The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Saviour

September 2nd marks the end of the summer worship service schedule and we return to the regular worship service schedule:

Sunday Worship Services
8:15 AM - Service of Holy Communion
9:00 AM - Sunday School
10:30 AM - Traditional Worship Service
11:30 AM - Fellowship / Coffee Hour

As previously mentioned in June, our 3rd-7th grade students are learning stewardship of treasures. They each received a Thrivent piggy bank at the beginning of our Sunday School year. Together with their parents they decided on an amount to place in the “donation” slot in the bank. As a group, the children voted for a project for the year. They decided that their project would be to purchase teddy bears to donate to the local first aid squad. Their enthusiasm and hard work was so successful that they were able to purchase 199 nine to ten inch teddy bears to donate to seven emergency response squads in ten towns located in three different counties in northern New Jersey. Morris County Thrivent Financial contributed matching funds to further support the work of the children. In addition, the manufacturer was very supportive by offering us a highly competitive price to enable our children to assist other children in their time of need. The bears are given to children experiencing trauma that requires ambulance and hospital care.

The bears were dedicated into a service of caring and were distributed to representatives of first aid squads from Pequannock, Bloomingdale, Butler, Kinnelon, Wanaque, West Milford, Lincoln Park, Hardyston, Pompton Lakes and Riverdale on July 29, 2007, during our worship service. The Reverend Mark Rossman, pastor of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, sets an example of stewardship in the community by serving as the captain of the Hardyston First Aid Squad. The squads opened the ambulances to the children and allowed them to see the equipment that can help save their lives.

It started with a pig–a Thrivent pig-gy bank provided by members of our congregation to our Sunday School. Each third through seventh grader was presented with a bank. In addition, Thrivent Financial provided matching funds enabling us to purchase 199 First and Main teddy bears! First and Main, by providing a very competitive price also contributed to our success. We give thanks for the blessing of both of these partners in our Kids Care…Kids Share stewardship program.

On July 29 at 9:30AM, the teddy bears will be dedicated into a service of caring, and presented to seven local Emergency Response Teams serving ten towns in three counties in the communities that serve our congregation. Representatives of these squads, and the local mayors are all invited to join us as we celebrate the stewardship of our children.

We are celebrating God’s Amazing Grace that enables us to reach out in faith, fellowship and service to those in need in our communities. Please join us and celebrate with those who serve our communities! We do make a difference!