From the Pastor ....
“For freedom Christ has set us free.”
(Galatians 5:1)
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Last year over the 4th of July, Brian and I spent the day hiking at Lake Elmo Park reserve and watching the musical “Hamilton.” It was strange to spend the day without gathering in community with friends and family. This year, I am looking forward to gathering with our church community as the 4th of July lands on a Sunday! We will have our usual 9 am online worship as always; but also one outdoor worship service at 10 am in our parking lot (weather permitting. In case of rain we will gather inside.) |
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Last Sunday I connected with many of you that gathered in person. It is truly meaningful to see each other, enjoy donuts and coffee and experience fellowship. Our youth in particular were especially enthusiastic in the anticipation of serving on their mission trip. Some have served on mission trips in the past—and this week was life changing for them! There is truly so much joy and love at Our Savior’s. I witness weekly how welcoming this church can be to visitors, and the tangible impact we are making locally, regionally and globally! It is truly inspiring! |
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Martin Luther once wrote a theological reflection called, “The freedom of a Christian.” In this document, he articulates that we are freed from the powers of sin, death and evil, and liberated in joy to serve our world. God sets us free when we hear the good news that we are forgiven and loved. Christ’s love then compels us to reach out to the world around us. This service is not out of obligation, but out of a light-hearted joyfulness and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Whether you celebrate this year’s 4th of July online, at Our Savior’s, at a lake cabin or while traveling, may this love of Jesus continue to free you to reach out to this hurting world. You are making a difference! The world is brighter because of your presence. Let your light shine more brilliantly than fireworks. |
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Faithfully ~ Pastor Karna |
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WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday Worship
July 4, 2021
Message: Pastor Karna Moskalik
9:00 AM (online)
Blended Worship
Special Music: Pastor Keith Lentz
10:00 AM (Outdoor Worship)
Contemporary Worship
Leaders: Praise Team
Online services found on Facebook at
Missed a Live streamed service?
Watch it later from our website under
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Sunday Morning Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to read, usher, make/serve coffee & provide treats. If interested, please sign-up from the church website under "What's Happening" or just click HERE. |
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July Challenge!
Our Saviors Care of Creation Team is asking our congregation to join other Stillwater congregations in making July plastic free. Certainly we cannot avoid using anything plastic for a month because plastic is so prevalents. However, efforts to reduce our use of plastic are increasingly important to our environment and our health. Only 10-15% of plastics are recycled and the rest ends up in landfills and in our waters where they typically last for hundreds and even thousands of years. But for the month of July, here are a number of things you can do to reduce or eliminate your purchase of plastic items and hopefully, continue that practice beyond July.
- Bring a reusable coffee cup or dine in versus using a single use paper or Styrofoam cup
- Find plastic-free alternatives when buying fruit and vegetables
- Bring your own reusable shopping bags instead of using a plastic disposable shopping bag
- Refuse plastic drinking straws or bring your own reusable alternative
- Bring your own reusable water bottle instead of buying a single use plastic bottle
- Avoid pre-packaged foods by choosing bulk or loose food
- Check out our Care of Creation Webpage for additional resources
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Bible Study in the Park
Bible Study in the Park will take place on July 15 at 9:30 am at Valley View Park. Pastor Amy will be leading this study and the topic will be “Just Truth.” It will take us with Paul on the road to Damascus and experience his life-changing transformation. We will also take a closer look at how our Savior chose to share difficult truths with God’s people, and we will witness his boldness in speaking truth to power. There will also be a continental breakfast. Invite a friend and join with other women for learning and fellowship.
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New Walking Group
Beginning on Friday, June 25, we will be starting a new walking group. All ages are welcome, Friday mornings from 9-10:15 am. We will plan to walk for 30-45 minutes and have some time for prayer and chatting as well. Please RSVP for details. nurse@oslcstillwater.org.
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Women's Retreat
The women of Our Savior’s will be enjoying a retreat come September 24 and 25, 2021. WonderFull World is the theme and participants will travel to all 7 continents and discover God’s love for us. It will begin at 6:00 pm on Friday evening with a meal together. Those attending will go home to their own beds (at 9:00 unless you want to hang out with the ladies for some extra fun) and return for a continental breakfast on Saturday morning. Lunch will also be shared and the retreat will be finished around 3:00 pm on Saturday.
It will all be happening at OSLC and the cost will be $55 with a $20 deposit now. The full amount or just the deposit can be paid now. This includes all meals and retreat materials. The women have missed two retreats because of COVID so are ready to gather with one another again. All women and friends are invited and welcome! We hope you will join us. Registration forms are on the bulletin board across from the office work room.
Retreat Summary
Dates: September 24 & 25, 2021
Time: 6:00 pm September 24 & 9:00 am September 25
Location: Our Savior's Lutheran Church
Cost: $55.00
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Mindful Gratitude
What is mindful gratitude you ask? Well, according to Webster's Dictionary, it is focusing one's awareness on the present moment, in readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness offered. This is a reminder to those of you who accepted one of the gratitude cans from the Women's Team last February, to keep collecting loose change in them as you notice the blessings God has bestowed upon you and your family.
We ask that you be especially mindful of your blessings when things may be at their worst because that is where God's light shines the brightest in your lives. By noticing even the smallest of blessings, we can keep God's light shining through us to those less fortunate than we are, and in turn, pass some of His light onto them. We will be collecting your cans in November and forwarding your gifts to local, national and worldwide aid organizations.
May your blessings be plentiful and your gratitude abundant. God is so good!
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Children & Family Ministry |
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Final Days to Register for VBS!
Join us for VBS Rocky Railway: Jesus' Power Pulls Us Through.
At Rocky Railway VBS, kids discover Jesus' power can pull them through life's ups and downs. Creative activities, team-building games and cool Bible songs are just a few of the standout activities that help faith flow into real life.
• When: Monday-Thursday, August 2 - 5, from 9 am - 12 pm
• Who: Elementary spots still open
• Deadline: Registration closes July 11!
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VBS Prep Days
We have had so many awesome volunteers already helping with VBS prep! Please let Darla know if you can help with decorating or VBS preparation on Tuesday July 6, 13 or 20 from 9:00 am-7 pm. Come when you can! Every little bit helps! darla@oslcstillwater.org or 651-308-8641. |
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Park Days
The July Park Days will be on Wednesday, July 7, and Monday, July 19, from 9:30-11:00 am at Lakeside Park in Bayport. Bring beach stuff if you want to swim. Pack a lunch if you would like to stay for a picnic. All are welcome! Bring a friend!
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Alpaca Items and Mission
As part of Rocky Railway VBS, our church will participate in an Operation Kid-to-Kid™ international mission project— a partnership between Group Publishing and World Vision— that allows hundreds of thousands of kids in North America to provide the life-changing resource of alpacas for families in Ecuador. A $10 donation contributes toward the cost of an alpaca as well as to educating families on how to care for these important animals. We will have a display for kids to give money the week of VBS toward this mission.
Darla is looking for any items made from Alpaca fleece or stuffed animals that look like an alpaca. Please contact her at darla@oslcstillwater.org if you have alpaca items to donate. |
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Boxes Needed!
We need clean empty food boxes (pasta or cake mix size boxes) for VBS. Please put any donations of boxes under the tree in the Gathering Area.
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VBS Donations Needed!
The supply donation area is located in the Gathering Area! Pick up a donation tag and return the needed item when you come for worship or during the week. Cash donations to buy supplies are also welcome--just place it in the container by the display in the Gathering Area. Questions? Contact Darla at darla@oslcstillwater.org
NOTE: Donations should be brought to the church no later than July 13 so we know what items still need to be purchased. Thank you!
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Dear Friends of Our Savior's Lutheran Church,
We greet you in the name of our dear Lord Jesus Christ!
We would like to send you many greetings, we believe that God is still continuing to keep you safe. In Tanzania we had a very challenging year of 2020 but we thank God for this year of 2021.
We would like to share with you that on 17th March 2021 Tanzania lost President Dr John Pombe Magufuli now we have another president who used to be a vice president, in Tanzania and East Africa she has been a first woman President.
Also we had a challenge of Covid 19 in 2020 but to us the challenge was not so big as compared to America and European countries. We would also like to send our sorry greetings for this challenge which has affected the world economically, socially as well as the spiritual status. We have heard that now you continue with the situation, we join hands with you in giving thanks to God for the gift of technology that you have received from vaccines.
We would like to share with you special thanks on the following:
1. We have received the scholarship fund for this year and we have 35 students who are at schools already. Thank you very much
2. We thank you also for the prayer you are offering to God for us and we have established the program of praying for you on every second Sunday of every month.
Another thing we would like to share with you on the changes of the Pastor's office. Nowadays we have a new pastor who is called Pastor Joshua Mwilafi. Pastor Mpesa has been transferred to another parish.
God bless you all,
Pastor Lwila
BKB DIRA COORDINATOR
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Community Thread/United Way "Stuff the Bus" Campaign
Community Thread partners with United Way of Washington County East each year to provide supplies for local students in the Stillwater Area School District. This year they expect the need for school supplies to be even greater!
There are multiple ways our congregation can help:
DONATE – Drop off new school supplies at Community Thread, July 6 – August 12. Click HERE to view school supply list.
VOLUNTEER – Stuff the Bus allows volunteers to make a difference in many ways. School supplies will need to be sorted and counted, each family’s list for each child needs to be assembled and bagged, and lastly, we will need volunteers to run bags, check in and monitor traffic on pick-up days.
Volunteers must be 8 years of age or older for counting and sorting, and 18 years of age or older for supply list shopping & assembling and curbside pick-up.
Volunteers are needed August 12 - 20.
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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 Pastor Karna Moskalik or Rachel Sass with any of your needs.
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Sign up for a New Member Class
Interested in learning more about Our Savior’s and/or membership? You may choose a personalized class either on zoom or in person. Contact Pastor Karna at karna@oslcstillwater.org to learn more.
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Valley Access Schedule for OSLC Services
The time for Our Savior's Lutheran worship services to be shown on Valley Access are:
- Friday -- 3pm, 9pm
- Saturday -- 3am, 9am
- Sunday -- 7pm
- Monday -- 7am
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The "Story" Bible Studies
ZOOM LINK:
Final Session -- Wednesday, June 30, at 10 AM
Meeting ID: 885 6134 1573
Passcode 396795
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Hassle Free, Secure Online Giving
By registering on the Our Savior's Giving Page, downloading the GivePlus+ mobile app, or texting 833-970-0714, you can make a one-time gift or set up a donation that will process automatically on a recurring basis. Recurring donations are convenient for you and provide our church with much needed consistent support throughout the year. We work with Vanco Payment Solutions to provide you a secure platform to manage your giving.
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Giving is not a debt you owe; it is a seed you sow." -Unknown
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Our Savior's Lutheran Church | 1616 W Olive St Stillwater, MN 55082
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