Harbor Beacon, august 2016

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 63, Issue 7

August 2016

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

1253 NW 2 Avenue Oak Harbor, WA 98277

360-678-2264 office@oakharborlutheran.org www.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 Why do we worship? pg. 2 See you at the picnic! pg. 3

Click on these links for the August newsletter inserts:

Preschoolers list some favorite things, pg. 5

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/august_2016_spirit.pdf

A new spin for SPIN volunteers. pg. 7 Think School Kits in August, pg. 7

OHLC’s website: www.oakharborlutheran.org

Ministry focus: Kazan, pg. 9 This issue was snail-mailed July 29, 2016 Russia in 2017? pg. 10 1

Pastor’s Page: Why We Worship

you, they will be encouraged by your presence. Even if they never make eye contact with you, they will be strengthened in faith as your voice joins theirs in the hymns, the creed, and the prayers. Those who spend their daily lives feeling alone in their Christian faith take great strength from your simple presence. Those whose faith has grown dim are frequently renewed by being surrounded by other worshipping Christians. Those who are hurting take great comfort in the company of other believers, whose mere attendance in church is a sign of hope for them. Worship isn’t all about you. Sometimes it is about those you will meet when you get there. Putting others above yourself is a noble Christian virtue and a good reason to attend worship, but even this isn’t the best reason for coming to worship.

I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Psalm 146:1-2

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hy do we worship? Why come to church services? Why do we Christians set aside time on the first day of the week to gather with other Christians to stand up, sit down, listen, sing, pray, and so forth? Why do we worship? There are several ways of answering this question. Some answers are better than others.

We worship because God commands it. In the third commandment God tells us to “Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.” As Christ instituted his Holy Supper he said, “DO THIS in remembrance of me.” In Hebrews 10:25 we are warned against “neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some.” Scripture clearly tells us that God commands us to worship. But is this the best reason to worship God? On the one hand, simple obedience to God’s command is commendable.

However, obedience can easily be engaged in begrudgingly. Coming to worship for this reason can be carried out with the same enthusiasm you have for kissing an unpleasant relative because your mom told you to.

Obedience to God’s command is good, but there are better reasons to worship.

We worship God because God deserves our worship. The word “worship” is etymologically related to the words “worth” and “worthy.”

To worship is to assign worth. What is more worthy of our worship than God, the giver of life? Do you have breath in your lungs? Then you have reason to worship God! Can there be anything which has greater worth to us than Christ Jesus, who gave himself for us that we would have the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life? Is there anything more worthy of our time than the time we spend on Sunday, the day of resurrection, praising God for the life and salvation he has so graciously given to us? God has created us, giving us the gift of life.

God has redeemed us in Christ, saving us by his grace. In good times and bad, God is faithful and present and full of steadfast love. Therefore, the best reason we have for worshipping God is that God deserves to be worshipped.

We worship because we need it. Lutherans have historically emphasized that it isn’t just our praises going up to God in worship, but God’s grace coming down to us as we hear the Word and share the Supper. In worship, God comes to us to meet our deepest needs – forgiving our sin, raising us to new life in Christ, making his grace known to us. This grace is something we desperately need, and many gather because they recognize this need. I’m always glad when people recognize their need for grace and are hungry for worship, but even this isn’t the best reason for coming to worship. Worshipping because we need it can quickly become an exercise in narcissism. Worship becomes all about us, our feelings, our “being fed.” Moreover, many, many people – even many Christians – don’t seem to recognize their need to receive what Christ gives us in worship. There are plenty of people who are content spending Sundays in bed, playing sports, watching TV, drinking mimosas, or whatever. Worshipping because we need it is a good reason, but it can be a self-centered reason, and it is a reason which doesn’t resonate with everyone. There are better reasons.

In the Large Catechism, when Martin Luther takes up the topic of how often one should attend worship, he suggests a little test. He encourages his readers to first pinch themselves to see if you are still flesh and blood. He then suggests looking around to see if you are still in the world. (If you are unsure, he playfully writes, ask your neighbor.) If this test reveals that you are still alive and in the world, then you should go to worship.

This simple test still works great today, and I heartily recommend it to all. Use it every Sunday. If you find yourself to be alive and in the world, I’ll see you at worship. God commands it, you need it, others need you, and most of all, God deserves it.

We worship because others need us. Whether you “feel a need” to be in worship or not, there are inevitably others who will come to worship on Sunday who need you to be there. Even if they never talk to

Pastor Jeffrey R. Spencer 2

Growing & Learning

Join us for our church picnic on Sunday, August 7

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ur church picnic will be held at the Muzzall farm (938 Scenic Heights Road) on Sunday, August 7.

Worship will begin at 11:00 AM, with a potluck BBQ following. Please plan on bringing salads and desserts to share. The Anglums will once again be providing their mouth-watering, award-winning BBQ. A free-will offering basket will be out to help cover the costs of the BBQ and related hosting expenses.

Plan on sticking around after our potluck enjoy fellowship and an informal cornhole tournament. Be sure to invite friends to join us for this fun day on the farm!

Whirl comes to OHLC, beginning September 11 We are using a new curriculum for Sunday School this year!

Whirl is an exciting new curriculum from Augsburg Fortress which follows the lectionary readings for each Sunday in the church year.

Lessons are introduced by clever, compelling animated video shorts, and continue with engaging Bible studies which connect God’s Word to daily life.

The first day of Sunday School is Sunday, September 11.

Angela Stone is our Sunday School coordinator for the 2016-2017 program year, and teachers are currently being recruited. See Angela if you are interested in serving. Plan on coming to Sunday school this fall and give our new curriculum a whirl!

We will offer an 8:00 AM service at the church for those who can’t or don’t want to attend the outdoor service.

Ministry Fair will highlight OHLC activities & opportunities All ministry leaders are encouraged to prepare a display for our Ministry Fair on Rally Sunday, September 11. These displays will ring our fellowship hall as we celebrate the beginning of a new program year. Displays can be set up on Saturday, September 10, or early on the morning of Rally Sunday. Please reserve your table space via an upcoming Opportunity Form in your Sunday bulletin.

Did you go to Bible camp this year?

All OHLC kids who went to Bible Camp this year are encouraged to write down a special memory, meaningful moment, or fun experience they had at camp. There will be a time in worship on Sunday, September 11 (Rally Sunday) to share those experiences with the congregation. We might even sing a camp song!

Bell choir rehearsals begins Harbor Bells begins Wednesday rehearsals, 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the sanctuary, starting August 24.

Questions? Contact Jan Ernst, 675-5517, rcjle@msn.com.

THANK YOU to coordinator Christiane Weber and all the intrepid, joyful volunteers for a very successful Vacation Bible School week!

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BookMarks

In memory Doris Mattson died on July 15, after a long battle with congestive heart failure. She was 77. Following Morris’ retirement from the Navy, the Mattsons settled in Portland and eventually moved to Whidbey.

Among other pursuits, Doris spent a number of years working at the family-run Penn Cove Restaurant in Coupeville with her late brother, Ken Jampsa.

A graveside service was held for Doris on Monday, July 25, at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville, with Pastor Jay Decker officiating.

The Coupeville Book Group… … meets Tuesday, August 2 at noon (note this change from the usual time!) in the home of Dottie Krigbaum, 697 Olympic View Drive.

Contact the Krigbaums if you need driving directions, 678-8402. Dottie will be serving lunch; RSVP if you plan to attend, gaye@tobysuds.com.

Jan Heideger will lead discussion of The Songs of Willow Frost,

by Jamie Ford: Seattle, 1934: Twelve-year-old William Eng, a Chinese American boy, has lived at Sacred Heart Orphanage ever since his mother was carried away from their small apartment five years earlier.

But now William, in a rare visit to the movies, has a glimpse of an actress on the silver screen who goes by the name of Willow Frost. Struck by her features, William is convinced that she is his mother. Determined to find her, William escapes Sacred Heart with his friend, Charlotte. The pair navigates the streets of Seattle, where they not only survive but confront the mysteries of William’s past and his connection to Willow Frost...a woman whose story is far more complicated than any fantasy portrayed onscreen.

Fiction, 319 pages Questions about the Coupeville group? Contact Gaye Rodriguey, gaye@tobysuds.com, 678-3561.

Helen Brandt died on July 16 following an extended struggle with a number of health concerns. She was 87. The daughter of charter members Carl & Hilda Hunskor, Helen began serving as organist at age 13 and continued for 17 years. Helen’s late husband Rolf Brandt was OHLC’s choir director for a time; former pastor Arne Aakre used to talk about the Navy wreaking havoc with our music program when they transferred the Brandts to Okinawa. Upon Rolf’s eventual retirement, the Brandt family returned to Oak Harbor and were an active part of our congregation for many years.

We will gather to give thanks for Helen’s life at a memorial service on Saturday, August 20 at 12:00 noon.

The Second Wednesday Book Group… … meets Wednesday, August 10 at 1:00 PM in the church library for a discussion of Where’d You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple: To her Microsoft-guru husband, Bernadette is a fearlessly opinionated partner. To other private school mothers in Seattle, she is a disgrace, but to design mavens she is a revolutionary architect. However, to her fifteen-year-old daughter Bee, she is a best friend and simply Mom. Bee aced her report card and has claimed her reward – a family trip to Antarctica. For Bernadette, who has become increasingly agoraphobic, such a trip is problematic. Then Bernadette disappears…

Fiction, 330 pages Other available formats: e-book, audio e-book, large print Questions about the 2nd Wednesday group? Contact Leona McKee, 675-6712, bcmac68@comcast.net .

And an update regarding former organist, Catherine Fengler, who died in Seattle on March 17 – Darlene Buss e-mailed on July 19: [On July 17] I was invited to join Catherine's family for a memorial gathering in Olympia. It was a special time in a lovely gathering room on the dock. There were a lot of pictures (my goodness, she was an attractive woman), even a video of her at a family reunion, fun stories and memories shared, good food, and a cello and flute duet by her sons. . . . Her son Steve announced they would be taking her ashes to Whidbey Island the next day and scattering them on the Ebey's Bluff trail. I received an e-mail from Steve that they were greeted by fair skies and a beautiful view of the Olympics, and that the ashes are in various places along the trail, ending at the top of the hill. I, for one, am glad that she's back on Whidbey, and hope that her memory will encourage me as I climb that hill panting for breath. . . . She was well loved and highly admired by her sons, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, and it was a privilege to be able to meet them and share in their time of remembrance. Peace to her memory.

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His Kids Preschool

Emma C: Making our yaks [puppets] Nicolas: Reading books Cora: Looking at the roses Seth: Circle time Jasmin: Painting some flowers Logan: Going outside Iliana: Planting the sunflowers Emma W: Making a puppet Aria: Putting a puppet together Ava: Planting flowers Noah: Playing with the pattern blocks Jayden: Playing with Legos and Play-doh

A ministry of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church

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t’s quiet in the preschool classroom right now – even Spider, our class rabbit, has gone back to his “vacation home” at Miss Debbie’s farm. Summer’s going by quickly, though, and we know it won’t be long until Miss Elva and Miss Michelle will be coming in to prepare for the new school year!

Registration is full for our 3-day morning class for 2016-17, but we still have room in our 3-day afternoon class (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 12:30-3:00 PM). Stop by the church office if you’re interested in registering, or contact Martha Ellis, our His Kids secretary, 360-679-1561, martha@oakharborlutheran.org .

Here’s what our 2015-2016 preschoolers said was their favorite thing we did at school this year: Morning class Reagan: Growing flowers Hunter: Going on the field trips Ryan: Playing with the blocks Harper: Playing with Play-doh Abigale: Making puppets Avren: Playing with the blocks Mikayla: Going to chapel Luke: Going to the fire station Raelee: Eating snack Layla: Playing with the pattern blocks Josiah: Getting snack because Zaiyah: Playing at the little playground I was really hungry Keegan: Miss Debbie bringing her animals Max: Going to chapel and getting snack too, and all of the stuff I liked

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

The deadline for articles for the September newsletter is Monday, August 22.

Little Lutheran Bags in August: Sheila Ryan.

This month’s featured font is Metro Afternoon class: 5

Retro.

Women of OHLC

Blanket Workshop Blanket Workshop meets Tuesday & Wednesday, August 2 & 3, beginning at 9:00 AM in the fellowship hall to work on tied quilts for Lutheran World Relief. New volunteers are always welcome; you don’t have to know how to sew in order to help out.

fellowship, study & service

Circles Deborah Circle meets every Thursday, 10:00 AM to noon in the library.

Rebecca Circle meets Tuesday, August 16, 10:00 AM in the library.

Lydia Circle will not be meeting in August.

Deborah Circle notes Our Bible study in August is The Matter of the Heart – Conflict, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, by Angela Shannon, the summer study printed in Gather magazine.

Women’s 10th Triennial Gathering July 13-16, 2017 in Minneapolis, MN Registration opens Sept. 6

8/ 4: Session 1, Treasure in Clay Jars, June 2016 Gather, pgs. 28-32 8/11: Session 2, Seeking God, July/August issue, pgs, 30-34 8/18: Session 3, Reconciliations as a New Creation, July/Aug., pgs 38-41 8/25: Review, The Matter of the Heart, study in the June & July/August issues

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omen of the ELCA’s triennial gatherings bring Lutheran women together from across the church with life-changing workshops, worship, Bible study and more.

Women will gather under the theme All Anew at the 10th Triennial Gathering. Registration opens on Sept. 6. Early-bird registration, through Dec. 31, is $310; after that, registration is $350.

Day registrations are $175. Register at www.welcatg.org or send an email to women.elca@elca.org for a registration packet.

Craft items wanted for the bazaar!

Featured speakers, preachers and workshop leaders will bring the gathering theme to life, exploring the theme verse Psalm 104:30: “Lord, send forth your spirit...and renew the face of the earth.”

If you’re a crafter and find you have a few spare moments during this last month of summer, may we suggest keeping your hands busy with projects for OHLC’s upcoming Holiday Bazaar?

The women of Lydia Circle send word their 4th annual bazaar will be held on Saturday, November 5. As usual, all proceeds will go towards OHLC projects.

Because the gathering falls during the observance of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017, the theme resonates with reformation and transformation images. Participants will explore ways in which the Holy Spirit changes us, acknowledging that reformation and transformation have happened and continue to happen within the community of Women of the ELCA: www.womenoftheelca.org .

Gaye Rodriguey 6

It’s time to gather items for LWR School Kits!

Compassion

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chool supply sales are underway, so we’re asking for help in stocking up on needed items for School Kits for Lutheran World Relief. The items are listed below; handy reminder sheets are also available at the welcome desk in the narthex. We’ll be collecting throughout August -- please drop your donations at the box at the kiosk near the narthex white board.

SPIN Café volunteers, listen up!

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atch for some exciting changes in the way we do volunteer days at SPIN! In an effort to help you plan and to have more consistency in our service days, we’re going to ask volunteers to sign up in teams, which will serve just three or four times a year. We’d like to have 4 people per team who will be there regularly to serve on their assigned months, and then there will be opportunities for new people to add their names to each month’s core foursome.

We’re excited about this new direction and look forward to your continued involvement as SPIN seeks to Serve People In Need in our community. You’ll have the opportunity soon to sign up for these new teams. Meanwhile until we get this organized, please keep checking the regular sign-up system on the clipboards in the narthex. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Wall, carolhage@gmail.com, or Judy Fantauzzi, rmfant@aol.com, or leave a message in the church office.

It’s important to be sure that items are not decorated in any way with religious symbols, national flags, military symbols, or camouflage.

Donations towards the shipping fund are also much needed and greatly appreciated!

SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY, SEPT. 11, 12:00 noon in the library, for a Thank You lunch for SPIN volunteers

- Spiral notebooks (Wide or college ruled, 70 sheets. No loose leaf paper) - #2 Pencils (Unsharpened, with erasers) - Pencil sharpeners (Small) - Erasers (About 2 ½” long) - Rulers (12”, including metric measurements) - Blunt scissors (Safety scissors with embedded steel blades work well) - Crayons (New boxes of 16 or 24) - Ballpoint pens, black or blue ink (No gel ink, please)

and a brief look at the year ahead. If you’ve helped out on one or more of OHLC’s volunteer serving dates this past year, we hope you’ll attend!

Help us plan the lunch by making your RSVP to the church office by Tuesday, Sept. 6, office@oakharborlutheran.org, 360-6791561, and indicate how many will be there.

Keep Spinning!

Carol and Judy

OHLC summer roadside clean-up scheduled Help keep Oak Harbor beautiful! Do your part by participating in the next OHLC roadside clean-up along our adopted 2-mile stretch of Highway 20.

When: Saturday, August 27 Where: Meet at church at 8:30 AM to carpool PLEASE NOTE:  Volunteers must be at least 15 years old  Finally, GREAT weather! You shouldn’t have to dress for wet and chilly! [at least that’s what Jeff is telling us…]  Please call Jeff Margraf at 360-682-5421 if you have any questions.

Trudy Decker, School Kit project coordinator

More from Compassion Ministry on the next pages 7

Pregnancy Care Center appreciates OHLC’s support

Stephen Ministry offers training at OHLC

Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me. Mark 9:37

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

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n behalf of the Pregnancy Care Center, I want to thank each and every one of you for your contribution to the recent Baby Bottle Boomerang fundraiser.

With so many organizations asking for volunteer help or money, it can sometimes seem to be overwhelming. The Pregnancy Care Center is one of those groups that work for the Lord through donations and volunteers. We are Christian-based and strive to be good stewards of your donations to help all God’s children, male or female, who feel lost, afraid or alone regarding pregnancy and post- pregnancy issues. We offer hope and care for as long as needed. Please come and visit the facility in Oak Harbor and see the blessings you are giving. God bless you.

Morrie Parker, OHLC’s liaison with PCC

Stephen Minister is an individual who feels a call to provide emotional and spiritual care for those undergoing crisis in their lives, through a ministry of listening and confidentiality.

Stephen Ministers receive valuable training in how to offer a compassionate presence to people in crisis. This is a 12-week training which covers topics such as the art of listening, identifying grief, main-taining boundaries in relationships, and offering spiritual aid to those in crisis.

Oak Harbor Lutheran is offering a 2016 fall training series, to begin in September. If you are interested signing up or you want to find out more, please call the church office, 360-679-1561 or call Pastor Marc Stroud at 360-632-4243.

The first gift of Christmas?

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With sincere appreciation

ave you ever complained that promotions of Christmas seem to come earlier and earlier each year? Well, I’m going to even do one up on that complaint—but for a good reason, so bear with me if you can!

There’s been a tradition here of giving presents to all of our residents here at Christmas time. I think we used to have a giving tree out at the mall or something—and I am truly grateful for the wider community participation in these past few years. It’s great that all of our residents, those with large, small or even no families at all, know that they have not been forgotten and that someone cares for them and is thinking of them!

A thought this year was…what if we gave our Josephine Partner Churches the opportunity to connect with our residents through this tradition? I’d like to give it a shot by planting the seed now. So for now, let this thought sit in your heart. I’d like to work together with your Josephine delegates to maybe help us coordinate this effort and to make this meaningful to both you and our residents. As always, thanks for your partnership—it wouldn’t be the same without you!

Dear fellow Oak Harbor Lutherans, The blessings we received while being sidelined with my back injury and subsequent surgery and healing were very real. We benefited greatly from the outpouring of love and compassion via phone messages, cards, visits from both Pastor Jeff and Pastor Marc (when we had our furniture back following the kitchen fire), and delicious meals! Joanne Korengo & Mike Fankhauser, Kelly & Mary Brock – wow! Two weeks’ worth of dinners that Davey didn’t have to prepare. And then Ron & Jan Ernst topped it off with my favorite orange glacé cheesecake… as Ciscoe says, “Ooh-la-la!”

Seriously, we so appreciate our family and friends of OHLC, and I am so glad to be welcomed back into the fold of fellowship at Sunday worship.

Dave is also grateful that I’m fending for myself again. It was a tough way to begin 2016 – first with our kitchen fire and months of unsettlement, and then back surgery. It can only get better, and with your prayers and God’s healing, I know it will.

May God continue to bless all of us at Oak Harbor Lutheran.

Chaplain Andy Yee, Director of Spiritual Care Josephine – A Care Community for all Generations

Peg (and Dave) Fosnaugh 8

AUGUST’S MINISTRY OF THE MONTH: St. Katharina Lutheran Church, Kazan, Russia OHLC celebrates 13 years of Russian partnership

Items sought for silent auction As part of the August Mission of the Month, the OHLC Russian Partnership Kazan Committee is looking for nice donations for a Silent Auction on Sunday, August 21. Please bring donations to Herrigstad Hall on Saturday evening, Aug. 20, 6-8 PM, or before the 8 AM service on Sunday, Aug. 21. The Silent Auction will be held between the two services, and after the 10:30 service.

Please note, this is NOT a rummage/garage sale.

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n 2003, OHLC partnered with Evangelical Lutheran St. Katharina Church in Kazan, Russia. In 2005, nine members of OHLC traveled to Kazan to meet our brothers and sisters in Christ, as the city celebrated its 1000th anniversary.

After 83 years of use and misuse by the secret police, the building was returned to the congregation. Revived from its long nonexistence, Evangelical Lutheran St Katharina’s Kazan church is working with parishioners in many ways: church services, spiritual conversations, Bible studies, seminars, lectures, spiritual work, studies at children’s Sunday School, etc. The deacon work to help people in difficulties is an important part of the community’s practical life. The church presently has a German-Russian pastor.

Ken Grigsby

An e-mail from Kazan…

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

Thank God I can little by little come back to my work at the church. He is helping me to overcome all burdens that have fallen on me. He heard all your prayers for me and my husband. Thank you all!

Beginning from April last I could be at the church at a regular basis again. There were a lot of questions to be solved. But with our Lord’s support the congregation is active despite of all problems. We have strengthened our contacts with the church in Ulyanovsk, where our propst Vladimir Provorov is on duty as a pastor. Our member Andrey Delyaev and his bride Alyona were blessed in marriage by him, and he comes to Kazan for confirmation lectures and Sunday services. Also he has organized summer prayer camps. Together the church members of Kazan and Ulyanovsk celebrated Ascension Day near the Volga river bank.

In our St. Katharina church we often have evenings with organ and orchestra music, sacred as well as classical music. On May 28 there was a chorus festival, named “Co-Creation” with choirs from Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Saratov and others. We had such a festival already last year, and it seems to be a fine tradition.

I don’t want to load upon you a lot of our everyday problems.

The important thing is not to lose each other, and to continue our friendship and partnership.

A lot of greetings to all of you from the members of our church!

Since 2003, through the generosity and support of OHLC members for various fundraisers, money has been sent for building and furnace repairs, youth activities, devotional books, hymnals, architect fees, work towards reconstruction of the building, audio visual equipment, the moving and installation of the organ, repair and furnishing of the kitchen, the building of a new entrance, help to furnish the Pastor’s flat, and help with a children’s room and sound system.

In 2013, St. Katharina received a grant of 30 million rubles from the government of the Tatarstan Republic to reconstruct the church. The grant was enough to finish the restoration of the building, with a dedication service the end of August 2014.

In October 2013, OHLC members, Ken Grigsby, Carol Lafond, and Billie Tull, traveled to Moscow with a Synod group, and visited Bishop Dietrich Brauer, now Archbishop for all of Russia, and Pastor Lena Bondarenko, who were at OHLC in May 2012.

Ken, Carol, and Billie then traveled to Kazan, to visit old friends from 2005, make new friends, and see the progress on the reconstruction of the church. Emails, the visit of the Bishop and Lena, the 2005 trip, and the October 2013 trip, reminds us of the mission of the Russia Partnership program; to create a spiritual bond and special friendship between the Lutherans of Kazan, Russia and the Lutherans of Oak Harbor. We benefit by being transformed by the knowledge that no matter what our differences are, we are all united in Christ.

Yours, Ludmila Pankratova, Chairman of the church council Lutheran church St. Katharina, Kazan 9

TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY: RUSSIA 2017 Exploring the Life, Faith and Ongoing Challenges of the Lutheran Church in Russia Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.

-Mark TwainThe ELCA NW WA Synod Team Russia Committee is pleased to announce a projected Mission trip to Russia for ten days plus two travel days during March 2017, in which Bishop Unti plans to participate.

Russia is a land with a challenging history that goes back for centuries. Geographically, Russia is the largest Lutheran Church in the world. Former Archbishop Kretschmar spoke of “new life from old roots.”

Times in Russia are still tumultuous and changing, with periods of instability and economic hardships due to sanctions. The crisis in Ukraine and Syria, increase in the military, and concerns about human rights, have brought the country into the spot light again.

Trip participants from partnered churches will want to spend a few days visiting their partner congregation in Russia. Those travelling from non-partnered congregations in our synod may choose to join someone going to another place of interest, in addition to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Join a journey to the world’s largest country, and witness modern Russia in the nation’s sacred and profane capital, Moscow. Visit St. Peter and Paul Lutheran Cathedral, Red Square, the Kremlin, and other historic sites and museums. St. Petersburg, Peter the Great’s city on the Neva River, is a world-class beauty. Russia’s most elegant city is home to St. Peter and St. Anne Lutheran Church (the “swimming pool church”), splendid tsarist palaces, the sites of the revolution, and the treasures of the State Hermitage.

Applications will be available later. For further information, interested participants are to contact Team Russia Chairman, Ken Grigsby, at island66@comcast.net . For U.S. citizens, a valid passport and Russian visa are required. Information, visa application, and costs can be found on the web site for east-west-tours.com. Round trip air fare, Seattle to Moscow, is about $1050 including tax.

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Worship Assistants

Financial report:

August 7 8:00 AM

Assisting Minister: Rick Culbertson Communion Asst.: Mike Fankhauser Ushers: Ellis family Assisting Minister: Jan Heideger Communion Asst. Gaye Rodriguey

11:00 AM PICNIC 6:00 PM

Presider: Pastor Jeffrey Spencer Communion Asst.: Benjamin Bruland

Acolyte: Mackenzie Mathieu Computer: Donna Aspery Music: K. Raasina & D. Ridle Acolyte: Elias Wiley Music: Praise Team Assisting Min.: Judy Fantauzzi Cantor: Carol Reafs

August 14 8:00 AM

10:30 AM

6:00 PM

Assisting Minister: Paul Senness Acolyte: Johannes Christensen Communion Asst.: Candi Amarelo Computer: Sheila Ryan Ushers: Assisting Minister: Carol Fitzgerald Acolyte: Alissa Blevins Communion Asst. Jan McCullough Computer: Luke Spencer Ushers: Presider: Pastor Jay Decker Assisting Min.: Trudy Decker Communion Asst.: Benjamin Bruland Cantor: Carol Reafs

10:30 AM

6:00 PM

Assisting Minister: Josh Margraf Communion Asst.: Marge Moore Ushers: J. Flowers, L. Forster Assisting Minister: Trudy Decker Communion Asst. Jay Decker Ushers: Presider: Pastor Marc Stroud Communion Asst.: Benjamin Bruland

10:30 AM

6:00 PM

Assisting Minister: Sheila Ryan Communion Asst.: Mike Fankhauser Ushers: Margraf family Assisting Minister: Cynthia Akins Communion Asst. Ken Grigsby Ushers: Presider: Pastor Jeffrey Spencer Communion Asst.: Benjamin Bruland

May $ 40,520 37,293 $ 3,228

Year to date $ 179,783 190,366 $ (10,583)

Income Outgo

June $ 24,105 29,195 $ (5,090)

Year to date $ 203,888 219,561 $ (15,673)

Date 8:00 AM May 29 58 June 5 54 June 12 67 June 19 77 June 26 55 July 3 68 July 10 59 July 17 74 July 24 71 Average Att. 65

Acolyte: Isabel Carr Computer: Molly Nagel Acolyte: Computer: Rita Carter Assisting Min.: Carol Snoble Cantor: Carol Reafs

August 28 8:00 AM

Income Outgo

Worship attendance:

August 21 8:00 AM

May & June

Acolyte: Natalie Stone Computer: Kathy Ridle

June & July

10:30 AM 87 96 121 109 87 86 104 90 91 97

Coupeville 20 13 15 20 22 17 22 23 29 20

Nursery 6 0 2 7 0 9 3 6 7 4

July 31 will be included with the August statistics Average Sunday attendance: 186

Acolyte: Isaiah Wiley Computer: Rick Culbertson Assisting Min.: Gisela Hawley Cantor: Carol Reafs

Lesser festivals and commemorations: August 1 Justin, martyr at Rome, c.165 8 Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), 1221 10 Lawrence, deacon, martyr, 258 11 Clare, Abbess of San Damiano, 1253 13 Florence Nightengale, 1910, Clara Maas, 1901, renewers of society 14 Maximilian Kolbe, 1941, Kaj Munk, 1944, martyrs

Fundraiser for Capital Campaign There were 12 lucky winners for last month’s basket raffle, and we raised $638.00 for OHLC’s ongoing Capital Campaign.

Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, and special thanks to Sande Mulkey, Peggy Koch, Yuli Fosso, and Kerri Totten, who decorated baskets for the event.

Barbara Wilson 11

21 Onesimos Nesib, translator, 15 Mary, Mother of our Lord 20 Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, 1153 24 Bartholomew, Apostle 28 Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 430, Moses the Black, martyr, 405

SUNDAY The church calendar is updated regularly on OHLC’s website,

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

2

3

4 10:00 Deborah Circle

5

6

9:00 Blanket Workshop

9:00 Blanket Workshop 11:30 OHLC Staff

12

13

19

20

www.oakharborlutheran.org

12:00 Cpvl Book Group Parish Nurse hours: Thursdays 1:00-3:30 PM and by appointment 7 Healing prayer at both morning services Worship at OHLC 8:00 Worship/Picnic 11:00 at Muzzall farm

6:45 4-H K-9 Korps 7:00 Solutions

7:00 Overeaters Anon.

6:00 Patrol Leaders 7:00 Boy Scouts

8

9 10:30 Stamping Group 12:00 Brotherhood of St. Bernard

10

11 10:00 Deborah Circle

11:30 OHLC Staff 1:00 Book Group

7:00 Solutions 7:00 Overeaters Anon.

7:00 Boy Scouts

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 14 Worship 8:00

5:15 Praise Team 6:00 Knitting Group 7:00 Nar-Anon

15

16 10:00 Rebecca Circle

17

5:15 Praise Team 6:00 Knitting Group 7:00 Nar-Anon 7:00 Council 18 10:00 Deborah Circle

11:30 OHLC Staff Worship

10:30 7:00 Overeaters Anon.

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 21 Worship 8:00 Silent auction/Kazan 9:00 Worship 10:30 Silent auction/Kazan 11:30

6:45 4-H K-9 Korps 7:00 Solutions

7:00 Scout Adult Comm.

7:00 Boy Scouts

22 Newsletter Deadline

23 10:30 Stamping Group 12:00 Brotherhood of St. Bernard

7:00 Solutions

7:00 Board of Review 7:00 Boy Scouts

29

30

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30 28 Worship

24

25 OHLC at SPIN Café 10:00 Deborah Circle

11:30 OHLC Staff 1:00 Library Committee 5:30 Harbor Bells 7:00 Overeaters Anon

26

27 8:30 Roadside clean-up; meet at OHLC to carpool

6:00 Knitting Group 7:00 Nar-Anon

31 OHLC at SPIN Café

8:00 11:30 OHLC Staff

Worship

12:00 Memorial service: Helen Brandt

5:15 Praise Team 6:00 Knitting Group 7:00 Nar-Anon

HIS KIDS PRESCHOOL is out for the summer!

10:30 5:30 Harbor Bells 7:00 Overeaters Anon

7:00 Solutions 7:00 Boy Scouts Vespers/Coupeville 6:30

12

For registration info for the 2016-2017 school year, contact the church office.