U.S. POSTAGE PAID NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PERMIT #2 ALBANY, MN 56307 Vol. 25, No. 7 Summer Worship Times: Sun. 9:00 am · Wed. 6:30 pm 840 Lake Avenue P.O. Box 670 Pastors: Steven Olson & Bobbi Bell Albany, MN 56307-0670 Ministry Associate for Youth & Families: Diana Brown Music Coordinator: Mike Aronson Receptionist/Secretary: Angela Mosman ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Custodians: Bestman & Josephine Dennis Church Office Hours: Monday–Friday · 9am–1pm (320) 845-2405 [email protected] www.OurSaviorsLutheranAlbany.org Kindred Spirıt Newsletter of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church · Albany, MN·320-845-2405 ·Albany, LutheranChurch Newsletter ofOurSavior’s the 10:00 amCelebration&Lunch 10:00 amFaith5,BibleStudy Retirement Celebration Retirement 6:30 pm·Worship Summer Worship 9:00 amWorship 9:00 amWorship Sunday, July21 Sunday, 5:30 pmFaith5 Pastor Steve’s Pastor Steve’s Wednesdays: Wednesdays: Sundays: July 2019 July 2019 Additions to the calendar? Email Our Savior’s Lutheran Church office: [email protected] or call 320-845-2405 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 6/30 1 2 3 4 5 6 9am · Worship 7pm · NA Meeting 5:30pm · Faith5 Group Independence Day 10am · Faith5 6:30pm · Worship and Ice Cream Social Church office closed Luther Crest Family Camp 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 9am · Worship 7pm · NA Meeting 9am · Staff Meeting 8am · Men’s Bible 10am · Faith5 1pm · Quilting Squares Study 5:30pm · Faith5 Group 1pm · Prayer Circle 6:30pm · Worship and Ice Meeting Cream Social Luther Crest Camp Week 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 9am · Worship 9am · Lady Generators Mtg 9am · Staff Meeting 8am · Men’s Bible 10am · Faith5 6:30pm · Congregational 12pm · Mary’s Circle Potluck Study 3pm · Girl Scouts 248 & 251 Council Meeting & Bible Study NO all committee meeting 5:30pm · Faith5 Group 7pm · NA Meeting 6:30pm · Worship and Ice Cream Social 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 9am · Worship 7pm · NA Meeting 9am · Staff Meeting 10am · Pastor Steve’s 5:30pm · Faith5 Group Retirement Celebration & 6:30pm · Worship and Ice Lunch Cream Social 28 29 30 31 8/1 8/2 8/3 9am · Worship 7pm · NA Meeting 9am · Staff Meeting 1pm · Prayer Circle 10am · Faith5 9:30am–12:30pm · Stearns Meeting 3pm · Girl Scouts 248 & 251 County Household Waste Collection 5:30pm · Faith5 Group 6:30pm · Worship and Ice Cream Social Worship Ministers—July 2019 had come to step aside and open the door for a new beginning. Reader Communion Ushers With that in mind, I am now in the process of winding down 36 Wednesday, July 3 years of ministry as a pastor, 6:30 pm Sound board: Matt Refteseth cleaning my files, culling my library and preparing a briefing for Sunday, July 7 my successor. I am still working 9:00 am Jolen Lobitz Jolene Lobitz Jenny Miller with prospective new members Sound board: John Sundet Ray & Cheri Evei Fischer and have hopes of doing some Salzer more work on the membership rolls. That is proving to be a challenge with the time available, Wednesday, June 10 but I will keep doing what I can in 6:30 pm Sound board: Kevin Beuning the time I have left. I also will carry on with my regular pastoral Sunday, July 14 visits until the end. 10:30 am Sandy Paulsen Sandy & Ron Dave & Lori sound board: Pat Johnson Paulsen Grabmeier Last things As to our plans, following our retirement, we plan to spend three Sue Koplin months doing some traveling and When Diane and I came to down sizing our possessions in Wednesday, July 17 Albany four years ago, I said we anticipation of a move at a future 6:30 pm Sound board: Matt Rafteseth would stay for three years, with date. We do not have any concrete the possibility of an additional plans but we will begin looking at Sunday, July 21 three years, if the church decided that after our three month 9:00 am Kourtney & Kenzie Kourtney & Dale & Kelly to begin a building program. My sabbatical. In a time when the sound board: Kevin Beuning & Kenzie Fauk Rafteseth goal in coming here was to help church is facing a clergy shortage, Eric Ruch the congregation come out of a although I am retiring from full very difficult season and to set the time ministry, Diane and I always Greeters: Renee & Carissa Stark stage for a long term pastor. want to remain open to the calling of the Spirit to some form of part- Wednesday, July 24 Earlier this year, I announced my time ministry. 6:30 pm Sound board: Kevin Beuning retirement after 44 years of service to the church, including 36 years Our last Sunday with you will be Sunday, July 28 as a pastor. The timing of that on July 21st, but as we prepare to 9:00 am Deb Kurtz Jim & Deb Kevin & Lisa announcement coincided with the part ways, I wanted to explain realization that I had done what I some of the ground rules. Here in sound board: Jerry Stark Kurtz Beuning could to achieve the first set of Albany, my line will be, “Just call Lisa Beuning goals and that I would not be able me Steve.” Although I remain a to complete any possible future pastor of the ELCA, I am not a Wednesday, July 31 building program in an pastor of this church. So I will not 6:30 pm Sound board: Matt Rafteseth appropriate manner. So the time be performing any pastoral acts 14 3 here, except under very extreme Summer Worship: conditions and at the request of Prayer July 2019 the Senior Pastor. 9:00 am Sundays Box Victory 6:30 pm Wednesdays Nor will we in any way be “57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord involved in the every day life and Summer worship hours will Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:57 decisions of the congregation, continue through Labor day “37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him although you will most certainly weekend. Then on the Sunday who loved us.“ Romans 8:37 be in our prayers. after Labor Day we want to pull “14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s Finally, as is expected of retiring the whole congregation back triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the pastors, we will be transferring our together for a celebration called knowledge of him everywhere.” 2 Cor. 2:14 membership from OSLC to “God’s Work, Our Hands.” That will be on September 9th. So for “13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” another ELCA congregation. So Philippians 4:13 even though we live in Albany we now save the date. “14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under will not be worshipping here. The As for summer worship times: the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14 reason for all of this is to help the congregation bond with your next “8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Sunday Mornings: We will be Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who pastors. I know that will be hard using our regular worship service for some, but trust me, it is for gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.” with a little time extra for our Romans 8:1-2 the best. favorite hymns and songs of faith. 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be Diane and I want to thank the Wednesday Evenings: Wednesday afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 congregation, the council and the worship is a great hit for weekend “4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for staff of OSLC for your support of warriors and those who like to you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:4 our ministry over the past four sleep in on Sundays. Once again “12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any years. Please keep us and your this year we will have a shorter congregational leaders in your double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, and more relaxed summer style joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” prayers as we enter into this season worship followed by an ice cream of transition. Hebrews 4:12 sundae bar. Come and check “15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a May God bless you and by the it out! public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Spirit’s grace, may you become a Colossians 2:15 church of God’s dreams for this “9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, time and place. God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who Pr. Steve Olson called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 Lord, forgive me for giving place in my heart to resentment, to lust, Hazardous Waste to anger, to alcohol. Forgive me for giving place in my life to Worship is Recorded Collection: resignation and self-reproach and shame, to fear and doubt and control. I renounce it now. Come, Jesus Christ, and take your Worship is recorded to CD Stearns County will be hosting a rightful place in my heart and in my life here.