Staff

March 5, 2026

OUR SAVIOR’S WEEKLY LETTER

Living Water! That’s what Jesus promised the Samaritan woman at the well as recorded in Sunday’s Gospel lesson from John 4. Jesus said, Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst! (Jn 4:14). This account is linked with this Sunday’s Old Testament reading found in Exodus 17:1-7 when God quenched the thirst of the Israelites by providing them with water from a rock. That water-producing rock represents Christ Jesus (1 Cor 10:3-4). As expressed in the words of a familiar hymn: Rock of Ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee. Let the water and the blood, from thy riven side which flowed. Be of sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power. (LSB #761) Taking this metaphor a step farther, Jesus declared to the woman at the well (and to us): The water I give him/her will become a spring of water, welling up to eternal life. (Jn 4:14). By God’s grace we are sent out as water boys or girls, carrying this Living Water to others, bringing them spiritual life and refreshment in the name of Jesus, our beloved Lord and Savior.

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Next Week

Sunday, March 8^th : Worship service at 10 a.m. Pastor Singh will share the message Sunday School and Bible Class at 9 a.m.

Wednesday, March 11^th: Women’s Bible Class 10-11 a.m. in the Fellowship Room. also Lenten Supper, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room followed Lenten Vespers: 6:30-7 p.m.

Thursday, March 12^th Men’s Bible Fellowship, 7-8:30 p.m. - Fellowship Room

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Coming Events

March 20^th: S.T.R.E.A.M night at Our Savior’s Christian School

March 21^st: Indoor Clean Up Day in the church

March 29^th: Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week including

Maundy Thursday-April 2^nd-

April 3^rd-Good Friday

April 5^th: Easter Sunday - the Celebration of our Savior’s Resurrection

April 10-11: Living Tabernacle - more information to follow

May 2^nd: Men’s Breakfast

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

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.

Lenten Vespers (a brief worship service) will be held every Wednesday in Lent from 6:30-7:00 p.m. preceded by a Lenten Supper, 5:30-6:30 in the Fellowship Room. Bring a dish to pass. Come for food, fellowship and worship as we meditate on God’s amazing love for us

STREAM is an Open House for Our Savior’s Christian School on March 20^th, where parents and friends of the school may visit the classrooms and see displays featuring student learning in the areas of Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art and Music (STREAM). Children in kindergarten-2^nd Grade will also be singing in the gym that evening.

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.

From Vicar Mark: As the family of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, we continue to seek ways to bear one another’s burdens and to share Christ’s love in tangible and faithful ways.

On March 8, 2026, we mark one year since Lori Smith went home to her Lord and Savior. Lori was a beloved member of our congregation and her presence among us was a gift. Whether through her quiet faith, her kindness, or her fellowship within of our church family, she leaves behind a memory that continues to bless us.

As part of this pastoral practice we have begun, we remember the anniversaries of those we have lost in the past year - not only to give thanks for their lives in Christ, but also to surround their loved ones with prayer.

As we remember and give thanks for Lori, I invite you to lift up her children- Melissa, Matt and Mark - before the Lord in prayer. Ask that God would comfort them with His promises, strengthen them in hope, and remind them that nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

As we remember Lori, give thanks for who she was among us and for the sure and certain hope of the resurrection we share in Christ. “The Lord is near the brokenhearted” (Ps 34:18)

Friends, this is a faithful expression of what it means to be the Church - remembering, praying and bearing one another’s burdens.

In Christ, Vicar Mark Chaffee

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, Tony Zuelsdorf

-Homebound: Inge Glidden, Joan & Walter Weis

-in Assisted Living: Christine Baird, Marga Hildenbrandt, Lois O’Brien, Al & Helen Walck .

Prayer for Becky Sommer, Middle School Math and Science Teacher at Our Savior’s Christian School. Thank God for the many ways that Becky points to Christ during her math and science instruction, giving her students a Biblical, Christ-centered world view.

Prayer for Our Savior’s Sunday School. Give thanks to God for our faithful Sunday School teachers: Gwen Alexander, Amy Chaffee, Linda Hoffman and Jackie Frank who provide their students with sound Biblical teaching pointing to Jesus, our Savior. Thank God also for the students who come, eager to learn and experience more of God’s love. May their numbers increase.

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