From the Pastor's Desk

"Welcome back" has been a common greeting around Our Savior these past few of weeks! And it's good to have so many of our seasonal folks returning…at least for a while. For many, it's back north for the holidays, then back again in January. That all makes for a good rhythm to life here in Vero Beach.

Along with many of our returning friends we also had a number of visiting family and friends at the 11am service as we not only celebrated Reformation Day, but also Confirmation Day for six of our young people. Seeing them, and many of their peers, gathered and celebrating together yesterday and the night before at the Youth Group "Marty Party", was a very real reminder of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit touching the lives of God's people, young and old, and renewing and reforming the church. It was a humbling, inspiring experience.

As this week unfolds there will be a number of opportunities for God's saints to gather and serve. Our popular Wednesday suppers continue with supper served from 6pm til 6:30pm. This has been a great opportunity for folks to visit and have a good meal together, which fits right into the Four Keys for practicing faith: 1) Caring Conversations, 2) Devotions, 3) Service (the supper is prepared, served and cleaned up after all by volunteers!) and 4) Rituals and Traditions.

Following this week's supper, the Lutheran Men in Mission will be meeting in room 4 at 7pm. All men of the church are welcome. The main topic this week will be the Christmas Gift project in conjunction with the Youth Group which includes special refreshments after worship the first weekend in December. More info to come!

On Thursday from 11:30-1:30, some of Our Savior's saints, headed up by George and Lois McAllan, will be hosting the annual "Soup Bowl" supporting the Samaritan Center here in Vero Beach. Our Savior is one of the sites in the community where you can come and enjoy a wonderful soup lunch with various specialty soups donated by local restaurants. Minimum donation: $5.

On Saturday, Nov. 6, "Every Dream Has a Price" will be hosting a fun family day at Dodgertown with activities for all from 11am til 6pm. For more information call Melissa Tripson at 770-9391.

This coming weekend, Nov. 6-7, will be "All Saints" weekend at Our Savior. We will be receiving new members into our congregation at all three services. This is also the time of the year when we remember those saints who have died since All Saints' Day last year and have gone on before us. Along with naming and ringing a bell for those, worshippers will have the opportunity to light a candle for any loved one who has died in this past year. All Saints Day began many years ago as a way of remembering those unnamed martyrs in the early church, but has become a time to remember all those who have gone on before us and to celebrate our being connected to them by the grace of God and by sharing the faith that they had during their life's journey.

Following each service pictures will be taken of our new members and any members or friends who have not yet had their pictures taken for our in house directory.

As this All Saints week unfolds, may you remember that you are numbered among God's saints. That is both a wonderful blessing and a great responsibility. May God give you the grace to accept both of those gratefully.

See you in church.

Pastor A.C. 'Jack' Diehl III