ECHOES Weekly-December 23, 2018 Our Savior’s Lutheran Church 2124 Viola Rd NE Rochester, MN 55906

WELCOME VISITORS! "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, to the glory of God." Romans 15:7 We welcome new visitors and old friends, long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to faith. To those who have no church home, want to follow Christ, have doubts, do not believe, you are welcome here. Regardless of age, color, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, marital status, abilities or challenges, join us, you are welcome here. You are welcome to worship, to celebrate and sorrow, to rejoice and recover. This is a place where lives are made new.

Hearing devices are available in the sound system area at the back of the Sanctuary. These devices can be used with or without a hearing aid.

Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God from Francis Pflibsen.

Remember in your Prayers:

Concerns: Ruth Suby; Eric Schatz (Phyllis’s son); Lorrie Swancutt; Bonnie Storlie; Jean Sanders (Connie Leckband’s mother); Terry Wagner; Marsha Dick, Gladys Jensen

Military Concerns: Austin Nicklay; Aaron Holst; Chris Sikich, Margaret & Catherine Maher; Paul Schroeder; Clark Rose; Eric Brown; Scot Heathman, Ryan Nordstrom, Dan & Kelly Pickett, all our service men and women serving in the Military and all of our veterans who have served.

Missionary Partner: Palliative Care Program at Iambi Hospital, Tanzania

Seminary: Timothy O’Shields

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PLANNING A 2019 EVENT AT OSLC???? 1. Check the online calendar at

www.rochesteroslc.org. This calendar is the most updated and will tell you if other events have already been planned.

OR 2. Check with Joanne in the church office. This is for all events happening at OSLC. even if you’ve always done it that day in the past. Please try to plan ahead a month or two or even more. This is a very busy building and it’s generally first come first serve.

SIMPLY GIVING Several people indicated on the intent cards they may be interested in giving through Simply Giving. There are forms in the Business Center on the wall rack. They can be filled out and left in my box marked Financial Secretary in the Business Center, or you can contact me for more information. Tim Hornseth, Financial Secretary

Office Hours—Week of Christmas December 24—Office Closed 4:00 & 5:30pm Worship 10:00pm Worship December 25—Office Closed 9:00am Worship December 26—Office Closed Pastor Fred is out of town Dec. 26—Jan. 2 Pastor Ben will be out of town after worship on Dec. 30—Jan. 1. If you need pastoral care Dec. 30—Jan. 1, please call Pastor Roy Satre at 289-0959 or 358-8710

Team Chairs: Annual reports are due to the church office no later than January 13 to make the annual report.

Merry Christmas from the entire staff here at OLSC.

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FAITHFULLY FIT Thursdays at 8:30 am. Come to the narthex at church to do chair exercises, balance

work, and routines with light hand weights. Laughter, another good part of keeping fit, and conversation make an enjoyable morning hour. All are welcome. We will not be meeting on December 20 or 27. We will resume meeting on January 3.

2018-19 ALTAR FLOWERS Here’s a quick look... Dec. 30—Servais Jan. 6—OPEN Jan. 13—OPEN

Jan. 20—Flynn Jan. 27—Seegmiller Feb. 3—OPEN Feb. 10—OPEN

If you would like to give Altar Flowers, see the sign-up sheet on the large bulletin board in the hallway. Cost is $40.00 and the flowers are yours to take home after the last worship.

JOIN US FOR MEN’S FELLOWSHIP We meet on the 2nd & 4th

Saturday of the month at 7:00am to study the Sunday Bible reading. All men are welcome to attend. Coffee and juice are offered. Bring your own breakfast roll or sandwich.

GATHER GALS will be meeting the 2nd Monday through May at 6:15pm at Dunn Bros N.

HOLIDAY OFFERINGS The Thanksgiving offering are divided between Channel One and ELCA World Hunger, addressing the needs of hungry people both locally and globally. The Advent offerings are divided between Salvation Army and Lutheran Disaster Relief, again addressing needs both locally and globally. The Christmas offerings are divided between the Women’s Shelter and Habitat for Humanity, addressing the needs of people needing shelter.

NEW on the Narthex Counter Christ in Our Home The Word in Season

The Lutheran, December Issue

Greg & Jean Anderson....... in memory of John & Genevieve Anderson Clifford & Irene Christenson Flynn Family (2) ............................................. in honor of Grandparents Arnold Fredrikson .................................................. in memory of Gracia Mary Ann Smith ...................................................... to the Glory of God Karen Grant (2) ........................................................ to the Glory of God Merle & Betty Peterson ................................. in memory of loved ones Wayne & Stephanie Douglas ................................... to the Glory of God The Fohrman Ladies ...................................... in honor of church family Rich & Sandy Pederson ............................................ for many blessings Katie Zahasky (2) ....................................................... in honor of family Merle & Carol Houdek ................................. in honor of grandchildren Robert & Joan Loos ............................. in memory of Susan Marie Loos Tim & Megan Valen ........................................ in memory of loved ones Arlen & Joanne Heathman ........................................ in honor of family Wanda & Drew Hagquist ......................................... to the Glory of God Pastor Fred & Sherry Rengstorf .........in honor of children & grandkids Tammy & Bruce Olson (2) .................... in honor of Our Savior’s Family To the Glory of God Craig & Diana Martens ........................................ in memory of parents Anonymous (4) ...................................... in memory of deceased family

Our Savior's Youth sincerely thanks the following members and friends for helping adorn our sanctuary with poinsettias. We would also like to thank Scott and Wendy Moon and Sargents for providing the plants. All proceeds support the youth.

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ST. MARKY MARK'S FUNKY LUNCH And you in your 20s-40s! Why not stick around after GIFT and join us for our hour-long, every-other Sunday gathering where we read through the Gospel of Mark? SO! If you wish you knew more about Jesus and have wanted to read the Bible but wanted to read it with people in a similar life-stage who wouldn't judge you for not knowing 'everything,' or whatever, we hope you can stay after GIFT! Lunch and childcare are provided! Next Meeting Date: January 6

JANUARY/FEBRUARY CONGREGATIONAL PROJECT Tied Fleece Blankets – The giving project for January and February will be making tied fleece blankets for Lutheran World Relief. Donations of 2 pieces of fleece 58-59 inches wide and 80 inches long are

requested. Bring them to the basket in the narthex. In later February a workday to tie the blankets will be arranged.

SEMINARY SCHOLARSHIP – The earning from the OSLC Endowed Scholarship Fund at Luther Seminary has been awarded for this school year. The recipient is Timothy O’Shields, who was also the recipient last year. You may have met him when he preached at OSLC last summer. His name will be listed in our weekly prayers.

WE'RE ONLY TWO AWAY! As of this past Thursday, we have received 137 intent cards for 2019, with a total of $388,259.08 committed! This is an amazing amount of intent cards and financial gifts; thank you so much!

BUT...this also means that we are only TWO CARDS AWAY from meeting our first tier challenge of 139 intent cards received.

SO, if you have not yet turned in an intent card for 2019, please do! There is a $4,000 challenge gift from the Stewardship Committee and Leadership Team hanging in the balance!

MAKING SENSE OF MARTIN LUTHER

Beginning on Thursday, January 17, we will make our way through the book Making Sense of Martin

Luther by Dr. David Lose. This is the 4th book in Dr. Lose’s Making Sense series. We will gather at 11AM

in the Fellowship Hall. If you’d like to be part of the study and discussion, please sign up on the sheet

in the Narthex to order a book. Pastor Ben will be leading this study.

The study will go for 7 weeks

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM BISHOP STEVEN DELZER "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”

Romans 10:15 This is the biblical text that I used on Sunday, December 2 when I preached at the ordination of 24 new pastors in the Central Diocese of the Lutheran Church in Tanzania: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Feet are not usually considered to be the most beautiful part of the body. At least that is certainly true when it comes to my feet. I wear a size 14 shoe. It takes a big shoe to balance this tall body. But my feet are also rather ugly from 40 years of playing basketball on hardwood floors and 50 years of running on hard roads. I don't know how your bare feet look, but I know that some in my family try to make their feet more beautiful with pedicures and polish. Even if they don't look better, they feel better. But that’s not what makes for beautiful feet according to Romans 10. There, the beautiful feet are the feet of those who bring good news, the good news of God’s compassion, grace, forgiveness and love. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” I’ve been thinking about those 24 new Tanzanian pastors who this Christmas will declare to the congregations they serve, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” And I’ve been thinking about the hundreds of people, who upon hearing this good news, will join that multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” And then I think about the tiny feet of that newborn infant lying in that manger in Bethlehem; and the 12-year-old feet of that adolescent sitting among the teachers in the temple in Jerusalem; and the 30-year-old feet of that young man in the synagogue in Nazareth declaring: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” During this Advent and Christmas season, may our feet be beautiful because of the good news that we bring, the good news we declare in the hymn, “He Came Down” (ELW 253): He came down that we may have love, He came down that we may have light, He came down that we may have peace, He came down that we may have joy; Hallelujah forevermore. Peace & Joy in Christ, Bishop Steven Delzer, Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

8:30am Worship Assistants Greeters/Offering: Pat Heath, Ruth Moran Communion Assts: Pam Shulze, Katie Zahasky Usher/Offering: Wayne Servais Prayer Reader: Katie Zahasky 8:30am Sound Board: Bob Westland 10:00am Sound Board: Bev Gronvold Coffee Prep: Arlysse MacGillivray Coffee Clean up: Treats: Bill Nicklay Offering Counters: Tim & Jean Hornseth Altar Guild: All Altar Guild Members Organists/Pianists: Ruth Benning, Mandy Lambrecht, Bruce Rohde, Jan Matson

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Luke 1:57-66 57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John." 61They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Sunday, December 23 8:30am Worship 9:30am Fellowship 10:00am GIFT Worship Monday, December 24 Joanne off—Office Closed P.B. day off 4:00pm Christmas Eve Worship 5:30pm Christmas Eve Worship 10:00pm Christmas Eve Worship Tuesday, December 25 Office Closed 9:00am Christmas Day Worship Wednesday, December 26 P.F. out of town Office Closed Thursday, December 27 P.F. out of town 6:00am Promise Keepers Friday, December 28 P.F. out of town 9:00am Bulletin Prep

Saturday, December 29 P.F. out of town 7:00am Men’s Fellowship Sunday, December 30 P.F. out of town 8:30am Worship 9:30am Fellowship NO GIFT Worship P.B out of town after worship Monday, December 31 Office closed P.F. & P.B. out of town Pastoral Coverage: Pastor Roy Satre 289-0959 Tuesday, January 1 Office closed P.F. & P.B. out of town Pastoral Coverage: Pastor Roy Satre 289-0959 or 358-8710 Happy New Year

Office—289-3021 Website: www.rochesteroslc.org Pastor Ben Loven—pastorbenloven@gmail.com; cell 701-580-1559 Pastor Fred Rengstorf—pf@rochesteroslc.org; cell 507-273-4939 Joanne Hamilton, Office—office@rochesteroslc.org Carole Joyce, Family Ministry Consultant—carole35@charter.net

10:00am GIFT Worship

Next Week: Simeon and Anna Luke 2:22-40

8:30am Worship Advent Song Service

Trip to Holden Village Depart by train evening of June 13 Returning back June 23 Cost: $456 Adults 18+ yrs of age

$336 Youth Transportation is not included. Questions...See Pastor Fred Sign up on the large bulletin board. We will need deposit for first nights stay by Dec 31st. See details on bulletin board.

4th Sunday of Advent