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From Pastor Mark . . .
“Finding Jesus”
“EVERYONE who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 2:21
Our Saviour’s
Lutheran Church
of Stanwood
April 2015
Newsletter

Over the past few weeks, CNN has been televising a program called, “Finding Jesus: Fact, Faith or Forgery”. I thought they
treated the subject with respect. They summarized the Biblical narrative, included historical data, and interviewed
professional scholars. They raised a lot of questions, made inferences, encouraged doubts yet left room for faith. CNN
treated the Jesus story as a newsworthy program but as one would expect was not committed to a conclusion whether they
had found the truth of Christ or not. To me, it felt like the end game was to appeal to everyone yet offend no one.
Like CNN, as we seek the historic, biblical Jesus, we will find an appeal to everyone – salvation is made available to all.
But what we will also find is that Jesus, his life, message and salvation is also offensive to all. Jesus says that if we are to
find him and entrust our future to him, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him DAILY. (Luke 9:23)
Jesus challenges us to go against the grain of our human condition and give full control of our lives to him. This is in
opposition to every fiber of our being. Our inherited sinful condition fights tooth and nail to maintain our independence and
remain rebels toward God. We find in Jesus the plain truth: If we are to live, we must die!
Jesus suffered incredulous torture, he died on a cross, and rose from the dead three days later that we might experience
eternal life. Fact? Faith? Or Forgery? The only way to truly know the truth is to have a living experience with the living
Lord. More information, data or news programs alone will not confirm The Truth. The power to know the truth of Jesus
Christ comes by God the Father, fueled by the Holy Spirit, encountering the person of Jesus Christ, receiving his Word
through heart and mind of the individual seeking. This is the place where testimonies are born. From this unarguable
foundational encounter, a person speaks with power, the truth about Jesus Christ.
Last week, I was seeking a living “testimony” on the internet that would carry that power of truth, tying into our series
theme: “Courageous Conversations.” I had no idea what I would find.
Nabeel Qureshi was raised a Muslim who found Jesus Christ. He shares his testimony in his book, “Seeking Allah, Finding
Jesus”. As CNN has been reporting from the Middle East, we understand clearly the position it places Nabeel for publicly
confessing and writing about his faith in Jesus as a converted Muslim. Nabeel also shares his testimony on DVD as he
answers questions at Georgia Tech University. Nabeel is currently a staff member of Ravi Zacharias Ministries.
I have ordered Nabeel’s book that will be made available for $5. Our Spring Connexion will focus on his book and DVD. I
believe this will be an opportunity to deepen our Christian faith while better understanding the religion of Islam.
The following is an introduction to Nabeel’s book:
Growing up, Nabeel Qureshi never thought he would consider turning from his family's deeply held beliefs in Islam.
It was his whole world, his identity. Yet, as he grew into a young man earnestly seeking for God to speak into his
life, he was surprised by what he found. What he found was a growing question about the divinity of Jesus, which
led ultimately to his conversion to Christianity.
In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel shares the powerful story of his journey from faith in Allah to faith in Jesus
Christ. Along the way, he gives valuable insight into Islam, sharing cultural, intellectual and theological barriers
that often stand in the way of Muslims accepting Jesus. However, despite his objections to Christianity, it was the
friendship of Christians, the historical facts of the life of Jesus, and divine revelation through a dream and vision
that convinced Nabeel of the truth of the Gospel. Nabeel's testimony will deepen your understanding of American
Muslims and draw you closer to Jesus as you consider the amazing ways He works today.
Your Fellow Seeker In Christ,
Pastor Mark
New Members
We welcome the following New Members, who were received into the fellowship of Our Saviour’s Lutheran
Church on February 22, 2015, at the 10:45am worship: Todd Bush, Donna Cook, Oran & Pat Jones, Dave &
Ellen Matthewson, and Terry & JoAnn Shiley.
Thank You . . .
Dear friends,
Maria and Arnold Ronning would like to update the congregation on our “sister church” in Tamasi, Hungary. This
renovation of the building is nearing completion! The walls have been fortified (re-plastered on inside and out), the
windows replaced, the pews repainted, and electrical systems updated. Painting the outside will likely be finished by the
time this goes into circulation, weather-permitting. This marks a milestone for this little congregation, whose building has
suffered decades of neglect for lack of funds and organization. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed from OSLC
to help make this happen. Along with gifts from local donors, a sister church in Germany, and local government grants, the
Lutheran church now stands poised to service the community of Tamasi for many years to come. Praise be to God!
Holy Week - March 29 thru April 5
Holy Week is the last week of Lent before Easter, beginning on Palm Sunday
and ending on Saturday. Holy Week is the part of the Church Year where
Jesus’ final moments are commemorated.
Holy Week consists of the following events:
Palm Sunday – March 29
On the sixth Sunday of Lent we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Worship services include blessing of
the palms and a procession.
Palm Walk before worship services
8:30 am Palm Walk - 8:45 am Contemporary Worship
10:30 am Palm Walk - 10:45 am Traditional Worship
Palm Processional Service begins in the Fellowship Hall 15 minutes prior to the normal start of each service (8:30 and
10:30). After the traditional Palm Sunday readings, Amos, our loyal donkey, will lead our palm procession as we sing
songs. Worshipers will return to the sanctuary and the remainder of the Passion service will continue starting close to 8:45
and 10:45.
Maundy Thursday – April 2
Maundy is an English form of the Latin word for commandment. During the Last Supper, Jesus gave a new
commandment, “Love one another, even as I have loved you.” (John 13:34), a love sharply focused by the contrast of
the betrayal of Christ by Judas which followed. Jesus’ love was demonstrated both in His example of servanthood and
in His gift of Himself in Holy Communion.
7pm-Worship in the sanctuary with Communion.
Good Friday – April 3
Good Friday is the Friday of Holy Week, and commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Good Friday
commemorates not just a historical event, but the sacrificial death of Christ, which with the resurrection, comprises the
heart of our Christian faith.
7pm - Worship in the sanctuary
A reflective service commemorating the events of that Friday. We leave the sanctuary in darkness and silence.

Easter – Sunday, April 5
Following Holy Week, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection three days after his death by crucifixion.
Easter Services and Events:
Three Worship Services in the Sanctuary
6:45 am Sunrise Service - will fill cross with flowers as part of service
8:45 am Contemporary Praise-Team-led Festival Easter Worship, with communion
10:45 am Traditional Festival Easter Worship, with organ, choir, special music, communion
9:00 am Easter Breakfast begins in fellowship hall
10:00 am Easter Egg Hunt – for kids walking thru 5th grades – bring a basket or bag for eggs
Voices of Hope Concert
Sunday, April 26 - 2 p.m. at St. Cecelia's Catholic Church
Spring is just around the corner which means the Housing Hope Stanwood Ambassadors are busy putting together the
Voices of Hope Concert.
Some of the most beautiful voices in the area will be raised in song for just a free-will offering. We hope you plan to
attend the event April 26 at 2 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church. As in the past there will also be our famous "Bake
Sale" along with the recent addition of a "Silent Auction".
We want to thank the Martha Circle Quilters for generously donating one of their beautiful handmade quilts for the
auction. We are looking for more items for the auction, gift baskets, event tickets, etc. as well as baked goods. If you
would like to donate items or baked goods please contact Dee Jonson, Carol Jensen, or Tammy O'Donnell for
information.
All funds raised at the concert will support services for clients in Lervick Family Village and Lincoln Hill.
DON'T MISS THE CONCERT! Come support our gifted choir and director April 26, 2 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic
Church.
- Phase One Project Report Construction continues in the final stages of our Phase One projects approved just a year ago. Van Sickle Construction
is heading up the work after a volunteer demo crew prepared the space in February. As I write this, the fire place is being
installed and the windows are here, ready for installation mid-March. The decision was made to maintain the same shape
for the windows that was already there in the Children's Chapel, but to replace with single-hung, double pane, clear glass as
we convert that space to our new meeting room. This will really lighten up the room and eliminate the need to change
anything on the exterior of the building. We also ordered windows to replace the two in the Youth office since it is more
economical to have the crew do them all at the same time. This will also enhance the appearance from outside.
We did have the tile on the floors tested, and the tile in the new music storage area was clean, but the tile in the new
meeting room space requires an abatement crew to remove. This is scheduled for April. By then, the majority of the
construction work will be completed and we'll be ready to, we hope, refinish the fir floors in the new meeting room.
The sacristy area and music storage has the wiring and plumbing completed and should soon move forward as soon as
the dry wall installation begins for the entire project. When will it all be finished? The completion date is set for May 1 and
it looks like we're proceeding on schedule.
We have had some generous monetary donations for the sacristy and the new meeting room, as well as in-kind
contributions: a coffee brewer, the microwave, the small refrigerator, and an area rug. Thank you for those generous gifts!
Annette Bowden
“Pray for one another” James 5:16b
PLEASE
Pray
FOR …
Bruce Richert, Doris Hatlen, Jennifer Myrans (Connie Ronning’s cousin)
Lilly Betz (Donna & Jerry Hefty’s great granddaughter),Lorri DeFelice
Joshua, Olivia Spada (Bruce & Lina Richert’s granddaughter)
Merv Piper, Garry Lund, Ray Saari, Paul Walderhaug
Betty Wenzel, Arnold Ronning, Rob Ulbricht
Shirley Ludwick, Eldon Allen, Jim Woodward (Charlie Sylling’s cousin)
Thelma Christofferson, Kerri Mullen (Laurie & Charlie Glaspy’s niece)
Rosalie Hargrave, Amy Duitsman (Lorri DeFelice’s daughter)
Gordy Pedersen, Fran Glaspy, Erling Skrinde
Kathryn Thoreson, Ryker (Paul & Judy’s Anderson’s nephew),
Susan Wietzke Tupper, Gretchen Orsland
Jesse Thomas – Safe Travels
Michelle Brekhus in the Dominican Republic
Pastor Mark, Our Saviour’s Lutheran congregation
Homeless, Armed Forces, Josephine and Warm Beach residents
Government and community leaders
Sunday School Celebration
Sunday, March 29 at 10 a.m.
Please join the Sunday School in the Parish Hall for a
Palm Sunday Celebration, March 29 at 10 a.m. There
will be a . . .
light brunch, face painting,
and the Bouncy Car returns!
All ages are welcome to join in the fun!
March Van Trip
Robot Cow Milkers
On Monday, March 30, we will leave the church
parking lot at 10am and go to the Mesman Farm near
LaConner to see robots milking the cows. We will go
The Farmhouse for lunch and drive by tulip fields. We
should be back to church no later than 3:00.
April Van Trip
PacCar – Saturday, April 11
On Saturday, April 11, we will leave the church
parking lot at 10am and go to Paccar, which is west
of Burlington, for their open house. This is an
interesting place to visit and the location is spotless.
After visiting Paccar, we will go to the Salmon BBQ at
Hillcrest Park in Mount Vernon. You will need money
for the BBQ and for van gas on our return to
Stanwood. We should be back to the church about
3:00. Questions: Robin Erickson 360-941-1593.
Please give blood!
All blood types needed!
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
Blood Drive
Friday, April 3
11:00 am to 5:00 pm,
closed 1:30-2:15
OSLC Fellowship Hall
To schedule an appointment please call Bloodworks
Northwest at 1-800-398-7888 or
https://www.psbc.org/programs/drive.asp?URL=3952
For eligibility questions please call 1-800-398-7888
ext. 2543 or ClinicalProgram@bloodworksnw.org
Women’s News
Bible Study:
Please join us for Women's Wednesday Morning Bible Study
beginning at 9:00am. Our spring study with DVD is
“Breaking Free” by Beth Moore. Contact Kathy at 360387-0120.
Quilting:
Weekly Quilters will meet Tuesdays, April 7, 21 & 28 from
10am-2pm in the Fireside Room for quilting. Please bring a
sack lunch. Coffee will be provided.
Monthly Quilters will resume meeting in the fall.
Martha Circle:
The Martha Circle extends an invitation to all ladies to join
them on Wednesday, April 8 at 1:00 pm in the Fireside Room.
Fellowship, dessert and a brief meeting will precede the
Bible study. The lesson for April is "I Know Whom I
Have Believed", chapter 7, page 41 in "Living Above
Worry and Stress" by Women of Faith.
Men’s Studies
Men’s Fraternity meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:00 am in
the Fellowship Hall. Breakfast is served at 7am with our
study to follow. Please join us. All men are welcome.
Bible Study Fellowship: A MEN’S SMALL GROUP meets weekly
from 6:30 to 8 pm on Tuesday evenings in the narthex. This
year’s topic is the life of Moses. For more information,
contact Arnold Ronning at (360) 629-3134, or
arnoldandreberg@gmail.com.
May Newsletter
Articles due Friday, April 10
to Ramona at ramona.thepest@frontier.com
Sunshine Committee
The Sunshine Committee meets on Tuesday, April 14 at
9am in the fireside room. Please come and join us!!
April Council Meeting
Monday, April 20 at 7pm in the Fireside Rm.
Quilt Blessing
Sunday, April 26, join us in blessing our quilts. Quilts are
donated locally, including to support local mission
silent auctions, and shipped to Lutheran World Relief.
A special thank you to our OSLC quilting group who
so faithfully serve this ministry and mission.
Lutheran World Relief packing day
is Tuesday, April 28, with quilts and kits
being shipped on Friday, May 1.
EASTER EGG HUNT
SUNDAY, APRIL 5
KIDS KORNER
WOW! TUESDAYS 6-7:30pm
Kids Ages K-5th grade are WELCOME!
KIDS AGES
NEW BORN- 12TH GRADE!!!!!
10:00-10:30AM
BETWEEN SERVICES
Vacation Bible School
Ok..here we Go!! Are you aching to feel like a child
again? Feeling like singing your heart out? Smiling
until your cheeks are sore? Kick off your summer at
VBS this June 15-19! Start Praying and looking for
the sign up on WOW! board!! Plenty of opportunities
for ALL ages!! See you there!
Deanna Khoury oslcchildren@frontier.com
VBS is HERE!
June 15 – 19
9am-12pm
Safari to Africa where Trekkers
learn through PROVERBS that
wisdom comes from the one TRUE
GOD!
Register On-line
www.stanwoodoslc.org find VBS link
Volunteer sign-up
in fellowship hall or online.
VBS TRAINING:
Saturdays, June 6 & 13, 9-11 am
Worship On Weekdays
WOW! Dates
April 14, 21, 28 / May 5, 12, 19, 26 / June 2 – at 6pm
WOW! NEWS……..THANK YOU to all our High School
March Mentors that helped out, sacrificing their bodies,
doing Skits and sharing their gifts and talents! The kids
were surprised and loved seeing you each week! What a
treat! Bryson Kelly, Alyssa Khoury, Cameron Plautz, Bri
Crutcher, Hailey McCall, Olivia Klassen , Peregrine
Spane and more!
During the Month of April we will be learning “WE CAN
do ALL things Through CHRIST Who gives us Strength”
using the new playground and NICE GRASS(Thanks
Duane!) to CHALLENGE ourselves to new limits!!
Volunteer Opportunities WOW! Snack Prep: This would include shopping for and
preparing WOW! snacks for Tuesdays April-June 2
WOW! ADULT TEAM member for a month: (April or May)
6-7:30pm Tuesdays (email oslcchildren@frontier.com)
Deanna Khoury
Children and Family Ministry Director
Our Saviours Lutheran Church
p. 425.931.6061
Stanwoodoslc.org
Upcoming Confirmation
Teen Events
Sunday, March 29: Bike Ride / 1pm
Ready for Spring break? Kick it off with a bike ride. Meet
at church at 1pm with bike, helmet, & a good attitude. No
bike? We got you covered! Ice cream is a part of this ride!
Sunday, May 3: Hike / meet after church
Gear up for summer with a hike. Meet after church, we will
conquer Little Mountain. Bring water, a snack, and sturdy
shoes. Pastor Mark will not carry up or down!
Monday, May 18: Snow Goose Ice Cream
Last Confirmation Meeting. Come with a sweet tooth and
we’ll take care of that with a trip to Snow Goose ice cream
for their “Immodest Ice Cream Cones”. Oink!
Portals of Prayer and Christ in Our Home will be
in the Narthex for April - June.
Blood Drive at OSLC
Friday, April 3 – 11am-5pm
Good Friday
SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR
Volunteers are needed to
help with coffee hour!
Don’t miss out – it is a great opportunity to
‘serve’ and ‘visit’
Please sign up on the clip board hanging on the wall
in the kitchen. See Pat Lund if you have any
questions.
SPRING CONNEXION
Wednesdays – thru May 13
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Dinner at 6:00
Adult Study follows
WANTED
Donation of good working, used
clothes dryer for the Youth House
Contact church office at 629-3767
if you have a used dryer to donate.
Tea Party at Josephine
Thursday, May 14 at 12:00pm
A Tea Party (lunch) in celebration of Mother’s Day and
spring is planned for our members and friends at
Josephine, Thursday, May 14, 12:00 pm. If you would like
to help prepare food, serve, or join in the fellowship,
please call Carol Curtis, 360-387-1189. We’d like to make
all the arrangements well in advance, so please call as soon
as possible, and remember that it’s okay if you need to
cancel later.
Dates to Remember
Friday, April 3 – 7pm Worship in the sanctuary
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 5
6:45am – Sunrise Service
8:45am – Contemporary Worship
10:45am – Traditional Worship
9am – Easter Breakfast begins in fellowship hall
10am – Easter Egg Hunt
Men’s Fraternity
Tuesdays at 7am
WOW! Kids K-5th grade
Tuesdays, April 14, 21, 28 – 6-7:30pm
Women’s Bible Study
Wednesdays at 9am
Connexion
Wednesdays - 6-8pm
Weekly Quilting
Tuesdays – Apr. 7, 21, 28– 10am-2pm, fireside rm
Martha Circle
Wednesday, April 8 at 1pm
May Newsletter Articles
due to Ramona by Friday, April 10
Van Trip
Saturday, April 11 – leave at 10am
Sunshine Committee
Palm Sunday – March 29
Tuesday, April 14 at 9am
8:30am Palm Walk – 8:45am Contemporary Worship
10am Sunday School Celebration & light brunch
10:30am Palm Walk – 10:45am Traditional Worship
Council Meeting
Van Trip
Voices of Hope Concert
Monday, March 30 – leave at 10am
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 2 – 7pm Worship & Communion
Monday, April 20 at 7pm
Sunday, April 26 at 2pm
at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church
LWR Packing Day
Tuesday, April 28