Maybe some of you caught this, but in this morning's "Sunrise" OSEnews, the quote was supposed to read, "RED SKY in morning, sailors take warning!" Not sure how "Sunrise" got in there instead of "RED SKY"?!? Too err is all too human. Glad we are in the forgiveness business. :-)
Have a blessed week, enjoy some beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and we'll see you in church! Pastor Jack +
Here on the east coast of Florida, we get some beautiful sunrises. Experiencing those is always a great way to start the day. For some reason, something occurred to me about sunrises that I hadn't thought of before. The most beautiful sunrises always involve clouds or threatening weather ahead. (Remember the old saying, "Sunrise in morning, sailors take warning!") Without clouds or threatening weather, clear skies don't offer near the wonder and beauty of a sunrise like in the picture attached. (This was one off of South Beach in late summer).
Which made me think...isn't that often when we see and experience the grace, mercy and presence of God in our lives in a special way, when we are going through some storms or clouds or some kind of threats to our well-being? For it is in those times that God often meets us with the promise that we aren't alone, that we are loved, and that God's Light permeates the Darkness. After all, God was there on that darkest of all days, Good Friday, when darkness covered the earth and all seemed lost. But on Easter morning, the Light overcame the Darkness, the Son rose, and a new day dawned. May each beautiful sunrise be a reminder of that for you...especially when the clouds roll in and a storm threatens! And speaking of seeing God in nature, this coming Sunday, Oct. 4, is a day commemorating St. Francis of Assisi, known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. We still have a lot to learn from Francis today, so be sure to join us for worship this coming weekend.
For other happenings around Our Savior or to see our live streamed worship visit our website at: www.oursaviorelca.com.
Have a blessed week, enjoy some beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and we'll see you in church! Pastor Jack +
With the beginning of a new Sunday School year, and having celebrated a baptism the same day, we are reminded that building a firm foundation for our children (and adults) is what we are about. Sunday School, among other things, is our congregation's way of saying to parents that we will help them with the following responsibilities that they take on at their children's baptism: "to live among God's faithful people, bring their children to the Word of God and the holy supper, teach them the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the 10 Commandments, place in their hands the Holy Scriptures and nurture them in faith and prayer" . This is not something one can do totally alone.
The world is always about the business of wanting us to build our lives on shaky foundations which crumble and fail us. In the words of hymn 796 ELW, "How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in Christ Jesus, the Word!" He is the foundation upon which we build our lives. Sunday School, Confirmation and our adult classes, like the new adult class beginning this coming Sunday on the 10 Commandments, are some of the places that foundation building takes place.
So, come, join us for these and other ways that we build our lives together on that one firm foundation, Jesus himself, who is our hope, our strength, our peace and joy.
See you in church! Pastor Jack Diehl + www.oursaviorelca.com
Men of Camp Haven in October, November, or December?
What is needed?
A main dish for 18 men on a Wednesday night. Just a main dish (a casserole, lasagna, chili, pasta dish, hearty soup, etc.). Camp Haven can furnish the sides. The dish can be cooked in your own home and delivered directly to Camp Haven by 5:00pm on Wednesday. If you need to contact Camp Haven to deliver at another time, call 772-999-3625.
(By signing up this way through Volunteerspot you will receive a reminder email the week you signed up, which is a help if you pick a Wednesday several months from now.)
Thank you for considering helping with this ministry of feeding others!
Having just completed this year's "God's Work; Our Hands" service project and this year's Sunday School registration this past weekend, we now kick off our Sunday School year this coming Sunday (Sept. 20)! All the younger ones will meet in the sanctuary for their opening, then go from there to their classes. The older kids (Confirmation age and up) and the adults will all meet in the Fellowship Hall with everyone who went to Detroit this past summer for the National ELCA Youth Gathering! (Cover story on the September issue of "The Lutheran" magazine). Please join us to hear some personal stories from that gathering and what an important event this was for young people from all around the country, the people of Detroit, and our whole church. Not to be missed!
As this new Sunday School year begins, plan on being a part of this nurturing, faith building, hour on Sunday mornings. Whether you have a child or grandchild in our pre-K Sunday School class, or are yourself in your 80s or 90s and are in one of our adult classes, or are somewhere in between, there is no better place to be than around God's people as we share and live out God's story and wrestle together with the issues of the day. There really is something for everyone during that hour between worship, from 9:45-10:45 each Sunday morning. Hope to see you there.
Peace and Joy to your and yours. Pastor Jack Diehl +
Cookbook Deadline September 28th!
The Women of the ELCA (WELCA) are putting together a new church cookbook! Information can be found on our church website on how to submit recipes. THEY NEED YOU to submit as many recipes as you would like. Click Here to see the simple instructions or you can mail them/drop them off in the church office and the WELCA ladies will input them for you!