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Stay Focused! by Pastor Bill Wangelin
One of the most given instructions in driver’s training is “focus forward!” There are many
distractions for drivers, and they seem to be multiplying. Winter weather requires us to be
even more vigilant. It can be dangerous to lose our focus while driving, and in life. Our
families and even churches can lose focus.
There are a lot of things competing for our attention these days. Culture and society attract
our gaze with wealth, beauty, and power. Terror and violence grip our attention with fear and
uneasiness. Politics, health issues, and technology are all vying for our attention.
Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” As disciples, as Christian families, and as a church and
school, we want to keep Jesus the center of our lives.
The centrality of Jesus in our worship at Our Savior is demonstrated by the stained glass cross that
commands our view during worship. In this cross, the life of Jesus is portrayed in seven panels. Jesus’ Birth,
Baptism, Transfiguration, Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension are set before us. It is
through the life of Jesus that we find our life, our salvation, and our hope.
What keeps your family focused on Jesus throughout the week? Is it reading and discussing the Bible
together, or going over lessons from Christ Connections or Christian Studies? Is it making weekly worship a
priority and setting aside every Sunday as “the Lord’s day”? Maybe it is Christian art in your home, or Bible
verses that you place at your desk or in your car. Especially as we decorate our homes for the holidays, we
have the opportunity to stay focused on the Reason for the Season.
During Advent and Christmas, the front of our church fills with decorations – each of them pointing to the
Reason for the Season. Beginning in January, we will spend four months going through the Gospel of John.
This Gospel begins with John the Baptizer saying, “Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the
world!” (John 1:29). John’s Gospel helps us to stay focused on Jesus.
In this edition of Learn, Live, Share, you will see examples of how young and old alike at Our Savior are fixing
their eyes on Jesus through worship, Bible Study, and service. There is amazing ministry happening here!
Your participation, your support, and your prayers, are providing opportunities for people to grow in faith as
they follow Jesus. We pray that as we grow in faith as a church family, we would keep our eyes fixed on Jesus,
and the peace, joy, and hope we have in Him.
In Joyful Service to Jesus,
Pastor Bill Wangelin <><
First Bible Milestone Ministry by Kristine Julien & Meghan Morris
In this season of thankfulness we wanted to extend our thanks to
Mrs. Engelbrecht and Mr. Wright for teaching the First Bible
Milestone Ministry class this fall for the parents and first graders
here at OSL. As parents, one of our most important responsibilities is
teaching our kids to be hands on with the bible on a daily basis but sometimes that
can feel a little daunting. The Bible Milestone class was a wonderful refresher on how to have
family devotions and to use that time together to grow as a family in our faith. It was also a great way to
spend some time navigating the bible with our kids. One of the things we enjoyed most about the class was
going on a bible scavenger hunt. Finding verses with our kids, using the contents page in the bible to find
books of the bible and watching them get excited about their own bible was such a blessing. Another neat part
of the class was watching the kids sign their bibles, put a thumb print in it and reading together the notes we
as parents wrote to our kids in their bibles. Besides the scavenger hunt the Bible Milestone booklet also had
some great suggestions on how to incorporate devotions throughout the day and key verses in the bible to
share with our kids. This class was a great way to enhance family devotion time and also help equip our kids
for their own individual faith walk. Thank you to OSL, Mrs. Engelbrecht and Mr. Wright.
Advent Services & Events
How Can You Support Life?
by Deb Kamm
"I came that they may have life and have it
abundantly." John 10:10
These words of Jesus tell the story of Lutherans for
Life! He came and paid the ultimate price so that we
may have life. He wants us to choose life. We make
countless choices each day ranging from the easy
and obvious to the completely overwhelming. Isn’t it
great to have His holy Word that states “I have set
before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now
choose life, so that you and your children may live…”
Deuteronomy 30:19
Our culture bases human value upon what we are
able to do or not do. God bases human value upon
what He has done—created, redeemed, called! “But
now thus says the Lord, he who created you ... ‘Fear
not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by
name, you are mine.’” (Isaiah 43:1). That Good News
is the theme for Life Sunday, a special day set aside
for focusing on life issues such as crisis pregnancy,
abortion, adoption, creation, end of life, sexual purity,
post-abortion healing, and more.
There are several ways we can choose to support life
all through the year!
Participate in our annual Statewide Diaper
Shower (Mother’s Day – Father’s Day)
Participate in 40 Days For Life and/or Life Chain
Establish a Life Team in our congregation
Participate in Bible Studies on Life Issues
Attend the District Theological Conference on Life
Issues on April 16th (hosted by Our Savior)
Volunteer at and support our local pregnancy
resource center or other FOR LIFE organizations
in our community
Choosing life has nothing to do with political or social
agendas. It has everything to do with what God has
done! “I came that they may have life and have it
abundantly." AMEN!
~for more information, contact Deb Kamm at
5176945339 or [email protected].
Advent Midweek Worship 2nd - 3rd Grade
O Christmas Tree
Wednesday, December 2 ● 7 pm
Advent by Candlelight Saturday, December 5 ● 2 pm
Early Childhood Christmas Program Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten,
Kindergarten & 1st Grade Let’s Dress Up for Christmas Sunday, December 6 ● 4 pm
Advent Midweek Worship 4th - 5th Grade
Tell the World Jesus Is Born
Wednesday, December 9 ● 7 pm
Advent Midweek Worship 6th - 8th Grade
The Carols of Christmas
Wednesday, December 16 ● 7 pm
The Living Nativity Saturday, December 19
5 pm – 7 pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship (communion at each service)
Thursday, December 24 4 pm - worship band
7 pm - organ, handbells, choir, brass 10pm - piano, organ, strings
New Year’s Eve Worship Thursday, December 31
7 pm (Communion)
Financial Peace University by Michelle Stahl
According to personal
money-management
expert Dave Ramsey, 70%
of Americans are living
paycheck to paycheck.
Back in 2013, that was
Mark and me. Despite being well educated with a
healthy income, we somehow found ourselves in
the trap of believing that more is better and better
is best. Our poor financial state caused more than
a few disagreements and a whole lot of stress on
our relationship. Then the storm hit. We found
ourselves needing a large sum of money; money
that we didn't have. With no emergency fund and a
whole lotta debt, we knew something had to
change. A local church was offering Financial
Peace University (FPU) and we jumped at the
opportunity to take it. 21 months later our
consumer debt was reduced from $33,000 to zero,
we had a healthy emergency fund established and
we were giving generously and gladly to our church.
But even more, FPU strengthened our marriage
and brought us to God. Prior to then, we were not
part of a church family nor did we have much of a
relationship with God. By helping us refocus on the
truly important things in our lives and look beyond
all the stuff that goes back into the box, we were
able to dramatically change our lives for the better.
Financial Peace University is a nine-week program
that helps people eliminate their debt, take control
of their money, and learn new behaviors around
money that are founded on scripture.
I'm so excited to share that Paula Manning and I
will be hosting FPU, here at Our Savior beginning
on January 14th. (childcare available) To learn
more about the course, review the course outline
and register, visit www.daveramsey.com/fpu/
locations/class/1008365. If you have questions
about the course, please feel free to email me at
A Mountain Top Experience by Vicar Aaron Hauser
A few weeks ago our
confirmation class
went on their
confirmation
retreat to Camp
Arcadia. It was
truly a mountain
top experience;
one of those
memories from your life
that you’ll always remember. It’s one
of those places that you always want to go back to
no matter how elusive. This was my (Vicar Hauser)
first time at Camp Arcadia. I had heard plenty of
hype the weeks leading up to it so I was curious as
to how awesome it would truly be. I must say, it did
not disappoint. Aside from it being an indubitably
beautiful place, the true beauty lies in the people
you are with, in the conversations, in the memories
made, and of course, in all of that wrapped in
Jesus. It was an honor sharing all these memories
with the confirmation students in 7th & 8th grade,
ranging from the drive up, to playing soccer-tennis,
to the meals, to conversations about faith, to the
game of biffer and so many more. It is a unique
place where you can really get to know everyone
better, have fun, be deepened by an incredible
faith experience, and come away with a more
personal relationship with God. I thank God and
OSL for giving me the opportunity to go to Camp
Arcadia with this FANTASTIC group of students and
staff. All of you who shared these memories with
me have a special place in my heart. Thank you.
Coming Soon -- New Early Childhood Outdoor Play Space
The “little ones” at Our Savior will have a new outdoor play
space this spring, providing preschool through 1st graders
a single-level playing space. Currently, only two structures
on our existing playground are certified for this age group,
and they are at opposite ends of the playground. Having an
outdoor, fenced in, level play space opens up many
opportunities for outdoor play for younger students,
extension program, and summer camp. It greatly enhances
our early childhood program and can serve as an outdoor
classroom.
Watch for the fence going up
on the south side of the
building, just outside the
kitchen. Volunteers will be
needed to help install box
gardens, a canopy, and
other features. Special
donations can help us to
enhance this space with a
tricycle track, outdoor
kitchen, and more!
Start the New Year Off on the Right Foot by Jennifer Smith
At the end of 2012, I was scheduled to have foot surgery. As a
runner, it was extremely frustrating. I wanted to be out there
pounding the pavement with others who shared my passion.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be that winter. However, I found
a way to stay involved. I had received a couple of emails requesting
volunteers to work at the Resolution 5k on New Year’s Day. I had
never participated in this run but this was my chance. My chance to
volunteer, like so many had done at races I ran. I signed up,
showed up New Year’s Day and worked registration. After the race,
I assisted with presenting medals to the top 3 finishers in each age
group. What an amazing experience! Seeing the joy on the faces of
these runners was awesome!
The next year I decided that I would volunteer and run! What a
great decision! The course was well marked, the Eaton County
Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control and safety, and
course volunteers were helpful and encouraging. I have made this
run one on my annual events. I would highly recommend that you
come out to the Resolution 5k on January 1, 2016, as a volunteer
or participant. Get 2016 started on the right foot…and the left!
Register online or by mail-in form: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Lansing/Resolution5k. For questions or
to volunteer, contact Ryan Cummins at 989-620-1674 or email [email protected].
National Lutheran Schools Week
January 23-31
Life Together “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.” ~1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV)
Jan. 23 PTL Winter Ball - Family Dance
All-School Sing at 8:00am & 10:45am Services
Jan. 25 Pray Together
Jan. 26 Learn Together
Jan. 27 Reaching Out Together, All-School Chapel 8:30AM
Jan. 28 Service Together School Spirit Day
“Blue Out” Our Savior Basketball Games
5pm Boys JV, 6pm Girls Varsity, 7pm Boys Varsity
Jan. 29 Play Together
Fall Field Experiences for
1st Grade & Kindergarten Church Members Enjoy Sharing God’s Creation
This fall students were invited to the garden and pumpkin fields of
Our Savoir Lutheran members’ Mr. & Mrs. Krause. Being in close
proximity to the church and school, the Krauses have been inviting
early childhood classrooms for science investigation and pumpkin
picking for decades. The Krauses love sharing the goodness and
joy of Jesus with others in God’s creation. Their hospitality begins
with a school door to field tractor ride. This year Ms. Allen’s
kindergarten class and Mrs. Engelbrecht’s first grade class toured
the friendly confines examining milkweed, learning about Monarch
butterflies, and exploring the fish-filled pond. Thank you for your
generosity and kindness as neighbors and friends in Christ, Al and
Mary Lou Krause. Jesus loves you and we love you too. From all
your student smiling friends!
OSL Food Bank Serves, Honors
Veterans
by Brad Ritter
One of the ongoing missions of the OSL Food Bank
has been an outreach to veterans in Ingham
County. Often, veterans from past service and more
recent deployments have found providing for their
families difficult, especially service members from
Iraq and Afghanistan who have had difficulty
re-entering the job market.
About 30 veterans were recognized this past
Veterans Day by Our Savior Lutheran School
students, who created pictures to send to veterans
served by the OSL Food Bank. The vets also
received cards honoring
and thanking them for
their service to our
nation.
As wintertime
approaches, the need for
warm winter clothing
increases at the OSL
Food Bank. Clients may
pick up a selection of
clothing from the “free
room” when they pick up
their food orders on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays
from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
“We always have a need for winter coats, snow
pants, hats, mittens and gloves, scarves and winter
-weight sweaters,” said Sharon Miller, OSL Food
Bank Director.
Clothing items may be dropped off at the OSL Food
Bank at 1515 W. Holmes Rd. during service times,
or in the church lobby donation station, near the
nursery.
Through October, the OSL Food Bank has served
7,731 people, representing more than 2,300
families. Of that service number, more than 3,000
are children under the age of 17.
“We issue five or six new pink cards (the ID cards
that OSL Food Bank clients use when they pick up
their food packages) each day we’re the open the
last several weeks,” said Frank Carman, who
oversees the statistical records for the Food Bank.
“The number keeps increasing every day.”
To drop off food or gently-used clothing at the Food
Bank, call 882-7750 during service hours.
Annual Our Savior Auction:
Did You Know?
The 2016 Auction Hoedown on Saturday,
March 5th at 4:30pm will be the 4th year that
the auction will be held in the Our Savior
Gymnasium
In the past 3 years, over $100,000 Has been
raised to further the ministries at Our Savior
Each year, an average of 150 items are up for
bid. Every donation makes a difference!
All desserts are donated for the dessert
auction each year. Many of which are
delicious homemade creations made by our
church and school families!
The generous donors who sponsor the auction
each year help offset the cost of food,
decorations and more, allowing more funds to
support Our Savior.
It only costs $35 per person or $240 for a
table of 8 to attend this fantastic event
supporting the many ministries of Our Savior!
Quarterly Newsletter ● Winter 2015-16
Our Savior Lutheran Church and School
7910 E. St. Joe Hwy
Lansing, MI 48917
7910 E. St. Joe Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917 www.oursaviorlansing.org
Our Savior Lutheran Church and School
Church
517-882-8665
Office Hours:
Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Learn Live Share
School
517-882-3550
Office Hours:
Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Worship Times
Sunday: 8:00am & 10:45am
Hmong Worship
Sunday: 10:45am
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MAILED FROM ZIP CODE 48837
PERMIT NO. 3
December (See Advent schedule on page 3 for all Events) 19 5pm Living Nativity
24 Christmas Eve Worship
25 Christmas Day
31 New Year’s Eve Worship
January
1 New Year’s Day
10am Resolution 5K
14 Discover Our Savior begins
Financial Peace University begins
23 7pm Blizzard Blast Family Dance
24 Congregational Meeting
25 - 29 National Lutheran Schools Week
February
8 Re-enrollment Begins
10 7pm Ash Wednesday Worship
Winter Events at Our Savior