4TH ANNUAL RIVERBOAT WORSHIP

This Sunday, June 26, will be our church's fourth annual Riverboat Worship Service. We hope you'll join us as we set sail for worship in a luxury Mississippi River Explorer Cruise boat.

We'll begin boarding at the dock at the bottom of Main Street in Lansing at 8:30 a.m. and we'll leave promptly at 9:00 a.m. The return time is around 10:30 a.m. Bottled water and ice cream novelties will be provided. You are welcome to bring additional beverages of your own. If you have any questions about this cruise, please call Pastor Laura at 563-880-2699.

We've chartered the biggest boat they've got so your friends are welcome to join us. Please help spread the word!

DARYL BOLSON'S SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY

On Sunday, June 19th, Chris Bolson surprised her husband, Daryl, with a birthday party following worship. The church family joined in the celebration, which included a cake made by Carol Schaefer.

ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF LANDON JAMES LAWSON

Our Savior’s Lutheran congratulations Kaylee Lawson upon the birth of her son, Landon James Lawson. He arrived on Wednesday, June 15th at 6:26 p.m. He weighed 5 pounds, 8 3/4 ounces. Mom and baby are now home from Veteran's Memorial Hospital in Waukon and are both doing well. They plan to attend our Riverboat Worship service this Sunday, June 26th.

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY 2011

Nicole Elizabeth, daughter of Ron and Marsha Vinson, affirmed her baptism through the rite of confirmation on Pentecost Sunday. She is pictured with Pastor Laura Gentry above.

Below is her personally written faith statement, which she read to the congregation during worship.

My name is Nicole Vinson. I am 13 years old. I am active in sports such as: volleyball, softball, and track and I love spending time with my family and friends, I am a fun and outgoing person.

I have been involved with Our Savior’s Lutheran Church since my baptism here in 1997. I have done many things here such as: Christmas pageants, children’s choir, Sunday school, and confirmation. Since I have been in confirmation, I have learned to acolyte and assist with Holy Communion. I look forward also to receiving my first Communion today.

I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. This means that God spoke to many people who wrote it down for us. Reading it is helping me to understand God and what he wants for my life. My Spark Bible for kids helps me to understand more about each book. Thank you for giving me this bible. I will continue to read it.

I believe that God the Father created the world and everything in it. I feel like he is someone I can turn to when I am having a bad day and it makes me feel better knowing that he is always listening and won”t judge me no matter what. I feel like I relate to him now so much more by all of the things I have learned about him through the Apostle's Creed and the Lord's Prayer.

I believe that Jesus Christ, God's only Son our Lord, died for us and if he didn’t, we wouldn’t be living the way are today. Because I believe in him, he will take me to heaven one day.

I believe that the Holy Spirit lives within me and makes the story of Jesus known to me. I feel that the Holy Spirit lives in me by teaching me the way of the Gospel and bringing me to church, Sunday school, and confirmation.

I plan to nurture my faith by regularly attending church. I live differently now because I have a better understanding of my savior, Jesus Christ. God has changed my life for the better. I hope that in the future my faith will continue to grow as I read my bible, pray and worship. Thank you for being my church family. You have helped me a lot with my faith.

A reception was held following the service, at which a cake made by Carol Schaefer, was served. Nicole is pictured with her cake above.

This year, the Pentecost story from Acts was illustrated by the presence of six hanging pieces of art, which represent the flames of the Holy Spirit.

We also decorated the sanctuary in red geraniums, as is our custom. Thanks to Gayle Bahlmann for organizing the purchase of these plants and arranging them so beautifully.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS UNDERWAY

This week, the Lansing ecumenical vacation bible school is going on at the United Methodist Church. The theme is Pandamania and there is a big group of kids from all the area churches. Six students from Our Savior's are attending and Dr. Mike Schweitzer is a volunteer teacher. Below are pictures of the opening session on June 1st.

Emilio Rathbun doing the action song

Ethan Schweitzer and Kai Timmerman singing and dancing

Zoey Timmerman getting ready to decorate her cupcake

Kai getting ready for a new project

Ethan with a big smile

Jack Schweitzer doing his cupcake project

Jazmine Rathbun and Sydney Stahl—the adolescent helpers

Emilio working on his cupcake (which symbolized the Elijah story)

OBITUARY FOR PHYLLIS LARSEN

Phyllis Larsen was a member of the Lansing Laughter Club and periodic worship visitor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. She is pictured (above) with her husband, Michael, at last year's Women of the ELCA picnic.

Phyllis Larsen, 62, of Ferryville, passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Prairie Memorial Hospital in Prairie du Chien.

She was born in Boscobel, Wis. on June 4, 1948.

She was very active in the Gays Mills United Methodist church. Among her hobbies were fishing, enjoying the river, and cooking. For the past couple of years she and Michael have enjoyed Laughter Yoga at Lansing. They recently both completed Laughter Leader Training.

She is survived by her husband: Michael of Ferryville; 1 son: Raymond (Joanne) Gentz of Seattle; 1 daughter: Dr. Beth (Dave) Welter of Prairie du Chien; 4 grandchildren: Austin J. Gentz, Justin L. Gentz, Devin R. Gentz, and Raymond L. Gentz, Jr.; 4 step children: Jennifer Johnson of Galesville, Eric Larsen of Maple Lake, Minn., Jason Larsen of LaCrosse, and Craig Larsen of dodgeville; and 1 brother: Jerry A. Suetmeyer of park City, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her birth mother: Bessie Lee Faust; her adoptive parents: Lee and Beth Faust; and 1 brother Dean Suetmeyer.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 27 at 11 AM at Gays Mills United Methodist Church. Pastor Lori Betz will officiate. Friends may call at the Sime Funeral Home in Readstown on Thursday from 4 to 8 Pm, and on Friday at the church from 10 AM until service time.

Condolences may be sent to http://simefuneralforum.com/obituaries.php or to Mike Larsen at 16875 Tiger Rd, Ferryville, WI 54628.

CIRCLE TEA PARTY

On May 11th, the Women of the ELCA circles, Rebecca Circle and Naomi Circle, joined together for an afternoon bible study and tea party at Pastor Laura's house in McGregor. High tea was served next door in the First Congregational Church, which her husband, William, pastors. Below are pictures from the event (double click them for a larger view).