The Evangel - News from OSLC...   

November  2008

      The whole world was opening up before my eyes. As I was driving home from a conference near St. Louis, I could see the farmers harvesting the fields. It was a beautiful sight.

      I grew up on farms. Each summer the rest of the world would disappear, as the corn grew taller. Neighboring farmhouses would disappear out of sight. There was a sense of being isolated. Then harvest time would come, dispersing the isolation. The rest of the world would reappear. I always looked forward to seeing the rest of the world.

     This growing toward harvest is what I see happening here in this congregation. God is forming us as God’s people to love and serve our neighbor. We have so many good things going for us. I wonder how can we connect our life together with our neighbors. Even more important is that there are people all around us who have never heard the Gospel. So how can we connect with the people of this area in ways that communicate the faith and love of Christ Jesus?

 Pastor Will

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Stewardship Corner
by Jim BeMiller

Every day is a walk with Jesus. We Christians believe life is spent in the presence of our Lord. Therefore, we can talk about every day as a day during which we walk with Jesus. Some days we feel Jesus’ presence. Some days we feel quite a distance from Jesus. We boldly proclaim that, regardless of how we feel, Jesus is there. Jesus walks with us every day.

As we who are Our Saviour Lutheran Church consider our financial stewardship during the first three Sundays of November, we will be asked to think about our use of money and possessions as a part of our walk with Jesus. This is most appropriate, because when Jesus walked this earth with his disciples, he often talked about money and possessions. If money was a part of Jesus’ first walk on this earth, it should be a part of our walk with Jesus today.

We believe that everything we have is a trust from God, given to us to care for and manage. What we do with our money is very much a part of our relationship with our Lord. This will be our focus in the coming weeks.

During the first three Sundays of November, we will read bulletin inserts, hear Temple Talks in worship, and receive letters from the congregation. All of these will focus on our walk with Jesus and how money plays an important part in this walk.

Then, on Sunday, November 23, each of us will have the opportunity to return an estimate of giving card. On this card, each of us will indicate our plan for giving for the coming year. This will not only be a plan for giving to OSLC, it will also be a plan for how we will walk with Jesus in the coming year.

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Council Highlights

October 2008

· Contributions and pledges to the Upper Room completion total $65,774.

· Pastor Will discussed sabbatical plans in preparation for applying for a Lilly Endowment Grant.

· The Evangelism Planning Group will be strategizing congregational involvement.

· Family Promise is looking to start in January. Vera Weiser will put a clothes line of items needed for us to provide when we host.

              Respectfully submitted,

              Pastor Will Peugeot

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Help the 50th Anniversary Planning Team!

We are trying to contact former members with information regarding next year’s 50th anniversary celebration. If you are able to supply us with an address or a phone number for the following people, we would appreciate your assistance!

Mary Waltmann, on behalf of the Planning Team.

J. C. & Jeanne Wells

Tom & Sandy Halseth

Norm & Judy Greene

Robert & Donna Tillitt

James Linden

Delores Linden

John Richard McElheny

Lewis & ______ Ledford

Lamar & Ila Biggs

Jim & Doris Kerns

David & Ann Miller

John Jacoby

David & Ruth Ann Fenell

Michael Deisenroth

Timothy &Becky Morrison

Alan & Ruth Carp

Larry & Dru Phelps

David & Nancy Tollefson

Tom & Karen Casavant

Marvin & Gisilind Pentecost

Bob & Pat Moore

Duane & Sarah Nielsen

Jim & Beverly Sturm

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Dear ELCA Missionary Sponsoring Congregation:

Greetings from Singapore!

     Sometimes those who serve in the overseas mission field experience what might be called "church shock," that is, a negative reaction to a church life that is very different from what one is used to at home.  One reason that I have experienced "church shock" in Asia, especially in Singapore, is a hesitance among churches about commemorating biblical saints or even remembering the congregation's faithful departed.

      Interestingly, non-Christians in Asia go to great lengths to remember their dead.  Of course, it might be that Asian churches avoid commemorating saints and the faithful departed precisely in order to distinguish themselves from Asian religions and to avoid implying that Christians should worship the dead or that the dead, rather than Christ, mediate between us and God.

     Nevertheless, I believe that Asian churches could benefit from remembering the saints in Christ, since the saints remind us that we are indebted to Christians of previous generations for their work and faithfulness.  On October 29, I will preside at a service for the Feast of All Saints in the chapel of Trinity Theological College, where I teach worship and serve as chaplain.  My sermon will cover Christian traditions of honoring our faithful departed, the Feast of All Saints, as well as the comfort and assurance we can find in God’s promises to the saints.

Yours,

Jeff Truscott

Trinity Theological College

Singapore

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Next deadline for the Evangel:  

Saturday, November 22nd for the next edition. Send your articles to Kristen Singleton (krissmiss81@

hotmail.com).

Standing Invitations

‘The Not-So-Grownups’  
If you're 18 or older or you have not yet reached the "empty nest" stage, this is the group for you. Traditionally November's event is a service activity. The nature of that service for this November has yet to be determined. For more information, contact Tina Brauer at 497-2834 or e-mail her (tmbquilts@verizon.net).

'The Grown-ups’ 
If you are over 50 or don't feel you fit in with 'the Not-So-Grownups' you might fit in here. The Grown-ups meet the last Sunday of the month. Bea Stromberg is the person to call to learn more about this group.

Men's Breakfast Group
Men's Breakfast Group meets the first Saturday morning of the month at 8:30 at Baja Peninsula Restaurant during the academic year. For more information about this group call Chris Johannsen or e-mail him at: johan@purdue.edu

Women's Bible Study

This month we’ll be meeting at Mary Beth Foster’s house at 9am on Nov. 15th.  

The Women of OSLC
We have started an activity for women of all ages. After quilting, we go out for lunch. Any women that would like to join us is welcome! If you can’t attend the quilting just join us in the lower room of the church at 11:30am. Hope to see you soon.

LWR Quilting
We meet on the morning of the second Thursday of every month to make tied quilts for refugees. Please join us. We provide on-the-job training! Come when you can; leave when you must. For more information contact Mary Waltmann or Judy Ohm.

Mourning and Dancing
This grief support group meets on the first Thursday of every month. The group meets from 7 to 8:30 pm at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 3305 Longlois Drive, Lafayette. For more information call 447-2662.

Social Ministry News

Family Promise Needs

     In anticipation of our first Family Promise guests in early in 2009, we are making plans to purchase the extras not provided by the organization such as portable storage, hand towels and washcloths, clock radios, and other miscellaneous items.  Family Promise recommends keeping these things uniform, thus we are asking for monetary contributions rather than the donation of the specific items.  We will use these funds to purchase like items for each room. 

     To help fund this, you will find envelopes with specific needs and approximate cost hanging in the Narthex.  Please take as many as you would like and return them with the requested information and contribution to the offering plate.  Any checks should be made out to Our Saviour Lutheran Church with Family Promise in the memo line.  Thank you for your generosity and support of this important new community ministry.

LWR School Kits and Quilts

      Thanks to everyone for your terrific response to the "Stuff the Schoolkit" campaign this year. It's been fun to work together to prepare, pack and bundle the kits. The kits and quilts were boxed and labeled, and then driven up to Valparaiso to be loaded into a semi trailer. From there they will go to the LWR warehouse in South St. Paul, Minnesota. And before long they will be headed out to those who need them.
     Where might they go? In the past year or so, kits and quilts have gone to Afghanistan; Azerbaijan; China; Eritrea; Latvia; Mali; Mauritania; Mozambique; North Korea; Peru;

Sao Tome and Principe; Sierra Leone; and Thailand.

Needed: Church Women United Representative

        We have a vital local Church Women United organization, but right now we don't have a representative from our congregation to attend the meetings and promote our involvement. Church Women United is a racially, culturally, theologically inclusive ecumenical Christian women’s movement, celebrating unity in diversity and working for a world of peace and justice. Locally, the CWU group provides volunteer staff for the Food Pantry on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon until 2:30 pm. To get copies of recent minutes of meetings, please contact Mary Beth Foster at 464 8124.

Think Your Groceries Are Expensive?      

     Over the past months the price of staples like corn, rice and wheat has doubled, and in some cases tripled, in many countries where Lutheran World Relief serves. Thanks to a generous $150,000 matching gift, every $1 you give to LWR’s Fill the Bowl campaign will become $2. Giving online is easy—visit www.lwr.org/ftb. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact Mary Beth Foster at 464 8124

Make Room in Your Closet!

LUM News

     LUM's various programs continue to be busy. As food prices go up, there is more demand both at the St. John's/LUM Food Pantry and at LUM's Advocate program, which helps people work out problems with medical bills, prescriptions, utility bills. housing costs, etc.
     If you feel God calling you to make a one-time or an on-going financial gift to LUM, visit the website at www.lafayetteurbanministry.org. There are quick and easy ways there to give online and to arrange for monthly automatic contributions.
     The Food Pantry can always use donations of cereal and canned vegetables. And the Afterschool program can still use some volunteers from 2:30-5:30, especially on Mondays and Fridays. Call 423-2691 for details on how you can help.

Our numbers have been slim for the last few work days. We really need as many people as possible to give the property a good cleaning before the cold weather moves in. There will be a list of chores on the table in the Narthex. If you are unable to come to the actual work day, you can still sign up to complete a chore and then do it at a time that is convenient to you. If you have questions, talk to a member of the Property Committee: Al Peters, Russ Brauer, or Jason Peterson.

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Purdue Lutheran Ministry (PLM)
                                                                                                                           
PLM NEWS & EVENTS

SUNDAY WORSHIP Our Saviour Lutheran Church (OSLC) has an evening worship service at 5:30pm. Students are most welcome to attend. Note: An evening service occurs only when classes are in session during the fall and spring.

SUNDAY NIGHT SUPPER happens each Sunday while classes are in session. A free, home-cooked meal served at 6:30 pm at Our Saviour Lutheran Church (OSLC). We are very grateful for those who regularly provide dinner for the students of PLM. Thanks to you, PLM’s Sunday Night Supper carries a great reputation and we are growing! We genuinely thank everyone at Our Saviour Lutheran Church for the support of the ministry and the students we serve. We hope that you will consider preparing a meal this semester. A sign up list is available in the OSLC narthex, or you can contact PLM at 743-2398.

PURDUE LUTHERAN MINISTRY (PLM) 330 W. Fowler Ave., West Lafayette, IN 47906 Phone: (765) 743-2398  E-mail: plm@plm.org
Web: www.plm.org Historically, OSLC has always had an interest in supporting campus ministry and maintains a strong relationship with Purdue Lutheran Ministry (PLM).

Please see our web page for more information concerning the happenings for the Summer Semester and other PLM news. To contact Pastor Steve, send him e-mail at plm@plm.org or call 743-2398.

Christian Education News

At OSLC, we offer Sunday school classes for children, youth, and adults.

· Good Shepherd (ages 3-kindergarten)→ meets on 1st  floor    

· Elementary (grades 1-4) → meets on the 1st floor

· Middle School (grades 5-8) → meets on the 3rd floor

· High School (grades 9-12) → meets on the 3rd floor

· Adult Forum → meets on the 1st floor in the fellowship hall

· Book Discussion Group → meets in the room at the back of the nave

The children gather in their lesson rooms at 9:45 a.m., while the youth and adult groups meet in their respec­tive rooms at 10:00 a.m. for Sunday school.

Adult Forum Schedule for November

Nov. 2:  No Adult Forum (Servants’ Sunday)

Nov. 9:  Luther Course:  How to Share Your Faith with Someone

Nov. 16:  Faith Partners Part I

Nov. 23:  Faith Partners  Part II

Confirmation 2009 (Celebrated October 26th)

Information about the Confirmands:

1. What did you like best about the Catechism classes?

2. What have you learned about your own faith that you would keep using in the future?

Ben Behnke (9th grade at West Lafayette High School)

1. Eating during discussion

2. The symbolism of the Body and Blood with Communion

Tim Brauer (9th grade at Harrison High School)

1. The fellowship

2. You don’t have to understand the Lord to believe.

Charlotte Ohland (9th grade at West Lafayette High School)

Food Drive for Food Finders Food Bank:

The High School Youth Group is holding a food drive for Food Finders Food Bank, collecting now through Wednesday, November 26. Specific needs are: child-friendly foods (e.g., macaroni and cheese and 100% fruit juice), cereal, peanut butter, canned fruits (esp. peaches), and canned vegetables (esp. green beans, peas, corn). Food collection boxes are placed in the narthex. Monetary donations are also appreciated. Checks may be made out to Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. and placed in the box on the wooden table in the narthex. Thank you for your help!

Advent Dinner & Celebration:

This year’s program highlights include creating Nativity ornaments, sharing in an OSLC and PLM dinner, putting on an impromptu Christmas Musical, and singing Christmas carols by candlelight in the sanctuary.

Please sign-up to bring two dishes to share. The sign-up sheets are located on the wooden table in the narthex and on the information bulletin board in the fellowship hall.

Program (times are estimates):

6:00 p.m. – Gather in the fellowship hall to set up

for dinner and work on Nativity ornaments

6:30 p.m. – Potluck dinner in the fellowship hall

7:15 p.m. – Impromptu Christmas Musical in the sanctuary

Important Dates to Remember:

November 9 – Advent Devotions are due

November 16 – Faith Partner

     Introduction during Adult Forum

November 30 – No Sunday school

December 7 – Advent Dinner and

     Celebration at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall

December 12 – Middle and High School Youth

Gail Zdilla, OSLC's Christian Education Director, has a new email address:  zdilla@comcast.net.

All former pastors/campus pastors and their spouses will be invited to be our guests that weekend. In addition, former members, for whom we have addresses, will be invited as well.

Committee Members are currently working on material for the Golden Jubilee Booklet, and for a photo display. The booklet will contain a brief history of the congregation, as seen through the eyes of former pastors; and also a record of baptisms, marriages, and funerals that have taken place since May, 1959. It is our goal to have these booklets ready for distribution by May, 2009.

How can you help? We need more photos of congregational highlights.
Please identify the people in your photos. We need more addresses of those named in our church bulletin insert. And, we need your prayers and your help as we move forward with our celebration plans!

Mary Louise Waltmann, Chair

Hotel Information for 50th Anniverary Attendees: