Adult Education

Several times a year, Adult Education Classes meet at church for an in-depth look into a chosen topic which range from a study of the Biblical Book of John to Human Sexuality. Dates and times vary. Click here for the current adult education schedule.

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Celebrate the Journey

This group of women meets the second Saturday of each month at 9:15 a.m. Women of all ages are invited to experience the benefits of a small group that uses a book as a springboard to discussion and spiritual growth.

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Faith Connections

Faith Connections Small Groups meet on a monthly basis to explore the ways that faith connects with the many aspects of life. Some groups meet at church on Sunday mornings while others meet in homes or restaurants. The text, “No Experience Necessary” is used which explores God’s mission and our part in it.

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Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Tuesdays from 9:00-10:30 am, the upcoming week’s Scripture readings are explored.

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Men's Saturday Bible Fellowship

This study group meets the first and third Saturdays of each month at 7:30 a.m. for a light breakfast and fellowship. The study focuses on biblical applications to our daily lives and is led by various members of OSLC.

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Men's Saturday Bible Study

This group meets the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 7:30 a.m. The study focuses on a particular book of the Bible and is led by a pastor.

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Women at the Well

Women meet the first and third Saturdays, 8:00–10:00 a.m. to discuss books in the Bible to gain further insight and wisdom in a friendly group setting. All women are welcome. Bring your Bible and coffee mug!

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On-line Bible Study

Click here for the ELCA Daily Discipleship website.

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Home Groups

Our Saviour’s Home Groups are comprised people who meet regularly (weekly, monthly, etc.) at the homes of the participants for Bible Study, book discussion, and fellowship. Once groups are formed, the members of the group to decide how their own group will function. Ongoing guidance, support, and encouragement will be available from the Pastoral staff and designated Home Group Coordinators. Groups are comprised of couples, singles, young adults, or retirees.

Click here for more information about home groups, including a packet on how to start one.

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Emergency Response

As Americans we are unfortunately faced with the possibility of terrorist attacks in our country. This possibility has prompted us to examine our preparedness for disasters, be they natural or manmade. Information can be found here .

Click here for for a presentation of OSLC current policies for handling emergencies.

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Global Missions

The Global Missions Committee plans education and activities supportive of the ELCA’s mission throughout the world including an annual Global Health Missions celebration and fellowship dinner.

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Green Team

The mission of the Green Team is to help the congregation to be an intentional community celebrating and restoring creation and to actively promote ecological justice for our community and the whole earth. God is present and active in the ongoing creation of the world, and the Bible tells us that our responsibility is to care for and protect the planet. Please consider the impact of your purchases and your activities on the environment and God’s creatures. Remember that our choices not only affect ourselves, but the whole community and planet.

Below are listed two EXCELLENT websites to help you be a better steward of God’s creation. Check them out! www.nccecojustice.org www.webofcreation.org www.earth911.org

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Military Support Team

The mission of the Military Support Ministry Team is to pray for and support our members and friends who are in the military. This team encourages the collection of manufacturers’ coupons and distributes them through a VFW to families of military personnel in our local area to help them supplement their grocery bills. Wounded soldiers have problems staying warm while they recover from limb surgery. The Military Support Team sews “fixator pants” to help solve this problem. This team has also sent Bibles to members and friends of Our Saviour’s currently serving overseas.

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Older Adult Ministry

The Older Adult Ministry of Our Saviour’s is a fellowship of retirees (couples and singles) who meet to enjoy each other’s company; go on interesting day-trips; listen and participate in panel discussions, spirituality discussions; and hear book reviews. This Ministry is responsible for Sages Sunday, and serves as the coordinating force behind the Prayer Shawl Ministry. “Tischreden” (table talk) is held over a brown bag lunch on the third Thursday of each month. The topics discussed change from month to month and offer a forum to express one’s thoughts on each topic in a non-threatening, confidential environment.

Harper Lifelong Learning Institute

Our Saviour’s is one of the satellite locations for the 100+ classes offered through Harper’s Lifelong Learning Institute. Topics cover a vibrant range of educational experiences where a member can explore politics, humanities, current events, or history—with qualified instructors—with no exams! Most classes are completed in one or two sessions. Membership in the Institute is $35 per year, which reduces your fee for any classes for which you register. Anyone over 50 is welcome to join!

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Pastoral Care Ministry

The Pastoral Care Ministry’s is wide-ranging in its work, and includes helping members through visitation in homes, hospitals, phone contacts, or through referrals. Weekly visitation schedules are prepared so the Pastors and several lay visitors bring care and concern to those persons who are ill, hospitalized, or who may not be able to participate in the full life of the church. Weekly sermon tapes are delivered or mailed to those requesting them.

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Prayer Ministry

 

Daily Scripture Readings

Faith At Work

 

Prayer Lists

Weekly Prayer List

ELCA Prayer Page

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Prayer Shawl Ministry

Prayer Shawl Ministry brings together members who pledge to either knit or crochet a shawl, and while they are creating it, they pray their strength into that shawl in the hopes that the recipient will physically feel the prayer of the person who created it. Shawls are presented by the pastoral staff to anyone needing the comfort of constant prayer and expression of love and concern by others. People interested in contributing their skill to this ministry gather twice a year, their hands are blessed with oil, they select their yarn from the inventory, and shawls are created in the quiet of one’s own home and returned to church for presentation. All yarns and instructions are provided. Click here for instructions on creating a prayer shawl.

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Professional Network Group

Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (OSLC) offers this Linked-In® group to its members as a means of communication of employment information or other professional content. Click here for the group.

Social Ministry

The Social Ministry Team meets monthly to decide how best to Make Christ Known by showing His love and compassion through service to others in need. The following outreach organizations are some of the programs under the Social Ministry umbrella:

• Chicago’s Bethel New Life Church
• OSLC supports Bethel with our Christmas food and gift program.
• Love-In-Action Bags
• Meals on Wheels
• LSSI Prison and Family Ministry
• United Power for Action and Justice (UPAJ)

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Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is a program that trains and equips lay persons to provide personal one-on-one Christian care to those, both inside and outside our congregation, who are experiencing temporary or long-term physical or emotional difficulties. Our Stephen Ministers commit to 50 hours of initial training and receive continuing education throughout their involvement in this ministry of care and compassion.

Please click here for information about training and serving as a Stephen Minister OR if you are in need of caring conversation and would like to know more about having a Stephen Minister.

Please click here for a reflection on this ministry from one of its ministers.

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Support Teams

The Support Team network provides members with the opportunity to help others through a difficult time by bringing practical, emotional, and spiritual support into their daily lives. Teams are composed of persons who wish to participate by doing something they enjoy doing (e.g. gardening, driving, cooking) at a time when their schedule permits. Teams are formed when needed and dissolved when the care-receiver recovers sufficiently to manage on their own. Orientations are held twice a year.

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Young Adults

This group of 20-somethings meets for Bible Study and Fellowship, sometimes at church, sometimes in member's homes. Meetings are the first and third Thursdays at 8 p.m.

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Health and Wellness

Be Well To Do Well

God invites us to be well, to be “whole” in body, mind, and spirit. Christ calls us to the fullness of life. (John 10:10). Our health ministry and other ministries of Our Saviour’s encourage members to healthful and faithful living. Our objective is to provide resources, training, and opportunities for individuals to grow in holistic living. This includes stress reduction, Faithfully Fit stretching and exercising classes, Wellness Walkers, health screenings, and flu shots. A helpful website link about wellness is www.elcabop.org/livewell.aspx.

A prayer (attributed to Saint Augustine)
God of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless; the skies gray and threatening; when our lives have no music in them; and our hearts are lonely; and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light: turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us a sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to Your honor and glory. Amen.

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Healing Services

The 5:00 p.m. Worship Service on the first Saturday of each month is a service of prayer for healing. In addition to sharing the Word and Communion, this Service offers the option of individual prayers for healing and help. A prayer minister is available to meet with individuals who wish to come for prayers for themselves or for others, for anointing with oil. A Blessing of the Senses is offered in the Prayer Room following the worship service. Healing Touch sessions may also be scheduled for that day.

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Healing Touch

Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry is a sacred healing art which flows from the laying-on of hands found within our Christian tradition. This healing ministry integrates prayer and hands-on healing in which the flow of God’s grace and energy enhance the body’s capacity for healing. Through intentional connection with the Divine, prayer; meditation; light; and physical touch, the Spiritual Minister offers Healing Touch: a safe, complementary therapy to regular and ongoing medical care. Benefits include: relief of pain control; reduction of anxiety; preparation of medical treatments; support for the grief process; spiritual enhancement; and general well-being. We offer Healing Touch to our congregation and to friends to support their physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.

Click here for a Healing Touch Brochure.

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Health Web Sites

Click here for a List of Health Web Sites that was prepared by the Health Ministry at OSLC.

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Celebrate the Journey

This group of women meets the second Saturday of each month at 9:15 a.m. Women of all ages are invited to experience the benefits of a small group that uses a book as a springboard to discussion and spiritual growth.

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Christian Service Circle

In response to the great need worldwide, this group of women gathers monthly to assemble school kits, health kits, and prison kits for people in need throughout the world.

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Quilting Circle

In conjunction with Lutheran World Relief, this is a group of women who gather twice a month to design, create and assemble quilts which are distributed worldwide to those in greatest need.

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Women of the ELCA

All women all invited to our three annual events: Christmas Lunch in December and retreat in February and Spring Dinner in May.

Click for the Women of the ELCA web site or the Lutheran Women Today magazine.

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Adult Choirs

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OSLC Hand Bell Choir

Celebration Ringers, a group of experienced handbell players, perform once a month at two Traditional services. They use a five octave set of bells and four octaves of hand chimes to inspire the congregation with a variety of music including sacred, classical, and old favorite hymns Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings. Permanent and substitute ringers are welcome to join the roster.

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OSLC Brass Choir

Members who wish to enhance worship services with the inspiring music of a brass choir are encouraged to join the group. Rehearsals are held as needed. This group always performs on Easter Sunday.

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OSLC Orchestra

Our Saviour’s is fortunate to have many talented musicians in our membership. The orchestra plays for special Sunday Worship Services, and rehearses as needed.

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Second Chance Contemporary Worship Band

	Our very own contemporary praise band, Second Chance, combines popular contemporary music with original compositions that praise God in an uplifting manner. Second Chance utilizes keyboards, guitar, drums, and vocalists. Rehearsals are every Monday evening.

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