Spirit of Hope. Pastor s Notes. July Newsletter of Mount Hope Lutheran Church Preschool and Childcare

Transcription

1 July 2017 Spirit of Hope Newsletter of Mount Hope Lutheran Church Preschool and Childcare Pastor s Notes It is for freedom that you have been set free. Galatians 5:1 Dear friends and members of Mount Hope, On Sunday, July 2, as part of the 4 th of July weekend, our 9:30 worship that day will be a very patriotic service to celebrate and thank God for the many freedoms we enjoy as Americans. The freedoms we have as citizens of this country are truly a wonderful gift. We are free to vote, free to speak, free to worship, free to do and experience things that people in other countries can only dream about. The many men and women in our Armed Forces continue to pay for and protect those freedoms with their lives. However the freedom we experience as citizens of the Kingdom of God is even more remarkable. We are free to be the people of God. We are free to cast all worries and anxieties upon our heavenly Father who loves and cares for all of us. We are free to call upon Him in times of trouble and in times of joy. We are free to experience His powerful Spirit at work in and through our lives. We are free to enter into everlasting life through faith in all His goodness and grace to us in Jesus. When Christ suffered, died and rose again, He did so to free us from sin, from worry, from death and from the power of the devil. We need to let freedom ring by living lives of gratitude and praise to Him Who loves us and gave Himself for us that we might be free, and in Him we are free indeed. We encourage you to invite family and friends to our special July 2 patriotic worship service at 9:30 to celebrate all our freedoms. God love you, Pastor Dan

2 Children s Ministry Jesus All Stars Sunday School God and Holy Spirit: Children s Questions Fran Wallin Children sometimes ask, What is God really like? The world around them school friends, television, and many other sources will present a wide variety of ideas. Unfortunately, much of what they hear or see about god does not correspond or resemble the God revealed in the Bible. At other times, children wonder, Why do I sometimes do what is wrong even when I don t want to? Here there is a tug of war going on. Evil pulls on one side and good tugs on the other. Yes, flesh against Spirit. So, what are we to do? Regarding the first, we recognize that God delights to reveal himself. And we do that through our Sunday school lessons, reading the Bible, and family time with Him. Interestingly, the need for the Holy Spirit is sometimes not as emphasized. And yet, it is the Spirit of life that sets us free beginning at Baptism. During the last few weeks in our Sunday school classes we have been working to answer some of these very questions. Beginning with Pentecost, the birthday of the church, the children learned about the Holy Spirit given to them as a Helper, Teacher, Friend, and Comforter as Jesus promised. On Trinity Sunday, we discussed at length who God is, His attributes, and His character. Using different parts of an apple, a shamrock, or making play dough, the Sunday school children were able to visually see the three-in-one concept. And, on Mothers Day and Fathers Day, they learned that God gave their parents the very important and special job of teaching them, caring for them, and loving them, just as He teaches, cares and loves us. Sunday School will take place throughout the summer months. We will complete the Believe series on July 16 th, after which we will begin a short study of some of the Miracles of Jesus. As a reminder, there will be no Sunday School classes on July 2 nd which is Independence Day Weekend. Sunday School Celebrates Fathers 2 Vacation Bible School Mount Hope Vacation Bible School (VBS) is July 31 st - August 3 rd! We will be serving a Free Family Dinner starting at 5:30pm. VBS will be from 6:00-8:00pm. This event is open to children 3 years old-5 th grade. To register, please visit our website or talk to Melanie. A Registration Form is located in this newsletter as well. This event is FREE for everyone!

3 Youth Ministry News. July 2 nd No SWAG 9 th Confirmation CampDeadline 16 th SWAG 4-6:00 p.m. 21 st Glow Zone JAM (Jesus and Me) JAM will be held on July 16 th from noon-3:00pm. We will be having Messy Day. Wear clothes that you can get very messy! Please sign up if you would like to attend. Mission Statement of One Way- We exist to bring youth into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, while encouraging them to share with one another, explore their ministry gifts, and praise God with their lives. Glow Zone will be on July 21 st 6:00-10:45 p.m. We will be going to Sky Zone in Plymouth. The cost is $22. You must be signed up by July 16 th. I will be buying tickets ahead of time. Everyone attending must also have a parent go online and sign a waiver form. SWAG (Saved With Amazing Grace) will be on the 1 st Sunday of the month from Noon-2:00pm and the 3 rd Sunday of the month from 4:00-6:00pm. SWAG is a time of fun, food, and fellowship. It is open to 6 th -12 th grade students and their friends. If you are interested in donating a lunch or dinner for an event, please sign up in the youth room. Youth Bible Class is held Sunday mornings (expect holiday weekends) starting at 9:30am. Melanie Appelquist teaches the 6 th -12 th grade in the youth room. Bible and Brew is held Wednesdays from 4:15-4:45 pm at the Caribou on France and Old Shakopee Road. Come enjoy some FREE yummy coffee drinks and Bible Study. 3

4 S TCN Survey Our church is participating in an important study. We want to learn more about the strengths of our church and how we are fulfilling our mission and ministry. Your insights are crucial to this effort. We are asking all adults in our congregation to take minutes to answer a set of questions about our church. You can do this by taking a special online survey at the following address: The survey will be open until July 23, If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know. Pastor Dan Ritter Preschool and Childcare Women of Hope We are on our summer break from our regular Women of Hope meetings. Our first meeting in September will be on Thursday, September 14. Remember to keep saving your spare change for the MITE offering. The Harvest Bazaar Committee Planning and Potluck meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 26 at noon at church. If you would like to be involved with the planning of the Harvest Bazaar, please plan to be there. The Harvest Bazaar is scheduled on Saturday, October 14th. Plans are under way for the school year. Forty Preschoolers are enrolled thus far along with ten school age children, some of whom will attend daily to catch the bus and others that will be with us when they have release days from elementary school. The hope is to add another ten preschoolers before the start of the year. This summer the children are enjoying time spent outside. We also have three different presenters coming in to lead assemblies. In June, Tori from Tori s Precious Pets led an hour long presentation. She brought with a chinchilla, hedgehog, lizard and even a pig named Wilbur. The children thoroughly enjoyed the event. During July we will say good-bye to Charlotte Penn who has accepted a position at Redeemer Christian Academy in Wayzata. We appreciate the two years she was with us and wish blessings on her new endeavor at Redeemer.

5 Congratulations to our High School Graduates! Sabrina Ford My plans for my future lean mostly towards science and agriculture. I am enrolled in the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Science at the University of Minnesota with a major in horticulture. After college, I hope to find a career as a plant and soil scientist. Sam Killam Members of Mt. Hope, My name is Samuel Nguyen Killam. This year was the final chapter of my high school career. I had gone to Jefferson High school for four years and graduated with my class of It has been a big part of my life and it's going to be a struggle realizing that I have to face the real world and live the life of an adult, but I will adapt to it and remember that God will be with me and that my family will be at my side supporting me a hundred percent of the way. I am going to continue my learning career as I attend Normandale community college next year. I am planning to go for one to two years then transfer to a university for my last two years. I chose this plan to save money and to not feel too home sick. I am planning to major in the engineering field. I want to become a petroleum engineer or an environmental engineer. It's a start and my school path could change, but that's the world we live in where we take different choices everyday. I am thankful to have you guys to support me since I was a little kid at Mt. Hope sitting in Sunday school and I would like to thank Kathy Sunseth for being there as my boss and as my Sunday school teacher. Thank you very much. Jack Melbostad YAMS (Young Adults Single & Married) met on Sunday, June 7 at the Our family joined Mt. Hope when Jack was a new baby in fall of 1998! He enjoyed friends he made, going to camp and helping out with VBS several years. Prior to high school he played football, basketball and track. He was a great runner! Jack will graduate with a diploma from Jefferson High school. home During of his Scott high school & Janelle years Hampton. he not only We attended Jefferson but was a full time online student at Blue Sky for 1-1/2 yrs and finished his classes at Choice Alternative, Bloomington this past year. He continues to work overnights for Lunds & Byerly's, where he's been employed over 3 years. Currently Jack loves good food,fitness and time had in the fun gym! playing He also in took the courses yard before to a it personal trainer and had a client base started last year. In August he will take his personal trainer certification! He is also interested in studying psychology, real estate, finance and investments. down poured. When he Watch has free the time bulletin he is off for with his friends! Thanks everyone for your years of support at Mt.Hope! Emily Woodhall enjoyed an outdoor BBQ, & the children information on our next event. I am attending Concordia University in Saint Paul in the fall of I love the small school and all of the opportunities that come with it. I am planning on majoring in either music education or elementary education with a minor in mathematics. Concordia allows me to continue my love for music no matter what career I decide to pursue. I will be participating in the travel choir on campus and performing across the country. I am excited to start this new chapter of my life and to see where I will be in four years. 5

6 daily devotional 1 July Josh 6:6 27 Acts 10: July Josh 7:1 26 Acts 10: July Josh 8:1 28 Acts 11: July Josh 10:1 25 Acts 11:19 30 Josh 10:28 22:34 5 July Josh 23:1 16 Acts 12: July Josh 24:1 31 Acts 13:1 12 Judge 1: July Judg 2:6 23 Acts 13: July Judg 3:7 31 Acts 13: July Judg 4:1 24 Acts 14:1 18 Judge 5: July Judg 6:1 24 Acts 14:19 15:5 11 July Judg 6:25 40 Acts 15: July Judg 7:1 23 Gal 1:1 24 Judge 7:24 12:15 13 July Judg 13:1 25 Gal 2:1 21 Ruth 1:1 4:22 14 July Judg 14:1 20 Gal 3: July Judg 15:1 16:3 Gal 3:23 4:11 16 July Judg 16:4 30 Gal 4:12 31 Judge 17:1 21:25 17 July 1 Sam 1:1 20 Gal 5: July 1 Sam 1:21 2:17 Gal 6: July 1 Sam 2:18 36 Acts 15: July 1 Sam 3:1 21 Acts 16: July 1 Sam 4:1 22 Acts 16:23 40 Acts 17: July 1 Sam 5:1 6:3, Acts 18:1 11, July 1 Sam 6:19 7:17 Acts 19:1 22 Acts 19:23 21:14 24 July 1 Sam 8:1 22 Acts 21: July 1 Sam 9:1 27 Acts 21:37 22:16 26 July 1 Sam 10:1 27 Acts 22: July 1 Sam 12:1 25 Acts 22:30 23:11 28 July 1 Sam 13:1 18 Acts 23: July 1 Sam 14:47 15:9 Acts 24: July 1 Sam 15:10 35 Acts 24:24 25:12 31 July 1 Sam 16:1 23 Acts 25:13 27 Book Club 1st Friday Book Club will meet on Friday, July 7 at 1:30 in Renata Melby s screen porch. We will enjoy root beer floats and discuss the popular Swedish book A Man Called Ove. It is about an old widowed curmudgeon who losses the will to live and then regains it. 6

7 Worship Attendance May 28 9:30 = 105 June 4 8:15 = 63 10:45 = 68 June 11 8:15 = 57 10:45 = 45 June 18 8:15 = 56 10:45 = 76 June 25 8:15 = 73 10:45 = 54 New Members Dorothy Nygren Emily Vogland through Baptism Stewardship Corner Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Jesus eats with sinners not so that they will remain stuck in their sins, but so that they will come to know His love and repent. To repent means to turn, that is, to turn away from sin and toward Jesus in faith. Whether the sin we struggle with is pride, greed, doubt, etc., the Lord calls us to turn to Him again in faith and away from our sin. July Celebration Days Happy Birthday 4 Jessica Packard 8 Cory Brantner 9 Sheila Carlson 9 Courtney Olson 10 Lorraine Blaisdell 11 Jonathan Moss 12 Cole Hartfield 13 Victoria Frein 14 Connie Fitzgerald 15 Elaine Mansk 16 Jerry Buelow 16 Carl Fox 16 Philip Hinz 17 Anna McGraw Baptismal Anniversary 1 Marcy Caspersen 2 Tricia Mack 11 Bob Tolzin 14 Kristen Melbostad 15 Heather Bielec 15 Madyson Ford 15 Samarah Ford 15 Sabrina Ford 15 Jessica Packard 17 Pastor Dan Ritter 21 Claire Woebke 28 Jerry Buelow 30 Mary Narr Address Changes for your Mount Hope Directory Eunice Marose 1301 E 100th St Apt 335, Bloomington, MN Maria Molden 108 3rd St N, Hankensack, MN Carolyn Langer 1245 Balsam Ave, Tomah, WI Evelyn Winkleman Beard Ave S Apt 106, Bloomington, MN Wedding Anniversary 5 Glenn & Dee Theil 6 John & Karen Mack 10 Jerry & Kayla Kuhlman 11 Rev. John & Sue Stern 14 David & Jenn Schleifer 7

8 Vacation Bible School - Help Needed A VBS Decorating Party will be held July 29th from 10:00am.-2:00pm. Everyone is invited to come and help decorate for VBS. If you are interested in helping with this year s VBS program, please contact Melanie Appelquist at youth@mt-hope.org. Our biggest need is for Crew Leaders. Parade Help Needed-July 4 th Mount Hope will be walking in Richfield s 4 th of July Parade. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Melanie Appelquist. This is an amazing outreach event and fun for the whole family! Pastoral Transition Committee Update The Pastoral Transition Committee is composed of the following members: Drew Adamek, Mark Applequist, Christina Brantner, John Mack, Bill Reichert, Bob Tolzin, Kim Woebke, Orlan Narr, Paul Hinz. First and foremost, the Committee deeply appreciates your prayerful support. We all understand the responsibility on our shoulders, and without your support, and God s strength, we would struggle under the weight of this responsibility. We continue to be grateful for your support. The Committee has set in place a pair of longer term activities: Special Service on June 10, 2018, and Special Reception/Event for that Sunday, recognizing and commemorating Pastor Dan s last Sunday as our Pastor. The service and the reception are both in the planning stage now. You will hear more about this as we get closer to the date, and don t be surprised if you are asked to play a role in one or both of these events. The Committee is also in the process of initiating two shorter term efforts: Neighborhood Canvassing and Congregational Assessment. All these efforts provide the opportunity for everyone to be involved. Mark Applequist is leading an effort to canvas our neighborhood with the goal of touching at least 200 homes. The date set is the afternoon of July 16. This is a place where the entire congregation can be involved and in order to touch that many homes, the more families we get involved, the better this will be. The goal of this event is not to make new members, but to introduce ourselves and ask if we can pray for them and what specifically we can pray for. We will most likely go out in pairs or family units, so if the weather is nice, it will be a good afternoon to be outside. Please mark your calendars, we need everyone to participate to stay on schedule. John Mack is leading an effort to complete the Congregational Assessment. To do this, we will be initiating two surveys, one through the Transforming Churches Network which will be online, and one through the Pastoral Transition Committee, which will most likely be on paper. They are not the same survey. They ask different questions and are aimed at providing different results and insights. Again, it is critical to have everyone participate. Both surveys will provide us critical information on who we really are, and both will play key factors in the candidate selection by the District Office. The electronic survey is open now and you should feel free to take this survey as soon as possible. This survey closes on July 23. The paper survey will come to the congregation later in July and be wrapped up toward the end of August. We will be adding some of these events to the Church calendar and talking more about these events as the planning finalizes. If you have any questions, don t hesitate to seek out any of the committee members. Our goal is to keep you informed as plans firm and goals are established. Thanks Paul Hinz 9 8

9 Those Who Serve in July Sunday Morning Coffee Kitchen / Reception Committee Altar Guild Karen Mack Karen Mack & Fran W Melanie A July 2 Elder Reader Greeters Ushers Counters Matt F 9:30 Scott H Rose K, Linda C and Jennifer A Joel S, Dave S, Ron F, Armand B Jenny & Cody R July 9 Elder Al J 8:15 10:45 Reader Paul H Karen Mueller Greeters Bergs Shirley F & Eileen D Ushers Alts, Al B Lloyd Q, Scott H, Steve Sundseth Counters Schleifers & K Buelow July 16 Elder John M 8:15 10:45 Reader Faith A Greeters Pat & Gene R Karen Mueller & Betty S Ushers Jerry B, Bob T, Orlan N, Glenn T Kirsten B, Steve Schmidt, Brent B, Betty S Counters Jerry B & Ron F July 23 Elder Lloyd Q 8:15 10:45 Reader Conrad N Greeters Nelsons Jennifer A Ushers Arnie B, Gene R, Mike R, Butch C John M, Bob T, Bill R, Kirk V Counters Kirk V & Kim W July 30 Elder Dave S 8:15 10:45 Reader Orlan N Greeters Jerry & Harriet B Harriet B & Betty W Ushers Macks, Nelsons Lloyd Q, Bill R, Eileen D, Kirsten B Counters Jenny & Cody R

10 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL JULY 31-AUGUST 3 Mount Hope Lutheran Church 3601 W Old Shakopee Rd Bloomington Child s Name: Child s Gender: Child s Age: Date of Birth: Last School Grade Completed: Name of Parent(s): Street Address: City: State: Zip: Home Telephone ( ) Parent/Caregiver s Cell Phone ( ) Home Address: Home Church: Crew Number or Name (for Church Use Only): We grant Mount Hope Lutheran permission for a photo/image of your child without any personal identifiers to be published on the church s website. Allergies or Other Medical Conditions: In Case of Emergency, Contact: Phone: Relationship to Child:

11 July 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Noisy Offering :30 Worship 5:00pm POBLO Office/Center Closed Parade in Richfield 9:00 Prayer Group 4:15pm Bible & Brew 6:30pm Ministry Staff 7:30pm Praise Team Rehearsal 1:30pm 1 st Friday Book Club :15 Worship 9:30 Sunday School & Youth Bible Study 9:35 Adult Bible Study 10:45 Worship 5:00pm POBLO 8:00pm AA Meets 9:00 Prayer Group 10:00 Bible Applewood 4:15pm Bible & Brew 6:30pm Praise Team Rehearsal 2:00 Ministry Staff meeting :15 Worship 9:30 Reception for Charlotte Penn Sunday School & Youth Bible Study 9:35 Adult Bible St 10:45 Worship 12:00 JAM 4:00 SWAG Neighborhood Canvasing Event - TimeTBD 5:00pm POBLO 8:00pm AA Meets 9:00 Prayer Group 4:15pm Bible & Brew 6:30pm Praise Team Rehearsal 6:30 Governing Board meeting 10-4 Bethesda Thrift Shop Work Day :15 Worship 9:30 Sunday School & Youth Bible Study 9:35 Adult Bible Study 10:45 Worship 5:00pm POBLO 8:00pm AA Meets 9:00 Prayer Group 10:00 Bible Applewood 4:15pm Bible & Brew 6:30pm Praise Team Rehearsal 10:00-2:00 VBS Decorating Party :15 Worship 9:30 Sunday School & 5:00pm POBLO Youth Bible Study 5:30pm Dinner 9:35 Adult Bible 6:00pm VBS 10:45 Worship Mount Hope Lutheran Church

12 Sunday Worship Schedule 8:15 am Traditional Worship Service 9:30 am Bible Study and Sunday School 10:45 am Praise Worship Service Phone: Website: Staff at Mount Hope Lutheran Dan Ritter Pastor Melanie Appelquist Director of Youth & Children s Ministry Kim Woebke Preschool / Childcare Director Administrative Assistant Heather Bielec Preschool / Childcare Lead Teacher Charlotte Penn Preschool / Childcare Lead Teacher Christina Brantner Music Director Candy Frein Administrative Assistant Steve Sundseth Custodian Sam Killam Part-time Custodian Mount Hope Lutheran Church 3601 W Old Shakopee Rd Bloomington, MN Address Service Requested