Hope Lutheran Church “Pointing to Christ...Hope for the Home” December 23, 2018

2308 Gravois Road, High Ridge, MO 63049 (636) 677-8788 hopehighridge@sbcglobal.net www.hopehighridge.org

THIS WEEK AT HOPE

TODAY December 16, 2018 8:00 AM Holy Communion 9:30 AM Sunday School & Adult Bible Study 10:45 AM Holy Communion

MONDAY Christmas Eve 4:00 PM Christmas Eve Service 6:00 PM Christmas Eve Service 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Service

TUESDAY: Christmas Day 10:00 AM Christmas Service

NEXT SUNDAY: 8:00 AM Holy Communion 10:45 AM Holy Communion Remember in Prayer Tim Friedel, Ella Cook, Cindi Hawkins, Gerry Schumacher and Gil Tritch

Fruits of Our Faith Week of: December 16, 2018 Gifts to do His Work - General Fund: $6,455.24 Worshipped: 248

Birthdays December 25th Kris Hess December 26th Angelina Iliff, Donna Schilling, Abigail Wagner December 28th Isabella Koenig Anniversaries December 29th Kenneth & Rachel Bomberger

HLECC Corner

Many of our Sunday School and ECC families enjoyed an evening at our annual Family Christmas Celebration.

There were crafts, cookies & milk, a live nativity story by Hope's Youth and more!

Altar Flowers The 2019 Calendar is up! Remember to please submit SPECIAL requests AND payment for Altar flowers at least 2 weeks in advance! The florist needs time to order the flowers you desire. We cannot assure your request can be fulfilled without this required lead time. Thank You.

Changes to the Calendar

Wednesday 6pm worship resumes January 9th

Wednesday night Bible Study at 7pm resumes

January 23rd, continuing the study of Romans.

Take a minute!

Stop by the Children's Ministry board in the friendship room and see

what's been going on with our youngest people at Hope. See the hard work

put in by our Sunday School and Youth families at their fall service project.

Also, get a peek at the adorable toddlers and their work in Ms. Rebecca's

HLECC classroom!

Witnessing. What’s it all about? The Every One His Witness Lutheran evangelism program puts sound doctrine into practical action for

sharing the faith with people in our everyday lives. Participants learn: What is witnessing? Why do we witness? And the “how-to” of

witnessing using the LASSIE approach — Listen-Ask-Seek-Share-Invite-Encourage.

Pastor Jason will be offering this class a few times over the coming year. To help the class be the most beneficial, we are limiting each

class to 18. The first class begins January 27th and will take place on Sunday mornings through March 3rd. Please sign up on the bulletin

board today!

No Al-Anon Meeting on Tuesday, December 25th or Tuesday, January 1st.

Meetings resume on Tuesday, January 8th. Call 636-375-0079 if needed.

Dear Hope Lutheran Congregation, Thank you for all of your help in our endeavor to raise funds and provide the children of CFNA a Christmas gift! We were able to give 50 sweatshirts, hats, gloves, and over 120 brand new books! We hope you all have a very warm and wonderful Christmas! -Hope's Youth!

Coming up, January 12th, your invited to another Hope Lutheran Oil Painting class featuring this classic, rendition of "Arctic Beauty", artist Bob Ross. In the dead of winter, we prepare and paint together this majestic painting as we meditate on the crown of thorns on his head and clothed him in purple to depict royalty: Mark 15:17 And they dressed him in purple and braided a crown of thorns and put it on him;… There are other instances of purple being mentioned in the Bible and each time it denotes wealth, honour and royal majesty. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! By His Grace we "Live Life" with Joy and Peace eternally! Thanks in His Name! Randy Tritch

Thank You! A huge thank you to everyone involved with this year's

Children's Christmas program! Approximately 170 people heard the good news of Jesus' birth from our children on Sunday, December

16th! It was truly a blessing! If you missed it, plan to join us next year!

Shut-in Ministry - During this busy season, please don’t

forget our shut-ins. Christmas Cards are available for your

choosing in the Friendship Room! Cards are pre-addressed

and ready for you to “add a little love and a stamp.” Here is

your opportunity to bless our shut-ins with a card of

remembrance.

Questions contact Judy Woolard at 636-543-3110.

Please take some time to review the Bible readings below, they

will be the subject of next week’s sermon.

December 30th -

Exodus 13:1–3a, 11–15

Colossians 3:12–17

Luke 2:22–40

When the Lord destroyed the firstborn sons of Egypt,

He spared the sons of Israel by providing a lamb in

their stead. Hence, all the firstborn sons belong to Him.

Every firstborn male animal was sacrificed, and every

firstborn son of man was redeemed (Ex. 13:12–13).

Therefore, the parents of Jesus “brought him up to

Jerusalem to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22).

However, He is not redeemed from priestly service but

is consecrated for “the redemption of Jerusalem” and

“the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25, 38). For God the

Father did not spare His only begotten Son, but

offered Him up as the true Passover Lamb, in order to

redeem His people from bondage. His cross has

caused many to stumble and fall, but His blood

atoned for the sins of the world and delivers us from

death. We now depart in the peace of Christ

because we are also raised with Him. As we receive

His body and blood, we join Simeon and Anna in

“giving thanks to God the Father through him,”

“singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,”

including the Nunc Dimittis, with thankfulness in our

hearts (Luke 2:28–32, 38; Col. 3:15–17).

Life Thought in the Church Year

Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth (Luke 1:44) provides proof that unborn ones have life in the womb. This

joyful Gospel also proclaims that human beings have utmost value even before birth. Micah’s oracle (Micah 5:2) likewise confirms that the Lord loves little ones,

and Hebrews 10:10 explains that the infant Immanuel consecrates us all so sacred and special to God.

We Pray: Messiah of Bethlehem, move us to embrace the least of these in Your tenderness. Amen.

Hope Lutheran is excited to announce that you can now manage your giving online!

Contributions can now be debited automatically from your checking or savings account or processed using your credit or debit card. Our new electronic giving program offers convenience for you and provides much-needed donation consistency for our congregation.

If you are currently giving on a weekly basis, you will no longer need to write out 52 checks a year or prepare 52 envelopes. And, when travel, illness or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, this program will allow your weekly offerings to continue on an uninterrupted basis.

You can also make one-time gifts to special events, programs and other Church funds or activities.

Giving online is easy, safe and secure, plus it allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet.

Simply follow these easy steps: 1) Visit the church website at hopehighridge.org, 2) Click on the Online Giving tab and follow the link, 3) Click on the Create Profile button, then 4) Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your recurring contributions.

If you prefer to use your phone, you can download the Give Plus app for both Apple and Android devices, and simply search for Hope Lutheran – High Ridge, MO.

With Thanks to God for His many Blessings:

John Salsman

Pastor and Julie Wagner

Ron and Marcie Gerhardt

Jean Redman

Pat Rainey

Mary Clubb

Alice Manus

Fred and Dorothy Baumhoegger

Given By: In Memory of:

Kathy Gustavison Earl, Flo and Mark Schmidt

Terry Rodenberg Susan Rodenberg

Sue Boswell Michael Boswell

Gloria High Kevin

Sue Amelung Todd

Mark & Mary Ellen Wood Richard Nilles, Mary Ellen Hudspeth

Ken & Dawn Newberry Dorothy Newberry, Harold Ulch

Beth, Jeff & Isaiah Nelson Dave Smith, Dawn Smith, Charlotte Smith

Bonnie Baisch Bonnie Brouk

Ron & Roberta Gray Allen Barry, Russell Barry, Richard Gray

Christmas 2018 - Poinsettia Donors