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F O C U SOur Savior Lutheran Church

September 2006 Vol 21 No. 8

The Table is Set . . . Gather ‘Round!by Renée McNeal, Associate in Ministry

One of the things I really enjoy is prepar-ing to receive guests into David’s and my home. I always clean the house and then set the table early, before I begin preparing the meal. I want the table and my house to look inviting; to be a place where people feel wel-come and nourished, not only by the food that will be served, but also by the love and care that will be shared among us. Maybe you’re like this, too.

Our preparations for a new program year here at OSLC is a lot like preparing to receive guests into our homes. The staff and our committees take seriously our job of devel-oping programming that nurtures faith and equips God’s people for the work of min-istry. We are committed to being a place where we can all receive God’s soul food—a place where faith, hope, and love are lived and taught—for Jesus’ sake and for the sake of world.

As you read this issue of the Focus, notice all the opportunities there are to be spir-itually nurtured. From worship to Bible Studies, to Logos for all ages, from con-firmation to choirs, to serving opportuni-ties through Social Concerns and Global Missions Committee, youth ministry, Mission Quilters, Grief and Support Group and Shawl Knitting Ministry and more.

The OSLC table has been set with rich soul food intended to feed us with good things—that nourish us in word and sacrament so that our hearts will be healthy. It is our prayer that more and more of us will com-mit to gathering ‘round the table to feast on God’s pure food so that we can stand against the evil inside and hold to and proclaim the teachings of Jesus.

Christ is the bread of life, he is our soul food. Feed your heart with good things—with God’s word and sacraments, prayer, study and service to others so that Christ might bless you and bless the world through your life. See you in church!

Regular Worship & Logos Schedule ReturnsSeptember 10 Beginning Sunday, September 10, OSLC returns to our regular worship service hours of 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Logos classes for all ages resume on September 10 at 9:45 a.m. as well.

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Treasurer's ReportJuly 31, 2006We are one month through our year. (8.33% of budget year)We have received YTD $43,580 (9.01% of budget)We are trailing YTD budget giving by $2,944 (0.62% of budget)We have spent $40,102 (8.09% of budget)We have received $4,479 more then we have spent.

Respectfully, David North, Treasurer

Sat., Nov. 11, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.to benefit Our Savior Lutheran ChurchMark your calendars and start getting crafty by making things that can be sold at our first Harvest Festival Craft Fair, Saturday, November 11, 2006 in Anderson Hall between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Watch for more details in the Sunday bulletins. Contact Janett Singley-Wray at (425) 313-9425 or Marilyn Larson at (425) 392-6594 for more information.

Logos at OSLC is our Sunday morning all-ages dis-cipleship learning lab. Anchored in God’s Word, LOGOS offers opportunities for people of all ages to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Bible, and in their experience of God’s love for them in Jesus Christ. Childcare is available for infants and toddlers.

Logos for Kids resumes on September 10, 9:45 a.m. Welcome back to a brand new year of Logos! We are all on the same page again with Augsburg’s Life To-gether curriculum which helps us weave worship and education into one faith experience. Each

OSLC’s InterimVisitation PastorRev. Eldon “Pick” Pickering Pastor Pick Pickering began work on August 10 as OSLC’s short term, interim visitation pastor. Pastor Pick will serve for the next two to three months as OSLC seeks a permanent visitation pastor to succeed Pastor Pete Anderson. Pastor Pickering’s primary responsibility will be visiting homebound OSLC members and friends. We are thankful for Pastor Pick’s willingness to assist in this important ministry.

HarvestFestival

Craft Fair

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Sunday the lessons are based on the scriptures of the day allowing what children learn in Lo-gos to be reinforced in worship and vice versa.

On the first Sunday of each month at 9:45 a.m., all preschoolers through eighth graders meet in Room 18 for an hour of singing and special activities that may include games, crafts, and other learning experiences. Please note: on Sep-tember 10 all students will meet in the sanctuary at 9:45 a.m. for a special “opening” time where they’ll meet their teachers and be released to their classrooms.

2006-2007 teacher roster and room assignments:PreSchool, Kiersten Johnson(Trinity Lutheran College student) .....Room 14Kindergarten-1st grade, teacher(s)to be announced .................................Room 152nd-4th Grade, Matt andChristine Woodward ...........................Room 17 5th-8th Grades, Dan and GingerGrette ..................................................Room 11First Sunday Monthly Gatherings ......Room 18

JavaTalk is for senior high youth and meets between services at a local coffee house. The forty-five minute discussion is an opportu-nity for youth to enjoy community and con-versation based on the week’s Gospel (or other) lesson. Rather than being a lecture, JavaTalk is intended to cultivate group discussions that incorporate personal experiences, concerns, viewpoints, and faith issues.

Adult Logos ClassesStreams of Living Water, Septem-ber 10 to October 15, led by Pastor Eldon “Pick” PickeringHow many streams does it take to make a mighty river? The well-known Christian writer, Richard J. Foster has identified six streams of “spirituality,” “styles,” or “approaches” to liv-

ing out the Christian life. The “streams” are not the same as denominations, though most de-nominations commonly “swim” mostly in one or two of the streams. This fall we will focus on the Charismatic Tradition which Foster calls the “Spirit-Empowered Life.”

Habitat for Humanity, October 22

Dead Sea Scrolls, October 29, led by Paul HartmanThis class will help prepare OSLC members for a visit to the fall Pacific Science Center exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls. (Please see "Dead Sea Scrolls " article on page 4 for information on a special OSLC tour of this exhibit.)

Special Logos DatesPlease note that on the following dates there will be no regular Logos classes, however, other special activities may be happening:Nov. 26 ......................... Thanksgiving weekendDec. 17, 24, and 31 ...................... Winter breakJan. 1 ............................ Martin Luther King, Jr. weekendFeb. 4 .......................Women’s Retreat weekendFeb. 11 ........................ Global Missions SundayFeb. 18 .......................... Issaquah Schools breakApril 8 ......................................................EasterMay 20 .................................. Last day of Logos

A Congregational Meeting will be held at 9:45 a.m. on November 19. Adult Logos classes will not be held, but Logos for Kids classes will be held.

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Tuesday Prayer and Study Group . . . A Life Worth LivingTuesday Mornings10:00 A.M. to 11:15 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend a new study on the book of Philippians, set to begin on September 19 at 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. “A Life Worth Living” is a nine-week Bible Study examining the changed life of a Christian. Nicky Gumbel (Alpha), will be our “video” leader. Gumbel offers practical and encour-aging insights for living the Christian life. Class manuals will be available at the first class for $5.00.

Thursday MorningBible StudyLetter to the Hebrews10:00 to 11:15 a.m.Our Thursday morning bible study resumes on Thursday, October 5 at 10:00 a.m. in the church library. Pastor Thomas will lead this study of the Letter to the Hebrews. Our text will be Hebrews For Everyone by Tom Wright. Copies of the book (cost is $10.00) may be purchased in the church office.

Saturday MorningMen's Study GroupSept. 16, 7:15 to 8:15 a.m.Pastor Thomas is leading a study/fellowship group for OSLC men. The focus of the study is the book, The Truth About God: The Ten Commandments in Christian Life by Stanley Hauerwas and William Wil-limon. It is available from a variety of online ven-dors or can be ordered locally. We will read chapter five, “The Fifth Commandment,” (pages 79 to 92), for our September 16 meeting at Starbucks by QFC on Gilman Boulevard. Join us!

OSLC Book ClubGileadThe next book we’ll be reading is Gilead by Marilynn E. Robinson. We’ll meet and dis-cuss it on a Saturday morning in October (date to be announced in the October issue of the Focus) at the Issaquah Barnes & Noble Booksellers. The Book Club will be selling gently used books at the Harvest Festival Craft Fair, so if you have books you would like to donate, please put them in the “Book Club Collection Box” in the hallway near the church library.

Join with other OSLC members for a tour of the Pacific Science Center exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This is a rare opportunity to see a collection of the actual scrolls on loan from Israel to be exhibited in only a few American cities. OSLC member, Paul Hartman, has been volunteering as a docent at the Science Center and will offer a one-day Logos Adult Education class on Oct. 29th so that we will be pre-pared to learn from and enjoy the exhibit more fully. Watch for further details in the October issue of the Focus. Please contact Ginger Grette at (425) 392-8584 or dggrette@yahoo.com for more informa-tion.

Dead Sea ScrollsPacific Science

CenterSun., Nov. 12

1:30 p.m.

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Monthly Opportunities Available at OSLCThere are many opportunities throughout the month to join in fellowship and study at OSLC. Here are some of these opportunities:

Mission Quilters, Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m., Anderson Hall (help make quilts–no experience or sewing skills necessary).

Grief and Support Group, first Tuesday, monthly, 11:30 a.m., library.

Hope Circle, third Friday monthly, 9:30 a.m. and Faith Circle, third Monday monthly, 7:30 P.M. These two wom-en’s groups meet for Bible study in members’ homes. Contact the church office if you’d like more informa

Music Ministry, there are many opportunities available: Chancel Choir, Memorial Bell, Children’s Choir, Youth Bells, Confirmation Band, Youth Band, and Brass Ensemble. Contact Vicky Thomas, Music Director, at (425) 392-4169, ext. 103, for more information.

XYZ, Xtra Years of Zest, a senior spirituality group is now meeting. Watch your email, the Focus, and Sunday bulletins for locations. Contact Pick Pickering at (425) 432-8390 for locations and dates.

Global Missions Committee meets month-ly in the homes of OSLC members and wel-comes all those who are interested in what God is doing around the world and how they can be involved. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Dianne Tanner. Feel free to con-tact Renée McNeal, AiM, in the church office at (425) 392-4169 for more information.

Assisted Listening DevicesAvailable for Worship ServicesIf you think that a personal assisted listening device would improve and enhance your ex-perience of worship, please contact the church office at (425) 392-4169. This new system has been provided by gifts from anonymous do-nors.

Mid-Life Spirituality Book Study GroupSun., Sept. 17, 7:00 p.m.Mid-Life Spirituality Book Study Group resumes on Sunday, September 17. We’ll meet at the home of Ann and Larry Thomas at 7:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining us and have questions, contact Mark Gravrock at (425) 467-8497 or amhrang@earthlink.net. Watch for future announcements about which book we’ll tackle next.

XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest)Calling All Senior CitizensSun., Oct. 8The Senior Spirituality group, XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest), invites you to participate in our twice-monthly fellowship-study group. Our next meeting will be October 8 in the church library after the second service. We usually meet on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at the same time and place. This fall we are focusing on the book, Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Album. It is an intriging and inspi-rational account of one man walking through the last months of life with his former college professor and mentor. For more information contact Pick or Marlene Pickering at (425) 432-8390 or marpick@comcast.net.

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Music at OSLCLet Voice and Instrument be Tuned for Praise!!!After a summer of hearing wonderful solo-ists and duets in worship, Our Savior’s musi-cal groups reconvene in September to share their faith and love of the Lord through mu-sic. We are a mid-size church with maxi-size love of music in worship and all of our musi-cal groups are looking for new members.

There are opportunities for• Experienced and less experienced singers and players• Shorter or longer commitments• Musicians of all ages

Chancel Choir for adults and high school youth starts rehearsals Wednesday, Septem-ber 13 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Memorial Bells (advanced youth and adults) begin regular rehearsals on Thursday, September 7 at 7:00 p.m. A small ensemble will rehearse on alternate Thursday’s from 6:15 to 6:50 p.m., just before regular bell practice. The group will consist of four to eight ringers and will be ringing occasionally at worship and special services. We may even manage to have a bell tree. Contact: Alice Lewis (425) 432-0366.

Youth Bells and Children's Choir will resume their weekly rehearsals on Wednes-day, September 13, with youth bells from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m., followed by the vocal choir rehearsal. Children in grades one to five are welcome in this group, and may or may not have music experience. Contact: Alice Lewis (425) 432-0366 for bells and Leotagail

Kramer at (425) 392-6996 for choir information.

Youth Band begins with an informational meet-ing on September 10 in the sanctuary at 9:45 a.m. on Sept 10. Contact: Vicky Thomas (425) 392-4169.

Brass Ensemble meets twice a month with a flexible schedule. We have a flourishing number of string players in the congregation. If you or a friend (they don’t have to be a member of the congregation) would like to play in a String En-semble, please contact Vicky at the church office. Other instruments are often used in worship and fellowship activities. Contact: Vicky Thomas (425) 392-4169.

John Michael TalbotMonk RockSun., Sept., 10, 7:00 p.m.Fasten your seat belts! Accomplished Christian songwriter and musician John Michael Talbot will present a concert entitled, Monk Rock, on Sunday September 10, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at Mary, Queen of Peace Church in Sammamish. Special guests include Tom Booth and Mason Proffit, featuring Terry Talbot. For tickets please call (425) 391-1178.

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Shawl Knitting MinistryThe Shawl Knitting Ministry is up and run-ning. Contact Renee McNeal at (425) 392-4169 or missrenee@oslcissaquah.org for the latest information on meeting times, etc. Watch the Sunday bulletins and future issues of the Focus, too. All knitters and would-be knitters are welcome to be involved in this ministry that touches others with the gifts of prayer and love. If you crochet, you’re welcome, too!

Here’s how it works…shawls are knitted and then given to those in need and to those celebrat-ing life’s joys. And there’s more to it. As one knits, one also prays for the person who will be the recipient of the shawl.

In this way, the shawl becomes an expression of the knitter’s love and of the loving care of the God who works through them. In addition to warming the body, the shawls offer comfort and companionship to nourish the soul.

OSLC Knitters will meet approximately once a month to knit, pray, and bless completed shawls. Shawls are knitted with a simple Knit 3, Purl 3 pattern or a pattern of your choice. If you’d like to learn to knit this would be a wonderful opportunity to do so.

OSLC LibraryNew BeginningsSeptember, a time for new beginnings at OSLC and the library can boast something “new” as well! Have you been in? Have you seen it? Some time ago the library was the recipient of a won-derful anonymous gift from an OSLC member and we have been deciding all this time what best to do with it. We wanted to choose some-thing lasting and something we would not oth-erwise be able to have. As the children’s section became more and more crowded with books jammed tightly into their bookshelf, we decid-

ed that something to help there was the answer. The children’s section now houses a wonderful new display table with books set out in sections with the covers in front, just right for little ones to find their own picture books. This new dis-play will also allow us to expand the early read-er’s section so that they, too, can be accessed more easily. And, as we are presently moving on from videos and are updating our visual section with new DVDs, with the remainder of that gift, we will be purchasing additional DVD’s to round out that section. The library committee wishes to thank our donor for their generous and much appreciated gift!

Some of the new books you will be able to find in the children’s display are• The Moon in My Room, Ila Wallen• Disney’s Americana Storybook Collection• Silent Night; The Song and Its Story, Margaret Hodges• The Golden Book Treasury of Christmas Joy, compiled by Skip Skwarek

Middle-School readers can find new books in the “Dear America” series of seven historical fiction books including• Early Sunday Morning; the Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows• Seeds of Hope; the Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild • Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie; the Or-egon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell• The Journal of Ben Uchida; citizen 13559 Mirror Lake Internment Camp

We have another new beginning . . . we gladly welcome Ron Sordahl to our library committee! Ron met with us for the first time in July and we know he will be able to help us in many ways. If you, too, enjoy books and are thinking that library work might be a fun way to spend a cou-ple hours each month, come join us! Contact the church office at (425) 392-4169 for more information.

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Confirmation YouthConfirmation Orientation for ParentsWed., Sept. 13, 7:00 p.m.First Confirmation Group MeetingWed., Sept. 20, 7:00 p.m.Hey confirmation students, we look forward to our first group meeting on September 20 and all the activities that follow. Now is the time to invite a neighbor or friend that is in the seventh, eighth, or ninth grade who may be interested in joining us for a year of con-firmation experiences.

Pastor Thomas and Janet Cederberg will host an orientation for parents of seventh grade young theologians and/or new participants in our confirmation program on Wednesday evening, September 13 at 7:00 p.m.

The first confirmation group meeting will be on Wednesday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. This year’s study focus will be Introduction to the Bible: The Old and New Testaments.

Parents of eighth and ninth grade confirma-tion students may mail in their forms and fees by September 13 or come to the orienta-tion and fill out forms and pay their fees the evening of the orientation. (If you have not received a confirmation mailing, please con-tact the church office.) Questions? Contact Pastor Thomas at (425) 392-4169 (ext. 106) or Janet Cederberg at (425) 392-4169 (ext. 104).

Middle School EventWhirleyballFri., Oct. 6Our first Middle School monthly activity will be Whirlyball on Friday, October 6. Save the date and look for a flyer in the mail for more details.

High School EventsLet Justice RollHolden Village, Oct. 7-9If you are a high school student and interested in peace and justice issues, there is an event for you called Let Justice Roll on October 7 to 9 (Salmon Days weekend). It is a Saturday to Monday event and will be held at Holden Village. I would love to see a small group of OSLC youth attend. If you are interested or know someone who is, call Janet at (425) 417-4442 (ext. 104). Look for more details in the mail.

Synod Gathering:Mission ImPossibleWarm Beach Camp, Nov. 3 to 5The High School youth will be attending the Synod gathering on November 3 to 5. The theme is “Mission: ImPossible” and your cost for early bird sign up is $100 by September 15 or $110 if you sign up by October 1. The event will be held at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood. I hope you can attend.

by Janet Cederberg,Associate in Ministry

Director of Youth Ministry

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in-law of Pam Travis); Tony Schmidt (father of Howard Schmidt); Louie Gerde (uncle of Bob Gerde); Angelo ‘Dick’ Boni (brother of Dan Boni); Francis VanWinkle (Rollie Kiefel); John Medwetz (Cheryl Neeb).

We pray for expectant mothers: Alison Park (Dave & Georgeanne Park); Katrina Walker; Sarah Miller (daughter of Frank & Dianne Kleingartner); Lisa Kramer (daughter-in-law of Gordon & Leotagail Kramer); Melody Masoth (Becky Brooks).

We promise to nurture new member Shari Carter, baptized on August 6, 2006.

We offer thanksgiving to God: for the marriages of Peggy Abernathy and John Lotshaw on June 20, Rick Spence and Sue Ecklund on Aug. 19, and Clint Cavender and Tricia Slauson on Aug. 19; for the safe return from Afghanistan for Iraj (son of Carol Bergsma); for the joyous births of Reidar Patrick Geraci (son of Paul and Carla and grandson of Doug and Dianne Tanner), a healthy baby boy to Melissa LaBelle (Lori Downey), John David Kramer (grandson of Gordon and Leotagail Kramer), and Hannah Sophia Eriksson (daughter of Lori and Paul and granddaughter of Vern and Jeannie Lindquist); for the baptism of Natalia Rae Czerwinski (daughter of Michael and Brigitte) on June 25. We pray for OSLC Preschool, Teachers, Students, and Parents.

We pray for our missionaries and global missions partners: Henrik & Patty Christopherson and their children; Rwanda Partners; Sister Congregations: St. Katherine’s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Russia and Mekelle Lutheran Church in Mekelle, Ethiopia; for the congregations in Chicalyo, Peru: Pepe at Las Brisas, Merci in San Antonio and Harold at Las Lomas; MaaSae Girls Lutheran Secondary School in Monduli, Tanzania.

Prayer is putting our faith into action, and prayer is pleas-ing to God. Link up with our prayer chain if you have a need or if you want to share a thanksgiving or praise. Call Jill Nagele at (425) 392-0116.

PrayersWe remember in prayer OSLC members: Pastor Peter Anderson; Ann Baumgaertner; Ila Bombyk; Sam Hansen; Ray Harbolt; Frank Kleingartner; Vern Lindquist; Harry Lucia; Amy Mogensen; Kimberly Montague; Anna Njos; Samantha Papp; Kathi Perkins; Colleen Petersen; Lucille Sanderson; Bob Schlemlein; Walt & Olga Seil; Pam Travis.

We pray for the safety of OSLC members and friends serving in the military here and abroad.

We ask for peace and comfort for those mourning the death of loved ones: For peace and comfort dur-ing this time of grieving for the family and friends of: Chris McNutt (sister-in-law of Norma Byrkett); John Gervin (father-in-law of Marcia Gervin); Nicholas Moser (Cheryl Neeb); James R. Fletcher (father of Jim Fletcher); Alexa Jensen (Marilyn Kneepkens); Les DeBoer (Bill Bergsma); Frank Young (Maury Clark); Lee Dolph (Pastor Thomas); Rose Swartzman (Dianne Tanner); Helen Matilla (mother of Jan Smith); Gary Birkeland (Nancy Peterson); James Campbell (brother-

A Special Thank Youto Alaska Mission Trip Youth ParticipantsThank you to Janet and all of the youth group who helped at the LeFevers. You know who you are! You did a great job and we really appreciate it. We hope the trip to Alaska was a great learning and fun experience. Keep your faith active.

God bless,Vicki and Steve

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Our Savior Lutheran PreschoolOpens for its 26th Year!Did you hear the news? There are new pos-sibilities at our fingertips. On September 7, the preschool doors open for the year 2006. I wonder what opportunities will arise to aid our students in their spiritual, emotional, physical, social and intellectual development?

The preschool allows the members of Our Savior Lutheran Church the possibility of becoming part of a ministry to young children during weekdays. The room is full of children morning and afternoon who burst with energy and who are eager to explore their world. What would it be like if we as adults approached our days with a child like enthusiasm? If you want to touch a child’s world, call the preschool and become a volunteer reader. We also have tasks that can be done at your home as well as tasks such as gardening, painting and repair work that need

to be done at preschool. Many volunteer hands make short work of the tasks we have to finish. If you know of some way that you could help the preschool, please call me (Connie). I would love to talk with you.

Our enrollment has gone well for the year. We do have openings for 4 year olds. If you call the school, I can mail you information about the school and schedule an appointment for a visit. All of the teachers are looking forward to the year and would love for more children to join us so that more children share in the excitement, fun and learning that occurs.

Members of Our Savior Lutheran Church serving on our preschool board are Kimberly Montague, board chair, Lori Downey, board vice-chair, Christine Woodward, treasurer, Michael Cummings, secretary and Shannon Dickens, fundraiser chair. We are very grate-ful for the members who serve our school in a variety of ways. I hope to have the opportunity to speak with you soon. We love to have church members in our classroom. We hope that you will find some way in which you would like to part of the ministry to students and families that we serve.

Thanks!!! Connie Van Houten,Director

Trivia Information from Our Savior Lutheran Preschool

Did you know that the preschool is 26 years old? It was established in 1980.

OSLC Needs Your Help!Help Install Our New CrossMany hands make light work

Members and friends of OSLC, you're invited to contact Janette Singley-Wray if you are willing and able to assist with installing our new cross on the north side of the sanctuary. We hope to find a day (or two, if needed) in September when a team of volunteers can gather and help with digging a hole, moving the cross, and completing concrete installment. For more information, contact Janette Singley-Wray at (425) 313-9425 or wrayfamily@juno.com.

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OSLC Ushers NeededWe have openings for several sets of new ush-ers, for both 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. We’ve had several young ushers who are leav-ing for college and several others who have asked for relief from their duties due to fre-quent pressures from the secular world. The tasks are simple. We hand out worship folders, collect the offerings, and usher people forward for communion. Ushers can be couples, parent and high school child, or individuals. Ushers are scheduled regularly, one Sunday per month or every other month, at the service of their choice. Contact Bill Suttmeier at (425) 392-1864 if you’d like to join the team. Training is provided, of course.

St. Catherine's Guests ArrivingWed., Sept. 20Dr. Konstantin Shperling and Liudmila Golutvina from our sister congregation, St. Catherine’s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Russia, will be with us from September 20 through 29. Dr. Shperling is the president of the Church Council at St. Catherine’s and Liudmila is a Reader there. Members and friends of OSLC are welcome to join in on any of sightseeing and other activities that are being planned by our Global Missions Committee. A schedule of events will be pub-lished as time draws nearer. Mark your calen-dars for September 24 when our guests will be with us in worship, and at a Bell Choir concert (at 12:15 p.m.) and congregational meal fol-lowing the concert. If you would like to have Dr. Shperling and/or Liudmila to your home for dinner, this can be arranged by contacting Mary Fricke, visit coordinator, at (425) 313-1582.

What We Did This SummmerReflections on a SummerWell-Spent Summer offers us a time when we can alter the normal rhythms of our lives. We slow down a bit, take some space to relax and renew ourselves, and sometimes we try new things which challenge us to think or act differently. For members of Our Savior Lutheran Church, summer can mean the chance to reach out to others in our community and world.

Several OSLC members agreed to share their summer experiences with us here and we thank them for this gift.

The Beauty of Alaskaby Matt WrayThe beauty of Alaska helps you realize the size of God’s earth and how miniscule we all are. As you stand on a mountain and only see trees and other mountains for what seems like eternity you really feel small and unimportant compared to God’s creation. Other than that it was a great last trip for me.

Serving One Anotherby Scott CronHave you ever had a moose cross the highway in front of your car? In Anchorage, Alaska, that is not a rare occurrence. Another not-so-rare occurrence in Anchorage is grace. Youthworks hosted a mission in Anchorage to assist and volunteer in various humanitarian locations throughout the city. The OSLC Senior High youth group had the opportunity to partici-pate in this eye-opening event of humanity. However, we were not the only youth group there. There were three other groups with us;

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Camp Fun and Lessons Learnedby Jessica NelsonHave you ever had to go somewhere you didn’t want to go and think you would be miserable but in the end you wish you didn’t have to leave? Well that’s what Camp Lutherwood was like for me. The week was filled with learning, fun, and friendship. The theme of the week was prayer. For instance, we learned about The Lords Prayer and the Apostles Creed. We talked about things like thanksgiving, praise, and lis-tening. We also learned through song. We sang many different camp songs. From silly to slow they all had a meaning. We had chapel every morning and campfire every night, each led by a girls or boys cabin group. We would perform skits, sing songs, and pray. Prayer is not just Sunday morning in church; it’s everything that you do. God is always listening.

On top of learning about the Bible and about prayer, we did many exciting activities like a canoe trip, going tubing, archery, ropes course, and crafts. Getting hurt and getting dirty was all part of the fun. We also had an all-camp game in the evening and two hours of free time every day. We could swim, play sports, buy things from the canteen, or just sit and relax with our friends. Meeting new people was also another fun part of the week. I met people from many different places around Washington State. Even though I may never see them again, I will always remember them as friends who made my time at camp enjoy-able.

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two from Iowa, and one from Hollywood,California.

Our first mission was to get to know the other groups. Everybody was randomly placed into groups of eight to twelve people, including leaders. The groups were named after Alaskan wildlife, such as moose, bear, salmon etc. That group would be your work group and family for the remainder of the week. Each group had to do some sort of chore for the entire group of people. These chores included making and cleaning up meals and an overall cleaning of the church we were staying at. At the begin-ning of the week, once group time was over, many people would rush to hang out with their hometown buds. By the end of the week, groups were sticking together, hanging out, and trading e-mails with each other. At the end of that amazing week, each group had formed its own intricate connection.

The second mission of that insightful trip was to interact with and help the needy and under-privileged citizens of Anchorage. Many groups went to downtown soup kitchens and food banks. One of the soup kitchens that groups volunteered at was called the “Beans Café”. Many homeless people visited Beans Café regu-larly and were very thankful for the help and fun the young adults brought into their lives. Many of the homeless people taught their helpers such things as card tricks and games, and told amazing stories of how their life was turned upside down. Throughout the duration of that week it was shown in abundance that the homeless can help their helpers.

Our third and final mission of that unforget-table week in Anchorage, Alaska was to have fun, make new friends, and strengthen old friendships. That was undoubtedly the easiest mission of all. It is amazing how much fun you can have and how much better you feel about yourself when you are helping a complete stranger and making them smile. It is entirely true that smiles, laughter, fun, and support are the best ways to make a permanent, positive impact on someone’s life.

Closer to Godby Rachel CraigThis summer I had the opportunity to go to Camp Lutherwood. The experience was a blast. I made new friends, had fun doing all the games and activities, and during Bible study I learned a lot about Jesus and the Bible. At first I thought I would be embarrassed because I didn’t really know the words to

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Semper Grumby"Always Flexible," the Rwanda Partners motto)by Sue Friddell

We volunteered to help lay bricks at a home under the supervision of someone who knew what they were doing. Of course we would have a translator with us. The bricks had been ordered and were surely there awaiting our arrival. We put on our work clothes, climbed into the assigned vehicle, and on the morning of our second full day in Rwanda our crew of six headed off to our first work site.

Two hours later we had experienced confu-sion, anxiousness, team building, connecting with local adults and children, and stepping out of our comfort zones without ever having touched a brick, communicated with the help of a translator, or gotten our clothes dirty!

We were dropped off at Maria’s home while our translator went to a different site with the other

work crew. I thought he would be back. We were told that that Maria was at church pray-ing. We were invited inside the house and were shown that the metal roof was what needed to be repaired. (There were no bricks needed, nor were there any on site. And, no materials to repair the roof.) After our initial confusion, we settled in. Some began to play with the chil-dren who had gathered to look at the muzungu (white people) who had suddenly appeared in their neighborhood. Others began to sing. Others tried to formulate a plan. Maria’s grand-daughter, Joy, arrived. We managed to commu-nicate using English and French.

When Maria returned home, we tried to explain our confusion and to apologize for not being able to help. From our appearance we hoped it was obvious that we had come ready to work. (Later we were told that there had been a mix-up and that the work on her roof would get done.)

Maria and her granddaughter shared briefly of their losses during the genocide. They shared their hopes for the future. One of Joy’s children is a Compassion International-sponsored child. One of our work crew is very involved with that organization.

Two hours later as we waited in front of the house for the bus to pick us up, (we hoped), we watched the parade of daily life. We took in the colors, sights, sounds, smells and even the dust. “Of course the bus will come.” “No, we shouldn’t start walking.” If we didn’t make it back to our guest house, a mother and a hus-band and a roommate without a key would be missing us. Okay—we were depending on the roommate without a key!

This was the perfect experience to prepare us for the remainder of our time Rwanda. God knew what we would need that morning and provided exactly that: an American and a Rwandan who spoke French, a team that relied on each other, a safe environment, calm, humor, and a ride home!

(continued on page 14)

very many church songs and trust me you sing a lot at Camp Lutherwood. I also didn’t know much about the Bible either. That all changed. At Bible study I must have asked about 100 questions. After a week I knew many songs because we sang a lot at chapel time and campfire. I can honestly say that I feel closer to God.

In addition to chapel time and camp fire I got to swim in the very refreshing lake water. The lake was so warm that our camp counsel-or took us in the Camp Lutherwood boat to go tubing. We also played tons of fun games and got to do the high and low ropes course. And even for a picky eater like me, the camp food was delicious. At every meal there was something I enjoyed. Your summer can’t go wrong if you go to Camp Lutherwood.

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A Journey to Rwandaby Larry E. Thomas, PastorDear members and friends of Our Savior. Thanks for your prayers for Sue Fridell, Ann Thomas, myself, and our Rwanda Partners team during our Rwanda mission trip in July. Visiting, serving, being in Rwanda was a pow-erful experience. I expect we will be sharing Rwanda experiences and learnings for some time to come. In the meantime, here are some initial thoughts and reactions written the first week back.

For more years than I can count, I’ve always thought that the phrase “the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (Romans 8:26) was St. Paul’s way of describing inexpressible pain and/or suffering that can’t be put into words. Lately I’ve been wondering if maybe “sighs to deep for words” might also express deep, inexpressible joy.

After returning from our Rwanda Partners Mission trip I keep thinking, “how will I share my joy?” “How will I put this experience into words?” That’s because it feels like my words simply aren’t up to it; that my words can’t bear the weight of my experience. But words are all I’ve got, so I’ll try.

For me, our two weeks in Rwanda were sober-ing, numbing, heart-boggling, amazing, and joy-filled. Over the last few years, I’ve read a lot about the genocide of 1994: 800,000 to

1,000, 000 people killed in one hundred days while the world stood by and did nothing. Nothing could prepare me for the miracle of forgiveness and reconciliation we witnessed again and again during our time in Rwanda.

Being in Rwanda, meeting Rwandese Christians who survived the genocide and have forgiven perpetrators, visiting genocide memorials in Kigali and Nyamata, worshipping with pris-oners in Nsinda was, well, how can I put it – beyond words. Sometimes I wept, sometimes I felt numb, sometimes (especially when listen-ing to merciful genocide victims and survivors) I couldn’t believe my ears. But, by God’s grace I did. What I heard was miraculous.

The joy I felt in Rwanda was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. More often than not, it was communal; corporate; others were key; the joy I felt was the joy of Christ; the joy of song, worship, drums, dance, fellowship, service, reconciliation. The joy was so genu-ine, so life-giving, it felt, at times, dare I say it?–heavenly.

Our team members, the staff of African Evangelical Enterprise, the saints of Rwanda were, time and again, the body of Christ at its best. Honest. So, here’s the deal, here’s what it all boils down to: one morning, my wife, Ann, asked me what I was looking forward to that day, and I said, “everything.”

Just about each and every moment in Rwanda was a gracious, marvelous wonder-filled gift. Looking back I see that even riding in jam-packed vans on dusty roads was a gift. Sleeping under mosquito nets was a gift. Eating the same meals day in and day out was a gift. Living with and without power and water was a gift. Worshipping, serving, making pilgrimage, were all gifts of God, opening our hearts and minds to God’s kingdom work in new and amazing ways.

I know our time in Rwanda was life-changing. I don’t yet know what difference it will make. What I know, is that I will never be the same. Not after Rwanda.

(continued from page 13)

During the bus ride back to the guest house we thought it would be fun to stay together as a team. We also discussed our two choices. We could focus on, “This isn’t what we were told we were going to do.” Or, we could share the amazing things that did happen. We chose the latter, unanimously.

Semper Gumby!

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Larry E. Thomas ..........................................Pastor lethomas@oslcissaquah.org Renée A. McNeal ............... Associate in Ministry missrenee@oslcissaquah.orgEldon Pickering ............ Interim Visitation Pastor marpick@comcast.net Vicky Thomas .......................... Director of Music music@oslcissaquah.orgJanet Cederberg .................. Associate in Ministry Director of Youth Ministries janetc@oslcissaquah.orgJanet Heck ...........................Parish Administrator janeth@oslcissaquah.org

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