The Voice of HopeHope Lutheran Church

1750 SE Lennard Rd., Port St. Lucie, Fl. 34952Rev. Dr. Earnest E. Tate

Deacon Susan SpeeOffice: 772-335-4673

www.hopelutheranpsl.orgemail-hopeoffice1@gmail.com

July/August 2015

To the People of God here at Hope:

Rev. Dr. Earnest E. Tate, Interim PastorSalient points in the sermon, Mark 5:21-43 on June 28, 2015

In the text, Jesus is going about his ministry when Jairus, a leader of the synagogue appeals on behalf of his daughter who is near death. Jesus agrees to take a look at the child, but while he is making his way to her, a woman who has been ill for 12 long years reaches out and touches him. Distracted, Jesus converses with the woman and pronounces her cured because of her faith, and then he resumes his travel to see Jairus' child who in the meantime has died. Not discouraged by the tragedy, Jesus completes his journey and restores her life.

What troubling things are going on in our life right now; personal sickness, a child, a relationship, our job? Have these situations been going on for a long period of time? Does it seem as though the situations have no answer in sight? Let’s think back. Do we have situations in our life that involved a long period of waiting? Has God brought about a resolution to our situation? If so, shout about it, do not keep it to ourselves. During our Bible Study on Tuesdays, we have an opportunity to testify, shout about how God has brought us through rough situations. In our Short and Long-Terms

The Voice of Hope 1

PASTOR’S PAGE

Planning meeting yesterday, we discussed having 2-minutes testimonies during our Worship Service.

Do we want to be transparent with Jesus this morning? The woman touched Jesus secretly. But when she got caught, she "told him the whole truth." She told Him the truth of her shame. She did not want to be singled out as a person who needed healing. She may have told Him more. She might have shared her frustrations about all the years of being in the medical care system and not being healed. She might have even told Jesus the truth about other things in her life. But it is after this woman "told Him the whole truth" that Jesus says to her, "Daughter your faith has made you well, go in peace and be healed of your disease." Was there more than just physical healing that happened in this story? The point is this, Jesus heals us where we hurt; Jesus heals us where we are really hurting. Have we opened our heart and soul to Jesus’ healing? Are we trying to "hide something" from Jesus this morning?

The Voice of Hope 2

Vacation Bible School at Hope Lutheran

Church, Port St. Lucie July 20- July 24 @ 9:00 am -12:00 pm$10 per child for the week

Children ages 2 through 6th grade will learn about discovering God’s plan for them through age appropriate:

Bible stories Games Snacks Music Recreation!

All while in the theme of a science lab!

If you have children or know anyone who is looking for a Sparktastic VBS this summer please print & fill out our 2015 VBS Registration Form and return to Hope Lutheran Church (1750 SE Lennard Rd, Port St Lucie, FL 34952) with payment. Only one form is needed per family and it is only $10.00 per child for the week!

If you are interested in volunteering please fill out this vbs volunteer form and return asap.

For more details or information, call 772-335-4672 or email the director here.

The Voice of Hope 3

Veterans Breakfast

Join the veterans of Hope LutheranChurch on the last Saturday of themonth at Cracker Barrel at 8:30 a.m.

The next meeting will be July 25th. *************************************************************************

Join Us At Freedom Fest Join our table at Freedom Fest, July 4th @ the Port St. Lucie Civic Center.

This family-friendly event consists of a full day of food, fun and good old-fashioned Independence Day spirit for everyone. Best of all, admission and parking are free.

Celebration begins at 2 p.m. with live bands, food and refreshments, games

and activities for kids and families, arts and crafts vendors and much more.

The Voice of Hope 4

Call Committee Update

Hope has $52,000 budgeted for a Pastor. That includes the compensation package. Our choices that Connie Schmucker, Assistant to the Bishop suggested:

1. Retired Military ( doesn’t need a compensation package.)2. Chaplain3. A half-time, three quarter time Pastor4. A term Pastor ( can be 1,2, or 3 year period.) Under this category:

a. The church could extend one more yearb. Say it’s not workingc. Roster as a leader, gather resume. Can this pastor take us to the

next level?5. Interim (contracted) Pastor. Re-evaluation after six months.6. Re-development Pastor- When the congregation is less than 30 members. ( Our church

is not in this category.)The Council will be discussing the suggestions that came from the Synod at the next council meeting.

UPDATE AFTER THE JUNE COUNCIL MEETING.

After discussing the options, at the council meeting, the council has narrowed down the options to term Pastor, option #4 and a part-time Pastor #3.

All of us, The Call Committee, the Council and The Congregation need to work together.The next council meeting is July 13th.

The Voice of Hope 5

The Voice of Hope 6

Grant Writing Team

The Grant Writing Team is seeking volunteers to be part of the team. If you have a gift of writing and/or enjoy doing research, please join us! We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

-Nan Billings

Planning Committee

The short and long term planning committees are seeking volunteers to be part of their committee. If you are interest in the growth of the church, spiritually, financially and physically within the next two years, please plan to join us. We will provide you with the financial and attendance trends to assist in the planning. Please call the church office for the times of the next meeting.

Distribution of Flyers

We will be distributing flyers listing weekly activities that are occurring at Hope Lutheran Church. Please join us as we enhance the growth of the congregation, spiritually, physically, and financially. The next walk will be at 1:00 p.m. on July 25th.

Blessing of the BackpacksSunday, August 16th

at 9 and 11a.m. services

Needed: Website Volunteer

The Digital Media Committee is looking for volunteers to help manage the Church website. This is perfect for anyone interested in websites, WordPress, and social media. No prerequisite technology skills are required because we will train you! If you are interested, please call the office (772-335-4673) and leave a message. Thank you!

HELP WANTED, NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

WILL TRAIN - USHERS, GREETERS, LECTORS, COMMUNION ASSISTANTS: FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE.COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD! NO NEED TO SEND YOUR RESUME JUST CALL: 772-335-4673 or email church office at hopeoffice1@gmail.com All Christian’s have been gifted by grace from God above, equipped to build and strengthen the church in faith and love. ---FitzhughYou are one of a kind—designed to glorify God as only you can

Sound Booth Help

I am looking for someone to help in putting the PowerPoint together for the 9 a.m. worship service and to also run the sound booth. I usually put the PowerPoint together on Thursdays for the following Sunday. It takes about 2 hours and it is done on a flash drive, so it can be done at home. It would be ideal to find two people for this, so we have some back-up for vacations. It is not difficult to do and I will gladly train anyone who is interested. You can contact me at 772-529-2213 or at elle53.ek@gmail.com

-Ellen

We are proud to announce that the winner of the Raland Brown Memorial Scholarship is Devon Brown.

This memorial scholarship is awarded to recognize academic achievement and help in continued advancement.

Congratulations Devon!

********************************************************************

The Voice of Hope 7

We’re a national, not-for-profit, membership-owned organization of Christians who want to be wise with money, live generously and change lives.

The Thrivent Way

We are a membership organization of Christians, and our members are our owners.

Our purpose is to serve our members and society by guiding both to be wise with money and live generously.

We believe that all we have is a gift from God and that generosity is an expression of faith.

We succeed when our members, their families and their communities thrive.

We value our relationships, so we will: Be trustworthy in character and competence, and act like owners and treat each other as owners, and

live balanced and generous lives.

Become a Thrivent member today; contact Lauren Hutto at (772) 284-6520 or you can go to http://www.thrivent.com/ for more information about Thrivent.

WELCA is sponsoring a program at Hope. Hope Helping the Homeless is a one year project that started in September 2014.For the month of July/ August please bring toothpaste (travel size or a little larger) and toothbrushes. There is a box in the narthex for the homeless. Our goal is to help those in our community who are homeless. All supplies will be given to Mustard Seed in Fort Pierce, with a once a month distribution.Thank you for supporting those less fortunate than ourselves.

-Jeanette Roberts

Memory Verse of the Month

Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:5

The Voice of Hope 8

7/02 Brian Stack

Timothy Watts

7/03 Margaret Eubank

7/05 Bernice Louisa

7/09 Wayne Robak

7/10 Rebekah Botti

7/11 Gwendolyn Smith

7/12 Jeannie Parks

7/13 John Leighliter

7/14 Karen Harris

Josselyn Dawson

7/16 John Moore

Jessica McCoy

7/17 Christine Furay

7/18 Christopher Kotal

7/19 Susan Edwards

7/20 Joey Parks

7/21 Pastor Norma

Diane Roma

7/25 Laurie Botti

7/28 Tanner Fassi

7/30 Lauren Gen

JulyBirthdays

July Anniversaries

7/03 Emerick & Julie Witkowski (34)7/05 Robert & Christine Furay (12)7/11 Frank & Karen Harris (51)

Jerry & Deborah Gahlhoff (11)7/12 Brad & Carrie Kennedy (12)7/14 Bill & Nina Baranski (41)7/21 Robert & Carin Crimmins (28)7/29 Denis & Judy Fowler (15)7/30 John & Barbara Turpie (55)

The Voice of Hope 9

8/01 Brenda Newins

8/02 Shelley Tillman

8/03 Chris Arcoleo

Randy Roberts

8/04 Danielle Moore

8/05 Carol Schofield

Kristie Turner

8/06 Anthony Scuderi

Ryan Barr

8/07 Marilyn Wheeler

William Wrobleski

8/08 Edward Erfurt IV

8/11 Robert Crimmins

Jenna Billings

8/15 Annemarie Huggins

8/16 Marion Zimmerman

8/18 Danielle Kingsley

8/19 Paula Wehling

8/20 Chadia Heinz

8/21 Lydia Byerly

8/23 Mary Anne Roksvold

8/24 Allyson Watts

8/25 Corrianne Billings

8/26 Richard Sellas

8/27 Craig Sterling

8/29 Daniel Anderson

8/30 Janet Butler

8/31 Chuck Strickler

Donald Wilhelm

AugustBirthdays

August Anniversaries

8/03 Gary & Nan Billings (41)

8/05 Paul & Kristie Turner (7)

8/06 Donald & Carol Wilhelm (10)

8/09 Andrew & Donna Blake (7)

8/16 Tom & Mary Anne Roksvold (46)

8/21 Kenneth & Donna Kappa (50)

8/26 Bruce & Susan Edwards (48)

Altar Flowers Dedicating Altar Flowers is a wonderful way to honor or memorialize friends and family for special times, anniversaries, or events. At the same time you will be adding to the beauty of our Church during Sunday worship. Simply sign up on the chart in the usher’s area between the narthex and sanctuary for any available Sunday and indicate what event you are honoring. The month prior to your sponsorship you will be sent an envelope for your donation to the flower fund of $30.00. You may place this in the offering on any Sunday or mail the envelope back to the Church. Following the 11:00 service you may take the flowers home or deliver to a shut-in friend or member. If you would like the names and location of several members who are in the hospital, assisted living or nursing facilities who would enjoy and appreciate the flowers you can contact Pastor.

The Voice of Hope 10

Lusell Duberger, Harmony Geske, Judy Geske, August, Marge Yager, Jean Carroll, Dom Aloise, Helen Erfurt, Sue and Bill Weston, Chelsey Olson, Tracie, Eleanor Colon, Faith

McCracken, Jimmy Back-Galpin, Pat Maranscio, Gloria Iaccabelli, Ed Forella, Bob Hendertilo, Kelly Kendall, Hilda Petersen, Cynthia Oyola, Cynthia Ortiz, Bert Johanson, Missie Kirkland, Ronald Luhrs and family, Charlie and Josephine Vandermosten, Josh

Paradoa, Josef Glass, Nancy Larsen, Archie Rahn, Dolores Hart, Stanley, Jeannie Hockley, Nancy Brewer

Members in Residential Care

Inge Brooks-Lakeforest Park

Pricilla Carpenter- The Gardens

Members of Our Armed Forces

Cody Allen USA USA

Tech Sgt. John King USAF

2015 FB Synod ASSEMBLY SUMMARYExcerpts from Cheryl Stuart, Vice President’s Report—Florida-Bahamas Synod Assembly June 18-20, 2015

…….Now last year when I spoke, I challenged you. I called out the fact that the National Youth Gathering was going to be in Detroit in 2015, and we needed to step up and send our kids all the way to Detroit. You see, the previous 2 National Youth Gatherings were in New Orleans, which for us was relatively close. I asked every congregation to consider funding the cost of sending up to 3 youth, even if your congregation might not have any young people to send this year. Because over and over again you hear of the life changing, faith forming experience that the National Youth Gathering is—both to those who go, and for the city we invade! And you responded. I spoke with Sr. Michelle about this, and we are unaware of any young person from our synod who is unable to go for reason of lack of funds. And we are sending more than 480 young people to Detroit!!! Thanks be to God, you did it! And there are still ways you can help financially, with the myriad of expenses that this involves. Please see Sr. Michelle if you want to be a tangible part of Rise Up Together next month.

Now here is part 2 of my challenge. When they get back---listen to them. Listen to their stories. Ask them who they met, what they liked, what they learned, what surprised them. Honor their experience and their faith journey. And see if you can’t import a bit of that Spirit-fueled fire into your congregation. Build on it—in service to your community, in worship styles, in events you hold… dare I say in mission planning in your congregation. And watch that investment in our youth multiply.

Last year, I also shared with you my frustration at the long delay in the ELCA’s development of the Social Statement on Justice for Women. It is still on track for 2019 (count on fingers…) Many of us had hoped to see a piece of that work in a smaller “Social Message on Gender based Violence” by now. It’s been sent back for more work and will come to the churchwide council in November this year. Friends, I had planned to spend much of my time up here today talking about the urgent need to speak up now in our communities, state and nation, and not wait for this official message from the wider church. Sexual assaults especially on college campuses, domestic violence, human trafficking---newspapers in every community have these stories. Then there’s the issue of equal pay. And young girls in other countries are still kidnapped, sold into marriage, and refused an education. Those are issues needing the voices of people of faith.

But sometimes events overtake our plans. The murder in Charleston, SC of 9 African American people in the basement of Emanuel AME church during a Bible study has shocked us all. The alleged murderer is a 21 year old white man, with a history of racist statements and some apparent ties to white supremacist organizations. It is reported that he said “You

The Voice of Hope 11

raped our women and are taking over our country. You must be stopped” before reloading and killing more victims. In the basement of a church. During Bible study.

But this one hits even closer to home for us. Two of the victims—Rev. Clementa Pinckney and Rev. Daniel Simmons—were graduates of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. They were classmates, friends and colleagues of some of our ELCA pastors. And the shooter is a member of an ELCA congregation. We cannot say this is happening to “someone else someplace else”.

Presiding Bishop Eaton issued a statement yesterday. In case you haven’t seen it, we’ll get that link posted to the Synod’s website. In part, she said

“Racism is a fact in American culture. Denial and avoidance of this fact are deadly. The Rev. Mr. Pinckney leaves a wife and children. The other eight victims leave grieving families. The family of the suspected killer and two congregations are broken. When will this end?”She continues“I urge all of us to spend a day in repentance and mourning. And then we need to get to work. Each of us needs to examine ourselves, our church and our communities. We need to be honest about the reality of racism within us and around us. We need to talk, we need to listen, but we also need to act. No stereotype or racial slur is justified. Speak out against inequality. Look with newly opened eyes at the many subtle and overt ways that we and our communities see people of color as being of less worth. Above all pray—for insight, for forgiveness, for courage.”

So what will we do? Maybe better said, what will we do differently?

Look around this room. It’s largely a white room. I cannot speak with authenticity about what it is like to be on the receiving end of racism. Most in this room can’t either. No, but what we can do is look deeply into our own lives and ask how do I contribute to a culture where racism is a fact?

Do I let a racist joke slide? Do I let my kids ignore the one or two other black kids in the class? Do I avoid even simple, human conversation with those African Americans I come in contact with, whether at the grocery store, this hotel, or at the office? When I speak to groups about anti-bullying, I remind them that silence is an insidious reinforcement of a bully’s taunt. When a child is being bullied—and someone in authority does not step in—that child gets the message that they not only have to deal with the bully, but that the authority “has the bully’s back”. In a similar vein---our silence--our lack of engagement--our unwillingness to step out of our siloed, sheltered communities and step up and in to our charge to love our neighbor who may not look like us—our failure to speak directly and

The Voice of Hope 12

honestly to our white children about racial myths and stereotypes that they learn from society—all of it reinforces a culture of racism. I suggest to you that our silence in those instances is as damning as overt actions.

I want to address what I perceive as an elephant in the room. There are some I suspect, who cannot hear this message. And it has to do with the very words “racism” and “racist”. No one wants to be called a racist. The word is spoken and silently something inside says “well, that’s not me!” or “I do not want to be made to feel guilty for being white” and the rest of the message is tuned out. I have heard that. But I ask you to push that internal voice aside or turn down its volume to let in the conversation with people of color who have a different experience. Listen deeply. Listen honestly. Don’t be afraid to see the world differently. We heard much about how we see the world differently this morning from Rev. Sunitha did we not?

Bishop Eaton has asked us to act. In each of our contexts, that will ask different things of us. But we are being asked. There are at least two things each and every person can do. One is to pray. For empathy (diversity without empathy is empty). For courage. For reconciliation. For learning. For humility. For real, right relationships based on God’s vision of justice for and in this world.

And the second is to make a commitment, today, right now, to not be silent in the face of subtle or overt racism. As people of faith, as people charged with a mission to be evangelical in proclaiming God’s reconciling and redeeming love to all people, we must dare to boldly call out the sin that is racism when we see it or commit it.

Will you do that? Will you? Let’s practice not being silent right now. I will not be silent. Say it: I will not be silentI will NOT be silentI will not be SILENT.

As you go from this place, may our voices be heard.

Amen

The Voice of Hope 13

The Voice of Hope 14

`

The Voice of Hope 15

Phone-772-324-9472 Check out the web-site: http://cuisine256.com/E-Mail-Info@Cuisine256.com

Please support our advertisers

We are asking anyone interested in singing with the ADULT CHOIR to please see Karen Keat or any choir member for information. Please come out and sing with us.

For information please call Karen Keat: 772-237-5363.

Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. (Psalms 100:2)

The Voice of Hope 16

If you would like to be in the BELL CHOIR, please see

Karen Keat for information. If you are interested in

learning about the bells, please call Karen Keat, 772-

237-5363.

1750 SE Lennard Road, Port St. Lucie, Fl. 34952772-335-4673 www.hopelutheranpsl.orgRev. Dr. Earnest E. Tate, Interim Pastor

minet49@aol.com

If you do not have an e-mail address or access to online we will gladly mail you an issue. Please contact the church office. Thank you Michelle Erfurt for keeping our website up to date!

Click & go to www.hopelutheranpsl.org

The Voice of Hope 17