Our Savior's Weekly Bulletin (Announcements Only)
Updated January 12, 2020
PASTORAL CARE continues at Our Savior's even in the absence of a regular pastor. The elders have divided up the congregation alphabetically and are available to provide pastoral care as needed. Note your "assigned". elder and don't hesitate to call him with any spiritual needs or concerns: A-E: Alan Fijal; F-K: Ray Hoffman; L-R: Marlow Olson; S-Z: Ike Wallace. We also have about 15 pastoral care visitors who will be visiting all our members who are home bound or in nursing homes on a regular basis. Please call the church office, or your "assigned" elder regarding any planned surgeries or emergency hospitalization.
RIGHT NOW MEDIA: OSC is excited to offer unlimited access for our congregation to Right Now Media, a Netflix-style library of Biblical resources including Bible studies and children’s programming. If you would like access to this amazing resource, please fill out a visitor’s card in the pew with a valid e-mail address and place it in the offering plate when it is passed. (Please print CLEARLY.
PRAYER NOTES: Would you like to be part of the emergency/urgent prayer needs phone chain? Give Tom Roemke your phone number and he will add it to the computerized phone calling list. Calls would come between 8am and 9pm. Frequency of calls varies. Occasionally we use it for less urgent needs, but largely it is for our members and their immediate families for the more urgent situations. ALSO, If you have computer access, and are willing to prayer for not as urgent needs, please email me. at: jealvis@usa.net to be added to our often busy online prayer chain. That one you simply access at your convenience.
THE CHURCH LIBRARY is open to all and is located between between the Fellowship Room and the LaunchPad, check out our broad range of selections pertaining to your Christian walk. There will be a library cart in the narthex on various Sundays for your convenience and the church library is open every day (except holidays when the church office is closed). Please sign out your items in the notebook provided on the cart and in the library. The return basket is located in the library. Honor system is used. Donations accepted in the donation basket in the library. Book Discussion Group books sets are welcome.
ONE CHURCH SERVICE ON SUNDAY, January 26th at 9:00AM and then 30 minutes of coffee and fellowship before the congregational meeting at 10:45. There WILL BE childcare for those who need it during the meeting.
THE BOOK OF JAMES challenges Christ-followers to put their faith into action. Come to today’s Adult Bible Class, as we study this New Testament letter. This class meets in the Fellowship Room, 9:35-10:25 a.m. All are invited.
ACTIVE PARENTING -a six session course that teaches effective communication and problem solving skills for parents of children in preschool-preteen years will be offered on Sunday mornings, 9:30-10:30 (between worship services) beginning today, January 12. This class will be taught by Pastor Steven Lalor and his wife Karen and will meet in Room 214, the Third Grade Classroom. Child care for young children will be provided in the Launch Pad. Older children may attend Blast Off (Sunday School).
MISSING TABLES: We are missing a significant number of our six foot folding tables. If you may have borrowed some tables from the church and have forgotten to bring them back, please return them (no questions asked!)
SHINE, JESUS, SHINE: Our Atlantic District is initiating a Bible reading program during the next two months under the theme "Shine, Jesus, Shine." Participants in this Bible study are encouraged to read two chapters/day from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Note the scheduled readings found as an insert in today's bulletin. Immerse yourself in the Gospels in preparation for Lent. Bible studies that accompany the assigned readings are available on the website: lutherantools.org.
A MEN’S BREAKFAST will be held this coming Saturday, January 18th, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room. Bob LaCosta, local Christian businessman, and founder of “Awaken” ministry will be our guest speaker. All men are invited to come for the good food and fellowship along with Bob’s testimony. There is no charge for the breakfast, but an offering will be taken. Please sign up today in the narthex.
SMALL GROUP SIGN UP: This month we are launching a Small Group series entitled “Wonders of His Love” – a Bible study of Jesus’ miracles. Sign up to become part of a Small Group and engage in this six week study. Small Groups will meet during the day and evenings at church and in homes. State your preferred time and also indicate on the sign up sheet if you are willing to host or facilitate a Small Group. Sign Up Sheets are in the Breezeway.
BOXES OF 2020 OFFERING ENVELOPES can be found in alphabetical order in the narthex. If you do not have envelopes, and would like a box, please call the church office.
NIGHT TO SHINE – a prom night experience for people with disabilities will be held at Our Savior’s on Friday, February 7th. We expect 135 guests along with their caregivers, and we need about 200 volunteers to serve these people in Jesus’ name. If you are interested in volunteering, you may sign up on line through our church website (oslalbany.com) or pick up a Volunteer Sign Up sheet this morning in the narthex. Above all PRAY that the love of Jesus would shine clearly at Night To Shine.
NEW PICTORIAL DIRECTORIES have arrived. Every family that has a picture in this directory is entitled to a free directory. Directories are available in the narthex. Please pick up the directory that has you name on the back. Some additional directories are available for purchase through the church office.
PORTALS OF PRAYER for January and February are available in the narthex. Please pick up this devotional guide and consider taking extras to share with friends.
I AM LOOKING for a studio apartment to rent in Colonie for about $600 per month. If you know of anything please contact Jon Ronson at 518-426-5854.
CONGREGATIONAL NEWS: On January 26, 2020 the Church Council will be asking the congregation to reaffirm, through a ballot, two existing elders to new 3 year terms. The two existing elders to be voted on are, Marlow Olson and Ray Hoffman. New elder candidates are Fred Dignon and David Hawley. At this time we are placing four names in Sunday's bulletin as nominees for the positions of Elder. Ray Hoffman, Marlow Olson, Fred Dignon and David Hawley. All would be nominated to serve a three year term. They are not competing with one another since there is no limit to the number of Elders who could serve, so all four could be affirmed (by 2/3's vote) at the January 26th Voters Assembly.
FROM THE CHURCH COUNCIL: On January 26, 2020 at the congregational meeting we will be voting to fill two positions on the Church Council. The candidates are as follows:
Church Council secretary/trustee Andy Cross
Church Council at-large position Heidi Lenge
As with the vote for elders, if you are unable to attend the January 26th meeting but would like to vote we have made provisions for absentee ballots. Please contact Linda Swartz in the Church office to receive your absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be received in the Church office by C.O.B. January 24, 2020.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS: If you are unable to attend the January 26th congregational meeting but would like to affirm the existing & new elders we have made provisions for absentee ballots. Please contact Linda Schwartz in the church office to receive an absentee ballot. Absent ballots must be received in the church office by the close of business on January 24, 2020.