50 Years of God's Grace

Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.. Psalm 84:4



This is an exciting year at Our Savior as we celebrate 50 years since the church was established. It has been neat to see pictures and clippings that people have brought in on the congregation from the past. It is fun to recognize familiar faces in the photos, especially the ones that were the faces of children who are now grown with children of their own. What’s most striking about all these photos and bits of history is the reminder of how God has been at work in the lives of His people. Sometimes that is most evident when you stand back and look at the big picture over time, or said in another way, sometimes that is most evident when you stand back and look at all of the pictures spread out before you.



Many of you know that Zac Barringer, a member of our congregation, is putting together a memory and history book on the church for his Eagle Scout project. As part of this he has been and will be collecting memories and stories that people have shared about the church. We would like to share some of those stories in the newsletter too.



So think about your time here at Our Savior Lutheran Church, maybe you have only been here a few years or maybe you have been here fifteen years, but what stands out in your mind as some of your most significant memories. Was it your wedding here? Your child’s baptism? The way you were surrounded by love at a time of loss? Is it a specific moment of encountering God’s presence? Was it a memory of going to camp with other kids from the church? Is it a memory of something unexpected or funny that happened here?



I have only been here four years and yet many memories fill my mind when I stop and think about it. Here are a few: Our son’s baptism; our daughter being an angel in the Christmas program the first time and belting out “Go Tell it on the Mountain” with all her heart; mourning the death of dear members of the congregation here; singing Holden Evening Prayer each Wednesday in Lent and walking out of the service filled with peace each and every time.



We know God is present in all of these things, our joy, our sorrow, our laughter, and our tears. Let’s share our stories with one another about how God has been present to us in and through this church. Write down your memories, whatever comes to mind, a paragraph or two, then bring it in to the church office, or email it in, and we will share them over the coming months in the newsletter. It will be one more way to share and tell God’s story with one another.



Grateful to be living out God’s story with you here at Our Savior,



Pastor Shelly