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Program for the Week of November 17 – November 24, 2024
Sunday: Mite Sunday
8:00 Divine Service
9:00 Coffee Time
9:25 Sunday School
9:25 Bible Class
10:30 Divine Service
6:00 Youth Servant Event/Painting
Monday:
Tuesday:
10:00 Staff Meeting
Wednesday:
4:00 Mission Service
4:45 Introductory Choir
5:15 Introductory Bell Choir
5:30 Brass
5:45 Handbell Choir
6:00 Meal
6:45 Devotion
7:00 Jr. Confirmation
7:00 Vocal Choir
Thursday:
9:00 Private Confession
10:00 Bulletin Deadline
Friday:
11:00 Mary Circle @ Pizza Ranch
1:00 Mary Circle @ Church
Saturday:
9:00 Annual Dinner Set-up
Next Sunday:
8:00 Divine Service
9:00 Coffee Time
9:25 Sunday School
9:25 Bible Class
10:30 Divine Service
11:30 Annual Dinner
12:30 Voters’ Meeting
Today we recognize Christian Teigum and Kristen Flathers as members of our congregation by transfer. They will publicly speak their belief in the Faith taught in the Holy Scriptures and confirmed in the Small Catechism. Please greet and welcome Christian and Kristen as your new brother and sister in Christ.
The Christmas service is fast approaching, and we need a cover for the bulletin! We want your participation! We are inviting congregants of all ages and artistic abilities to, please, submit a piece (or two!) of original artwork, based on John 1 or the hymn Now Sing We Now Rejoice. The deadline for submissions is December 1st. The cover dimensions are 7” wide, 8 ½” tall. Please place your pieces in the designated box in the narthex – make sure to sign your piece! We look forward to seeing the array of creativity within our church body! If you have any questions speak with Laura Matheny or Terrin Boozikee.
Today is the last day to donate to Options Pregnancy Center for our Mission Service project. Thank you for all the gifts!
Today is Mite Sunday. Pray for November MITE Grants. Grant #19 Tanzania Children’s Homes – Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Africa – Protecting Albino Children – $74,500. Grant #25: Bringing God’s Word in India – India Bible Translations Project – $100,000. The Mission Grant stories are in the Narthex.
The Church Council has a few open positions available for next year. Elections will be held next Sunday, November 24th and it would be nice to have names for all positions. If you would like to have input and get more involved with the workings of our church and its mission, please reach out to Council President Dan Gahler or any other church officer to find out more. Thanks for your consideration.
Warmth Drive- The youth event this month will focus on the Reach Youth Resource Center in Mankato. The Reach Youth Resource Center is a part of the Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and supports youth experiencing homelessness and at-risk youth in the Mankato area. As a part of this focus, we will be doing a warmth drive- collecting winter hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, and hand warmers. Please bring donations to the bin in the narthex by November 17th.
November Youth Activity: Sunday, November 17th, 6 – 8pm in the Fireplace Room. We’ll put together care kits for the Reach Youth Shelter and then do a Christmas canvas step-by-step painting. Join us for this youth service opportunity and fun time seeing whose painting looks most like the example and whose looks most unusual.
The Board of Deacons appreciate all of the volunteers who have generously prepared and served our Sunday morning coffee time and the Wednesday night teams who cook and serve our delicious meals and desserts. But we are again asking for volunteers to serve in the coming weeks. Please sign up on the board in the Fireplace room. If you have questions please contact Denise Painter (507-380-0507). Thank you.
Mission Service is an hour of fellowship and active service of doing for others, 4:00 – 5:00pm on Wednesday, November 20th. We meet in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome.
Mary Circle Bible Study will meet on Friday, November 22nd at Pizza Ranch for lunch at 11am. After lunch we’ll head to Our Savior’s for Bible Study at 1pm. Our study is “The Lord, My Helper, Keeps Me” on page 18 of the Fall Quarterly. Hostess: Sharon Anderson, phone 507-995-1727. Guests and visitors are welcome!
Digging into our Lutheran heritage! Beginning Sunday, Nov. 24th, we’re going to begin a new topic in the Sunday morning Bible Class, and study the Augsburg Confession, which is part of our Lutheran Confessions in the Book of Concord. The Augsburg Confession gets to the meat of our Lutheran convictions, so this should be a very enriching study. If you have a Book of Concord at home, bring yours! If you don’t have one yet and would like to own one, you may purchase one through the church, see the information in the narthex. Copies of the selected material will be available in Bible Class if you don’t have a book.
Annual Voters’ Meeting: All confirmed members, age 18 and older, are invited to join us at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 24th at 12:30pm in the sanctuary as we discuss and vote on the business of the church. Agenda items include the 2025 budget and election of officers and board members.
Anyone interested in placing flowers for our worship services in November, please contact Gretchen Zellmer, 507-317-2904.
Annual Youth Dinner- The youth will serve their annual youth dinner Sunday, November 24th between the 2nd service and the annual voter’s meeting (around noon). This year’s menu includes roast pork tenderloin with potatoes and carrots, salad, rolls, and a variety of desserts. Please join us for this free will offering event- proceeds benefit youth activities, including the 2025 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans.
Attention Kids! It’s time to start thinking about the kids recital that happens before the Christmas Program. The Sunday School Christmas Program is happening December 22 at 9am. Before the service will feature YOU! Do you like to sing, play the piano or another instrument? Choose a Christmas song, learn it and play it for the recital. Please contact Suzie Gangi if you are interested! 507-341-4173 or suzie@oslcmankato.org
You are invited to Our Savior’s Advent Event! Who: Women of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church; What: Advent Event – Spiritual, Fellowship, Social; Where: Our Savior’s Fellowship Hall; When: Thursday, December 5th, beginning at 4:30pm. Registration deadline is Monday, November 25th. Sign-up sheet in the Narthex and the church bulletin board. Any questions, please contact Nancy Benson, 507-345-1015.
You are Invited! Pastor and Brittany Koopman invite you to a Christmas Open House on Sunday, December 8th from 2-5 at their home, 128 Falcon Drive. We hope to see you there! (Note: We have cats, which will be put away, in case you need to take allergy meds beforehand.)
Save the date!!! December’s Youth Event (open to grades 3rd-12th) will be our annual pizza party and Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt on Sunday, December 15th from 6-8pm! We will need extra adults for this even- each vehicle will need a driver and second adult. Please talk to Michelle Rottermond if you’re able to help.
Prayer Shawl: If you, or someone you know, may find comfort in a Prayer Shawl, please call Marcella B. Eilders, 507-317-4127.
Watch our services on YouTube, livestreamed, or view later at your convenience. Access from our website www.oslcmankato.org or from YouTube (www.youtube.com), search for our channel, oslcmankato.
Sunday, January 12th from 6 – 8pm. January’s youth event will be held at the MSU rock climbing wall. We need to know how many climbers we will have so please sign up by December 22nd in the Narthex. Cost for this event is $15 (financial assistance available if needed). Waiver forms will need to be completed by parent in advance. Pick up a form when you sign up, or from the Youth Bulletin board.
From the Stewardship Committee: Hebrews 10:14 – “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Our Lord Jesus has provided the one offering for sin. What we offer to the Lord is not a sacrifice for sin; we cannot buy our way into heaven with our money, works or effort. Rather, what we give to the Lord’s work in the church is a thank offering, a sign of our dependency on God and all He has given us.
Listen to KFUO.ORG, a media ministry extension of LCMS congregations, shares Christ for you anytime, anywhere via worship services, Bible and theology studies, practical talk programs, and sacred music. All programs are archived at www.KFUO.org for 24/7 on-demand listening. Have a question or comment? Find us at @KFUOradio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This week join us as we begin a short study through several of the Psalms on Sharper Iron (weekdays at 8am), and continue the Gospel of John on Thy Strong Word (weekdays at 11am). Don’t forget to tune into Concord Matters this Saturday (November 23 at 10am) for a discussion on what the Lutheran Reformers believed about the Mass.
Main Street Living airs each Sunday at 9am on WFTC Channel 29/9-2. This week’s This is the Life episode, “Which Way Grows the Vine” features a father struggling to accept the consequences of his actions and set an example for his son. The worship service begins at 9:30am with Rev. James Neubauer from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, who will present a message titled “The Importance of Getting It Straight” based on Mark 10:17-27. For more information or to watch the program, go to www.mainstreetliving.com and select the “Twin Cities” tab.
Myths About Lutheranism Series… Lutherans follow Martin Luther; Luther didn’t go far enough; Lutherans don’t have the Holy Spirit. Issues, Etc., a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL, is doing a series with Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller on debunking popular myths about Lutheranism. You can listen at issuesetc.org/lutheranmyths.
Walking Together as Synod is the November Lutheran Witness theme. See district insert page 4, Young Woman Representatives (age 22-40) wanted. Applications at www.mnslwml.org. Go to “Faith & Service” and select “Young Women.” Call Trudy Wiechmann – 507-327-7082 for more details as soon as possible. Also eight pages of District News and pictures (including Pastor Koopman).
One Voice for Public Policy has a new article “Pray Without Ceasing”. Pray for our nation, leaders, and for God’s will to be done. Printed copies are available on the counter in the narthex, or at: https://www.mnsdistrict.org/public-policy. To add to your prayers, refer to Portals of Prayer, Lutheran Service Book, Bible passages . . .
Ladies: 2024 November eNews for You. Go to https://mnslwml.org/newsletters.
S.A.G.E.S. – Saints Alive Growing Ever Serving. The Minnesota South District Older Adult ministry, needs a volunteer or 2 from Our Savior to serve as a representative. We also need a representative from the Arlington Circuit for the District Board. The May 5 & 6, 2025 SAGES GATHERING is continuing. FYI – the SAGES passage is Psalm 92:14. “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” The Mission of SAGES is to provide experiences in Christian fellowship, service and life enrichment.
Latest news for you from Orphan Grain Train. Manna for Madagascar; $10,000 for OGT Ukrainian Ministry; Disaster Relief Supplies; Christmas Gift Boxes for Native American Children, Wanblee, SD. Go to https://www.ogt.org/publications/ Lutheran Heritage Foundation: 140 languages of Catechisms translations. Go to https://lhfmissions.org/. If you have items for OGT or LHF, mark them and bring to Mission Center and they will be delivered immediately.
St. John’s Willow Creek Youth Pancake Dinner, Sunday, November 24th, serving from 11am – 1pm. Pancakes, sausage, applesauce, and beverage. Gluten-free available. Free will offering to help fund the Youth’s trip to Higher Things conference. Please join us!
The public is invited to “A Concordia St. Paul Christmas” at 3:30pm on Saturday, December 7th, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington. There will be a worship celebration featuring the choral and instrumental ensembles of Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP). The event is FREE with reservation. Reserve your tickets at www.csp.edu/tickets or 866-488-4849. A freewill offering will be taken to support CSP Music.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is hosting a Spuds ‘n Splits Fundraiser with a bake and craft sale on Sunday, November 24th from 4 – 7 pm. All proceeds will go to benefit Christina Harman, who suffered a stroke on October 11th. There is also a go fund me set up for donations at https://gofund.me/16180217. Thank you for supporting Christina with your gifts and prayers.