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!
Sunday, December 7, 2025 – Second Sunday of Advent
10:00 am Worship
We welcome you to worship this Sunday!
This Sunday, Pr. Kristin-Luana is the presider, and Pr. Olaf is the preacher.
Here is this week’s Sermon News:
Earthrise, Apollo 8 (Christmas Eve, 1968)—Humanity’s first glimpse of its own world from the moon.
Advent 2: Earthrise
Remember the year 1968? It was a year of images. Most of them were devastating; one was hopeful and iconic. Images of war, civil unrest, and political violence divided America. On their TV screens, the American people saw the Vietnam war with an immediacy like never before in history, they saw young people rioting, and civil rights leaders and politicians being gunned down.
But 1968 ended on a hopeful note. The space race captivated huge parts of humanity. On Christmas Eve, a quarter of the world’s population, more than one billion people, tuned into the Christmas broadcast that Apollo 8 sent from the orbit of the moon. The biggest audience in world history was listening as the crew of Apollo 8 read the beginning of the book of Genesis. They also snapped a picture that became a modern icon under the name “Earthrise.”
I hope to see you on Sunday.
– Pr. Olaf
Click the “Worship With Us Live” logo above to worship online with us, and click the buttons below to view the bulletin and the hymns and follow along.
Worshipping online? Let us know!
If you regularly worship with us here on YouTube on Sundays, please let Cynthia know at office@oslcissaquah.org or 425-392-4169.
Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting this Sunday, December 7
This Sunday, December 7, is OSLC’s Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting in Anderson Hall following worship. Agenda items include voting to elect a few new Council members (since some Council terms are expiring on January 1). We hope you can make it to this important meeting!
Fill the BIG Coffee Pot this Sunday, December 7
Please gather your coins and cash to bring to the ingathering this Sunday, December 7. Thanks for your generosity toward our Abundance Budget!
Christmas Giving Trees: Collecting Gift Cards Continues
There are two Christmas trees in the Narthex with tags on them, one tree for Vine Maple Place and one tree for OSLC Benevolent Giving. Please take a tag (or more than one!) and purchase a gift card for either Vine Maple Place or OSLC Benevolent Giving to give out to people in need. Each tag lists either ”Vine Maple Place” or “OSLC” and the amount and type of gift card. We’ll collect the gift cards this Sunday, December 7 and Sunday, December 14. Again, we can’t thank you enough for your support of the people in our community.—Submitted by Cheryl L.
December’s Monthly Melody: Second Practice on Sunday, December 14 at 9:00 a.m.
The choir’s Monthly Melody selection for December is In the Bleak Midwinter. The first practice was last Sunday, November 30. The second practice will be before church NEXT Sunday, December 14 from 9:00-9:40 a.m. in the sanctuary. We’ll sing during Offering on Sunday, December 14. You’re invited to join us!
Searching for the Historical Jesus Video Series – Thursdays at noon and 7:00 pm
The Great Courses’ Searching for the Historical Jesus Video Series runs through Thursday, January 22. We meet at 12 PM in person and 7 PM on Zoom, and all sessions are 1 hour long. It’s presented by Jean-Pierre Isbouts, DLitt (on video), and facilitated by Pr. Olaf at OSLC. Every session features a 20-25 minute video segment followed by a time for questions and discussion led by Pr. Olaf.
This 15-part series explores the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth within the historical, cultural, and political context of first-century Judea. Rather than focusing solely on theology, Dr. Isbouts examines the “rabbi from Galilee” as a historical figure whose teachings and actions sparked the world’s largest religion. Filmed on location in Israel and Jordan, the course draws on archaeology, the Gospels, Josephus, and recent scholarship to illuminate Jesus’s world—Galilee’s poverty, Roman exploitation, and the diversity of Jewish thought.
For a detailed outline of the series, click the button below.
Before our sessions, please download the book via the left button below. There are also color copies of the book available in the office (and at the next in-person meeting). If you didn’t get a printed copy of the questions, download the questions via the right button below. Also, take a look at the chapter in the book prior to the upcoming session.
Coffee Hour Thank You’s
Thank you to everyone who stepped up after coffee hour last Sunday! People just started and did so much to clean up. I do not know who everyone was, so please forgive me for not putting names down. Lori D., thank you for all your help as always. It was such a blessing not to do it alone.
Thank you to Connie F. and Ruben N. for stepping in and doing the setup, treats, and cleanup following the Advent Evening Prayer. A special thank you to Connie F. for taking on even more since Marilyn C. and Suzanne D. are not available at this time. So many hats she is wearing and always with a smile. She’s a true “Earth Angel” in my book.—Submitted by Lois D.
Beers and Carols on Monday, December 15
On Monday, December 15 from 5:00-6:00 p.m., you’re invited to sing carols and drink beer with old and new friends outside (under tents) at Formula Brewing in Issaquah. Sponsored by OSLC, Spirit of Peace, Community Church of Issaquah, and Faith Church. More details in the bulletin.
Coffee Hour Reading on Sunday, December 21
On Sunday, December 21 at 11:15 a.m. (during coffee hour in Anderson Hall), Sammamish writer Chuck Shelton will read from his newest thriller, Sudarium. Sudarium explores what it means to live with integrity and courage as a person of faith. It disrupts stale views about gender among Christians and invites its readers to pursue their spirituality with fresh eyes in the context of radically loving oneself and others. (There’s a flyer with the book’s synopsis in the narthex.) After the reading, Chuck is available to answer your questions and sign copies.
Eastside Lutheran Church Community (ELCC) Bell Choir Seeks Ringers!
You’re invited to join the ELCC Bell Choir with other bell ringers from our local Lutheran cluster. Practices will be at OSLC on Tuesdays, January 6, 13, and 20 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. with bell service music during worship in late January and February at cluster churches. See the bulletin for more details.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – Wednesday, December 24 at 7:00 pm
Please join us at OSLC for our Christmas Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m. Musicians from Issaquah Suzuki Strings will play at the service.. Celebrate the season with us and let your heart be filled with light!
Youth Events
- Synod-wide Spring Elementary Retreat
March 2026 TBD (likely March 13-14), Elementary-age children, Camp Lutherwood, Bellingham
- May Youth Weekend at Holden Village
May 2026 TBD (14-17 or 22-24), Current 8-12 grade youth
For any questions, email Doug Johnson (Director of Youth and Family Ministries, Saint Andrew’s Lutheran Church & Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church) at doug@salc.church or doug@shlc.org.
Summer Mission Trip—Lantern Hill, Mexico
June 26-July 2, 2026, Cost: $700 per person plus airfare and other accommodations (additional hotels, shuttles, etc.); Who can come: All ages, an intergenerational mission trip!
This is not your normal mission trip. You, as a participant, will be part of the leadership and planning of this trip, using your gifts and talents to help shape what we do over the course of our time with the wonderful people of Lantern Hill. The main goal of this trip is to learn and grow in relationship with the people of Lantern Hill, not to come and “fix” their problems. During the course of the trip, you could help to prep a meal in the kitchen, tutor a student, play games or soccer with the kids, help build, or whatever you and our team decides in partnership with the people of Lantern Hill! While you are there you will experience the people, the community, the food, and the hospitality of the Lantern Hill Community.
For any questions, email Doug Johnson at doug@salc.church or doug@shlc.org.
Sunday, December 7
10:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary and online) and “Espresso Your Faith” Collection
11:00 a.m. Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting
Monday, December 8
3:00 p.m. Companions Bible Study (Online)
4:00 p.m. Knitting Group (Narthex)
Tuesday, December 9
1:00 p.m. Community Meal Prep (Kitchen)
Wednesday, December 10
10:30 a.m. Stephen Minister Training Course (Education Room)
Thursday, December 11
9:30 a.m. Mission Quilters (Anderson Hall)
12:00 p.m. Searching for the Historical Jesus Video Series (Anderson Hall)
7:00 p.m. Searching for the Historical Jesus Video Series (Online)
Sunday, December 14
9:00 a.m. December’s Monthly Melody Practice
10:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary and online)
11:00 a.m. Coffee and Fellowship Hour (Anderson Hall)
For emergency pastoral care, please contact Pr. Olaf Baumann at 360-912-1830 or Pr.O@oslcissaquah.org, or Pr. Kristin-Luana Baumann at 360-912-1245 or Pr.KL@oslcissaquah.org.