Look Back at a Decade

As we move into 2020 we wanted to take a look back at a few highlights from the past decade. Enjoy a glimpse of what God has done at Christ Our Savior these past 10 years and look ahead with hope at what He will do in the coming years.  

About a 115 youth have confirmed their faith in Jesus as their Savior in our confirmation program over the last 10 years.

Over 200 Children and Infants have been adopted into the family of God through the waters of baptism.

We have welcomed about 110 adults into our faith family through adult confirmation and baptisms in the past decade. 

Over 2200 baskets of food have been distributed to those in need at our CHRISTmas Blessings! This outreach and ministry was started in 2012. To read more about this event check out these two blogs. CHRISTmas Blessing or CHRISTmas Blessings 2019.

Just before Thanksgiving we finished our “Sunday school” food drive, our biggest servant event of the year. This has been an annual event for a very long time, longer than the past decade. A decade ago this food drive pretty much stocked our pantry until the food drive the following year. Because of the increased use of the pantry we are thankful if this food drive can get us into the new year. We then depend on our members to donate items the rest of the year to keep our pantry supplied. Over 4000 bags of food have been distributed to those in need in the area.

Over 2000 quilts have been made and sent to Lutheran World Relief this past decade and since 1991 when they started keeping track they have made and sent over 5200 quilts!
Over 2100 School Totes have been assembled and sent to Lutheran World Relief.
Over 1200 Personal Care Kits have been assembled and sent to Lutheran World Relief.

About 250 women come together each year to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Tables are beautifully decorated, fellowship is enjoyed, and mission projects are supported and a woman of the year is announced. 

· Pat Kalitta- 2010
· Barbara Karowich- 2011
· Lori Wiltenburg-2012
· Sandy Keil-2013
· Kitty Witt-2014
· Patsy Domingo-2015
· Linda Waara-2016
· Lois Drake-2017
· Elisabeth Schluckebier-2018
· Dianne Sherman-2019
And our 2020 woman of the year was announced as Debbie Cordray at this year's Advent By Candlelight. 

The Women of the Word (WOW) host a variety of other activities and service events through out the year as well as have two bake sales a year to support funds for mission work and retreats. Thank you women who continue to love and serve the Lord in all they do! 

Our Youth have traveled to 4 National Youth Gatherings and a variety of other retreats in Michigan!
· We Believe– 2010
· Live Love(d)- 2013
· In Christ Alone– 2016
· Real. Present. God.– 2019

Our Early Childhood Center has seen an increased number of students enrolled in the last decade. In 2010 we had 16 enrolled in Preschool and 33 enrolled in day care. From 2013-2015 the preschool numbers decreased dramatically and then in 2016 the enrollment had a major increase as we jumped to 39 enrolled in preschool and 58 in day care.  We continue to serve more families each year and started the 2019/2020 year off at capacity with a wait list! The staff of the day care and preschool continue to love and support the children and families that enroll in the program. To find out more about our Early Childhood Center we encourage you to check out their page and contact our director Laura Myers to see how you can be involved and support this program. We are excited to see what God will do in the coming decade as we strive to share Jesus with the families that are connected to our center. 

VBS is one of our largest children’s events as well as outreach events. Did you know more than half of the children that attend our VBS are not members at Christ Our Savior? Friends, relatives, neighbors, etc. come to learn about Jesus at our VBS. Our numbers have steadily climbed during the last decade with a sharp increase in 2017 and 2018. This past year we changed the dates which seems to have had a dramatic effect on our attendance. In 2020 we will go back to the 3rd full week in June (June 22-26) and anticipate almost 200 children again! Of course that many children requires many volunteers!  Plan to volunteer this year to see what blessings God has for you through VBS!

· SonQuest Rainforest - 2010
· SonSurf Beach Bash - 2011
· SonRise National Park - 2012
· Tell It On the Mountain - 2013
· Gangway to Galilee- Amazing Grace Adventures - 2014
· The SonSpark labs show - 2015
· Barnyard Roundup - 2016
· Mighty Fortress - 2017
· Time Lab - 2018
· Miraculous Mission - 2019

2010 Easter Sunrise Service started; Matt Machemer accepts call to Our Savior, Hartland, MI.

2011 Matthew Hoehne installed as Music Director; COSGO is developed as a way to support members in their faith walk

2012 COS celebrates 35 Years; bathroom remodeling & sound/video updates in Sanctuary

2013 COS offers school supplies & backpacks to the community

2014 Ordination & Installation of Pastor Eden; Kitchen, bathroom, hallway, & Sanctuary improvements made

2015 Installation of Pastor Hill at Christ Our Savior; Laura Myers is hired as the ECC director

2016 Zachary Zieschang installed as Music Director; Family of God moves into new building

2017 LCMS celebrates 500th Anniversary; Christ Our Savior celebrates 40 years

2018 Pastor Hill retires from Christ Our Savior; A new infant room was opened in the Early Childhood Center

2019- Gym painted, new roof on sanctuary, Early Childhood rooms painted and carpeted; Pastor Bayer retires from Christ Our Savior; Tom Schroeder installed as Music Director

We look forward into this new decade with a knowledge and hope that Jesus continues to guide us as we continue to follow where He leads. We don't know what 2020 will bring for Christ Our Savior. We may be headed for something great and we may have hard times ahead, most likely both. No matter what lies ahead for this church, the church as a whole or us individually we do know that Jesus walks with us. We know His promises of love and hope for a future are sure. Whether you are walking into this new year and decade with confidence or uncertainty of your future or of what lies ahead, walk with the sure hope and confidence that your Jesus walks with you, guides you, loves  you, and will never leave you no matter what the year and decade bring!