As members of the body of Christ in this place and time, we are a welcoming congregation of people who gather to be shaped by God’s Word and Sacrament, with the purpose of living out God’s love in our community and world. We hope you will join us!
Enjoy these knitted trees as you drive by our property on Front Street!
Featured Event!
Eastside Lutheran Fellowship Game Night – Sunday, February 15 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Join us in the Fellowship Hall for card games, board games, refreshments, and fun! This event is open to all ages.
10:00 am Worship
We welcome you to worship on Sunday!
On Sunday, January 11, Pr. Olaf is the presider, and Pr. Kristin-Luana is the preacher.
Here is the January 11th Sermon News:
Image Credit: Zelenka, Dave. Baptism of Christ, 2005, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56385 [retrieved January 8, 2026].
Baptism of Our Lord: Matthew 3:13-17
Being baptized into Jesus Christ dying and rising can be compared to entering the storm center of the universe. In Christ, we are part of everything. We are connected to everything. That means, that in a way, we die to ourselves. We have to step down from the pedestal, which we always thought made us the center of the universe. In consequence, our very own thoughts, and feelings, and our worries, and our sorrows, as much as they seem to define us, might not be as important as we always thought they were. We can safely let go of them, we need to let go of them, because we are baptized into a new life in Christ, and Christ is now at the center of our universe. And what we gain is so much more than we used to have when we were rotating around ourselves. What we gain is the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, and which guides our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.
Learn more about baptism on Sunday, January 11 at 10 AM, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 735 Front St. S, and on YouTube.
– Pr. Kristin-Luana
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.
Thank You for Filling the BIG Coffee Pot on January 4!
Sunday, January 4 was the 7th of 12 in-gatherings for the coffee pot. We received $445 for Espresso Your Faith. THANK YOU for your generosity! The next ingathering for our Abundance Budget will be on Sunday, February 1.
Pizza & Conversation Book Study Starts on Monday, January 12
Based on Dan McClellan’s The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues,and facilitated by Pr. Olaf on the 2nd Monday of each month from January through May:
Monday, January 12, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, February 9, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, March 9, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, April 13, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, May 11, 6:00 p.m. (Final Reflection and Celebration. No pages assigned for this last session.)
Each session, we’ll meet in person at OSLC and share a pizza meal; snowbirds can join on Zoom. On a small table in the narthex, you’ll find Pizza and Conversation Book Study booklets with reading assignments, summaries, and questions; please take one home. More details in the Dec./Jan. Focus.
Bell Choir Rehearsals at OSLC on Tuesday, January 13 and 20
The ELCC Bell Choir (with bell ringers from OSLC and other ELCC churches) will rehearse in OSLC’s sanctuary on Tuesday, January 13 and 20 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. The bell choir will play at OSLC’s worship service on Sunday, January 25.
Pastors’ Schedules
From January 17-24, Pr. Olaf and Pr. Kristin-Luana will be at Continuing Education. On January 18, Pr. Larry Thomas will be presiding and preaching at OSLC.
Registration Open for the 2026 Women’s Retreat!
The 2026 Women’s Retreat theme is “Telling Our Story, Listening for God.” It takes place on March 6-8, 2026, at Rainbow Lodge in North Bend. The retreat speaker will be Pr. Deanna Wildermuth.
From Pr. Deanna Wildermuth: “We will talk. We will listen. We will wonder. We will be surprised. From the story of a mug to a story of a room to the story of our lives, we will laugh and (perhaps get teary) and learn more about ourselves and one another. In it all, will we hear God? I am excited to be with you in this blessed time away. As our ‘ice breaker’, bring a favorite mug or cup and be ready to share its story.”
For more information and a link to the registration form, click the button below. Paper copies of the brochure are also available at the church.
Coffee Fellowship Thank You and Update
Thank you to all who brought treats to share on Sunday, December 28. It was a relaxing time to visit and reconnect with each other.
What an abundance of food brought in for the memorial service on Saturday, January 3! We used some for the coffee hour the next day. YUM! This was good because no one had signed up. As always, everyone who helped clean up is greatly appreciated!
There are several blank spots for bringing in treats. More than one can do the same Sunday. If no one signs up, it’ll just be coffee and tea put out. Reminder: Please remember to sign up if bringing treats. This way we won’t end up with too much. We have limited storage. Come and join us in this fellowship. —Submitted by Lois D.
(Please note that February and March dates will be added to the Coffee Fellowship Sign-up board in the narthex so you can sign up for those upcoming Sundays.)
Offering Envelopes and 2025 Contribution Statements
If you’d like to request assigned offering envelopes, please contact new Financial Secretary Wendy Winslow at oslc_financialsecretary@hotmail.com and note how many you need. If you put a note in the offering plate or send it to the office, your request will be passed on to Wendy. She’ll personalize envelopes with your name and unique household giving number.
Also, please be aware that Wendy is working on your 2025 OSLC contribution statements; they will be out in a week or two.
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 29. 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.
Note from Pr. Olaf: No Historical Jesus class on Thursday, January 22. We’re out of town. The last Historical Jesus class will be on Thursday, January 29, at 12:00 p.m. in person and 7:00 p.m. on Zoom.
Free Clothing Event on Tuesday, January 20
Community Clothing Closet is having a free clothing event in Anderson Hall on Tuesday, January 20 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. 12:00-2:00 p.m. is early access for Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank and The Circle clients.
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Blood Drive on Thursday, January 22
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Bellevue is partnering with Bloodworks Northwest to host a blood drive in their fellowship hall on Thursday, January 22 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Use the button below to schedule an appointment (use Sponsor Code 1646).
Journey of Generosity Retreat on January 23 and 24
Journey of Generosity: Filled with meaning, free from pressure. Most people who talk to you about money want something from you. Generous Giving is privately funded, so you will never be asked for money at our retreat. We want to give you the gift of conversation. We want to provide a pressure-free environment for you to listen to God and draw closer to Him. We don’t want something from you—we want something for you.
January 23, Friday evening, 4:30-9:00 p.m. and January 24, Saturday morning, 8:00 a.m.-noon. Meals and refreshments are provided for both Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast.—Submitted by Jeff J.
OSLC Visioning Process: Invitation to Join Your Visioning Groups
Last fall, we met for several weeks for visioning – to open our minds to a variety of possibilities, not yet to firmly decide on one or the other. As a result of those visioning events, we are now ready to take the next step – to listen, reflect, and imagine together as we seek God’s guidance for our shared life. The first meeting of each Visioning Group will take place on Zoom. These initial gatherings are not yet about decisions or outcomes. Instead, they are meant to help each group organize itself well and establish a shared way of working together.
The Visioning Groups and their first meetings are as follows:
- RIC Exploration Group – Monday, January 26, at 5:00 pm
- Tiny House Village Group – Wednesday, January 28, at 5:00 pm
- Life of Faith Study Group – Monday, February 2, at 5:00 pm
For more information about each group and to find the Zoom link to each group’s first meeting, click the button below:
Meet Your Neighbor on Sunday, February 1
The next Meet Your Neighbor gathering will occur on Sunday, February 1 at 11:00 a.m. during Coffee Fellowship in Anderson Hall. You can sit at tables with folks who live near you to get to know each other better.
Youth Events
- Synod-wide Spring Elementary Retreat
March 20-21, 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, January 11
10:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary and online)
11:00 a.m. Coffee and Fellowship Hour (Anderson Hall)
Monday, January 12
10:30 a.m. Congregational Care Ministry (Library)
3:00 p.m. Companions Bible Study (Online)
6:00 p.m. Pizza & Conversation Book Study (Education Room)
Tuesday, January 13
1:00 p.m. Community Meal Prep (Kitchen)
Wednesday, January 14
10:30 a.m. Stephen Minister Training Course (Education Room)
Thursday, January 15
9:30 a.m. Mission Quilters (Anderson Hall)
12:00 p.m. Searching for the Historical Jesus Video Series (Anderson Hall)
1:00 p.m. Community Meal Prep (Kitchen)
7:00 p.m. Searching for the Historical Jesus Video Series (Online)
7:00 p.m. Finance Committee (Online)
Sunday, January 18
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.