News & Notes

The older I get the more I appreciate the many and varied gifts God gives everyone. In our four adult children alone, all of whom grew up in the same house with the same parents and in the same surroundings, I see such varied and unique gifts, interests and abilities! It amazes me.

On a larger scale, I see that in our congregation. During this past Lenten season, Holy Week and now during our ongoing Easter elebration, so many contributed in such meaningful ways to our worship experience: from the lighting (Wesley Dean), to the dramatic readings (so many of our folks, young and old), to the planning (eg. Good Friday, Carole Olsen), to all of the beautiful music, to the beautiful lilies (all who donated and Lynn Sadler and crew who ordered, delivered and set them up), and the list goes on (like the Easter breakfast put on by our Men in Mission). And that's only in the area of worship.

At the same time wonderful things were happening in Sunday School, in our Parish Health Ministry, in our Youth Ministry, and in our community, with so many members involved in a number of local social service ministries and beyond, with our connection with Haiti Partners and the Lutheran Church in Guyana. And the list goes on. So many and varied interests and gifts!

I share this because Our Savior is about to recognize another way that various gifts and abilities are shared through the church. That is through the office of deacon. Deacons have been a part of the churchmsince Biblical days. In the ELCA a number of congregations are recognizing certain people who have had specialmtraining and who are qualified to hold the title of deacon.

Here at Our Savior, Allan Klotsche is one such person. Having completed a two year diakonia program of education here in our Synod, and having met certain service related requirements, Allan is now ready to be consecrated as a deacon of the church. That will happen on Pentecost Sunday, May 25 at the 8:30 service.

Due to space limitations, I'll just say for now that on that Sunday and in future newsletters we will share more about what this means for Allan and for our congregation. You can also go to our synod website: www.fysynod.com and type "diakonia program" in the select-a-topic" text box for more information.

As this season of Easter concludes on May 16 and as the season of Pentecost begins May 23, may we all recognize the gifts God has given us and be open to using them for the good of all and to the glory of God.

See you in church!
Pastor Jack Diehl