Harbor Beacon February 2014

The light shines in the darkness…

John 1:5

Volume 61, Issue 2

OHLC Staff

February 2014

OAK HARBOR LUTHERAN CHURCH a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) nd

1253 NW 2 Avenue

360-678-2264

Oak Harbor, WA 98277

www.oakharborlutheran.org

office@oakharborlutheran.org

Home Phone

Pastor: Jeffrey Spencer

279-0413

Pastor of Care Ministries Marc Stroud

678-5994

Preschool Director: Gaye Rodriguey

678-3561

Parish Secretary: Carol Wiskow

720-2451

Newsletter Editor: Martha Ellis

678-2264

Custodian: Salvador Carvallo

675-3957

Church Fax Church Phone

679-9795 679-1561

IN THIS ISSUE A many splendored thing, pg. 2

Click on these links for the February newsletter inserts:

Lynne’s update on the road towards ordination, pg. 3

The ELCA’s monthly Prayer Ventures: http://www.elca.org/en/Resources/Prayer-Ventures

Bring your spouse to Date Night! pg. 4

The Northwest Washington Synod’s insert, The Spirit: http://www.lutheransnw.org/files/publications/spirit/Spirit201402.pdf

Yes, it’s time to think Preschool Registration, pg. 6

OHLC’s website: www.oakharborlutheran.org

Opportunities for Lutheran Men, pg. 7

This issue was snail-mailed January 30, 2014

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emperor at the time, who grew increasingly concerned that marriage in general, and its Christian expression in particular, would inhibit his ability to recruit soldiers for the ongoing defense and expansion of the Roman Empire. He worried that the strong bonds forged between husband and wife, especially when the concept of agape was brought into the mix, would divide the loyalties of married men. Eventually his concern grew so great that Claudius made marriage illegal. Father Valentine continued to conduct Christian marriage rites, and was eventually arrested for defying the emperor. It is said he sent encouraging letters from prison to the couples he married, signing them, “Love, Your Valentine.” Father Valentine was martyred on February 14 in the year 269AD. As you can see. he is not merely the patron saint of candy and lingerie, as retailers might have us believe. His courageous ministry and martyrdom is an example of agape in action.

Pastor’s Page Love is a Many Splendored Thing

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love Thai food. I love baseball. I love my children. I love my wife. Though I used the word “love” in each of the preceding sentences, the word means different things in each instance. I don’t love Thai food in the same way I love my wife (though both can be spicy at times).

In Greek, the original language of the New Testament, there are four different words which can be translated as “love.” There is philia, the platonic love found in friendship. There is storge, which refers to the love shared between family members. There is eros, the intimate emotional and physical love which in Christian tradition has been understood to be the exclusive domain of husbands and wives (Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:7-8, Ephesians 5:31). And then there is agape. Agape is the highest form of love. It is a forgiving, selfless, sacrificial, steadfast love. It is covenant love. Again and again in the New Testament, God’s love for us is described as agape love. Again and again in the New Testament, we are challenged as God’s people to show agape love for one another.

It is good to celebrate philia love. Friendship is certainly a wonderful blessing from God. It is good to celebrate storge love.

Families are “little churches” and the incubators of faith, and need all the encouragement and support we can offer. It is good to celebrate our Christian perspective on eros love, keeping marriages strong – for their own sake, and to provide a better alternative in a culture where permissiveness has resulted in so much pain, emptiness, and depression. As Christians, the card we bring to all of these relationships is agape love, a love that is forgiving, sacrificial, and steadfast.

Valentine’s Day is coming. As it is practiced today, Valentine’s Day celebrates philia as children in school exchange colorful cards with one another. It might celebrate storge as parents express affection for their children through a heart-shaped pancake or a box of Sweetheart candies. It certainly celebrates eros, though often through the lens of modern forms of romance, which are often more about pleasure-seeking than the nurturing of a life-long commitment. What is usually missing in all of this is an understanding of agape – which is too bad, because agape is what the real St. Valentine was all about.

Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: that you love (agape) one another. Just as I have loved (agape) you, you also should love (agape) one another. (John 13:34) May we strive towards this biggest, highest form of love in all of our relationships, this Valentine’s Day and always – knowing that when we fall short, God’s forgiving, steadfast, agape love for us remains.

- Pastor Jeffrey R. Spencer

While some of the history is murky, it is pretty well-established that St. Valentine was a priest in Rome in the third century. Christianity was a growing movement at that time, bringing with it its concept of marriage as a covenant where eros would be joined with agape as husband and wife committed themselves to one another in a relationship of sacrificial, steadfast, covenantal love. This is what St. Paul teaches in his discussions of marriage, particularly in Ephesians 5:25, where he writes: “Husbands, love (agape) your wives, just as Christ loved (agape) the church and gave himself for it.” This was a radical idea in the GrecoRoman world. Eros (or at least the “erotic” part of eros) had been largely separated from commitment as pagan culture permitted all manner of casual sexual relationships. This was fine by Claudius, the

Congratulations, Tom and Renee!

Tom Coe and Reneé Oatman were married on January 2 in a small ceremony with Tom’s father, Tom Sr., and Renee’s daughter Emma as witnesses. The Coes are in the process of buying a house in Oak Harbor while Reneé begins cutting employment ties with the Edmonds School District and looks for work closer to home. We’re delighted for them and wish them many, many blessings!

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organic farms and visiting friends. He promises to be back in time for his sister’s wedding in August! Becky is finishing her junior year at PLU and loves the time she gets to spend in public school classrooms for her Elementary Special Education degree. Her fiancé, Seth, should be coming back to the states in April and we will all rest easier.

from OHLC’s Seminarian

D

ear OHLC Friends,

I am so touched that the Compassion Ministry has selected me to be your ministry of the month! The extra cards, e-mails, and Facebook messages have been a real boost these past few months and I feel so supported and encouraged by you as I head into the last leg of my seminary career. The light at the end of this tunnel is getting brighter and brighter! I have three more online courses and about ten months of internship to go.

Thank you for your loving support of me and our family. It was so good to be with you for a Sunday in January and reconnect again.

Grace and peace to you, Lynne Ogren, OHLC Seminarian

As our Ministry of the Month for February, we will be collecting special offerings for our seminarian, Lynne Ogren, to use towards tuition and/or internship-related travel expenses. If you would like to make a special offering to support Lynne’s journey towards ordained ministry, please make your check out to OHLC, and put “Lynne” in the memo line. You can also use the Special Mission Offering envelopes at church; they’re the blue-bordered envelopes in the pew racks. Thank you for supporting our seminarian!

I have just finished my last intensive session of classes at the Luther seminary campus. It was great to have a “last” in this journey, but also bittersweet as I said goodbye to my classmates. We have formed a strong bond of friendship and I hope to reconnect with each of them in person from time to time in the future.

The other final hurdle in my process is to be “approved” for ordination by the NW Washington Synod’s Candidacy Committee this fall. This involves writing an extensive essay addressing several topics and an interview with the committee. Upon approval and completion of my courses and internship I will be ready for ordination, which requires a call from a congregation. It is likely that Eric & I will stay in Alaska where he has a job while I am assigned to a synod and work with its bishop so my name can be given to congregations in need of a pastor.

This could take some months, I imagine. Once I have a call from a congregation, my ordination will take place at OHLC, so be ready for a fun party some time in 2015!

Endowment Committee Our endowment investments brought a good return this year, allowing us to disperse $11,000 towards ministries in our congregation, our synod, and our world.

The following ministries will be receiving $1000.00 each: ELCA Hunger Appeal, ELCA Disaster Relief, Lutherwood, Josephine Home, WWU Campus Ministry, El Camino de Emaus, and St. Katharina Lutheran Church in Kazan, Russia. The Kraft family doing mission work and discipleship training in Peru will receive $2,000.00.

Finally, $2,000.00 has been directed to our congregation for new publishing and church management software in the office. You’ll see the benefit of this soon in a reformatted worship bulletin, made possible by Microsoft Publisher!

Thanks to our endowment committee members Craig Pedlar, Jan Heideger, Bill Wonner, Mark Needler, and Hilary Bratton for your good stewardship of this fund.

Consider remembering OHLC in your will so we can continue to bless others and support important ministries through this fund!

My internship in Wrangell is going very well. The congregation is so pleased to have regular pastoral leadership and they are encouraging and gracious people. I even got to baptize a darling baby boy last fall! I have enjoyed learning the different rhythm of a small congregation and I am still considering what kind of church size I would like to serve. I feel fortunate to have had so much leadership experience at OHLC so that I can be flexible with this decision.

A quick update on the family: Eric is still working at the hydropower plant, and though it is not as intense as construction work he has learned a lot and will have many more employment options when we move on. He loves taking people out on our boat and we have enjoyed fishing and whale watching here. Our son, Mark, is heading out this month on a five-month excursion all over South America, working on 3

Mark your calendar!

Coming in March: Lent!

CALLING ALL MARRIED COUPLES: Join us for

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, falling this year on March 5, and we’ll mark its arrival with services including Holy Communion and the imposition of ashes at 12:00 noon and 7:00 PM. (Note: there will be no soup suppers on Ash Wednesday.)

Wednesday Lenten services will be held at 12:00 noon and 6:00 PM beginning March 12. Holden Evening Prayer will be our liturgy. Our theme for midweek services this Lent will be “Sharing our Faith Stories.” Soup suppers will follow. Sign-up sheets for soup and bread will be available soon in the narthex.

DATE NIGHT @ OHLC! Sunday, February 16, 5:00-7:00 PM Spend a romantic evening with your spouse and discover how celebrating your differences can bring you closer together as a couple.

We’ll hear powerful stories and practical marriage advice as we join over 900 congregations across the country in viewing a specially prepared DVD presentation featuring Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, Pastor Ted Cunningham, and musical artists Laura Story and Matthew West.

Coming in March: Adult Catechism!

ATTIRE: Casual MOOD: Romantic DINNER: Potluck – Bring a favorite dish to share!

CHILDCARE: Provided!

COST: Free!

BENEFITS: door prizes, good food, fellowship, learning, laughter, quality time with your spouse and other married couples, two hours of free babysitting, and more!

There will be an Adult Catechism class offered on Wednesday evenings during Lent from 7:15 to 8:15 PM. Who should attend? This class is for:  Newcomers & Old Timers  Seekers and Steadfast Lutherans  the Curious and the Convinced This in-depth study of Luther’s Small Catechism will include some homework and daily prayer journaling. It is hoped that participants would commit to attending each session. It will begin on Ash Wednesday (3/5) with a short meeting to distribute materials and continue each Wednesday during Lent. Participants will be invited (but not obligated) to participate in an Affirmation of Baptism liturgy during Easter Vigil on April 19. Those who are not yet baptized will be invited (but not obligated) to be baptized at the Easter Vigil.

Build on the romance of Valentine’s Day with something deeper: a God-centered approach to marriage! Married couples of all ages are invited and encouraged to attend. RSVPs are appreciated, but drop-ins will be warmly welcomed. Please use the opportunity form or e-mail Pastor Spencer at pastor@oakharborlutheran.org.

INVITE YOUR MARRIED FRIENDS TO THIS FUN EVENING!

Coming in March: Watoto Children’s Choir!!!

Included in this newsletter are Prayer Ventures and The Spirit for February.

The Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda will be performing at the Oak Harbor High School Auditorium on Friday, March 21. We will be their host for a dinner that evening, and will be looking for OHLC families to host one or more children overnight. Please contact Skip or Judy Lycksell or a member of OHLC’s Watoto Team if you’re interested in helping out.

The deadline for articles for the March newsletter is Wednesday, February 19.

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Growing & Learning

February 22: Concordia Choir in concert in Bellingham Hear one of the nation’s finest college choirs perform on Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellingham (2117 Walnut St.). Concordia College is an ELCA college in Moorhead, Minnesota. René Clausen will conduct the 79-voice a cappella choir in several spirituals and hymns as well as some new dramatic 20th century compositions. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for students (K-Univ.), available at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, online at www.ConcordiaTickets.com, by calling 800-838-3006, or at the door.

Pastor Spencer and Amy will be attending, and currently have room for five people in their van. Let them know if you’d like a ride!

February 2: Scout Sunday!

Did you know Oak Harbor Lutheran is the charter organization for both a Cub Scout pack and a Boy Scout troop? Many members of our congregation are involved in leadership in scouts, and many of our young boys are currently participating in scouts. We have several Campfire Girls, Girl Scouts and Girl Scout leaders as well. On Sunday, February 2 we’ll observe Scout Sunday. We’ve invited the whole Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop, as well as any and all Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls to worship with us. We will acknowledge our leaders, and have a special blessing for all of them. All Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and their leaders are encouraged to come to worship in uniform on Scout Sunday!

PLU Sunday set for February 23 On Sunday, Feb. 23 we’ll celebrate our affiliation with Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. All PLU students, grads, and/or Lute fans are encouraged to wear black and gold to worship. Martha Schaefer Ellis (class of ’77) is our PLU liaison, and will have an information table in the narthex with cool freebies from PLU. Go Lutes!

Intergenerational Bible study in February: We get back into a more regular routine of Bible study in February, with the entire month of Sundays dedicated to looking at various personalities from the New Testament. This class is open to seventh graders on up to seventieth graders and beyond, and we have enjoyed the intergenerational conversations which have occurred already this program year. May it continue! Join us!

February 2: February 9: February 16: February 23:

February 28: Luth Youth Movie Outing: SON OF GOD On Friday, Feb. 28, all youth 6th grade and up are invited on an outing to see the new movie Son of God at Oak Harbor Cinemas. Friends are welcome! This is a FREE EVENT. All costs will be covered, including popcorn and pop! We’ll have more details when movie times are published. In the meantime, save the date and plan on joining us! This movie tells the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and is produced by the same team who did “The Bible” miniseries. This will be a great way for our youth to prepare for the season of Lent!

Sheep: The Innocent Wanderers Simon Peter: The Earnest Blockhead Syrophoenician Woman: The Mama Bear Sadducees & Pharisees: The Legalistic Bureaucrats

Little Lute bag volunteers:

Welcome new members and newly baptized!

Feb.: Peg Fosnaugh June: Tara Vollertsen Oct.: Elizabeth Norman Mar.: Becky Wold July: Amy Garrett Nov.: Judy Fantauzzi Apr.: Doris Mattson Aug.: Amy Christensen Dec.: Christiane Weber May: Elizabeth Norman Sept.: Sheila Ryan Coordinator: Leona McKee Substitute: Sheila Ryan Instructions on how to fill the bags is posted on the supply cabinet in the room adjoining the church office. Each month’s volunteer should call the next person with a reminder and to make sure the next person knows the procedure.

We wish a warm welcome to Dianne Campbell, officially received into membership at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church on January 26. We also celebrate with those who have received the sacrament of Holy Baptism recently, including Abigail Gray (12/22), Amy, Johannes, and Marion Christensen (1/12), Jacob and Hannah Stoffers (1/15), and River Mathieu (1/26). We welcome you all into the fellowship of the baptized with gratitude and joy!

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His Kids Preschool

Women of OHLC

a ministry of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church

Opportunities for fellowship, study and service

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nside the preschool is a Winter Wonderland! White coffee filter snowflakes designed and cut out by the preschoolers themselves grace the classroom tree. Across the threeclassroom bulletin board, black and white paper plate penguins with orange beaks and feet chase white paper plate polar bears with fluffy cotton ball fur. Wanting to share their joyful winter scene, the students built snowmen from three paper circles to place on the education wing bulletin board. Each snow person is decorated with coffee stir sticks for arms, crayon-created buttons, and foam paper caps.

Circle meetings in February

A classroom visit from Officer Yzaguirre of Oak Harbor Police Department (and a parking lot tour of her police car) and a field trip to the Oak Harbor Fire Department introduced the children to the many community workers in Oak Harbor.

Blanket Workshop meets Tuesday & Wednesday, February 4 & 5, beginning at 9:00 AM in the fellowship hall to sew quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Come join us! For more information, contact Leona McKee, 675-5712 or bcmac68@comcast.net .

This is the time of year when the preschool begins the popular Special Student of the Week project. Each child has the opportunity to display an All About Me poster on the hallway bulletin board, be line leader, sit on the “star” carpet square at circle time, and bring snack during their special week. Our “shining stars” in January were Kailey Blackburn, Christian Bolin, Charlotte Cornes and Zach Larsen.

Heart & Hand

2/3 & 17 Lydia Circle meets at 6:30 PM in the education wing.

2/6, 13, 20, 27 Deborah Circle meets at 10 AM in the library/fireside room.

2/17 Rebecca Circle meets at 10 AM in the library/fireside room.

Blanket Workshop

Our handwork group, Heart & Hand meets at 9:30 AM in the comfortable chairs in the prayer room on Friday, Feb. 21. Bring your own handwork project or help make infant sweaters and hats for Lutheran World Relief. Help is urgently needed in hand sewing the felt pieces together for baptismal banners! (If you’d like to work on baptismal banners but aren’t available on the 21st, stop by the church office and pick up one or more banner kits. For your convenience, the rainbow sections are already completed.)

February will bring love, Valentine’s Day, and the five senses into the classroom as well as more Special Students.

Shalom, Miss Gaye

Looking ahead…

In the community

It’s not too early to think about registration for His Kids for the 2014-2015 school year! Registration begins on February 24 for current students who will be registering for the same class. See next month’s newsletter about registration for siblings of current students, for children of members and friends of the congregation, and open registration for the community, all of which begins in March!

Twenty-one students from Japan will be visiting Oak Harbor in mid-March through Cultural Homestay International and will be using a room in our education wing for classes during the day. Coordinator Tanisha Lowery is looking for families willing to provide housing for these high school-aged students; if you’re interested in participating, please contact her, 360-981-7777.

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Men’’s Ministry

BookMarks

Lutheran Men in Mission & The Brotherhood of St. Bernard

Coupeville Book Group We will meet at Trudy Decker’s home, 158 Keystone Avenue, at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, February 4.

Jean Congdon will lead the discussion on the book, Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff:

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n Saturday, February 1, the Lutheran Men in Mission will have their monthly breakfast/meeting at the church. Coffee will be ready at 7:30 AM and breakfast is served at 8:00. This will be a “buffet special” where each man brings a favorite item to share with 4 others (please do your best to create something other than purchasing a sweet thing from the store). If you have an item that needs kitchen prep or cooking, the church will be open at 7:00 AM.

Her palace shimmered with onyx and gold but was richer in political and sexual intrigue. Above all else, Cleopatra was a shrewd strategist and an ingenious negotiator. She was married twice, each time to a brother. She waged a brutal civil war against the first and poisoned the second; incest and assassination were family specialties. She had children by Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, two of the most prominent Roman commanders of the day. With Antony she would attempt to forge a new empire, in an alliance that spelled both their ends.

Famous long before she was notorious, Cleopatra has gone down in history for all the wrong reasons; her supple personality and the drama of her circumstances have been lost. In a masterly return to the classical sources, Stacy Schiff boldly separates fact from fiction to rescue the magnetic queen whose death ushered in a new world order.

324 pages

During breakfast we will share our times of where and when we first learned how to swim, as well as a special swimming spot from out of the past. Pastor Stroud will lead us in discussion from the 1st chapter of the Gospel of John.

This activity is open to “old dogs” and “young pups” alike. We encourage you to bring a friend along for the good food and time together. Bring your Bibles and a big appetite.

On Tuesdays, February 11 & 25, the Brotherhood of Saint Bernard will enjoy its lunch/meeting in the Herrigstad fellowship hall at church from noon to 1:30 PM. The lunches are always very scrumptious, and healthy....most of the time. On the 11th we will be studying Matthew 5:21-37 (also read 1 Cor. 3:1-9). On the 25th we will be studying Luke 2:22-40 (also read Heb. 2:14-18). You all should plan to attend one of the lunches this year at least once just to see what you have been missing. We don’t bite, just bark a lot. Come and see.

Questions about the Coupeville Book Group? Contact Gaye Rodriguey, 678- 3561, gaye@tobysuds.com.

Second Wednesday Book Group

Tom Piper

We’ll meet in the library/fireside room at church, 1:00 PM on Wednesday, February 12, to discuss The Buddha in the Attic, by Julie Otsuka:

Lutheran Men in Mission breakfast, March 1: A Call to Courage oin us for our Lutheran Men in Mission breakfast on Saturday, March 1 from 8:00 to 9:30 AM as we use a video curriculum called Stepping Up to explore what courageous manhood looks like. (Hint: It isn’t about bungee jumping or bear wrestling.) We’ll be returning periodically in the months ahead to this powerful video series with its compelling stories and thought-provoking questions. I’ll be facilitating and will offer a Lutheran filter through which to consider the material. You won’t want to miss this meaningful morning with a manly breakfast and good fellowship with your brothers in Christ! Put on some Old Spice and join us!

Pastor Jeff

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A spellbinding novel about identity and loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times. The author presents the stories of six Japanese mail-order brides whose new lives in early twentieth century San Francisco are marked by backbreaking migrant work, cultural struggles, children who will reject their heritage, and the prospect of wartime internment.

144 pages

For more information about the 2nd Wednesday Book Group, contact Leona McKee, 675-5712, bcmac68@comcast.net .

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Notes from Peru

Compassion Ministry

Nick & Shannon Kraft, Go Missions International, are in the midst of CORE 2014, this year’s discipleship training school at their site in Chiclayo, running from Jan. 12 through March 22. They have 7 students: Jean, Alex, Valeria, and Beatriz from Peru, Brahyan from Bolivia, and Nolan and Angel from the U.S. Instructors include 3 Bolivians, 2 Peruvians, and Nick & Shannon’s own daughter Maddy.

Check out the narthex bulletin board for updates and photos!

The Krafts also send word that Go Missions has been accepted to receive Thrivent Choice funding. If you’re a Thrivent member, you may direct your Choice Dollars to Go Missions International. Visit the Thrivent website for information.

Some of our volunteer efforts are picking up I’d like to thank the Stone family as well as Kathy, Marge, Dean, Sheila, and Evan for help with the roadside pickup on Saturday, Jan. 11.

There were 22 bags of litter collected. Thank you all very much for braving the wind and rain!

Our next pick-up is scheduled for April 12. The tally for the roadside pick-up for 2013 is as follows: 16 different volunteers, 54 bags collected, and 50 man-hours worked.

Peace in Christ, Pat Dallen

What does a Stephen Minister do?

In short, Stephen Ministers are gifts from God to help you find shelter from the storms of life. Stephen Ministers listen, accept, care, and walk with a person who is going through a difficult time. The motto of this ministry is “The Stephen Minister is the Care-giver; God is the Cure-giver.” If you are looking for a Stephen Minister, please contact the church office, 360-679-1561, and ask for Pastor Stroud, or e-mail your inquiry to office@oakharborlutheran.org.

In Sympathy

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n January, we held memorial services for Bill McNae, Mernabelle Pease, and Claude Hunskor, two who became members of our congregation later in their lives and one who had a lifelong connection.

Merna, who died in December at age 95, was a traveler, wife, mother and grandmother, teacher, and aficionado of astronomy and planetary science. She was born in Curtiss, Wisconsin, the daughter of a cheese manufacturer.

Bill, who died January 8 at age 88, was a husband, father and grandfather, teacher and gifted artist, who spent 9 years as a seasonal ranger at Mt. Rainier. He was born in Seattle.

Claude, who died January 10 at age 86, was a math teacher and coach of winning basketball teams, husband, father and grandfather, traveler, commercial fisherman in Alaskan waters for many years, and a connoisseur of lutefisk. He was born in Oak Harbor, a member of one of OHLC’s charter families. His brother Marion – also a former fisherman in Alaska – died just last October at age 90.

We join their families and many friends in mourning the loss of these loved ones and we rejoice that our Lord has received into the Church Triumphant.

Our hearts also go out to Burl Meek and family following the death of his wife Marilyn at their still-new home in Arlington, WA, to Le and Dave Linder and family following the death of Le’s brother Dick Johnson, and to Nicole and Steve Cochran and family following the death of Nicole’s brother Matthew Miller.

OHLC offers A Place at the Table in April Mark your calendar to see A Place at the Table at OHLC on Friday, April 25. Invite your friends...this is planned as an Oak Harbor community event. You can help make it successful.

Film directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush follow 3 families struggling with food insecurity: It shows us how hunger and obesity pose serious economic, social and cultural implications for our nation and how food access issues could be solved once and for all if the American public decides – as we have in the past – that making healthy food available and affordable is in all of our best interests.

Carol Wall

Lutheran Disaster Appeals: Syria & the Philippines Lutheran Disaster Response brings God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the US and around the world. When the dust settles and headlines change, they provide ongoing assistance. Learn more by visiting their website, http://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/LutheranDisaster-Response .

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Worship Assistants 2/ 2

2/ 9

2/16

2/23

8:00 10:30 6:30 8:00 10:30 6:30 8:00 10:30 6:30 8:00 10:30 6:30

Asst. Ministers Shanna Lundstrom Allan Swan Gisela Hawley Tom Coe Trudy Decker Margaret Anderson Tom Johnson Carol Wall Trudy Decker Karen Krotz-Sperry Ken Grigsby Cheryl Coleman

Worship Attendance:

Acolytes Peter Higgins Peter Spencer Benjamin Bruland Elizabeth Norman Sadie Harbaugh Benjamin Bruland Sydney Higgins Addy Day Benjamin Bruland Kayla Raasina Elias Wiley Benjamin Bruland

January

Date Sun. 8 AM Sun. 10:30 AM Cpvl.

Dec. 29 52 102 20 Jan. 5 61 98 31 Jan. 12 80 87 23 Jan. 19 69 84 20 Jan. 26 86 145 25 Average Att. 70 103 24 Average Sunday attendance: 202

Music Praise Team Senior Choir Cantor: Carol Reafs Morning Glory Senior Choir Cantor: Carol Reafs Praise Team Cantor: Carol Reafs Morn. Glory, Children’s Ch Sr. Choir, Children’s Choir Cantor: Mary McLeod

Coffee Fellowship Assistants

2/ 2 8:00 AM Higgins family

Communion: Kathy Ridle Computer: Donna Aspery Communion: Craig Pedlar Computer: Rita Carter

10:30 AM J. Wilcox, L. Michalski 6:30: Presider, Jeff Spencer 2/16 8:00 AM Ellis family 10:30 AM 6:30: Presider, Jay Decker 2/23 8:00 AM J. Flowers, L. Forster 10:30 AM R. Wood, M. McNae,

8::00 AM 2/ 2 Tomlin, Higgins 2/ 9 Cornelius, Weber, E Norman 2/16

Communion: Mike Fankhauser Computer: Rachel Margraf Communion: Jay Decker Computer: Michelle Tull

December $ 59,931 38,873 18,058

J. Margraf, Bartrand, Weber

Coupeville 6:::30 PM Patty Bruland

2 The Presentation of our Lord 3 Ansgar, Archbishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark & Sweden, 865 5 The Martyrs of Japan, 1597 14 Cyril, monk, 869; Methodius, bishop 855; missionaries to the Slavs

Communion: Mike Fankhauser Computer: Kathy Ridle Communion: Tom Piper Computer: Rick Culbertson

Fair Trade Sponsors

Julie Ward Trudy Decker

Hawley

Mary McLeod

Deborah Circle

Lesser Festivals && Commemorations

6:30 PM: Presider, Tom Johnson

Income Outgo

10::30 AM Vollertsen

2/23

Communion: Marge Moore Computer: Molly Nagel Communion: Bob Wall Computer: Sheila Ryan

Financial Report:

February

Bring cookies, make coffee, set up and clean up – we need at least 2 per week for 8 AM services, 3 per week for 10:30 AM services, 1 per week in Coupeville

Ushers 10:30 AM J. Wilcox, L. Michalski 6:30: Presider, Marc Stroud 2/ 9 8:00 AM Margraf family

Nursery 2 5 7 6 3 5

February

18 Martin Luther, renewer of the Church, 1546 23 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, 156 25 Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, 1921

This month’s featured font is Gallery, with some punctuation assistance from Castellar.

December Year to date 437,434 422,865 $ 14,569 9

wwwwwwwwww SUNDAY

MONDAY

The church calendar is updated regularly on OHLC’s website, www.oakharborlutheran.org

Parish Nurse hours: Thursdays, 1:00-3:30 PM and by appointment 2 Scout Sunday Healing prayer at both morning services Worship 8:00 Sunday School 9:15 Adult Ed. 9:15 Worship 10:30 Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 9 Worship 8:00 Sunday School 9:15 Adult Ed. 9:15 Worship 10:30

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 16 Worship 8:00 Sunday School 9:15 Adult Ed. 9:15 Worship 10:30 Children’s Choir 5:00 Date Night 5:00 Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 23 PLU Sunday Worship Sunday School Adult Ed. Worship

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

M,T, W, 9:00-11:30 AM M, T, W, 12:30-3:00 PM Th. F, 12:30-3:00 PM

A loving heart is the truest wisdom.

3 1:15 Munchy Monday 3:00 Girl Scouts Tr 45107 4:00 OHHS Robotics 6:30 Lydia Circle 6:45 4-H K-9 Korps 7:00 Solutions 10 1:15 Munchy Monday 3:00 Girl Scouts Tr 45107 4:00 OHHS Robotics 6:00 Girl Scout info event 7:00 Cub Scout Leaders 7:00 Vanishing Friends 7:00 Solutions 17 PRESIDENTS DAY Church office closed 3:00 Girl Scouts Tr 45107 6:30 Lydia Circle 6:45 4-H K-9 Korps 7:00 Solutions

1:15 Munchy Monday 3:00 Girl Scouts Tr 45107 4:00 OHHS Robotics 7:00 Solutions

10:00 Altar Guild

-Charles Dickens

No classes on Feb. 17 4 9:00 Blanket Workshop 10:00 Stephen Min. Tr. 4:30 Yoga 6:00 CADA Parenting Class

6:00 Patrol Leaders 7:00 Cpvl Book Group 7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 Worship Brass 11 10:30 Stamping Group 10:00 Stephen Min. Tr. 12:00 Brotherhood of St. Bernard 4:30 Yoga 6:00 CADA Parenting Class

7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 Worship Brass 18 10:00 Stephen Min. Tr. 10:00 Rebecca Circle 4:30 Yoga 5:00 OHHS Robotics 6:00 CADA Parenting Class

6:30 Scout Adult Comm 7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 Worship Brass 25 10:00 Stephen Min. Tr. 10:30 Stamping Group 12:00 Brotherhood of St. Bernard 4:30 Yoga 7:00 Scout Board of Rev.

5 9:00 Blanket Workshop 11:30 OHLC Staff lunch 5:30 Harbor Bells 6:00 Girl Scouts 6:30 Wolves 6:30 Webelos 1 7:00 Senior Choir 7:00 Overeaters Anon.

12 11:30 OHLC Staff 1:00 Book Group 5:30 Harbor Bells 6:00 Girl Scouts 6:30 Wolves 6:30 Webelos 1 7:00 Senior Choir 7:00 Overeaters Anon 19 Newsletter Deadline

6 10:00 Deborah Circle 4:15 Morning Glory 5:00 Stephen Ministry 5:30 Praise Team 6:30 Webelos 2 6:30 Bears 6:30 Tigers 7:00 OHLC Council 13 10:00 Deborah Circle 4:15 Morning Glory 5:30 Praise Team 5:30 Brownies Tr. 40740 6:30 Tigers 6:30 Bears 20 10:00 Deborah Circle

SATURDAY 1 8:00 Lutheran Men in Mission (Coffee at 7:30!)

HIS KIDS PRESCHOOL

24 8:00 9:15 9:15 10:30

TUESDAY

7 12:00 OHHS Transitional Students

6:30 Worship Brass tutoring 14 12:00 OHHS Transitional Students 6:30 Worship Brass tutoring 21 9:30 Heart & Hand

22

12:00 OHHS Transitional Students

7:30 PM IN CONCERT: Concordia College Choir (Moorehead, MN), St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Bellingham

11:30 OHLC Staff 5:30 Harbor Bells 6:00 Girl Scouts 7:00 Senior Choir 7:00 Overeaters Anon.

26 11:30 OHLC Staff 1:00 Library Committee 5:30 Harbor Bells 6:00 Girl Scouts 6:30 Wolves 6:30 Webelos 1 7:00 Senior Choir 7:00 Overeaters Anon

10

4:15 Morning Glory 5:30 Praise Team 6:30 Blue & Gold pack meeting 27 10:00 Deborah Circle 4:15 Morning Glory 5:30 Praise Team 5:30 Brownies Tr. 40740 6:30 Bears 6:30 Tigers 6:30 Webelos 2

6:30 Worship Brass tutoring 28 12:00 OHHS Transitional Students Luth Youth movie outing, time TBA 6:30 Worship Brass tutoring

Heads up!

Line dancing on the evening of Saturday, March 1.

Watch for information!