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795 NORTH ROSE STREET, ESCONDIDO, CA 92027

(760) 745-3738 FAX (760) 745-4769 www.hoplutheran.com

Rev. Dr. Daren Erisman

HHHHOUSEOUSEOUSEOUSE OFOFOFOF PPPPRAYERRAYERRAYERRAYER LLLLUTHERANUTHERANUTHERANUTHERAN CCCCHURCHHURCHHURCHHURCH

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sundays 9:00 AM & 10:30 AM

Sunday School 10:00 AM 1st - 6th Grade 10:30 AM Adult

Wednesdays 10:00 AM Bible Study

Thursdays 9:30 AM 1st Thursday of the month - Esther Circle

May 2017

Glad Tidings Of Jesus’ Redemption and Release

A Monthly Publication

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“April showers bring May flowers, but what do May flowers bring? �Pilgrims!”

This is one of those jokes we learn at an early age. It never really gets old unless told by a seven-year-old multiple times a day, every day of the week—then it gets old. Otherwise, it is a timeless joke that teaches you not only about the seasons, but about our early American history.

Now, I learned the joke growing up in Colorado and it pretty much works there. By March/April the snows have started to turn into rain with snow storms occurring only rarely into May and June. May is definitely a good time for flowers, which begin blooming as soon as it warms up in March/April with daffodils usually leading the charge. By May it’s flower pandemonium.

However, if I had grown up in Escondido would I think this joke was very funny? After all, in which month are there not flowers in Escondido? And speaking of rain, the mantra here seems to be “May gray, June gloom”—it’s just plain hard to make a good joke out of this, let alone bring the Pilgrims to America. Yet, if you have grown up in this area, you likely have heard this joke even though it does not fit Escondido’s weather cycle very well. It’s still funny but it is not as intuitive as growing up in a place where it is a big deal for flowers to come in the spring after a long winter.

This is kind of what it is like to overhear our gospel readings during this season of Easter. Despite two thousand years of distance and language translations from Greek and Aramaic, we can still grasp the remarkable nature of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and how that changed the world. Yet, we each come at it in our own way. We can’t understand Jesus like the early disciples did, and really, we can’t even fully grasp the faith of the Pilgrims or even our great grandparents. They had their own contexts from which to digest the news: “He has risen! He has risen indeed!”

Like the disciples and the Pilgrims, we each must come to Christ in our own way—to be compelled by faith that a man from Nazareth can rise from the dead after three days, and that it is worth giving our lives over to him. We die with Christ and someday we will rise with Christ. It is a promise that makes us all Pilgrims on earth making the best of a new world. It is not always easy, but it is surely worth it. So, in these weeks of our Easter season leading up to Pentecost, it is a good time to reflect upon what Christ means for your life regardless of where you come from—whether you have been experiencing a long winter or whether you find yourselves surrounded by flowers most of the time, truly faith anew can bloom in your life.

Blessings,

Pastor Daren

SYNOD ASSEMBLY

The Synod Assembly is looking for volunteers to help out this year. The Assembly is on Thurs. May 11th - Sat. May 13th.

They are looking for registration/hospitality volunteers. The shifts are:

� Thurs. 9:00am - 1:00pm

1:00pm - 5:00pm

� Fri. 9:00am - 1:00pm

1:00pm - 5:00pm

� Sat. 8:00am - 11:30am

Please call the church office is you are interested in volunteering

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As I write this article, the Prayer House Ringers are just days away from participating in our fourth Spring Ring event. We have been working hard for a couple of months, learning and preparing the music for the massed ring. We would love to have you come enjoy the concert on Saturday, April 29 at 5:00 pm at

St Thomas More Catholic Church 1450 S Melrose Dr, Oceanside 92056. I’ll share more about our

experience next month.

We will celebrate Music Appreciation Sunday on May 21. This will bring our regular music season to a close. I am truly grateful for the time and effort of so many people who share their gifts of music each week. Music is such an important piece of the worship experience. My prayer is that each week as you worship, the music opens your heart and prepares you to receive the Word of God, and that perhaps you leave with a song in your heart that carries you through the week.

There is something truly special about being part of a group of people, especially at church, who share a love of music. For the singers and ringers of House of Prayer, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for working hard each week, volunteering your time, and giving your continued love and support to our

music ministry. You are all so fun to be with! I’m happy to say that both the choir and Prayer House

Ringers have added members this year. Singers…I’m amazed each week as I look up into the choir loft and

see the full pews. Your voices make such beautiful music together! Ringers…we have grown by 3 brave,

new ringers. I especially love how you work together and help each other grow in this special ministry. Each week as we praise God through singing and ringing, we share an abundance of laughter, love, and grace. When we are together, it’s always a positive experience. Even in our weakest moments, there is grace. It is truly a joy to be on this journey with you!

I am also very grateful for those who share their talents through instruments. We have been blessed this year with music from hand chimes, trumpets, oboe, violins, viola, English horn, clarinet, flute, and accordion. Wow! Thank you!

We added something new and fun this year with our Chime Time. Thank you to all those who have participated! I appreciate you jumping in to try something new. Several people have mentioned how much they enjoyed the addition of your music with the congregation singing along.

A special thank you to Henry, who brings us marvelous music each week on our organ and piano. We are truly blessed to have his talent among us! He certainly knows how to make music fun, while bringing out the best in us all!

With love and gratitude, Carol

“Now all the vault of heav’n resounds in praise of love that still abounds: “Christ has triumphed! He is

living!” Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear! Repeat their song of glory here: “Christ has triumphed! He is

living!” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!” ELW 367

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COUNCIL NEWS – MAY 2017

We had another excellent council meeting on April 18th which seemed somewhat anticlimactic with the wrap-up of

Holy Week and Easter just before. Before giving some meeting details I would just like to extend a huge thank you to

everyone who helped with Lent and Holy Week. I know I will forget to mention some but the list is long: those that

helped with the soup suppers, those that helped with the work days to spiff up the buildings and grounds, those that

helped with the Easter breakfasts, those that helped with the worship – the readers, the greeters, the ushers, the altar

guild, the musicians and singers, the pastors, the staff, those that decorated the church with the hydrangeas and the

butterflies. To put names to all those tasks would be about like printing the directory. You all help make our church a

great place to be.

Our street sign makeover is now complete. It looks fabulous and is automatically lit during dark hours. Special thanks

to Ramiro Acosta for spearheading the effort but the supporting cast is long and thanks to them also.

Thanks to Dan Engelbrecht for the Easter photography. That has unofficially launched our new directory. We will try

to use most of those pictures in some fashion. We will likely have a split directory. One part will be a listing of

members with just contact information and no pictures. Another part will be a pictorial album. The hope is that these

will be in a format that is living and can be available on demand.

We will be removing an oak tree at the NW corner of the property that is growing through the fence. There are issues

with it that could lead to legal problems. The city has no objection to removing it and the neighbor to the west wishes

it removed. There is also a dead tree along Rose that the city public works will be removing – eventually.

Enjoy the Easter season and thank God for his son!

Mike Kendall

This month’s movie will be

“The Case for Christ”

It will be shown on Sunday, May 28th at 11:45am in the Fellowship Hall The movie is presented by our youth to the HOP Congregation

Lot’s of “yummy” snacks!!

A great movie for the WHOLE family!!!!

There will be a “Good Will Offering” Come support our HOP Youth, see a GREAT movie AND snacks!!!!

A hard-driving journalist, Lee Strobel was exactly where he expected to be at work: on top. His award-winning investigative reporting recently earned him a promotion to legal editor at the Chicago Tribune. But things weren’t going nearly as well at home where his wife Leslie’s newfound faith in Christ went against everything Lee believed—or didn’t believe—as an avowed atheist. Utilizing his journalistic and legal training, Lee begins a quest to debunk the claims of Christianity in order to save his crumbling marriage. Chasing down the biggest story of his career, Lee comes face-to-face with unexpected results that could change everything he knows to be true.

Based on Lee Strobel’s award-winning bestselling book

Congratulations !!!

PLEASE PRAY FOR... Members of House of Prayer: For healing: Thelma Reich, Opal Wieck, Tom Kristensen, Wilma Smith, Ruth Shimansky, Rosalind Mattern, Fred Lowder, Anne Engelbrecht, Viola Kelley, Connie McVay, Kathy Hayden, Roz Siek, Inge Frerse, Harry Wichert, Clementina Lopez, Mollie Sacco, Ken Moore, Jane Van Dyke

For comfort: Relatives and Friends of HOP: For Healing : Robert Prentice, Melissa Leach, Alma Hernandez, Laci Richards, Carter Jordan, Monica McLernan, Ron Snow, Ron & Donna Perry, Erica Harris, Barbara Slusser, Monica Anderson, Gaile Hayden, Steve Hughes, Carol Cervantes, Vince Marrone, Keith Mattern, Lorenda Ingersoll, Patricia Kidder, Barbara Walker, John Vermilya, James & Liz Allen, Callen Michael Mullins Annette Greetis, Mary Turner, Kathleen Turner, Alfonso Rubio, Kiley Jackson-Portocollo, Sarneas Ornelas, Santiago Omelas, Julie Walsh, Mark Walsh, David Spahm, Criag Eck, Al Ball, Marianne Doherty, Jason Zdunich, Von Lindsey, Kathy Irgens, Scott Spillane, Vern Latham, Teresa Staton, Alice Dalton, Jim Tremayne For protection and safety in the military: Vince Erno, David Jones, Darren Embry, Jazmin Alfaro, Kenn Matthews, Devin Teeter, Justin Wilson, Daniel Weitz, Jacob Lange, Zachary Polzin

Happy May Birthdays

5/5

5/17

5/21

Becca Gross

Rosita Hetland

Ray Sacco

Kitty Wiebe

Loren Petersen

Marilyn McLernan

Dennis Lutz

Robin Wiebe

Celena Mahan

Ramiro Acosta

Payton Rutherford

Henrik Harbin

5/2

5/4

5/7

5/8

5/10

5/11

5/12

5/21

5/23

5/28

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Dale & Joan Schmidt

Gregorio & Laura Pueblo

Scott & Laurie Holtz

66 Years

20 Years

34 Years

If we are missing you, please call the church office

If you have a celebration to share with

your HOP family, please call or email the church office and it will be in the

Heavenly Happenings and/or Tidings.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ENDS

FOR THE SUMMER

Last Adult Sunday School will be held on May 7th at10:30am

May 7 (the Great Commission)

The children’s Sunday School Ends on Sunday May 21st

The HOP Youth have some donated jackets from our local schools.

They will be giving them out to any families in need on

Tues. May 2nd at 3:00pm. If you know of anyone please pass this

info on to them.

Attention Women of HOP

Esther Circle is about to go to war! Yes, that’s right WAR! We are about to launch a new study that is designed to

prepare us for fighting the greatest enemy to our Faith Life. We know he is at work right here, right now and we intend to be armed to fight the fight. We invite you to join us in March and the first Thursday of

every month at 9:30am.

KEENAGERS

This will be our LAST Keenagers until September

Thursday, May 18th at 12:00pm.

We will be having

Sirloin Burgers

Come early for coffee and fellowship.

Please bring a dish, salad or dessert to share.

Don’t forget your own place setting.

If you’ve never been, be sure to join us.

If you are a regular and know

of someone who has never been,

be sure to invite them!

Lots of great food and fun!!

There will be a “good will offering” if you are unable to

bring anything. 6

House of Prayer’s

Wednesday 10:00am morning Bible Study continues to grow.

We are studying the book of Genesis. Please consider attending. If you’ve

never been or if you are a regular, invite someone new!!

ICS NEEDS FOR APRIL

ICS is asking for canned goods

These are just some suggestions. Any canned goods will help.

There also is a great need for socks,

women’s underwear, deodorant, chap stick and small bottles of sun screen

Vegetables Fruit Tuna Any non-perishable foods

Do you enjoy listening to Henry share his gift of beautiful music on Sunday mornings?

Now you can listen to them anytime on the

computer. Click on the link below to hear what he played a couple of Sundays ago.

http://henrydoktorski.com/soundfiles/organ/

BachBWV558.mp3.

Henry hopes to have video’s posted soon so you

may also enjoy those.

Relay for Life update…

House of Prayer was well represented at this

year’s Relay For Life Escondido-San Marcos. The

Crushers team included 7 members from HOP

and raised $6,624. We walked many miles, with

the temperature in the 90’s. This year’s event

raised over $25,000 for the American Cancer

Society. Thank you for your con3nued support

for Relay for Life, through your generous

dona3ons and sponsorships of luminaria bags in

honor and memory of your loved ones. It’s

always such a touching tribute to see the track

lined with a few hundred luminarias, as we walk

quietly in the night.

YOUTH GROUP BIBLE STUDY

High School Youth Group

Sunday’s

11:45am - 1:00pm

House of Prayer Youth

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Minute to Win it Games

Sunday, May 7

11:45am

CONFIRMATION

Sunday, May 21st

11:45am - 2:00pm

Last meeting for the summer

MOVIE DAY

“A Case for Christ”

Sunday, May 28th

11:45am

Fellowship Hall

Holy week and Easter services are always an emotional time. We go from a joyful entrance into the city, to

betrayal, trial, death, and resurrection. Christ went through so much and yet continued to show us love

through it all. His Love fills my heart and brings me joy. I wish to share it with everyone. Please share it

with me and share with those around you. He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

I want to thank the people who helped with the Easter Breakfast: Jeff Gross for the Thrivent Action

Donation, Tom and Adam Wiebe for their help with the set-up, cooking and cleaning. Also, Clementina

Lopez, Maria Alvarado, Natalia Marquez, and Damian Escalera for their help with cooking, cleaning and

help keeping things running during the day. The day was a great success. Thank you everyone who

attended.

We have many activities coming up, please note some date changes in May, Confirmation will be on the

third Sunday. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend these events - we have a minute to win it game

day, our last confirmation class before summer break, and on the fourth Sunday will be the movie “A Case

for Christ”. The K-6th grade Sunday School classes will continue to meet at 10:00 am till 10:30 am. The

last day of Sunday School will be May 21st.

On June 4, we will be honoring our High School graduates. If you have a student graduating this year,

please contact the church office with their information.

This summer, we have events that registration needs to be soon. Please let me know if you are interested.

Vacation Bible School – “Camp-Out, Getting S’more of Jesus” June 21-23

Western States Gathering – High School students- June 28- July 2

Confirmation Camp – Middle School Students- July 16-22

We have already planning and fundraising for our 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX. We are

continuing to collect CRV recycling items. Please bring plastic and aluminum CRV with you to church on

Sundays. Thank you for your help.

The love of Christ shine each day with this congregation and the youth are blessed to have each of you in

their lives. Help them to continue showing Christ’s Love each day. He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Blessing to you,

Kitty Wiebe

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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day is May 14th. Last year we began a new tradi3on of giving, making a loving impact on mothers around

the world and their children. This year we will be collec3ng a free will offering on Mother’s Day to support Casa

Guatemala, an orphanage and educa3onal center in the heart of Guatemala’s Eastern Jungles. The Casa Guatemala

staff and benefactors be<er the lives of hundreds of orphans and local children by focusing on four key elements…

educa3on, work training, health care, and love. Our monetary dona3ons will be used to purchase supplies, to

provide shelter, to provide a proper educa3on, and so much more. You can learn more at www.casa-guatemala.org.

We have a personal connec3on to Casa Guatemala through HOP members, Lynn and Marilyn Carlson. Their

daughter, Angela, has made several trips to volunteer there, and Marilyn plans to go with her this July.

Thank you to ALL the women who mother

Save the dates: June 21-23, 2017

9 am till 12

$10 per family grades k-6

For more information call

Church office: 760-745-3738

VBS

House of Prayer Lutheran Church

BASKET WEAVING CLASS Monday, May 22nd 9:30am - 12:00pm

Taught by MJ Petersen $20 per person to cover material and classroom time.

Class size is limited!! Call now and reserve a space for yourself and a friend.

Call MJ to reserve your space and with any questions. 928-273-3970

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STEWARDSHIP OF SERVICE FOR APRIL STEWARDSHIP OF SERVICE FOR MAY

5/7 9:00 AM—Ushers: Mike Kendall, Cheri Kendall, Danny Lowenberg, Nancey Lowenberg

{ Every Sunday 10:30— Juana Flores & Laura Cano}

Greeters: Darrell & JoEleen Maus

Reader: Jan Estes [10:30 Josue Puebla]

Communion Assistants: Jan Estes & JoEllen Maus [10:30 Laura Cano & Josue Puebla]

Acolyte: Abbey Glassett [10:30 Sergio Flores Jr.]

5/14 9:00 AM —Ushers: Dan Engelbrecht, Danny Lowenberg, Nancey Lowenberg, Jan Estes

Greeters: Pat Kowalke & Laurie Holtz

Reader: Gretchen Pili [10:30 Jeanette O’Hara[

Communion Assistants: Barbara Moore & Laurie Holtz [10:30 Lupe Alvarado & Clementina Lopez[

Acolyte: Sebastian Mahan

5/21 9:00 AM Ushers: Dennis Lutz, Lisa Lutz, Scott Holtz, Laurie Holtz

Greeters: Mike & Minnie Williams

Reader: Shelli Ellison [10:30 Ramiro Acosta[

Communion Assistants: Lawson & Shelli Ellison [10:30 Silveria Balderas & Carol Gross]

Acolyte: Damien Escalera [10:30 Sergio Flores Jr]

5/28 9:00 AM Ushers: Patrick Graham, David Rice, Phillip Rice, Mike Erno

Greeters: Doris Badger & Lue Guthrie

Reader: Mike Erno [10:30 Deanna Concannon]

Communion Assistants: Sandy Erno & Doris Badger [10:30 Clementina & Daisy Lopez]

Acolyte: Emma Wiebe

Altar Guild: Gwenn Jensen & Pat Kowalke

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Flower Donations for May 5/7 Dale & Joan Schmidt In Celebration of Our 66th Wedding Anniversary 5/14 HOP To the Glory of God 5/21 Scott & Laurie Holtz In Celebration of Our 34th Wedding Anniversary 5/28 Chris Hall In Celebration of Our 41st Wedding Anniversary

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May 2017May 2017May 2017May 2017

MY CHANGE MAKES

A CHANGE

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FEED MY SHEEP

ASH WEDNESDAY

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

8:00am Scrip orders Due 7:00pm PPH

2

9:30am Quilting 2:30pm YE 3:00pm Donated Jackets Given Out 7:00pm PPH

3

10:00am Bible Study 2”30pm YE 6:30pm Hand Bells 7:00pm PPH 7:30pm Choir

4

9:30am Esther Circle 2:30pm YE

5 6

7

9:00 & 10:30am Worship Services 10’00am Sunday School 1st - 6th Grades 10:30 Sunday School for adults 11:45am Minute to Win It

8

8:00am Scrip orders Due 7:00pm PPH

9

9:30am Quilting 2:30pm YE 7:00pm PPH

10

5:30am ICS 10:00am Bible Study 2:30pm YE 6:30pm Hand Bells 7:00pm PPH 7:30pm Choir

11

2:30pm YE

12

13

9:30am Scroll Saw

14

9:00 & 10:30am Worship Services 10’00am Sunday School 1st - 6th Grades 10:30 Sunday School for adults

15

8:00am Scrip orders due 7:00pm PPH

16

9:30am Quilting 2:00pm Staff meeting 2:30pm YE 7:00pm Council

17

10:00am Bible Study 2:30pm YE

18

12:00pm Keenagers

2:30pm YE

19

20

8:00am Girl Scouts

21

9:00 & 10:30am Worship Services 10’00am Sunday School 1st - 6th Grades 10:30 Sunday School for adults 11:45am Confirmation

22

8:00am Scrip orders Due 9:30am Basket Weaving Class

23

9:30am Quilting 2:00pm Staff Meeting 2:30pm YE 7:00pm PPH

24

10:00am Bible Study 2:30pm YE 7:00pm PPH

25

2:30pm YE

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28

9:00 & 10:30am Worship Services 11:45am Movie Day

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30

8:00am Scrip orders due 9:30am Quilting 2:00pm Staff Meeting 2:30pm YE 7:00pm PPH

31

10:00am Bible Study 2:30pm YE 7:00pm PPH

MCMAC

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FEED MY SHEEP

MOTHER’S DAY

MUSIC APPRECIATION PR. DAREN CONF PR. DAREN CONF PR. DAREN CONF

PD CONFERENCE

PD CONFERENCE

OFFICE CLOSED

PD CONFERENCE PD CONFERENCE PD CONFERENCE PD CONFERENCE PD CONFERENCE

PD CONFERENCE PD CONFERENCE SYNOD ASSEMNLY SYNOD ASSEMBLY SYNOD ASSEMBLY