HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE!

Our Savior's member, Dorothy Becker, organized a surprise party for her the 80th birthday of her husband, Joe. Indeed, she pulled it off and truly surprised him. Here he is blowing out all those candles—not an easy task. We wish him a happy birthday!

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

We congratulate our members, Carl and Melanie, upon the birth of their baby girl Chloë Diane. Double click the photo above to enlarge.  Our prayers of joy and gratitude are with them as they celebrate this blessing. 

Here's Melanie in the nursery the week before she delivered.

And here she is with Chloë.

Carl with his daughter.

THE FUNNY SIDE OF FAITH

Our Savior's Lutheran Church was mentioned in an article of Ode Magazine. The entire issue for August 2009 is about laughter and Our Savior's was noted for the laughter we induce by celebrating Holy Hilarity Sunday each year.

The section of the article about faith and humor is by Carmel Wroth. It reads:

THERE IS NOT MUCH HUMOR IN THE BIBLE. But some Christian churches make up for that by posting witticisms on their outdoor signboards, such as "Does life stink? We have a pew for you," "Google cannot satisfy your every search" and "Read the Bible. It will scare the hell out of you." (Create your own virtual sign at the Church Sign Generator: says-it.com/churchsigns). Laura Gentry, pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing, Iowa, brings the humor indoors. Gentry's been known to give sermons in a pink feather boa and lead her congregation in gales of laughter. She's also among a small number of Protestant pastors to adopt a medieval tradition known as risus paschalis, or "Easter laughter," in which priests tell humorous stories around Easter. Contemporary pastors call it Holy Hilarity Sunday. "The resurrection is God's joke, the banana peel of the Christian faith," Gentry says. "When Christ rose from the dead, that was the great joke on death." On Holy Hilarity Sunday, Gentry's congregation dresses up in silly costumes, and even does the bunny hop to the hymn Lord of the Dance. The point is to experience laugther in church, in pastoral counseling, even at funerals. "It's one thing to say, 'I don't fear death,'" Gentry says, "but to laugh out loud somehow drives the idea home. It embodies our theology." —CW

Here's a photo of the article at Ode (page 43, August 2009). 

Double click it to enlarge:

Click here to read The Medicine of Mirth: Why a laugh a day keeps the doctor—and the cardiologist and the psychiatrist away from this same issue of Ode.

JAZZ CONCERT A SMASHING SUCCESS

On Thursday, July 16th, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church hosted a benefit concert for the Lansing Fire Department featuring jazz pianist and composer, Tom Bourcier. Tom, who is the congregation's worship musician, played to an enthusiastic, full house at an event that raised $634 for the fire department.

For the first hour, Tom performed a variety of jazz classics; jazzed up Christian spirituals such as “Jesus Lifted Me” and “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me”; originals; and a jazz improvisation on “The Tennessee Waltz” along with the story of how he'd met the song’s composer, Pee Wee King. Pastor Laura Gentry sang several interactive numbers from her debut jazz album, “Today isa Laughing Day,” which was recorded last summer in LaCrosse with Tom playing as part of the trio.

Following the formal part of the concert, the crowd mingled and enjoyed refreshments provided by the congregation. Tom continued to play as people gathered around the piano and submitted their requests. This informal segment of the evening lasted another hour.

"It was totally awesome!" says 13 year-old church member, Louis Nguyen. "I think everybody had a great time hearing Tom's music."

The $634, which was collected will be donated to the Lansing Fire Department for their building fund. The congregation of Our Savior’s Lutheran wishes to extend thanks to all those who attended and generously gave to this important cause.

Below are photos from the informal portion of the evening's performance.

Concert hostesses, Mary Schweitzer and Sharon Kiesau, coincidentally showed up wearing the same shirt—thus proving their equally great taste in fashion!

Photos by William Gentry II.

ANNUAL FAMILY PICNIC

The Women of the ELCA family potluck picnic was held on July 15, 2009 at Sharon Kiesau's home. With beautiful weather and church friends gathered together, it was a delightful event for everyone. The kids certainly had fun as you can see by the pictures (double click photos for enlarged view).

REBECCA CIRCLE IN GUTTENBERG

For their monthly Bible study circle meeting in July, Pastor Laura Gentry hosted the gathering at her father's cabin on Abel Island in Guttenberg, Iowa. The ladies enjoyed lunch overlooking the river. Bob Grover and Don Thran joined the group and toured Guttenberg while the women held Bible study.

BOURCIER TO PRESENT CONCERT

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church will be presenting a a solo piano benefit concert featuring their worship musician, Tom Bourcier, on Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m.

A jazz pianist, composer, and music professor at Luther College, Tom will be performing a broad selection of classic songs from the great American songbook, as well as original jazz and blues pieces.

As a professional musician, Tom has performed throughout the United States, Europe, South America and the Caribbean, performing with and backing up musicians and acts such as the Dirty Dozen Band, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Schwall of the Siegal-Schwall Band, Buddy Rich, Donald O’Connor, comedian David Brenner, Debbie Reynolds, and Jack Jones. From 1987-96 he led the Tom Bourcier Trio, and subsequently performed accordion with Bourcier, Julin and Wolff. The group released a CD, Live at St. Andrews, in 2000. Tom also performs accordion with singer/songwriter Robin Lee Berry on Going Driftless, a 2002 Red House Records retrospective of Greg Brown songs performed by female artists. His first solo piano CD, Steps, was released in 2002. Portals, a tango suite composed for movement theatre, will be released in 2009 on the independent label 2 Moons Records.

Tom received the Master of Music degree in composition from Western Michigan University. He served as Music Director/Assistant Professor in the Department of Dance at the University of Illinois from 1991-96, and premiered 17 original compositions in Illinois Dance Theatre and Illinois Repertory Theatre productions. His jazz chart In Walked Bo was recently recorded by the Composer’s Big Band in New York City. In 2004, I Saw Elvis for alto saxophone and electric guitar, received its European premiere at the Royal Conservatory of Music in London. It was published in 2008 by Media Press Inc. (Chicago).

At Luther College Tom teaches improvisation, supervises jazz combos, and directs the Jazz Band and Luther College Jazz Quintet. Tom also works on a free-lance basis, and his 2007–08 schedule had him performing throughout the Midwest in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, as well as Puebla, Mexico, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Chicago, Milwaukee and San Francisco. He resides in rural Decorah with his four sons.

The public is invited to attend the concert. The church is located at 480 Diagonal Street in Lansing. A free will offering will be taken to benefit the Lansing Fire Department Building Fund. A reception will follow. For more information, visit www.laughinglutherans.com or call 563-538-4664.

Hear a sampling of Tom's playing at these YouTube videos: