed. And he spits on the dusty ground and makes mud and spreads it over the blind man's eyes, telling him to go and wash it off. When he did, he was healed. Amazing! Amazing to everyone - but the Pharisees - they were not impressed.
 
On this Fourth Sunday in Lent we will consider how we, at times, become like the Pharisees when we make judgments about people, without knowing the circumstances of their lives; when we insist on simple black and white answers to complicated problems and the very gray issues of our age. We become like the Pharisees when rules are more important than people, with no room for grace and love, and when we become blind to the hurting and the poor and the rejected of our day. We then hear the words of Jesus speak directly to us, "I came into the world so that those who do not see may see - and those who do see may become blind." Come this Sunday, and together, let's try to figure out what Jesus is saying.

Clinging to hope. Come and see! 
 
Pastor Dale
Worship & Music This Week


Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Lenten Wednesday Worship
11:30 am, 5:30 pm & 7:00 pm

 Sermon by: Pastor Dale Stiles

11:30 am Lenten Worship followed by soup lunch

5:00 - 6:30 pm Soup Supper
Soup of the Day: Chicken Noodle

5:30 pm Lenten Worship in the CLC
7:00 pm Lenten Worship in the Sanctuary
7:45 pm Kingdom Choir  
 8:30 pm Good News!


Sunday, March 26, 2017

8:00 am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
9:15 am Adult Education
9:15 am Faith Formation
9:15 am Time for Parents
 
10:30 am Blended Worship in the CLC
 
11:45 am Jr. High Evolve
5:00 pm Sr. High Activate
7:30 pm AA

Special Music at 8:00 am: Good News! 

Childcare available at all worship services


2017 Lenten Schedule      
 
Wednesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5  
  • 11:30 am Lenten Worship followed by soup lunch
  • 5:00 - 6:30 pm soup supper
  • Lenten Worship at 5:30 in CLC & 7:00 pm in sanctuary
  • 6:10 - 6:45 pm Family activity in the Family Room for all families
    (Note: No family activity on March 22 due to Spring Break)
Holy Week April 9-16: No Faith Formation this week
  • Sunday, April 9: Palm Sunday - Kids process with Palms beginning of worship service
  • Thursday, April 13: Maundy Thursday - Worship at 11:30 am &
    7:00 pm in the sanctuary
  • Friday, April 14: Good Friday - Worship at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary
  • Sunday, April 16: Easter Sunday - Worship services at 8:00, 9:15 & 10:30 am in the CLC
Children, Youth & Family

Easter Breakfast Egg Bake    
 
We are doing something extra this year for our Easter Breakfast Fundraiser! On top of fruit, donuts, and juice we are serving egg bakes! This is where we need your help. Please sign-up on the clip board located on the Welcome Desk at church to make an egg bake for our breakfast. Egg bakes should be dropped off to the kitchen no later than 9 am on Easter morning. All proceeds from the Breakfast go towards sending our High School youth to Colorado for our summer mission trip! Contact Chad with any questions! 
Register for Vacation Bible School and Camp Wapo   

Registration for Vacation Bible School and Camp Wapo are taking place now!
  • Register for VBS on July 31 - August 4, 2017
  • Register for Camp Wapo. OSLC dates for all week long Camp Wapo programs are June 25-30 this year. Seeds weekend is June 23-25. Camp Wapo spots are going fast. Don't wait! Sign-up TODAY!
YoungLives Fundraising Tea Party & Boutique    
 
You are invited! Bring a friend and wear your favorite party hat!
Date:  Saturday, April 22, 2017
Time:  11:30am-1:00pm (Boutique opens at 11:00)
Place: Our Savior's Church, 1616 West Olive St, Stillwater, MN
RSVP by April 8:  Darla Goble 

Childcare provided for infants to preschoolers. We welcome children to join us for the Tea Party! To RSVP or donate money or items for the boutique, contact Darla Goble or 651-430-1873. Donations will provide the opportunity for teen moms and their children to attend Castaway Camp and support the YoungLives teen mom program in the St Croix Valley!
 
Ministry Opportunities!

New Membership Orientation       
 
Interested in Becoming a Member at Our Savior's Lutheran Church? Please attend one of the New Member Orientation sessions on Tuesday, April 4, at 6:30 pm or Thursday, April 6, at 6:30 pm here at the church. Childcare will be available at both sessions. Please RSVP to the church office to let us know which session you would like to attend. New members will be received on Sunday, April 23.
"Behind the Scenes" Ministry Opportunity
 
Consider joining the Greeting Card Outreach Ministry. We share joy as we send greeting cards throughout the year to our church members to honor special celebrations and share compassion during times of trial. For more information, please contact Sue Hedlund of the Health & Caring Ministry Team. 
Book of the Month Club
 
The Book of the Month Club will meet on Monday, March 27th at 1:00 pm to discuss "The Daring Ladies of Lowell" by Alcott.  We will meet in the Family Room and then move to another location for discussion. Hope to see you there.
Upcoming Adult Education Opportunities   
 
(All adult education sessions meet in the sanctuary at 9:15 am)
 
"Lent with Luther"
A six-week adult education series throughout the season of Lent studying the life and teachings of Martin Luther. This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and churches around the world are providing an opportunity to celebrate and learn about Luther and the Reformation during Lent. We hope you join the conversation.
The Schedule
  •  Sunday, March 26 - "The Difference Between the Law and the Gospel" (Romans 5:1-11)
  •  Sunday, April 2 - "How to Read the Bible" (Romans 10:8-17)
  •  Sunday, April 9 - "How to Share Your Faith with Someone"
    (Matthew 28:16-20)
Booklets will be available on the Welcome Desk in the Gathering Area to help facilitate our conversation.
Valley Outreach Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign    
 
This year Valley Outreach and the Stillwater community i s ste p pi ng up to help feed a family, with either a monetary donation or a donation o f food! Feed a family with your favorite family meals by providing the ingredients for each recipe your family members enjoy (excluding items requiring refrigeration)! This is an easy, hands on way to get everyone in your family involved with feeding another family in our community.

Bins will be available in the OSLC Gathering Area for you to drop off your food items. Checks can be placed in the "Drop Box" on the welcome desk (please write "Valley Outreach" in the memo line). 
 
12th Annual Senior Health & Faith Day    
 
The St. Croix Valley Parish Nurses are excited to announce the 12 th Annual Senior Health and Faith Day Event " Healing Through the Arts...Living Well in Mind, Body, Spirit" on Tuesday, April 25 from 8:30 am-12:30 pm here at Our Savior's. Please see the signup sheet on the PEP bulletin board or contact the church office to register as seating is limited! 
Easter Memorial Garden  
 
Help adorn our altar area with flowers on Easter Sunday. Stop by the information board in the Gathering Area to pick up an envelope in which to purchase a plant for our Easter Memorial Garden. Please put completed envelopes in the drop box on the Welcome Desk. Last day for placing orders is Sunday, April 2. Plants may be taken home after the last Easter
Sunday worship service. Thank you!
 
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 with any of your needs. Pastor Dale

Help Wanted!

We have plenty of Service Opportunities!
Check it out at: Sign Up to Serve! 
     
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! 
 
 
Stewardship is about love:
serving others through our time, talent, and treasure.