December 2006

OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN STAFF

Our Savior Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Inside this issue:

Stephen Ministry 2

Healing & Dimes 2

Book Drive 2

Janet’s Jottings 3

Treasurer Report 3

May Calendar 3

Sharing & Caring 4

Piecemakers 4

Scrip 4

May Baskets 4

May 2016

Volume XXVI, Issue 5

Our Savior Lutheran Church Living Faith Center

WORSHIP WITH US EVERY SUNDAY Worship at 9:30 AM

Sunday School Classes at 10:45 AM

Communion will be offered on the first and third Sundays of this month.

MINISTERS ALL PEOPLE OF OSLC

PASTOR STEVEN HERZBERG

ASSOCIATE IN MINISTRY JANET WEST

OFFICE MANAGER SUE WADGYMAR

MUSIC DIRECTOR KENNETH RIVENS

PIANIST RON ACEBUCHE

BELL CHOIR DIRECTOR CONNIE LAUMANN

YOUTH DIRECTOR DAWN EVERSON

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESIDENT VICKI DREWS

VICE PRESIDENT RUDY LOSOYA

TREASURER TOM RIESTERER

SECRETARY WENDY FOWLER

BORDER MISSIONS NORM FREY

FRED VARNER

FELLOWSHIP RUDY LOSOYA

JASON MILLIGAN

OUTREACH KATHY BUSH

KATHY HERZBERG

LEARNING & YOUTH JANE EASON

EDWARD LONG

PROPERTY NORM FREY

STEWARDSHIP LYNN ENGEL

JANET WEST

WORSHIP & MUSIC VICKI DREWS

KELLY VANHEE

Financial reports and minutes are available in the Narthex.

Greetings on another new month. Easter will finish soon, and Pentecost will be upon us already on the 15th. Remember to wear Red for that spe-cial festival of the church – receiving the gift of the Spirit. Keep our South-west Texas Synod in your prayers as we meet in Assembly in San Marcos the first of the month. Kathy Herzberg and Jason Milligan will be our voting members along with me. May 22nd marks the end of our Sunday morning educational hour with another out-reach event planned – May baskets for our shut-ins. April’s special event for the new library at New Hope was an outstanding response. We will recognize this past year’s teachers on that same Sunday at worship. Senior Sunday (High School graduates, not those over 60) will be on June 5th. We have two graduates this year to recognize – Julie Rivas and Colton Kaufman. Thank you to the 123 peo-ple who responded to the Worship and Music Survey. It gave us direc-tion for especially next September’s Sunday School and services. Hard

copies are available in the narthex of the results, as well as online through our church website. Initial responses indicate that the blended service has been received favorably by a signifi-cant margin. That was one of the responses we were seeking after trying that major change to our past worship year – dropping contempo-rary service and changing one tradi-tional service to a blended service. It has provided the multi-generational worship and fellowship that we hoped for and also has allowed us to have sound fiscal management of our church resources as we have experienced decreased funding. The survey also indicated that leav-ing the educational hour at the pre-sent time is also desired by a majori-ty. All of that is to say that for now we are keeping one blended service at 9:30am and educational hour at 10:45am through May 22nd. During the summer, there will be a 9:30am blended service only – no SS hour. Beginning in late August or early September, we will resume the edu-

Pastor’s Notes cational hour at 10:45am. Then, in December, we will add the 8am traditional service through March of 2017. There will be some tweaks to how we do the blended service, i.e. provide better training for learn-ing new songs – especially the contemporary style, etc. The worship committee and council will contin-ue to dissect other points from the survey during the following months, but the basic structure will stay in place as it is. Again, if you want to review the re-sults of the survey, please do so on your own. If you have follow-up questions on that, don’t hesitate to contact a worship committee or council member. Pastor Steve Home phone 956-631-0273

Tuesday, May 3 5:30pm: Meet for dinner at the Jason’s Deli, 4100 N. 2

nd St.

in McAllen. 7:00pm: Come see “Max” in the Sanctuary. After U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott is killed in Af-ghanistan, Max, his highly trained service dog, is too traumatized to remain in service. Back in the U.S., Kyle's family adopts the dog. Kyle’s broth-er, Justin, and Max begin to bond, and set out to unravel the mystery of Kyle's death.

The SW TX Synod Assembly, being held April 29-May 1 in San Marcos, is highlighting ELCA World Hunger. The Assembly offerings benefit vari-ous ELCA efforts, like medical clin-ics, feeding refugees, & micro loans. The RGV Conference has

designated family farms as their offering, and Our Savior is part of that with both budgeted funds of $500 plus a special donation on April 24th. Kathy Herzberg, Jason Milligan & Pastor Steve are attending.

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS Healing: Lena Doering, Don Dun-shee, Kathy Eckman, Cassandra Erps, Joe Fuentes, Ruth Heitritter, Mike Hovland, Kimberly Johnston, Walt Knaus, Chuck Linstedt, Kay McLaughlin, Dorothy Murphy, Earl Nellermoe, Rose Oldershaw, Alexa Peña, Pat Phillips, Elrena Schoening, Sandy Schultz, Rudy Tokkesdal, Dylan Watkins, Phyllis Wells. Family Members: Norma Bilunas, Carol Bitner, Werner Doering. Friends of Congregation: Carrie Askins, Randy Bailey, Angelo Ba-zan, Erika Dew, Julie Erps, Denise Garcia, Mercy Garcia, Addy Haynes, Donna Hiltner, Ted Hoch-enauer, Virginia Huston, Joy Jack-son, Wyatt Kamp, Joe Keefe, Lucy McKay, Missy Krska, Kellie Meyers, Lola Reslow, Nancy Sandrock, Ka-ren Thompson, Valentin Treviño, Andrew Zezulka. In Military Ser-vice: Justin Garcia, Brian Hovland, Ramiro Sandoval.

For the Family and Friends of Evelyn Lawrence, who passed from life through death to life eternal on April 15.

Page 2

OSLC Dime Ministry The 2nd quarter of 2016 the dimes we give benefit the Outreach Ministry. Save the dimes you receive in change and bring them the last Sunday of the month.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES AT 10:45 AM in the LFC through May 22nd. SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS: We are studying the upcoming Gospel lessons using a resource from the ELCA. We meet in Classroom C, also through May 22nd. THURSDAY ADULT STUDY AT 10:00AM: This class will also study the Gospel les-son for the following Sunday. We meet in the fellowship hall in the Sanctuary building through May 26th. WEDNESDAY EVENING ADULT BIBLE STUDY meets at 6:30pm in the Library with a study of the Book of Revelation through May 25. All are welcome.

Thank you for your support for the New Hope Book Fair on April 17th. Thirty-six volunteers from OSLC made book marks, assembled books, and celebrated the day with refreshments! We thank Kari Rogers of Upbring for pre-senting the children's message in worship and speaking to our volunteers. Over 423 books were donated and $440 given to purchase books. Included in that amount was a Thrivent Financial grant for $250. Calvary Baptist church in McAllen also do-nated books, bookmarks, and book bags. Books may still be collected for New Hope. Bookshelves are needed for the shelter. We thank everyone who contributed, especially our Sunday Morning Teachers, Tonia & Pastor Steve Herzberg, Ned & Lorrie Long, and Kathy Herzberg, Outreach.

Service of Healing, Tuesday, May 17th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary, for all in need of healing and comfort. Join us for com-munion, laying on of hands, anointing, and prayer. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

Our newly commissioned Stephen Ministers are Kathy Bush, Rudy Losoya, Mary Lovig, Marge Varner, Les Watkins, Lynne Watkins, and Janet West. Please keep these people in your prayers as they carry the love of Christ to their care receivers.

So what are some of the benefits of having a Stephen Minister? Some-

times life just seems to pile up on us and we need a confidential source to talk it through. Other times significant issues happen in our lives that are just hard to get through on our own. These could be a serious health problem, death of a loved one, problems with one of our children or just a sense of overwhelming loneliness. It could also be a difficult financial time or a question of where you should be living now that your life situation has changed. Whatever the issue, Stephen Ministers are there to listen, encourage, pray for and provide spiritual and emotional support for their Care Receiver. So do yourself or someone you know a favor, should the need arise, and contact our confidential Stephen Ministry program.

NEED A RIDE to church? Please call

Kathy Bush at 956-605-0920 or Sue at

church. We are also creating a list of

people who will help drive those in your

area that need your help, so please call

and be a good Christian neighbor.

Jottings from Janet …and the good news is “HE is risen”. He is risen indeed and we are the beneficiaries of God’s

amazing love for us all. We are so blessed to be here at this time and in this place, let us contin-

ue to praise the Lord and rejoice for all we have received. We had a wonderful, relaxing vacation

with good food, great company and spectacular visits to God’s creation. It is oh so good to be

home however and I and happy to be at work among you. Our Wednesday night Bible study

group has resumed its study of the book of Revelation which will take us through the end of May.

Then we will begin our summer schedule with dinner and a movie, craft nights, and study. Stay

tuned and feel free to join as any time. This is an extraordinary group of dedicated Christians

who are eager to learn and fellowship together. Our Healing services will continue each month

on the 3rd

Tuesday of the month. We will evaluate the day of the week in the fall in order to not

compete with the Hombre’s meeting night. The next Dinner and a movie will be on the 1st Tues-

day of May which will be the 3rd

of May. We will meet at Jason’s Deli at 5:30 for dinner and then

come to church for the Movie “Max” which will start at 7 PM. Join us, it is so fun to be together in

Christian fellowship. Bring a friend if you like. The neighborhood pantry continues to do good

things for the neighborhood. Not only for food distribution but also clothes and other items that

have been donated. We are forming friendships with the people who come and we start the

morning with prayer, which everyone seems to enjoy. Thank you all for allowing me to serve you,

Janet West, AiM

33

MAY BIRTHDAYS 1 Greg Danielson 3 Sandy Bauer 3 Cindy Liljedahl 3 Esther Olsen 5 Ron Cheney 5 Gene Goede 6 Vicki Drews 6 Curt Liljedahl 9 Dave Askins 13 Marge Varner 17 Zane Juncker 17 Nicholas VanHee 18 Aric Eason 18 Jay Pena 19 Lynn Engel 19 Mackenzy Liljedahl 20 Lois Harrison 22 Vi Greenwald 22 Ramsey Reyes 23 Earline Dirickson 24 Shari Chisholm 26 Bev Marsh 29 Bill Robinson

ANNIVERSARIES

2 Robert & Dawn Garcia

9 David & Sally Askins

9 Charles & Marge Hopkins

20 Bob & Sandy Bauer

28 Les & Lynne Watkins

31 Bill & Verles Emry

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

6th Sunday of Easter 1 9:30am Communion 10:45am Sunday School 10:45am Adult Class ——-Assembly—/

2 7:30pm Tai Chi

3 8:30am Piecemakers 1:00pm Ladies Cards 5:30pm Dinner & Movie

4 6:30pm Revelation Class

5 10:00am Adult Class 5:30pm Worship & Music 7:30pm Praise Team

6

7

7th Sunday of Easter 8 Mother’s Day 9:30am Worship 10:45am Sunday School 10:45am Adult Class

9 10:00am Stephen Min 7:30pm Tai Chi

10 8:30am Piecemakers 6:30pm Council

11 6:30pm Revelation Class

12 10:00am Adult Class 7:30pm Praise Team

13

14 May 9-16 American Univer-sity, Wash. DC in LFC

Day of Pentecost 15 9:30am Communion 10:45am Sunday School 10:45am Adult Class

16 12:00pm NEWSLET-TER DEADLINE for June & July 7:30pm Tai Chi

17 8:30am Piecemakers 1:00pm Ladies Cards 6:30pm Healing Svc

18 6:30pm Revelation Class

19 10:00am Adult Class 7:30pm Praise Team

20

21 9-10am Pantry

Holy Trinity 22 9:30am Worship 10:45am Sunday School 10:45am Adult Class 10:45am LOST Event

23 10:00am Stephen Min 7:30pm Tai Chi

24 8:30am Piecemakers

25 6:30pm Revelation Class

26 10:00am Adult Class 7:30pm Praise Team

27

28 May 28-June 4 St. Lawrence Sem-inary, Mt. Calvary, Wisc. In LFC

2nd Pentecost 29 9:30am Worship

Memorial Day 30 Office Closed 7:30pm Tai Chi

31 8:30am Piecemakers

Sharing and Caring Items: 5/1: Canned Foods & Rice 5/15: Neighbor-hood Pantry Items

May

Treasurer’s Report-January to March, 2016: The information that follows reflects results for the first Quarter. Income Jan.-Mar: Actual $94,128, Budgeted $91,184, Difference $2,994. In-come higher than planned by 3%. Expenses: Actual $85,009, Budgeted $84,968, Difference ($41), Expenses about equal to budget (+$41). General comments: Income is above plan by $2994. Donations were less than planned $1,288, while miscellaneous income offset the dona-tion shortfall since it was higher than planned by $4,232. Expenses have been controlled and are about equal to the budget. The auto crash work is about completed. We are withholding the last payment of about $2,500 till the last step is complete. Regards, my friends. Tom Riesterer

BORDER AREA MISSION MINISTRIES

CARING & SHARING: We have enough hygiene kit materials, thanks to all who donated. Food needed for May 1st will be RICE, CANNED FOODS, and jello is always needed. For June, July and August we will be asking for all school sup-plies for Las Milpas and four colonias with 162 children. All items for school from backpacks, paper, folders, crayons, rulers, glue, etc. (no pencils), are needed. For the monthly Neighborhood Food Pantry, a list of needed items is in the Narthex. Please bring in one item in bulk or an entire bag, if you wish, on Sunday, May 15. You may also donate money and designate Food Pantry. Distribution of food bags will be on May 21st from 9:00 to 10:00am. God’s love is spread through you, to you and from you.

PIECEMAKERS Summer Piecemakers, we’re meeting on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. We welcome all hands to help. Come join us for quilting & fellowship, and bring your lunch. God’s Work, Our Hands

Our Savior Lutheran Church

1105 West Fern Ave

McAllen, TX 78501

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

PERMIT #65

Phone: 956-631-6121

Email: oslcelca@aol.com

www.oursaviormcallen.org

Need to send a fax? Call the office.

DATED MATERIAL

This newsletter was taken to the Post Office on April 21, 2016.

If you received this newsletter in error, please

contact the church office.

MAY 2016

Where...

God is seen,

Love is felt;

Lives are changed.

May Baskets Event on Sunday, May 22nd. Join us as we create May Baskets for our home bound members on Sunday, May 22nd. This is the last day of Sunday morning Bible Classes. We will be collecting hand creams, cookies, kleenex, handkerchiefs, flowers and other items for the baskets. Our Stephen Ministers will join our volunteer families and deliver the baskets to the homes of our members. Want to be a part of this Sunday Outreach? Contact Kathy Herzberg at 631-6707 or 686-4364. We thank you!

SCRIP NEWS: As we have all noticed, our congregation is going through it's annual "shrinkage"-there are fewer of us here to fill the sanctuary, to sing out together and to pay our bills. Remember, the proceeds from your SCRIP purchases go into the General Budget of our church. If you are still in The Valley, see me on our order Sundays to place your order. If you are "up North" and want to continue supporting OSLC, mail your order, check and a self addressed stamped envelope to Sue (1105 W. Fern, McAllen, 78501) and your cards can be mailed to you. Orders in May will be sent in on Sun, May 29 and deliv-ered on Sun, June 5. Thanks to all of you who are currently supporting this effort.

THE RESULTS for the Congregational Vitality Survey, measuring strengths and challenges of the congregation, and the results of the Worship & Music Survey, regarding the services, Sunday school, & adult ed. are available on the church website, oursaviormcallen.org. Just click on the links to the reports on our home page. Paper copies of the Worship & Music survey are also available in the Narthex.