January 27 2021
Pastor's Weekly Musing
IN PERSON SERVICES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Masks Required
Council President's Comment
Financial Report

Weekly Bible Studies

See Info Below





WELCOME
To Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church

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


All in person services are cancelled until further notice. The church office is open on Tuesdays from
9 to 1 pm.


1/27/2021

URGENT

The Annual Congregational Meeting of Spirit of Hope Lutheran will be held this coming Sunday morning, January 31st at 11:30 am outside in the back parking lot.

You may stay in your car or bring a chair to sit outside by your car keeping social distance and wearing a mask.

We need all of you in attendance to meet the quorum and to approve the nominees for council and the 2021 budget.



Welcome to our friends and family at the Summit

Our Spirit of Hope weekly newsletter is distributed at the Summit each week to help share the love of Christ with all who read our articles. We have added a few messages from our small groups such as the Seniors Rock group and the Women’s Afternoon Bible Study. Special thanks to Wendy and Dar for your input each week!    We invite those of you to attend any event you might be interested in here at Spirit of Hope! We look forward to meeting more of you! 










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!
‌
A Word from the Women's Bible Study

By Dar Stucke

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE! Philippians 4:4

  Long-distance runners endure the pain of training because they know that learning to overcome obstacles is making them stronger. They are becoming more like the super runners they want to be. And why do you see runners smiling, mile after grueling mile, as they endure the pain of exhaustion, injury and dehydration? Because they know the joy that comes when they cross the finish line.

  At the finish line of our lives, we also will be met with the joy of the glory of God. Like runners, we are inspired to continue through the pain, rejoicing in all things, because we know that no matter how hard it gets, our finish line will be filled with joy. But the truth is, we don’t have the strength to do this on our own. Notice the verse in Philippians doesn’t say rejoice in your circumstances always; it says rejoice in the Lord always. The only way to rejoice in the Lord always is through the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control,” as Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23. We cannot rejoice always by simply putting forth more effort. Joy is a gift, given in the person of Jesus Christ. And when we receive Him and live for the ultimate finish line, we can rejoice even in our pain. This joy is not fake but a persistent trust in God as our strength and comfort. 

  So how can we increase our joy in 2021? Don’t run after worldly satisfaction, which is temporary. Instead, grow in your knowledge of God so that you can become more like Him. Spend time with Him and with His people. Immerse yourself in His Word and His creation. 
       Dear God,   Sometimes in this life it is hard to rejoice. The going gets tough. But help me to focus on the eternal finish line so I can feel real, deep down joy. I want to free-up the time I need to spend with You, so I grow in grace and allow You to fill me with Your joy. In Jesus name, Amen.

Prayers –



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

Continue to pray for Pastor Tony and Carol Scheer as they continue to recuperate from Covid.

We pray for Ken and Linda Vandenberg who are struggling with the affects of Covid. Linda is an “at risk” patient and is really weak. 

Please pray for Pat Gursky and her son Alan who are recuperating from Covid. Pat was in the hospital and now home. Prayers for a quick recovery for both.
 
We continue to pray for Diane Thompson as she struggles with pneumonia and Covid and now in the hospital for fluid and blood clot in her knee. May God heal your body and guide you to reclaim the good health you have had in the years past. AMEN

Please keep praying for Larry Wilcox as he is now ion rehab with multiple health concerns. Give Larry the strength to fight and the knowledge that your loving mercy and power are with him each new day.

We pray for the health of Barb Kearns, Frieda Pyles, Vicky Kuehl, Kevin Hicks, Marilyn Flood. and Diane Thompson.

We pray for Diane Reinhardt as she enters into the battle fighting off the colon cancer. We pray you continue to feed her with a great attitude and positive energy. Let her know you are fighting with her through every session of medical care.

Prayers for Bonnie Gunderson's brother, Dwight MacMonagle, fighting the corona virus and Hodgkins.

Prayers for Carl McCoy's neighbor , Monte Lange, who had surgery for a brain anuerysm and has a long recovery ahead of him.

Prayers for Diane & Allen Thompson's grand-daughter who is pregnant and having complications.

Prayers for Marie Renda who is hospitalized for serious infections in the colon. She has been hospitalized a lot in the past month and is getting tired. Lord, we pray that you strengthen Marie physically and keep her strong mentally and Spiritually. 

Prayers for Linda Basler who has just been diagnosed with stage 1 cancer. Linda begins her treatments soon and will remain in North Dakota in the mean- time unless the doctors will approve her having treatments here in AZ.   Let’s pray for comfort and patience as she waits for her body to fight off this cancer. AMEN
 
Prayers for Rosemary Brant's friend, Anita, who is struggling with cancer.

It is with great sorrow of the passing of Larry Wilcox last Thursday. He is now iresting peacefully with our Lord and Savior. Larry has had a tough and rough road this last year of his life. We pray for comfort and strength for Linda during this time of loss and transition. Peace be to all of you!

Please pray for comfort as the family of Frank Salazar grieve from his death. May Donna Blad and her son Brian feel the presence of your comfort Lord. 
Prayers for Herb Rauworth and family on the loss of his wife Sharon.

We pray for the spouses and families of those church members who have passed into the church triumphant this past month especially Sylvia Humleker who lost her husband, Finn Humleker  last week to multiple organ failure and Covid. 

 Alice Lundquist haspassed into the Church Triumphant. Her husband, Don, passed away last fall. Please pray for Debbie Krikorian, daughter of Alice, and her family as they prepare final affairs for Alice. 

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.

Happy New Year to all.
I just wanted to let you know the Justa Center picked up the household items on Wednesday the 13th of January. Because of your generosity, someone will be sleeping on clean sheets, pillows, and blankets. Someone will have dishes, glasses, and cookware to use. Another will have towels and bathroom items.
So thank you one and all.

Here are a couple pictures. There was a van filled to the brim as well as a pickup truck.
Have an awesome day.
 
Our life should be productive and useful and we should always make a difference because we are alive. We are very lucky and blessed to be given this new day. We have to work so that we will have a successful day with many accomplishments whether they are great or small.
 
Wendy
and Senior's Rock
               

2020 Contribution Tax Statements

Tax statements for 2020 have been emailed to those who gave over $500.00 in the year. If you gave under $500.00, you may request to have your statement sent to you.

Thanks again for all your giving throughout the year, whether in money or your time and talents. We appreciate everything done in "Making Christ Known" in our community.



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.