1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

The Anchor Chain
Pastor’s Paragraphs
Volume 28, No. 4
April 2011
he events of Holy Week complete our lenten preparation for the Crucifixion and
Resurrection of our Lord Jesus. The triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the
shouts of hosanna to the son of David (read: Messiah), his combative teaching
in the Temple, his celebration of his final Passover and institution of the Holy
Eucharist, his mock trial and brutal torture, his abandoned death and burial, all
lead us to reflect on our part, our sin. Thanks be to a God that deals with us in his
mercy and not his justice...we would be doomed. I invite you to continue your
lenten journey to Holy Week and then to the open tomb!
T
he Feast of the Resurrection sets the world on its ear! And why not?! He
who was dead is alive. Why would we look for the living among the dead?
Christ is Risen! He is risen, indeed! Our time of solemn preparation has
been completed, and now we regularly rejoice with our living Lord. For you see,
the Feast of the Resurrection is not just an event. It is an ongoing movement.
The resurrection is lived out by the Church each Sunday morning as we gather
for worship on the Lord's Day (the day of resurrection), as we stare death in the
face and not blink, as we spend ourselves on others--knowing that we will not
run out of life to give away (it's everlasting living connected to the LifeGiver!).
Can there be any wonder why a relationship with a living Lord changes you and me and, with our
witness, the world? I relish the thought of celebrating this feast day with you and of getting a glimpse of
eternity with Christ. He is risen! Alleluia!
T
ur Service of Groundbreaking for Phase III construction is scheduled for
Palm/Passion Sunday, 17 April at 12:30 p.m. Come, share in the
excitement of getting it all started. We will be inviting civic leaders and
school officials, and, oh yes, members of the press. Let’s express our joy and
share it with those around us. Hope is building a reaching community with Christ!
After groundbreaking has been accomplished, we will be forwarding regular
reports and information to keep you abreast of events accomplished and those to
come. We anticipate that very close to that date we will have jumped through all
the hoops necessary to receive our building permits and be ready to build.
O
Holy Week Schedule
Sunday, April 17th
Wednesday, April 20th
Thursday, April 21st
Friday, April 22nd
Saturday, April 23rd
Sunday, April 24th
Palm Sunday
Lenten Worship (no soup)
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday Tenebrae
Journey to the Cross
Vigil of Easter
Sunrise Service
Easter Services
8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
The Anchor Chain
N ote from Pastor Jon
Page 2
This month, in the continuing series looking at Church symbols, we
take a look at the palm. The children wave them on Palm Sunday, but
what does it mean?
Even before the time of Christ, the Romans used the palm as a symbol
of victory. Palms were used to celebrate military victories and were
given to champions at the Games. The Jews used palms as decoration
and symbols of celebration – particularly in religious processions and
the like. We have documentation from the Apocryphal literature of the
Jews. 1 Macabees 13:51 reads:
“And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month in the hundred seventy
and first year, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and
cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy
out of Israel.”
And again in 2 Macabees 10:6-7:
“And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering
that not long afore they had held the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered in the
mountains and dens like beast. Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms
also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them, good success in cleansing his place.”
Palms were also the national symbol of Judea and could be found on their coins. So it is significant that
palms were cut and used to celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The people were making a political
statement (he’s a king) and a religious one as well. They may not have all understood the religious
significance (he’s a prophet, he’s sent from God, or most correctly, he’s the Son of God himself).
Nevertheless, the religious leaders understood it, and they were furious.
Christians adopted the symbol of the palm to rehearse and celebrate Palm Sunday as we do today. But
the palm also stuck as a symbol of victory. Early Christians used the palm as a symbol of victory of the
faithful over our enemy Satan. The palm was also a symbol of the martyr – one who celebrates victory of
the spirit over the flesh even to the point of death. In some ancient Christian art, martyrs are depicted
holding palm branches.
The palm as a symbol of victory is also recorded in Revelation 7:9:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no once could number, from every
nation, from all tribes and people and languages, standing before the throne and before the
Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”
Christ has won the victory over sin, death and the devil for us through his death and resurrection and
has given all the benefits of that victory. The palm branch is not only a symbol of victory for him and for
saints and martyrs, but also for you.
His Peace Be with You,
Pastor Jon
The Anchor Chain
Youth Ministry
Page 3
Easter is the ultimate cause for happy tears – I always cry at Easter, the beauty of
the day simply takes my breath away. We pour it all out on Easter – new outfits,
crisp paraments on the altar, the choir is pumped, the brass majestic and everyone is
buzzing with greetings and excitement – even if it is, in part, due to having chocolate
eggs for breakfast. From the smallest country church to the grandest mega
congregation production, Easter services move my heart like no other service all year
long. J.J. Heller sings, “If my arms could reach around You, I would never move. If
my eyes could see You, I’d have no faith left to prove. . .the wonder of invisible love.”
Oh, if I could hold Easter right in the palm of my hand! If I could bottle it up for
those days that feel so much more like forty days in the desert. . .but those days too are a part of the
journey, without them Easter would sound more like clanging cymbals and chaotic chords. Heller’s song
continues, “Some day there will be no time to mind – I will be Your long awaited bride, We will dance
away the night.” I will take the deserts and the Easter celebrations, Lord, all in anticipation of the day
we dance together for eternity!
“Soul Surfer,” the movie based on the real life experience of teenage surfer, Bethany Hamilton, hits
theaters this April. Followers of Bethany’s story know that her family’s faith was pivotal in not only
surviving but thriving after losing her arm to a shark attack but movie producers, wanting to have a
broad appeal tried to soften the influence of Christianity, even digitally giving Bethany’s Bible a blank
cover in the movie. The Hamilton family complained and the title, “Holy Bible” was restored. Let’s show
Hollywood that a movie with Christian principles can win at the box office – check out “Soul Surfer” at
the theaters this month!
Did you know that the new Wednesday night programming format, “The Bridge,” has
an average attendance of 75 adults, teens and children?! The Bridge relies on freewill offerings to provide a meal at the start of the evening – a donation of $3.00 or
more per person helps offset the weekly cost of $150 – $250 in food. The Bridge
returns for the final weeks of the school year, May 4th, 11th, and 18th – see you there!
Don’t miss another soup supper sponsored by Mission Trip 2011!! Wednesday, April 13th !
We’re building picnic tables for Habitat for Humanity, Saturday, April 9th , 9:00 a.m. – Junior and Senior
High youth and their parents are invited to be part of this fun project for a cause! Mark your calendars
and be thinking of a favorite Bible verse to write on the table for future owners!
The Anchor Chain
M usic Ministry
Page 4
For me, kind Jesus, was thine incarnation,
Thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;
Thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
For my salvation.
April brings us the opportunity to remember Christ’s crucifixion and death and to
celebrate His resurrection on Easter Sunday. Please come and join us in worship
services, especially during Holy Week, as we worship our crucified and risen
Savior.
Lenten services continue through Holy Week. We are using the beautiful setting
of Holden Evening Prayer for our Lenten worship. I would like to thank all the
musicians and sound team members who are leading us in our Lenten worship
services.
Holy Week is always a special journey. We reflect on the Passion on Passion/Palm Sunday, remember
the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, participate in the Tenebrae, Service of Darkness on Good Friday,
and celebrate the Festival of the Resurrection on Sunday. Join us as the Sanctuary Choir, Festival
Orchestra, Bells, and Children’s Choir lead us in worship on Easter Sunday, April 24th .
May God Bless Your Holy Week Journey.
Sing and Make Music in Your Heart to the Lord,
Stephanie Poyner
Director of Music
Sunday, April 3rd
–
11:00 a.m. – Sanctuary Choir and Hope Woodwinds and Strings
Sunday, April 10th
–
8:00 & 11:00 a.m. – Sanctuary Choir, Hope Brass, Hope Bells
Sunday, April 17th
–
Passion / Palm Sunday
8:00 & 11:00 a.m. – Soloists and Hope Strings
Friday, April 22nd
–
Good Friday
7:30 p.m. – Sanctuary Choir
Sunday, April 24th
–
Easter Sunday
8:00 a.m. – Sanctuary Choir, Festival Orchestra, Bells
9:30 a.m. – Sanctuary Choir, Festival Orchestra, Bells, Children
11:00 a.m. – Sanctuary Choir, Festival Orchestra, Soloists
Children’s Music Ministry
A special thanks to the Children’s Choir and Chime Choirs for ringing and singing on Sunday, March
27th. We will be singing at the 9:30 a.m. service on Easter Sunday, April 24th.
The Anchor Chain
Children’s Ministry
Page 5
Journey to the Cross, April 23rd
Travel the road to Calvary and the path to the empty tomb in this
experiential Easter event that deepens your appreciation for the Passion of
Christ. Touch, taste, smell, see, hear, and experience Bible events in real and
memorable ways.
Meet your Tour Guide and a small group of travelers at the Customs
Station, get our Passport, have your photo taken, and check in. Then travel with your guide to Holy
Land stations to meet people portraying Bible characters who were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life on earth
from Palm Sunday to Easter. Get actively involved by waving palm branches, tasting Passover foods,
and more.
We will begin making appointments for Journey to the Cross tours after each service on Sunday, April 3rd .
The Alleluias are coming back, April 24th
Please help us bring the Alleluias back into the worship services on Easter
morning. If you children would like to process in with the Alleluia banners, meet in the
Narthex just before the service begins. We’ll have a processional during the opening
hymn at each service: 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Alleluia!
The Bridge resumes May 4th
I have missed the 3rd , 4th & 5th graders during our break for Lent! We
will begin meeting again Wednesday, May 4th at 6:00 p.m. with a family style
dinner in the Great Room. Our regular schedule will continue with break out
sessions for kindergartners through adults. We all come together again at 7:15
p.m. for a closing message and music, ending at 7:30 p.m. Only 3 more
meetings of The Bridge before summer break. Don’t miss out!!
VBS 2011 Registration, May 1st
Panda Mania ~ Where God is wild about you! Join the fun June 20th – 24th. Four year olds
through 5th graders will learn that God made us, listens to us, watches over us, gives us good gifts, and
loves us, no matter what! For children of volunteers, we will have a nursery available and a program for
three year olds. Space is limited, so you will want to register as soon as possible.
For more information on any of these programs, contact Krista Beken, Director of Children’s Ministries
at 281-482-7943 ext. 16 or kbeken@hope-lutheran.org.
The Anchor Chain
General News
Page 6
THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON. . .
Our Spotlight member for the month of April is a very active member of Hope’s Building Committee,
Harold Benson. Though not charter members of Hope, Harold and his wife, Carolyn, have been members for
48 years. Their children, Harold Edwin Benson, Jr. and Diane Carolyn Malkin, and only grandson, Kevin
Edwin Benson, have also been confirmed at Hope. Harold is a 5th generation Lutheran! This is actually
Harold’s third time to serve on a building committee at Hope. Obviously, Harold has the vision, skills,
patience, and perseverance to see a building project through! The first experience he had on Hope’s building committee,
the committee financed the project themselves by creating an internal bond program selling the bonds with no outside
help! Harold was also the head of the Education Board when Hope formed its first preschool. He has served as president,
on the Board of Elders, and as a Scoutmaster at Hope for five years. He has served as an Usher with the Chauvin family
for over 30 years.
Currently, Harold is very busy with developing Hope’s plans for the new gym and administrative / classroom
wings. His main focus is to concentrate on the systems that use energy, thus affecting the operations’ costs. Harold, along
with the committee, has developed a highly efficient system to minimize the utility costs. Harold has also worked on the
utility costs of the Sanctuary reducing the costs about $300 per month!
Harold is extremely qualified to serve in this capacity. He was employed by NASA for 27.5 years and transferred
from Virginia to Houston when the Johnson Space Center was formed. His worked varied from landing systems for
Mercury, Gemini, Apollo Command Module and Lunar Module, and the wheels, brakes, and tires for the Space Shuttle.
Other assignments included multiple advanced ideas and integration for the initial planning for system integration of the
International Space Station. He continued this work while working for the Grumman Corporation for his last 5 years.
During his career, he received the NASA Exceptional Service medal for outstanding leadership in directing Orbital
Refueling System Project culminating in the first in-space transfer of hydrazine propellant by the crew of Space Shuttle
Mission 41-G.
Obviously, Harold enjoys working on projects of all kinds and sizes, many of which help others. He receives a lot
of satisfaction out of helping where the end result can be seen and measured. Harold, we truly appreciate all of your time
and expertise with Hope’s new gym and administration / classroom wings. Our congregation is very excited to see the
Building Committee’s endless work come to fruition. I think you will be able to measure your success by all the smiles on
the faces around you! Thank you Harold Benson!
ALTAR GUILD
JAKE’S GRILL
Our next general
breakfast meeting and work
day is scheduled for Saturday,
April 16, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. in
the Great Room of the Center
for Faith Development. Plans
for Holy Week including
preparations for the Seder
Meal, “Stripping of the Altar”
and Easter Day worship
support will be discussed.
Dick Castille will be hosting
the breakfast.
Going out for lunch or
dinner after church? Visit
Jake’s Grill at 400 W.
Parkwood Ave. (across the
street from HEB), present
your church bulletin to the
cashier and Jake’s will donate
15% of your purchase (not
including tax) back to Hope.
See you there!!
EASTER FLOWERS
The Altar Guild will be
accepting flower orders from
those wishing to help decorate
our Chancel and Nave for Easter.
We will be offering decoratively
wrapped 6.5" Easter Lilies ($7.00
/ each) and 8" Hydrangeas (5+
blooms, $14.00 / each). An Easter
Flower Donor List will be
published in the Worship
Bulletins on Resurrection
Sunday.
Look for the Special
Easter Flower envelope in your
bulletin beginning March 20 th.
The Anchor Chain
General News
THE RISEN CHRIST
This is the month when we
say with joy “He is Risen, He is
Risen, Indeed!” Nothing in life can
bring such peace as knowing that
Christ has taken upon Himself the
path to the Cross for our sins and
for our salvation.
No wonder we come to Him
in prayer, in praise and in thanks. We do so in times
of distress as well as when things go sm oothly. If only
the trouble-free days were the norm, but we know
that they are not. Unforseen, unbidden, unplanned
things happen. It’s great comfort to know that we can
call on Jesus for help and understanding.
One of the ways He provides this care is
through Hope’s Stephen M inistry. Here are trained
men and women who have also experienced a variety
of life’s stresses. They are now trained to use these
experiences to listen carefully and non-judgmentally
to you when you are troubled.
A personal Stephen Minister is assigned to
you when requested through Pastor Jon. Your
Stephen M inister works with you as long as needed
and provides confidentiality for this is vital to the
trust formed.
It’s not easy to share troubles with another,
but God’s promise to help provides the incentive to
take that risk and ask. Stephen M inistry is here,
waiting. God bless your consideration.
SAVE THE DATE!!
Summer Music Camp 2011 will be held
July 18th – 22nd . Registration will begin on
Sunday, May 1st. The cost is $50.00, which
includes camp t-shirts, CD, pizza party, and
supplies. Camp is for 4-year olds through
students who have completed 5th grade.
Campers must be 4 years old by July 1st. Space
will be limited, so sign up early!
If you have any questions, please contact
Stephanie Poyner at 281-482-7943 or
spoyner@hope-lutheran.org.
Page 7
AVERAGE WORSHIP
ATTENDANCE
2009-2010
Month
2010
2011
January
397
406
February
482
432
March
455
April
537
May
411
June
355
July
365
August
409
September
389
October
409
Novem ber
392
December
529
55+ FELLOWSHIP
Wednesday,
April 13th is our
Spring luncheon at
noon at Hope in the
Great Room. Drinks
and dessert provided.
You’re invited to bring light sandwiches or salad.
We always have plenty of food, so please join us.
The next day, Thursday, April 14th , we’ll
be carpool caravanning (if that even is a real
word?) to Belleville (just north of Sealy) to tour
Mike Newman’s castle. He owns a local bakery
in Bellville and decided to build himself a castle,
complete with drawbridge. Now he hosts tours
and lunch. We’ll also enjoy some historical sites
in Bellville as time permits. Watch the bulletin
for exact times and other details.
For more information, please contact Pat
Hall at 281-482-6142 or pjjhall@yahoo.com.
The Anchor Chain
General News
APRIL JOY
Easter is coming.
From our journey to the
manger, to the journey to the
Cross and now the journey
will be completed when
followed by the magnificent
celebration of the
resurrection. Our debt now
paid, our salvation procured. He is Risen; He is Risen,
Indeed!
Our recent LW ML Gulf Coast Zone Rally had
“Moved by the Spirit” as its theme. Women from five
area societies came together to praise, sing, Bible
study, conduct Zone business and fellowship. Hope
Ladies Guild was happy to host this gathering once
again.
Now our attention is turning to our April 10 th
Bake Sale. Cakes, pies, breads, cookies of all kinds
will be available between services. Satisfy your
appetite or fill the freezer for Easter. Funds will go to
fulfill our obligation to the LWML Travel Assessment
for the National LW ML Convention in June.
Shortly after that, our quilts will be prepared
for shipment for Lutheran World Relief. This has a
long history and has been a part of Ladies Guild for
many years. Even the stamps you contribute play a
part. They are sold and funds go toward postage for
shipping quilts world-wide.
And for the LWML convention in Peoria this
June, we are collecting items for Sewing Kits to be
distributed to the needy in the convention area.
Ingathering items m ay be different each biennium ,
but always stay in the convention location. Anyone
will to add to this project can find the list of items
needed on the Ladies Guild bulletin board in the
Grand Hallway.
Also posted is a list of Chem o Care Bag item s
which is another on-going project of the Guild. These
bags go to the Deke Slayton Cancer Center across
from Clear Lake Regional Hospital and are a welcom e
gift to those suffering from this illness.
So, again, April offers many ways to serve our
Lord as we serve others. We invite and welcome all
women of Hope to come to our meetings and become a
part of this serving group. Our next meeting will be
April 12 th, 7:00 p.m. in the Great Room. Our schedule
hostesses are Pam Bubendorf, Dolores Jackowski and
Carol Kubala, with Pam leading us in prayer and
opening devotion.
A Blessed Easter to ALL!!
Page 8
CHRIST CARE SMALL GROUP
MINISTRY
by Phil Johnson
Hello everyone. I hope
this finds all of you well and in
good spirits. I found a quote
by Albert Einstein which I like
very much and I believe it to
be a good correlation as far as
ChristCare is concerned.
“Setting an example is not the main
means of influencing another, it is the
only means.”
– Albert Einstein
1879-1955, Physicist
My friend Albert has a really great quote in that
you can’t tell someone what to do or suggest to someone
what to do and expect them to do it. The only way they
will do it is if you are doing it yourself. I also believe
there are other attributes involved that a person needs
as they set the example. These attributes are: Integrity
– Morals – Ethics – Spirituality (Faith).
Folks, I believe in my heart that God has given
us ChristCare for a reason and we need to take
advantage of it. I know from experience that there is no
better fellowship than in a Small Group Ministry
(ChristCare). The bonds that are made will last a
lifetime, I promise you. If you need, there are people
there to help, as long as you need it, because they want
to help. That is one of the many great things about
ChristCare.
You can be part of ChristCare also. Check into a
group and see what is out there. We have two new
leaders coming on board very soon with new groups
being started.
If you are part of a ChristCare group, invite
someone to visit / join your group. If you are not part of a
group, then speak to a group leader, equipper or Pastor
Ralph about visiting / joining a group. If there is not a
group that you are interested in, then let us work on
putting one together. God has truly blessed us with this
ministry.
God’s blessings to all, Phil
The Anchor Chain
General News
Page 9
THE SEARCH FOR GOD IN THE POSTMODERN WORLD – SUNDAY
SCHOOL CLASS
The “Search for God” class is our focus for Volunteers in Action this
month. In September of 2010, Tom Schlehuber began a new Sunday School
class entitled “The Search for God in the Postmodern World.” The course is
designed as a “seeker” course wherein the participants are encouraged to
voice their thoughts, doubts, struggles, and triumphs during their
intellectual and spiritual formation in the Christian faith and to compare
their own experiences with those of Christian writers who have undergone
noteworthy journeys in their own faith development. Authors chosen
included C. S. Lewis, Huston Smith and Francis Collins. Others authors are yet to be determined, but literary and film
artists such as novelists Fyodor Dostoyevsky, John Steinbeck and Flannery O’Connor, and film makers Ingmar Bergman
and Federico Fellini are definitely under consideration.
The class was purposely divided into segments which are largely independent of each other, allowing participants
to come and go as their interest in a particular book or writer might dictate. The first book studied was C. S. Lewis’ “Mere
Christianity.” This book started out as a series of BBC radio lectures delivered by Lewis to the British people during the
dark days of World War II (1941-44). The lectures were given only about 10 years after Lewis’ conversion, first to theism,
and then to Christianity. In his book, Lewis traces some of the thought progressions he experienced in his own personal
“Search for God.” The short lecture chapters of this classic work provided the class with ample opportunity to engage in
thoughtful discussions and a rich sharing of ideas.
The second writer on the docket for the class was Huston Smith and his “Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the
Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief.” Dr. Smith is a world renowned scholar in comparative religions, and the author of
the well-known book, “The World’s Religions.” In “Why Religion Matters,” Dr. Smith sketches a picture of what he terms
the tunnel of modernity. For believers, this tunnel is dark and confining, undermining the very roots of religious hope and
belief. The class has just finished the first half of Smith’s book and is looking forward to reading and discussing his
thoughts in the second half which explain why he thinks the future of religious faith looks much brighter in the near
future.
The third author is Francis Collins, the head of the U.S. human genome project, and another individual who began
life as a non-believer, only to find a deep faith in God and in Christ through his scientific endeavors and associations. The
class will be reading his book, “The Language of God – A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.” Dr. Collins takes the
reader through his own faith journey and then into a fairly thorough scientific explanation of the origin of the universe,
the origin of life on earth, lessons of the human genome, and how these scientific theories can be seen and understood as
compatible with, even reinforcing of, religious faith. The class hopes to begin this study in mid-April. New class members
might find this a good time to join the class for Dr. Collins’ interesting study.
“The Search for God in the Postmodern World” Sunday School class meets every Sunday from 9:45 a.m. – 10:45
a.m. in Room 218 of the Center for Faith Development. If you have any questions or would like more information, please
contact Tom Schlehuber at 281-992-1866.
The Anchor Chain
General News
Page 10
HolyWeekSchedule
Sunday,April 17th –
Wednesday,April 20th –
Thursday,April 21st –
Friday,April 22nd –
Saturday,April 23rd –
th
Sunday,April 24 –
PalmSunday
PalmSunday
LentenWorship
(nosoupsupper)
MaundyThursday
Seder Service(nopotluck)
GoodFridayTenebrae
JourneytotheCross
Vigil of Easter
SunriseService
Easter Service
Easter Service
Easter Service
8:00am.
11:00a.m.
7:00p.m.
6:00p.m.
7:30p.m.
1:00p.m.
7:30p.m.
6:00am.
8:00a.m.
9:30a.m.
11:00a.m.
STEWARDSHIP
In April the season of Lent ends and the season of Easter begins. Lent is a time for repentance and
reflection. During Lent we have a lengthy opportunity to take a careful look at ourselves and realize that way too
often we fall short of our Lord’s expectations. We do what we should not be doing and we fail to do what we should
be doing. This is true also for us as stewards. Rather than being generous in our use of time, talents and money we
often selfishly use our lives and resources for ourselves rather than for God’s purposes. God blesses us with all of life
and life’s resources so that we might be a blessing to others. Our old sin natures urge us to use all these things first
for ourselves and then, if there is som ething left over, for others and God’s purposes.
We recognize with St. Paul that “it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove
faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) We have been entrusted with all of life and life’s resources (all owned by God) with the
expectation that we will use them wisely and well. Way too often we fail to do what God Expects. The good news is
that when on Good Friday Jesus said “It is finished” He meant that with His holy life and sacrificial death He paid
the full price for our sins and guilt. So, when our past failures as God’s stewards bother us, we can take those sins
and shortcomings to our Lord in prayer, repent of them and receive the assurance that we are made right with God
through the sacrifice of Jesus. Forgiveness is the best way to handle our past failures.
Easter brings us a breath of fresh air filled with joy and hope! As St. Paul wrote: “He [Jesus] was
delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25) That truth
makes us into Easter people–people filled with joy and hope! Our m emory of past shortcomings makes us feel guilty
and asham ed. Easter replaces our failures and makes us into people of hope and hope is stronger than mem ory
because “Hope in Christ does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the
Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:5)
On Easter we great each other by saying that Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Because of
Christ’s Easter victory we have the sure hope that we are redeemed stewards who, in cooperation with and
encouragement from our fellow redeem ed stewards, freely and joyfully manage all of life and life’s resources for
God’s purposes.
Dear fellow stewards, a happy Easter to you all!
The Anchor Chain
General News
Page 11
APPROVED SPENDING PLAN
Below is the Spending Plan for Fiscal Year 2012 (April 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012) that was approved at the Voters’
Meeting on March 6, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact me in the church office at 281-482-7943. Thank you.
Katherine Kohn
FY 2011
FY 2012
OUTREACH
Missions, Advertising, Website Maintenance
$67,770
$67,300
EDUCATION
Sunday School Materials, Adult Education, Confirmation,
Teacher Support, VBS
$12,000
$11,800
CHILDREN’S
PROGRAMS
Journey to the Cross, Christmas Program, Birthday Party for
Jesus, SW AT
$3,650
$3,150
YOUTH
Junior High & Senior High Activities and Supplies,
Subscriptions, Transportation
$9,775
$11,275
ASSIMILATION
Volunteer Luncheon, Miscellaneous Supplies
$1,400
$1,900
FINANCE
Debt Paym ent, Contingency
$96,900
$96,900
PERSONNEL
Salaries, Housing Allowance, Car Allowance, Medical,
Retirement & Disability, Payroll Taxes
$458,681
$513,700
MUSIC
Adult Choir, Handbell Choir, Brass/W oodwind, Children’s,
Substitute/Guest Organist
$4,500
$5,000
FACILITIES
Insurance, Utilities, Maintenance Contracts, General & Property
Maintenance, Janitorial Services
$161,475
$153,775
OFFICE &
WORSHIP
Copier, Office Supplies, Printing, Offering Envelopes, Worship
Supplies, Attendance Cards
$41,380
$44,300
MISC.
MINISTRIES
ChristCare, Stephen Ministry, Faith Builders, Christian Helping
Hands, Meals on Wheels
$10,650
$13,150
CONFERENCES &
TRAINING
Staff Training, Conferences, District/Synodical Conventions,
APLI
$7,101
$7,750
$880,882
$930,000
TOTAL PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN
The Anchor Chain
General News
Page 12
TODAY’S LIGHT READINGS
FOR APRIL
March 27, 2011
Week 12
April 3, 2011
Week 13
Monday
Numbers 9:1 - 10:36
Monday
Numbers 22:1 - 25:18
Tuesday
Numbers 11:1 - 12:16
Tuesday
Numbers 26:1 - 27:23
Wednesday
Numbers 13:1 - 15:41
Wednesday
Numbers 28:1 - 30:16
Thursday
Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
Thursday
Numbers 31:1 - 54
Friday
Numbers 19:1 - 20:29
Friday
Numbers 32:1 - 34:29
Saturday
Numbers 21:1 - 35
Saturday
Numbers 35:1 - 36:13
April 10, 2011
Week 14
April 17, 2011
Week 15
Monday
Deuteronomy 1:1 - 46
Monday
Deuteronomy 7:1 - 26
Tuesday
Deuteronomy 2:1 - 37
Tuesday
Deuteronomy 8:1 - 20
Wednesday
Deuteronomy 3:1 - 29
Wednesday
Deuteronomy 9:1 - 10:22
Thursday
Deuteronomy 4:1 - 49
Thursday
Deuteronomy 11:1 - 12:32
Friday
Deuteronomy 5:1 - 33
Friday
Deuteronomy 13:1 - 18
Saturday
Deuteronomy 6:1 - 25
Saturday
Deuteronomy 14:1 - 15:23
April 24, 2011
Week 16
May 1, 2011
Week 17
Monday
Deuteronomy 16:1 - 17:20
Monday
Deuteronomy 27:1 - 26
Tuesday
Deuteronomy 18:1 - 19:21
Tuesday
Deuteronomy 28:1 - 68
Wednesday
Deuteronomy 20:1 - 21:23
Wednesday
Deuteronomy 29:1 - 29
Thursday
Deuteronomy 22:1 - 23:25
Thursday
Deuteronomy 30:1 - 20
Friday
Deuteronomy 24:1 - 22
Friday
Deuteronomy 31:1 - 30
Saturday
Deuteronomy 25:1 - 26:19
Saturday
Deuteronomy 32:1 - 52
The Anchor Chain
Financial News
Page 13
HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Financial Data
Fiscal Year (04/01/10 - 03/31/11)
as of February 28, 2011
ANNUAL
PLAN
Y-T-D
PLAN
Y-T-D
ACTUAL
% OF PLAN
OPERATING RECEIPTS
$850,882
$779,975
$748,514
96.0%
EARLY CHILDHOOD TITHE
$30,000
$27,500
$27,500
100.0%
TOTAL RECEIPTS
$880,882
$807,475
$776,014
96.1%
OUTREACH
$67,770
$62,123
$60,908
98.0%
EDUCATION
$12,000
$11,000
$5,005
45.5%
CHILDREN
$3,650
$3,346
$846
25.3%
YOUTH
$9,775
$8,960
$8,947
99.8%
MUSIC
$4,500
$4,125
$4,404
106.8%
ASSIMILATION
$1,400
$1,283
$1,347
104.9%
MISC. MINISTRIES
$10,650
$9,762
$5,625
57.6%
PERSONNEL
$464,281
$425,591
$420,358
98.8%
FINANCE
$96,900
$88,825
$88,646
99.8%
FACILITIES
$161,475
$148,019
$119,136
80.5%
OFFICE & WORSHIP
$41,380
$37,932
$30,715
81.0%
CONFERENCES & TRAINING
$7,101
$6,509
$3,178
48.8%
$880,882
$807,475
$749,115
92.8%
$0
$0
$26,899
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT)
GIVING NEEDED EACH MONTH: $73,407
GIVING NEEDED EACH WEEK: $16,940
DEBT: $0.00
PHASE III CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
June 1, 2010 – May 31, 2013
TOTAL PLEDGED
TOTAL RECEIVED
$685,041
$232,337
The Anchor Chain
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Page 14
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
P ERMIT # 1 4
Friendswood, Tx. 77549
HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
1804 South Friendswood Drive
P.O. Box 1076
Friendswood, Texas 77549
Return Service Requested
THE ANCHOR CHAIN
THE NEWSLETTER OF HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH-Friendswood, Texas
Building a Reaching Community with Christ
Inside This Issue C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
Pastor’s Paragraphs
Notes from Pastor Jon
Children’s Ministry
Youth Ministry
Music Ministry
Stewardship
Birthdays and
Anniversaries
Master Calendar
etc., etc.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
Sunday
Wednesday
Worship Services
8:00 and 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Vol. 28, No. 4
April 2011
Worship
7:00 p.m. Worship
9:45 a.m.
Church Office
Phone: (281) 482-7943
Fax: (281) 482-4371
E-mail : Rhobratschk@hope-lutheran.org
Web site: www.hope-lutheran.org
APRIL 17
R alph W. Hobratschk , Senior Pastor
Jonathan E. Petering, Associate Pastor