The God Squad will be at church on Saturday, December 12th from 10:00-10:30 AM if you would like to pick up your ornament(s) then and/or drop off your payment. We will still be offering delivery for those not picked up.
All proceeds will go towards the God Squad's ELCA Youth Gathering.
Even in these unprecedented times, we hope that these one-of-a-kind ornaments bring joy to you and your family. - The God Squad
In-Person Worship on Hold
We have suspended in-person worship for the time being.Links to worship and all of our ministries are at www.HosannaTogether.org. If online worship doesn’t work well for you, we will mail or deliver a video DVD or audio CD to you each week. We can also mail you the newsletter and/or bulletin in a printed format. For either of these, call the church office at 781-7991 to let us know.
December Bless Boxes are Available
Hosanna! kids get a new box each month with activities and resources to dive deeply into a faith concept. This month’s box focuses on God being near to us, includes materials to build a nativity, and other activities. Pick up your kids’ Bless Boxes this Saturday, Dec. 12 through Dec. 24. They are available for pickup 24/7 in a Rubbermaid tub by the front doors. We have extra unmarked boxes available for adults to share with grandkids or to do the projects yourself.
Do Not Be Afraid!
The Kids’ Christmas Program Is Coming
The kids of Hosanna! are hard at work recording their parts for the Christmas program. Alison has sent out parts to families who signed up, so if you haven’t yet received yours, please check your e-mail or contact Alison. The rest of us can look forward to hearing and seeing the Christmas story in a new way and through young eyes during worship on Sunday, December 20 at www.hosannatogether.org/sunday-worship.
Join us for Blue Christmas Dec. 21
Feeling blue this Christmas? It’s natural to feel a range of emotions around the holidays, especially when experiencing loss or other changes in your life. This service to acknowledge sadness and loss during the holidays may be even more fitting this year than in the past. Whether the holidays are difficult for you every year, or you’re just feeling extra blue this year, you are welcome to join us online Monday, Dec. 21 (the longest night of the year) at 7:00pm at www.hosannatogether.org/blue. We’ve also posted resources for dealing with the blues throughout the year and especially during the holidays at www.hosannatogether.org/feelings.
Help Us Decorate the Vineyard
We have plenty of lights to hang in the vineyard, thank you! Now we need people to put them up for our Holy Night Candlelight service on Christmas Eve. If you enjoy decorating with Christmas lights, or are looking for a way to help this Christmas send Pastor Mike an e-mail to let us know.
We really could use your help! Many hands make the work go quickly so consider helping as a family project!
Make Plans for Christmas Eve
Worship will be Online - Our Christmas Eve worship will be online, available at our Hosanna! Togetherwebsite beginning at 4:00pm on Dec. 24. Though different this year, it will be filled with meaningful traditions, special music, and the voices of our church family to create a holy space and time this Christmas. Pick up a “God is born right here” candle from the bin outside the church building front doors to light during this service. You may also call the church office to have us drop one off for you.
Holy Night Candlelight Vigil - Join us Dec. 24 at 8:00pm for a short parking lot candlelight gathering. This is intended to be a supplement to the online worship service, and won’t involve the whole traditional Christmas worship experience. We’ll simply read the Christmas story, say a prayer, and sing Silent Night together. You will have the option to remain in your car or gather with a mask and distance in the vineyard. Audio will be broadcast to your car via the radio. Real and electronic candles will be provided.
Find Sacred Space
There is something holy about being in the sanctuary this time of the year. Unfortunately, the pandemic doesn’t allow us to share that space together this Christmas. Nonetheless, you are invited to sign up to spend time in the sanctuary on your own during Christmas week. Sign up for a timeslot at www.hosannatogether.org/sanctuary. The space will be yours to sit, walk, and/or pray. You may stay for a few minutes or the full time.
Share in the Joy of Our Favorite Nativities
People have been sharing pictures of their favorite nativity sets and the meanings they hold. View the gallery at www.hosannatogether.org/nativities. See what is meaningful to others and the diverse perspectives on the birth of Jesus. If you send a picture of your favorite nativity and it’s meaning to pastormike@hosannalutheranchurch.org, we’ll add it to the gallery.
Jung Family Moving to Minnesota
Chris and Christina Jung are moving to Delano, Minnesota to be closer to family. They have
both accepted jobs in Minnesota, are selling their house, and plan to be moved by the end of the year. We will miss them greatly, but offer them blessings on the next step in their life together, especially as they welcome Baby Boy Jung into the world in February.
Support Hosanna! when you shop online!
We don’t endorse any one company over another, but you can support the congregation anytime you shop on Amazon.com. Just begin your shopping at smile.amazon.com, and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to Hosanna! The first time you do this, you’ll have to search for and designate “Hosanna Evangelical Lutheran Church” as your charity of choice (make sure you choose the one in Liberty, MO). Alternatively, you can follow this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/43-1818642. Shoppers using the Amazon App can make this selection in the settings.
Give Something Unexpected this Christmas!
The pandemic makes it difficult to gather and know what to get loved ones this year. ELCA Good Gifts are a fun, meaningful way to honor friends and family with Christmas gifts that make real, lasting change in the lives of people in need. Choose from more than 50 gift-giving options that provide animals for farmers, water for villages, opportunities for women and children, church growth, and healthcare assistance both domestically and internationally. Once you give, you can print, mail or email a card to let your gift honoree know. You can even give a group gift by selecting “Make this a group gift” in the catalog. Pick out your gifts at http://www.elca.org/goodgifts or call the church office and we’ll send you a printed gift catalog.
Contribute to the MLM Christmas Store
Due to joblessness resulting from the pandemic, the Metro Lutheran Ministries Christmas Store is providing Christmas gifts at no cost to several hundred more families than ever before, serving over 1,500 families and 5,500 individuals this year. Several Hosanna! members have been helping in the warehouse get orders ready for clients to pick up. However, they still need many more volunteers to help carry items to clients cars this weekend. If you are available, find more information and sign up at here.
Gathered in Worship
Sunday, December 6th Worship attendance: 60+. If you’re joining us online, please leave a comment or reaction on our webpage or the Facebook video so that we know that you were part of our worship!
December 6th Prayer Concerns
Birthdays
Chris Jung December 10
Kristina Jung December 13
Dan Heruth December 13
Kris McArtor December 14
Brandon Miller December 16
Charlynn Marshall December 17
Sarah Oprinovich December 17
Jodi Prom December 17
Peggy Miller December 19
Janeen Bollhoefer December 20
Otto Cobb December 20
Anniversaries
Sara Mader & Dawn Harper December 15
Fran & Sue Schwenk December 20
Christian Sympathy
Bernie Heruth (father of Dan Heruth) - died November 26
Concerns
Lona Ristine - hospitalized due to COVID-19, recovering (12/10)
Robbin Musgrave - returning home from Texas for heart catheterization Dec. 21 (12/10)
All who are sick with COVID (12/10)
Margaret Elder (grandmother of Margaret Grote) - diagnosed with COVID and facing other challenges (12/10)
Brian Mason (son of Harold and Donna) - hospitalized with esophageal issues (12/10)
Don Baken - diagnosed with COVID-19, recovering at home (11/25)
Grant Baken - diagnosed with COVID-19, recovering at home (11/25)
Kimberly Berry, recovering from hip surgery (11/16 )
John Canuteson – home after rehab (11/11)
Bill George – home after rehab (11/11)
Marie Summers, recovering from surgery for leg fracture (11/4)
Justin Greenleaf, (nephew-in-law of the Goins), diagnosed with ocular cancer (10/28)
Amy (Tony and Robbin Musgrave’s daughter-in-law) - continued chemotherapy (8/26)
Ongoing
Rose Harris - (Cheryl Jennings mother) care at Liberty Health & Wellness
Adam Goins - serving in Coast Guard, deploying in late July
Ryan Jackson - active military
Adam Morehouse - active military
Sam Matula - active military
Grey Tucker - Army National Guard
Nathan Wilkerson - serving in Army
Crewe – Great-grandnephew of Art & Shirley Harnish severe health concerns
