Hosanna Cyberline - February 1, 2008

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (from Psalm 32)

This week we mourn the loss of our beloved Mary Lou Stahl, wife of Carmine, whose funeral service took place yesterday at Hosanna. Her obituary was printed in the Wednesday, January 30 Houston Chronicle, B7.

This Sunday, February 3 (Transfiguration of our Lord)

It is also 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.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, February 6 - Ash Wednesday: Family service @ 6:15 and Traditional worship @ 7:30 PM.
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 - Yard Team “D”: King, D. Brown, S. McVay, Kemper, R. Walker
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."
Sunday, February 10 - Sunday, March 2 - Art for the Hungry 2008 - CREW is building the "Colosseum" out of 1,000 canned goods. Please donate canned goods with white or neutral labels to the CREW room. You may also make a cash donation. All cans will be donated to NAM's SOS food drive.
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.
Friday, February 15 - Deadline for submitting March Hotline (Hosanna monthly newsletter) articles. Anything submitted after this date will not be included.
Saturday, February 16 - 2008 TELLing Synod’s Annual Men's Gathering
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
Sunday, February 17 - Inquirers Gathering, for those considering membership, in the Conference Room. Contact Nita at the church office.
Other Items…

Mark these dates:

Sunday, March 9 - Congregation Meeting
Wednesdays during Lent (beginning February 13): Soup Supper @ 6 PM; Lenten Service @ 6:45 PM
Sunday, March 16 - Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion
March 16 - March 23 - IHN Week at Hosanna (Look for the sign-up on the back of the green "Welcome" insert in the Sunday bulletins)
Thursday, March 20 - Maundy Thursday
Friday, March 21 - Good Friday
Saturday, March 22 - Easter Vigil
Sunday, March 23 - Easter/Resurrection of our Lord (Easter breakfast and festival services)
Other Items...

Yard Volunteers are needed each weekend in February and March to prepare the beds to be laid with sod. This includes: raising sprinkler heads, removing unwanted trees and plants, re-laying brick paver to help with drainage and shaping the beds for the sod to be placed. Everyone is the congregation is invited to help including men, women, CREW, Confirmation and youth. See the sign up sheets in the north narthex. Let's all pitch in and get our grounds ready for more sod!
Mowing teams are looking for more volunteers. Can you help mow the grounds once every other month? Then, see Bob Dejmal and he'll put you on a team with 4 or 5 other people
The Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County ReStore is a retail outlet that handles donated building materials, construction supplies, appliances, and furniture which are then offered to the general public at greatly reduced prices. The ReStore is open Monday through Saturday 9am to 6pm. A key goal of the ReStore is to re-cycle and thus reduce the amount of solid waste placed into our vital landfills. Please keep the ReStore in mind for both donations and for purchases. Donation pick-up is available for large items or large quantities. All of the proceeds are used by Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable housing for deserving families. Visit the ReStore at 13572 State Hwy 249 at Bammel North-Houston or call 832-327-1120.
Help Wanted: Our synod office is looking for part-time volunteer receptionists. Must be friendly, patient and interested in learning new things! Available openings are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, 10 am to 3 pm. Lunch will be reimbursed. Contact Lucia Morales at 281-873-5665 for more information.
New NAM Volunteer Opportunities for 2008*
*in addition to those currently available at http://www.namonline.org.
NAM Volunteer Orientation required. Please see website for information or call
281-885-4565 for a recorded message regarding orientation dates and times.
Rotary Learning Center needs receptionists in February for class registration. Contact Linda at 281-885-4626 for more info.
Shelter and Energy (SEA) needs volunteers to assist the elderly and disabled in filling out the CEAP (Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program) applications. Contact Debbie at 281-885-4526.
Help packing frozen meals on Fridays for Saturday distribution. Contact Cheryl in MOW at 281-885-4622.
Thursday afternoon MOW drivers needed at Prince of Peace. Contact Cheryl in MOW at 281-885-4622.
Business Office seeks volunteers to schedule NAM trucks for donation pick-ups. Contact Gloria in the Business Office at 281-885-4585 for more info.
Development seeks accurate typists for donation data entry. Contact Jamie at 281-885- 4609 for more info.
Professionals needed to contact decision makers at area businesses to schedule NAM tours, etc. Contact Julie at 281-885-4534 for more info.

Link to This Week at Hosanna for February 3: http://www.welcometohosanna.com/weekly_news.pdf

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

Your weekly reading is Matthew 10: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2010&version=31
Jesus instructs his disciples.

A Little Humor…

John was the only Protestant to move into a large Catholic neighborhood. On the first Friday of Lent, he was standing outside in his back yard grilling a big juicy steak on his grill. Meanwhile, all of his neighbors were eating cold tuna fish for supper. This continued on each Friday throughout Lent.

On the last Friday of Lent, the neighborhood men got together and decided that something had to be done about John. He was tempting them to eat meat each Friday of Lent, and they couldn't take it anymore. They would try and convert John to Catholicism. They all spoke to him and were so happy when he chose to join his neighbors and become a Catholic. They took him to Church, and the Priest sprinkled some water over him, and said,

"You were born a Baptist,
you were raised a Baptist,
and now you are a Catholic."

Everyone was happy. The biggest Lenten temptation in their neighborhood was resolved.

A year passed and the Lenten season again rolled around. On the first Friday of Lent the neighbors sat down for their fish dinners. But the tantalizing aroma of steak on a grill came wafting through the air. The neighbors could not believe their noses! WHAT WAS GOING ON?

They called each other up and decided to meet over in John's yard to see if he had forgotten it was the first Friday of Lent?

The men looked toward John's house and saw John standing over his grill with a small pitcher of water. He was sprinkling water over his grilled steak, saying:

"You were born a cow,
you were raised a cow,
and now you are a fish."