HCLC E-News
In This Issue
Pastor’s Greeting
HCLC Celebrations
HCLC News & Events
HCLC Mission & Vision
Budget 2009
Quick Links
Welcome to 2009 and welcome the to the future. I am pleased to be sending you the first edition of HCLC E-News, a brief look at the news and events at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church.
First, Our Church is a great place to be! We have had an incredible year together–newministries started, new faces added, new ventures undertaken, and new strides made. Thank you, Gracious Father! Thank you, faithful disciples! Thank you staff.
Thank you all for the incredible year we have shared together in ministry. Thank you for welcoming new faces into this faith community. Thank you for beginning many new ministries.
Thank you for the continued success of the many, many other ministries. Thank you for your devotion to serving Jesus Christ and your commitment to His Church.
You need to hear this again: Holy Comforter Lutheran Church is a great place to be! We are one of seven (once eight) growing churches in our synod.
For this, we must be thankful! How is growth measured? Benevolence (giving outside of ourselves), and that has increased again here at Holy Comforter. Overall weekly worship attendance is up. Regular giving is up. Involvement is up. We are engaged in new ministries, new classes, and new endeavors. We have new members, new insights, and new freedoms. We are working harder to see where God is at work, and working even harder to join in with what He is doing. Holy Comforter is a great place to be! Yet the work has just begun.
Take a few minutes to take a look at our website, www.godeeperwithchrist.org. There you will find the latest events, ministry opportunities, and benevolence projects.
Let us help you go deeper. Deeper? Deeper in what? Deeper in: Faith, His love,
Giving, Life’s Meaning, Baptism, Understanding, Commitment, Our Community—just
to name a few. We are on a journey, and a journey implies movement. A journey
implies going somewhere. We are inviting you, encouraging you, and Christ has called
you to go Deeper with Him.
ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, February 15, 2009, 12:30
Join us as we celebrate the joys and accomplishments of 2008 and as we look forward to 2009.
High School Youth will provide a free-will offering lunch to benefit the 2009 Youth Gathering.
Church Council Leaders Elected for 2009
Dean Chandler, Susan Cotton, Jim Hammond, Scott Hanus, Jack Hart, Peter Kaleda, Andy Schiefelbein, Al Schmit, Brian Stambaugh, Cathie Tanner, Duane Utecht, Beth Wallinger, Don Warren, Dan Weidrich, Pastor Barb Bartling
Did You Know?
–The sermons preached at HCLC are on our website. You can listen to them online, download them to your mp3 player or computer, or pass the good news on to a friend.
–HCLC is one of seven growing churches in our synod of 123 congregations.
–Pastor Barb, with five other individuals, has been invited by the Bishop to serve on the Synod Vision Team.
–Our Pre-School and Mother’s Day Out Program continues to faithfully serve the community.
HCLC Celebrations
The enthusiasm and excitement this community continues to show for ministry is contagious. Needless to say, incredible things have been happening in, around, and through here.
Looking back on 2008, members of HCLC share things that happened at or through Holy Comforter that they want to celebrate and share with others. God is blessing us with many great things happening around HCLC, and we need to tell others.
“One thing that comes to mind was the service held 20 hours after Ike came through. No power or AC, just a makeshift service and the sounds of music and praise out through the open doors into the rather shaken community. It was great.” – Brian
Click here for more reasons to celebrate.
News & Events
Holy Comforter Lutheran Preschool’s 2nd Annual Night In Italy-February 6, 2009. Enjoy an elegant dinner of pasta, tossed salad, garlic bread and delicious tiramiscu. Tickets are available now for the three seating times. Click here for more details.
Parent’s Night Out - March 6, 2009. Need a “Date Night?” Have an evening to yourselves and help a good cause. Bring the Kids to Parent’s Night Out on March 6th, 2009. Proceeds go toward the National Youth Gathering in NOLA this summer. Click here for more details.
Easter at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church - April 12, 2009. Come to Holy Comforter for Easter. Services at 8:00 a.m, 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Click here for more details
Ike Benefit Concert – April 19, 2009. Come celebrate Our Lord and help the victims of Hurricane Ike. Join us at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church for a special Hurricane Ike Benefit Concert featuring Hip-Hop, Rap artist AGAPE. For more information on this event contact Carol Hyun.
Click here for more upcoming HCLC events.
GOD’S MISSION for HCLC:
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, ‘You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your should, and with all
your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it:
’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all
the law and the prophets.”(Matthew 22:36-40)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything
that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the
age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
“A great commitment to the great commandment and the great commission will grow
a great church!” (Matt 22:36-40, Matt 28:19-20)
Click here for more info about HCLC’s Mission, Vision and the 6 marks of discipleship.
Are you ready to take the plunge?
Budget
As we continue on this journey together, let us not lose sight of who this is all
about, who gives us what is needed, who blesses us on the way, and who remains steadfast
at our side: God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, guided by His Holy Spirit.
I ask that you continue to pray for our congregation, the community, and the world;
and continue to rely on the fact that God will utilize us all for all the things
He has planned.
Sincerely,
Pastor Barb Bartling
Holy Comforter Lutheran Church & School