March 2016

Silent Auction through Palm Sunday, March 20 Keep on bidding! Hope’s Silent Auction will run through Sunday,

March 20th. Every member is encouraged to participate by donating

and bidding. Think about the GIFTS YOU HAVE TO SHARE. What

skill do you have that others may want? Great at organizing?~ Offer to

organize someone’s home or office!.. Like to paint?~ Offer to paint a

room!.. Handy with tools?~ Offer to be someone’s handyman for a

day!.. Good at sewing?~ Offer to do some mending!.. You get the idea! Of course, the ever-popular

group meals and gatherings are always welcome, along with any new items you have but do not want or

need. Please make sure to write down the value of your gift or items, so the Trustees can come up with

appropriate beginning bids (all beginning bids will be determined by the Trustees). Donations need to

be turned in to Hope ASAP.

SUPPER & WORSHIP ON WEDNESDAY’S Worship with us on Wednesday evenings during Lent. Join us for soup and sandwiches at 6:00 pm. Members

were sent a letter and helper schedule with all the details. Each year, members are asked to participate by

bringing sandwiches, fruit or vegetables, bars or milk one Wednesday during the

Lenten season, and Hope will provide the soup (a free-will offering is collected to

help with this expense). Our worship service begins at 6:45 pm. Our focus during

Lent is on prayer and making space in our lives for deepening our knowing of

God. H2H students are expected to attend worship with their families, as this will

take the place of their curriculum/class time during Lent.

WHO’S COMING TO DINNER? SATURDAY, MARCH 12 6:30PM

“Who’s Coming to Dinner” is a great way to enjoy food & fellowship while getting

to know fellow congregation members. If you talk to past participants, you’ll find

out that these dinners are just plain fun & that everyone should participate. How

does it work? The host provides the main dish & dinner attendees are asked to

bring a side dish to share. The host does not know who’s coming to dinner. The

dinner attendees know where they are going but don’t know who’s joining them.

Please e-mail darlenemarte@hotmail.com

to sign up!

Page 2

From Pastor Steve. . . NOW... AND NOT YET Weary winter doldrums... the last part of the wilderness journey.... Spring and new life are

near, now, but not quite yet.

For some reason, lately, I find myself saying at some point every day some version of, "It is

what it is, now AND not yet." It's true literally in the natural world. On a rainy afternoon

in the middle of April in 2006 I looked out the window of my study and saw the miracle of

new life emerging. I thought then about something that I was reminded of recently, that the opposite of faith is

not doubt, its control. We really have no control over the resurrection power of God's love. This song came out

of that contemplation:

The ground frozen hard holding back the miracle

Under winter’s guard a Sabbath tomb until

The day of rising up and the power of life set free

A sacramental cycle faith can see

Heaven’s mercy washing tears from my face

Death is not a problem to be solved

Underneath the surface is a mystery to embrace

In every new beginning the Will of Love involved

Down in the seeded ground of grace.

Rain falls soft and warm on grateful thirsty earth

April Easter morn glad season of rebirth

Lonely little seeds start to yield to what will be

A sacramental cycle faith can see

After summer’s growth comes the harvest and the feast

We count our blessings both greatest and the least

The engine of vitality turns by divine decree

A sacramental cycle faith can see

It’s all so beautiful, this generous generation

By some strange romantic pull of love on love’s creation

The sacramental cycle is God's will and way. That engine of vitality continues to turn completely beyond our

control! Faith sees it and knows that death, in all of its forms, is beyond our control. It is not a problem for us to

solve. God, by that strange romantic pull, has already solved it. God's beautiful attraction is ultimately

irresistible. Not even the most stubborn recalcitrant particle of willful winter can hold out against the warmth of

it. Alleluia!

Pastor Steve

During the Easter season, it is encouraging to see both new and familiar faces at our worship services. Throughout the year, many of you already support the congregation with your time, talent and financial contributions, but greater participation is always welcome. We encourage you to look into our electronic giving program. It takes just a few minutes to set up a recurring giving plan. Visit the church website and locate the donation link on the bottom of our home page or complete a paper authorization form found at the Information Station in the narthex.

Page 3

How to Make Mornings Easier Getting young children out the door on time each morning can be a hair-raising experience. Listed below are some tips for taking the mayhem out of the morning routine:

Have “practice mornings” when you’re not in a hurry. Try it on the weekend.

Make a guide for them by taking pictures of them doing all the things they need to do in the morning the posting them in a common area (IE on the refrigerator).

Set limits with enforceable statements. Here are some examples: “Breakfast will be on the table until the timer goes ding.” “I give treats to kids who brush their teeth.” “My car is leaving in just a little while. Will you be going with your clothes on your body or your clothes in a bag?”

Enforce these limits with plenty of loving empathy. This may mean taking your child to preschool in their pajamas or by expecting them to pay you for taking them to school when they are late. Hint: If you think you may need to take your child to school with their clothes in a bag, call the school and let them know ahead of time.

-You can find more techniques at www.loveandlogic.com

PARENTS’ CORNER. . .

Men’s Breakfast ~

Saturday, March 5th

The men’s group meets on the 1st

Saturday of each month at The

Feedmill Restaurant for breakfast.

So mark your calendar for March 5th

@ 7:30 am, and please feel free to

invite anyone you know that might be

looking for a new church home or just

some good Christian guys to hang

out with!

Roman military

tribune Clavius

(Joseph Fiennes)

remains set in

his ways after

serving 25 years

in the army. He

arrives at a

crossroad when

he's tasked to

investigate the

mystery of what

happened to Jesus (Cliff Curtis) following the

Crucifixion. Accompanied by trusted aide Lucius

(Tom Felton), his quest to disprove rumors of a risen

Messiah makes him question his own beliefs and

spirituality. As his journey takes him to places never

dreamed of, Clavius discovers the truth that he's

been seeking.

Hope Lutheran Church would like you to join us

on Sunday, March 13, 2016. We will meet at Hope

at 1:45 pm and carpool to Marcus theatre in

Shakopee, MN. When we return to Hope, stay for

refreshments and a brief discussion about the

movie.

Page 4

Lent is a great time to join Hope's Choir! Joining now will mean you are ready to sing for Easter Sunday at our Resurrection Service.

The adult choir meets Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm (just following the Lenten Service). We rehearse for 1 hour and sing 3 Sundays of the month. We would love to have new singers join us. High school singers are always welcome!

No tryouts necessary for anyone! Questions? Ask Char Senske or any choir member.

Why Not Me?

My Battle with

Leukemia

by Todd Oakes

Starting in April,

Adult Ed will be

reading this book.

We will also be

offering a Book club

evening session.

This will be a 4 – 6

week study. Please

contact Angie

Newton to order

your copy of Todd’s

book!

Date Description Expense Income Balance

12/14/2015 Prayer Chapel bench material 162.95 $4,173.54

12/31/2015 Garage Sale Donation 125.00 $4,298.54

1/3/2016 Donation in Memory of Howard Senske 20.00 $4,318.54

1/17/2016 Donation in Memory of Howard Senske 150.00 $4,468.54

2/2/2016 Living Grace/4 Offering Plates 176.72 $4,291.82

2/7/2016 Donation in Memory of Miranda Fossen’s

Pineal Cyst

250.00 $4,541.82

A great time was

had by our 2nd

grade kiddos on

Saturday, February

13th for the 10

Commandment

retreat at Hope!

Page 5

Families Moving Forward -- Volunteer Opportunities

This is an exciting time for Families Moving Forward - SW. Many volunteer opportunities are available with the opening of the new program center and our hosting week coming up. Volunteer opportunities are listed below. Contact Leah Holmberg at 952-913-5649 or leah.holmberg.72@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out or for more information.

March 5: A team of volunteers is needed to clean the new program center at Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church and get it ready for painting and move in. Contact Leah Holmberg for more information or if you are willing to help (952-913-5649, leah.holmberg.72@gmail.com).

March 20: Hope Lutheran Church and St. John's have been asked to help provide meals and supervision for families on March 20. The hosting site will be at Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church (145 Engler Blvd) in Chaska. We are responsible for providing dinner plus a volunteer presence throughout the late afternoon, evening and overnight on March 20. Please sign up online (an email was sent last week) or contact Leah Holmberg if you can help.

April 2, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.; St. John's Lutheran Church, Chaska: Beacon if offering training sessions for volunteers (experienced and new). Contact Leah Holmberg to register.

April 3 - 10: Mark your calendars for the next hosting week at Hope! Watch for an email with the volunteer schedule in early March.

Thank you for your continued dedication to this program.

Annual Meeting Recap. . . .

Page 6

Annual Easter Prayer Vigil

March 25th at 8 pm -

March 26th at 6 am

Our 2016 Prayer Vigil will begin

after the service on Good Friday

and go through the night until 6

am Saturday morning.

Watch for further news...

2 Kathy Fossen

3 Cindy Bennett

6 Brian Kelvington, Kyle Narum, Jason Chalupsky

8 Branden Pickar, Paul Gaukstad, Trista Smith

10 Michelle Bedney

12 Kristy Konopacki

14 Nancy Christianson, Rachel Piotrowski

15 Jen Clemmerson

17 Meghan Hendricks

20 Brad Evenson, Sarah Gavert,

Tori Hauer

23 Mike Franck

24 Gary Pasek

26 Sam Leonard, Jennifer Pasek

If an adult you know has a birthday in March, but is not listed here, please call the church office at 492-2099.

what is lent?

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start

of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

Page 7

Prayer Concerns Brett Schaumburg ~hemophilia

Todd Oakes ~ leukemia

Shari Saul ~ breast cancer

Dennis Simpson ~ knee replacement surgery Feb 29th. Paul Schmidt ~ pulled lower back muscles Lisa Schatz ~ complications from gall bladder surgery

Claire Olivia Lindell ~ heart defect Greg Flolid ~ cancer (Suzanne Arntson’s brother)

Jen ~ colon cancer

Dave S ~ health issues

Tony B ~ complications from surgery

Pam ~ ovarian cancer

Joanne C ~ job search

Gracie Billups ~ leukemia (niece of Jane and Gene Sieve) Carolyn Nehrenz ~ lymphoma Jackie Fitzpatrick ~ breast cancer (2nd round)

Helen ~ lung cancer Lexyn Groff ~ rare cancer (child at Jordan Elem)

Jean Rydstrom ~ congestive heart failure (friend of Carol Simpson)

Payton Faith Smith ~ multiple health issues

Joys and Praise the Lord! -Denny and Carlonna Lindell have a new granddaughter! Claire Olivia Lindell was born to Andrew and Michelle Lindell on Feb 10th, weighing 7lbs 5oz and 21" long. -Thank you for your prayers for Pat Kirk. She is feeling physically and emotionally better!

-Prayers for Alex Pepek as he continues his education in Montana for two years. What a wonderful opportunity for him!

Prayers for those who grieve The family of Joe Shindler as they mourn his passing.

For These Ministries Pastor Steve, Angie, Lynda, and Sarah

Kids of the Kingdom, 5/6 Youth Group, H2H Confirmation Class, High School Youth Group, Adult Education

Adult Choir and Children's Choirs, F.I.S.H., Families Moving Forward

Holy Week Schedule ~March 23rd Wednesday 6:00-8:30pm Children &

Adult Choirs

~March 24th Maundy Thursday 6:45 pm Worship &

Communion Recognition for

5th Graders

~March 25th Good Friday 6:45 pm Worship, led by H2H

Confirmation

~March 25th Prayer Vigil 8:00 pm-6:00 am (Saturday morning)

~March 27th Easter Sunday 7:30 am Worship

9:00 am Worship

Page 5

Youth & Family Stuff

Little Hope Member’s Lenten Worship on Wednesdays 6:00-6:15 pm Once again we are offering a short worship service for our little ones on Wednesday evenings. The idea is that you can come for a short service, geared towards young children, and then enjoy the soup & sandwich supper after that. This way you can get home in time for them to get to bed.

Children’s Choir Schedule During Lent the Children’s Choirs will meet on Thursdays at the same times. The dates are as follows: March 3, 10, 17. The choirs will return to Wednesdays on March 23. Due to spring break there will be no choir on Wednesday, March 30th.

First Grade “Lord’s Prayer” Retreat Saturday, March 12th 9:00-11:00 am This retreat is for all 1st graders and their parents and will be an important time for learning more fully the meaning of this prayer Jesus taught us. During the March 15 worship service, students will have an opportunity to show their artwork from the retreat and help lead the Lord's Prayer so families should plan to attend worship that day.

Fifth Grade Communion Instruction Saturday, March 19th 9:00-11:00 am Hope’s 5th graders and their parents will spend the morning learning all about the sacrament of Holy Communion. They will celebrate this instruction by participating in communion during a special worship service on Maundy Thursday, March 24.

Bake Sale on Easter Sunday The Board of Youth and Educational Ministries (BOYEM) will sell baked goods on Easter morning to raise money for youth programs at Hope. Goodies will be available following the 7:30 and 9 a.m. worship services. Middle school youth (5th - 8th graders) are asked to donate baked goods (cookies, muffins, bars, cake, etc.). All baked goods should be packaged by the dozen and ready to sell. An email will be sent to parents of 5th - 8th graders with more information next week.

2016 Night on the Street All 7th-12th grade youth are invited to participate in the 2016 Night on the Street event! Please RSVP to Angie Newton at office@hope-jordan.org by March 7 if you plan to participate. Adult chaperones are also needed! Here are the details: April 15 @ 5:30 p.m. – April 16 @ 8:00 a.m. Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis, MN.

A Night on the Street gathers youth groups of many faith traditions to raise one voice against homelessness. Throughout the evening, students will hear and learn from people who have lived on the street and explore their own feelings of

connectedness and understanding through music, art, and small group interaction. Students will stand in a soup line for dinner and receive a cool Night on the Street t-shirt as well as their own cardboard box as shelter for the night. Breakfast is provided in the morning. Hope you can join us!!!

*A reminder to all H2H students that you are expected to attend worship on Wednesday evenings with your family. This takes the place of our curriculum

during the season of Lent.

Hope Lutheran Council Minutes, February 15, 2016

Meeting called to order 7:00 pm by Roger Anderson

Present: Roger Anderson, Angie Newton, Dave Holzer, Deb Barker, Curt Wicklund, Chuck Soller, Pastor Steve Thompson, Glenda Laffen, Lynda Schaumberg

Devotions: Pastor Steve

Agenda Approved

January Minutes Approved

Shared Ministry Report: Sundae Sunday will be on March 6, 2016. At this event the congregation will have the chance to make an ice cream Sundae and fill out new gift inventory forms. Green Lake Camp has been contacted about sending a representative to our church to talk about Green Lake and to interact with our youth groups. The Hope Lutheran background policy is being revisited. It will be looked at every 3 years. The mission trip will be in Chicago. In April, Hope will be pairing with the Catholic church for the sandwich making project.

Financial Reports: Written report

Deacons Report: Ash Wednesday baked potato bar was a success. There was discussion for next year of taking it off the deacon’s responsibility. Soup and Sandwich started on February 16th.

BOYEM Report: Written report

Trustees Report: The trustees met on February 15th. The monthly task list is going to be put into a spread sheet with details with which trustee is responsible for each task. There will be a list of routine maintenance calls and who are contacts would be for service calls. There was a discussion about the audit committee. The trustees are responsible for the audit getting done during a certain time period. Rod Lieske and Randy Mattson are the new trustees, joining Chuck Soller, Dean Christianson, and Mike Seifert. Curt Wicklund will be the first to look at the by-laws to see if any changes will need to be made. After Curt they will be passed onto more committee members. The silent auction will start February 21, 2016. There will be a chair wall installed behind the back pews. Color samples will be in the office.

Pastor Report: Pastor Steve was the facilitator for the FISH meeting to discuss the car care program. Pastor Steve has been active with pre-marriage classes, Hymn Tap, services at Oak Terrace, Baptisms. He has been preparing for Lent and Wednesday night services. There will be opportunity for a discussion group to have conversation and dessert to discuss Todd Oakes book Why Not Me.

New Business: Children’s fundraising events at church. Each situation will need to be voted on by the council.

Meeting adjourned 8:10 PM Next meeting March 21, 2016

Page 9

Need to activate the prayer chain?

Contact Sarah Gavert at: slgavert@gmail.com

(952) 492-6102

March Service Team Schedule

~ Thank you to all of those who helped drive for Meals on Wheels in February!

~ Congratulations to the Jordan Speech Team who competed well and won 1st place at the annual

speech invitational on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Norwood Young America.

~ Congratulations to the Scott West Panthers who won the third place trophy at this year's Class 2A state wrestling tournament.

~ Thanks to Jesse Knox who accompanied the choir on Sunday, Feb. 28th!

News of our Members & Community

Page 10

Lent

March 2

Sunday

March 6

Lent

March 9

Sunday

March 13

Sunday

March 20

Easter

7:30 am

March 27

Easter

9:00am

March 27

Lent

March 16

Maundy

Thursday

March 24

Greeter XXX Swanson’s XXX D. Seifert Swanson’s ———— ———— XXX ————

Ushers Klein’s ————

————

———— Cook’s

————

Kinkeade’s

Klein’s

————

————

————

————

———— ————

————

Comm. Prep XXX Christiansen ———— ———— ———— ———— XXX XXX ————

Comm.

Serve

XXX ————

————

XXX D. Seifert

Cook’s

————

————

————

————

————

————

XXX XXX

Comm.

Clean-up

XXX Swanson’s ———— D. Seifert Swanson’s ———— ———— XXX ————

Read &

Prayers

XXX ———— XXX ———— Kinkeade’s ———— ———— XXX ————

Provide

Treats

XXX Christiansen

————

XXX ————

————

Klein’s XXX XXX XXX XXX

Nursery XXX ———— XXX ———— ———— XXX XXX XXX XXX

Coffee

Clean-up

XXX Swanson’s XXX Cooking

Club

Swanson’s XXX XXX XXX XXX

Media

Specialist

———— Christiansen ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————

Acolyte Gabe Anton Jack Newton Claire Newton Bailey

Riemer

Ryan

Samuelson

Bryce

Sievers

Jarrett

McDermid

Michaela

Roemmich

————

Page 11

March 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

5:00pm CoDA

7:00pm AA

2

5:30pm Helpers

Arrive

6:00pm Soup/

Sandwich Supper

6:45pm Worship

7:30pm Adult

Choir

3

6:00-7:15pm

Children’s Choir

7:00pm AA

8:00pm AA

4 5

7:30am Men’s

Breakfast at

Feedmill

Restaurant

6

8:30am Coffee

Fellowship

9:00am Worship

10:15am Education

Hour & Sundae

Sunday

7

6:30pm Knitters

8

5:00pm CoDA

7:00pm AA

9 5:30pm Helpers

Arrive

6:00pm Soup/

Sandwich Supper &

Boyem Meeting

6:45pm Worship

7:30pm Adult Choir

10

6:00-7:15pm

Children’s Choir

7:00pm AA

8:00pm AA

11 12

9:00am Lord’s

Prayer Retreat

6:30pm Who’s

Coming To

Dinner?

13 8:00am Trustee Mtg.

8:30am Coffee

Fellowship

9:00am Worship

10:15am Education

Hour

1:45pm Movie

(meet at Hope)

14 15

5:00pm CoDA

7:00pm AA

16

5:30pm Helpers

Arrive

6:00pm Soup/

Sandwich Supper

6:45pm Worship

7:30pm Adult

Choir

17

6:00-7:15pm

Children’s Choir

7:00pm AA

8:00pm AA

18 19

9:00am First

Communion

Retreat

20

8:30am Coffee

Fellowship

9:00am Worship

10:15am Education

Hour & Silent

Auction Ends

21

6:30pm Knitters

7:00pm Council

22

5:00pm CoDA

7:00pm AA

23

6:00-7:15pm

Children’s Choirs

7:30pm Adult

Choir

24

6:45pm Maundy

Thursday Worship

7:00pm AA

8:00pm AA

25

6:45pm Good

Friday Worship

8:00pm Prayer

Vigil

26

6:00am Prayer

Vigil Ends

27 Happy Easter!

7:30am Worship

8:30am Youth

Group Bake Sale

9:00am Worship

28 29

5:00pm CoDA

7:00pm AA

30 6:30pm Youth Group

Pizza Supper

7:00pm H2H & 5/6

Youth Group

8:15pm HS Youth

Group

31

7:00pm AA

8:00pm AA

Hope Lutheran Church

Jordan, Minnesota

We’re on the web

www.hope-jordan.org

Standard

Non-profit Organization Permit # 9

Jordan MN 55352

News of Hope is published monthly by Hope Lutheran Church,

201 Hope Avenue, Jordan MN.

You can reach Hope Lutheran Church at (952) 492-2099,

FAX (952) 492-6884. Check us out on the web at: www.hope-jordan.org

Office Hours: Mon-Thur 9-12, 1-4 Fri 9-12

Pastor Steve Thompson (952) 210-6180

Youth Shared Ministry Coordinator: Lynda Schaumburg

Office Manager: Angie Newton

Address Service Requested

201 Hope Avenue

Jordan, Minnesota 55352

Easter Flower Order Form

If you would like to help decorate our sanctuary for Easter by ordering a flowering plant(s), please

indicate so below and turn in this card to Hope by Sunday, March 20th. Checks can be made out to

Hope Lutheran, please write “flowers” on the memo portion of your check.

Hyacinth ___________ @ $11.00 Tulip ___________ @ $11.00

Mum ___________ @ $13.00

I/We ____________________________________________ would like to help decorate the Sanctuary

In honor of ______________________________________________ or