Hosanna Cyberfline - January 18, 2008

“Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us.” (from Psalm 40)

This Sunday, January 20…

Thanks to Rev. John Boldt, representative of the ELCA Stewardship Team, for his special message on the “Joy of Giving.”

Also this Sunday - Mission of the Month noisy offering for the Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the only Arabic-speaking Lutheran denomination in the world and the only indigenous Lutheran church in the Middle East. Our gifts will continue to make education an opportunity for many children, for example: $20 covers the tuition of one child for one week; $70 continues support for one month and $420 supports that child for six months. Please pull out any loose change and deposit it in the buckets during the offering.

Next Sunday, January 27…

Come to the Consecration Celebration Potluck after the 11AM service. Meat, bread, and drinks provided. Bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Also next Sunday - An NCD (Natural Church Development) Special Event, 4-8 PM - “Experiencing God in New Ways.” Pastor Kerry Nelson from Covenant Lutheran Church will lead us through these experiences. A soup supper will be served. Sign up in the Narthex.

Other Items:

FYI… Lent begins very early this year. Ash Wednesday is February 6; Easter is March 23!

February 3 - Let’s Wing It! - CREW fundraiser on Super Bowl Sunday featuring Tripp Smith’s famous Buffalo Wings. $12 per dozen; $7 per jar of Tripp’s special sauce. Sign up on the green “Welcome” sheet or the poster in the narthex.

Saturday, February 9 - All women of Hosanna are invited to the annual WELCA Valentine's breakfast and general meeting, 9-10:30 AM at R.J. Goodies Confections, 17297 Stuebner Airline Rd., Spring, 281 376 4554. Deadline to purchase tickets ($10 each) is February 3. See Heda Christ.

Saturday, February 9 – Hosanna Book Discussion @ 6 PM in the Conference Room. The title to be discussed is "River God: a novel of ancient Egypt " by Wilbur Smith."

Friday, February 15 – Deadline for registering your children for camp. Youngins, Yearlins, and Alpha will attend Lutherhill August 3-8. Print and complete the registration form (see link on the home page of the Hosanna website: http://www.welcometohosanna.com) and give to Amber by February 15 with a deposit check for $85. See Amber for more info.

Saturday, February 16 - TELLing Synod’s Annual Men's Gathering
at Covenant Lutheran Church, 3785 Barker-Cypress Rd.

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
Here is the link to This Week at Hosanna for January 20: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/weekly_news.pdf

Here is the link to the January 2008 Hotline: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/monthly_news.pdf

The February Hotline is scheduled to be mailed next week.

Your weekly reading is Matthew 7: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%207&version=31
This is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount.

A Little Humor…When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

Hosanna Cyberfline - January 13, 2008

“The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” (from Psalm 29)

Link to This Week at Hosanna for January 13: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/weekly_news.pdf

Link to the January 2008 Hotline: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/monthly_news.pdf

For those reading the book of Matthew, the weekly reading is Matthew 6: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%206;&version=31;
This chapter includes the Lord’s Prayer and the words “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”

This week…

Sunday, January 13 - The Baptism of Jesus. We will affirm our baptisms.

Also, Annual Congregation Meeting immediately following 11 AM worship. A brief call committee update, review of annual reports and servant awards are on the agenda. This is not a potluck.

January Items:

January 15 - Reminder that all articles for the February Hotline should be submitted no later than January 15. All items received after that date will not be included in the February Hotline.

Saturday, January 19 - All women of Hosanna are invited to a baby shower for Alysha Reed from 2 - 4 PM at Hosanna. Please call Ann Zillmer: 936-446-1216 or 281-796-8981 if you will be attending.

Saturday January 19 - All men, mark your calendars for the annual Men of Hosanna Breakfast at Luby’s Cafeteria on FM 1960, across from Pappa’s Bar-B-Q. Cost: $7 in advance payable to Rollie Lund or Bob McConnell. Add your name to the sign-up sheet that in the North narthex. Bring a friend and have a real good time getting to know the Men of Hosanna. Come early. Coffee is at 7:45 AM; breakfast is at 8 and the meeting will be over by 10 AM.

Sunday, January 27 - Potluck. Hosanna’s annual January stewardship emphasis will focus on the “Joy of Giving.”

Sunday, January 27 - Please join us for a Natural Church Development (NCD) event on from 4:00-8:00 PM. We will be Experiencing God In New Ways with Pastor Kerry Nelson of Covenant Lutheran Church. A soup supper will be served. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex (so we know how much soup to make) or e-mail Lorraine Moore at pennsigirl@gmail.com. Please let us know if you need child care. The team is suggesting an offering of $5.00 to help cover the cost of the event.

February Items...

February 3 - Super Bowl Sunday: Let’s Wing It! CREW fundraiser featuring Tripp Smith’s famous Buffalo Wings. $12 per dozen; $7 per jar of Tripp’s special sauce. Sign up in the narthex.

FYI… Lent begins early this year. Ash Wednesday is February 6; Easter is March 23!

Saturday, February 9 - Hosanna Book Discussion group... Note the date change. The title to be discussed is "River God: a novel of ancient Egypt " by Wilbur Smith." Time is 6 PM in the Hosanna Conference Room.

February 15 - Deadline for 2008 Camp Registration. Youngins, Yearlins, and Alpha will attend Lutherhill August 3-8. To register your child, print and complete the individual registration form here: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/2008_camp_registration_form.pdf or on the Hosanna website (click the "Youth" link on the home page) and give to Amber with a deposit check for $85. See Amber for more info.

Saturday, February 16 - 2008 TELLing Synod’s Annual Men's Gathering
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

A Little Humor

The Stewardship Team would like to start it out on a light note by following the lead of a late night talk show host who often presents his “Top Ten” lists.

THE TOP TEN THINGS YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD IN CHURCH

10. Pastor, we’d like to send you to a Bible seminar in the Bahamas.
9. Personally I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf.
8. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class.
7. I’ve decided to give our church the $500 a month I used to send to TV evangelists.
6. Forget the denominational minimum salary. Let’s pay our pastor so he can live as well as we do.
5. Since we’re all here, let’s start the service early.
4. I was so enthralled; I never noticed the sermon went 40 minutes over time.
3. Hey! It’s my turn to sit in the front pew.
2. I love it when we sing hymns I’ve never heard before!
1. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment more than our annual Stewardship campaign!

It is the hope of the Stewardship Team that you consider how your giving brings harmony and joy to your life as a Christian. We hope that you will think more about ministry and less about money; more about your need to give, and less about Hosanna’s need to receive; more about the joy of giving, and less about the duty to give.

We also hope that by February we WILL hear in church that nothing has inspired you and strengthened your commitment to ministry more than our annual stewardship campaign.

Dale Bargmann, Hosanna Communications