Maybe it’s a Lutheran Pastor thing, but when I hear “October 31st”, my first thought is “Reformation Day!” So, happy Reformation Day to everyone, and oh yeah, Happy Halloween also. J For those of us here in Vero Beach we woke up to many flooded streets, equal to our hurricanes, and an automated phone call from the Sheriff’s office saying if you haven’t sent your children to school yet, you can keep them home and they won’t be counted as absent due to all the flooding. Our elementary school across the street is closed! If this hangs around all day, I’m afraid there is going to be a lot of “Trick or Treat” candy left over tonight.
But, back to Reformation Day. Yesterday we celebrated the day with special music from our Women’s Choir (very nice, and a little jazzy!) and some beautiful oboe/piano and oboe/organ music from Dr. Ray Adams and Sara Diehl Fletcher. Many thanks. It was also Confirmation Day for Brandon Klotsche, Elizabeth Nelson, Charles Pascale and Tyler Welsh at the 11am service. Congratulations to another fine group of young people who’s choice of Confirmation Scripture verses and hymn of the day were an inspiration to us all as we were once again reminded of God’s ongoing reforming, renewing, redeeming work in the church and in our lives.
As “reformed and renewed” people of God, we reach out into the world with a Word and with actions which bring Life and Hope. Here are a few ways we can do that:
Coming up this week on Thursday, Our Savior is once again a host site for the annual “Samaritan Center Soup Bowl”. Various soups from local restaurants will be served for a donation of $5 (or more) from 11:30 til 1:30.
On Saturday, “Every Dream Has A Price” (a local agency which helps people in need fix up their homes, or get into a home if their’s has been damaged or destroyed for whatever reason) is having a big day at Dodgertown including a Barbecue cook off, a “Guns and Hoses” softball game between our local police and fire departments and lots of fun activities for kids and families! It all begins at noon. See the attached fliers.
If you’d like to get into the Christmas Spirit early, you can do so and do a good deed at the same time. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons through the month of November, at the Haiti Partners office (first floor, Bank of America building on the corner of 6th Ave. and 21st Street, Miracle Mile area) you can help address and write Christmas cards on behalf of Haiti Partners. Call Debbie Coleman at the Haiti Partners office 772-539-8521 or cell 772-971-6958 if you can help. And thanks!
We are in the final stages of our building project and looking ahead to our 50th Anniversary Celebration and Building Dedication on Sunday December 11 at ONE SERVICE at 10am followed by a luncheon. Bishop Benoway will be our guest that day. Mark your calendars! Invitations with response cards will be coming out next week.
Since we are in these later days of construction, we are also finalizing the financing of this project. It’s still not too late to make a gift to the building fund either anonymously or through purchasing a leaf for our “Tree of Life” or a “Living Stone”. If you have already done so, be sure to get the information in (ASAP) about how you would like your “leaf” engraved! As a part of bringing this project to completion, secured notes of $10,000 or more are being made available at 3%. If you are interested in holding one or more of these notes, please come by the church office to pick up a form or call Allan Klotsche (772-234-0441) or Shannon Banitt (772-713-6839) for more information.
Finally, since this is “All Hallow’s Eve”, that means All Saints Day is tomorrow, which means that this coming weekend we will be celebrating All Saints Day. During our services we will be naming those loved ones who have died since All Saints Day last year, as well as inviting people to come forward and light a candle remembering and honoring them. This is always a very special day in the church year. I hope you can join us.
May you all have a great Reformation Day/All Hallows Eve/Halloween, and a blessed week as God’s renewed, reformed, redeemed people!
(And I think the rain is subsiding! J) For more information on the life and ministry of Our Savior, please visit our website at www.oursaviorelca.com. Peace and Joy, Pastor Jack Diehl +
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