Our Wednesday Lenten Journey to Easter

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1 A Ray of Hope A Ray of Hope September February Volume 88 Number 2 Monthly Newsletter of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church 5728 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55417, Ministers of the Gospel: The Baptized 90 years in ministry Making Christ Known through the Spirit of Hope February 2018 Our Wednesday Lenten Journey to Easter Hope s Library Jan Nunn, Librarian CALL COMMITTEE UPDATE All four candidates were interviewed during the last two weeks of January. They will return for second interviews and we will also listen to them preach. If there is a suitable candidate, a recommendation will go to the Council. The Council will then schedule a special meeting of the congregation, and we will vote whether or not to approve the offer of a call. Stay tuned for future updates. Join us for a soup supper and worship during this Lenten Season Ash Wednesday February 14 Worship at 7:00 pm Wednesdays February 21 March 21 Meal in Fellowship Hall at 5:30 pm Worship at 6:30 pm in Sanctuary February 21: Creation February 28: Flood March 7: Deliverance to the Red Sea March 14: Salvation Feely Offered to All March 21: Deliverance from the Fiery Furnace Call Committee: Bunny Anderson, Rich Donnelly, Carol Farnham, Pat Killian, Angela Kjer-Lackey, Eric Kjer-Lackey, Charlie Olson, Dorian Thompson Editor s note: More information on the Call Process in the Annual Meeting Mini-Minutes on page 3 of this Ray of Hope. Ten years ago a man named John Boyne wrote a book called 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The boy "Bruno" has been moved with his family from Berlin to a place called Out-With. It is a desolate place where there are a lot of soldiers, which of course the nine year old doesn't understand. As time goes on he meets a friend, the boy in the striped pajamas. We have many books in the library about World War II. We have novels and true stories about people who survived. During this difficult time, our prayers are with Bob and Becky McDaniel. Bob s father, Ray McDaniel, died January 13, Mass of Christian Burial was held January 19 at Church of St. Joseph in Rosemount. and with Aaron, Krista and Elsa Johnson. Aaron mother, Annetta Johnson died January 21, Her funeral was held January 25 in Adel, Iowa. May God grant Ray and Annetta eternal rest and give comfort to their families at this time of loss. Amen I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up. Isaiah 41:10 EDUCATION Forum: 9:00am Everyone, 5th grade thru adult, are invited to join us Sunday in the fellowship hall. We always have coffee and week-old fried donuts!! Sunday School: 11:30 to 12:30 in the Sunday School room in the Fellowship Hall.

2 2 September February A Ray of Hope From the Desk of Interim Pastor The Rev. Dr. Hollie Holt-Woehl Dear Friends, Even though we are in the midst of the winter doldrums, time keeps marching forward. Suddenly February is upon us, Super Bowl LII, Valentine s Day, and the beginning of Lent. Oddly enough Valentine s Day and Ash Wednesday (the beginning The Rev. Dr. Holli Holt-Woehl of Lent) are on the same day this year. At first glance it seems like they would not go together well love and hearts versus ashes and crosses, hearing I love you versus hearing remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. The first is easier and more profitable to market than the second. However, the central theme of Lent is really God s love for us, despite how unworthy we are. God shows love in Jesus suffering and death. It is another odd thing, but a love that goes to death and through death is a powerful, transformative love. Lent is a season of reflection on God s love and our inability to deserve that love. It is a time to pray and invite God s love to work in your life. It is a time of focusing on others instead of self. It is a time of listening to God s word and reflecting deeply on it. For the Wednesdays in Lent we will gather for food and worship. Soup will be served at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will gather for worship at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary to sing Holden Evening Prayer and hear scripture. Our Lenten journey to Easter will feature scripture readings that offer a description of God, a metaphor of the resurrection, and a reference to baptism. May we continue to grow in service and love in this season of Lent and always. In Christ, Pastor Hollie Stewardship Our role as God s stewards is one of many dimensions grateful, responsible, self-sacrificing, willing, sharing, proportionate, committed, regular, genuine, and challenged. By generously giving of ourselves, we discover joy in Christ. you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS 4 Jim Nunn 16 Floyd Gieseke 23 Charlie Olson 25 Gloria Karbo Treasurer s Report December 2017 Activity Summary Beginning Transfers or Ending Account Balance Receipts Expenses int/gain/loss Balance Operating Account 12, , , , Flow Thru 3, , , , Preschool/Day Care 9, , , , Special Funds 43, , Endowment Fund 114, , Preschool Deficit FY 2017 (14,895.94) (14,895.94) Total Funds 168, , , , Mortgage Liability 40, , Figures from the December 2017 Treasurer s Report

3 A Ray of Hope September February January 11, 2017 Council Meeting Mini-Minutes The Education Building has been appraised at $600,000. We also received a formal offer from Christian Blanck, brother of Preschool Director Erin Blanck, for purchase of the building. While the council did receive the congregation s approval to make the final decision on selling the building, the higher appraisal caused many council members to believe we should go back to the congregation to seek their input. Discussion will be held at Part II of the annual meeting regarding the sale of the building. A vote will be taken at that time to determine how we want to move forward. Sunday School officially started on Sunday, Jan 14. Pat Killian requested we raise the program in our prayers. Next Council Meeting February 8. As with all monthly council meetings, all congregation members are welcome. January 21, 2018 Annual Meeting, Part 2 Mini-Minutes Presentation of 2018 Church Council Officers: President Dorian Thompson, Vice President Deb Christensen, Secretary Barb Nelson, Financial Secretary Dave Fernandez. Clair Brenna presented the Treasurer s Report, pointing out how expenses were approximately $17,600 less than budgeted. Treasurer s Report was approved as presented. Dorian Thompson presented the 2018 Budget and a Stewardship report. The same number of pledges have been received for 2018 as 2017, with an increase in total dollars. The budget was presented with an approximation for total costs for a three-quarter time pastor. Insurance and pension are dependent on the pastor being called so actual costs are still an unknown. The budget was presented with total operating budget of $226,192 and income of $191,857. Using $30,000 from the sale of the Education Building, this leaves a $4,335 deficit, less than 2%. A motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the 2018 budget as proposed. Rick Storlie gave a brief presentation on one of the outreaches benefiting from the Sunday coin collections, Every 3 rd Saturday, an organization that helps homeless, injured, lost in purpose and suicidal veterans. It operates as Rick s Place, honoring a fallen soldier. The organization is run by donations. Visitors are welcome to visit with veterans or to donate their time - preparing or serving food, sorting donations, etc, Rick thanked the quilters for their donation of quilts. Charlie and Ginny Olson were elected to serve as 2018 Synod Assembly Delegates. Nominations from the floor were requested to fill the vacant council positions. Ginny Olson was elected to serve as Stewardship chair. Carol Farnham gave an update on the Call Committee. Four names had been received from the Synod. The Call Committee is in the process of interviewing the four candidates, expecting to have the first interviews completed before the end of January. At that time, if there are candidates they feel would be a good fit for our congregation, second interviews will be scheduled and the committee will listen to them preach. If they do not find anyone they feel is a good fit, they will request more names from the synod. Once a call is recommended, it will take 4 6 weeks on average for the new pastor to be on board. The congregation thanked the Call Committee for all of their time and energies (Carol Farnham, Angela and Eric Kjer-Lackey, Rich Donnelly, Dorian Thompson, Bunny Anderson, Charlie Olson and Pat Killian). Dorian Thompson and Deb Christensen presented an update on the sale of the Education Building and Preschool. A request had been made for Erin Blanck to submit a formal offer by December 1. She and Christian Blanck, her business partner and brother, decided they would not pursue purchasing the building. Based on the discussion during the first part of the annual meeting, it was decided if they did not wish to make an offer, we would have an appraisal done on the building and make a counter offer to Jake Grothe. Over the holidays, Christian Blanck reconsidered and submitted an offer of $350,000. Meanwhile the appraisal came in at $600,000 for the Preschool and Building. Based on the recommendation of the lawyer, a request for best offer was sent out to Christian and Jake. We were unable to reach Jake, but Christian came back with an offer of $430,000. This offer was presented to the congregation. A motion was made, seconded, discussed and approved to accept Christian Blanck s offer as presented. A thank you was made to the Preschool Committee and the Task Force.

4 4 46 A Ray of Hope September February Hope Lutheran Church Contact Persons INTERIM PASTOR Rev. Dr. Hollie Holt-Woehl church (612) ext 13 cell (763) PASTORAL ASSOCIATE Doug Morton (612) DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Mark Hedman church (612) ext 15 cell (952) ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Tina Raasch church (612) ext 10 PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE DIRECTOR Erin Blanck preschool (612) CUSTODIAN Russ Utoft church (612) COUNCIL PRESIDENT Dorian Thompson NEWSLETTER EDITOR Ginny Olson home (612) cgolson@earthlink.net 2018 Church Council President Dorian Thompson Vice President Debbie Christensen Secretary Barb Nelson Treasurer Clair Brenna Financial Secretary Dave Fernandez Business Management open Education Pat Killian Evangelism (Hospitality)Cherie DeJarlais EARLY DAY CARE Finance Dave Fernandez Pastoral/Social Ministry open Property Charlie Olson Recreation/Fellowship Pat Killian Stewardship Ginny Olson Worship/Music Deb Bayer Youth Jacki Just HENRY W. ANDERSON MORTUARY Michaelle Flaten rd Ave S Minneapolis MN ~CLASSIC FUNERALS ~CREMATION ~PRE-PLANNING MINNEAPOLIS APPLE VALLEY Over 32 years experience Michaelle Flaten, member of Hope rd Ave So (612) Garrett Ave (952) FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1931 Church Office Hours Monday Thursday 9:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Hope Preschool & Child Care Center ~ Licensed ~ 33 months to first day kindergarten full and part time positions open 5712 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis (612) preschool@hopempls.org Located between Fat Lorenzo s and the 5.8 Club LITTLE FREE LIBRARY The second Little Free Library for kids was delivered to the education building in December and is currently in use by the preschool children. When the ground thaws in the Spring, it will be installed in front of the church building, near the adult library. It was built and donated by the builders, Dennis and Earl Anderson. Hope has available Equal Exchange Coffee and Tea in the cabinet in the fellowship hall. February Service Opportunities Ushers: Earl Anderson, Wade Gibbons, Barb Nelson, Bob Shoberg, Paul Ward Fellowship & Service Groups: Members are assigned to one of the 4 monthly service groups. If your name appears below, you may be called on to volunteer your time to serve coffee and donuts this month. Thank you!! Caller: Helen Applequist, Ginny Olson Servers: Russ and Michaelle Flaten, Neil and Barb Nelson, Ginny and Charlie Olson, Tom and JoAn Overton, Heike Rucker, Dorian and Terry Thompson. Note to Volunteers: If you signed up on Signup Genius online, you will receive an when you have agreed to take part in the worship service. Contact Tina in the office tina@hopempls.org to get more information re: Signup Genius.

5 A Ray of Hope September February February 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:30a Cmty Yoga a-12p Rehoboth 4 9a Forum 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hour 11:30a Rehoboth Worship 11:30a Sunday School 5 1p Choralaires 4-6p Rehoboth Gathering 6 7a Men s Breakfast, Perkins 84th & Lyndale 2p Preschool Cmte 7p Woodcarvers 7 7p Choir 8 9:30a Cmty Yoga 5:45 Exec Cmte 7p Council a-12p Rehoboth 1p Decorate Sanctuary 11 9a Forum 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hour 11:30a Rehoboth Worship 11:30a Sunday School 12 9:30a Quilters 1p Choralaires 4-6p Rehoboth Gathering 13 7a Men s Breakfast 14 11a Care Cmte Ash Wednesday 7p Worship 7:30p Choir 15 9:30a Cmty Yoga Newsletter Deadline 17 10a-12p Rehoboth 12-5p Private Party 18 Lent 1 9a Forum 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hour 11:30a Rehoboth Worship 11:30a Sunday School 19 1p Choralaires 4-6p Rehoboth Gathering 20 7a Men s Breakfast 21 5:30p Soup Supper 6:30p Worship: Holden Vespers 7:30p Choir 22 9:30a Cmty Yoga a-12p Rehoboth 25 Lent 2 9a Forum 10a Worship 11a Coffee Hour 11:30a Rehoboth Worship 11:30a Sunday School 26 9:30a Quilters 1p Choralaires 4-6p Rehoboth Gathering 27 7a Men s Breakfast 28 5:30p Soup Supper 6:30p Worship: Holden Vespers 7:30p Choir

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