Lightshine 2025, Christmas Issue
From the Pastor’s Desk…
“Advent; He is coming. Light your candle”
“But the angel said to them (shepherds) Do not be afraid, for see- I bring you good news of great joy for all the people, to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Dear friends in Christ,
As we journey Advent’s four weeks of waiting toward His coming at Christmas. I would invite you to light the lamp of faith and let the love of Jesus shine into the present darkness through you. Yes, it is getting dark earlier. This pre-winter has been cold and snowy and has us fearing what is coming next? We beat back the darkness by lighting our candle.
We’ll need some inspiration, spiritual food and direction. I would suggest building an Advent wreath. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Find four candles and set them next to a twig, piece of evergreen or wood. Grab your Bible and go to a quiet place. Light your first candle. Read some Scripture and offer your prayers of thanks and concerns to God. And remember that in darkest spot on earth, some love will be found. For God came to us in His Son, Jesus. God has chosen to be God for us. God with us. He is the light that will last; the darkness will never put it out. Light is not simply lovely; it is a judge falling silently revealing what is present and how we need change to be more like Christ. We would never know crooked if we had never seen his good. We would never even know that it is dark if his light had not come in humility and goodwill to all, peace instead of war, love and forgiveness instead of hate and more angry rhetoric. Something happens that all the forces of darkness cannot prevent. When light comes it stays and shows up evil’s darkness. His light and love are our reason for hope. So, share him with the world. Begin with your neighbor. We choose love by taking small steps of love every time there is an opportunity in a smile, a word of encouragement, a card or phone call, an embrace, a kind greeting, a gesture of support, a moment of attention, a helping hand, a present, a financial contribution, a visit. Each step is like a candle burning in the night. It won’t take the darkness away but will light our way through the darkness bringing his light. And not all the darkness in the world can put out his candle for it has been lit. His righteousness and justice and love are active in the world and will prevail. His light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. So, light your candle. Have faith, believe, read your Bible, pray, worship and serve. Jesus our Savior is born.
In His love with our thanks for working together with Joan and myself, the Our Savior’s family and friends, sharing Christ’s love and light in this world..
In His love, Pastor Dave
*** I recently was asked by a beautiful friend to preside at a service of remembrance for her 37-year-old sister and mother of three who over dosed on drugs. I had been with her in the death of her stepmother, her sister who also over dosed and my good friend and her father Jim. When the service concluded she came over to me and said, “Thank you. There are two people I call when I need help in life’s most difficult moments. You are one of them.” That is my commitment to all of you, Our Savior’s family and friends. I may not be able to preside at Our Savior’s worship. That is the honor and responsibility reserved for your new pastor. But we will always seek to be there as friend and helper in Jesus’ name whenever you have need.
“Thank you Pastor Dave and Joan Kaul”
We want to enjoy a simple celebration of remembering and giving thanks for 49 years of serving Christ together after worship on Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21. We’ll enjoy some cake and ice cream as we laugh and cry. But this is not goodbye. For Joan and P.D. plan to remain in their present house to enjoy their girls living in Plainfield and Glen Ellen and the “Indy” Kaul’s in Carmel, Indiana.
Prayers and Wishes …..
Because of Christ’s birth, I know I will see her/him again.
+ Our first prayer is to give thanks for loved ones and friends who passed away this year and that they are living with Jesus. It is not just the loss of my dear one that marks my life. But the love that continues to flow because of them and our Lord.
+ God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16b.
Bob Houlne’s sister, Karen Hatton, mother of three sons, grandmother and great grandmother, caring sister, passed away from cancer.
+ prayers of healing, strength, energy and faith for sisters and friends battling cancer. For a friend who is having heart surgery. Thanks for a friend’s successful heart surgery removing a blockage and installing a stent.
+ Florence Sebby will celebrate her 99th birthday on Sunday, December 28 with our Savior’s coffee hour!
+ Wish Ann Hagemann Happy Birthday on Dec. 27!
+ Wrenlee Norraine Voss, granddaughter of LuAnn Voss, daughter of Connor and Bri, will be baptized on December 28th after Sunday Worship.
+ Thanks that God blessed Our Savior’s Live Nativity with the sheer joy of telling His amazing story with this cast and the hard work of people.
+ Thank you for the generosity and love of people who gave children and 7 families gifts for Christmas in mitten tree presents.
+ Our Savior’s paid off the mortgage in 2025. On December 15, 2024, we still owed $227, 117!
+ Thank you God for the steeple gazebo given in memory of Linda Swanson that forever links our past with our present and future witness for Christ.
+ Thank you for the gifts of two large Christmas trees from Carolyn and Grant Bonner, and Jennifer and Todd Clason
+ We are thankful for the gift of a Yamaha baby grand piano for the dining hall given by Joan and P. Dave in memory of loved ones
+Thanks to our good friends Mario and Cindy Jimenez who own and operate the best restaurant serving Mexican cuisine and Margaritas in the entire Fox Valley Community. Mario joins Cindy in retirement Dec. 31st.
+ Thank you God for 49 years of ministry with your people planting seeds of your love in word and sacrament ministry together at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sandwich, IL.
+ May God bless you in the new year with his love, joy and faith and good.
Did you see Our Savior’s Christmas Tree at the Sandwich Classic Cinema?
Sandwich Park District features a Festival of Trees at the Sandwich Classic Cinema during the holidays to promote local organizations. Karen Dietzman made certain that Our Savior’s tree was set up, decorated and out there in the community. Thank you Karen for sharing some good news and loving your church. Where is O.S. tree? As you exit Classic Cinema, O.S. beautiful tree is on your left.
An update from the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA concerning Pastor Dave and Joan’s retirement and transition.
Pastor Dave and Joan will lead Our Savior’s worship on December 27, 28, then retire December 31, 2025. Bishop Stacie Fidlar told Pastor and Joan that Rev. Jennifer Beamsley and Rev. Jennifer Henry from N.I. Synod staff have already lined up a great interim pastor to lead worship and be present for Our Savior’s family and friends beginning January 3,4, 2026. There will be work for the church council and all of us to do. It begins with prayers of thanks for past ministry shared and celebrated and for God’s guidance to help O.S. find the right candidate as our new pastor. Pray asking God where and how can I help and serve in this ministry so Our Savior’s ministry can continue to grow and flourish planting seeds of God’s love within Our Savior’s and the Fox Valley Community? God has given all of us faith and gifts to share. Participate, faithfully attend worship and Sunday School, serve as greeters, ushers, communion assistants, and Sunday School teachers. Set aside a portion of income to give as an offering of thanks to God and to support the work of my church. Participate in Bible Studies, youth events, in fund raisers, and help wherever you are needed. Invite friends to come and meet our interim pastor and continue the Holy Spirits on going work of Our Savior’s. This all begins with prayer.
** Wine tasting Friday, Dec. 26 at 5:30 PM.
The day after Christmas can be a downer... on the second day of Christmas we want to enjoy some good company and good wine or just water, diet coke, crackers and cheese! Sign up, contact us and come! Share your favorite bottle of wine or beverage.
Our Savior’s Year end appeal and thank you.
Right now, you and I are receiving many requests from some great organizations that do a lot of good. Our Savior’s year-end appeal is not just another request for your continued financial support in these challenging times. For we cannot overstate the importance of having a great church home sharing the good news of God’s love with you, Our Savior’s Family and Friends, in worship on site and the “Live Broadcast of some good news from Our Savior’s” averaging 1000 views each week, in Sunday School, and Confirmation ministry for youth and giving spiritual support. Thank you for helping us invite people to place faith in God. That to be Christian and fully human is to love God and each other and to care for your neighbor and the earth. Would you pray and consider continuing giving your tithes and offering and include a generous year end gift? You can give a gift to Our Saviors from your 2025 RMD as a Qualified Charitable Contribution. Thank you for your generous support of Our Saviors ministry these 49 years as we serve Christ together
Our Savior’s has an opening - seeking a new part-time janitor, four hours a week paying $16 per hour. We’re sad, glad Carrie Iverson is expecting a baby and told by her Dr not to be around cleaning chemicals! Thank you Carrie. In the interim we may create 2 teams of 3-4 people to clean the church beginning Jan 1st.
The Spirit is moving us...
We planted some seeds sharing His love with our community the first week of December.
The Live Nativity...
Cold temperatures and snowy weather moved us indoors. Space became smaller and we could not use the vast outside as props. But we like a challenge. We placed signs of invitation in our yards. Stable and stars would have to be reimagined and recreated. Live animals at the manger would have to wait for another year. But the cast and crew were fantastic and brought to life the people and Jesus’ birth recorded in the Luke and Matthews birth narratives. We saw a real Mary and Joseph, Angel Gabriel, the angels and shepherds, the inn keeper and star walker, the elegant magi, and grumpy King Herod who made one little girl say, “Grandma don’t even look at that man. He wants to kill the baby Jesus!” Pianist Ann Chen played a beautiful prelude and accompanied our singing of carols. The supporting cast worked hard building stable and lighting, Gabriel’s ladder and accompanying music. The cookies, hot chocolate, cast chili and chicken soup, and sandwiches were delicious. We effectively added a child’s voice injecting verses from Luther’s children’s program, “From Heaven above to earth I come.” and a processional of angels and shepherds shouting “Alleluia” as the heavenly hosts response to the angel’s announcement of the birth of the world’s Savior to lowly shepherds. Special thanks to Rick and Lynn Olson, the cast and workers and our guests, the cookie and hot chocolate donors, Joan Kaul our broadcaster and 1,800 viewers as of Tuesday 12/9 and growing on the O.S. Facebook page. Thanks be to God!!
The Mitten Tree.. Profound thanks
“Thank you! The people who take a mitten then purchase and wrap a present (s) and bring it to church make this happen!” The enthusiastic words of the man who came to pick up Our Savior’s 74 gifts and 7 stocking suffers- a gift card for Walmart for 7 families. Each child received 3 gifts, a toy, an article of clothing/boots/shoes and cold weather gear. We want to thank Our Savior’s elves who wrote on the mittens, sorted gifts and packed them for pick-up. Thank you Our Savior’s family and friends for embracing this important statement of Christ’s love and support for children and families in our community!
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Jesus and Discipleship, Calling All Believers
Did you know that you are a disciple of Jesus? Come to Sunday school and find out what a disciple is and why Jesus wants you to ...
KNOW ...GROW ...GO!
Do you like fishing? You’re going fishing ...fishing for people that is. You will learn how to tell the people you catch the Good News by using colorful fish that you have threaded on a line. See you Sunday!
Sunday school will be taking a break for the holiday December 21 and 28. Class resumes January 4.
***We still need the help of someone who would like to be a part of our set-up team!
Our Savior’s Christmas Eve Worship
Wednesday, December 24th, 4:30 PM
“God loves you; the Savior is born.”
Faith does not begin at the top but at the bottom.
Here on earth. Here in a stable. You must run directly to the manger and the mother’s womb. Embrace the infant in your arms. He God with us, born, living, dying, rising again. Our Lord and Savior Jesus.
We invite you to experience Christmas on this night
when families worship together singing carols
and lighting candles celebrating our Savior’s birth.
Invite family and friends to come too!