Our Savior Lutheran Church - Issaquah, Washington

Our Savior Lutheran Church
745 Front Street South
Issaquah, WA 98027-4206

Tel: (425) 392-4169
Fax: (425) 392-2946
E-mail: office@oslcissaquah.org

Our Savior Lutheran PreSchool: 425.392.1201,
e-mail: preschool1201@hotmail.com
Click here to visit the Preschool Web Page

Lutheran Counseling Network: (425) 455-2960

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Download The Focus Newsletter
PDF for May 2008.

Here is the week's news and information from OSLC for
May 11, 2007:

Sunday Morning Worship / Sunday School:
Join us for Worship on Sunday, May 11th, Pentecost Sunday, for worship with Holy Communion at 8:30 and/or 11:00 am as we introduce our new worship resource, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW.) Be sure to pick up a copy of the ELW from the table in the narthex and take it to your pew for worship. Also, as Pentecost Sunday is a festival Sunday, the color of the day is red. You are invited wear red to worship on Sunday morning.

The readings for Sunday, May 11th are:

First Reading: Numbers 11:24-30
Second Reading: Acts 2:1-21
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-23

Sunday School for pre-school through eighth grade meets at 9:45 am in the downstairs classrooms.

High school youth will meet Bev Taylor or Lena Schaper in the narthex for JavaTalk.

Pastor Fletcher and Pastor Thomas will lead the final workshop on our new worship resource/hymnal Evangelical Luther Worship, during the education hour on Sunday, May 11. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our new worship resources. Plan to attend!

The last day of Sunday School for all ages is this Sunday, May 11. Please join us in saying "thanks" to all of our Sunday School teachers next Sunday, May 18, at a reception in their honor in Anderson Hall beginning at 9:45 am.

You and Your Household Are Welcome to Take One Copy of the Lutheran Book of Worship
Last Sunday morning, following each worship service, OSLC members and friends were invited take home one copy of the green worship book (the LBW) per household. With the introduction this Sunday of the new ELWs, we are offering one copy of the green book per household to anyone who did not receive one last Sunday. If you are unable to attend worship this Sunday, call or e-mail the church office to reserve a copy. Supplies are limited, first come, first served.

Fellowship Committee:
OSLC's Fellowship Committee is seeking interested volunteers who would like to help with receptions following several events in May and June. If you're interested, please contact Judi Russell at 425-657-0864 or at critterbug8@hotmail.com.

June Focus Newsletter Deadline / May 15th:
Articles for the June issue of the Focus newsletter are due on or before Thursday, May 15th. Email articles to Debbie Sladek at debsladek@impressionmediagroup.com.

Bells and Berries Concert - Sunday, May 18th - 7:00 pm
Bells and Berries is OSLC's annual hand bell concert. Come hear the beautiful sounds of our hand bell choirs and enjoy some strawberry shortcake following the concert in Anderson Hall.

Church Council to Host Budget Forums - June 1st and 8th:
In preparation for the June 15, 2008 congregational meeting, Marilyn Larson, church council president and Bruce Mathias, treasurer, together with other members of the church council, will host two congregational budget forums on Sunday, June 1st and Sunday, June 8th. The forums will be held between worship services at 9:45 am in the library. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate.

OSLC Bible and Book Studies:
The Mid-Life Spirituality Group will meet on Sunday, May 11 at 7:00 pm at the home of Bev Geary and Mark Mummy. This group is reading and discussing the book, Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith, by Rob Bell. (Copies are available at local bookstores and through on-line vendors.) For more information about this group, contact Mark Gravrock or Peggy Ellingsen at 425-392-2887.

The Monday Evening Study Group will be in recess on May 12th.

The Thursday morning Bible Study with Pastor Thomas meets at 10:00 am in the OSLC library. Pastor Thomas is leading a study on the Acts of the Apostles.

Hope Circle, a women's Bible study group, will meet at 9:30 am on Friday, May 16th at the home of Randi Strom. Contact the church office, 425-392-4169, if you'd like more information about this study.

XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest), Our Savior's senior study-fellowship group, will meet after the second service on Sunday, May 18th in the OSLC Library. The group will continue their study based on Max Lucado's book, In the Grip of Grace. This book is also available at local bookstores or through on-line vendors. For additional information, contact Pick Pickering at 425-432-8390 or at marpick@comcast.net.

Pastor Thomas is leading a fellowship group for OSLC men. The group is studying and discussing the book, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, by Bishop N.T. Wright. Join them for their May 31st meeting in the OSLC library from 7:30 to 8:30 am. Books are available on-line or at local bookstores.

Senior High / Middle High Youth: Senior High youth who have registered to go to Holden Village are reminded that we will leave OSLC promptly at 5:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 17th to catch the ferry on Lake Chelan by 9:00 am. We'll be returning to OSLC on Monday, May 19th at 8:45 pm.

This month's middle school event will be going to see the Seattle Mariners play the Detroit Tigers on Friday, May 30th. Sign up by May 27 w/ Janet Cederberg.

Middle School youth (this year's sixth through eighth grade and next year's confirmation students) will be going to Camp Lutherwood July 13-18. It will be a great time and you can bring a friend! Put these dates on your calendar. Contact Janet C. w/ questions.

Senior high youth will be road tripping beginning July 26 through August 2 with Faith Lutheran in Redmond and do service projects along the way. Our final destination will be Anaheim, California to participate in the Western States Youth Gathering (wsyg.com) which is a gathering of 2000 youth and adults from the West Coast. A nonrefundable deposit of $175 is due NOW. Contact Janet C. w/ questions or to sign up!

Drop in and Play Time - Wednesday Afternoons:
Want something fun to do with your child on a Wednesday afternoon? Come and join Drop in Play Time on Wednesdays afternoons from 3:00-5:00 pm at OSLC and/or at nearby a park (for children six years and younger and their parents). Contact Jennifer Tolo, 425-898-8517 if you have questions.

Our Savior Lutheran Preschool:
If you ordered plants from the OSL Preschool plant fund raiser, they are available for pick-up in the downstairs hallway and classrooms. Contact Jennifer Tolo if you have any questions, 425-898-8517.

All-Church Retreat - August 29-31, 2008:
We have the date! We have the place (Lake Retreat in Ravensdale, WA! ) We have the music (Atlas String Band!) We need YOU!! Watch for more details to follow!

Habitat For Humanity / Golf Fundraiser / Summer Build Sign-up:
This is the last week to sign up for the annual Habitat for Humanity Golf Fundraiser which provides the money necessary for OSLC and other eastside congregations to build Habitat for Humanity homes at Snoqualmie Ridge. This event will be held on Monday, May 19 at Bear Creek Country Club. Entry fee ($195) pays for golf, golf cart, lunch, contests, buffet dinner, auction and prizes. This is a best ball contest so all levels of golfing proficiency are welcome. Register at http://www.habitatekc.org/golf/index.html. Contact Gary Kneepkens with questions, 425-313-8853 or at jkneepkens@yahoo.com.

Gary Kneepkens will have sign-up sheets in the narthex on Sunday morning for this summer's Habitat for Humanity build at Snoqualmie Ridge. You can sign up for any days or projects that you would like to participate in. The goal is to have the twenty-six Lutheran congregations (and others who want to participate) complete two homes in two months! Remember no previous experience is necessary. Skilled professionals will assist everyone in learning. (You must be 16 years of age to participate.) Contact Gary Kneepkens with questions, 425-313-8853 or at jkneepkens@yahoo.com.

Used Bicycles Can Make a Difference in Africa!
In Ghana, an impoverished country, the main form of transportation is walking--lucky ones ride a bike to work, school and the market. ARAS, is a local non-profit foundation, is accepting bike donations (regardless of their condition or size (no tricycles)) to support the African Bike Project. You can drop off bikes on Saturday, May 17th from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Sammamish City Hall (801 - 228th Avenue S.E.). For more information contact Mary Trask, 425-868-8448.

OSLC Calendar beginning Sunday, May 12th:
Sunday, May 11th - Pentecost Sunday

8:30 am - Worship
9:45 am - Sunday School for All Ages
11:00 am - Worship
7:00 pm - Mid-Life Spirituality Group @ the home of Bev Geary and Mark Mummy

Tuesday, May 13th:

5:30 pm - Issaquah Meal Program @ Fire Station
6:00 pm - Executive Committee Meeting (Library)
7:00 pm - Council Meeting (Library)

Wednesday, May 14th:

9:30 am - Mission Quilters (Anderson Hall)
12:30 pm - Staff Meeting (Library)
3:00 pm - Drop in and Play time (for children six years and younger and their parents)
5:30 pm - House Band (Sanctuary)
7:00 pm - Chancel Choir (Sanctuary)
7:00 pm - Confirmation Service / Fellowship

Thursday, May 15th:

10:00 pm - Bible Study w/ Pastor Thomas (Library)
12:00 pm - June Focus Newsletter Deadline
5:45 pm - Youth Bells (Sanctuary)
6:30 pm - Memorial Bells (Sanctuary)
6:30 pm - Youth Choir (Anderson Hall)

Friday, May 16th:

9:30 am - Hope Circle @ the home of Randi Strom

Saturday, May 17th:

5:45 am - Senior High youth depart OSLC for Holden Village

Sunday, May 18th:

8:30 am - Worship
9:45 am - Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Reception (Anderson Hall)
11:00 am - Worship / Education Appreciation
12:15 pm - XYZ Study Group (Library)
7:00 pm - Bells and Berries Concert (Sanctuary)

Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship: 8:30 and 11:00am

Sunday School for all ages begins September 9th at 9:45 a.m.

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Directions

We are located in the city of Issaquah, east of Seattle, Washington.

Take Exit 17, the Front Street exit, off of I-90, 17 miles east of Seattle.

Go South on Front Street through three traffic lights (at Gilman, Sunset, and Newport Way)

Our Savior Lutheran Church is a long block past the Newport Way intersection, on the right hand side.

Or, get driving directions by clicking here

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Staff

Larry E. Thomas, Pastor - lethomas@oslcissaquah.org

Ryan Fletcher, Associate Pastor - rdfletcher@oslcissaquah.org

Janet Cederberg, Associate in Ministry, Director of Youth Ministries - janetc@oslcissaquah.org

Shane Lynch, Director of Music - music@oslcissaquah.org

Connie Van Houten, Director - Our Savior Lutheran Preschool - preschool1201@hotmail.com

Vern Lindquist, Parish Organist

Janet Heck, Parish Administrator - janeth@oslcissaquah.org

Ej Giberson, Bookkeeper

Debbie Sladek, Focus Editor - debsladek@impressionmediagroup.com

Sabrina Wick, Nursery Attendant

Becky Mogensen, Bulletin Publication Assistant - beckym@oslcissaquah.org

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Who We Are

If you're looking for a Christian community rooted in the gracious good news of Jesus Christ, we invite you to drop by and see what's happening at OSLC!

Our Savior Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Not Lutheran? Never really been a church-goer, or maybe it's been a while? Just visiting in the area? We welcome you to our community!

Mission Statement
The mission of Our Savior Lutheran Church is to live God's love in Jesus Christ through word and sacraments, worship and prayer, Christian nurture and fellowship, service and outreach.

Vision Statement
Celebrating God's grace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, Our Savior Lutheran Church is a loving Christian community serving God, one another, and the people of the world, through worship, fellowship, learning, discipleship and outreach.

We are thankful to God for our life together and we honor each other as unique and gifted children of God. We believe that God is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is at work among us, helping us to give freely of ourselves, so that others will come to know and experience the fullness of God's love in Jesus Christ.

Guiding Principles

Worship and pray in community
Listen to, learn and live in God's word
Honor our gifts and value our differences
Communicate openly and honestly
Forgive and encourage one another
Acknowledge our brokenness and pursue healing and reconciliation
Serve and support those in need
Create a safe place to share our joy and pain
Bear witness to Jesus Christ in word and service

Groups and Activities

Some of the groups and activities at OSLC:

Education: Logos, our all-ages discipleship learning lab and education hour begins at 9:45 a.m.; inquirers' classes; confirmation classes; vacation church school; Bible study; library; Our Savior Lutheran Preschool. ALPHA will be offered in the Spring of 2008.

Music: adult choir, children's choir and adult bell choir, youth band, confirmation band, and brass ensemble

Youth: middle school and high school youth groups. Activities include weekly meetings, retreats, hiking, skiing, Bible study, mission trips and community service.

Fellowship: coffee and fellowship hour following each service; , bowling, quilting, women's circles, golf tournaments, mid-life spiurituality group, men's study group, adult retreats, special events.

Community outreach: service projects throughout the year

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Suggestion Box

Please send suggestions for improvements to the OSLC web site here.

We hope to eventually include regularly changing information such as calendars, sermons, and service opportunities. If you'd like to volunteer to prepare and post such information, please let us know!

Thank you for visiting the Our Savior Lutheran Church web site!

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