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Official Publication of Hope Lutheran Church; Cedar Hill, TX September, 2011 Volume XXVI Issue 9
Mission Statement: To discover and respond to our call
TO KNOW JESUS TO FOLLOW JESUS TO SERVE JESUS in unique ministries.
Church 972.291.7902
Fax 972.291.9003
Pastors Joel & Wendy Berthelsen [email protected]
Choir Director Andrew Trites
Director of Youth & Ministry
Development Matt Cleaver
Organist Sanctuary Choir Accompanist
Youth Choir Accompanist Cathy Peterson
Secretary Karine Samer
Heralds Editor Karine Samer
Church Council
Officers President
Dwight Bengtson- 972.515.8162
President-Elect
Tammy Hill - 972.617.7264
Secretary Kristine Clark 972.274.4616
Members at Large
Matt Cleaver - 972.754.7353 Carrie Hamilton -
972.775.3019 Bryan Pender - 972.775.1065 Ty Robenson - 972.723.9023 Barbara York - 972.298.7115
Appointees Treasurer
Kathy Still - 972.293.8016 Financial Secretary
Mark Driscoll - 972.742.4605
An Invitation to Balance,
The Challenge of Balance
September 11, 9:00 AM
September 11th I will lay out an Invitation to Balance.
Christian discipleship is an act of balance. But first we must see it is not about balance.
Many falsely think Christianity is first and foremost about balance. They imagine a scale.
On the one side of the balance are the bad things they do. They imagine Christianity is
the act of balancing out this bad with some good. But there is no such thing as balancing
out our sin with some act of our doing.
Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
Psalm 62:9
An entire life of doing good is but a breath. It has no weight to balance out the weight of
our sin. Instead of vainly imagining we can give balance to the wrong we do we should
instead trust Jesus who carried the weight of our sin on the cross.
Isaiah 53:11 “After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniqui-
ties.”
So first and foremost, Christianity is not about balance. We must receive justification by
faith. We can not balance out sin with doing some good. Christ’s work is our only hope.
Through the cross our sin is forgiven.
Continued on page 2
2
Continued from page 2.
We are born again to a living hope.
After having left behind this idea of Christianity as balance, we can then begin to see how Christianity is about
balance, but balance in a different way.
Discipleship is about balance.
Balancing Life Finding Balance:
“I urge you to live a life in balance (axios is the Greek word) with the calling you have.” Eph. 4:1
What are the basic things we need to balance? Below is list. The complexity of the list shows us we cannot do
it all at once. We need to approach the list with balance. We approach each of these in God’s time and in
God’s way. In God’s time (kairos) and God’s way we find balance.
Balancing Work and Rest:
“Come unto me you are weary and under heavy labor and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and
learn from me because my yoke is easy, my burden is light, and you will find rest for your soul.” Matt. 11. See
also Psalm 137
Balancing UP, IN and OUT
Balancing Relationships
Balancing training
Balance with God’s Call
Balancing Prayer Life
Balancing Spirituality
Balancing Out with Up and In
Having left behind the false notion of balance we can enter into God’s good balance. Do you feel the need for
balance in your life? It doesn’t just come with no effort and no planning and little prayer and little faith. Pay-
ing attention to God’s good timing it will come. Come and catch the vision of discipleship, September 11 at
9:00 AM.
Pastor Joel
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Adult Sunday School
September 11 An Invitation to Balance:
A Vision of Discipleship
September 18 Titus chapter 1
September 25 Titus chapter 2 and 3
Confirmation Begins
Confirmation begins September 14 at 6:15 PM.
Students are invited to come for pizza supper
starting at 5:45 PM. We will end at 7:15 PM.
Pastor Joel
Reformation Sunday October 31 Dear friend(s),
You are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the
church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the
sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality
to such men so that we may work together for the truth. III John
1:5-8
I enjoyed studying four one chapter books in the month of August: Philemon, II John, III John and the book of
Jude. The above verse, taken from the book of III John, encourages the church to receive workers and teachers of
the faith joyfully, to show them warm hospitality and then send them on their way with blessing.
We have just such an opportunity coming on Reformation Sunday October 31. Drs. Paul and Ida Martinson are
going to be with us again representing China Services Venture. I hope you put it on your calendar now to be
sure to be here. They will tell us of their recent visit to China and the great things God is doing there.
It should be both fascinating and inspiring.
Pastor Joel
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Calling All Singers!
Choir Rehearsals starts on Wednesday, September 7th @ 7:30!
We’re calling all interested singers from High School-ers to Old
School-ers! We have some great music lined up for the fall and
winter months, and we hope you will join Us Let me know if you
have any questions.
Andrew Trites
(913)593-5924
Timothy Project Bible Study will resume on Wed., Sept. 14. at 7:15PM "All Scripture is inspired
by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof and training in righteousness so that the person of God might
be equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16ff (hence, the name: Timothy Project) We will begin
an in depth study of the four Gospels so that we can be TRUE disciples of Jesus... listening, learning from
Him and letting go to surrender to Him as our Lord in all things.
.
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Memorials and Designated Giving
Below is a list of designated funds at Hope used to pay for expenses or support ministries not included in our annual
budget. You may donate to any of the funds below by designating your offering or memorial to the appropriate fund.
Numbers below are as of 3/31/2011.
Fund Name Purpose Balance Donated
YTD
Altar Guild Extra expenses related to worship not covered in monthly operating
budget. Examples of items bought are new altar paraments and ban-
ners.
$ 1853.72 $ 0.00
Bereavement Pay for food for funerals. $ 411.42 $ 0.00
Briarwood Sent directly to Briarwood Retreat Center, the camping ministry of our
synod, to support their ministry and operations. This fund balance is
kept at zero. Money is sent in as it is received.
$
$
0.00
$ 0.00
Cedar Hill
Food Pantry
Sent directly to the Cedar Hill Food Pantry. This fund balance is kept at
zero. Money is sent in as it is received.
$
$
20.00
$ 675.00
Computer
Upgrades
Upgrade computer equipment, including the computer in the sanctuary
used for Sunday morning PowerPoint.
$ 13.77 $ 650.00
Council Used at the discretion of the Church Council. $ 100.19 $ 0.00
Council-
Outreach
Used at the discretion of the Church Council for outreach. $ 351.30 $ 0.00
Front sign
Flowerbed
Maintain and improve the area around the front church sign. $ 622.24 $ 0.00
Lawnmower Replace a worn-out lawn mower at church. $ 2,506.00 $ 2,200.
Library Purchase new books as needed. $ 69.08 $ 0.00
Lutheran
World Relief
Sent directly to Lutheran World Relief to support their ministry and op-
erations. This fund balance is kept at zero. Money is sent in as it is re-
ceived.
$ 0.00
$ 00.00
Ministry
Development
Develop new ministries at our church. For instance, this Fund was used
to send people to Stephen’s Ministry training.
$ 2,272.97 $ 100.00
Matt Cleaver
Seminary
Support tuition costs for Matt Cleaver’s seminary program. $
0.00
$ 0.00
Sierra Leone Sent directly to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone to
support their ministry and operations. This fund balance is kept at zero.
Money is sent in as it is received.
$
361.00
$ 361.00
Sound
System
Maintain and upgrade sound system. $ 1,113.08 $ 0.00
Sunday School-
missions
Used to support Nedie, a thirteen year old girl from Haiti that we have
supported for many, many years through Compassion International. Our
commitment is $38 a month.
$ 3.46 $ 238.00
Youth
General
General youth ministry expenses. Often used to give scholarships to
youth who cannot afford to attend certain events.
$ 18.02 $ 1590
Youth
Mission
Supports the cost of the summer youth mission trip. $ 2158.86 $ (199).
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Sunday Schedule:
Sunday School (All Ages) ~ 9:00 AM
Worship ~ 10:00 AM
Wednesday Night Activities:
5:30-6:30 PM—Reconfirmed (high school)
5:45PM—Pizza Dinner ($3 per person)
6:15-7:15PM—Confirmation
6:15-7:00PM—Wed. Night Prayer & Communion
6:30-7:15PM—Chimes Choir (children-adults)
7:15-8:30PM—Timothy Project Bible Study
7:30-8:30PM—Adult Choir
Newsletter Articles Deadline … The date is: August 18th
Please email your articles as an
attachment to:
2011 Calendar
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
4 Sunday School ~
All Ages Begins
5 Church Office
Closed
6 7 Fall Wednes-
day night
schedule be-
gins
8 9 10
11 The 10th Annv.
N Y Trade Center
12 13 Faith Circle
Meeting 7:30PM
14 Confirma-
tion, Wed. Night
Prayer and
Timothy Project
begins
15 16 17
18
Council Meeting
Newsletter
19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
FMSC
Confirmation Retreat
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Confirmation Begins September 14
th at 6:00 PM.
One my favorite things to do in ministry is meet with and teach our confirmation students. I look forward to starting up a new year of confirmation on September 14
th at 6:00 PM.
Pastor Joel
Feed My Starving Children
Friday- Saturday, September 23-24
On Friday & Saturday, September 23-24, you are
invited to participate in a one-of-a-kind event where
you will be able to pack food to be sent around the
world to children who are on the verge of starvation.
The organization Feed My Starving Children (http://
www.fmsc.org/) is hosting a “Mobile Packing Day”
here in the metroplex.
The location of the event is:
First United Methodist Church
2201 E. Hebron Parkway
Carrollton, TX 75010
This event is open to anyone elemen-
tary age through adults. This is a
great thing for a family to do together. You can
work alongside one another to serve and feed chil-
dren all around the world. In March 2010 a group of
us went and packed around 50,000 meals in an hour
and a half. It was truly an amazing experience. You
can see video of our group packing in March at
http://vimeo.com/13181631—see if you can spot us!
As of right now, we are not organizing a group
from Hope. You may register yourself or your
family for a two-hour shift on Friday or Satur-
day by clicking this link.
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Homebound Residents
Janet Dinwiddie
Park Manor ~ Rm. 405B
207 E. Parkerville Road
DeSoto, TX 75115-6251
972.223.6016
George & Jackie Milyo
2600 Parkview Lane #138
Bedford, TX 76002-7989
In the hospital ~
Fran Christensen
Select Specialty Hospital
800 Kirnwood Drive
DeSoto, TX 75115-6251
Recovering at home ~
Bob Sparr
P. O. Box 405
DeSoto, Texas 75154-1452 [email protected]
These members appreciate your prayers and words of encourage-ment.
Marv Christensen
812 Vince Lane
DeSoto, TX 75115-4410
972.223.5172
Norman Emmons
2210 Stafford Drive
Arlington, Texas 76012-4141
817.461.4540
Dick and Joanna Snow
1771 County Club Blvd
Mansfield, TX 76063-6607
817.729.1688
Friends of Hope
Joe & Karine Samer ~ Joe recovering from back surgery
1114 Noblewood Dr.
Glenn Heights, TX 75115
Prayers and Words of Encouragement
Our homebound members and friends enjoy
visits, calls and cards. Please take a few min-
utes out for those who can no longer get out
and about.
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September Anniversaries
Pastors Joel & Wendy Berthelsen 9/03
Dwight & Margaret Bengtson 9/05
Scott & Kristine Clark 9/06
Dustin & Erin Slayton 9/07
Bob & Nina Griggs 9/09
Carrie & Shannon Hamilton 9/09
September Birthdays
Brian Sague 9/01
Alison Still 9/02
LeAnne Rugari 9/03
Melanie Jones 9/04
Doris Kuhn 9/07
Myra Sague 9/09
Rob Halowec 9/10
Lynn Emmons 9/11
Steve Harr 9/12
Mark Jones 9/12
Rebecca Nelson 9/14
Drew Peterson 9/15
Brian Fain 9/17
Kari DeWeerd 9/19
Brianna Lidle 9/19
Janice Wessa 9/20
Rose Janke 9/23
Pamela Bland 9/24
Dianne Kreh 9/24
Thomas Kuhn 9/24
Judy Knoll 9/27
Robert Nelson 9/27
Stephanie Juergens 9/28
Kristin Petrichenko 9/28
Lauren Roberson 9/29
Hdree Ashenafi 9/30
Dwayne Juergens 9/30
Cathy Nichols 9/301
Women of Hope
Regular Faith Circle Meetings
will begin again with the Septem-
ber 13th meeting at 7:30PM. Karen
Driscoll will be leading the
study “Living Free, Learning to
Pray God's Word” by Beth
Moore.
10 14
11
Growing Your Faith: Call to Know, Follow & Serve Jesus
Starting September 11—Adult, Youth, & Children Sunday School: 9:00 AM
Adult Sunday School
Sunday, September 11— “An Invitation to Balance: A Vision of Discipleship.” Join Pastor
Joel as he discusses and leads a session outlining a vision for the future of discipleship at
Hope.
Sunday, September 18—Titus Chapter 1.
Sunday, September 25—Titus Chapters 2 & 3.
Other Spiritual Growth Opportunities
Beginning September 14—Timothy Project Bible Study, Wednesday evenings, 7:15-8:30 PM. Taught by Pastor Wendy. Over a three year period of time, you will:
You will read through the entire Bible and study portions as you go. Learn to hear God personally speak to you through his living, active word. Incredible! Learn various spiritual disciplines so that you may know Jesus as a profound friend Learn to pray Learn to study the Bible in a faithful in-depth manner
No Bible knowledge or experience needed. Participate as you desire. We will study the early
part of the Old Testament this year as well as parts of the New Testament. Newcomers wel-
come!
Beginning September 14—Wednesday Evening Prayer and Communion, 6:15-7:00 PM Wednesdays. Come for silent prayer in our prayer chapel. Prayer guides, Bibles, and journal-ing supplies are made available for you so that you can spend meaningful time in prayer lis-tening for God. Each evening closes with anointing with oil and Holy Communion.
Women’s Faith Circle—meets the second Tuesday of the month, 7:30 pm at the church. Come for fellowship, devotions, and Bible study led by Carolee Juergens. All women of the church are welcome.
Small (Spiritual Formation) Groups—Develop faith relationships. Talk about faith and real life. To explore an interest in becoming a part of a group, see Pastor Joel or Matt Cleaver.
Daily Devotionals and Study Resources
Available on the table in the church lobby. Take one!
Christ in our Home—Available quarterly, this devotional has daily Scripture readings,
thoughts and prayers.
Daily Texts—Written to last the whole year. Scriptures are given for you to read daily over the
course of 2010.
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Hope
Lutheran
Church 917 Straus Road
Cedar Hill Texas 75104
www.hopelutheran.net
Return Service Requested
Wednesday,
September 7
Wednesday Night Activities:
5:30-6:30 PM—Reconfirmed (high school)
5:45PM—Pizza Dinner ($3 per person)
6:15-7:15PM—Confirmation
6:15-7:00PM—Wed. Night Prayer &
Communion
6:30-7:15PM—Chimes Choir
(children-adults)
7:15-8:30PM—Timothy Project Bible Study
7:30-8:30PM—Adult Choir