Celebrating relationships... Baptism, Weddings, 45th Anniversaries of Marriage and Ordination...
“I will sing the story of your love, O Lord, and proclaim your faithfulness forever. In this place shall be heard again the sounds of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the bride, the voices of those who sing, “Give thanks to the Lord for the Lord is good, for God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalm 89, Jeremiah 33:11
Dear friends in Christ,
What is our most precious resource but our relationships? We spent much of the past year learning what was most important and what to let go. People may take our money or ask us to shelter at home. The years of living may take away our youth! But they can’t take what hold us together, our relationships. What gets us through is our faith connection to God sharing our requests, giving thanks and serving others. We conquered loneliness and survived fear in daily chats with family and friends on cell phones, internet Face timing, zoom chats or on Facebook helping us recapture our purpose and shared humanity.
When people value people we create an impenetrable web of vitality, security and love. A relationship is the delicate fusion of two human beings. The intricate weaving of two lives, two sets of moods, tempera-ments, gifts and abilities and throw in some faults too! Marriage is the intermingling of two hearts, both seeking companionship, peace and wholeness as they share the highest or greatest gift - love. This bond is stronger than anything.
What matters most in life is not the ladders we climb or what we accumulate but our relationship with God and one another.
In light of that let’s ask ourselves...
1- What measures are we taking to ensure that our relationships are strong and healthy?
2- What are we doing to solidify the bridge between God, one another and ourselves?
3- Part of that building bridges is the ratio of 5:1... sharing 5 appreciations for every one criticism or complaint.
4- Do we seek to resolve conflict as soon as possible or let the sun go down on our anger and carry a grudge?
5- Do we look for opportunities to forgive?
6- Do we verbalize our love every day to our spouse and children, and affirm friends? Do our actions back it up?
7- We are to listen generously...instead of listening to fix, we listen to understand “you.”
8- Do we pray daily for those we love, our family and friends, church remembering to be sure to include some of the people that we may not particularly like and hard to love so we may be like our Heavenly Father?
9- Do we count the needs of others as important as our own? Whose come first your needs or mine? All of this builds trust.
Our Lord knew the importance of relationships. It was how He changed the world one person at a time. It is how He changed us from fearing or ignoring him to loving him and one another. With Jesus it was never about personalities but championing the person. He would build a bridge in his words and compassion and then cross it touching the leper, the blind, the sick and dying, the sinner and all who felt left out and alone.
June was filled with precious celebrations of relationships. I presided at the baptism of Lily Fox, the wedding of Maggie Fraser and Phil Carter, enjoyed Father’s Day with family, the 45th Wedding Anniversary of Jim and Linda Swanson and then gave thanks with you on the 45th Anniversary of my ordination to become a pastor of the Lutheran Church on July 4th, 2021. Joan and I attended an interesting wild west “General Custer interview” at the Sandwich Opera House then rushed off to make our first trip north to open the cabin and begin the 5 day work camp and reconnect with neighbors! We returned to celebrate Joan’s birthday with the family! Many important people have died as paupers because they gave their lives to things and not people. Many poor people have left the world rich because they learned to love their neighbor. May God bless and fill your life with the gift of our most precious resource- our relationships with God and one another!
In His love... Pastor Dave.
Prayers for July..
Thanks God for the ...
+ 45 years of sharing God’s love in word and sacrament and serving with some of God’s best!
+ rains... it broke a very substantial drought, the corn and soybeans and our backyard gardens are growing again. Thank you..
+ the baptism of Lily Fox, daughter of Alex and Ryan Fox.
+ the marriage of Laura and Chris Lusk.
+ the marriage of Maggie Fraser and Phil Carter at Heritage Prairie Farm, Elburn. Il.
+ the 45th wedding anniversary of Linda and Jim Swanson. Linda said to Jim, “Let’s renew our marriage vows.” Carol Hill played the piano. Daughter Julie sang. Son Eric and Julie stood up for them. We rejoiced with family and friends.
+ the successful surgery for John Niemann and prayers for speedy recovery.
+ a friend recovering from Cancer surgery.
+ the celebration of Jackson Ross successful surgery and new eye and fund raiser on July 24th.
+ for the great land America, let us seek to invest energy in finding solutions.
+ vaccines for covid-19 are available and may soon be approved for children and people of all ages.
+ the life of Francis (Butch) Dewey, father of Margie (Angelo) Kleronomous, Kathie Cannon, Joseph (Laurie) Dewey and Steve (Lisa) Powers, his sister Cynthia, grandchildren and great grand children. Butch operated Art’s Royal Blue grocery store in Sandwich for over 40 years providing the city of Sandwich a great place to purchase groceries and for teens to find employment. He was generous and took time for every person enjoying conversation with a smile. We would visit outside Arts and Sandwich post office early in the mornings on our morning walkabout. He said the grocery business included lots of hands on work and counting profits in penny’s per item. One day he surprised me announcing that he was retiring to Florida and leaving “Arts” and the grocery business in the capable hands of son “Joe” and family. He wanted to retire and play lots of golf! Butch loved his children and grandchildren and was a good friend to Dr. Ed Carey. May God bring comfort and peace.
+ for a generous grant shared with Our Savior’s.
+ for the chance to get away for a few days to enjoy the north woods and return home.
Prayers of healing ..
+ for Mary Ratos who is in hospice care.
+ Grace Dahlberg and Gene, that God may continue to be with them on good days and bad. Grace is a good friend to many and in hospice care.
+ healing, patience and faith for a friend who is awaiting liver surgery.
+ healing, strength and faith for a friend having a stem cell transplant.
+ healing for a friend experiencing back pain.
+ healing for a friend receiving a pace maker.
You are welcome at Our Savior’s worship whether you choose to wear or not wear a mask.
We are not about politics at Our Savior’s but seek to follow Jesus Christ and show compassion and respect for every person. One of the perks of getting the vaccine was to no longer wear a mask in low risk areas and to continue follow CDC guidelines and wear one in doctors offices, on planes and other public transportation or in crowded areas. Some vaccinated people may still feel more safe wearing a mask and choose to keep their nose and mouth covered for personal reasons. Putting one on is not an admission of defeat or a signal that you are neurotic. In fact those not vaccinated are encouraged to do so to protect themselves from catching this virus. Some of us are not vaccinated because our doctor advised not to or have an autoimmune disease or live with someone whose health is considered fragile. You may have just had surgery or any number of health conditions that are really not any one else’s business. A nine year old boy’s sisters were vaccinated but he just received a heart transplant and vulnerable to the virus.
Wearing masks may add social burdens for some. We can’t see each others faces and receive social cues. Some of us are used to listening and reading lips and often have to ask the other to repeat what they just said? But keeping one handy is a sign someone understands the pandemic was profound. And we trust one day soon, with God’s help and a bit more patience, we will thankfully be able to place all this behind us!
Pent up Demand and attending worship at Our Savior’s... three options...
We just want to get out and get back to normal! Many of us are moving from virtual to attending in person. You can place Our Savior’s and attending worship in person on that list!
Our worship includes hymns, a message from P. Dave, a children’s sermon and Holy Communion. Invite family and friends to join us.
We offer three opportunities each weekend...
1- Worship Saturdays at 5:30. The service is laid back and you’ll meet some wonderful people.
2- Worship Sunday mornings at 9:30 when we record the broadcast of “Some Good News from Our Savior’s in Sandwich, Il.” You will see old friends and meet new friends who said, ”I’m looking for a good church and when this pandemic gets better. I’m going to attend!”
3- Worship at home Sunday mornings at 9:30 watching the broadcast of Some Good News Sunday mornings and available thereafter on the Our Savior’s Facebook page.
You will find the broadcast by..
1- Go to www.our-saviors.com.
2- locate the light blue “Facebook” just below the Easter sunrise picture of the three crosses.
3- Click on the “Facebook” and it will take you to Our Savior’s Facebook page. This is also the Facebook page of Jennifer Johnson who maintains our page.
4- You can also do a Google search for Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sandwich, Illinois. If you scroll down the listing you will see two Facebook listings for the church. Click on the second one. It will take you where you need to go.
5- At the bottom of the page are three squiggly lines. Click on it. Then click on Our Savior’s and you are there! If you are not a member of Facebook, it will ask you to create an account. You can do so but also bypass this step. You can still participate in worship and browse the page, Just click not now
Here you will find interesting photos, all videos of our worship and comments and join our live broadcast or view it any time. God is with us! We want to help connect you to God and to your church family!
Giving an offering of our best and first fruits..
Last week at the cottage I read the Old Testament prophets Micah and Malachi and surprised when both addressed our character and giving an offering to God. Malachi announced that God was not pleased with God’s people or their offering. For when they gave their offering in the form of a lamb. They gave the weakling of the flock. The one they didn’t want and desired to discard keeping the best lambs for themselves. The prophet warned that they wouldn’t dare try to give such an inferior gift to their king or any one else of such importance or stature or from whom they expected and received so much! “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations and in every place incense is offered in my name... What a weariness this is! You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick and this you bring as your offering. Shall I accept this from your hand? Cursed be the cheat who has a male in the flock and vows to give it and sacrifices some thing inferior!” 1:11f. God is both insulted and offended as would anyone to whom we tried to pass off an inferior gift. Our giving to the God who loves and gives so much deserves and requires our best and first fruits. The prophet Micah asks, ”What shall I give to the Lord? He has told you, O mortal, what is good and what the Lord requires of you. But to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” 6:8.
Again, God wants our best... a gift of our first fruits. Most of us are not shepherds and give our offering in the form of a weekly or monthly or even yearly offering check. May we give in a humble obedience that both honors and gives God thanks always give nothing less than our best!
1-You may bring your tithe to worship or the church office and stop in to say hello.
2- Mail your offering to Our Savior’s 2465 West Sandwich Road, Sandwich, Il. 60548.
3- Give your offering electronically by going to the Our Savior’s web page at www.our-saviors.com. Click on the donate button. Our Savior’s ability to do ministry is dependent on the Holy Spirit and the generosity of our many members and friends who give their regular tithes and offerings. Thank you for supporting this ministry.
Our Savior's annual meeting was held on June 13 President John Hagemann called the meeting to order.
We received reports from Pastor David Kaul, Sunday
School Joan Kaul, Treasurer Judy Heller, passed a 2021 budget that increased by $177 over 2020 and chose the following slate of candidates to serve the remainder of 2021.
President John Hagemann, Vice-President Michael Butler, Secretary Jennifer Johnson, Treasurer Sharon Beverage.
Spiritual Development Team Kathleen Armstrong, Sheila Thompson, Karin Carlson, Ann Hagemann.
Physical Property David Hellyer, John Adrian, Ron Bauer, Steve Nestor.
Board of Education Joan Kaul, Katie Wasson, Sharon Beverage, Cindy Fraser, Elly Goldstein.
Auditing Committee Sharon Beverage, Ron Hill
We are thankful to God for being our strength and helper in the year of pandemic as we shared his love in word and sacrament at worship both on site and for the first time virtually in a weekly Sunday morning broadcast of "Some good news from Our Savior's in Sandwich, Il." on the Our Savior's Facebook page. We are thankful for the work and support of the Our Savior's family and friends. We met our goals. In a year like no other when faith in God mattered, we shared the gospel, the Word and Sacraments providing the church family and friends with a weekly worship packet mailing, on site worship and the broadcast. We finished in the black in the General Fund. The Building Fund will need additional offering support in 2021. In a year full of challenges "We are still standing on the promises of God" and will be the stronger as we move forward sharing the love of God and serving the spiritual needs of people in 2021 and beyond offering thanks to God, our staff and council and to Our Savior's family and friends.
Our Savior's runs on the power of the Holy Spirit and skills of our many volunteers... Here is where you can help.....
1- The Carry out Chicken bbq August 14th.
We need volunteers to help with...
* Loan O.S. your electric roaster, needed August 7th * Donate 4 lbs of Bacon Cooked and crumbled to be delivered Thursday, August 12...
Friday Food preparation... Friday at 5 *Mix up salads and beans and place in containers Saturday is Chicken Carry Out Day...
* Chicken cookers begin cooking chicken at 9 a.m.
* Kitchen helpers from 9-11, line coolers and more.
Set up tables for serving lines.
3:30 " Chicken Carry out workers, Assemble..."
* Traffic Control
* Ticket sales
* Packing dinners
* Food runners
* Deliver dinners to our diners...
* Clean up our mess from 4-6:30
*Give thanks to God, we just sold and delivered 1,100 delicious meals... Sign up narthex.. thank you!
Tough News... Good News...
Organist/pianist Rachael Jones and her family are making plans to move to Louisiana where her spouse Brandon has a new job! She has been a joy to work with through out Covid. We wish her and the family God's blessings and our best because she always gave Our Savior's her best!
Our Savior's is looking for an organist/pianist to lead the music at our Saturday 5:30 or Sunday 9:30 worship. Contact P. Dave or Judy Heller for more information, oursaviorssandwich@gmail.com
Some smiles..
I - Our Savior's is proudly displaying one of the "Bird's of Sandwich" in our narthex. This is the brain child of Our Savior's very own bird carver and some of his students. The birds were carved and then painted by students and friends and displayed around town. There are activities for children.. A coloring contest, Scavenger hunt, Hashtag# Raffle and a riddle... "Birding". Find more info at mvw.facebook.com/birdsofsandwich/ or at the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce and runs through the Sandwich Fair.
2- We are celebrating Jackson Ross' remission and new eye Party/Fundraiser on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 1 pm at the Wagner Farm. Info at 815-739-9212.
3- Would you like to join me in a cup of tea?
I don't think we'll both fit.
4- How did the bubble gum cross the road? On the bottom of the chickens foot!
5- Why did the banana fail his drivers test?
He kept peeling out!
6- "What did Grace do to be so Amazing?" - e-mail P.
Dave for the answer if you can't figure it out.
"There is not more beautiful complexion, form or behavior than to wish to scatter joy and not pain around us." Ralph Waldo Emerson