That's a "vision" question before us all. And we all have opportunity to come together to seek God's preferred future (=vision) at OSLC in the next 5-7 years:

ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL VISION RENEWAL SESSION on Saturday, April 1, 9 AM - Noon (8:30 AM, registration, coffee and breakfast goodies) in the church basement.  We expect all members of present committees, boards, and ministries to be present. The tentative schedule:

8:30 AM	Registration, Coffee, Breakfast refreshments
9:00 AM	Opening Devotion. Discussion of "Mission" and our Mission Statement (see below).  Review of our 2001 Vision goals.
10:00 AM	Re-casting the Vision, led by Anthony Bracco from our NJ District, who was with us in 2001. Sharing individual/group dreams. Prioritizing (remember those little round dots from '01!).

To register: just fill out a form in Sunday's bulletin; or call the Church Office (leave a message), or email me (therzberg@att.net). You don't need to bring anything except your ideas, dreams and willingness to be part of God's mission.

Remember: our Vision is a Picture of God's preferred future at OSLC in the next 5-7 years. It, too, will need to be renewed in the future, just as we are renewing what we came up with back in June of 2001. Do you remember 'way back then'?  From that very democratic process involving 90+ members, we were able to form new task forces, committees, and ministries, including: the Outreach Committee (feeding and housing the homeless, exploring congregational care ministries), Welcome Committee (new member luncheons, greeter program, better signage, fellowship activities), Music/Worship (drama ministry, exploring Handbells/ Chimers ministry); Youth Council (puppets ministry). There were many goals we did not accomplish (yet!), and which we hope to revisit on April 1.

Personally, I hope we can affirm some new directions in ministry, including: parish health ministry, regular small-groups ministry, seniors ministries, and expanded music ministries.

Here are a few questions for your reflection and preparation for April 1:  U What programs or ministries would you like to see explored or begun in the next 5-7 years? U How has our congregation and ministry changed in the past 5 years?

U What needs in our congregation or community have we responded to in the past 5 years? U What needs remain as potential ministry opportunities? U What changes could we make to better serve the purpose of God here?

OUR VISION IS BUILT UPON OUR MISSION AT OSLC. The Vision Task Force has developed the following Mission Statement for OSLC.  Please reflect on our future with this as a starting point:

We are chosen by Jesus to:	Open our hearts to all,
	Share the Good News,
	Love and serve our Lord, and
	Celebrate His grace and truth.

See you on April 1!   Blessings, Pastor Terry

Great Commission Convocation

Good Shepherd - Point Pleasant hosted the NJ District’s 3^rd GCC. Approximately 150 fellow-Lutherans registered; OSLC was well represented by 9 members, including Pastor Terry who was one of the leaders in the Friday night Communion Service. Saturday’s activities were split into opening and closing devotions, four small group sectionals, keynote address, lunch, and snacks, Snacks, SNACKS. The sectionals were varied, and members of our group cited Islam 101, Personal Mission Trips, and Resourcing the Future as some of their favorites. Pastor Bob Roegner, Keynote Speaker, shared his personal mission experiences.

Besides enjoying Christian fellowship and learning, some of us started our day with a walk on the beach or boardwalk (you may remember it was a sunny 65° day) and some of us enjoyed a hotdog on the boardwalk after the sessions ended. I understand one of us brought home a jar of sand! Just an all-around, good day.

Now it’s time for participants Dave Rocker, Chuck Latyak, Pastor Terry, Dena and Jeff Hertel, Ruth Bitten, Aidee Wilemsen, Judy Bell and Leslie Thompson to process and use what they heard and saw. by Leslie Thompson

Drama Ministry

March 12, 2006 – The mini-theatre production of Ed and God was a smash hit. Kevin Lehr (Ed) and Richard Rudmann (the voice of God) were spectacular! In many snippets, Ed (who was up at the alter) went through his day, and God (“off stage”) interjected when his actions were not quite Christ-like – getting to work on time, interacting with his customers, dealing with road rage, helping his coworker, etc. They’ll know we are Christians by our … God would point out that the person “offending” or “upsetting” Ed didn’t know the Lord, and God asked Ed if he could demonstrate how Christians should behave. Friends of mine who were visiting Our Savior commented after the service: Do you always have theatre here?!? Oh, we might not have theatre every week, but our church family is talented and super! by Gritli Fecht-Sette

Pastor Terry was always talking about a Drama Ministry. So, in September 2005, Maria Liverani, Marilyn Thomforde and Aidee Willemsen started it. The first skit, performed on Loyalty Sunday, November 19, 2005, was written by Maria Liverani, played by Kelly Liverani and Jessica Passadante. This skit was well acted by these lovely girls and well received by the congregation.

On Palm Sunday, April 9, Pretty Proud Of It will be performed by Dena Hertel, Jason Swanson, Carol Kilkeary and Louisa Swanson.

This ministry now has five more members: Louise Boswell, Lillian Burrows, Laura Robertson, Ryan Swanson and Robert Wheeler. The group has lots of fun putting the skits together and can still use actors of all ages, male or female. If you are interested, please call Aidee Willemsen at 973-427-4715 or 973-427-8122. God has filled their spirits with enthusiasm and revived their creative minds. by Aidee Willemsen

Pray without ceasing ~

a word from our President

I am always in awe and delighted when God answers my prayers, especially the ones He answers in a more subtle, amazingly simple way. I smile and shake my head when I realize it. I always pray in the name of Jesus Christ with confidence that my prayer will be answered. But when it happens I am still humbled knowing that God actually listens to me. ME! Some examples that I will share with you include an important presentation I had to give at work for the new Managing Director and her global staff. I was completely at ease, and when I finished, it hit me that what I said and how I said it was GREAT! I was stunned and silently thanked God immediately for answering my prayer. Another time I prayed that He would help JayTee and I use our time apart this winter to think about and work on being better spouses instead of growing apart, and He did just that. Then there’s Annie.

Annie is about 50 years old, Jewish, and has had MS for over 20 years. She has been in a wheelchair for 15 of those 20 years and has an aide living with her 24/7. She has two sons in college and just recently found out her husband has a girlfriend. They own a large 2-level townhouse; Annie and her Aid live on one floor while her husband and sons (when home from college) live on the other floor, which has a private entrance. Pretty bleak picture, right?

I visit Annie several times a year, in truth, more out of a sense of service. Sometimes my husband or sister, or some mutual friends come along. We bring pizza or finger food, remember ‘old times’ and talk about now. Although we try our best and even go with a ‘script’ of positive things to talk about (including Jesus and our church family), Annie is understandably unhappy and negative and we generally come away feeling down.

I pray for Annie for many reasons. I pray that she comes to know Jesus. I pray that she is comfortable and gets good care. I pray that she is happy. (Which, by the way, is what one of our members on the Prayer List replied to me when I asked him “What should I pray for you?”).

I saw Annie a few weeks ago. She is a changed woman. No, she doesn’t believe in Jesus (yet). But Annie is HAPPY! She decided that she was tired of being holed-up at home and had her Aid bundle her up into her motorized wheelchair. She ‘drove’ three blocks on her own (up the STEEP hill that she lives at the bottom of) and started visiting an Assisted Living facility. Many of the seniors living there don’t have any family, and Annie became the person who cheered them up. She was bubbling over with stories of some ladies that she helped get over the death of their parakeet or how she brought everyone candy canes for Christmas. Now she goes three times a week.

Our God is awesome. Never in a million years could we plan something like this. But Annie simply feels needed. She has a purpose. It’s what she lives for. When I asked her what made her go in the first place, she couldn’t say. (Wink, Wink). Pray without ceasing … 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

in His service, Leslie Thompson

Dorcas Guild Fish ‘n’ Chips Dinner Wednesday May 3 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Tickets will be available in Memorial Hall in April at $11 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will provide matching funds with the proceeds going toward outreach missions.

How many turkeys do you see in this picture? No, the answer is not FOUR!! Twenty frozen turkeys, chickens and varied meat were delivered to Eva's Kitchen in Paterson on February 26. Since Eva's Kitchen feeds almost 200 people daily, these donations were greatly appreciated by the staff. As our delivery was being made there was a line of people waiting to get into the dining room. Your donations helped to feed these unfortunate people. Thank you to all who brought this food. Let's keep this in mind for next year and try to beat the number we provided this year.

Blankets of Hope

Our Savior’s Bits ‘n’ Pieces quilters have been cutting, piecing, sewing and finishing quilts for world relief for many years. Last year they gave 17 quilts along with pillowcases, blankets, dust ruffles and mattress pads to Lutheran Social Ministries of NJ. They also sold 12 quilts at our fall boutique, and they donated two quilts to be auctioned for missions. Earlier this year Ellie and Gus Katsch delivered 12 quilts, 3 baby quilts and 5 afghans to Monsignor Vincent Puma, who originally started Eva’s Village.

The quilters are now making fleece throws for our wounded soldiers. These Blankets of Hope are distributed through an organization called Soldier’s Angels. Our quilters have partnered with Thrivent who supplies funds for the materials. The blankets are part of a package of personal items that goes to each wounded soldier. Because the blankets are lightweight they can be used on the medivac flights that are often long, cold and uncomfortable.

When the ladies of Bits ‘n’ Pieces began making these throws, they received word that Paul Cataldi of the 101st Airborne was injured near Bakuba, Iraq. Paul is the son of a friend of Ellie Katsch. The ladies thought it would be a wonderful idea to give their first throw to someone they knew. Paul is presently at Walter Reed Hospital.

Bits ‘n’Pieces meets Wednesday afternoons and would love to have anyone who is interested in helping. SEWING IS NOT REQUIRED! There are many jobs to do! Cotton material and filler are always needed. Stop in and see the wonderful work that these ladies do! By Dena Hertel

Used Eyeglasses Benefit Others

Changing your glasses soon? Need a new prescription?  Please bring your old glasses to the basket on the table in the Narthex. These glasses are sent to the Lions Club and Eyes for the Needy. They distribute them to doctors to help people around the world see better and sometimes for the very first time! Our mission funds have helped fund the Eyeglass clinic in Kyrgyzstan; many of the glasses they use come from the Lion Club. This year thus far, 84 pairs of glasses and cases have been collected. Help support this ministry!

Puppets return!

Do you miss seeing the I.C.E. - In Christ's Eyes Puppeteers? They have been very busy practicing for a 9 AM Easter Sunday performance. The Puppeteers will be doing something completely different from their previous performances. So come and join the I.C.E. Puppeteers as we celebrate our Risen Lord on Easter Sunday! And don't be late - the Puppeteers are starting the celebration! By Dena Hertel

Confirmation Class Students Visit Shut-Ins with Pastor Terry

Û Dorothy Hafner and

Þ Meg Olsson enjoying their visitors.

Holy Week at Our Savior

Sunday April 9 8/ 11 AM	Palm/Passion Sunday "The Deadly Sin of Pride"/ Drama presentation/Palm crosses
Thursday April 13 7:30 PM	Maundy Thursday Holy Communion "The Deadly Sin of Gluttony"
Friday April 14 7:30 PM	Good Friday Tenebrae Worship
Sunday April 16 6:30 AM 9:00 AM 11:00 AM	Easter Festival of the Resurrection Holy Communion Holy Communion; Praise and Junior Choirs, Puppets Presentation Holy Communion Chancel Choir, Hallelujah Chorus

EASTER FLOWERS - 2006

I would like to beautify our chancel for Easter with the following plant(s) at $6.50 each (no color choice).

__Lily __Tulip __ Hyacinth

Name_________________________________

Phone ________________________________

In Thanksgiving to the Lord __________________________ or

In Memory of ________________________________________

Please return this form with remittance of $6.50 per plant to: Mrs. Ginger Latyak, 20 Wilson Terr. Waldwick, NJ 07463 or place in box #143, phone 201-251-9170. Make checks out to Altar Guild, Our Savior Lutheran Church. You may pickup your plant AFTER the 11 AM service on Easter Sunday. Please note: all orders must be in the hands of Mrs. Latyak no later than April 5.

New Member Luncheon ~ Sunday, April 2

All new members from last October's reception and any new members from 2004 who missed last year's luncheon are invited to a New Member Luncheon, hosted by our Welcome Committee on Sunday, April 2nd, immediately following the late service.  Pr. Emeritus Henry Loeber will be present to share some unique stories about our church history. 

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

P A I D

Permit No. 148

Fair Lawn, NJ

Meet the Forstalls!

One of the goals of the Mission Committee for 2006 is to assist Katrina victims. The Southern Disaster Relief District of LCMS has a program called Family-to-Family Connection. “Families affected by the hurricane are adopted by other families, churches, Sunday schools, or other groups within the church.”* They gave us a profile for Reginald and Ursula Forstall in New Orleans.

I spoke with Ursula. This is their story: After Katrina they were sent to a shelter in Houston. They left there to go live with Ursula’s sister in New Orleans. Now they’ve been able to rent an apartment that their nephew owns. Reginald is a mail carrier and is still working. Ursula is a diabetic and is now retired. Their daughter Whitney is in advertising, but has recently lost her job. Their son, Timothy is married to Bianca and they have a 3-year old son, Ethan. Tim is in the Military and was recently deployed to Iraq. Bianca and Ethan have gone to live with her father in Atlanta.

The Forstalls have lost everything. Their home is still standing, but is unlivable. It is built on a 3-foot pier and had 5 feet of water in it. They don’t want to start rebuilding until they find out if the levee is being repaired. So they, like many others, are in a ‘hold pattern’. Their apartment is not furnished, but they are grateful for the used dinette set and sleeper sofa without a mattress that someone donated.

Recently they had 2 friends move in with them who are 80 and 89 years old who had been shipped to a nursing home in Arizona after the storm. When Ursula found out, she brought them back.

I know many of you have expressed an interest in helping Katrina victims but are unable to physically go to New Orleans. Very soon you’ll hear more about how you can get involved.

by Leslie Thompson

* NJ District LCMS Servant to Servant, February 2006

Hello Friends ~ I’m so glad the days are getting longer and warmer. I'm looking forward to doing some spring cleaning and painting around this mouse house. Lately I have been tripping over a lot of clutter around here. It seems everyone is always in a hurry. Take time and pick things up and put them back where they belong. Treat God's house like your house. ~ I must say I have enjoyed the yummy soup suppers. The bread, crackers and yummy dessert just make my day (although Pedro and I have to be careful in the kitchen not to scare any of the ladies especially when they have a full bowl of hot soup in their hands). ~ I enjoyed hearing my little people friends singing "The Circle of Love Goes Around" in church on March 12, you all did a great job. ~ Were you in church to hear God talk? Kevin L. did a great job on the skit with Rich R. ~ Did you know Pastor Terry made a visit each week to the Sunday School classes? Pedro and I enjoyed listening to him tell about his childhood and growing up and his favorite toy tractor he liked to ride. The children shared what they like to do and if they had any pets. I forgot to tell Pastor about my pet flea named Fred. ~ I hope all of you come out to Miss Evelyn's Party on March 26. I will be looking for you. ~ Pedro and I wish all of you a very Blessed Easter. Hope to see you in church, not just on Easter Sunday, but every Sunday. Much Love, Miss Church Mouse

Funerals in March… May God's peace bless those member families who lost loved ones this past month:  V To Evelyn, Charles and Susan Kanefke at the death of Frieda Kanefke on March 3, at the age of 97.  A Christian funeral was held at Our Savior on March 6.  V To Alfred, Joe and Kimberly Crawford at the death of Diane on March 13 at the age of 45. A Christian funeral was held at Intelisano-Scarpa Funeral Home in Clifton on March 17. 

PROFILE: The Rocker Family

David Rocker was raised in Rego Park, Queens and graduated from Stuyvesant HS. He admits he was not a serious student then and was “enrolled” at Brooklyn College for 2 years before doing payroll and personnel work and then routing clothing products to stores for Hartfield-Zodys where he had worked part time while in school. The company’s main competitor and threat was a new company called Target! In 1983, now more serious-minded, Dave enrolled at LaGuardia Community College with a focus on computers and data processing. From October of 1984 until May of 1985 he interned in an exchange work experience program in Dublin, Ireland with the Local Government Computer Services Board. He learned a lot about the Northern Ireland conflict which has more to do with British rule in those 6 counties than Protestant – Roman Catholic antagonisms. Dave graduated in June of 1985 and continued his education at the Rochester Institute of Technology earning a degree in Business Information Systems in November of 1987. The stock market crash known as “Black Monday” in October made job hunting a real challenge, but Dave secured part time work before getting a job with William H. McGee and Company in NY, which has since been taken over by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. He progressed from the position of programmer trainee to senior systems engineer.

Nancy Nieva was raised in the Philippines, graduating from high school there and earning a bachelor’s degree in office administration from Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in 1984. In 1988 Nancy came to Jersey City to live with her Aunt. She attended a small Filipino church which met at the Old Bergen Methodist Church in Jersey City. A friend there was a co-worker of Dave’s and invited him to attend the church’s 3^rd anniversary celebration in 1990. A lifelong Lutheran, Dave attended Trinity Lutheran in Queens but often would come to afternoon services at the Jersey City church where he had noticed a number of attractive Filipino ladies including Nancy. Eventually Dave asked her for a date and slowly love blossomed. They were married May 28, 1995 at the Old Bergen Church. For a time they lived in Queens, but when they looked for a house, an Uncle who lived in Fair Lawn told them about the excellent school system and Nancy and Dave moved into their home on 26^th Street June 20, 1997.

The Lord has blessed them with two wonderful boys. Darren was born June 2, 1996 and is in 4^th grade at Warren Point School. Jeremy was born August 4, 1998 at home. He was too impatient for Nancy to get to the hospital! He is in 2^nd grade at Warren Point School. Darren and Jeremy enjoy Sunday School and singing in the Our Savior Junior Choir.

Still attending church in Jersey City, Dave and Nancy came to the Maundy Thursday services at Our Savior in 1999 and 2000. The subject of Pastor Terry’s sermon in 2000 was “Welcome Home!” Seeing God’s hand in that, in December of 2000 both Dave and Nancy separately thought of trying Our Savior. They never checked another church after being received so warmly here. Then president of Our Savior, Paul Decker, set them up with offering envelopes and a mailbox in March of 2001 and the family joined Our Savior that summer. On 9/11 Dave walked down from the 47^th floor at World Trade Center 2. He and everyone in his office escaped because they didn’t listen to the announcement that the South tower was safe and everyone should stay there. His heart-stopping testimony about his faith and that escape at our 9/11 memorial service in 2002 was partly responsible for the Leibrock family deciding to join Our Savior!

Nancy sings in the Praise Choir and had been a member of the Chancel Choir. Her part time work at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff makes it impossible for her to sing in both. Dave was elected to our Church Council in 2002 and serves as our Head Elder. He’s also active in the Welcome Committee and as a greeter. Dave was preparing to be “downsized” from his job on January 31, but on January 30 he was told his good work habits and attitude during the downsizing planning period had been noticed and he was offered the job of Business Analyst.

Say hello to this wonderful family and let them know how glad you are to have them with us. by Dick Engelhardt