From the Pastor’s Desk…Thanksgiving repose
“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took a loaf of bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you” 1 Corinthians 11:23,24
Dear friends in Christ,
This Thursday we will gather with family and friends to give thanks and share in the meal filled with delights, delicacies and everything delicious. The menu contains something for everyone. Even if it is only Grandma Joan’s dinner rolls with butter. Growing up there wasn’t room at the dining room table for all of us. We’d gather there and hold hands while a grown up offered a prayer of thanks to God. Then we, the children, were off to eat in the kitchen around a somewhat unstable and shaky card table fetched from the basement that smelled like mold. But we didn’t mind. There was red Jello with carrots and black olives to place on our fingers like rings and homemade dinner rolls with butter to eat. We had a whole case of chilled “big rock” pop in a variety of flavors to split between us. Of course, we made like we were eating the turkey and choked down some dressing, the green bean casserole or sweet potatoes if for no other reason than guilt, “Because your aunt made that.” We discovered what a napkin was really for! Secretly all of us were saving room for once a year favorites, Grandma Marcie’s peanut squares and her coconut white fudge. As an early Christmas gift, she always gave dad his own tin of the fudge to take home to enjoy with the family. Dad’s only mistake was placing the tin in the basement fridge next to the bottle of sweet Mogen David wine. He tried to ration it out. “Each of us could have one piece each day.” It was usually gone by the end of the first week. While the older folks chatted and told stories around the dining room table that usually included a lot of laughter. The cousins would retreat to the basement to play hide and go seek. Come on - what other game can you play that includes a first grader? In later years we would graduate to the grown-ups table where the food was just as delicious but the conversation and the sheer antics of being a child were missing.
We couldn’t wait to go outside to a nearby park to play football.
Did you notice that before Jesus and the disciples shared the most blessed of meals we know as the Lord’s supper or holy communion; before he went to the cross for us, Jesus took the loaf of bread. Then he gave thanks to God.
M. Luther wrote, “The best way to lift up the mind to God is to acknowledge and ponder past blessings. The setting forth of blessings is the guarantee of future ones, the gifts received in the past offer the confidence of receiving them. On the contrary, the total sinking of the mind away from God down to hell consists in forgetting or failing to take note of good received.
It is the wise person who begins to praise and give thanks. This is what draws us to the goodness of God who not only commands us to pray but has also promised to hear us.”
In our hurried hustling world, there isn’t enough of this stopping to thank God moment. We just rush on to the next... event or task, person or phone message. But our next breath, heartbeat, sunrise, Thanksgiving feast, this crazy and beloved gathering with family, the church, the forgiveness of our sins and more, all are His gifts. Would you stop now and just give thanks to God! For He has blessed us richly. This is the place to begin every meal and day. There will be times this prayer of thanks may be the only thing that makes sense. On others it will be a grand celebration for having received from God more than we deserved or that God gave us the strength to face our challenges. Best of all He gave himself to us in Jesus Christ. As you and I gather together this Thanksgiving, whether we have a lot or a little, may you and I enjoy this and every day as God’s gift, and stop to give thanks.”
In his love, Pastor Dave
Thanksgiving Eve worship, Wednesday November 27
at 7 PM. “The Thanksgiving Apple”
“Come to worship and say thanks to God as we discover how an apple can lead us to give thanks.”
Our Savior’s Auction full of amazing items is on until Saturday, November 23rd at about noon. That is all the time you have left. Then it is over! It’s not too late. Get in on the fun. We want to raise some serious cash so we can pay off the mortgage in 2025! We will need your help and generous support to do it! Let’s finish with a big, bang, boom! Get your bids in on these amazing items and be generous. Every dollar helps to make the mortgage payment. Thank you for your generous gifts and bids!
“I want to help pay for my parking lot space at the church. Please find enclosed my gift of $500.”
Help Our Savior’s pay the bill for seal coating and stripping of the parking lot.
I love my church and attend worship at Our Savior’s. I drive and park my car, SUV and truck there, and use the lot every weekend, and on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and special events like the chicken BBQ. It only makes sense that from time to time the lot needs maintenance. I want to help share the expenses.
We have only a few more thousand dollars to raise to reach our goal. Would you please pray and consider giving a one-time generous gift or make a promise and give a gift each month until the bill is paid? Thank you.
Our Savior’s Capital Campaign to pay off the church mortgage in 2025.
Friends of Our Savior’s have invited us to join them and set a goal of paying off Our Saviors mortgage in 2024/25 by giving our gifts in raising the money in a capital campaign to pay off the mortgage in 2024/25. Our current principal balance on November 15, 2024, is $342,363.
Would you pray and consider making a charitable contribution to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sandwich, IL....
- through directing your RMD - required minimum distribution from your IRA in your 401 or 403b account to Our Savior’s.
- By giving a generous year end gift or promise gift directed to the building mortgage fund.
- By increasing your current offering gift directed to the building mortgage fund.
- including Our Savior’s and the building fund in your will and memorial gifts for loved ones.
The good news is that we’ve received some generous gifts and gift promises that total $301,650.
We want to thank you for your offering gifts directed to the general and building funds that help Our Savior’s pay for current expenses and make the mortgage payment. Thank you for your work and gifts at the chicken BBQ and auctions and salad luncheon. Because of your work, prayers and gifts we have reached this point and have come this far. We invite you to pray and consider giving your generous year end gifts or make your gift promise to help Our Savior’s pay off the mortgage in 2025. Thank you for your prayers and generous gifts.
Thankful for you…
Our Savior’s has many reasons to be thankful. We are especially grateful for Our Savior’s family and friends who appreciate and support our ministry helping us to share God’s love in word and sacrament ministry of worship, Sunday School, Confirmation, caring for one another, generous giving, working at Chicken BBQ and auctions, salad luncheon, prayer for one another, the “Live Nativity” and the “live broadcast” of some good news from Our Savior’s viewed by people all across America sharing a message of faith and hope in Christ. Because of God and you, we are making a difference for Christ. Thank you for your generosity and continued support. With thanks, Our Savior’s Family and friends.
Surviving Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years when a loved one has passed.
“If we hadn’t loved each other so much or been that close, maybe it wouldn’t hurt so now. I am struggling to let go and move ahead. May we thank God for the memories that remain with us permanently etched into our being. For love is not changed by death and nothing is lost. We would not trade the experience of knowing and loving the other for anything. We believe in God, but our faith does not guarantee us any special treatment or length of days together. How good it is to remember the touch of hands while watching the sunset, the quiet dinner together and family along with so many good memories especially at Christmas. Each has a special depth of meaning and is treasured. The loved one may be gone but they are a still part of us. For love lives beyond death into resurrection, hope through our faith in Jesus Christ. Love continues to care, love continues to reach out, love gives now. The beloved would want it this way. Love continues to reach out beyond the self and even beyond our loved one and is meant to be shared. Yes, we grieve. But we do not do so alone for nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus and He is with us. God, make this Christmas special and thank you for shared love.
Opportunities for giving those extra gifts at Thanksgiving and Christmas…. Following Jesus’ example and teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan, all of us want to give and offer our support to help others especially at Christmas. We are God’s love in action. We want to be generous. We must be sure to set a budget. That requires our making good decisions.
A recent article headline in a prominent national newspaper read “To feel better, Donate Your Money and Time.” the next time you’re stressed. Try giving some money away. Generosity is a powerful drug even in small doses. Donations to a worthy cause or acts of kindness give your mind and body a boost:
1- Our Savior’s “The Mitten Tree”, set up this weekend to take advantage of black Friday pricing ….Give a gift this Christmas to help a local child/teen in our community. Our angels are on site at school and see that a child is going without your needed item, a coat, a hat, some shoes, or a sweatshirt or pants. You will find a mitten on the tree listing a needed gift, the age and sex of the child. You choose the mitten. We will set up the Mitten Tree in the church narthex beginning November 23, 24 so gifts can be purchased by taking advantage of special Black Friday pricing. Take the mitten, purchase the gift and then return the mitten and gift under the tree. All of this is done anonymously. Thank you.
2- Help local hunger. You can donate money to buy a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner through the Sharing Pantry Holiday Meal program for a gift of $23 that provides an entire dinner for a family of 6-8 people.
3- Lutheran World Relief - Our Savior’s can help neighbors thrive by giving a gift to Lutheran World Relief who will carry our love giving food and care. Write Lutheran World Relief on your check or gift of any amount.
Christmas Eve Family Worship at 4:30 PM
** Carols, Candles and Communion
** More info in our December ‘special edition’
Our Savior’s Outdoor “Live Nativity”
Saturday, December 7th, 5:30 PM
Journey with us to Bethlehem’s stable. Imagine that first visit when the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she was the chosen One of God to give birth to our Savior and Joseph is told the child Mary is carrying is from God. When the shepherds were serenaded by angels bringing good news of great joy that the Savior is born and lies in Bethlehem’s manger where magi from the East will offer their gifts. We want to travel with Mary and Joseph and the donkey. Sing carols with family and friends and with Fred, Nancy Hayes and Molly’s great sheep. We are still looking for additional farm animals. Help us find them! Call the church with info. Come and invite your family and friends. Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this amazing thing that God has done.
Live Nativity Cast Schedule...
+ Nov. 23, 24, & Nov. 30, Dec. 1 - Find your costume... Lynn Olson is available after worship
+ Sun., Dec. 1 following 9:30 worship - Practice for Mary and Joseph & Cast.
+ Sat., Dec. 7 at 12 noon - Dress rehearsal
+ Set up the Stable... Put out journey lights... Friday and Saturday to be determined.
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS: NEW UNIT
DECEMBER 1ST, 8th,15th, January 5th and 12th
“The Miracle Worker – Miracles of Jesus”
Dear Kids,
Have you seen the Harry Potter movies or read the books? Aren’t they fun? What is your favorite “spell” that Harry does?
There’s a lot of “magic” happening in the made-up story of Harry Potter’s life! Some of the magic is unbelievable! Wouldn’t it be great if we all had magic wand? Or if we knew magic words? Or if we knew someone who did?
There’s another book that has a lot of almost unbelievable things that happen. That book is the Bible! Jesus did a lot of MIRACLES. All of them were pretty awesome!
For this unit we will be learning the difference between magic tricks, facts, and miracles. Jesus did some OUTSTANDING miracles for real…and he didn’t use a wand.
Here are some MIRACULOUS things Jesus did:
Walked ON TOP OF water!
Made DEAD people ALIVE!
Controlled the WEATHER!
CURED diseases!
Fed 5,000 people lunch with only 2 fish and 5 pieces of bread!
“The Miracle Worker – Miracles of Jesus”
Workshops:
Bible Math
Movie
Science
Mission
Puppets