Inside this issue:
This Month’s Ministries 2
Music Ministries 3
Worship Page 4
Council Page 5
Discipleship Page 6
7
“God’s work. Our hands.” 8
Holden Village 9
President’s Page 10
Pastor’s Page 11
October 2018
Herald Volume 39 Issue 10
A publication of
Hosanna Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rochester, Minnesota
“As a Christian family of faith, we’re gathered
to grow and sent to serve”
Affirmation of Baptism
Sunday, October 28, 2017, 10:30 am
The following individuals have completed instruction and will affirm their faith on Sunday, October 28th:
Gracie Jestus Isabella Moe
Teagan Nelson Taylor Sass
We encourage your support and prayer for these young people and their families as they continue to grow in their faith.
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Herald Volume 39 Issue 10
Women’s Morning Bible Study Friday, October 12, 10:00 a.m. Contact Sandy Henslin
Quilters Saturday, October 13 at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 18 at 9:00a.m. contact Julianne Jahn or Janet Walsh
Prayer Shawls - Monday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m. Friday, October 26 at 1:00pm Contact Carolyn Dahl
Hilltoppers Tuesday, October 9 at 12:00 p.m. contact the office to sign up or if you need a ride.
Hannah Group Wednesday, October 10 and 24 at 1:00 p.m. Contact Nancy Wales
Scrapbooking— Friday, October 19 at 9:00a.m., Saturday, October 20 at 9:00 a.m. Contact Kelly Gangelhoff
Book Discussion— Saturday October 20 at 9:00 a.m. Contact Barb Anderson
Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast—Friday, October 12 and 26 at 6:30 a.m. Contact Paul Anderson
Empty Nest Sitter Service—Friday, October 12 at 6:00 p.m. Contact Paul Anderson
Hosanna Pantry—Set up Friday, October 26 at 10:00am Pantry open Saturday, October 27 at 9:00 a.m. Contact Barb Anderson
For complete information on these ministries please check out our website at: www.hosannalutheran.org
This Month’s Minis tr ies
Mittens and More It’s time again to begin collecting winter outerwear for our neighbors and friends who are unable to obtain these necessities for themselves. Please gather your gently used/clean winter outer wear that you no longer need or
use. You can also purchase items at our local thrift shops: Savers, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army Store. Most needed items at this time are mittens/gloves, boots, jackets, and snow pants in all sizes. Please place the items you’ve donated in the box in the conference room. Thank you.
Volleyball Players Needed Come join the fun! The Hosanna Women’s Volleyball Team is seeking more substitute players, 9th grade and up. The season runs from early November through late March. Games are on Thursdays at Zumbro Lutheran Church. Times are as follows: 6:30, 7:15, or 8:00 p.m. Please contact Jane Johnson at 507-252-8287 or
[email protected] to get on the list.
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Music Ministries
Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts at St. Olaf College The Holy Spirit creates, provokes and empowers us in our lives of faith. Towards a More Perfect Union: Bridging the chasm between body, mind, and faith.
Nancy Wales’ notes from a session led by Rev. Doneila McIntosh, lead pastor of Lighthouse Church MPLS in North Minneapolis.
Rev. McIntosh shared that there is an idea called “85/15” which assists us in finding our special place in the world. The basic premise is that 85% of what we can do, anyone can do. The goal is to discover the 15% that makes up our unique characteristics. The same idea applies to churches. It is interesting to think about what makes each of us unique and what makes Hosanna unique. One way to find the 15% is to be aware of what makes us “come alive”. When we discover what makes us come alive, this is what the world needs from us. Barriers to discovering our “15%” are: 1. Time, 2. Mindset, and 3. Mindlessness. The third barrier is the main issue. Mindlessness is when we go through routines without fully realizing what is happening in any given moment. Mindless conformity can happen in areas of mind, body and faith. There is a lack of awareness of biases and racial discrimination. To overcome mindless conformity in our friend groups and in our churches, we need to practice mindfulness.
The basic tenets of mindfulness are: Pay attention to this moment non-judgmentally Enter into each moment out of curiosity; “Huh, what’s happening?” Patience, patience, patience! Non-striving, moment to moment; there is no end, no “I have arrived” moment; always growing
With an increased amount of time spent on social media, it is a good idea to practice mindfulness or you might get caught up in something called Facebook Addiction Disorder which is a product of a habit loop. It starts with a trigger (e.g. a post), a behavior (e.g. read the post), and then either a positive reaction/reward (e.g. “like” the post) or a punishment (e.g. no response). Your behavior is changed by either of these reactions and will affect what is posted next. Habit loops could begin by influencing an individual’s behavior but then it spreads to influence larger groups. A person could get caught up in a habit loop for many hours each week if they do not practice mindfulness. The facebook habit loop becomes addictive. However, if a person inserts “mindfulness” at any one of the three points this will break the habit loop. Be aware of how your body is reacting, then what are these stories telling your mind. Ask yourself, “Do I believe this Facebook post?”
Rev. McIntosh also encouraged us to beware of Weapons of Mass Distraction such as ads, cultural influences and the ways of the world. Instead we should focus on the Spirit, the revealer of truth. This is where actual transformation and freedom occurs, from the inside to outside and outside to inside. Mindfulness teaches that we can respond to a new moment and to realize every moment is new. Don’t react out of fear. Ask yourself, “Where is God in this moment? What is the Spirit doing?”
Music Schedule October 7 Grace Team Exodus
October 14 King’s Ringers Cherub Choir (10:30) Kids Kwire (10:30) Hosanna Choir
October 28 Hosanna Choir (8:00) Confirmands, Families and Youth
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Worship Page “gathered to grow…”
Herald Volume 39 Issue 10
October 2018 Worship at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
“From Galilee to Jerusalem: Christ’s Mission to the Nations”
October 7
Liturgy: Service of Word and Song Grace Team/Communion
Theme: Kids of the Kingdom Text: Mark 10: 13-16
October 14
Liturgy: ELW Setting 9 Theme: Jesus in the Region of Judea
Text: Mark 10: 17-31
October 21 Liturgy: ELW Setting 9/Communion
Theme: The Road to Jerusalem Text: Mark 10: 35-45
October 28
Confirmation Sunday Liturgy: Service of the Word Theme: Reformation Sunday
Text: Romans 3: 19-28
Adult Forum Sundays 9:15 a.m.
October 7—Dietrich Bonhoeffer Part I What is a moral person to do in a time of savage immorality? That question tormented Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian of great distinction who actively opposed Hitler. October 14—Dietrich Bonhoeffer Part II We continue to explore the life and ministry of Bonhoeffer through the biographical portrait of the movie documentary entitled: “Bonhoffer Agent of Grace”. This moive was awarded winner of Best Film at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. October 21—Annual Pancake Breakfast Hosanna’s annual pancake breakfast will be served between services by the Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study Group. Bring the whole family, and let the men do the cooking and clean-up. October 28—Why Does God Allow Suffering? A question we all face in life at one time or another is the reality of suffering in the world and most especially in our own lives. Theologians from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota will address this concern as part of the “ Good God Questions” series made available to congregations by the seminary.
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Council Page “gathered to grow...sent to serve.”
Herald Volume 39 Issue 10
Hosanna Lutheran Church September 11, 2018 Council Minutes Pastor’s Report: The year with Tom Schwolert from Vibrant Faith is now complete (more later in Darcy’s report). We are investigating moving 1st communion from 5th grade to younger children. There will still be a class on communion held at regular intervals. There were three funerals in the last month. The Austvolds have been transferred out as they moved to the east coast. Sinde moved and Les seconded that the report be accepted. The motion passed. Properties, Les: The properties committee is looking for help. Testing the fire sprinklers is complete. Parking repair continues as company has time. Memorial wall crumbling a bit from pressure of hill. No immediate action needed but eventually work will be needed. Trees planted as part of God’s Work our Hands Sunday. All bulbs replaced in the lights the in sanctuary. Outreach, Dawn: God’s Work our Hands was wonderful. Good conversation at the activities. The trees that were planted will need to be watered often through the fall. 47 pounds of crayons were mailed to be turned into new crayons that are donated to hospitals. 61 Susan suppers were created. Some members wondered why soup packaging was not done this year, but it is good to do something different each year. Respectfully submitted, Dave Wall – President Elect
(full council report is available on Hosanna’s website)
Treasurer and Financial Secretary Report Budget/Contributions Comparison
Receipts/Expenditures Comparison
Account Balances - August
The 2018 offering envelopes are available in the Secretary’s office. If you have not been issued offering envelopes and would like them, please contract Paul Anderson, Financial Secretary @ 282-7213. Contribution statements for 2018 will be prepared upon request for the 1
st and 2
nd Quarters.
General
2018 Aug YTD
Budget 33,638 269,104
Contributions 28,166 266,684
Difference (5,472) (2,420)
2017 26.426 241,550
Difference 17/18 1,740 25,134
General YTD
Receipts 266,684
Expenditures 256,981
Difference 9,703
Account Name Balance
Genera l 36,477
General Reserve 64,347
Special Gifts 71,332
Endowment 70,727
ELCA Scholarship 50,287
Mortgage 268,680
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Discipleship Page “gathered to grow...sent to serve.”
Annual Fall Pancake Breakfast
The 19th Annual Walter Volberding Memorial Pancake Breakfast will be held on
Sunday, October 21st from 9am until 11am at Hosanna. If you have ever attended an event sponsored by the Men’s Bible Study Breakfast Group, you know that there is always delicious food and wonderful fellowship. Since this is MEA weekend, it would be a great time to join us before, between, or after church. Bring the whole family.
As always the cost is a freewill offering. This year, the funds raised will be donated Rochester Women’s Shelter.
The Men’s Bible Study Breakfast Group is excited about this opportunity. We encourage each member of Hosanna to join us and bring friends and neighbors, as we together with our congregation spread the Good News of God’s great love to others.
Book Discussion October 20
All are welcome to attend Hosanna’s monthly book discussion any time during the year. You’ll read a variety of books, engage in fascinating discussions and enjoy Christian fellowship. Discussions are held on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 9:00 am (Sept. – Nov. and Jan. – May). Coffee will be on and members take turns bringing treats. There is a list of the books to be discussed during the year on the posters on the bulletin boards in the gathering area and east narthex.
The book to be discussed on October 20 is Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. It’s based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy, families all over the country. This riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting novel reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong. Join in this discussion of a very timely topic.
The book scheduled for November 10 (note earlier date) is The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. You may contact Barb Anderson at [email protected] with questions or for more information.
2018 Hosanna Advent Devotional
Hosanna has a wonderful tradition of members writing daily devotions for the season of Advent and Christmas. This year’s theme will be Jesus: The Hope of the Nations. Please sign-up at the information desk for one or more of the dates. A Bible verse based on the theme of service is assigned for each day. Deadline for the devotions is November 21
st. You can send these to
[email protected], or drop them off in the church office.
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Herald Volume 39 Issue 10
Discipleship Page “gathered to grow...sent to serve.”
All Are Welcome to the Table
Do you recall when you first received Holy Communion? Was it when you were confirmed at the age of 16? In the 5th grade? At a later time in life? All of these times would be supported by the ELCA as their position regarding Holy Communion is:
37D) Infants/children may be communed when baptized. 37E) Holy Communion is accompanied by catechesis appropriate to the age of the communicant (throughout their development). 38B) There is no command from our Lord regarding the age at which people should be baptized or first communed. Our practice is defined by Christ’s command “Do this..” (Practice of Word/Sacrament, ELCA)
In these statements, we notice the importance of continuing to learn about Holy Communion throughout our life and that an age is not specified (or recommended) to begin receiving the Meal. To this end, Hosanna will be providing new instructional materials (authored by Daniel Erlander) for families interested in having their child participate in Holy Communion. At any time, families may arrange to meet with Pastor Meiers to share their desire to have their child(ren) receive Holy Communion. At that time, age appropriate materials will be shared with parent(s) as they teach their son/daughter about this Sacrament.
Age Appropriate Instructional Materials
One example of Daniel Erlander’s resources available is the colorful and
inviting board book: A Place for You Little One. This book introduces
young children to Holy Communion and provides the welcoming
message: there’s a place for you! Using simplified words and images this
book gives families a way to read and talk about the special meal of
Jesus with their babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Hosanna will have
these board books available, for distribution to interested families, in
October.
Additionally, what was previously known as “First Communion
Instruction” will still take place this year at Hosanna. Current 5th grade
students (or any family interested in participating in this instruction
geared towards this age group) will have a parent/child retreat on
Saturday, Nov. 10th . First Communion for these children will then
happen on Sunday, Nov. 18th at the 10:30 worship. The curriculum
used for this group will contain all of the original A Place for You
content plus 12 additional pages of interactive materials. Have
questions or concerns? Please talk with Pastor Meiers or Darcy
Youngstrom. Families of 5th Graders - Mark Your Calendar!
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Samaritan Bethany Worship Assistants – 3 volunteers
Install smoke detectors - 7 volunteers --6 homes visited; 13 smoke alarms installed!
Made bird feeders - made approx. 125 bird feeders
Planting trees – 4 trees successfully planted (need to keep watering them)
Susan Suppers – made 61 hot dishes (6 delivered to Neuro house)
Highway Clean-up - 8 volunteers cleaned up the highway
Harvest garden – 3 boxes of harvested produce delivered to three fire stations
Greeting cards – whole paper box completed (approx. 150 cards) - will be delivering a container of cards to Mt. Olive and will also be putting together a container of supplies so this ministry can continue all year round
Assist at Neuro House - 7 volunteers (cleared basement cobwebs & sprayed bug spray inside and outside house, and cleaned up leaves and branches, changed washer lint filter, checked mouse traps, dusted two main rooms, wiped woodwork down, swept and mopped floors and washed newly donated dishes.)
Crayon Initiative – 47 pounds of crayons were sorted and mailed out
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Holden Village Trip August 2018
Eight Hosanna adults, Paul and Barb Anderson, Bob and Lisa Nordman, Bill and Karla Weis and Niel and Beth Wiegand, spent the week of August 4 – 12, 2018 at Holden Village in the Cascade mountains of Washington state. Holden Village was transformed from an old copper mine to a Lutheran retreat center. It’s a very remote setting and that’s part of the appeal. It’s “a place apart” with no roads leading directly to it. You have to take the Lady of the Lake ferry up Lake Chelan and then school buses take you the last 10 miles up switchbacks and mountain roads. You can even hike into the village on trails that connect to the Pacific Crest Trail. Here are some of the experiences shared at Holden in the words of the members who were there in August.
One of my favorite parts of the Holden experience is meeting new people. It is definitely part of the culture to strike up conversations with the people one happens to sit next to at a class, in the dining hall, or standing in line for ice cream. Such interesting folks come to Holden from a variety of places. This trip I was privileged to get to know several retired Wartburg College faculty from Waverly, IA, a housekeeping volunteer from California who had lived in the village as a child just before the mine closed in the 1950's, a former seminary classmate of my sister, and a couple from Washington who knew several people I had known in college. ~ Beth Wiegand
Have you been in an ice cream shop lately? Have you been offered a taste of any of the many ice cream flavors available? Holden Village is sort of like that ice cream shop with a lot of flavors. You get to try out any of them and choose which ones you want more of. Time was available for hiking, visiting, reading and even eating ice cream. During our week at Holden there were also eleven people offering a variety of sessions covering topics ranging from Bible studies, to Sex and Christianity to Weaving. I had the opportunity to sample all of these but I particularly enjoyed a series on the book of Ruth taught by Glenn Jordan from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He approached Ruth from the viewpoint of what it has to say about the various forms of borders we construct between peoples. He asked us, how do we respond to people not like us, who are suffering because of the Law – like Ruth was? What in our faith equips us to do the right thing when called to do so – like Boaz did? Glenn Jordan helped me understand more about the need to respond to others outside of my "borders." ~ Niel Wiegand
I enjoy going to Holden Village because there’s freedom to choose what you want to do each day. You can just relax, go to educational sessions, or go on hikes or read. You can enjoy yourself and make your own schedule without feeling guilty. ~ Paul Anderson
My favorite aspect of our Holden Village trip was the ability to spend extended time with the friends we came with and the new friends we met. We learn to know each other at a deeper, more personal level as we share our beliefs and the aspects of our personalities that make us unique. We come to depend on and support each other without all the responsibilities and stresses of our daily lives back home. Living in a “village” like Holden bring out the true meaning of friendship. ~ Barb Anderson
Bob and I enjoyed the hiking we did at Holden Village. We tried to go on a hike every day—some longer and some short, some with friends and others just the two of us. We enjoyed the beauty of what we saw and learned a lot about each other. ~ Lisa Nordman
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President’s Page
“Sing! To the Lord of Harvest, sing songs of love and praise! With joyful hearts and voices, your alleluias raise. By Him the rolling seasons in fruitful order move; sing to the Lord of Harvest, A joyous song of love. “
I remember singing this hymn in the fall while growing up in my country church of Union Prairie Lutheran in Lanesboro, MN! Growing up in this rural, farming community brings back all of the vivid memories of this time of the year, and the Harvest! I remember the long hours that my dad kept, being in the field and the sounds of the grain dryer running all night drying the corn. The smells of fall are in the air, the harvest is occurring. The gardens last produce of the season are
being harvested. I think of the plants and flowers, their rich deep colors of reds, oranges, gold, yellows and browns. The air has crispness to it. The days are getting shorter, but the harvest moon lights up the sky at night.
Psalm: 67: 6: “The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us”
The harvest makes me think about the faithfulness of God. He sends the crops sunshine and its heat, provides rain, and the food for the soil to be nutritious. He helps the crops to grow and thrive. As we care for our produce, we are reminded that as the Bible verse tells us that the land yields the harvest, with what God has provided and blessed us with: the end results!
Jesus often uses stories about farming and the harvest. By using planting and harvesting as examples, he taught the Gospel by drawing in and nurturing those who listened and believed! The final product of HIS harvest was having followers and believers in HIS word who would continue to spread the word of our Lord and Savior!
At Hosanna, we, too share the good news and share in our harvest. We open our doors for those in need with Susan’s Suppers, the little pantry and the food shelf. The fruits of the harvest are shared with those in need! The harvest time is now, but may we continue to come in contact each day with others with whom we share the good news of the Gospel!
“Sing! To the Lord of Harvest, sing songs of love and praise! With joyful hearts and voices, your alleluias raise.”
God’s Blessings! Lisa
Herald Volume 39 Issue 10
“God’s work. Our hands.” at the Neuro House It was a wonderful afternoon :) The Wiegands, Paula Meyers and her mom Mary Ellen, & Ray and I met Ruth at the house and she gave us a tour. Then we started our chores: Ray and Neil cleared the basement of cobwebs, sprayed bug spray in basement, and changed washer lint filter. Outside they sprayed bug spray around base of house and cleaned up some leaves and branches. Meanwhile on the inside Beth, Paula, and I dusted the two main rooms, wiped over all woodwork with Murphys oil, swept floors, mopped floors and washed the set of dishes Janet Wall donated to the
house. We were there a little over 2 hours. Ruth was beyond appreciative and was a great hostess providing us with water and treats! Written by. Terri Ashworth
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Pastor Meier’s Page
Dear Members and Friends of Hosanna, “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) St. Paul reminds us how faith comes to be a reality in our lives. Faith comes through hearing, hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As your pastor, I must listen and then I have a basis on which to speak. I must listen to hear God’s
word, and it is imperative that I listen to you. When I have listened and heard, then I may speak. I may speak the word of God and words of thanks to you for what you have shared with me here in the fellowship of Hosanna Lutheran Church. The Prophet Elijah was seeking to find God. In I Kings 19, we find the following encounter between Elijah and God. Elijah is commanded by God to, “Go Forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. It wasn’t the strong wind that broke apart the mountains. It wasn’t the earthquake or the fire that revealed God to Elijah. It was in that still small voice that Elijah heard the voice of God. Elijah found direction for himself and the people that he spoke his word to. May we, like Elijah, seek to find a word from God as God speaks to us in that still small voice. Take time from the great winds and tremors of life to worship. Pause and hear what God has to say to you. St. Paul tells us that faith is born in the hearing of God’s word. That word is spoken clearly in our worship, prayer and Bible study. Take time to regularly listen to that still small voice that leads to a life of faith.
See you in church.
Yours in Christ, Pastor Bill Meiers September Pastor Acts Funeral Worship 9/13/2018 David Buhs
Wedding 9/22/2018 Derrick Maidll and Jessica LInquist
Herald Volume 39 Issue 10
www.hosannalutheran.org
Hosanna Lutheran Church 2815 57th St. NW
Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 285-0092
Gathered to Grow, Sent to Serve
Check out Hosanna’s
Website!
God’s work. Our hands.
Hosanna Herald
Writers: Hosanna Staff
& members Editor:
Jodi Solum
Check out Hosanna’s Facebook fan page!
OFFICE HOURS
9:00 am—4:00 pm
Monday—Friday
STAFF Pastor Bill Meiers [email protected] Nancy Wales [email protected] Darcy Youngstrom [email protected] Jodi Solum [email protected] Pam Lynch [email protected]
COUNCIL OFFICERS Lisa King, President [email protected] Dave Wall, Pres. Elect [email protected] Joe Desannoy, Secretary [email protected]
COUNCIL ADVISORS Alice Kub, Treasurer [email protected] Paul Anderson, Financial Sec [email protected]
COUNCIL ADVOCATES Kathy Rucker, Discipleship [email protected] Sinde Finnegan, Fellowship [email protected] Kelly Gangelhoff and [email protected] Dawn Koster (co-advocates) Les Fullem, Support [email protected] Chris Meiers, Worship [email protected]
WORSHIP TIMES SUNDAYS at 8:00 and 10:30am
Education Hour at 9:15am
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. U. S. POSTAGE
PAID PERMIT NO. 603
ROCHESTER MN