February 24, 2021

Pastor's Weekly Musing
"IN CAR" SERVICES ON SUNDAYS IN BACK PARKING LOT AT 9:30 AM
Masks Required
Council President's Comment
Financial Report

Weekly Bible Studies

See Info Below





WELCOME
To Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church

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CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: 480-396-8300
Website: www.spiritofhopelutheran.com
Office Hours are Tuesday 9:00 to 1:00 pm

"IN CAR" SERVICES TO BE HELD IN THE FAR BACK PARKING LOT:
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28th AT 9:30 AM
MASKS ARE REQUIRED



IT IS HERE - The season of Lent
 
In the darkness of life, let God shine through you this season as we are drawn closer to Christ, in love and humble gratitude for all that Jesus has done for us. After all, Christ took on our, pain and brokenness, accepted and encountered the cross in order to redeem us and the world form the evils of sin and death. Through Christ’s sacrifice we are free to love and serve God and each other!  Come and follow me.     

Lent is a time for all Christians to reflect on our blessings. The Lenten season is also a time where we can challenge ourselves to simple Lenten Disciplines. It is a time where we can grow in our spirituality.   
 
Lent is traditionally a period to remember Christ's forty days in the wilderness. Many people discipline themselves during this church season by giving something up as a sacrifice as Jesus sacrificed himself. The primary focus for Lent , however, should not simply be giving up one of our pleasures in life, but to rededicate our very lives to Christ as God's faithful Children
 

OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS

Subfreezing temperatures and heavy snow swept across the country last week, impacting millions of people. The harsh conditions severely impacted Southern states, such as Texas, which lack the infrastructure to handle the freezing temperatures and record-setting snow and ice. This has led to power, food and water shortages throughout the region. At its peak, 4.5 million homes and businesses in Texas were without power.

The ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response is collaborating with Synods and congregations and Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response conducting relief efforts such as supplying water, food and generators to those in need and opening their doors to serve as shelters. Long-term recovery may include repairing water-damaged homes, disaster case management and supporting vulnerable populations.

Click on this link and it will bring you to the site for donating to this cause.





No Wednesday Bible Studies
until March 3rd

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Coffee with the Pastor ONLINE    
Every Wednesday
at 9:00 am

You are invited to join me on a ZOOM call… this is how you do this. Open your internet browser, Copy and paste the link below into the address line. We will go live starting at 9:00 am.

https://zoom.us/j/6401061099?pwd=L1luVWlPcnRreDYzeTdMRks1ZEp1UT09

or call into the meeting, using your phone to one of the following numbers:

Please add – phone numbers =   1-346-248-7799

When prompted add the following information: 
Meeting ID: 640 106 1099
EVENING BIBLE STUDY - Every Wednesday Night at 6:00 pm

Meet at the church and we will be also be on line through the ZOOM application using the same log-in address as we use for the Coffee time with Pastor.
Pastor Tony will lead this Bible study and we will be studying the scriptures that will be read at the next Sunday worship service.
Everyone who is to be present at the church MUST be wearing a mask for everyone’s protection. Masks are available if needed.
If you are not able to join us here at church, please log on to this ZOOM video call on your computer or phone at 6:00 pm.
Join us anytime! https://zoom.us/j/6401061099?pwd=L1luVWlPcnRreDYzeTdMRks1ZEp1UT09 or call into the meeting, using your phone to one of the following numbers: Please add – phone numbers = 1-346-248-7799 When prompted add the following information Meeting ID: 640 106 1099 See you there!
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Morning Bible Study

When: Thursday mornings
Time: 6:30 a.m.
Where: Church
What: Bring your Bible and your coffee

A Word from the Women's Bible Study

By Dar Stucke


He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and rest under the shadow of the Almighty, whose power no enemy can withstand. Psalm 91:1

  This is one of my favorite portions of scripture, Psalm 91. Onetime I heard someone refer to it as our “air raid shelter.” If we are in danger, it gives us a feeling of security. If we are sorrowing, it’s comfort fills our being. God has a secret place for us, a place of safety and quiet, a place near to His heart. No harm can come to us there, because we are safe in Him. 
   He who dwells in this secret place abides under the shadow of the Almighty. Have you ever traveled across the desert as the shadow of a cloud passed over you? What relief you can experience from the direct sun. Or perhaps you came to an oasis of trees beside a spring of water and you stopped for a few minutes to rest. How refreshing it was! Similarly, the shadow of our Almighty God refreshes our spiritual lives as it falls upon us. David had assurance and confidence because he could say, “My refuge, my fortress, my God.” This is also the basis of our confidence in God. We must know Him personally so we can say “My God.” 
   An insurance salesman was trying to sell a policy to a woman. She emphatically declared to him, “Sir, I have all that I need and more in a policy I have and it didn’t cost me as much money as yours would.” Curious, the salesman asked to see her policy. She opened her Bible and turned to Psalm 91. “This is all the insurance I need,” she said. “I have Social Security—‘abide under the shadow of the Almighty’ (verse 1); insurance against damage—‘he is my refuge and my fortress’ (verse 2); health insurance—‘neither shall any plague come near your dwelling’ (verse 10); collision insurance—‘lest you dash your foot against a stone’ (verse 12); accident insurance—
‘you shall tread upon the lion and the adder’ (verse13); life insurance—‘with long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation’ (verse 16).”
    Read and meditate on Psalm 91 and feel God’s presence and experience God’s assurances to His own. 

Dear God, You are my dwelling place throughout all generations. I know I am safe in You. Thank you for allowing me to live my life in security and peace because I trust in You. In Jesus name, Amen🙏

Prayers –



We pray for those church members who are struggling with many health issues this week.

We pray for the health of Linda Vandenberg, Lynell Schleicher, Diane Reinhardt, Tom Snodgrass, Jim Sanford, Marie Renda. Diane Thompson, Linda Basler, Ethel Robbins, Frieda Pyles, Vicky Kuehl, Kevin Hicks, Marilyn Flood.

Prayers for Bonnie Gunderson's brother, Dwight MacMonagle.
Prayers for Diane and Allen Thompson’s great grandson, Nolan, who is in the Neonatal ICU. Pray for Nolan to strengthen his lungs.. 
 
We continue to pray for our friend Mike Johnson as he is in rehab to heal a broken shoulder.  His wife, Marsha was diagnosed with a “failing heart.” Let us pray for strength for both of them and the Lord heal their bodies so they can resume normal life activities. 

Let’s pray for our whole congregational family as we enter the season of Lent. 

Prayers for Carl McCoy's neighbor , Monte Lange,.

Prayers for Rosemary Brant's friend, Anita.

We pray for the spouses and families of those church members who have passed into the church triumphant this past month:

Alan Gursky who lost his mother, Pat Gursky
Sylvia Humleker who lost her husband Finn
Linda Wilcox who lost her husband Larry.
Herb Rauworth on the loss of his wife Sharon.
Debbie Krikorian on the loss of her mother Alice Lundquist. 

May the God of good health and happiness restore all who are struggling this week with the many situations people in our lives are struggling. Thank you for your presence and give us the joys of everyday life!
 AMEN.
Grocery cards Needed!!

People in our community are still in need for the basics to get through every day. If you are able, please pick up a few cash cards and bring them to Pastor Tony to distribute as needed.  

Fry's Community Rewards

Did you know you can support nonprofit organizations in your community just by shopping at Fry's? It's easy when you enroll in Fry's Community Rewards. To get started, sign up with your V.I.P. Card and select Spirit of Hope as the local organization you wish to support. Once you're enrolled, you'll earn rewards for your church every time you shop and use your V.I.P. card.
www.fryscommunityrewards.com
SOH Organization number is 80606
Amazon Smile

A quick and easy way to support SOH when you shop at Amazon is to shop Smile.Amazon.com. Look for SOH and Amazon will make a donation to Spirit of Hope Church every time you shop. When everyone does this, it helps give a little extra money to our church.