LENTEN OFFERINGS GO TO THE ELCA MALARIA CAMPAIGN

This year, the council of Our Savior's decided to send the Lenten service offerings to the ELCA Malaria Campaign. For the past several years, we have supported an important cause with the Lenten offerings. This is because almsgiving is an important tradition of Lent. This year, $609.28 was sent. We also learned more about the campaign during worship on April 29.

Watch the video below and read more about the ELCA Malaria Campaign, which is working to alleviate malaria by 2015 and is in the midst of raising $15 million to do so.

6TH ANNUAL HOLY HILARITY SUNDAY

On the Sunday after Easter, April 15th, Our Savior's held its 6th annual festival of Holy Hilarity—the joyful celebration of Christ's resurrection. The following are pictures and video from the day.

Donna Reed and Angela Kerndt in their matching novelty glasses

"A church is in a bad way

when it banishes laughter from the sanctuary."

HELMUT THIELICKE

The Bahlmanns in their laughter-wear

 "Christianity is a strangely cheery religion."

FLANNERY O'CONNOR

Carol Schaefer and her guests

Pastor Laura and Debbie Sero

"In Nigeria, the name of God is 'Father of Laughter.'"

JOSPEH R. VENEROSO

Don Thran with Georgia Troendle

“The Christian should be an alleluia 

from head to foot.” 

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO 

Donna Reed with Pastor Laura

 "Humor is, in fact, the prelude to faith 

and laughter is the beginning of prayer."

REINHOLD NIEBUHR

Emilio Rathbun, the cool acolyte

 "The world will never be converted to God 

until Christians cry less and laugh and sing more."

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ethan Schweitzer getting into the Easter spirit

Gary Bahlmann's fish pun shirt

 “Keep company with the more cheerful sort of the Godly; there is no mirth like the mirth of believers.”

RICHARD BAXTER

Florence McKee with her great grandchildren, Kyle and Laurel Scott

Gayle's funny shirt

 "From somber, serious sullen saints, 

save us, O Lord."

TERESA OF AVILA

Gene Mueller in his pinwheel hat with Ceil Gray

Georgia as an Irish lass

Owen Kirk visiting with the green haired guy (Rick Gramlich)

Pastor Laura with the leaders of the UNI Interlude Dance, Cathy and Paula

"You have as much laughter 

as you have faith."

MARTIN LUTHER

Kai in his hobo costume

Kyle in his wild hat

 "Walk cheerfully over the world."

GEORGE FOX

Pastor Laura and Georgia

Laurel styling in Pastor's wig and hat

Margaret Cannon with the collection of quilts she'd help make for LWR

Melanie Wittman and Chloe in their laughter hats

"A good joke is the closest thing 

we have to divine revelation."

G.K. CHESTERTON

The smiling Seeleys

The Timmerman family (note that Vern is Dr. Ha Ha)

Fairy Princess Zoey with Pastor Laura

The congregation getting ready for worship

Georgia in a witch hat

Pastor with Jazmine Rathbun and Kyle Scott

Chris Bolson getting into the Holy Hilarity spirit even as she's recovering from her hospitalization last week.

The big surprise of the day is that we had a "half time" during the worship service in which we did the UNI Interlude Dance. See it on the video below or click here.