Housekeeping

We have some students in our ESL classes looking for housekeeping work. If you are interested or know of someone, contact the church office.

Synod Question for October

We are in a year of transition in our synod as we prepare for the election of a new bishop in June. The synod leadership is asking all the congregations to discuss and submit responses to a monthly question. Hosanna has started an online blog for us to respond to these questions. The question for October is "As we seek to discern where God is calling and leading us as a synod in the next six years, what should be our strategy for "passing on the faith" to the next generations and to the young persons who've not yet reached the age of 40?" The blog address is http://synodquestions.blogspot.com. Just add your comment to the question.
I want to encourage all the membership to take some time and share your thoughts.
You may also write your answers and send them to the church office or email them to Pastor Tart (david.tart@welcometohosanna.com)

Hey everyone! I wanted to update you on this week's activities for some of our youth. Akaloo is in full swing. So far the teachers and students are having a great time. Welcome to the new high school teachers Brach, Dolores and Eric. Thanks for your time. I will meet with confirmation on Wed. at 7 pm. We will spend this evening just getting to know each other. CREW will have breakfast at Denny's at 9:30 am on Sunday and then meet that night for a parent meeting at 6 and then week 2 of of Finances for Teens at 7. This class is great and I would love for each high school kid to attend. If you have questions please email. Thanks again to everyone for you gifts and your time. See you around - Amber

Pastoral Care Assistant Position

For the past 3 months Jo Oddo, a licensed Lay Chaplain, Parish Worker and Hosanna member, and I have been talking with each other and working with Staff Support and recently the Care Team to create a volunteer position that would assist me in organizing and aiding in the care of our homebound and those in some kind of distress. The position has evolved into a wonderful ministry that is enhancing how we care for others.
We all can be very grateful for Jo offering herself to this ministry. Jo and I meet on a regular basis to review the pastoral care needs of the church and organize our response. She will help in record keeping, providing resources, and insuring that no one is missed. She will also be doing visiting and eventually bringing communion in addition to my own visiting and home communions. In no way is she replacing my visitation ministry. She has office space in the workroom and can be reached at the 106 extension on our office phone system. She also has an email address of Jo@welcometohosanna.com
I want to invite the member to support Jo in this ministry. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me. –Pastor Tart

Pastor's Discretionary Fund

The Pastor’s Discretionary Fund is a fund that I control to support special needs and projects related the ministry of Hosanna Lutheran. Some of these needs can be financial difficulty of members, and sometimes they are special projects associated with one of our ministries.
The staff support team and care team has asked me to provide funds for the expenses of our volunteer Pastoral Care Assistant, Jo Oddo. These expenses include office and mileage.
I am also partially supporting financially the English as Second Language teacher, Valaria Islam,
These two projects have put added pressure on the fund. I would like to invite the members of Hosanna to join Kathryn and I in supporting these two worthy causes. I would very much appreciate any contributions. The total I would like to raise is around $900.00. If you would like to contribute, mark an envelope, “Pastor’s Discretionary Fund” and place in the offering plate or mail it to the church office. Thank you and God bless!

From the Council President, Jeff Hartmann

Dear Friends in Christ,

Fall is here and we are back in full swing at Hosanna. September 10 was a big day here. First, we held an exciting and successful Rally Day for our new Akaloo, computer assisted, Sunday School program. Many thanks to the Welshons for the laptop used by the Sunday School. That afternoon, we conducted our first Congregational Meeting with the new Council. Though we have sometimes struggled to achieve a quorum for these meetings, there was no such struggle this time as well over 60 members attended as well as several guests and visitors. Thanks go out to “Growing Hosanna” for such great hospitality and such a great meal! My own daughter was one of the lucky winners of a door prizes and now “Bob” the Beta is a valued member of our family. The vote to increase our commitment to youth and family ministry was a “Leap of Faith” that provides us another challenge to face together.
The first Council meeting of the fall was a long and productive one. This Council looks forward to working and growing together. We are working to improve communication with each other and with the congregation. As technology increases, it seems that too many options can actually decrease communication. These issues will be ironed out. Care is a priority issue for this quarter. On the heels of Pastor Tart’s sermon on the Prosperity Gospel preached in some churches, we think of Hosanna’s great history of helping and giving. This is a great part of what we are and we will continue to be a caring congregation.
Finally, Thank You, the Congregation of Hosanna Lutheran Church for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to all of the opportunities that this job presents. Please let me know all your cares and concerns. Together we make Hosanna great.

Jeff Hartmann
Congreation Council President 9/2006

Mentoring Sunday by Gay and Ann

This Sunday, September 24, Hosanna recognizes youth in grades five through nine as they begin the process or in many cases continue their learning process of serving in worship. Nita Auer is training the 5th graders in the art of Christian hospitality as they stand with her and greet people at the entrance to the church. Beth Chaney will teach the 6th graders about bringing the gifts of bread and wine forward at the time of the offertory. Tripp and Pam Smith and Barbara Sorensen and Jim Sales will mentor the 7th graders in one of the oldest forms of service, that of ushering. Jean Waldo is mentor to the 8th graders as they learn the importance of being a communion assistant. Kathy Byrd mentors the 9th grade students in the sacred task of reading the lessons to the congregation. The young people will be scheduled during the year perform the duties with their mentor. In May, they will receive special recognition for having completed their study.

Also, during worship, the Hosanna Carolers will join the adult choir in singing that lovely hymn "Jesus Loves Me." Their director, Shelly Gunhouse, trains their voices, encourages their instrumental playing and helps them understand that they are instruments of God's word.

Our prayer is that our young people will come away from their experience at Hosanna understanding better what it means to be a priest in the priest hood of believers and that they see their leadership in worship as a profoundly sacred act as they help the congregation worship God. The Spiritual Life Team believes that the children will grow in faith as they learn to do their tasks with reverence and with joy in serving Christ, in whom they have been baptized.

Grace and Peace,

Cantor Gay, associate in ministry

Ann Hartmann, Spiritual Life Team Mentor Leader

A Sincere Thank You

I would like to let the congregation know how truly flattered I was by the show of support at the congregational meeting on Sunday, Sept. 10. I have always felt blessed to have been guided into this position. It is my hope that the increase in hours will be an assett to all members of Hosanna. I have a true passion for youth ministry and hope you will all be pleased with Phase II of Youth & Family Ministry at Hosanna. Thank you so much for the opportunities you have given me. Peace & Blessings - Amber

Family Life Ministry Increase

Our congregation voted overwhelming to increase the hours and pay for our family life minister by $750.00 per month at our meeting on Sept 10. Many people made some very passionate speeches about the importance of building up this ministry of serving families and the youth of our congregation and community. In order to accomplish this expansion we will need everyone’s financial support. As stewards of God’s many and abundant blessings, we hope all of us will rally in supporting this effort by offering “what Christ first offered us, ourselves, our time and possessions, all signs of God’s gracious love”. -Pastor Tart

Bishop's Questions

In June of 07 our synod will be electing a new bishop to lead our congregations in the Gulf Coast region. A special transition committee is leading us in a process that will lead up to this election. They will be asking congregations and councils a series of questions that will aim at focusing our election on issues our synod is facing. I have created a blog where members/council members can share their answers. I invite you to post your ideas and thoughts. Synod Questions

Wurstfest Trip, November 4

It's time for our annual trip to the Wurstfest in New Braunfels. We will leave on Saturday, November 4 from the church parking lot at 8:00 and return by 9:00 that evening. If you are interested in going, contact Pastor Tart

Thoughts that Seem Important-Pastor Tart

As we this past week experienced again the great tragedy of Sept 11, we are forced to once again deal with the question of why does God allow such hatred in the world. How can it be that on the doomed airplanes there were the terrorists giving glory to “Allah” and passengers pleading for mercy and protection from Jesus? We find in this event the great extremes of religion. On one hand, we have religion at its best and on the other hand, religion at is worse. We have people finding comfort and courage in the face of unspeakable horror and we have people inspired by a twisted version of their religion committing an act of murder and hatred.
As we remember this tragedy and the many others around the world, (Darfur for example) we remember that at the heart of our Christian faith is our belief in Jesus who suffers for the sake of the world. We come to these events knowing that in the midst of things we can’t understand, we trust the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. Jesus must suffer the cross to free us from violence and hatred. He must suffer the loneliness and isolation of the Christ to show is that we are never alone.
One of the pictures of Sept 11 that I will always remember is the Cross planted firm in the rubble. The towers fell, but the cross was raised. Hatred collapsed the buildings and fell planes from the sky, but God lifted up love and triumphed over it all.
This is our faith.

Remember: He must suffer
Pastor Tart

October Family Life Update

Hey Guys! Here is what you can expect to see in October at Hosanna:

CREW:
On Sunday, Oct 1 we will have our yearly parent meeting. Please ask your parents to come to CREW Sunday night for the first hour. We will go over all retreats and fundraisers planned for this school year. This is an important date.
Let's have breakfast at Denny's on Sunday, Oct 1 at 9:30. meet in CREW room if you need a ride.
The pumpkins arrive on Sat. Oct 14 at 3 pm. We need you to be here to help unload and set up. Remember, the patch can't run without your help.
Our 1st annual CREW garage sale will be Sat, Oct 21. Athena Friday-Black is in charge of this event. All $ raised will buy gifts for the children and families on the cancer floor at Tx. Children's Hospital. This is a cause very close to Hosanna's heart. Please support us by making donations

Confirmation:
We meet on Wed., Oct. 25. How about some rock climbing at Stone Moves?! Meet me there at 6:30 to climb. Cost is $10/per person.

Sunday School:
Kuddos to our Sunday school kids. They raised over $700 this past year. 1/2 of the $ raised will send a girl in Africa to school and the other 1/2 was sent to Lutherhill to scholarship future campers. Thanks guys for this great work!
Akaloo: we are still signing people up for this great curriculum. If you have questions or want some training just see Amber.