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January 2020

Worship Schedule 9:00 am-Traditional Worship

10:15 am-Sunday School

11:15 am-Heartsong, Contemp.

Staff

Jim Nipper, Pastor

Carolynn Bailey, Music Director

Melissa Malenda, Parish Nurse

Tony Mowell, Heartsong Leader

Cindy Watkins, Office Admin.

Council and Officers

Ken Olander, President

Cassie McAllister, Vice President

Patty Wessner, Secretary

Susan Reaves, Treasurer

Ken Diehl, Financial Secretary

Sean Golden, Christian Ed.

Brenda Whitson, Outreach

Ken Loveday, Property

Gene Maddox, Finance

Cat Hopper, Social Ministry

Tom Marshall, Stewardship

Patti Hembre, Worship/Music

Ronda Keffer, Shepherds/Inreach

Shawn Dahlke, Youth Ministry

Gabe Aaroen, Youth Rep.

Our Saviour Lutheran Church

212 Sunset Drive

Johnson City, TN 37604

423-282-2313

Email: cwatkins@oslc.church

Web: www.oslc.church

News articles are due by January 23 to appear in February’s NewSense.

…suddenly the heavens were opened to Him…” (Matthew 3:16)

As Martin Luther read Romans 1:17 while in the Black Cloister tower back in 1515…

As I remember God calling me while I was “out by the creek” on our parent’s little farm in the midst of a snow squall in Henderson-ville, TN in February of 1977…

As the greatest of all revelation, (mine and Dr. Luther’s pale in comparison) where our Lord Jesus is baptized by John, something happened in, with, and around Him that set Him on a course that would lead to that saving cross.

This “thing” – this experience – this “happening” – might come into one’s life only once, or, it might happen to someone a num-ber of times. Some folks (not to feel left out) may never sense that they have had such an experience at all; that’s okay, because God often makes Himself known to us and we don’t even realize it! Have you ever wondered what St. Paul meant when he said “…the peace of God that passes all understand-ing…”? (Philippians 4:7) “Whoops, there it goes…” (right over our heads)!

The season of Epiphany is almost here. We have twelve days of the CHRISTmas season, and next is January 6 – the day of Epiphany. The stories of this beautiful season

are all based on the meaning of the word for Epiphany—meaning—to show (literally “to manifest”) something very special. That something very special, of course, is Jesus Christ.

Watch in worship, listen to the Gospels through much of January and most of February, to hear God showing us exactly who Jesus is—for us, and for the universe!

Sunday School returns after a brief CHRISTmas break, and we will head off into the new year with much excitement! What will God show us this Epiphany? What will He show us in the year 2020?

Pray as the New Year is upon us. It is a time of newness and oppor-tunity for being creative and chal-lenged. Challenged as many will make new disciplines for their lives – ones they hopefully can stick with as they move forward through the year.

What great Epiphany does God have in store for us in 2020? How might the heavens open up to us as we venture forth into a brand new decade of opportunity to love God and serve one another?

You’ll just have to come and see! And, I will see you there! Happy New Year!

Your friend in Christ,

Pastor Jim

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Financial Recap: November 2019

Offerings & Expenditures

November

Actual Budget Variance

Year to Date

Actual Budget Variance

Offerings $ 30,419 $ 31,860 $ (1,441) $ 340,943 $ 375,314 $ (34,371) Expenditures 23,355 34,478 11,123 346,316 388,649 42,333 Gain or (Loss) $ 7,064 $ (2,618) $ 9,682 $ (5,373) $ (13,335) $ 7,962

November 30 Balance Sheet

Checking (Operating Cash) $ 24,868

Savings (Council-Restricted Cash) 118,170 Total Operating Reserve $ 143,038

Donor-Restricted Cash 105,524

Total Cash $ 248,562

Facilities and Other Fixed Assets $ 1,330,897

Less Accumulated Depreciation (939,707)

Net Fixed Assets $ 393,190

Total Assets $ 641,752

Current Payables $ -

Mortgages & Long-Term Debt -

Other Liabilities -

Total Liabilities $ -

Equity $ 641,752

Total Liabilities & Equity $ 641,752

Assets Liabilities & Equity

Offerings for the month of October were $1,441 less than were budgeted.

Expenditures and other items for November were favorable to the budget by $11,123. The compensation package for the Associ-ate Pastor position created a favorable variance of $7,884.

The trend in offerings continues to cause concern. During the first five months of the year, offerings ran slightly ahead of last year...by about a percentage point. For the next five months, offerings ran about 15.2 percent lower than last year. November offerings were down from last year by just under 10 percent.

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Council

Opened with devotions

Highlights to the Annual Congregational Meeting Minutes – December 22, 2019 – 10:15 a.m.

President Stephens announced that we did have a quorum.

Pastor Jim opened with prayer.

President Stephens offered thanks to the Council of 2019 and was grateful to the Nomination Commit-tee and all nominees. (The 2020 Council should be listed on the front of the January 2020 Newsletter)

Item 1 – approval of all our new nominees for the 2020 council. Approved unanimously.

Item 2 – approval of the proposed Ministry Plan (Narrative Budget). Approved unanimously.

Pastor Jim restated President Stephens’ thanks to the Finance Committee (especially Gene Maddox), and all 2019 Council along with the newly elected Council for 2020. He especially thanked Tedd Ste-phens for his service as president over these num-ber of years.

Adjourned by Pastor Jim closing with prayer.

Prayers to Cheryl Milliken and family for the death of her mother, Loretta Mitch-ell.

Prayers to Janice and Ben Garrison and family for the death of their nephew, John Garrison

Prayers to Ken Farst and children, Debo-rah and Douglas, for the death of wife and mother Phyllis Farst.

Prayers to Gene Maddox and family for the death of Linda, beloved wife.

Welcome New Council and Officers For 2020

President—Ken Olander

Vice-President—Cassi McAllister

Financial Secretary—Ken Diehl

Ministry Council Representatives

Christian Education—Sean Golden

Shepherds/In-reach—Ronda Keffer

Worship & Music—Patti Hembre

Youth Ministry—Shawn Dahlke

Youth Representative—Gabe Aaroen

New Flower Chart for 2020

We are changing the way of ordering flowers for Sunday. There will only be one (1) flower ar-rangement per Sunday. That means if someone has picked a date you had in mind, you either need to find another date or call the person and ask to split the cost, then decide who gets the arrangement.

Each flower arrangement is $35. You may write a check and place it in the collection plate with your checked marked for flower arrangement, send your check or cash in the mail, drop money off in the office, or put it is Cindy’s mail box and she will see that it gets to the Financial Secretary.

On December 22, 2019 Brandon Heath Quinn Collins and Kendrick Ocean Avery were baptized. They are the sons of Bill and Carla Avery

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Traditional Volunteers for January

Acolytes 5, 19-Connor Hall 12, 26-Ada Hylton

Lector Schedule 5 & 12—David McAllister 19 & 26—Tedd Stephens

Altar Guild—Maggie Flint

Communion Assistants LEM 5-Pam Ross, Susan Reaves 5, 12, 19-David Chalkley 12-Dee Freeman, Susan Reaves 19-Dee Freeman, Susan Reaves 26-Susan Reaves 26-Dee Freeman, Sylvia Beckelhimer

Ushers 5-

12- 19- 26-

Financial Tellers 5-John Stamm, Ken Diehl 12-Karen Wilson, Jim Malenda 19-Christy Huff, Janeen Pennell 26-Joe and Lu Mattson

Families of the Week 5-Ralph and Patricia Keffer; Linda and Sarah Compton 12-Dewitt and Pat Jones; Frank & Ann Cunningham 19-Parnell and Diana Freeman; Seth, Kelly, Taylor, Ryan, and Connor Hall 26-Matt, Cat, Logan, Easton, Nolan, and Maryn Hopper; Doug, Christy, Gracie, and Parker Huff

Flowers for Sunday Traditional Heartsong 5- 12- 19- 26-

Hospital Visitor ..5-Mattson 12-Miller 19-Blackmer 26-Herting

Library Committee—Lu Mattson

Prayer Shawl Team 1st wk-Beverly Gugliotta, Nancy Shilling, Patty Neas 2nd wk-Lu Mattson, Celia Martin 3rd wk-Cheryl Milliken, Trudy Blackmer, Betty Chalkley 4th wk-Karin McCoy, Mary Ann McGaughey, Becky Hamilos,

Nursery—We need volunteers every week, please sign up!

Attendance for part of December 2019

Date 9:00 am 11:15 am total

December 1 85 57 142

December 8 114 56 170

December 15 91 53 144

December 22 129 71 200

December 23 (Maddox funeral) 110

December 24 4 pm-112 7:30 pm-136 248

Average attendance—92 worshipers for 11 worship opportunities for most of December.

January Heartsong Volunteers Acolyte Worship Leader

5-Logan Hopper Dave Soike

12-Aubrey Golden Maggie Flint

19-Caleb Wilcox Sean Golden

26-Logan Hopper Rachel Dahlke

Projectionist Usher

5-Julie Anne Mowell Doug Huff

12-Matt Hopper Sean Golden

19-Julie Anne Mowell Doug Huff

26-Julie Anne Mowell Bob Hembre

Confirmation for January 2020

Confirmation Classes will resume in Janu-ary

At this writing – the class tentatively is set

to gather together on Sunday, January 12,

from 3-6 p.m. We will meet at the church.

I’m excited about getting back together in

our studies of God and His Church. Hope

to see everyone there!

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THANKS!!! To everyone who donated time, money or supplies to the 2019 WELCA Christ-mas project this year. We filled the stocking requests for two children from Cap the Gap – shopped for and wrapped the gifts that a 10 year old girl and 3 year old boy requested. Thanks to YOU their Christmas was merrier!

***January is a good time to join one of our monthly Circles. Getting involved with one of these small groups is a good way to meet and have fellowship with other ladies from OSLC***

Hannah Circle meets on Monday, January 20 at 1 PM at the home of Betty Chalkley – 2310 Roseberry Ln, Johnson City. The discussion of the Bible Study: Seamless will continue.

Katie Circle meets on Wednesday, January 22 at 10:30 AM in the Church Library. Lu Mattson will lead discussion of another Parable. This group will select a study for 2020 at the meeting.

Come and Join Us…..

Upcoming Events

You are invited to the Third

Epiphany Festival given by the

ecumenical choir, Sonshine!

Your chancel choir is one of five

participating this year in

“This Little Light of Mine; I’m Gon-

na Let It Shine!”

The date is January 12, 2020 at 4

p.m. in the sanctuary of Covenant

Presbyterian Church.

Come and enjoy a spirit-filled pro-

gram to honor the

Light of the World – Jesus Christ!

20-Sylvia Beckelhimer 21-Chuck Scheurer 22-Chris Epperson Kenneth Schooley 24-Tom Loveday Julia Wilson 25-Shane Barger 27-Emma Barger 28-Kristie Golden Pam Booker 30-Phoebe Sand Jimmy Guinn Lisa Smithgall

1-Barry Fetterolf Ryan Freeman Sharon Schooley 2-Hayden Estep 4-Paul Gregory Don McGaughey 7-Amber Ebarb 9-Ralph Easton 10-Lu Mattson 11-Jennifer Bauer 12-Sammie Wessner 13-Randy Parrish 17-Jacob Ottinger 18-Abigail Wilson 19-Patricia Petti Caleb Hoyle

Wishing belated birthday greetings to Cindy

Olander, December 2; Christina Bentley, Decem-

ber 9; Ray Tredway, December 21.

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Around the Par ish

The Cover Girls The Cover Girls meet the second

and fourth Monday of each month

at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall.

We always need full, queen, or

king-sized sheets.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Prayer shawls are availa-ble for extended family and friends in need of comfort and prayers.

The Ministry meets on the second Tuesday of each month, which is January 14 at 10 am.

If you would like to learn to knit or cro-chet, the ladies will teach you. They have all the supplies.

Please call Karin McCoy at (423) 543-2640 and leave a message if no one an-swers.

We will gather at Golden Corral, 3104 Brown’s Mill Road (across from Walmart), on Saturday, January 4 at 8 a.m. where we will enjoy a Dutch-treat breakfast together. All are welcome. We hope to see you there!

PrimeTimers will meet on Thursday, January 2 instead of on Wednesday January 1. We will meet at the church at 11 am and then go to Ruby Tuesday’s for lunch. Please call Carol Hudson (941-323-5581) or contact the church office

Lutheran Girls’ Group Lunch

LGG is meeting on January 24 at 11:45 at El

Charolais, near Kroger’s at 1805 W. State of

Franklin Rd.

To join our list for announcements email:

sharonharshman1@gmail.com or call

423.282.0400

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Melting Pot

We will prepare and serve a meal

on January 8. A volunteer sign-up

sheet is on the bulletin board near

the library. Melting Pot served 224 meals on

December 11.

Charity for January

Family Promise Family Promise provides a network of

churches and community agencies to help

homeless families with children. This allows

the families to stay together while affordable

housing is found.

Community churches provide temporary

food and shelter for the families until hous-

ing is located. During the day, families leave

the churches and are transported to the Day

Center where they receive life-skills train-

ing, counseling, job skills, cooking, cleaning

and other training to keep the families mov-

ing forward.

Needs:

Deodorant

Paper towels

Toilet paper

Hair spray

Shampoo

A box is located in the hallway for your do-

nations.

.

Monetary and food donations are always

welcomed. Your donations make a differ-

ence in many lives. Food items needed:

We cannot accept expired food.

Crackers Soup Dry beans Muffin mix Potato flakes Pasta Pasta sauce Canned fruit

Twelve grocery bags were given in November/

December

Macaroni & cheese Canned veggies Peanut Butter Canned meat Pancake mix Dehydrated soup Hamburger Helper

Rice Raisins Apple sauce Hot/cold Cereal Vienna Sausage Pop Tarts Oatmeal Evaporated milk

News from Soc ia l M in istry

Pine Sol

Copy paper

Baby wipes

Size 4 diapers

Trash bags (kitchen size)

The Marsh Mobile bus will be here from 8am-1pm on January 19. There is a sign-up sheet in the library hallway. Our goal is to collect 20 units. If we all work to-gether, we can top that goal! Blood supplies of all types are always low in winter months and no one ever knows when it will be one of us or a loved one that needs blood.

There is no substitute for human blood. Patients requiring a blood transfusion rely solely on the kind-ness of volunteer donors to provide them with this lifesaving treatment. One out of ten patients enter-ing a hospital will require a blood transfusion.

Become someone’s SUPER HERO. ‘It only takes so little to help so much’. Call Susan or Mike with questions 794-8167.

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Take time this year to consider your health and wellness. Maybe you spend most of your time taking care of others and neglecting yourself. Assess your own body and begin with these questions:

Am I taking care of myself?

a. Physically- Focus!

Focus on eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep, lowering your stress levels, and exercising.

b. Mentally- Focus!

Focus on your strengths and not your weaknesses, set goals and take baby steps to reach them, place yourself around positive people.

c. Spiritually- Focus!

Focus on God and not people. Focus on faith and not failure. Focus on Scripture.

In 2020; Stay FOCUSED!

~Go God!!! Melissa Malenda, RN-parish nurse

MINISTRIES IN MOTION

· WALK/TALK—1, 3, & 4TH TUESDAYS AND EVERY THURSDAY-11:30AM-12:30PM.

· CHAIR YOGA FOR SENIORS—BEGINNING WITH DEVOTION AND PRAYER; FRI-DAYS @ 10AM.

· YOGA FOR ANYONE ON THURSDAY EVENINGS @ 6:30PM IN YOUTH ROOM.

FRIENDS IN GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP—WE MEET ON THE 2ND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH IN THE LIBRARY @ 10AM.

CARE BEARS—PLEASE TAKE ONE TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT OTHERS IN NEED OF PRAYER AND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE HEALTH & HEALING.

CARE BEARS ARE FREE. DONATIONS ARE WELCOMED. PLEASE SIGN THE SIGN OUT SHEET LOCATED ON THE PARISH NURSE BULLETIN BOARD. THANKS!

Health & Wellness Committee meeting- January 8, 2020. 7:30pm in the library.

Parish Nurse News

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…Heartsong Band and Chancel Choir for all their efforts during Advent, Christmas and all year long.

…all the ushers, lectors, acolytes, and lay eucharistic ministers who worked overtime this Christmas.

…Christian Ed. for a wonderful Christmas program on Sunday, December 22. It was great!

…everyone who brings food for the Food Pantry and Jeannie Fortier for keeping it running smoothly.

…Ben and Janice Garrison for the Chrismon tree they give each year to OSLC.

…Cat Hopper and the PDO staff for another great year.

…NAMI and Blue Ridge Quilters for being so organized in setting up their meeting times.

…Sunday school teachers for all grades. We couldn’t have Sunday school without you.

…everyone who came to the annual congregational meeting on December 22.

…everyone who helped bake and package cookies and who helped give out hot chocolate at the Johnson City Christmas tree lighting.

…our great Council and Officers for 2019.

…Our new council members for 2020. Thank you for volunteering.

…our hospital visitors, cover girls, prayer shawl makers and deliverers, and WELCA ladies. We love what you do and how you help our community and church.

…Marcy Aaroen and Shane and Rachael Dahlke for working with our youth and organizing events for them.

...Miss Tammy for her love, care and devotion for our children in the nursery.

…to the Property Committee for keeping our church in tip-top shape all year round.

...to all the OSLC members who volunteer and give generously of their time, talents and gifts to keep our church moving forward.

...Patty Sorenson for the years of dedication to Melting Pot and Sharon Harshman for continuing that ded-ication for the coming years.

Please Update Your Directory Barbara Gish

915 Holston Hills Drive, Apt. 210

Kingsport, TN 37664

Welcome New Members

Ray Tredway and Suzanne Merritt

410 Shadden Road

Gray, TN 37615

Thank You P ar ish and S ta f f

Dear members of our OSLC family,

Thank you so much for your kindness, concern, and support during our beloved Linda Mad-dox’s brief cancer battle and passing. Thanks to Pastor Nipper, Melissa Malenda, and other friends for stopping by to see her at Franklin Woods. Thanks to all who had a role in her beautiful Celebration of Life service, and espe-cially to Pastor Nipper, Tony Mowell, the Heartsong Band, and to Mark Aaroen and Tetrick Funeral Home. And thanks to those responsible for the OSLC Columbarium, which Linda chose as her resting place. Gene, Karen, Rich, Julia and Audrey

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