Newsletter
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click here to download Worship Worker Schedule for September, 2010
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Click here for archived (back issues) of the Stimulus Newsletter (pdf format)
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OCTOBER ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER (Stimulus) E-BLAST
HCLC Fall Program Kickoff & Events – Get Involved, Go Deeper with Christ!
In This Issue
Y & F Minister Update
Caring for Creation Contest
Sandwich Sunday 10/4
Youth Events Update
Primetimers Update
Photo Directory
Music Minister Update
HCLC Christian Education
HCLC School Update
Health Cabinet Update
WELCA
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Youth & Family Minister Update
The HCLC search team narrowed the list down to the top 3 and you’ll get a chance
to “meet & greet” each one at WOW in Oct.
Candidates/schedule for meet & greet:
Oct. 7th – Beth Hartfiel
Oct. 14th – Christy Janacek
Oct. 21th – Chris Ray
Click here for more details
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Enter the “CARING FOR CREATION: Green Bag Design Contest”
Deadline for entries 10/24
Click here for details
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Sandwich Sunday is the First Sunday of the Month. Join us Oct. 4th
DONATE FOOD, UNDERCLOTHES & HYGENE ITEMS. VOLUNTEER TO MAKE DELIVERIES AFTER LATE SERVICE!
Contact Toni Hoelscher or click here for more info.
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Youth Events Update
Wed. 10/7 – 5:30 Meet and greet Beth Hartfiel (1st of 3 candidates for Y & F Minister)
Wed. 10/7 – 6:00 PM WOW dinner
Wed. 10/7- 6:30 College Night at Humble Civic Center
Sun. Oct. 25th – 5-9 PM Halloween Haunted House Hopping at Phobia 290.
Nov. – Paintball – Exact date TBD-
Dec. 4-5th (tentatively) – Planning Lock In for @ The Crossing Synod event
December 11-12- Advent Retreat – Lutherhill
December 18th from 6-11pm. Kids Night Out Mission Trip Fundraiser
Jan. 29th- 30th @ The Crossing event
Click here for details
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Primetimers’ Activities - fun for seniors
Wed. Oct. 7 – October Fest Celebration
Fri. Nov. 13 – Newman’s Bakery & Castle Tour
Click here for more info.
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Photo Directory Pics
November 5, 6 & 7
SIGN UP IN THE NARTHEX beginning 10/4. Click here for more info.
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HCLC Staff
Pastor - The Rev.Barbara L.Bartling
Minister of Music/Organist-Marsha Seale
Early Childhood Education Director - Colleen Engel
Director of Admin. - Shirley Neiman
Financial Coordinator - Kim Hanus
Adm. Assistant - Pam MacNaughton
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Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ–
I begin today reflecting on the words of our Presiding Bishop Mark Hansen from August 21, 2009 while speaking to the 2,000+ in attendance at the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that met from August 17-23. These words conclude his comments, as pastor of the Assembly, immediately following the controversial decisions made in regards to sexuality. Bishop Hansen proclaimed: ”We meet one another finally not in our agreements or our disagreements but at the foot of the cross where God is faithful, where Christ is present with us, and where by the power of the Holy Spirit we are one in Christ.”
For whatever reason, I personally think that that reason is GOD, Bishop Hansen’s words have spoken to me. “We meet…at the foot of the cross….” As I see church bodies, congregations, disciples quarrel over “issues” within themselves, I continue to see churches decline. As I see well intentioned, and well-meaning people of faith get bogged down on polar sides of issues, I see a world continue to hurt.
MORE>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A Note from our Music Minister
Music Ministry groups hit the ground running this fall, with opportunities for virtually all ages to participate in music-making at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church. As always, we welcome people to join us at any time, whether or not you have ever been in a choir before. The rehearsal schedule is on the calendar. Contact Marsha Seale with any questions. Join us!
WE NEED:more people to play handbells in the Glory Ringers, our less experienced handbell choir. We are short a few ringers, and invite anyone grade 5 through adult to join us in this intergenerational group. Optional tutoring provided weekly from 5:15-5:45 p.m. on Mondays, followed by rehearsal at 5:45. Our goal is to ring approximately once a month in worship.
WE NEED: more people to play handbells in the Bells of Praise, our more experienced intergenerational handbell choir, which rehearsals on Wednesday evenings after WoW. We are short a few ringers, and invite anyone who reads music, grade 6 through adult, to join us!
If you think you’d like to give handbells a try, whether or not you’ve ever rung before, please join us!
Click here for more info and music ministry opportunities.
Reformation Sunday is October 25. Wear red!
Festival Worship/All Saints Remembrance at Holy Comforter on Sunday morning, November 1, at both worship services. We’ll have a professional brass quartet, timpani, our own choirs and other musicians, and lots of congregational singing in celebration of All Saints Day.
We encourage everyone to submit the names of loved ones who died in the past year, to be remembered at these services.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Christian Education
Worship, Word & Witness Wednesdays is back for ALL AGES, including children kindergarten through 5th grade. Dinner @ 6pm, fellowship and a brief faith story/prayer time in Luther Hall. Then we split
into groups at 6:30 for learning, art, music, fellowship & service.
* K-2nd and 3rd-5th – have bible study/activities and music, which becomes our Children’s Choir for a few offerings a year in Sun. morning worship. Click here for schedule & details.
* High School meets for “It” in the Upper Room
* Junior High (Confirmation) meets for Divine Drama in Whittenberg.
Crossroads (Sun. School) programs are in full swing. Join us for fun, enriching, spiritual education for all ages on Sundays at 9:30 AM.
Grades 6th – 12th – “Taking Root (Hunger Causes, Hunger Hopes) See the World in a Whole New Way”. Click here for info
Children 3rd – 5th grades: “Spark – Activate Faith” – Spark empowers kids’ creativity and imaginations… Click here for info.
Children Pre-K – 2nd grade: “Godly Play” – A practical yet innovative approach to Christian education…click here for more info
Adults – The Parables of Jesus discussion group began on September 13 at 9:30 AM, with applications for our life of faith today.
Click here for more upcoming HCLC events.
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Happenings in the Early Childhood Program OCTOBER 2009
October is a busy month for the school here at Holy Comforter. The Preschool is filled to capacity and we have 30 children participating in our Mother’s Day Out program. We are blessed to have so many families from the community participating in this ministry and we are looking forward to all the holidays ahead.
* Please note that the school is always looking for ride-on toys. We use the plastic riding toys in Luther Hall during rainy days, so if you have any that your child has outgrown, we will give them a good home.
Our first fundraiser for this school year is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17th from 5-9pm at Fuddruckers. Click here for more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Health Health Cabinet
First Place 4 Health, a program that focuses on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of each person is now closed but new members will be welcome when we start the next session in January. Click here for more.
The Gathering Place – “Attic Month” is the theme for our October “Gathering Place”, which meets on Friday, October 4, 2009 from 10 am – 1 pm at HCLC. This ministry is free of charge and is available to the entire Kingwood/Humble area. Click here
Praise Walk Exercise
Everyone needs exercise for good health and the Praise Walkers welcome YOU to come join us any time. Praise Walk uses various types of exercise, with walking at church or outside being the main component. Click here for more info.
Second Family Care Team
The purpose of SFCT is to provide help to families who have a loved one living at home that needs care, so that they can continue to keep that person at home as long as possible. Click here for more info.
Grief Share Group- is a grief support group with an open door policy for participation. Contact Susan Wagener for more info.
“Holy Comforters” Prayer Shawl Ministry – This group lovingly prays over their work as they create stunning shawls and lap blankets for those experiencing difficult times or crisis that are in need of prayer and support. Click here for more info.
Oct. 11th – Blood Pressure Screening
Will be available in the Office area after each worship service. Everyone is invited.
Click here for more info
Oct. 17th – Community Options Fair
Do you know all the resources that are available to you? Who do I call? Does my insurance cover it? My loved one has Alzheimers. Where can I go for help? Can I afford it? Is it safe? Click here for more info.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WELCA (Women of the ELCA)
“Joy in the Jungle,” a Christ- centered women’s conference,
will be held on October 2-4, Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Humble,
Texas, 281-446-8427. It will feature passionate praise and worship,
dynamic speakers, dramatic presentations, and fun and fellowship. For
more information, call Kim Hanus. Click here for more WELCA info and updates.
CIRCLE SCHEDULES
Naomi Circle Bible Study – 2nd Thurs of every month at 9:30 AM. Led by Beth Moseman in Whittenberg.
Ruth Circle Bible Study – 2nd Tues of every month at 7:30 PM. Led by Cathie Tanner in members homes.
Martha Circle Quilting – 1st & 3rd Tues. at 9:30 AM led by Joan Dekan in Whittenberg.
Priscilla Circle – Lunch Circle – 3rd Thurs. at noon, led by Beth Moseman in members homes.
Eve Circle – Lunch Circle – 1st Tues. at noon led by Paula Willhouse & Darlene Lindquist in local restaurants.
Busy Hands – Meet the third Wed. of each month at 1 pm, led by Faye McKenzie in Whittenberg.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~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,
Holy Comforter Lutheran Church & School
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January 09 E-blast Newsletter
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, 9:30 and 11:00 am. Help us 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