our savior’s annual meeting for fiscal year 2015 our savior’s · the sale is expected to...
TRANSCRIPT
President's Report by Coey Minear
Members of Our Savior’s,
With the Annual Meeting now upon us, it falls
to me to summarize the past year and all that
has happened. However, as I think about the
past year, what quickly comes to mind is the
one thing that hasn’t happened as expected: the
land sale.
After a lively, but respectful, debate about
whether we would sell the parcel of land to the
south of us, to the developer of a senior living
complex, we voted to approve the sale.
However, the developer then asked to postpone
the sale, and we agreed. And then they asked
to postpone again, and again. As of right now,
the sale is expected to complete in early
October of this year. When one of these delays
was requested, Pastor Steve and a member
acting as our attorney in this matter, Mary
Ranum, asked for an additional amount of
earnest money. While the developer was upset
by this request, they did comply. So we will
have a little more to show if the developer were
to decide to walk away from the deal
completely.
As a result of this non-action, there can be no
final decision on what to do with the proceeds
of the sale. Once the sale has completed, the
Planning Council will make a recommendation
as to how to handle the money from the sale,
and they will bring it to us, the members of this
church, to vote on.
Another memorable event of the past year is of
course, the announcement that our music
director, Dr. Doug Thompson, would leave Our
Savior’s. While his musical talents were great,
the Planning Council were aware of issues that
eased our acceptance of his resignation. And
thus as a result, a team of staff and members
formed a committee to find our next music
director. The conclusion of this team caused us
to make an offer to Kyungouk Ko, an offer
which Kyung accepted. It is our hope that
Kyung will provide new leadership and
openness to our music programs here at Our
Savior’s.
It goes without saying that the most momentous
accomplishment of the past year is the retirement
of the mortgage. So while it is easy to say that
our building is paid for and we have hopes for
how we can direct our funds towards improving
programs, we cannot forget that there are a
number of projects that haven’t happened
because of the scarcity of resources over the past
few years. So while the building may be ours
completely, the maintenance of the building and
grounds are still our responsibility, and the
Planning Council will need your help and
guidance in accomplishing the many large
projects that are needed to keep our church a
safe and welcoming place to worship.
Finally, I would like to thank all of the members of
the Planning Council I have worked with, past and
present. They have been a pleasure to work with
during the past 3 years, and I appreciate their
commitment to guiding this church of ours as
best we could.
Yours in the service of Christ,
Coey Minear
Planning Council President
Staff Lead Pastor: Reverend Steve Sylvester Pastor for Children, Youth, & Family Reverend Tim Maybee Pastor for Seniors: Reverend Craig Hanson Director of Technology & Operations: Brian Sanderson Director of Music: Kyung Ko Administrative Assistant: Deb Zitur Children, Youth, & Family Associates: Charisse Froemke, Claire Davidson, Nick Gilbert Facility Manager Bill Roy Director of Noah's Ark Preschool: Char Todd Organist/Pianist: Kyung Ko Director of Children’s Choir: Joy Rauner Director of Bell Choirs Open Planning Council Coey Minear, President Juli Smith, Vice President
Christine Ventrelli, Treasurer Karen Moberg, Secretary Members - at - Large: Laura Ashmore, Steve Nieno David Carlson David Guelzow Russ Ellenwood
Our Savior’s 2015-2016 Annual Meeting August 28, 2016 September 11,
the Sunday after Labor Day,
is Refresh Sunday!
Refresh Sunday is when we bid farewell to
summer and rededicate ourselves to our
sisters and brothers in the faith here at Our
Savior’s. As in past years, this Refresh Sunday
will be full of games, food and fun and, of
course, there’s worship too. On September
11 we will begin our new Sunday format.
Worship will be at 8:45 and 10:45 with Faith
Formation and Fellowship from 9:55 to 10:35.
Page 12 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016
Opening Prayer Opening Hymn Call to order & Quorum Declaration Approval of agenda Approval of 2015 Annual Meeting Minutes President’s report Pastors’ reports Staff / Ministry Team Reports Elections/Affirmations for Office Planning Council Election Endowment Foundation Board Affirmation Nominations Committee Slate Affirmation Financial Report Approval of Budget for 2016—2017 Unfinished Business New Business Motion to Adjourn Closing Prayer Closing Hymn
Annual Meeting Agenda
CREATED FOR RELATIONSHIP
CALLED TO SERVE
9185 Lexington Ave. N Circle Pines, MN 55014
www.oursaviorsonline.org
Phone: 763.784.1971 Fax: 763.784.4693
E-mail: [email protected]
OUR SAVIOR’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
Planning Council: David Carlson Erika Pouliot Pat Hilger
Endowment Foundation:
Roberta Dale Cindy Schweisow Bruce Johnson
Nominating Committee: Sheryl Gilbert Gail Willenbring Jeff Johnson
Nominations
Steve Sylvester, Lead Pastor
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we put a wrap on another
year there are many things for
which I am thankful, from the
continued faithfulness of so
many members, whose talents
and energies make this
congregation a vital community
in Christ, to a staff that helps us
keep focused on values like
Christian relationship, growth in
faith and reaching out into our
community and the wider world.
We had another delegation visit
our sisters and brothers in
Guatemala, we experienced yet
another wonderful Agape
gathering over the winter, our
ministries with Children and
Youth touched numerous lives,
not only here in the
congregation, but in Denver
and Kansas City during mission
trips, our Amazing Grays
embraced one another,
especially those who lost loved
ones this past year, Holy
Hammers completed builds to
house families, Family Table
celebrated the culmination of
over a decade of ministry, we
burned our mortgage… It was
just a great year.
As we prepare for September,
there are two things about
which I’m most excited. One is
our move from two to three
Sunday worship services. Our
three worship format on Sunday
mornings required that we
spend a good deal of energy on
moving people in and moving
people out at the expense of
having the opportunity of
focusing on relationship
development. With 3rdWay
worship at 8:45 and ReNEW! at
10:45, and what we’re calling
Disturbing the Earth: Growing
our Faith, from 955 to 10:35, we
are excited about the
opportunity to spend time
deepening our ties to one
Pastors’ Annual Reports
Page 2 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016
another. Our 3rdWay worship
will be a more liturgical
worship anchored with piano,
including a mix of hymns and
newer songs, with full on
traditional worship 8 times
September through May.
ReNEW! worship will retain the
same kind of music and format
as the past several years. As
we move through the fall we
will be asking for responses to
the 3rdWay worship in
particular, with an eye to
beginning to introduce any
needed changes beginning in
January.
The other thing about which
I’m excited is that, pending
approval of the proposed
budget at the Annual Meeting,
we will have a full-time
Director of Music for the first
time in a few decades, and a
full-time Director of Youth
Ministry for the first time in
several years. Kyung Ko has
been with us now for two
months. I have tremendously
enjoyed not only his musical
virtuosity, but even more his
desire to be a faithful servant
leader to God’s glory. I know
many of you have also enjoyed
Kyung and his contributions.
He is the right person to lead
our music ministry into the
future. Moving Nick Gilbert
from half-time to full-time will
also pay dividends. This move
will mean not only stronger
ministry with and through our
youth, but it will give time and
energy back to Pastor Tim so
that he can focus on some
other things.
I will soon be concluding my
10th year of ministry at Our
Savior’s. I have no idea where
the time has gone. What I do
know is that I am as excited
and pleased to be with now as
I was when I first arrived a
Page 11 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016
Craig Hanson, Pastor for Seniors
I continue to enjoy my pastoral
ministry at OSLC very much.
I’m privileged to work with a
very dedicated and very
capable staff. It functions like a
team and is supportive of each
other.
The Care Team is blessed with
strong leadership and some
very loving care team
members. There are 14 care
providers that make the life of
our shut-ins so much brighter.
I continue making connections
with members who are in care
centers, those unable to get
around easily, and hospitalized.
The “Grays” I hang around with
are amazing. Their zest for
living and joy of the Lord is a
great witness to me.
I look forward to a great year
of worship and study of
scripture with you.
In Christ,
Pastor Craig
Out Reach Ministries - Global Ministries
San Isidro Labrador (SIL) -In
June, OSLC sent its 8th delega-
tion to visit and strengthen our
partnership with San Isidro Labra-
dor (SIL). During the visit we cele-
brated 2 baptisms, 5 1st com-
munions, and 6 weddings. At the
church council meeting we
learned of the congregation's
accomplishments (regular wor-
ship and Bible studies, growth of
children and youth ministry,
property improvements), chal-
lenges (outgrowing current wor-
ship space, drought, need for
improved or new well), and
dreams (plans to build a larger
and more permanent church). We
also renewed our partnership
commitment for 3 more years.
Iglesia Luterana Agustina de
Guatemala (ILAG) is looking for
land to purchase to build the
Miracle Education Center, a
school for young women to learn
skills. A dormitory for 10 girls will
be built at the Lutheran Center
(displacing the center’s chickens
for the girls), in order to start a
pilot program next year. SIL has
been faithful in sending leaders
to the church leadership trainings
at the Lutheran Center. Congre-
gations in the Petén region,
where SIL is located, have had a
shortage of corn for food and
seed due to drought. There were
no reports of lost crops due to
recent rains caused by Hurricane
Earl.
Tarkanfi-Start Walking - We
continue to support our friend
and OSLC member Worknesh
Begi in her volunteer mission
work leading community devel-
opment projects in impoverished
areas of Ethiopia. Worknesh’s
ability to bring about needed
change continues to amaze us.
decade ago. This is a
congregation with a heart for
Christ and a desire to do God’s
work among his children and
to care for creation as
thoughtful stewards. Thank
you for giving me the
opportunity to share with you
in the promise and work of the
gospel.
Peace,
Pastor Steve
Hiring a Full Time Director of
Youth Ministries
We at OSLC have a great tradition
of very strong children’s and
youth ministry programs. In fact,
many families are members of
OSLC because they were first con-
nected through such ministries as
Youth Club, Confirmation, COW,
and Mission Trips. Every year
more and more young people
connect to our Lord because they
get involved in this congregation.
This has been the case at OSLC
because of our wonderful history
of investment in and support of
children’s and youth ministries.
We have a great “climate” for
ministry here. I see evidence of
this all the time: from the inclu-
sion of the children as leaders to
the willingness to use resources
to give kids a chance to just hang
out and learn about Jesus
through various middle and high
school youth ministries. There is a
clear love for young people and
even a trust that God is working
in and through them for the sake
of the whole church. Let this be
the basis for the following case
for a greater investment in the
youth ministries of Our Savior’s
Lutheran Church.
The Case for More Hours
The Director of Youth Ministries
position has not always been part
-time. In the last decade, a cam-
paign was undertaken to make
the position full time. At that
point in the history of the church,
the Director of Children’s Minis-
tries was also full time. Each of
the three Children, Youth, and
Family positions carry out a dif-
ferent role in the life of the
church. The Associate for Confir-
mation (Charisse) oversees our
very large confirmation program
and the SALT students.The Asso-
ciate for Children oversees minis-
tries with kids aged birth to fifth
grade.
(Continued on next page)
Tim Maybee, Pastor for Children, Youth, and
Family Recent achievements include clean
water at 5 sites, more children at-
tending school, start-up businesses,
two new classroom blocks for the
school, an orphan’s fund, and con-
struction of a women’s center.
Bread for the World - Our annual
Bread for the World letter writing
Sunday was June 5. Letters were writ-
ten after each service in Luther Hall to
our two senators and U.S. representa-
tives (several districts included). Our
letters focused on getting Congress
to increase funding for the nutrition
and health of mothers, newborns,
and young children.
EPES/AHA - Karen Anderson, foun-
der and sister of Roberta Dale, will be
on home leave in the summer of
2017 and we will try to get her to
come speak at OSLC again. EPES led
the successful fight for tough tobacco
control measures including a ban on
advertising and indoor smoking; they
continue to respond to natural disas-
ter emergencies, such as the tsunami
that hit northern Chile last Sept; they
won the contract to create courses
and do intensive training with public
health personnel in Santiago and
Concepcion. The OSLC Endowment
fund sent a grant of $450 this spring
for EPES continued work with the
families in Valparaiso whose homes
were destroyed by fire in 2014.
Proposed Budget 2016 - 2017
In order to provide the most current
information, the Proposed Budget will be
available for review at the Annual Meeting.
The Associate for Youth oversees all ministries outside of confirmation with middle and high school youth. Additionally, Pastor Tim
oversees and supports their work, as well as, carrying out pastoral duties of preaching, teaching, strategic planning and lay ministry
empowerment.
In 2013, because of budget constraints, we went from having 105 weekly hours in these positions to 60 weekly hours for the same
number of ministries. There are more than 300 young people involved in the ministries in an active sense and well over 400 on our
“books.” We’ve kept our heads above water, but imagine what God could do with even 20 more hours amongst the CYF staff!
We are at a crossroads as a community, a time wherein we get to choose (with the guidance of the Holy Spirit) how we will commit
ourselves to God’s work for the years to come. We have the chance to do some pretty amazing things with the recent retirement of the
mortgage. As I see it, the great good that we can do with a retired mortgage falls into two categories: maintenance and mission. These
are both important, good things. Indeed, they are not even mutually exclusive as “maintenance” makes mission possible and without the
mission of the church there is no reason to maintain anything. Still, there is a line of demarcation that distinguishes these two and I think
a focus on one to the exclusion of the other at this exciting time would work to our detriment.
At this important moment in the life of our church, I would like to make the case for committing to mission by increasing hours for our
Youth Director from 20 weekly hours to full time. In my view, this is a top priority. In what follows I will provide reasons for why this is
such a priority at this moment.
Many youth are not being reached. There are two important numbers that we talk about in the CYF staff. The first is concerned with
who is coming—who is a part of the ministries here at Our Savior’s. The second is who is not here. Those kids still matter and we could
do more to be in ministry with them.
A chance to get into the community. The days in which a church can simply advertise an event and expect that there will be a full
house are over. So, Nick and I have been discussing our desire to make our presence known and felt in the community. I think this
begins small by meeting with individual kids outside of the church, by attending their events, and by just being present in their lives.
Who knows what else will arise once we have the time to commit to such an outward focused ministry. At the moment most of our time
is spent scrambling to keep the internal ministries up and running. There’s not enough time to focus on the external call to go and make
disciples. With more hours, we can start to meet kids where they are at so that they can know the love that Christ has for them.
More excellence in internal ministries. We are currently operating at capacity. Last year we tried to start a new ministry for the youth
(Sunday Funday) and it has been variably successful—at times drawing kids in, at other times having a paltrier showing. But with so few
hours for youth ministry there has not been nearly enough time to make this the excellent program it could have been. Moreover, time-
resources have had to be funneled from existing ministries to get this one off the ground. We tried it, but could not put in the time that
was really required of such a ministry so it has been mediocre at best. Going forward with more hours we have the chance to have better
ministries and then to think about having more ministries.
More empowerment for young people. One would think that fewer staff hours would mean more time for youth and volunteers to
take responsibility for the ministries and, ultimately, for their faith. Yet, that is not the case. One of the most time-consuming things a
youth minister can do is work with volunteers and youth so that they are responsible for the ministry. Also, when kids feel like they are
responsible for the ministries they are more likely to feel needed at church and to actually choose to be a part of a church in young-
adulthood.
More opportunities for service. Our youth LOVE to serve in the community. When we ask what they’d like to do, community service
and acts of justice are always at the top of the list. But when Nick is barely making hours work with the ministries we have there is no way
anyone has the time to coordinate such events.
Stagnation. We have the perfect amount of hours for the ministry that we currently have. With these hours we can definitely keep afloat
for a while but there won’t be much of an opportunity for outreach or to grow deeper or larger. An investment in the Youth Director
position is an investment in the whole church.
Avoiding burnout. Both for your CYF pastor and your youth director. Youth workers have some of the shortest tenures in the church.
Many feel called to this work because of a love of God and a passion to reach kids with God’s love (Nick fits this SO well) but churches
rarely create the conditions for sustainable youth ministries or sustainable youth ministry careers. An investment in the Youth Director
position is an investment in the lives of the kids themselves who need some stability and long-term relationships with trustworthy, caring
adults.
Better communication. Not much needs to be said here. We all know that this needs to happen and that it takes time.
(Continued on Page 5)
Tim Maybee, Pastor for Children, Youth, and Family (Continued from page 2)
Page 3 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016 Page 10 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016
The congregation will have an opportunity to learn more about the following local and global ministries we support at the Ministry Fair
between services on October 16.
Outreach Ministries Local
Holy Hammers - This year,
between 11 May and 27 July,
twenty volunteers contributed
one or more day’s labor to
building a Habitat for
Humanity home at 11
Maryland Ave. East in St Paul.
Additionally, ten members
donated food items for the
work crew on two if the days.
A benevolence outlay from
OSLC of $2000 was requested
to help provide the over
$130,000 contribution made
by the Holy Hammers to Twin
Cities Habitat for Humanity.
Ten volunteers also
contributed a day of labor (3
Aug.) to help build a Thrivent
Builds with TCHFH home at
Lexington and 121st Avenues.
A $500 grant from the OSLC
Foundation was used as a
contribution towards that
build.
Family Table - Our Savior's
first Family Table was held in
October 2005, with 30 guests
and 30 volunteers. Since that
time 124 Family Tables was
hosted at Our Savior's. On
Tuesday, February 16, 2016,
Family Table celebrated its
final neighborhood meal, as
Kris Houser, who had been
serving as cook and central
driving force since those early
days, was moving to Florida.
Family Table was a vital and
important ministry for our
area through the relationships
it created and nurtured
among guests and volunteers,
and certainly also because as
many as 200 persons any
given month knew that on the
third Tuesday they would be
warmly welcomed and well-
fed.
Community School Supplies
Program – 21st year! OSLC is
again leading this program.
We expect to provide 400 local
public school students K – 12,
with custom-packed backpacks.
About 160 of these students
will be served by Adopt-a-
Backpack donors, who provide
a complete set of appropriate
supplies for a student.
Centennial Community Food
Shelf - once a month food
assistance, holiday food
baskets, PowerPack food
support for school children.
Our Savior’s supports our local
food shelf in so many ways!
Many of us donate food or
money, monthly or regularly.
Rosie Schwartz serves on the
Board, Richard Rossiter
manages our First Sunday of
the month food drive, and Lynn
Rossiter recruits a crew of 10 –
12 to serve clients at the food
shelf on the third or fourth
Thursday of each month. Some
members pick up food
donations from CUB and
Festival Foods; some help
unload the food delivery truck
or sort through large
donations; some stock the
shelfs, and some pitch in with
short-handed crews, or pitch in
wherever needed.
Summer Fun Enrichment
Program – 20th year! Our
Savior’s, along with many
community partners, again
provided free lunches and
summertime activities for about
150 children, grades K – 8,
living in lower income areas of
our community. Special thanks
this year go to our volunteers
who battled through
summertime road construction
to pick up lunches for our
hungry children.
Tree Top Kids - Pastor Tony
Geselle: “We make our home in
the highest concentration of
mobile home communities in the
state of Minnesota. There are 26
target communities in a 15-mile
radius. We help kids grow in 4
key areas of life: Physical, Mental,
Spiritual and Social.” A number
of our Summer Program kids
have benefited from Tree Top
Kids ministries. Pastor Tony
invites area churches to get more
directly involved with our
neediest children and families:
www.treetopkids.net/ Our
Savior’s supports this important
ministry with our benevolence
dollars.
Manna Market food recovery
ministry - If you are destitute,
and a number of our neighbors
are, you can go to the Manna
Market every Monday, and get
food to keep you alive. A
number of clients, filled with
gratitude, help with operations –
which involve a lot of hard work!
The annual Manna Walk
fundraiser, sponsored by area
churches, hopes to raise
awareness so that this ministry
gains enough support to keep it
alive…and healthy! Consider
adding your support.
www.sonlightnaz.org/
mannamarket.html
YouthWay Ministries- Youth
programs continue to include
afterschool Homework Help,
Keepers of the Faith Girls’ Club,
and Life Camp, a camp-to-work
program where youth go to
Luther Dell multiple times a
summer to learn and utilize
work skills and a work ethic.
The Manna Market
stewardship/food recovery
program has been expanded to
include a mobile market. Food
is recovered from grocery
stores, restaurants, and schools
and made available for pickup
in designated locations or
delivered in a custom built
refrigerated trailer to people
underserved by other food
programs. The Sunday Night
Fellowship Group provides an
opportunity for Bible study and
discipleship.
Page 9 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016 Page 4 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016
Youth (COW, TIM Team, Summer Stretch, and Sunday Funday) Report, Nick Gilbert
At Church on Wednesday
(COW) this year we read
through the entire book of
Acts with our middle school
students. Our average
attendance for middle school
COW was 15; interacting with
a total of 22 different students
throughout the year. With
High school COW we had
engaging conversations about
tough ethical and theological
questions. Our average
attendance for high school
COW was 7 high school
students; interacting with a
total of 21 different students
throughout the year. I have
already established a plan for
the next several years of COW.
Middle school will be working
through a curriculum called
“Collaborate,” which focuses
on the Old Testament for a
year and the New Testament
the following year. In high
school COW we will be
spending 3 years on the
curriculum “Echo: The Story,”
where we cover all the major
stories of the Bible. We are
making some changes to the
structure of COW as well for
next year. Once a month we
will be worshipping together,
going out into the community
for service and a fun activity.
Check out the COW calendar
for more detail!
This year we had 13 high
school students actively
involved with Teens in
Ministry (TIM team). This
group is dedicated to growing
closer as a group, challenging
their faith, growing as leaders
and giving back to the
community. Our focus this
year was on Leadership
Qualities. Next year we will be
focuses on Spiritual
Disciplines/Practices. This year
we hosted the
Intergenerational Breakfast as
well as the Christmas worship,
STILL. Next year we hope to
add a parents’ night out event
for parents around Valentine’s
Day weekend for parents to
drop their kids off at church
and spend a night by
themselves.
Centennial Area Summer
Stretch (CASS) is a summer
Wednesday youth program in
partnership with St. Joe’s
Catholic Church and
Incarnation Lutheran Church.
This year we had 90 middle
school participants, and 20
high school leaders. Every
Wednesday we met in the
morning for worship, served
the community, had lunch and
bible study, and then went to
a fellowship activity in the
afternoon. Pastor Tim created
a new bible study format, and
we tried out some new service
sites and fun activities.
Our Middle School Mission
trip recently got back from
our week long trip to Kansas
City, MO. We had 18 middle
school students, 2 high school
leaders, and 4 adult leaders
on the trip this year. Our kids
did some amazing service in
our short time there. Every
morning was spent working
with k-6 grade helping kids to
read because the Kansas City
has a very high illiteracy rate
and a very low graduation
rate. In the afternoon our kids
worked with a number of
organizations such as:
homeless shelters, community
gardens, refugee centers, food
shelves, etc. Ask any of our
kids about what they saw or
did on their trip!
-Nick Gilbert
Children, Youth, and Family
Associate (Youth)
Roberta Dale
We joined Our Savior's in the
fall of 1988. Pastor George
Johnson immediately
suggested that I should apply
for the director of Christian
Education position. I did and
spent 25 happy years in that
position. I'm encouraged
about our Savior's future as a
good staff is in place and there
are still many wonderful long
time members who stay
involved plus lots of energy
from enthusiastic young
families.
Cindy Schweisow
I am married with three grown
children and five grandchildren
with one more grandchild on
the way. I have been a
member of OSLC for almost 29
years. I have served in several
capacities and participated in
many small groups. I served
on Planning Council for 2
terms. I have served on
various committees including,
Social Ministry, Youth Ministry
and Stewardship to name a
few. I volunteered for Youth
Club for several years
including table parent,
childcare, and working in the
kitchen preparing meals. I
have had the pleasure of
serving high school kids as a
chaperone on seven mission
trips. I have had the
opportunity to work with
some of the staff members
that currently serve you when
I worked in the church office.
Working on various projects
and committees for 29 years
has connected me to many
wonderful people at OSLC.
Endowment Foundation
Currently I am a co-leader
for Care Team Ministry and I
volunteer for C.O.W. where I
help with middle school
Bible study and high school
conversations relating to
present day issues. OSLC
has been my family since I
first started to worship here.
When my family moved 250
miles from all of our family
and friends OSLC became
our family and friend. OSLC
has always been there for
us, for our times of joy and
for times of great sorrow
and everything in between.
OSLC has and will continue
to serve this community and
fulfill the needs of members
and I want to continue to be
a part of it.
Bruce Johnson
I have been a member at OSLC for 30
years. My two adult children were
raised at OSLC as it was the youth
programs, starting with Noah’s Ark,
that attracted us to the church. As
my children grew I participated on in
all the activities from table parent to
chaperoning four mission trips. I
have also been active on church
council (stewardship chair, member at
large and treasurer) as well as usher
and family table. I also have
foundation experience as past
president and treasurer for the
Perpich Center for Arts Education
Foundation. OSLC for me is my faith
family where I share my good times
and bad.
It has been another successful
year with the youth of OSLC.
Every year I am thankful for all
that they bring to our
programs. We had a great
year in confirmation learning
about the New Testament. The
pastors and I have enjoyed
reading the confirmation
students’ sermon notes. They
have great questions and
insights about the bible and
their faith. This year we had 73
students and 16 guides in
confirmation. On Sunday, May
15, 26 9th graders confirmed
their baptism.
Our confirmation program
continues to be blessed by our
Student Action Leadership
Team (SALT). The SALT team
consists of 50 High School
students. This year they
helped Pastor Tim and I run
12 confirmation workshops,
3 retreats, and 2 Faith
Stepping Stones. Their
dedication and joy warms
my heart. I am also thankful
for the 21 adults that help
us run the confirmation
program by guiding or
being on the confirmation
team. They have formed
wonderful relationships with
our youth and truly care for
them.
This summer 29 high school
students and 6 adults
traveled to Denver CO, to
2016 Confirmation and the High School Mission Trip Report, Charisse Froemke
work with Center for student
Missions. To prepare for our
trip we had 4 bible studies
together. At these bible
studies we learned what it
means to be God’s hands,
heart, ears and eyes. On this
mission trip I saw our students
embrace all that they learned.
The most important thing that
our students did was to get to
know the people of Denver
and to spend time with them.
Our students brought joy and
hope to people experiencing
poverty.
Our youth have continued to
serve as disciples of Jesus
Christ and grown in their
relationships with others in a
variety of ways this past year!
A special thank you to all who
contribute to the youth
ministry at OSLC, especially
the Youth Ministry Team.
Blessings,
Charisse Froemke
Children Youth and Family
Associate
Nominating Committee
Sheryl Gilbert
We joined OSLC in 1990. I
have been a Sunday school
teacher, Youth Club table par-
ent, confirmation guide. I have
been a chaperone on 3 high
school mission trips and went
to Guatemala last year with the
delegation. I have been on the
Education Committee for many
years, helped in the kitchen
with Family Table since it
started. I have been in small
groups in the past.
What excites me about Our
Savior's is the many opportuni-
ties for youth to grow in their
faith. My children were all in-
volved in all aspects of the
Youth ministries from Sunday
School, Camp Wapo, Youth
Club and Confirmation. They
had opportunities for travel
and fun times with many won-
derful adult chaperones and
other Christian youth on Mis-
sion Trips and Youth musicals.
Gail Willenbring
We joined OSLC in 2007. I
have been a Sunday school
teacher, volunteer at Youth
Club, a Nominating Committee
member and this fall I will be a
7th Grade Confirmation Guide.
What excites me about OSCL is
all the ministry opportunities
offered, especially the youth
ministry. I have a 12 year old
daughter and I am really ex-
cited, and looking forward, to
see her to grow in her faith.
She has been in Sunday School
since she has been 3 years old,
went through several of the
Stepping Stones, C.O.W., Faith
on Friday, she just went to
Camp Wapo for the first time
in June (and loved it), went on
the Middle School Mission Trip
to Kansas City, and will now be
part of the 7th Grade Confir-
mation program in the fall
(2016). I am excited to see
where the opportunities of-
fered at OSLC will lead her
(and us) into the future.
Jeff Johnson
My wife Amber and I joined
our OSLC about 7 years ago
when we were looking for a
new church community that
we could grow with as a fam-
ily and that had a good youth
program for our 2 small chil-
dren.
Over the last few years, I have
started to get more involved
and it has been great. I have
been both a reader and a
greater in the past. Last year
however I was able to be on
the Bridging with Gratitude
committee to put together a
fundraising campaign to help
the church bridge the finan-
cial gap that was a known
issue until we could retire the
mortgage. It was very suc-
cessful and allowed us to
avoid cutting any positions or
programs. My family has also
been very involved in the
Young families group over
the last few years, and we
love the ability to serve, and
grow relationships through that
group.
What excites me is that it seems
as though our church commu-
nity is continuing to grow, but
still has the small church feel to
it. I am excited about the pas-
toral team and the entire staff
that is now positioned to fill the
needs of all of the members. I
am also excited that OSLC does
not seem content and constantly
looks for opportunities to im-
prove, such as the changes we
have coming up this fall. With
the burden of the mortgage now
gone, I am also excited about
improvements that the church
can make and to continue to
invest in new programs and staff
to bring our church to the next
level.
Page 5 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016 Page 8 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016
Youth Club. Wednesday
nights during the school year
are filled with so much energy
and excitement with this
program. These children
helped to lead the Lenten
worship services, learned more
about our sister congregation
in Guatemala during Mission
Month, and had a lot of fun
with our many creative dinner
themes, such as airplane night
or mystery night.
This summer, Our Savior’s
helped to send 43 youth to
Camp Wapogasset in Amery,
WI, for the week. We were also
able to take an additional 20
children to camp for the Wapo
One-Day, where they were
able to experience everything
camp has to offer in just one
day! I really enjoyed getting to
be with some of these children
as they experienced camp for
the first time.
This summer we had around
These past few years as the
director of children’s ministries
at Our Savior’s Lutheran
Church have been amazing. I
have loved every minute of
not only the job itself, but also
all of the relationships that I
have built in this community.
With all of the ministries at
Our Savior’s, I have gotten to
know, work, laugh, and play
with so many wonderful
families. Thank you so much
to everyone who has been
involved in the children’s
ministry programs over the
past few years!
Sunday School had 165
registered students (3 years
old-5th grade), with a weekly
attendance between 80-110
kids on a Sunday morning.
These students put on the
Christmas production of the
Christmas Clinic in December.
This year we had 52 3rd-5th
grade students participate in
160 children (3 years old-5th
grade), 35 youth helpers, and
several adult volunteers
participate in Cave Quest VBS,
where we learned that Jesus
gives us hope, courage,
direction, love, and his power.
These children helped to raise
money for the ELCA Good
Gifts program as well as many
items for the backpack
program.
As this year comes to an end
and planning for the
upcoming year begins, I
wanted to take a moment to
express my gratitude for the
time I was able to serve in this
community and all of the
memories that I have created.
Clara Davidson
Children Youth and Family
Associate (Children)
Children’s Ministry Report, Clara Davidson
2015-2016
Noah’s Ark School Year
Highlights:
Offered full day preschool
classes (9 to 3) with optional
before care beginning at 7 A.M.
and ending at 5:30 P.M.
Offered half day classes in
the morning (9 to 11:30) and in
the afternoon (12:30 to 3)
School year enrollment was
150 children ages 3, 4 and 5
Summer program has 45
children enrolled
Noah’s Ark provided
scholarship assistance for 20+
children from low-income
families
Noah’s Ark Preschool is
accredited by the National
Association for the Education of
Young Children and has
received a 4 star PARENT
AWARE rating, the highest
possible rating given by the
state of Minnesota!
Please join us as we wish Pat
Feine well as she begins her
retirement. Pat taught at Noah’s
Ark Preschool for 34 years. She
touched the lives of many, many
children and their families.
Thank you, Pat, for being such
an amazing teacher. You were
always willing to go above and
beyond the “call of duty”. You
have worked so hard and given
so much to Noah’s Ark, we will
always remember you, please
remember us too! We wish you
many blessings as you and Roy
enjoy retirement.
Char Todd, Executive Director
Noah’s Ark Preschool
Tim Maybee, Pastor for Children, Youth, and Family (continued from page 3)
Growth. Growing deep in faith and wide in size. We have adequate hours for the number of kids
we currently have. Growth will definitely not come without more of an investment of hours.
Moreover, a particular focus on numerical growth is not the best way to grow in numbers. Rather
a stronger commitment to growth in discipleship and faith, and an engagement with the larger
community often will lead to growth in other ways. More hours will allow us to take the long
path of Christian discipleship more seriously. The children’s and confirmation ministries at this
current moment are operating pretty smoothly. Because of the developmental stages of the
young people involved and the nature of the programs, right now it works to have the hours we
have. It is in youth ministry in particular where I see the greatest potential for growth and devel-
opment. I would suggest that Nick is the right person to have hours added. He has the right gifts
for the position. Now, change will not occur all at once but an investment now assures that a
handful of years down the line we will have a better youth ministry at Our Savior’s.
Playing to our strengths. By the grace of God the CYF staff members of Our Savior’s each
brings unique gifts that are well suited to our callings. But with a dearth of hours we often find
ourselves having to spend too much time focusing on our weak areas and not enough time de-
veloping our strengths. Nick in particular is tremendously relational and is amazing at helping
kids to engage the deep questions of their faith. He also deeply loves service. These all make him
very well suited for his position. I am personally passionate about the structures of ministry and
the church, creating engaging programs/curriculum, proclaiming the gospel in a large group
setting, and empowering adults and families to engage the faith for one another. Yet, we find
ourselves increasingly needing to pick up the slack rather than leaning into what we are called
here to do. More hours will free all of us up to live out the particular gifts and callings that we’ve
received from the Holy Spirit. I will be able to give Nick more responsibility from off of my plate,
and focus more broadly on faith development for all individuals at OSLC.
Nominations and Biographies - Planning Council
Thank you for considering me
as a candidate for the next
Planning Council term. I am
currently serving a 2-year term
as a replacement for a member
who was no longer available to
serve. I have been a member of
OSLC since February 26, 1995.
I am or have been involved in
the following activities: Youth
Club parent volunteer, Usher
Team, Communion server,
Greeter, Worship Reader,
Planning Council member for
the past 2 years, our children
were baptized in this church
and participated in Noah’s Ark
Preschool, First Communion,
Youth Club, Summer Stretch,
Confirmation, and Camp
Wapogasset. What excites me
about OSLC: I have gotten to
know our pastors much better
during my time on the
Planning council. I have a lot of
confidence that they have the
passion for the mission of our
church and the operational
skill sets to lead OSLC into the
future. We can retain our
strengths in the entire youth
program and build our already
impressive music programs
with the new Director of Music.
With the mortgage paid off,
we can address building and
grounds projects that need
attention, plus local and global
ministries. David Carlson
I joined OSLC Spring of 2008. I
have been a member of the
choir throughout my whole
time at OSLC and plan to keep
it that way. I've been a table
parent in Youth Club these
past three years. I was on the
CareTeam for a year. I have
also been peripherally part of
Young Families.
The people of OSLC and their
passion for sharing God's love
to improve the community are
what excite me the most.
There are so many people here
who want to do something
positive when they come
together with others at church
those ideas become action and
great things happen. The
backpack program, all of the
VBS helpers, the Guatemala
delegation, the Care Team, the
list goes on and on. In the
choir we are eagerly
welcoming a new director and
are excited for a new season of
sharing our joy. Youth Club is
full of energy of kids with the
support and love of their
parents. Eirka Pouliot
Suzi and I moved to Blaine in
late 1994. At the time, there
were just three of us including
Erin, our oldest child. Allie was
born in 1995 and Ryan was
born in 2000. All three of my
kids went through Noah’s Arc
pre-school and eventually the
Confirmation program at OSLC,
but Allie was the first member
of OSLC having been baptized
at OSLC in 1995. It was the
Noah’s Ark that program that
brought OSLC to the top of our
list of churches to consider for
membership. Our family
joined the church in 1995. In
the beginning, my involvement
was a team approach. Suzi and
I were initially involved in
Sunday School and
volunteering in the nursery,
then as our children grew we
took on looking after the Altar
and decorating the sanctuary
for Christmas for several years.
I was a Table Parent for a
couple years, volunteered on
Friday Night for the high
schoolers when that ministry
was going, helped prep the
floors for the recent flooring
upgrade and have manned the
grill for the Mission Trip
Garage Sale for several years. I
was a Confirmation Guide for
the past three years. I have
been a chaperone on three
Middle School Mission trips
and two High School Mission
trips and numerous outings
with the youth of Our Saviors. I
have volunteered to grill for
opening and closing COW
meetings for the past several
years. I served on the
Stewardship committee for a
time and helped organize a
Governor’s candidate debate
held at OSLC. I have been a
member of the Youth
Ministries Team for about five
years and I am championing
the building of a Gaga Pit in
the area next to the garage
with the help of several other
members and my Confirmation
group. I have lent my hand to
many other things, like
volunteering w/ the Holy
Hammers Habitat for Humanity
project and the Yarden group.
At OSLC, I am excited about
the youth ministries and the
new possibilities opening up as
a result of the mortgage
retirement! Pat Hilger
Page 7 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016 Page 6 Our Savior’s Annual Meeting For Fiscal Year 2015 -2016
I have thoroughly enjoyed my first two months as the Director of Music at OSLC. Time is flying by so fast while I am learning about
the congregation, church and good works. Potential, traditions and dynamics which I easily have founded during worship services
and church life makes me full of joy and excitement. I especially enjoy, having various generations in the congregation involved. I
find it is one of the most important values and I strongly believe it will empower us to experience God’s characteristics in many
ways. As we move forward, I am trying to manage music and worship with a more cooperative, creative and “congregation-involved”
environment spanning from generation to generation. At the same time, propagating crucial Christian values which keep us in
faithful life, will be utilized through participating in the worship and music program. I am looking forward to the 2016-2017 year
and thank everyone for their prayers and considerations to the OSLC music ministry.
God Bless!
Kyung Ko
Director of Music
2016 Director of Music Report, Kyung Ko Benevolence Team Report
The Benevolence team allocated the $21,000 originally assigned
to Local and Global benevolences as below:-
Holy Hammers 2000
Summer Fun Program 3000
Bread for the World Covenant 500
San Isidro Labrador partnership 3500
ILAG [Lutheran Church in Guatemala] 2000
Family Table * 1500
School Supplies 1500
Youthway Ministries 2500
EPES [Health education in Latin America] 500
Treetop Kids 500
Tarkanfi Start Walking 2000
Interfaith Action [was SPCC] 500
New Opportunities * 1000
* With the termination of Family Table in February, the residue of
this budget was combined with the “New Opportunities” line to
provide a $2000 allocation to the Isaiah coalition.
A timetable was set out to pay these at appropriate times
throughout the year. However, as the total benevolence is
dependent on money coming in to the church as expected, the
amounts paid out were initially restricted to 85% of these values
to allow for a lower total if necessary. At the time of writing the
final target has yet to be fixed, so there may yet be considerable
amounts to pay out in August.
Submitted by Richard Rossiter
Endowment Foundation Annual Report
The OSLC Foundation Endowment Fund was established by the
congregation in the year 2000 to enhance the ministry and
mission of our church. The Fund receives financial gifts that are
invested and a portion of the income generated from the
investment is given away each year. The principal balance is never
touched, and the management of this fund is separate from the
church annual operating budget. Fund balance as of 6/30/16 is
$143,420.56. Board members meet on average 8 times each year.
Board members are: Amy Minear, Denae Grant, Jeanne Zaske, Jeff
Weiss, Joy Rauner, Lauri Pudwill, Laurinda Dahl, Lynnae Zaccardi,
Mark Vallevand, Pat Feine. Lauri Pudwill has completed her term
on the board and Denae Grant has been voted the new board
chairperson. Amy Minear has completed her term on the board
and Laurinda Dahl has been voted the new treasurer. Joy Rauner
will remain as the recording secretary.
Some activities include:
* A flyer sent to the congregation sharing the numerous impacts
and lasting legacy of the Fund and inviting members to consider
sharing in this legacy by including the OSLC Foundation
Endowment Fund in estate planning and memorial gifts.
* Awareness activities included serving rolls and coffee, and the
distribution of coffee cups imprinted with Fund information.
2016 Distributions total $7225.
Missions:
$500. Twin City Habitat for Humanity
$450. EPES – a non-profit Chilean foundation
$500. OSLC Guatemala Delegation
$450. Tarkanfi
Outreach:
$200. College Care Packages
$400. Community Backpack Program
$750. Noah’s Ark Preschool
$250. Centennial Elementary Title 1
Capital Improvement:
$225. OSLC Funeral Committee
$500. Yarden Team
Financial Aid:
$500. Clayton Byrd: Augsburg College
$500. Kyle Bartholomay – Concordia College
$500. Sarah Pederson: Gustavus Adolphus College
$500. Rebecca Twait: Concordia College
$500. Leif McLellan – Drew University Theological
School
$500. Kyle Livingood – Luther College
Since its inception, the Endowment Fund has distributed a total of
$82,577.91.
Many thanks to the board members who with their passion and
dedication ensure faithful stewardship of the Fund.
Submitted by Lori Pudwill
First I would like to say Kudos to the Technical Arts Team, including Don Lyk, Stacey Giemza, Al Williams, Nick Foreman, Martin
Remus and Henry Schwartz. These are the folks you see in the control area. They provide what you hear, what you see. All these
volunteers give many hours to the church! If you see one of them, say thanks!
I also want to thank Todd Meyer & John Ragner, as they advise me on building and grounds decisions, and chip inwith their time
and talents! For example, John and his two boys unplugged the drainage culvert which runs under our entrance drive off of
Woodland. Todd, for example, did the bobcat and fill work for the future Gaga Pit. I also would like to tip my hat to Bill Roy who is
asked to clean the school and church! Not enough hours in a day, are there Bill!
The Yarden group has been spectacular this year! The grounds look beautiful, Thank You! Sign up to take of a location! I hear it
gets very competitive! Now whose area does look better!
We have had a couple of our scouts who are working on their Eagle Scout status. Nick Foreman is working on converting the old
food shelf room into a very attractive lower level conference room, with white board, wifi, conference table and chairs. It should be
done soon! The other scout is Kellen Carlson, who will be creating a swale to drain water away for the youth fire pit, thus keeping
the area dry for youth activities! Thank you both, wear your Eagle Badge proudly.
We also have partnered with the Boy Scouts who use our facilities. If you have not noticed we have new roofs on our two garages.
OSLC provided the funding, and the scouts provided the labor. This has saved the church many dollars! Next summer we plan on re
-siding both garages with new fiber cement board. Thanks to the scout leadership!
Looking to the future, we have a large list of capital improvements that need to be addressed! Now that our mortgage is retired we
are hoping we can tackle some of these projects each year. Here is a sampling from the list that the building and grounds team
identified. The team passed on to the planning council for approval about 20 things that need to be done:
New boiler + narthex air conditioning
Parking lot work/ handicapped ramp
Retaining wall near Noahs Ark entry
Remodel bathrooms
Window/ door replacement
God Bless,
Brian Sanderson
Director of Technology and Operations
2016 Technology and Operations Report, Brian Sanderson
September 1, 2015 to August 28, 2016
Members Added:
Affirmation of Baptism: 25 Youth
Affirmation of Membership: 29 Individuals (13
Family Units)
Baptisms: 30
Members Removed By Transfer: 11 Individuals
(5 Family Units) Removed by Request: 7 (3
Family Units)
Members moved to inactive due to non-
participation: 40 individuals (20 Family Units)
Weddings: 6
Died in the Lord: 10
Total Change: +23
Parish Statistics