D ear Friends, We are now in the season

of Advent, the theme of which is hope—hope for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We hear quite a lot about hope, or the lack thereof, these days. This should come as no surprise, for in a

society that has largely lost its spiritual connection to Christianity, the foundation of western civilization, what is there to hope for? This is not to say that people no longer have the normal hopes that apply to their stage in life. Young people have hopes for an education and a successful career. People in midlife hope for the well-being of their children, advancement in their careers, and a larger salary. People who are in the later stages of their working life hope for a comfortable and fulfilling retirement. And people who are retired hope for good health and enough energy to do the things they enjoy. In short, while this is a simplistic rendition of the stages along life’s way, the point still holds. What we hope for depends on where we are in life, and, it also depends on the challenges we may be facing at any given time; challenges such as the unexpected death of a loved one, unanticipated health concerns, the loss of a job, or perhaps a bad accident. So, what kind of hope is missing in all this? I heard a debate between an atheist and a clinical psychologist not long ago. The psychologist asked the atheist if she saw any larger meaning to her life aside from the daily routine of family and career obligations. She quite honestly said, “No. In the end, our lives will have gone the way of all flesh, human history will continue as it always has, and we will have been long forgotten. The only legacy we leave behind is our children, and, unless we are someone of the stature of a Shakespeare, or a Mozart, no one will know we ever even lived.” The follow-up question was, “Well then, what sustains and motivates you to continue doing things that you know will end in

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

nothingness?” Her reply was something like, “These things are sources of happiness and fulfillment in and of themselves for the short time we have. They don’t need some kind of higher purpose given to them.” My belief is that this represents the view of many people today. The underlying idea is that certain things lead to personal satisfaction and human fulfillment, and among these are close relationships, an enjoyable job or career, and enough money to buy the things we like. Beyond that, what else could there be? Since this point of view is based on human potential and fulfillment, I think the church needs to respond to these ideas from this perspective. First, it seems clear to me that religion is defined by what we consider to be of ultimate concern, and ultimate concern is whatever we believe to be of the greatest importance when it comes to our overall well-being. Leaving our bodily needs out of the picture for now (everyone knows that we need food, shelter, etc.), and remembering Jesus’ statement that life is much more than the body, the question is, “What is it that leads to the greatest level of human well-being?” Is it the normal hopes and dreams that change with each stage of life? Or, do we need to anchor our lives in a greater good? As important as family, friends, a good job, and financial independence are, according to our faith, human need goes far deeper than any of these. In fact, all of these are thought to be a gracious gift from God and they come with a higher purpose than just our own happiness. They are part of what Luther called our “vocation.” We are called to serve those around us, and we are called to use our resources for the good of others, as well as ourselves. And this points to a need far greater than anything else with respect to our overall well-being, namely, our need for a gracious and merciful God, not as a “pie in sky,” offered in some afterlife, but as a pie offered to us now in the present. The philosophical atheist saw no meaning in life

The Voice of Hope

The newsletter of Hope Lutheran Church, San Mateo, CA

“Knowing and sharing the good news of Hope in Christ”

Pastor Daniel Severson

Page 2

beyond her relationships and her job, and even these were seen as ultimately meaningless, the reason being that no connection was made between this, and the larger purpose of seeking the source of these blessings, and their purpose, within the larger scheme of a deeper and heartfelt connection with God. In a world where all things are passing away, there can be no ultimate meaning unless life itself has a larger purpose and goal that is not passing away. If there’s nothing to hope for beyond what is temporary, then there’s nothing to hope for at all. “Do not store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matt. 6) From a Christian point of view, the goal of life is a redemptive relationship with the unchanging love of God, of whose kingdom there will be no end. We become “children of a lesser god” when we make purely temporary goods matters of ultimate concern. There is no human fulfillment or spiritual well-being in this. Our lives need to be anchored in that which is permanent and unchanging: a gracious and merciful God who reaches out to us in Jesus Christ so that, despite our imperfections and sins, we have the ultimate privilege of placing our faith and trust in God’s promises of life and salvation. This is what preserves us in hope when the “lesser gods” have failed. This is what preserves us in hope during times of disappointment, affliction and grief. Christ preserves us in hope always and under all circumstances because, as Paul said, “…nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.” He is the hope of Advent. May the hope Christ inspires in our hearts be yours this Advent season. Pastor Dan

A dvent is here!

The cycle of the church year revolves around the central mystery of our faith: the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The season of Advent (4 Sundays) prior to Christmas is all about Jesus’ Coming.

It is indeed a season of anticipation, but also revolution. The readings in Advent prepare us to receive not only a new baby, but a new world where God’s justice and mercy reign. Dare we say that God is at work in transforming our world? We begin a new church year while the world is busy finishing a calendar year – and the month is filled with shopping, pageants and parties, perhaps beyond what our energy and time can handle. While society urges us to hurry and spend, scripture and tradition challenge us to slow down and wait. In the first week of Advent, we are reminded of our need for a God to restore and save. The psalmist cries on our behalf, “Come and save us!” In the second week, we are urged to reorder our lives. Isaiah proclaims: “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and

hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level and the rough places a plain.”

As John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord, so do we prepare our hearts, not in haste but in love and with longing. In week three, Isaiah promises good news to the captives. God is turning our mourning into laughter and joy. The Gospel calls us to bring light and life to a broken world. Mary is the focus of Advent 4 as the angel Gabriel tells her that God will keep a promise to continue the reign of David. Mary, with confidence, is able to say, “Count me in,” to the continuation of this salvation story. Over these four Sundays, the theme is clear: the darkness gives way to the light, the world is being

Pastor Paul’s Notes

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D ecember is usually the time of year when people’s thinking turns to

generosity. Christmas of course is when we exchange gifts with loved ones and friends. Employers may give bonuses to valued employees. People often give gifts to those who have served them during the

previous year in such ways as hairdressers, barbers, gardeners, housekeepers, and letter carriers do. Business owners may give gifts to customers or vendors. People seem to entertain during the holidays in a bigger way. There are office parties, holiday open houses, and gift cards for just about everyone. One of those non-spiritual functions that a congregation must address is setting its annual budget. We are reminded to be good stewards of what God has given us. Those who set up the budget each year, led by the treasurer, spend many hours trying their best to estimate what expenses and income will be. In an attempt to balance income with expenses, Hope has created a financial challenge for 2018. The budget committee each year relies on faith that income will be higher than expected, and that is where the challenge comes in. As the year comes to an end, please consider going “above and beyond” to help us fulfill our challenge. I am proud to be a member of a church that looks out for the welfare of those who are in need. The Lutheran church has a number of agencies that provide aid to people in need. With the recent wildfires in both ends of the state causing the tragic loss of life and homes, the first agency that comes to mind is Lutheran Disaster Response (www.ldr.org). If you are a member of Thrivent, it is matching gifts given to LDR through InFaith Community Foundation

From our Council President

(as of mid-November). You can direct your gift where you want it used. Locally, a Lutheran agency that has served northern California for many years is Lutheran Social Services of Northern California (www.lssnorcal.org). Another Lutheran agency is Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (www.lirs.org), an 80 year old organization that has welcomed more than half a million refugees and migrants with compassion and support. Perhaps the largest Lutheran aid agency is Lutheran World Relief (www.lwr.org). Gifts given to LWR through December 31st will be matched to double their impact. Our national church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has several agencies providing aid. The first that comes to mind is ELCA World Hunger. Other lesser known agencies under the ELCA umbrella are ELCA Global Missions, ELCA Malaria Campaign, ELCA Global Church Sponsorship, and ELCA Advocacy. Check them all out at www.elca.org. You will be pleased to see how our church is taking care of its neighbors. This is by no means a complete list. You may soon get a booklet detailing all the ELCA Good Gifts available. Please consider how you have been blessed, and make a determination as to how you are going to share your blessings. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may the New Year be your happiest ever. Blessings, Don Hermansen Council President

reborn, and God is on the way. We celebrate His Coming! Seniors will have a lunch-outing on Thursday, December 13, meeting at the “Van’s” in Belmont at 1pm. Car pool from church at 12:45. Please sign-up in Nielsen Hall. It is important that we give them an accurate count!

There is a place for all of us in rhe music of our church.

M usic has a unique ability to transcend boundaries of age, gender, and

background. Singing together in worship is not about talent, perfect or even beautiful voices. It’s about

coming together to worship God, to be transformed by the music into a place with space for everyone. The music of the liturgy and the hymns soaks into our collective memory, shaping and forming us as God’s beloved people. Music lifts our hearts to God in a particular way. It sustains us in weary times and increases our joy. Music is more than the sum of its parts. It gives us a common language to voice our sorrows, joys and hopes. Over weeks, months and decades, the music of the liturgy and the hymns soaks into our collective memory, shaping and forming us as God’s beloved people. Shirley Fitzgerald

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From our Choir Director Preschool Corner

W ith Christmas right

around the corner, the

children are acting

extra good, hoping that Santa is

seeing how they are such good

little boys and girls. In the

classroom, we are teaching the

children all about Jesus’s birthday

and explaining to them the true meaning of

Christmas through art, music, and stories. They

are all extremely excited for their annual

Christmas Sing where they get to perform some

of their favorite Christmas carols for their families.

As January approaches, we are preparing for the

2019-2020 class registration. If you know a family

looking for an amazing preschool, please refer us

to them. Families refer to Hope Lutheran

Preschool as the “hidden gem” in San Mateo.

The best way to contact us at

hopepreschoolsm@gmail.com.

This time of the year is a time that we count our

blessings and remember to spread kindness and

love through the world. May I take this time to

send you all wishes for the most blessed and

peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year.

Blessings,

Tracy

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Evangelism

Stewardship

O ur first meeting after council elections was held Aug 9. Here are a few things we

have put on the Church calendar for the next few months – since we all know how time flies when we are having fun – or just living our very

busy lives!!

Here are a few highlights so that you can save the date on any of the items that you want to attend or help with.

Saturday, Dec 1 – Decorate the Sanctuary/Nielsen Hall

Sunday, Dec 2 – Advent Event/Cookie exchange

Sunday, Dec 16 – International Brunch

Sunday, Feb 10, 2019 – Valentine’s Day dinner

Sunday, April 7, 2019 – Pre-School Sunday

If you have any questions – or would like to volunteer for any of these items, please talk to Sandi Kane.

S tewardship/Pledge Sunday is December 2. This is the starting point for budget planning, the practical nuts and bolts of Hope's fiduciary

responsibility. Your pledge cards will be mailed to you (members) soon. Please look for them and return them (via the offering plate) by this date. And if you are currently using ‘Simply Giving’, please submit a pledge card. It is important that the council have good information by this date so that we can realistically plan our 2019 budget. Stewardship encompasses so much more than money. Stewardship begins with our mindfulness and appreciation of the countless ways God has loved us, both big and small. Thus freed in Christ to love God and our neighbors, we give and serve from our surplus to compassionately and joyously nurture God's earthly kingdom and grow in faith. Consider a gift of time and talent - Hope offers many big and small opportunities. Time and Talent forms are available in the Narthex. In God’s Love, Hank Harper - Stewardship Chair

Youth News

A s I sit to write this month’s Hope article, I cannot believe Thanksgiving is

nearly upon us, closely followed by the Christmas season. As much as I love the festivities

of December, I stress about the increased responsibilities of hosting, gift giving, and the extra hustle and bustle that comes with the season. Between parties and holiday celebrations, I hope you all take the time to make our HOPE family part of your celebration. Thanks to those families that will participate in the Advent Wreath lighting at our services this year. Thanks also to the youth that have agreed to be a part of our children’s service and to help serve at our International Brunch on Sunday December 16. More help is always welcome – please contact me if your youth is interested in assisting with the service or brunch. In Christ, Judy Jeschke Hope Council Youth Representative

Volunteers needed for the Youth Service & International Brunch—December 16 We need volunteers for our Youth Service and/or International

Brunch which will be held on December 16th. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Judy Jeschke.

Youth Volunteers needed!

Page 6

S amaritan House's Annual Christmas Event Needs Your Help!

This year, the client base at Samaritan House has grown to over 14,000 in San Mateo

County. Given that increased number, Samaritan House expects that well over 3000 families will attend their annual Christmas event on Dec 13, 14 and 15 - where toys, coats and other items will be provided to children whose Christmas would be very bleak without this event. Hope will help Samaritan House again this year! There are several ways you can help, by providing: New, unwrapped toys for children of any age -

the highest need being toys valued at $25 or more

New coats or hoodies for children, ages 2 to 17 Target gift cards valued at $25 for teens Monetary donations of any kind. Checks can be

written to Hope Lutheran Church and marked specifically for Samaritan House's holiday program. Samaritan House will then use these donations to purchase the gifts that they need.

There are collection boxes available now, in the Narthex. Monetary donations or gift cards can be left in the office, or provided via church envelopes on Sundays. The deadline for contributions will be Sunday, December 9. Samaritan House will pick up their boxes on Monday, December 10. We sincerely hope you will be able to help our neighbors in need! Social Concerns Committee

Samaritan House Needs Your Help! Women’s Christmas Potluck

T his year’s Women’s Christmas Potluck will be...

DATE: Tuesday, December 4 TIME: 6pm LOCATION: Nielsen Hall

Entertainment will be provided by harpist Barbery Grant.

Trip to the Holy Land

B rochures describing a possible

trip to the Holy Land are now

available in the Narthex.

Please feel free to take one or more to pass on to

friends or family who might be interested. Our next

meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 3rd.

At this time, we will answer any questions you may

have.

T hanks to the generosity of our

Congregation, we are able to

deliver 25 food boxes to

CALLPrimrose in Burlingame, giving 25

families a happier Thanksgiving. Now we can turn

our attention from feeding our neighbors to donating

new toys and coats to families supported by

Samaritan House in San Mateo. What joy there is in

supporting this Toy and Coat Drive, bringing smiles

and warm comfort to children/teens at Christmas

again this year. Two large boxes are in the Narthex

for donations, one for new toys and one for new

coats. We will collect until December 9th. We can

also donate $25 Target Gift Cards and cash, placed

in the offering plates with a note designating for

Toy/Coat Drive.

Happy Time of Giving from your Social Concerns

Committee.

Holiday Giving Time Is Here

Our next Midweek class!

Page 7

THE BIBLE AND LIFE HOW KEY BIBLICAL STORIES HELP US UNDERSTAND THE

LIFE OF FAITH Last summer, we looked at how the stories in the first eleven chapters of Genesis can give us insight into contemporary events. These stories are about human nature and sin and are therefore timeless in their application. They are stories meant to describe the highs and lows of human behavior. For example, Caine responds to failure by lashing out in a murderous way against his more fortunate brother, Abel. Noah deals with the evils he sees around him by staying close to God, and is thereby

saved from disaster. And the story of The Tower of Babel represents the ambitions of humanity to reach heaven through their own efforts. These stories help us understand the human condition and the tragic events we see around us on a daily basis. On Wednesday, January 9th at 1:00 pm, we will meet again to read certain central biblical stories that can help us understand what faith in God entails, and how faith can help us deal with the challenges and suffering in life without loosing strength and hope. Faith, because it is a divine gift implanted in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, is the single most important factor in giving us the ability to navigate life from a position of spiritual strength. Faith does not necessarily give us answers to difficult questions. But it does gives us the foundation we need to avoid becoming victims of painful and confusing experiences, and it gives us a source of new life derived from the eternal and unchangeable love and grace of God. Some of the stories we will be looking at include those which describe the wondering of the Children of Israel in the dessert as recorded in the book of Exodus, the story of Job, and the resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples. The class will meet through the month of February, with the option of going further should folks so desire. Since the Youth Room can be cramped and oppressively hot in the afternoon, we will meet in Nielsen Hall. I look forward to seeing you all there, together with anyone else you may know who may be interested in understanding the Bible in an in depth way. Pastor Dan

Page 8

Seniors Ministry Event—Tax & Estate Planning

Photo credit to Maggie Timeus

Veterans Day at Hope

M. Johnson with her father’s WWI uni-

form Hope’s display on the 100th anni-

versary of the end of W W I.

Photo credit to Elaine Dummler

HLCW Circles

Mary Circle 3rd Tuesday of the month 10:00 am Location Varies Contact: Martha Welch Sarah Circle 3rd Tuesday of the month 10:00 am Location Varies Contact: Lois Nieman

Names in bold = our brothers/sisters turning 90-90+ years!

Ron Johnson 12/9 William Fischer 12/10 Sally Worthge Diane Bare 12/11 Linda Havenor May Fong 12/13 Karen Reed Kevin McAuliffe 12/14

Page 9

* = Friend of Congregation

Helena Dummler 12/1 Ryan McAuliffe 12/2 Marlys Loveall 12/3 Skip Dahl 12/4 Timothy Helland Nina Amarandos 12/7 Shafer Smith Michael Sallander 12/8

Celebrating birthdays in December

Angamma Prasad 12/15 Roger Childs 12/18 Avnit Prasad 12/24 Bill Hastings 12/25 Katlin Kane 12/28 Jerry Milner 12/31

O n Sunday, January 13th, our regular worship service will include something different.

The worship committee has decided to replace the regular liturgy with that of the healing service taken

from the Lutheran Book of Worship. The responsive readings, the scripture texts, and the hymns will focus on the theme of healing. Prayers and reflections on the healing of body, mind, and spirit can be an extremely helpful way of experiencing the power of God’s grace in the context of a supportive community. Healing in a Christian sense includes more than the hope for physical restoration. Through God’s word as it comes to us in the entire liturgy of the service, we experience the presence of Christ who said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-30) The order of service will be the same as usual and will include communion. Added will be a time for individual prayer should anyone desire to come forward with a specific prayer request. If you know of anyone who may have specific concerns related to healing, please invite them to attend. All are welcome. The invitation is from Jesus himself.

Upcoming Healing Service

Date Theme Scripture

December 2 A Good Ruler Jeremiah 33:14-17

December 9 Zechariah Luke 1:68-79

December 16 — — — —

December 23 Mary Visits Elizabeth Luke 1:39-58

December 30 The Boy at the Temple Luke 2:41-52

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Date Assisting

Ministers

Communion

Assistants Readers

Spark

Leaders

12/2 Heidi Waters Bill & Margo

Kannenberg Carole Setzer

Judy Jeschke

Erica Lin

12/9 Bill Kannenberg Mark & Erica Grimstvedt Marlys Jungroth Debra Stucke

Rachael Stucke

12/16 Karen Reed

Bill Fischer

Don Hermansen

Bill Hroziencik

Skip Dahl NO SPARKS

12/23 Don Hermansen Skip Dahl

Linda Harvey Kirsten Severson

Sandi Kane

Hank Harper

12/30 Sandi Kane Jerry Milner

David Schoch Karen Reed

Heidi Waters

Monika Hastings

Ministry Assistants

Spark Time Sunday School

Children from Kindergarten thru Grade 6

dismissed to Sunday School during Sending Hymn and

join parents in Café Hope after approximately 30 minutes of study and activity.

Page 11

BOOK CLUB—December 6

Our next meeting of the book club will be on Thursday, December 6th at 1:30pm in the Fireside Room. The book we will be discussing is entitled, Be the Hands and Feet: Living Out God’s Love For All His People by Nick Vujicic. Please join us for inspiration and a great discussion.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY Sundays @ 11:45am

The Sunday morning Bible Study continues our

journey through the book of Romans.

In his introduction to Romans, Martin Luther

wrote, “this epistle is in truth the most

important document in the New Testament, the

gospel in its purest expression…It is a brilliant

light, almost enough to illumine the whole

Bible.” In preparation for this study, I have

ordered lectures on Romans by Dr. Walter F.

Taylor, professor of New Testament, Trinity

Lutheran Seminary. These lectures are on DVD

so we can use some of them in our classes.

The lectures focus on such themes as how

God makes humanity right with God, others,

and ourselves, faith, baptism, Christian

community, and transformed lives. This will be

a great study. Everyone is invited to attend in

the educational building on Sundays from

11:45 am. to 12:30 pm.

Men’s Breakfast—December 1 The Men’s breakfast meets the first and third Saturday of each month in Nielsen Hall. Breakfast is served at 7:30am and the study begins at around 8:00am. Men’s Breakfast will meet on Saturday, December 1st.

Confirmation Classes

Confirmation classes will be hosted at

Hope Lutheran Church.

The schedule is as follows:

December 2nd 1:00pm

If you have any questions, please contact

Pastor Dan Severson.

(650) 349-0100 x102

Seniors Ministry

This month the Seniors Ministry will not be

having an event the first Tuesday of December.

There will be a Senior luncheon event on

December 13th.

Seniors Luncheon—December 13

A lunch outing is planned for Thursday, December 13th. We will be going to The Van’s Restaurant in Belmont. If you would like to carpool with us, please be at Hope Lutheran 5-10 mins before 12:30pm. Otherwise you can meet us at The Van’s at 1pm. Signups can be found in Nielsen Hall.

St. Andrew’S Luncheon—December 8

On the second Saturday every three months @

11:15am, St. Andrew’s will be hosting their

Senior Caring Communion Service and Luncheon.

If you are interested in attending, please

RSVP ASAP! From Hope Lutheran there is room

for only the first 10 people who RSVP. If you

would like more information about this event

or would like to attend, please call the

church office.

Norwegian Children’s Christmas Party

Mark your Calendars for this upcoming event!

DATE: 12/9/18 TIME: 2:30-5:00PM

LOCATION: Nielsen Hall

More details TBA!

Hope Lutheran Church

600 W. 42nd Ave.

San Mateo, CA 94403

Address Service Requested

Presorted

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

San Mateo, CA

Permit No. 160

December 2018

Voice of Hope Deadline for January edition: Friday, December 21

Hope Lutheran Church

650-349-0100

Email: helc@pacbell.net

www.hopelutheransanmateo.org

www.facebook.com/hopelutheransanmateo

Sunday Worship at 10:00 AM

Sunday School at 11:00 AM