HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
SELDEN, NEW YORK
MAY-JUNE 2015
Volume 2015
Issue No. 3
THE ANCHOR
ANOTHER “QUIET “SUMMER AT HOPE
Inside this issue:
Teen Ministry News
2
Annual Meeting June 7
3
New Offering Envelopes
3
Summer Worship Plans
4
Diakonia Program
Update
4
Summer Camp Programs 5
Hope’s Bowling League
6
“Quiet” is not a word we
would normally use to
describe the summer months
at Hope. On the surface it
may appear that activities are
slowing down with the shift
to a two-service Sunday
worship schedule and a few
weeks of “time off” for our
Sunday School and our Teen
Ministry staffs, but we will
also be having several other
activities at Hope during the
weeks of summer, designed
especially for children and
teens who are willing to serve
and ready to have fun.
This summer we will still
day night services at 5 p.m.
instead of summer midweek
services as in the past.
We will offer again our
Camp Hope program the last
two weeks of July (20-24 and
27-31), and our Vacation
Bible School and Drama Camp
programs on two consecutive
weeks in August (10-14, and
17-21).
The Men of Hope will be
having their third annual
“Men’s Steakout” at the
home of Pastor Hill in Coram
on Tuesday, August 4th, and
they hope that even more
men will join them for the
fellowship and fun there.
During the summer we will
also be getting ready for the
fall season, looking towards
“Back to Church Sunday” and
our first Grandparents’ Day
festivities including an allchurch barbecue that day, on
September 13th.
(By the way, “Back to
Church Sunday” is meant to
be a day to invite some of our
non-churchgoing friends and
neighbors to join us for our
worship services.)
TEENS PREPARE FOR THE 2015 YOUTH GATHERING
Special Points of
Interest
 Summertime is a vey
active time at Hope.
 A new record-keeping
system is now being
introduced.
 Our summer worship
schedule will change
on Fathers’ Day
weekend.
“Rise Up” will be the theme
around which some 35,000+
teens and adults will rally in
Detroit this summer the
week of July 15-19. Hope will
be sending twelve teens and
four chaperones to the National Youth Gathering in
Detroit, and they will take
part in an exciting event
which is centered around
three sub-themes: Proclaim
Justice, Proclaim Community,
and Proclaim Story.
This tri-ennial event includes
nightly large mass gatherings,
music, special community
service projects, and a host of
activities designed to inspire
and strengthen the young
people who will come from
all around our country and
several other nations as
well.
Those attending from
Hope will be: Sabrina
Brogle, Sara Camarda,
Anthony and Dominic
Castiglione, John and
Katie Dalrymple, Grace
DeNicola, Ani Gerlach,
Jon Laza, Andrew Merkler,
Jeremey Raye, and Bill Wanamaker and Marrisa Brogle,
Donna Haller, Pastor Hill and
Laura Laza.
The teens raised funds to
help with expenses, and they
will benefit from grants from
Hope’s Mission Projects Fund
and from
the spring
fair that they
worked on.
Going along
with our
group will be
seven
members from Lutheran
Church of Our Savior in Patchogue as well.
Thank you for your support.
Page 2
Anchor
Volume 2015
VISION OF HOPE
This summer at Hope we will
be going through a transition
unlike any we have experienced
before. When our congregation
meets next month, we will elect
the largest group of new leaders
ever to serve our congregation,
and they will be leading Hope
for the next few years.
We didn’t plan things that
way. Usually we have some
ongoing, experienced council
members and we add a few new
ones to he mix, but this year
only we will have only three
“veteran” council members and
“Turning a New Page”
we will be adding up to seven
new council members and , in
a sense, be starting over again.
It should be interesting . . .
One of the tasks I will have in
coming months will be that of
helping the council to develop
a sense of community and get
themselves organized. That’s
why it is good that we are
starting out in the summer. It
will give us a chance to grow
together before we get into
the “busier” months of the
church calendar when there
are many decisions to make.
I look forward to working
with them, and I hope you
will support them as they
start to provide leadership
and energy to our church’s
mission efforts. Pray for
them and look for ways
you can say “Yes” when
they are reaching out for
help from you. Offer your
ideas and suggestions, and
encourage them as they
get more involved in the
new roles they will take on.
We’re turning a new page
in the story that is Hope.
TEEN MINISTRY NEWS
THIS FALL’S TEEN
MINISTRY PROGRAM
CONFIRMATION
UPDATE
This fall we have over 30
teenagers eligible to begin our
Teen Ministry program, so we
are sending out letters and
forms to help us make plans in
advance. All three levels will
begin on Saturday, September
19th, and we will have a special
worship service of blessing for
teens and parents at 5 p.m.
Please sign up soon .
This year’s Confirmation
Service was held on May 31st
during the 11 a.m. service.
Total attendance for the service was 119.
We thank our volunteer
staff: Denise Cappello, Sophia
and Steven Gerlach, Linda Hill,
and Leslie Rurup as group
guides, Bonnie Ciavarella as
Food Marshall , and Donna
Haller as Drama Leader who
Worked under the supervision
of Laura Laza.
Congratulations to all of
our 2015 confirmands:
Lauren Yiyun Elizabeth
Cappello
Christopher Howard Favale
Antoinette Sophia Claire
Gerlach
Paige Taylor Kearns
Alexa Grace Knauer
Sarah Joyce Murphy
Kaitlyn Devika Murphy
Nicholas Calvin Smith
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT
During recent months we
have had several unusual
financial challenges and we
have called on members to
give above and beyond their
customary offerings: a roof
replacement fund, two very
snowy winters, and a longoverdue project to refurbish
the exterior areas of our older
church building. Thanks to
your generous spirit, we are
coming into the “home
stretch” with less than 35% of
our final goal to reach by the
end of June. Thank you for
giving so often and so freely. It
is a sign of your commitment
to the life of our church and a
strong witness to our local
community. Please help us to
meet our final goal.
Anchor
Volume 2015
Page 3
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Our Annual Meeting will be
held this year on Sunday,
June 7th at 12:30 p.m. It will
begin with a brunch after the
11 a.m. service.
In addition to voting on a
budget for the new fiscal
year starting on July 1, we ill
be electing a least 8 new
members to our Congregation
Council, the largest group of
new council members we’ve
ever had.
In addition to hearing some
reports we will review the
50th anniversary highlights
and spend some time talking
about new ideas for the
future of our shared ministry
at Hope.
All confirmed members
ages 16 and older are voting
members, and we need a
quorum of forty voting
members for the meeting.
Please mark the date on
your calendar.
THIRD ANNUAL MEN’S STEAK-OUT– Aug. 4th Tuesday
This annual event is held at the home of Pastor Hill
located at 123 Wedgewood Drive in Coram. It is
sponsored by the Men’s Breakfast Fellowship and
there is no cost for the event, but many men bring
along a pot-luck dish or dessert to share.
We gather at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4th Friends
are invited to come for this event, so please sign up
in advance.
NEW OFFERINGS AND RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM BEGINS THIS SUMMER
We are taking a significant step
forward in the system we use for
keeping our membership and giving
records at Hope. We are going to
start using a “cloud-based” software
that will make many parish records
accessible on the internet to all
members and leaders from their
home computers. We will also be
sending out sets of newly-designed
offering envelopes for members to use.
The new software will make it easier to
use e-mail for communicating with church
groups and sending out the ANCHOR to
members electronically, thereby reducing
our regular printing and mailing expenses
significantly. Members will also be able to
check their personal giving records and
print reports for personal use. The new
system will be introduced this summer.
UPCOMING DATES IN
SUMMER 2015
May 31
Confirmation at 11 a.m.
June 7
Annual Meeting of the
Congregation 12:30 p.m.
June 13-14
Global Mission Weekend
June 20-21
Summer Worship
Schedule begins
June 20 & 27
Favorite Hymns Services
July 13-21
ELCA Youth Gathering
July 20-24 and 27-31
Camp Hope Programs
August 4
Third Annual Men’s Steakout
August 10-14
Hometown Nazareth
Vacation Bible School
August 17-21
Drama Camp
September 12-13
Back to Church Weekend
Grandparents’ Sunday
And All-Church barbeque
“SISTER ACT” COMES TO LONG ISLAND”
This summer we are looking to get a group together to see Sister Act when it
plays at the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport between July 1-18. Groups of 15 or
more can get tickets at a discounted rate. We will try to find a date when many can
attend together. Sandy Reifel will coordinate ticket orders.
Page 4
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Volume 2015
EXCITING SUMMER WORSHIP PLANS
Sundays Two Services at 8:30 & 10:30 am
Saturdays at 5 pm
Summer
Worship
Services
Saturdays at 5 pm
Sundays
8:30 & 10:30 am
(Fathers’ Day
through Labor Day)
On Saturday, June 13 and
Sunday, June 14th we celebrate our Children’s Ministries: our Kids’ Club, our Saturday Sparklers and our Sunday School with our annual
Global Mission Weekend. It
will be a special time for all.
Beginning on Father’s Day,
June 21st, every Sunday
morning we will worship for
the summer at 8:30 & 10:30
a.m. This schedule gives us all
the opportunity to mingle
with members from other
services and to enjoy some
fellowship between services.
Our Saturday night schedule
remains the same with services each weekend at 5 p.m.
throughout the summer.
Our Sunday summer
schedule runs from Father’s
Day, June 21, through Labor
Day Weekend (September
6th). Then we will return to
having three Sunday services
on “Back to Church Sunday,”
Sunday, September 13th. We
will also honor grandparents
that weekend at all services.
FAVORITE HYMNS
SUNDAYS
Do you have a favorite
hymn that you would like us
to sing on a Sunday? The last
two Sundays in June we will
try to sing some of our congregations favorite hymns.
On May 17th we began
handing out a list of thirty
favorites — please vote for
your Top Ten or add another one favorite. Don’t
forget to vote!
HUGS—A New Music Program for Preschoolers
HUGS is a new program for
children ages 3 and up held
on Tuesdays, from 12:15—
1:30 pm.
The program already has 14
children ages 3 and 4 who are
having a fun time with music,
crafts, Bible stories and
snacks.
Parents are welcome to stay
or can leave their children
with Joyce Stahl and Carol
Hoffman. There is no fee for
the program but parents do
need to register them.
The program is focusing on
a different Bible stories each
time, such as creation, Noah,
Jonah. Come and join us and
invite friends and neighbors
with preschool children.
Diakonia Program Begins Year Two in September
As June arrives, the first year
of the Diakonia adult education
program is coming to an end
and efforts are now underway
to enlist another group of
adults from our local Lutheran
churches for the fall.
Because the program has a
two-year cycle of classes, the
new students will join the
group of existing students and
will take the Year 1 courses the
following year.
Diakonia has been offered
for more than 30 years in the
Metro New York Synod, and
many of our members have
taken part in the program.
Pastor Hill has taught classes
several times as well.
Many of the students take
the classes to simply grow in
their faith, but some go on to
become rostered deacons
and serve their churches in
special ways on a voluntary
basis.
Phil and Donna Millwater,
and John Kelly have been in
the classes and they will be
happy to answer any of your
questions and tell you more
about it. Classes meet at
Hope on Thursdays from 7-10
p.m. during the academic
year.
Anchor
Volume 2015
Page 5
SUMMER CAMPS AT HOPE
Camp Hope Sessions 1 and 2 in July
All children 3 years old
to 5th Grade are invited to
attend a summer day camp,
the weeks of July 20-24 and
July 27—31 from 9 am to 3
p.m.
Cost for the week is
$125.00 per child. If two or
more children attend in a
family there is a $25 discount
per child making the cost
$100 per child.
The children will be participating in various activities
including arts an crafts,
sports, music, Bible stories
and games. All activities will
be age appropriate and
planned so all had fun.
Children will bring their
lunch daily and the meal will
be shared together.
Teen volunteers (6th grade
and up) and adults are
needed to make this week
possible.
Teens will help coordinate
games, supervise crafts, tell
stories and supervise the
children. If you want to
volunteer or have questions
please contact Laura Laza
[email protected]
642-7429 or Melissa Itara at
[email protected]
987-4464 Invite friends and
neighbors to join us!
CAMP HOPE
July 20—24
July 27—31
Vacation Bible School August 10—14 “Hometown Nazareth”
Join us for Vacation Bible
School August 10-14 from 9
a.m. to 12 noon. We will have
bible stories, crafts, games,
music and fun. Children ages
3 through 5th grade are welcome. This summer’s theme
is “Home town Nazareth —
Where Jesus was a Kid”
You can call the church
office at 732-2511 or go on
line at www.hopeluth.com
for a registration form.
Cost is only $75 per child
or $50 per child for children
of volunteers for the week.
Volunteers will be needed
to help with the program.
If you wish to volunteer,
please contact Melissa Itara
at
[email protected] or
call 987-4464. Ycou can also
contact Laura Laza at
llaza@optonline,net or call
her at 642-7429.
Drama Camp August 17—21
“The Amazing Grace Race”
All children ages 4—5th
Grade are invited to be a part
of Drama Camp. The musical
“The Amazing Grace Race” is
an exciting play learning out
to live out God’s Word
deeper in our lives with as we
race or walk through life.
The week includes stories,
singing, acting, set and
costume design, snack, lunch,
fun games and crafts.
Morning activities focus on
rehearsals for the play with
afternoon time set aside for
fun outside such as lawn
sprinklers, water balloons,
small pools, etc.
Cost is only $125 for the
week. Teen volunteers an
adults are always needed —
just speak with Joyce Stahl if
interested. Some scholarships are available for needy
children.
HOPE LUTHERAN
CHURCH
46 Dare Road
Selden, NY 11784
Phone: (631) 732-2511
Fax: (631) 732-8369
E-mail: [email protected]
A Total Life Caring Ministry
We’re on the web:
www.hopeluth.com
www.hopespastor.blogspot.com
www.sharedmin.blogspot.com
REGISTER FOR ANCHOR NURSERY
SCHOOL NOW
2015-16 RATES
Two days per week $180 per month
Three days per week $ 220 per month
Classes are held from 9:15-12:15.
Mondays-Thursdays
Children ages 3 and 4
HOPES BOWLING LEAGUE
We just finished our 21st year of Fun and Fellowship and invite
you and your family and friends to join us for our 22nd season of
mixed bowling. All are welcome from age 12 to whatever. We will
begin this seasons fun and bowling on Friday, September 4, 2015
at Centereach Lanes on Horseblock Road from 6:50 to about 9:30
p.m. Watch for the poster in the Narthex for more details or call
Rich Wolff 631-732-8828 or [email protected]
BOWLING FUN NIGHT—Friday, July 31st
Join us on Friday night, July 31st at 7 pm for a night of FUN
BOWLING at Centereach Lanes . Cost is $10 for two hours of
bowling including shoe rental.
CHURCH FAIR UPDATE
The Church Fair Team would like to extend heartfelt thanks
and appreciation to all those in the congregation that so willingly
helped make our 2nd Annual Spring Fair a huge success. Whether
you donated some items towards the raffle baskets, donated
soda/water, helped set up or break down the fair, attended planning sessions, gave suggestions/ comments or simply prayed for
us, we THANK YOU! Without everyone’s assistance our fair would
not have been as successful as it was. We look forward to another
successful Spring Fair in 2016. Please consider joining our team or
creating some crafty items to sell in 2016.
OUR WEEKLY WORSHIP SCHEDULE:
Holy Communion is celebrated every weekend
On Saturdays at 5 p.m. (All summer also)
On Sundays at 8, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. till June 14
On Sundays at 8:30 and 10:30 beginning June 21