A Message from Pastor Tony

I Will Build My Church

This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. – Matthew 16:18 (The Message)

COVID-19 has taught us important lessons about church, lessons we have been learning since childhood but still haven’t sunk in. I remember the old Sunday School song “We are the Church:” “I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All of God’s children all around the world, Yes, we’re the church together!” There is no mention of any steeples, pews, organs, or services in the song. People are the church. This has been Jesus’ vision from the start. If the song had been written a different way, we’d be a mountain of trouble right now. Imagine singing this in Sunday School: “The steeple is the church. The pews are the church. The organ is the church playing loudly. Services and programs all printed in the newsletter, yes, are the church together.” Thankfully, none of the those are church … That’s right, none! The church is God’s people. When Peter in Matthew 16 boldly confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus’ eyes became bright with excitement. “Yes, that’s right.

God revealed that to you, for you couldn’t have figured that out on your own. Your enthusiasm, boldness, and eagerness to draw from God-things give you the spirit that my community will be built upon. You are Peter, and upon that energy I will build my church. Nothing in all creation is going to stop it… not even death itself.” Nothing can separate us from the love of God. COVID-19, politics, and worldly systems that seek to divide cannot stop the power and spirit of the Son of the living God. The church is the living and active women and men who are learning from Jesus and growing like Peter. Either the church is full of life or it’s not church. Our anthem for this Fall Season of ministry is “We are the Church.” Neither Hades nor Corona- virus will stop the life found within Christ’s church.

This month, we will worship with our continued safety precautions. We will teach our children in ways that are safe and grounds them in power of God. We will support each other in grief and celebrate family transitions with an eye on Christ’s greater plans. We will serve mothers in need with generous hearts. We will be the living stones that Christ uses to build his church.

Rejoice always! Pastor Tony

Saturday 5:00 pm

Sunday

8:30 am & 10:15 am

Online at the beginning of

each weekend

Pastor Tony Dusso

DeAnne Gile

Kelly Erdmann

Amy Smith

John Smith

Natasha Reed

Cheryl Licary

Molly Markley

Please call for an

appointment with staff

SEPTEMBER 2020

749 Bluff Street ~ Beloit, Wisconsin 53511 www.oursaviorsbeloitwi.org (608) 362-0716 office@oursaviorsbeloitwi.org

Messenger Newsletter

The

Messenger September, 2020 Page 2

On August 13, the Church Board held their monthly meeting. Here are some of the items we discussed: The sale of the M&M House to the City of Beloit was completed on August 10. The new garage is completed, and everything we wanted removed from the old brown garage is moved. We are looking to repave the parking lot in late August or early September. We will continue the in-person church services as they are and will discuss more possible openings of church activities at the September Board meeting. We will also be discussing how

Faith Builders will look for the fall. VBS was held on-line and was very successful. We are looking to have the Sanctuary Renovation Committee start, and they will be looking at painting, lighting, and sound system in the Sanctuary. The Call Committee is looking in to how to hold an in-person interview with the candidate for Associate Pastor. The board approved a resolution to combine the Budget and the Annual Meeting, and we are looking into how to have the congregation vote on this resolution in this time of Covid-19. The vote may be done through the mail. We will keep you informed. It has been five months now, since Covid-19 turned the world upside down. The Board would like to again thank Pastor Tony and his staff for the great job they are doing, bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to OSLC community. The Board thanks the congregation for their continued support in these challenging times. If we keep our faith and trust in God, we will get through these challenging times. I pray for your health and safety. We welcome all comments and input from the congregation. May the Son Shine on You! Jon Lang Board President

Offering and Donations You can continue to make donations to Our Savior’s through US Mail. Mail donations to:

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church 749 Bluff St.

Beloit, WI 53511

We are receiving the mail daily and deposits are made on a regular basis. You are also able to make donations online. Just hit on “Contact Us” to find the “Online Giving” Donate button. Your continued generosity to your church is greatly appreciated.

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Autumn Bible Study – Coming in October Be Kind to Yourself: Releasing Frustrations and Embracing Joy

Beginning in October, Pastor Tony will be leading a group through the new book by author Cindy Bunch called, Be Kind to Yourself. Self-criticism is Wickedness’ most effective tool for undermining God’s will and love in our lives. Through this book we will bring to light the Devil’s lies and discover spiritual practices that will open our souls to God’s grace and real power. We are hoping to secure a Thrivent Action Teams grant to help with the costs of the books. Opportunities to sign up will be coming in September.

Parents ... mark your calendars for Sunday,

October 4th to be the kick off to Faith Builders.

Faith Builders will look different this year, and we

want everyone to get into the new groove of school.

More information will be coming your way this month.

Parking Lot Communion Holy Communion is available to anyone who would like to receive the sacrament but are not yet ready to attend in-person worship. Pastor Tony will meet you (masked and with communion that was only handled with gloves) at the Commons Parking Lot entrance. You simply remain in your car. This is available by appointment only. Please call the church office at 608-362-0716 to setup a time with Pastor Tony.

Scholarship News! Thanks to the generosity of our congregation, Our Savior's was able to award eight college scholarships this year. The following students each received a $350 scholarship: Sarah Erdmann - University of Nebraska (Lincoln), Stephanie Erdmann - University of Minnesota (Twin Cities), McKenna Dodson - University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Bailey Dusso - Beloit College, Grant Dusso - Eastern Michigan University, Jameson Hosey - University of Wisconsin (Madison), and Jacey Walker -Bryant and Stratton College. MacKenzie Frisbee-Wadel - Carthage College. Thank you for supporting these young people in their quest for higher education!

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Worship at Our Savior’s

In-person worship at Our Savior’s is on Saturdays at 5:00 and Sundays at 8:30 and 10:15, with these restrictions and expectations:

We will only use the parking lot Commons entrance. Other entrances will remain locked.

We will practice social distancing during worship (keeping 6 feet apart), with seating staggered, every other pew. (Sitting only in the spots that have no cushion).

According to Rock County guidelines we are restricted to 50% of normal capacity.

Masks must be worn in our building and are available here if needed. Please keep the mask you wear.

Communion will be offered in a self-contained package for individual use (wafer with grape juice) and given out at the close of the service. Please consume the sacrament after you leave the building.

Offering will be received in plates located at the sanctuary entrance.

Hymns will not be sung by the whole congregation, but either done without a singer, with a soloist, or by a duet from the choir loft. (All hymnals have been removed.)

Please refrain from touching items and use the post-it note in your bulletin to indicate where you sat. Staff members will be sanitizing the sanctuary between services.

There will be no coffee hour or social time inside the church building. You will be ushered outside the building immediately after the service.

There are only two WELCA Circle meetings for the month of September:

Rebekah Circle Wednesday, September 9 9:30am Big Hill Park

Elizabeth Circle Tuesday, September 15 1:00pm Karen VanFleet's yard

Summer Bible Study

Journey Through Acts: God’s Power for God’s People

Sundays at 11:30am via

ZOOM Pastor Tony will finish leading our journey

through Acts this month. The class is conducted

entirely using the Zoom video conference program and app. All are welcome

to join in anytime. Just email him at pastortony@ oursaviorsbeloitwi.org to

receive the Zoom link. You can even phone in over your regular phone as

well. Participants also will be given access to

recordings of previous Zoom classes, in case you

miss a class or need to review.

Discover God’s power for God’s people.

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Online Worship: We will continue to record weekly services earlier in the week, having them available online before the weekend. Continue to use online services for prayer and worship if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, have been exposed to coronavirus, or are among those most vulnerable to the dangers of COVID-19. Here are ways you can continue to practice worship, prayer, and study at home:

YouTube: Weekly Worship services and midweek special services will be posted on our YouTube channel “Ministry Coordinator OSLC” for

you to watch at your convenience. Go to www.youtube.com and search for Ministry Coordinator OSLC. There you will find all the videos we have posted.

If you have a YouTube/Google account, you can even subscribe to our channel. There is no cost for this service.

Cable TV: Worship services are on cable channel 992, Sundays at 1:00pm and Wednesdays at 5:00pm. Because of the pandemic, the cable station may be inconsistent in getting these up.

Website: At Our Savior’s website www.oursaviorsbeloitwi.org you can find

links to recorded worship services as well as an electronic (pdf) version of the bulletin.

Facebook: Our Savior’s will continue to be active through our Facebook page “Our Savior’s Lutheran Church-Beloit.” Among other things, you can find Pastor Tony’s Facebook Live Weekly Devotion there every Wednesday at 10am. It is a 15-minute devotion that includes meditation, prayer, Scripture, and thoughts about how God is present in our lives right now. The focus will be based on

the upcoming weekend’s lessons. Keep your eyes open for God’s great faithfulness and love.

Confirmation Corner

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Faith Builders: VBS was SUPER!!! So happy to see all the kids via Zoom or the

parade! Thank you to everyone who made our Virtual VBS a

success! Thank you for all the donation to Family Promise. We

raised $361 for them and Pr. Tony is the Ice Bucket Challenge

Winner! Thank you to our FAITH NEWS crew - Russ Albert, Bailey Dusso,

Cheryl Licary, Pr. Tony, Kelly Lovejoy, Steve Christensen, Jon Lang, Ashley Coldren,

Sue Schimke, Melody Wirgau, and all the Faith Builder kids!

Thank you so Jon Smith for all the technology help! Thank you to DeAnne Gile, Kay Ferron,

Nancy Ribbeck, Jane Lang, and Pastor Tony for all the VBS kit deliveries too! You were all

ESSENTIAL pieces in making this VBS wonderful.

Finally, thank you to all the families who Zoomed and participated. We are all essential in

God's Family makes us God's Superheroes!

October will be start up of Faith Builders Watch for emails for what it will look like

and what you can expect!

- First Communion - We will be holding a Zoom First Communion Class in

September. It will be for three weeks at 9:30am on Sunday

mornings - 13th, 20th, & 27th. Please email Amy if you would

like to participate so we can get you the materials you will

need along with the Zoom links!

Happy Birthday to….

Mikylee, Rutger, Camdyn, Brianna,

Natalie C., Natalie F. & Tinsley I hope you find your birthdays

to be especially blessed this year!

Moms of Faith-Zoom: Moms are all welcome to join us

on Thursday morning at 10:00am (time may change due to remote

learning) but currently we will plan to meet the 1st & 3rd Thursdays

of each month to talk and give support to each other through these

new adventures in 2020 parenting!

Messenger Page 7

OSLC Calendar for September, 2020

Week 1

Wednesday, September 2 5:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

Thursday, September 3 10:00am Moms of Faith Zoom

Saturday, September 5 5:00pm Worship

Week 2

Sunday, September 6 8:30am Worship 10:15am Worship 11:30am Zoom Bible Study of Acts 1:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

Monday, September 7 - Labor Day OSLC Office closed

Tuesday, September 8 10:00am Staff Zoom 11:00am Pastors Text Study 5:30pm WMA / Hymn Selection

Wednesday, September 9 9:30am Rebekah Circle 10:00am Pastor Tony Facebook Live Devotion 5:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

7:00pm Confirmation Orientation via Zoom

Thursday, September 10 5:30pm Personnel Zoom 6:30pm Board Zoom

Saturday, September 12 5:00pm Worship

Week 3

Sunday, September 13 8:30am Worship 9:30am Zoom First Communion Class 10:15am Worship 1:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

Tuesday, September 15 10:00am Staff Zoom 1:00pm Elizabeth Circle 11:00am Pastors Text Study

Wednesday, September 16 10:00am Pastor Tony Facebook Live Devotion 5:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

7:00pm Confirmation via Zoom

Thursday, September 17 10:00am Moms of Faith Zoom

Saturday, September 19 5:00pm Worship

Week 4

Sunday, September 20 8:30am Worship 9:30am Zoom First Communion Class 10:15am Worship 1:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

Tuesday, September 22 10:00am Staff Zoom 11:00am Pastors Text Study

Wednesday, September 23 10:00am Pastor Tony Facebook Live Devotion 5:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

7:00pm Confirmation via Zoom

Saturday, September 26 5:00pm Worship

Week 5

Sunday, September 27 8:30am Worship 9:30am Zoom First Communion Class 10:15am Worship 1:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

Tuesday, September 29 10:00am Staff Zoom 11:00am Pastors Text Study

Wednesday, September 30 10:00am Pastor Tony Facebook Live Devotion 5:00pm Televised Worship (Channel 992)

7:00pm Confirmation via Zoom

749 Bluff Street Beloit WI 53511 office@oursaviorsbeloitwi.org (608) 362-0716 W W W . O U R S A V I O R S B E L O I T W I . O R G

September Messenger Newsletter

specially prepared for you!

Welcome Statement

We welcome and encourage the full participation of all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, appearance, or anything else that threatens to divide us. We have all been claimed as God’s children, and all are welcome here.

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” - Galatians 3:28

CANCELLED - WELCA FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL

It has been decided that WELCA will not be having our annual Fall Harvest Festival this

year. It looks like our current practice regarding our ministries here at Our Savior's

beyond September 30, 2020 are pointing to an extension of our current practices

throughout the Fall Season. It was also decided to cancel the raffle due to the logistics

of displaying and selling tickets.

Blessings and well wishes,

Betty Johnston

WELCA President

Church Building Remains in Current State of Closure In their meeting on July 9, the OSLC Board voted to continue in our current state of building “closure” at least through the end of September. In-person worship services will continue with the necessary safety precautions. Some committees/ministries can meet in the building with permission and arrangements made in advance. Outside groups and most ministries will remain on hiatus, including Sewing Bee, Men’s Group, Friday Lunch Ministry, Faith Builders, choirs, Confirmation, etc. Online alternatives are encouraged. The Board will re-examine the situation at this month’s meeting.