June-July 2026
Family Feud
Pastor Schopp
[Jesus said] “Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved…
…And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:21-22, 29-33
The passage above is what can be described as “theological fly-over country”. It is one of those sections of the New Testament that makes us uncomfortable, so we like to skip over and find the passages that are easier for us to stomach.
But fear was not Jesus’ intent. That is evident from His own words of encouragement in verse 31: “Fear not”. God’s warning to His people in the 1st Century was the same message given to His people 1500 years earlier and is still the same message given to His people today: We will face many troubles for following God, for bearing His name in a world full of hate and sin. He wants us to know this so that we are not surprised when it comes. It is to be expected.
This warning is not just against the general wickedness of the world, which shatters families and sets child against parent and brother against brother. Those things do happen and will continue to happen, for that is original sin playing itself out in the lives of fallen man. But this warning is specifically aimed at Jesus’ followers. He told the Twelve this right before He sent them out for their own for hands-on training. They went from village to village proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of God and the Messiah long awaited. They healed the sick and cast out demons. And in some cases, they were driven out of town by the people.
Things did not get easier after Jesus’ resurrection. Things got harder for the disciples. Jesus’ other predictions came true, that they would be arrested and beaten by the Jews and by the worldly authorities. They were hated not because they were murderers or rapists or thieves. Those are the sins which the world expects and turns a blind eye to. No, they were hated because they did the one thing that this sinful world cannot stand: They proclaimed Christ.
In a recent article, I read that an actress was proud that her upcoming movie – which ostensibly was aimed at kids – would upset “Christian dads”. What a strange thing to be proud of. To deliberately go out of your way to insult loving parents twice: Once, through the message of the movie and again by mocking them in an interview. But this is normal in our world, because those who bear the name of Christ are hated for the crime of… bearing the name of Christ.
Jesus told His disciples to expect this and to endure it. We are not to return hate with hate. We are to have pity and love on those who are lost to the prince of this world, the devil. They cling to the lies of the prince of lies and do not know the truth of God’s love. Those who hate us need us, not because of who we are, but because of the message we carry. That Christ Jesus died for them, too. That the joy we have can be theirs. The Creator of the universe knows them and considers them valuable, flaws and all. And He wants to gather them up and bring them into the family they never knew they needed, just as He has done with us.
Our Savior June Birthdays
2 Jasa Mayer 18 Vickie Wilson
3 Bethany Severson 19 Joshua Rausch
4 Cheryl Markovetz 20 Caden Gelling
5 Maci Johnson 20 Luke Rausch
6 Eliana Harrier 21 Collin Haar
7 Debora Heine 21 Fred Rauscher
7 Justin Mayer 25 Paul Dennert
7 Katie Person 25 Delores Neumann
8 Chris McHenry 26 Andrea Christianson
10 Taylor Johnson 26 Rachel Rausch
11 Gwen Petrich 27 Mark Navurskis
12 Vernon Korab 29 Courtney (Salfrank) Melcher
15 Sandy Nelson 29 Wilma Schnabel
16 Felix Lassanske 30 Berwyn Bain
16 Rayma Scepaniak 30 Dalton Lee
Anniversaries
1 Dean & Gaylene Haar
2 Carl & Judy Bulian
3 Zachary & Samantha (Scepaniak) Alumbaugh
7 Todd & Sheri Severson
7 Harlan & Barbara Wickham
10 Daryl & Maurine Bierman
13 Raymond & Joann Pomplun
15 Levi & Kaitlyn Haar
Our Savior Meetings in June
LWML – Mon June 1
st at 3:45 pm
Elders – Thur June 4
th at 5:30 pm
Council – Wed June 17
th at 6:00 pm
Board of Education – Sun June 21
st at 12:00 pm
Nursery Circle will not meet in the summer. Meetings will resume in September.
Acolyte Schedule:
June 7 – Tucker Brick & Aurian Tschappat
14 – Rhyan Johnson & Grace Rausch
21 – Ella Brick & Jaylynn Siebert
28 – Caleb Siebert & Teigan McKown
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!
VBS is June 7 –11, with the theme “Tropical Trek.” We will learn how Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:20)! As we traverse fun and exciting places like a dormant volcano and island caves, we’ll discover how God finds us and helps us in every challenge we face.
Hours are from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, with time for a sack lunch from 5:30 to 6:00. Friends, neighbors, and relatives are welcome also!
Everyone is invited to the closing service on Thursday, June 11th at 8:00 pm, with cake and ice cream afterward.
Blood Drive – Help save a life! Our Savior is hosting a community blood drive with Vitalant Blood Services on Wednesday, June 17
th at 2:00-6:00 pm in the fellowship hall. You can schedule a time at vitalant.org, or call 877-258-4825. Use code JUNEGIFT-2026-V when scheduling to receive a $15 Rewards gift card. (Donor Rewards program opt-in required for gift card.)
Saturday Bible Study – Join us for Bible study at Our Savior on June 20
th from 9:00-11:00 am. (This was moved to the third Saturday for June.) The topic will be Christians and the Law of God.
Coffee & Confessions – Join us Tuesday mornings at 6:30 am at Our Savior. We continue to look at the Lutheran Confessions from the Book of Concord. All are welcome!
Wednesday Activities will be on hiatus for this summer, and will resume in September.
Church League Softball – Come out to cheer on our team on Monday evenings in June & July! Players Fields are the new fields north of 8
th Avenue NE. The old north field is to the east of the Players Fields. Here is the schedule:
June 1 – 7:30 pm – vs Arise Church – old north field
June 8 – 8:30 pm – vs St. Paul’s – Players field
June 15 – 7:30 pm – vs Freedom – old north field
June 22 – 6:30 pm – vs Arise – old north field
June 29 – 7:30 pm – vs St. Paul’s – old north field
July 6 – 8:30 pm – vs Arise – Players field
July 13 – 8:30 pm – vs St. Paul’s – Players field
July 20 – 8:30 pm – vs Freedom – Players field
St. John’s June Birthdays
2 Micah Christianson 13 Doris Larson
2 Troy Podoll 24 Paxton Eichler
5 Trevor Podoll 26 Stephanie Fehn
7 Logan Ringgenberg 27 Arthur Eichler
10 Braelynn Chaston 30 Keith Underberg
Anniversaries
3 Roger & Sharon Zastrow
9 Jack & Jennifer Hieb
17 David & Amy Patton
19 Michael & Molly Ringgenberg
20 Dean & Lorie Ringgenberg
St. John’s Usher List
June 7 – Jack & Jennifer Hieb
June 14 – Karl & Val Eichler
June 21 – Tony & Amanda Bisbee
June 28 – Brent & Barb Miller
St. John’s – There will be no more Monday evening Divine Services.
Traveling? Enjoy the Unity of the Faith! Our actions speak, teach, and confess our faith in Christ and His work among us! When you are out of town or away for the weekend don't let that stop you from gathering to receive Christ's gifts in Word and Sacrament! Download the LCMS app to help you locate a sister church when you travel. You can also go to
www.lcms.org to find a sister congregation via the "locator" in the upper right. We share a unity of faith which means that when we travel we are always home in our sister congregations where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are administered.
Mission: Romania! A team of seven volunteer workers spent a week in Bro?av, Romania, completing renovations to the Bra?ov Lutheran Outreach Center in preparation for activities aimed at engaging the community in Gospel-centered outreach. This short-term mission team did yard work, painted walls and installed new flooring on two levels of the building, fixed the front gate, installed a safety gate for the basement stairs, and did some general cleaning to make the center bright and welcoming.
The mission was sponsored in part by the South Dakota District through the Mission & Ministry Council to support the work of South Dakota missionaries Rev. Jordon and Alison Andreasen and their family. Pastor Andreasen serves as an Area Facilitator in Romania and the surrounding area, focusing on planting congregations.
In addition to the work at the center, the team enjoyed worship, devotions, and fellowship with missionaries, their families, and local church leaders and members. They learned some of the history of Romania and of Christianity through the centuries there, as well as the work of the LCMS International Missions in the Eurasia Region.
What a blessing to serve alongside the Andreasens for a short time as they do the Lord's work in Romania! To God be the glory!
Mark and I would like to thank both Our Savior and St. John's for their prayers and financial support with this endeavor. It was incredible and very enlightening. God works in so many ways!
Mark and Joleen Christianson
Our Savior July Birthdays
1 Darlene Hinz 12 Whitney Rauscher
2 Paul Bohling 14 Daryl Bierman
2 Alexis McHenry 16 Linda Krage
4 Susan Heinz 16 Jeremy Reyelts
4 Cody Lee 18 Riley Lee
4 Conner McKown 25 Abigail Andreasen
7 Charles Angerhofer 25 Shawn Healy
7 Frances Rutschke 26 Michelle Braun
11 Matthew Hales 26 Jonathan Imberi
11 Emelia Nelson 26 Lloyd Jerde
Anniversaries
4 Chris & Brenda Aman
23 Troy & Hallie McKown
29 Dan & Susan Heinz
Meetings at Our Savior:
Elders – Thur July 2nd at 5:30 pm
Church Council – Wed July 8th at 6:00 pm
Voters’ Meeting – Sun July 12th at 9:30 am
Men’s Club – Mon July 13th at 7:00 pm
Board of Education – Sun July 19th at 12:00 pm
Our Savior Voters’ Meeting – The next quarterly voters meeting will be Sunday, July 12
th at 9:30 am. All communicant members age 18 and over can attend to help conduct the business of the church.
Our Savior LWML does not meet in July. The LWML Breakfast will be in August. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex.
Men’s Club will meet Monday, July 13
th at 7:00 pm at Our Savior. Men from St. John’s are welcome also.
Acolyte Schedule:
July 5 – Maci Johnson & Cassie McKown
July 12 – Tucker Brick & Aurian Tschappat
July 19 – Rhyan Johnson & Grace Rausch
July 26 – Ella Brick & Jaylynn Siebert
St. John’s July Birthdays
14 Dalton Podoll 31 Lucas Daggett
16 Levi Christianson 31 Tara Meints
24 Jodi Hart 31 Trevor Meints
25 Mic Daggett 31 Mike Ringgenberg
28 Lyle Podoll
Anniversary
7 Ray & Cyndy Larson
Saturday Bible Study – July 11
th 9:00-11:00 am at Our Savior. The topic will be “What do Lutherans really believe about . . . ?”
Portals of Prayer for July – September are available in the narthex.
Our Website – Audio recordings of sermons are available on the website, as well as current bulletins for both churches, the newsletter, calendar, and online giving for Our Savior, at
www.oursaviorlutheranchurchaberdeen.com.
The Brown County Fair is coming up August 10-16. Aberdeen Area Lutherans for Life will share a booth with Lutheran Family Service and Rural Gospel Initiative. They will need volunteers to help man the booth. You can sign up for even just a few hours. A sign-up sheet will be in the narthex later in July. Watch the Sunday bulletins for more info.
Upcoming District Events – The Mission & Ministry Council of the SD District LCMS is planning several events geared toward various groups.
- A men’s retreat is scheduled for July 31-Aug 2. Gospel Oriented Approach to Leadership (G.O.A.L.) will be hosted by Faith Lutheran and take place at The Ranch Ministries in rural Pierre.
- A family ministry retreat is tentatively scheduled for April 16-18, 2027.
- The council is working on dates for Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller to return to the district and present as part of the district’s annual PASS It On Conference in the fall of 2027.
More information will be forthcoming on all these events. Stay tuned!
Our Savior Lutheran Church
624 North Jay Street – Aberdeen, SD 57401
St. John’s Lutheran Church
23 North James Street – Columbia, SD 57433
Dual Parish Office: 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 # 605-846-7365
Email: lutheranprof@gmail.com
Secretary’s office hours: Mon-Fri 9am – 2pm
