Looking at Scripture - Promises Fulfilled
In this week’s Gospel (Luke 1:68-79), we return to the story of Zechariah and the birth of his son, John the Baptist. God came through on the promise, and Zechariah finally sets aside his skepticism. There are a few among us that trust God wholeheartedly as Mary does. The rest of us are a bit slow like Zechariah, but God doesn’t give up on us. God is still faithful. This Christmas, may you see the signs of God’s love and faithfulness. May those signs shift your perspective and your skepticism. May you see and trust God to follow through on all the promises that as yet appear unfulfilled.
Looking at Life Together - Year-End Update
We share the ministry we do and the resources we hold. Your council and I want to let you know that even with Christmas and typical year-end gifts, we are predicting about $7,000 more expense than income in 2018.
We understand that this is a busy time, when many organizations ask for support. However, this is your congregation, and we didn’t want to wait until after the end of the year to talk about it. If your financial resources allow you to give an extra gift at the end of the year, or you are still working to fulfill your 2018 pledge, please consider an extra gift to the congregation. Any amount you give makes a difference.
We’ve had all year to get to this point, but church finances are complicated. The higher, more unpredictable giving in December can often balance budgets. We had hoped that would be the case again this year. In the past few weeks, we’ve studied our current numbers, looked at giving in December of 2017, and estimated year-end totals.
Although, we have spent thousands LESS than we budgeted, our giving has been about $22,000 less than last year’s pledges led us to believe we’d have to work with. Fortunately, our bank account balance has been high enough that it has allowed us to keep moving, and it will still do so for some time.
The council is working on proposals to address the reality of our finances for the coming year. Details of exactly how we spend our shared finances will be part of the annual report when we have year-end totals. If you have questions in the meantime, please feel free to speak with me or other council members.
Hosanna! is still vibrant, generous, and growing. The joy of the children’s Christmas program reminds us that we’re still alive. Although the predicted deficit is real, it’s still only 3%. The other 97% given to ministry, the mountains of MLM gifts, 1,500 blankets sewn, Christmas gifts given by the children, and so much more demonstrate that the congregation is still extremely generous and making a difference.
As we celebrate Jesus’ birth in the next week, we also stand firm in faith that God is with us and moving among us. God still has a lot in store for us. Thank you for your part in this life together!
Directory Updates
Updates to our picture directory with new members and changed addresses are available in the fellowship hall, one per family. They are printed on label paper, so all you have to do is peel off the back and stick it to an empty page in the back of your directory.
Farewell to Greg
Member Greg Kunkel will be leaving Hosanna! after Christmas Eve. This Sunday we say farewell and pray for God’s blessing on him. Although we will miss them, we’re thankful for the time we had with him and wish him the very best in the next chapter of his faith journey.
Looking for a last minute gift?
Give an alternative gift!
- Donate to an organization or cause that is dear to the recipient (and/or you).
- Need help finding a fitting gift? Check out the ELCA Good Gifts catalog for over 50 alternative gift ideas. You can pick up a catalog and cards in the fellowship hall, then give by mail or online at www.elca.org/goodgifts.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!
Many, many thanks to Cindy Plesko for her service on Hosanna's Altar Guild
for over 20 years!
The Altar Guild sets-up and takes-down Holy Communion for every service,
but it also works to hang banners for the different church seasons and decorate for special times in the church like Easter and Christmas.
Cindy is retiring for now but loves the Altar Guild team and the reverence, responsibility and fulfillment that occurs in this ministry at Hosanna!
If you are interested in serving on Hosanna's Altar Guild in a behind-the-scenes way, please contact Robbin Musgrave, Bonny Grauerholz, Katharine Fairchild, Kristina Jung or Kristin Belcher.
Sunday School resumes January 6th
Sunday School resumes on Epiphany Sunday, January 6, 2019.
During Sunday School, we will celebrate Epiphany by talking about the Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings, and their gifts to Jesus. In the downstairs classes, we will smell some of these gifts!
If you have a crown, feel free to wear it to worship and Sunday School that day.
We hope to have a Three Kings Cake to share too!
Looking forward to seeing everyone again after our CHRISTmas break.
Another Thank You!
Thank you again to Alison Kern for writing, directing and organizing the 2018 Hosanna! Children's Christmas Program. We are so blessed to have her...and the so many other talented musicians, carpenters, chefs, quilters and stitchers, healthcare workers, business people, etc who help make Hosanna! a vibrant place to learn about the love of Jesus.
Sunday School and Bible Study Hiatus
- Youth Sunday School -
The youth will next meet for Sunday school on January 6.
- Adult Sunday school -
The adults will next meet for Sunday school on January 13.
- Wednesday Bible Study -
Bible study will meet on Dec. 19, but then take a break until January 9.
Family Trivia Night Fund Raiser
Mark this Date!!!! December 30, Pre New Years party. at Hosanna!
Everyone Welcome! 5:30 PM to ? “Family Trivia Night”, lots of fun and fellowship for all, (nursery provided).
This is the first FUND RAISER for Hosanna’s much needed parking lot repairs. Bring your family and friends and join teams for trivia questions, winners reaping rewards. Trivia Categories to be determined. Please bring a appetizer/finger food to share and $10.00 donation each team member age 13 and above. Please help support Hosanna in this fun-filled way. Questions? See Donna Krugman, 286-5414 or Janeen Bollhoefer, 786-5136.
Dinner In / Dinner Out
Dinner In and Dinner out groups are forming now. This is a small group of approximately 8 people that will meet once a month. Dinner In groups will rotate between members’ homes, while the dinner out groups will select a restaurant each month. This is a great opportunity to get to make new friends or grow closer with old friends!
The sign up will be in the fellowship hall and the last day to sign up is December 30th. Contact Anne Herman with questions ahermanpharmd@gmail.com.
In As Much Ministry - January 6th
Hosanna! collects nonperishable food items monthly for In As Much Ministry (IAMM) to benefit Clay county residents in need. Over the past month (or perhaps even longer), you have probably been doing a lot of shopping from lists given to you. How about a different approach to your food ministry donations for the first weekend in January - you may not even need to shop at all! Just look through your cupboards to see what you have too much of. Or see if there are items you thought were a good idea at the time, but which you know realistically you will never use. With a little bit of effort, you can check expiration dates - if close to expiring, the pantry moves items quickly and would love to get them. (If past expiration, whether you eat them is up to you!)
As noted in the book of James (1:17), "Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father . ." IAMM clients are extremely grateful for all they have received from the Father, through you during 2018. They know that indeed, God has blessed and provided for them.
Year-End Giving Information
Any donation you want to be included on your 2018 contribution statement must be postmarked or in the church’s possession on or before December 31, 2018. The last Sunday of the year is December 30th.
In addition to giving during worship, one-time or recurring gifts may be given electronically via our website: www.hosannalutheranchurch.org.
All ACH donations are deductible at the time payment is withdrawn from your bank. Thank you for your generous support of Hosanna!
Annual Congregational Meeting
Our annual congregational meeting will be January 27, 2019 at 10:45 following the service. All are welcome to attend, but only confirmed members who have communed and whose household has made a contribution of record to the congregation in the past year are eligible to vote. The congregational meeting is the highest legislative authority of the congregation. In addition to the “business” items of budgets and resolutions, we’ll take stock of our ministry the past year and discuss our shared future. Please plan to join us for the meeting. Because the annual meeting takes place during the Sunday school hour, we will have activities for the kids to do during the meeting so that parents and teachers may attend.
A budget caucus will be held prior to the meeting possibly the week before. Watch for more information on that. Copies of the proposed budget will be distributed and conversation held on the details. Although no changes can be made to the proposal until the annual meeting on Sunday, this caucus gives an opportunity for interested individuals to have deeper conversation with the drafters of the budget.
Please email reports and business items for the annual meeting to the church office, cathy@hosannalutheranchurch.org, by January 13.
Sunday's Order of Worship
Readings
Prayer Concerns
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