Ay Ay Captain Jesus!

The kids are loving the themed worship days. Yesterday was pajama day and we all wore our pj's and had breakfast for lunch. Here is a pic from today's theme, pirate day. Some of the kids made their own swords. It is too fun!

CREW trip to NELM day 4

Good morning to everyone! I wanted to upload some pictures so everyone could see how well the kids are doing. Today is pirate worship day and so far so good. We were not able to hike due to the heat but some of the kids chose to horse ride again. They are really enjoying that. The kids have decided that Stephen is a better way to get around than walking in this heat. Nikki, you would be proud of him. He has been a good sport about everything.

Hello from Rock Point Arizona

Hello to everyone. We are finally getting a chance to let you know we are alive and well. VBS is a huge success. You would be so proud of the CREW youth. We started the week with 21 kids and are now up to 35 and still growing. We start the day with a 1 hour worship and finish with lunch around noon. It is total chaos but the kids here are having a blast and the CREW is working hard. It is hot, and I mean hot, about 102 with not much airconditioning. We have been having fun in the afternoons. We went horseback riding and traveled to the 4 corners. Today a Navajo woman came to visit and teach us about their culture. Some of the kids are horseback riding again tonight. Tomorrow we learn how to make Navajo tacos and are going to a youth rodeo. I wish you could see our CREW working. They are as good as any counselor anywhere. CJ is especially popular with the jr. high girls. We miss everyone, but this is the best mission experience any of us have had.

Thank you, Hosanna

Dear friends,
Kathryn, James, Paul and Karen and I express our thanks for your sympathy and prayers at the loss of my mother. The cards were especially touching and thoughtful. The flowers were beautiful. Those who were able to attend the funeral were also comforting.
We also want to thank you for your long standing prayers. In many, many ways they were answered.
My dad is adjusting and is surrounded by incredible support.
God bless,
Pastor Tart

Pastor Tart's Thank You

Members of Hosanna,
I want to thank everyone for the very warm and gracious “Pastor Tart Roast” this past Sunday. The stories were fun and brought back many precious memories of our time together.
I especially want to thank Teresa White and Karole Coleman, the staff support team, the brass orchestra (I loved the song selection) and all those who helped them for hosting the meal and decorations. I want to also thank Jeff Hartmann for being the Master of Ceremonies. You did a great job!
I want to thank you for the card and gift. Your graciousness touches me deeply.
Kathryn and I want to thank our staff for two leather Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnals. We will remember our sharing in the Gospel with you whenever we use them.
Finally, I want to thank Dale and Karole for the PowerPoint slide show. I will treasure it.
My final Sunday is upon us and I can only express my humility before all that we have shared with each other and the work we have done for the sake of the Gospel and the world. The Spirit has used us in powerful ways.
Kathryn, Paul, James, Karen and I wish you all of God’s richest blessings in the years ahead.
Thank you and God bless!
Pastor Tart

Mulkey Scholarship Awards

Congradulations to our Nancy and John Mulkey Scholarship reciepients. They are Abigail Brown, Melissa Burns, Michael Burns, Christine Carter, David Carter, Evan Haight, Marquette Henderson, Hannah McConn, Matthew Moore, Carly Oden, Daniel Ritter, Katie Romijn, Michael Smith, Karen Tart, Cassandra Whitby. They will be recognized on August 5 at the 11:00 service.

Sunday School teacher appreciation

I just want to take a moment to recognize those who chose to teach our youth this past year:
*Brach Waldo and Dolores Jaramillo for CREW
*Mike Black for confirmation
*Tom Friday for 5th and 6th
*Ann Hartmann and Amy Adams for 3rd and 4th
*Debbie Escovy for 1st and 2nd
*Beth Johnson and Theresa White for kindergarten and under
*Warren Escovy and Warren White for being C0-superintendents
These volunteers play such an important role at Hosanna and I want them to know how grateful the staff and congregation and especially the children are for their gift of time. The learning hour is a huge part of a child's faith journey and we thank you for your leadership. Have a wonderful summer!

Family Life News for June 2007

Hey Everyone! Hope your summer is off to a great start. What a wonderful school year we had. Let's make this summer just as fun. Things to remember this month:
*VBS starts Sunday night, June 10 at 5:30 with a meal. You can register by visiting the website.
*Summer Sunday school starts June 10 and we still need a couple more teachers. Please see Amber if you would like to help out. The curriculum is great and online for your convenience.
*CREW we will continue to meet this summer on Monday nights from 6:30 - 8:30. Also, your trip money will be due by July 1 so check your mail for your bill.
*Confirmands leave for camp this month. If you would like to drop them a line let me know and I will get you the address.
*Again, thanks to all the volunteers who made the past school year such a success.

My final “thoughts that seem important” by Pastor David Tart

For nine years I have been sharing with you my thoughts about spiritual things in this column and have enjoyed the challenge. I thank you for the honor of taking the time to read what is on your pastor’s mind.

For my final thought I join Jesus in his prayer that “all may be one”. When the people of God come together in mission and ministry then we become the visible sign of what the power of God does.

In the months ahead Hosanna has a great opportunity to come together to think of your future. In particular, the Natural Church development process holds out much hope in this area. The results of the survey are due back soon and the Congregation Health Team or Mission Focus will begin work to bring forward ideas to improve the congregations’ key characteristics. I hope that you will all become one in working together behind this strategy. This can not be the work of one team. It must be the work of the whole community.

I also hope that uniting behind your leadership will also become a sign of your oneness. Your leadership will need everyone’s support to continue God’s good work in this community. Hear their call when they ask for volunteers. Support them with prayer and solutions. Hosanna has dedicated leaders and they need your support.

Be one in your listening to each other and the affirmation of each other as fellow members of the body of Christ. Don’t take this church for granted. Hosanna is a gift and you are blessed to have this congregation to care, worship, share and learn. Continue to practice hospitality to all and see God at work in everyone. In the end I hope that I leave you united and connected with each other.

I know that I will continue to think of you and though this is my last “Thoughts that seem important” know that I will never cease thinking of you with a smile on my face and a prayer in my heart.

Remember: I think of you.

Opportunities for service

We have two team leadership positions open at Hosanna, Lay Leadership and Discipleship. Our elections are June 3. If you know of anyone who might have an interst or abilitities in this area, please contact Pastor Tart or Jeff Hartmann.

Sympathy to Georgia Bargmann and family.

Our sympathy to Georgia, Dale and Garrett Bargmann on the loss of her brother Garrett of Colorado who passed away on May 12. May the great peace and hope of Jesus surround them in their loss. -Pastor Tart

Sympathy to Jerry Fulin and Family

Our sympathy to Jerry Fulin and family on the loss of his mother, Vera Fulin of Milaca, Minnesota. She passed from this life to the next on May 15 at the age of 94. We pray for comfort and in thanksgiving for the blessings she brought to many people. -Pastor Tart

Pastor Tart's Resignation

May 7, 2007

Dear Members of Hosanna,

For almost nine years we have labored in God’s vineyard together and have experienced the joy of harvest many, many times. We have built buildings to serve as tools for God’s work, welcomed new members to God’s kingdom, reorganized the church around mission and ministry, expanded our staff, improved our stewardship and grown in our faith and service. Most of all, the memories of people will be with me for the rest of my life. I am also grateful for the love you have had for me and my family. One could not wish for a better community to raise our children. For all of this I will always be thankful to God and to you.

On April 29, Peace Lutheran Church of Pasadena, Texas voted to extend a call to me to serve as their Senior Pastor. After prayerful consideration I have decided to accept this call and bring my service as your pastor to an end. My last Sunday with you will be June 10 and my last day of service will be June 16.

I will honor wedding commitments that I have made and will be available as possible for funerals of Hosanna members during the interim period. Otherwise, I will refer all pastoral acts to your interim pastor and future pastor.

Rest assured that I am not accepting this call because I am unhappy or feel compelled to leave Hosanna. I have been proud to be your pastor and feel a bond of grace with everyone. I love working with our staff and leadership and count it an honor to have served with them.

I continue to uphold you in my prayers and find great strength and hope in your faith, love and commitment

Grace and Peace,


Pastor David Tart

Call From Peace Lutheran, Pasadena, Texas

On April 29 Peace Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Texas voted to extend a call to me as their senior pastor. I know this is a shock to you, but I kept it quiet to aid in my discernment process.
At our council meeting this upcoming Sunday I will be discussing with them my response. I will also be publicly announcing that I have received this call at services that morning. I have not made my final decision and will not until I have discussed it with the church council.
Please feel free to share this information with others.

I ask that all of us continue to be in prayer about the direction God wishes for us all. God is good and gracious and we can find great peace in being in God's hands.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor David Tart

Meals on Wheels Drivers desperately needed

NAM has suffered the loss of drivers to help with the much need meals on wheels program. If you have a couple of hours per month to spare to deliever hot meals to shut-ins, please contact NAM or Hosanna office. They can adjust to your schedule and you can switch with others. -Pastor Tart

Kamryn Woods has arrived!

Kamryn Christine Woods arrived at 3:34 pm - 8 lbs. 9 oz. on Tuesday April 24. Proud parents are Zahn and Amy Woods and proud brother is Kyle. We thank God for the miracle of life and his grace.

Thoughts that seem important by Pastor Tart

Thoughts that seem important:
The unspeakable horror of the Virginia Tech tragedy once again reveals to us the power of evil and sin in the world. We stand mystified before such a nightmare at how anyone could become that insane to want to kill innocent people. We want to blame. We want vengeance, but none of these things can bring us back to the day before the killings and injuries.
Mirabai Starr in her article “Shepherds in the Dark Night” in Sojourners Magazine, (Shepherds in the Dark Night) writes about “holding space” for grieving people. By this she means that we allow people the opportunity to express their shock, anger, and sadness. We stand with them in this place and honor their spiritual journey. Platitudes violate this space by communicating to the bereaved that they, “shouldn’t feel that way”. Instead we offer to them open ended questions and words of love and support.
As we still deal with the news let us hold the space for the grieving and also hold space for the people of random violence everywhere. We move to deeper understandings of the people of Iraq and those serving in Iraq who deal with this on a daily basis.
As people of faith we believe that the grace and hope of God will come to the space. As mentioned in her article, in the Psalm 23 the writer says, “Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”. For a shadow to appear there has to be light.
In the space of grief, the light of the cross and resurrection shines and brings healing and hope. The space of grief with its tormenting pain, is a holy space. For those who find themselves is this holy space, we pray that faith, hope and love will abide.,
Remember: The holy space of grief.

Family Life News for May 2007

I hope everyone is gearing up for this summer. Kids, start loading up on bug spray and sunscreen. We are going to have a great summer at Hosanna with so much planned. If you need any help getting ready for camp and other summer activities please see Amber.

This summer we will have an evening VBS program for families. You can come have dinner with us and then spend the evening learning as a family. Sign up will begin around May 15th.

THRIVENT BUILDS! is May 5. Join the CREW in building the lutheran house. Meet in the parking lot at 8 am on the 5th. You can order shirts for this event for $5 from Amber. You may reserve your spot by emailing me at amber. walker@welcometohosanna.com

CREW:

• We will have breakfast at Denny's on May 6th. Meet in the CREW room.
• That night we will have a VBS meeting to make sure we have things in order. This is a mandatory meeting for anyone attending our mission trip.
• On May 20th we will be wrapping and blessing our graduating Srs. This years Srs. are Abby Brown, Melissa Burns, Christine Carter, Evan Haight, Cassandra Whitby, Dan Ritter, and Marquette Henderson.
• The last CREW Sunday night meeting will be May 27.

We are still collecting items for our VBS. Please stop by and pick up a list and make a donation. It all helps the kids.

A special thank you to the congregation from the CREW. We appreciate your support of our pancake breakfast.

Mother's Day is May 13th. Do something nice for mom and stop by the CREW Car Wash. We promise to treat her car extra special. Happy Mother's Day to all those wonderful mothers!

Congradulations to Heidi, Oliver, Audrey Smith and grandparents, Heda and Ron Christ

Tegen Smith, born on March 25 at 5 lbs 10 oz. He has a round face and lots of dark brown hair, pink skin and dark eyes that open frequently. He is a healthy baby. Thank God for the miracle of life

Mary Frerking in prayers today

Mary Frerking, 13 month old daughter of Stephen and Kristi, is having an outpatient surgery procedure for her ears today. Please pray for a safe proceedure. -Pastor Tart