1 The light shines in the darkness… John 1:5 Volume 59, Issue 8 August 2012 OAK HARBOR LUTHERAN CHURCH a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 1253 NW 2 nd Avenue (360) 679-1561 Oak Harbor, WA 98277 www.oakharborlutheran.org [email protected]IN THIS ISSUE: If these walls could talk, pg. 2 Join us off site for the church picnic! pg. 3 Men’s group: Ah, awe, aaugh and August… pg. 5 Josephine: one heart, many hands pg. 7 Endowment Committee news, pg. 8 OHLC Staff Home Phone Pastor: Jeffrey Spencer 279-0413 Pastor of Care Ministries Marc Stroud 678-5994 Youth Ministry Coordinator: Stephany Vogel 679-1561 Preschool Director: Gaye Rodriguey 678-3561 Parish Secretary: Carol Wiskow 720-2451 Newsletter Editor: Martha Ellis 678-2264 Custodian: Salvador Carvallo 675-3957 Church Fax 679-9795 Church Phone 679-1561 Click on these links for the August newsletter inserts: The ELCA’s monthly Prayer Ventures: www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Prayer-Center/Prayer-Ventures-2.aspx The Northwest Washington Synod’s insert, The Spirit: http://www.lutheransnw.org/files/publications/spirit/spirit201208.pdf OHLC’s website: www.oakharborlutheran.org This issue was snail-mailed July 30, 2012
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
1
The light shines in the darkness… John 1:5
Volume 59, Issue 8 August 2012
OAK HARBOR LUTHERAN CHURCH
a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
i there! This is your church building. How can a church
building write a newsletter article? Don’t think about it too
much. Just go with it.
So – I thought I was supposed to get a bit of a rest during the
summer? Some peace and quiet? I guess I should know better by now.
Often the summers are as hard on me as Christmas or Easter, and this
summer has been no exception! While my preschool section has been
quiet for a few weeks now, the rest of my rooms have been humming
with activity. I’m not complaining, mind you. I like being used. That is
why I was built, right?
I know you enjoy looking out my big picture windows in the
sanctuary at all the undeveloped lumber (I guess you call them “trees”),
but I enjoy taking in the view the other direction. We buildings take
great pride in what occurs within our walls, you see. It has been loads of
fun watching what has been going on this summer here at OHLC.
First, how about those Japanese students? What a lively bunch!
It was fun to hear a language other than English for a change, though
teenage giggling really sounds pretty much the same in every language.
You are kind to open me up to that fantastic program. I enjoyed
providing them a space to meet for their classes as exchange students in
the United States. They left a nice gift for your pastor, too. You’ll have
to check it out on his desk.
And speaking of giggling, Vacation Bible School was really
something. I enjoyed seeing so many kids from the congregation and the
community come and learn about God’s promises as they heard the story
of Daniel. They had a blast! I felt so fancy all gussied up in all my
decorations. It isn’t every day I get to dress up as Babylon! You really
field a wonderful team of volunteers. I saw all the work that went into
VBS long before you opened my doors to the community, and was really
impressed. They worked so hard. Nicely done. And don’t worry about
the pounding I took as all those kids trounced upon the carpet and
bounced off my walls. There’s nothing a church building like me loves
more than to be filled with children. If I get a few bumps and bruises
along the way, so be it.
I’ve seen some other neat things recently, too. For instance, I
saw a woman come back to church after a terrible situation kept her
away from worship services for a while. It brought a tear to my gutters
to see how lovingly she was welcomed back. Very moving. Well done.
To be sure, I see some unpleasant stuff from time to time within
my walls. I’ve seen bickering children and grumpy adults and worse.
We buildings see it all, to be honest. This is why most buildings are
Lutheran in our beliefs regardless of the signs humans put out front – our
observation of humanity makes us proponents of a strong doctrine of
original sin. On the other hand, we see a lot of grace too. I’ve sure seen
a lot of it at OHLC.
I overheard a Bible study a few weeks ago on 1 Peter in which
the Apostle Peter describes Jesus as both a capstone and a cornerstone. I
really appreciated the architectural imagery, as you can imagine. It is
obvious to me that Jesus is indeed the capstone of this congregation. He
is the One that makes everything hold up around here. Jesus is also the
cornerstone, the One on which this building, and this community, is
built. It is an honor to house a people of such vibrant faith, bustling as
you are with what sometimes looks like holy chaos.
In closing, I’d like to remind you that my roof over the education
wing will need to be replaced in the next couple of years, so you might
want to start saving up for that. If you must know, the moss itches like
crazy.
H
3
Church Picnic/Outdoor Worship set for August 5th
We will be having one worship
service on Sunday, August 5. It will be
at 11:00 AM, and will be held at the
Muzzall farm (in the large barn used for
the” off-season” farmer’s market, off
Highway 20 and roughly opposite
Monroe Landing Road – turn onto the
little road that goes past the 3 Sisters egg
stand). We will have a simple service
with lots of fun music, and plenty of
time for fellowship and games, the latter
of which may involve a golf-style game
involving cow patties. You won’t want
to miss it! Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.
Call update
We are pleased to report that Pastor Marc Stroud has accepted
the call to serve as part-time Pastor for Caring Ministries at OHLC. He
will officially begin his call on September 1. An installation service is
being planned.
Rally Sunday Ministry Fair
Rally Sunday marks the beginning of the
new program year, with Sunday School and
various other ministries starting up again. Rally
Sunday will be September 9 this year. We’ll
kick things off with a Ministry Fair in the
fellowship hall, featuring fun informational
tables representing the wide variety of ministries
and ministry opportunities here at OHLC. All
ministry leaders are encouraged to begin
planning their table. Everyone else is
encouraged to “come and see” on Sunday,
September 9th!
Gaining ground on our budget
Thank you for your response to our budget shortfall! We gained
some ground in June, catching up on our shortfall by nearly $3,000. This
is especially encouraging as it has come in June, traditionally a meager
month for offerings. We are still, however, about $13,000 behind for the
year, and so we ask you to please continue to prayerfully consider your
giving to OHLC. Let’s keep chipping away at this deficit in support of
our ministry together!
Our place in the universe
“When I look at the galaxies on a clear night, when I look at the incredible brilliance of creation, and think that this is what God is like, then instead of feeling intimidated and diminished by it, I am enlarged,” said author Madeleine L’Engle. “I rejoice that I am a part of it.”
How wonderful — and mysterious — that the Creator of the universe not only knows and loves us but wants us to know and love him! Incredibly, we are at once infinitesimally small and yet immeasurably significant because of whose we are.
- The Newsletter Newsletter, August 2012
The deadline for articles for the September [Ed. Note: Eeeeeek!]
newsletter is Tuesday, August 21.
Included in this newsletter are Prayer Ventures and The Spirit for
August.
4
Growing & Learning
All generations, bound together in love and in the Lord
uly was a thunderous month! There were so many people that
worked in the education wing for several weeks to create the
backdrops and sets for Vacation Bible School. As the lights
flickered and the thunder rumbled, murals were painted and walls
were built. Crafts were prepared. A pile of laundry lay in my living
room, being washed, dried and sorted into costumes for children and
volunteers alike. As we prepared for VBS, I realized that August was
almost here. I realized that means that the end of summer is in sight. I
have been making notes. I have been making schedules and calendar
ideas for youth and volunteers. I hope to simplify some of the volun-
teering that happens for the youth of the church. I know that many
people work many hours on behalf of our youth and walk away without
knowing if anyone sees the effort. I see it, and want to keep seeing it and
I want to say a hearty thank you!
Why is VBS so important? The obvious answer is that it
supports the children of our church in their faith. They create fun,
bonding memories made with their peers at church. It’s also a vital
outreach to the community and a way to bring new people into contact
with OHLC and – more importantly – with Christ. It’s an outreach to the
greater community. Our VBS has the potential to reach many families
that may not belong to a church and may not know the power of faith.
What is outreach? How can we strengthen our outreach to each other
across the generations? I saw elders making art for the youth coming to
VBS to enjoy. I, in my middle years, enjoyed fellowship with helpers of
all ages as we prepared the crafts. My mother and I sat on the couch
together, mending costumes. I am looking forward to spending some
time making a craft with all the visiting young people, offering a smile,
the message, and some art-making.
This August, as we near the start of a new school year and the
planning begins for the coming year of LuthYouth activities, I hope we
can remember that there is power in all the generations here at OHLC.
The lines from the song “Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, Lord,
bind us together in Love,” keep running through my mind as I work. I
hope to help in the work of outreach this coming year. VBS will be over
by the time you read this newsletter. I hope our work will have touched
a heart.
In peace, Stephany Vogel
Thanks to our VBS Crew!
hanks to everyone who helped out with our Vacation Bible School
this year. Special thanks go to Cheryl Blevins for all her hard work
as our director. Our theme this year was “Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in
Captivity.” The children learned the wonderful Biblical promise that
God is with them through all sorts of challenging circumstances. We
appreciate each person who helped share this important message,
whether up front and in costume or behind the scenes.
Pastor Jeffrey Spencer
Teachers and more are needed for Sunday School!
his coming year’s theme for
Sunday School is Jesus’ Family
Tree, as we continue to use the
Spark rotation model curriculum.
We are currently recruiting class
shepherds, teachers and substitutes.
Teachers need only commit to one
month at a time – all curriculum/lesson plans and supplies will be
provided.
If you’re interested in volunteering or have questions, please sign
up on an Opportunity Form included in your Sunday worship bulletin or