4th Week of Easter!

 

It was a wonderful continuation of the Easter celebration this past weekend as we welcomed 14 new members into our congregation and celebrated the Baptism of Madison Grace Beasley.  The members received were: Brian and Veronica Hamlin and 3 children, Ted and Dawn Michael, Nancy Truncale, Paul Hadley and Maria and Tuomas Niemi and their twins. 

 

As we enter May, each weekend has something special going on.  This coming weekend (May 4-6) is the annual Florida Bahamas Synod Assembly held in Orlando.  Pastor Shelly and I will both be attending (I will be returning to lead worship), Rachel and Cray Little will be our voting members from Our Savior, Martin Preuss will be there serving on the synod council, Allan Klotsche will be nominated to fill Martin’s expiring term on the Synod Council, our soon to be new music director, Ryan Hostler, is in charge of all the music for the assembly, and the Rev. Dr. Shauna Hannan, who was with us during our “Seminary Weekend” in March, will be the Bible Study leader for the assembly.  Our Savior will be well represented!

 

Here’s a brief rundown for the rest of the weekends in May:  May 13, Mother’s Day, and Confirmation Day for Deanne Luethje and Tyler Kasten;  May 19-20, Scholarships presented and Spring Congregational meeting (including election of new Council members); May 26-27, Pentecost weekend, Memorial Day weekend, first weekend of summer schedule (Sat. 6pm and Sunday 9:30am) and Installation of our new music director, Ryan Hostler.

 

With summer around the corner, that means that our Youth Group is working on a Mission Trip!  To help fund the trip, every Friday from 6-10pm, childcare will be provided here In the church nursery for a donation of $10 per child.  So, have a night out and help support the Youth Mission Trip at the same time!

 

Attached is a flier about our Sunday School mascot for this past year, Goldie, the Golden Retriever Guide Dog in training.   What a pleasure it has been having Goldie a part of our Sunday School and congregation.   He will soon be heading on  to the next level of Guide Dog training.

 

Finally, for more information about life at Our Savior please visit our website at:  www.oursaviorelca.com and for help in living out your faith in your home and with your children, visit:  www.vibrantfaithathome.org.  

 

Have a blessed week!    See you in church!   Pastor Jack Diehl +

 

 

YOUTH GROUP BABYSITTING TONIGHT!!!!

 

 

Hi Everyone!

 

Just a reminder that the youth group is babysitting TONIGHT for anyone who would like a date night.  The donation they are asking for is extremely reasonable- $10 per child for the whole night- 6pm to 10pm!  If you are longing for couples time and have kids, you don’t want to miss this opportunity!  And you can know that you are helping support the youth group mission trip.

 

All you need to do is drop your child off at the nursery here at the church.  There will be a sign in sheet and a donation bucket.   The youth group will take care of the rest!

 

Happy Date Night!

 

Gretchen Jones

 

Office Administrator

Week of Easter 3: 4/23/12

 

The Easter celebration continues during these 50 days of Easter.   Along with that celebration, we have also been saying a lot of “good-byes” at this time of year.  At one point yesterday, 4 out of 5 couples whom I greeted after church said this was their last Sunday and they’d be back in the Fall.   So, God’s blessings on all of our travelers, we hope you have a great summer, and we look forward to your return next season! 

 

What this time of the year also means is that we are also gearing up for the summer, especially re: our young people.  Day Camp registrations are now available in the office or online (see our website:  www.oursaviorelca.com).  This is one of the best day camp experiences in town at a wonderful price due to a generous underwriting from one of our members.   Sign up soon before all the spaces are taken!

 

Also, our confirmation age youth will be going to Confirmation Camp at Luther Springs (many thanks to those of you who made a donation at the Easter breakfast to help support these young people), and our High School Youth are working on a Mission Trip for this summer!    So, lots of opportunities for our young people to plug in, be nurtured and serve.  

 

And speaking of the Mission Trip….this Friday, May 27, from 6pm til 10pm, parents can bring their little ones by for an evening of babysitting here at the church.  For $10 your children will be well cared for during those 4 hours for parents to go to dinner, a movie, shopping, a walk on the beach, or just some quiet time at home, whatever.  And your $10 will help support this summer’s Youth Mission Trip. 

 

Finally, speaking of Youth, please visit:  www.vibrantfaithathome.org for all kinds of wonderful resources as to how you can nurture your child’s faith at home.  Great, fun, and meaningful stuff! 

 

As this week unfolds, think about what yesterday’s Gospel reminded us:  we are numbered among the witnesses of the Resurrection, along with those first disciples.   And if that sounds like a job for somebody else, remember the words which described them when Jesus first spoke to them after the Resurrection:  “startled, terrified, frightened, doubting, disbelieving and wondering”.   Hey, if that was them, it sounds like there might be a place for us in that group of witnesses also! 

 

Have a blessed week!   See you in church!       Pastor A.C. ‘Jack’ Diehl III +     www.oursaviorelca.com

Easter Continues!

The Easter Celebration continues, and in a grand way this past weekend at Our Savior as we celebrated 5 Baptisms: 3 siblings, Lydia, Logan and Evelyn, at the 6pm service on Saturday, and at the 11am service on Sunday, twins, Julianna and Noah.  Also at the 11am service 4 of our young members had their first communion.  All happy and important milestones in the lives of these children and their families…and also for our congregation.  In the middle of life’s struggles, and all the bad news that we continued to be bombarded with on a daily basis, the Easter message of God breathing Life and Hope and Peace into our lives and into the world through the Risen Jesus shows itself in ways like this. That’s why this season is filled with “Alleluias”!

 

For anyone interested in learning more about Our Savior, there will be a gathering this Wednesday evening, April 18, at 6:30 in the Quiet Room off of the narthex.  This is an informal gathering of sharing, asking questions and learning more about Our Savior and each other. 

 

This coming weekend Our Savior’s Parish Health Ministry Team will be doing blood pressure screenings after the 6pm and 11am services, and BEFORE the 8:30 service, all in the Quiet Room.

 

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

 

And finally, here’s some information about our favorite four legged friend, Goldie, who has been a part of Our Savior this past year.  

Many of you have come to know Goldie, a Southeastern Guide Dog puppy being raised by one of our members, Colleen Heagy. He has attended the 8:30 service regularly and has been serving as the Sunday school mascot. You may have even seen him playing with the kids in the nursery or singing with the primary class before Sunday school.

 

Soon it will be time to say good-bye to Goldie as he will be returning to “Canine College” in Palmetto where he will learn 40 commands and how to become a guide dog for a visually impaired person.

 

Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. is a non-profit organization. They never charge the visually impaired recipient any money for a guide dog. They provide the guide dog, equipment, single-room lodging, all meals, outings, instruction and post-graduation support completely free of charge, thanks to the generosity of important contributors.
The average working life of a guide dog is eight years, and the majority of graduates obtain multiple guide dogs from Southeastern Guide Dogs.

The process of developing and serving a successful guide dog team takes an average of ten years (two years of training and eight years of post-graduation services) and approximately $60,000. 
Paws For Independence, like all programs at Southeastern Guide Dogs, receives no governmental funding. They rely solely on the generosity of people like you.

The Sunday School offerings this year have gone to support Southeastern Guide Dogs.  If their total offering comes to $3,500,  the kids will get to sponsor and choose a permanent name for the puppy.  (I don’t have the total amount raised so far, but it’s quite a ways from $3500 at this point.) Sponsorship supports the care of the puppy from 9 weeks and continues until the puppy returns to campus for formal harness training at 14 - 20 months.
They will receive two photos commemorating these events: one at 9 weeks and one upon its return to our school for harness training.

We are planning a farewell party for Goldie on May 6 after all services. Special breakfast treats will be provided and we hope that we can count on your support to help the puppy sponsorship.  You can mail a check made out to OSLC and mark it “for Guide Dogs” or “for Goldie”.       For more info, you can visit the website at:  www.guidedogs.org.   

Have a blessed week!  See you in church!

"Where in the world...?"

Our “Where in the World?” email this week brings you more community events where members of Our Savior are involved “in the world” sharing their gifts.  In each of the following events listed there is at least one member of Our Savior participating or on the board or volunteering in some way, truly living out being a reflection of the Light of Christ into the world.  Many of these events are posted on our bulletin board outside under the walkway. 

Tonight, Thursday March 29, Atlantic Classical Orchestra, 8pm at the Waxlax Center, St. Edward’s School.

This Saturday, March 31, visit some of Vero’s finest private gardens, (including Ingrid’s and Dawn and Ted’s gardens!):  10am -4pm.  Go to: www.opendaysprogram.org.

Friday April 6, 5-8pm: Opening Reception, Darby Fine Art, 1902 14^th Ave, featuring Marcy Von Kohorn ‘Traditional Chinese Brushwork”.  Artist Talk and Demonstration Saturday, April 7, 11am-2pm.   www.darbyfineart.com

Saturday April 7, Gustavus Wind Ensemble, 7pm, Community Church.  www.gustavus.edu.

Wednesday April 11, noon, Homeless Family Center Spring Luncheon at Bent Pine Golf Club.  www.homelessfamilycenter.com

Monday May 14, Big Brother Big Sister Golf Tournament at Hawk’s Nest.  www.bbbsbigs.org.

Saturday May 12, 7am, 6^th Annual Rotary 10k Run.  For more info email Rotary10K@aol.com or see www.verobeachsunrise.Rotary-clubs.org.

And finally:

 

For Immediate Release

March 27, 2012

 

The Vero Beach High School Music Department presents “Big Composers, Little Pieces” Chamber Concert on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 7 pm in the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, 1707 16^th Street.

Some musical selections performed will include Holst’s Suite No. 1 in E flat, Gounod’s Petite Symphony, and the Impresario Overture by Mozart.

The concert will also feature traditional military marches by Beethoven and contemporary Japanese Impressions for Percussion.

According to Music Education Advocacy Resources early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning as well as enhancing teamwork skills and discipline. Also, recent studies show that students who study the arts are more successful on standardized tests.

This concert involves nearly 100 student musicians and proceeds go to benefit Indian River County music education programs.

Tickets are $12 for the lower level and $10 for the upper level.  All Seating is reserved.  Please call the Box Office at 772-564-5537.

###

Crystal Corrigan, Auditorium Director

Office        772-564-5497    

Fax             772-564-5546    

To Order Tickets, please call the Box Office at 772-564-5537    

Vero Beach High School  Performing Arts Center

1707 16th Street          

Vero Beach, FL 32960

crystal.corrigan@indianriverschools.org

www.indianriverschools.org/VBHS

How is your light shining out in the world?   J         See you in church!       www.oursaviorelca.com

Christ is Risen!

 

Christ is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!    After a most meaningful season of Lent, wonderfully moving and well attended Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services (over 200 at worship at each service), and a most beautiful Easter morning (over 800 total at worship at our 3 services!) we now enter the 7 weeks of the Easter Season.   To have so many at worship and to experience the spirit everyone brought to those places says a lot to me about God being very much at work, in spite of, or maybe because of, our increasingly secular world. 

 

Of all of the things “the world” and our society has to offer, only God can meet the most basic spiritual needs that lie deep within every person.  We can fill our lives with all kinds of things and distractions, but when it gets right down to it, only God can fill the deepest need.  And that need is to be connected with God and with one another.  That’s what Easter is about.  God coming to us and breathing into us Resurrection Life, Hope, Joy and a Peace that passes all understanding.   When that happens, that makes us a part of a new community, a community of faith, a community of other Easter people, a New Creation!  (As mentioned in the sermon yesterday, the Garden of Eden was the site of the first creation, in which Adam and Eve disobeyed and were driven out in shame…but then the Garden of the Empty Tomb became the site of God’s New and Renewed Creation in which Mary met the Risen Lord and went out in joy and wonder sharing the Good News that Christ is Risen!)

 

That is the Good News that we need to hear!  Because as we look at the news around us, we see that there are still so many dark, diabolical forces at work in the world.  Life can be discouraging.  But the Easter message is that the Last Word over all of those forces is Victory and Life and Hope. 

 

So, as the seven weeks of the Easter season unfold, let us keep gathering together to nurture that Resurrection Life that has been given us and the peace that God continues offer.  And along with gathering to worship together, for other ways to help you live out that Easter Life, see our website (www.oursaviorelca.com)  for Bible Studies, Youth, Women’s, Men’s gatherings and more.  Also, visit www.vibrantfaithathome.org , a new resource for nurturing family faith and life.  This is from the same folks who provide our great every Sunday bulletin insert with prayers and conversation starters for nurturing faith at home.

 

Finally, if you’re interested in learning more about Our Savior, or in becoming a member, please join us for a 3 session, informal, “get acquainted” series on: Wednesday, April 11 at 6:30pm, Sunday April 15 at 9:45am and Wednesday April 18 at 6:30pm.   These are always interesting, informative, and even fun gatherings! 

 

See you in church!    Pastor Jack Diehl +    

 

 

Important P.S. to Holy Week

From: Our Savior Lutheran Church
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 12:08 PM
To: Our Savior Lutheran Church
Subject: Important P.S. to Holy Week

 

A couple of things slipped through and were not listed on the previous email.  Here they are:    

 

1)       There will be a nursery provided for both the Maundy Thursday and the Good Friday 7pm services.

 

2)      The Tuesday following Easter (April 10) there will be a “Visioning Meeting” from 11:45am til 1:15pm.  In the past year we have met some major goals (50^th Anniversary Celebration, a major building project and this summer will be expanding our music program to mention a few.) 

        It is time again for us as a congregation to look at the big picture, look at the future, and ask  “What is God doing here, and where would God lead us?”

        If being a part of a process like this is one of your gifts, and if you would be interested in and willing to be a part of this conversation, please join us the Tuesday after Easter as we begin this process. 

 

Many thanks.   Sorry for a second email.  But if this helped call your attention to these important things, then I guess it was ok.  J     Pastor Jack +  

www.oursaviorelca.com  

Holy Week

 

“Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  HOSANNA!”  These are the words with which we entered Holy Week, as we remembered Jesus entry into Jerusalem.  “Hosanna”: a word meaning “save us!”  They were words filled with hope and expectation.  A new day was dawning.  And new kingdom was unfolding.  But oh what lie ahead.  The powers that be were threatened by who Jesus was and what he was bringing into the world.  “We’ve never done it this way!” could have been their cry.  Jesus was turning the world’s ways upside down.  In the events of this Holy Week we see the world’s response to Jesus.  We see the abuse of power.  We see the hurt of betrayal and abandonment.  We see the power of death and darkness at it’s worse. 

 

But we also, in the middle of all of that, see sacrificial love, faithfulness, continued trust in God, and the distance God was willing to go to confront the powers of death and darkness, in order to bring in a new reign and breathe Life into his fallen creation. 

 

As this week unfolds, think on these things.  And if you are able, please join us on Maundy Thursday at 7pm, as we hear from each of the 12 disciples on that night of the Last Supper; what Jesus said to them and what Jesus meant to them. 

 

Then on Good Friday at 7pm we gather again as a continuation of our Thursday service, to hear the 7 Last Words of Jesus from the cross, and reflect on those, in a Tenabrae service.

 

Saturday is the only Saturday of the year when there is no 6pm service. This is a quiet time of reflection and preparation for Easter Sunday morning.     

 

On Saturday morning however, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt at 10am for all of our children and families, with other fun activities for the kids, as an early Easter celebration!   

 

And at 9am Saturday morning, members of the Youth Group and the Lutheran Men in Mission will be gathering to set up for the Easter Pancake Breakfast and 7am Easter Sunrise Service.

 

Easter morning begins with a Sunrise Service in the Memorial Garden at 7am.  At this service we will also dedicate the new walkway and new altar, both Eagle Scout projects by Michael Reed (walkway) and Christopher Reed (altar).  Many thanks to these young men for these important and useful additions to our Memorial Garden!

 

The 8:30 and 11:00 Easter Services will be held in the church as we begin in silence and darkness, reminding us of Jesus time in the tomb.  The silence is broken and worship begins by a bell peal procession, the entrance of the new Paschal Candle and the announcement: “Christ is Risen!”

 

From 8am til about 10:30am the Lutheran Men in Mission and Youth Group will be providing an Easter Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall.  A free will offering will be received which will help support sending our kids to camp this summer.  The breakfast will consist of: pancakes, sausage patties, fruit cup, banana bread, juice, coffee and milk. 

 

Looking ahead briefly: Anyone interested in learning more about Our Savior or in becoming a member of Our Savior is invited to 3 gatherings:  the first is Wednesday April 11 at 6:30pm, the second is Sunday April 15 at 9:45am and the third is Wednesday April 18 at 6:30 pm again.   Then for those who would like, new members will be received the last weekend in April (the 28^th and 29^th) at both the Saturday and Sunday services.   Any questions, call either of the pastors. 

 

May this week truly be a Holy Week for you and yours as we remember those last days of Jesus and prepare for the Easter celebration.   

 

See you in church!     Pastor Jack Diehl +              (www.oursaviorelca.com)