From the Pastor's Desk

I think summer must be “officially” over. It’s Labor Day, and I know for us Floridians, while Fall seems a long way off, and we are still in the peak of hurricane season, I received a text message from my son in Ohio today. He said that on Saturday the heat index was 105 degrees and people of all ages were suffering from heat exhaustion. Today it is 60 degrees and overcast. Good ol’ Midwest! So, Fall is on its way, at least in some parts of the country. That means this coming weekend we return to our regular worship schedule; Saturday remains the same, 6pm, but Sunday returns to 8:30 and 11am with Sunday School at 9:45am. After our wonderful Sunday School registration pizza night last week, it was reinforced for us once again that having a change of schedule for the summer, with a recess for Sunday School is really a good thing. After all the comings and goings of the summer, we can now all re-connect, the teachers are ready to go, we have another fun theme for the new Sunday School year (“working dogs” with Goldie our mascot) and this is something we’re all looking forward to! Hope you can be here for this kick off weekend! And on top of everything else, you can stop in the choir room after worship and get your blood pressure checked by one of our parish nurses.



With the new “season” upon us, please check out our “Dates to Remember” section below which highlights some special events coming down the pike. (This section will be updated weekly.)



But before you check that out, I need to make one comment about worship this past weekend. We started a new tradition this past weekend as we celebrated and honored all the work that the people of Our Savior do during the week. We placed a bulletin board in the chancel, entitled “God’s Work; Our Hands” where people placed their business cards or wrote on post-it notes their names and what they did in their daily work. As the board filled up we saw what a wonderful mixture of gifts and abilities from Our Savior are out there at work in the world! It was so interesting that we decided to hang that bulletin board on the wall in our gathering/sending space for you to see. And if you weren’t here this past weekend, feel free to bring in a business card or put your own note on the board. We will be leaving it in church for the month of September. As I mentioned at the end of worship, as we look at the altar and see only the crust of the loaf of bread left after communion, we are reminded that the rest of that loaf, the Body of Christ, is now out in the world in each of us as we leave the altar and take Christ with us into our daily work and daily lives. May that be so for each of you.



“Dates to Remember”



Wednesday September 28: Wednesday night dinners resume; 6pm! This will also be the first night of 3 New Member Gatherings. Anyone interested in becoming a member of Our Savior, or just learning more about the congregation is invited to join us at 6:30pm after the dinner then again on Sunday, Oct.2 at 9:45am and again on Wed. Oct. 5 at 6:30pm. New members will be received the weekend of Oct. 15-16.



Sunday October 2, at 4pm, “Blessing of the Animals” with special guest, Dr. Anna Harp. Dr. Anna was born and raised in this congregation, and having graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama last May, is now practicing veterinary medicine at the Veterinary Center at Fishhawk, near Brandon, Florida. Dr. Anna will be joined by her rescue dog, Chai, and share with us how she is using God’s gift of love and care for God’s creatures.



Beginning First Thursday evening in October: Dancing with the Lutherans! Watch for more info to come.



SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, one service only at 10am! 50th Anniversary Celebration and Dedication of our new addition!

There will be a service on Saturday at 6pm that weekend, but only one service that Sunday. Bishop Ed Benoway will be our guest preacher that day. Worship will be followed by an “Open House” to tour the new addition, pictures and remembrances of Our Savior’s 50 year history, and a dinner. Watch for more info, but mark your calendars now!



For more information about the life and ministry of Our Savior, please visit our website at: www.oursaviorelca.com.



May you have a blessed week! See you in church! Pastor Jack +