Welcome to an exciting June at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Savior! This month is packed with significant services, fellowship opportunities, and important updates from our Church Council regarding our facilities and summer worship schedule. We invite you to join us as we celebrate faith, community, and the blessings of the season.
9:30 Outdoor Worship Set for June 8 at Challenge Park in Cherry Hill; Church Picnic to Follow
After the success of the outdoor worship and church picnic the last two years the Worship and Music and Fellowship Together ministry teams have planned another one for June 8 at 9:30 this year. There will be no 8:00 worship at the church to provide ample time for the worship team to set up the worship space at the picnic pavilion at Challenge Park. There is limited picnic table seating under the pavilion, so participants are encouraged to bring their own lawn seating chairs for worship and the picnic to follow. Hymns will be sung with acoustic accompaniment and Holy Communion will also be provided. Following the worship service there will be a church picnic with a box lunch provided by Bread Board and Mr. Softee for dessert. Lawn games and other activities for young and old will be offered so get your cornhole toss technique back in shape for some good times with fellow parishioners and friends. We look forward to a fun time at Challenge Grove Park with both parishioners, guests, and friends on June 8 so spread the word! Please contact the church office if you plan to attend the picnic so the Fellowship Together team can best plan for meals or sign up for the picnic at the Fellowship Table in the Narthex on Sunday, May 25 or June 1 deadline. An order form can be found on page 10 of this Messenger (and in a separate dedicated post on our website). The cost is $12 per person or $50 maximum per household.
3 to Affirm Baptism at Confirmation, June 1 at 9:30 Worship
After two years of catechetical faith formation three youth from the congregation will affirm their baptismal faith in the rite of confirmation. There will be a class photo in the sanctuary at 9:00 and reception of gifts and cake in the narthex before the youth will process into the worship with the other worship leaders. They will profess their faith and their desire to live out their baptismal promises with active participation in the work and life of the Church with the help and guidance of God. Moreover, we will offer our affirmation of the same to them as well as to God. As our Confirmands prepare for their big day on June 1 they have participated in a “Courage” pre-confirmation workshop, reviewing the promises they will make during the rite. Pastor Wayne asks you keep these youth in your prayers. God bless Carter Adams, Lillian Gallagher, and Avery Visconti as they approach this momentous step in their life-long journey of faith.
Donuts With Dad on Father’s Day, June 15
Homer Simpson isn’t the only dad who likes donuts! On Father’s Day, June 15, the coffee hour from 9:00-9:30 will feature a variety of donuts for the dads in worship and their family. If you like cream-filled you need to come before Pastor Wayne has his share as they are his favorite. While you’re at it, invite a dad you know to join you that Sunday. Yummo!
Council Approves Return for One 9:00AM Worship Service for July, August
In the months of July and August there will be only one worship time at 9:00 AM with a minimal coffee time before the service. The worship attendance for those two months has historically been significantly lower than during the program year, and the pilot run last year resulted in basically no difference in worship attendance with one rather than two services. This temporary change in July and August will have both practical and congregational benefits and drawbacks.
BENEFITS: Congregants who worship at one time often don’t get to know those who worship at the other worship time. One service in the summer will allow summer worshippers to meet and get to know those they might not see or get to know during the program year. The lack of available acolytes to serve over two worship times is alleviated by only having one service. A 9:00 worship time is still early enough for most who typically worship at 8:00 to worship before their typical Sunday routine and allows 9:30 worship regulars to take advantage of an extra half hour in the morning to allow for day trips they might typically not consider. One service at 9:00 will allow worship leaders to experience a greater sense of Sabbath rest and rejuvenation during the two months prior to the beginning of a program year that is packed with worship, meetings, programs and events on most Sundays of the month.
DRAWBACKS: A 9:00 worship time may be too early for some to realistically get ready for worship on Sunday morning and thereby preclude them from worshiping in person during July and August. In these circumstances the Worship and Music Committee encourages taking advantage of the Livestream worship by clicking on the link found on LCOS’ website. Council hopes this change to the summer worship will be embraced enthusiastically by the congregation and provides an opportunity for greater congregational unity in the future.
Important Future Dates to Remember
- July 6 – Summer Worship Begins, One Service Only @9:00 AM, Coffee Hour@8:30AM
- July 21-25 – VBC from 9:00AM-12:00 noon
- August 2-9 – Summer Mission Trip
- August 22 – Blood Drive 10:00AM-3:00PM
- September 7 – Rally Sunday
