Hosanna Cyberline - December 21, 2007

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (from Psalm 42)   

Here is the link to This Week at Hosanna for December 23: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/weekly_news.pdf   

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

This year, the gospel lessons are mostly from Matthew. You are invited to read a chapter per week. Here is a link to chapter 3 on BibleGateway.com: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%203&version=31

This is the story of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. Archaeologists have discovered the very place where it is thought John baptized Jesus. The gospel of John calls it “Bethany beyond the Jordan.” Today it is called Tell el-Kharrar, and it is located on the east side of the Jordan, not far from Jericho. For more information and photos, click this link (part of the Hosanna website): http://www.welcometohosanna.com/LIFE_OF_JESUS/14baptism.htm  

Update from Pastor Bill: Kathleen is laying, fully dressed, complete with Santa hat, in the hospital bed chatting with Nurse Maria. All the doctors have been in to give prescriptions, instructions and the OK to go home. Kathleen's arthritis symptoms have now subsided as they resumed her previous regimen of arthritis medication.  So she's moving easily and pain-free, although a little slower.  But she's chatty and chirpy, highly motivated, and keeping her eye on the prize of HOME.  We are confident that her energy will not only return, but be even better now that the TICKER is working better !

So, let me say once more, ever more, and again, THANK YOU ALL for your prayers, good and kind thoughts, concern, support, and gifts in this our twenty-four (24) day journey.

Sunday, December 23 the CBS television network will air a two-hour prime time program entitled "In God's Name." This special will feature extraordinary footage of 12 of the world's most influential religious leaders, including our very own Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and president of the Lutheran World Federation.   Tune in at 9:00 p.m. (Eastern and Pacific), 8:00 p.m. (Central) as these diverse and powerful voices offer provocative, compelling and enlightening perspectives on issues in our post-9/11 world, including the rise of terrorism, fanaticism, intolerance and war. For more information go to http://www.elca.org/ingodsname .  

Christmas week at Hosanna… Line up of services on Christmas Eve, Monday December 24:

4:30 PM - Family Service of Holy Communion with Candlelight 
7 PM - Festival Service of Holy Communion with Candlelight 
9:30 PM - Christmas Eve Contemporary Service with Holy Communion and Candlelight  

• No Weekly Bible study December 26 or January 2 Other items…
  
• Year-end reports are due: Reminder to all Hosanna officers, team leaders and staff to submit your year-end reports no later than Monday, December 31. Email them to debbie.rohla@welcometohosanna.com.  
• Hosanna Book Discussion group - Next meeting is Saturday, January 26, 6 PM in the Hosanna Conference Room. The title to be discussed is "River God: a novel of ancient Egypt " by Wilbur Smith.
  
• An NCD (Natural Church Development) Special Event: January 27— Pastor Kerry Nelson of Covenant Lutheran Church will lead us through “Experiencing God in New Ways.” Watch for more information in “This Week at Hosanna” and the “Hosanna Weekly Cyberline.”
• Announcing the 2008 TELLing Synod’s Annual Men's Gathering
• Saturday, February 16 at Covenant Lutheran Church,
  
• 3785 Barker-Cypress Rd., Houston. 
• The day will be filled with fellowship, learning and worship.
• David Murrow, author of the best-seller, “Why Men Hate Going to Church” will be the morning keynote speaker.
• Bishop Mike Rinehart will preach for worship;
• Special music by Peter Mayer, Lutheran singer/songwriter, and lead guitarist for the Jimmy Buffet Band.
• Cost: $25 per person (ages 14-104).
• RSVP: Pastor Brian Gigee brian@newlifelutheran.com or Velon Burnett myburnett@sbcglobal.net.
• More information: www.gulfcoastmeninmission.com
  
• Let’s wing it! On Super Bowl Sunday, February 3, CREW will again be fixing batches of Tripp Smith’s Famous Buffalo Wings. Get your taste-buds ready.  

A Little More Christmas Humor:  

Southern Wise MenIn a small southern town there was a "Nativity Scene" that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature bothered me. The three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets.

Unable to come up with an explanation, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She smiled at me and said, "You darn Yankees never do read the Bible!" 

I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible.

 
She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled thru some pages, and jabbed her finger at a passage. Holding it up to my face she said "See, it says right here, 'The three wise man came from afar.'"

A blessed Christmas to everyone. Dale Bargmann, Hosanna Communications

Hosanna Cyberline - December 14, 2007

“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.” (from Psalm 146)

• Here is the link to This Week at Hosanna for December 16: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/weekly_news.pdf
• Here is the link to the December Hotline: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/monthly_news.pdf
• Note: the Deadline for submitting items for the January Hotline is December 15.
• This year, the gospel lessons are mostly from Matthew. You are invited to read a chapter per week. Here is a link to chapter 2 on BibleGateway.com: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%202&version=31
• This is the dramatic account of the coming of the Magi and the paranoid Jewish ruler, Herod, who seeks to eliminate a potential rival. But Herod was seriously ill at the time and died soon after.
• Here is link to a National Geographic article, with photo, about the recent discovery of Herod’s tomb at the Herodion, a hilltop fortress not far from Bethlehem. It only took 2000 years to find it! http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/070508-herod-photos.html
• Here’s a link to a U-tube video featuring stills from the movie “Nativity Story” paired with “Joseph’s Song” by Michael Card. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BARVAg0gl6w Read Matthew 1:18-25 while listening to the music. It’s especially meaningful for us fathers and grandfathers.

This week…

• Rehearsals for the 4:30 PM Christmas Eve children’s service have begun... Sundays @ 9:30 AM in the children's choir room. All children grades pre-k through 6th grade are invited to sing! See you there!
• Hosanna’s next IHN rotation begins this Sunday, December 16—Sunday, December 23. Our guests will be staying at the InTown Suites, not at the church. Lunch ingredients are still needed, as is a driver for the truck. Contract Nickie Brooks.

Family Life notes from Amber Walker…

• Confirmation Christmas Party this Saturday, December 15 @ 3 PM at Main Event, 19441 I-45 North, Shenandoah, TX (near The Woodlands). Contact Theresa White for information.
• College Student Get-together—You have been missed! Please join Amber December 18 from 7-8 PM for coffee and conversation in Classroom 5. She wants to hear all about what you have been doing.

Other items...

• Let’s wing it! On Super Bowl Sunday, February 3, CREW will again be fixing batches of Tripp Smith’s Famous Buffalo Wings. Tell your taste-buds to get ready.
• The new 2008 Altar Flower sign up has been posted on the bulletin board in the north entrance area.

Line up of services on Christmas Eve, Monday December 24:

• 4:30 PM - Family Service of Holy Communion with Candlelight
• 7 PM - Festival Service of Holy Communion with Candlelight
• 9:30 PM - Christmas Eve Contemporary Service with Holy Communion and Candlelight

Two last minute prayers to add to the list in This Week as Hosanna:

• The latest (as of Thurs.) on Kathleen Schwertlich from Pastor Bill: At about 2:20 this afternoon the Drs. determined that Kathleen could go to a regular hospital room! Thank God! She's now in Dunn Building, D-908. Room phone number is: 713-790-6690. Her heart rate has been staying in a good range. She still has the trachea tube (no word on when that might come out). She's tired from the extra activity of walking, etc. Yet, even with the weariness of the length and rigor of her hospital stay, she continues to be grateful for so many things.
• Katherine King, mother of Bill King, passed away 12-10. The King’s are driving to Colorado. Pray not only for the King family, but for safe travel for Bill and Sue.

A Little Christmas Humor...

• If athletes get athlete's foot, astronauts get missile toe.
• A bird dog could be called a point setter.
• James Fenimore Cooper wrote about the life of Santa Claus in his novel The Deer Sleigher.
• A Christmas quiz:
• On December 24, Adam's wife was known as ________________. A: Christmas Eve
• In Charles Dickens's “A Christmas Carol,” Scrooge was visited by the ghost of ________________. A: Christmas Present.
• An opinion survey in Alaska is called a ____________. A: North Poll.
• What does Santa Claus do with his three gardens? A: Hoe, Hoe, Hoe.
• What Christmas message is conveyed by these letters?: ABCDEFGHIJKMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ ABCDEFGHIJKMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. A: Noel, Noel (no “L” in each alphabet)
• When the salt and the pepper say "Hi!" to each other, they are passing on __________. A: seasons' greetings.
• A quiet medieval armor-wearer is a _______________. A: silent knight.
• A cat walking on the desert is bound to get _____________. A: sandy claws.
• What do Spanish sheep says when they wish each other a Merry Christmas? _______________. A: Fleece Navidad!

Bye until next week,
Dale Bargmann, Hosanna Communications

Hosanna Cyberline - December 7, 2007

“I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” (Romans 14:14)

Here is the link to This Week at Hosanna for December 9: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/weekly_news.pdf

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

This year, the gospel lessons are taken primarily from Matthew. You are invited to read a chapter per week. Here is a link to chapter 1 on BibleGateway.com: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%201;&version=31;
Don’t rush through the genealogy. Here is a link to a Bible Encyclopedia to check out the backgrounds of some of Jesus’ ancestors: http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/home.html

This week…

• This Sunday @ 12:30 PM, is the Seniors (50+) Christmas Potluck.
• Also this Sunday: Deadline for returning NAM Holiday Toy Drive bags.
• This Sunday: The Men of Hosanna help CREW pack the Seafarer’s Christmas Boxes @ 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Thanks Hosanna! You contributed $1,428; Thrivent contributed another $1,400 for a total of $2,828, enough to fill 105 boxes. (There were 96 last year.) About 8 more men are needed @ 5:15 PM to help organize materials, fill boxes and clean up afterward. Please sign up in the Narthex.
• Rehearsals for the 4:30 PM Christmas Eve children’s service have begun... Sundays @ 9:30 AM in the children's choir room. All children grades pre-k through 6th grade are invited to sing! See you there!
• Hosanna Book Discussion, Saturday, December 15 @ 6 PM in the Conference Room, for a discussion of the medical thriller Crisis, by Robin Cook.
• Saturday, December 15—Deadline for January Hotline Submissions
• Hosanna’s next IHN rotation is Sunday, December 16—Sunday, December 23. Our guests will be staying at the InTown Suites, not at the church. See the back of the green “Welcome” insert to sign up to provide meals, juice and milk. Some dates are still open, especially for lunch ingredients.

Family Life notes from Amber Walker…

• Confirmation Christmas Party—December 15 @ 3 PM at Main Event, 19441 I-45 North, Shenandoah, TX (near The Woodlands). Contact Theresa White for information.
• College Student Get Together—We have missed you! Please join Amber December 18 from 7-8 PM for coffee and conversation in Classroom 5. I want to hear all about what you have been doing.

Other items…

• Good news about the missing steam cleaner... Debbie informed me that it has been returned. Thank you.
• Line up of services on Christmas Eve, Monday December 24:
• 4:30 PM - Service of Holy Communion with Candlelight-Child Friendly
• 7 PM - Festival Service of Holy Communion with Candlelight
• 9:30 PM - Christmas Eve Contemporary Service with Holy Communion and Candlelight

A Little Humor:

Top Ten Uses for Fruitcake

10. Use slices to balance that wobbly kitchen table.

9. Use instead of sand bags during El Nino.

8. Send to U.S. Air Force, let troops drop them.

7. Use as railroad ties.

6. Use as speed bumps to foil the neighborhood drag racers.

5. Collect ten and use them as bowling pins.

4. Use instead of cement shoes.

3. Save for next summer's garage sale.

2. Use slices in next skeet-shooting competition.

1. Two words: pin cushion.

Remember Pearl Harbor and all our veterans who served and are serving.

Dale Bargmann, Hosanna Communictions