December 2025 – January 2026
The Kindness of God
Pastor Schopp
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Titus 3:4-8)
In St. Paul’s letter to the pastor Titus, he reminds him that sound doctrine is of vital importance and that the salvation we have in Christ Jesus is not due to our own efforts, but solely due to “
the goodness and loving kindness of God” (v.4). This text is appointed for Christmas Dawn, specifically because of verse 4, but I cut off some of the most important parts, so it loses that important meaning. In its entirety, it reads “
when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared…” Now we can understand it as Paul intended. This is not just a generic statement about a generic god, as many people like to make this time of year. This is a
very specific statement about the coming of the Christ in the flesh, Jesus our Lord.
In a twist from what we are used to thinking during Christmas, it was Jesus who came and brought us gifts. In verse 5, Paul points to the gift that Jesus instituted, Christian Baptism, as the “
washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit”, which is how we are adopted into God’s family. And along with this adoption we “
become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (v.7) We gain redemption and eternal life, a gift which can never be topped!
Although we do not and cannot add to our salvation, Paul also encourages Titus and his congregation to continue in good works, helping others through simple loving acts each day. We don’t do these things to merit anything before God. It is the Holy Spirit in us who prompts us to love and serve others. This season is a good reminder of what we should be doing all the time: Letting the love of God be made manifest in the works of His children.
Each year, the world attacks Christmas and Christians, because this celebration of the incarnation of God is offensive to the unbeliever. They don’t want to be reminded of the Savior because that implies that they
need to be saved, that they are lost and condemned without Jesus. But they are. We should never back down when it comes to confessing Christ. This season is not about amazing deals nor even about family get-togethers. It is about the Messiah long-awaited, coming to save us. So go ahead and say “Merry Christmas” or better yet, invite that person to church. The gift Christ gives is available for all and we just want to share it far and wide.
Thank you from Pastor Schopp
I want to express my thanks to everyone who gave me a card or gift for Pastor Appreciation Month. Some weeks as a pastor are rougher than others and the outpouring of thanks and support have been greatly appreciated!
New book series in the library
The library at Our Savior has a new series aimed at youth called “The Wingfeather Saga” by Andrew Peterson. The first book was published in 2008 and it has gained a strong fan base, especially amongst Christian families. It is in the same spirit at the Chronicles of Narnia, full of Christian symbolism but also adventure. The books are (in order):
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness,
North! Or be Eaten,
The Monster in the Hollows and
The Warden and the Wolf King. Pastor Schopp has read the four books in the series and recommends it. There is also a fifth book of short stories in the same world (that Pastor Schopp has
not read).
Pastor Schopp, Luke Rausch, and Lucas Daggett creating sets for the Christmas pageant.
The pageant will be at Our Savior on December 21
st at 4:00 pm, with a potluck afterward. All are welcome!
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Times, They Are A-Changin’
The modes of communication are quickly changing. The print world dominated for many years, but the digital revolution has quickly overtaken print publications. Even if consuming news on computers and phones isn’t always the preferred avenue, one cannot deny it is a faster, simpler, and more cost-effective means of communication.
Our District and Synod communications are no exception to this. Just a couple of years ago, rising costs of print publications moved Synod to significantly increase the publication costs of the Lutheran Witness. Our District and her congregations then moved from mandatory LW subscriptions for all members to allow congregations to determine for themselves how they wished to approach distribution of the Witness.
Through this all, the District news insert in the Lutheran Witness has remained a constant, but that too will be changing soon. Recently Synod has signaled that they will no longer be publishing the District news inserts. We will discontinue publication of the printed insert after the December 2025 edition.
While the insert was a valuable tool for a very long time, timeliness of the information was becoming a challenge. The publication timeframe worked such that news and information in the insert was always two months behind. By the time the issue hit mailboxes much of the information was long past being fresh. In a day of instantaneous tools of communication, the value of such a thing was diminishing.
To be clear: the Lutheran Witness will continue to be printed, published and mailed, however the District news insert will be no more. What does this mean for District communications?
The good news is that the District will continue to provide information and is striving to improve our means and method of communication with our people and congregations. The District Board of Directors has agreed to establish a part-time Communications Coordinator to work on providing timely, easily accessible, and attractive news and information. Highlights of this new communication will include:
- Continued distribution of the District e-newsletter with some changes and additions to “flesh out” this newsletter with more news, features, and profiles.
- Production of a once monthly printable piece that will approximate the Lutheran Witness Insert. This piece will be delivered to congregations electronically, allowing everyone to disseminate it in their preferred ways to those who don’t use email or the internet.
- Increased communication and presence in the area of social media.
Times, they are a-changin’! This is new and things will continue to change, but the mission, the heart remains the same: working together to make the Gospel of Christ known! God Bless you all!
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December
Our Savior Birthdays
3 Sheri Severson 22 Frances Newman
6 Rev. Alan Ludwig 24 Addilyn Christianson
10 Kallyn (Jerde) Freidel 27 Aaron Andreasen
11 Riley Aman 27 William DeYoung
14 Gabriel Johnson 27 Karla Johnson
15 Raylee Brick 28 Nairn Hermansen
15 Dean Haar 29 Daryl Swanhorst
16 Gaylene Haar
Anniversaries
2 Tom & Jenelle Siebert
16 Mark & Kierra Navurskis
20 Paul & Jan Bohling
23 Scott & Lori Mayer
28 Don & Rachel Hoops
Our Savior Meetings in December
By-laws Review Committee – Sun Dec 7
th at 2:00 pm
Board of Elders – Thur Dec 11
th at 5:15 pm
Church Council – Thur Dec 11
th at 6:30 pm
Voters’ Meeting – Sun Dec 14
th at 9:30 am
Board of Education – Sat Dec 20
th at 9:00 am
Our Savior Voters Meeting – The last voters meeting for this year will be Sunday, December 14
th at 9:30 am. Please attend to help conduct the business of the church.
Nursery Circle will not meet in December.
Elders for December: Glen Rausch & Douglas Klipfel
Acolyte Schedule:
Dec. 7 – Ella Brick & Grace Rausch
Dec. 14 – Maci Johnson & Cassie McKown
Dec. 21 – Tucker Brick & Teigan McKown
Dec. 28 – Caleb Siebert & Aurian Tschappat
Sunday School Christmas Program Practice – From November 30
th through December 21
st, Sunday School will begin at
9:00 am instead of 9:30 to allow time for practicing the Christmas Program. There will also be a dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 20
th at 9:00 am.
Our Savior Tree Decorating – We will meet to decorate the church for Advent/Christmas on Wednesday, December 3
rd at 5:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Any helping hands will be appreciated!
Upcoming Services:
Advent Midweek – December 3, 10, & 17 at 6:30 pm at Our Savior, for both congregations
Christmas Pageant – December 21
st at 4:00 pm at Our Savior, with a potluck afterward
Christmas Eve Candlelight – 5:00 pm at St. John’s,
7:00 pm at Our Savior
Christmas Day Divine Service – 9:00 am at Our Savior
Circuit Youth Retreat: Saturday, December 6
th from 9am-3:30pm at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. Join us for learning, games, and fun! There will be separate sessions for Catechism and High School students. Please contact St. Paul’s to register (605-225-1847). Let them know you are with Our Savior/St. John’s and your lunch will be paid for from the youth account.
Our Savior Senior Potluck will be at noon on Tuesday, December 9
th. We will have a pizza party and all chip in on the cost. You may bring a salad, dessert, or other holiday treat if you wish.
St Paul's/Our Savior Men's Club will meet at St. Paul's Tuesday December 9
th at 6:00 pm. We will have taco soup and smoked chicken noodle soup. We will finish up with chapter 4 in the book
Man Up! by Jeffery Hemmer. Tell a friend and remember
All manly men of
all ages are encouraged to attend. I hope to see you all on Tuesday December 9
th. Please message Shane Jung to be added to the email list. 1-605-216-3784
Saturday Bible Study – There will be no Saturday Bible Study in December.
Christmas Break – There will be no Sunday School on December 28
th or January 4
th. There will be no Wednesday night activities on December 31
st.
Poinsettias – This year you will again be able to order a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone, to make our sanctuary beautiful for the Christmas services, and as a reminder of the birth of our Savior. The memory/honor list will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletins. Order forms will be in the Sunday bulletins;
Please have your orders in by December 14th! The cost is
$11 per poinsettia. You can take your poinsettias home after the Christmas services.
BLOOD DRIVE – Our quarterly blood drive with Vitalant will be Thursday, December 11th from 2:00 – 6:00 pm at Our Savior.
Each blood donation can help save three lives! Call Vicky Baumgartner at 605-216-8967 to schedule.
Lutheran Witness – The December issue of LW is available in the narthex. After the December issue, the LW will no longer contain the printed District inserts. The insert could be emailed to you instead. (See the enclosed letter on the blue sheet.)
Annual Reports – A reminder to the chair persons of all boards and circles: please turn in your group’s annual report for 2025 to the office or email it to
oursaviorlutheran@nvc.net as soon as possible. Thank you!
Our Savior Greeters Needed! Help welcome people to church! Greeters stand at the entrance to the nave for about 10-15 minutes prior to the service. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex. Choose your date, and you can sign up alone or in pairs or as a family, however you would like!
Our Savior Offering Envelopes for 2026 – Please pick up your envelopes in the fellowship hall. Your number may have changed in order to keep the list in alphabetical order. Therefore, throw out any old envelopes you may have, to assist us with accurate record-keeping. Thank you!
Home and Hospital Visits – If you would like Pastor to visit you at home, please let Pastor or the church office know. Also, if you are having surgery or are hospitalized and would like Pastor to visit and/or include you on the prayer list, please let us know.
Inclement weather policy – Whenever a no travel advisory is in effect, all church activities will be canceled. On weekdays, if Aberdeen public school has been called off due to weather, then all church activities will be canceled also. On Sundays, Pastor and the church leadership will make the determination. Check announcements at Hub City Radio or KELOLAND.com Closeline. (KELO doesn’t put church announcements on TV, so you would have to check their website.) Cancellations will also be posted on our Facebook page, and the church’s telephone greeting will be changed to tell you if the service is called off.
St. John’s - Columbia
December Birthdays
9 Jim Rose
11 Carla Meints
17 Shirley Weismantel
17 Andrew Wolter
19 Bennet Chaston
24 Christian Christianson
26 Naomi Underberg
27 Kaylene Hermans
28 Ken Frohling
30 Nicole Score
Anniversary
18 Collin & Emily Eichler
Usher List
Dec. 7 Lyle & Cathi Podoll
Dec. 14 Josh & Desa Larson
Dec. 21 Mike & Molly Ringgenberg
Dec. 24 Dean & Lorie Ringgenberg
Dec. 28 John Bisbee & Lucas Daggett
Higher Things Youth Conference: We plan to take the high school aged youth from both congregations to the Higher Things conference at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO next summer. The dates are July 14-17, 2026. The theme is “Dying Church Rising Hope”: The church sometimes feels like it’s falling apart—empty pews, fading influence, and more questions than answers. However, it’s not about numbers or nostalgia—it’s about being near to Jesus. If interested, speak to Eric Johnson or Pastor Schopp. Check out
higherthings.org
Synodical Elections in 2026
CONGREGATIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS
If you have any suggestions for nominations (1) for President and First Vice-President, or (2) for Regional Vice-President of the LCMS, please speak to Pastor or an elder.
Nominations open October 18, 2025, and close February 18, 2026.
For more detailed information regarding your congregation’s participation in the nominations process, visit:
lcms.org/convention/governance/nominations/president-vice-presidents
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League
The LWML of Our Savior Lutheran Church would like to encourage every woman who is a communicant member, to become a member of the LWML. Our membership is down to seven women. We want to build our membership so we can continue to work together to provide an effective program and to be in service to the congregation as needed.
The objective of our society is as follows:
A. Foster and promote the program and object of the LWML through Mission Education, Mission Inspiration, and Mission Service.
B. Promote growth in Christian knowledge.
C. Further a love for and to help provide for active participation in Christian service.
D. Foster Christian fellowship.
E. Cooperate with Our Savior Lutheran Church in its ministry to build the Kingdom of Christ.
Our current president is Jan Bohling. Please contact her to inquire about membership. She can be reached at 605-380-0872. Our meetings are currently on the first Monday of the month at 3:45 PM except for the months of January, February, and December. If necessary to accommodate new, younger, working members, we may change the meeting time to the evening.
LWML News
Our Savior LWML Christmas Party will be at The Flame on Thursday, December 4
th at 5:00 pm for those who signed up. Please bring a $10-$15 gift to exchange.
Our Savior LWML Christmas Stocking Ingathering will be Sunday, December 7
th. Christmas stockings with a verse are located in a small box on a table in the narthex. Please take one and bring it to church on Dec. 7
th and place in the basket at the front of the church during the first hymn. The money will be used for missions. Anyone is welcome to participate. Thank you for your donation!
January
Our Savior Birthdays
3 Samantha Alumbaugh 19 Corey Gelling
3 Chris Aman 20 Lori Mayer
3 Janean Imberi 21 Avery Rohrbach
6 Summer Scepaniak 23 Kim Brick
6 Joelle Thone 26 Ally Johnson
7 Jaylynn Siebert 26 Erin McHenry
12 Shannon Petrich 30 Harlan Wickham
17 Alice Hanson
Anniversaries
25 David & Cherise Johnson
26 Tom & Alice Hanson
Our Savior Meetings in January:
Board of Elders – Thur. Jan. 8
th at 5:15 pm
Church Council – Thur. Jan. 8
th at 6:30 pm
Voters Meeting – Sun. Jan. 11
th at 9:30 am
Men’s Club – Mon. Jan. 12
th at 7:00 pm
Board of Education – Sun. Jan. 18
th at 12:00 pm
The LWML will not meet in January.
Nursery Circle will not meet in January.
Our Savior Voters’ Meeting will be Sunday, January 11
th at 9:30 am. Please attend to help conduct the business of the church.
Church Council will meet Thursday, January 8
th at 6:30 pm in preparation for the voters meeting.
Acolyte Schedule:
Jan. 4 – Jaylynn Siebert & Rhyan Johnson
Jan. 11 – Grace Rausch & Maci Johnson
Jan. 18 – Cassie McKown & Ella Brick
Jan. 25 – Teigan McKown & Caleb Siebert
Epiphany Divine Service – Wednesday, January 7
th at 6:30 pm at Our Savior, for both congregations.
Saturday Bible Study – January 10
th at Our Savior, 9:00-11:00 am – Topic: The real presence of Christ in the Old Testament.
Sunday School resumes on January 11
th at 9:30 am.
Installation of Officers for 2026 will be during the service on Sunday, January 11
th. Members of all boards may come forward.
The Senior Potluck will be Tuesday, January 13
th at noon. Join us for good food and fellowship.
Bible Bowl – The youth will begin preparing for Bible Bowl in January after the services at Our Savior. There will be a sign-up sheet in the kitchen if you’d like to prepare a lunch for them.
Portals of Prayer for January – March are on the table in the narthex.
Christian Foundations Class – Pastor Schopp will teach this adult education class beginning Tuesday, January 27
th from 6:00-7:30 pm. This is a ten-week class. Although it is labeled an “adult education class”, high school aged youth are welcome as well. Members who want a refresher are also encouraged to attend.
To help members reach out to those who do not have a church home, we have invitations for members to distribute. If every member took an invitation and invited a single friend, co-worker, relative, etc. that does not currently have a church home, we should have a good-sized group. If you offer to attend
with them, at least for the first few sessions, that will alleviate some of their fears. There is no pressure to join, only an opportunity to learn.
All of the materials are provided. We do ask for registration in advance to ensure we have enough materials. Contact the church secretary, Cherise Johnson, at
oursaviorlutheran@nvc.net or call 605-225-7106.
St. John’s
January Birthdays
1 JoLynn Podoll 17 Braden Miller
2 Joshua Underberg 19 David Patton
6 Joleen Christianson 23 Jennifer Daggett
6 Charlotte Podoll 24 Larry Neubauer
10 Wyatt Wolter 27 Jennifer Hieb
13 Skylar Borge 27 Hainslee Larson
15 Lucas Underberg
Usher List
Jan. 4 Roger & Sharon Zastrow
Jan. 11 Tony & Amanda Bisbee
Jan. 18 Brent & Barb Miller
Jan. 25 Lyle & Cathi Podoll
Our Savior Lutheran Church
624 North Jay Street – Aberdeen, SD 57401
St. John’s Lutheran Church
23 North James Street – Columbia, SD 57433
Phone 605-225-7106, Email
oursaviorlutheran@nvc.net
www.oursaviorlutheranchurchaberdeen.com
Rev. Chad Schopp – Cell # 605-380-2545
Email: cschopp@protonmail.com
Rev. Alan Ludwig – Cell # 509-540-9083
Email: lutheranprof@gmail.com
Click on the calendar tab on the website to see the December and January Calendars.
