“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And lo I am with you always.”
Matthew 28:19-20
“Come, join the dance of Trinity”
Dear friends in Christ,
Have you noticed there are three kinds of people? There are those who play scrupulously by the rules. Those who play life short of the rules and those great people who play life way out beyond the rules. The truth is that all three people exist in each one of us. Some days our sin gets the best of us. At others all we want to do is what is required. At other times we follow God’s lead and become generous and throw ourselves out there in reckless abandon in love.
God the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit definitely play way out beyond the rules when it comes to love. The Trinity are also three distinct individuals, but one God unburdened by sin or anger and living in their love. In fact, one is always out doing the other in giving, creativity and sharing God’s love with us.
Can you imagine the day when God said, “Let there be light!” and the reign of darkness was over? When God created the stars and planets, the birds, the fish and Leviathan just for the sport of it? Then He made humankind in his image and breathed into us the breath of life. Think of the day God made your favorite color or formed you in your mother’s womb. And showed the Son and the Holy Spirit what He had made. And they said, “It is good!”
Then we sinned and were cast from the garden of Eden and separated from God. The Son said, “I have an idea how to save them. I will glorify the Father by making Him known to them. I will empty myself of my godly powers and become one of them. In that way I will walk among them and communicate firsthand who God is and how much we love them. I will confront their chaos and desire for control and power by teaching them the ways of God are to love God and to care for one another. And I will take the punishment for their sin upon myself and die alone on the cross and give to them the gift of forgiveness. For that is what love does. It not only teaches but gives to the beloved. It forgives and forgiveness knocks down walls and barriers restoring life. But it is costly. I will invite them to pick up their cross and follow me in a life of serving discipleship.
The Holy Spirit said,” And when you have completed your work and return to heaven so believers will never be apart from us and live connected in relationship and unity like us, I will pour myself out on them in wind and tongues of fire and live in them. I will glorify Jesus by making him known telling his story to each new generation. To embrace a deep understanding of what Jesus means in their own time. Like the Samaritan woman at the well to announce and declare to their village all things concerning Jesus. For He is the way to God. He is the truth about God. I will teach them God’s commandments to love one another as we have loved them. To embrace each day as a gift from God, live creatively and seek justice, to give priority to helping the poor, the sick, the lonely, the stranger. For they are people too and every person matters to God. Teach them to call upon God in their joys to give thanks and in their struggles to find strength and hope. Tell them to place faith in God every day. To make Christ known and experience fatigue and the joy of going the extra mile in love. To not be afraid to step into the darkness of the future knowing it is illuminated afresh by the word. For God is present in the light of the word, Jesus Christ, the Sacraments and Scriptures. To go outside the lines and give everything. It is who we are and how we exist. Three separate beings, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit united as one in our love for each other and people, working together, being one family. May they know the freedom and joy of God’s Kingdom and to live each day with hope, in peace and most of all to love each other as we love them. To be challenged by Jesus words spoken to the rich young man, for they too are blessed and rich.
“You lack one thing, go sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me and you will have treasures in heaven.” (Mark 10:21)
In His love, P. Dave
P.S. Life has become a bit more difficult/busy the last three weeks. Sadly, Dennis Drier, Joan’s brother-in-law passed away. Joan and her sister Ann are in the process of making funeral arrangements, confronting many emotions and beautiful thoughts. Towner Crest asked them to clean out his apartment if possible in 15 days. So far we are on schedule. Remember us in your prayers. God be with you.
PRAYERS FOR JUNE/JULY 2025…
Prayers of thanks..
+ We are thankful for our father’s, grandfathers, uncles, teachers, coaches, male mentors this Father’s Day. May God bless our children and grandchildren.
+ Rejoice with friends who celebrated wedding anniversaries in June.
+ Rejoice that a beloved sister has moved to a new assisted living facility. May they enjoy her friendliness and faith.
Every year contains both blessings and challenges. We are so thankful... and amazed by God’s answer to our prayers.
One year ago...
1- O.S. mortgage payment was $7,800 and the July 1st principal balance was $375,407. God blessed us. We gave our building fund offerings, worked hard together and had a capital campaign. We did it! We paid off the mortgage. At Keith Burkhart’s celebration of life, I again thanked the Burkhart family for their generous gift of $10,000 given to Our Savior’s to help pay off the mortgage.
2- O.S. needed a janitor. Talented hard-working people stepped up and volunteered to take on the job of cleaning the church. We who worked beside you saw your skills and dedication. Your church family is forever in your debt. This year we have a new janitor, Janitor Jim. We must continue to do our part. When we use the church dining hall or another church space, let’s take responsibility and clean up after ourselves.
3- O.S. needed a pianist/organist to lead our worship music. We have two additional talented musicians: Nika Morton and Connie Hanson join Abi Mogge and principal Ann Chen.
May the promise of the resurrection in Jesus Christ give us hope we give thanks for family and friends who passed.
+ Joan Kaul’s brother-in-law Dennis Drier, of Oconomowoc, WI. passed away at home. Contacting rheumatic fever as a child didn’t slow him down or keep him from riding his bike to see and bring drinks of water to the Vince Lombardi coached World and Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers after practice. He and (Joan’s sister) Lyle met at the U of Wisconsin in Madison and enjoyed 53 years of marriage. He taught Accounting at U. W. Platteville then decided to join Lyle selling antiques. He said the best part of his job was being with Lyle and the people met along the way. With Lyle’s diagnosis of multiple myeloma cancer, they decided to leave no stone unturned. Lyle took her regular radiation and chemotherapy treatments for 17 years. They traveled to America’s National Parks, Hawaii, Cuba and Costa Rica enjoying birding and family. Every grandchild entering college was extended the gift of $10,000 toward earning their college degree. When Lyle passed, life was not the same. He missed her love, smiles and courage, strength and companionship. He remained an integral part of our family as a loving, supportive, insightful, funny, generous, caring brother-in-law and uncle. With faith and
thanks, and love, we place Him in the hands of God.
+ Keith Jay Burkhart, neighbor and good friend, passed unexpectedly in a motor vehicle accident at the age of 72. He was the son of William and Lois Burkhart. What were you doing when you were 19 years old attending college? Keith was left Eastern Illinois when he received the tragic news that his father William had passed away. He entered Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. He became the 5th generation Director and owner of Burkhart’s funeral home dating back to the 1850's. His mother Lois shared with me how Keith’s decision and work on the family’s behalf empowered and assured their future. Keith, Nan and son Grant lived right next door to us. Keith enjoyed local history - collecting pictures of Sandwich historic buildings. He loved nature and being outdoors, but nothing was more important than family. He and son Grant would fish and hunt together. When Keith fell from a deer stand breaking his back, he asked that we pray that he would live. He counseled me not to work so much. That his pastor and friend had burned out. Acknowledging that being a pastor and shepherd is a tough job. He said, “I need you to be my pastor now. So don’t you burn out too! Take time to be with your family and with God! Get out in nature.”
I presided at his brother Kevin and Tiffany’s wedding, the celebrations of life for his son Grant, brother Kent, mother Lois and sadly now Keith. Where are we to find help as we face life’s toughest moments? “Look up, look up to God our helper who is our refuge and strength.” (Psalm 121). May God bless Keith with his new body with thanks and our love…..
Prayers of healing,
As my Great Physician grant that my trust may be in You, bring your healing presence to...
+ a friend having carpal tunnel surgery
+ friends on dialysis.
+ a friend diagnosed with cancer
+ a friend
+ friends battling dementia, that God would give strength, guidance and patience to family and friends who are their support network.
Some important upcoming events/dates for Our Savior’s family and friends
1) We will celebrate the 4th of July enjoying Patriotic hymns on June 28, 29 at worship.
2) We need everyone’s / your help trimming bushes and pulling weeds on various islands over the course of the next weeks to prepare for the July 4th celebration.
3) Our Savior’s Chicken BBQ is August 9, 2025, serving from 4-6 p.m. We will need everyone’s /your help help to serve the best homemade chicken dinner of the year
Some guidance on giving our offerings and tithes from the prophet Malachai.
“First Fruit’s Giving, giving to God our best!”
Faith is having confidence in God’s faithfulness in an uncertain world, traveling an uncharted course knowing that God has promised to provide all that I need and is with us.
As we give our tithes and offerings in thanks to God in these financially stressful times. We want our offering to say. “Thank you God for blessing me so richly.” and give a first fruits offering. God gave to us his best in Jesus. He expects no less from his children as we set aside the first portion of our income and give it to God in our offering.
Reading the Scriptures I came upon the words of the prophet Malachi who shares a disturbing warning with God’s people concerning the offering practices of his time. Have you ever wondered what our offerings look like to God?
“A child honors their father or mother, and servants their master. If then I (God) am your father, or mother where is the honor due me? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord of hosts. From the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations. Yet You have despised my name. You ask how have I despised your name? By offering polluted foods on my altar. By thinking the Lord’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer what is sick or lame? Try presenting that to your governor, will he be pleased with you or show you favor? Says the Lord of hosts. And now (you) implore the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us? I have no pleasure and will not accept an offering from your hands.” (Malachi 1:6-9)
His words made me stop and think, “Does the gift of my tithe and offering to God express my thanks for His blessings to me?” We want to give the gift of a first fruits offering to God who blesses us. Thank you for your support of Our Savior’s ministry sharing God’s love in Jesus Christ with you and all people
“For I tell you truly if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain. Move from here to there and it will move for nothing will be impossible for you..” Matthew 17:20
We did it! We paid off the 2006 church building mortgage of $1,550,000 plus interest. We did it placing a mustard seed size faith in God. Thank you God for blessing us with your gifts. Thank you Our Savior’s family and friends for giving offering gifts, prayers, work and support to make this happen. This is a major accomplishment.
Like one person carrying the Olympic torch and then passing it to another, we carried and shared this vision, this opportunity to worship God in a beautiful sanctuary, teaching Sunday School and confirmation and hosting great youth and family events in a great facility, sharing precious weddings, shedding tears at funerals and enjoy 11 ½ acres of beautiful grounds. We prayed that God would bless us and help us make the monthly payments.
He did. We gave our tithes and offerings and regular building gift, worked at Chicken BBQs, enjoyed auctions bidding on wonderful items, shared Fall Salad Luncheons, bake sales and collected aluminum cans. Then we finished the job with a rousing Capital Campaign giving generous gifts, memorials, and charitable contributions from our RMD’s. We celebrated enjoying an ice cream sundae together on May 31 and June 1st, 2025.
To commemorate this milestone, we asked Cindy Fraser, her sister Kathy Tyler, Joan Kaul and Ann Hagemann to create a mustard seed bookmark. They did a fabulous job. Thank you ladies for your gifts and creativity. Remember, don’t look at the size of the mountain you have to move. Look at mountain mover, Jesus Christ and place your faith in him. For nothing is impossible for God and people of faith.” Thank you God. Thank you Our Savior’s family and friends! We did it!
OUR SAVIOR’S 2025 CARRY OUT CHICKEN BBQ IS AUGUST 9th ...
We waited a whole year for the “Best Church Chicken” BBQ … served with the smile...
Tickets are $18! This delicious meal includes ½ chicken, pasta salad, baked beans, a roll, apple sauce and a cookie. We are grilling and preparing to serve 1,100 meals! We ask that you sell or buy 10 tickets. Thank you for being generous and working hard. Besides it’s a lot of fun…
Below is our BBQ work schedule. We invite you to sign up when the time comes! See below for ways you can help:
* Loan O.S. your electric roaster,
needed August 2nd
* Donate 4 lbs. of Bacon - Cooked and crumbled to be
delivered Thursday, August 7th ...
* Bake cookies
Friday Food preparation... Friday at 5
*Mix up salads and beans and place in containers
Saturday is Chicken Carry Out Day...
* 9:00 a.m. - Chicken cookers begin cooking chicken
* 9-11 a.m. - Kitchen helpers - line coolers and more.
Set up tables for serving lines.
* 3:30 p.m.- “Chicken Carry out workers, Assemble...”
* Traffic Control
* Ticket sales
* Packing dinners
* Food runners
* Deliver dinners to our diners...
* Clean up our mess from 4-6:00
*6:00 p.m. - Give thanks to God!!
Sign up in the narthex soon.. Thank you!
A Prayer for America as We Celebrate Our Independence Day - 2025
O Lord, we praise You, for You created us and gave us life. You set us free from our bondage to sin and showed us your way of love in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Refresh out hearts as we remember the dedication and sacrifice and give thanks for those who went before us, heroic men and women. Help us to appreciate honest and just men and women who live obeying the laws and not serving self or greed. Forgive us when our patriotism rings hollow or our allegiance is halfhearted. Stir our hearts with thanksgiving as we remember all that we have inherited. Guide us to be vigilant in respecting every person as we work for the common good of all. Keep us from selfishness and narrow mindedness, hatred and bigotry, racism’s curse that incites violence and to abuse power. We pray deliver us from evil. May we be good neighbors to those near and far holding your love in our hearts demonstrated showing love to others in our words and actions. May America be more than a superpower but remain freedom’s light to the nations with the dream that one day all people may enjoy our gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We pray you would awaken us to be one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for every person.