Loaves & Fishes

July has five Saturdays. This means that the people of Our Savior’s will be serving a Loaves and Fishes mean on Saturday, July 29th. It’s summer time, so I was thinking this would be a great time for a summer salad extravaganza. We can gather on Friday evening, July 28th, at 6:30pm to prepare the salads and cold drinks. Then we can just show up Saturday at around 11AM to serve and clean up.

Watch for sign-up sheets in the narthex that detail how you can help. Thank you all for your support of this ecumenical outreach effort!With Love, Barb Schneider

A Word from your PastorPastor Jan Veseth

It’s summer. I thought I’d try something a little different this month.

And, really, this word isn’t from me. I didn’t write it. Madeline L’Engle, who is one of my favorite authors, wrote it. I found it on Facebook.

I love the idea that we might reflect Jesus’ light to other people…. Jesus’ lovely, love-filled light.

It’s a challenge, and an invitation.

What do you think?

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JULY 2017 BELLRINGEROur Savior’s Lutheran

Church ELCA1860 Wisconsin St

54901www.oursaviorsoshkosh.org

920-235-4850

Bits on BooksThis month I’m focusing on one important book, CANCER – What Now. I

wish it had been available when cancer showed up in my family. We had so many questions. Glance through the book. You might need it now or in the future. Then you will know where to go to find the answers you want.

CANCER – What Now, by Kenneth C. Haugh is a Stephen Ministries book. If you have ever had cancer or someone close to you has, you know how scared you’ve felt. Haugh, a clinical psychologist and pastor wrote our newest book after “he walked alongside his wife, Joan, during her battle against cancer.”

This book has 12 parts and 74 concise chapters. You can just read any part for the information you are seeking, or you can read the whole thing. For example:

How to find accurate and reliable information and work with medical team; Part 3

Pain management, clinical trials; Part 4 Communicate with medical team; Part 6 Additional Support; Part 10 Spiritual Matters; Part 11

I especially liked a comment by Christina, a Sacramento California cancer survivor. “CANCER What Now? is like a toolbox for dealing with cancer. Whatever you’re facing, you can reach in, find the right tool and put it to use.”

Many other books for summer reading are on display including a new children’s book about the 4th of July. This is your library! Enjoy it!

Jean Berger for the Library Committee

Quilters Really Need Your HelpWe are finding it difficult to obtain the bed blankets we need as fillers for the

quilts we ship to Lutheran World Relief. Last year we sent over 200 mission

quilts to third world countries. At present, we have approximately 30

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blankets. Could you help us out by stopping at a garage sale, or rummage sale; check your linen closet, ask a friend or

neighbor for BED blankets no matter what the condition. Donate them or ask Audrey Reichow for

reimbursement. Thanks for your consideration.

BABY SHOWERAll Women of the Church are Invited

to a Baby Shower for Maria Bouche

Who: Maria Bouche

What: Maria and Nick will be adopting a baby GIRL soon. The baby is due later in July. So, the excitement is

building and we all want to wish them the very best when this new little bundle of joy arrives.

Where: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall

When: Tuesday, July 11th 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Maria is registered at:Target and Babies R Us

RSVP! Please call Eileen at 235-6393 or email her at ekuehl@new.rr.com

if you are able to attend

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Feed Our ChildrenShari Englund

If you were not in attendance for the April 30th “Feed Our Children” kick-off, we told the story of how we began the journey, and how we plan to provide free lunch to children in our community during the month of August, when the school system does not provide meals. We have since learned that for elementary aged children, the meals served at school ends in the middle of July! This may be something to address community wide in the coming year. For now, we are committed to the July 31-Sept.1 serving dates. (Fri., Sept. 1 will be a day to hand out school supplies, and distribute food items not used during the month.)

There are many, many ways to help! 1.) We have a prepared list of non-perishable food items and/or cleaning & paper products to donate. Collection crates are in Narthex now. 2.) The Thrivent sponsored “Giving Tree” area in the Narthex has the supplies for monetary

donations: choose a cut-out shape (child, child’s face, food item, etc.) and write on it your desire to purchase a meal ($2.50 ea), or general donation in memory of, or in honor of a beloved person or event. Then put it along with your donation in the provided “little lunch bag”, and place it in the offering plate during worship. 3.) Sign-up to work during August. Greeting, cooking, setting up, cleaning up, monitoring hallway, etc…. we will need many hands! Find the display in the narthex!!!4.) If you are a Thrivent member, PLEASE apply for your Action Team $$ to provide food/supplies for specific days. (Contact Shari Englund…jeng2000@sbcglobal.net or 920-379-5669 for assistance…or find her in the Fellowship Hall after worship for help online.)5.) We are finding some employers will give employees “paid volunteer hours”. If you have a form from your employer to fill out, and need help, let us know!

6.) If you sign up to work during serving hours, and have children with you we want you to know ALL KIDS UNDER 18 are WELCOME to eat lunch! (And they can even help set up, etc. until 11 a.m. After that, they are luncheon guests. We want children of all ages to be able to interact in a welcoming & equal status way!) We want to THANK all of you who are being so supportive in helping assure our community children are being fed. Thank you for your donations, your volunteer willingness, and your prayers! 4th of July ..no meeting. Next board meeting is Thursday, July 6 at 7 p.m.

TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS ON

SUNDAY, JULY 16, AFTER WORSHIP.

Many hands..and hearts..make light work in God’s Kingdom.

As I write this update, I am aware of the following dedicated monetary gifts. (I know many have given without a specific dedication.) Please let me know if there are others. Thank you! Shari

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Monetary Gifts have been given:In Memory of Helen

In Memory Carol Stewart’s Brother-in-law, Chuck

May GOD continue to bless this outreach in

ways only GOD can imagine!

Thrivent Action Teams: That’s You!!Shari Englund

We currently have identified 19 Thrivent members who have the ability to apply for 2 events in a calendar year for the value of up to $500 each member! That means, if all of you are willing to be part of a team, we could be supporting our programs for mission in our church, community, and world to the tune of $8500! (I applied for my first event on April 1, so my calendar year is 4/1/2017-4/1/2018, as an example.)

All you need to do is identify your area of passion for giving, create an event, gather a team (does NOT have to be large!), apply online and receive a Visa card in amount of $250 to supply needs for the event. And I will help you do it…

At this time, we are creating a list of known mission efforts we already support, and you may add to that list! I can show you how to access the online application site…it’s EASY, I promise!! You will need to create a “user name” …like “Matthew25” and a password…like “SaveUsPls!”. Anything will do, but you will need to write it down, and keep it in a safe place. I will not have access to your Thrivent account.

UPDATE ON THRIVENT ACTION TEAM SUPPORTED EVENTS:1. “Feed Our Children” lunch program “kick-off” on April 30 (Value: $500) 2. “Fit Oshkosh” event that we’ve been awarded to be held Sat., June 3 (Value: $250)3. LWR Quilts: 2 Thrivent members will use one-each for supplies (value: $500)4. “Feed Our Children”: fresh food purchases for each of 3 weeks with value of $7505. Stewardship training (Date to be announced) using “Dave Ramsey Financial

Planning” materials (Value: $250)6. School supplies to be given out at end of August to children who attend “Feed Our

Children”(Value: $500)We also currently have 3 more Thrivent members ready to support LWR Baby Care Kits, Personal Care Kits, and looking toward the Fall, the Prayer Shawl Ministry!

IT IS FUN AND EASY TO DO!! (A brief and unfinished list of possible “events”: Loaves and Fishes, supplies for Baby Care, Personal Care, & School Supply Kits, Quilt fabric, filling, thread, (shipping boxes, tape, etc), Prayer Shawl yarn, Helping Hands Day, numerous day supplies for “Feed Our Children” lunch program, “care packages” for those in the service, Christine Ann Center, Warming 6 | P a g e

Shelter, the Knitten Tree, Prison Ministry, Shut-in Ministry, Campus Ministry meals, ….what’s your passion??)

Thanks for your interest…your help…and your passion! 920-379-5669 Jeng2000@sbcglobal.net

P.S. I also have a Thrivent info card with an explanation of “Choice Dollars”, which some Thrivent members can “direct” to Our Savior’s. This program is in addition to Action Teams, and is dependent on the product you own with Thrivent.

Our Savior’s Women of the ELCAShari Englund

Psalm 89:1-4“Your love, GOD, is my song, and I’ll sing it! I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I’ll never quit telling the story of your love— how you built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it. Your love has always been our lives’ foundation; your fidelity has been the roof over our world.” (The Message)

Continuing the Journey: Telling OUR Faith Story: Our June General meeting was a FABULOUS potluck meal followed by a short business meeting. We “linked” our “Faith Stories” by viewing a DVD recording of the 120th Anniversary Celebration of Our Savior’s. It was a real “journey back in time”! Awesome heritage here at Our Savior’s!! The theme of “Personal Faith Story Journaling” will continue for the remainder of this year. For those who have materials, please continue working on them and bring with you to the October meeting, where we hope to hear a faith story or two. For those who haven’t yet taken helpful

materials, you can pick them up in the Narthex. Take a notebook journal too, if you don’t already have one.

If you missed the general meetings, consider the importance of “telling our Faith Story” …how we live, work, grow, share, learn, serve, stumble, grieve. In short, consider what your (our) faith means to us every day of our life. It’s the importance of sharing that faith story, and passing on the witness of the power of faith to those who come after us, that encourages us to write it down…. journal it. Writing it helps us recall events of our lives, as well as helps us realize how our faith supported us through every experience. Start with a Timeline to record personal memories of faith impact, then use the “Faith Journey sentence starter”, and a list of questions to help create the written journal of a personal faith journey. Pick up a packet, and start writing!

Willing to donate a “Birthday Bag”? (for kids to age 10 whose families use the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry) Find gift bags, and the list of items to put in them by the Food Pantry gathering area in the Narthex.

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Lutheran World Relief Kits: …continuing the call to gather articles for the LWR BABY CARE KITS! The Narthex display is ready to receive your donated items to complete the kits, which we ship in mutual effort with many other ELCA congregations. The following items are needed per care kit: (gently used OK)1 Hand sized bath towels…dark colors preferred 2 shirts, 2 diaper pins4 Cloth diapers (or flannel to make them)

2 sleepers/gowns w/o feet2 pair of socks2 Receiving blankets 2 large bars of soap1 Sweater & hat OR jacket with a hood (Can be a hooded sweatshirt) Sizes for clothing: 6 mos-2 yrs. Items are always welcome, and can be dropped off in the Fellowship Hall in the marked box on the bench along the west wall all year.

Updates from Mission Growth:Important dates:

July 13-16, 2017:  Tenth Triennial Gathering of the Women of the ELCA in Minneapolis, MN.

September 22-23, 2017: Fall retreat, Sisters Re-New Together at Imago Dei Village. (Scholarships available!!)

November 4, 2017: Biennial Convention of ECSW WELCA at Trinity Lutheran in New London, WI.

November 11, 2017: All Saints in Oshkosh on Human Trafficking Awareness...including speakers/reps from local agencies and Oshkosh PD. AND…The Fall bible study in Gather is on the Apostles' Creed, 3 sessions.... sounds good! Please check the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall for summer “Interchange”, the June “Open Door”, & more information on all these events.

(PSSSST: Are you about to do some Spring cleaning? In October, we’ll have our “Sale of Indulgences”, so start setting aside items for a silent auction! We will accept your treasures anytime between now and then!)

The Women’s organization here at Our Savior’s provides abundant opportunities to support you in growing your faith and service. Many blessings to you…you are a continual blessing to all. In gratitude,Shari Englund, President, Our Savior’s Women of the ELCA

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Thanks to Vicki our ‘Bellringer’ has a new

look. Maybe it’s time for a new name to go with the new look! What are some ideas you have for

a new name for our

Summer Midweek Schedule

*July 12th *August 9th

Service time is 6:30pm with Communion

Vacation Bible School has started once a month again this summer!Dates: Wednesday July 27th

Wednesday, August 23rd. Times: 5:30pm-7:30pmWho: Whole families are welcome! What: We begin with a simple meal. There will be a lesson, crafts, music and games. And, probably getting wet at some of those games…of course!RSVP: So that we have enough food. Come once, twice or all three!Neighbors and friends and family are all welcome!

THE PARISH PAPEREDITOR: CYNTHIA WOOLEVER—WWW.THEPARISHPAPER.COM

Copies of the article, “How can we help Immigrants” are available on the purple table in the narthex!July 2017—Volume 25, Number 7 Copyright © 2017 by Cynthia WooleverSERVING IN JULY

GreetersJuly 2nd Ron & Eileen KuehlJuly 9th Michael Abraham & Lynn HarronJuly 16th Maryla Karl & Carol StewartJuly 23rd David & Judy Abraham

July 30th Corky & Karla Abraham

Acolyte

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Thanks to Vicki our ‘Bellringer’ has a new

look. Maybe it’s time for a new name to go with the new look! What are some ideas you have for

a new name for our

July 2nd Lindsay PorstJuly 9th Payten TotzJuly 16th Max KoernerJuly 23rd Payten TotzJuly 30th Michael Kolinski

ReadersJuly 2nd Corky AbrahamJuly 9th Nancy LenzJuly 16th Karl KeasJuly 23rd Chelsie OberreichJuly 30th David Bayer

Communion AssistantsJuly 2nd Corky & Karla AbrahamJuly 9th Robin Grable & Nancy LenzJuly 16th Barb Schneider & Karl KeasJuly 23rd MaryJo Rasmussen & Chelsie OberreichJuly 30th Annette Bayer & David Bayer

Altar Guild Team for JulyDick & Audrey Reichow

Ushers for JulyBrian Bliske/Chelsie Oberreich, Debbie Rasmussen Dennis Weisbrick Kim Weisbrick

Our Staff TeamPastor: The Reverend Jan Veseth

Email: jveseth@gmail.com NEW: pastorjoslc@gmail.comCell Phone: 920-891-6404Call for appointment anytime. Pastor’s days off are Fridays & Saturdays

Secretary: Vicki VossekuilEmail: oursavosh@sbcglobal.netPhone: 920-235-4850Mon: 8a – 3pWed: 8a - 3pThur: 8a – 2p

Music Ministry: Sally Elsinger & Kirstin Ihde

Custodian: David Grable

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The ELCA Lutheran Churches of Oshkosh

July 9th Picnic & Evening PrayerSt. Andrew’s Church Picnic ShelterTime: 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Each church will bring a part of the picnic—St. Andrew’s is providing hot dogs. We will bring ice cream & desserts.

SIGN UP IN THE NARTHEX! Please put how many are coming in your family and if you’re able to bring dessert. Please come even if you are not able to bring a dessert.

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Having trouble making Sunday morning worship?We have a monthly Wednesday service year-round. July 12th at 6:30pm with Communion

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Share

Give these away to families who might need to know!

If you need more, ask Vicki!!!

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