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:

OBITUARY FOR NANCY AMBLE

Nancy Lou Osen Sherwood Amble, 67, of Lansing, IA passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, June 20, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Nancy was born September 29, 1941 in St. Paul, MN to Edward and Dorothy (Lundberg) Osen. Nancy graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1959. Nancy married Dave Amble August, 1970, in Las Vegas, NV. Nancy worked in secretarial and bookkeeping at Honeywell in Poway, CA, Goodyear in York, PA, HW Miller in Iola, KS, and Regal China in Antioch, IL.

Nancy loved her family and friends dearly, and enjoyed every minute spent with them. She was so proud of the many accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. Nancy loved spending time with her grandchildren, who she thought were outstanding.

Nancy loved spending time on the Mississippi River. She also enjoyed camping, fishing, gardening, traveling, church, and she loved her annual trips to Florida with her special friend Mike.

Nancy was an active and dedicated member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lansing.

Nancy is survived by two sons, George (Alina) Sherwood, of Frisco, TX, Scott (Jennifer) Sherwood of Spring Grove, IL, stepsons David (Joan) Amble of Darien, CT, Gary (Lori) Amble of Shawnee, KS, Dr. Paul (Marge) Amble of Guilford, CT, and stepdaughter Congresswoman Michele (Marcus) Bachmann of Stillwater, MN; 14 grandchildren Jack and Sam Sherwood, Susan (Mike) Higgins and Catherine Amble, Kirsten and Tyler Amble, Cavin, Sara, and Dylan Amble, Lucas, Harrison, Elisa, Caroline, and Sophia Bachmann; two brothers Clarence (Sharon) Osen of St. Paul, MN, Gary (Sue) Osen of Ham Lake, MN; two sisters Doris Greene of Chisago City, MN, and Carol (Don) LeVasseur of Center City; special friend Mike Dagnon; special friends Ernie and Wanda Davidson, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Dave Amble, August 5, 2003; brother-in-law Jack Greene; and sister-in-law Mary Osen.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at 1pm at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Lansing, IA. Pastor Laura Gentry will officiate.

Memorials, in Nancy’s name, may be made to support ongoing research for cystic fibrosis. This was an issue that was close to Nancy’s heart. Donations may be sent to Darci Greene, 15480 Furuby Road, Center City, MN, 55012.

Click here to read the sermon from Nancy's funeral.

FIRST COMMUNION, PRESENTATION OF BIBLES & FATHER'S DAY SUNDAY

A big celebration was held at worship on Sunday, June 21. Not only was it first communion for a group of 8 young people, but we presented 18 Bibles to the Sunday school children and gave pops to the pops on Father's Day. A reception followed worship.

First Communion was received by the following students pictured above: (back row) Melony Orr, Louis Nguyen, Ellicha Gage, Jazmine Rathbun, (front row) Lucas Kerndt, Kyle Hitchins, Emilio Rathbun, Riley Gage. These young people have been preparing for this day since May and each created a special project to reflect their excitement about partaking of the sacrament of Holy Communion. The group also led the congregation in singing "The Welcome Table" and received certificates commemorating the occasion.

The Bible showed up to help the congregational president, Dr. Jan Schweitzer, present Spark Bibles (NRSV) to the older children and Spark Story Bibles to the younger children of the Sunday school. These Bibles are brand new resources released by the Lutheran publishing house, Augsburg Fortress. Pastor Laura was a writer on Spark Bible. They were given in loving memory of Marcella Geuder. These Bibles will be the basis of our Sunday school curriculum next fall.

The children who received Spark Story Bibles are:

• Nicholas Rethwisch

• Ethan Schweitzer

• Jack Schweitzer

• Kai Timmerman

• Zoey Timmerman

The young people who received Spark Bibles are:

• Beau Bourcier

• Rye Bourcier

• Willem Bourcier

• Winter Bourcier

• Riley Gage

• Lucas Kerndt

• Alanna Pleasants

• Jazmine Rathbun

• Emilio Rathbun

• Soraya Reyes 

• Emily Rethwish 

• Nicole Vinson

• Haley Vinson

The "pops" were given Tootsie pops from a candy bouquet. We wanted all the dads to feel special on Father's Day.

A reception followed worship with a beautiful First Communion cake made by Carol Schaefer. The youth also made s'mores bars for the occasion.

OBITUARY FOR ED LANGER

Edward and Helen Langer were long-time members of Our Savior's Lutheran until they moved to Decorah in 2001.


Edward Ernest Langer, age 91, died peacefully on June 16, 2009, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ed was born November 6, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, to Ernest and Marie Czerny Langer, immigrants from Austria and Czechoslovakia. He was graduated from Morton High School and Junior College in Cicero, Illinois.

Ed earned a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Chicago, specializing in foreign trade and transportation. Ed helped finance his education by playing viola in a dance orchestra that performed around the Chicago area.

After employment with the Seagram Calvert Distilling Company in Louisville, and Baltimore, Ed came to work for Sears, Roebuck and Company in Chicago, where he remained for the rest of his career. His first assignment was in traffic management.

In 1942, Ed was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Card. He was assigned to the staff of the Amphibious Forces and participated in the planning and execution of Army and Marine landings in Sicily, Saipan, Palau, Linguayan Gulf, Leyte, and Iwo Jima. He was awarded the Bronze Star for action in the Philippines. He continued to study naval skills after completing active duty, and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the reserves.

Ed married Helen Lohrmann, of Berwyn, Illinois, on June 21, 1945, while on a leave in Long Beach, California. To secure the permission of Helen’s father, a Lutheran pastor, Ed was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on an earlier leave from the Navy.

After military service, Ed returned to Sears. As a buyer of steel products, he travelled throughout Europe and the Far East. During this time, the Langers raised three children in Brookfield, Illinois, where Ed served the community on both the School Board and the Library Board.

Following retirement from Sears in 1973, Ed and Helen moved to a historic stone house in Lansing, Iowa, overlooking the Mississippi River. Ed took up fishing and beekeeping. He played viola with the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra. He acquired a Hardanger Norwegian folk fiddle and played at festivals in the area. He served as chaplain in his VFW chapter. The couple continued to travel, especially enjoying freighter trips to exotic ports.

In 2001, Ed and Helen moved to independent living in Decorah, Iowa. After Helen’s death in 2006, Ed relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, living with daughter Jane McGuire and her family.

Ed is survived by son Richard Langer (Christelle) of Minneapolis, daughters Jane McGuire (David) of Albuquerque, and Mary Butler (Van) of Durango, Colorado, and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, and his brother Robert.

Ed donated his body to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2009, at St Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Albuquerque, where Ed was a member. Memorial gifts may be made to the parish’s New Building Fund, in lieu of flowers.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:

Mary Butler
62 Cypress Court
Durango, CO 81301

CLOWNING AROUND

Pastor Laura just got back from Clown Camp in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. There, she learned a multitude of things about the art of clowning and how to apply it in ministry.

She can be seen in this TV news story. Watch for her in a bright pink wig and black and white polka dots.

Pastor Laura preached a clown sermon when she returned on Sunday, June 14. Read the text and see pictures at her sermon blog.

In the future, she hopes to involve congregational members (especially youth) in clown ministry performances in worship and the community.

OUR SAVIOR'S FEATURED IN WATERLOO CEDAR FALLS COURIER

Karris Golden just wrote this opinion piece about laughter and faith for the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier in the Cedar Valley of Iowa.

Friday, May 29, 2009 12:01 PM CDT
Laughter proves to be good medicine
By KARRIS GOLDEN, onfaith@karrisgolden.com

Laura Gentry loves a good laugh --- but don't laugh her off.

Gentry, laughter yoga expert and pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing, has serious wisdom to impart.

"Laughter yoga combines laughter exercises with deep breathing, stretching and relaxation. When it is practiced in a group, it becomes absolutely contagious," she says. "Not only do people laugh, but they joyfully connect with one another and cultivate their own childlike playfulness."

By merging laughter with conventional understandings of "yoga" and "meditation," we tap into the additional benefits of mirth, deep breathing and contemplative focus, Gentry explains.

"It is surprising, even outrageous, to think of laughter as a form of meditation," she says. "Yet not only is laughter meditation one of the simplest forms of meditation, it is also a very powerful one. The physical act of laughing is one of the few actions involving the body, emotions and the soul. When we laugh, we give ourselves over to the immediacy of the present moment."

Laughter yoga and meditation can have deep, meaningful and spiritual benefits, adds Gentry. It is healing, soothing and builds compassion.

"The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength," she says. "Yet with the many pressures modern people face, we don't always live with joy in our hearts. If we truly believe the good news of the gospel, I think it is imperative that we live joyfully."

The basic premise is that anyone can laugh, Gentry says.

"We don't need jokes, or comedy, or even a sense of humor to laugh," she explains. "All we need is the desire to laugh, to open up our hearts and let the joy of laughter flow."

It's deceptively simple. To laugh for "no reason" requires a certain level of vulnerability.

"Laughing in such a childlike manner is daunting to some people," Gentry explains. "They've been conditioned not to exhibit such behavior in public. This is why the concept of laughter yoga must be introduced carefully to convince them that it is valuable."

The "zealous laughers" usually bring the reluctant ones along, she says. "Even if they didn't intend to cut loose and laugh so much, it happens naturally when they see the exuberance of the others. By all laughing together, we give each other permission to set aside self-consciousness for the moment and laugh wholeheartedly."

Why laugh? Because laughter reduces stress, lowers your blood pressure, boosts immunity, eases physical pain and promotes happiness, Gentry notes. In addition, practicing laughter yoga can increase your creativity, physical vitality, communications skills and sense of well being.

Gentry presents laughter programs for churches and other groups, offering an in-depth look at biblical joy. And they laugh, of course. It's fun and fulfilling work, she says.

"Recently, I did a young women's retreat for a church in La Crosse (Wis.). They even brought their own silly hats, and we had such a wild time. It was amazing! We have also walked the sacred labyrinth while laughing and playing, and that's quite a spiritually enriching experience as well."

For more information or to contact Gentry, go to www.laughinglaura.com, write her at P.O. Box 11, Marquette 52158 or laughterlaura@yahoo.com or call (563) 880-2699.

EULOGY FOR PASTOR LAURA'S MOTHER

Sharon E. Smith, mother Pastor Laura Gentry, passed away on May 7, 2009.

Visitation will be held at on Monday, May 11 at Egelhof Siegert Casper Funeral Homes, 2659 JFK Road in Dubuque from 4 until 7pm. The funeral service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, May 12 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque, IA, with visitation prior from 9:45-10:45. Memorials will be to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and the Lupus Foundation of America.

Here is the eulogy for her, written by the family.

On a snowy night on January 4th of 1942, Edgar Pensel had to pull the car to the road with the horses to get his wife to Guttenberg for the delivery of their third child. Wally and Kermit still complain about how cold it was that night walking down the lane with their parents. The heater froze so they had to drive the 13 miles to Guttenberg with the window open to see the road, but they made it and a beautiful light came into the world that night. After the birth, Edgar returned to the farm to do chores and got snowed in. It was a week until he was able to return to Guttenberg and help his wife decide on the name Sharon Elaine Pensel for their precious little girl.

Sharon was baptized into the family of God at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Guttenberg. She grew up in rural Colesburg and enjoyed life on the farm. The animals delighted her, especially her dog, Penny. She was confirmed in the faith at St. John’s Lutheran. Later, she graduated from the Colesburg Consolidated Schools,

After graduation, Sharon went to school to become a dental assistant at the Professional Business Institute in Minneapolis. There, she lived with a family and cared for their children. Upon graduation, she was employed by Prudential Insurance Company. She made the trips home by train from Minneapolis to Prairie du Chien.

When her sweetheart, Burnell, asked her to get married, she said yes. They were married on December 22, 1961 at the family church of St. John’s Lutheran—where both of their parents had held their weddings. They drove to Florida for their honeymoon where they saw the Orange Bowl parade and game.

The newlyweds made their home in Bellevue and Sharon transferred to the Dubuque office of Prudential. After 3 years, they moved to the Cedar Rapids area and Sharon earned her bachelor’s degree at Coe College, then taught 4th grade for a year in Cedar Rapids.

Sharon and Burnell were blessed with a baby girl, Kathleen, followed by another baby girl, Laura. Sharon decided to become a full-time mom and devote herself to raising their children. This also enabled her to do a great deal of volunteer work in her church and community.

During the 10 years the young family lived in in Monroe, Wisconsin, Sharon taught preschool for 4 years and earned her Master of Arts degree in education from The University of Wisconsin, Platteville.

In 1983, they moved to Dubuque and Sharon became a reading teacher in the Platteville Schools where she worked for 15 years. “I had a great teacher named Mrs. Smith,” wrote one of Sharon’s many students.  “I always liked Mrs. Smith from the beginning,” she exclaimed, “because she treated me like a friend instead of just one of her students. She encouraged me to keep writing stories and complimented my work. Thanks, Mrs. Smith!”
 
In 1993, on the front cover of Dubuque Telegraph Herald newspaper, a picture of Sharon with her students along with the headline, “Dedicated to reading: Platteville teacher paves way for lifelong learning.” It went on to recognize Sharon as one of the tri-state’s great teachers. The parent who nominated Sharon for this award said: “She lets her students be willing to learn and take the chance of figuring things out for themselves. All the while, she helps them know when to ask for help.” Her principal added: “She’s a very positive person who’s willing to take the time needed to do extra things,” and noted that her students would always get excited about their time with her.
 
Family was Sharon’s top priority. She loved and supported her
husband for the 47 1/2 years they had together. She cared for her parents and spend countless hours with her mother, especially in her final years. She was wild about her children and she gave them every opportunity and advantage in life she could. She constantly provided unwavering love, support and encouragement for her girls. In 2002, she became a grandmother when Kathy and Dave had a daughter Erin, then a son, Michael. Words cannot describe how much she adored her grandchildren. She spend much quality time with them—reading to them, listening to them, and celebrating life with them.

Sharon loved life and led a full one, even in the last 10 years with the health limitations she faced. She loved to cook, sew, play piano, garden, and do needlework among other things. She was a voracious reader and never stopped learning. Sharon always made time for friends, was a wonderful listener and a fabulous laugher. She enjoyed traveling and experiencing new places. She toured all 50 states and numerous countries abroad but best of all, Sharon loved being on the Mississippi River with her family at the cabin.

What made Sharon great mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, grandma, friend and all-around great person was her vast capacity to care. When Laura and her husband William wrote a book in 2005 that asked people the question: what one word defines you, Sharon really thought over this question. Her answer was “caring.” This was profoundly true. At the core of Sharon’s character was her caring heart. She was quick to give you that happy, encouraging smile backed by her trademark dimples. Sharon cared deeply. It has been said “She was a mom to all of us.”
 
“I am indescribably grateful for my mother,” says Laura, “for thousands of reasons but most of all because of her unconditional love. She had the amazing ability to make everyone feel important, wonderful and capable of anything. Mom was a great person because she knew how to make others feel great. No matter what Kathy and I did, she was behind us to love and support us, to believe in us, and help us believe in ourselves. She gave us wings and taught us how to fly. By her example, Mom showed us how to live the life of faith and cling to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—to live in his grace and allow it to carry us through our lives.”

Sharon has touched each of our lives and we are happy to have had the privilege to know her. We will miss her warmth and love and yet we look forward to the day when we shall be reunited with her and all the saints who have gone before.