Empty Nest O.W.L.s

O.W.L.s is short for "Older Wiser Lutherans" (at least we like to think so!) and meet on the 2^nd Wednesday of the month at 10:00 AM in the church kitchen. We also go to breakfast on the 4^th Thursday of the month and have the occasional special outing. There is no other requirement to belong than have the desire and available time to enjoy fun, fellowship and food.

We are really a support group for one another. We pray for each other, make hospital visits to each other, and provide food, transportation, friendly smiles, and anything else helpful to those going through hard times. We also support Adopt-A-Platoon, an organization which uses our monthly donations to send packages to our deployed service men and women.

Contact info: Priscilla Heake

OSLC Fellowship

This is a Group Ministry open to all adult members of Our Savior that meets the 2^nd Saturday of the month at 8:30 AM for breakfast, Bible study, business meeting and informative programs. We are affiliated with Lutheran Laymen's League International.

We are involved in the following programs:

• an endowed scholarship fund at Concordia University Austin for students who are planning to go into full time church work.
• baptismal medallion program for all individuals baptized in our church
• support of the Lutheran Hour Ministries
• support of programs for needy organizations on a project by project basis

Contact info: Rudy Hunger

Our Savior LWML

The Mission Statement of The Lutheran's Women's Missionary League is to assist each woman of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in affirming her relationship with the Triune God so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world.

All women are invited to join us on the 1^st Monday of the month at 10:00 AM.

Activities also include:

• Bingo at the Rockwall Nursing Center on the 1^st Monday of the month at 2:00 PM
• sponsoring an "angel tree" at Christmas
• contributing mites to LWML missions
• collecting used stamps for Project Comfort
• collecting soap for Lutheran World Relief
• LWML Texas Star Zone workshops and rallies

Contact info: Dorothy Hunger

Comforters

A local auxiliary of Our Savior LWML, we make quilts for Lutheran World Relief, which are distributed throughout the world. We meet on the 2^nd and 4^th Mondays of the month at 10:00 AM in the church kitchen.

Knit Knots

This group started in 2008 with the goal of providing Memory boxes to Presbyterian-Rockwall for their Maternity Bereavement program. The Bereavement program is for families that lose a little one - even the littlest preemie. We make the Memory box and place inside it a burial gown, hat and blanket. We also provide Prayer Shawls for the mothers. As time went on we added Pumpkin hats and Santa hats for the newborns at Presbyterian Hospital in Rockwall. We also work with Texas Oncology to provide chemo caps for people in the Rockwall area.

We also provide Christmas gifts for the adults and children in foster care through the Child Protective Services Rainbow Room and Afghans, Christmas gifts and Home decor for women and children through the Family Place Domestic Violence Shelter. Everything that we give is lovingly handmade with prayer! If you knit, crochet, sew, quilt, loom or even if all you can do is tie a knot we can use you!

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild is responsible for making sure the altar area is ready for worship - communion ware in place, correct liturgical color of paraments, acolytes robed and ready, flowers on altar, and all the other details necessary.

At this time a dedicated group of nine ladies volunteer to serve our church and our Lord in this manner. Guided by instructions in a manual produced by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and a guide book written just for our own congregational needs, the ladies also work closely with the pastors and elders to insure that everything is done correctly and to the glory of God. We are always looking for more members. We rotate duties so that no one is required to serve every month.

Contact info: Dorothy Hunger

Martha Circle

This group hosts/serves at weddings, anniversary, and funeral receptions. They also provide food as necessary in coordination with the families.

Contact info: Diana Hilt or Sue Nielsen

Nursing Home Ministry

The OSLC Nursing Home Ministry provides Sunday services at two local facilities:

• Rockwall Nursing Center - a traditional nursing home
• Summer Ridge Retirement Community - an assisted living residence

This Ministry currently has 13 teams, each of which serves about 3 Sundays a year. In addition, the church youth serve once a month.

The residents at these two facilities truly appreciate what we do. Some of the residents have spent 80 years going to church on Sunday morning, and we allow them to continue to do so. Our outreach comes to them at a time in their lives when their spiritual needs are great. Many residents never see their own children or grandchildren, so the participation of our youth in this ministry is particularly appreciated.

Our teams are quite diverse - men and women, lay people and retired clergy. It truly is a ministry to people at a time in their lives when they often feel forgotten and alone, and we have the opportunity to share the love of Christ in a very real way.

Contact info: Jim Eatmon

Stephen Ministry

We all know people who are hurting in today's world: those who have lost a job, are grieving the loss of a loved one, are going through a divorce, or are battling a terminal illness. Stephen Ministers serve God's family by bringing Christ's love to those who are hurting. God can make a difference in someone's life through you!

Stephen Ministry is named for St. Stephen, the first lay person commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need. Stephen Ministers undergo 50 hours of training and serve for at least two years. Among other things, they develop skills in reflective listening, learn guidelines on confidentiality, and prepare to minister to people in specific situations such as terminal illness, grief and divorce. They are also trained to recognize when to refer someone to a helping professional.

Contact info: Leslie Broughton or Pastor Paul

Braille Workers