December 2006

OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN STAFF

Our Savior Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

that God has given us wherever we may be and may go. God will keep us safe on our journeys and bring us back to the places where God would have us be. . . . Please pray for our Summer Camp experience the first week of June – both the students as well as the leaders/volunteers. . . . Don’t forget to wear red on Pente-cost Sunday, June 4

th, followed by

a congregational potluck brunch and set up for the summer camp experience. . . . Also pray for the three children who have been studying for their First Communion – hopefully to take place this month of June. . . . Also keep alert for two educational presentations – one by Diana Her-zberg on her mission trip to Guate-mala (date TBD) and the other a presentation by the Synod Peace for Racial Justice Team “Harvest for Empire” on June 11

th after wor-

ship. This presentation will look at

Inside this issue:

Camps 2

Synod Presentation 2

Financial Report 2

Service of Healing 3

Janet’s Jottings 3

Social Ministry 3

Walk as Stewards 4

Assembly Report 4

Afghans for Vets 5

Summer Camp! 5

June & July 2017

Greetings to you, the Living Stones!

As we have been reminded in a recent lesson, we are living stones built up into the spiritual house with Jesus Christ as our chief Corner-stone. We participate in this life in a way that builds up the things of God and not the things of this earth. As we go out into our sum-mer habits and travels, we go out with the Spirit of Jesus in our midst, surrounding and guiding us in all our actions and thoughts. May we truly thank, praise, serve, and obey Him in the words of Mar-tin Luther. . . . Your financial and personal gifts in this spiritual house have brought blessing in so many different ways. I thank you for the dedication of your time, talents, and treasures that have enabled us to do ministry in Christ’s Name in this place. We keep right on rolling into the sum-mer months exercising those gifts

Volume XXVII, Issue 6 & 7

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 VICKI DREWS

VICE PRESIDENT JASON MILLIGAN

TREASURER TOM RIESTERER

SECRETARY WENDY FOWLER

BORDER MISSIONS MEGHAN CAMPOS

FRED VARNER

FELLOWSHIP JASON MILLIGAN

EVANGELISM KATHY BUSH

JANET WEST

LEARNING & YOUTH EDWARD LONG

PROPERTY NORM FREY

STEWARDSHIP LYNN ENGEL

STEVE HERZBERG

WORSHIP & MUSIC KATHY HERZBERG

KELLY VANHEE

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

Duane and Doris Bagaus are leaving the valley and moving back to Minnesota after many years with us. You can reach them at 4515 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN 55384 or call at 952-471-

4057. on resurfacing LFC roof

the countries of El Salvador and Mexico – some of their history and stories related to migration to this country. It includes a video presentation with discussion. . . . Janet West, our AIM, will be taking most of June for her vacation time. I will likely take most of mine in July and maybe another short period in August. We pray for all who travel during this time of year. . . . May you, the Living Stones, be blessed now and forever. Pastor Steve Cell phone 956-340-0020

June 4 & July 2!!

Logan misses us. Write him at: PVT McLaughlin, Lo-gan, R. 2nd Platoon DTRP, 5-15 CAV, 194th AR BDE Fort Benning, GA 31904

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Healing: Lena Doering, Don Dunshee, Kathy Eckman, Cas-sandra Erps, Betty Frey, Bob Hadan, B.J. Hammel, Ralland Harrison, Kimberly Johnston, Walt Knaus, Joe & Fran Knollmaier, Chuck Linstedt, Tim Mauck, Kay McLaughlin, Sam Meyer, Jim Offerdahl, Rose Old-ershaw, Alexa Peña, Don Stahla, Sally Vissering, Phyllis Wells.

Family Members: Norma Bilu-nas, Werner Doering.

Friends of Congregation: Carrie Askins, Angelo Bazan, Bev, Erika Dew, Julie Erps, Belinda Garcia, Denise Garcia, Mercy Garcia, Pat Garcia, Kali Hassebrock, Addy Haynes, Donna Hiltner, Ted Hochenauer, Virginia Huston, Viginia Imlah, Sheila Johnson, Wes Johnson, Jorene, Wyatt Kamp, Barry Kelley, Missy Krska, Stacene Maroushek, Kellie Mey-ers, Zelpha Olson, Glenn Quiz, Lola Reslow, Nancy Sandrock, Rick Sharp, Karen Thompson, Merle Thompson, Gerry Thor-burn, Linda Chong Tim, Valentin Treviño, Gary Wilson, Bobbi Yeager, Andrew Zezulka.

In military service: Justin Gar-cia, Brian Hovland, Ramiro Sand-oval.

For the Family and Friends of Maxine Blanchard, who passed from life through death to life eter-nal on April 26th.

Financial Review for January-April, 2017 April Income Year to Date 4 months Income

Actual $31,229 Actual $122,135

Plan $22,745 Plan $113,839

Difference $ +8,484 Difference $ +8,296

April Expenses Year to Date Expenses

Actual $22,173 Actual $ 98,076

Plan $21,424 Plan $100,273

Difference $ +749 Difference $ -2,197

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

Difference Actual $ +24,059 Planned Difference $+13,565

Operating Funds Balance $99,810 Restricted Funds Balance $44,859

Usable Operating Funds $54,951

April ended on a positive note, with income over plan by 37%, putting us ahead year to date by about 7%. Both donations and other income exceeded expecta-tions, with donations over estimates by 3% while other income is over by 26%. Expenses for April were a bit over budgeted amounts, due to overages in energy, janitorial supplies and a one time charge for a wireless microphone. I am pleased with the first 4 months income. Being above planned levels is really a significant change from 2016, where we were $5,553 under plan. Thank you for the 4 month income totals. I hope I can say the same for the next 4 month period. Expenses are ok for now. Cash flow is good. Tom Riesterer

Service of Healing Join us on Tuesday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This service is open to all who are in need of healing and encouragement, with prayer, communion, anointing and laying on of hands. No healing ser-vice will be held in June.

“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 through June at 10:00 a.m. We’ll take a closer look at the Gospel lessons for the week. Pastor Steve leads.

2

SCRIP NEWS! This is a quick reminder that our Scrip program will continue through the sum-mer. Bill Mauck will be taking your orders on Sun, May 28 and delivering them on Sun, June 4 and in June order on Sunday the 25th for delivery July 2 (in time to purchase your July 4th food and party items!). In July the orders will be taken on Sunday the 30th for delivery on August 6. 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. A total of

$2,394 Choice Dollars grant funds went to Our Savior Lutheran Church in 2017. Call

800-847-4836 or visit thrivent.com/thriventchoice.

PEACE for Racial Justice Team of the Southwestern Texas Synod

and Our Savior Lutheran Church

invite you to the screening of “Harvest of Empire.”

Adapted from the book by journalist Juan Gonzalez, this documentary exposes the direct connection between the long history of U.S. intervention in Latin America and the immigration crisis facing our nation today.

Join us at 10:45 a.m. for the film followed by a discussion led by members of PEACE for Racial Justice.

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

3

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

We Walk Together as Stewards in God’s Church. As baptized members of the body of Christ, we grate-fully confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We boldly proclaim the gospel as the Word of God. We clearly recognize the gifts that God has first given us through grace, and we joyfully accept our role and responsibil-ity as stewards. We share principles to provide a foun-dation for the life of a faithful and generous steward.

2. Obey Responsibly to glorify God as a faithful proc-lamation of God’s word. We acknowledge our faith and show our faith in the gospel for the glory of God and for the building up of the body of Christ. This takes cour-age. It involves our life-long obedience, including the ways we treat our families, others, and ourselves. “...you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 9:13

3. Sacrifice Proportionately as Christ sacrificed for us. For our sake Jesus gave up everything to make us rich through the cross and the resurrection. We are called to sacrifice so others may share in God’s word and blessings. “...gave according to their means, and even beyond their means.” 2 Corinthians 8:3

SOCIAL MINISTRIES

SHARING & CARING: Every communion Sunday we collect food or supplies for distribution to our neighbors in need. The first Sunday of each month for June, July and August, we ask for FOOD STAPLES 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 families with food in our area. A list of the items we in-clude 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. God’s Work, Our Hands

Jottings from Janet: Greetings to all: It sure gets a little lone-some here when all our Winter Texans go back home. I wish you all a happy and healthy summer. As always I LOOK FOR-WARD TO YOUR RETURN. God bless all our core congrega-tion, have a great summer, happy vacations, health and well-ness for all. Our Wednesday night Bible study group is in summer mode, with dinner and a movie each week beginning in July through September. Then we will begin again the study of the book of John. I will be gone during June as well as 3 other members of the group. Dinner and a Movie will resume in October on the first Tuesday. We have a great line-up of movies for the fall season. All mem-bers of the congregations are invited to join us. The neighborhood Pantry will continue each month during the summer. If anyone would like to come and help on Pantry Sat-urdays it would be much appreciated. There will be no Healing Service in June as I will be on vaca-tion. We will resume in July. As always all are welcome to this time of prayer and healing. Stay tuned for exciting news for the Fall and Winter seasons. 1) We will have a neighborhood bar-b-que following the neigh-borhood pantry. And 2) On Epiphany we will have Frank Runyeon with us to do “31/2 Stories of Christmas”. More de-tails will follow in the coming months. Both of these events are Evangelism at its best and we pray that God will lead and direct us in these two efforts. Once again thank you for allowing me to serve you.

In His name, Janet West, AiM

The Food Ministry Your donations help church families 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.

34

SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS SYNOD ASSEMBLY: by Deacon John Dellis, editor of The Vista

Synod assembly supports accompanying migrant minors and

welcoming refugees, receives two new congregations.

Three hundred forty-seven members of Southwestern Texas Synod congregations approved resolutions re-garding support for migrant minors and refugees, participated in the synod’s strategic planning process, struggled with the wording of a worship litany, and considered other business matters at the 2017 synod as-sembly.

The theme of the assembly was “Formed and Reformed for Mission” in recogni-tion of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The assembly was held May 5-7 at the Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade. Andrew Steele, director of global church sponsorship for ELCA Global Church, shared updates on the many positive and faithful ministries carried out through the ELCA. He ex-pressed thanks for $753,408 in congregational mission support from synod con-gregations shared in 2016 for churchwide ministries, $307,500 in World Hunger Appeal gifts, and $354,500 for Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. Two hundred fifty seminary students receive Fund for Leaders scholar-ships, of which six are from the synod. The assembly also heard from Josh

Stalling, Peace, New Braunfels, on his year of service as a Young Adult in Global Mission in Mexico.

New Congregations: The assembly received 2: Grace, Giddings, and New Life, Dripping Springs.

Resolutions: A resolution to implement strategies of the Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advo-cacy, Representation, and Opportunities (AMMPARO) was approved 216 Yes, 49 No. The resolution encour-ages congregations to implement the AMMPARO strategies to their own unique contexts. The assembly ap-proved a resolution welcoming refugees. The resolution, approved 85 percent Yes, 15 percent No, calls on congregations to engage in the ongoing work of refugee resettlement through Lutheran Immigration and Ref-ugee Services and other partners within the synod.

Bishop’s Report and Worship: “Formed for Mission” was the theme of the opening worship service May 6. The service, which included polka tunes and readings in German, contained a litany entitled “Thanksgiving for Our Heritage.” This litany offended and caused concern for some voting members. The reading was re-garded by some as exclusive and not reflective of the entire ethnic history of the synod. During his report to the assembly, Bishop Ray Tiemann apologized to those who were offended by the litany and announced that he as initiated a process of conversation to ensure a broader perspective for assembly worship planning. His written statement is on the synod web site. The May 7 service, Reformed for Mission, included readings in Spanish. The Rev. Nelson Velazquez, pastor of San Pablo, San Antonio, served as presiding minister.

Strategic Planning: Members of the synod’s strategic planning team led assembly participants in providing input to the process. As of April 25, 210 members of synod congregations have completed the team’s survey. The plan calls for the synod to become more diverse and multicultural.

Tiemann Endowment: The Tiemann Endowment for Leadership Development was approved by the synod council and the synod assembly. The permanent endowment fund will provide annual funding for leadership development of lay leaders and rostered ministers. The fund, which will be managed by Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest, honors Bishop Ray and Debbie Tiemann for what will be 39 years of ministry and service in the Southwestern Texas Synod, including Bishop Tiemann’s 18 years of service as bishop of the synod.

Budget: a 2017-2018 fiscal year synod budget was adopted, calling for mission support from congregations and other revenue of $1,632,200 and ministry expenditures of $1,657,825. The synod’s fiscal year begins Feb. 1 and ends Jan. 31.

Offering: Congregations and assembly participants gave offering totaling $58,032.79 as of May 7. The offer-ing will be shared with ELCA Global Church to support Young Adults in Global Mission, which places young adults in 9 different countries for a year accompanying our companion churches, missionaries, global minis-try, and international women leaders.

Cross Trails Ministry: Meeting as the corporation of Cross Trails Ministry, voting members elected Randy Nicholas, Grace, Harlingen, as an at-large member of the Cross Trails board of directors. The 30th annual Lutheran Fall Festival supporting Cross Trails will be held Sept. 16.

The 2018 assembly will be held May 4-6 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel Conference Cen-ter & Spa. The offering received at this assembly will support the ELCA Fund for Leaders.

Our Savior Lutheran Church

1105 West Fern Ave

McAllen, TX 78501

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PERMIT #65

DATED MATERIAL

This newsletter was taken to the Post Office on May 18, 2017

If you received this newsletter in error, please

contact the church office.

Phone: 956-631-6121

Email: oslcelca@aol.com

www.oursaviormcallen.org

Need to send a fax? Call the office.

JUNE & JULY 2017

Where...

God is seen,

Love is felt;

Lives are changed.

AFGHAN MAKERS! Help is needed in making patriotic red, white & blue afghans. You can use any pattern, just make them at least 32 inches

by 46 inches. Our goal is to deliver them to our local veterans on Veterans Day, No-vember 11.

CHRISTIAN SUMMER CAMP Ages 5-12

June 5 – 8 6:30 – 8:30 PM Free Summer Camp! Choose your favorite activity!

BASKETBALL! CHEER! DULCIMER! RECORDER! ART! GARDENING! Sign up! Visit oursaviormcallen.org

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. Thanks.