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July - Augst 2008
Lydia Circle
10 a.m. Tuesday, July 22 & August 26 In the Senior Center Church Council 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 8 & August 12 In Madsen Hall Join us for a walk in Washington Park to raise the
awareness of the need for organ and tissue donors. The
walk/race/social event will begin Sunday, July 13 at 8AM. There are 3K
and 5K distances...or, if you are more comfortable, just show up and
visit like I do! If you want to participate please let me know and I
will get you one of the (sporty) blue and green t-shirts with matching
green visor and bracelet! You can also register online at
www.donordash.com
... on the right, select "Join a Team", on the left, select "Register
Now", then select C (Guest Access). Continue through the screens and
you will find a drop down box with team names...look for Jill Connett's
Fighting Snappers. Registering this way will cost about $32. If you're
not up to making a donation, that is fine...it's a public park so you
are free to show up in our blue and green ensemble! See Melody for
details. Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study Update MARK YOUR CALENDAR! IT'S PICNIC TIME AT OUR SAVIOR'S! August 3 after worship Potluck - Bring two dishes to share Ice cream bars will be provided for dessert. Lemonade and Iced Water will be available. What a wonderful opportunity this annual event gives us to deepen our connections to those in our church community! Would you like to help set up or clean up? Contact
Kathy in the church office or anyone on the Hospitality Committee. FIFAMANGIA This is a Malagasy word that means “visiting together
with one another”. The Rocky Mountain Synod is a Companion Synod to the
northern Synods of the Malagasy Lutheran Church. Church leaders from
Madagascar will visit throughout our Synod in August. Save the dates of
August 8 & 9 for details of activities in the Denver area. IS IT COLD IN HERE OR IS IT JUST ME? After much careful discussion and planning, air
conditioning units have been installed in two offices and the St. Luke’s
classroom (former library/chapel). While there are certainly concerns
about energy consumption, the fact that temperatures in the Turnabout
office (upper tower) have exceeded 100 degrees on some days make this
necessary. The Church Council did a thorough and faithful job of
reviewing bids and directing this project. The cost for this phase was
$8800. We have raised more than $2,000 from the sale of Fair Trade
coffee, tea and chocolate. Gifts in memory of Hal Milbrodt were
designated to this project as well, adding $2500. Additional gifts are
needed and welcome. Stop by and enjoy the new feeling in the office. SENIOR CENTER LUNCH SCHEDULE Thursday, July 10 Thursday, August 14 We resume the weekly schedule on Thursday, September
11. SO MUCH TO LEARN During the past few years we have brought speakers and bible study leaders to Our Savior’s for weekend workshops and preaching. Pr. Anita Hill, Pr. Barbara Lundblad and Pr. Dennis Jacobsen have added much to our life together. The Church Council has set aside an amount from the Memorial Fund to cover the costs associated with these programs. The suggestion this year is to have two programs using local resources. We can manage two because we won’t have the cost of airfare. These are some of the topics being considered: The first century church, especially women and Mary Magdalene Prayer & social ministry The writings of St. Paul Issues in the Middle East We will have a survey during the summer. If you have
other topics or people to suggest, tell Pr. John Metro CareRing Item for the July Canned Fruit For August Dry Milk Dorothy Ostermeier writes: Buy a New Car and Help OSLC Subaru has a program where friends and acquaintances of Subaru
employees can by new Subaru’s for 2% under dealer costs. Christina
Forney is working as an industrial engineer at the Subaru plant in
Lafayette, Indiana. Several OSLC members have purchased Subaru’s
through this program. If you would like details about this program,
please contact Gerry Forney or Irene Ludwig at 303-830-8447 or email at
ggforney@comcast.net. Christina receives $75 for each
successful referral, and she has agreed to donate this money to Needs of
the People. As we head into the summer months when some activities slow down, I want to share some of the positive things that have happened recently that you might not be aware of. At the Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly in May, Our Savior’s won first prize in the “How to Spot a Lutheran in the West” video contest. We were awarded a Martin Luther bobblehead doll and $1,000. Our assembly began as the tornados hit Windsor, Colorado. A resolution at the assembly asked congregations to take a special offering for Lutheran Disaster Response. LDR is often first on the scene and last to leave at both domestic and international catastrophes. Our Savior’s pledged half of our prize money to that cause. To date we have raised almost $3800, including our $500 prize money. In addition, the Synod received over $17,000 in offerings for world hunger relief ($8080), our partner churches in Madagascar ($2572), mission support ($4484) and “green grants” ($2137). In June, we were able to recycle 6 computer monitors, 6 printers, a VCR and other electronic material through a program sponsored by the Golden Triangle Neighborhood Association. We hope to host a similar event in Capitol Hill in the next few months. Details of other recent developments are included
throughout this issue. We have been blessed to be a blessing. Thank
you for all you do to make this happen. LET’S GET TOGETHER Our semi-annual congregational meeting will be held on
Sunday, July 27 following our worship service. This meeting does not
usually involve business or elections. The primary purpose is
communication to the congregation as to where we are financially and
programmatically and what we plan for the rest of the year. CONGRATULATIONS Mark Clifford received recognition as Outstanding Senior Performance prior to his graduation from DU. He received a two week trip to Nagoya, Japan for further musical study. We are aware of four weddings planned this summer by
Our Savior’s folks. We celebrate and pray for the marriages of Erica
Monson & Jordan Hoaglund; Allysa Woodford & Tony Hughes; Nathan Bock and
Julia Zaffarano; and Vince Caffasso & Poppy Bagdon. News from CHARG By David Burgess As I write this, we are gearing up for our annual Wine
Tasting event to benefit CHARG Resource Center. If you have never been
to one of these, it is a great opportunity to mingle with other people
who care about CHARG, to sample an interesting variety of wines courtesy
of the Corks wine shop in Lo-Do, and to listen to a very brief
presentation about CHARG by our mental health consumers. We are also
planning to have gourmet food, entertainment, and valuable prizes to be
raffled off. We are excited to be putting on our biggest and most
ambitious event to date, and it will be even more special if you are
able to join us! Of course it is designed to help us stay afloat in
these challenging economic times, but we have kept the cost reasonable
(we think) - $30.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door. You will also
have the opportunity to order bottles (or cases!) of any of the wines
you like for later delivery, and CHARG will receive five percent of all
sales that result from the event. This party will be held on Thursday evening, July 10
from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Lumber Baron Inn, 2555 West 37th
Avenue in North Denver. For more information or to reserve your space,
please call Jennifer at our office, 303-830-8805. I hope you can be
there! July Birthdays 8 Ruth Waldie 9 Leah Cornell 11 Kathy Machan 11 Kim Zietz 12 Ruth Folkers 13 Janice McClary 14 Dirk van der Duim 16 Rito Vargas * 17 Katherine Fedde 21 Natalie Susanna Brammer 23 Travis George 23 Spencer Larkin-Kennedy 24 Peter Kjeseth 24 Susan Mohr 24 Alesa Paige 25 Ruby Doggett 26 Frank Tapy 27 Carmie Canoso 27 Deryl Fox * 29 Wayne May 30 Phyllis Johnson Prayer List Please Pray For: James Bertelsen; Kathy Hoth; Andrew Bachman; Luther Johnson; Joe Linden; Dolly Krowen; Mell Whitesell; Marilyn; Andrew Duva; Don Roy; and for Our Savior’s congregation, its leaders and the family & friends of Beth Bombeck and Michael Cirigliano. Please submit your prayer requests for
healing, sympathy, comfort, on-going concerns, and celebrations by
calling Twyla Boe at 303-399-1634, or the church office at
303-831-7023. The prayer chain is updated as names are received.
Unless otherwise stated, names will be deleted after (4) weeks. MAY 2008 FINANCIAL INFORMATION Although we have received 103% of the amounts pledged to date,
the congregational giving as a whole is 93% of the budgeted amount. The
percentage generally runs about 95% of budget. Our actual income is roughly the same as budgeted; however, we still need to send the funds collected for the ELCA Disaster Response. There are no expenses at this time that look significantly out of line. We had to transfer $2250 from the general use account this month. Last year at this time we had transferred $14,800.
MORE GIVING In May we contributed $500 to support Metro CareRing as it provides emergency food assistance, counseling and other services to our community. We also sent $175 to Heifer International in memory of Hal Milbrodt. For the month of July we have designated Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernadino, California as our benevolence. This vital and innovative ministry provides health care, shelter and creative programs for youth. They have also recently opened a residence for people living with AIDS in Michoacan, Mexico. In spite of their outstanding work, CCLM has been removed from the ELCA as a congregation for calling a lesbian pastor to their staff. They continue to be recognized as a Social Ministry Organization. Learn more at www.cclm.org. Elsewhere in this issue there is information about a trip to Mexico led by Pr. David Kalke. This will be educational, fun and will benefit CCLM. In August, our benevolence will be New Beginnings
Church, the congregation inside the Denver Women’s Correctional
Facility. This has been a special concern of ours for some time.
Several people have attended worship with New Beginnings on Friday
evening. If you are interested in that experience, call Kathy in the
office at Our Savior’s (303-831-7023). MORE ABOUT MONEY There are two ways we deal with money at Our Savior’s: we receive some and we give some away. We’ve mentioned several ways in which we give money away in support of other ministries. There are two things to talk about at this time that concern some of our income. While individual giving remains the most important part of the money we receive, there are specific programs or activities that are significant in that regard. First a reminder about Simply Giving, the electronic funds transfer program available at Our Savior’s. Administered by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans at no cost to us, Simply Giving helps maintain the regularity of giving. If you need details or want to enroll, call the church office. Second, we need volunteers to sell grocery
certificates after worship on Sundays. Our Savior’s receives a
percentage of the purchase price of each certificate. When non one is
available to sell, we lose that income. The commitment is for 30
minutes following worship. With a few more volunteers, each person
would only be needed once every two or three months. It is easy enough
that even Pr. John can do it. Sign up in the church office or after
worship. PASTORAL ACTS In the month of June, Pr. John conducted memorial services for Beth Bombeck, Michael Cirigliano and Rebecca Swindell. Daniel Herrington was baptized on June 29. Thanks to everyone who came out to Golden for
Sherlock! I'm glad you all could make it and that so many of you
enjoyed it. SUMMER FELLOWSHIP Plans are being made for a bike ride, a hike, a
Rockies game, a historic walking tour and film on the rocks at Red
Rocks. Sign up sheets are available on Sunday in Madsen Hall and during
the week in the office. Watch for dates and details. Let us know if
there is another event you would like to organize. Interfaith Hospitality Network @ Our Savior’s Many thanks to all of the people who volunteered for our host week of June 8-15. Messiah Lutheran, Cypress, Texas youth started our week helping unload the truck and set up the rooms for part of the week. (We set up a room each time a family comes in during the week.) Karen May had the youth cleaning the bathrooms, to their surprise. Two families arrived at 5:30 p.m. – 4 adults and 3 children. One was a 6 week old baby. Tuesday a family of three came and Friday a father and son of 4 month moved in. Thank you to those who were rescue volunteers. Our next host week is August 17 – 24 Thank you all. Pat Bjerke Fair Trade News Cost increases have finally made their way to our Fair
Trade coffee and chocolate... Terri McMaster Retiring in December Terri McMaster, diaconal minister, began serving as the director of
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado in March of 2001. She has announced
that she will be retiring from this position at the end of 2008. Director for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Colorado 1) Advocacy with Colorado state government public policy makers in accordance with the public policy social justice commitments of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA); 2) Development of a Lutheran advocacy network among congregations, agencies and institutions for the purpose of education and a shared advocacy strategy; 3) Collegial collaboration with public policy coalitions with similar commitments; 4) Research, study, analysis, and theological consideration of pending public policy concerns; and 5) Administration of the office, its budget and resources. The position includes public presentations with various ELCA entities and work with the LAM Policy Committee.
A complete position description is available at
www.rmselca.org/advocacy .
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