Joys and sorrows; our life together is filled with both of those things, and especially this past weekend.
As most of you know by now, our dear Ruth Ann Gasparik died unexpectedly Friday morning. She was the president of WELCA and one of our key volunteers in the office (coming in 3 full days a week), among other things. A service for Ruth Ann will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 11am here at the church.
Yesterday we held our annual congregational meeting. Copies of the reports are available in the church office. The main action taken was to approve the moving ahead of a proposed building program to expand the "gathering and sending" space for worship, which will also provide extra space for some classes and other gatherings both on Sunday and during the week. Much more information will be coming as we begin this 50th Anniversary Year for Our Savior Lutheran Church here in Vero Beach.
Our Wednesday suppers continue this Wednesday. The menu is: baked ham, pineapple casserole, parsley potatoes and "Lutheran Green Beans" (there's a story behind these!) Come and enjoy a meal and some great fellowship. Supper is served at 6pm. Helpers, especially for clean-up, are always welcome.
Last Wednesday after supper over 20 people gathered for an Enneagram presentation. This was a most enjoyable and interesting time of learning more about our various personality types and what our various gifts are. At the end of this email is some information on follow up gatherings on this topic at the Center for Spiritual Care here in Vero Beach.
Looking ahead, next Sunday, Feb. 6, it will be Scout Sunday nationwide. Here at Our Savior we will have a number of our scouts serving in worship in a number of ways along with our own scout troop providing a pancake breakfast, in appreciation for the support they receive here at Our Savior. The breakfast will be served from 8am til 11am in the Fellowship Hall.
Later on Sunday afternoon there will be a "Four Chaplain's Service", remembering the four chaplains, of four different faith communities, who gave their lives so that others could survive when the Dorchester was torpedoed and sunk during WW II. The service will be held at
Now, as this week unfolds, may we remember the words of the beatitudes from yesterday's Gospel reading (Mt. 5:1-12) where Jesus speaks words of blessing, then go out into the week both as God's children who are both blessed and called to be a blessing. Have a blessed week!
Pastor Jack Diehl +
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
This is a great time of the year here at Our Savior! This past weekend it was so good to have so many of our regular seasonal folks worshipping with us again, along with new visitors and new residents in the area. Welcome, and welcome back to all!
As we live out our identity as God's beloved, called to be children of the Light and of the Day, here are some settings and ways for that to happen this week. (This isn't an exhaustive list, but some of the highlights. For more info check out our website: www.oursaviorelca.com).
Our Wednesday suppers continue at 6pm, with Youth Group following at 6:30pm. This Wednesday we will start serving a little early so that whoever would like can get to the book signing at the Vero Beach Book Center at 7pm! Kent Annan, Pastor Shelly's husband will be there signing his new book," After Shock: Searching for Honest Faith When Your World is Shaken".
On Friday, there will be a Haiti Partners dinner at 6pm at the Community Church. The theme of the evening is "Focusing on Hope". There will be videos, guests from Haiti, a silent auction and great food as we hear about life in Haiti since the earthquake one year ago and the signs of hope that are springing up. Cost is $30 and tickets are available through Wednesday by calling 772-778-1070.
The "Spiritual Gifts" workshop scheduled for this coming Saturday, Jan. 22, is being rescheduled for Saturday, February 19 here at Our Savior. This will put it closer to, and connect it with, our next New Member Gatherings which will take place on Feb. 9, 13 and 16. If you're interested in becoming a member of Our Savior, or just learning more about Our Savior, mark your calendars and join us on those dates.
Looking ahead to next Sunday afternoon, at 4pm, there will be a service of prayer for Christian Unity at Christ by the Sea Methodist Church. Ten congregations, including ours, will be involved in this service. In our ever increasingly polarized world, here is a place we can affirm a unity we share in Christ and celebrate that together. All are welcome.
As this week unfolds, may you live in God's peace and let your light shine! See you in church! Pastor Jack Diehl
As we live out our identity as God's beloved, called to be children of the Light and of the Day, here are some settings and ways for that to happen this week. (This isn't an exhaustive list, but some of the highlights. For more info check out our website: www.oursaviorelca.com).
Our Wednesday suppers continue at 6pm, with Youth Group following at 6:30pm. This Wednesday we will start serving a little early so that whoever would like can get to the book signing at the Vero Beach Book Center at 7pm! Kent Annan, Pastor Shelly's husband will be there signing his new book," After Shock: Searching for Honest Faith When Your World is Shaken".
On Friday, there will be a Haiti Partners dinner at 6pm at the Community Church. The theme of the evening is "Focusing on Hope". There will be videos, guests from Haiti, a silent auction and great food as we hear about life in Haiti since the earthquake one year ago and the signs of hope that are springing up. Cost is $30 and tickets are available through Wednesday by calling 772-778-1070.
The "Spiritual Gifts" workshop scheduled for this coming Saturday, Jan. 22, is being rescheduled for Saturday, February 19 here at Our Savior. This will put it closer to, and connect it with, our next New Member Gatherings which will take place on Feb. 9, 13 and 16. If you're interested in becoming a member of Our Savior, or just learning more about Our Savior, mark your calendars and join us on those dates.
Looking ahead to next Sunday afternoon, at 4pm, there will be a service of prayer for Christian Unity at Christ by the Sea Methodist Church. Ten congregations, including ours, will be involved in this service. In our ever increasingly polarized world, here is a place we can affirm a unity we share in Christ and celebrate that together. All are welcome.
As this week unfolds, may you live in God's peace and let your light shine! See you in church! Pastor Jack Diehl
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Dear Called, Chosen, and Sent Ones,
That's quite an identity, but in Baptism that is all true! This past weekend in worship we both celebrated that and reflected on that. In Pastor Shelly's sermon, she mentioned one way that can help us live that out. For all of you "list people" out there, this will be especially meaningful. (I'm one of them, so I really appreciated this gift this past Christmas.) What Pastor Shelly was referring to is a little notepad we each received this past Christmas from Melissa, one of our members, for making a "to do" list. The unique part of this notepad is that the first 5 things on the "to do list" are already written in. They are: 1) Love God; 2) Serve God; 3) Praise God; 4) Remember to ask God for help; and 5) Thank God. No better way to start your "to do" list than like that!
One other note from yesteday's worship: "Here I raise my Ebenezer: 'Hither by thy help I've come'". Say what???!!?? That's the opening line of the 2nd verse of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing", and probably one of the most non-understandable (if that's a word) lines in any hymn. That expression comes from an Old Testament reference to a stone monument of sorts that was raised to mark the place where God intervened and helped his people. The word actually means "stone of help". So, to "raise an Ebenezer" is to mark a place, actually or figuratively, where God has stepped in to help his people.
Looking to this week: Our Wednesday suppers continue at 6pm. This week, Chicken Cordon Bleu. Following the supper the Lutheran Men in Mission will be meeting at 7pm in room 4. This is the meeting that was postponed from last week. Also, the Enneagram workshop has been postponed til a later date. If interested, let me know. The tentative date for that workshop is Wednesday January 26.
As a part of our "End of Life Issues" adult Sunday School class, there will be a tour of the Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory, 1655 27th Street, just east of the new County Administative buildings complex, this Friday, January 14 at 1pm. You don't have to have been at the class to join us.
May you all live out your Baptism faithfully this week! See you in church! Peace and Joy + Pastor Jack
That's quite an identity, but in Baptism that is all true! This past weekend in worship we both celebrated that and reflected on that. In Pastor Shelly's sermon, she mentioned one way that can help us live that out. For all of you "list people" out there, this will be especially meaningful. (I'm one of them, so I really appreciated this gift this past Christmas.) What Pastor Shelly was referring to is a little notepad we each received this past Christmas from Melissa, one of our members, for making a "to do" list. The unique part of this notepad is that the first 5 things on the "to do list" are already written in. They are: 1) Love God; 2) Serve God; 3) Praise God; 4) Remember to ask God for help; and 5) Thank God. No better way to start your "to do" list than like that!
One other note from yesteday's worship: "Here I raise my Ebenezer: 'Hither by thy help I've come'". Say what???!!?? That's the opening line of the 2nd verse of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing", and probably one of the most non-understandable (if that's a word) lines in any hymn. That expression comes from an Old Testament reference to a stone monument of sorts that was raised to mark the place where God intervened and helped his people. The word actually means "stone of help". So, to "raise an Ebenezer" is to mark a place, actually or figuratively, where God has stepped in to help his people.
Looking to this week: Our Wednesday suppers continue at 6pm. This week, Chicken Cordon Bleu. Following the supper the Lutheran Men in Mission will be meeting at 7pm in room 4. This is the meeting that was postponed from last week. Also, the Enneagram workshop has been postponed til a later date. If interested, let me know. The tentative date for that workshop is Wednesday January 26.
As a part of our "End of Life Issues" adult Sunday School class, there will be a tour of the Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory, 1655 27th Street, just east of the new County Administative buildings complex, this Friday, January 14 at 1pm. You don't have to have been at the class to join us.
May you all live out your Baptism faithfully this week! See you in church! Peace and Joy + Pastor Jack
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
On this 4th of the 12 days of Christmas, I hope all are still basking in the Light of the Christ Child and reflecting on the wonder of Christmas.
Just a couple notes this week: Since New Year's Day is Saturday, we will not have our regular Saturday service at 6pm, and since the schools are still on Christmas break, there will be no Sunday School this coming Sunday, January 2.
At the 8:30 and 11am services this coming Sunday, January 2, we will be celebrating Epiphany with the procession of three kings, incense and all! This is the day that we celebrate that Jesus, the Christ Child, was the Messiah and God's Light for the whole world, Jews and Gentiles! What better way to start the New Year than gathering around that!
Our regular schedule of Saturday worship at 6pm and 8:30 and 11am worship with Sunday School at 9:45 will resume on January 9, and our Wednesday suppers will resume January 5.
May these 12 days of Christmas and the beginning of the New Year be filled with God's Lightand Peace and Love for you and yours.
See you in church!
Pastor Jack Diehl
Just a couple notes this week: Since New Year's Day is Saturday, we will not have our regular Saturday service at 6pm, and since the schools are still on Christmas break, there will be no Sunday School this coming Sunday, January 2.
At the 8:30 and 11am services this coming Sunday, January 2, we will be celebrating Epiphany with the procession of three kings, incense and all! This is the day that we celebrate that Jesus, the Christ Child, was the Messiah and God's Light for the whole world, Jews and Gentiles! What better way to start the New Year than gathering around that!
Our regular schedule of Saturday worship at 6pm and 8:30 and 11am worship with Sunday School at 9:45 will resume on January 9, and our Wednesday suppers will resume January 5.
May these 12 days of Christmas and the beginning of the New Year be filled with God's Lightand Peace and Love for you and yours.
See you in church!
Pastor Jack Diehl
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
It's been a wonderful journey through Advent! Many thanks to our Sunday School children and parents who brought the Advent season to a culmination yesterday at our 11am service with their annual Christmas Program. What a wonderful celebration. A special thanks to Charlotte Elizabeth Roble, born October 3, (Dr. Linda Aiken's granddaughter) who was Baptized at the 8:30 service and came back to be "baby Jesus" at the 11am service. She truly lived out in a hurry what Martin Luther said that each of of our callings is as a Baptized child of God, that is to be a "little Christ" in the world!
We now stand on the threshold of the Christmas celebration.
On Christmas Eve we have 2 candlelight communion services: one at 6pm with our Handbell Choir ringing and one at 9pm with our Chancel Choir singing. There will be preservice music beginning about 1/2 hour before each service.
On Christmas Day there will be a service with Holy Communion at 11am followed by our annual Home Alone Christmas Dinner at noon. The menu will be mashed potatoes, gravy, roast beef and all the fixins! This is our gift to the community. If you'd like to make a reservation, reply to this email and we'll save a seat for you.
Since Christmas Day is on Saturday this year, there will be no regular 6pm Saturday service, but there will be two services of Lessons and Carols on Sunday at 8:30 and 11am.
At Christmas we celebrate that God has not stayed far off in an unknown distance, but has come to be with us in the person of Jesus. May these holy days be filled with the Peace, Joy and Love of the Christ Child for all of you.
Pastor A.C. 'Jack' Diehl III,
We now stand on the threshold of the Christmas celebration.
On Christmas Eve we have 2 candlelight communion services: one at 6pm with our Handbell Choir ringing and one at 9pm with our Chancel Choir singing. There will be preservice music beginning about 1/2 hour before each service.
On Christmas Day there will be a service with Holy Communion at 11am followed by our annual Home Alone Christmas Dinner at noon. The menu will be mashed potatoes, gravy, roast beef and all the fixins! This is our gift to the community. If you'd like to make a reservation, reply to this email and we'll save a seat for you.
Since Christmas Day is on Saturday this year, there will be no regular 6pm Saturday service, but there will be two services of Lessons and Carols on Sunday at 8:30 and 11am.
At Christmas we celebrate that God has not stayed far off in an unknown distance, but has come to be with us in the person of Jesus. May these holy days be filled with the Peace, Joy and Love of the Christ Child for all of you.
Pastor A.C. 'Jack' Diehl III,
Monday, December 13, 2010
"Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, oh Israel." During these weeks of Advent we have been singing this refrain every time we prepare to hear the reading of the Gospel. It is especially fitting at that point in our worship, because there is one of the places where Emmanuel, Jesus, the Word become flesh, comes to us…through God's Word.
But that's not the only place God comes to us. Along with coming to us in worship, in His Word and in Holy Communion, God also comes into the dark places of his creation and of our lives…the places where people are hurting or sick or suffering or lonely. As the one verse in "It Came upon the Midnight Clear" goes, "And you, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow; look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing; oh, rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing!" God doesn't leave us alone, forsaken. God comes among us. And that is our reason for Hope, for Joy and for Peace in this wonderful season.
As the last weekend in Advent approaches, the Sunday School children will be helping us hear the Christmas story at the 11am service this coming Sunday, December 19. There will be shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph and some wonderful singing by the children. This is a wonderful way to experience the wonder and joy of the Christmas message…through our children helping to tell the story. At the 6pm and 8:30am services Pastor Jack will be sharing "An Advent Monologue" by Walt Wangerin Jr. (If you get "The Lutheran" be sure to read "Jesus. Him." on page 28 of the recent December 2010 issue by Wangerin.)
Because of the upcoming Christmas Home Alone Dinner here at church and all of the other preparations and activities at this time of the year, our Wednesday suppers are taking a little recess, but will resume on Wednesday January 5.
As we enter the last days of Advent, may they be filled with Hope, Peace and Joy for you and yours. See you in church!
Pastor A.C. 'Jack' Diehl III
But that's not the only place God comes to us. Along with coming to us in worship, in His Word and in Holy Communion, God also comes into the dark places of his creation and of our lives…the places where people are hurting or sick or suffering or lonely. As the one verse in "It Came upon the Midnight Clear" goes, "And you, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow; look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing; oh, rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing!" God doesn't leave us alone, forsaken. God comes among us. And that is our reason for Hope, for Joy and for Peace in this wonderful season.
As the last weekend in Advent approaches, the Sunday School children will be helping us hear the Christmas story at the 11am service this coming Sunday, December 19. There will be shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph and some wonderful singing by the children. This is a wonderful way to experience the wonder and joy of the Christmas message…through our children helping to tell the story. At the 6pm and 8:30am services Pastor Jack will be sharing "An Advent Monologue" by Walt Wangerin Jr. (If you get "The Lutheran" be sure to read "Jesus. Him." on page 28 of the recent December 2010 issue by Wangerin.)
Because of the upcoming Christmas Home Alone Dinner here at church and all of the other preparations and activities at this time of the year, our Wednesday suppers are taking a little recess, but will resume on Wednesday January 5.
As we enter the last days of Advent, may they be filled with Hope, Peace and Joy for you and yours. See you in church!
Pastor A.C. 'Jack' Diehl III
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
This past weekend, one word which rose to the surface in our worship was "Hope". In the middle of desperate times for Israel, Isaiah spoke a word of hope. Over the centuries, God's people, trusting in God's promises, have been a people of hope. And the hope we share is not just wishful thinking, but is in that One, the "…shoot that shall come out from the stump of Jesse…", Jesus himself, who came among us to bring us God's Light and Truth and Life.
Among the images of hope that Pastor Shelly shared, was that of Nancy Ogonoski's Christmas tree last year, which began sprouting forth new growth, much to everyone's surprise! That's a picture of hope, where life springs up in a most unexpected way. (So, what ultimately happened to that tree, many have asked? Well, not only did new growth sprout forth from the branches, but as Spring approached, little critters which had been laying dormant in the tree, also "sprung forth" from the tree and began flying all around inside the house! The tree was out of there! :-) But wasn't that also another sign of life springing up in an unexpected way?!) Hope is sometimes surprising!
Along with that image of hope, Pastor Shelly also told the story of Christa Brelsford who lost a leg in the earthquake in Haiti, but who out of that tragedy has helped build a new school in cooperation with Haiti Partners where the former school was destroyed in the earthquake. If you click on the following link, you can see and hear more about Christa's story, and hope springing up in the midst of the destruction and rubble of a country cut down to the stump.
http://www.haitipartners.org/2010/12/christa-brelsford-on-nbcs-today-show/
Another local way of living out the hope God gives us, this past weekend, our Men in Mission held their annual Christmas Gift fundraiser by providing some wonderful food after each worship service. Here's a message from our Men in Mission leader, Jack Mill, which he sent out to the guys after this weekend's event.
"God's grace never ceases to amaze me! What a great group of Men in Mission and what a wonderful and generous turnout from Our Savior Lutheran Church for our BBBS (Big Brother Big Sister) Christmas Fundraiser! ALL the food was delicious and well received by the congregation. A total of $1902.83 was raised so that needy children can have a Christmas present this year. THANK YOU very much and may God bless you all!"
(A big thank you to Jack Mill for heading up this great project up and to all the guys who make it happen. This coming Wednesday evening the Youth Group will be taking the money and going Christmas shopping for these children. They will then come back, wrap the gifts and make arrangements for the families to get them. What a wonderful cooperative way of sharing God's love in this season!)
As this week unfolds, may we all be a people of hope, seeing God's new life springing up in all kinds of unexpected ways and places, as we wait and watch for the clebration of the coming of the Christ Child in that unexpected way and place, in a lowly manger, for you and for me.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 15:13)
See you in church!
Pastor Jack
Among the images of hope that Pastor Shelly shared, was that of Nancy Ogonoski's Christmas tree last year, which began sprouting forth new growth, much to everyone's surprise! That's a picture of hope, where life springs up in a most unexpected way. (So, what ultimately happened to that tree, many have asked? Well, not only did new growth sprout forth from the branches, but as Spring approached, little critters which had been laying dormant in the tree, also "sprung forth" from the tree and began flying all around inside the house! The tree was out of there! :-) But wasn't that also another sign of life springing up in an unexpected way?!) Hope is sometimes surprising!
Along with that image of hope, Pastor Shelly also told the story of Christa Brelsford who lost a leg in the earthquake in Haiti, but who out of that tragedy has helped build a new school in cooperation with Haiti Partners where the former school was destroyed in the earthquake. If you click on the following link, you can see and hear more about Christa's story, and hope springing up in the midst of the destruction and rubble of a country cut down to the stump.
http://www.haitipartners.org/2010/12/christa-brelsford-on-nbcs-today-show/
Another local way of living out the hope God gives us, this past weekend, our Men in Mission held their annual Christmas Gift fundraiser by providing some wonderful food after each worship service. Here's a message from our Men in Mission leader, Jack Mill, which he sent out to the guys after this weekend's event.
"God's grace never ceases to amaze me! What a great group of Men in Mission and what a wonderful and generous turnout from Our Savior Lutheran Church for our BBBS (Big Brother Big Sister) Christmas Fundraiser! ALL the food was delicious and well received by the congregation. A total of $1902.83 was raised so that needy children can have a Christmas present this year. THANK YOU very much and may God bless you all!"
(A big thank you to Jack Mill for heading up this great project up and to all the guys who make it happen. This coming Wednesday evening the Youth Group will be taking the money and going Christmas shopping for these children. They will then come back, wrap the gifts and make arrangements for the families to get them. What a wonderful cooperative way of sharing God's love in this season!)
As this week unfolds, may we all be a people of hope, seeing God's new life springing up in all kinds of unexpected ways and places, as we wait and watch for the clebration of the coming of the Christ Child in that unexpected way and place, in a lowly manger, for you and for me.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 15:13)
See you in church!
Pastor Jack
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