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“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
A Message from counters9
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to
live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith
as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2: 6 & 7
2019 is an exciting year for Hope Lutheran Church. We will be celebrat-
ing our quasquicentennial (Or more commonly known as the 125th anni-
versary)! This year will be filled with celebrations, new beginnings, and
many special events! Below are a few of the ways we will commentate
the year.
We have already begun this yearlong celebration at the kickoff dinner
for our Capital Campaign. Pastor Svevdsen shared about the history of
Hope and introduced the vision behind our campaign. Be reminded, on
Sunday, January 6th you will receive a letter and commitment card for
the capital campaign. On Saturday, January 26th we will offer our com-
mitments at a celebration dinner for the campaign. At worship the fol-
lowing day, we will bless these commitments and thank God for his
faithfulness through your giving.
As part of the yearlong celebration, I have invited a number of previous
pastors back to preach. On each of those Sundays, we will collect a spe-
cial offering for a ministry of the visiting pastor’s choosing. Our first vis-
iting pastor will be Pastor Dan Wilson on February 24th. Make sure to be
here that Sunday and welcome Pastor Dan back to Hope!
Feel like our photo directory is dated? Well…me too! Therefore, in
May we will be putting together a new photo directory in celebration of
our 125th Anniversary. You will hear more details about the dates and
times to have your picture taken as we get closer to Easter.
The year will wrap up with Bishop Richard Jaech preaching at Hope
Lutheran on Reformation Sunday, October 27th. This service will be the
culminating worship and celebration of our 125 years of ministry!
These are just a few of the ways we will celebrate our
quasquicentennial. There will be more as the year goes along. And be on
lookout…Pastor Svendsen is bound to show up from time to time
throughout the year!
Blessings, Pastor Keith
January 2019
In this issue…
1
Pastor Keith’s Corner
2 Blameless Before the
Law
Upcoming Events
3 Sunday Forum Schedule
Upcoming Events
Congregational Meeting
4 Council Meeting
Financial Report
5 Greetings, Bleatings
6 Bleatings cont.
7 Faith and Everyday Life
8 Stewardship
Bible Study
Worship Schedule
9
10
Hear the Good News
Bishop Eaton
Book Review
Calendar
THE
MESSENGER
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
Page 2 of 10
“You must be blameless before
the Lord your God” (Deuteron-
omy 18:13).
“Blessed are they whose ways
are blameless, who walk accord-
ing to the law of the Lord”
(Psalms 119:1).
Jesus encountered a young
rich ruler who believed he had
been blameless before God. The
encounter is found in Mark
10:17-24. The young Jew came
to Jesus asking what he must do
to inherit eternal life. Jesus then
quoted several of the ten com-
mandments. The young man re-
sponded by saying, “All these I
have kept since I was a boy.” Je-
sus then told him to sell all that
he possessed and give the mon-
ey to the poor, and then come
and follow Christ as his disciple.
At this point, the man’s face fell,
and he went away.
Paul also considered himself
blameless under the law. In Phi-
lippians 3:6 “If anyone else
thinks he has reasons to put con-
fidence in the flesh, I have more:
“circumcised on the eighth day,
of the people of Israel, of the
tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of
Hebrews: in regard to the law, a
Pharisee, as for zeal, persecuting
the church; touching the right-
eousness which is in the law,
faultless [blameless].”
The young rich ruler and Paul
both had kept the Law, but nei-
ther could claim to be blameless
under Christ’s heightened stand-
ard of righteousness.
That righteousness did not
come from doing good deeds or
having a pedigree that gave them
status in the Jewish community.
Paul considered all those things to
be rubbish in contrast to the
young rich ruler who could not
give up those superficial symbols
of status.
Paul continues in Philippians,
“Not having a righteousness of
my own that comes from the law,
but that which is through faith in
Christ—the righteousness that
comes from God and is by faith.”
Both the young rich ruler and
Paul sought eternal life. It’s what
Christians also seek—“to attain to
the resurrection from the dead.”
The young rich ruler made a
choice to keep his riches, power,
and status. He chose not to suffer
by following Christ. He chose
what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called
“cheap grace”. Paul, on the other
hand, realized that following
Christ meant sharing in His suf-
ferings. Each had similar deci-
sions to make, each made differ-
ent choices.
The choice is whether to choose
long-term goals or short-term sta-
tus. We share the same choices
today.
Thoughtfully, in Christ, Richard Elfers
January Events
Jan – Sunday; AWAKE Jan – Monday; Quilters Jan - Wednesday; Prayers in
Sanctuary Jan – Thursday; Rotary
Jan 1 – Happy New Year &
Winter Shelter
Jan 5 – 4th Wise Man
Jan 8 –Winter Shelter
Jan 14 – Council Meeting
Jan 15 – Winter Shelter
Jan 19 – 4th Wise Man
Jan 22 – Winter Shelter
Jan 26 – Commitment Dinner
for Capital Campaign
Jan 27 – Annual Congregational
Meeting
Jan 29 – XYZ Potluck & Winter
Shelter
Blameless Before the Law
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
Page 3 of 10
Sunday Forum & Upcoming
Events
Sunday Forum Schedule:
January 6 – Pastor Keith-Rooted in Grace/Growing in
Faith/Reaching in Love
January 13-27 – Seth Dowland-Evangelicalism in the US
Upcoming Event Schedule:
Tuesdays – Winter Shelter
January 26 – Commitment dinner for Capital Campaign
January 27 – Annual Congregational Meeting
January 29 – XYZ Potluck
To be determined – Kool Gang – Kids Night
Annual Congregational
Meeting
The Annual Congregational Meeting and potluck will be held
Sunday, January 27 after the second service.
The purpose of the Annual Congregational Meeting is to receive
reports from the congregation ministry teams, pastor, and treasurer,
and to vote on the 2019 budget. All members of Hope have voice
and vote at the meeting.
Hope Lutheran
Church 1316 Garfield St.
Enumclaw, WA 98022
Phone (360-825-2420)
Church E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.hopelutheranchurch.org
Worship Hours: Morning Spirit: 8:15am
Celebration Worship: 10:00am
Education Ministries: Sunday Forum & AWAKE are offered at
9:00 am each Sunday. Children’s Church
is offered during our
10:00 a.m. Celebration Service
Youth Group is offered
Sunday Evenings at 6:30pm
September through May.
(Except during holidays).
Our Vision: “A Vibrant Community for all,
Rooted in God’s Grace.”
Our Mission: “Making Christ known in our community
by reaching out through worship,
service and fellowship”
Hope Lutheran Church is a
member of the Southwestern
Washington Synod of the ELCA
Their mission:
“Spreading the Good News of Jesus
Christ by empowering congregations and
church leaders to grow in
worship, education, outreach,
stewardship and other missions”
Their website:
www.lutheranssw.org
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
December 10, 2018
Facilitator President: Rich Elfers.
Agenda item: Minutes accepted.
Agenda item: The Treasurer’s report accepted.
In attendance were council members President; Rich Elfers, Vice President; Nancy Berg, Secretary; Becky
Latham, Treasurer; Kathie Thompson, Lynda Dodd, Tim Rash and Pastor Keith Marshall. Excused Dan
Idso.
Agenda item: Pastor’s Report:
TOPS Group – TOPS group has requested the use of Berg Hall on Thursday nights for an additional meet-
ing. Capital Campaign – 125th
Anniversary Dinner and Capital Campaign kickoff was a success! If felt
like everyone enjoyed the evening and were responsive to the message of the Campaign. Bishops Convo-
cation – The Bishops Convocation will be January 20-23..
Agenda item: New Business:
Vision Statement: Applying guiding questions to our vision statement: Are we pushing ourselves,
keeping these in mind with our planning? At next meeting, define our definition of a vibrant church.
Where could we be more vibrant? We do a lot of things well, vibrantly, but there is room for im-
provement. How do we involve newer members, to be part of the planning, not just attending.
Action Item: What can we, as individual council members, be doing to contribute to a more vibrant
church?
Agenda item: Old Business:
2019 Budget discussion – Council reviewed the budget prepared by the Budget Committee. It was mo-
tioned and seconded. Approved by Council. New Church directory – It’s time to update our church direc-
tory. The date has been reserved for May. We will be looking for a committee chair to book appointments.
Agenda item deadline
January 7
Next Council Meeting
Monday, January 14 at 6:00pm
Monthly Financial Report
November 2018
At our annual meeting it was requested that we give information regarding our financial standing
each month. As articles are due before the end of the month, the information will be reported for the
previous month.
November
Actual Giving Budgeted Giving YTD Total Giving $14,772.00 $16,221.50 -$2,300.59 (under budget)
Actual Expenses Budgeted Expenses YTD Total Expenses
$16,160.51 $16,221.50 +$1,319.58 (over budget)
Council Meeting
Page 4 of 10
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
Page 5 of 10
Greetings, Bleatings, from the Sheep Pen
Rooted in Grace – Growing in Faith – Reaching in Love
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in
him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2: 6 & 7
Over the past three months starting last October I have written about the above rooted, growing and reach-
ing tree imagery trilogy in my monthly articles in the “Greatings, Bleatings, From the Sheep Pen” section
of The Messenger. Rooted in Grace. Growing in Faith. Reaching in Love. Phrases that describe, define,
and encourage us to be grounded, growing, and giving Christians.
As I noted in the first article, I love the imagery of our church logo of a strong vibrant tree with its roots
below formed in the shape of the word Grace. Hope Lutheran Church proudly yet humbly proclaims that
we are rooted in God’s Grace. A proclamation that defines us through both calm and stormy weathers. It
means that our core Christian beliefs and guiding principles are centered, planted, lived out as a result of,
and acknowledgment of, God’s Grace first bestowed upon us.
Rooted in grace means that we treasure this gift of God and in turn try to live in grace towards one another
in how we react with the world. We don’t prejudge others by their race, height, weight, age, gender,
wealth, intellect, education, religion, citizenship, etc. We emphasize patience and kindness, love for one
another, inclusiveness. Our doors are open, not closed. We are inviting and welcoming.
I love this imagery of our little church being like a life giving tree rooted in God’s Grace. Without these
roots, we would soon wither and die. With these roots, we live and grow and share our sheltering shade
and bountiful fruits with those in need.
Growing in Faith. We know what Faith is. But how do we individually grow it in ourselves to become
more like our ancestors of old as written in the Bible? Like a strong vibrant fruit or nut bearing tree rooted
in Grace. How do we encourage, nurture and help others to grow in their faith and blossom as well?
For many of us as parents or grandparents, this tender care for others starts with our children’s Holy Bap-
tism, where the children are brought to God and into the Holy Church, Christ’s living body on earth. We
then continue to lovingly nurture them in their walk of faith by bringing them to Sunday School, Vacation
Bible School, children’s church, confirmation classes and youth programs.
Our environment at Hope Lutheran plays a major part in nurturing as well. No matter what the age, or
whether a long time member or first time visitor, when we as Hope Lutheran warmly exhibit an inviting
and welcoming atmosphere to all in our church, accepting diversity and differences, we nurture faith. This
warmth helps all who enter to relax, come and see, listen and learn with us about a loving God that truly
cares for all of us and so dearly wants us to care for others as well. Faith grows in such a setting.
For those of us as older, maturing members, we grow together in our faith by being present at these Sun-
day Services where we are fed with this emphasis on God’s Grace; God’s giving and nurturing nature for
all of us. We grow in faith with our generosity in giving as well in return, whether it is our time, or our tal-
ents or our treasures. We grow in our faith with our reaching out to those outside our doors to show this
love.
Reaching in Love. For us at Hope, what does this reaching in love mean? It means that we nurture our
children to grow in their faith and then encourage them and support them in their going out and sharing
their time and talents and Christian love in various Christian missionary and service ministries. It means
we as adults go out in Christian outreach with volunteer work at Plateau Outreach Ministries, Lining Stones
local prison ministry, Corner of Love mission in Nicaragua, ringing bells foe Salvation Army, opening our
doors for Winter Shelter, making and then sharing quilts with those in need. Growing and giving over
3,000 pounds of our garden’s plenty to the many in need at POM. Cont. on page #6
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
Page 6 of 10
Greetings, Bleatings cont.
We reach in love with our financial support to Living Stones, a local
prison ministry. We reach in love with financial support of Neighbors
Feeding Neighbors. We reach in love with the many quilts that have
been quilted at Hope and then given away to our youth and to any in
need. We reach in love with our Winter Shelter support. The list is long
that would name all the outreach ministries we have in the past and do
now financially support.
We are rooted in Grace. We are growing in faith. We are reaching in
love. As I noted in my December article, I really liked the story written
in the Tacoma News Tribune paper about Seattle Seahawk K. J. Wright,
his promise to finance and build a couple of water wells in the poor Af-
rican country of Kenya, and him being given the special Swahili name
that meant “the one who gives hope”. We at Hope are giving hope as
well. We are living up to our roots. We are living up to our name.
What a wonderful thing. We are a grounded, growing and giving tree
of Christian love purposed to be shared. Rooted in Grace. Growing in
Faith. Reaching in Love. Phrases that describe, define, and encourage
us to be grounded, growing, and giving Christians. Thanks be to God.
Greetings, bleatings, from the sheep pen.
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. (Psalm 23: 1)
Jim Niehoff
January
Birthdays
1/1 Renee Globe
1/4 Pastor Keith
Marshall
1/5 Bill Nehser
1/8 Beth Madill
1/15 Carolyn Hazen
1/18 Juston Littlefield
1/21 Warren Swift
1/23 Debbie Littlefield
1/25 Allan Pyle
1/28 Robert Idso a
January
Anniversaries
1/2 Bruce & Carol
Smith
1/12 Sean & Trisha
Miniken
Our January schedule
for POM- Peanut Butter
and Jelly/Jam
Place all donated items in
the basket in the
Narthex. Thank you!
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
Page 7 of 10
Faith and Everyday Life
January 2019
I fell in love with the story of Naaman the first time I heard it. It didn’t appear among the Bible stories
I hear as a child, which made it clearly stand out when I heard it as an adult. In 2 Kings 5, there is an experi-
ence of healing that starts with a girl from Israel who was taken captive and was Naaman’s wife’s servant. The
girl shared about a prophet in Samaria that can heal leprosy. Naaman, a commander of the army of the Aram
King, had such a skin disease. To fast forward, Naaman ended up seeing Elisha, the prophet, who gave him the
instruction to bathe in the river Jordan seven times and be healed. Naaman was frustrated by this instruction
and he went away angry. A servant who was with Naaman, suggested to him that if Elisha had asked him to do
something difficult instead, he would have done it to be healed. The servant talked Naaman into trying the
simple thing, in spite of his reservations, and wash in the Jordan. Naaman came out of the river after his sev-
enth dip and his skin was restored to the skin of a young boy.
I wonder how often it is in our life that the ones that can and do speak healing and restoration come
from unlikely places. It is the two servants in the story who Naaman ultimately believed. A young servant girl
spoke about her God who heals. Another servant speaks of letting go of the anger and trying Elisha’s instruc-
tions. Who do we listen to? Where do we get our instruction? What healing has happened in your life?
Lutheran Counseling Network
The mission statement of Lutheran Counseling Network: "LCN's professional therapists are instruments of God's grace bringing
hope and healing to individuals, couples and families in church congregations and in the broader community." LCN is an endorsed
ministry of the ELCA. Donations from ELCA congregations make subsidization of fees possible. For assistance, call 253-839-1697
for Federal Way/Enumclaw/Tacoma.
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
Page 8 of 10
A Vibrant Community for All,
Rooted in God's Grace.
2018 at Hope Lutheran church was a busy year. Thank
you to the "stewards" of Hope who continue to give so
generously of their time, share talents, come to worship
and financially support Hope.
We are looking forward to 2019. Many of you attended
our Scandinavian dinner in December and heard "Pastor
Svendsen " share some history about Hope's beginnings
125 years ago. We also shared information about a capital
campaign to use toward paying .down our building mort-
gage. We will be having a dinner on January 26th to share
more information. Please save the date, come celebrate
with friends from Hope, enjoy dinner and learn more about
Hope..
If you did the Stewardship Bible study and still have your
coin cup at home, please bring it to church some Sunday in
January. We will count, roll and deposit the coins and share
how much was raised with many working together. Thank
you for participating.
Thank you to everyone who signs up to help with our
weekly Sunday service. We also need people to vacuum
every week.
God's Peace to each of you, the stewards of Hope. Kathie Thompson
Stewardship Ministry Team
FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY TEAM
JANUARY, 2019
Thank you to everyone who attended our Scandinavian
dinner in December. Everyone said the lutefisk was great,
at least that's what those who ate it said. The rest of the
food was good too.
Out next save the date gathering will be Saturday, January
26th. Please save the date.
Stewardship
January 2019
Worship Schedule
January 6 – Epiphany of Our Lord:
First reading; Isaiah 60:1-6;
Second reading; Ephesians 3:1-12;
Gospel; Matthew 2:1-12;
January 13 – Baptism of Our Lord:
First reading; Isaiah 43:1-7;
Second reading; Acts 8:14-17;
Gospel; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22;
January 20 – 2 Epiphany:
First reading; Isaiah 62:1-5;
Second reading; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11;
Gospel; John 2:1-11;
January 27 – 3 Epiphany:
First reading; Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10;
Second reading; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a;
Gospel; Luke 4:14-21;
Each Month We Designate a
Special Giving opportunity for
the Congregation.
For January it is
Plateau Outreach Ministries
Please help if you can.
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
9 of 10
Hear the Good News
Christmas comes at a descending time. The old year is coming to an end, the new year is not yet here. It
is too late to accomplish goals set on the previous New Year’s Day, and just enough time to realize that
whatever shape or state you are in will be the shape or state in which you end the year. There is a hefty dose
of “what might have been.”
In the Northern Hemisphere the trees are bare, fields are barren, birds have migrated, animals are hibernat-
ing, the days are short and the nights are long. The earth’s colors are muted, and when there is snow the
world becomes silent. Sometimes during these short days and long nights I find myself thinking about the
brevity of life. This conflicts with my tendency to believe that the possibility of self-improvement and re-
newal is limitless: there is always another day, more time, another chance.
I remember watching our first child as she slept in her cradle, thinking about the future before her and, at
the same time, the reality that there would be an end. The Ash Wednesday declaration, “Remember that
you are dust and to dust you shall return,” became more pointed and more poignant. The cradle-to-grave
progression is our path; the inevitable and inexorable decline of our strength.
As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes
over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more (Psalm 103:15-16).
Maybe this is why the Christmas season can be so fraught. Of course, there is anticipation and celebration,
but there is also pressure and stress. Perhaps we are trying to greet the Lord’s birth with our best efforts
(when I was a girl, Christmas preparations were not complete until the silver was polished, and that job fell
to me), but desperation can creep into the urgency to get Christmas right, to hold back the night. “The
hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 279). This is
freight that Christmas can’t carry when Christmas depends on us.
Christmas comes at an opportune time. God did not come to us that first Christmas when we were at the
top of our game or when the world was perfect. Even the circumstances of Jesus’ birth were a sharp re-
minder that all was not well—forced migration to Bethlehem, no room for the young family, born in a stall.
Emmanuel—God with us—came to us and comes to us precisely at the time when our need is greatest.
Our attempts to bring about perfection actually get in the way of receiving the gift. When we try to fit into
an unrealistic ideal of who we ought to be instead of welcoming God into our real self, no matter how
messy, what then is left on the 13th day of Christmas? Fatigue, certainly, but also the dull acceptance that
life moves from cradle to grave.
But on Christmas, God has reversed the cradle-to-grave progression. The angel announced to the shep-
herds: “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in
bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12).
Here is the new reality. Here is the truth. Our lives are not a meaningless trudge from cradle to grave, but
a joyful journey—true and lasting joy—from grave to cradle. All our brokenness and death meet life and
healing and hope in the child in the manger. His cradle defeats the grave. We are loved. We are alive. Now
we are free to greet this holy season.
Merry Christmas, dear church.
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
“Making Christ Known in Our Community”
12 of 12
Page 10of 10
Book Review
“Disappointment with God” By Philip Yancy
Philip Yancy examines the Bible asking the question, "What
does God feel?" Yancy's observations opened my eyes to a
deeper understanding of God and his relationship with us hu-
mans.
Yancy shows God as struggling and surprised by human be-
havior. In Genesis He is surprised at the depth of evil the Pre-
Flood world. Genesis 6:6 states: "The Lord was grieved that he
had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain."
This is a surprising statement in the light of the commonly held
belief that God is omniscient--all knowing. Why would God be
surprised otherwise?
It also shows a God far more "human-like" where he states, "I
have no pleasure in the death of the wicked...." (Ezekiel 18:23).
This shows a creator frustrated and struggling with how irra-
tional human beings are.
Yancy points out that God changed his behavior toward hu-
mans over time from direct involvement to less infrequent in-
tervention into the affairs of nations. Since Christ's return to
Heaven, He seems to work more with individuals rather than
nations, allowing much evil to occur. The slaughter of the Jews
during the Holocaust is an example of this.
I highly recommend Yancy's book, "Disappointment with
God." It changed my perspective, and I think it will deepen
your understanding of God's real nature, too.
Thoughtfully, Richard Elfers
Hope
Lutheran
Church Staff Pastor:
Pastor Keith Marshall
253-970-9973
Office Administrator: Lorie Ritzdorf
360-825-2420
Children’s Church Coordinator: Isabella Armenta
Pianist: Bianca Lung
Nursery Attendant: Mikayla Rash
Lutheran Counseling Network: Pearle Hintz, LMHC
253-839-1697
Church Council
President: Rich Elfers
Vice President: Nancy Berg
Secretary: Becky Latham
Treasurer: Kathie Thompson
Members at Large
Dan Idso, Tim Rash, Lynda Dodd Financial Secretary:
Dianna Olafson
Soli Deo Gloria
