__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
MARCH 2008
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Table
of contents
A
NEW SERVICE BEGINNING ON APRIL 6TH
LECTIONARY
FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
I
like to baptize. I like everything about
the sacrament of baptism. Most of all,
however, I like the water. I enjoy
pouring it from the pitcher into the bowl. The sound is magnificent. The symbolism is exquisite - - the Holy
Spirit being poured out upon the one to receive it. I love putting my hands in the bowl, feeling
the water, experiencing the wetness. Moving
my hands in the water allows me for that instant to enter into the mystery of
the Spirit and join with those throughout the centuries who have utilized this
vehicle to establish the mystical union which exists between Christ and the
church. And them
come “the moment.” The one thing that
makes it “the moment” is the liberal use of the water. Lots of water on the head, which runs down
the face and onto the clothing is the only way, in my mind, to appropriately
celebrate baptism. Lots of water on one’s
head, face, and clothing which makes its way to the kneeling rail brings us to
a vivid awareness of something critical – God dispenses love and mercy and
grace the same way. It covers us
bountifully and drips from our chin. We
do not worship a God who is stingy with that stuff. We sorship a God
who give it plentifully and then says, “there’s more
where that came from!”
Baptism
is about getting wet. “The wetter the
better” should be the baptismal slogan.
Thanks be to God!
Grace
and Peace,
Pastor
Jay
It
is an honor to have been elected to serve as president of consistory this
year. I will be available to you at any
time for suggestions or concerns. Your
consistory members will be working hard to represent you but we all need your
help. We believe that God has given us
each a gift to use in his service and your gift is needed to make our
ministries at Hope successful in the eyes of God. Please look into your hearts and volunteer
for your favorite ministry. Right now
our Christian Education team needs you and Church Life and Membership needs
you, too. Our children need you! Our church needs you! Together we can do great things here at
Hope. Please let me know how you can
help!
Easter was wonderful for all the regular reasons with some additional help this year. We exceeded 300 in worship. What a great victory for Hope Church to have such a crowd! Pastor Carol was blessed with the opportunity of baptizing her newest grandchild, Alina Hope Rohde. Alina was given her middle name as a tribute to Hope Church. That is quite an Easter gift to this congregation! Lastly, 10 persons (including Alina) were marked with the sacrament of baptism. It was such a privilege to witness this! Celebrate the good news of the resurrection, Easter people!
Come
on the morning of Thursday,
April
17, 9:30AM for a movie followed by discussion.
The movie entitled, A Trip to Bountiful, is one of Pastor Jay’s
favorites. It is a stirring account of a
woman’s desire to see the home of her childhood one last time. The background music that is used in the
story is, “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling.” Following the movie, we will go to the Shrine
of Our Lady of the Snows for lunch. Mark
it on your calendar.
In
an effort to accommodate more people, a second worship service is being offered
on Sunday morning from 8:15 - 9AM. This
service, being called a Devotional Service, will be very informal and casual. The goal will be to make it more intimate and
not sacrifice meaning. It will have the
possibility for flexibility and creativity.
There will be no music unless there are periodic opportunities where
that is possible. The service will end
in time for the Sunday School hour. Sound interesting? Let’s try it and evaluate it after several
weeks. I’m curious to see what happens.
(Fundraiser
for Hope Church)
1. Cards can be used
to receive discounts at local businesses and restaurants in the Belleville
area.
2. Cards are $20.00 each and Hope Church keeps
$7.00 from each card sold.
3. For
more information or to purchase cards, please see Ginger Doiron
on Sundays in the library! Ginger will
have a list of places that will accept these cards or you may check it out
online at:
bellevillefirst.com
Ladies coat, turquoise,
short with knit collar, size XL was missing from coat rack outside the
fellowship hall following the Easter Breakfast.
The coat was hanging next to some items being given away, but this coat
was not one of those items. Please check
your closet and if you took it by mistake, please return to the church office.
Throughout the past months I
have experienced some health problems with severe kidney loss, stomach and
blood problems. I found myself
hospitalized and was to go on dialysis but by some miracle I am able to
continue on medication. I definitely
felt special prayers, and appreciate all the concern. I am thankful for the Manna meals and
especially the visits, calls, and cards.
Special thanks to Pastor Jay for his visits and prayers. There is HOPE.
Gratefully in Christian love,
Gladys Groom
Dear
Pastor Jay and Members of Hope Church:
And
now I have experienced the love of the church my beloved sister Lolly Andersen has always spoken about. I want to thank each of you for the touching
acts of kindness and love you showed to Lolly when
she was ill and to each one of us, as family members, during her funeral. You were so kind to prepare a delicious and
appreciated meal for us on the day of Lolly’s funeral. Thank you to Pastor Jay and Pastor Carol for
your kind, loving, and spirit-filled words spoken during the service and to
Pastor Jay for the tender time he spent with Lolly
during the last moments of her life. May
God continue to bless you in his work.
Diane
Brown, Galena, IL
Sister
of Lolly Andersen
Thank
you everyone from Hope Church for all you have done and for all your thoughts
and prayers for Lolly.
Kai
Andersen and Jean LeMunyon
Dear
Hope Church family,
I
want to take this opportunity to thank all of my friends for your prayers,
thoughts, and visits during my recent period of illness. It is through the grace of God that I was
able to overcome my difficulties.
Apparently the Lord has more challenges for me in the future.
Darwin
Stephens
April
6
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35
April 13
Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 23 1
Peter 2:19-25
John 10:1-10
April
20
Acts 7:55-60
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 1 Peter 2:2-10
John 14:1-14
April
27
Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66:8-20
1
Peter 3:13-22 John
14:15-21
·
BLOOD DRIVE
May 1st
·
HOPE RUMMAGE SALE
July 26th
·
HOLIDAY BAZAAR
November 14-15th
The flags currently flying in front of Miller Hall were
purchased by David Mueller in loving honor of his parents Ervin and Virginia
Mueller. If you are interested in
purchasing the flags in honor or memory of a loved one, please contact the
church office. The cost is approximately
$134.00 and they will be flying for 3 months.
At the end of the 3 months, the flags are given to the family.
The following
individuals were baptized at Hope Church on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008:
Marshall Grant
Donovan McCrary
Whitey Morrison
Hayden Rasch
Jackie Rasch
Trinity Rasch
Alina Rohde
Jeremy Russell
Tabetha Russell
Lyn Williams
We extend
our sympathy to:
·
The
family and friends of Jim Gibbs who passed away February 22, 2008. Jim was a member of our Hope Church family.
·
Kai
Andersen and his family in the loss of Lolly Andersen on March 5, 2008. Lolly was a charter member of Hope Church.
·
Bill and
Joyce Webb and their family in the loss of Bill’s mother Ruth Webb.
·
Bill
Wahrenburg and his family in the loss of his mother Vivian
Wahrenburg on March 20,
2008. Vivian was a member of our Hope
Church family.
Lyle and Juanita
Reuss
18 Coronation
Drive
Millstadt,
IL 62260
Don’t forget to
get your Farmers Market Cards before you start purchasing your spring
flowers. For every card purchased through
Hope Church, we receive 10% of the dollar amount. Cards can be used on everything sold at the
stores. Please see MaryAnn Steinkamp
(235-0795) to get your cards.