When you mention the word, "evangelism," many people make faces, or try to change the subject, or,  some actually excuse themselves from the room - and if you look out the window - those same people are running to their cars as fast as they can!  Some denominations, so I'm told, will preach "fire and brimstone" to put fear in the parishioners' hearts.  In the Lutheran persuasion, we simply mention the "e word!"  As our Lutheran friend Garrison Keillor says about Lutherans - we are a humble and shy bunch, not very "touchy feely," so to ask them to knock on a door of a stranger?  They'd rather eat lutefisk raw.  "Okay, okay," they say, "if it's between joining the Evangelism Committee or singing in the choir, I'll (gulp) sing in the choir!...just please let me sit in the back, please!!"

You and I are followers of Christ.  Granted, we may not have had the experience of the original disciples (what they personally heard and saw as all the wonderful things that their Master (and ours) did in those three years together), but we should know who the Lord is!  There still are great mysteries about God to be sure, but yes-we do know Jesus.

But what that means-as St. Paul suggests here and elsewhere-that we then are given a great responsibility:  "an obligation" to quote Paul from the above verse, to proclaim the gospel!  Many will say, "Well, that isn't my job; that's the job of the pastor!"  Others will think aloud:  "I do other things, proclamation is not one of them!"

Well, there is an argument about what is said here.  No--we do not expect people to stand on the street corner and wave their Bibles at people passing by or chase people down their driveways with "the Good News." We don't necessarily think that you have to be ready at a moment's notice to quote scriptures "at" people in a convincing way that will overwhelm them to join you at church.  Yes, we have people who can and do this on a regular basis-and that is good-however, it is rare.  Jesus says elsewhere that the "harvest is white" (meaning there's lots and lots of people to talk to) but the "laborers are few" (meaning lots of people dismiss themselves and run to their cars....).

And yet, there's another way to "proclaim the gospel."  It's through your daily way of doing things.  It's your daily walk with God that you yourself have that influences people, whether you know it or not.  As we live, care, serve, and help others, we proclaim this gospel that Paul talks about.  And guess what?  That technically makes you, (yikes), an "evangelist"!

You can't get blood out of a turnip, but you can make anyone with an ounce of faith into an evangelist!  Personally, I don't care for turnips, but I love those who are evangelists!

Be who you are.  Do not be afraid to share the good news by being the good neighbor that you can be.  By doing this, you are sharing the gospel-sharing that goodness that comes from God-with others.  You don't have to go to seminary; you don't have to have a high I.Q. You only need to trust in God's faith in you and everything else tends to take care of itself!

Proclaim the gospel. Share who you are and what you have with those who are needy and that's all the proclamation you may need to do!   And, as you venture forth, you will experience His presence in your life more than ever!  To God be the glory!

Amen.

Pastor Jim

SHROVE TUESDAY 

February 21 

6:00 p.m.The men of OSLC (with help from LSM students from ETSU)will once again sponsor

Ash Wednesday February 22

Two worship experiences where Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes will
be celebrated:

12:00 noon    A brief order  (no music)
 6:45 p.m.    A full service of Holy Communion (with music)  

Preachers at OSLC on Wednesdays of Lent (all at 6:45 p.m.)

February 22 -- Pastor Ed Wolff -- Cross of Grace - Jonesborough

February 29 -- Pastor Tom Quickel -- Faith -- Bristol

March 7 --   -- Pastor Rick Oshiek -- Reformation -- Greeneville

March 14     -- Pastor Don Fritz -- Sinking Springs -- Midway

March 21     -- Pastor Sterling Nelson -- Solomon -- Greeneville

 MEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST:
Saturday, February 4, 8:00 AM at Golden Corral.

WELCA ANNUAL TEA:
Sunday, February 19, 2:00 PM at the home of Martha Montgomery.

COUNCIL ORIENTATION:
Saturday, February 4, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Winged Deer Park Board Room.

 MELTING POT:   

Wednesday, February 8. If you would like to help, please sign the list in the hallway.

February 8, 6:00 PM. A one-pot family style meal prepared by Ronda Keffer and Katie Harris will be served. Be sure to sign a meal card in the pew racks if you plan to be present for the meal. Program: Preparations for Disaster.

will meet Thursday, February 9, 6:00 PM.

Saturday, February 11, 1:00 - 3:00 PM in the fellowship hall. The children will meet to make cookies, cards and crafts for our special members that are not able to attend church activities.

WELCA ANNUAL TEA:   

Sunday, February 19, 2:00 PM at the home of Martha Montgomery.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER:  

February 21, 6:00 PM. The men of OSLC (with help from LSM students from ETSU)will once again sponsor the "Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper" beginning at 6:00 p.m. See out the season of Epiphany and prepare for the beginning of Lent! Mardi Gras! A free will offering to help defray the cost of the meal will be appreciated!

FLOWER CHART:  

The flower chart for 2012 is posted on the bulletin board near the fellowship hall. Two families may sign for any Sunday if mutually agreed. Cost is $60.00 (30.00 per vase). The remaining Sundays of January are open; three Sundays in February are open.

Alice Sulkowski; Jason Rakel; Alice Sue Bolyard; Selena Guinn; Roger Hawk; Doug Beier; Ann Stroup; Mike Ackley; Mark Foster; Dara Anderson; Margaret Wilhoit; Judy Maddox; Brandon Knipp; Esther Hasselbeck; Rosemary Beier; Doris Golden; Nancy Bollinger; Nicole Peters; Stephanie Patteson; Terry Iiames; Deborah Hendricksen; Sue Garland; Trish Gradley; Bob Zimmerman, Gary Zimmerman (cousins of Chuck and Carol Hudson)

"Stranger in a Strange Land"