Staff

April 9, 2026

OUR SAVIOR’S WEEKLY LETTER

Peace, Purpose and Power. That’s what Jesus brought to His fearful disciples when He appeared to them that first Easter evening as they cowered behind locked doors. (See Sunday’s Gospel, John 20:19-23 for this account) Peace be with you, Jesus said to the disciples, calming their fears with His presence. Then Jesus declared: As the Father has sent me, so I send you, renewing His call on their lives and giving them purpose and direction. Next Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit, who would equip and empower them to carry out His call. That call and commissioning is not simply limited to His disciples, but Jesus also comes to calm our fears with His abiding presence. Like the disciples, we too have been sent to share the Good News of our risen Savior’s love for all. This task is overwhelming, and yet we are enabled, equipped and empowered to carry out that calling by the Holy Spirit. In His power, may we boldly declare that Christ has risen and has won the victory for us over sin, death and the power of the devil. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (from Sunday’s Epistle lesson, 1 Peter 1:3)

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Next Week

Sunday, April 12^th: Worship Service at 10 a.m. led by Vicar Mark Chaffee also Sunday School and Adult Bible Class at 9 a.m.

Wednesday, April 15^th: Women’s Bible Class 10-11 a.m. in the Fellowship Room also Prayer Gathering led by the Elders, 7-8 p.m. in the Prayer Chapel

Thursday, April 16^th: Men’s Bible Fellowship, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room

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Coming Events

April 15^th and April 29^th: Prayer Gatherings led by the Elders, 7-8 p.m. in the Prayer Chapel. A Zoom link is available for those unable to participate in person.

April 23^rd: Spring Concert presented by 3^rd-8^th graders from Our Savior’s School

April 24^th-25^th: Albany Worships: a twenty-four hour time of Prayer and Worship led by various worship teams from the Capital Region and held at Our Savior’s, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24^th and continuing until 7 p.m. Saturday, April 25^th Come and worship!

April 26^th: Voters Assembly following the worship service

May 2^nd: Men’s Breakfast - 8:30-10 a.m. in the school cafeteria

May 17^th: Ordination of Vicar Mark Chaffee into the office of pastoral ministry and installation as pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

May 28-30: Lion King, Jr. Musical presented by the middle school students of Our Savior’s Christian School

July 27-31: Vacation Bible School at Our Savior’s

More Information

Our Church Secretary, Linda Swartz, may be contacted by using the following email: oslsecretary@oursaviors.com. Please use that email address when sending Linda information relating to the church.

Portals of Prayer, a booklet of daily devotions, is now available on the shelf in the narthex. These booklets contain devotions for May, June and July. Help yourself and take extra booklets to give to friends.

Grow in the Word: Three weekly Bible studies are offered at Our Savior’s, providing opportunities for spiritual growth. The Sunday morning class, meeting in the Fellowship Room at 9:00, will begin a study of the book of Hebrews this coming Sunday. A Women’s Bible Class meets on Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. in the Fellowship Room. The women are discussing a video presentation entitled Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado. Men are invited to participate in the weekly Men’s Bible Fellowship that meets on Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room. Currently the men are studying the book of Matthew. Come and grow!

Elders’ Prayer Gathering will be help on Wednesday, April 15h beginning at 7:00pm. You are invited to come and join with the Elders for a time of prayer. Gathering is held in the Prayer Chapel.

A Joyful Celebration: Joan and Walter Weis, longtime members of Our Savior’s and parents of Debbie (Don) Child, will be celebrating their 75^th wedding anniversary on April 14^th! What a remarkable milestone and a beautiful testimony to God’s faithfulness. We give thanks to the Lord for Joan and Walter and for the example of enduring love they have been to their family and to our church. If you would like, please consider sending them a card of congratulations to help celebrate this special occasion and to let them know their church family is thinking of them: Joan and Walter Weis, P.O. Box 20, Voorheesville, NY 12186 Praise the Lord for His many blessings!

Voters Assembly: Our next regular Voters Assembly will be held on Sunday, April 26^th, following that morning’s worship service. In additional to presenting reports from the Vicar, Elders, School Board and finances; the annual Ministry Plan for the coming fiscal year (8/1/26-7/31-27) will also be given. This will include ministry and mission goals that align with Our Savior’s Mission Statement: Gathering, Growing and Going

A Men’s Breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, May 2^nd, 8:30-10 a.m. in the school cafeteria. Our guest speaker will be Jeff Hughes, a retired Navy captain who is currently serving as an Elder and Youth Leader at the Church at Newtown Road, Halfmoon. Come and hear his challenging message about life, leadership and servanthood. Invite other men to join you. There is no charge for the breakfast, but an offering will be taken. Sign up in the narthex or respond on line to the Men’s Breakfast Invitation.

Ordination/Installation - May 17^th: Vicar Mark Chaffee will be ordained into the pastoral ministry and also installed as pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 17^th, at a special celebratory service beginning at 4 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Dien Taylor, Bishop of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, will be leading the service and performing the rite of ordination. He will be joined by other pastors from our District. This is a wonderful event, not only for Vicar Mark and his family, but for our church family as we celebrate God’s answer to our prayers for a pastor. All are encouraged to come to this special celebration in the life of our church and also to stay for a meal following the worship service. Please respond to the invitation that will be sent out, enabling us to plan the meal.

Vacation Bible School: Our Savior’s will again be holding Vacation Bible School on July 27-31. The theme for this summer’s VBS is Tropical Trek - Jesus comes to Seek and to Save. Registration for children and for volunteers can be done on the church website (oslalbany.org), under “Join Us” in the menu bar. Prayerfully consider volunteering, register your children and invite others to come.

Vicar Mark Chaffee’s office hours are 9 a.m.-noon, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You may also reach him by cell phone: 518/763-1085 or via email: mark.chaffee@oursaviors.com

Pastor Patrick Singh is serving as part time vacancy pastor at Our Savior’s, providing pastoral care and leadership in cooperation with Vicar Mark. You may contact Pastor Singh by email: patrick204642003@yahoo.com or by cell phone (917/254-2597) if you wish to talk or schedule a time to meet with him.

PRAYER NEEDS

Healing: Fred Dignon, Klara Gogolla, Kathy Hawley, Phyllis Lubiniecki, Barbara MacGowan, Patty Marshall, Jennifer Noble, Eric Unright, Tim Zuelsdorf -Homebound: Inge Glidden, Joan & Walter Weis -in Assisted Living: Christine Baird, Marga Hildenbrandt, Al & Helen Walck .

Prayer for Alicia Murray, first grade teacher at Our Savior’s Christian School. Give thanks to God for Alicia’s faithful service at Our Savior’s School as she sowed our Savior’s love into the lives of her students. Pray for God’s guidance and direction for Alicia and her family as they leave the Albany area this summer to begin new ministries in the Lancaster, PA area.

Prayer for St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monroe as they install Pastor Martin Tyce to serve as their pastor. May God richly bless Pastor Tyce in his ministry to the faithful flock at St. Paul, bringing growth to the church as they reach out to their community.

Contact Tom Roemke (518-669-0790 or troemke115@gmail.com) to place announcements in the weekly letter