February 2020

THE ANCHOR A NEWS PUBLICATION OF MT. HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH; GRAYLING, MI

VOLUME 39 NUMBER 2 www.mthopelcmsgrayling.org MtHopeLCMS@gmail.com

OUR VISION

By the love of Christ, our vision is to work together,

reaching out to all people, through the Gospel,

in our various activities and events. As we encourage each other to worship

and grow in God’s Word, we will be a Christian influence

in our community.

OUR PURPOSE

Glorifying God through WORSHIP

Reaching out to all with the Good News of salvation in Christ through EVANGELISM

Actively caring for God’s people in Christ through FELLOWSHIP

Creating a family of God by Word and Sacrament through MINISTRY

Equipping people of all ages for life in Christ through DISCIPLESHIP

WE VALUE

Bible-centered

Preaching &

Teaching

Dynamic Praise &

Worship

The Sacraments

Prayer

Evangelism

Christian Education

for All Ages

Loving Relationships

Strong Christian

Families

OUR MISSION

BUILDING TOGETHER SPIRITUALLY

FOLLOWING THE TRIUNE GOD

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The Importance of Praying for One Another

“[Pray] at all times in the Spirit… To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

Tell me if this sounds familiar to you. Someone shares with you an issue they’re facing in their life, and you say in all earnestness, “I’ll be praying for you.” And then later on, you realize, you’ve forgotten to do what you said! I’m sure we’ve all been there.

Unfortunately, it can be easy to forget to pray for others, to spend time talking with God on behalf of our loved ones, friends, acquaintances, or perhaps people we don’t necessarily know but pray for anyway. Jesus says that we should even be praying on behalf of our enemies!

It is our responsibility, but also our joy, to bring others before God in prayer. Think about it, we wouldn’t expect God to want our prayers or promise to hear them unless we knew that He was gracious and loving towards us in Jesus Christ, and that He invited us to pray. And that’s exactly what He does. So, it is quite a joyful thing that we have the privilege to pray for each other, because it means God loves us, and we have the opportunity to show love to others when we pray for them.

It always amazes me anytime there’s a whole network of people, some I may not even know, who I find out has been praying for me or a family member. That’s happened for my family recently, as it may have with yours. A name gets on a prayer list, or goes out to a variety of people, and before you know it, people all over the world may be praying for a particular situation or person. That’s an amazing gift we have as Christians.

Our church sends out email prayer requests as needed, not to mention our Sunday morning list that are a part of our prayers in church. If you have a prayer request, be sure to send it in so others can pray for you. If you don’t get those emails, talk to the church office or Pastor, and we’ll be happy to include you. And finally, when you do see those names in the bulletin or on an email, spend some time praying for them, and for all the people in your life. Prayer is an amazing gift God has given us and that we can give to each other.

Notes From Pastor

Designation for Noisy Offering for January-March 2020 is to Crawford AuSable Day Care.

MT. HOPE'S WEBSITE

Did you know that Mt. Hope has a website? If you go to http://www.mthopelcmsgrayling.org/ our website will come up. It is a multi page site with much information about our church, our congregation, our Pastor, what programs we are involved with and much more!

Although there is a "member log-in" area, this is just for those who work on the site. Nancy Hatfield is our webmaster who keeps our website updated and makes any necessary changes. Anyone who goes to our site can access all pages. So...check it out!

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Jamie Wohn will be handling the sign changes. Please text him at

(810) 965-1891 with any necessary info for the sign or email him at jackwohn3@gmail.com

Did you know that Pastor Joe sends out a weekly email called "Word for Wednesday"? He includes his sermon from

the previous Sunday as well as the readings and some thoughts for the upcoming Sunday. There are other helpful links and information. If you're interested in being added to

this list, please email Pastor Joe or the church office.

Does anyone need name tags? Contact Mary Heinlein at

989.348.4350 or mthopebookkeeper@gmail.com

Reminder about inclement weather and church functions: Our policy for bad weather cancellations has been to cancel

morning Bible studies, etc. when local schools close. Evening meetings and events will probably continue, as long as road

crews are out and a storm is not intensifying. Sunday services, as well as Advent and Lent midweek services, are seldom cancelled. However, do not attempt to drive if your local

conditions are poor and you are uncomfortable driving in the weather!

December Attendance and Budget Income/Expenses

12/1/2019 54

12/4/2019 19

12/8/2019 101

12/11/2019 20

12/15/2019 68

12/18/2019 24

12/22/2019 59

12/24/2019 130

12/25/2019 24

12/29/2019 61

December YTD Jul-Dec

Budget Income 15,321.85 83,068.47

Budget Expenses -11,237.72 -69,569.89

Net 4,084.13 13,498.58

Noisy Offering 81.41 Noisy offering is designated to support

Reeling and Healing

Together in Missions 105.00

Christian Help Center 41.28 Plate coin

Crawford AuSable Day Care (CADC) CADC Matching Funds Donation

Mt. Hope has received a CADC Matching Funds Donation of $2,500.00 which could yield a total of $5,000.00 for use by CADC as they ramp up their operations and furnishings to support the greater number of children soon to be under their care. Anyone having an interest in participating in this matching funds should use their offering envelope or a pew envelope, and designate CADC Matching Funds Donation. Once again, Thank You to everyone at Mt. Hope for your generous support of this important outreach initiative into our community.

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Opportunities to Serve the Lord In February If you are unable to serve as listed, please secure a replacement and notify the church office. Thank you.

WE NEED UPDATED INFORMATION!!!

Our church secretary Nicole needs updated information on members who are new shut-ins or no longer shut-ins, members in nursing homes and members who are hospitalized or

home after being hospitalized. Also, if someone that you know is on the prayer list and has recovered from their medical situation, please contact Nicole at the church office at 348-

5921 so that the prayer lists can be updated. Names that have been on the Prayer List for over 3 weeks will be removed unless it is requested the name remains on the list.

2nd-Mark Buchinger 9th-Jack Owens

16th- 23rd-

26th-Mark Buchinger

Ushers

2nd-Lee Sperry, Bob Lawe, Harry McGee 9th-Kathy Winarski, Renee Smith, Joan Thompson, Shirley Gaff

16th-Mike Shields, Pete Albright, Jamie Wohn 23rd-Egon & Lilli Lund, Kathy & Bill Woodman 26th-Mike Shields, Harry McGee, Mike Nowak

February 18th, 2019 is the deadline for the March Newsletter. Please leave your articles on the secretary’s desk in the church office, or email the church at mthopelcms@gmail.com. You may also fax

your information to the church office at 348-0166. Thanks for your cooperation in making this deadline. Nicole’s regular office hours: 9am-2pm Tuesday & Thursday

Terry Tody

Elders

Coffee Hour

2nd-Mike Nowak 9th-Sherry Hanson

16th- 23rd-

Greeters

2nd-Evangelism 9th-Education-Potluck

16th-Trustees 23rd-Council

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calendar

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TO PLACE SOMEONE ON PRAYER CHAIN:

Call Lynn Richmond at 989-390-8632 or

lynncarolmorris@yahoo.com

PRAYER REQUESTS

Prayer request forms are available either in the Narthex on the podium by the guest book or in the office on the secretary’s desk. If you need a prayer by

Pastor that day, you can give your completed prayer request form to one of the elders or ushers and ask that it be given to Pastor before worship. If your prayer request isn’t needed until later in the week, you can place it in the offering plate or place it on the secretary’s desk in the office.

Dollie Adolph Jean Wittig

Assisted Living & Nursing Home List

Mercy Manor Mitch Linendoll

Northern Pines –Grayling Joyce Kolka John Linendoll

The Brook Gayle Prause (Roscommon) Kay Gregg (Gaylord)

Grand Rapids Home for Veterans Kenneth Hopkins

The Lighthouse at Roscommon Elsa Knutson

Cancer Members

Dave Mauro Barb Mauro Steve Koch

Friends Butch Schneider

Pat Sullivan Sharon Sullivan Nathaniel Earp

Sherry Burmeister Michelle Berg Cheryl Arwood George Setter

Kathy Jo Wright Becky Hallet Ann Eicher Bill Polzin

Healing Members

Joyce Kolka Mike Kalicki

Louise Lazzarino

Friends Michelle Weber Winnie Reisch

In Military Service Christopher Dysinger, Jordan Bulmer, Kevin Krokosky,

Darin Nicholas,, Jeremiah Hose, Travis Kulak, Andre’ Miller, Keil Clough, Trevor Clough,

Todd McCarver, Victoria Doster, Conrad Weissenborn, Rob Tanzola,

Pete Albright~2nd

Mark Buchinger~7th

Andrea Flowers~15th

Ken Bendick~18th

Judi Mesack~23rd

Dee Musselman~27th

Jack & Linda Owens~19th

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BLESSINGS ON YOUR JOURNEY AS A STEWARD!

We would like to thank all the church members who donated food items for our Christmas Dinner collection for the Christian

Help Center. Along with a Thrivent Choice Grant, we were able to donate over 1000 items for the 265 families who received

food for their Christmas Dinner.

Thank you also for everyone who donated sheets to be used in our quilts. We are always in need of sheets.

Also, we are in need of people to help with the quilts. If you can tie a knot, you can help. We meet each Tuesday from 11am-2pm. Bring a brown bag lunch. We stop and have lunch and fellowship.

We will be collecting food all the time for the Christian Help Center. There is a basket in the narthex for these items. We are asking for non-perishable food items as well as hygiene items including laundry & dish soap. “Serving the Lord with Gladness”.

Please mark your calendar for July 10-12. This is the District Convention. It is being held at the Ellison Place in Gaylord. The theme is “Look-They saw the Lord.” Any questions-please talk to Terry.

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THE CHURCH STAFF

PASTOR Rev. Joseph Polzin

Pastor’s Cell Phone: 608-395-8029

Pastor’s E-mail Address: pastorjoepolzin@gmail.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Nicole Alma

Office Hours: Tuesday 9am-2pm & Thursday 9am-2pm

BOOKKEEPER Mary Heinlein (989) 348-4350

CUSTODIAN Marty Haskin

CHURCH COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN Ken Bendick (989) 387-8259

VICE-CHAIRMAN Paul Mesack (989) 344-0359

SECRETARY Sharon Hopkins (989) 786-3795

TREASURER Mitch Linendoll (989) 745-6413

BOARD CHAIRMAN

ELDERS Jack Owens (810)869-0944

EDUCATION Dave & Barb Mauro (616)260-1261

EVANGELISM Terry Tody (989) 344-1734

STEWARDSHIP Shirley Koch (231) 258-2808

TRUSTEES Mike Shields (810) 348-6692

YOUTH VACANT

MT. HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH 905 NORTH I-75 BUSINESS LOOP

GRAYLING, MICHIGAN 49738 (989) 348-5921 (989)348-0166 (fax) MthopeLCMS@gmail.com www.mthopelcmsgrayling.org

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Mt. Hope Lutheran Church

(Missouri Synod)

905 N I-75 Business Loop

Grayling, MI 49738

The greatest love of all

On Valentine’s Day, we remember that God

is the source of all love in the world. His

perfect love for us has made all human love

possible.

Our Servant-King Jesus began his ministry by being hungry, yet he is the Bread of Life.

Jesus ended his earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet he is the Living Water.

Jesus was weary, yet he is our rest.

Jesus paid tribute, yet he is the King.

Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet he cast out demons.

Jesus wept, yet he wipes away our tears.

Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver, yet he redeemed the world.

Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet he is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus died, yet by his death he destroyed the power of death. —Gregory of Nazianzus (fourth-century church father)