Many were instrumental this month and deserve our heartfelt thanks.
To: Joe Gregar & Glenn Pooler for all of the extra work you've done this season. Thank you!
To: Everyone that attended the first Church Planning Session. It was wonderful to hear about all of the gifts our Church is blessed with and those who have a willingness to share those gifts with us. Thank you!
To: Courtney Flanery for planning the first Trunk or Treat for COS. We all had a blast! Thank you!
To: Everyone that came out and helped on the on the workday. Wow! A lot was accomplished. Thank you!
To: The members of the Church Council for all of the extra that you've done on the budget. It's a grueling process! Thank you!
Education News
The last Confirmation class of the 2022 year is November 16th. We look forward to seeing the confirmands and their families at the Advent services
*Class resumes on January 4th.
Bible Study
The PLAN, an online Bible study tutorial is available HERE.
Wednesdays
Confirmation at 6 PM
Adult Bible Study at 7 PM.
Altar Flowers
11/06 In celebration of Drew and Allison Walania's birthdays!
11/13 In honor of Jenna & Steven Flanery's anniversary
11/20 OPEN
11/27 Thanksgiving Blessings
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Those who have signed up for flowers have two options:
You can provide your own. They must be at the church before the 8 AM service.
Sandy can get them for you for $20. (Make checks payable to Sandy Barsh.)
Flowers may be taken home after the 10:30 AM service. Please return vases to the church when flowers are done. You may contact Sandy Barsh at 913-548-9588 for questions or to fill and open date.
November Birthdays
11/05 Mark Edgar
11/05 Drew Walania
11/06 Owen Marsh
11/07 Janie Ott
11/07 Ken Waite
11/08 Paulette Varns
11/09 Allison Walania
11/14 Angie Graham
11/15 Charlotte Strubbe
11/18 Rebecca Madrid
11/18 Kert Maul
11/22 Judy Lohse
11/23 Shae Murphy
11/24 Linda Paul
11/27 Lindy Spinner
11/30 Jameson Kram
11/30 Grant Strubbe
November Anniversaries
11/15 David & Courtisa Sharp
In the Military
Military members and friends of our congregation include:
Colin Alexander
Dylan Ash
Jim Buckman
Garret Cline
Mark Edgar
Maurissa Glick
Megan Honeywell
Jeremy Howard
Zac Howard
Freddy Hurt
Greg Jeffrey
Tyler Jordan
James Keltner
Tom Moore
Danny Myers
Austin Nicholes
Rob O'Bannon
Garrett Rausch
Lindsey Rausch
Allison Walania
D.J. Weaver
Worship: 8 AM, 10:30 AM
& 7 PM
Sunday school at 9:15 AM.
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
10 AM- 2 PM
Please contact us if we missed your birthday or anniversary so we can update our records.
Christ Our Savior newsletter is published monthly and produced in email and print versions.
Pastor Andy Writes...
Fighting the Good Fight
Posted on October 24, 2022 by Kevin Wilson
[6] For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6–8)
I encourage mission teams in Appalachia to use this sentence to introduce the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod: “Lutheran Christianity is more about what God does for us than what we do for God.”
This statement is designed to spark conversation about the Christian faith. It is common for Appalachian Christians to come from fundamentalist churches which are deeply steeped in works righteousness. The foundation of Lutheran Christianity is summarized as: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone. Each of these is a gift of God.
While this is most certainly true, I’m concerned that sometimes it leads us to downplay our response to God’s grace. In this passage the Apostle Paul reminds us that our response matters to God:
We know we can’t do any good works apart from Christ.
Yet we physically do the good works.
Jesus taught us how to pray. Yet we offer petitions.
God convicts us of sin and brings us to repentance.
Yet we respond by demonstrating contrition.
Our Lord works through His Word in our hearts and mind. Yet we still have to read or hear that Word.
While we likely would never make the claims Paul makes in this passage, the fact is we are fighting the good fight, running in the race, and keeping the faith.
For us, the most important verse of this passage is the last verse. We do have, as Paul states, “crowns of righteousness” laid up for us. They serve as a reminder that God not only started us in this race but will sustain us to its end. http://kevinwilson360.org/
I got permission from a friend of mine to share this with you. Kevin is the president of the Ohio District LCMS. The Ohio District is working to start congregations in southern Ohio and Kentucky. Kevin points out that our response matters to God.
We are saved by Grace through Faith. We are called by the Gospel. It is not by our own reason or strength that we come to faith. Yet, our response matters to God. We are equipped with spiritual gifts and empowered by the Holy Spirt to use those gifts as disciples of Christ. God has set us apart to share the Gospel, serve our neighbor, love as we have been loved, and forgive as we have been forgiven. We do this all through Christ, who gives us strength. God calls, gathers, and enlightens the church. He will sustain us until He comes again.
10.29.2022 & 10.30.2022--Check out photos of the workday
and Trunk or Treat.
10.27.2022 Pastor Keltner "rides along" during a refueling training mission in the Mobile, Alabama area, along with several other clergy.
Attendance
I have held many things in my hand, and have
lost them all; but whatever I have placed in
God's hands that I still possess. --Martin Luther
Years ago in a Bible study, I learned about the 4 D's of Worship. Duty, Discipline, Desire, and Delight. As a Christian, I think we all go through these stages. Maybe more than once in our lifetime.
We come to worship out of DUTY - out of moral or legalistic obligation - "Oh, man! Sunday already? I'd rather just stay in bed and sleep. Oh I guess I'd better get up and ready for church"
Of making many books there is no end, and
much study wearies the body. --Ecclesiastes 12:12b
Then it becomes a DISCIPLINE - self control, enforced obedience, acceptance - "Yep! Here it is Sunday again. Guess we'd better get up and get ready for church."
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but
painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest
of righteousness and peace for those who
endure it. --Hebrews 12:11
But soon, by the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, it becomes DESIRE - longing for or craving - "Wow! I can't believe it's already Sunday. Pastor's sermon was so inspiring and meaningful to me I can't wait to see what he has today! The message helped me make it through the whole week!"
My soul is consumed with desire for your laws
at all times. --Psalm 119:20
Eventually we find DELIGHT - great joy or pleasure - "Lord, I need you! I need to hear your Word! I need to sing your praise and I need to worship YOU!"
Blesses is the man who fears the Lord, who
finds great delight in his commands. His
children will be mighty in the land; the
generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house and his
righteousness endures forever! --Psalm112: 1-3
And so there we go! We are all children of God and we need to be active in our worship of Him. Praise the Lord for all those who gather and serve the Lord here at Christ Our Savior.
And let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good deeds. Let
us not give up meeting together, as some are
in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one
another - and all the more as you see the Day
approaching. --Hebrews 10:24-25
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that
there may be food in my house. Test me in
this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will
not throw open the flood gates of heaven and
pour out so much blessing that you will not
have room enough for it. --Malichi 3:10
In His Service,
Sue Flanery, Treasurer
The November Council Meeting/Book Club is on Tuesday, November 8th at 7 PM.
