Weekly Cyberline 8-03-07

This is my first cyberline, as Dale is on vacation. I hope everyone receives it. If you’re looking for jokes, I’m sorry but there aren’t any! Somehow I did manage to upload the weekly news onto the website! We’ll see if I have such luck with this cyberline.
Debbie


Here is the link to This Week at Hosanna: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/weekly_news.pdf

Here is the link to the August Hotline:
http://www.welcometohosanna.com/monthly_news.pdf

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.

Mulkey Scholarship awards will be presented this Sunday at the 10:30 service.

Nita Auer has asked that students heading for college furnish the church office with their mailing addresses and contact information (even if it’s that same as last year). Please give us yourname, college/university/other, address, phone (cell or other) and email.

Click here to email this info to Nita, or use the form on the Green Sheet.

On a sad note: Bob Coleman’s mother, Natalie Coleman passed away on 7/31/07. A Memorial Service will be held in Lousianna with burial in Mississippi. Our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Natalie.
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A Note from Pastor Schwertlich
Dear members and friends of Hosanna,

I want to express to all of you my heartfelt appreciation for the loving and supportive expressions of congratulations which you gave me this past Sunday as I celebrated the 25th Anniversary of my Ordination into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. I appreciated the special touches added to the Communion Service and the opportunity to reflect on prayer in my years of ministry so far.

Thank you, Gay, for composing the beautiful prayers. Thank you also to the Staff Support Team who, in behalf of the congregation, presented me with the beautiful leather-bound copy of Evangelical Lutheran Worship with my name inscribed on the cover. I was touched also by the gift of the beautiful Anniversary Cake made by Debbie Escovy; I know everyone who had some enjoyed it very much. Days like this past Sunday count for me among the high points in my pastoral career thus far, and cause me hope and a grateful heart for the loving generosity and support of God's people. Kathleen and I both thank you all very much.

with God's grace in Jesus,

Bill &Kathleen Schwertlich
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IHN Rotation is September 16th – 23rd
We need help preparing meals, bringing food for lunch, moving beds in and out of Hosanna, driving the truck and van and evening and overnight hosts. See the yellow insert in the bulletin to sign up. Call Nickie Brooks with any questions.

Volunteer Opportunities for NAM
There are 2 volunteer project coordinators available if any one interested: 1 is for an Eagle Scout coordinator to act as liaison. The other is for the NAM gift card project. Please call Jamie Hartwell, NAM volunteer coordinator at 281.885.4609 for more info or if interested.

NAM Assistance Volunteers
turn caring hearts into everyday miracles

Are you . . .
· a good listener?
· genuinely concerned about helping people?
· ready to receive more than you give?

Then you are ready to be a NAM Assistance Interviewer.
· No experience necessary, just a caring heart.
· Spanish-language skills a plus, but not required.

Assistance volunteers change people’s world every day. On an average day, 30 families with needs come to NAM’s Assistance Office. NAM volunteers help meet those needs.

If you wish to truly give your neighbors a hand in hope and love, volunteer to become an Assistance Interviewer with NAM. Training will be held on Monday, September 17 from 9am to 3pm. Volunteers also will receive on-the-job training. Volunteers are asked to commit from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. one day a week Monday – Friday. To learn more about becoming an Assistance Interviewer, please call Lynn at 281-885-4587.

Make a Difference
Become an Assistance Interviewer

Northwest Assistance Ministries
15555 Kuykendahl – Houston, TX 77090


Book Discussion
The Hosanna Book Discussion is open to everyone who enjoys reading and discussing what they have read.
The next selection will be When the Lion Roars, by DiAnn Mills.
“An American female doctor, an Arab Christian man and an officer of the Sudanese people's Liberation Army must work together to find and liberate a young American girl who's been abducted into slavery by Northern Sudanese. These unlikely partners face the reality of a nation in turmoil, and the rampant hostility that exists between Christians and Muslims. When the Lion Roars addresses issues of prejudice, and the injustices inflicted upon Southern Sudanese citizens by those of the North Country . Redemptive resolutions reveal the heart of God toward all people. This exciting adventure also will educate readers about a current international situation right out of today's headlines.”
The Book Discussion will meet at Hosanna Saturday, September 8, at 6 PM. Those who wish can continue the discussion at a local restaurant following the meeting at church.
Note: Ms. Mills will be present at the discussion: The following message was passed on to me by Nancy Agafitei from the book’s author:
I'd be honored to be a guest at your book club on Saturday, September 8th at 6:00. I will be at the Champions Barnes and Noble earlier that afternoon to sign the sequel to When the Lion Roars. That novel is entitled When the Nile Runs Red. The proceeds of that novel, as well as the one you are discussing and Lost Boy No More goes back to aid the Sudanese.
If you think any of your members would be interested in the sequel, I can bring When the Nile Runs Red. This novel was written after a November 2006 trip to Sudan .
Thank you for the invitation,
DiAnn Mills

Also, save this date: Saturday, October 13, will be the next book discussion. Hosanna Book Discussion co-founder, Sean Kottke, will be visiting from Michigan. The title will be announced later.
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Synod Mission Endowment Fund Challenges Congregations to raise $170,000 by August 31. This will raise the total to $1,000,000 by the time Synod Bishop Paul Blom leaves office.

The Mission Endowment Fund:
Provides seminary scholarships
Supports campus ministry
Supports new missions and ministries
Supports new congregations
Supports young Lutheran congregations and ministries

Make checks payable to Hosanna and mark them “Synod Mission Endowment Fund.” Thanks for your support.

Anyone interested in a week-night study group?
By request… Monday, August 20, a small group will gather to study the Bible and other subjects of interest. We will begin with a discussion on the life of Martin Luther (about 4 weeks). Other topics may include: the Life of Jesus, Paul’s missionary journeys, the cities of Revelation. More details (time and place) later. Send Dale Bargmann an email if you would like to join us. Right now 4 people have expressed interest.

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, just 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 this 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 has reported that we also cannot get volunteers to tend the barked beds. The commercial service charges an extra $50 once a month (or $600/year) to take care of the beds.
We now face some difficult decisions. To save at least some 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
Nancy Agafitei , Stewardship Team Leader
Email Robert Dejmal to have your name added to one of the four Yard Teams.