May 2016

  
 

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

 
This photo is the month of May illustration for my wall calendar. I'm pretty sure that the designers chose this verse and art to recognize the theme of Pentecost which we recognize May 15. This is the day that we remember and celebrate the dramatic coming of the Holy Spirit into the lives of the early believers as they gathered for morning worship. I would have loved to be there, just to see all the excitement.

I know that the usual imagery of the Holy Spirit is fire, but when I think of pouring I can't help but think of water. This verse about God's love being poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, reminds me of abundance. I imagine water flowing over the edge of a glass, or pitcher, or banks of a river. Here, at Our Redeemer I see that abundance in the ways our members care for one another, in the way our preschool staff is able to touch the lives of children and their parents, and in the interaction that I am able to have with our JOLT and Confirmation kids.

As we go about our lives in May, let's look for the signs around us of the Spirits presence. Where do we see abundance and generosity? How do we experience the flowing of the Spirit into our hearts? Into the hearts of others? I think that the better we can recognize the Spirits work then the better we are able to live hopefully into the future. In fact this was the message of the verse that was shared in my calendar. Here it is in context:

"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." -Romans 5:1-5

So really, my friends it is about hope...hope that is possible through the presence of God's love in our lives. This month (and every month actually) let's share our stories of hope with one another.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Nancy


Sunday, May 15, 2016
10:30am Bilingual Worship
Join us as we celebrate the Holy Spirit




 
Join us in May for the following Saturday walks at 8am

May 7th (meet at Our Redeemer) 
and 
May 21st (meet at Tomas Cafe)
 
On May 21st, we will meet at  Tomas Cafe (622 South "A" Street in Oxnard) at 8am. After our walk, we will gather for breakfast with the Women of Our Redeemer. Men are also welcome! 

If you would like to join us just for breakfast, please meet at 9am at Tomas Cafe. 

Step Out in Faith is a great opportunity to get your exercise!  Step Out in Faith meets every  2nd and  4th Thursday at 9am in the church. Everyone is welcome whether he/she is pushing a baby stroller or using a cane or a walker. No need to sign-up... just meet with Pastor Nancy at the above mentioned times in the church.
Ministry of Children, Family and Youth


  VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, (VBS) is set for
August 1-5 from 1pm-4pm. 
VBS Participant Registration Begins May 25, 2016

This week long 3 hour a day program would not be possible without its volunteers. If you or someone you know or a teenager you have or know would be a great help to VBS please contact me, Jade Ortiz vis e-mail at [email protected] or Carmen Ruiz at 805. 983. 0612. 

Volunteer questionnaires will be available by May 25th in the church office bulletin and preschool office (these must be completed and returned in order to volunteer). 
  


Grab your surfboard and head to the Surf Shack!
 
August 1-5, 2016, 1-4pm
Registration Begins May 25th, 2016
 
At Cokesbury's Surf Shak, your children will
 Catch the Wave of God's Amazing Love!  Kids get 'amped' to learn God Creates, Helps, Loves, Calms, and Sends.


Last Day of JOLT and CARES Tutoring
for the school year 2015-16

May 18th: Last Day of JOLT
May 26th: Last Day of CARES Tutoring



A heartfelt THANKS to our incredible JOLT and CARES Tutoring volunteers for all you do and for making the 2015-16 Youth Programs a success!

Preschool and Kindergarten
 

        
First and foremost, I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to the staff of our school for all their hard work and dedication to the children. They are the ones who make our school the best in our community!
      
With only seven weeks of class left before the end of this regular school term, the students and teachers will be busy getting prepared for change. The graduations for those children leaving Our Redeemer to enter Kindergarten  or first grade will be on June 9 and 10. After the graduations, all the children of the school and their families are invited to a "Cookies and Punch Social." This has become a special time for the families to socialize at the end of the year. 

                                             
Tile Fundraiser: April 5- May 5, 2016
Color Me Mine at The Collection has
graciously donated paint materials and brushes for this fundraiser!

Have a wonderful month,
Amy Vega
Rummage Sale

 
Save your items, mark your calendar and volunteer for our Rummage Sale on August 13th, 2016. The time is to be determined.
 
If you would like to volunteer please attend the planning meeting on Thursday, May 19th at 6:30pm in the Church Coffee Room. Contact Robin Tribbitt for any questions at (805) 205-4313.

Budget Meeting


Budget Information Sessions
Q & A: May 22 and May 29

Members are invited to attend two Budget Information Sessions on May 22 and May 29.

May 22 at 12:00pm (following worship)
May 29 at 9:30am (before worhsip)


Sunday, June 5, 2016

Our Annual Budget Meeting and will take place on Sunday, June 5th, immediately following our 10:30am bilingual worship service. Members will receive a notification letter in the mail. We look forward to your participation in this important work of our congregation.
Channel Islands Conference Assembly
Channel Islands Conference Assembly -
Being Lutheran In a Multi-Religious America
 
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is divided up into small geographical areas called "conferences." Our congregation is part of the Channel Islands Conference, which is holding an assembly on May 4th at 6:30 PM. It will be hosted at California Lutheran University (Ullman 100 and 101) with guest speaker Dr. Rahuldeep Singh Gill. He will be speaking about "Being Lutheran In a Multi-Religious America." All are welcome.
Synod Assembly

Save the dates for this year's Synod Assembly, which will be a beautiful time of Worship, Community, Learning Opportunities and Business.
 
Pre-assembly: Day of Learning
"Welcoming the Stranger"
Thursday, June 2
 
Synod Assembly
Workshops/Business Sessions
Fri., June 3rd-Sat., June 4th
 
Assembly to be held at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel
5985 W. Century Blvd., L.A.

See the narthex bulletin board for more information on this event and how to register or call the church office at (805) 983-0612.
Opportunities to Get Involved


  • Pentecost Sunday is May 15. We will have a bilingual service at 10:30am to celebrate the Holy Spirit. Wear Red.
  •  LA Pride is  June 10-12. Pastor Nancy has volunteered the last three years and is thinking of going on June 11th. She is looking for others who would like to volunteer with her. Let her know by May 8 so that she can sign you up for a shift that will allow you and her to car pool. 
  • Mark your calendars for September 11, 2016. This will be the 4th annual "God's Work. Our Hands" volunteer Sunday. We will participate in the Ventura Marathon that day with a water booth. Pastor Nancy will also be running the marathon.

"God's work. Our hands."
Sunday Sept. 11, 2016

"God's work. Our hands."  Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. 

The date for the 2016 dedicated day of service is Sunday, Sept. 11. Not possible to participate on this date? Please consider another day. This year's date also marks the 15-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

As you continue to share God's love with your neighbors, whether it's volunteering at a shelter or cleaning a park, consider thanking and praying for the emergency responders in your area.

"The world can be a dangerous place. But there are some who, when disaster strikes, run toward the danger. These are the first responders, firefighters, police and EMTs, who live out their baptismal vocation in service to their communities in times of intense need. They do God's work with their hands." - ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton

Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ - every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life - flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God's grace. 

You work every day to make your community a better place. Let's do this work together! Visit ELCA.org/dayofservice and get started on your planning today.

WELCA


The 19th Convention of the
Southwest California Synod Women of the ELCA
 "Blessed to be a Blessing"
 
Friday afternoon, October 14th
through noon, Sunday, October 16th
at the Grand Vista Hotel
999 Enchanted Way in Simi Valley
 
Registration deadline is September 30th.
A 50% deposit sent by July 1st will hold your spot.

 
Bible Study Leader: Rev. Erin Martinson, CHTP
Chaplain/Worship Leader: Rev. Nancy Switzler
Churchwide Representative: To Be Announced
 
All Women Are Welcome To Attend:
Women from Southwest California Synod churches are urged to send a representing delegate.
 
Weekend Packages Available:
See registration forms available in the narthex or contact Julie
Jensen, convention registrar.
 
Questions:
Contact Julie at [email protected] or phone (805) 486-5762.
Monthly Events
Worship/ Misa
Bilingual Worship every Sunday at 10:30am/ Misa cada domingo en bilingue a las 10:30am
 
Worship Warm-up
Every Sunday at 9am

Singing Warm-up
Every Sunday at 10am

CARES Tutoring
Tuesdays and Thursdays
3:00pm - 5:00pm 
Last Day of CARES 5/26/16

JOLT
Every Wednesday,
4:00-6:00pm. Drop Off Location: Church Narthex
Last Day of JOLT: 5/18/16

Step Out in Faith
May 12, 26 at 9am
May 7, 21 at 8am

Operation LOVE
May 12, 17  at 9:00am,
Coffee Shop

Senior Share
May 2,16, 23 at 11:45am, 
Sycamore Senior Village
 
Tuesday's Bible Study
May 10 at 9:00 a.m. Contact Julie Jensen for location.

Men's Breakfast
May 14 at 7:30am
Tomas Cafe in Oxnard
 
Council Meeting
May 9 at  7:00pm
     
Women's Breakfast
May 21 at 9:00 a.m.
Tomas Cafe in Oxnard
 
Preschool Chapel
May 17, 18
 
The Women's Book Club
May 24 at 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
 
Preschool Board Meeting
May 23 at 12:00pm
Our Redeemer Coffee Room







Our Church and Preschool Office will be closed Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day.

Worship Every Sunday at 10:30am
 
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and Preschool | (805) 983-0612 | [email protected] | http://www.lcoor.org
721 Doris Avenue
Oxnard, CA 93030