Scholarship Time!

Something we look forward to each May is awarding scholarships that will send students from the congregation off to their studies, or assist them in continuing their studies. Each year when the scholarship award letter goes out to the recipients, it expresses to them that this is a gift from the congregation that seeks to support and encourage them in their studies, but most importantly that this gift is a reminder of the student’s church family and the base of love and support they have in their congregation (and ultimately in God!).

Where does the scholarship money come from? Well, you might be one of the donors to the church Scholarship Fund even if you didn’t know it. Each year a portion of the money that comes in for purchasing Christmas poinsettias or Easter lilies goes toward the scholarship fund. That means when you purchase an Easter lily your money goes not only towards a beautiful lily that will adorn the sanctuary on Easter morning in the name of the person you have dedicated it to, but it also helps provide scholarships to students of the congregation.

In addition to the Easter Lily and Poinsettia funds, members of the congregation can also give memorial or honorary gifts to the church directly to the scholarship fund. Just this past month a $10,000 gift was given as a bequest from the will of Howard Schaefer. We are thankful and honored that Howard remembered the congregation in his will in this way and for all of the ways Howard was a blessing to this congregation for 24 years. In addition to the Lily and poinsettia general scholarship fund, there are also two specific scholarships that are given each year, one in the name of the late Carole Dressler, a beloved teacher and Sunday School teacher here at OSLC. The other in the name of Layle Smith, which was set up by Layle’s sons as a gift to him. Layl and his wife Elizabeth help the committee each year in deciding who receives the scholarship in his name.

What a blessing it is to be able to support the youth and students of the congregation in this way. When you see the scholarship recipients standing before the congregation next month, lease pray for them and for the plans and purposes God has ahead for them. Together, as their church family, we send them out in the world supported and loved in God’s name!

God’s Work Our Hands,
Pastor Shelly