Our Savior's Lutheran Church

Reaching out and Growing up!

At Our Savior's Lutheran Church we seek to Reach Out to people in the name of Jesus, and help them Grow Up into joyful disciples of Jesus. 

 

Pentecost:  Celebrating our Ministry

On May 11th, Christian churches celebrate Pentecost.  Pentecost is one of the big Holy days of the church year, and yet it pales in comparison to Christmas and Easter.  Attendance doesn't tend to rise on Pentecost Sunday, families don't gather together for a great feast, presents are not given.  However, I wonder if we are missing something.  Perhaps Pentecost should be a day of just as big a celebration as we have at Christmas and Easter because what we celebrate is just as important and pertinent to our lives.  On Pentecost the Jewish community gathered in Jerusalem and during their worship service they were gifted with the Holy Spirit.  Something like flames of fire appeared on every head, and all were able to understand each other.  The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, theat Jesus promised to his disciples was the promise of Jesus that the Spirit of God would reside with God's people, keeping God's love, healing, and service alive through them.  And on Pentecost the Holy Spirit landed on the heads of all people of faith igniting them in mission.  Pentecost is a day when we celebrate our job as Jesus' followers.  We rejoice that God is with us in the Holy Spirit, calling us, challenging us, and pushing us forward in mission and love to the entire world.

Celebrating Our Giving and Service

On Pentecost we do indeed need to celebrate, rejoicing in our accomplishements, all the while looking forward and outward.  Over this past year, we at Our Savior's have been active in our faith.  While gas prices rose, and the cost of milk and groceries went up, you all still gave to the church and to those in need.  When challenged during Lent, we took an offering for World Hunger which resulted in $4000.00.  A few weeks ago we took a special offering to support the Fribergs (our missionary family in Tanzania) and people gave an additional $800.  Our basket was full after the March Minnesota Food Share challenge with very little promotion.  Indeed the people of God are at work in their giving and service.  Thank you, people of Our Savior's for your generosity and ability to keep looking outward.

Celebrating the Challenge:

Could you give $8 to World Hunger?

On April 17th and 18th, five of us from Our Savior's went to Rochester for our Synod Assembly.  Our theme for the assembly was A Synod at Table with the Hungry.  Bishop Usgaard opened worship preaching on the feeding of the five thousand in the Gospel of John, noting that it was a child who offered up his barley loaves and fish that allowed this miracle to happen.  Bishop Usgaard stated, "Isn't it just like a child to share. They dare to share because they know there is someone there to provide."  We at Our Savior's know that God is there to provide for us, the community of faith is there to provide and so we do indeed share.  It is evident.  We do still have a challenge set before us.  Our Synod has been challenged to give 1 million dollars to world hunger this year.  It seems like such a lofty goal.  But, what that means to you and me is $8.00.  Eight dollars!!!!  Can you believe that?  If everyone in our synod gave $8 to world hunger we would be at that lofty goal for $1 million. Our congregation already has given $4000 which means of our members 500 people have given $8 or others have given more.  We are a congregation of 1496 confirmed members, and 2187 baptized members.  To reach the goal of giving $8 our collective giving would need to be between $12,000 and $17,000 to world hunger (an additional $8,000 - $13,000). I believe that we can reach that goal and still continue to keep our giving to the church.  I believe that the Holy Spirit is blowing its way across our congregation enlivening the dreams and visions of all.   Can you feel it?

Pastor Joanna