Vol. XXXXI No. 2 February 2020

The Mission of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church is…

Making Christ known through worship, education,

and witness, we invite and serve the community and

beyond.

NEWS FROM THE HILL AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST:

Sharing the Story,

Living the Faith

Virginia Synod

ELCA

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Thoughts from Pastor Alex… There’s a buzz-word/phrase going around church-y circles lately – “congregational vitality.” What does it look like for a congregation to have “vitality”? or What does it mean to be a healthy community united by our faith in Jesus Christ? We tend to focus, in these kinds of discussions, about things like Average Worship Attendance (AWA) or the number of people who are members of our church or the giving/ contributions of the congregation. As people, I think this is natural; we like being able to put a number forward to measure. I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard (and likely been guilty of saying) things like, “We had more new members than deaths and transfers this year!” But I wonder, if in the numbers, we’re really missing what it means to be a healthy community. Yes, we love having more people in worship (and as a whole, we’ve had more people in worship this year), but that number doesn’t necessarily tell us much about the health of our congregation. As someone (I think Pastor John Wertz) pointed out: “Jesus started out with just 12 people and it worked out just fine.’ In January, a few of us went to the Virginia Synod’s EPIC leadership conference. In talking about congregational vitality, Pastor John Wertz proposed these three areas to look at when talking about our vitality as a congregation: 1) Growing deeper in relationship with God/ Jesus – Christ is our foundation and the center of what we do together; we want people to see and be in relationship with Jesus. 2) Growing deeper in relationship with each other – we don’t do any of this alone, but are part of a community that forms the body of Christ, and 3) growing deeper in relationship with community – we are church for the sake of the world. Growing in these three areas will help us grow together in our ministry and mission for the sake of the Gospel. These aren’t nearly as “quantifiable” areas as AWA or membership or our budget. But I do think that these areas give a much more helpful glimpse into the life of a church community together. The challenge, then, for us is to provide ways and spaces for us to continue to do/ and to do more of each of those three things. We already have some things in the works, but I want you to think about this: how can we at OSLC help you grow in relationship to God? How can we at OSLC help you grow in relationship with each other? How can we at OSLC help you grow in relationship with our community of Norge/ Williamsburg? What do you need to grow in those areas? I’m really excited for the year ahead of us! May we grow together in Christ’s love – that love that transforms us, our community, and the world. Peace, Pastor Alex

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If you are in the Church or Fellowship Hall and smell what you think could be a natural gas leak, please follow these steps: 1. Get out of the building. 2. Call Virginia Natural Gas at 877-572-3342 immediately. Follow their instructions/recommendations about the next step (e.g. calling Fire Department). They commit to arriving between 30-60 minutes. 3. Call someone from the Property Committee; Rudy Sheets, Roger Picard or Gina Venable. Thank you, The Property Committee • Executive Committee Meeting – Feb 13 at 6:00 PM

• Roaring 20’s Valentine’s Dance - Feb 14 at 6:00 PM

• Council Meeting - Feb 16 at 12:15 PM

• New Member Luncheon – Feb 23 after Coffee Fellowship. Bring a shared dish and Parish Life will provide a cake, drinks, and maybe ice cream. • Service of Spirituals - Feb 23 at 5:00 PM at Hickory Neck Episcopal Church

• Congregational Meeting – March 22 after Coffee Fellowship.

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Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart will help you bring God’s loving presence to hurting people. The book written by Dr. Kenneth Hauck is first and foremost a book about us. Us, human beings. You see the interesting take away I find as I read the book and share it with you is all of us, myself included, have room to grow in the area of relating to those who are suffering or in need of hope. The author Shel Siverstein’s poem “Helping” defines two very different kinds of help. One that in fact is helpful and one not so much.

Those who are suffering and are in need of kindness, with your company, with your visit, with your listening, are very vulnerable. I

know when I have shown empathy to someone who was in pain I often wished in hindsight they had worn a sign that could have been stamped Fragile Handle with Care, because as caring as I thought I was being, I surely and sadly missed. It is hard to know what to say to a hurting person. I often do not understand or can’t relate to their personal struggles. If I am being honest I am guilty of the mentality (at least thinking this) of telling me what's wrong and lets “fix-it”. It is uncomfortable to be with others who are in emotional pain. So how do I avoid the judgmental, the minimizing the significance of the pain, of giving advice or being too directive on what to do to get better?

Glad you asked! One of the great truths about relating to those who are suffering is that nobody does it perfectly. One of the calls of a Stephen Minister is to first understand I am a caregiver, God is the healer. As a Christian, God has asked each of us to love one another and during times of crisis of the heart and mind to bring hope and compassion to our brothers and sisters. The Call to Care chapter 1 is about this. Asking God to walk with me while I offer the ears, heart and time to listen to those who are in pain. We will learn to navigate the pitfall of caregiving and learn to know what to do or say when someone needs comfort, very carefully learn what to say and do in relating to people who have heavy hearts. By effective caring and relating, hurting people will experience the warmth of being cared for. Who you are as a person is your main resource for caring and relating. Surprise! It’s all right to be a work in progress. This frees each of us to open our hearts to others. Next, Chapter 2 “A Biblical Understanding of Suffering”.

Peace, Evie

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February here we come! We have submitted our annual report and it will be made available to you in the OSLC Annual report for 2019. The Commercial Kitchen helps to support OSLC with coffee and cleaning supplies and wages for our Sexton. Don’t forget our Roaring 20’s Valentines Dance Friday February 14th 6 pm to 8:30 pm. A chance to cut a rug and enjoy music of the 1920’s featuring the local band “Tomcats”. The event is a benefit for Motel Ministry. Heavy hors d’oeuvres are included! Contact the Church office. Activities will be picking up again around the church as the weather improves. More use of our hall and the kitchen will occur, and we are thankful we are able to accommodate. Couple of reminders for everyone: Clean up after yourself, wipe down the counters and clean the sink when you use them. Please remember to take your leftovers home and utensils! Do not leave them in the Commercial Kitchen refrigerator. There is a “Church Only” refrigerator where the chairs are stored. We wish to remind you of the Hall Committee. If you choose to use the Commercial Kitchen for an event you need to check with the Hall Committee to reserve your space. This means all members, groups at OSLC and the outside groups who rent our Fellowship Hall. Easy to reserve, check out the web site as new forms are online now. http://oslcnorge.org/ We have a delightful opportunity to take advantage of having Divine Lunches in our Commercial Kitchen. Divine lunches will provide high quality baked goods for your valentine, for your school or social valentine party. I can personally attest to their Kladdkaka Cake and delicious cookies! To order contact divinelunches@gmail.com or call 757-608-8773. Andrea or Susan will be delighted to help you with your meals or baked goods! Visit their web site: https://www.divinelunches.com/ Happy Valentine’s Day! Evie, Joyce, Roger, Gina and Dick

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FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

1 Scott Braukhoff Ginny Gustafson 4 Carol Turner 7 Joan Hosfield Joanne Weber 10 Arlene Stuven 14 Dot Webb 20 Bruce Brelsford 22 Barbara Broady Dennis Metcalf

Lifting in Prayer

Church family: Phyllis Cody, Sean Dalton, Katherine Ford, Jeanne Fullman, Ann Gautreaux, Thelma Lee, Janice Leonard, Liesa McGhee, Teena Opheim, Bill Rorer, William Rorer, III, and Lynn Starling.

Family and Friends: Gladys Allen, Cornelia Andrus, Lois Barber, Joan Beck, Donna Benson, Palma Blair, Raymond & Catherine Bowles, Forrest Braukhoff, Zadie Brown, Bill Carpenter, Ellen Cobb, Nancy Curtis, Ed, Larry Felts, Kim Fuhrman, Carl Gaulkie, Kelly Gray, Kenny Gulden, Matthew Hafer, Bunny Haynes, Susan Hutchens, Helen Hyatt, Allen Jenson, Annie Johnson, Tabitha Jones, K.M., Mike King, Evelyn Kirby, Rachel Lawson, Lindsay, Katherine Martin, Vivian Matthews, Donna Miller, Ray Minor, Lawrence Olson, Donna Phillips, John Phillips, Rick Phillips, Maggie Quinlan, Larry Richardson, Bill Ridenour, Robbie Robertson, Mary Satchwell, Pastor Tom Shelley, Mary T., Pat Tabb, Louis Turnage, Sr., Turner Family, Sarah Waid, and

NOTE: If you have not seen your birthday or anniversary listed, and would like it included, please contact the office at 757-564-3745 or email oslcnorge@gmail.com.

NOTE: To add or remove a person’s name from the Prayer List, please contact the church office at 757-564-3745 or email oslcnorge@gmail.com.

Lydia Circle will meet on Monday, Feb. 3 at 7:00 pm. All are invited to attend.

Sunday Supper Fellowship

Our next Sunday Supper Fellowship Group will meet at Kephi's Greek Restaurant, 1635 Richmond Road, at 5:30 pm on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Please see Ellen Picard to make a reservation.

Feeding the hungry Non-perishable items for our local food pantry, FISH, Inc. can be placed in the Hall lobby. Please check expiration dates on foods. Always welcome: cereals, canned meats, soups, Chef Boyardee items, beans, peanut butter, and paper grocery bags with handles. The Hope House Pregnancy Center is in constant need of diapers, wipes, all baby needs such as blankets, bibs, clothing, strollers, pack-and-play, and maternity clothes. Please leave donations in the fellowship hall “Baby Crib”.

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FEBRUARY 2020

LECTORS: USHERS: ASSISTING MINISTERS: 2 Bette Paddock 2 Karen Dutton & Gina Venable 2 Scott Braukhoff 9 Bruce Brelsford 9 Adam & Michelle Priestley 9 Richard Hartman 16 Christine Weller 16 Dick & Janette Kline 16 Bob Zimmerman 23 Judy Tubbs 23 Barbara Broady & Lynn Edwards 23 Brandon Tate ACOLYTES: Ashley Venable 2/2 Nya Hubbard 2/9 Ashley Venable 2/16 Nya Hubbard 2/23

ANNOUNCERS: Evie Braukhoff 2/2 Joanne Weber 2/9 Scott Braukhoff 2/16 Richard Hartman 2/23

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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2 4th Sunday after Epiphany 9 AM Sunday School/Adult Forum 10:30 AM +Holy Communion 11:30 AM Coffee Fellowship 6:30 PM AA

3 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 10 AM Rebekah/Ruth Circle 7 PM Boy Scouts 7 PM Lydia Circle

4 3-5:30 PM Playin' For Fun 7 PM AA

5 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 10 AM Staff Meeting 4-9 PM Flute Frenzy 6 PM Prayer on Wednesday 7 PM Choir

6 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 6:15-8:30 PM Cub Scouts

7 Church Office Closed 9:30-12 PM Family Focus

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9 5th Sunday after Epiphany 9 AM Sunday School/Adult Forum 10:30 AM +Holy Communion 11:30 AM Coffee Fellowship 11:30 AM Parish Life Committee Meeting 6 PM Youth Group 6:30 PM AA

10 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 6 PM BSA Troop Committee Meeting 7 PM Boy Scouts

11 3-5:30 PM Playin' For Fun 7 PM AA

12 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 10 AM Staff Meeting 4-9 PM Flute Frenzy 6 PM Service of the Word 7 PM Choir

13 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 6 PM Executive Committee Meeting 6:15-8:30 PM Cub Scouts

14 Church Office Closed 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 6 PM Roaring 20's Valentine's Dance

15 10 AM Casserole Caravan

16 6th Sunday after Epiphany 9 AM Sunday School/Adult Forum 10:30 AM +Holy Communion 11:30 AM Coffee Fellowship 12:15 PM Parish Council Meeting 6:30 PM AA

17 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 10 AM Rebekah/Ruth Circle 7 PM Boy Scouts

18 3-5:30 PM Playin' For Fun 7 PM AA

19 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 4-9 PM Flute Frenzy 6 PM Prayer on Wednesday

20 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 6:15-8:30 PM Cub Scouts

21 Church Office Closed 9:30-12 PM Family Focus

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23 Transfiguration of Our Lord 9 AM Sunday School/Adult Forum 10:30 AM +Holy Communion 11:30 AM Coffee Fellowship 12 PM New Member Luncheon- Shared Dish 5 PM A Service of Spirituals @ Hickory Neck Episcopal Church 6 PM Youth Group 6:30 PM AA

24 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 10 AM Rebekah/Ruth Circle 7 PM Boy Scouts

25 3-5:30 PM Playin' For Fun 7 PM AA

26 ASH WEDNESDAY 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 10 AM Staff Meeting 4-9 PM Flute Frenzy 6 PM Ash Wed. Service @ Hickory Neck Episcopal

27 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 6:15-8:30 PM Cub Scouts

28 Church Office Closed 9:30-12 PM Family Focus 6-9 PM Jay's Jam

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