Spirit of Hope Weekly Newsletter

2605 S Signal Butte Rd

Mesa, AZ 85209

480-396-8300

Services: 5:00 pm Saturday

9:30 am Sunday

August 7, 2024

Monthly Calendar Click Here

Wanted:

A Saturday night worshipper to join C.R.E.W.- the team that designs the worship services.
Another member for the Evangelism team. Come help us brainstorm ways to invite others to worship with us.
Another member for the Stewardship team. Join us and help us imagine new ways to encourage others to give of their time and talents as well as their funds.

If you are interested, please contact Rosemary Brant or the Church

Blessing of the backpacks at Saturday service and picking out their carabiner

Blessing of the backpacks on August 3rd.

In case you were wondering….

· Someone will be in the church office Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-1pm

· Messages will be picked up from the Church voicemail on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sunday.

· We have a very active Lay Ministry Team. If you would like a visit, please leave a message at Church or contact the Prayer Ministry Team. To be added to the public prayer concern list please contact the church office (480-396-8300) if you would like to add someone else to the public prayer concerns list. Please obtain their consent first. There is a box on the info desk at church where you can slip in a note about someone you wish us to pray for. Please print. These requests, along with those in the newsletter will be added during our worship services for 3 weeks.

TUESDAYS – 10:30 am in the large classroom

Lead by Pastor Dave Hall

STUDY - THE TORAH

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible--- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Morning Bible Study – “Too Big For Starbuck’s”

Thursday mornings at 6:30 am at Church. Bring your Bible and your coffee.

Lead by: Bobbi Edwardson

Women's Thursday Afternoon Bible Study

The Thursday Women’s Bible Study is held on Thursdays at 1:00 PM in the church classroom. We will continue our study from the Gather Magazine.

New members are always most welcome as together we grow in God’s GRACE and LOVE.

Dar Stucke

There will not be any study in July and August.

Prayers –

We pray for those church members who are struggling with many health issues, anxiety, etc.

Pray for: Vicki, Diane, Tina's sister Carrie

Lord, guide all who are struggling this week with health, loss and grief. Help us be angels that shine the Light of Christ upon them giving encouragement as they need. Amen

To be added to the public prayer concerns list, contact the church office at 480-396-8300. If you would like to add someone else to the public prayer concerns list, please obtain their consent first.

If you are ill, someone is hospitalized, or there is a death, call the Spirit of Hope Office at 480-396-8300.

Names will be removed from the prayer list after three weeks. If you want to go back on the prayer list, please contact the church office or email to prayerteam@spiritofhopelutheran.com.

Worship Volunteers

Date Reader Greeters

8-10 Melody Oliver

8-17 Daryl Wilton

8-24 Cal Schell

8-31 Daryl Wilton

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sunday 9:30 AM

Date Reader Greeters

8-11 Linda Wilcox Marilyn & Bob

8-18 Margaret Anderson Brian & MaryBeth.

8-25 Steve Crofton Jerry & Dorothy

Greeters: Please be at church by 4:30 pm on Saturday and 9:00 am on Sunday.

Growing in Faith: The Diakonia Program

New 2024-2025 Foundation Year Courses Beginning 8/27/24

Overview

Growing in Faith: The Diakonia Program is a 40+ year old ministry within the ELCA committed to fostering learning environments for followers of Jesus to grow in faith. The program has recently added new course curriculum and more flexibility with a Foundation Year and optional subsequent Practical Year tracks.

Community of Disciples

There are currently two Growing in Faith Diakonia communities in the Grand Canyon Synod with the Online cohort and hybrid communities in Metro Phoenix (which meets both in-person and online) offering classes, retreats, and mutual care to equip followers of Jesus to live out their faith. Students from all over the country are now enrolling in courses offered through our online communities.

Faith Development Foundation Year & Road to Service Practical Year???

Six 5 Week Classes Each Year

A two-year curriculum allows folks to progress through foundational and practical learning. The program welcomes people where they are in their faith understanding and challenges them to grow to a deeper level. There is a one time $25 Enrollment Fee and $70 Tuition Fee per class.

Classes meet in person at two locations: Peace Lutheran in Phoenix or Spirit of Hope Lutheran in Mesa. Or join online using the Zoom option.

Questions? Email admin@diakonia.education

Growing In Faith/Diakonia Presents:

Exploring Your Spiritual Gifts Retreat

What does God want of me? How am I to serve God? Do I have a spiritual gift? What is it? How am I to use it? What kind of ministry is God calling me to?

To help you answer them we are sponsoring a retreat called Exploring Your Spiritual Gifts. Through a series of exercises and conversations you will be guided in a process of discernment about your gifts. By the end of the retreat you should know the gifts God has given you and begin to understand how God wa

nts you to use them.

Dates: First 3 Saturdays in August: August 3, 10, 17 from

9:00 AM to Noon

Class is online only – you will receive the Zoom link upon registration.

Registration Fee is $35

Our retreat leader is Rev. Stewart McDonald. A long-time Diakonia instructor, he is leader of two of courses in the Tucson cohorts: Images of the Church in the Bible and Beyond; and Daily Life of a Christian. He has led this Spiritual Gifts retreat any number of times over the last 30 years with excellent results, including three times with Diakonia.

So come join us on this adventure of discernment and answer the questions you have been asking yourself.