Do you want to put some groove back into your Church experience? Want to find a different way to serve the Lord? Then why not join the BSLC Bell Choir! Currently, we are seeking new members for the 2007-2008 season. All that's required is regular attendance at our Thursday night rehearsals starting September 20th. We play once per month in both services. For more information, please sign the information sheet located on the organ, or you can contact Patrick to learn more!

  Not long ago, ELCA missionary Dennis Murnyak visited a fish farming project in Igurusi, Tanzania. Three years after one village farmer completed a two-week training course and returned to Igurusi as a project motivator, the village has 142 fish farmers and 207 fish ponds. "Farmers are harvesting fish for home consumption and sale in an area where fish were previously difficult to obtain." says Dennis.

  Fish farming has been at the center of Dennis' work. During many years of service in Tanzania, Dennis and his wife, Meridith, were committed to promoting this sustainable, effective means of feeding families and communities.

  One of the most attractive aspects of fish farming is its accessibility. In Igurusi, project farmers helped a blind man and a handicapped woman build their own ponds, which these two tend largely on their own. When help is needed, others in the community lend an extra hand. "Just as Jesus healed the crippled and the blind, this community is making life better for this blind man and crippled woman." Dennis comments. "Jesus must be pleased with the love and concern being demonstrated in Igurusi."

  With more than 4,000 fish farms flourishing in Tanzania, Dennis is turning his attention to starting projects in Malawi, Cameroon, and Mozambique. Supported by the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, he will conduct feasibility studies and plan project proposals for Heifer International, and train local staff to implement farms in these countries.

  This is one of the wonderful ministries that we do together through our ELCA World Hunger Appeal. As we celebrate Advent, we rejoice that Christ continues to become flesh and blood in this world through the life and work of God's people.

Mexico Mission 2008

  So far, about twelve people have signed up for our Mexico Mission '08. There's still room for you! We will go to Tijuana this year from Saturday, June 28 to Saturday, July 5. During that time we will build houses for families in need. We do this in cooperation with the Lutheran Church of El Divino Salvador in Tijuana, where we also lodge during that week and get to know the congregation. People of all ages are welcome to be a part of our building teams, from ages 15 on up. (Kids 13 & up can go with parents.) It's a great time of learning, service and fun.

  Our Mexico Dinner and Silent Auction will take place this year on Saturday evening, April 12th. That's a little ways off, but you can save the date. You can also help us greatly by donating items (new or in very good condition) that can be sold at our auction. Or you can donate a cruise on your boat, a dinner out, or a stay at a cabin. All the funds go entirely to the Mexico Mission expenses.

  Our next planning meeting will be on Wednesday, March 26, at 5:30pm (during the Wednesday@church dinner).

  If you are intrigued about the idea of joining us in Mexico, or would like more information, come to our meeting or speak with Pastor Jaech any time.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is alive and well at Beautiful Savior. Many of us took some time off during the Summer months, but we are knitting and crocheting again on behalf of those who need a shawl of comfort and the prayers that accompany any garment worked with our hands.
We plan to meet on the second Sunday of each month between services...wherever there is a place for us to gather. It might be in the church office...it might be in the narthex. Wherever you see us gathered, please know you are most welcome! If you want to knit or crochet a prayer shawl, or if you are working on some other project and want to join us to bless the work of your hands, know you are welcome. And if you are new to needlework, we would love to have you come and learn. Prayer shawls are a great project to start with if you are a beginner. And the results will be a blessing to you as much as they are for the recipient of the work of your hands. At each meeting, we will toss our needles and yarn into a prayer circle to bless our hands and those we work our needles for. Completed projects will be blessed during worship on the fourth or fifth Sunday of each month. For more information, contact Kathie Fitzgerald. Please join us! The Work of YOUR Hands will make a difference.
If you or someone you know are in need of a prayer shawl, please contact Kathie Fitzgerald, the church office, or a member of the Care Team. Blessings!

  www.shawlministry.com.

 We are looking for people willing to be a part of Beautiful Savior's Altar Committee.  The schedule is on a rotation basis, which means that you would be asked to set-up Communion on a Saturday afternoon and clean up after the 10:30 service approximately every other month.

 ALSO...if you'd like to bake Communion bread for us once every 6 months, that would be a great help as well.  We have the recipe, and it's really quite easy to make.

 Whether you choose to assist with Communion set-up/clean-up or as a bread baker, you'll be helping with an extremely important part of our ministry.  Preparing the table of Christ feeds God's people with heavenly food.

Please contact Nancy Burkett if you have questions or would like to volunteer to help. 

Informational Directory for Senior BSLC Members

 The BSLC Care Connection Group has updated the "Informational Directory for Senior Members", which contains pertinent information regarding community services for seniors.  Copies of this directory are located in the Narthex, on the shelf to the right of the Office Door (next to the coffee goodies). Please help yourself to one and contact Don Brenteson or the Church Office (254-9243) with comments or suggestions.

Taize Services/Labyrinth Walks

 The Worship & Music Committee of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church would like to invite everyone to the next Taize (taa-zay) service at the church on Saturday, April 5th at 5:30pm. Patrick Callahan arranges the services around a theme for the first Saturday of every month. Join us after service for the Labyrinth Walk!

Peace and Justice Group Meetings

 The May meeting for  the Peace and Justice Group will be held on Monday, April 21st, at 6:00pm, at the home of Rick and Ann Giles. The purpose of this meeting is to support one another as we explore how to live out Christ's mandate to advocate for the vulnerable in our nation and in our world. Come, help us plan future events!!

  We start with a potluck meal at 6PM and meeting time at 7PM. Anyone in the congregation is welcome to attend this and other meetings. If you have questions about the group, please contact Sonja Vegdahl. You can find her phone number in the online Members Directory, or call the church office at 254-9243.

Coffee Sundays:  

Support farmers who are paid living wages as you drink your favorite coffee! We acquire our Fair Trade coffee from Lutheran World Relief, and is available for you to purchase on the first Sunday of each month. Also available is a wide variety of Fair Trade tea and chocolate.

 You can expect to find a wide variety of coffees, teas and chocolates. Your purchase of these Fair Trade products contributes to an economic structure which allows coffee farmers to receive a fair wage for their work. Access Lutheran World Relief's website to read stories of children who can attend school, villages with improved health due to improved diets, and landscape which is restored, all due to the fair trade purchasing choices of coffee drinkers.

 A smaller selection of ground coffee and chocolate is available from the permanent Fair Trade Coffee display in the Narthex near the church office. Simply take what you'd like and leave your payment in the envelope provided. 

 Special requests are available. Please contact Rick & Ann Giles.

 You can also see all the products or print out an order form: Click Here

  In the Library...
Submitted by Dee Woodward

  "Walking Towards Hope: Experience Grace in a Time of Brokenness"  by Dr. Paul M. Becking is truly a must-read. How do people of faith make sense of new circumstances when faced with catastrophe in their lives? The author demonstrates in this true story that Gods personal closeness and gracious presence, rather than the proper theological arguments gained in his training, offered the comfort he needed to reconcile his pain and deep despair. You will be moved by this story of faith, vast courage, determination, and character. After surviving a horrific accident (barely), you will be stirred by the author's rehabilitation process, but more importantly, by his mental and spiritual recovery.

 Please read the: LWR Gifts of Hope -- Fall In-Gathering Link to learn more on how YOU can help with the Lutheran World Relief!

  The LWR "quilters and kit makers" will meet at the Church in the afternoon at 1:00pm on Thursdays, March 14th, 21st & 28th. All are welcome! If you have questions or fabric donations, please call Sharon Brainard.

  If you would like more information about Lutheran World Relief and the work they are doing in the world, you can go to their website at www.lwr.org 

  Here is the link for the LWR Group Update

"Calling Tree" is Starting April 2008
submitted by Natalie 

  The Care Team would like to better meet the needs of the 70 year old and older community. We are introducing Calling Trees to encourage communication and support.

  It would work like this:

a) A Calling Tree list will be provided to a "Tree" Leader and the people on the Calling Tree

b) The Team Leader will start off the calling once a month. (Note: Feb. 18, 2008 - we are checking with Leaders listed below to see if they are interested in helping.)

c) The person called will call the next person on the list

d) If the person is not there, a message is left on voice mail and the next person is called. If you don't hear back or if there are any concerns, pending surgeries, etc..., call the Tree Leader who will then contact Mariellen, Natalie, or Pastor Jaech.

Calling Trees set up by geographical location:

Camas-Washougal- **Holland**, Enns-Kirk, Erickson,
Buteau Elk's Club- **Myers**, Bland, Tye, Vegdahl, Allred, Mary Johnson, Wend/Blakeslee, Crippen
Fairway Village 1- **Kelley**, Engle, Lyde, Tews, Evans, Graversen, Hjort, Smith
Fairway Village 2- **Catt**, Weed, McNeil, Ewert, Voldal,/Spencer, Cox, Grace/Atkins
Mall- **Vahsholtz**, Roll, Youngquist, Meek, Wollen, Bork, Mendenhall
North- **Hoffman**, Tallman, Woodward, Maederer/Hogg, Lindquist, Meyers
Single Ladies 1- Ackers, Brandt, Campbell, Jorgenson, Coy, Hauff, Knerr, Moe
Single Ladies 2- **Miller**, Minck, Ackley, O'Brien, Hutchinson, Nolte, Elizabeth Johnson
South (People who go south for the winter)- **Poppe**, Hagelstein, Pihl, Zehr, Webb, Young, Pudoka/care-giver

** Denotes Calling Tree Leaders

  This is our first time implementing a Calling Tree and it may need to be tweaked. We will check in periodically with the Tree Leaders to see how things are going. If we missed you or if you would prefer NOT to be on the Calling Tree, please contact Debe Palmer, Susan Helms-Peyer, or Natalie Richards.

 Would you like to know more about what other ELCA Lutherans are doing?

 Would you like to know more about what the greater church body is saying on a variety of issues? Would you like some stimulating Christian reading? If the answer is yes to any of the above you may be interested in reading The Lutheran Magazine (as shown below). It is a monthly publication of the ELCA Church.

  Beginning with the April issue there will be copies available for members to take home and read! This is possible due to a fundraising effort last fall which netted donations by members that were then matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Enough money was accrued to buy 50, 1-year subscriptions for the membership of Beautiful Savior. When the magazines arrive they will be placed on the counter in the narthex. Please pick one up and take it home to enjoy.

Are you interested in viewing The Lutheran Magazine?

  You can do it for free by going to The Lutheran and click on the current issue icon. You can also see past issues too, in the archive section.

Special Thanks from Joanne Vahsholtz...

  To all you dear, priceless people at BSLC, I wish to say a huge THANK YOU for all that you have done to show your love and caring for me and my family in the days since Duane's passing into Glory. It has been nearly three months since his death and the hole left in my heart shall probably never be filled, but all of the cards and beautiful expressions of love that you have given us have helped more than you will ever know, to lift up our spirits and let the sunshine through. God Truly dwells in this place and His generous blessings are felt every day through all of you - May the love of Christ continue to dwell in you richly.