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The monthly newsletter of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church
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The light shines in the darkness… John 1:5
Volume 62, Issue 2 February 2015
OAK HARBOR LUTHERAN CHURCH a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
1253 NW 2nd Avenue 360-678-2264
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 www.oakharborlutheran.org
IN THIS ISSUE
Singing backup,
pg. 2
Lent is on the
horizon,
pg. 3
Celebrating our
Worship & Music
Ministry
pg. 4
3
rd annual Date
Night,
pg. 6
Compassion
Ministry highlights
ELCA advocacy,
pg. 9
OHLC Staff Home Phone
Pastor:
Jeffrey Spencer (360) 279-0413
Pastor of Care Ministries
Marc Stroud (360) 632-4243
Preschool Director:
Sara Harbaugh (360) 941-1484
Parish Secretary:
Carol Wiskow (360) 720-2451
Newsletter Editor:
Martha Ellis (360) 678-2264
Custodian:
Salvador Carvallo (360) 675-3957
Church Fax (360) 679-9795
Church Phone (360) 679-1561
Click on these links
for the February newsletter inserts:
The ELCA’s monthly Prayer Ventures:
http://www.elca.org/en/Resources/Prayer-Ventures
The Northwest Washington Synod’s insert, The Spirit:
http://www.lutheransnw.org/files/publications/spirit/Feb2015Spirit.pdf
OHLC’s website:
www.oakharborlutheran.org
This issue was snail-mailed January 29, 2015
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Honoring marriage by singing backup
Let marriage be held in honor by all. Hebrews 13:4
get excited about marriage enrichment ministry, so I’m going to
have a ball this February. I have a two speaking engagements this
month with MOPS [Mothers of Preschoolers] groups in Oak
Harbor and Anacortes on the topic of marriage care. We’ll be having our
third annual “Date Night at OHLC” marriage enrichment event on
Valentine’s Day. We have the fifth of our six-session “Art of Marriage”
class in February, which has seen good attendance in recent months.
We’ll also be celebrating the 60th wedding anniversary of Willard and
Dottie Krigbaum after the 10:30 service on February 15. Yes, February
will be chock-full of opportunities to encourage, support, and celebrate
healthy marriages.
Of course, there is much more to the church’s ministry than
marriage enrichment. Single, widowed, and divorced people are just as
welcome and worthy in the life of the church as those who are married.
In fact, as Christians we have a special obligation to share God’s love
and mercy with those who may be lonely, grieving, or brokenhearted.
Lent is also beginning this month, and in both our Sunday worship and
our midweek gatherings we will all find ourselves on the road to the
cross, where God’s grace is poured out for all, regardless of marital
status.
However, as the passage from Hebrews cited above tells us,
marriage is something we are all called to hold in honor. A quick flip
through the letters of the New Testament reminds us that marriage
instruction and encouragement is a frequent concern for the biblical
authors, popping up in 1st Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1
st
Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, and 1st Peter. Martin Luther wrote two major
treatises on the topic. Supporting and encouraging our married brothers
and sisters in Christ as they live out their vows is something all
Christians are called to do.
I like how pastor and author Ted Cunningham puts it. He is fond
of saying that every marriage is a duet in need of backup singers
harmonizing in the background. He points to the Song of Solomon as a
biblical example of this. As the couple sings to one another, their verses
are punctuated with periodic encouragement from the Daughters of
Jerusalem (Song of Solomon 1:4b, et al), who enter the song like a re-
curring Greek chorus, offering their encouragement and support. This is
the calling of all Christians – to sing backup for the marriages around us.
All marriages need our support, but the military marriages so
prevalent in a community such as ours are especially in need of some
encouraging voices harmonizing in the background. These marriages
bear the stress of frequent moves, long separations during deployments,
and distance from family members who might have otherwise served as
marriage mentors. Just as the New Testament authors provided marriage
instruction and encouragement to the congregations and individuals
addressed in their letters, so too are we called to provide opportunities
for enriching the marriages around us – especially those bearing the
weight of additional stresses.
In addition to a bevy of well-documented societal benefits, a
healthy, loving marriage gives us a glimpse of God’s love. This is
precisely the claim St. Paul makes in Ephesians 5:32, where he describes
a loving marriage as a reflection of the love Christ has for the church. I
think of Willard and Dottie, who have been loving and serving one
another for 60 years. They have served the church faithfully together.
They have traveled the world together, including participating together in
medical mission trips to Uganda with our Watoto team. They have
journeyed together into some dark valleys of personal grief, coming out
the other side hand-in-hand. They are utterly committed to one another.
We’ve seen Willard pushing Dottie around in a wheelchair recently as
she’s been recovering from some health issues. Willard has been fierce
in protecting his beloved, fending off anyone whose well-intended
touches would bring his bride pain. This, to me, is a thousand times
more romantic than any bodice-ripper novel or cheap
Hollywood hook-up. This is what real love, godly
love, looks like.
The primary symbol for the Christian church is
the cross, not a wedding ring. However, there is
something profoundly Christ-like in the duet being
sung between Willard and Dottie. In their commit-
ment to one another I think we can all see something
worth honoring, something worth celebrating, something worth
encouraging others to strive for in their own marriages. I’ll sing backup
for the song they’re singing any day, and I hope you will too.
Pastor Jeffrey R. Spencer
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The Gospel of John: A visual study
Our study of John’s gospel continues in February, meeting at
9:15 AM in the library/fireside room. Here’s the schedule of readings
and topics for our February Bible studies:
February 4: Ministry of the Month Presentation
February 8: John 12:1-50 (Bethany, Entry into Jerusalem)
February 15: John 13:1-20 (Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet)
February 22: John 13:21-14:14 (Commandments & Promises)
Jr. High Luth Youth
The Junior High Luth Youth group
(grades 6-8) will be meeting on Sunday, Feb-
ruary 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 for games, snacks,
fellowship, and prayer. Don’t miss it!
Art of Marriage series sizzles in February
Just in time for Valentine’s Day! The fifth of our six-
part video series The Art of Marriage is entitled “Love
Sizzles,” and discusses important issues of intimacy
and affection in marriage. This session will be held on
Sunday, February 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.
Each session stands alone, so it isn’t too late to join us! Is
your spouse deployed or otherwise unavailable? It is OK to
come solo! Child care is provided. Your marriage is important – join
us for The Art of Marriage and make yours a masterpiece! Also, don’t
miss our Date Night at OHLC on Valentine’s Day, February 14. (See the
related article on page 10.
FEB. 5: COUNCIL & COACHES POTLUCK MEETING
Council members and coaches, please note our quarterly potluck
meeting will be held on Thursday, February 5 beginning at 5:30 PM.
Plan on bringing a dish to share, along with your plans and prayers for
OHLC in the months ahead.
Join us for worship on Wednesdays this Lent!
February 18: Ash Wednesday We mark the beginning of Lent
on February 18 with Ash Wednesday
services at Noon and 7:00 PM. Services
include the imposition of ashes and
Holy Communion. Please note there
will be no soup meal following this service.
February 25 - March 25: Worship & Soup Suppers
We continue through the Lenten season with Wednesday
gatherings for worship and soup suppers. Services will be held at Noon
and 6:00 PM, with soup suppers following immediately. Please sign up
at the display in the narthex to bring soup and/or bread.
Holden Evening Prayer will be our liturgy for our midweek
services, which will center on the theme:
Faces at the Cross
Using classic monologues by J.
Barrie Shepherd, OHLC members will
dramatize the thoughts and experiences of
those who stood at the foot of Jesus’ cross.
February 25: Caiaphas, the High Priest
March 4: Mary Magdalene
March 11: The Centurion
March 18: The Penitent Thief
March 25: Mary, Mother of our Lord
These powerful monologues
provide profound and surprisingly uplifting
insights into the meaning of the cross, and
are sure to stir and deepen our faith this
Lenten season.
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February’s focus is OHLC’s Worship & Music Team!
ew people realize how much it takes to conduct
worship services “in good order” (as St. Paul
encourages in 1st Corinthians 14:40).
Much is done behind the scenes and at the
margins of our worship to make for smoothly-
running services which enable people to enter into
God’s presence with minimal distractions. We have
the altar guild which sets the table for us and, as one
member of the altar guild puts it, “takes care of
Jesus’ dishes.” We have communion bread bakers
who regularly supply us with bread for Holy
Communion. We have ushers who direct people to
the proper places at the proper times. And of course we have musicians.
Where would we be without them? Good church musicians not only
have musical skills, but also good liturgical sensibilities and the ability to
lead others in congregational song. We are blessed with a deep bench of
great church musicians at OHLC.
Our Ministry of the Month is our Worship and Music Team. We
intend to celebrate their work this month, expressing our gratitude for all
the behind-the-scenes work they do. We also intend to add to their ranks
as we invite others to consider how they might help in this important
work. Watch the Opportunity Form throughout February as we look for
new people to provide special music, or serve as ushers or assisting
ministers, or make communion bread, or help to wash Jesus’ dishes.
Worship is central to who we are as Christians. It is the hub of
everything we do at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. This February, we
give thanks for all who make our worship life so vibrant, well-planned,
and consistently life-giving. I also hope you will prayerfully consider the
opportunities we will put before you this month to contribute to this team
effort as we worship God together.
On Sunday, February 1, I’ll be giving a presentation as part of
the Worship and Music Team’s Ministry of the Month. It is called
Shaped by the Word: The Biblical Roots of the Liturgy. Come join us
in the library/fireside room at 9:15 AM.
Pastor Jeffrey R. Spencer
Notes from our Director of Music:
February is Worship and Music Month. Hooray!!!
We would love to see people join us to sing, play hand-
bells and/or play other instruments Please don’t be shy; step
forward and let us hear from you.
Our choirs would love to grow. We have Morning Glory at the 8
AM service, Senior Choir at the 10:30, and Praise Team and Children’s
Choir sing various times at both services. Do you feel that you can’t
sing, can’t carry a tune, but would still love to participate? Then Harbor
Bells, our handbell choir, is for you! We can help you read the music,
and it’s surely a blessing to bring music in all these forms to our worship.
Consider participating in other ways, too, such as ushers or altar
guild. It’s amazing how little energy it takes when lots of people work
together – and it’s fun, too! Don’t hang back. Step forward into our
congregation’s worship and music ministry and take an active part.
If you play an instrument, I would love to know that. We often
need some accompaniment for the choirs, and I’d like to put together a
group to play special music. Please let me know how I can help get you
involved. Come be a voice for Christ.
Verna Morgan, Director of Music
Actions & elections
Our semi-annual meeting was held at 9:15 on Sunday, Jan. 18.
Actions included an affirmative vote to update our constitution to bring it
into conformity with the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations.
We heard a report from the audit committee and adopted a budget for
2015. Elections were also held. Steve and Christy Marx were reelected
to serve as our representatives to Lutherwood. Marc Stroud and Carol
Reafs were elected as representatives to Josephine Home in Stanwood.
Mary Brock was elected as a voting member of the NW Washington
Synod Assembly in Lynnwood on May 15-16. (As there were no other
nominations, the church council will seek to appoint the remaining
allotted voting members.) We also heard a report from the Forestry
Management Team, which explained the need to remove several listing
alder trees on the south end of our property. The Endowment Committee
report detailed our 2015 distributions. Thanks to all for participating in
our January semi-annual meeting. Copies of the financial reports re-
quested at the meeting are available on the welcome desk in the narthex.
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Lutheran Men in Mission
uring 2015 OHLC is looking at more ways that it can become
involved with the Spin Café. This includes an Endowment Fund
contribution and Spin being selected as an upcoming Ministry of
the Month. The Lutheran Men in Mission group is exploring further
hands-on involvement and wants to open up their February 7th
meeting
to everyone (Lutheran women, too!) who might be interested in finding
out more about this local organization. Join us for breakfast at 8 AM
at the Spin Café, 658 SE Bayshore (behind the Island Transit building).
Spin Café is an IRC 501(c)(3) all-
volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization
dedicated to Serving People In Need (SPIN) in the
North Whidbey Island/Oak Harbor area. The Spin
Café currently provides free homemade, nutritious
meals in a sit-down restaurant-type atmosphere on
Tuesdays and Thursdays between 4:00 and 6:00
PM (they’re looking to expand meal service). They’re also open on
Saturdays, 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM, where individuals can come to relax,
access resource information, get relief from inclement weather, and
connect with others. Spin not only serves homeless adults/teens/families
and seniors on fixed incomes but also anyone who needs a meal. There
are families in the area with at least one working adult that find it hard to
make ends meet and Spin is there providing nutritious meals, resource
information and hygiene supplies (soap, shampoo, tooth brushes, and
other toiletries). Spin Café serves everyone. During the summer
months, Spin partners with Food Lifeline for a summer meal program
providing healthy lunches and snacks Monday through Saturday to
preschool and school age children. Spin is also working with the
Midway High School Transition Program providing vocational training
and work experience for students. Spin is much more than a soup
kitchen. The Spin Café is providing much needed support, help, and a
sense of community within our greater Oak Harbor area.
Our thanks to OHLC’s Karola Cornelius for providing this
information for the newsletter. Join us for breakfast on Feb. 7 to find out
more about the Spin Café, their long term goals, and volunteer
opportunities.
Brotherhood of Saint Bernard
e will have our regular lunch meetings on Tuesday, February10 &
24, from noon to 1:30 in the Herrigstad fellowship hall. It has
occurred to some of the faithful that for whatever reason we’re
being overlooked by many as a viable group to not only dine with, but
share our faith stories, prayer concerns and study the Scriptures. One of
the initial goals of forming this group was to have a time to dig into the
Scriptures together for questions, answers, and insights, and even gather
some “gems” from our Bible scholars. With that in mind, we encourage
you to take some time to pray about why you should, could, or would
attend (or not) our lunch/meetings.
Tom Piper has often ended invitations and announcements with
the simple phrase: “Come and see.” Why? It comes from the
encouragement of Phillip to Nathaniel just after Nathaniel’s outburst,
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Philip’s response is,
“Come and see.” Now look at the next verse... when Jesus saw
Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, ‘here is a true Israelite, in whom
there is nothing false.’ WOW!
So, come and see!
The Old Dogs & Young Pups
of the Brotherhood of St. Bernard
t’s really happening this time: The Will & Estate Planning
Seminar will be held Sunday, February 8, beginning at 12:00
noon in the library/fireside room. A light lunch will be provided;
to help us prepare, please make a note on your opportunity form on
Sunday, Feb. 1, if you plan to attend.
Our presenter is Brian L. Stiles, an attorney in private practice in
Sedro-Woolley. He received his undergraduate degree from Pacific
Lutheran University in 1978 and his law degree from the University of
Puget Sound in 1981. His practice focuses on personal injury, worker’s
compensation and estate planning. He is a member of Bethlehem
Lutheran Church.
Bob Wall
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CALLING ALL MARRIED COUPLES:
Join us for our THIRD ANNUAL
Date Night @
OHLC! on Valentine’s Day
Saturday, February 14, 6:00-8:00 PM
This year we are changing up our program.
We’ll begin by gathering in the sanctuary
to watch a session from the renowned marriage enrichment seminar:
“Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage”
This program by Pastor Mark Gungor
is informative, rooted in scripture, and very, very funny.
It will be an evening of laughing, learning, and lovin’!
Please note that instead of a potluck dinner this year,
we are going to have a catered dessert after the video.
THIS EVENT IS FREE.
CHILD CARE IS PROVIDED.
Invite your married friends to this fun evening!
RSVPs REQUIRED BY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 RSVP via the Opportunity Form, or by e-mailing Pastor Spencer at
Greetings from your Table Fellowship Team!
With the season of Lent almost upon us,
we’re making plans for our congregation’s
traditional series of soup and bread meals after
the midweek worship services. Sign-up
sheets will be available soon in the narthex;
it really helps us to know how much will be
provided, so please be sure to sign up if you’ll
be bringing bread or a pot of soup. Remember, it’s Lent – no desserts,
please! We can also use some help before and/or afterwards with set-up,
serving, and clean-up.
We’ll be gathering twice a week during Lent – for Sunday
worship as well as midweek services at noon and 6:00 PM. Why not
take advantage of the wonderful opportunity of midweek services
(there’s more information on page 5 of this newsletter) to invite your
friends and neighbors?
The Table Fellowship Team
A few words about Sunday morning coffee hour
For coffee hour during the Lenten season, the Table
Fellowship team will only be arranging to make and serve
coffee and tea for our fellowship time on Sunday mornings. People are
still welcome to sign up to bring snacks, especially if you are celebrating
a birthday, anniversary, or the like. However, those who sign up will be
responsible for cleaning up all food-related garbage and/or dishes. You
can sign up on the whiteboard outside the kitchen.
Thanks to our Table Fellowship team, who will still be plenty
busy this Lent with our Lenten soup suppers. Thanks to those who will
choose to bring goodies. Thanks to everyone else for your patience if we
should have a Sunday or two this Lent without snacks!
Coffee Sponsors needed: We’ve made a commitment to use Fair Trade
coffee for our Sunday morning fellowship time and other events. The
generous support of our Coffee Sponsors ensures good coffee for a good
cause. If you can make an occasional gift of $25, we invite you to sign
up on the narthex bulletin board, then remember to put your contribution
in the offering plate and designate it “Coffee Sponsor.” Thank you!
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A ministry of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church
ew Year’s blessings from the children of His Kids Pre-school!
The children welcomed the new year by decorating a star to
remind us of the one that the Wise Men followed so long ago to
the Christ Child. We continued the month learning about the winter
season, snow and the animals of the North and South Poles. The kids
creatively made seals, polar bears, penguins, snow people, and a flurry of
snowflakes for the classroom. We finished up the month learning about
our community helpers: from fire fighters, police officers, to dentists
and doctors and many others who help our neighborhood.
During January and continuing into February, we have been
having special classroom visits with some of those community helpers.
Officer Peabody from the OHPD stopped in and shared with the children
about personal safety (and to let us take a look inside his patrol car!) and
soon the Fire Department will be rolling by to discuss fire safety and
have us take a tour of one their fire trucks out in the church parking lot.
In January, we started the Star Student program.
For this second half of the school year, each student will get a
chance to shine for a week by bringing a poster about them-
selves and their families to share with the class and with you
as well. Be sure to take a look at these wonderful posters
on the bulletin boards outside the classroom! During their
special week, the child has the opportunity to bring a snack to share with
their fellow classmates, sit on the star square at circle time, and be a line
leader as well as many other fun things. The Star Students for the month
of January were Joshua Robertson, Graham Rueter, and Anika
Nienhuis in the morning class, with Breann Johnson, Gabriel
Charnas, and Jeremih Crusoe in the afternoon class. Look for the
continuation of Star students in the coming months.
The question of the month for our preschoolers was: If you
were a snowflake, where would you land? Here are their imaginative
answers!
Morning Class:
Raelee: on the ice Willow: at the park
Andrew T.: in a puddle Reagan: in the water
Lillian: on ice Andrew L.: on a bird
Arin: on the tree Evelyn: on a plant
William: on the roof Chloe: on a car
Danica: in the ocean Anika: on the roof
Joshua: on a helicopter Lucy: on a tree
Graham: in a frozen big puddle Winter: on snow
Afternoon Class
Nicolas: on the ground Lazlo: in snow
Emma: on a mountain with snow Jeremih: on the ice
Breann: at the North Pole Torrey: in the snow
Codey: on my really high roof Gabriel: in Florida
Amarina: on a tree Hudson: at the North Pole
Dominic: in the snow Daulton: on the tree
Jack: at the North Pole at Santa’s house
May the peace of the Lord land upon you and may it let your
inner star shine!
Miss Sara, Miss Elva, Miss Michelle
THIS JUST IN: OHLC’s Amy Bruce, co-coordinator of the local
Mothers of Preschool (MOPS) group, sends word they’re doing a Febru-
ary fundraiser project through an organization called Clothes For The
Cause. All household textiles in ANY condition (including clothing,
bedding, drapes, throw pillows, towels, and much more, usable or not)
will be accepted, sorted, and passed along to local thrift stores or
recycled. CFTC recycles anything in poor condition into insulation or
wiping rags or breaks it down into reclaimed fiber. For more informa-
tion, check your bulletin announcement pages on the Sundays in
February!
Our hearts go out to those who have recently suffered the loss of
loved ones…
…to Tom Piper and family following the January 25th death of his dear
wife, Ellie. The Pipers joined our congregation 6 years ago; Ellie will be
remembered as a gentle soul who was much loved. Her memorial
service will be held at OHLC on Saturday, January 31 at 3:00 PM.
…to Ruth Culbertson and family, following the death of her father, the
Reverend Paul Jordan in Bellingham.
…to Peggy Koch and family, following the death of her sister, Wendy
LeBlanc in California.
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Opportunities for fellowship, study and service Blanket Workshop Blanket Workshop meets Tuesday & Wednesday,
Feb. 3 & 4, beginning at 9:00 AM in the fellowship hall to
work on quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Extra hands are
always appreciated, and you don’t have to know how to sew –
why not drop by and see what we’re doing and how you might
be able to help?
Circles Women’s circles meet regularly for Bible study, fellowship, and
service projects. Questions? Contact the church office, 679-1561.
2/2 & 16 Lydia Circle meets at 6:30 PM in the education wing
2/5, 12, 26 Deborah Circle meets at 10:00 AM in the library
2/17 Rebecca Circle meets at 10:00 AM in the library
Deborah Circle notes: We’ll be finishing our discussion of the book
Convictions by Marcus Borg and beginning a new study series from the
Gather magazine, entitled “Transforming Life and Faith.” (Materials
are printed in the September through February issues, so start looking
for them now! Remember, Gaye told us to hold on to them…)
Feb. 5: Chapter 10, Christians Are Called to Peace and Nonviolence
Feb. 12: Chapter 11, To Love God is to Love Like God
Feb. 19: Possible trip to Olympia to attend the Interfaith Advocacy
Day – check with Trudy Decker for more information, 360-
678-2007
Feb. 26: September Gather magazine, Session 1, “Transformation and
Conversion,” pages 30-35
Any questions? Contact Gaye Rodriguey 360-678-3561.
Heart & Hand Our handwork group, Heart & Hand, meets at 9:30 AM in the
comfortable chairs of the prayer room on Friday, Feb. 20.
Bring your own handwork project, work on baptismal
banners, or help make infant sweaters and hats for baby care kits for
Lutheran World Relief. Donations of yarn are always welcome!
Coupeville Book Group
The Coupeville Book Group will be meeting on Tuesday,
February 3 at 7:00 PM in Gaye Rodriguey’s home, 228 Rhodena Drive,
Coupeville. The book is And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini;
discussion will be led by Jan Heideger.
“So, then. You want a story and I will tell you one. But just the one...”
It begins in 1952. Ten-year-old Abdullah and his younger sister, Pari, are everything to each other. What happens to them, at the despairing hand of their father, will test the unshakable bonds of family and irrevocably change not just their own lives, but those of multiple generations.
In this tale revolving around just not parents and children but brothers, sisters, cousins and caretakers, Khaled Hosseini explores the many ways in which family nurture, wound, betray, honor and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most. Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe – from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek Island of Tinos – the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page. Fiction, 421 pages
For more information about this group, contact Gaye Rodriguey,
678-3561, [email protected]
Second Wednesday Book Group
The Second Wednesday Book Group meets Wednesday,
February 11, at 1:00 PM in the church library for a discussion of
Descendants, by Kaui Hart Hemmings:
Set against the lush, panoramic backdrop of Hawaii, Descendants tells the story of an unconventional family forced to come together and recreate its own legacy. After his wife Joanie dies and leaves him with two out-of-control daughters to raise, Matt must examine what he owes not only to the dead but what he owes to the living.
Fiction, 283 pages
For more information about this group, contact Leona McKee,
675-5712, [email protected] .
9
Roadside litter pick-up: Thank you to Dean, Evan, Margaret,
Kathryn, and Colleen, for their help on Saturday, January 10. Ten bags
of trash were collected along OHLC’s adopted 2-mile stretch of Highway
20 north of Oak Harbor. Mark your calendar – our next pick-up will be
April 11!
Pat Dallen, coordinator
Stephen Ministry notes: We will not be having our regular monthly
meeting in February. Our meeting the following month will be shifted to
4:00 PM Wednesday, March 11 (rather than the usual day and time). At
the March meeting, Pastor Stroud will be presenting some tips on
techniques of Active Listening.
Watoto update: Thank you from the Watoto Team for your support as
we were highlighted as January’s Mission of the Month, and for your
prayers on behalf of those participating in this year’s medical mission
trip to Uganda. Our travelers are due back at the end of January, and
we’ll have a report soon on their adventures.
Judy Lycksell
ELCA Advocacy is on the Compassion Ministry Agenda
ne of the Compassion Team goals is to keep you informed on
ELCA Advocacy and offer you the opportunity to participate
should you so choose. You can get more details at
http://www.elca.org/ ; click on the Our Work tab, which gives a drop-
down menu that includes Publicly Engaged Church, which yields
Advocacy.
We continue to pray for our elected officials and all who govern
this nation and the team is working to build connections with new
members of Congress.
Conclusion of UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru
Mary Minette, ELCA Advocacy’s director of environmental
policy, returned from the U.N. Conference on Climate Change in Lima,
Peru, last month. Going in to the conference, the U.N. hoped to create a
global treaty to help limit global warming to 3.6 degrees F above pre-
industrial times – a necessary limit which would prevent further disasters
and high humanitarian costs. An official treaty will be decided in 2015
in Paris, but due to the involvement of various lobbies, the plans in Lima
were far from reaching the 3.6-degree goal. Minette reports that the most
challenging concern facing world leaders is how much developing
countries will be expected to invest in cutting their emissions.
Additional international funding will likely be needed for these countries.
Lutheran response to police violence issues
Last month, Lutherans helped take action on police violence by
encouraging the Senate to pass the Death in Custody Reporting Act. The
successfully passed act will require law enforcement agencies to report
all deaths of people held in police custody to the Department of Justice,
serving to improve transparency and local accountability.
Lutheran State Advocacy Offices set policy agendas and begin
important initiatives throughout the country
As we begin the year, our fellow advocates in Lutheran state
public policy offices have already begun working toward positive policy
changes as states begin (or continue) their legislative sessions. Find out
all about the vast and incredibly important work of Lutheran advocates
by reading updates from the ELCA Advocacy Blog!
Carol Wall
Thank you to the congregation of Oak Harbor
Lutheran Church for your prayer support and
expressions of loving concern during my recuperation
following back surgery. I’ve been especially
thankful for your amazing patience as I’ve eased
back into the full-time job at my desk in the
secretary’s office.
In Christ,
Carol Wiskow, parish secretary
10
News from Russia Ken received a recent e-mail from Philipp Zanko, who has been our
English-speaking contact at our sister congregation in Kazan. Philipp
and his family will soon be moving to Belarus and these excerpts from
his letter gives us some insight into his background.
I believe that my move to Belarus is not an accident. My grand-
father – also Philipp Zanko – was born in a small Belorussian village,
Zanki. In 1920 he went to war with Poland as a Red Army soldier (his
mother probably was from Poland). Then he fought against insurgent
Russian peasants in the Tambov region. Probably you know that Red
general Tuhachevskiy (he was killed by Stalin in 1937) poured them with
a toxic gas. It was one of the most tragic episodes of our civil war. After
that my grandfather became a commissar in the Red army. My father
was born in 1934. In his birth certificate my grandfather recorded
himself as a Russian though he was a Belorussian and spoke Belorussian.
Then he took part in the war against Finland and probably in the
“liberation” of the western Belarus. He was killed by Germans in
February, 1944 near Leningrad. As far as I know he was not a coward
and really fought together with his soldiers. He was seriously wounded
near Rzhev and had a chance to go to the hinterland till the end of the
war, but refused and returned to the front to find his end there.
So, the story of the Soviet Russia is my personal – my family –
story. I feel some sort of a mystic connection with my grandfather. I
hate all the bloody crimes committed by Communists in Russia but it
was my grandfather who did some of them. Sometimes I think that he
had realized that his choice was wrong but it was too late. Today he is
dead and can change nothing. But I’m still alive and I believe in Christ.
I can return to Belarus, learn Belarusian, and preach Gospel there. For
me it’s a small but real act of repentance.
My son is very enthusiastic about the idea of moving to Belarus.
He wants to finish his school studies and to enter a university there. He
will definitely have better perspectives in Belarus than in Russia. My
wife is skeptical about all these plans but she allows us to realize them
(without enthusiasm). The first years I plan to spend in Bobruisk (south-
eastern Belarus, two hours from Minsk). My father lived in this city
before WWII. In Bobruisk I have a place to live and Christian friends.
There is a Lutheran church there (a conservative one). Minsk is a very
expensive city.
I’m happy to tender you thanks for your [OHLC’s] gift from our
Pastor David Horn and his wife Valentina and from all our congregation.
Today they moved to the repaired flat in our church building and started
to use a new fridge, an electric oven, and a washing machine.
I’ve found a man in our church who has agreed to be a person
responsible for contacts with you and the OHLC. His name is Sergey
Gundin. He is a real believer, all his family (wife and two daughters)
visit our church regularly. It’s important. He is a worker (crane oper-
ator). His English is limited, but his elder daughter Olesia studies
English in the Kazan university and she will be a translator. Sergey will
communicate with David Horn, Ludmila Pankratova, and the church
council. I hope this scheme will work. In any case I will be near (in
Internet) and ready to help. I’m going to ask Olesia to translate your
Christmas celebration letter and to check her translation from Russian
into English.
God bless you!
All the best, Phil
Nick and Shannon Kraft, OHLC-supported missionaries with Go
Missions, sent an update on this year’s CORE international discipleship
training school, which runs from mid-January through mid-March.
Twelve students from Peru, Bolivia, and the U.S. have arrived for what
Shannon describes as “8 EXTREME weeks.”
Please note these particular prayer concerns for the students:
Karri - pray for God's call on her life as she makes decisions to step out
of chaos.
Isa - as she chooses to take a new path of obedience.
Erika - as she comes to learn what it means to walk the walk of Christ.
Jonaton - as he makes a firm base for his faith
Neysser - as he allows God into the secret places of his heart for healing.
Freddy - who said “I know what love is and I’m ready to share that with
someone”
Pri - as she begins to finish what she starts and make adult decisions.
Delia- as she chooses Christ over a worldly relationship.
Alex - taking the next steps into service.
Brahyam - drawing a firm line between himself and the things of this
world.
July & Isaac - asking for a clear calling; establishing their family on a
new culture in Christ.
11
Worship Assistants Asst. Ministers Acolytes Music
2/ 1 8:00
10:30
6:30
Sheila Ryan
Penny Fowkes
Trudy Decker
Sam Higgins
Peter Spencer
Benjamin Bruland
Praise Team
Senior Choir
Cantor: Carol Reafs
2/ 8 8:00
10:30
6:30
Paul Senness
M. Hallen/P. Fowkes
Debbie Wysomierski
Natalie Stone
Elias Wiley
Benjamin Bruland
Morning Glory
Senior Choir
Cantor: Carol Reafs
2/15 8:00
10:30
6:30
Ken Grigsby
Rita Carter
Carol Snoble
Johannes Christensen
Wolly Fowkes
Benjamin Bruland
Cantor: Carol Reafs
2/22 8:00
10:30
6:30
Sheila Ryan
M. Hallen/P. Fowkes
Gisela Hawley
Sam Loustaunau
Isaiah Wiley
Benjamin Bruland
Morning Glory
Senior Choir
Cantor: Carol Reafs
Ushers Assistants 2/ 1 8:00 AM Higgins family
10:30 AM J. Wilcox,
P. Michalski
6:30: Presider, Jay Decker
Communion: Kathy Ridle
Computer: Donna Aspery
Communion: John Fowkes
Computer: Rita Carter
2/ 8 8:00 AM Higgins family
10:30 AM J. Wilcox,
P. Michalski
6:30: Presider, Marc Stroud
Communion: Mike Fankhauser
Computer: Lisa Margraf
Communion: Jan McCullough
Computer: Michelle Tull
2/15 8:00 AM Ellis family
10:30 AM
6:30: Presider, Marc Stroud
Communion: Marge Moore
Computer: Molly Nagel
Communion: Trudy Decker
Computer: Sheila Ryan
2/22 8:00 AM J. Flowers,
L. Forster
10:30 AM R. Wood, M. McNae,
6:30 PM: Presider, Jeff Spencer
Communion: Mike Fankhauser
Computer: Kathy Ridle
Communion: John Fowkes
Computer: Rick Culbertson
µIncluded in this newsletter are Prayer Ventures and The Spirit for
February.
µThe deadline for articles for the March newsletter is Thursday,
February 19. (Remember, February’s a short month!)
Financial Report: December December Year to date
Income $ 42,274 480,373
Outgo 37,043 477,207
5,231 $ 3,166
Worship Attendance: January Date 8:00 AM
10:30 AM
Cpvl. Nursery
Jan. 4 66 104 17 1
Jan. 11 66 104 17 0
Jan. 18 95 100 19 2
Jan. 25 63 116 22 3
Average Att. 73 106 19 1
Average Sunday attendance: 199
Little Lutheran Bags in February: Peg Fosnaugh
This month’s featured decorative fonts are
and Ferdinand
Lesser Festivals & Commemorations February 2 The Presentation of our Lord 18 Martin Luther, renewer of the
3 Ansgar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Church, 1546
missionary to Denmark & 23 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna,
Sweden, 865 martyr, 156
5 The Martyrs of Japan, 1597 25 Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess,
14 Cyril, monk, 869; Methodius, bishop 1921
855; missionaries to the Slavs
Journeys of Paul in Turkey & Greece, October 12-23, 2015,
with Pastor Jim Hillbrick, a trip being organized by local
travel consultant Shirley LeBlanc. Includes stops in Cappa-
docia, Antioch of Pisidia, Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis,
Pergamum, Thyatira, Ephesus. There’s a brochure posted on
the narthex bulletin board, or contact Shirley, 360-675-2099,
12
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 Healing prayer at
both morning services
Worship 8:00
Forum: Music Min. 9:15
Sunday School 9:15
Worship 10:30
Worship Brass 4:00
Vespers/Coupeville 6:30
2
1:00 Munchy Monday
5:00 Wolves
6:30 Lydia Circle
6:45 4-H K-9 Korps
7:00 Solutions
3
9:00 Blanket Workshop
6:00 Patrol Leaders
7:00 Cpvl Book Group
7:00 Webelos 1
7:00 Boy Scouts
4
9:00 Blanket Workshop
11:30 OHLC Staff
5:30 Harbor Bells
7:00 Senior Choir
7:00 Overeaters Anon.
5 10:00 Deborah Circle
4:15 Morning Glory
5:00 Praise Team
5:30 Council/Coaches
5:30 Jr. Girl Scouts
6:00 Knitting Group
6:30 Webelos 2
6:30 Tigers
6:30 Bears
6
7
8:00 Lutheran Men in
Mission breakfast --
Meet at Spin Café
7:00 WSMTA Concert
8
Worship 8:00
Sunday School 9:15
Worship 10:30
Will & Estate Plan 12:00
Worship Brass 4:00
Jr. High Luth Youth 6:30
The Art of Marriage 6:30
Vespers/Coupeville 6:30
9
1:00 Munchy Monday
1:45 MMM Relay/Life
5:00 Wolves
7:00 Vanishing Friends
7:00 Solutions
11
10:30 Stamping Group
12:00 Brotherhood of
St. Bernard
7:00 Webelos 1
7:00 Boy Scouts
11
11:30 OHLC Staff
1:00 Book Group
5:30 Harbor Bells
7:00 Senior Choir
7:00 Overeaters Anon.
12
10:00 Deborah Circle
4:15 Morning Glory
5:00 Praise Team
5:30 Jr. Girl Scouts
6:00 Knitting Group
6:30 Webelos 2
6:30 Tigers
6:30 Bears
13
14
6:00
Date Night at
OHLC
15
Worship 8:00
Sunday School 9:15
Worship 10:30
NWWA Team Russia 12:30
Worship Brass 4:00
Conf. family potluck 5:00
Vespers/Coupeville 6:30
16 Presidents Day
Church office closed
6:30 Lydia Circle
6:45 4-H K-9 Korps
7:00 Cub Scout Leaders
7:00 Solutions
17
10:00 Rebecca Circle
4:00 OHHS Robotics
6:00 CADA Parenting
7:00 Scout Adult Comm.
7:00 Boy Scouts
18 ASH WEDNESDAY
10:30 OHLC Staff
12:00 Worship
5:30 Harbor Bells
7:00 Worship
7:00 Overeaters Anon.
19 Newsletter Deadline
10:00 Deborah Circle
4:15 Morning Glory
5:00 Praise Team
5:30 Jr. Girl Scouts
6:00 Knitting Group
6:30 Blue & Gold
Banquet
20
9:30 Heart & Hand
21
22 Lent 1 Worship 8:00
Sunday School 9:15
Worship 10:30
Worship Brass 4:00
Vespers/Coupeville 6:30
23
1:00 Munchy Monday
1:45 MMM Relay/Life
5:00 Wolves
7:00 Solutions
24
10:30 Stamping Group
12:00 Brotherhood of
St. Bernard
6:00 CADA Parenting
6:30 Island Movie Prod.
7:00 Webelos 1
7:00 Scout Board of Rev.
7:00 Boy Scouts
25
10:30 OHLC Staff
12:00 Midweek Worship
12:30 Soup & bread
4:30 Harbor Bells
6:00 Midweek Worship
6:30 Soup & bread
7:00 Senior Choir
7:00 Overeaters Anon.
26
10:00 Deborah Circle
4:15 Morning Glory
5:00 Praise Team
5:30 Jr. Girl Scouts
6:00 Knitting Group
6:30 Webelos 2
6:30 Tigers
6:30 Bears
27
28
9:00 WSMTA
Musicianship exams
HIS KIDS PRESCHOOL
M,T, W, 9:00-11:30 AM
M, T, W, 12:30-3:00 PM
No classes on
Presidents Day, Feb. 16
The church calendar
is updated regularly
on OHLC’s website, www.oakharborlutheran.org
Parish Nurse hours:
Thursdays 1:00-3:30 PM
and by appointment
