<![CDATA[Our Savior Lutheran Church - Pastor Tim\'s Blog]]>Thu, 29 May 2025 13:16:01 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Inspiring Faith Forward]]>Sun, 01 Jun 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/inspiring-faith-forward3029060
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This past week, I caught up with the Leith siblings. Jessica and Chris share how God is changing their hearts and lives to love God, love people, and live like Jesus on and off the Mustard Seed Theatre stage.

​This is a 15 minute episode - perfect while sipping your morning coffee, driving to school or home, taking a quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or enjoying an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).

After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and respond.
]]><![CDATA[Inspiring Faith Forward]]>Sun, 25 May 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/inspiring-faith-forward7812031
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​I had the opportunity to catch up with Retired Army Chaplain Jim Freitag and Central Pierce Fire and Providence with Compassus Chaplain Kirk VanNatta for this week’s episode of Inspiring Faith Forward. 

We talk compassion, care, and how to honor all people this Memorial Day weekend.

This is a 15 minute episode - perfect while sipping your morning coffee, driving to school or home, taking a quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or enjoying an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).

After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and respond.
]]><![CDATA[Inspiring Faith Forward]]>Sun, 18 May 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/inspiring-faith-forward4954889
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I’m excited for this week’s episode of the Inspiring Faith Forward podcast.

Chloe Sullivan has experienced some incredible life changes this past year. It’s really neat to hear how the Mustard Seed Theatre community is woven throughout her journey.

This is a 15 minute episode - perfect while sipping your morning coffee, driving to school or home, taking a quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or enjoying an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).

After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and respond.
]]><![CDATA[Inspiring Faith Forward]]>Sun, 11 May 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/inspiring-faith-forward7858535
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I’m excited for this week’s episode of the Inspiring Faith Forward podcast.

Somehow I convinced my mom to join me on this week’s podcast. Enjoy the listen!
This is an 20 minute episode - perfect while sipping your morning coffee, driving to school or home, taking a quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or enjoying an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).

After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and respond.
]]><![CDATA[Inspiring Faith Forward]]>Sun, 04 May 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/inspiring-faith-forward
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I’m excited for this week’s episode of the Inspiring Faith Forward podcast.

My friend Wayne is on the podcast this week to explain how our Mission Endowment Fund works. He also shares a little bit about his heart and why generosity matters to him.

This is an 8 minute episode - perfect while sipping your morning coffee, driving to school or home, taking a quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or enjoying an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).

After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and respond.​
]]><![CDATA[Grow Deeper Together Week 6]]>Sun, 13 Apr 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/going-deeper-together-week-6
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I’m excited for this week’s episode of the Inspiring Faith Forward podcast where we are looking at John 15:1-3. So, grab a Bible and click below to get started.

Each episode is 15-20 minutes - perfect for a morning devotion, drive to school or home, quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).

After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and discover ways to serve.
We’re taking next two weeks off for Easter and will be back with an entire new series of podcast episodes beginning May 4th.
]]><![CDATA[Grow Deeper Together - Week 5]]>Sun, 06 Apr 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/going-deeper-together-week-5
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This week, I'm reaching back into some archived podcasts from one of the more influential people in my life, Dr. Jeff Kloha. He has shaped my gospel-centered thinking and heart for ministry. I'm excited to share with you his deep dive into John 14:1-14.

The episode is from Lectionary at Lunch and it is just over 20 minutes - perfect for a morning devotion, drive to school or home, quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).
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After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and discover ways to serve.

​I'm back next week with a fresh take on John 15:1-3. In the meantime, have a fantastic week loving God, loving people, and living like Jesus!
]]><![CDATA[Immanuel Campus Update - April 2025]]>Thu, 03 Apr 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/immanuel-campus-update-april-2025Happy one-month birthday to the Immanuel Campus!

Three cheers to Cary and the campus staff, our central operations support team, and the on-the-ground leaders who have helped make the last 30 days an incredible experience.

And to you... thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and most of all, your partnership in the gospel as we love God, love people, and live like Jesus.

We are making progress toward fully launching the Puyallup campus on Sunday, September 7 (Fall Launch). There is still much to do, but here are some highlights from the last 30 days.
Our first worship service was Sunday, March 9 with 59 people attending. There has been a 109% increase in average worship attendance between pre-merger and today (22 vs 46). ​Each service has live music, communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, creed, prayers, invitation into next steps, and blessing.
While most preaching is "live", Cary introduced Life Group "feels" and weekly questions using video messages from Pastor Tim. While there is already a women's bible study, men's group, and quilters group that meet each week, the desire to get connected in a Life Group is "catching".
During the week, the Immanuel Learning Center serves 63 students and their families. They don't just learn their ABC's and 1-2-3's through play, they gather for family chapel times. Yes, significant adults and siblings get to join in the fun, too! We look forward to further integrating Kid Min and Parent Cue resources to further connect students and families with Jesus - not just at church or school, but at home, too.
Every school day, thr3e Coffeeshop is the place for junior high and high school students to grab a snack or drink and meet and hang with friends. We are looking forward to building on thr3e's unique and fruitful story by further fostering a culture of care and belonging.
Similar to our Backpacks 4 Kids vibe at the Tacoma Campus, the Puyallup Campus coordinates and leads a weekly tutoring program for elementary students. Because the program is supporting measurable student success, plans are being made in partnership with local schools to increase the number of students who can receive tutoring this fall.

Organizationally, our team has worked hard this month to begin aligning financial and operational systems, laying groundwork for facility and technology upgrades, and figuring out what regular office presence looks like at the campus.

Looking Forward

Here's what we are looking forward to in the next couple months as we continue moving toward Fall Launch in September:
  • Getting to better know people who live in the downtown Puyallup community.
  • Building the worship service culture (if you know a potential worship leader, send them Cary's way).
  • Launching the Spring Tutoring season after Easter
  • Cross-training barista and ministry staff at thr3e Coffee.
  • Continuing to grow preschool enrollment at Immanuel Learning Center.
  • New Member Sunday on May 18 at the Immanuel Campus' 10:30am service.
  • Building the Sunday morning kids ministry team.
  • Laying groundwork and identify leaders for fall youth and adult life groups.
  • Family preschool chapels in April, May, and June.
  • Planning pilot before/after school programs, parenting classes, and family support resources this fall.
  • A full slate of technology and facility upgrades.
  • New signage and wayfinding which will help people find their way around.
  • Preparing for the campus' fall ministry fair in tandem with the Tacoma Campus.
]]><![CDATA[Grow Deeper Together - Week 4]]>Sun, 30 Mar 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/going-deeper-together-week-4
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I’m excited for this week’s episode of the Inspiring Faith Forward podcast where we are looking at John 10:11-28. So, grab a Bible and click below to get started.

Each episode is 15-20 minutes - perfect for a morning devotion, drive to school or home, quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).
​
After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and discover ways to serve.

]]><![CDATA[Grow Deeper Together - Week 3]]>Sun, 23 Mar 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://oslc.com/blog/going-deeper-together-week-3
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​I’m excited for this week’s episode of the Inspiring Faith Forward podcast where we are looking at John 10:7-10. So, grab a Bible and click below to get started.

Each episode is 15-20 minutes - perfect for a morning devotion, drive to school or home, quick walk around the neighborhood, picking up the kids or grandkids, or an evening wind-down (hopefully it won’t put you asleep!).

After listening, if you were inspired to take the next step, go to oslc.com to get connected and discover ways to serve.
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