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January 19, 2022

By the grace of God, we at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church are filled with the Holy Spirit and respond to God's love by sharing the Good News with our friends and neighbors. We go into our community and world to make a difference in the name of Jesus.

Safety First

I can remember often hearing the words “Safety First” when I worked in a job that required me to use heavy machinery. In many jobs, people will see OSHA signs that in green lettering say “Safety First” followed by a more detailed instruction in black lettering. We are in a time where we need to put safety first and pay attention to the details of safer in-person worship. In the past two years, our Church Council has done its best to keep our collective safety first. For months we met only virtually and, only with great consideration, have we since opted for a hybrid worship experience. I am sure that we have worshipers who would say we should only offer online worship and at least a few worshipers who don’t understand why we insist all must wear masks. This is an especially challenging time as we experience another surge in Covid cases, and I am sure we each have seen the effects among our families and friends. It is a time when we must continue to take seriously the worship protocols we have in place and make sure to not attend if we have any symptoms of illness or are in a high-risk category. It is a good time to consider upgrading to a KN95 mask which scientists say is best at stopping the spread of the Omicron strain of the virus. If you need help getting a KN95 mask, please let our office know, and we will find one for you. We continue to stream worship on our YouTube channel, and this is the safest option for folks. Please, if you have been exposed to the virus, worship from home and follow the CDC’s current recommendations. If you attend worship in-person, know that we are doing all that we can to put safety first. We will continue to mask up, open the windows, socially distance and commune with individual kits. This church has done such a wonderful job of working together in the midst of the pandemic, and I have no doubt we will continue to do so. Together, we can keep each other safe and continue to worship together both in-person and online.

See you in worship!

Pastor Joel

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.
~James 1:2-4

Confirmation Class

Young people in middle school and high school are encouraged to attend our next confirmation class which is this evening at 5 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Joel and Laurel Vodopich will once again lead and homemade pizza will be on the menu! We will discuss the many “names” of God and explore the Holy Trinity.

Our all-ages Sunday School events are a lot of fun! We hope you'll consider joining us for the next one which will be this Sunday, February 6 from 9:45-10:15 am. We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall to share in a theme of the day, act out the Bible stories, make crafts, sing a song and participate in other creative ways to learn about God’s work in our lives. Pastor Joel and a team of Sunday School leaders will lead and it is an intergenerational event open to all. We will wear masks and distance. Contact Pastor Joel with any questions.

What Does It Mean to Be White?

A coalition partner within the Faith Action Network (Breaking White Silence Northwest) is sponsoring a Sunday study group using Robin DiAngelo's What Does It Mean to Be White? Developing White Racial Literacy (Revised Edition). This group is free and led by experienced facilitators. They have copies available to lend for the duration of your study group. If you're interested in attending, use the links provided below to register or request additional information.

Six Sundays, 1-3pm over Zoom
January 30, February 13 and 27, March 13 and 27, April 10
Participants limited to 8. Pre-registration required. No fee. Virtual.
Co-facilitators Kristin Mauritsen and Suzanne Engelberg.
To register: Email kristin_in_seattle@yahoo.com

For some great ELCA racial justice resources, check out this page: https://www.elca.org/Resources/Racial-Justice.

Bible Study

Thursdays at 1 pm
Join Pastor Joel and your OSLC community as we check in and explore the coming week's Gospel lesson. Pastor Joel leads us through an informative PowerPoint presentation and facilitates discussion.

Download this week's text and discussion questions here.

Join the Zoom Meeting Here

Strengthening Relationships with our Lummi/Indigenous Neighbors
Please mark your calendars for this upcoming event sponsored jointly by Christ Lutheran Church and United Church of Ferndale.

Remembering Treaty Day
Friday, January 21
7:00–8:15pm on Zoom
Zoom link: https://greaternw.zoom.us/j/93072472883?pwd=RWw5VXNCT0MwZUhQeks0Z3lkVWxKQT09
In January 1855 the Treaty of Point Elliot was signed between the U.S. government and the Lummi Tribe, as well as several other tribes of Salish heritage. The signing place was at today's Mukilteo. For more information about the Treaty of Point Elliot, see Treaty of Point Elliott, 1855 | GOIA (wa.gov). The original 1855 treaty gave the Lummi only a paltry 15,000 acres for a reserve. Even that was to be shared with the Nooksack and the Samish tribes.

The winter of 2022 marks the second year to celebrate Treaty Day within the community of Ferndale. Schools will again be closed in the Ferndale School District on January 21st. In cooperation with the school district, the Lummi Nation has produced an excellent 45-minute video in honor of Treaty Day to chronicle the historical truths of what happened to the aboriginal lands of the Lummi people after the treater was signed. Via Zoom, our churches will show this video on Friday evening, January 21st at 7 PM and hold a short discussion following the film. Please join us in attending this event; it is a precursor to our plans for Lent.

https://www.lcmwwu.com/

We are currently meeting on Wednesdays at 6pm on Zoom. We gather together for Bible study, conversation and fun. Contact Pastor Joel for the link.

January 2022 Schedule and Celebrations

Please attend: The Annual Congregational Meeting will be February 6, 2022 immediately following worship. Join in person or at home via a Zoom link we will provide here soon. We will hear reports and vote on the 2022 budget. Look for the report, coming to your email soon! A few hard copies will also be available at the church on Sunday.

READINGS FOR JANUARY

Download as PDF

Book Study Opportunity
Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the Twelves Steps

Led by Intern Pastor Jory Mickelson and Christ Lutheran Church in Ferndale, this is a four-week Zoom book study of Richard Rohr's Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the Twelves Steps. This book can be downloaded/purchased here.
Schedule: Each session is from 7:00-9:00PM Pacific
Wednesday January 19^th: Introductions and Breathing Underwater pages 1-26 (Steps 1-3)
Wednesday January 26^th: Breathing Underwater pages 27-54 (Steps 4-6)
Wednesday February 2^nd: Breathing Underwater pages 55-78 (Steps 7-9)
Wednesday February 9^th: Break. No Study This Week!
Wednesday February 16^th: Breathing Underwater pages 79-120 (Steps 10-12)

ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88442891000?pwd=L3RlZzN5dXY1amFDZllIRVh4Tnd6Zz09

We are currently following the Governor's guidance, and we expect both unvaccinated and vaccinated alike to wear a mask in worship. This will help us to ensure that we can continue to worship in person and we will continue to adjust based upon any new information we receive.

Worship Service

Sundays at 10:30 am

We meet in person and also live stream to YouTube.

If joining us by live stream click here to go to our YouTube Channel. Here's the bulletin if you would like to follow along from home.

We are singing!

You are welcome to sing while wearing a mask.
You can take communion!
We have individual communion kits available on your way into the sanctuary.
We are social distancing!
We require masks and 6 feet of social distancing at all times. We have disposable masks available for anyone who needs one. There is also a contact trace sign-in sheet to keep track of people in attendance, just in case someone is exposed to the COVID virus.
Bring a friend or neighbor and join us soon!
We look forward to connecting with you.

Please hold in prayer...

Members
~ Betty Strand for healing and peace of mind.
~ Bill Simpson (father of Liza Okan) for comfort and healing while returning home from rehab.
~ Julie Pettigrew for healing.
~ Larry Jackson (and his wife and caregiver Marlene) for comfort and strength.
~ Margaret Smithson for comfort and strength.
~ Summer Trudell for healing.

Friends and Family
~ Charlene (Cochran, sister of Merrilee) for comfort and strength.
~ David (Swinehart, brother of John) for comfort and strength as he
    lives with cancer.
~ Jenny (Daughter-in-law of Elin Valtyrson) for strength and healing.
~ John and Liz (Edmunds, friends of Sue Cross) as the grieve the passing of
     their daughter Kat, wife and mother.
~ Karen Lyon for comfort and peace in assisted living.
~ Kristi (wife of William Warnekros) for comfort and strength following surgery.
~ Laurel (Leigh, friend and mentor of Sue Cross) for healing and strength.
    during treatment for advanced lung cancer.
~ Linda (Earl, sister-in-law of Elin Valtyrson) for strength and healing.
~ Lydia (Barren, daughter of the Jacksons) for strength and healing.
~ Margie (sister of Alice Reberger) for strength and comfort.
~ Rev. Dr. Ray Bakke (former interim pastor) for comfort and strength as he
    lives with cancer.
~ Sarah (daughter of Larry & Bonnie Larson) for strength fighting cancer.

Ministries
~ Camp Lutherwood
~ ECHOES (ELCA mission for the unchurched)
~ Interfaith Coalition
~ Love INC
~ Lutheran Campus Ministry at WWU
~ Lutheran World Relief
~ Our Saviour’s House

Please let Pastor Joel or Rebecca in the office know of changes or additions to this list. Thank you!

We want YOU to contribute to this eNewsletter!

Send pictures
- Who is important to you?
- Who do you love to brag about?
- Have any cute pet photos?
Write an article
- How has faith and church participation added to your life?
- Do you have a faith story to share?
- Have an interesting hobby you’d like to talk about?
Share events
- Are you part of a group doing good in the world, and want to invite people in?
- Know of any events happening around town you think others might be interested in?

Email the office.

As a Reconciling in Christ congregation, we believe in a God who loves all people unconditionally. You are welcomed and affirmed here regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion or economic status. We are a church that is committed to anti-racism. We stand by our belief that God loves us all, no matter what.

Church Office Hours
Monday - Thursday
10 am to 3 pm
office@oursavioursbham.org | 360-733-6749