OSLC has given tremendous support for various Thrivent Financial for Lutheran benevolent activities – as well as benefiting from them. A special thanks to the Thrivent Congregational Coordinators and those from the congregation who serve on the board of the Arlington Chapter of Thrivent.  In particular, a special thanks to Tom Buchholz and Jim Scott for agreeing to serve on the Chapter board in 2008.

 

Here is how you can participate. If you are not already a Thrivent member, we urge you to be in touch with Greg Roemer our Thrivent Financial Representative.

  

Each year, Thrivent provides around $1500 (including Care in Congregations and Arlington Chapter operating funds) for our congregation to use for activities of the congregation's choosing. From supporting the youth group's Super Sunday sub sales to helping the Cotta Guild in its annual Advent wreath evening, these monies represent an important contribution to congregation-based activities. If you have an idea for a project that Care in Congregations matching funds might support, please see one of our congregational coordinators – Lori Bodling, John Ohashi, and Gwyn Powers.

 

The four congregations – OSLC, Faith, Advent and Resurrection -- in the Arlington Chapter of Thrivent share about $12,000 in Care in Communities money from Thrivent to support congregation projects in the community -- near and far.  Part of this money will go to match the funds that will be raised at the Cotta Guild’s Wine Tasting on May 31. Please consider applying for matching Care in Communities funds from the Chapter to supplement fund-raising for projects you might organize. 
 

Thanks to Teresa Powell’s hard work, we have a tremendous Join Hands Day project on May 3 involving youth and adults from the four churches in the Arlington Chapter. What is Join Hands Day? It is a national volunteer effort that brings youth and adults together to improve communities and have fun while helping others. 

What do we plan to do? We have a two-part project involving the Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network (MAGNET) and the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) . MAGNET organizes the harvesting of fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income communities in need. AFAC helps distribute the food. Part one involves MAGNET delivering a load of fresh produce to Our Savior for sorting. AFAC will come by to pick up the load. Our adults would sort the produce and help loading the AFAC truck. Part 2 involves the youth going to a field – some of you may recall OSSM did this last fall – and actually gleaning. They will return to OSLC in time to help load the truck and participate in a picnic for the participants. Watch for a sign-up sheet and the bulletin for further details.

 

We had perfect weather and great fellowship at 2007 Relay for Life! Thanks to Marianne Hetzer for organizing the Chapter’s involvement. Pray for equally wonderful weather this June 21-22 at Wakefield High School Arlington. Again, Marianne Hetzer is organizing the Chapter involvement and Irene Piper is the point of contact for OSLC. See Irene or visit Relay for Life for details on how to join the Arlington Chapter Thrivent team.

 

 

As we did last year, the Arlington Chapter will sponsor a progressive dinner involving the four Churches in the Arlington Chapter in the fall. In addition, we will conduct a cereal drive for AFAC from July to October. Last year the four churches contributed about 800 boxes of cereal for AFAC.

 

Karen Harwood coordinated the Chapter’s participation in the Arlington Country Crop Walk on October 20 last year.  We hope to organize Chapter participation in the event this fall that again will involve both youth and adults. Watch for more details.

 

 

The next meeting of the Arlington Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be on April 21 at OSLC at 7:30 PM. Visit the Arlington Chapter web site to learn more about Thrivent’s local activities.

 

Thrivent members have used the Thrivent GivingPlus program to help "build" our kids at OSL School!  There are few easier ways to support our school than through the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans GivingPlus program.  If you are an adult Thrivent member (16 and up), you can give up to $600 to OSL School and Thrivent will match up to $300.  Instructions and forms for the GivingPlus Program are in the narthex or online. In 2008, we will need every Thrivent benefit member to participate in the GivingPlus program for OSL School. 

You can also use GivingPlus to match you contributions to the Lutheran Hour.

 

Do not forget the SimplyGiving program as a way of using pre-authorized withdrawal (EFT) from your bank account to make your contributions to OSLC, or pay tuition at OSL School. Did you know that in 2005, 67% of consumers paid their bills online? It would be great if we could have that percentage of contributors and tuition payers at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School use SimplyGiving.