OUR SAVIOR’S WEEKLY LETTER
What’s next? This Sunday’s Gospel is Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-22). This familiar parable leaves us with a question:. What’s next for the older son? He clearly resents his father’s celebration of the younger son’s return. It seems so unfair! Will this older son be able to understand and gratefully receive his father’s extravagant love, or will he be stuck in the belief that his father’s love is based on duty and performance rather than on mercy and grace? How about us? During Lent we again hear about God’s sacrificial love for us - a love that is not contingent on what we have done for Him, but solely dependent on what Christ has done for us. Believe, receive and celebrate this free gift! Then, as found in this Sunday’s epistle (2 Cor 5:16-21), may we be encouraged to serve as ministers of this reconciling, healing love toward others. We love because He first loved us!
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Men’s Breakfast - This Saturday, March 29th 8:30-10 a.m. in the Fellowship Room
Next Week
Sunday, March 30th Single Worship Service at 10 a.m. Pastor Singh will lead the service and share the message. There will be no Sunday School or Bible Class.
Wednesday, April 2nd: Midweek Communion Service at 11 followed by a Luncheon also Lenten Supper - 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room followed by Lenten Vespers at 6:30 p.m. led by Brian Dollard, one of our Elders - Choir - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 3rd : Thrive Youth-6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room Men’s Bible Fellowship 7-8:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room
Coming Events
Lenten Vespers: During the season of Lent, all are invited to Lenten Vespers, a brief worship service beginning at 6:30 on Wednesday evenings during Lent. We will also have a Lenten Supper, preceding the Vespers, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room.
Combined Service - Sunday, March 30th at 10 a.m. Following this Sunday’s combined worship service, all members are encouraged to stay for an information meeting in the Fellowship Room. Our Savior’s newly adopted mission and vision statements will be shared along with a summary of the congregational survey that provided input for these statements.
Holy Week:
Palm Sunday, April 13th - one combined worship service at 10 a.m.
Maundy Thursday, April 17th - service with Holy Communion at 6:30 p.m.
Good Friday, April 18th - worship at 6:30 p.m.
Easter, April 20th - celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection - one combined service at 10 a.m. Before the Easter Service: Easter Breakfast 8-9 a.m. in the school cafeteria, also -an Easter Egg Hunt - meet in the gym at 9:15 a.m.
More Information
Portals of Prayer - daily devotional booklets containing devotions for April-June are now available on the shelf in the narthex. Help yourself and take extra copies to give to friends.
Bibles Needed: Thank you for donating Bibles that are given to people who attend worship services at Conifer Park. (Ike Wallace, one of Elders, helps lead those weekly services). More Bibles are needed to meet the demand. If you have extra Bibles, simply put them in a box located in the church coatroom, and Ike will pick them up and bring them to Conifer Park.
Easter Lilies: Here we are in the middle of Lent with days ticking away as we approach the most holy and glorious day of days! The day that underpins our whole Christian faith! It’s exciting and it’s time to plan for celebrating! One of the ways you can celebrate and honor a loved one this Easter is to order a beautiful, white Easter lily. Each lily plant will decorate and joyfully announce the resurrection of Christ Jesus within our sanctuary walls Easter morning! What a sight it will be! (And they smell nice, too!) To order your Easter lily and designate your dedication to a loved one, please see Lori Dollard in the narthex on Sunday, March 30th or April 6th. Money is due when ordering. The cost is $10 per plant. Cash or checks accepted. Please make checks out to “Our Savior’s Lutheran Church” and please note in memo “Easter lilies” Additionally for your convenience, following is a link to an on-line Easter Lily Order Form you may use to order the lilies. Please call Lori if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for participating and for helping to beautify our sanctuary this Easter.
Easter Breakfast: Please make plans to join us Easter morning, April 20th, in the school cafeteria from 8-9 a.m. for a delicious Easter buffet breakfast, inlcud9ing favorites, such as: savory egg casseroles, bacon, bagels, donuts, hot coffee and much more! Like last year, we are having a combined service at 10 a.m. so the buffet will be broken down starting at 9:15. This will help us keep a schedule that allows all involved sufficient time to clean up and celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Hallelujah! Sign-up sheets for food, contributions and additional ways to help will be posted in the narthex starting March 30th. We can’t do it without you! We very much appreciate your time and talents! Questions? Please contact Betsy Kocsis or Lori Dollard. More details next week.
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.
Contact Tom Roemke if you would like to place announcements or information in the weekly letter. Troemke115@gmail.com or 518/660-0790