 Hope is growing and hoping to grow even more. Our council has decided to focus on growth as its priority for next year. The details will be worked out at our upcoming retreat.
But growth can only happen if the entire congregation is ready for it. Are you ready to grow? In order to grow we must know why we want to grow. What is it that we have to offer that is so important and urgent that people from the community should come and check it out. Quite simply, it’s the gospel, the Good News of God’s unfathomable love for creation that set us free to love and live free from the compulsions of sin and the angst of guilt. We must be ready to tell people: come to Hope and experience the healing power of the Holy Spirit, come and feel the freedom that comes from hearing the words of forgiveness that flow from the cross of Christ: you are forgiven, you are free! However, there is more! We want to invite people to join us in our mission to practice mercy and seek justice. In my experience people are hungry to make a difference in the world. Some want to practice love by feeding the hungry and helping the poor. Others are hungering for acts of justice that move our society towards more equity and peace. Let us invite our neighbors, friends, co-workers, relatives. Let us invite them to join us as we grow in mercy, in faith, in love, and in the practice of justice. Are you ready to grow? Carmelo, Your Pastor
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 Thanks to everyone who came out to support and work on our Fall Garden Day (Sunday, September 30). Thanks to all the students who came to help from different area schools. Your presence gave us energy and strength to make it through the day! Thanks to the superstar helpers who worked behind the scenes to make it all happen - preparing the soil, purchasing plants, setting up the food and organizing volunteers for the event. You are the engine of this operation! We accomplished a lot. We doubled the size of our butterfly garden (area facing Ravensworth Rd.) and redid the main entrance garden. We also planted the gardens next to the side entrance and added mulch. Lastly, we took care of important maintenance items like trimming back shrubs, weeding and mulching. All in a day’s work! Make sure to slow down next time you enter Hope. You might be instantly impressed by the change. Still, you might wonder, where are all the flowers? We are creating a beautiful garden that also supports our local pollinator, insect and bird population in Annandale. With some patience and care we will reap the benefits of our hard work next year. So, make sure to come back around in the Spring to enjoy the flowers. I really appreciate everybody for taking care of this community. We are excited about how our church grounds are looking. We are not the only ones excited, as we noticed there are some butterflies already visiting us! Sincerest thanks, Rosaura (Rose) Conde Care For Creation
It is with great humility that I am accepting my role as Council President for 2018-2019. There is lots going on at HLC and I am genuinely excited about the future of our congregation. I also want to thank you, my fellow council members, for also responding with "Here I am Lord" and accepting to serve as the leadership of this congregation. One of the quotes that I learned as a child and stuck with me comes from Luke 2:49 "…Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?". And that's exactly where we are, taking care of our [heavenly] Father's business.
To our past President, thank you. Dick, thank you the many years, countless hours of service and for leading and supporting many initiatives that have brought us to where we are today. To Debbie, our past vice-president, thank you for your dedication and leadership and I look forward to serving with you as a council member. To Stan, Donna and Lynn thank you for your continued leadership and hard work in your respective areas. Without a building we wouldn't be able to meet and serve as a community center, and without an education program our kids wouldn't be able to learn while having fun and without a treasurer we would not know about the health of our finances and effect be able to operate. To Wendy, welcome aboard! Not many folks have the enthusiasm to be part of the leadership of a congregation they just joined, but you also said Yes. Diane, I also want to thank you for your support and for continuing on your term as council member. Unell, even though you are not a council member, I have to thank you for your extraordinary work as Financial Secretary and for the many other things you do. Pastor, I hope you enjoy your well-deserved vacation. I hope that you take the time to rest as we will be working very hard in the next council year. Meg and Barbara, thank you for taking on the role of Secretary and Vice President respectively. It is very comforting to know that I count with your expertise and experience on the Executive Committee. I am limiting this list to only council members but we would be amiss to say that this is the only HLC leadership. Throughout our congregation we have many other leaders that makes us an outstanding community of faith and it is our role, as council members, to encourage and support them so we can continue to thrive as a vibrant community in Annandale. I am truly thankful for this opportunity and I hope that you are as excited as I am about the future of Hope in Annandale. Your truly, -Eddie Eduardo Conde Council President Hope Lutheran Church [email protected] www.hopeinannandale.church |
AuthorHope Lutheran Church shares the love of God with Annandale and the surrounding community via the nonprofits we support and weekly worship services. ArchivesCategories |
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