, F O C U S Our Savior Lutheran Church October 2006 Vol 21 No. 9 Thanks Be To God for the Ministries of Renee McNeal and Vicky Thomas As many of you already know, due to health concerns, Renée McNeal has resigned as our Associate in Ministry effective October 31, 2006. In addition, Vicky Thomas, who has accepted the position of Choir Director at Seattle First Baptist Church, has also resigned effective October 1, 2006. I received Vicky’s resignation on Friday, September 1 and Renee’s resignation on Tuesday, September 5. I was as surprised by their resignations as you are. Neither Vicky nor Renee knew of each other’s plans to resign. Call it coincidence, call it God’s tim- ing. In either case, it is what it is: these two beloved sisters in Christ are leaving us and they will be greatly missed. We have been richly blessed by their minis- tries in our midst. Renée has served as our Associate in Ministry for the last eight and one half years. Vicky has been our Director of Music for the last seven and one quarter years. Both Vicky and Renée have been faith- ful and dedicated servants of our Lord and of the congregation. I have loved working with Renée and Vicky and I am saddened by their resignations. We are planning a farewell thank you event for Vicky on Sunday, October 1. Our fare- well thank you event for Renée will be on Sunday, November 5. Please uphold both Renée and Vicky and their families in prayer during this time of transition. Remember our congregational leadership team as well. There will be a lot of important work to do during this time of change. I invite you to join me in offering your thanks to God for Vicky and Renée and all the ways God has blessed us through them. I believe that our Lord will guide and direct us as we begin the process of evaluating our mission and ministry needs and how best to staff for the future God has in store for us. Yours in Christ, Larry E. Thomas, Pastor Daylight Savings Time Ends October 28
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F O C U SOur Savior Lutheran Church
October 2006 Vol 21 No. 9
Thanks Be To God for the Ministries of Renee McNeal and Vicky Thomas
As many of you already know, due to health concerns, Renée McNeal has resigned as our Associate in Ministry effective October 31, 2006. In addition, Vicky Thomas, who has accepted the position of Choir Director at Seattle First Baptist Church, has also resigned effective October 1, 2006.
I received Vicky’s resignation on Friday, September 1 and Renee’s resignation on Tuesday, September 5. I was as surprised by their resignations as you are. Neither Vicky nor Renee knew of each other’s plans to resign. Call it coincidence, call it God’s tim-ing. In either case, it is what it is: these two beloved sisters in Christ are leaving us and they will be greatly missed.
We have been richly blessed by their minis-tries in our midst. Renée has served as our Associate in Ministry for the last eight and one half years. Vicky has been our Director of Music for the last seven and one quarter years. Both Vicky and Renée have been faith-ful and dedicated servants of our Lord and of the congregation. I have loved working with Renée and Vicky and I am saddened by their resignations.
We are planning a farewell thank you event for Vicky on Sunday, October 1. Our fare-well thank you event for Renée will be on
Sunday, November 5. Please uphold both Renée and Vicky and their families in prayer during this time of transition. Remember our congregational leadership team as well. There will be a lot of important work to do during this time of change.
I invite you to join me in offering your thanks to God for Vicky and Renée and all the ways God has blessed us through them. I believe that our Lord will guide and direct us as we begin the process of evaluating our mission and ministry needs and how best to staff for the future God has in store for us.
Yours in Christ,Larry E. Thomas, Pastor
Daylight Savings Time Ends October 28
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Treasurer's ReportAugust 31, 2006We are two months through our year.(16.67% of budget year)We have received YTD $76,125.(15.73% of budget)We have spent $72,013. (14.51% of budget)We have received $6,112 more then we have spent.We are trailing YTD budget giv-ing by $7,021 (1.45% of budget)We received in Aug $32,533. ($37,220 is budget)
Respectfully, David North, Treasurer
Logos at OSLC is our Sunday morning all-ages dis-cipleship learning lab. Anchored in God’s Word, LOGOS offers opportunities for people of all ages to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Bible, and in their experience of God’s love for them in Jesus Christ. Childcare is available for infants and toddlers.
2006-2007 Parish AdultEducation CalendarOct. 1 Streams of Living Water 4 8 Streams of Living Water 5 15 Streams of Living Water 6 22 Habitat for Humanity led by Thrivent 29 Dead Sea Scrolls led by Dr. George Nickelsburg; Confirmation Retreat week-
end
Nov. 5 Baptized We Live 1 led by Pastor Larry Thomas 12 Baptized We Live 2 led by Pastor Larry
Thomas; Bible Presentation Sunday 19 Congregational Meeting; Logos for Kids;
No Adult Logos; High School Youth Synod Gathering 26 No Logos—Thanksgiving weekend
Dec. 3 Baptized We Live 3 led by Pastor Larry Thomas
10 Baptized We Live 4 led by Pastor Larry Thomas
17 No Logos 24 No Logos—Christmas Eve 31 No Logos
Coffee Hour KudosA special thank you to all who served during a Sunday morning coffee hour in September:
Jim Marshall, Dianne Tanner, Josee Jordan, Marilyn Larson, Lena Schaper, Lori Downey, Shari Carter, Kathleen Miller, Carol McMurray, and Angela Dickens
Blessings in Christ,
Assisted Listening DevicesAvailable for Worship ServicesIf you think that a personal assisted listen-ing device would improve and enhance your experience of worship, please contact the church office at (425) 392-4169. This new system has been provided by gifts from anon-ymous donors.
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Logos for Kids There’s a class for kids of all ages each Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m.—and it’s not too late to join in the learning and fun activities. Teachers are excited to greet their students and are prepared with engaging learn-ing activities to teach children about God’s love for all and what it means to be a child of God. “First Sunday” is our gathering that happens the first Sunday of each month at 9:45 a.m. in Room 18. This hour-long gathering will be a time of singing, learning centers, games, crafts, and services projects. Each “First Sunday” will be different. Don’t miss out. You are important to us—Please come!
2006-2007 Teacher Roster and Room As-signments:PreSchool, Kiersten Johnson(Trinity Lutheran College student) .....Room 14Kindergarten-1st grade, teacher(s)Christine Fry, Christina Cummings ...Room 152nd-4th Grade, Matt andChristine Woodward ...........................Room 17 5th-8th Grades, Dan & GingerGrette ..................................................Room 11First Sunday Monthly Gatherings ......Room 18
JavaTalk is for senior high youth and meets between services at a local coffee house. The forty-five minute discussion is an opportu-nity for youth to enjoy community and con-versation based on the week’s Gospel (or other) lesson. Rather than being a lecture, JavaTalk is intended to cultivate group discussions that incorporate personal experiences, concerns, viewpoints, and faith issues.
Adult Logos Classes
Streams of Living Water, through October 15, led by Pastor Eldon “Pick” PickeringHow many streams does it take to make a mighty river? The well-known Christian writer, Richard J. Foster has identified six streams of
“spirituality,” “styles,” or “approaches” to liv-ing out the Christian life. The “streams” are not the same as denominations, though most de-nominations commonly “swim” in one or two of the streams. This fall we will focus on the Charismatic Tradition which Foster calls the “Spirit-Empowered Life.”
Habitat for Humanity, October 22Representatives from Thrivent Financial Ser-vices will share about their partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
Dead Sea Scrolls, October 29, led by Dr. George W. E. NickelsburgDr. Nickelsburg, together with his wife Marilyn have recently moved to Issaquah and started worshipping at OSLC. Dr. Nickelsburg is Emeri-tus Professor of Religion at the University of Iowa, where he taught for more than three de-cades. He is the author of seventy articles and several hundred dictionary and encyclopedia entries. Among his many works are I Enoch (hermeneia) Ancient Judaism and Christian Ori-gins, Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah, and, with James Vanderkam, I Enoch: A New Translation. Dr. Nickelsburg has studied the Dead Sea Scrolls since the 1960s. Using his wealth of information, he will help OSLC members prepare for our visit to the Pacific Sci-ence Center exhibit on Sunday, November 12. (Please see "Dead Sea Scrolls" article on page 4 for information on a special OSLC tour of this exhibit.)
Coming in November and De-cember . . .
Baptized We Live: Lutheranism as a Way of Life, November 5 to 12 and December 3 to 10, led by Pastor Larry Thomas
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Tuesday Prayer and Study Group . . . A Life Worth LivingTuesday Mornings10:00 A.M. to 11:15 a.m.
It’s not too late to join this nine-week Bible study examining the changed life of a Christian. Nicky Gumbel from ALPHA is the video leader. There is time for discussion, sharing and prayer. Renée McNeal, AiM, is the facilitator and can be reached in the church office at (425) 392-4169.
Thursday Morning BibleStudy Begins October 5Study to focus on the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews10:00 to 11:15 a.m.
Pastor Thomas will lead this study of the letter to the Hebrews. Our text will be Hebrews For Everyone by Tom Wright. Copies of the book (cost is $10.00) may be purchased in the church office.
Saturday MorningMen's Study GroupOct. 21, 7:15 to 8:15 a.m.
Pastor Thomas leads a study/fellowship group for OSLC men. The focus of the study is the book, The Truth About God: The Ten Commandments in Christian Life by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon. It is available from a variety of on-line vendors or can be ordered locally. We will read chapter six, “The Sixth Commandment,” (pages 93 to 103) for our October 21 meeting at Starbucks by QFC on Gilman Boule-vard. Join us!
OSLC BookClubGileadOct. 21, 10:00 a.m.Please join us for the next OSLC Book Club meeting on October 21 at 10:00 a.m. at Barnes & Nobles Starbucks Coffee Shop in Issaquah, where we’ll discuss Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.
Join with other OSLC members for a tour of the Pacific Science Center exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This is a rare opportunity to see a collection of the actual scrolls on loan from Israel to be exhibited in only a few American cities. Dr. George Nickelsburg will offer a one-day Logos Adult Education class on October 29 so that we will be pre-pared to learn from and enjoy the exhibit more fully. Please contact Ginger Grette at (425) 392-8584 or [email protected] for more information.
Dead Sea ScrollsPacific Science
CenterSun., Nov. 12
1:30 p.m.
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XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest)Calling All SeniorsSun., Oct. 8The Senior Spirituality group, XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest), invites you to participate in our twice-monthly fellowship-study group. Our next meeting will be October 8 in the church library after the second service. We usually meet on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at the same time and place. This fall we are focusing on the book, Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom. It is an intriging and inspi-rational account of one man (Mitch) walking through the last months of life with his former college professor and mentor, Morrie. For more information contact Pick or Marlene Pickering at (425) 432-8390 or [email protected].
Exceptional Handbell Experience Comes to OSLCSat., Oct. 28, 7:00 p.m.Velocity is a powerful word, and Velocity is a powerful handbell group that will visit Our Savior Lutheran Church on Saturday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. This relatively small group in number presents large-scale music with perfec-tion and style beyond your imagination. Their repertoire spreads through classical, sacred and secular and is a delight from start to finish. If you have enjoyed Memorial Bells in the past, be sure and take note of this special opportunity and community outreach. Invite your friends and neighbors, too. Tickets will be available through Alice Lewis, (425) 432-0366. The cost is $10 per person, with any additional donations
gladly accepted to help cover their travel expense from California. See you there!
Global MissionsCommittee MeetingTues., Oct. 3Global Missions Committee meets monthly in the homes of OSLC members and welcomes all those who are interested in what God is doing around the world and how they can be involved. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Renée McNeal, AiM. Please contact Renée in the church office at (425) 392-4169, ext. 105 for more information.
"All that we call human history--money,
poverty, ambition, war, prostitution,
classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long
terrible story of man trying to find some-
thing other than God which will make
him happy.”
C.S. Lewis, from Mere Christianity
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Harvest Festival Craft FairNovember 1110:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.The date has been set . . . So has the time.
We are all excited about the Harvest Festival Craft Fair. However, there can be no fair with-out your participation. Now all we need is you and your arts and crafts donations! We are still collecting food, and art and craft projects to be sold at the fair.
Please look at the list below to determine the contact person. If you have previously spoken to someone about your donation and have not received an e-mail or phone call confirmation, please contact the appropriate representative again.
It’s October and we are putting out the call for volunteers to assist with set up, working the day of the fair, and clean up. We are also collecting the donations at OSLC. Please make arrange-ments with your repre-sentative or bring them to the OSLC office.
Baked Goods and Food—Items purchased to be consumed at home.Judi [email protected](425) 657-0864
Gently Used Books—Children and adult books.Marilyn [email protected] (425) 392-6594
Collectibles—Crafts brought back from trav-els, or unique pieces of art work. The items should be of collectible value. Entire sets or just a single piece graciously accepted.Paul [email protected](425) 369-6138
Arts and Crafts—All handiwork accepted. The size of your donation is your choice.Janette [email protected](425) 313-9424
You may also leave infor-mation with the OSLC office, (425) 392-4169 or [email protected], and it will be for-warded.
Profits from the fair will be tithed to a cause to be determined by Church Council, with the re-maining to be added to OSLC’s operating fund. If you have any ques-tions, thoughts or ideas pertaining to a type of donation, participa-tion, or about the Har-vest Festival Craft Fair itself, please contact a committee member listed above.
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Shawl Knitting Ministry
Karen Hansen, (425) 392-2198 or [email protected], and Sigrid Flatness, (425) 391-3708 or [email protected], are the new coordinators for the Shawl Knitting Ministry.
Watch the bulletins and future issues of the Focus, too, for meeting times and additional information. All knitters and would-be knitters are welcome to be involved in this ministry that touches others with the gifts of prayer and love. If you crochet, you’re welcome, too.
Here’s how it works . . . shawls are knitted and then given to those in need and to those celebrating life’s joys. And there’s more to it. As one knits, one also prays for the person who will be the recipient of the shawl. In this way, the shawl becomes an expression of the knitter’s love and of the loving care of the God who works through them. In addition to warming the body, the shawls also offer com-fort and companionship to nourish the soul. A few shawls have been given away and they were received with tears and heartfelt thanks.
OSLC Knitters will meet approximately once a month to knit, to pray and to bless completed shawls. The shawls are knitted with a simple Knit 3, Purl 3 pattern or a pattern of your choice If you’d like to learn to knit this would be a wonderful opportunity to do so.
OSLC LibraryNew BeginningsThe library Focus article in September centered on the “newness” brought by autumn and on some of the latest things the library is able to offer. We talked about the DVDs we had in pro-cess, replacing videos that have been on the shelves for some time. The new DVDs are now available. Here are just a few of the titles—other exciting titles will soon follow!
The ever-popular "Veggie Tales"• Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson’s Hairbrush• Jonah (a Veggie Tales movie)• Lord of the Beans; a lesson in using your gifts
"Clay Classics"• Michael the Visitor• Martin the Cobbler (replacing a popular video)• God’s Trombones
More from the popular "Adventure in Odyssey Series"• Once upon an Avalanche• A Fine Feathered Frenzy
Other selections• The Hobbit• Ben Hur (with the voice of Charleton Heston)• Good Sport’s Gang: a Story about Finding One’s Talent
Sound interesting? We miss you . . . come on in and enjoy what your OSLC library has to offer!
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Confirmation YouthConfirmation Fall RetreatOctober 27 to 29The Confirmation retreat will be at Camp Huston again this year October 27 to 29. Make sure you put this on your calendar.
Middle School EventWhirlyballFri., Oct. 6, 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.Hey middle school youth!!!! We will be going to play Whirlyball on October 6. We will be leaving OSLC at 5:30 p.m. and will be back by 10:00 p.m. Your cost will be $15 for two hours of Whirlyball. You can always bring a friend. Whirlyball is a combination of bumper cars, basketball, lacrosse, and a lot of laughter. If you didn’t get a mailing or if you need some more information, please call Janet.
High School EventsSenior High Youth GroupSunday Nights, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.The Senior High Youth group is up and run-ning. We meet on Sunday Nights from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. We are in the planning stages for our yearly activities. If you are a senior high youth, we would love to see you at youth group! Call Janet if you have questions. Watch your mail for those postcards!
Synod Gathering:Mission PossibleWarm Beach Camp, Nov. 3 to 5The synod is sponsoring a Leadership event for Senior High youth at Lutherwood in Bellingham on October 13 to 15. If you know someone that would be interested, please give Janet a call for more details.
by Janet Cederberg,Associate in Ministry
Director of Youth Ministry(425) 392-4169, ext. 104
(425) 417-4442 cell
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Holy Trinity, Seattle and Charles and Ann Baumgaertner who transferred to Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Bremerton.
We offer thanksgiving to God: for the minis-try of Vicky Thomas; the marriages of Rick Spence and Sue Ecklund and Clint Cavender and Tricia Slauson on August 19; the baptisms of Reidar Patrick Geraci (son of Paul and Carla) and Thomas Vincent Manson (son of Dirk and Christina). We pray for OSLC Preschool, Teachers, Students, and Parents.
We pray for our missionaries and glob-al missions partners: Henrik & Patty Christopherson in Peru; Rwanda Partners; Sister Congregations: St. Catherine’s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Russia and Mekelle Lutheran Church in Mekelle, Ethiopia; for the congregations in Chicalyo, Peru: Pepe at Las Brisas, Merci in San Antonio and Harold at Las Lomas; MaaSae Girls Lutheran Secondary School in Monduli, Tanzania.
Prayer is putting our faith into action, and prayer is pleasing to God. Link up with our prayer chain if you have a need or if you want to share a thanksgiving or praise. Call Jill Naegle at (425) 392-0116.
PrayersWe remember in prayer OSLC members: Pastor Peter Anderson; Ila Bombyk; Peggy Coyle; Bill & Betty Evans; Sam Hansen; Ray Harbolt; Frank Kleingartner; Harry Lucia; Renée McNeal; Amy Mogensen; Linda Nack; Anna Njos; Samantha Papp; Kathi Perkins; Colleen Petersen; Judi Russell; Lucille Sanderson; Bob Schlemlein; Pam Travis.
We pray for the safety of OSLC members and friends serving in the military here and abroad.
We ask for peace and comfort for those mourn-ing the death of loved ones: For peace and comfort during this time of grieving for the family and friends of: Mary Arbuckle (sister of Bob Schlemlein); John & Patricia Sánchez, Rogelio Lugo, Antolina Rodreageau, Maria Figueroa (Margot Inman); Velma Beaver (John Nelson); Bryce Kiefel (grand nephew of Rollie & Sherry Kiefel); Lyle Keister (brother-in-law of Carol Harbolt); Barney Phillips (father of Sherry Kiefel); Don Ross (Cathleen Ross); Patrick Ranniger (Bill Bergsma); Fred Brammer (uncle of Marilyn Kneepkens); John Adams (Lyle & Alice Lewis); Donald Eaton (father of Marilyn DeVeer); Maurice Spencer; Clyde Larsen.
We pray for expectant mothers: Alison Park (Dave & Georgeanne Park); Katrina Walker; Sarah Miller (daughter of Frank & Dianne Kleingartner); Lisa Kramer (daughter-in-law of Gordon & Leotagail Kramer); Melody Masoth (Becky Brooks); Rebaiko Alak (Maury Clark); Julie Stuvland (daughter of Jerry & Linda Nack); Kristina Silberschlaag (Paulette Claver); Natalie Howe (sister-in-law of Shelley & Mark Howe).
We promise to nurture new member Joni Njos, baptized on September 16, 2006.
We offer blessings to Peter Rice who trans-ferred to Central Lutheran Church of the
B
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High School Youth GroupSalmon Days Parking Lot Fundraiser for Peru Mission Trip 2007October 7 & 8The High School youth group will be using the church parking lot for a fundraiser during Salmon Days, October 7 and 8. The money raised will go toward our mission trip to Peru. The cost will be $4 per car. If you come to wor-ship on Sunday you can park for free (unless you want to pay!). Thanks for supporting the OSLC youth.
Our Thanks to You!On Behalf of the Global Missions Committeeand Our Guests from RussiaWe, the members of the Global Missions Committee, extend our thanks to you, the members and friends of OSLC, for making our Russian visitors feel so welcome. Thanks for hosting them in your homes, for taking time to get to know them and for joining them on some of the sightseeing trips. We hope you have been blessed by meeting Dr. Shperling and Liudmila Golutvina and that you learned more about life in Russia and more about our sister congregation, St. Catherine’s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg.
Salmon Days Parking Lot Fundraiser
Say Farewell and Thank You toVicky ThomasOctober 1Renée McNealNovember 5Mark your calendars and help us celebrate the ministry and service of these two very special OSLC staff members. Watch your Sunday bul-letin and email for more details to follow.
Our Savior Lutheran Church745 Front St. SouthIssaquah, WA 98027
Return Service Requested
Larry E. Thomas ..........................................Pastor ext. 106 [email protected] Renée A. McNeal ............... Associate in Ministry ext. 105 [email protected] Pickering ............ Interim Visitation Pastor ext. 111 [email protected] Vicky Thomas .......................... Director of Music ext. 103 [email protected] Cederberg .................. Associate in Ministry Director of Youth Ministries ext. 104 [email protected] Heck ...........................Parish Administrator ext. 100 [email protected]
The Focus of Our Savior Lutheran Church is published monthly. All information is due by noon on the 15th of each month, unless noted otherwise. Please email items to Debbie Sladek (see below).
OSLC Staff
Our Savior Lutheran Church745 Front St. SouthIssaquah, WA 98027Phone: (425) 392-4169 (see extensions below)Fax: (425) 392-2946Website: www.oslcissaquah.org
