THE GREEN SHEET

Please see the 9:00 a.m. service bulletin for today’s schedule

Join us for weekday and evening Bible studies, devotionals, and fellowship

ADULTS

Monday Morning Bible Study

This Bible Study group meets December 12 at 9:30 a.m. in the home of Ann Brand. The study is Have a Mary Heart in a Martha World.

Wednesday Morning Senior Group

This Senior Adult Bible Study group will not meet again until next year on January 11 at 9:30 a.m. in the Family Room. The study is Romans.

Women’s Bible Study Group meets on the

2^nd and 4^th Wednesday night of each month at 7 p.m. in the Christopher home. The group is doing a study entitled “Have a Mary Heart in a Martha World.” Because of the Advent services, the next meeting will not be until

January 11.

Senior Adults’ Fellowship

This Senior group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month in the Recreation Hall, 1685 Portola, from noon to 2 p.m. For information contact Lorraine Stamer or Edna Carpenter. The next get-together is Wednesday, December 14.

Men’s Friday Morning Breakfast Bible Study 6:30 a.m. at Baker’s Square. Join us on December 16. The topic is Men of the Bible: Peter.

YOUNG ADULTS

Dec. 18, 6 p.m.: Christmas Party at Pleger’s

Dec. 20, 8 p.m.: Fellowship at Fuddrucker’s

YOUTH

CONNECT Student Ministries

Thursdays High School Youth Night

Join us on Thursday, December 15, at 7:00 p.m. for games and Bible Study in the Youth Room and gym. Pre-Christmas Party Dec. 16,

7 p.m. (NO Youth night on December 29.)

CRASH Jr. High Ministries

Devo During Lunch – January 12, 26 – 11:50 – 12:20. OSLS students, come to the Youth Room during lunch for a short devotion and time to hang with friends. Make sure you bring your lunch. Questions? Email brett@osyouth.com

or call Brett at 447-1246, ext. 261.

K.F.C. = Kids for Christ – 5^th & 6^th graders.

Fellowship, singing, Bible study, and games.

Join us on Friday, January 6, from 7– 9 p.m.

Invite your friends. Wear comfortable shoes.

Bring your Bible.

The B-Team -- 3^rd and 4^th graders.

Friday, January 20, from 7 – 9 p.m. in the

gym. Bring a friend and don’t forget your

Bibles!

Parents: We are seeking volunteers to

help our children with this activity. If you can

help in any way, please contact Alan and

Claudia Heckman.

WANTED: No pre-requisites required!

*Who: Willing volunteers who are ready to

engage with students.

*What: Opportunities available to help with

5^th – 12^th grades.

*Flexible hours: Anywhere from once a

week to once a month.

*Description: Are you the kid at heart type?

We want you to be a part of our

growing student ministries team here

at OSLM. Training is available!!

*How: Contact brett@osyouth.com or at

447-1246 x 261

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

Health: Cathy Kinter

In Our Armed Forces: Matthew Kessler

Andrew Barton

Check out Our Savior newsletter, THE VINEYARD, online at www.oslm.net.

If you would like to receive the

church newsletter via email, please call the church office to give us your email address or go to our website, www.oslm.net, click on church, click on Current Events, and click on “The Vineyard Newsletter.”

On that screen you can sign up for the email newsletter.

For those who do not have access to the internet, there are copies available in the back of the sanctuary on the triangular shelf and also on the table in the narthex.

CHRISTMAS JOY! A Concert of Advent and Christmas Music at 4 p.m. this afternoon. The various musical groups of Our Savior have prepared music to encourage, uplift and even delight you, as well as to give thanks to God for the gift of Christ Jesus at Christmas. We will give God praise with handbells, strings, brass, piano, organ and our choirs.

There will be a freewill offering for the Bokenkamp children’s Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. They are housing Katrina evacuees from the Bethlehem Children’s center in New Orleans.

Refreshments and an opportunity for fellowship in the gym will follow the concert.

ADVENT WORSHIP Wednesday, December 14, at 7 p.m., “The Response” (led by OSLS Students in Grades K-2). With the coming of Christ, our hearts are changed and we RESPOND with adoration and excitement.

PIZZA AND PIPES Sunday, December 18

Everyone – families, singles, youth, friends – is welcome to come to the annual Christmas caroling party at Our Savior on Sunday, December 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. You don’t need to be a choir member or consider yourself a good singer. What’s important is your willingness to share your time and the Christmas message in song!

We’ll start with a quick pizza supper (bring a few $$ to help defray the cost). Then we will split into several groups to spread a little Christmas joy to those who are homebound or who need a little boost from their friends at Our Savior this Christmas. Taking time from our own family preparations to share with others can be one of the more meaningful events of the Christmas season!

If you’d like, bring some Christmas baked goods to share with those we visit.

POINSETTIAS ON SALE TODAY! Please consider donating a poinsettia for our sanctuary Christmas décor. As you can see, we have a large area to fill around the base of the trees and at the base of the altar. This is a wonderful way to honor God and at the same time remember a loved one or celebrate a special occasion. Sign up in the gym after the service.

USHERS needed for both Christmas Eve

(7 p.m. and 11 p.m.)

and Christmas morning (10 a.m.) communion services. If you can help out, call Mike Marchini or drop him an email.

2005 TAXABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

Donors must deliver or mail (and postmark) checks on or by December 31, 2005, in order to claim a charitable deduction for 2005. Checks that are placed in the church offering during the first worship service in 2006 will not qualify for a charitable contribution deduction in 2005 even if the check is predated to 2005 or was actually written in 2005. However, checks that are written, mailed and postmarked in 2005 will be deductible in 2005 though they are not received by a church until 2006. This means that all checks placed in the offering plate on January 1, 2006, will be part of your 2006 offering record.

With the stock market up this year, it may be an advantage to a church member to donate stock that has appreciated in value to the church rather than cash. You will be able to claim a charitable deduction in the amount of the current value of the donated stock. You will also avoid paying taxes on the appreciated value of the donated stock. Futhermore, the church pays no capital gains tax when it sells the stock.

WEIHNACHTESGOTTESDIENST

This Christmas worship service in German will be on December 18 at 4 p.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, 2317 Buena Vista Avenue, Walnut Creek. The preacher at the service will be the Rev. Andreas Pielhoop. Following the service, refreshments will be provided in the fellowship hall where attendees can greet one another as well as sing familiar German Christmas carols.

NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOL

This Advent, Christ Himself prepares us to receive Him as the babe in the manger. Enjoy all the various nativity sets which are on loan from students and teachers, staff and members. Please respect the owners and their precious crèches by looking and not touching. The golden ropes are a gentle reminder for little hands to stay clear.

Copies of our school newsletter, The Mane Events, are available in the back of the sanctuary on the triangular shelf.

“Souper” Challenge

OSLS students are collecting soup cans for the food shelves in our own community during November-December. Anyone can help by bringing soup to the Loaves and Fishes Bin in the gym. Our God is so generous. Help us live it to the fullest and share it with others.

School Chapel Service

We invite members of Our Savior to join the school on Thursday mornings at 8:35 a.m. for our weekly chapel service. Come! Grow with Us! ______________________________

THE CHRISTIAN READING CLUB meets on Tuesday, December 20, at 7 p.m. in Room 8. All interested readers are invited to attend. The book discussion will be “The Case for Christmas: A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger” by Lee Strobel. You may obtain the book in Steve’s office.

SUNDAY SCHOOL HELP NEEDED!

Would you prayerfully consider helping in our 1^st/ 2^nd Grade Sunday School class? We are looking for an assistant who should attend regularly, but with no class preparation required. We also need substitute teachers for our on-call sub list. Please call the church office or Sunday School Superintendents Rob and Jill Santos if interested.

Women of Our Savior…

February 10-12, 2006, is RETREAT WEEKEND, a time when the women of Our Savior will travel to Santa Cruz to unwind, enjoy the peace and beauty of the ocean, have fun and fellowship with other women of faith, and spend some much-needed time in worship and prayer. If you’re looking for a break from the demands of a hectic personal and/or professional life, perhaps a weekend away is just what you need!

This year we’ll be staying at a new location – the Villa Maria del Mar retreat center. You may view the retreat center online at www.villamariadelmar.org. Most of the accommodations will house 2 women per room, but there are a limited number of single rooms available that will be given out on a first come, first served basis. The cost of the weekend is $190 which pays for 2 nights lodging and 6 meals.

To reserve your spot, look for the reservation table after the service today or call Lynn in the church office. Reservations will be taken throughout December until our limited space is filled. So, don’t wait too long to sign up because this is an opportunity not to be missed. Please consider joining us for a relaxing, fun-filled weekend!

________________________________________

Q. When Jesus was born, what was he wrapped in?

a) a new “onesie” from Target

b) a blanket

c) cloths

d) a 49er’s team blanket

A. Check out Luke 2:6-7

This Week At Our Savior

Today December 11

9:00 a.m. Worship Service Sanctuary

10:30 a.m. Bible classes

10:30 a.m. Sunday School

4:00 p.m. Christmas Concert Sanctuary

7:00 p.m. Youth Ensemble Music Room

Monday, December 12

9:30 a.m. Bible Study Brand home

6:15 p.m. Aerobics Room 17

7:00 p.m. Our Savior Ringers Sanctuary

7:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball Gym

Tuesday, December 13

3:15 p.m. Give Glory Gang Music Room

3:30 p.m. In His Name Sanctuary

7:00 p.m. Lay Governing Board Room 8

7:00 p.m. Pinochle Club Room 18

Wednesday, December 14

9:00 a.m. Women’s Ensemble Music Room

12:00 p.m. Senior Adult Fellowship 1685 Portola

3:15 p.m. Joyful Noise Music Room

4:10 p.m. Beginning Bells Sanctuary

7:00 p.m. Advent Worship Sanctuary

Thursday, December 15

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

8:35 a.m. K-8 School chapel Sanctuary

10:15 a.m. ECDC Christmas chapel Sanctuary

1:00 p.m. ECDC chapel Sanctuary

3:15 p.m. Intermediate Bells Sanctuary

7:00 p.m. High School Youth night Youth Rm/Gym

7:00 p.m. Our Savior Choir Music Room

7:00 p.m. Building Committee Room 18

7:00 p.m. Band Concert Sanctuary

Friday, December 16

6:30 a.m. Men’s Brkfst Bible study Baker’s Square

10:30 a.m. ECDC Christmas chapel Sanctuary

7:00 p.m. Junior High Youth night Gym

Saturday, December 17

8 - 10 a.m. Decorate sanctuary

8:00 a.m. Aerobics Room 17

9:00 a.m. Contemporary rehearsal Sanctuary

10:00 a.m. Sunday Sch. Rehearsal Sanctuary

12 - 2 p.m. Decorate Sanctuary Sanctuary

Sunday, December 18

9:00 a.m. Worship Service Sanctuary

10:30 a.m. Bible classes

10:30 a.m. Sunday School

5:00 p.m. Christmas caroling Gym

6:00 p.m. Young Adults party Pleger home

7:00 p.m. Youth Ensemble Music Room