Making Christ Known through the Spirit of Hope. Volume 85 Number 8. From the Desk of Interim Pastor Christine Wenzel

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1 1 Volume 85 Number 8 From the Desk of Interim Pastor Christine Wenzel I don t know if anyone would argue that these past few weeks have been difficult. There seems to be more bad news than good news these days. I have had numerous conversations with family and friends. After the events of this past couple of weeks around police shootings, and police shooters, along with the killings in Nice, France and Turkey, there is a cacophony of feelings floating around, everything from tears of anger and distrust of one another, to those whose hearts are hurting and can t find the words to express themselves. Yet there are some amazing ways that we can see God at work through all of this. I have decided to share with you some of the quotes from people who have experienced racism in their lives and their words of healing and encouragement: Pastor Christine Wenzel No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela All people smile in the same language. Unknown We are all made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders. All are welcome: Black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor, educated, not educated, male, female, gay, straight. All. All. All. We all belong to this family, this human family, God s family. Desmond Tutu Let us not love with words and speech, but with actions and truth. President Obama If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Desmond Tutu Things are not getting worse; they are getting uncovered. We must hold each other tight and continue to pull back the veil. I hope you find these quotes inspiring and encouraging. A Ray of Hope Monthly Newsletter of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church 5728 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55417, Ministers of the Gospel: The Baptized 88 years in ministry Making Christ Known through the Spirit of Hope I found this Franciscan Blessing that I hope is helpful for you at this time: May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for God s justice, God s freedom, and God s peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. You are in my prayers. Please hold me in yours. Pastor Christine August 2016 Pastor Christine s summer worship series, through September 4, is: The Gifts of Imperfection, Let Go of Who You Think You re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, by Brene Brown. The Book is available in Hope s library in the fellowship hall.

2 2 The Discernment Team/Call Committee continues to explore the future for Hope. This transition is a time to pull back the curtain of silence and denial and be honest as you consider the possibilities of transitioning into new life. The team, along with the church council, has examined the vitality and sustainability of Hope. The plan is that they hope to narrow the possibilities to bring to a meeting of the congregation for discussion this fall. This will allow the whole congregation to own the decision you will eventually make. In addition, the Minneapolis Area Synod is pulling together the leadership from the south Minneapolis congregations to talk about the future of all of these churches. Many are dealing with the same questions about their future. All of these congregations are deeply attached to their buildings, as you are. The dream of reliving the good ole days by returning to a period of growth and glory is strong here as it is in most congregations. This is understandable, because God has done wonderful things through your congregations. Here are the possibilities they have discussed: 1. Remain in the building and try to re-develop one last time 2. Merge with another congregation in their building 3. Collaborate with another congregation in a neutral building 4. Sell church building and move back to the preschool building 5. Sell church building and remain a worshipping community by renting space in a different building 6. Sell church building and stay in the building and rent from new owners 7. Two-point parish share a pastor (half-time) with another congregation When you face the reality that your congregation may be in crisis, you may feel overwhelmed with guilt. When you face the possibility of ending and closure, you may begin to ask yourselves: What did we do wrong? Will a new building or program or a new pastor return us to the good ole days? This discernment about a congregation s future takes a lot of time. Any options such as a merger, consolidation, relocation, or closure takes time, people and money. Is it wise to plan ahead and use the congregation s resources to continue God s mission in another way or another place? No matter what direction God is leading you into the future, we celebrate the fact that you have been fed and nurtured across the years by the grace of Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Nothing should be of greater encouragement, than the assurance that God will help you through this process. Prayer is crucial in this process. Please pray for the community of Hope, and for the Discernment Team, as we are praying for you! Pastor Christine Bunny Anderson, Marlan Karbo, Pat Killian, Dave Langemo, Charlie Olson, Rachel Peterson Women in Agroecology and Conservation program Olga is the young woman in pink in the center. She was the recipient of Hope's Lenten and children's coin collection in February and March. Hope raised $500 which was matched with another $500 by an anonymous donor. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Neenah, WI also dedicated their Lenten offerings to help support Olga's university studies and administrative support for the Women in Agroecology and Conservation program. All together we were able to raise over $7,000 for this great program that is having an amazing impact on the young women living in the cloud forest of Guatemala.

3 3 Everyone, 5th grade thru adult are invited to join us at EDUCATION HOUR 9:00am each Sunday in the fellowship hall as Pastor Doug Morton shares the scripture lessons for the day and gives us a bit of insight on the people and the events of Biblical times in preparation for the sermon. These sessions are always interesting! Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Base Intergenerational Service Event August 21-24, 2016 Ages 12 and up Adults $75 Youth $50 Questions: Mary Peterson Safety/Self-Defense Class for Women Hope is sponsoring a safety/self-defense class on August 17 (Wednesday) from 7-9p in the fellowship hall. What is self-defense? Self-defense is any available means of safely avoiding or escaping a potentially dangerous encounter. It needn't involve fighting, or even a direct physical encounter. The goal is not to "win," but rather to get away from a potentially dangerous situation safely. How do most real-life attacks start? Learn to recognize a possible attack in the making, and what role distance awareness, eye contact, body language, tone of voice, etc. can play. Simple last-ditch physical self-defense techniques will also be presented, practical even for people who have little physical skill or ability. It s about safety and awareness/protection, and not meant to scare! All ages of women invited. Feel free to extend an invitation to family, friends, neighbors, etc. For questions, please call Claire Killian (612) Hope s Library Jan Nunn, Librarian It's summer. Lay in the hammock and read a book (any book). COVENANT CHILD by Terri Blackstock Twin girls are heirs to a fortune, but they are forced to live with unloving or caring greedy grandparents. The stepmother promises to fight for them and give them their inheritance. One of the twins trust her and the other does not. Is there hope for both of them? Savvy Social Security Workshops Sponsored by Thrivent Financial September 15, 5 and 7pm here at Hope More information to come Scholarships are available to college students pursuing a degree in a church-related vocation. Application forms can be found on the welcome table in the gathering area. Treasurer s Report June 2016 Activity Summary Beginning Transfers or Ending Account Balance Receipts Expenses int/gain/loss Balance Operating Account 12, , , , , Flow Thru 56, (4,000.00) 52, Preschool/Day Care 23, , , , Special Funds 43, , , Endowment Fund 95, , Total Funds 230, , , , Mortgage Liability 51, , Figures from the June 2016 Treasurer s Report (No July Council Meeting.. Next meeting August 4)

4 4 Thank you! Thanks to Hope for all the prayers and good wishes during my hospital and rehab stay. Especially the heartening visits from Pastor Christine in the hospital, rehab and home. Hope to be back soon. God bless Hope Church. Don Schwappach ponder this... by dawn I recently read the following in the book, Wild Grows the Heather in Devon by Michael Phillips. It takes place in 1894 in England. Rather thought provoking and I felt timely for today with some states making it difficult for all to vote. Take two men--one well educated, informed on the issues, responsible and clear thinking, and the other a peasant who can neither read nor write and knows nothing of the world situation. Now, should both be allowed to vote, and should their votes have equal weight, even though the one is more qualified to render a rational, intelligent, and wellinformed determination about what is best for the country? Or, turn it around. Take a man like our handyman, assume him literate and knowledgeable on the issues but at the same time he is poor. Put alongside him a wealthy landowner who is perhaps a drunkard and knows little about the state of the nation. Should the wealthy man possess the power to vote and determine policy, while the well-informed man has none? Devotional Reflections from Hope member, Dawn Schramm AUGUST BIRTHDAYS 1 Shawn Herron 5 Tristan Carlson 7 Lori Kamrath 11 Doug Wenzel 14 Nancy Chergosky 17 Dee Fiedler 19 Ralph Peterson Jr 19 Pr. Christine Wenzel 21 Beatrice Royle 22 Julie Ancel 24 Cody Thompson 27 Bill Adams 30 Dan Flom 31 Barb Nelson August Service Opportunities Ushers Bonnie Brenna, Steve & Nancy Chergosky, Ginny & Charlie Olson Greeters August 7... Julie Storlie August Bonnie Brenna August Jim and Jan Nunn August Paul Ward Readers August 7... Bunny Anderson August Eileen DePoe August Cherie DeJarlais August Debbie Bayer Acolytes August 7... Elsa Johnson August Colin Just August Corey Just August Michael Fernandez Assisting Ministers August 7... Carol Farnham August Cherie DeJarlais August Becky McDaniel August Cherie DeJarlais Overhead August 7... TBD August Krista August Dave August Barb Communion Assistants August 7... Bunny Anderson August Bunny Anderson, Cherie DeJarlais 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 and/or a food donation for this month. Thank you!! Caller: Debbie Bayer Servers: Bud and June Anderson, Debbie Bayer, Bonnie and Clair Brenna, Dorothy Hardon, Gloria and Marlan Karbo, Dave Langemo and Drew Schmidt, Rick and Denise Stepanek Fair Trade Coffee Our coffee/tea/food sales are part of an ongoing mission project. Please support our outreach by purchasing these products for gifts or your own use. Every dollar spent enables independence for the growers. Hope serves and has available Equal Exchange Coffee: Regular and Decaf, Regular Coffee Beans and Tea: Earl Grey, Green, Breakfast in the cabinet by the donuts in the fellowship hall.

5 A Ray of Hope September August Hope Lutheran Church Contact Persons INTENTIONAL INTERIM PASTOR Christine Wenzel church (612) ext 13 cell (612) PASTORAL ASSOCIATE Doug Morton church (612) PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE DIRECTOR Erin Blanck (612) CUSTODIAN Russ Utoft church (612) DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Mark Hedman COUNCIL PRESIDENT Mary Peterson church (612) church (612) ext 15 cell (952) ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Allen Petersen church (612) ext Church Council President Mary Peterson Vice President / Secretary Barb Nelson Treasurer Clair Brenna Financial Secretary Dave Fernandez Business Management Jim Nunn Education Evangelism (Hospitality) Cherie DeJarlais Finance Dave Fernandez Pastoral/Social Ministry Property Charlie Olson Recreation/Fellowship Stewardship /Music Youth Jacki Just NEWSLETTER EDITOR Ginny Olson (612) cgolson@earthlink.net Church Office Hours Monday Friday: 8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m....to the members and friends of Hope who place ads in A Ray of Hope each month. Diana Grundeen, member of Hope EARLY DAY CARE Complete Automotive Service Michaelle Flaten rd Ave S Minneapolis MN Cty. 42 & Galaxy, Apple Valley Brother of Taimi & Scott Herron, members of Hope Over 31 years experience Michaelle Flaten, member of Hope HENRY W. ANDERSON MORTUARY PLACE YOUR AD HERE Contact Ginny at cgolson@earthlink.net or for information ~CLASSIC FUNERALS ~CREMATION ~PRE-PLANNING FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1931 MINNEAPOLIS APPLE VALLEY rd Ave So (612) Garrett Ave (952) Hope Preschool & Child Care Center ~ Licensed ~ 33 months to first day kindergarten full and part time positions 5712 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis (612) preschool@hopempls.org Located between Fat Lorenzo s and the 5.8 Club

6 6 August 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 7p Discernment Committee 2, Perkins 84 & Lyndale 7p Woodcarvers 3 11a Congregation Care Meeting 4 5:45p Executive Committee 7p Council p & Music Committee p Safety/Self Defense Class for Women (see page 3) Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Base August