This Week's Worship Service
Engaging with God in Worship
Worship - In-Person & Online
What a joy and a blessing it is to be able to worship together in our Sanctuary. According to state regulations, registration for contact-tracing purposes is no longer required. We will continue with temperature checks, and ask that if you are sick, exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or have family members who are ill, that you refrain from joining us. Please remember to use face coverings, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, and practice physical distancing.
Resources for in-person worship are displayed on the screen in the sanctuary. Should you desire a hard copy of the Order of Service, please download and print one to bring with you.
Not ready to come back yet? We understand, and will continue to offer all our services online for those who prefer. In addition, arrangements for Communion, for those who are not ready to return, can be made through the church office.
For additional information see our FAQs HERE.
Online Giving
Even when we are able to gather together for worship, many of us today don't carry around cash or a check book. We get it. To make giving accessible to all, we offer online giving.
Follow the link here and you can give in a way that is private and secure.
For those who would prefer, you can mail your offering checks to the church office. For any questions, feel free to contact Carla Gomes in the church office.
Monday
Engaging with God through Prayer
As a community of faith, whether we are able to join together in-person, or virtually, we join together in prayer. We pray together in our times of corporate worship and in our personally devotional times. While we cannot gather together at this time for worship or in-person bible studies, we can still join together in prayer.
This year, we join together in praying the Psalms. Each Monday a Psalm will be selected for our meditation. In order to take your time in praying through each week's Psalm, you may wish to do the following:
- Initial Reading: Read through the Psalm at your regular pace.
- Reflective Reading: Re-read the Psalm slowing down to take notes on the content of the Psalm that jumps out at you.
- Reflective Prayer: Using your notes, pray about the particulate elements of the Psalm that jumped out at you making connections to your life or the lives of the members of the OSLM and your family and friends.
As you pray these Psalms, keep in mind the encouragement of Bonhoeffer from Life Together, in which he reminds us that at times, when the corporate prayers of the church do not seem to touch upon our own lives, that in those moments we are to prayer all the more for those in our community that are touched by them.
Week 15 - April 12, 2021 - Psalm 19
Connect for discussion on this week's Psalm in our Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OurSaviorLutheranMinistries
Tuesday
Encouraging One Another in Community
In the fall, as a ministry we journeyed together through the What’s Next series of sermons, interview videos, Taking It Home sheets, and cottage meetings. As a new approach to the ongoing ministry of Our Savior Lutheran Ministries here in the Tri-Valley area, we would be remiss to simply introduce the concepts that form the core of how we desire to do life and ministry together and leave it at that.
For the vision of a ministry to really take hold in the hearts, minds, and lives of the people of that ministry, we need to really dig into the pages of Scripture together and see how the 4 foci of our vision are found and expressed by God and His people in those sacred pages. Therefore, we are providing this weekly reading plan for our corporate use together.
We hope you make use of this resource in your Bible reading time on a weekly basis and explore together how we as a ministry can Engage, Encourage, Equip, & Launch together.
Connect for discussion on this week's reading in our Private Facebook Group:
2021 Bible Reading Plan
Week 15 - April 13, 2021 - Equipped to Stand Firm - Ephesians 6: 10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Did you ever have one of those plastic Armor of God outfits or wear one as a kid, perhaps in Sunday School? What an interesting way to visualize how God Equips us to “do battle” in His name. Often this passage is focused on an apologetic defense of the Christian faith. While we need to make sure to clarify that one cannot be argued apologetically into the Kingdom of God, there is much to be gained by being prepared with solid information that will help not only sustain your own faith from doubts caused by the questions and challenges of others, but to be able to share your faith with others who have questions and stumbling blocks of their own to deal with. Much of the armor discussed by Paul is defensive, offering protection from the “flaming darts of the evil one” yet keep in mind the way in which the belt, breastplate, and shoes work to cloth us for the long haul in our walk as follower of Christ. Also consider the sword of the spirit, with which is the Word of God, that we might use the wisdom and knowledge contained not only to secure our own faith, but through the Holy Spirit to create faith in those we encounter.
Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, As you call us so too you Equip us. Help us to keep mindful that you are not yet done with us. Continue to mold and shape us after your image. May we rejoice in the work you continue to do in and through us. In Christ's name. Amen.
Wednesday
Wednesdays in the Word
Wednesdays in the Word will return on April 14, at 7:00pm.
Pastor Kevin picks up a with our study of 2 Timothy at chapter 3 verses 10-16.
Thursday
Equipping to Follow Jesus
For the next several weeks, Pastor Kevin will be posting a weekly discipleship thought around the theme of "Masterpiece in Progress." Watch for videos and other support material to be posted HERE.
Friday
Launch into Mission
Spring Launch Project
This spring, we will again be partnering with our School and Preschool. In support of our military men and women at home and abroad, we will be collecting items to assemble care packages.
If you have a family member or friend who is on active duty in the military whom you would like to receive a care package from OSLM, please let us know by contacting Dave Rueter.
A list of items to purchase will be provided later in the month. A "care-package packing date" will be announced later in the month as well.
Saturday
A Day of Sabbath Rest
God’s Word makes pretty clear that we were created to work and to rest. We need rest, and yet in a go-go-go society that can be pretty hard. Rest doesn’t just mean sitting on our couch and doing nothing while mindlessly watching television. Rest looks different for each of us, but rest involves investing in our relationships with God and our families. It is a time to recharge to get ready for the week ahead. We urge you to spend your Saturday as a day of sabbath rest.
