Hosanna Cyberline - July 20, 2007

Here is the link to the weekly news for July 22: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/weekly_news.pdf

Here is the link to the August Hotline (printed today and mail Tuesday):
http://www.welcometohosanna.com/monthly_news.pdf
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Worship service times in July and August: 8:15 and 10:30 AM, with Sunday school and Adult Education @ 9:30 AM. Again, thanks to all those who provide treats between services.
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Hello from Rock Point Arizona...

Amber and CREW have been posted articles (photos too!) on the Hosanna Blog during their mission trip to the Navajo reservation in Arizona. Click here to read about their rewarding experience (it sounds like they're having a great time): http://welcometohosanna.blogspot.com (or click HOSANNA BLOG on the home page of the Hosanna website: http://www.welcometohosanna.com).
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From the Finance Team

The congregation should be aware of the following message that the Finance Team, chaired by Ed Williams, sent to all Council members on July 18.

“Based on 1) projected 2007 third quarter income; 2) adjusted expenditures which recognize the change in our pastoral situation; and 3) our cash balance position going into the quarter, we will only be able to fund a portion of the high priority items that were established at the council meeting.”
The list shows the following high priority items which “will not be funded at this time, and thus no commitments or expenditures should be incurred for these items.”
$ 600 Faith Chests, Milestone ministries
$ 150 Altar Guild expenses
$ 477 Office supplies
$ 410 Postage
$ 7,200 Benevolence (includes one month in arrears)
$ 120 Cleaning supplies
$ 1,050 Lawn maintenance (mowing)

I am sure that you agree with the Congregation Council that these are all High Priority items for doing God’s work at Hosanna.
What can you do about it?

1) Keep your commitments to our work current, in spite of the summer “slump.”
2) Consider paying ahead on your commitments if possible. One of our members has already made such a contribution, or we would be in an even more difficult position.
3) If you are so called, you can make a designated special contribution to cover all or part of any of these areas.
4) Pray for the ministry done at Hosanna, and for guidance for the Council who must make difficult financial choices.

You can contribute online to the work of Hosanna at:
https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/specialwebapp.vps?appid=40a27221f816144b21e9f2e0d81891b8a68820b814b79fc6caf83c6a4fcf06b22f288aa4a34fa442a76b20a4eb1041b0acf115796ad0b2543498c95cb883c814

SERVANT OF THE MONTH

Have you ever noticed something that someone has done around Hosanna and you would like to have them recognized for what they have done? Now you have a way. The Lay Leadership Team is starting something new to help recognize the great leaders we have at Hosanna. It is the “Servant of the Month” award. All you have to do is fill out the Servant of the Month Nomination Form and return it to the Lay Leadership Team Folder in the Workroom or give it to Chad Greer. The Nomination Forms can be found online at:
http://www.welcometohosanna.com/FORMS/Servant_of_the_Month_nomination_form.pdf
Or, click the FormsDocuments link on the home page; also look in the folder labeled “Servant of the Month Nomination Form” in the FORMS SECTION of the Workroom.

If you have any questions about this new way to recognize one of our GREAT VOLUNTEERS, please feel free to contact Chad Greer, Lay Leadership Team Leader.
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Yard Teams…

The lawn at Hosanna has to be mowed once a week from April to December, and twice a month from January to March, in order to keep our grounds well-maintained (a total of 46 mowings per year). As you know, the majority of our very faithful mowers at Hosanna reached a “certain age” and asked to be replaced. When younger volunteers did not step forward to help, the decision had to be made to hire a commercial mowing service for the first time. Currently, this service costs $150 per mow, plus $15 extra to cover extra gasoline costs. The remaining Hosanna mowers have been consolidated into fewer teams that mow once every eight weeks. Even with the reduced workload, Hosanna mowers are still in short supply. Costs will increase if we have to turn every mowing over to commercial mowers. Needless to say, commercial care represents a significant increase in the maintenance expenses at Hosanna.

In addition to this, the Property Team reported that we cannot get volunteers to tend the barked beds. The commercial service charges an extra $50 a month (or $600/year) to care for the beds.

We face some difficult decisions. To save money, the Property Team has recommended removing some of the trees and other plants in the barked beds and replacing them with grass that can more simply be mowed within the current mowing fees. They have red-flagged the plants that they suggest be removed. Before this work is done, I ask you to walk around the perimeter of the church and review what is suggested and give me your feedback.

We can preserve some of these plants, but only if the congregation steps forward with 1) volunteer time and sweat, and/or 2) contributions to support the designated mowing and weeding fund. It simply is not acceptable to let our grounds be poorly maintained. We must be good stewards of our property, and understand the message that the appearance of our church gives to visitors.

Email Robert Dejmal to have your name added to one of the four Yard Teams.

Nancy Agafitei, Stewardship Team Leader

Finally, a note about the “information” survey included in This Week at Hosanna the past two weeks: It was never my intention to eliminate any of the pieces of information sent out from Hosanna. It was simply a way to find out what types of information should be included in each publication. I will continue to keep everyone informed by whatever means possible, be it printed or electronic. The Hotline will be sent every month. This Week at Hosanna will be available to everyone attending worship and online, this Cyberline will be sent out every Friday (and posted to the Blog) and will be the primary means of sending emergency notification. Those who need to be notified by phone, because of not having internet access, will be called. The office needs to know who they are (there aren’t many; right now we have 4 people on the list). Dale Bargmann, Hosanna Parish Communications

A Little Humor

Why Jesus Loves Children

A Sunday school teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way
to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"

One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."

This is not humor, but I think it’s a good way to end this Cyberline:

Every person needs four things to make life worthwhile:

We need to love. We also need to be loved. As anthropologist Margaret Mead puts it, "One of the oldest human needs is having someone wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night."

We need to learn. And not only for a few years when we are young. We must be life-long learners who never stop growing, never cease to improve. For when we no longer grow, we stagnate. And when we stagnate, we die.

Finally, we need to leave a legacy. It is a basic desire to want our lives to count for something. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a little bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

These are four needs that must never be neglected. Live fully, love completely, learn constantly and leave something worthwhile behind. It is the path to success. And to joy.

That’s a lot, but it’s important. I hope you took to the time to read it. Continue to keep Hosanna in your prayers during this time decision.

Dale Bargmann, Hosanna Communications
dale@welcometohosanna.com