Celebrate Thanksgiving with the Giver of All Good Gifts

• When?: Thursday, November 23, 9 a.m.
• Where?: The Sanctuary, decorated with a Cornucopia of the Harvest
• What?: A Service of Thanks to God. (This is an opportunity to bring food items to benefit Open Heart Kitchen in Livermore. We ask that you limit your items to the following: canned fruit and vegetables, stuffing mix, canned cranberries, assorted canned meat entrees, powdered milk, canned pastas, baking soda, baking powder, gravy mixes, dessert "in a box," vegetable oil, packaged cookies, rice mixes, baby food, instant oatmeal, and boxed raisins. These items will be of the most help to the Open Heart Kitchen services.)

The Altar Guild will be beautifying our altar once again with a cornucopia of fresh fruit and vegetables. If you would like to contribute to our Thanksgiving service in this way, please bring your fruits and vegetables to the church office by Wednesday, November 22.

The Road to Brazil

There are so many terrific things happening here that it´s difficult to focus on one. The common ingredient is the abundance of love you have for the Mission of Our Savior. It must be the product of Jesus´ cultivation (Rooted in Grace). Our worship and Bible study show signs of increase (Growing in Faith), and people are volunteering; we are also making contributions locally, nationally, even internationally (Serving with Joy).

On that topic, it´s time for the Samaritan Project. I will be in Brazil for the first part of November with the Medical Mission team. We will evaluate more than 800 native Brazilians, provide dental services to almost as many, and distribute more than 1,000 pair of glasses. Every one of those contacts will know that Jesus, the great Physician loves them.

This outreach began more than fifty years ago when a young Indian woman inadvertently heard the Gospel. A Lutheran Pastor called on a couple in the apartment next to hers once a month. (At the time, Brazil was a district of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod). Due to the construction, the woman could hear the devotion and communion service through the wall. One day, she heard the couple say that they were leaving the area. The Pastor wished them well and left. As he stepped outside the door he met this young woman with tears in her eyes. She asked his forgiveness for her eavesdropping, then begged him to return the next month to see her! This was the beginning of the Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church of Anastacio, Brazil, but that´s not all.

As I mentioned this woman was a native Brazilian. Though she was living and working in town, she had many relatives in the surrounding territories. So, she lead the campaign to bring the Gospel to her people. In time, the Terene Lutheran Church of Aldeniah was formed.

For decades, this congregation, with it´s daughter church, worked hard to bring this faith to more Indians throughout the territory. Not much seemed to be ´growing´ until the first Medical Mission arrived in 2000. Since then, three more daughter congregations have formed, and several chapels have been constructed.

It was my privilege to hear this story from that woman at the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther Church. It was also the second opportunity for that woman, with tears in her eyes, to ask a Pastor to keep bringing the Gospel.

You may have seen the display in the back of the Church; if not, please check it out! Also, posters for the VW van are to enable the ongoing effort of Pastor Paulino Ratund, and his wife Isabel, to care for all of these baby congregations in addition to Martin Luther. (This past winter the Brazilian Synod sent another Pastor to help Paulino).

Some of the contributions you are putting into the Missions envelopes will support the Samaritan Project. As God gives you opportunity to make future gifts, please prayerfully consider this mission.

Thank you for your gifts of time, talent, and treasures. They are making a difference!

To Keep You in the Loop

In the last couple of newsletters, I have discussed OSLM´s mission in terms of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8), in which Christ commanded us to take the gospel to the whole world. Now if we think only in terms of what our own congregation can do, this is a daunting task. Fortunately, however, we can and do work in partnership with other congregations, in order to share our efforts and resources.

At the local level, we have our Circuit, which consists of nine congregations in eastern Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and which provides a forum for discussion and coordination of activities. Then at the regional level there is the California- Nevada-Hawaii (CNH) District. And finally, at the national level, we have the Lutheran Church ´ Missouri Synod. When we send our mission pledge to the District every month, part of the money is used to fund such things as church planting, support of mission congregations, and other home missions activities. The District then sends money to the Synod headquarters in St. Louis, where it is used to finance home and foreign missions, training of pastors and other church workers, etc.

Both the District and the Synod have Conventions every three years; it is at these Conventions that officers are elected, priorities are set, and issues are resolved. Last May, I had the privilege of representing OSLM as our lay delegate to the CNH District Convention in Sacramento. At the District level, each congregation is represented by its Pastor and by a lay delegate (unfortunately, we didn´t have a Pastor in May, so we got only one vote). At the Synod level, however, this would be impractical because of the large number of congregations, so delegates are chosen instead to represent Circuits. On October 8, Pastor Scharnitzke and I attended a meeting at which our Circuit´s pastoral and lay delegates were elected, and I am happy to report that our nominee, Jesse Yow, was chosen as the lay delegate; he will be spending a week at the Synod Convention next July in Houston. Please pray for him, and share with him any thoughts you might have about the Synod, so that he can do the best possible job of representing us.

School News

Parent Teacher Conferences ´ The first quarter of school ends on October 27 (seems like we just started). On November 2-3, we will be conducting very important parent teacher conferences. Grades K-5 will have scheduled times to meet with each teacher. Grades 6-8 will again meet in the gym where parents will have opportunity to meet with all of their child(ren)´s teachers. This is an extremely valuable time for teachers and parents alike.

Teacher In-Services will be conducted for teachers on November 20 & 21 for all Preschool through Grade 8 teachers. There is no school for students on those days.

No School the week of November 20 ´ 24. Teachers will have teacher in-services on the 20 and 21 and Thanksgiving Break is November 22 -24.

Chapel is conducted each week at OSLS. Our theme for the year is ´CrossRoads ´ Come and Journey´. This month´s student-led chapel is on November 16 with the fourth grade leading. Their specific topic is ´Stay Alert´ based on Hebrews 12:1- 3. Please join us every Thursday at 8:40 a.m. You´re always welcome!

Advent Services : Students in Grades K-8 will once again be participating and presenting the Advent worship services. Themes for the services are:

• November 29 ´ Grades 3-5: ´Journey of Hope´
• December 6 ´ Grades 6-8: ´Journey of Love and Miracles´
• December 13 ´ Grades K-2: ´Journey of Joy and Victory´

The Basketball Season began for grades 5-6, and there will be a tournament on October 28 for the girls. There will be a tournament on November 4 for the boys. It´s a great opportunity for students to ´show off´ all their talents!

Accreditation Progress ´ Our Accreditation Team is moving along strongly. We are planning to have the final visitation for accreditation completed in the spring / fall 2007. It may sound like a long time off, but it is much closer than you might think! We will be getting our focus groups started shortly after January 1. You might get tapped on the shoulder and asked to help as we evaluate our school´s progress. As a reminder, our school ESLR´s (Expected School-wide Learning Results) are:

• Kids of the King walk like Jesus.
• Kids of the King are avid learners.
• Kids of the King develop important life skills.
• Kids of the King enhance their lives with enriching activities.

Yosemite / Catalina ´ Both 7th & 8th grades will once again participate in an outdoor education week during the week of November 5.

The 7th grade will be going to Yosemite. They will spend Sunday through Tuesday at ´Crane Flats,´ where they may encounter snow at an elevation of approximately 7000 feet. On Tuesday evening they will come down to the Yosemite ´valley,´ where they will continue hiking and group building. They return to the school on Friday, November 10 at about 5:00 p.m.

The 8th grade will be going to Catalina. They will spend their first night on board a boat in Long Beach. On Monday, they will be conducting several ´experiments´ on board the boat while traveling to Catalina Island. While on Catalina, they will kayak, snorkel, hike, dissect squid, learn about water salinity, and work on team building. They return to school on Friday, November 10 at about 10:00 p.m.

Advent/Christmas Concert - December 10

Can you believe that Christmas music has been wafting through the halls of Our Savior already? Making music together for the Lord and for God´s people is a joy any time, but October, November and December are months for GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY musically. All of our groups have begun preparing a musical gift for the people of Our Savior and the Livermore community. Set aside 4:00 p.m. on December 10 as a time to enjoy this gift and reflect on the wonder of Christ our Savior´s birth.

Children's Ministry

• Join us for Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays! Classes for age 2 through Grade 6 will begin in the large room of the ECDC. After the opening, the children go to their classrooms with their teachers. Two- and three-year-olds should go directly to Room 1 in the ECDC, and four-year-olds and Kindergarten-age children should go directly to Room 3 in the ECDC.
• K.F.C. = Kids for Christ, Friday, November 3 from 7 - 9 p.m. in the gym. This ministry is for youth in Grades 5 and 6. It is an evening of fellowship, singing, Bible study, and games. The youth are encouraged to invite their friends. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your Bible.
• The B-Team, for 3rd & 4th Grade Youth, will meet on Friday, November 17 from 7 - 9 p.m. in the gym. This youth group meets monthly during the school year for an evening of Bible study, singing, games, snack, and fellowship. Friends are welcome and the children should wear comfortable shoes and be sure to bring your Bible.

High School and Junior High Youth Ministry

Confirmation continues on Wednesdays, November 1 and 15 from 7:00´8:30 p.m., beginning in the gym. (No class on November 8 because of Outdoor Education Week for OSLS; No classes November 22 - December 27 for Holiday Break.) Questions? Call Steve Christopher or 447-1246, ext. 228.

Junior High Youth will go bowling at Granada Bowl, 1620 Railroad Avenue on Sunday, November 12 from 12 - 2 p.m. Cost will be $12, which includes lane and shoe rental. Call Timothy Potthoff at 447-1246, ext. 261 or email him at dcetimothy@h otmail.com by November 8 to register for this event.

Women's Ministry

The Wednesday Women's Bible Study group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday night of each month at 7 p.m. at the home of Dee Christopher. Please call the church office (925-447-1246) for directions. This month, the group will meet on November 8 and November 22.

Men's Ministry

• Men´s Breakfast Bible Study will resume on Fridays at 6:30 a.m., November 3, 10, and 17 at Baker's Square, 1116 Stanley Boulevard in Livermore. We will continue our study on "Men of God" with a focus on David.
• Men´s Open Gym Basketball on Mondays from 7:30´9:00 p.m. Come out and enjoy some good competition and fellowship.

Ongoing Events

• Blood Pressure Monitoring will be offered in the Family Room after the worship service on the first and third Sundays of each month.
• Pinochle Club´This group meets on the second Tuesday evening of the month. Everyone is invited to come out for a game of cards on Tuesday, November 14, from 7´9 p.m. in Room 18. Come and join in the fun!
• The Christian Reading Club of Our Savior meets on a monthly basis to share insights and reactions to a monthly reading assignment. The book is Radical Gratitude by Ellen Vaughn. (ISBN #0-310-25749-2.) This book is available at www.amazon.com. We´ll meet for our discussion time on Tuesday, November 21, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Room 8. Call Steve Christopher at 447-1246 ext. 228 for more information.

Upcoming Events

The 6th Annual Talent Show will be held on Sunday, November 5th, at 4 p.m. This will be a fun-filled afternoon for all - a chance to be entertained, to discover unique talents of your fellow OSLM'ers, and to enjoy each others' fellowship. Pizza will be served afterwards!

DON´T MISS OUR SAVIOR´S CHRISTMAS CONCERT ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, AT 4:00 p.m. Mark your calendars now so you can enjoy this time of preparation for the coming Christ child!

C.L.I.M.B.

C.L.I.M.B.
November 3 is the 5th Quarter here at Our Savior. Come after the Livermore vs. Granada football game. The event will start at 9:30 p.m. and end at 11:00 p.m. Come for food, music, and games. Bring your friends for a great time to hang out after the game!

Every Thursday night from 7´9 p.m. is C.L.I.M.B. We play games and have devotion time. It is a great time to connect with your friends at Our Savior.

Junior Highers
We will go bowling on Sunday, November 12 at Granada Bowl, 1620 Railroad Avenue, 12 - 2 p.m. We will have different wacky games of bowling. The cost will be $12, which includes lane and shoe rental. Please register with Timothy for this event by November 8.

If any youth have questions about anything, call Timothy at 447-1246, ext. 261 or email him at dcetimothy@h otmail.com. Contact him if you want to just talk or have lunch or coffee.

Matthew 6:33 says, ´But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.´

ECDC News

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Psalm 107:1

During the month of November, our main theme is ´giving thanks.´ We will be having our annual Thanksgiving feast when the preschoolers join together to give thanks. We will be collecting canned goods at our chapel as we give thanks for the food God has given us.

Preschool children teach me so much! When they are asked what they are thankful for, the list seems to be never-ending. They thank God for all the little things as well as the big things. Our prayer for you this month is that you take time to thank God for EVERYTHING´the small things and the big things. Thank God even when you come to a crossroad and need to make a choice in your life. He is with you no matter what choice you make.

October was filled with lots of fun. We watched the leaves fall and made leaf collages. We tasted apples and made applesauce. We learned about foods that are good for us. We enjoyed visiting the pumpkin patch and learned how pumpkins grow. We learned how God took care of Moses in his basket and how God watches and protects us as well. We talked about Joshua knocking down the wall at Jericho, while learning about our awesome God and how with Him, all things are possible.

As we enter November, we will be learning about breads, Native Americans, Pilgrims and that God has given us wonderful friends. Thank You, God, for everything!

Talent Show

The 6th Annual Talent Show will be held on Sunday, November 5, at 4 p.m. Last years' performances included tuba, hand chimes, flute, vocals, keyboard, guitar, drums, accordion, dance and equestrian vaulting. This will be a fun-filled afternoon for all - a chance to be entertained, to discover unique talents of your fellow OSLM'ers, and to enjoy each others' fellowship. Pizza will be served afterwards! Those interested in performing (after all, you make the show), please contact Don Young during fellowship time or by phone. (Please call the church office for Don's phone number.) Experience not required. We welcome all levels of talent; this is a great opportunity to get up in front of a supportive group and showcase the gifts God has given you.

There is no Raiders game on November 5, and the 49ers should be victorious over Minnesota by our start time. Let's come out in numbers to support our performers. Please put this event on your calendars now!!

Business Buzz

Please click here for the Preliminary Financial Report for September and also the Preliminary Fiscal Year Report for July 2006 to June 2007.

The mission pledge is current and all expenses have been paid.

General Giving is DOWN from the budget projection 7.2% for September, but the good news is that it is UP 5.1% for the first quarter.

Balances in our checking and savings accounts total $450,840, which includes $12,862 in the Building Up ´ Reaching Out fund. The Church´s portion of the mortgage as well as architectural fees are being paid out of this fund.

Monthly pledges needed to make the mortgage payment are $22,000. In September, we received $31,553.

As a reminder, the Building Up ´ Reaching Out program began July 1, 2006. The pledges total $1,022,259 vs. a goal of $1,296,000. This leaves a shortage of $273,741, which will need to be covered by 1) increasing the pledges, or 2) lowering the construction costs, or 3) third source funding.

Joe's Tidbits
2006 Taxable Contributions
With the stock market up this year, it may be an advantage to a church member to donate stock that has appreciated in value rather than cash to the church. 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. Furthermore, the church pays no capital gains tax when it sells the stock.

THIS IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR ALL OF US!

Craft Boutique

Don´t be the only one to miss the annual Our Savior Craft Boutique! Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 11, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Shop early for the holidays and enjoy fellowship too.

Ministry Center Building Committee

We have received a cost estimate from Overaa Construction for the completion of the Ministry Center. Based on their figure, a request for loan funding has been submitted by Joe Ryno to LCEF for approval. Watch for announcements of a Stewards´ meeting for approval to proceed with the financing and construction. In the meantime, we are reviewing the estimate with Overaa and the architect to see if there is any cost cutting that can be done to lower the final loan amount.

As always, we solicit and appreciate your prayers and support.

Advent/Christmas Season Fast Approaching!

Find and dust off those beautiful nativity sets you have stored away. OSLS students, their families, and members of Our Savior Lutheran Ministries are asked to bring their nativity scenes to share with others this Advent season. We will display the cr´ches along the back windows of the church sanctuary. We hope to see many different cultures and countries represented from around the world. No nativity scene will be turned away. If it has special meaning for you, it will be wonderful to share.

Set up will be on Monday, November 27 and Tuesday, November 28 from 4 - 6 p.m. You may start bringing them to the church office or your child´s classroom after November 17. PLEASE identify your nativity scene with your family name so we can place a name tag in front of it. They will be on display at the first, second, and third Advent services through Sunday, December 17. You may pick up your nativity sets on Monday, December 18 to take home for your enjoyment.

Free Money for the Building Fund!!

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will make your donations to the Ministry building fund GROW´and all that´s required is a simple little form.

If you´re already supporting the Ministry Center building fund AND are a Thrivent member (or are willing to become a Thrivent Associate for a mere $10), your donations to the building fund can grow by 50%; that is, Thrivent will give OSLS $1 for every $2 you donate to the SCHOOL portion of our building fund (up to a total of $300 per person each calendar year).

Thrivent is a NON-PROFIT organization. To maintain that status, the IRS lets them distribute their earnings to Lutheran schools and service organizations by supplementing the gifts made by individual contributors. Thus far, this calendar year, Thrivent has given over $14 million to Lutheran schools/service organizations through the GivingPlus program. They´re hoping to gift another $10 million before the end of ´06. Let´s help them reach their goal while we support our own´completion of our Ministry Center!

Information about this program will be available each Sunday in November during coffee fellowship, or you may contact Joe Ryno in the church office (447- 1246, ext. 221) to learn more about the simple process that will allow God to multiply your gifts to His Ministry at OSLM.

Women's Catch-All Night

We are offering an opportunity for women to gather socially and accomplish something at the same time! On the 4th Sunday of the month, the ECDC will be open for women to bring a craft, hobby, or anything they would like to work on with them. All who attended last month made progress and enjoyed getting to know each other in a more personal way. Some project examples included Christmas card list updating, paying bills, portable computer updating, mending, crocheting, knitting, and cross stitching, to name a few. We had a large number turn out last month and received lots of great feedback, so come join us this month. If you need child care, you must contact us to arrange for this in advance. It's a wonderful opportunity to connect as sisters in Christ! Bring a snack to share, if you'd like, and call us if you have any questions or need child care, Linda Futral, 447-2729; Rene Moyers, 447-5412; or Karen Buntjer, 292-0379.

Greetings from Guatemala

Hello to all of you at OSLC. Just wanted to thank you all for your prayers and your financial support. May God bless each and every one of you. Following is information from my last newsletter. (Click here to read Janet's newsletter.) Thank you again.
Love, Janet Volkman

Our Savior Lutheran Ministries is a Christian Community--

• Rooted in Grace
• Growing in Faith
• Serving with Joy

Worship Schedule

• Sunday Worship and Communion : 9:00 a.m.
• Sunday School for all ages: 10:30 a.m.

Critical Targets and Goals

To accomplish our mission and ministry here at Our Savior:

• Pastor: A new Senior Pastor has been installed by October 1, 2006.
• Worship Attendance: The average weekly worship attendance for 2006-07 is 15% greater than for 2005-06.
• Community Awareness: OSLM is making use of all relevant means of communication to make the people of the greater Livermore area aware of our ministries and activities.
• Ministry Center: The Ministry Center is completed by September 1, 2007. Plans have been developed for the full use of all campus facilities to advance the Mission of OSLM.
• New Member Assimilation: At least 75% of new Communicant Members received during 2006- 07 become involved in some group or activity at OSLM.
• Ministries to the 18 - 35 (Young Adult) Age Group: Ministries and activities specifically intended for the 18-35 age group are in place and functioning well. The number of Communicant Members in this age group has increased by 30% during 2006-07.
• Ministries to Unchurched School Families: Ministries and activities specifically intended for unchurched school families are in place and functioning well. These include at least three new approaches for targeted witness to this group.

Mission Statement

Our Savior Lutheran Ministries´ Mission is to:

• Proclaim salvation through God´s grace in word and song
• Build Christian relationships
• Care for the people of the community
• Equip God´s people for Life in Christ