THE MESSENGER OF HOPE HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH 2174 Departure Bay Road Nanaimo, BC V9S 3V6 Phone: (250) 758-1232 ~ Email: [email protected] Website: www.HopeLutheranNanaimo.org Epiphany 4 to Lent 1 Words of Hope Reflections by Pastor Terry Richardson Restoration Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. Psalm 80:3 Maybe I am getting simpler as time passes. I am often surprised by people who comment on a story or a sermon because it was so easy to understand. I like things that are easy to understand. Often life is not like that, so the moments that are understandable have a way of staying with us. A few years ago at Confirmation Camp I told a few stories about my dog, Ohki. Some of those attending still ask about Ohki when I see them at the camp. So here is a story about my little Shih-Tzu, Ohki. Our little dog at home that is getting older. She has a tough time with the stairs and it was painful to watch her attempts to climb steps. She probably has aches in her joints but can’t talk about it. So I had an idea. I went to the Re-store. I walked through the aisles filled with salvaged sinks and cupboards, baseboard and knobs, light fixtures and closet doors. And there I found some special treasures. An eight foot plank that used to be a shelf and a long carpet runner came home with me. I stapled the carpet to the plank and then put the plank at a gradual incline along the stairway. Within the hour Ohki was happily using a new ramp and once again had the run of the house. A February 2015 cast-off article was restored from a previous use to an altogether new purpose. The Psalmist’s might have had sore joints, or was just afraid, but his heart cries out for restoration. The cry to be restored may also come from your heart. There can be a way of thinking about life and doing things differently than we expected. We can be restored by letting someone help, by making a change, by being good to ourselves and agreeing with decisions that help us have a better life. That is restoration. It can carry blessing. Jesus was always restoring people from old to new creations. He can restore you too, maybe in a way you never expected! It is something that my dog helped me understand. Lord of new beginnings, make me a new creation. Amen. The Nanaimo 7 – 10 Club Society The Witness and Mission Committee would like everyone to be aware of a very worthwhile group in our city. The Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society was started in 1985 by a group of 12 people from differing faith backgrounds who came together to feed hungry children in the city. Since then, the 7-10 Club has served more than one million meals, not only to children, but also to 1 anyone in need. The 7-10 Club Meal Program provides a hot nutritious breakfast, homemade soup, plus a brown bag lunch to go that is served by community volunteers to those in need during the hours of 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. All meals are offered at no charge. Some of the opportunities for volunteering include: kitchen help, fundraising, drivers for donation pickup and events. To support their work they welcome donations of cheques and also the following foodstuffs: Cheese Whiz, carrots, celery, onions or ground beef. If you wish to donate any of these items take them directly to 285 Prideaux Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 2N2. Phone first: 250-7140917. HISTORICAL MOMENT Submitted by Irene Scott I am a Charter member of Hope Lutheran. You’ll see my name on the Charter is listed as Irene Schmitt. Blanche Besse and I played the organ for services for 29 years as volunteers. They were never without an organist. If I couldn’t be there, Blanche played and vice versa. My fondest memory of the first service was being part of a quartet that sang How Great Thou Art. Frieda Kalack sang soprano, I sang Alto, there was a man who sang tenor and Howard Besse sang bass. I think Blanche played the organ for that. Later we had 2 services on Christmas Eve. I played for the 7 p.m. service and Blanche played at the communion service at 9 p.m. I also remember playing for a Lerch wedding in St. James Anglican on the pump organ, wedding march and all. When I went into a business, I had to stop and focus my time on that. ALTAR FLOWERS Submitted by the Altar Guild Thanks to everyone who provided flowers for the altar this past year. There is a new calendar in place on the kitchen door for 2015. Anyone wishing to provide flowers on a specific Sunday can fill in their names. If it is in memory of a loved one, anniversary or birthday, please indicate that fact. If you would like a reminder by a phone call a few days ahead, please put a check mark to the left of the date and someone from the office will call. ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FEB. 15th following a Potluck Lunch at approximately 12:30pm. Please consider letting your name stand for one of three vacant council positions. If you wish to nominate someone, please contact Carolyn Iles, Janice Vosper, or Ray Schultz; who will follow-up and contact the nominees. The Annual Report will be available in the Narthex from Feb. 1st. Please pick up a copy after the service and read it prior to the AGM, then bring it with you to the meeting. Any additions to the Agenda should be provided to Ray Schultz in advance of the AGM. SHROVE TUESDAY February 17th 5 pm – Pancake & sausage supper. 7 pm – Ash Wednesday Eve Service. Men’s Breakfast Group will be hosting. Epiphany Explorations 2015 Live Streaming Bethlehem Retreat Centre & Brechin United Church are cooperating in the Live Streaming of Epiphany Explorations 2015. Bethlehem Retreat Centre, 2371 Arbot Rd, Nanaimo, will host the Live Streaming - Full conference $75.00; Single day - $35.00 per day. Brechin United Church will offer follow up videos and discussion - 10:00 a.m. – Fridays - Feb. 6, 13, 20; Mar. 6, 13, 20 – Admission is free, donations accepted. Mark the dates and join us. 2 Lenten Film Series: to be offered at Trinity United Church on Spartan Rd., Nanaimo. Six films, one each Tuesday afternoon from Feb. 24th through March 31st. The 1:00-4:00pm time frame includes the movie, time for discussion, and refreshments. Open to all; attend one or all as you wish. There’s no fee. More information coming soon. Consider the Janitor The calendar of events is an important piece of the puzzle for our Janitor. Howard reads through the calendar to determine when he can come and clean. Therefore it is important for all church groups/committees to be sure to note their meetings/programs on the church calendar, in the church office. If you can't do it in person, please call in your meeting/program information so someone can add it to the calendar for you. If we all do our part, Howard won't travel to the church only to find a meeting taking place, which means he must rearrange his schedule to come another time. Working together, we can make this work! ElderCollege, VIU Nanaimo Campus March-April 2015 is offering the following course. MARK’S GOSPEL – A Literary Masterpiece by Peter Orme, Anglican priest. For further information: www.viu.ca/elder college; 1-866-735-6252; or the Spring Elder College course calendar. Please make a note on your calendar: Deadline for articles for the March, 2015 edition of The Messenger newsletter will be 9am, Friday, February 20th. Candle Wax for the Crafters If you or anyone you know wishes to have some of our old white candles for crafts, please feel free to take them from the Narthex. They will be available until February 14th. After that, we will take them to the Recycling depot. Quilter's Open House Please come to an Open House put on by the Quilters of Hope. We would like to show you what we do at quilting. It is easy and fun too! Hopefully, you will be so excited by what you see that you will want to participate in this group. Lunch will be provided. Please come to the church on Feb. 27th at 9:30 am and stay for lunch at 12:00. Call Linda Harvey if you have questions 751-1435. 3