G.O.L.F.F. (Gatherings of Lutheran Families and Friends)

G.O.L.F.F. (Gatherings of Lutheran Families and Friends)  GOLFF events are designed for OSLC members and friends of all ages to enjoy together. We have planned events for every month of the year—including during the summer! Schedules are available on the GOLFF board at church and at www.oslc-warrenton.org. Coming Soon...Pool Party at the Fauquier Swim Club, Sunday, August 16, 12:00-4:00 p.m. The cost is $5.00/person ($15.00 maximum per family, payable upon arrival), which covers admission, burgers, hot dogs, and soft drinks. Please bring a side dish, snack, or dessert to share. NO GLASS IS ALLOWED! Other beverages in plastic or cans are permitted. Don't forget your towel, sunscreen, and a chair! Please sign up on the G.O.L.F.F. board or through the e-vite. Contact Cathy Miller at 540-349-5905 for more information. Do you have a suggestion for a future GOLFF event? Contact Rhoda Thompson at rhoboet@wildblue.net.

To Learn More About GOLFF Click Here

VBS is Going to Rome

The Christians are hiding in caves, and Paul’s in jail. VBS is going to Rome! Mark your calendars: July 13–17, 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. You do not want to miss it! We have many opportunities for those who wish to volunteer. Questions about how you can help with VBS? Please contact Dawn Peters at dpeters70@gmail.com or (540) 937-7393. Thank you!

School Supplies for Fauquier Community Children

Once again OSLC will be assisting children in the Fauquier community with new backpacks and needed school supplies. We have agreed to help out 21 kids again this year. Be sure to check the fellowship hall during July to adopt a student and purchase needed school supplies for the new school year.  Contact Kim Ulrich (540) 272-5731 with any questions thank you for all your support.

Crafts

Our crafting group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the Daughters of God room in the back of the fellowship hall. Meetings will continue until the bazaar on November 22nd. Please come and join in the fun of crafting and fellowship. No previous experience required. Contact Leona Keen at (540) 439-1262.

50th Anniversary Pictures

50th Anniversary Pictures are now online.  Please click here to view.  We also have a DVD from some of the original  members of the church talking about the early days and starting our ministry. 

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans – Financial Representative

Do more than make a living—make an impact. Join our Fortune 500 organization, and help people achieve their financial goals, and we'll help you achieve yours! Contact Jacob Edwards at (540) 903-2392, Jacob.edwards@thrivent.com, or visit www.thivent.com/careers for more information.    

Learn More About the Village at Orchard Ridge on August 9 at a Luncheon Following 10:30 a.m. Worship!  

Andrea Turner from the Village at Orchard Ridge, part of the National Lutheran Home, will be with us to discuss this new ministry for seniors in the Winchester area. Her presentation will show floor plans, pricing ranges, pictures, and location of the community with the amenities that are offered. Orchard Ridge is continuing care; therefore, it has assisted living and skilled nursing all on one campus, so residents can age in place in the community without moving. The community is also 100% refundable, so residents keep their assets forever. Age requirement is 60 years or better! If you plan to attend the lunch presentation, please sign up with Jeannette in the church office. Thank you very much     

Prepare to be SPLASHED!

Families of children birth to three years old, prepare to be SPLASHED! OSLC Family Ministry is now participating in the ELCA post-baptism ministry called SPLASH. The waters of baptism will continue to energize your family faith-life as you receive Splash Parent Pages monthly.  You will get ideas for faith-filled play, worship, songs, meals and prayers together. We will begin with children 2 ½ years and younger as of June.   We can also send these monthly mailings to others (grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.) We ask that you give a donation to cover expenses for non-members. If you are interested, contact Marlene Jones.    

Interested in being a part of Our Saviour’s Community of Faith?

Our next new members’ class will take place on August 1, 2009 from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in the Daughters of God classroom. We will explore faith questions like: Why belong to Christian community anyway? What is the center of Lutheranism? How is Lutheranism like and unlike other communities of faith? What is my response to God’s action in Christ to be? And where do I belong at Our Saviour? Our time is spent in making new relationships, conversation related to these questions, and individual reflection on one’s life of faith. An added joy will be sharing lunch with your fellowship friend.  Please let Pastor Debbie know if you plan to attend. debbie.frye@oslc-warrenton.org  

Looking to the Sunday Worship During the Summer Months

Do you enjoy singing hymns?   Then you will enjoy the setting of worship that we will be using for our worship this summer.  Setting 10 (pages 203-209) in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship has taken hymns widely used in the Lutheran church and used the music from these hymns for the various elements of our worship service (Kyrie, Canticle of Praise, Gospel Acclamation, Holy, Holy, Holy, and Lamb of God).  As an example, turn to page 204 in the front of the ELW.   At the top, you will see that the canticle of praise is to the tune of “Ode to Joy” (“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”).  Many in the ELCA have already used this setting for their services and have enjoyed the opportunity to sing hymn tunes throughout the setting of the  worship.  As well, the setting is a comforting and joy-filled one for us to use for our worship to God during the summer months.  Come to worship and open your heart and life to the ways that God meets us in our worship with words of grace and peace.

Sunday School News

Sunday morning during Sunday School - Reading Through the Bible, led by Lou Shaffer, continues in the adult education classroom next to the Daughters of God Room.

Saturday evening at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday morning during Sunday School  ‘Tis a Gift to be Simple  Often we find ourselves busier than we want to be and buying more than we really need. We long for a more leisurely pace, a life less occupied with material possessions, and more time for our family, friends, and God. This six-week class will use the book 'Tis a Gift to be Simple to reflect on living a simpler lifestyle and hopefully answer the questions: What are the values that guide my actions? What is my fair share? When is enough, enough? Why don't I feel good? How can I have a more integrated faith? and Who are my neighbors, and do I really care for them? This class will be led by Tom Bartkiewicz and held in the church library.

Learn more about the Village at Orchard Ridge on August 9 at a luncheon following 10:30 a.m. worship! Andrea Turner from the Village at Orchard Ridge, part of the National Lutheran Home, will be with us to discuss this new ministry for seniors in the Winchester area. Her presentation will show floor plans, pricing ranges, pictures, and location of the community with the offered amenities. Orchard Ridge is continuing care; therefore, it has assisted living and skilled nursing all on one campus, so residents can age in place in the community without moving. The community is also 100% refundable, so residents keep their assets forever. Age requirement is 60 years or better! If you plan to attend the lunch presentation, please sign up with Jeannette in the church office. Thank you very much.

What follows baptism? How do we live the Christian life? How is God present with me and all Christians on a daily basis? How do I deepen my relationship with God? Our lives are filled with many questions about how to be a Christian. On Sundays from July 5-August 16, Pastor Debbie will be leading a class called: “JOURNEY OF OUR LIFETIME” from 9:30-10:15 a.m, in the Daughters of God Room. In this class we will use the book of Ephesians as our primary guide to direct us in the journey that we are invited into as the baptized children of God. We will also use a book by Alan Sagar called “Gospel Centered Spirituality.” His writing will be a resource for us in considering our spiritual life from a Lutheran perspective. “Thirsting For God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality” by Bradley Holt will give us an overview of what Christians have been doing in their spiritual lives since Jesus and let us consider what practices of faith fit our own lives today. If you want to be a part of JOURNEY OF OUR LIFETIME, please speak to Pastor Debbie in person or send her an email debbie.frye@oslc-warrenton.org. She will be ordering books for the class shortly. 

Living Faith ELCA-Wide Call to Discipleship  

Seven faith practices: Followers of Jesus are inspired to develop practices and patterns for living that characterize a life that is devoted to daily discipleship. Seven common practices have been identified as key to model and nurture.  


Pray - Prayer - Pray Frequently   Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  


Study - Christian Education - Study Scripture Diligently   Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).  


Worship - Worship - Worship Regularly   I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together (Psalm 34:1-3).  


Invite - Evangelism - Invite Others Often   But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15).  


Encourage - Teaching/Mentoring - Pass on the Faith   Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action (1 John 3:18).  


Serve - Service - Serve for the Sake of Others   For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).  


Give - Stewardship - Give Freely   “...give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Luke 6: 38).

We Care

Our pastors and care-givers are ready to support you as you or a family member faces sickness, crisis, loss, or difficulty. Please don't hesitate to notify us of how we can offer Christian care. The pastors may be reached at 540-347-3224 or click here to send an email to Pastor Debbie or Pastor James. Our care-givers respond to care needs only after our pastors have offered care and after the care recipient has given permission for the care-givers to respond..

German Group

The German Group from Solingen will be visiting OSLC from October 10-19, 2009. Anyone interested in providing accommodation (bed, breakfast, and dinner) or participate in the planning, please sign up on the register posted in the Fellowship Hall (Fellowship Roster). More info will be in the next messenger. For detailed information, please call Elfie Schmid at (540) 937-5315 or (540) 222-6397.

What could the people of God do for the Kingdom of God if they were debt free?  The amount of debt that we as a society carry is staggering.  From home loans, car loans and school loans, to credit card and department store debt we put an enormous burden on ourselves.  A burden that is one of the root causes of the break-up of marriages in America.  What can we do?  How can the people of God become debt free?  We can realize that God has a plan for us and our money.  This is truly good news!  Starting in September, OSLC will begin offering a class on financial planning and management.  The class is called Financial Peace University and was developed by Dave Ramsey.  It mixes sound financial practices with biblical teaching to change your financial habits so that you can become debt free.  One of the advantages of this class over other financial management classes is that it isn’t trying to sell you anything.  We will offer an introductory lesson several times in the coming weeks.  If you have any questions, please feel free to see me.

Tom Bartkiewicz – OSLC Financial Secretary

Operating Account Balance 5/1: $59,193.48
Operating Account Balance 5/31: $57,081.27
Total Income for April: $40,204.43
Total Expense for April: $42,316.64
YTD Income against Budget: $158,684.31
YTD Expense against Budget: $163,156.21 

Cans of food/food items collected: 379 (May)

Food baskets filled: (May) 5

People Helping People (May): 13-1/2 OSLC volunteer hours; $3,850 total assistance; 26 families

Food Distribution (May): 173 families/524 people

Free Clinic: Next opportunity to provide meals is Aug. 13.

Voltran: (Apr) 1234 miles, 27 trips, 76  hours (all volunteers)

May activity-Donations to The Haven—38 cleaning items

July/August activity-Collection of school supplies and backpacks