Hope Lutheran Church July 2015
Celebrate Your Dependence on God!
Americans have always been proud of their independence.
Our American West was discovered, explored and settled
based on this principle – I can and will do it on my own.
However, as believers in the one true God of the Bible, we
believe that God created us to be dependent, not just upon
Him, but upon one another as well. We are not clones of
one another, but uniquely formed and shaped with different skills, gifts and passions. And we are
different so we can rely on one another. And when we do, that is work together for the common
good – great things can and do happen.
But we must never forget our dependence upon God as well. Adam and Eve in their sin were
declaring their independence from God. God confronted their foolishness, but also provided a
source of salvation. With Genesis 3:15, God was declaring His great sacrifice in which man would
once again be dependent upon God. Not just for physical life, but now for spiritual and eternal
life.
As we celebrate our country’s independence this month, don’t forget to celebrate and thank God
for your dependence upon Him. For it is because of that dependence that eternal life is yours.
In the Lord’s Service,
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American History 101
The colonization of North America by the
British began in the 17 century. By the mid
18th century there were 13 colonies each
with a varying relationship with the King of
England. Most were crown colonies. (MA,
NY, NH, NJ, VA, NC, SC, GA) The governor
of these colonies was appointed by the King
and all laws had to be submitted to England
for approval. There were also proprietary
colonies. (PA, DE, MD) In these colonies,
the proprietors appointed the governors.
And then there were charter colonies.
(Conn, RI) These colonies elected their
governors and were not required to submit
their laws for approval to the homeland.
Strained relations between the colonies and
Great Britain began as early as 1763 at the
end of the French and Indian War. Great
Britain won, but the Crown was heavily in
debt. To further control the colonies and to
keep them from expanding their territory,
which would incur more administrative costs
for the Crown, The King issued a
proclamation declaring no further
settlements would be allowed west of the
Appalachian Mountains up to the St.
Lawrence seaway.
In addition a variety of taxes
were imposed on the colonies
in order to raise revenue for
the Crown. This angered the
colonists who felt they had
already paid enough in
money, men and housing to
help the Crown during the
fighting of the French and
Indian War.
Between 1763 and 1775
tensions continued to increase
with the Crown imposi8ng
taxes and authority on the
colonists and the colonists
finding increasingly violent and destructive
means to make their voice heard when they
felt the Crown was not listening to their
legislative methods. One such destructive
event was the Boston Tea Party on
December 16, 1773.
The first “fight” between colonists and the
Crown occurred at Lexington and Concord
in April 1775. It was after this “skirmish” that
patriots from each of the 13 colonies formed
a Provincial Congress that usurped power
from the old colonial governments and
suppressed loyalists to the Crown.
On July 2, 1776, representatives of the 2nd
Continental Congress voted to approve a
resolution of independence declaring the
colonies free from Great Britain. After voting
for independence, the congress turned its
attention to crafting a statement explaining
its decision. This was prepared by the
“Committee of 5” with Thomas Jefferson as
the principle author. We know this
statement as the Declaration of
Independence.
However, from the outset, patriots would
celebrate the day the declaration was
signed rather than July 2, the day the
resolution was approved.
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John Adams
and Thomas Jef-
ferson, both
presidents of the
United States
and both signers
of the Declara-
tion of Independence, died on the same
day – July 4, 1826 – the 50th anniversary of
the Declaration of Independence.
Another founding father, also a president
of the United States, James Monroe, died
on July 4, 1831.
Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the
United States, was born July 4, 1872.
The American Revolution did not officially
end until the signing of a peace treaty,
known as the Treaty of Paris, on September
3, 1783.
America’s rich history of
patriotic music owes its
existence to six main wars: the
American Revolution, the
American Indian Wars, the War
of 1812, the Mexican-American
War, the American Civil War,
and the Spanish American War.
"Yankee Doodle", long a tune
and lyric addressed to the
unique American population,
descended from the British and
became widely popular after
the American Revolution, and in
1814 Washington lawyer Francis
Scott Key wrote a poem,
"Defence of Fort McHenry," after
witnessing the bombardment of
Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.
Owing to the origin of America
from British nationals, the lyrics
were later set to music common
to British and American sailors,
but eventually became world
famous as the "The Star-
Spangled Banner," and was
designated as the United States'
official national anthem in 1931.
After centuries of struggling and
fighting "hostile" Indians,
diseases, and nature,
Americans had breached the
Appalachian mountain chain
and pushed into the wide open
areas of the far west. Thus,
songs such as "My Country, 'Tis
of Thee," composed in 1831,
have themes of natural wonder
combined with freedom and
liberty. Indeed others, such as
"America the Beautiful," express
appreciation for the natural
beauty of the United States and
the hope for a better nation.
However, in contrast to "My
Country, 'Tis of Thee" and the
"Star Spangled Banner",
"America the Beautiful" does not
have the triumphalism found in
many patriotic American songs.
It was originally a poem
composed by Katharine Lee
Bates after she had
experienced the view from Pikes
Peak of fertile ground as far as
the eye could see, and was
sung to a variety of tunes until
the present one, written as a
hymn tune in 1882 by Samuel
Ward, became associated with
it. World War I produced
patriotic American songs such
as "Over There" by popular
songwriter George M. Cohan,
who composed the song April 6,
1917, when he saw headlines
announcing the U.S. had
entered World War I. Cohan
also is famous for penning
"Yankee Doodle Dandy," an
over-the-top parody of patriotic
music. "God Bless America", a
1918 Irving Berlin composition, is
sometimes considered an
unofficial national anthem of
the United States and is often
performed at sporting events
alongside "The Star-Spangled
Banner." So as you celebrate
our nation’s independence this
year and hear all the music with
which it is associated, take a
moment to stop and consider
what these songs really mean,
reflect upon our nation’s
struggles and history; you may
just find it’s more than
background music for a
fireworks display!
God Bless America!
By: Charlie Harnish
Director of Music
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SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND
Thank you to all those that
contributed to the special
projects fund. Your
generosity in replenishing
this raised $6,273.00.
Thrivent Day with the Rays! Tampa Bay Rays
vs. Houston Astros
$25.00/per ticket Only 10 Tickets Left
Join Us On July 11th at 4:10pm!
Please contact: Ping McLauchlin at 941.650.3558
by July 7 to purchase tickets.
Rev. Theodore A. Zeile passed away on
June 17, 2015 in Livonia, MI. He was a
winter pastor here at Hope in the late
seventies and early eighties.
The Ice Cream Social for the kick-off of
WOW was held on June 7th. Discovered
some “wow” moments in each others
lives , lots of laughter, talking, learned
more about each other and how to
watch more of God’s “WOW” moments.
Of course we also enjoyed the ice-
cream sundaes! Patti and Linda are
teaching a Bible Class on Sunday,
“Sweeter than Chocolate”, that women
are encouraged to attend … and yes,
there will be chocolate! Plans are being
made to have another WOW event in
September. Watch for more information
to come in the Words of Hope and
Anchor.
The Blind Ministry is in need of a
van driver for the for the month
of August. Please call Lisa
Dagley at 941-758-8301 if you
can help with this ministry.
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Update
Since January we have been leasing out the 2 classroom school
building and playground behind the parsonage to Sun Academy (a
local preschool using our building as a satellite campus). This has proven to be a successful partnership between Hope Lutheran Church
and the Sun Academy. They are not having a summer program on our
campus but will return when school resumes in August.
Our Preschool Yard Sale in early March was very successful. We sold
most of the furniture and materials we had consolidated after we
closed our school program last fall. What was not sold was donated to
Angels Attic. The charity came and took it all, leaving our big double
classroom in the education building empty for the first time in many
years. About that time we were approached by Kids Academy, another
preschool looking for a satellite campus. They were interested in
renting the big double room and bathroom for their summer camp program. The timing couldn't have been better! The lease was signed
and the director of Kids Academy was thrilled to have found our
facility. A big THANK YOU to HLC members Steve and Pat Boop who
volunteered to repaint the entire space and have it all refreshed and
looking beautiful before the new tenants moved in the first weekend
in June. Kids Academy is thrilled with the space and is considering
continuing to lease the rooms through the upcoming school year as a
site for part of their after school program.
God has truly blessed us by bringing these two preschools to
us. It’s wonderful to have children on our campus and hear their
laughter once again.
Respectfully submitted by,
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www.hopelutheranfl.org Check it out! Sermons are posted on the church’s website!
Follow HLC on Facebook! Go to: Hope Lutheran Church LCMS
Friday, July 10, 2015
There will be a light, simple meal at 6:00 pm Followed by two movies at 6:30 pm
There will be a drawing for a gift basket!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days
OR
Maleficent
Meal: Hot Dogs, Chips, Watermelon, Pickles, Cupcakes
Please call ahead to allow for meal count.
August—Backpack full of School Supplies
Please bring any school supplies,
backpack, or a monetary donation, and
leave them by the Info desk. If you would
like to help with this project or would like more
information, please contact Eunice Mathews (call
or 758-4863 or email: [email protected]).
Needs for Movie Night: Food preparation and
serving Host/Hostess Making Popcorn Showing the Movie This is a great way to reach out to our community. Come serve and get to know some new folks!
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Sunday Sermon Themes for July Since Easter, our sermon themes have been focusing on the life of the
apostles and disciples of Jesus as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles
chapters 1 through 10. In July and part of August, our sermon themes will
be focusing on the footsteps of Paul as he carries on
the ministry God called him to do by taking the
message of God’s love and salvation in Asia Minor,
Greece and even to Rome itself.
July 5 Footsteps of Paul: That’s Just Who God Is
July 12 To Be Announced
July 19 Footsteps of Paul: Rome—The Gospel
Comes to Law and Order People
July 26 Footsteps of Paul: Athens—The Gospel
Comes to the Center of Learning
Community School Supplies
We would like to help the children in our community
with school supplies to get them started for the new
school year. Please bring your donation of school
supplies to the bin located by the Information Center.
If you would prefer, you may give a donation and
we’ll shop for you! These items will be distributed to
the local schools. Suggested items: Crayons, Kid Scissors, Glue sticks and bot-
tles, #2 sharpened pencils, washable markers, reams of white copy paper, pri-
mary writing pater, loose leaf notebook paper, Kleenex tissues, zip lock bags
(gallon and sandwich size), clear scotch tape, sticky notes.
Paul’s
Foot Steps
9:00 am Bible Study
10:00 am Fellowship
10:30 am Worship
No Saturday service during the summer.
Will resume Sept. 12.
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The Leadership Team for 24toDouble (Hope-
FULL Future) continues its work on laying the
foundation for a vibrant, exciting and
growing future for Hope Lutheran Church.
The team is beginning this process by zeroing
in on those principles we consider valuable
that will serve as the foundation for a ministry
that will challenge us to grow and strengthen
our faith as disciples and at the same time
challenge us to use our strengthened spiritual
bodies (faith) to actively find ways to share
God’s love in order to grow His Kingdom.
As the team continues to gather information,
study, evaluate and discuss what our values
are to serve as the foundation of our ministry,
the team will also begin working on other
aspects including:
1. Determining it’s gift mix,
2. Implementation of a guest follow-up
ministry called The Pastor’s Meal, as well
as what we can do as a congregation in
order to
3. Make good first impressions.
As the Leadership Team begins and
continues with this task, other resources will
be used to support and give
encouragement for the process that we
have selected to implement. One resource
is called Simple Church by Thom Rainer.
Another resource is called: Why Nobody
Wants to Go to Church Anymore
By: Thom and Joani Schultz.
For this article, I want to focus on some
aspects and learnings from the book by
Thom and Joani Schultz.
When one begins to read this book about
the statistics being reported by churches of
all denominations across America, one
realizes that what we are experiencing here
at Hope Lutheran is consistent with the
majority of churches across America. We are
not alone:
1. The percentage of congregations
characterized by “high spiritual vitality”
dropped from 43% in 2005 to 28% in 2010.
2. In 2001, 31% of congregations exhibited
“excellent” financial health. By 2010 that
number plummeted to 14%
3. Half of all churches in the US did not add
any new members in 2010 and 2012.
4. Every year, more than 4,000 churches
close their doors compared to only 1,000
new churches that start.
5. The Methodist Church only two blocks
south of us, closed its doors last year only
now to be a satellite of Harvest Methodist
Church of Lakewood Ranch.
How can this be when the following is
reported?
1. 90% of Americans say they believe in
God, yet most avoid church.
2. 88% of adults say their faith is important to
them, yet the majority of them choose
not to grow their faith in church.
3. 65% are open to pursuing their faith in an
environment that is different from a
typical church.
Below is a chart of what most non-church
attenders are saying about the 21st Century
Church. Next to that is what Jesus would
say and/or do and finally the last column is
what the Church should be practicing if it is
indeed made up of disciples of Jesus.
Hope-FULL Future
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When they say Imagine Jesus saying The Church practices
I feel judged You are welcome just as Radical Hospitality
you are.
I don’t want to be lectured. Your thoughts are welcome Fearless Conversation
You don’t care what I think Your doubts are welcome
Church people are a bunch We are all in this together Genuine Humility
of hypocrites
Your God is irrelevant to God is here, ready to Divine Anticipation
my life. connect with you in a
fresh way.
For the rest of this piece, I want to reflect on
this aspect of feeling judged. Did Jesus
judge or did He welcome people? The
answer is obvious. He showed radical
hospitality. As humans, we would prefer
people would clean up their acts before we
connect with them. Thankfully, God doesn’t
think like that.
So how do we recognize radical hospitality? Radical Hospitality is . . .
1. Authentically welcoming others and
being glad to be with them.
2. It is not being repulsed by someone with
a different point of view, but relishing
spending time with them so they can see
Christians in a loving, non-judgmental
way.
3. Caring curiosity.
4. To show this aspect, make sure the
conversation revolves around them and
not you.
5. Being a friend, even though it’s not your
“job”
6. It is not just the job of the greeters or
ushers to be friendly or engaging others.
It’s everyone’s job.
7. Accepting, no matter what
8. This is hard to do and even scary when
someone looks odd, smells funny or is
angry or disagreeable. But instead of
moving away, radical love says we move
toward them.
9. Profoundly relational
10. Remember, people begin to know what
the love of God is truly about through us.
It doesn’t come from the reading of the
Bible. It starts there, but to truly feel
God’s love, one needs to be hugged, to
be comforted, to experience the slap on
the back.
11. Something that takes time.
12. It is not just being friendly. It is getting to
know them and to do that takes time.
13. Unnerving, surprising and messy
14. There will be ups and downs; highs and
lows, but we need to be consistently
there through it all.
Finally to practice Radical Hospitality, we
need 1. to invite friends, 2. be prepared to
tell your story and 3. eat together. This last
point will be further developed as we put
together the Pastor’s Meal.
God is challenging Hope Lutheran to rethink
how church is being done as well as
challenging us to think about for whom the
church exists. Is it for us so we can be
comfortable and cozy; to feel safe and
secure? Or is it a place where we gather to
praise God and strengthen our faith so we
can go out to bring others in so that they too
can experience God’s love, grow in
relationship with Him and join us on our
mission of outreach?
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If we’ve missed your birthday or anniversary, it’s only because we DON’T have that
information in our data base, please call the office @941-755-3256 and let us know. We
want to be sure and include your special day!
Don & Ardene Bowron July 6
Frank & Margaret Prah July 20
Pastor Craig & Eunice Mathews July 22
Sunday 9:00 am Christian Ed 10:00 am Fellowship Time 10:30 am Worship Monday 9:30 am Bible Study Tuesday 7:00 pm Bible Study Wednesday 2:00 pm Bible Study
July 6 Church Office Closed July 8 10:30 am Angels of Hope July 8 7:00 pm Church Council July 9 5:00 pm Feed the Firemen July 10 7:00 pm Movie Night July 11 9:30 am Our Daily Bread July 15 6:00 pm Elders Meeting July 17 6:00 pm Blind Ministry
7/1 John Johnson
7/2 Ruth Rettke
7/3 Ed Reinke
7/3 Lily McLauchlin
7/7 Charles Snyder
7/7 Grace Fox
7/9 Jim Carnahan
7/9 Kayla Kerns
7/11 Deanna Marner
7/15 Ken Crayton
7/15 Ken Phelps
7/15 Jozelin English
7/17 Jim Stokes
7/17 Richard Staab
7/19 Linda Anderson
7/19 Debbie Wagener
7/20 Dan Wagener
7/21 Arlene Bishop
7/22 Joanne Bischoff
7/23 Austin Childers
7/25 Chuck Anderson
7/27 Paula Jefferson
7/29 T. Fisher
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Weekly Bible Study Opportunities at Hope
Sunday 9:00 am – Fellowship Hall July 5 Lutheran Hour Ministries: State of the Church July 12 The Journey: Buried with Buddha July 19 The Journey: Xbox Atheist July 26 Lutheran Hour Ministries: State of the Church Connection, Culture, Community Women of Wisdom: Sweeter Than Chocolate Monday 9:30 am – Fellowship Hall A study of the weekly Bible readings Tuesday 7:00 pm – Fellowship Hall July 7 No Bible study July 14 Footsteps of Paul: That’s Just Who God Is July 21 Footsteps of Paul: Rome July 28 Footsteps of Paul: Athens
We continue to collect aluminum can pop tops. We are using the money collected to purchase a DVR for Movie Night! Please bring them to the Narthex! We appreciate your help with this project! It’s amazing what a difference a bag of pop tops can make.
Birth to age 3
Sunday’s 10:00-11:45 am
SPECIAL PROJECTS
FUND
Thank you for all those that
contributed to the special
projects fund. Your generosity
in replenishing this raised
$6,273.00.
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HOPE Lutheran Church
4635 26th Street West Bradenton FL 34207
(941) 755-3256
[email protected] www.hopelutheranfl.org
Worship:
Sunday 10:30 am
Christian Ed:
Sunday 9:00 am
Bible Study:
Monday 9:30 am Tuesday 7:00 pm Wednesday 2:00 pm
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 – 4:00 pm
Our Staff: Craig Mathews, Senior Pastor Rob Hinz, Visitation Pastor Charlie Harnish, Music Director Jon Oosterling, Music Director Cindy Stewart, Office Manager Sebrina Allison, Office Assistant Don Kiner, Maintenance
T ITHES & OFFERINGS Go to: www.hopelutheranfl.org
Byron Bartlett Barbara Bassett Larry & Karen Bowman Roxanne Butler Mary Carson George Clark Michael Cervenak Robert Crider
Tom Crouthamel Audrey Delieul Katherine Eubanks Mary Flagg Susan Freedman Katherine Harter Gia Haldiman Donval Hornburg Roger Johnson Miriam Kessler
Tamara Labuda Tim Lewis Bob & Lily Oliver Terry Murphy Jan Myers Mike Obois Sue Schwier Barbara Snow Neil Senechal Judith Spates
Joey Walden Dawn Welch Shannon West Karon White Linda Vitens
Matthew J. Green Nathan J. Green
Amanda Henkel Rusty Howe
Ryan Ludwig Ryan Schifflet
Margery Abraham
Gerri Brode
Loretta Chacey
Janet Czerwinski
Nancy Crayton
Ida Davis
Frank Delong
Carolyn Grunewald
Marg Hinz
Dorothy Hoekwater
Stan Kuhl
Marcella Lemler
Elaine Mischler
John Morrison
Charlotte Morrison
Shirley Petzold
Mavis Ponto
Shirley Sallee
Jim & Marge Stokes
Blanche Weixelbaum
Grace Wildermuth
Lillian Chadwick
General
Living Abroad / Missionaries / Military
Homebound Members
For the Homeless Those living in Group Homes People participating in 12 Step Programs
If you are hospitalized and wish to receive a visit by our Pastoral Care Team, please call the church office. Because of changes in health care laws, hospitals no longer notify us when you are
admitted. Also, if you would like to be listed for prayer support call the office at 755-3256 or email [email protected]. Thank You!