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The light shines in the darkness… John 1:5

Volume 59, Issue 11 November 2012

OAK HARBOR LUTHERAN CHURCH

a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

1253 NW 2nd Avenue (360) 679-1561

Oak Harbor, WA 98277 www.oakharborlutheran.org office@oakharborlutheran.org

Every member in mission: Home Community World

IN THIS ISSUE:

Discipleship as

community and to the

community,

pg. 2

Welcome to the new

website!

pg. 3

Lutheran men focus on

fitness,

pg. 6

Get acquainted with

Parish Life

pg. 8

Marge & Candi talk

trash,

pg. 9

OHLC Staff Home Phone

Pastor:

Jeffrey Spencer 279-0413

Pastor of Care Ministries

Marc Stroud 678-5994

Youth Ministry Coordinator:

Stephany Vogel 679-1561

Preschool Director:

Gaye Rodriguey 678-3561

Parish Secretary:

Carol Wiskow 720-2451

Newsletter Editor:

Martha Ellis 678-2264

Custodian:

Salvador Carvallo 675-3957

Church Fax 679-9795

Church Phone 679-1561

Click on these links

for the November newsletter inserts:

The ELCA’s monthly Prayer Ventures:

www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Prayer-Center/Prayer-Ventures-2.aspx

The Northwest Washington Synod’s insert, The Spirit:

http://www.lutheransnw.org/files/publications/spirit/Spirit201211.pdf

OHLC’s website:

www.oakharborlutheran.org

This issue was snail-mailed October 30, 2012

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Pastor’s Page

Every Member in Mission: Discipleship in the community

A woman hands out leaflets and stickers for a Republican

candidate at the community Fourth of July parade. At the same parade,

a different woman hands out leaflets and stickers for a Democratic

candidate. Later, both women are seen together at worship, kneeling

together to receive Holy Communion.

A high school student has some time to kill between his early

release on Monday and his extra-curricular activities an hour later.

He’s never been to church before, and has always heard that Christians

are judgmental and prudish. However, he has heard they have food at

the Lutheran church across the street. He is hesitant, but goes to

“Munchy Monday” with a group of friends. He is greeted by smiling,

welcoming adults. They seem pretty down-to-earth, without any agenda

other than to welcome him.

ommunity is an important arena for practicing discipleship. As

the real-life vignettes above illustrate, we here at Oak Harbor

Lutheran Church have a ministry both as a community, and a

ministry to the community.

We are members of the same body (Ephesians 4:4-6), and so our

community life together is important. It even has a sacramental quality,

as it can be a tangible expression of the reconciliation Christ has won for

us. Maintaining our unity as a congregation is thus an important

ministry. It is especially important at a time when so many Americans

are so divided from one another.

I recently listened to a podcast featuring a conversation between

Krista Tippett (of National Public Radio) and Jim Daley (of Focus on the

Family). I’m one of those hard-to-peg people who enjoy both of these

personalities and the programs they represent, so I was fascinated to

listen to what these culturally polarized figures had to say to each other.

A key point of consensus which emerged in the conversation was that

when Christians put political agendas ahead of people, everyone loses

and the church suffers. They both expressed a longing for mutual

respect, for sincere dialog, and for simple fellowship with Christians

across cultural and political lines, and lamented over what a rare thing

this is.

When the program was over, I wanted to invite both of them to

come and hang out at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. One of the things I

love about serving here is that we are already doing this regularly and

well. Not perfectly, of course. Some-times

it is a difficult dance. But more often than

not, we here at Oak Harbor Lutheran

Church are doing a good job of

transcending all kinds of lines that often

separate people from one another. This

doesn’t mean we are wishy-washy, or

that we don’t hold passionate beliefs on one issue or another. It does

mean that we are firmly rooted in Christ, who makes us members of the

same body. Our love for one another, a love which transcends politics

and a whole lot more, is a way we witness to the faith that is in us. As

such, it is an important ministry to carefully tend to.

We also have a ministry to the community. We carry out this

ministry in several ways, including opening our doors to lots of different

groups that need a place to meet. Our building is being used by different

community groups just about every day of the week. That’s a witness to

our neighbors! We are so well known in the community as a generous

and welcoming place that we have a hard time accommodating all the

requests we receive for meeting spaces. Subtle though it might be,

through our willingness to share our facilities, even when it means extra

traffic in the parking lot, noise in the hallways, and wear and tear on the

carpet, we are giving our community a glimpse of Christ. As the old

hymn has it, “Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found.”

We have a particular niche to fill in our community with our

Munchy Monday after-school program. Giving high school students a

safe place to hang out between early release and extra-curricular

activities is an important community service we provide, and it isn’t

going unnoticed. We also serve our community as we join other

congregations in supporting local ministries such as Help House, our

food bank here in Oak Harbor and our Ministry of the Month for

November.

Community is an important arena for discipleship. It occupies

the space between the home, where faith is mostly practiced privately,

and the world, where ministry is often more abstract and anonymous.

Sometimes community ministry is delightful, sometimes it is difficult –

but it is always important. We have a rare and beautiful thing happening

here at Oak Harbor Lutheran. I am deeply proud of the way we are

practicing discipleship both as a community and to our community. You

should be too.

-Pastor Jeffrey R. Spencer

NEXT MONTH: Discipleship in the world

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OHLC’s new website has been launched!

heck out our new website at www.oakharborlutheran.org! It has

been completely redesigned with video, slide shows, sermons,

and more. This window into our congregation will provide a

warm invitation and plenty of information to newcomers who are

“googling” around for a new church. It will also be a good place for

members to check out all the latest OHLC news. A good website is

frequently updated and always changing – so check back often for new

pictures, announcements and updates.

Our next goal for the website is to have audio (and eventually

video) of the sermons, allowing those who are shut-in or deployed,

curious, or just miss a Sunday (heaven forbid) to hear the Sunday

message. We’re hoping to have the audio and/or video feature up and

running by Christmas.

Thanks to everyone who

contributed pictures for our new

site. Keep them coming so we

can keep it fresh! Also, we owe a

huge thanks to Reid Schwartz,

who generously hosted and

maintained our previous website.

Thanks Reid!

Check out Pastor Spencer’s video message on the updated website!

All Saints Potluck set for Nov. 4

Join us after the 10:30 AM service (about noon)

on Nov. 4 for an All Saints Sunday potluck! Pastor

Spencer and Carol Reafs will speak briefly about the

endowment fund, stewardship, and upcoming projects at

OHLC. Bring your favorite dish and celebrate the

ministry we share with all the saints — past, present, and future!

Welcome to our new acolytes and assisting ministers!

We give thanks for our new acolytes: Sadie

Harbaugh, Peter Higgins, Katie Norman, Isiah Vogel, and

Elias Wiley. We are also grateful for our new assisting

ministers: Skip Lycksell, Kayla Nagel, and Verna Pommer-

enke. Thanks to each of you for your willingness to serve!

Worship Notes

Healing prayer is now offered monthly

Are any among you suffering? They should pray … Are any

among you sick? They should call for the elders (leaders) of the church

and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the

Lord. James 5:13-14

We have been offering healing prayer at our 10:30 AM worship

services on the 5th Sundays of the month for the past year. This has been

so well received that beginning in November we are going to offer it at

both Sunday morning services on the 1st Sunday of every month. Those

who wish to receive healing prayer will be invited to proceed to one of

two healing prayer stations on their way back from the communion table,

where prayers and optional anointing with oil will be offered by either

our associate pastor or one of our retired pastors or Stephen Ministers.

Feel free to bring your prayer requests for healing of mind, body, or

spirit – for yourself, or for others. Say as much, or as little, as you like.

Know that our prayer team will keep whatever you say in confidence.

Special thanks goes to Pastor Duane Jensen (retired) for

encouraging us to experiment with this ministry, and continuing to guide

and encourage our prayer team. Thanks also to our Stephen Ministers

who have taken up this ministry with compassion and enthusiasm.

Joint Thanksgiving Eve service at OHLC

OHLC will host a joint Thanksgiving Eve

service at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, November 21

with Whidbey Presbyterian Church. Pastor Dave

Templin will preach, and the evening will include

special music from both congregations. Join us for

an evening of gratitude, fellowship, and a sharing

of the original Thanksgiving meal.

We’ll see you soon for midweek Advent soup & worship

We will be gathering for midweek vesper services and soup

suppers on Wednesdays during Advent (December 5, 12, & 19).

Services using the Holden Evening Prayer as our liturgy will be held at

12 Noon and 6:30 PM, with soup following. Sign-up sheets for bringing

soup will be posted later this month. Join us for a simple meal and a

prayerful respite during this often hectic time of year.

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Photos sought for Advent project

ur midweek services this year

will include photography

from YOU. Use those cell

phone cameras (and other kinds of

cameras too) to capture stills and/or

videos over the next few weeks on one

or more of the following themes:

Christ in our home, Christ in our

community, Christ in our world. Take pictures of crosses or Christian

art in your home. Take pictures of your family saying grace at the dinner

table or your kids saying bedtime prayers. Take pictures of youth being

served at Munchy Monday. Take pictures of LWR kits being assembled.

Take pictures that are symbolic or representative. Be watchful. Be

creative. Be artistic. Be thinking about it! Submit your pictures and/or

videos to Pastor Spencer at pastor@oakharborlutheran.org. They’ll be

collected and arranged into 3 photo essay-style presentations to show to

the congregation at our mid-week Advent services. Your participation in

this project is appreciated!

Growing & Learning

November’s opportunities for adult education

Adult education classes meet on Sunday mornings in the library

from 9:15-10:15.

Join us on November 4 for a discussion of the ministry of Help

House, our community food bank. Help House will be our Ministry of

the Month for November.

Beginning November 11, we will continue our focus on disciple-

ship as we study the book Real Faith for Real Life, by Michael Foss.

This study will continue through December 16. Purchase your copy

online, or contact the church office to place an order. It is helpful if you

come to class having read the chapter for that Sunday. Whether you’ve

read it or not, though, join us for what will surely be an engaging

conversation on faith and discipleship!

Nov. 4: Forum: Help House

Nov. 11: Real Faith for Real Life (Chapter 1 - Prayer)

Nov. 18: Real Faith for Real Life (Chapter 2 - Worship)

Nov. 25: Real Faith for Real Life (Chapter 3 - Bible Reading)

“Journey to Jesus’ Table” offered November 18

Pastor Spencer will be offering his early childhood communion

education class on Sunday, November 18 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM. This

is a fun learning experience filled with stories and even a short hike! All

young children (preschool through second grade) are encouraged to

attend, whether they are already receiving Holy Communion or not.

Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by November 11 to Pastor

Spencer or the church office.

Advent Family Fun Night set for November 28 Join us on Wednesday, November 28 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM for

Advent Family Fun Night! Prepare your family to observe Advent and

celebrate Christmas with an evening of fun and fellowship. We’ll begin

by gathering in the sanctuary for a viewing of Martin and the Heavenly

Tree, an animated legend of the young Martin Luther and how the tra-

dition of decorating Christmas trees came to be. It will change the way

you think about your Christmas tree! After the video, we’ll move to the

fellowship hall for hot chocolate, apple cider and goodies before making

our own Christmas tree ornaments in a “chrismon” style, pointing to

Christ. We’ll close with a brief conversation

on observing Advent in the home, and will

send families home with Advent devotion kits.

ALL AGES are welcome to join us for this

intergenerational evening!

Christmas pageant casting call! Rehearsals for our Christmas pageant will begin soon!

Rehearsals will take place during the Sunday school hour, from 9:15-

10:15. All Sunday school students who would like to participate will be

included. Our Christmas pageant will be held on Christmas Eve at our

4:00 PM service.

[Newsletter Editor/Christmas program director’s note: Eeeeeeeee!]

And speaking of Christmas… You might like to note our schedule

for Christmas worship services:

Sunday, December 23: ONE SERVICE at 10:30 AM, featuring a

cantata by our Senior Choir

Monday, December 24: Family Christmas service (& pageant) – 4:00

PM; traditional candlelight services – 7:00 & 10:00 PM

Tuesday, December 25: Christmas Day Worship – 10:30 AM

All services will include Holy Communion.

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more from Growing & Learning…

Enjoying autumn with OHLC’s youth

s if a light switch had been flipped, the season has changed.

Gone are the long, dry summer days. Autumn is upon us.

Apparently, we’re also speeding to winter – or so it feels today

as I’m writing this midway through October. The newness of

the back-to-school month is passed, and the routines of the school year

have begun to feel normal again. The leaves in their harvest colors are

falling in earnest now, and I’ve decorated my porch for the trick or treat

of Halloween that will soon be coming.

If October is the month of change to autumn, then November is

the month of acceptance that winter is here, bringing with it the

wonderful winter holidays that comfort us in the cold, dark days. It’s a

time to give thanks, count our blessings and plan for Thanksgiving,

Christmas and New Year’s. Let’s start by looking back a bit at the

Youth of our Church:

Luth Youth on Sunday mornings began well, and

though there has been some ebb and flow, it has been

taking root and growing into a solid youth group. We are having a good

time and are growing to know one another a bit better. It would be great

to have a few more adult helpers join us occasionally on Sunday

mornings, 9:15-10:15. I hope some of you feel called to do that. Please

also help get the word out that all youth in grades 6-12 are welcome!

If you aren’t aware of it already, Wal-Mart called and donated a

new flat screen TV for the OHLC Youth. How great is that? If you’re

so inclined and happen to be there, please take a moment to thank the

Manager or Assistant Manager Rich at the Oak Harbor Wal-Mart for this

very nice gift.

WOW (Word on Wednesday), the evening youth

program with Pastor Spencer, is taking hold. We share

compelling Bible study and have fun with games and snacks. It’s a

special event in the middle of the week. Please help spread the word and

help this program grow! Note that we we’ll be meeting Nov. 7 & 14, but

not the 21st or 28

th this month.

Munchy Monday got off to a strong and steady start. I

know many of you only hear the frequent calls for help,

but please be aware that there is a dedicated core of

volunteers that make that program shine week after week. We have had

a few of those long-time volunteers move on to other commitments, so

this is a great time for YOU to get involved! Join us whenever you can.

We have fun and friendship for a short hour while we serve the high

school youth. Do you know that we have served approximately 400 kids

so far this school year on those busy Mondays? Please know that the

kids love and appreciate your donations of food and drink. If you would

like to help, I can tell you the time passes quickly as a busy and fun hour

of service and fellowship.

As I ask most months, please pray for these programs. Nothing

will do more to help support our youth and youth leaders!

Stephany Vogel, Youth Ministry Coordinator

BookMarks

The Second Tuesday Book Group meets in the

church library at 1:00 PM on Nov 14 to discuss The

Photograph by Penelope Lively. The photograph is an envelope marked

DON’T OPEN – DESTROY. But Kath’s husband does not heed the

warning, and therein hangs the tale… Join us!

The Coupeville Book Group, whose November meeting was

moved up to October 30, will meet at 7:00 PM on Dec. 4 in the home of

Gaye Rodriguey, 228 Rhodena Drive. Please bring an appetizer to share.

The book for discussion is Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen

Simonson:

Maj. Ernest Pettigrew (retired) leads a quiet life in the village of St. Mary, England, until his brother’s death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper. Drawn together by a shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali find their friendship blossoming into something more. Will their relationship survive in a society that considers her a foreigner?

The 2013 calendar for chancel and organ flowers has been posted in its usual spot just outside Pastor

Spencer’s office door. Sign up early to reserve your pre-

ferred dates in celebration of special events or in memory

of loved ones.

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News from Lynne

ear OHLC Friends,

A lot can happen in just a month and this greeting comes to you

from the small island town of Wrangell, Alaska. At the first of

October we found out that Eric would not be working as steadily this fall

as we thought and we are still not sure if there will be much winter work

for him. So I contacted the bishop of the Alaska synod and asked if she

would support me offering to supply preach around the SE Alaska

congregations. She called me back and said, “Have I got a place for

you!”

Island of Faith Lutheran Church in Wrangell has been without a

pastor for over a year and has just developed a plan for a Resident Pastor

program. The idea is to have a pastor visit for a month or longer and

provide worship leadership on Sundays for a small honorarium. The

parsonage is part of the church building, so housing is provided. It would

be ideal for a pastor on sabbatical, newly retired, or between calls. This

placement would allow me time to study during the week and provide

good experience for preaching, so we said yes!

Eric & I arrived in Wrangell on October 16 and we’ll be here at

least through the end of the year. At this writing I am preparing my first

sermon since last May when I preached at OHLC and I’m feeling a little

rusty and nervous. But I met several of the church ladies at a luncheon

today and two of the children, so there will be familiar faces on Sunday!

The worship attendance is between 14 and 25 which will be cozy and a

different dynamic than OHLC, but I am grateful to have this experience.

I was able to spend a few days with the other pastors from the SE Alaska

Cluster this month and they all said Island of Faith and the community of

Wrangell are full of warm, wonderful people, and we have found that to

be true so far!

It is exciting to see the pictures of Lefse Day and the preview of

the new OHLC website on Facebook. I am always happy to talk about

the warm, wonderful people of OHLC who formed and encouraged this

call we are following. Thank you for your continued prayers. We are

confident of the Holy Spirit’s leading in this recent move and continue to

trust in God’s faithful provision.

In Christ’s service with you,

Lynne and Eric Ogren

Men’s Ministry

very man at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church is a member of

our men’s ministry. Plan to come to one or all of our

meetings and project opportunities in November.

Our next Lutheran Men in Mission Breakfast/Meeting is

Saturday, Nov. 3, 8-9:30 AM in the fellowship hall. This will be

a freshly cooked meal, so no need to bring anything except your

appetite. Our guest presenter is Cody Parker, Assistant Manager

at North End Fitness Center, where he is also a personal trainer.

Cody is currently training to compete in the 2013 Cross Fit Games.

Cody attends Living Word Fellowship. After sharing his personal

testimony, he will lead us with some exercises (don’t panic...he

promised he would take it easy on us) and share some healthy tips

on keeping in better shape this winter. We all know that with fall

comes a number of sports spectator activities: baseball’s World

Series, soccer finals, start-up of basketball, NASCAR final races,

college and professional football, mud wrestling, etc., etc., and all

available at the touch of a remote from our favorite TV chair. It is

hunker down time and, unfortunately, slow down time for our own

physical involvement. So on Nov 3, please come to enjoy a great

breakfast and then try to work it off with Cody.

On Tuesday, Nov. 13, noon to 1:30 we’ll have our

Brotherhood of St. Bernard lunch/meeting. I’m sure sports talk

will happen, but Cody won’t be around to lead us to do some

exercises. Any volunteers? Our scripture lesson will be Mark

13:1-8. As we meet and dine together we allow our hearts and

minds to dwell on the healthy doses of scripture, joys and pains,

projects and prayer time together.

On Tuesday, Nov. 27 from noon to 1:30 we will gather

again as brothers in Christ for our meal, Bible study, singing,

sharing concerns and prayer time.

As I look back to the paragraph on fall sports, I’m

wondering… If we can get so excited about watching sports events

and cheering for a favorite team, why shouldn’t we get just as

excited about cheering for Jesus Christ, and becoming better game

players in discipleship living? Tom Piper

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His Kids Preschool a ministry of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church

he classroom is filled with giant orange jack o’lanterns, upside

down black bats, primary-colored handprints and water-colored

leaves, and whoooo’s perched out there on the education wing

hallway bulletin board?

October was the time for the annual His Kids Preschool Open

House! As the doors of the classroom were opened, the children happily

dragged their families to the tables where the preschoolers’ booklets

were waiting to be shared. A self-portrait, drawings of family members,

a chapel time photo, a prayer page, their handprint, and answers to

questions about the child’s favorite play time, their favorite room and

how they help at home were the pages the preschoolers created for their

Open House booklet. It was a joyful evening for everyone!

Other annual October His Kids activities included each student

receiving their own copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible, a field trip to the

Case Farm and Pumpkin Patch and a pajama party with games, songs

and yummy food.

November will be a shorter month but equally as much fun!

Shalom, Miss Gaye

P.S. There are a four spaces currently available in the 3-Day PM class

(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 12:30-3:00 PM). Call the church office

for details, 679-1561.

We love a parade! (Can you help?)

Oak Harbor Lutheran Church’s Coupeville Worship Group is

going to participate in the Greening of Coupeville Christmas Parade on

Saturday, December 1. We need a motorized vehicle to pull a wagon

with the sign about worship. Are there any volunteers??? We will be

handing out candy canes with the message of Jesus’ birth and an

invitation to attend worship at our St. Mary’s site on Sunday evenings, so

we need people to walk with us. Children are especially invited, because

it is fun and a great opportunity to witness to the “real” Christmas.

Carol Reafs

OHLC Women Opportunities for fellowship, study and service

\

Circle meetings in November

11/1, 8, 15, 29

Deborah Circle meets at 10:00 AM in the library/fireside room.

11/20 Rebecca Circle meets at 10:00 AM in the library/fireside room.

We regret to announce that Esther Circle, a group whose roots

go back many, many years, has decided to disband.

Interested in a new circle that would hold evening meetings? Make a note on an upcoming Opportunity Form!

Blanket Workshop Our thanks to Rita Carter and crew for delivering our quilts,

school kits and other projects (as well as the boxes from Concordia

Lutheran) for shipment to Lutheran World Relief! Now we need to get

to work on more quilts! Join us on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 6 &

7, beginning at 9 AM in the fellowship hall.

Handwork Group

Heart & Hand meets Friday, Nov.16, beginning at 9:30 AM in

the prayer room. Bring your own handwork projects or help make hats

or sweaters for Lutheran World Relief and Secret Harbor.

Poinsettias for Christmas!

Sign up to order a poinsettia to adorn our sanctuary this

Christmas! Large plants in 6” pots with foil and bows are available for

$18 through an order with The Greenhouse. Poinsettias may be taken

home following the Christmas Day service on Dec. 25 for your

enjoyment during the remainder of the Christmas season. Those not

claimed will be taken to brighten local nursing homes and the hospital.

Please reserve your plant by Sunday, Nov. 25. Order forms will be

available at the welcome desk in the narthex.

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Parish Life Ministry

Getting acquainted with Parish Life

arish Life was previously part of Hospitality Ministry. About a

year ago, this ministry committee was split into two entities,

Outreach and Parish Life. Last spring I accepted the position of

Parish Life coach. As a result of the recent Ministry Fair, we recruited 2

new members at large and one new member to serve as photograph

coordinator, bringing our ministry to a total of 10 members.

Parish Life responsibilities include:

Kitchen management.

Coffee Hour coordination.

Photographing church life activities.

Archives - Caring for, accounting for, and controlling access

to the church historical records.

A roster of Parish Life members and a roster of church members

with food handler’s permits is posted in the kitchen for your reference.

FOOD HANDLER’S PERMITS. Please be aware that one person with

a food handler’s permit must be in the kitchen during events to supervise

the safe preparation and handling of food. If you have a food handler’s

permit and wish to be on that list, contact me at 675-0515. If you wish

to obtain a permit, visit the Island County Public Health website,

www.islandcountyeh.org . Click on the Programs tab and scroll down to

Food Protection for information about food handler’s classes as well as a

link to the class on-line at www.foodworkercard.wa.gov.

ARCHIVES. Duties of the Archives

Committee involves accounting for the historical

records and materials of Oak Harbor Lutheran

Church. In order to ensure those valuable materials

are maintained and accounted for, it is necessary to

set up a process and control access. Please talk to

me or contact Marge Verburg to accompany you and check out

the materials. Do not access the archive materials without this

permission.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Barbara Wilson

WANTED OHLC’s 75

th Anniversary Committee

has discovered that Confirmation Class

photos are missing from the church archives

for the following years:

1995, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011.

The committee would like copies of class

photos for those years. If you have a photo

to spare, or one we could copy ourselves,

please leave it in the church office.

Be sure to include your contact information,

especially if you want the photo returned.

Thank you.

The 75th Anniversary Committee

In Sympathy

Ruth Williams, a 17-year-member of our congregation, died on

October 24, several weeks ahead of what would have been her 85th

birthday. Her memorial service was held at OHLC on October 29.

Ruth had been homebound for a number of years, but when she

was able to come to worship she always looked forward to those times

when Lynne Ogren would sing a solo (especially Ruth’s dearly-loved

Ave Maria). We offer our deepest sympathy to her family, including

daughter Linda Mistler and husband Walt of our congregation, her

grandson Robert Bustillo and his wife Nicole, and to her great-

granddaughter Autumn Bustillo, who attends His Kids Preschool.

Included in this newsletter are Prayer Ventures and The Spirit for

November.

The deadline for articles for the December newsletter is Wednes-

day, Nov. 21.

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Compassion Ministry

Update from Lutheran World Relief

A huge thanks to those who donated funds for Lutheran World

Relief, September’s Mission of the Month. Your wonderful generosity

will cover our shipping expenses for October as well as the shipment in

May 2013. Your actions show what a wonderful, loving heart OHLC has

for God’s people who need our help.

A special thanks to Rita Carter and Kate Dodson for taking our

latest shipment of 1132 pounds to the Northwest Ingathering in Seattle

on October 19 (and to Whidbey Sea-Tac Shuttle for donating the use of a

bus!) The shipment included 240 Baby Care Kits – thank you to Karen

Bowers who assembles and packs those kits; 60 school bags – thank you

to Trudy Decker and her crew; 44 quilts – thank you to the Blanket

Workshop ladies, and our supporters who purchase batting and donate

fabric and thread; 38 Personal Care Kits – thank you to the Preschool &

Sunday School children and teachers who spearheaded this collection.

Leona McKee

November focuses on Help House

November’s Ministry of the Month is the local outreach of Help

House. Executive Director Jean Wieman will be with us on Sunday,

Nov. 4 to bring a brief message at the morning worship services and will

attend the adult forum, 9:15 AM in the library.

We’ll ‘pass the hat’ in the narthex following morning worship

services on Nov. 4 as one way we can help Help House– you’ll be

invited to take a slip or more of paper from the hat, purchase the

nonperishable item/s listed there, and bring those items back to our Help

House barrels at church by the following Sunday.

Financial contributions may be made through OHLC to benefit

Help House; use the yellow envelopes in the pew racks.

Abby Chromy

Thank you for the great response for October’s ingathering of coats,

blankets and socks! You warmed our hearts as well as providing

warmth for people in need in our area and in the Skagit Valley.

We may not want to hear about it yet, but December is on the

way! Our annual Sharing Tree will go up in the narthex by Sunday,

Dec. 2, with tags for gifts for people in need in our area as well as El

Camino de Emaus.

Judy Lycksell

Trash talk from Marge and Candi

n October 20, members of OHLC cleaned up

our section of roadway along Highway 20

heading north out of town. As always, it was a

rewarding and somewhat enlightening experience.

Rewarding in knowing that by removing trash we are

being good stewards of the environment for our neighbors

and visitors. Enlightening because you never know what you will find

and what insight you may gain on the habits of the homo sapiens that

traverse Whidbey Island. Sometimes we just have to wonder at what we

find:

Country music CDs: did one spouse say to the other “If you play

that song one more time I’m going to throw that CD out the window!”?

Toddler sandals, found about a mile apart: was there a three-

year-old little girl, happily freeing her toes on a warm summer day,

casually chucking one shoe after the other out an open window,

unbeknownst to mom or dad?

An exhaust system: how surprised were they when they got

home missing half the underside of the car?

A half-full gallon container of melted ice cream: can’t really

come up with a reason why someone would be eating a gallon of ice

cream in the car.

Adult men’s socks: really?

More beer and soda cans than we could count, but no coffee

cups: is someone somewhere writing a dissertation on differences in

disposal tendencies based on liquid refreshment preferences?

Most trash on the roadside falls into three categories: stuff that

was intentionally thrown out the window, loose trash inside a car that

unintentionally flew out a window, and items that were in the back of

pick-ups and work trucks that weren’t secured properly and migrated out

of the vehicle. Your roadside crew would like to request that you spend

a few minutes cleaning out your car and making sure that everything is

secure on the next trip to the dump!

We’d also like to invite you to come join us. We spend about an

hour four times a year maintaining our adopted stretch of highway. It is

a great opportunity to nurture your inner archeologist (and wear a hard

hat)! Special thanks to Pat Dallen, who coordinates every pick-up

session, handles all the paperwork, and stores the hard hats, reflective

vests and trash bags in the meantime.

Marge Moore & Candi Amarelo

More from Compassion Ministry on the following page

10

Blessings to everyone at OHLC who so generously donated sup-

plies for the school kits and funds towards shipping costs, the vol-

unteers who sewed school bags – Doris Mattson, Judy Fantauzzi, Joline

DeVos, Michele Johnson, Carol Wall, and Shanna Lundstrom – and the

women of Deborah Circle for helping to finish putting in the drawstrings,

sorting, and packing. Thank you so much for your prayers and action in

supporting this ministry of Lutheran World Relief.

Trudy Decker

Holiday Fair Trade event in the fellowship hall between

services on Sunday, Dec. 2, put on by Fair Trade Winds, a Fair

Trade store in the Seattle area. They’ll have a variety of the kind of

holiday products you’re familiar with as well as new ones, including

Advent calendars and much more. Plan to do some holiday shopping –

you’ll also be helping people in developing countries and the U.S. 10%

of sale proceeds will be donated to Lutheran World Relief.

Carol Wall

Council Highlights - Trudy Decker, secretary

The complete minutes were approved at the Oct. 4 council meeting.

The Council met on Sept. 6, 2012. The Treasurer’s Report and

financial business included the following notes:

Income is meeting budget needs, due in part to good communication

Financial Secretary David Amarelo is retiring.

Old business included discussion of a gift of $10,000 to the

congregation from Gwen Solum, which will be divided as follows:

$5,000 to the building fund, including a specific landscaping request

(hydrangea and/or rhododendron), $1,000 for the purchase of confirma-

tion/acolyte robes, $4,000 to be placed in a perpetual altar guild fund.

The website redesign is progressing. Laura Canby has been

hired to oversee the project; photos and videos are being collected.

New business included an update on forest management,

regarding some needed maintenance and a discussion of building

concerns, especially kitchen renovation and the education wing roof.

Council members will be installed on Sept. 9.

Pastor Spencer reported that Pastor Marcus Stroud has been

installed; he will be preaching once a month in addition to his other

ministerial duties as Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries. Pastor

Spencer and Pastor Stroud will each be preaching once a month in

Coupeville, with other pastors filling in the remaining Sundays.

Update from Russia OHLC’s partner congregation,

St. Katharina’s Lutheran Church, Kazan

big thank you to Roger and Georgette Anglum for the success-

ful barbecue at OHLC on Sept. 16 to benefit St. Katharina

Lutheran Church in Kazan, Russia. There were 76 people in

attendance, enjoying the great food. Thank you, too, to those who helped

with cleanup, including washing all those dishes.

Following the barbecue, we were able to wire $2,000 to Russia

for staff support at St. Katharina’s. Their new pastoral interns, Igor and

Yulia Dyba, began their service with the congregation on Sept. 17.

Igor sent us several e-mails lately and included pictures which

will be posted in the narthex. He and the congregation send their thanks

for our continuing prayer support as well as our earlier contribution

towards their kitchen renovations. “The people in the congregation,”

Igor writes, “are very happy to have an opportunity to have tea after the

service regularly and to talk to each other!”

Igor also mentions that Yulia has started working with the

Sunday School children, including leading them in song at a recent

worship service. The older students participated in a Thanksgiving

celebration (which included making and wearing turkey hats!)

Lena Bondarenko of the Central Deanery of ELCER (Evan-

gelical Lutheran Church, European Russia) wrote to give us news about

Bishop Dietrich Brauer, who visited our congregation with Lena some

months ago. “Dietrich was elected the Archbishop of the whole ELC,”

she writes, “from Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea to the Pacific – as they

sing in your national song, ‘from sea to shining sea.’ And it means lots

of work and a lot of traveling!”

Bishop Brauer sent us a little more information: Dear Ken, Thank you very much [for your congratulations]. There are changes made in the structure of the Russian Church. The position of the archbishop is actually vacant. But the functions were delegated to the bishop of the European Russia till we find (or not find) a new person for the position of the archbishop. So my ministry is called acting archbishop, but I am still the bishop in Moscow. Thank you and our sisters and brothers in Oak Harbor for the donation [to St. Katharina’s]! It is a great support! Many greetings to Pastor Spencer and all our friends.

In Christ's love, Dietrich

See the November issue of The Lutheran for more from Bishop

Brauer, and watch for the photos in the narthex, including views of St.

Katharina’s kitchen renovations and teenagers in turkey hats.

Ken Grigsby

11

Worship Assistants Asst. Ministers Acolytes Music

11/ 4 8:00

10:30

6:30

Kathy Ridle

Jan Heideger

Carol Snoble

Peter Higgins

Isiah Vogel

Benjamin Bruland

Morning Glory

Senior Choir

V. Morgan, D. Ward

11/11 8:00

10:30

6:30

Tom Coe

Skip Lycksell

Jan Heideger

Katie Norman

Elias Wiley

Benjamin Bruland

Tom Coe

11/18 8:00

10:30

6:30

Verna Pommerenke

Mike Crawford

Gisela Hawley

Sydney Higgins

Sadie Harbaugh

Benjamin Bruland

Morning Glory

Praise Team

Dick Ward

11/25 8:00

10:30

6:30

Kayla Nagel

Rita Carter

Jan Heideger

Elizabeth Norman

Peter Spencer

Benjamin Bruland

Senior Choir

V. Morgan, C. Reafs

Ushers Assistants 11/ 4 8:00 AM Higgins family

10:30 AM J. Wilcox,

L. Michalski

6:30: Presider, Jeff Spencer

Communion: Gaye Rodriguey

Computer: Donna Aspery

Communion: Donna Meyers

Computer: Rick Culbertson

11/11 8:00 AM Margraf family

10:30 AM J. Wilcox,

L. Michalski

6:30: Presider, Jay Decker

Communion: Candi Amarelo

Computer: Rachel Margraf

Communion: Rita Cline

Computer: Michelle Tull

11/18 8:00 AM Ellis family

10:30 AM B. Heideger

6:30: Presider, Marc Stroud

Communion: Marge Moore

Computer: Molly Nagel

Communion: Willard Krigbaum

Computer: Rita Carter

11/25 8:00 AM J. Flowers,

L. Forster

10:30 AM R. Wood, M. McNae,

H. Herrigstad, D. Fosso

6:30 PM: Presider, Tom Johnson

Communion:

Computer: Mary Brock

Communion:

Computer: Josh Jepsen

Financial Report: September September Year to Date

Income $ 32,494 294,920

Outgo 32,080 294,139

$ 414 $ 781

For a more detailed picture of the September financial status,

please refer to the reports posted in the narthex.

Worship Attendance: October Date Sun. 8 AM

Sun. 10:30 AM

Cpvl. Nursery

Sept. 30 80 117 20 4

Oct. 7 70 114 21 4

Oct. 14 54 119 22 2

Oct. 21 54 117 19 0

Oct. 28 75 156 22 0

Average Att. 67 125 21 2

Average weekly attendance: 215

Coffee Fellowship November Bring cookies, make coffee, set up and clean up – we need at least 2 per

week for 8:00 AM services, 3 per week for 10:30 AM services,

and 1 per week in Coupeville

8:00 AM

10:30 AM

Coupeville 6:30 PM

Fair Trade Sponsors

11/ 4 Tomlin,

Rodriguey

POTLUCK

Julie Ward

11/11 L. McKee,

Bartolf, Margraf

Ellis

11/18 Korengo,

Fankhauser

Horrobin

Trudy Decker

11/25

Deborah Circle

Lesser Festivals & Commemorations November 1 All Saints’ Day 23 Clement, Bishop of Rome,

3 Martin de Porres, renewer of c. 100, Miguel Austin Pro,

society, 1639 1927, martyr

7 John Christian Frederick Heyer, 24 Justus Falckner, 1723,

1873, Bartholomaeus Jehu Jones, 1852,

Ziegenbalg, 1719, Ludwig William Passavant, 1894,

Nommensen, 1918, missionaries pastors in North America

11 Martin, Bishop of Tours, 397, 25 Isaac Watts, hymnwriter, 1748

Søren Kierkegaard, 1855, teacher 30 Andrew, Apostle

17 Elizabeth of Hungary, 1231,

renewer of society

This month’s drop caps are from ICTURE LPHABET;

section headings are Imprint MT Shadow.

12

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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

1

10:00 Deborah Circle

4:15 Morning Glory

5:30 Brownies 40740

6:00 Brownies 40745

6:30 Webelos 1

7:00 Council

2

10:00 Oak Harbor

Bay Artists

5:15 Girl Scouts 42040/4214

3

8:00 Lutheran Men in

Mission breakfast

CHANGE CLOCKS

BACK 1 HOUR

TONIGHT!

4 All Saints Pass the Hat for Help House

Healing Prayer, both svcs.

Worship 8:00

Sunday School 9:15

Mission presentation 9:15

Worship 10:30

All Saints Potluck 12:00

Wolves 4:00

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30

5

1:00 Munchy Monday

6:30 Angeli

6:45 4-H K-9 Korps

7:00 Solutions

6

9:00 Blanket Workshop

6:00 Bears

6:00 Tigers

6:00 CADA Parenting

6:30 Patrol Leaders

6:30 Webelos 2

7:00 Boy Scouts

7:30 Worship Brass

7

9:00 Blanket Workshop

11:30 OHLC Staff

5:30 Girl Scouts Tr 50794

6:00 Harbor Bells

6:30 Luth Youth

7:00 Senior Choir

7:00 Overeaters Anon.

8

10:00 Deborah Circle

4:15 Morning Glory

5:00 Stephen Ministry

9

10:00 Oak Harbor

Bay Artists

5:15 Girl Scouts 42040/4214

10

10:00 Equestrian

Crossings

11

Collect for Help House

Worship 8:00

Sunday School 9:15

Adult Ed. 9:15

Worship 10:30

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30

12 Veterans Day

Church office closed

6:00 Homeschoolers

6:30 Angeli

7:00 Cub Scout Leaders

7:00 Vanishing Friends

7:00 Solutions

13 10:30 Church Mice

12:00 Brotherhood of

St. Bernard

4:00 Daisy Girl Scouts

5:30 Boy Scout ad. comm

6:00 CADA Parenting

6:30 Child Care Assoc.

7:00 Boy Scouts

7:30 Worship Brass

14

11:30 OHLC Staff

1:00 Book Group

5:45 VAQ 133 FRG

5:30 Girl Scouts Tr 50794

6:00 Harbor Bells

6:30 Luth Youth WOW

7:00 Senior Choir

7:00 Overeaters Anon.

15

10:00 Deborah Circle

4:15 Morning Glory

5:30 Praise Team

5:30 Brownies 40740

6:00 Brownies 40745

7:00 Compassion Min.

16

9:30 Heart & Hand

10:00 Oak Harbor

Bay Artists

5:15 Girl Scouts 42040/4214

6:00 His Kids

Family Night

17

11:00 Pack 4098

Thanksgiving Potluck &

Pack Meeting

18 Worship 8:00

Sunday School 9:15

Adult Ed. 9:15

Worship 10:30

Journey to Jesus’ Table

2:00

Piano Recital 4:00

Wolves 4:00

Vespers/Coupeville 6:30

19

1:00 Munchy Monday

6:30 Angeli

6:45 4-H K-9 Korps

7:00 Solutions

20

10:00 Rebecca Circle

6:00 CADA Parenting

6:30 Webelos 2

7:00 Boy Scouts

7:30 Worship Brass

21 Newsletter Deadline

11:30 OHLC Staff

5:30 Girl Scouts Tr 50794

6:00 Harbor Bells

7:00 Overeaters Anon

7:00 Thanksgiving Eve

worship

22 Thanksgiving Day

Church office closed

23

5:15 Girl Scouts 42040/4214

24

25 Christ the King

Worship 8:00

Sunday School 9:15

Adult Ed. 9:15

Worship 10:30

Wolves 4:00

Vespers/Coupeville

@ St. Mary’s 6:30

26

1:00 Munchy Monday

6:30 Angeli

7:00 Solutions

27 10:30 Church Mice

12:00 Brotherhood of

St. Bernard

4:00 Daisy Girl Scouts

6:00 CADA Parenting

6:00 Bears & Tigers

6:30 Webelos 2

7:00 Boy Scouts

7:00 Scout Board/Review

7:30 Worship Brass

28

11:30 OHLC Staff

1:00 Library Committee

6:00 Girl Scouts Tr 50794

6:00 Harbor Bells

6:00 Advent Family Fun

7:00 Senior Choir

7:00 Overeaters Anon.

29

10:00 Deborah Circle

4:15 Morning Glory

6:30 Webelos 1

30

10:00 Oak Harbor

Bay Artists

HIS KIDS PRESCHOOL

M, T, W:

9:00-11:30 AM;

12:300-3:00 PM

Th, F:

9:00-11:30 AM;

12:30-3:00 PM

No Classes:

Nov. 12, Nov. 19-23