Post-Christmas Blues

The joy of Christmas can turn into a time of painfulloneliness and emptiness

for those who have suffered a loss or who aregoing through a difficult

time. But help is available. Our Stephen Ministers are

ready to provide confidential, one-on-oneChristian care. They will listen, care, encourage,

and pray with and for you as long as your need

persists. If you or someone you know is hurting, find out more about StephenMinistry by talking with

one of our Stephen Leaders: Vicki Schroder,

Bob Graveline, Pastor Tim or Pastor Keith.

Our Stephen Ministers arethere to care!

The People Mover

I was recently in an airport walking on one of those “people movers”

(moving sidewalks) when I looked to my right and noticed a younger man

walking briskly. Despite his energetic stride and my more casual pace, I

passed him easily. Having a competitive personality, I was tempted to feel

smug about blowing him away in this undeclared race. But even I had to

admit the reason I outpace him was not my might, power, conditioning or

superior stride. It was due to the “people mover” underneath me bearing

me along.

In ministry, God bears us along. No matter what our circumstances, we

experience a power so much greater than we could ever produce. In fact,

no spiritual victory can be accomplished by purely human efforts. We

can’t produce life transformation upon demand. No matter how talented

or creative we may be, no matter how intense or winsome, we are

incapable of generating new life. We can assist in the process, but spiritual

growth is fueled by spiritual power. Without God at work, it doesn’t

happen. As the angel told the Prophet Zechariah, anything of significance

is accomplished “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord

Almighty.” Zechariah 4:6

Your Input Requested

The congregational leaders are inviting all Beautiful Savior members to

attend a meeting at the La Vista Site on Monday, January 13, 2014 in the

Upper Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m.

The discussion will be about the possibility of discontinuing the “Beautiful

Savior Ralston Arena Site.” We want to hear your thoughts and input

concerning this. This complex decision requires the Holy Spirit’s guidance

and your prayers.

Blood Pressure Check

Beautiful Savior’s Health Ministry will be available to check your blood

pressure before and after services on the first Sunday of each month.

Ordination

God’s richest blessings to Amos Gray who is being ordained as an SMP (Special Ministries Pastor) on January 5,

2014 at First Lutheran Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Amos was Director of Youth Ministry at Beautiful Savior from

January 2003 to December 2005. If you would like to send a letter or card of congratulations to Amos and Carol

the church address is: 105 Village Road, Hot Springs, AR 71913. Pastor Keith will be the guest preacher at this

service.

Leadership Development

KINDLE is a leadership process using a group-based adult learning approach. There are two “clusters” currently

meeting and another will begin in this month. Two orientation sessions are scheduled for Saturday, January 4 at

9:00 a.m. OR Tuesday, January 7 at 6:30 p.m. Potential participants, male or female, may choose the time best

suited to them. The sessions last 60 minutes. Please contact Jim Haack, jim@bslcomaha.org or 402-331-7376 with

questions.

IRON MEN is a 20-week discipleship process for men that involves being in an accountability group and weekly

homework. Each session is 90 minutes. The first session meets on Saturday, January 11 at 9:30 a.m. (High tech

chest implant and suit of armor not required.) Please contact Jim Hack with questions.

Ladies In The Word

The Monday Night Ladies Bible Study will begin a new study on Monday, January 6.

Come join us for “Gideon: Your Weakness - God’s Strength” by Priscilla Shirer. This study will

enable you to recognize your weaknesses as the key that the Lord gives you to unlock the

full experience of His strength in your life. We begin at 7:00 p.m. Please call Lisa Draper,

402-679-6652 or Penny Freyer, 402-676-0860 with questions or if you would like to come so

that sufficient materials can be ordered.

The Thursday Morning Ladies Bible Study will also begin a new study, “Becoming a Woman

of Strength.” We will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 9 in Room 216. This study

will help us see that we are empowered with inner strength through God’s Spirit to do all

things through Christ. Nancy Weiss is our leader.

All ladies are welcome, invited and encouraged to participate in either of these studies!

Parents and Students

Reminder - The 5th and 6th grade Bible Challenge class and also the 7th grade Confirmation classes will resume on

Wednesday, January 8 at their regular times.

The 8th grade Life Groups will also resume meeting on Wednesday, January 8.

January 2014 2 Volume 52 .1

The need

for blood

does not

discriminate.

Gift Giving Continues

Christmas has passed and

appeals for donations will

decrease. This request

from Beautiful Savior’s

Health Ministry is an

exception. We would

encourage you to

consider donating blood

at our Red Cross Blood

Drive at the La Vista Site

on Saturday, January 11.

Donation Times are 7:15

to 11:30 a.m. We partner

with the Red Cross to

conduct quarterly blood

drives and new donors

are always welcome!

You have the opportunity

to make a significant

difference in the lives of

others with no financial

commitment on your

part. It is a way to give

something meaningful.

Blood donations are life

saving for many

individuals. The need for

blood does not

discriminate - recipients

are all ages and races

and have many different

diagnosis. The need for

blood never takes “time

off.”

If you are a regular donor

try encouraging a new

donor to join you! Your

invitation, if accepted will

essentially double your

gift.

Sign-up information will

be available at all

worship sites or you can

go to the Red Cross web:

www.redcrossblood.org

and search by sponsor

code 0099 to set your

appointment. Thanks for

making a difference in

the lives of others!

Dollars and Cents

“Financial Peace

University” is a 9-week

course that teaches you

how to get rid of debt,

manage your money,

spend and save wisely.

Beautiful Savior will offer

this class beginning on

Monday, January 13 from

6:00-8:00 p.m. Classes will

run through March 10.

To register online go to

www.daveramsey.com

and find Beautiful Savior

under the Financial

Peace University link. We

give the highest

recommendation to this

class!

Widow’s Gathering

These ladies, whose husbands have died within the last couple of years, will meet on Tuesday, January 14 at 7:00

p.m. in the Lower Fellowship Hall. If you are a widow and think you would benefit by such fellowship please feel

free to come and give it a try!

Women’s Connection

Ladies, join us for brunch ($11.50) and a fascinating speaker on Saturday, January 18! Come and hear Reshma

Asmed, from Palatine, Illinois. She was raised as a Muslim and is now a Christian, and her topic: “Lost & Found.”

Don’t miss her fantastic story!! Our feature presenter is Tipsy Turner who will be showing us how to make paper

angels. We will begin at 9:30 a.m. Enjoy a nice brunch, make new friends and listen to Reshma’s story. Please

call Susan Parsons, 402-731-1937 for reservations. Free babysitting is available with advance notice.

January 2014 3 Volume 52 .1

Pastor Tim To Retire

Dear Friends,

I know that many of you have already heard but I do now want to make this informationpublic. I have been led by God’s Holy Spirit to retire from full-time ministry in order that I canspend more time with my children and grandchildren. Vicki and I are both in good healthand want to enjoy this incredible experience while our health is still good. We intend to live part-time inWisconsin and part-time in Illinois. Very soon I will write my official letter to the congregation and the DistrictPresident asking that I receive a peaceful release from my call as Associate Pastor of Beautiful Savior LutheranChurch. This would be effective August 8, 2014.

I cannot begin to thank you for the wonderful privilege of serving at this extraordinary congregation with thegifted and special staff. I will work as hard and diligently as I have over the past 11 years. I want all of us toenjoy these next seven months together and celebrate the ministry that God has placed before us.

Thank you for your understanding.In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Tim

Adult Bible Study Offerings

Sunday

Crossways - Dig deep into the

entire Bible through this thematic,

2-year, 60-session course. 9:15-

10:45 a.m. Upper Fellowship Hall.

Led by Erle Carter & Terry Taege

Influence - A women’s class using

Bill Hybels’ Bible study guide to

explore ways to impact the world

for Christ. 9:30 a.m. Room 229. Led

by Rachel Grimm

Thessalonians - Christians in

Thessalonica or Christians in

Omaha, Paul’s words are vitally

important and relevant. Come and

learn these timeless lessons. 9:30

a.m. Room 216. Led by Brian

Swanigan

World Views of World Religions - The

options for religious beliefs and

lifestyles are endless. What are

people thinking? What motivates

them? How can you share your

faith in such a pluralistic society?

This course addresses these issues

from the Biblical point of view. 9:30

a.m. Room 226. Led by Blake

Cole.

Discovery Class - Covering the

basic teachings of the Lutheran

Church for those interested in

membership at Beautiful Savior.

Class runs for 8 weeks. 8:15 a.m. at

the Northwest Site; 9:30 a.m. at the

La Vista Site.

Monday

Men’s Bible Breakfast at Summer

Kitchen Café (120th & Giles) 6:30

a.m. Led by Jim Haack.

Women’s Study - Gideon: Your

Weakness-God’s Strength. 7:00

p.m. Room 216. Led by Lisa Draper

and Penny Freyer.

TuesdayLadies Bible Study - Currently

covering 1 & 2 Timothy. 9:00 a.m.

Upper Fellowship Hall. Led by Jim

Haack.

Beth Moore Study - “Mercy

Triumphs” a study of the book of

James. 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday

Raising Rock-Solid Kids in a

Pleasure-Packed World - This

parenting course resumes on

January 8 at 6:15 p.m. in Preschool

Room 1. Led by Jim Haack.

ThursdayWomen’s Study - “Becoming a

Woman of Strength.” 9:00 a.m.

Room 216. Led by Nancy Weiss

Saturday

Men’s Bible Study - Covers a wide

range of spiritual topics. 8:00 a.m.

Junior High Room downstairs.

Shared leadership.

Have any suggestions on a class or

book of the Bible you would like to

study? Contact Jim Haack, 402-

331-7376 or jim@bslcomaha.org.

January 2014 4 Volume 52 .1

Dear Friends in Christ,

What a wonderfully busy month December was. We spent Advent worshiping,

praising, and singing to God. Telling the story of Jesus’ birth is such a blessing. The

students really “get it” and are eager to share these facts with us, as well with others. We enjoy how they can tell us

the story and understand that while presents and lights and Santa Claus are fun, Jesus is the best part of Christmas.

We ended our “semester” with Jesus’ birthday party, a most joyous celebration!

In addition we had the opportunity to share a few of our many blessings with those less fortunate. The

children and their families worked on a Pajama Drive (our third year for this wonderful outreach program). Our

students donated 216 pajamas and with the congregation’s help, we donated a total of 313 pajamas! This is an amazing

testament to what our church can do and I can’t thank you enough for partnering with the preschool for this most

worthy cause. We could not have done this without you! I was told by the Nebraska Pajama coordinator that our

donation was the biggest by far in the Omaha area. Thus, they want our pajamas (and books from Scholastic) to go to

a variety of facilities, including Child Saving Institute ( their shelters and foster homes), as well as reaching all the

way out to Kearney. Our students had a great time giving and understanding about those less fortunate.

And now, the Christmas story continues...... January finds us following that brilliant star, learning about

Epiphany and the boyhood of Jesus. We will also participate in lots of winter activities (indoors, of course) including

winter picnics and pajama parties, as well as a special night for our students and their daddies. We have a few field

trips scheduled to the Kid’s Body Shop and Omaha Children’s Museum (always favorites!!) In addition, Lutheran

School’s Week runs from January 26th to February 1st. We have many fun activities planned for this week. The new

year looks to be exciting and busy!

As we are receiving calls from the community, we will begin to accept enrollments for the 2014-2015 school

year after January 1st. Our current students/siblings will have the first opportunity to return/enroll, but I have

been sending out lots of info for those requesting information. If you know of anyone that might want our preschool

info sent to them, please have them get in touch with me at 402-331-2681. There are also informational brochures

available in the preschool office and on the wall by the front entrance.

With the many blessings that have been showered on all of us this past year, our New Year’s prayer is for

continued blessings in your lives and ours! Thank you for all of your prayers and actions on behalf of the preschool.

In His Service,

Pam and the preschool staff

In November Concordia Academy students gathered 106 coats, 281 hats, scarves,

mittens/gloves, and boots for the students at Miller Park Elementary. This is the 5th year

that the students of the Academy have been in this partnership with Miller Park.

Also in November Concordia Academy students gathered 600 items for the Beautiful

Savior Food Pantry. We say thank you so much for helping us have food to share with

those in need!

Kindergarten Round Up at Concordia Academy will take place on Thursday, January

23 at 6:00 p.m. and on Friday, January 24 at 1:00 p.m.

For a full schedule of Concordia Jr.-Sr. High School activities please go to www.centennialcon.org.

January 2014 5 Volume 52 .1

What’s Your Piece

There’s a slice of the world just waiting for your imprint. How will you shape it?

Learn how you’re uniquely qualified to make a difference in our next sermon series

titled: “Change Your World in 52 Days.” To help prepare your heart, be sure to read

the assigned Bible reading for each week.

January 5/6 Nehemiah 1:1-4 & 2:3-5 “Ordinary World Changers”

January 12/13 Nehemiah 2:4-8, 17,18 “The Leader In You”

January 19/20 Nehemiah 4:1-3, 10,14 “Defeating Discouragement”

January 26/27 Nehemiah 6:1-16 “Finishing Strong”

February 2/3 Nehemiah 10:28-39 “Making Investments That Last”

Stewardship Thought . . .

“I am only one,

but still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

but still I can do something.

And because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

(By Edward Hale in 1822)

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

January 2014 6 Volume 52 .1

Loving Our Neighbors As Ourselves

In the ancient world the god Janus, after whom the month of January is named,

was pictured with two faces, one facing the past and the other facing the future.

As the new year begins, it seems like a good time to review the past and look to

the future of the Food Pantry.

During 2013, we served an average of 275 families per month, including an

average of 848 individuals. While numbers are important, the hidden story is in

the individual accounts of difficulty and need that go with those numbers, in the

prayers offered by greeters for those individuals, and in the words of

encouragement the volunteers offer the clients.

Every week in 2013 bags of food appeared in the bins and boxes set out at each

of our worship sites given by generous members and friends of Beautiful Savior. In

addition, monetary gifts and special food drives by the church, preschool, youth

and groups from outside the church multiplied our ability to serve those hundreds

of clients passing through the pantry doors.

At least 20 volunteers have given their Saturday morning twice a month to greet

clients, lay out miscellaneous donations, shelve food, box it up, carry it out to

client cars and sometimes, to direct traffic. Two couples, the volunteer directors

of the pantry, have managed the site, supervised volunteers, ordered food from

the Food Bank, picked up donated food from the various sites, maintained

records, promoted fund raising and done anything else that needed to be done.

When it was necessary to find a new site for the pantry, Pastor Keith and others

used their knowledge of the community to find another location at the “right

price”. Then more volunteers packed up the food, disassembled the shelving,

moved everything to the new site and reassembled the shelves and restocked

them with the food.

How the food pantry has been blessed in 2013! We have been blessed with

opportunities to serve, the means to do it and the people to carry it out.

What will happen in 2014? These things we know: the poor will always be with

us and as long as the Lord wants us to continue this ministry He will provide the

means, the place and the people to do it. We proceed with humility, waiting

for his guidance and for his time. And always, we go forward with thanksgiving

in our hearts for his many blessings.

To volunteer in 2014, please come on the second or third Saturday of the month

between 9 and 9:30 am to Liberty Christian Center at 60th and L. For other

questions or information about the pantry please contact Mark or Cheryl Roth

(402.339.0308) or email m.roth@computer.org or Tim or Susie Fjelstad, 402-290-

3064, sefjelstad@aol.com .

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the

one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind,

and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other

commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31

January 2014 7 Volume 52 .1

Words of Thanks

A special thank you to the VanWinkle’s for helping

me move into my new home. Without your

kindness I would not have had enough people to

make such a quick, smooth move. I also wanted to

thank Bob Eilers and Kris Laeding for helping me

connect with such wonderful people in our church.

God bless all of you. Janelle Andresen

Words alone cannot express our appreciation for

the care and love that was shown to us at the

death of our husband and father, Joe Safarik. Your

care and support has helped our family move

forward. Thank you. Rachaelle, Dylan, Sydney,

Duane and Cherie Safarik

I would like to personally offer my gratitude and

thanks on behalf of all of Beautiful Savior to the

many musicians, technical volunteers and others

who worked so hard to make the Advent and

Christmas season the blessing that it was. Over 90

volunteers pulled extra duty during the month of

December, serving at all our sites. We couldn’t

have done it without you. I believe that our

tradition of excellence in traditional and

contemporary worship services is completely due

to God’s blessing on these tireless volunteers.

God’s blessing on your and your families.

Jay Srygley

I would like to express a BIG thank you for the

many get well cards, calls, visits and help during

my recent foot surgery and recovery. Your prayers

and words of encouragement are giving me

strength. Bone reconstruction has a long healing

process and God is certainly teaching me

patience! “All will be well in HIS time.” I am blessed

to be part of such a wonderful “Family of God.”

Thanks again, Karen Wollberg

A word of thanks to everyone who provided

cookies, who helped deliver flyers, who came out

to go Christmas Caroling in our Abide Partnership

neighborhood. And to those who helped clean

out our Abide house - thanks for helping

accomplish a “messy” task. Our next event will

probably be in February just before Valentines Day.

Be watching the bulletin for all the details.

I would like to thank the pastors and all the friends

who have been praying for me. Thanks also for all

the cards and calls I received after my thyroid

cancer surgery. John Dulany

Pastor Keith’s Odds & Ends

v At our annual congregational Voters’ Meeting on November 24, the 2014 church budget was approved;

these three people were elected to serve 3-year terms on the Mission Leadership Council (MLC): Skip

DeBusk, Dan Real, and Matt Troutman; and Marv Vala was elected to serve on the Beautiful Savior

Foundation Board.

v At the last MLC meeting the following people were elected to serve as Officers for our congregation in

2014: President Scott Oswald, Vice President Wayne Rasmussen, Secretary Susan Lewis and Treasurer Blake

Cole. The other members of the MLC are Skip DeBusk, Kirk Hawkins, Jim McKain, Dan Real and Matt

Troutman. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will bless our leaders with wisdom, vision and strength throughout

the new year.

January 2014 8 Volume 52 .1

v Pastor Elliott and Scotte Hansen plan to launch the LifeStory worship service on Sunday, February 9. In the

meantime, look for opportunities to serve and volunteer in this new ministry.

v Vicar Jim Haack has recently begun his fourth of sixteen on-line classes through Concordia Seminary, St.

Louis. Jim will complete the “Specific Ministry Pastor” (SMP) program in a four year period. Pastor Keith

serves as Jim’s SMP supervisor.

v Pastor Ryan recently put together “Task Force Northwest” - a committee whose purpose is determining a

new location and long-range planning for the Northwest Site.

v The Mission Leadership Council recently approved that on-line giving be implemented at Beautiful Savior.

v The Board of Elders approved a door offering be gathered at the worship services on Sunday, January 12

to support Lisa and Cashion Kapalamula’s mission work in Malawi, Africa.

v Beautiful Savior member Rachel Baxter is spear-heading the start of a new non-denominational

elementary school called Valor Christian Academy. They hope to begin in the 2014-15 school year and

are looking at Faith Presbyterian (located at 82 & Giles) as their initial facility. For more information please

browse www.vcaomaha.org or contact Rachel at 515-343-7600.

v Every year our congregation sets adide a tithe of its total annual budget for missions. Here is how the 2014

mission tithe will be allocated: Concordia Schools ($80,000); LCMS Synod/District ($35,000); Hong Kong

($18,000); Jesus Es el Senor Luterana Iglesia ($10,000); Local Missions ($10,000); Special Benevolence

($6,000); Lutheran Hour Ministries ($5,000); Mission Central ($5,000); Pastoral Leadership Institute ($5,000);

Future Growth ($8,000); KINDLE ($5,000); and misc. missions ($9,000). The total mission allocation is $196,000.

v The new “Connected to Give: Faith Communities” report demonstrates that nearly three-quarters of all

U.S. household giving – 73 percent – goes to organizations with religious ties.

v Did you know that you can watch every Beautiful Savior sermon on-line each week? Simply go to our

website (www.bslcomaha.org) and click on “media” and then click the “vimeo bslc channel.”

Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

K-9 Comfort Dogs have been placed in churches, schools, and institutions in at least six states, with more waiting

for Comfort Dogs to finish training. For that reason, Lutheran Church Charities has requested a grant of $30,000 for

the training of more dogs. These service dogs have unique skills to open doors through which their

handlers and others may touch people with mercy and compassion. This is one of the LWML 2013-

15 Mission Grants. This is what your “mites” are used for. You are invited to come to Beautiful

Savior’s LWML meeting on Thursday, January 16 and find out more about LWML, the Mission

Grants, and how God is using the LWML to share His love. Please check out Luke 21:1-4 to learn

about “mites.”

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Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

7706 S 96th Street

La Vista NE 68128 January

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Change Your World

In 52 Days

Non Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDOmaha, NEPermit #618