"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdo
m." -Luke 12:32
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In reading the news of the day we can sometimes think that there is much to fear in our world. There are even those who seek to exploit what is fearful in an effort to create division and strife among us. But we worship a God who tells us over and over and over again to not be afraid. I've been thinking about this a lot lately... really, it's hard not to think of this!
As I've contemplated the temptation towards fear I've realized that we have a great opportunity to share the love of God with those around us.
How? By living the grace that we received.
How, again? By treating others with the kindness that we have experienced through Jesus.
You see, one of the unfortunate attitudes that accompany fear, is suspicion (or even hatred) of people we do not know. This suspicion then becomes circular as those who do not know us are also suspicious. So, a simple sounding remedy is to move beyond our comfort zones and build relationships with others. Some simple first steps here are: to be kind, to refrain from passing on unkind words; to learn to recognize God's presence in the world and among the stranger; to be patient; and to above all pray for those we encounter.
This is obviously not a complete list. Maybe you have some suggestions to add and I would be welcome to receive them and share them with our congregation.
Along these lines, in response to some of the violence that we have experienced lately we have been exhibiting cross displays on our lawn. The first display was a little over a year ago, after Charleston. Then, in response to the murders in Orlando, some of us gathered to paint 50 crosses in colors of the rainbow and placed them on our lawn. The response to this display has been amazing and it leads me to believe that we have a great opportunity to share the love of God with our neighbors.
Just this past Sunday I was walking home from worship and a man stopped me on the street and said, "I owe you a thank you." As I had not previously met this man I wondered, "what for?" But before I could ask he said, "that display of crosses was beautiful." He then went on to share more about how the memorial display touched his heart, as well as to share with me some of his own struggles that he is dealing with. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet a neighbor who happened to be Jewish. I was able to experience another aspect of God's kingdom that day.
My hope and prayer is that we, and all of God's children, can find ways to build relationships with our neighbors so that instead of the possibility of fear we experience the reality of God's kingdom on earth.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
Some other news: - We've had four of our Summer Saturday worship services. The next four will be August 6 & 20 and September 10 & 24. After this series we will evaluate and make a decision about possibly continuing them in the fall. The August 20th service will be at the beach after VC Pride. The September 10th service is a great option for those who are planning to volunteer at the Ventura Marathon water station.
Baptism and New Member's Celebration!
August 7, 2016
- Please join us for a cake reception after worship to celebrate the baptism of Ryan and welcome our new members, Anna and Sami.
- August 14th will be a very special worship service as we will have our first confirmation since I have been pastor. Yeah! Congratulations Samantha! Please help us celebrate by joining us for a cake reception after worship.
VC Pride: 11am - 6pm
We will begin to set-up our booth at 9:30am.
- Please join us at our booth on August 20th for VC Pride. We will be letting those attending know simply that God loves them. You can sign up in the Narthex (lobby) to work for an hour or two that day.
- S.O.S- "Service Over the Summer" is in full effect and it's exciting to see all the school supplies in the church. Our worship service on the national day of service (09/11/16) will be dedicated to assembling all these supplies into school kits for Lutheran World Relief.
- We'll also be working a water station at the Ventura Marathon that day... and Pastor Nancy will run the marathon...so this will be a big day for us all! This will actually be our 4th year and those who've done it in the past have had a great time. Please sign up in the Narthex (lobby).
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Nancy
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Ministry of Children, Family and Youth
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NEWS
Dear Confirmation students and families,
Save these dates for some awesome and fun activities during summer break!! Included are a couple of volunteer opportunities.
August 8, 2016
Compassion Project
12:00 - 7:40 PM
Chapel of Change
6701 Alondra Blvd
Paramount, CA 90723
Free
To be determined - date suggestions welcome
Getty Fine Arts Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1679
(310) 440-7300
Free
Want to Volunteer?:
Feeding the Homeless 2nd Sunday of the month
12:00PM to 2:00PM at Lions Park
Messiah Fellowship Church - Check in with Edgar Mohorko
3:00PM - 6:00PM at All Saints Episcopal Church -
Bread of Life Group - Check in with Cindy Morales
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS)
Grab your surfboard and head to the Surf Shack!
August 1-5, 2016 1-4pm
At Cokesbury's Surf Shak, your children will
Catch the Wave of God's Amazing Love! Kids get 'amped' to learn that God Creates, Helps, Loves, Calms, and Sends.
Cost with t-shirt included
1st child: $30 2nd child: $25
3rd child: $20 4th child: $20
Children must be at least 4 years old (no exceptions).
Children ages 12 and up will be encouraged to take a leadership role.
**If the cost of VBS will be a financial burden please let us know. No child will be turned away due to the cost. Reduced fees and scholarships are available.
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Preschool and Kindergarten
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Another super, successful school year and summer school program have concluded. We'd like to thank our students, families and staff for collaborating to make this one of the best Our Redeemer school years on record... now we are fully engaged in planning for the 2016-17 school year to be a great one!
Have a wonderful month, Amy Vega
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Blessing of the Backpacks and Staff Installation
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Sunday, August 21, 2016
Please join us on August 21, 2016 at 10:30am for our Blessing of the Backpacks and Preschool Staff Installation. Just in time for Back to School, we will pray a special blessing over the students (and their backpacks), asking God to guide, protect, and nurture all students for the 2016-17 school year. Students are invited to bring their backpacks with them to Church. We will also recognize, thank and pray for our preschool teachers and staff.
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SERVICE OVER SUMMER PROJECT
 Summer has arrived, and with it, another project for our congregation! Over the summer we will be collecting school supplies in order to assemble School Kits for Lutheran World Relief. We need your help. Each week, we ask that you bring one item from the list below and place it in the bucket at the Altar rail. If you prefer to purchase all items together, you may bring them to church the Sunday of your choice, prior to September 4th. We hope to assemble at least 60 school bags. Bags are being provided and will be assembled on Sunday, September 11th, "God's Work, Our Hands" Sunday.
Items needed for School Kits: - one 30 centimeter ruler, or a ruler with centimeters on one side and inches on the other AUGUST 7
- one pencil sharpener AUGUST 14
- five un-sharpened #2 pencils with erasers; secured together with a rubber band AUGUST 21
- five black or blue ballpoint pens (no gel ink); secured together with a rubber band AUGUST 28
- one 2 ½ "eraser SEPTEMBER 4
Please NOTE: Per Lutheran World Relief, all items must be new, no national flags or military insignia, including camouflage, please. We hope each of you will prayerfully consider being a part of our church Summer Project.
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A church rummage sale is more than selling donated items. It's about letting go of items from our past and present because of downsizing, moving or just because we don't see the need to hold on to them any longer. It's also about working together and enjoying each other as we prepare to open our doors to our neighborhood.
Every successful event is possible because of volunteers willing to give their time. There is much to do so I invite you to consider volunteering Friday, August 12 at 6:00 p.m. to set up tables and help organize items. Another opportunity to volunteer is Saturday morning starting at 5:00 a.m. to put the items on the tables and to help keep things organized throughout the sale. Of course we have the clean-up at the end of the sale. You can come for the entire day or if you can only stay for a couple of hours that is fine.
 Your donation items can be dropped off at the Preschool starting August 9-12 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All items will be priced at $1.00. If you feel your item(s) are worth more than a $1.00,  please put the price on it with a piece of masking tape or sticker. We are asking all clothing to be put on hangers. Please see the RUMMAGE SALE FLYER below.
Please stop by on August 13 and check out our sale items. We anticipate a day filled with fun, fellowship, food and lots of sales.
Thanks, Robin Tribbitt
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7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
We will be accepting donations starting August 9-12 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The items should be placed in the fellowship hall.
We ask that all adult clothing be put on hangers. The children's clothing will be placed on the tables.
Please continue to bring your plastic bags and hangers.
We are asking for donations of the following items:
- Gently worn and clean clothes for all (men, women, children/babies).
- Glassware and cups
- Table linens and cloth napkins
- Complete dinnerware sets
- Accessories (purses, scarves, wallets, belts)
- Furniture in good and clean condition (table lamps, end tables, sofas, love seats, dining sets)
- Shoes in good and clean condition (men, women, children/babies)
- Kitchenware in good and clean condition (pots, pans, utensils)
- Books
- Artwork (paintings, pictures)
- Holiday Decorations in good and clean condition (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, 4th of July)
****Please!! No old T.V's, computers and old electronic items.
It is our plan to have food trucks on site during the event. We ask that you continue hold this event in your prayers. We anticipate having a fun day of food, fellowship and sales. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Robin Tribbitt at 805-205-4313 or by email at rtblue@sbcglobal.net
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Sunday, August 28, 2016
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The Annual Meeting of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and Preschool will be on Sunday, August 28 following worship for presentation of committee reports and to elect new council members.
All annual reports from committees are due into the church office by August 1, 2016.
If you have any church/ preschool event photos from August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016 you would like to share for our Annual Meeting slide show, please send them to secretary@lcoor.org
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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.
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October- Blessing of the Animals
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Looking further ahead...
Bring your pets for a special blessing on October 2, 2016 at 1:00pm.
We are looking for some volunteers for set-up before the service and clean-up after the service. If you can help, please let Pastor Nancy know or call the church office at (805) 983-0612.
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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 juliejnsn1@roadrunner.com or phone (805) 486-5762.
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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
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Step Out in Faith
No Step Out in Faith for the month of August.
Operation LOVE
August 4, 16 at 9:00am,
Coffee Shop
Senior Share
August 8, 22, 29 at 11:45am, Sycamore Senior Village
Tuesday's Bible Study
August 9 at 9:00 a.m. Contact Julie Jensen for location.
Men's Breakfast
August 13 at 7:30am
Tomas Cafe in Oxnard
Council Meeting
August 8 at 7:00pm
Women's Breakfast
August 20 at 9:00 a.m.
Tomas Cafe in Oxnard
The Women's Book Club
August 23 at 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
Preschool Board Meeting
August 31 at 12:00pm
Our Redeemer Coffee Room
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