Caritas for Coats and Blankets! Coat and blanket collection will be in the Commons next Sunday, November 23rd. Help us warm those in need. Please give if you can.

Support our Youth through various fundraisers for their 2009 National Youth Gathering Trip to New Orleans. Oranges and grapefruit orders are being taken now through November 30th. Delivery will be the week of December 15th. Order Kringles now for only $8.00 each. Delivery will be before Christmas. See any high school youth to place these orders or call the office.

Youth Fundraiser Fish Fry is Friday, December 5th, 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Tickets may be purchased from any high school youth. Cost of dinner: 1 piece fried is $5.00 and baked fish or 2 piece fried is $7.00.

OSLC will be hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on December 16th from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. We need volunteers to be greeters, work in the kitchen, and donate cookies. Call Sue Hanewall at 365-9729 if you can volunteer. Come and give the gift of life this Christmas season--be a blood donor!

Good $ense Ministry is back by popular demand. This 3-week course will start Tuesday, November 11th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The first classes are based on "Biblical Financial Principles for Transforming Your Finances and Life." Everyone is invited to learn and share in this new ministry, whether you are just starting out or need to adjust your budget. If you are interested, please call the church office at 362-0716 by November 1st to register. You will need to pick up your workbook before November 11th to complete some pre-work.

Hands of Faith will be here again November 30th through December 7th. Thank you to all who volunteered during this past Hands of Faith week. Please consider signing up to help out again in a few weeks. We so appreciate our members who give so generously of their time during Hands of Faith week.

Over the past month, as we have embarked on the "30 in 3" Fundraiser with the goal of raising funds toward the kitchen renovation, we have already received nearly 1/2 of the goal! This fundraiser will continue for the next 2 months and we hope to raise another $20,000 toward the kitchen renovation. Prayerfully consider donating to the "30 in 3" by marking it on your regular offering check. If you have questions, please contact Polly Christensen.

Our Savior's Lutheran Church is embarking on a new ministry as we plan to adopt a school this year. We are partnering with Gaston School to find ways that we can share our blessings with students who attend Gaston. One of the opportunities with adopt-a-school is Lunch Buddies, a program in which you spend one hour a week with a student during the lunch period. This is a great opportunity for anyone who likes to spend time with youth to cultivate a relationship with the younger generation. If interested contact Chrissy in the office or Sue Stoddard.

Join us Wednesday, November 26th at 7:00 pm for a Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service. There is no confirmation or SPYFF but there will be Pie Fellowship in the Commons after the service. Please join us as we give thanks for the many blessings God gives us. All youth are asked to bring in two(2) pies for Pie Fellowship. Thank you.

With the holidays just around the corner, the Green Team is sponsoring a Fair Trade Gift Sale. This is a Lutheran World Relief Handcraft Project in partnership with SERRV to promote social and economic progress of people in developing regions of the world by marketing their products in a just and direct manner. SERRV will donate 7.5% of all net sales to LWR and if we meet the minimum sales of $300, 10% will be donated to Our Savior’s. The items in the catalog are very unique and all hand-crafted, perfect for Christmas gifts. And, most important, the items are reasonably priced. There are a limited number of catalogs so if you are interested in ordering please call Chrissy in the office to see the catalog and obtain an order form. You can also see all the items online at www.serrv.org. Orders and payment are due by November 23^rd and orders should be delivered to the church within 7-10 business days. Thank you for your participation and your efforts in enabling artisans to earn income from their work and build better lives for themselves and their families.

World Wide Water....We have started a new global mission through ELCA to build hand pumps in Africa. One in six people do not have access to safe drinking water; therefore, we want to make a difference just by a drop of water. Look for the new hand pump in the sanctuary that is up for loose change, cash, or even check (if you like) donations. Just $150 provides a community with a hand pump to get clean drinking water. Reports will be given quarterly to update everyone on how many pumps we have built in African countries. Let's pump up for the Lord to make a difference!

Our Savior's has a MyChurch webpage! It's a wonderful way to publicize events in the church, connect with other members, and keep updated with activities that are happening. If you would like to join MyChurch, please contact Pastor Erik or Chrissy in the office.

S.P.Y.F.F is underway! Wednesdays at 5:15 pm. for children kindergarten through high school. Come and have fun learning and spending time with others. Craft time, choir, dinner, and worship. Parents are welcome, too!

Fall knitting season is approaching. Last year we knitted and crocheted 78 baby hats and 20 blankets for Global Health Ministries. If you are interested in helping again, the directions are available in the Commons. Some yarn will be provided. Contact Deanna Feuerstein for more information.

Join us in the Martin Luther Room at noon on the first Sunday of each month for Lunch and a Movie. We have a lot of fun watch and discussing the movie.

From the Bookkeeper: To those of you who have not received offering envelopes or have received them in error, please accept my apologies. There has been a problem with the envelope program. I am in the process of fixing this problem; however, it will not be corrected until the September mailing. Also anyone wanting a box of envelopes, please contact the church office. Remember, you can sign up for Simply Giving at any time to have your contribution automatically deducted from your bank account. Thank you, Polly.

Thank you to all who volunteered for hosting Coffee Hour. Volunteers have been scheduled through December. The 2009 Schedule is up in the Commons so please sign up for any time in 2009. Call Chrissy in the office to pick a Sunday that works for your schedule. Together we can continue to make Coffee Hour successful.

OSLC's Education Team is still interested in hearing about the congregation's experiences teaching or participating in Sunday School. If you have a story you would like to share, please contact Heather Olmstead at 608-362-2466.

Swiss Valley Dairy will pay OSLC 5 cents for each milk cap collected through their "Cash for Caps" Fundraiser. This is an easy fundraiser for all who drink milk and/or orange juice from Swiss Valley. Just save your caps and bring them to church or Sunday School. There will be a collection bin soon. All proceeds will go toward OSLC Education Fund. Strengthen your bones and help OSLC Education at the same time!