Harbor Beacon January 2015

The light shines in the darkness…

John 1:5

OHLC Staff Pastor: Jeffrey Spencer

Home Phone (360) 279-0413

Pastor of Care Ministries Marc Stroud (360) 632-4243

Volume 62, Issue 1

January 2015

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

Preschool Director: Sara Harbaugh

(360) 941-1484

Parish Secretary: Carol Wiskow

(360) 720-2451

Newsletter Editor: Martha Ellis

(360) 678-2264

Custodian: Salvador Carvallo

(360) 675-3957

Church Fax Church Phone

(360) 679-9795 (360) 679-1561

IN THIS ISSUE:

Click on these links for the December newsletter inserts:

Goals and grace, pg. 2 See you at the Epiphany bonfire, pg. 3

The ELCA’s monthly Prayer Ventures: http://www.elca.org/en/Resources/Prayer-Ventures The Northwest Washington Synod’s insert, The Spirit: http://www.lutheransnw.org/files/publications/spirit/Jan2015Spirit.pdf

Lutheran Men in Mission consider disaster prep, pg. 4

OHLC’s website: www.oakharborlutheran.org

Preschool gift ideas: a dog and baby sister for Jesus! pg. 6

This issue was snail-mailed December 30, 2014

Mission of the month focuses on Watoto, pg. 7 1

Pastor’s Page

of worth as people on our achievements. The number on the scale should never be a measure of our value as a human being. The number on our worship attendance sheet has been very good lately, and is poised to grow even more as new squadrons come to Oak Harbor, but it should never be the only metric measuring the quality of our ministry as a congregation. We are more than our accomplishments, failures, or circumstances, and it is important to remember this even as we do the good work of striving towards goals.

Goals and Grace

“Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

- Philippians 3:12-14

I appreciate St. Paul’s approach to all this. In the passage from Philippians quoted above, the Apostle discusses his goals of knowing Christ and becoming like him. (This makes my goals sound rather trivial, don’t you think?) Paul presses on towards his goals knowing that Christ has already made him his own. All of Paul’s striving towards goals is done in the confidence of knowing that he already belongs to Christ. Paul doesn’t strive towards his important spiritual goals in order to increase his worth as a person. His worth is found in Christ. He doesn’t strive towards his goals in order to make himself more valuable as a human being. He knows Christ has already deemed him valuable enough to die for. All Paul’s goals, even goals as important as knowing Christ and becoming like him, are set in the context of the good news of the Gospel. All his striving is a response to what has already been accomplished by grace as Christ Jesus has made him his own.

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ith the coming of a new year, many people set goals for themselves. I have a few of my own. Having recovered from a back problem which curtailed my more intensive running regimen for a while, I have a goal of shedding a few of the pounds which have crept back on during that time and running in the Seattle Rock and Roll Half-Marathon again this June. I have a goal this year of finally reading the classic Norwegian epic Kristin Lavransdatter, whose 1,000plus pages have been taunting me from my bookshelf for years now. I have a goal of improving my guitar skills in 2015, so that I might be a more worthy player of the exquisite instrument you have given me. (See the related article on page 5.)

I have some specific ministry-related goals as well. I’ll mention two here: I want to give extra attention to our Welcome Team ministry, ramping up our publicity and hospitality efforts with the goal of increasing worship attendance and membership in 2015. I also want to update and expand upon our use of technology as a congregation, including the specific goal of being able to post sermon videos on our website by the end of the year. Our church council will be discerning some goals for our congregation in the weeks ahead too; these are just a couple I have on my mind as I look to the year ahead.

Having personal goals as people, spiritual goals as Christians, and ministry goals as a congregation are all helpful. They help us define what is important. They help shape good habits. They help to push us out of our path-of-least-resistance routines and towards accomplishing good things for ourselves and others. But as Christians we ultimately live not under the demands of goals, but under the blessing of grace.

Grace is a gift received, and not a goal met. Grace is good news now, not a future hope dependent on our exertions and abilities. The good news for all of us is that Christ has already made us his own. He died for the person we were in 2014, not the person we hope to be in 2015.

You probably have a few goals of your own as we begin a new year.

January brings a fresh start, and with it the hope of doing things differently and perhaps better. Goals, be they lofty or modest, are good ways to challenge ourselves to live more thoughtfully and intentionally. This is a good thing.

Maybe I’ll drop a few pounds and get back to my previous running pace this year, or maybe I’ll just be glad to run the whole 13.1 miles without croaking. Maybe I’ll finish Kristin Lavransdatter, or maybe I’ll get distracted again by the latest spy novel from Daniel Silva.

In the midst of all our goals, the most important thing for all of us to remember is that no matter what 2015 brings, Christ has already made us his own. As God’s own beloved people, we strive towards goals – but we live by grace.

- Pastor Jeffrey R. Spencer

However, we can get into trouble when we attach too much importance to our goals. It isn’t good to base our sense 2

Mark your calendar

Growing & Learning

January 6, All-ages Epiphany bonfire

The Gospel of John: A visual study

Celebrate Jesus, the light of the world, with the whole family as we gather at our fire pit (behind the education wing) for an Epiphany bonfire! We’ll have chili for dinner, and s’mores and hot chocolate for dessert. Our evening will conclude with a brief time of songs and prayers for a blessed new year. Our party will be held on Tuesday, January 6 (the actual date for Epiphany) from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. RSVP to Pastor Spencer or the church office so we know how much food we’ll need!

Our study of John’s gospel continues in January, albeit with a couple of welcome and important interruptions as we hear about an upcoming trip to Uganda by our Watoto team, and as we gather for our semi-annual meeting. Here’s the schedule of readings and topics for our January Bible studies: January 4 John 10:22-40 (Jesus Rejected) January 11 Ministry of the Month Presentation: Watoto January 18 Semi-Annual Meeting January 25 John 11:1-57 (Lazarus)

Jr. High Luth Youth The Junior High Luth Youth group (grades 6-8) will be meeting on Sunday, January 11 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM for games, snacks, fellowship, and prayer. Don’t miss it!

Semi-annual meeting set for January 18 We will convene our semi-annual meeting at 9:15 AM on Sunday, January 18. All voting members of Oak Harbor Lutheran are encouraged to attend as we consider our congregational budget for 2015 and attend to other items of business (see announcement below). An agenda for the meeting will be made available on Sunday, January 11.

“The Art of Marriage” class continues on January 11 The 4th of our 6-part video series The Art of Marriage will be held on Sunday, Jan. 11, 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Each session stands alone; it isn’t too late to join us! Is your spouse deployed or otherwise unavailable? It’s OK to come solo! Child care is provided. Your marriage is important – join us for The Art of Marriage and make yours a masterpiece!

Agenda includes constitutional update vote At our semi-annual meeting on January 18, the congregation will be voting on updates to our congregational constitution. As these proposed changes are all in conjunction with updates to the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations, it requires a simple majority at a single meeting for approval. This routine update includes clarifications of language and procedure, and reflects new resources available to congregations from the synod (such as mediation consultants). Copies of the constitution with proposed changes are available in the church office. Questions about these changes are welcome and encouraged. Please contact either Pastor Spencer or Carol Reafs.

Update on the Ogrens As noted in last month’s newsletter, Lynne will finish her pastoral internship in Alaska on January 11. Please note this temporary address that will be active as of January 15: Eric & Lynne Ogren, 12701 Butterfly Drive, Nevada City CA 95959.

The triplets are here!

We give thanks for the save arrival of Anna, Elizabeth, and Matthew, born to Emily and Ben Richards at UW Hospital (following a quick helicopter trip to Seattle for Emily!) on Thursday, Dec. 11. Everyone’s doing well; we’re happy to report they’ve been released from the hospital and they’re all at home in Coupeville.

(But we’ve never done it that way before!) Please note the Annual Report of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church will be published for the semi-annual meeting in June.

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Men’s Ministry

BookMarks

Lutheran Men in Mission & the Brotherhood of St. Bernard

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id you make a New Year’s Resolution to do more reading in 2015?

Perhaps to consider some books in different genres, or to get involved in a discussion group? Oak Harbor Lutheran Church has two book groups that may be just what you’re looking for!

Coming events for Lutheran Men in Mission oin us on Saturday, January 3, 8:00 AM at Flyers Restaurant for a scrumptious buffet breakfast (cost is $12 each). This is always an enjoyable outing and we are in for a real treat with a program by our own Michael Dilley. He will be making a Safe In The Sound presentation put together by the Red Cross and Puget Sound Energy introducing what natural disasters we could experience on our island and how to prepare ourselves and our families to reduce the impact. Invite a friend to join us for this important consideration and great fellowship.

Please note these particular opportunities coming up later in 2015: On February 7, Lutheran Men in Mission will meet at 8:00 AM at Spin Café. After breakfast, we’ll learn more about their outreach to those in need in our community and find out ways we can give a helping hand. Then on March 7, we’ll check on our New Year’s Resolutions to “keep in shape” by getting some help with two trainers from North End Fitness Center in Oak Harbor. We’ll meet for breakfast (no doubt a particularly healthy one) at church at 8 AM. Our guests will talk to us about simple ways to stay healthy as well as keep from falling over.

We’ll have more details available soon about these two gatherings.

Most of our breakfasts in 2015 will be at the church, where volunteers will take turn as chefs. Think now about who you’d like to share the kitchen with and be prepared to sign up for a Saturday.

J

The Coupeville Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 7:00 PM at Julie Ward’s house, 1053 Halsey Drive.

We will be sharing our “Winter Reads”. We decided that it is such a busy time of the year that nobody needs the added pressure. Anyone that wants to attend the Epiphany festivities should have plenty of time to attend both. Contact me if you’d like more information, 678-3561, gaye@tobysuds.com.

Gaye Rodriguey The Second Wednesday Book Group will meet Wednesday, January 14 at 1:00 PM in the church library to consider Light Between Oceans by M.L. Steadman: A novel set on a remote Australian island, where a childless couple lives quietly running a lighthouse. One day a small boat washes ashore, with a baby aboard. Therein lies the story, as life is never the same again for the couple.

Fiction, 345 pages

Contact me if you’d like more information about the 2nd Wednesday group, 675-5712, bcmac68@comcast.net.

Leona McKee

News and Notes for the Brotherhood of Saint Bernard

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ur 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month lunch/meetings will be back on schedule after our brief Christmas hiatus, so mark your calendars for January 13 & 27, 12:00 noon to 1:30 PM in the Herrigstad fellowship hall. Attendees to take turns sharing their expertise in the culinary arts, so be prepared on the 13th to sign up for your chance to cook.

Our main focus is to study the scriptures that will be used during the forthcoming sermon. There’s always a time to take care of business and share stories and needs for prayer. The “Old Dogs and Young Pups” have been active now for at least 12 years (people years, not dog years).

If you’re now retired or have a job that gives you a lunch break, consider joining some of your fellow canine buddies. This is a great group to be a part of. Plan to Come and see!

Tom Piper

Endowment Committee Estate Planning is back on the calendar Please note the Will and Estate Planning Seminar with attorney Brian Stiles has been rescheduled to Sunday, January 18 at 12:00 Noon in the library/fireside room. Lunch will be provided.

Bob Wall 4

Thanks for helping us “finish strong”

In appreciation

Thank you for your generous response to our “Finishing Strong” year-end stewardship campaign! Your extra offerings totaled $6, 456, taking a huge bite out of our deficit. We will have a full report on the final numbers for the 2014 budget at the semi-annual meeting. Thank you for supporting the ministry of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church!

THANK YOU! Thank you hardly seems enough to express my gratitude for what this congregation has done for me. Allow me to explain: On Sunday, December 7, I was in for a surprise which was several months in the making.

Some time ago at our church picnic a friend of the Muzzalls let me borrow a beautiful Taylor brand acoustic/electric guitar to lead the oldtimey hymns at our service held at the Muzzall farm. I have a modest Fender acoustic I was planning to play, but Taylor is renowned as a maker of high quality guitars. As worship started, I expressed my appreciation and quipped that it was probably the nicest guitar I would ever play.

This little remark set the wheels in motion among several members of our congregation. With a surprising, (and, frankly, unnervingly effective) amount of secrecy, a campaign was started to collect funds to buy the pastor his own Taylor acoustic/electric. On the first Sunday of December, the fourth anniversary of my coming to Oak Harbor Lutheran, I was presented with this magnificent guitar. To say I was in shock would be an understatement.

Later that day I remembered what Brad Paisley said on the day he was inducted into the Grand Old Opry back in 2001, quite early in his career. He said, “I don’t feel worthy, but I hope to earn it.” You have given me an extremely generous and thoughtful gift. It seems to me early in my tenure here at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church to be given something so wonderful. I don’t feel worthy, but I hope to earn it by continuing to work hard as your pastor in the years to come.

Again, thanks. As much as I will treasure this guitar, the affirmation behind it means even more to me.

- Pastor Jeffrey R. Spencer

Advent meals nourished our bodies and warmed our hearts Our congregation is blessed with an abundance of willing helpers and really good cooks! This was especially evident over our recent Wednesday noon and evening meals following the midweek Advent worship services. Thank you to those who provided the wonderful array of soup and bread (and fruit and more), to those who helped with set-up beforehand, and especially to the faithful volunteers who stayed afterwards to clean up.

Table Fellowship Team

OHLC’s Drama Dept. shines in Advent/Christmas productions Many thanks to our ‘repertory company’ of John and Penny Fowkes and Mary Kay Hallen who took turns with Advent monologues at both the noon and evening Wednesday services (ably assisted by Wolly Fowkes). Thank you, too, to the Sunday School children for participating in the Christmas program at the 4 PM Christmas Eve service, along with our intrepid teachers (some in costume for the road to Bethlehem!), the dressers who helped children with costumes and especially the angels who folded everything up and packed things away afterwards [insert thankful alleluias here], loyal stage crew, and our accompanist, Verna Morgan.

Martha Ellis

Sharing Tree bears much fruit A big THANK YOU to everyone for the very generous response to the Sharing Tree. Almost 70 individuals were helped by your caring and sharing. Christmas will certainly be more merry for those receiving gifts, food and gas gift cards.

Thanks especially to the preschool students who donated gloves and hats.

Remember, sharing shows caring!

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas, the Lycksells &the team 5

Afternoon class: My Christmas Gift for Jesus would be…

Nicolas: a gingerbread man Codey: a candy cane Jeremih: a candy cane Jack: a dog Amarina: a gingerbread man Torrey: a stuffed animal Dominic: a Christmas tree Hudson: a dog Gabriel: a candy cane that’s long Daulton: a candy cane Breann: a pretty Christmas tree Emma: a candy cane Lazlo: my little baby [sister] Leela

His Kids Preschool a ministry of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church

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hristmas-season greetings from all the little “elves” at His Kids Preschool! December was a busy month for students and teachers alike. As the children learned about Advent with a special song and learning to wait for Christmas and Jesus’ birth, we decorated the classroom with painted evergreen trees, and then made cutout paper decorations to slowly transform them into Christmas trees.

We look forward to welcoming the students back after Christmas break – classes begin again on Monday, January 5!

God’s Peace, Ms. Sara, Ms. Elva, Ms. Michelle

The children practiced their hand and eye coordination with lacing together green or red paper socks, as well as making painted and glittered bells to help us make a joyful noise about Christ’s coming! In the education wing, you will see the choir of angels made from paper plates, ribbon, hand prints and glitter. The children at His Kids brought in items as well for the less fortunate in our community. Our tree in our classroom was full of new hats, scarves, socks and coats - 57 in fact!

In Sympathy Verna Morgan, OHLC’s Director of Music and coordinator of the Prayer Chain, sent out the following announcement to the prayer chain participants on Tuesday, December 23:

We celebrated Jesus’ birthday, by having a birthday party for him and also enjoyed a special visit from Santa. We finished the month off with inviting our parents to chapel for our Bible storybook presentation. (A big thank you to the individuals from the congregation who contributed towards that purchase!)

We give thanks for the life of Sue Barley and what she had given to our congregation in the way of her beautiful organ music. Prayers are with her family now as they prepare to deal with her sudden death. At least she is now out of pain and having to deal with the different health issues she had suffered and there’s no doubt that she had music in her soul until the very end.

Then we asked the children one last question before we sent them on their way for Christmas break: if they could give Jesus a Christmas gift, what would that be? Enjoy the responses, and most of all let us always remember the reason for this season.

Sue became a part of our congregation’s music staff in 2009, serving primarily as organist for midweek worship and memorial services. Her health problems took a toll in more recent years, but she remained interested in perusing organ music and, as Verna says, no doubt had music in her soul until the end.

Morning class: My Christmas Gift for Jesus would be…

Lucy: a song Joshua: a baby toy Danica: a pencil Anika: a gingerbread man Arin: a song Chloe: a candy cane Reagan: a dog Andrew T.: a bell Evelyn: a rattle and a Christmas tree Lillian: Jesus Willow: a chocolate and an ice cream Winter: flowers Graham: something comfy like a pillow Andrew L.: gold and frankincense and myrrh

Our hearts also go out to those who have recently suffered the loss of loved ones: …to Linda Rhodes and family, following the death of her aunt, Toni Wahl. Toni joined our congregation in 2000, but moved to eastern Washington in 2012. She was 81. …to Bill Wonner, following the death of his brother, Robert Wonner. …to Don Fosso, following the death of his sister, Ruth Gilbertson.

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- Peru

Go Missions International

Compassion Ministry

Shannon Kraft writes in an e-mail on December 18…

We have been so blessed to have the body of Christ in North America working alongside us this last month (Grace Community from Oak Harbor, One Hope Church, Gig Harbor, and Arlington Assembly of God, Arlington), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1hze61EtiI . We were even blessed by a couple of unexpected travelers who happened to have engineering and design skills come alongside as well. Super blessed to see things moving forward! We are still lacking the rest of the roof on the first floor, bathroom fixtures for two bathrooms on the first floor and maybe we’ll make provisional arrangements for CORE to be out there. We now have a lot invested and don’t want to leave the project abandoned while we do CORE, so pray for us to have wisdom, creativity, flexibility, and provision.

On a side note, [son] TJ graduates tonight… can hardly believe it… Maddy arrives Sunday morning [daughter, who started college classes this fall].

Bless you all; have a very Merry Christmas!! Try to spend it relaxing and trusting in Jesus… that's what we’re going to try to do.

Watoto News: Another team is headed to Uganda

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atoto is the Mission of the Month for January. Watoto (the name means the children in Swahili) is a Christian organization in Uganda that cares for orphans and vulnerable women. Many of us met them first through their outstanding and energetic Children’s Choirs when they visited Oak Harbor as part of their west coast tours.

Oak Harbor Lutheran Church has sent a Watoto Team to Uganda every year since 2008. We built a nurses’ house and a medical clinic for the orphanages with the support of many local fundraisers. Our latest fundraiser was a quilt raffle, where a pair of lovely locally-made quilts were won by Judy Jahnke and OHLC’s own Beth Stephens. We also appreciate very much the donations from the recent Angeli concert.

Another Watoto Team will be on its way to Uganda, January 1628. There will be a presentation on Sunday, January 11 in the library during the 9:15 AM Sunday School hour, so we hope you’ll join us.

Find out more information about the upcoming trip and hear the news about what’s happening in Uganda. If you have specific questions or would like more information, contact Skip Lycksell.

Judy Lycksell

Love to you all, Nick and Shannon CORE is Go Missions’ annual International Discipleship Training School, which runs from mid-January through mid-March. Students are challenged to change their lives and then change the lives of others, by learning to love God, love others and love themselves, through devotional study, worship, and counseling.

For more information about Go Missions International, visit the Krafts’ website, www.gomissionsinternational.com .

Help clean up the highway on January 10!

Pat Dallen has scheduled Saturday, January 10 as our next roadside pick-up along OHLC’s adopted stretch of Highway 20. Meet at church at 9:00 AM to carpool to the site north of Oak Harbor.

greetings from Russia

Companion Synod News

... the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (Mt.1:20-21).

Kudos received by Lutheran World Relief ConsumerReports.org, in a December 15, 2014 posting, Best and worst charities for your money, listed Lutheran World Relief as one of their two high-rated charities under the heading of International relief and development. Recommendation criteria were based on information from three major charity ‘watchdogs,’ the BBC Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, and Charity/Watch. submitted by Carol Wall from an internet blog, December 18

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, 2000 years ago various people in Israel and even in Babylon needed Jesus: wise men from the east, the shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and 7

On 1 Advent I was in Yaroslavl and Kostroma, it is 4 hours and 6 hours by train from Moscow. I came by express train to Yaroslavl, preached there, then by car I went to Kostroma, that was more expensive than train, but this way I was able to save time and to visit both cities and congregations on the same Sunday. in Yaroslalv we are starting Sunday School, finally, after a long time of absence of children there, and in Kostroma we will have confirmation service on Trinity Day 2015, also after a long break. It is very inspiring. These twigs of life which we see after a long period of silence and gradual destruction. I am sending a couple of pictures in the attachment. Our service in Yaroslavl in the church which looks more like a construction ground. However, our repair work is moving to the completion: we cleaned and whitewashed the walls, repaired the empore for the organ, now we are laying the floor, and in 2015 we will bring our organ which was donated by Emmaus congregation in Kassel long time ago. It is still very cold in church, no heating, but we built the winter chapel with the warm floor inside the church last year, and there we have our services.

Today I wanted to thank you all. Our twigs of life are growing, also thanks to your faithful help and support! I wish you blessed Advent and Christmas!

Love and peace, Lena Bondarenko

others. They needed Him as their Saviour, the Messiah, the King of the Jews, the real God. Today the situation is the same. We need Jesus who will save us from our sins. We need Jesus who will become our King and God. This is the great hope of Christmas.

Dear friends, thank you for your faith, friendship and fidelity.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and joy unspeakable which comes from heaven.

God bless you, Phil Zanko, Pastor David Horn, Ludmila Pankratova, St. Katharina Lutheran Church, Kazan, Russia Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, dear Bishop Unti, and friends in the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America!

Christmas is inviting us on a journey from the darkness of our doubts and solitude to the light of love and mercy of the Christ Child. On our way, we find out that we are on this way not alone. We are different people, going forward [together], led by the star of God’s intimacy.

Christmas sings to us an angelic doxology; it wants to fill us with heavenly music in the midst of the earthly disharmony. Thus we feel that our hearts sing together, and the joy of Christmas is given to us all.

I wish you peace and well-being! Blessed Christmas!

In Christ, Dietrich Brauer, Archbishop

Finally, on behalf of Team Russia and myself, I want to wish you all a very joyful Christmas. Thank you for your faithfulness. We do it unto Him. Eva Mader, Secretary, Team Russia Coordinator, Congregation to Congregation Partnerships

OHLC Women

Dear friends of Russia, Another greeting has just arrived, this time from Pastor Lena Bondarenko, Dean of the Central Deanery, who joins Dietrich Brauer in sending you all her good wishes.

I know I don’t need to tell you that things are getting more difficult for our brothers and sisters in Russia. As their hard earned money becomes worth less, problems for the churches will grow, which makes it even more important to keep them in our prayers and to help concretely by donating to our synod’s Russia Fund. Just recently Team Russia requested that $3,000 be wired to our Russia Companion Synod.

Pastor Lena’s response was immediate:

Blanket Workshop meets Tuesday & Wednesday, January 6 & 7, beginning at 9:00 AM in the fellowship hall to work on quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

Deborah Circle news: 1/ 1, no meeting 1/ 8, continuing with Borg’s book, Convictions: Chapter 8, The Bible Is Political 1/15, Chapter 9, God Is Passionate About Justice and the Poor 1/22, Chapter 10, Christians Are Called to Peace and Nonviolence 1/29, Chapter 11, To Love God Is to Love Like God

Our administration has given us the offering for the Central Deanery. We are very thankful for it, since it is Advent time full of trips, and travel expenses are big. Thank you for this real and big help.

Lydia Circle meets at 6:30 PM in the education wing on Mondays, January 5 & 19.

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Financial Report:

Worship Assistants 1/ 4

1/11

1/18

1/25

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 Paul Senness Jan Heideger Carol Snoble Sheila Ryan Carol Wall Trudy Decker Paul Senness Allan Swan Debbie Wysomierski Shanna Lundstrom John Fowkes Gisela Hawley

Acolytes Peter Higgins Micah Burrow Benjamin Bruland Katie Norman Sadie Harbaugh Benjamin Bruland Isabel Carr Alyssa Blevins Benjamin Bruland Kayla Raasina Anders Spencer Benjamin Bruland

Music Morning Glory Senior Choir Cantor: Carol Reafs Praise Team Cantor: Carol Reafs Morning Glory Senior Choir Cantor: Carol Reafs

Assistants

1/ 4 8:00 AM Higgins family

Communion: Gaye Rodriguey Computer: Donna Aspery Communion: Jan McCullough Computer: Rita Carter

10:30 AM J. Wilcox, P. Michalski 6:30: Presider, Jay Decker 1/18 8:00 AM Ellis family 10:30 AM 6:30: Presider, Tom Johnson 1/25 8:00 AM J. Flowers, L. Forster 10:30 AM R. Wood, M. McNae,

November $ 36,374 31,693 4,681

Year to date 438,100 439,334 $ (1,234)

Worship Attendance:

December

Date 8:00 AM 10:30 AM Cpvl. Nursery Nov. 30 75 100 19 1 Dec. 7 70 134 24 5 Dec. 14 87 116 17 2 Dec. 21 94 110 9 1 Dec. 28 60 103 12 2 Average Att. 77 113 16 2 Average Sunday attendance: 208 Christmas Eve: 4 PM – 166; 7 PM – 171; 10 PM – 104; total: 441 Christmas Day: 45

Cantor: Mary McLeod

Ushers 10:30 AM J. Wilcox, P. Michalski 6:30: Presider, Jeffrey Spencer 1/11 8:00 AM Margraf family

Income Outgo

November

Communion: Mike Fankhauser Computer: Lisa Margraf Communion: Bob Wall Computer: Michelle Tull

Little Lutheran Bags in January: Sheila Ryan

Communion: Marge Moore Computer: Molly Nagel Communion: Gisela Hawley Computer: Sheila Ryan

This month’s featured decorative fonts are

Christmas Snow and AR

Communion: Mike Fankhauser Computer: Kathy Ridle Communion: Trudy Decker Computer: Rick Culbertson

Julian

Lesser Festivals & Commemorations 1 The Name of Jesus 2 Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, renewer of the church, 1872 10 The Baptism of our Lord 15 Martin Luther King, Jr., renewer of society, martyr, 1968 17 Antony of Egypt, 356, Pachomius, 343, renewers of the church 18 The Confession of St. Peter Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins

6:30 PM: Presider, Marc Stroud

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

The deadline for articles for the February newsletter is Wednesday, January 21.

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January

19 Henry, Bishop of Uppsala, martyr, 1156 21 Agnes, martyr, 304 25 The Conversion of St. Paul Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ends 26 Timothy, Titus, and Silas, missionaries 27 Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe witnesses to the faith 28 Thomas Aquinas, 1274, teacher

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 4 Healing prayer at both morning services Worship 8:00 Sunday School 9:15 Worship 10:30 Worship Brass

4:00

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 11 Worship 8:00 Sunday School 9:15 Forum: Watoto 9:15 Worship 10:30 Worship Brass 4:00 Jr. High Luth Youth 6:30 The Art of Marriage 6:30 Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 18 Worship 8:00 Sunday School 9:15 Semi-annual mtg.

9:15 Worship 10:30 Will & Estate Plan 12:00 Worship Brass 4:00 Conf. family potluck 5:00 Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 25 Worship 8:00 Sunday School 9:15 Worship 10:30 Worship Brass 4:00 Vespers/Coupeville 6:30

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY 1

HIS KIDS PRESCHOOL

NEW YEAR’S DAY Church office closed

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

2

3

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

January 18 - 25

Preschool classes resume January 5!

5 1:00 Munchy Monday 1:45 MMM Relay/Life 5:00 Wolves 6:30 Lydia Circle 6:45 4-H K-9 Korps 7:00 Solutions

6 Epiphany 9:00 Blanket Workshop 4:00 Epiphany bonfire 6:00 Patrol Leaders 7:00 Cpvl Book Group 7:00 Webelos 1 7:00 Boy Scouts

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13

1:00 Munchy Monday

10:30 Stamping Group

5:00 Wolves 6:30 Lydia Circle 7:00 Cub Scout Leaders 7:00 Vanishing Friends 7:00 Solutions 19

12:00 Brotherhood of St. Bernard

7 9:00 Blanket Workshop 11:30 OHLC Staff 5:30 Harbor Bells 7:00 Senior Choir 7:00 Overeaters Anon.

14 11:30 OHLC Staff 1:00 Book Group 5:30 Harbor Bells 7:00 Senior Choir 7:00 Overeaters Anon.

7:00 Boy Scouts 20 10:00 Rebecca Circle

21 Newsletter Deadline 11:30 OHLC Staff

7:00 Scout Adult Comm.

7:00 Boy Scouts

5:30 Harbor Bells 7:00 Senior Choir 7:00 Overeaters Anon.

1:00 Munchy Monday 1:45 MMM Relay/Life 6:30 Lydia Circle 6:45 4-H K-9 Korps 7:00 Solutions

8:00 Lutheran Men in Mission breakfast -Meet at Flyers Restaurant

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27

1:00 Munchy Monday

10:30 Stamping Group

5:00 Wolves 6:30 Lydia Circle 7:00 Solutions

12:00 Brotherhood of St. Bernard 7:00 Scout Board of Rev. 7:00 Boy Scouts

28 Watoto Team returns from Uganda 11:30 OHLC Staff 5:30 Harbor Bells 7:00 Senior Choir 7:00 Overeaters Anon.

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8 10:00 Deborah Circle 4:15 Morning Glory 5:00 Stephen Ministry 5:00 Praise Team 5:30 Jr. Girl Scouts 6:00 Knitting Group 6:30 Webelos 2 6:30 Tigers 6:30 Bears 7:00 Council 15 10:00 Deborah Circle 4:15 Morning Glory 5:00 Praise Team 5:30 Jr. Girl Scouts 6:00 Knitting Group 6:30 Webelos 2 6:30 Tigers 6:30 Bears 22 10:00 Deborah Circle 4:15 Morning Glory 5:00 Praise Team 5:30 Jr. Girl Scouts 6:00 Knitting Group

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29 10:00 Deborah Circle 4:15 Morning Glory 5:00 Praise Team 5:30 Jr. Girl Scouts 6:00 Knitting Group 6:30 Webelos 2 6:30 Tigers 6:30 Bears

30

9:00 Roadside litter pick-up; meet at OHLC to carpool

16 Watoto Team leaves for Uganda 9:30 Heart & Hand

17

Boy Scouts Lock-in 6 PM Friday to 7 AM Saturday 5:00 Walk MS event 23

24

1:00 Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby Set up for Pinewood Derby

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