Sunday, May 1st was “More-than-May-Day” Sunday at OSLC (Bread for the World Sunday, our Quarterly Congregational Meeting, and the Information Kick-off for the JUBILEE). The annual Bread for the World offering of letters was augmented by breads of the world at our worship and coffee hour. The letters urged the passing of legislation to alleviate world hunger. OSLC is a Covenant Congregation with BFW. We also had a Quarterly Meeting for updating the congregation on the challenge of our 2005 Operating Budget, and kicked off our “OSLC Jubilee: Sojourners Through Gracious Waters” with information about upcoming events.Trinity Sunday, May 22nd - Bishop Margaret Payne visted as we began to celebrate OSLC’s 50th Anniversary Jubilee, along with Pastor Emeritus John Lemkul’s 50th Anniversary of Ordination. A Cana Hall conversation with Bishop Payne helped us get to know the person who leads our New England Synod. A brief biographical sketch is below. Worship that day featured Bishop Payne as preacher and Pastor Lemkul as Eucharistic Celebrant. The “Simply Elegant” Reception, coordinated by Lorrie Merrill, was a true delight. Comparison displays of the church and society in 1955 and 2005 presently grace our narthex. Wonderful blue”river cloths” lent by the ELCA’s Division for Global Mission have been appearing in a variety of places in the church lately!

On Sunday, June 5th, 2005, our Jubilee worship ([1] click here for pictures) began, under beautiful skies, at Rollins Chapel, Dartmouth, and concluded at OSLC after a wonderful parade, including the singing of several hymns, to the church. We celebrate on the actual date of the 50th Anniversary of Our Savior Lutheran Church and Student Center. It was our “Jubilee”, a time to revel in the grace of God shown forth on earth. This day ended with a 50th Birthday Party, fun for both kids and “vintage” Lutherans. We welcomed back Barbara Krampitz, widow of the Rev. David Krampitz, the first pastor of OSLC. Her words were very much taken to heart by the congregation.

The Jubilee tradition biblically is related to a (perhaps never fully implemented!) plan for the forgiveness of debt and return of land to its original owners every 50 years (Leviticus 25:8-12 and following). Jesus picked up on this Jubilee tradition in his first sermon, speaking of being anointed “to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of the sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor [the “Jubilee Year”].”; (Luke 4:16-21)