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March 9, 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.

God our Mother

This week Jesus speaks to some Pharisees and says, “Jerusalem,….how often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” It is a good reminder that God is beyond gender. Pronouns for God are not to be taken literally but simply help us relate to God. It is good for us to highlight the places in the Bible where God is understood in a feminine way. There are many places where God takes on feminine characteristics which can help women relate better with God. One example is Isaiah 42:14 which says:

"For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself;
now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant.”

You may have noticed that the liturgical blessing this Lenten season includes a reference to the feminine aspect of God. It says, “ Almighty God, motherly, majestic, and mighty, ☩ bless you this day and always.” Most of our Biblical readings, prayers and liturgies refer to God as a Father but this Lenten season, let us follow the lead of Jesus and expand our language for God. Theologian Lynn Janiga says, “Language about God should help us to understand and encounter God, but we should not confuse the reality of God with the limits of our language. “People described God in feminine terms, not because God is actually a woman, but because feminine or maternal traits say something true about God and about their experience with God. The same must be said of masculine and paternal images for God. We must not confuse these metaphors with God’s reality.” (1)

May our language help all of us to relate to God. May we be gathered up this week under the wings of God and then sent out to serve the world!

Lenten Blessings,

Pastor Joel

(1) Feminism and Christianity

Prayer Around the Cross
6:30 PM Tonight
In the Fellowship Hall

Join us this evening and each Wednesdays during Lent for our “Prayer Around the Cross” service. We journey together into the depths of humanity and place what we find at the foot of the cross. Everyone has a chance during the service to light a candle and reflect upon the challenges of life during this contemplative style of worship using simple songs from the Taize community in France (et al.). Unfortunately we are not quite ready to have soup together as is our usual practice, and masks are still required for participation.

We will broadcast live on YouTube and here is a copy of our songbook if you would like to sing with us at home.

https://www.lcmwwu.com/

We are currently providing rides to OSLC Lenten Wednesdays. Reach out to Pastor Joel and he can help connect you with a ride!

Happy Valley Kindness Drive

A big THANK YOU to everyone who donated to the Kindness Drive. Pastor Joel will drop off the items tomorrow afternoon, so this is your very last chance to drop off any items at the church tomorrow morning before noon. Items being collected are personal care items such as diapers, toothpaste, soap and detergent to support the Bellingham Public Schools' Family Resource Center. See this flyer for additional details regarding their highest needs.

Support the Lutheran World Federation's Effort to support the people and churches of the Ukraine.

Educational Opportunities

Confirmation Class

Our next Confirmation class will be held on Sunday, March 20 at 5 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We’ll serve pizza again!

Our next all-ages Sunday School event will be this Sunday, April 3 from 9:45-10:15 am. This is an intergenerational event open to all. Contact Pastor Joel with any questions.

Join us in Sacred Conversation

Thursdays at 1 pm
Join Pastor Joel and your OSLC community for Bible Study, when 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

March 2022 Schedule and Celebrations

Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 12 p.m.
Here's the deets!

Spring Forward
March 13, 2022
2 a.m.

New Mask Policy Starting Wednesday March 16th

After great deliberation and using the guidance of our governor, our Church Council has decided that we will shift our mask policy. Beginning with our Wednesday Prayer Around the Cross service on March 16, and for Sunday worship beginning March 20, we will no longer require indoor mask use but we continue to encourage and support it. If you are in a high risk category we strongly suggest you use a KN-95 mask or continue to utilize our YouTube stream for the safest option. We will continue to ask folks to sign in for contact tracing and ask anyone with any symptoms to please stay home until they subside. We will keep our windows open and ventilate our space. We will slowly bring back a coffee hour after church and eventually host some social events. As the weather gets nicer, we can also utilize the outdoors to gather. We will follow the advice of our local and state governments and If they recommend we go back to mandatory masking we will return to required masks.

READINGS FOR MARCH

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.
~ Kae Brown for healing for her foot.
~ 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 (Hoyt, twin brother to Darlene Moore) for comfort and healing while recovering from a fall and Covid.
~ Jenny (Daughter-in-law of Elin Valtyrson) for strength and healing.
~ 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.
~ 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.

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