Voice of Hope. Hope Lutheran Church 2882 Arlington Avenue Riverside, CA A Publication of Hope Lutheran Church. December 2014 Volume 16 Issue 11

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1 Voice of Hope A Publication of Hope Lutheran Church December 2014 Volume 16 Issue 11 A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Hope Lutheran Church 2882 Arlington Avenue Riverside, CA Pastor: The Rev. Jacob Burkman Office Manager: Kris Sawyer Office: (951) Fax: (951) Office Hours: Monday Friday 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Web Address: lutheransonline.com/hoperiverside Pastor: hoperscapr@att.net Office: hoperiverside@att.net Worship Schedule: Sunday Morning Service: 9 a.m. Wednesday Evening Service: 7 p.m. Education Schedule: Sunday School: 10:15 a.m. Adult Forum: 10:30 a.m. Education Mission Statement: Schedule: At Sunday Hope School: Lutheran 9:15 Church, a.m. Adult Forum: Riverside, 10:30 a.m. Jesus Christ leads us To welcome and respect all people, To grow in our whole being as gospel ministers, To equip children for life in the Christian heritage, To serve basic human needs in our community, And to worship God in word, in song, and in life. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore (Isaiah 9:6-7). Longing and anticipation: These are what the season of Advent is about. Longing and anticipation: As we await the coming of the babe who would be the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace in Bethlehem; as we await the one who would be king of all for all time. They heighten our anxiety, but they also find themselves wrapped in the swaddling clothes of joy, as the Christ-child would be wrapped in clothes in the manger. I love the season of Advent; I love the preparation and the anticipation; I love Advent hymns. If I m asked which season of the church year is my favorite, I invariably say that it is Advent. Part of this may be that the weather starts to become a little cooler (and, now that I m living in the south, I can start to feel at least a little bit like it s fall) and I can turn on the radio while I m driving and listen to old Christmas tunes but this, at least the latter, can cause me to be disappointed, for we are not letting Advent be Advent. And, yes, I find myself disappointed at how commercial it has become and that there are earlier and earlier challenges to which store can have Christmas sales start earliest, for these miss what Advent is. The season of Advent ultimately has but one purpose: to point to the one who is to come, the Christ-child, and his coming not just as a baby, but as king and God among us, Emmanuel. There is such longing and expectation for this coming one, but it is longing and expectation bound up in tension. It is a longing and expectation that even far precedes the incarnation of the earthly Christ. The first part of the book of the (Continued on next page)

2 (continued from front page) prophet Isaiah, which I quoted above, comes from somewhere in the latter part of the 8 th century BCE (Isaiah s ministry ran from BCE) at a time after the Northern Kingdom (Israel) had been destroyed and as the Southern Kingdom (Judah) was facing destruction. There is this everpresent pall, even in the earlier parts of Isaiah (chapters come from almost two centuries later though the longing and expectation haven t gone away), for restoration of the (unified) kingdom of Israel: this longing for an heir to the throne of David, who would not only be an heir, but a David-like king. We see this movement continuing centuries later into the time of Jesus (albeit at that point in time, it tended to be more militant). So, it is no wonder that when looking at Jesus, many looked back to the words of Isaiah, for in Jesus there is fulfillment of Isaiah s centuries old promises for which the people had long sought. So long they sought, and while many seemed (and some self-proclaimed) as Messiahs, that tension, anxiety and longing continued. Tension, anxiety and longing are not easy places to be, and they are especially not easy places to long remain maybe that s why Advent is only four weeks long. But, as we move into this Advent season, I invite you into a time of tension, anxiety and longing not for the purpose of creating fear nor distrust (these would be misuses of them); but, rather, so that we can truly relish the moment when we celebrate the LORD coming to us as babe in the manger in Bethlehem. Yes, we may have moments of tension with such events as the Annual Meeting, or perhaps the introduction of a new worship liturgy. (By the way, setting 10, which we will begin in Advent, is a very fitting Advent liturgy I love it, but like Advent, it really is not a liturgy that one can sit in for long you ll hopefully see as we get into it what I mean by this.) But we ultimately do these for the same reason as the existence of the season of Advent in anticipation and longing of the Incarnation of Emmanuel, God-with-us. I invite you into this time of Advent, this time of preparation and longing and anticipation in peace. Pastor Jacob News from Adult Forum Because of the scheduling of some other events, our Adult Forum discussions on the Life of Martin Luther and the Reformation need to change slightly from the earlier announced schedule. The new schedule will be as follows: Nov 23 & 30: Discussion of Luther's Small Catechism Dec 14: Chapters in Luther the Reformer Jan 11 & 18: Discussion of the Augsburg Confession Jan 25: Chapters in Luther the Reformer Feb 1: Chapters in Luther the Reformer

3 News from Social Concerns Guest Chef Program In November, we had an easy menu of corned beef hash, bread, salad, canned peaches, and a small candy bar. The hash was very greasy and Bill spooned off about half an industrial sized can of grease. Our chefs for the month included: Bill Brethauer, Pastor Jacob, Johnnie Corina, Carol Haffter, Shawn Lowell, Barbara Morris, and Pat Schwartz. I would like to thank the people who donate to this program. By this time of year we are usually over budget. Thank you! Alternative Christmas Fair On Sunday, December 7, an Alternative Christmas Fair will be held at First United Methodist Church, located at 4845 Brockton Avenue, near Eden Lutheran Church. Handmade crafts from third world countries will be sold. Last year, I bought a planter in the shape of a fish and a frog you stick in the pot to slowly water your plant. I also bought a couple of dark chocolate bars. In the past, they have served hot soup. Our Christmas Activity This year Hope s Christmas outreach will be to donate toys to Toys for Tots. Normally, we support the families of Genesis, but this year there are no children residing at the shelter. Those who wish to donate, may buy a new, unwrapped toy and bring it to the narthex. Larry Stumpf or I will take the toys to Air Force Village West where Larry Stumpf invites the Marines out for dinner and presents the toys to them. I m also researching the possibility of our church sending Christmas cards to our soldiers. There are several sites I m researching. I will make an announcement in church. Submitted by, Carol Haffter News from Congregational Life On November 16 th, we celebrated our Pastor with an Appreciation Brunch following worship. As always it was very well attended with plenty of good food. At our Thanksgiving Eve service, we gathered for worship which was followed by our annual Thanksgiving Pie Social. On Saturday, December 20, we will be hanging the greens in the narthex and sanctuary. We will decorate the Christmas tree and set up the nativity at the altar. A group of carolers will be heading out to bring Christmas cheer to our homebound members. Please join us at one or both events. Bring a friend! In Peace, Shawn Lowell and Abby Brunka

4 News from Stewardship Tithing reflects a grateful heart that wants to give back to God a portion of what He has given us; what is in reality, already God s. Tithing is our opportunity to show God that He is first in our lives. James 1:17 says that every perfect gift is from above. We have an opportunity to tangibly show God that He is the owner of our finances by giving back to God the first of what He gives us. Here are two reasons why we should tithe. 1. Tithing reflects our heart. What is the most important thing to you? Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. We can see the reality of that by looking at our own checkbook. 2. Tithing is biblical. Long before tithing was a practice of the Israelite people, Cain and Abel, the second generation of the human race, brought an offering to the Lord. The Lord blessed Abel s offering, but rejected Cain s. Abel brought the firstborn of his flock, while Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering. God wants to be first. Genesis 28:22 And this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God s house; and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you. Leviticus 27:30 All tithes from the land, whether the seed from the ground or the fruit from the tree, are the Lord s; they are holy to the Lord. Deuteronomy 26:1-2 When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. Malachi 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. God s Blessings, Ben Nunnally The Internal Revenue Service states, all contributions must be made before the close of the tax year to be deductible. In other words, donations you want to claim on your 2014 tax return MUST be received in the church office by December 31, If you mail your contribution, please make sure it is postmarked by December 31, Also keep in mind that any donation received after December 31, will be counted as a contribution for For more information, please contact Kris Sawyer in the church office.

5 News from Council President A time to offer Thanks: Our primary gathering each week is called Eucharist meaning Thanksgiving. We do give thanks for many things. The whole life of our congregation at Hope should be a Eucharist. Our council members are reading some books that will show us how to better grow and improve our church. The one that I am currently reading is Tools for Rebuilding. It has helped me see some great ideas on how I can be a better council member and be a better member. As this book encourages, let us all be grateful and enthusiastic about: Our ministry here at Hope. Our congregation members our church family. What God has done and continues to do for us as a church and each of us. We look forward to the New Year in our church life. Our church year begins anew before the traditional New Year. Our council will continue to attend to the operations of the church. We thank you for your trust and support. A very special Thanks goes out to Kris Sawyer, our wonder-filled Office Manager. Kris provides Hope with the highest quality guidance and admin support. We do truly appreciate her efforts. Blessings to all for the New Year of our church. The best of Advent and Merry Christmas. Bill Brethauer News from Property Management Here are this month s projects: The colder weather has not deterred the ants. After church on a Sunday in November, ants decided to help themselves to our refreshments in The Gathering Place. I will keep chasing them and hopefully they will leave soon. Preparations are underway for Phase II of our xeriscaping plans. Watch for trimming of the palm trees. Ongoing sprinkler maintenance and repair. Peace to all, Del Petersen I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, goodwill to men! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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7 This and That All members are asked to attend the Annual Congregational Meeting to be held on Sunday, December 7 at 10:15 a.m. The agenda includes approval of the 2015 Fiscal Year Budget and Elections. Annual reports are due in the church office by Friday, January 9. Each Council member and Committee chair is asked to submit a report. All reports should be ed to the church office at hoperiverside@att.net. for your The cooperation! deadline for the January 2015 newsletter will be Wed., December 10. In order to produce a timely newsletter, an earlier deadline is necessary this month due to the holidays and vacation time. Please submit articles to: hoperiverside@att.net. Thank you very much! The church office will be closed for the holidays and vacation time beginning Thursday, December 25 and will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 30. October 2014 Year-to-Date Total Income: $15, $164, Total Expense: $20, $167, Difference: -$5, $2, Average Worship Attendance for October 2014: 47 Poinsettia order forms will be available in the December 7 and December 14 bulletins. Each plant costs $8. Order forms will have a place to include a dedication for a special bulletin insert that will be included in the Christmas Eve bulletins. Poinsettias can be taken home following the Christmas Eve service.

8 Hope Lutheran Church 2882 Arlington Avenue Riverside, CA Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 24 7:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols with Candlelight Holy Communion Hanging of the Greens & Christmas Caroling Saturday, December 20 2 p.m. Decorating 3:30 p.m. Caroling