Welcome!

Installation of Pr. Kristin-Luana and Pr. Olaf Baumann on February 24, 2024

As members of the body of Christ in this place and time, we are a welcoming congregation of people who gather to worship God, to share life together, to grow in love for each other and to be shaped by God’s Word, with the purpose of living out God’s love and being a sign of God’s loving and forgiving presence in our community and world. We hope you will join us!

In Home Worship – Sunday, November 10, 2024 – 25th Sunday After Pentecost and Season of Wisdom

10:00 am Worship

This Sunday, Pr. Kristin-Luana is the presider, and Pr. Olaf is the preacher. Here is Sunday’s Sermon News:

Image Credit: Frederic Edwin Church, Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives, 1868, Drawing, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Collection, CC0.

Mark 13:1-8, Temples and Ruins

The temple is the central location of the Jewish faith in the first century. In the Holy of Holies, God’s real presence resides. It is a place that is so central that people cannot imagine how they would be the people of God without it. That is true for Jews, but also for the early church. Jesus teaches in the temple. He overturns the tables of the money changers. The Apostles speak in the Portico of Solomon, a space in the temple complex dedicated to teaching. The temple remains central, even when Jesus is gone and the first church of Christendom tries to figure out what it means to be Christian.

But in today’s gospel reading, Jesus prophesies the destruction of the temple. What is that all about? Come and see this Sunday, 10 a.m., at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 745 Front St S, Issaquah and on YouTube!

– Pr. Olaf

Click the “Worship With Us Live” logo above to worship online with us, and click the button below to view the bulletin and follow along.

11:00 am Coffee Chat–Review Labyrinth and Plans for Winter Activation

During coffee hour @ 11 a.m. on November 17, we’ll discuss the labyrinth and Season of Creation and share plans for upcoming art and community events (December 1-January 6).


“You have, in the autumn of your life, a rare opportunity.
  You can view your life from a perspective
       that you could not have had until now. You can see where your years have led you,
       what they have given you, how they have made you.
 Just as surely, you can look into your future
       and still plan, still hope, still dream.
 And you can take the time to look for something
       you have always been looking for,
       even if you didn’t have the words for it:
       the meaning in your life.”

– James E. Miller, Autumn Wisdom

Church News

November Art Class at OSLC: Tuesday, November 19 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm

In preparation for the Winter Activation of the Arts Sanctuary, artist Liz St. Andre is offering a Gel Plate Printmaking Class in Anderson Hall. There are many forms of printmaking, but a gel plate makes it incredibly accessible. Your hands work as your printing press! In this 2 ½ hour long class, you’ll learn how to create beautifully layered botanical art prints using the gel plate, acrylic paint, a brayer, and all kinds of texture tools. 

Register via the button below. Each class costs $85. You’ll find more details and photos of gel plate art in the bulletin.

December/January Focus Deadline: NEXT Friday, November 22

The next issue of the Focus newsletter will be a combined December/January edition. If you have any articles or announcements for this edition, please send it to [email protected] on or before November 22. Thanks!

Faithfully into God’s Future Retreat: A Day of Discernment around Land, People and Place: Saturday, November 23

On Saturday, November 23 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., the Church Council of Greater Seattle’s Faith Land Initiative will offer a retreat at Our Saviors Lutheran in Everett. Lunch will be provided. This retreat is part of the NW Synod’s LiVE Project.

From the email describing this event: “If your leadership is curious to figure out a process to move forward with the future of your church property, this workshop is for you. In a time where no ‘one-size fits all’ approach exists, we need to network with new conversation partners, to find effective discernment approaches, and to discover resources to find our way forward. The Church Council of Greater Seattle will lead a three-hour practical, step-by-step discernment training process to land use grounded in anti-racist values. The day will also include a panel conversation with those in our synod who are experimenting in a variety of ways. Topics panelists will engage: Reimagining space usage, and where church connects God’s mission to community interests, i.e., preschools, after school programs, etc.; Pragmatics of building use and partnerships; Pros and cons of selling property; Affordable housing.”

Register via the button below. The cost is $50, but since it’s important to have OSLC representation there, the church will cover the $50 registration fee.

Sunday, November 24: Holiday Pie Social and Bake Sale Fundraiser

During coffee hour @ 11 a.m. on November 24, we’re hosting a fundraiser to support our annual Women’s Retreat (March 7-9, 2025). Bakers, jam & jelly makers—sign up to donate your beautiful goods to the cause. We’d love to have pies, cakes, dinner rolls, breads, muffins, cookies . . . your favorite things to make and share. Here’s a chance to purchase something you wouldn’t make while supporting a good cause! We’ll cut some pies for coffee hour and ask that you support us with a donation to the basket on the table. Whole pies, cakes, rolls, and cookies by the dozen, etc. will be available for sale. You’ll find more details in the bulletin and the November Focus.

Graham Cracker House Building ContestSunday, December 8 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Create sweet memories with family and friends during this friendly competition. Enjoy sweet treats as you challenge yourself to create a unique graham cracker house.

This event is free and open to the public! We ask that an adult accompany children and youth to the event.

Please let us know you’re coming by December 1 using the button below.

Becoming Better Stewards: Composting and Recycling

Please check out the bulletin board in Anderson Hall that shows what items are good to go into recycling and compost bins, and what items need to go into the garbage. Please use the bins below the bulletin board—blue for recycling, green for compost, and black for garbage to dispose of items correctly. Also, green compost bins are now in the bathrooms for paper towel waste. Thanks!

Sunday, November 17

Worship at 10:00 a.m. (Sanctuary)
Coffee and Fellowship Hour and Review Labyrinth and Plans for Winter Activation following worship (Anderson Hall)

Monday, November 18

Companions Bible Study meets at 3:00 p.m. (online)

Tuesday, November 19

Gel Plate Printmaking Class from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. (Anderson Hall)

Wednesday, November 20

Finance Committee meets at 7:00 p.m. (online)

Thursday, November 21

Mission Quilters meets at 9:30 a.m. (Anderson Hall)
Fall Education with Pr. Olaf: “Paul’s Letter to Philemon and the Early Church” starts at 12:00 p.m. (in person in Anderson Hall)
Fall Education with Pr. Olaf: “Paul’s Letter to Philemon and the Early Church” starts at 7:00 p.m. (online via Zoom)

Friday, November 22

December/January Focus Newsletter Deadline

Sunday, November 24

Worship at 10:00 a.m. (Sanctuary)
Coffee and Fellowship Hour following worship (Anderson Hall)
Holiday Pie Social and Bake Sale Fundraiser following worship (Narthex)


Each time you give your regular offering, you are ensuring support for your church community and the work Jesus calls us to do.  Whether making offerings when you worship each Sunday, or with a check via postal mail, or giving online using the “Electronic Giving” tab above, together we move forward as God’s generous, caring, supportive people—doing the work Jesus calls us to do! Warmest regards from your Stewardship Committee.

Prayers Your prayer requests are important to us. Requests for prayers can be taken by email or phone, and will be added to the weekly worship bulletin, Prayers of the People, and staff prayers. Email [email protected], or call 425-392-4169 and leave a message with your prayer.


Emergency Pastoral Care

For emergency pastoral care, please contact Pr. Olaf Baumann at 360-912-1830 or [email protected] or Pr. Kristin-Luana Baumann at 360-912-1245 or [email protected].

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