Herald of Hope

There is a billboard on Manchester Road in St. Louis that reads, “Imagine No Religion.” Its sponsor is the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The foundation bills itself as the country’s largest association of atheists and agnostics. The founder states that they want to promote their ideals and make it “socially acceptable to be an atheist.” She further states that they are proud of their stance and want to take their message to the “un-Massed masses.” I became a bit agitated upon reading the next gem offered by the founder:

“We feel society would be better without religion. Religion has

caused more problems that it’s solved. It’s holding back

progress and holding back individual minds. In general,

religion is a very harmful idea.”

While it’s true religion has always been deserving of critique, to say it has caused more problems and is very harmful is erroneous at best. It is absurd to suggest that the world has not benefited from faithful believers who have dedicated their lives towards bringing healing to others. A compelling case can be made for the importance of religious traditions as they have served millions of people throughout history. Besides providing a framework for ethical and legal systems, religion gives structure, discipline, and involvement in a community. They have responded to all types of disasters, wars, and poverty with humanitarian relief. Countless human service agencies, hospitals, and schools are connected to religious traditions. Is there room for improvement? Without a doubt. Religion is a human institution and, as such, imperfect. It must never believe itself to be without blemish because its CEO is God. But to even hint that the world would be a better place without faith is false. Imagining a world without it is frightening.

Everyone needs a purpose in life, a cause to support, and I suppose the founder of this foundation has discovered hers. I can’t help but wonder, though, if she had a bad experience in her youth that has caused her to make this her life’s work? It seems as though her energy could be spent in more productive ways.

Grace & Peace,

Jay

LECTIONARY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

October 4 Job 1:1; 2:1-10

Psalm 26 or Psalm 25

Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

Mark 10:2-16

October 11 Job 23:1-9, 16-17

Psalm 22:1-15

Hebrews 4:12-16

Mark 10:17-31

October 18 Job 38:1-7

Psalm: 104:1-9, 24, 35c

Hebrews 5:1-10

Mark 10:35-45

October 25 Job 42:1-6, 10-17

Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22)

Hebrews 7:23-28

Mark 10:46-52

BELLEVILLE CHRISTIAN CENTER

“KAREN’S HOUSE”

Shelter for Homeless

NEEDS!

For Showers -

Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Soap, Disposable Razors, Shaving Cream, Deodorant, Shampoo, Lotion, Powder

For Laundry -

Liquid Detergent, Dryer Sheets, Bleach, Towels, Wash Cloths

Sleeping -

Blankets, Air Mattresses, Sleeping Bags and Pillows

Kitchen -

Coffee, Hot Chocolate Packets, Tea, etc.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SNACK DONATIONS NEEDED

The Christian Education Committee is seeking donations for snack items to be served during the Children’s Sunday School class time. Each Sunday School class will be accepting donations throughout the year. Donations can consist of, but not limited to, individually wrapped snack items such as goldfish crackers, granola bars, fruit bars, cheese crackers, graham crackers, fruit snacks, animal cookies and so on. We are also accepting donations of juice pouches/boxes and small bottles of water. If you’d like to donate any type of item, please place it in the Sunday School office

(Room #4). If you have any questions about what is an acceptable snack, please speak with any of the Sunday School teachers.

SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTINGS

October 11 “Pumpkin Picking at Eckerts”

November (Date to be Announced)

“Christmas Card Service Project”

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Jennifer Wise

Our volunteer of the month is Jennifer Wise. Each Sunday you will see Jennifer standing in the front of the sanctuary.

She uses sign language to share our worship service with those who are hearing impaired. Every word, every song will be signed by Jennifer every week.

We thank Jennifer for giving her time to share this gift with our Hope family.

SENIOR SINGLES LUNCHEON

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15

11:30AM

Miller Fellowship Hall

“Halloween Party”

Spooky Sloppy Joes, Scary Baked Beans, Scarecrow Slaw, Sinister Chips, and Sinful Dessert, Lemonade, Coffee, Apple Cider and Water

“My Favorite Halloween Costume”

“Trick or Treat Bingo”

PARKING LOT SALE

Hope Church

Saturday, September 26 - 7A

“NEW NAME-BRAND CLOTHING

AND BAKE SALE”

Donations of baked goods are appreciated. Please have items at the church by Noon, Friday, September 25. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

YOUTH GROUP

Junior Youth will begin on Sunday, September 20. The group will be offered for grades 5 through 8 and meet from 7-8:30p.m. at Union United Methodist Church,

721 E. Main Street. Youth are invited and encouraged to attend!

SHOP & SAVE CARDS

Since Shop & Save now has a gas station at their store on the Beltline, you can earn discounts on gas when shopping at both Shop & Save stores. If you purchase $10 in food items, you will receive a coupon for 3 cents off per gal at the filling station, $50 to $100 purchase you receive 6 cents and if you spend over $100 you will get a coupon for 9 cents per gallon. As an example, we spent over $50 at Shop & Save on Thursday when they had an in-store coupon for $10 off if you spent $50 AND they gave us a coupon for 6 cents off per gallon on gas for up to 20 gallons. The coupon is good for two weeks. So if you do your shopping at Shop & Save and buy the cards from me, the church would make 5 cents and you would save on gas with your coupon. So you can help support Hope Church in that way too. The filling station will accept the Shop & Save cards, too. If you have any questions, please see me at church and I will try to answer your questions.

We are still doing the Farmers Market Cards as we were before. Because if you purchase the cards through me before you do your shopping at Farmers Market, we get to keep 10%, but if we use the other method, we need for 200 people to participate and we will only get 5% of the purchases at the end of each month. With the schools having the same program, we would have a hard time getting 200 people to participate. So we are better off doing it as we have been.

Thanks to everyone who is participating in these programs as every little bit helps the church.

MaryAnn Steinkamp

618-235-0795

BAZAAR KITCHEN

It doesn’t seem possible but the Bazaar is November 13-14 and that is only two months away. We had a meeting August 2 and the next scheduled meeting will be September 27 after worship. If you are interested in working at the bazaar and would like more information, please attend the meeting in September. The committee that Debbie Ebel and I are head of is the Kitchen. We will be serving vegetable soup, chili, and sandwiches of hot ham and cheese and turkey and cheese; and we are trying something new this year--corn dogs. We will have iced tea, lemonade, and coffee. If you would be interested in helping in the kitchen on Friday evening between 4p.m. and 8p.m. and on Saturday from 11a.m. to 3p.m. let us know. We will need help with serving, making sandwiches, washing dishes, serving drinks and cashiers. If you would be willing to come in later and help with cleanup on both days, it would be greatly appreciated. If you can only work part of the time, any help you can give us will be appreciated. If you have any questions about the kitchen, see Debbie Ebel or MaryAnn Steinkamp and we will be happy to answer any questions.

NEW HARMONY TRIP

An overnight trip to New Harmony, Indiana is being planned for October 9-10. The historic New Harmony village is a wonderfully quaint and beautiful place to visit. Reservations will need to be made as soon as possible. For details, please call Pastor Jay at 234-2358 or 971-7374.

THANK YOU!

Dear Members of the Manna Ministry,

Thank you so much for the delicious breads and fruit at my mother’s funeral. It was so very kind and thoughtful of you to provide a snack for visiting friends and relatives. God bless you all.

Sincerely,

Barbara Veile Hoeft

PAMPERED CHEF PARTY

“Fundraiser for Outreach Ministry”

Wednesday, October 7

6:30PM

Miller Fellowship Hall

Catalogues are available from Outreach Committee members or you can shop online at

www.pamperedchef.biz/tlemons

Please remember to order from Hope Church so that we get credit for your purchases!

Questions: call the church office

MISSIONS UPDATE

First, we want to express our thanks for all the food items that were donated the past couple of months for the Belleville Christian Center. Along with the items collected we received $150 which was used to purchase additional food.

We hope you will participate in a couple of projects our Mission Committee is sponsoring in the coming weeks.

Adopt-A-Highway - We will be collecting trash on Royal Heights Road on Saturday, October 10 at 9:00a.m. Please meet Karen Mueller at Abraham Lincoln School. Gloves, trash bags and orange vests will be provided. This project usually takes about 45 minutes.

Coat and Warm Clothing Collection - There will be a large box in the Welcome Center to accept coats, hats, gloves, mittens, sweaters, sweatshirts, blankets and sleeping bags. We will collect throughout the month of October and donate these items to the Belleville Christian Center. Items can be new or gently used.

Operation Christmas Child - We will ask our Hope family to pack a shoebox with small gifts and toys for children all over the world. There will be more information in your bulletin in October.

BIRTHS

We extend our congratulations to Charlye and Ed French on the birth of their granddaughter Isabella Zoe French on August 27, 2009. Isabella’s parents are Roy and Susan French.

We extend our congratulations to Courtney & Corey Cooper on the birth of their son Alex Benjamin Cooper on August 29, 2009. Alex’s proud grandparents are Joyce and Bruce Patton.

CONGRATULATIONS

We extend our congratulations to Don and MaryAnn Steinkamp who were inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Illinois Square Dance Association on August 1, 2009.

SYMPATHY

We extend our sympathy to:

§ Jackie Rasch and her family in the loss of her grandmother Audrey Coker.

§ The family and friends of Gladys Veile who passed away August 28, 2009. Gladys was a member of our Hope Church family. Our sympathy to her daughter Barbara Hoeft and her family.

MEMORIALS

During the past month the following memorials were received

In memory of Gladys Veile

By Bill & Carol Wilkinson Marcie Altman Carl & Ginny Muskopf

Pearl Luther Wil & Janet Krausz Jim & Bonnie Jones

St. Luke Perpetual Help Sodality Dorothy Bunn

Tom & Linda Wuertz Mike & Jen Bellfield Neal & Tracy Barnes

Lucille Smith Jean Chouquette Don & Ruby Schopp

Bruce & Kristine Schopp Gerry Schneider Art & Bobbie Rhein

Clarence Munie

COMING EVENTS AT HOPE

September 22 MOPS, 6:30PM (First meeting this fall)

September 24 Book Club, 10:30AM

Open Gym, 5:30PM

September 26 Clothing/Bake Sale at Hope, 7AM-Noon

September 27 Zoo Trip for Sunday School Children

All Things Chocolate, 11A-6P

October 7 Pampered Chef Fundraiser at Hope, 6:30PM

October 13 Belleville Christian Center Lunch

October 15 Senior Singles’ Luncheon, 11:30AM

October 22 Book Club, 10:30AM

Blood Drive, 3-7PM

October 24 Fall Festival at Hope

October 27 MOPS, 6:30PM

OCTOBER IS STEWARDSHIP MONTH

Stewardship is the responsible use of God’s gifts and will be the focus in October. Each Sunday will highlight an element of stewardship. They are:

October 4 Prayer October 11 Presence

October 18 Gifts October 25 Service

Christian stewards commit themselves to these because of their importance to our spiritual growth.

WHAT DOES STEWARDSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

The word, stewardship, simply means to manage someone else’s property. For the Christian, as Scripture proclaims everything belongs to God, we manage the property of our Lord. Since everything belongs to Christ, we need to have the attitude and view that our things are His things, our stuff is His stuff, that all we could have now, all we have lost, all we will have, is His, including our very bodies and spiritual gifts. We are mere lessees of the property, money, relationships, talents, time, and even our lives. That means all that we are and all that we have are not really ours to begin with. They belong to God. So, the duty of the Christian is to learn how to become responsible stewards of our Lord’s resources entrusted into our care. It means to manage everything to the best of our abilities for His glory (1 Cor. 4:2).

Verses on Stewardship: Psalm 24:1; Proverbs 3:9-10; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Ephesians 5:15-16; James 1:17

Excerpt taken from http://www.intothyword.org/pages.asp?pageid=53510

Bruce Patton, Consistory Rep.

Stewardship & Finance

“LET’S GO SHOPPING”

It is time again to help collect donations for the Holiday Bazaar. As in years past, we need shoppers to purchase and donate items for the Holiday Bazaar Gift Baskets. Please stop by the Suggestions Display located in the Welcome Center during the weeks of 9/20 thru 9/27. Please take a suggestion card or use your own ideas. When you purchase your items, please keep in mind that our best sellers are sold for $20.00. Final collections will be 10/4.

DATES TO REMEMBER

September 13-17 Suggestions cards available in Welcome Center

October 4 Final Collections for donations (Please bring your items with the suggestion card and estimated value)

November 8 Basket Making Day (Sunday after worship)

(Please plan to help make and wrap the baskets.)

We are so very blessed to have ALL your donations and help. We thank you! Please plan to volunteer. It is a GREAT way to support the Holiday Bazaar.

2009 Basket & Bazaar Committee