Dear members and friends of Our Savior’s,
As we mark the one year anniversary of the pandemic, I am thankful to God for His blessings and that you are in the world! Yes, I celebrate you and that we are here together in this moment, this hour, to see this day! We just lived through a year like no other in our life time. It contained confusion, feeling overwhelmed and stress and fear. There were days when we felt knocked down but then our minds cleared and we got up believing that God would show us a way and admitting that sometimes life is what it is and you have to make the best of it! I pray there were also moments of hard work that paid off in success, some laughter, showing kindness like baking and sharing some cookies with a neighbor or listening to some of your favorite music, a pod cast or watching your favorite tv show, an old movie or your favorite team playing in a stadium or arena before cardboard cut out people sitting in the stands as canned cheers played over the loud speaker. Would you pause with me to remember the precious people who through no fault of their own passed from this virus and now abide with God in heaven. Let’s remember their strength and faith in God, the sound of their voice, the shared fun and struggles, the good they brought to our lives and the world. Would you give thanks for the essential workers who went to work while you stayed “safe” at home. They delivered our groceries or prepared our carry out meal or our order at Walmart, delivered our mail or drove a truck and placed the items outside the front door. Back in college they chose to work in the field of medicine and for the first time in their career were on the front lines facing this virus we knew nothing about. Knowing they too could catch the virus, they entered the arena and praying to bring healing to the sick or save our loved ones lives in the hospital or home for the aged dispensing precious medicines and care and offering words of encouragement and smiles because we couldn’t. Jesus charged the church to be His body in the world. We shared the good news that God is with us and to trust in his promises. So you wouldn’t forget we gathered for worship on Saturdays at 5:30 and Sunday at 9:30 and placed this good news in a broadcast on Our Savior’s Facebook page. We told you to hope and hang on, that God never stops working and so were the scientists seeking a healing vaccine, that things would get better and as your mother or dad or the preacher told you, “don’t forget to pray.” So we are here. We can begin to see some light at the end of tunnel. It is the light of God and the faith of the human community who accomplishes great things when we work together for the good of all! Today, I am thankful for God and for you. Now let’s make the most of this day! It is God’s gift. May His Spirit surround you with blessings, Pastor Dave
P.S. Would you join me in praying for two friends having surgery this week.
“O give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1
Portions of a Prayer attributed to St. Patrick
“I arise today; vast in might, invocation of the Trinity, belief in the Threeness, confession of Oneness, meeting in the Creator.
I arise today in the might of Christ’s birth and His Baptism, in the might of his Crucifixion and Burial, in the might of His resurrection and Ascension,
in the might of God for my piloting, Power of God
for my stability, Wisdom of God for my guidance, Eye of God for my foresight, Ear of God for my hearing. Word of God for my speaking, Hand of God for my guard, Path of God for my prevention, Shield of God for my protection, against demons, vice’s lure and ill wishes, far and near.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, His Spirit in me, Christ under me, Christ over me, to the right and left of me, in my lying down, sitting and rising up, in all who think of me.. Today I arise in a mighty power of the Trinity..
Thankful and hopeful...
We are entering our second year of battling the Covid-19 virus with hope. We mourn the deaths and give thanks for the lives of more than 500,000 Americans and more throughout the world. We pray God’s healing for those recovering from the virus. We are thankful and pray for the spiritual, mental and physical health of all essential workers serving on the front lines.
1- a year ago we cancelled in person worship and began Our Savior’s Broadcast of “Some good news from Our Saviors” that now enjoys weekly views of 1,100 with out reach to 2,000 to 3,000. We have two “in person” worship services Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 9:30 and the Lenten “16 minutes with God” every Wednesday at noon. We will celebrate Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter wearing masks, social distancing and washing our hands and respecting the 25% capacity restrictions approved by the Supreme Court. (Unless the State of Illinois changes this!)
2- Within a year scientists, medical companies and our prayers have produced a Covid -19 vaccine that should be available to everyone by May of this year as reported by President Biden. We are thankful!
God’s love grows here. Let’s share it!
Thank you for your generous offering support of Our Savior’s...
We are grateful Our Savior’s family and friends. God has blessed us with his gifts. We give our tithes and offerings to say “Thank you” to God. We give a generous offering in support of the work of this ministry because God has been generous to us.
1- You can give your gift in person at worship. Be sure to stop in the church office and say “hello.”
2- Mail your offering to Our Savior’s 2465 West Sandwich Road, Sandwich, Il. 60548
3- Send it electronically by going to the Our Savior’s web page at www.our-saviors.com and click on the donate button. Thank you for your offerings and prayers for this ministry!
Favorite Lenten Recipes and prayers...
Taste and see...
Food and prayers and faith have taken on added importance in the pandemic as they helped us to carry on.
We have our first offering of a recipe and a prayer from a friend. We wanted to share it with you!
Broccoli Grape Salad
1-2 bunches of broccoli chopped
1-1/2 cups purple seedless grapes cut in half
3/4 cup mayo
1 tbl. Balsamic vinegar or apple cider
1-1/2 c sugar or stevia to taste
½ cup raisins
My Prayer:
Dear Lord please continue to guide all our leaders who make decisions for us all. Bring comfort to those who struggle. P:lese bring our nation and world together peacefully to fight this pandemic and get people vaccinated. Thank you for all the blessings you have provided. Help us to share what we have with those in need. Please guide us every day. Amen
We are broadcasting “Some Good News from Our Savior’s in Sandwich” every Sunday at 9:30 on the Our Savior’s Facebook page featuring Pastor Dave’s sermons, Photog by Joan Kaul, Music Rachael Jones and Judy Heller, lectors Sheila Thompson and Bonnie Seibert, projection by Mike Butler.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
2465 West Sandwich Road, Sandwich, Il. 60548
Rev. David J. Kaul, pastor
Worship Saturday at 5:30, Sunday at 9:30
Broadcasting “Some Good News” Sundays at 9:30 on the Our Savior’s Facebook page. Web page
www.oursaviors.com, Send an e-mail to...
oursaviorssandwich@gmail.com.
Sunday School News- The season of Lent for Kids...
The season of Lent is a special time in the church year when we focus on spiritual things and do things that bring us closer to God. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter. We start with Ash Wednesday because in the past people used to put ashes on themselves, a sign that they were sorry for their sins and wanted to be a better person. Lent is a season when we make an effort to live the way God wants us to by praying and acting loving to other people. It is a time to remember that no matter what happens, God is always with us to help us get through tough times.
There are a number of activities to do with your children to help them learn about Lent. Since Lent is a prayerful time, making prayer books or prayer beads or chains are a good Lenten activity. You can also set aside money in a special piggy bank to help other people who don’t have food or have lost their jobs or home. For other great ideas look on Pinterest
Thank you..
+ For helping O.S. plow the snow from the parking lot and shoveling the church entrance and raking snow from the roof.
+ For folding and mailing the church “Lightshine”!
Mailing the Weekly bulletin and worship service to your home..
Would you like to continue to receive the weekly bulletin and worship service mailed to your home?
Please call us at 815-786-6406 or e-mail us at oursaviorssandwich@gmail.com. to continue receiving this weekly mailing. Acknowledging that this was an important spiritual resource and contact at the beginning of the pandemic. The need for this resource may have diminished in light of the majority number of people now watch the good news broadcast that already includes the words, responses and music for the worship or receive a printed bulletin at in person worship. We want to continue sending this mailing to all who want it. Please call!