December 2006

OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN STAFF

Our Savior Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

to confirmation camp and the Na-tional Youth Gathering. Then, we take a breath in July for people to travel and rest, and then we pick it up again in August to start all over again with a freshness and new-ness. . . . Missional River keeps on going through the summer. Thank you to so many who have respond-ed and participated in the various focus groups that have transpired over the last month. Beginning the last half of June, the LEAD team will change its attention to begin-ning to listen to the neighborhood. All those listenings – God, congre-gation, neighborhood – will come to a convergence by the final Re-treat in mid-October. We want to get ahead of the process at times and make certain decisions before the listening is completed. But we wait on the Holy Spirit as the disci-ples waited on the power from on high following Jesus’ ascension. And wow, did they get a surprise at

Inside this issue:

LEAD Team 2

New Sound Booth 2

Financial Report 2

Service of Healing 3

Janet’s Jottings 3

Social Ministry 3

Parking Lot project 3

Assembly Report 4

Afghans for Vets 5

Summer Camp! 5

June & July 2018

Greetings in the Name of Christ, our Lord and Savior,

It always amazes me how fast time keeps moving. The end of the school year is upon us and the start of summer schedules. The school year affects our church schedule and vice versa. We are intertwined as church and world. “We are in the world but not of the world.” Our values are different, and we become the leaven in the bread, the salt in the soup, the light in the darkness. The metaphors go on and on. We are aliens in a strange land, but we do not partici-pate alone. We have the Lord with us in His people and in His Spirit. We are the Body of Christ. Be the light. Be the salt. Be the leaven. . . . The first month of June and end of May always lift up our youth and children – from recognizing gradu-ating seniors to first communion classes to hosting summer camp to having a swim party to traveling

Volume , Issue

Our Savior Lutheran Church Living Faith Center

WORSHIP WITH US Worship at 9:30 AM

Coffee & Fellowship after the service. Communion is offered the first & third Sunday

of the 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 JASON MILLIGAN

VICE PRESIDENT MEGHAN CAMPOS

TREASURER BILL MAUCK

SECRETARY VICKI DREWS

BORDER MISSIONS FRED VARNER

FELLOWSHIP JASON MILLIGAN

EVANGELISM LIZ PETERS

JANET WEST

PHYLLIS YARDLEY

LEARNING & YOUTH EDWARD LONG

PROPERTY SAM MILLIGAN

STEWARDSHIP LYNN ENGEL

STEVE HERZBERG

WORSHIP & MUSIC KELLI VANHEE

VICKI DREWS

Financial reports and minutes are available in the Narthex.

It’s summer so time for good food and fellowship on the first Sundays of June and July! Bring a dish to share and we’ll eat together after worship.

Pastor’s Notes Pentecost! And wow, did the world get a reversal as well! What will our waiting and listening bring? Only God knows that at this point. Stay close to Him in prayer as we wait and listen in-tentively. . . . I want to invite you to participate in the Installation of our new pastor at St. John in San Juan. Following Pastor Sylvia de la Garza’s many years of service, the Pastor Erbey Gonza-les will be installed on Sunday, June 10

th, at 3pm

in the afternoon in St. John. We, as a congrega-tion in the Rio Grande Valley Conference of the ELCA, are invited to participate and walk along-side the congregants of San Juan. It’s also a chance to hear two sermons on that day – Janet West in the morning here and myself in San Juan later. What an offer! . . . Keep our ministries in prayer these next couple of months. Services of worship continue, activities with youth and chil-dren proliferate, the Missional River keeps on flowing! Thanks be to God! . . . Also thanks to many of you for your donations to the parking lot repair. We are about half way home on that part of the project. . . . Yes, time just keeps moving. But God’s love stays the same yesterday, today, and forever. Pastor Steve Cell phone 956-340-0020

June 3 & July 1!!

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Healing: David Almquist, Duane Bagaus, David Bourbois, Nessa Brooks, Louise Chase, Lena Doering, Don Dunshee, Marsha Erps, Ralland Harrison, Bob & Kay McLaughlin, George Mergler, Jim Offerdahl, Alexa Peña, Pas-tor Sylvia, Irma Shafer, Sally Vis-sering, Frank Zezulka. Family Members: Norma Bilu-nas, Werner Doering. Friends of Congregation: Rene Anliker, Carrie Askins, Brianna Beasley, Levi Bolton, Tracy Cam-puzano, George Convery, Cristy Dee, Ashley Delgado, Julie Erps, Belinda Garcia, Denise Garcia, Pat Garcia, Kali Hassebrock, Gene Haynes, MaryBeth Heikes, Donna Hiltner, Ted Hochenauer, Wes Johnson, Wyatt Kamp, Barry Kelley, Fidel Monreal, Stacene Maroushek, Leann Martens, Mary Louise, John McIntire, Heidi Meerdink, Kellie Meyers, Jeff Oby, Glenn Quizon, Lola Reslow, Michelle Roby, Melissa Rodri-guez, Nancy Sandrock, Merle Thompson, Julie Traina, Valentin Family, Melody Voss, Phyllis Wells, Anne Worske, Andrew Ze-zulka. In military service: Justin Gar-cia, Jason Hiles, Justin Hiles, Bri-an Hovland, Logan McLaughlin, Christopher Otten, Ramiro Sand-oval, Michael Winter. For the Family and Friends of Fred Thunhorst, who passed from life through death to life eternal on May 14.

Financial Review for January-April, 2018 April Income Year to Date 4 months Income

Actual $26,326 Actual $117,799

Plan $30,376 Plan $123,965

Difference $ -4,050 Difference $ -6,166

April Expenses Year to Date Expenses

Actual $23,357 Actual $ 97,977

Plan $21,969 Plan $100,553

Difference $+1,388 Difference $ -2,577

Four Months Actual vs. Plan (cash flow) Income less Expense

Difference Actual $ +19,822 Planned Difference $+24,412

Operating Funds Balance $118,276 Restricted Funds Balance $55,773

Usable Operating Funds $62,503

Income for April was less than our plan by $4,050. Offerings for envelopes and loose checks were less than planned by $1,898. Other income fell short by $2,152. Ex-penses for April was a bit more than budgeted. Year-to-date Income (117,799) less expenses (97,977) is positive though, by $19,822, as we head into the leaner sum-mer months. Offerings are right where they were budgeted for the year so far, but other income is less than expected by over $6,000.

Service of Healing Join us on Tuesday, June 19 and Tuesday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This service is open to all who are in need of healing and encouragement, with pray-er, communion, anointing and laying on of hands. “God’s love has been poured into

our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Romans 5:5b

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES will resume in September. It’s summer!!

THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY will continue June 14th at 10:00 a.m. We’ll take a closer look at the Gospel lessons for the week. Pastor Steve leads.

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SCRIP NEWS! This is a quick reminder that our Scrip program will continue through the sum-mer. We will be taking your or-ders on Sun, May 27 and deliver-ing them on Sun, June 3 and in June order on Sunday the 24th for delivery July 1 (in time to pur-chase your July 4th food and par-ty items!). In July the orders will be taken on Sunday the 29th for delivery on August 5. Thank you for your support.

CHOICE DOLLARS: With Thrivent Choice®,

Thrivent members can recommend where some of

Thrivent Financial's charitable outreach funds go,

including to OSLC. Since 2010, more than $370

million has been distributed to churches and non-

profits nationwide. Visit the OSLC website and

click on the Thrivent Choice image to be taken to

the Thrivent website, or call 800-847-4836 or visit thrivent.com/thriventchoice. A total of

$3,680 were donated to Our Savior in 2017 through Thrivent Choice. Thank you.

NEW SOUND AND PROJECTION BOOTH!

Thank you Russ Sandry and Les Watkins.

The LEAD team is in the process of finishing up the Listening to our Congregation step. We have discussed what we’ve learned from the survey and assessment with several different focus groups and have a few more groups to meet up with. We are getting ready for the next step—Listening to our Neighborhood. Peace. LEAD Team: Pastor Steve, Janet West, Dona VanRamshorst, Kathy Salinas, Kathy Herzberg, and Mary Lovig

JUNE ANNIVERSARIES

4 Lynn & Edith Engel

5 Duane & Verla Buenzow

5 William & Mary Curll

6 Ron & Roxanne Cheney

7 Bob & Karen Olson

8 Zane & Judy Juncker

19 Edward & Lorrie Long

27 Rudy & Verna Losoya

29 Daniel & Faith Meurrens

30 Gene & Joann Goede

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JULY BIRTHDAYS 4 Lena Doering 4 Karen Olson 7 Wendy Fowler 7 Patrick Hovland 7 John Klein 7 Jason Milligan 8 Verles Emry 9 Duane Bagaus 10 Delia Oberloh 13 Janice Zuzulka

16 Thomas McCann

20 Alex VanHee 27 Fred Varner 28 Sue Nielsen 30 Judy Colbenson 31 Shirley Johnson

JUNE BIRTHDAYS 2 Kathy Bush 2 Joan Einhorn 6 Paul Jensen 8 Dick Welding 13 Tonia Herzberg 16 Roxanne Cheney 17 Talia Fuentes 17 Phyllia Yardley 18 Verla Buenzow

19 Dorothy Case 21 Kay Paulson 22 Steve Herzberg

26 Diana Herzberg 27 Tyler Zuniga 29 Robert Garcia 29 Jude Young

JULY ANNIVERSARIES

1 John & Teri Klein

3 Kurt & Pam Von Rosenberg

7 Gene & Sue Nielsen

13 Javier & Jeanne Fuentes

13 Bennie & Margaret Mueske

16 Richard & Wendy Fowler

17 Larry & Judy Keefe

18 Dayle & Ruth Haaland

19 Bill & Irene Robinson

21 Sam & Michelle Milligan

30 Glen & Sally Vissering

SHOP AT AMAZON? You can help OSLC at the same time. How does Am-azonSmile work? When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organi-zation for over one million eligible organization. In order to browse or shop at

AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the selected organization. If you use OSLC’s unique charity link, you will be take directly to smile. Ama-zon.com and asked if you want to support us. The link is: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/74-1903015 or visit the church website at oursaviormcallen.org and click on the AmazonSmile banner.

SOCIAL MINISTRIES God’s Work, Our Hands SHARING & CARING: Every communion Sunday we collect food or supplies for distribution to our neighbors in need on the first Sunday of each month. For June, we ask for CANNED MEATS, and for July, CANNED VEGETABLES & CEREALS for our friends at Cristo Rey Lutheran Church in Las Milpas. All items are needed and appreciated. The third Sunday please bring items for the Neighborhood Pantry, helping fami-lies with food in our area. A list of the items we include in each bag is in the Narthex and you may also donate funds and designate Food Pantry. We’ll begin meeting again this fall, but the ministries continue throughout the summer. PIECEMAKERS: SUMMER PIECEMAKERS NEEDED! Multi-ple jobs are available, the work is easy, we have lots of fun, and we’ll go out to lunch together. Join us Tuesdays at 8:30 a. m.

Jottings from Janet:

Summer greetings from the desk of your Deacon. I pray for all to have a happy, healthy, spiritually fulfilling summer. Yester-day I received a gift from one of our winter Texans which was a recording of Paul Stockton’s “For the Love of it All” that I told you about in my last sermon. Also included was a promise for 2 God stories when they return in the fall. May week was made brighter and my heart lighter. God bless you all for your partici-pation in the God Stories. Our Healing services will continue on the 3

rd Tuesday of the

month all through the summer. Jesus tells us to participate in helping people heal. It has truly been my privilege to help in this way. The Food Pantry also continues throughout the summer. If you have time and interest in helping with this wonderful ministry join us. Many of our participants are winter Texans who are now up north and we could use the help. Our Wednesday night Bible study also continues all summer. When we finish our study of the book of Acts, we will have din-ner and a movie, a craft night, or any number of special nights. We are tentatively planning a neighbor block party or picnic in July, along with Potlucks after worship on the first Sunday of the month during summer. If anyone has an idea for an activity for the summer that would include our neighbors please let me know. May God’s presence be with you where ever you go this sum-mer. In His name, Deacon Janet West

The Food Ministry: Your donations help church fami-lies in need with $50 food cards. We are currently helping 2 families make ends meet. Thank you.

WORSHIP ASSISTANCE: Please sign up each week during the summer for ushering (4 each Sunday) & serving communion (2 on communion Sundays) & lectoring (1 each Sunday, the lessons will be sent to you for the week you are going to read). Thanks.

Our Savior Lutheran Church

PARKING LOT RENOVATION UPDATE: The estimate to update

our parking lot is $18,168, which includes removing all loose

stones, dirt, etc., cutting and patching depressed areas, two layers

of sealcoating, overlay of asphalt , and painting of yellow stripes

and handicap symbols. Please designate contributions for this pro-

ject by writing “parking lot” on your check. All funds will be put in

the Capital Outlay Restricted account. Any donations received be-

yond the estimate will be used to repair the sanctuary ceiling. We

have received $8,521.26 in donations for this project.

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SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS SYNOD ASSEMBLY:

Greetings in the name of our Risen Christ! I am excited and humbled to be serving as your new

Bishop, beginning September 1, 2018. Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support. I have been

reading through and praying over all of the prayer requests you shared with me at the Assembly.

They are prayers of thanksgiving, gratitude, hopes, and fears. They are all precious to me as I know

they are to God. In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to visiting with you and also get-

ting to work on more of our strategic plan priorities with our elected and appointed leaders. If you

want to be a part of any of these plans, do not hesitate to volunteer! The installation planning team

is off and running; the event will be held on Saturday, September 1 beginning at 2 pm at University

United Methodist Church in San Antonio. It will be good to be in the space of one of our strong ecu-

menical partners. I look forward to seeing many of you there. God’s richest blessings, Bishop-elect Sue Briner

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing

in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to comple-

tion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6 SYNOD ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS

• Elected Bishop’s Associate, Pr. Sue Briner, as the next Bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod. She will be installed into office on September 1 at 2:00 p.m. at University United Methodist Church in San Antonio.

• Prayer shawls used for the bishop’s election were made by volunteers across the synod. We sent an extra shawl back with Deacon Sue Rothmeyer for Presiding Bishop Eaton.

• Accepted San Pablo Lutheran Church, San Antonio, as a new congregation in the synod.

• Elected the following persons to synod leadership positions:

• Ministry Team Chairs – Pr. Sarah Nye for the Mission Team and Pr. Paul Miller for the Leadership Development Team

• Synod Council – Ashlynn Althaus, Gabriella Conklin, Carol Semper, John Kassel, Monica Buie, Yael Mendez, Pr. Gary Conklin, and Pr. Heather Hansen

• 2019 Churchwide Assembly – Hannah Hansen, Gene Conklin, Chip Wilson, Lupe Travis, Claire Roberts, Jimmie Eschberger, Pr. Jessica Cain, Pr. Jake Fain, Pr. Casey Zesch (also attending as ex officio members are Bishop-elect Sue Briner and synod VP, Carl Teinert)

• Consultation Committee – Pr. Ellen Williams and Leigh Ingram

• Discipline Committee – Pr. Carmen Retzlaff, Pr. William Swantner, James Ehler, and Karalyn Heimlich

• Two nominees for ELCA Church Council – Pr. Mark Behrendt and Pr. Marcus Bigott

• Approved a 2019-20 budget of $1,616,184.

• Enjoyed a farewell banquet for Bishop Ray and Debbie Tiemann on Saturday evening. The assembly celebrated the gifts received for the Tiemann Endowment Fund for Leadership Development - $57,170. Gifts are always welcome, and the 2019 assembly offering has been designated for the Tiemann Endowment.

• Received an assembly offering for the synod’s account in Fund for Leaders (supporting seminary scholarships) of $69,255.23. Gifts will continue to be received through August 31. Please mark gifts as “Synod Assembly Offering.”

• Announced the 2019 Synod Assembly to be held on May 31-June 2 at the Bayfront Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi

• Approved a resolution entitled, “Recognizing and Responding to the Status of Jerusalem, the City over which Jesus Wept.” It encourages congregations to use the ELCA’s “Peace Not Walls” resources to learn about elements that lead to peace and to utilize travel to Israel and Palestine, listening to all voices, to learn firsthand the complex issues of conflict and peace in that region.

COUNTDOWN TO THE ELCA YOUTH GATHERING! Youth Director Dawn Everson & Jason Milligan will

accompany our youth, Jessie Herzberg, Dylan Hernan-

dez, Nicolas VanHee & Hope Young, to the Gathering

in Houston. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and

peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the pow-

er of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Our Savior Lutheran Church

1105 West Fern Ave

McAllen, TX 78501

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DATED MATERIAL

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If you received this newsletter in error, please

contact the church office.

Phone: 956-631-6121

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www.oursaviormcallen.org

Need to send a fax? Call the office.

JUNE & JULY 2018

Where...

God is seen,

Love is felt;

Lives are changed.

AFGHAN MAKERS! Help is needed in making patriotic red, white & blue afghans again this year. All of the afghans you made in 2017 were given away at the Veteran’s Clinic. The veterans who received them were so ap-preciative. Each afghan was given with a card which read, “This afghan was made by a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church with love and gratitude for your service to our country.”

You can use any pat-tern, just make them at least 32 inches by 46 inches. Our goal is to deliver them to our local veterans on Vet-erans Day, November 11.

OSLC Dime Ministry

Save the dimes you receive in change and bring them the last Sunday of the month. Our dimes will help buy yarn to make afghans for our veterans. And if you don’t use change much, you can donate any amount you would like to help with this effort. Thanks.