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ly 2

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Sunday, July 30th

City Park 11:00 - 2:00pm

Worship at 9:00am at church and then come for a fun day

at the park as we welcome Pastor Paul & Gretchen Strom into

our family of faith. There will be food, games and activities

for everyone! Don’t miss out on this special time!

See back cover for more details.

The 11th Annual Independence Day Food

Drive will be held during the 4th of July

parade. If you are planning to attend the

parade, would you consider bringing a non-

perishable food item or two to the parade

to donate? Volunteers will be walking the

parade route collecting donations. Items in

need are boxed meals like hamburger,

Chicken or Tuna Helper, boxed noodles or

potatoes, pasta, canned items like Spaghetti

Os and Chef Boyardee.

Personal hygiene items are also in high

demand including soap, toothpaste, tooth-

brushes, deodorant, shampoo and toilet

paper as well as cleaning supplies and

laundry soap. Donations of money will also

be accepted.

Once again this year’s Food Drive benefits

the First Lutheran Food Pantry. Any con-

tribution will make this year a success.

Last year 3,287 items and $3,283.64 were

donated to the pantry. Northwood’s chap-

ter of Thrivent Financial matched $500 and

Buckmaster donated $1,000 with the total

for 2016 at $4,783.64. That beat the previ-

ous year by 1,000 items and $1,000 dollars.

They are hoping to exceed last year’s dona-

tions again.

For questions on the Food Pantry please

contact Bill at First Lutheran (774.0133).

For questions about the Food Drive

please contact Andy or Janet Plumley at 396.2406.

Picnic Help Needed

We have begun plans for the Church

Picnic and could always use more willing

hands to help. Do you have a gift or

talent you might be able to share? Give

the church office a call (774.2733).

Everyone enjoys a cup of coffee and a treat

after the service. To keep this going we

need your help.

Fellowship hosts are needed each week to

bring treats and help serve. Coffee is on -

we just need it put into carafes. This can be

a fun thing for a family or a group to do. If

you would be willing to help call the church

office or see Barb Partanen on Sunday

morning.

Brett Baij,

Nancy Buch-

cuski, Sonya

Nelson, Larry

Swartout,

Damian Taff, Jan Buckman, Tracy Husing, Tim Grunlund, Chuck Vercoe, Eileen

Anderson, Mark Klossner, Geoff White

Council Elect: Dave Bradley, Steve Faust,

Greg Jarski, Joy Nasi

Action

Accept the Spring Congregational Min-

utes from May 7th, 2017.

Approve minutes from the Special Call

Committee & Church Council Meeting,

Thursday, May 25, 2017.

Approved the Agenda for the Special

Congregational Meeting, Sunday, June

18th to extend a Call to Pastor Paul

Strom and appointed as tellers: Chuck

Vercoe, Larry Swartout & Tim

Grunlund.

Accepted Compensation, Benefits &

Responsibilities Package for the Senior

Pastor.

Approved the Agenda for the Special

Congregational Meeting, Sunday, June

25th to ratify joining the NALC.

Approved the VBS dates of June 15th &

16th.

Seek Wade Edwards advice on how to

dispose of church van.

Investigate selling the Detroit parson-

age.

Approved donating $200 from Int’l Be-

nevolence to Global Presence Ministries

for children in Ghana, Africa.

Approved allocating up to $1,500 from

Int’l Benevolence to use for Tanzanian

visitors during their 3 week stay.

Informational

Picnic Committee

Child Security Policy Manuel

Extend a Call vote - Sunday, June 18,

2017

NALC vote - Sunday, June 25th

OSL Parking Lot

Pastoral Acts for May

Voice of the Martyrs Conference Immanuel Baptist Church

5100 Hummingbird Rd., Wausau, WI Saturday, July 22

9am - 4pm

This event is free to the public. To register

or for more information call 800.747.0085

or go to www.vomevents.com. And click on

“July 22, 2017 Wisconsin” in the conference

listing.

Many Christians around the world today are

persecuted because of their faith in Christ,

yet through their lives and words they con-

tinue to advance the gospel. Come and be

encouraged by persecuted believers’ testi-

monies of courage and faith, hear how God

is working in restricted and hostile nations

and learn how we can be a part of advancing

His kingdom.

A Success!

The moral of the story,

Jesus told that day,

Love your neighbor as yourself,

To walk the Lord’s way.

So reads the last of 10 verses from our

“Good Samaritan Chant Bible Song” enjoyed

at this year’s one-day VBS Bible Boot Camp.

Nolan White, age 11, led the group in the

whole chant at our closing family picnic. We

also sang a couple of sweet Love songs for

our families.

Needless to say, our day was packed full of

a wide variety of fun-filled activities and

experiences. We traveled from “camp” to

“camp,” learning about loving our neighbors

in all kinds of ways…

In Hidden Cave Camp we sang songs

around our “campfire.”

At the Raging River Camp we had object

lessons, discussions and banner making.

We snacked and enjoyed a great lunch

outside of the Cook’s Cabin.

Outdoors, we ran Good Samaritan Relays, complete with bandages and big

boots to fill.

In the Sleepy Mountain Camp we

watched Bible videos and did creative

drama.

Finally, we crafted binoculars, finished

satchels, braided headbands and created

authentic Walking with God walking sticks

in Miss Emma’s and Miss Joy’s Crafting

Cabins.

We had 20 campers, ages 4 ½ to 12, along

with 20 teens and adults who helped, in

some way, to make our Bible Boot Camp

possible.

Special thanks to everyone who donated

items, and/or money – along with all who

helped in any way, to make our Bible Boot

Camp a success! Miss Joy

Spring Congregational Meeting Minutes

May 7, 2017

The agenda was adopted as presented.

Minutes of the 94th Annual Meeting

held on January 29th 2017 were ap-

proved.

Minutes approved from the Special

Congregational Meeting held April 23,

2017.

Call Committee update was presented

by Bruce Buckman.

The Nominating Committee presented

the names of four for Church Council

positions. Those unanimously elected

were: Dave Bradley, Steve Faust, Greg

Jarski & Joy Nasi with their 3 year terms

to expire in August 2020.

Outgoing Church Council members

were thanked for their years of service

with a round of applause. They are:

Brett Baij, Jan Buckman, Damian Taff &

Geoff White.

Resolution to Constitution Bylaws

passed as recommended by Church

Council. This changes B4:01 to read: “The voting membership of the Church

Council shall consist of the Senior

Pastor, Associate Pastor(s) and twelve

(12) Council Members.” The remaining

portion would continue as written.

Vote to Call a Senior Pastor Special Congregational

Meeting Minutes June 18, 2017

The agenda was accepted as presented.

Call Committee members were recog-

nized and thanked.

After some discussion Resolution #1

was approved with a ballot vote of 97

yes, 5 no, with over a 2/3 majority :

Be it resolved the Our Saviour’s

Lutheran Church of Iron Mountain,

Michigan Call the Reverend Paul Strom

as the congregation’s Senior Pastor.”

Resolution #2 via voice vote passed.

Resolution reads: “Be it resolved that

the compensation for the Senior Pastor

be approved as recommended by the

Church Council.”

Your Ticket Is Stamped!

On a train trip, a pastor struck up a conver-

sation with a seatmate who thought charac-

ter and good works led to salvation. The

pastor wasn’t making progress but had a

realization when the conductor collected

tickets, quickly checking the date before

stamping each one.

After the conductor passed by, the pastor

told his fellow passenger: “All the conductor

looked at was your ticket. He did not in-

quire about your character. He didn’t care

who you were — whether you were a good

or moral man or a criminal. So it is with

salvation. You need only God’s ‘ticket to

heaven’ stamped by the blood of Jesus

Christ.”

1 Joseph Gregory

Gavin Londo

Cole Maraccini

2 Laura Brock

Justine Metras

Violet Schettler

3 Eileen Anderson

Seth Greenleaf

Kevin Edlebeck

Tori Kowalkowski

4 Mike Englund

Edwin Mattson

Ben Shoquist

5 Babe Carr

Gunnar Forstrom

John Nelson

6 Ron Hawkins

Quintin Pratt 7 Sally Blom

Aletta Jump

Evan Reid

Julie Watkins

8 Kathy Edwards

Chloe Heyrman

Sandra Hosking

11 Marge Simbob

12 Scott Patterson

John Reed

13 Gayle Nault

Ruth Phillips

Cooper Tanguay

Garrett Veale

14 Tracy Husing

Jayda Marchetti

Magdalena McKinnon

EmmaKay Nasi

15 Sandy Bale

Carissa Hiltonen

Andrew Johnson

16 Bradley Cowling

17 Trevor Burke

18 Jeanette Granquist

Larry Partanen

Kathy Walters

20 Arlene Flom

Austin Hirthe

Michele Johnson

Kathy Kelm

Elliott Reid

Alexis Truscott

Benjamin Vercoe

Steven Wadke

Robert Williams

21 Evryll Bourdeau

Nicholas Brock 22 E.J. Mattson

Jessica Rudnick

22 Louise Swope

Janay Walters

23 Bradley Blomquist

Ava Cowen

Lee Larson

Brylee Rockefeller

24 Chuck Gibson Donald Johnson

Ron LaCost

Cole Myllyla

Parker Pietrantonio

Robin Rigoni

25 Alexandra Kreh

26 Allison LaVarnway

27 Betty Dahlgren

Steve Harris

29 Earl Gillis

Brad Ramme

30 Patty Edlebeck

Travis Gedvick

Charlene Krafski

Emily Patterson

Emma Pontti

31 Ken Truel

1 Joseph Gregory

Gavin Londo

Cole Maraccini

2 Laura Brock

Justine Metras

Violet Schettler

3 Eileen Anderson

Seth Greenleaf

Kevin Edlebeck

Tori Kowalkowski

4 Mike Englund

Edwin Mattson

Ben Shoquist

5 Babe Carr

Gunnar Forstrom

John Nelson

6 Ron Hawkins

Quintin Pratt 7 Sally Blom

Aletta Jump

Evan Reid

Julie Watkins

8 Kathy Edwards

Chloe Heyrman

Sandra Hosking

11 Marge Simbob

12 Scott Patterson

John Reed

Lutheran World Relief

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I

was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was

a stranger and you welcomed me, naked

and you clothed me. I was ill and you

comforted me, in prison and you came to

visit me. I assure you, as often as you did

it for the least among you, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:35-40

According to the UNHCR, an unprece-

dented 65.3 million have been forced from

their homes to escape war, persecution, ter-

ror, or disasters. That’s one in every 113

persons. For rough comparison, that’s more

than the entire population of the state of

California (40 million, according to the U.S.

Census). And of the 65.3 million displaced

persons, 21.3 million are refugees. More

than half of those are under the age of 18.

The Middle East and Africa hosts 68 percent

of the world’s displaced people.

June 20 was World Refugee Day, a day to

recognize the plight of refugees around the

world, and work toward long-term solutions

for them. Refugees are victims of violence

but, more importantly, they are also the

strongest voices for peaceful solutions and a

loud call to put our faith into action. This

year’s World Refugee Day focused on:

Ensuring every refugee child gets an educa-

tion, every refugee family has somewhere

safe to live and ensuring every refugee can

work or learn new skills to make a positive

contribution to their community.

Various Lutheran churches and organizations

each play important roles in the life of refu-

gees. LWR is working with local partners:

In Mauritania, refugees from Mali and local

farmers now know how to grow vegeta-

bles in the sands of the Sahara. In fact, the

refugee camps now have a flourishing vege-

table market where even locals come to

shop.

Together, Jordan and

Lebanon hosts 1.69 million refugees.

LWR is working with

local partners in host

countries, like Jordan

and Lebanon, to offer

workshops to refu-

gees on starting their

own businesses.

LWR is also working in Kenya, Tanzania,

South Sudan and Uganda to respond to the

East Africa Drought and Famine emergency.

And of course, your ongoing response mak-

ing Quilts and Kits is inspirational and goes

so far to provide crucial supplies and com-

fort. In a world where our positions drives

the violence that forces families to flee from

their

stricken

communi-

ties, sup-

porting

refugees

reaffirms

the values of

humanity

and love

that motivates us and is bestow upon all of

us.

You may donate to LWR at any time. Just fill

out a green pew envelope and earmark it for

LWR and where you would like to direct

the funds.

July 3rd - 25 Years

John & Cathy Blomquist

July 5th - 60 Years

Jack & Sandy Bale

July 15th - 45 Years

Ed & Diana Miller

July 17th - 35 Years

John & Patty Edlebeck

July 19th - 20 Years

Wade & Kristin Edwards

Sincere Sympathy to:

** Sympathy to Bea Blomquist & Alene

Blomquist on the death of Bea’s grand-

daughter & Alene’s daughter, Christina

Lloyd.

Thank Yous:

Bay Cliff Health Camp

Daniel Recla - Shriners Children’s Hospital

The Caring House

God’s Love Gift Wrapped

Did you know it costs $2.65 to mail one

Personal Care Kit and $2.25 for a quilt?

To help LWR with those costs we will be

collecting money for our July donation.

Use a green pew envelope and mark it

LWR or drop off/mail to the church any

time.

Financial Report Attendance

May Budget $ 28,833.50 June 4 178

May Receipts $ 25,847.60 June 11 216

May Expenditures $ 27,844.92 June 18 174

Balance - $1,997.32 June 25 173

Monthly Benevolence $ 300.00 Alpha Omega Local

Disbursed $ 938.00 AGAPE Fund

LCMC 17th Annual Gathering October 8-11, 2017 "We Confess Our Faith" Hilton Minneapolis (612) 376-1000

“We Confess Our Faith” is the theme of

our 17th Annual LCMC Gathering and Con-

vention, which takes place October 8-11 in

downtown Minneapolis. This year we also

celebrate the 500th anniversary of the nail-

ing of the 95 theses of Martin Luther to the

church door in Wittenburg, the beginning

of the Reformation.

The format will be a bit different this year

hoping to engage those attending in the

conversation of three of the fundamental

teachings of the Reformation: Justification,

The Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms, and

the Priesthood of All Believers. The format

will start with a brief introduction of the

topic from a theological perspective, a panel

discussion focusing on application to daily

life—both domestic and international con-

texts – and discussion at tables by those

attending the gathering.

This year's event will again include breakout

sessions, fellowship meet-ups, vendors,

great worship opportunities and even the

documentary commissioned by Thrivent:

Martin Luther, The Idea That Changed the

World.

For their service project this year, we will be

teaming up with Days for Girls to help pro-

vide sustainable and reusable hygiene solu-

tions to women and girls in need. Together

we will learn about their ministry and help

assemble hygiene kits. Days for Girls is an

organization dedicated to creating a more free, dignified, and educated world, through

providing women with lasting access to hy-

giene solutions and health education. Thus

far, Days for Girls has reached over 640,000

women and girls. To learn more, visit their

website at www.daysforgirls.org.

Attendees will also have the option to take

part in a Global Worship Experience on

Tuesday night at 7:00pm. You'll have the

opportunity to join with the people of St.

Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1901

Portland Ave. S, in Minneapolis for a multi-

cultural experience. This LCMC congrega-

tion has 5 different language groups who

worship at St. Paul’s and on this evening we

are invited to come and experience a global

worship service. We will hear from two of

the pastors, enjoy their worship music and

fellowship. Pastor Roland Wells will also

share the faith journey of the largely Norwe-

gian Lutheran congregation as they have

heard the call to engage their neighbor-

hood.

Monday Night Fellowship Dinner will be a

time to connect with a fellowship group or

district, or just join a general group of peo-

ple for dinner on at 6:00pm. Tickets for this

optional activity are an additional cost and

(Continued on next page, column 2)

July 2nd - Pinocchio

Prophecy

The beloved story of Pinoc-

chio sheds light on an im-

portant reality, says Dr. Kenyatta Gilbert: If

you tell lies, you will find yourself bereft of

moral integrity. This is true for persons in

ministry leadership--the temptation to suc-

ceed at any costs is very real. This is also

true for all believers in any walk of life.

July 9th - The Invitation

There is a major difference between the two

men described in 2 Samuel 11 and Song of

Solomon 2: the gallant young lover, and King

David, who uses his power in evil ways. Love is initiated by an invitation, an offer

that in the hands of the invitee is a choice.

It's risky, but that's how it's supposed to

work.

July 16th - More Than a Moral Lesson

We Christians know all about stories with

morals, says the Rev. Joe Evans. But the

story in Genesis 25 messes that up. Neither

Esau nor Jacob is blameless. But the real les-

son they give us is that we, like they, do not

belong to our pasts, our great failures, our

tragic disappointments, or foolhardy choices.

For we belong to Christ.

July 23rd - To Weed or Not to Weed

Jesus explains in his parable of the weeds

and wheat that we live in a world of both

the good and the bad, and it can be frustrat-

ing. We've all got weeds in us, and thankfully

we have some wheat in us too, all inter-

twined and growing together, connected to

one another, in the soil of God's heart and

love, in this world where, for now, we are

planted.

July 30th - How God Can Use Us to

End Hunger

In the first of a two-part update to the

Day1 Faith & Global Hunger series, David

Beckmann says God uses little things to do

big things. And so it is possible to end hun-

ger in our country and around the world. But the church must get to work.

LCMC Gathering Cont’d...

can be purchased by checking off the

"Monday Night Fellowship Dinner" box on

your registration form. Tickets do sell out

fast, so please register in advance if you plan

to attend this activity. If you are interested

in sitting with a particular group, be sure to

let them know by checking off the appropri-

ate box on your registration form.

Many of our districts will also be meeting

on Monday evening at 7pm after the

Fellowship Dinner to get to know each

other, think about what districts might be

interested in doing together and offering

support and encouragement to congrega-

tions. If you are interested in being a part

of that meeting, there will be information at

the gathering about when and where each

district meeting will take place.

Early Bird registration ends September 1st, so

be sure to register ASAP in order to secure the

lowest possible rate!

Pastor’s Link A Word of HOPE!

A man approached a little

league baseball game one afternoon. He

asked a boy in the dugout what the score

was. The boy responded, “Eighteen to noth-

ing – we’re behind.” “Wow,” said the spec-

tator, “I’ll bet you’re discouraged.” “Why

should I be discouraged?” the little boy

replied. “We haven’t even gotten up to

bat yet!”

The ultimate cure for discouragement is

HOPE. When any situation is placed in the

proper perspective discouragement gives

way to hope. The team may be losing, but

there’s hope for a comeback. You may be

overwhelmed by life’s difficulties, but there’s

hope as we trust in the Lord.

Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe says, “It is

not the fact of life that determines hope, but

the faith of life.”

The people, to whom the Apostle Peter

wrote his First Letter, needed hope. They

were discouraged. Because of their faith

they were being persecuted. At least 15

times in his letter Peter refers to their

suffering. Peter was writing to offer them

bright hope for their dark days. Peter

opened his letter by saying: “Praise be to

the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ! In his great mercy he has given us

new birth into a living hope through the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from the

dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

We all need hope. Our Nation is certainly

divided along political lines; our health care

and economy struggle with competing needs

as we look for recovery and stability; and

each one of us needs hope in the midst of

life's trials and struggles. It’s easy to be dis-

couraged as we look at our situation. But

God wants to bring a bright hope for dark days. Today, just like the day in which Peter

wrote, a bright hope will come as believers

are reminded of Whose they are. There is

always hope in Jesus for those who look not

to the world but Christ for the hope of

change.

God isn’t done with me. He isn’t done with

you. And this 4th of July we are reminded

that God isn’t done with our Nation. God,

according to His Word, doesn’t want any-

one to perish but for all to come to the light

of His hope. God’s power is still our un-

changing HOPE.

As you look for HOPE in your life, remem-

ber two things. First: It’s not about US it’s

about HIM in us. St. Paul said, “It is no

longer I who lives but Christ who lives in

me.” Trust Christ for your path of hope.

Second: As God’s people we have a

responsibility. It’s time we as Christians

stepped back and looked at both our rela-

tionship with Jesus and the responsibility He

has given us to be His witnesses. We have

the responsibility to let the HOPE that is

within us, light a path for the discouraged

and the hopeless.

If Good Friday could become Easter Sunday,

just imagine what could be when we step up

to the plate and take our time at bat!

May the Hope of Christ light your life!

Pastor Stephen

Church Phone: 774.2733 E-Mail: connect@oslfamily.org

Church Fax: 774.4069 Website: oslfamily.org

Church Picnic Sunday, July 30th 11:00am - City Park

Brats, burgers, hot dogs, watermelon, beans,

chips and beverage will be provided.

Please bring a salad of some type or dessert to share.

There are wooden benches for seating or

you may bring your own chair.

Suggested donation will be $3 per person or $10 per family

to help cover cost of food and Pavilion rental. —————————————————————————————————–—–——————————--

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

1210 S. Kimberly Ave. Permit #54

Iron Mountain, MI 49801

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED