From the Pastor’s Desk “And God rested”
“Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord, your God.”
Exodus 20:8-10a
Dear friends in Christ,
We love and serve God who worked creating the universe and all that is in it. Then God rested. We are created in the image of the working and resting God. As God works, we also work. As God rested, we are to rest. But here is where our following and obeying God’s commandments starts to break down. One of the early challenges in this pandemic was adjusting to working from home. People report there are many positives and one major draw back. They are working more! There is work to do. They are glad to have a job. They have trouble stepping away and don’t know when to stop. Once boundaries were clearer. We made our lunch, walked the children to the bus, kissed our loved ones good bye and then drove off to work. Later that day we came home and kissed our loved ones “hello”. They inquired, “how was your day?” We ate supper then puttered in the yard or watched a ball game and went to bed. Now we work much of the time. Many Sundays as Joan and I drive to lead worship. We often wave to friends who are out mulching their yards, mowing the grass or to trying to save a few bucks working all Sunday on some major house repair.
We can forget that God built rest into his design for the creation. It is wise as well as moral to keep this commandment. A day of rest is God’s blessing to help us be the persons that he designed us to be and to live the lives we are created to live.
One person said, “The best day of my life was when I resigned from being chairman of the Board of the universe.” If God could take time to rest so can we. It is vital to our renewal and more responsible living. Pastors are often the worst at this. But we want to live believing that God gives us enough time to do what he wants us to do. All of us have limits and need to rest our bodies, minds and spirits. Those who would give must also take time to receive or they will have nothing left to give.
We want to create space and time to remember and worship our Savior. We need this time away from work to remember that we are a saved and redeemed people. In Jesus, God has freed us from sin, death and the devil. We respond giving thanks and praise. One of the tougher consequences of our sheltering at home was not being able to see one another and experience the joy of singing and praying together. With more people receiving the Covid vaccines. There are declining Covid-19 numbers of illness and death. Some restrictions on the number of people meeting in public are being lifted. Each week more people attend worship on site and watch the 9:30 good news Sunday morning broadcast recorded on the Our Savior’s Facebook page.
God’s commandment shares a blessing not a burden. When the disciples were criticized for eating grains of wheat in the field on the Sabbath Day because they were hungry. Our Lord responded that a person was not made for the Sabbath. Quite the opposite, the Sabbath is made for people. He said that he was the “Lord of the Sabbath!” They could glean and eat the grain for they were hungry and needed nourishment! We need rest and refreshment. We need to praise and worship God. We hunger for God’s word and receive the sacraments. We need to see our brothers and sisters in Christ! We need freedom from routine responsibilities in order to carry out deeds of love and kindness that create life in the world and in our lives. This is a day to call a friend and say that you were thinking of them or write that “thank you” note. Tell a person that you remember them and care. This is not a “sin” or work but to fulfill the purpose of the Sabbath. This is the Lord’s Day to do good. It is God’s gift to His people! Where to resign from being chairperson of the universe so you may enjoy and share in the life God intended for each of us? We want to thank God for the gift of the Lord’s Day! Disney’s Olaf would also wish you a “Happy Summer!” In His love, Pastor Dave.
P.S. We had to say good by to our Labrador Napali. She was a good friend for 14 years, a dream to walk beside, friend to every person, never listened and always did her own thing, had the softest ears, was never pushy and a amazing gift that can never be replaced.
Prayers for June 2021
prayers of thanks...
+ the baptism of Lily Pearl Fox, June 12th, beautiful daughter of Alex and Ryan Fox.
+ God’s blessings on Margaret Fraser and Phil Carter as they exchange vows of marriage.
+ for friends celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary renewing their marriage vows.
+ for the new friends attending Our Savior’s worship on site and on line.
+ a young friend enjoying life and his new eye.
+ for the rain and sunshine.
Prayers of healing, strength and faith...
+ Grace and Gene, may God continue to give them strength and faith. Grace is on hospice care.
+ a friend preparing to have a stem cell transplant
+ for Todd Clason’s father.
+ a friend awaiting surgery.
+ a friend having heart tests.
Prayers of comfort...
+ thanks for the gift of life, Lu Ann Voss’ mother, Ms. Norraine Baker. She was a kind, meticulous, Illini fan, generous to a fault, caring person of great faith, loved her family and God.
+ thanks for the gift of life of Everett Hyatt. He worked hard, moved houses with his dad and sons, enjoyed McDonald’s orange pop and oatmeal cookies, played pranks on his children and grandchildern, loved his family and a good friend to Our Savior’s and your pastor.
+ a family whose loved one took their life.
A Prayer on Father’s Day, June 20
Our heavenly Father, we ask for your grace, may our children grow up with a healthy body, a believing heart and a mind open to learning and walking in the ways of God’s righteousness. Give me grace and strength and faith to be an example in my words and actions for my children. Make me a person of prayer who is mindful to your presence. May my heart be the temple of your Holy Spirit. May I grow in faith and the knowledge of you and your word. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Savior of all. Amen.
“I arise in a mighty power...” some words of a prayer attributed to St. Patrick”
“I arise today in a mighty power, in the invocation of the Trinity, belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, confession the Oneness, meeting in the Creator, the diversity, beauty and wonder of the Creation. In the might of Christ’s birth and baptism, in His crucifixion and burial, resurrection and ascension, in the power and wisdom of God, the Word of God for my word, the Hand of God as my guard, the path of God for my prevention, the shield of God for my protection, the Host of God for my salvation, Christ’s Spirit with me, before me, behind me, in me, under me, over me, to my right, to my left, in my lying down, sitting and rising up, the Spirit of Christ in all who may think of me, Christ in my mouth and the mouths of all who speak of me, Christ is the eye that may look on me, Christ in the ear that may hear me, prayed believing in the Threeness, confessing the Oneness, meeting in the Creator.”
Mailing/ e-mailing the weekly bulletin, hymns, lessons and a sermon starter to your home...
Throughout the pandemic we wanted to help you by providing information for home worship consisting of a weekly bulletin, lessons, hymns and a sermon starter. We wanted to stay connected to each other. Many of us are now attending on site or watching the weekly “good news” broadcast on Facebook at home and receiving this information at worship. For some the weekly mailing arrived too late to be helpful.
We are seeking to provide this information in an e-mail and in the process of creating a list of e-mails addresses. Would you help by sending your current e-mail address to oursaviorssandwich@gmail.com. Also, thank you for contacting the church office to request that we continue sending the mailing to your home. We are glad to do so.
Annual Meeting of Our Savior’s is June 13 at 8:30 in the dining hall.
Our business is to hold a short meeting to receive 2020 reports, pass a 2021 budget and elect leadership.
A summary of P. Dave’s report 2020..
In a year like no other, that “is what it is!”. I am thankful! We sought a source of wisdom and strength to navigate our way, healing and peace in the midst of sickness and conflict, comfort in sorrow, hope to face each day in our loving God. I and Our Savior’s felt the call of God to be there for you sharing faith and providing spiritual resources to get through and grow.
This would not be easy. The virus was air born. To keep from spreading the virus large public gatherings were restricted or cancelled. For the first time worship made that restricted list. Some of you did not use the internet. Others did not like or use Facebook. Still others preferred to worship on site. Most of us wanted to stay “safe” at home. We had to find a way to reach all of you at home sharing the word and sacraments.
1- We mailed each family spiritual resources to observe home worship containing that weeks bulletin, Scripture readings, hymns and a sermon starter. We wanted to continue to grow the faith of children. Joan Kaul prepared and mailed each child a faith based Sunday School lesson with a way to connect to a fun story video.
2- We provided two on site worship services Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 9:30. But most people wanted to stay safe at home. We had to find a way to get on the internet with a broadcast of worship. My Son in law David Lausch said we could do so with a cell phone, the internet and using Facebook. He also helped us set up a pay pal account for receiving an electronic offering.
Jennifer Johnson had already linked Our Savior’s with her Facebook page. I asked Joan who takes great pictures if she would please be our camera person recording the broadcast? I asked Rachael Jones if she would continue to play the piano/organ and lead the music? I asked Sheila Thompson, Bonnie Seibert and Karin Carlson if they would be our lectors? I asked Mike Butler if he would project the hymns and liturgy? All said “yes!’. They deserve our great thanks! The number of people watching/viewing the broadcast vary sometimes hundreds at other times thousands. The number of people being “reached” rarely falls below one thousand sometimes reaching two and three thousand. Each is a person loved by Jesus.
3- To keep the church doors open we would need regular offering support. We had to pay the mortgage. We had set aside some money to get through an emergency. This was that time!
God’s Holy Spirit and the generous gifts, tithes and offerings of Our Savior’s members and friends are Our Savior’s only source of support. God’s people are generous. We gave our offering by stopping in the office, mailing our offering or sending it electronically. We also applied for a PPP loan and awarded $26,398 that would be forgiven if we kept immaculate records. Thanks Our Saviors, thanks Joan K and Judy H.for keeping immaculate records, thanks Uncle Sam. Sometimes we went without! Our Savior’s finished in the black. We paid the mortgage but will need additional support in 2021. The annual Chicken bbq/auction format had to be modified. We chose a carry out serving 1,000 meals and sold out in 2 hours. We held an on line auction.
4- Physical. A- We built a berm to direct water to the ditch. B-replaced the leaking narthex roof. C-Built a live nativity Gazebo. D-Installed a new elevator.
5- People- some good friend passed away- Bonnie Price, Char Christian, Dick Hallstrom, Marian Mattson, Connie Balder, Carol Janssen, Baby Levi Bohnstedt, Betty Wade and Diane Allen. We confirmed Andrew Hellyer, Hunter Aherns, and Mitchell Haag. Our Savior’s family included 881 baptized and 735 confirmed. That is an increase of 1. I’ll take it!
6- Ministry- Jennifer Johnson retired after 14 ½ years as janitor, welcome janitor Shannon McGregory, Judy Heller handed the finances/bookkeeping to Ann Hagemann to focus on office publishing and helping.
We will have to rebuild Sunday School and our volunteer programs. The Building mortgage fund needs stronger financial support. Judy Heller, the Broadcast team and church council deserve our thanks. Joan Kaul wore many hats and filled in many gaps behind the scenes. In a year like no other, when “it is what it is!”, God and ministry and faith were relevant and needed, when our prayer list was never so long, I am thankful for God and for each of you. May God continue to bless you and Our Savior’s family and friends,
P. Dave.
If churches fail...
The church has been commissioned by Christ to tell the story of Jesus. Our mission is to bring people into a responsible relationship and grateful fellowship with God. To place humankind under the command of God and to nestle him in his care. No other institution, government or union is dedicated to this task. If the church doesn’t do it, it won’t be done. In a world filled with indifference, callous self preservation and greed, the church champions qualities of kindness, mercy, justice and compassionate concern for the needs and rights of all. The Gospel is the story of God’s way. God created humankind to live with faith in him and to live in love with one another. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ to die on a cross for our sins. That he did this not for personal gain but out of strange and radical love for us. He counted on this story of His Son coming to be with us to change the hearts of people and they in turn would shape and change the structure of society. The church is free to share this message, free from government control, support and responsibility. This is our task solely to perform. We dare not fail our Lord or his children.
This mission is supported by the generous work and financial gifts of God’s people. Entering a home a couple of few means, he saw a tiny tin can, like a pork and beans can without a wrapping, sitting on the fireplace mantle. The woman saw him staring at it. She said, “Dad is a janitor. That is where we keep our offering to the Lord. Every week he brings home his pay check, takes it to the bank and cashes it. He places $22.50 in that tin box. We believe in tithing. My friend said “”never in all my years have I been able to forget the feeling of wonder, admiration and pity - shame for myself- that overwhelmed me that day. I wanted to tell them to keep it for themselves. The church could certainly get along without it. But never did. They had learned the lesson that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I’m certain that the $22.50 emptied from that can each week gave them far more joy than the $202.50 they had left.” May God bless your tin can.
You may give your offering, 1- stop in the office and say “Hello”, 2- mail your offering to Our Savior’s, 2465 West Sandwich Road, Sandwich, Il. 60548, or 3- give electronically by going to the Our Savior’s web page at www.our-saviors.com. Click on the donate button and follow directions. Our Savior’s ability to do ministry is dependant on the Holy Spirit and the generosity of our many members and friends who give their regular tithes and offerings. And thank you for your support of this ministry.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
2465 West Sandwich Rd, Sandwich, Il. 60548
Rev. David J. Kaul
Web page www.our-saviors.com. Send us an e-mail to oursaviorssandwich@gmailcom.
Worship with us Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday Morning 9:30.
Live Broadcast of “Some Good News from Our Savior’s in Sandwich” Sunday at 9:30...
Whether you attend the Saturday 5:30 or Sunday at 9:30 worship in person or feel more safe staying at home watching the Sunday 9:30, “Good News Broadcast” on the Our Savior’s Facebook page. Thank you for being part of Our Savior’s.
Finding the Good News worship on our Facebook page.
The easiest way is to go to Our Savior’s Web page www.our-saviors.com. Once there look for the light blue “Facebook” just below the Easter sunrise picture of the three crosses. In you click on that “Facebook” it will take you directly to our Facebook page. You did it! 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 Face book listings for the church. Click on the second one, we don’t use the first one due to hacking. It will take you where you need to go.
If you are not a member of Facebook, it will ask you to create an account. You can if you want but you don’t have to! You can still participate in worship and browse the page, just click on “not now”. Check out the videos, photos and comments while you are there. We broadcast “Some Good News from Our Savior’s” every Sunday morning at 9:30 on Facebook live. If you miss it, you can always tune in at a later time, the videos are all there! Join us
Volunteers.... needed... nurtured....appreciated
1- The covid numbers and coming down, people are getting vaccinated, new friends and old are feeling more comfortable attending on site worship. We want to welcome then at the door with a smiling “Hello!”1- We need door greeters! 2- We also need ushers to be a second friendly face and hand out a non returnable bulletin and help friends find the elements for communion and take them to their pew. Help us find the offering plate located in covid times on the baptismal font. That was your job description. We are setting up teams of greeters and ushers to serve for 1 week a month and need 9 teams of greeters and ushers who can rotate. This is our invitation to ask you and your family to step up and help.
Contact Becky Kinney- she has also been away caring for her mother-in-law who just passed away or call the church office at 815-786-6406 or shoot us an e-mail, oursaviorssandwich@gmail.com. If you have questions.
2- Good folks to spray weeds and clean up the bush beds of weeds.
Work day- June 12th.. Beginning at 8:30..
Let’s pull some weeds, begin to trim some bushes and lay down some mulch. We’ll work until 10:30. Call ahead to tell us that you are coming. We need more people to help out! Thanks.
Chicken BBQ/auction
Hey, all Cub fans. We received our first item for the 2021 BBQ Auction. A Kris Bryant autographed picture. Our second is an official Cubs World Series Hat, Size 7 ½.
Church Council will meet on Wednesday, June 16 at 6 p.m.
Jokes for June...
1- What does a mermaid use to call her friends?
A shell phone.
2- First dog, “Where do fleas go for summer vacation?”
Second dog: “Search me!”
3- Why didn’t the elephant pack a suitcase for vacation?
She already had a trunk.
4- Why did the mummy refuse to go on a summer vacation? He was afraid to unwind.
5- When do you “go” at red and “stop” at green?
When you’re eating a watermelon!
6- A pastor’s wife took her overworked husband to the family physician. The physician took the wife aside and whispered, “I don’t like the way your husband looks!”
She replied, “ I don’t either but he’s always been a good father to the children.!”
7- The world’s most rewarding but toughest job- parenting- God gave to amateurs!
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Hi guys and girls. Summer is finally here and we are so excited. We will be looking forward to Sunday School starting in September after the Sandwich Fair. In the mean time we will continue sending a letter but not each week. Watch the broadcast on Facebook, P. Dave always has a children’s sermon or come to worship this summer. We want to see you and worship God together.
Our lesson this Sunday comes from the book of Mark, chapter 3, verses 20-35. Jesus is so busy helping the sick and ill people that he and the disciples are not taking time to eat. His family is worried about him because some people are saying bad things about him. That he gets his power to heal from the dark side... from Satan. I think he just had so many people to help that even he couldn’t do it all. At the end of this reading he tells all the people something amazing. Everyone who believes in him is part of his family, they are his brothers and sisters too! Pretty cool! He wants you to be part of his family and loves you just as you are! Remember if you need something, tell Jesus. Since your baptism, you are part of the family!