Happy New Year!
Scott and I are finishing out 2019 with a relaxing vacation in Palm Desert. Taking these few days has given me a bit of time to reflect on the past year, as well as look forward to the next.
As most people experience the past year was mixed with good and bad. We had many opportunities to get together with family and friends; had some wonderful vacations; and ran some fun races.
The not so good part was Scott being diagnosed with lymphoma. The good part of the diagnoses was that we finally knew what was wrong, but that was not until late summer and he had not been feeling well since late 2018. Thankfully Scott has responded well to chemotherapy, has only one treatment more, and is looking forward to good health in 2020. He is even looking forward to running another race.
In the church and preschool, we’ve also had our combination of good and bad. We’ve had new friends join us which is always nice. We’ve also had others leave, which is hard. Both of these, together, are part the normal course of church life. One of my biggest joys in the last year was our monthly dinners together. I’ve enjoyed getting to know some of you better.
We also embarked on a big journey last year, in our choosing to try again to begin Spanish language ministry in our congregation. The wonderful news of this is that we are serving the greater church as we seek to better serve our neighbors. This is because we are the training location for a TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) Candidate, our very own Jade Ortiz.
As you all know she started her work in her new role in September. In the coming year we will all experience some new things. One of those is that I will begin serving part-time. I volunteered to do this so that we could free up funds. Personally, I will be using some of my free time to coach runners (and beginning exercisers). I am excited and I hope that you are as well.
Although I am now part-time, I am still available for you so please, if you need anything, please contact me. If you want a visit or want to chat over some coffee (or anything else), I’d love to hear from you. Meanwhile, I wish you all blessings for the coming year.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Nancy
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Around the world many traditions are celebrated to bring in the new year. No matter what traditions are celebrated or if you make a resolution, or dream board, one thing is certain we all have hope for what the new year will bring. Like I have spoken about in most of my sermons, I find comfort in finding common ground in one another. It comforts me to know that we hope for the same yet are different in our perspectives.
I am excited for my continued studies at Pacfic Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) at the end of this month and my first trip to Luther Seminary in Minnesota this Spring for my TEEM studies and possibly working on my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) this Summer. We ended the year with our first Spanish Service as a joint Posadas Service with All Saints Episcopal and this year we will begin the year with our first solo Spanish service celebrating the visit of the Three Wise Men, called Día De Los Reyes on January 6th at 7pm. The service will be followed by traditional sweet bread, hot chocolate and a sweat bread ring, called Rosca de Reyes. Traditionally the Rosa de Reyes is stuffed with miniature babies, the persons who receives a slice with the baby in it are the hosts of a meal or feast on February 2nd.
For the new year I have many hopes and dreams for Our Redeemer and our new ministry. I hope for growth and prosperity in all of Our Redeemer’s ministries. I appreciate everyone’s willingness to see each other’s perspectives and respect the change that has happened and will happen for the benefit of the church as a whole.
Blessings for a wonderful New Year!
TEEM Pastor, Jade
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Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break with your families. I can speak for the staff in saying that we had a great break and are excited to be back into the swing of things with our students!
Before our Christmas break, all faculty & staff met for our annual Christmas Luncheon and had a baby shower for our fellow teacher Mrs. Souza (Toddler Club Team) as she is now on maternity leave, awaiting the birth of her second child.
It is hard to believe that the school year is almost half over already. We look forward to having a great rest of the school year with our students!
Have a wonderful month,
Mrs. Kerry Roman
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2nd Saturday Worship, 2nd Sunday Rest Day EXPLAINED:
What will we be doing? We will have 2nd Saturday Worship & 2nd Sunday Rest
What does this mean? On the second weekend of the month we will worship on Saturday at 5pm instead of Sunday.
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Opportunities to Volunteer
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- Help with worship... if you want to assist the pastor or read or serve communion please call Robin Tribbitt, 805-654-8252
- Like to sew? Our Love Ladies make quilts for Lutheran World Relief twice a month. Join them in the coffee shop on the first Thursday and third Tuesday of the month at 9:00am.
- To volunteer to bring refreshments on the Sunday of your choice, please sign your name on the snack calendar that is posted on the narthex bulletin board or call the church office at 805-983-0612.
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The Giving Tree's
Last Day:
January 5, 2019
Please support the ministry of Our Redeemer with a simple Christmas gift. Just take a numbered envelope from the Christmas tree that will be located in the narthex and donate that amount.
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Gentle Stretches and Prayer
If you need a bit of relaxation think about joining Pastor Nancy and others every Monday in January at Our Redeemer at 5:00pm for Stretch and Prayer. Please bring a towel or yoga mat.
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Quilting and Fellowship
January 2,9 & 21, 2020
The quilting group "Operation LOVE" at Our Redeemer has been creating quilts for the Lutheran World Relief quilt ministry for many years. About 60 quilts are sent annually to Lutheran World Relief for distribution to those in need around the world.
Operation LOVE meets every 1st Thursday and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:00am in the coffee room. Anyone interested in participating in this ongoing project is encouraged to join the group at any time.
Sewing/quilting experience is not essential since there are many different ways to give assistance as needed.
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Faith, Food and Fellowship
January 11, 2020 at 8:00am
Join the men of Our Redeemer and others on the
2nd Saturday of each month at Tomas Cafe at 8:00am.
Tomas Cafe is located at 622 South "A" Street in Oxnard
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Faith, Food and Fellowship
January 18, 2020 at 9:00am
Join the women of Our Redeemer and others on the
3rd Saturday of each month at
Tomas Cafe at 9:00am
Tomas Cafe is located at 622 South "A" Street in Oxnard
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The January's Church Council meeting will be held on
Monday, January 13, 2020 at 7pm
@ Our Redeemer
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Women's Book Club
Every Fourth Tuesday of the Month at 7pm
January 28, 2020
The Women's Book Club meets every fourth Tuesday, 7pm at Barnes and Noble (4820 Telephone Road in Ventura)
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January Altar Guild:
Linda Lefler
Team Members:
Julie Jensen
Sami Gutierrez
Gail Tenbus
Carol Peterson
Linda Lefler
Helen Jackson
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A new flower calendar is available in the narthex bulletin board. You may sign up for the Sunday of your choice.
There is an information sheet available with flower suggestions and ordering information as well.
If you have been thinking about signing up to provide a floral arrangement for the altar, but need some direction, here are some guidelines:
First, choose an available week on the Flower Chart located in the narthex and sign your name and phone number.
Then, you have two options:
*You can do the foot-work yourself by contracting your favorite florist, or you can bring a potted plant or a flower arrangement from your own garden, or...
*You can have Bernardo's Flowers deliver an arrangement to the church for that Sunday. Simply call the church office at 983-0612 and let the Secretary know if you would like the office make the arrangements. Make the check out to "LCOOR" and put it in an envelope marked "FLOWERS." Bernardo's Flowers will deliver the arrangement to the church office on Friday.
For questions, call Michael at 805-983-0612 or ask any Altar Guild team member.
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Important Information Regarding
Prayer Requests
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Starting January 1st, we will start fresh with Prayer Requests
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For the sake of keeping up-to-date on all of our loved ones in our prayer concerns, we will start fresh in January. The requests will be kept in the prayer concerns for one quarter or upon request.
For any Questions, Please contact Michael at (805)983-0612
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If you would like to be added to our birthday list, please let us know so that we can add you. You can let us know by replying to this e-mail or calling the church office at (805) 983-0612.
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Southwest Synod Announcement
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Want to pick-up your box of veggies at Our Redeemer?
Click on the link below...
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