CONFIRMATION SUNDAY

Confirmation was held on Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, 2014 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Three young people, Kyle Hitchins, Kyle Scott and Hallie Vinson, affirmed their baptisms through the rite of confirmation. They have each completed a 2-year course of study and each shared a faith statement with the congregation as part of the celebration. Afterwards, a reception was held.

Pastor Laura with the confirmands: Kyle Hitchins, Kyle Scott and Hallie Vinson

The confirmands with the cake made by Carol Schaefer

The congregation on Pentecost Sunday

Austin and Adrian Weipert demonstrating the Pentecost "fire" hats from the children's sermon

Special music was performed by Megan Vinson, Sarah Gruman and an out-of-town visitor

BAPTISM OF PAXTON GRANT ST. MARY & RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS

On Sunday, May 25th, Paxton Grant St. Mary was baptized. He is the son of Amanda Romie and Tyler St. Mary and the little brother of Austin. We welcome him into the Lord's family!

Amanda Romie, Austin St. Mary, Tyler St. Mary holding Paxton, Pastor Laura Gentry and sponsors: Jennifer Romie, Karla and Chad St. Mary, and Kyle Hitchins.

We also received a group of new members that day, which include Tyler St. Mary, Amanda Romie and their boys Austin and Paxton; Barb Scottston and Randy "Gus" Gustafson; Samantha Rosas and Brian Creasman and their daughter, Nayelly; Chuck and Barb Weipert and their boys Austin and Adrian; Andrea Vinson and her girls Megan, Macy and Gracie. A reception was held following the service to celebrate the reception of these new members. 

Front row: Gracie, Macy and Megan Vinson; Tyler St. Mary holding Paxton, Austin St. Mary, Amanda Romie; Austin, Adrian and Barb Weipert; Back row: Brian Creasman holding Nayelly and Samantha Rosas; Pastor Laura Gentry, Barb Scottston, Chuck Weipert

BAPTISM OF NAYELLY CREASMAN

Nayelly Siriyah Creasman, daughter of Brian Creasman and Samantha Rosas, was baptized at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing on Mother's Day, May 11. Her sponsors are her aunt, Alyssa Bell and her uncle, Javier Rosas. Pictured left to right: Alyssa Bell, Javier Rosas, Pastor Laura Gentry, Samantha Rosas holding Nayelly, Brian Creasman.

THE BIBLE CABARET IS COMING TO LANSING

Comedian and United Methodist Church minister, Jane Voigts (janevoigts.com), will be debuting pieces of a variety show unlike any other.   The Bible Cabaret:  A Comedy and Music Revue Starring the Old and New Testaments is an exploration of how the Bible works as comedy, as a sacred text with a surprisingly playful spirit intended to make us laugh.  The Cabaret has appeared on stages in Los Angeles and Minneapolis and is now coming to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 480 Diagonal Street in Lansing, Iowa on Sunday, May 18 at 9 a.m.

The Rev. Jane Voigts, Comedian and UMC Pastor

Says Rev. Voigts, "It's commonly understood that humor is one of the best avenues for delivering messages, especially serious ones.  This truth was not lost on the ancients.  There is actually a lot of delightful as well as stinging satire,  self-lampooning, goofy riddles, trickster adventures and more, and throughout the text, from beginning to end.  So much of the Bible is better suited to Saturday Night Live than the History Channel."

Jane will be performing a brief series of comic monologues and character sketches based on the Bible and its comedy.  This will be held within the context of worship. Watch an excerpt from the introduction to the show at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH44_C02ApA.

Jill Soloway, writer, director and producer of the TV show Six Feet Under, highly recommends the work of Rev. Voigts. She writes: "Nobody can bring out the spiritual potential—of polyester pant suits—and inspire others to do the same than Jane Voigts. Her imagination and soul are a wonder. And HILARIOUS! She's one of the great hopes for modern religious life."

In 2013 Rev. Voigts was pastor of the experimental "LA Comedy Church" in Toluca Lake (a neighborhood of Los Angeles).  She is currently residing in Iowa to care for her ailing parents and continue developing The Bible Cabaret and related projects. While in the area, Jane will also be performing at the Laugh-Fest of the Midwest, which is being held May 16-18 in Ferryville, Wisconsin. 

EVENT: The Bible Cabaret:  A Music and Comedy Revue Starring the Old & New 

WHEN: Sunday, May 18 at 9 a.m.

WHERE: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 480 Diagonal Street, Lansing, Iowa

ADMISSION: A freewill offering will be taken, no tickets needed

WEB: www.LansingLutherans.org

BAPTISMS, FIRST COMMUNIONS & AN AWESOME MUSICIAN

On Sunday, May 4th, we had a wonderful day at worship that boasted two baptisms, four students receiving their first communion and a guest musician from Minneapolis.

Macy Lynn and Gracie Rose Vinson, daughters of Andrea Vinson and Randy Vinson were baptized. Their baptismal sponsors are their uncle and aunt, Ron and Marsha Vinson. We are delighted to welcome them into the family of God through this holy sacrament.

Macy Lynn and Gracie Rose Vinson with their baptismal candles

Megan, Macy, Gracie and Andrea Vinson, Pastor Laura Gentry, Marsha and Ron Vinson

The first communion students, who had prepared for their big day by taking a class and completing creative projects, are: Megan, Macy and Gracie Vinson and Austin Weipert. What an exciting day to welcome these young people to the Lord's Table!

First communion students with Pastor: Megan Vinson, Pastor Laura Gentry, Macy Vinson, Gracie Vinson and Austin Weipert

We also enjoyed the musical stylings of Minneapolis based musician, Jonathan Rundman. A professional songwriter, recording and performing artist, Rundman introduced the congregation to his original liturgies. His music has been featured on the Ellen Degeneres Show, CBS This Morning, and National Public Radio. He has received rave reviews from Billboard, The New York Times, Performing Songwriter, Paste and countless regional publications. Following worship, Rundman played an informal concert. Learn more at: http://jonathanrundman.com.

Jonathan Rundman in concert at Our Savior's Lutheran

HOLY HILARITY SUNDAY 2014

We have just celebrated our 8th Holy Hilarity Sunday! We rejoice in the resurrection of Christ with singing, dancing, joke-telling, laughter and general merriment. Below are pictures from this year's happy festival.

Gary Bahlmann & Don Thran

Jazmine Rathbun

Gayle Bahlman in her Christmas outfit

Sarah Gruman at the piano 

Renee Murphy

Shelley Peterson

Rick Gramlich

Owen & Dorothy Kirk

Bob Grover making an entrance

Pastor Laura greeting Bob

The sanctuary decorated in Easter lilies, happy banners and balloons

Bob Grover causing more merriment

Santa hats in the narthex

Bob Grover in his pew with Grace Ziegelmaier in the backgroun

Gary & Shirley Mulford in the hippy-gear they've had since hippy days

Enthusiastic Pastor Laura as a pink elephant

Kim and Zoey Timmerman dressed as tired moms who just got out of bed (bed-head and all)

The Timmermans with Pastor Laura

Donna Reed & Pastor Laura

Jazmine & her brother Emilio Rathbun with the elephant

Carol Schaefer in her hilarity hat

Samantha Rosas & Brian Creasman with their daughter, Nayelly (the youngest worshiper at Holy Hilarity this year)

The decorations in the sanctuary before worship began

An alien visitor—Barb Scottston

An angel—Melanie Wittman

MelanieWittman & her daughter, Chloe

Pastor telling elephant jokes

Kathy Hay & Paula Rathbun explaining that this year's dance would be "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

Everyone bust into happy dancing–it was mayhem

More happy dancing

The prayers of intercession

The benediction

Pastor announcing the final hymn

Chloe Magnusson and Zoey Timmerman singing the closing song

The children leading the music

Mike Schweitzer after the service

Kim and Zoey Timmerman

Vern Timmerman

Rick Gramlich and Pastor Laura

Rick in his hat/wig

Dorothy Becker in her Easter bonnet

Photographer, Eric Mills (thanks to Eric for providing most of these fun photos)

Nayelly Creasman in her Pooh hat

Kenny 'the clown' Rathbun with his kids, Emilio & Jazmine

The Hippy Mulfords

Barb Scottston

The Rathbun family

Kathy Hay & Paula Rathbun, our dance leaders, in their Happy T-shirts

Pastor Laura with Dorothy Becker

Chloe Magnusson in her mis-matched outfit

Tabita Green & Pastor Laura's selfie

We filmed a happy dance video, which will be posted at this blog asap.