March 2017

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

VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3 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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What is Lent? Sometimes, odd things happen in church, and we may not know why. For instance, at this time of year, a season we in the church call “Lent,” someone walking in off the street, who may have attended our church before, might notice some changes: the color on our altar is purple… the music sounds more subdued… we don’t sing a “Hymn of Praise” or “Alleluia Verse” in our services, or say the word “alleluia” at all! … not to mention all the services that take place during Holy Week. What is going on? What is Lent? Lent means “spring” or “springtime” and was a season traditionally observed as a time of preparation, during the spring, to prepare for the great church holiday of Easter. In many cases, Christians who were new to the Church would prepare themselves to join the Church throughout the season of Lent, and then be baptized on Easter. Of course, it’s no coincidence either that our new life in Christ is like the new life that comes in spring.

Still today, Lent is a penitential time for Christians, a time to reflect on our sinfulness, repent, and ask for forgiveness from God. That’s why our worship services sound different. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 1

st this year) and ends on Easter – it’s forty days, not

counting Sundays. This reminds us of the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness as He was tempted, like we’ll read in Matthew 4:1-11 on the first Sunday in Lent.

Many people choose to fast or to give something up during the season of Lent. The point of giving something up isn’t to earn our forgiveness with God, but rather, as we give something up, we use it to point our bodies, hearts, and minds toward remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and that because of His sacrifice, we are freely forgiven by God.

At Trinity and Mt. Hope, we’ll be having our Lenten midweek services on Wednesdays,

beginning on Ash Wednesday. We’ll be walking through a series on the Ten Commandments. During Holy Week, we’ll have special services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Please join us as much as possible. What I pray you find is that, as you walk through Lent with Jesus, your heart and faith will be strengthened.

Of course, we don’t stay somber and subdued forever. As Christians, our journey leads

us to the cross, yes, but it also leads us to Jesus’ resurrection and the great celebration of Easter. Then our praises and “Alleluias” will ring out again as we worship our Risen Lord!

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Notes From Pastor

There will be Soup/Salad/Sandwiches suppers

following the Wednesday Lenten services starting

Wednesday, March 8th. They will continue March

15th, 22nd, 29th, and April 5th. Food sign up

sheets will be posted in the fellowship hall.

Please join us!

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The monthly newsletter is able

to be printed for each family as

usual, or you will have the

option to receive an emailed

copy. Please let know

Nicole know via email or

a note on her desk if you

would like your copy emailed

instead of printed.

January 2017 Offering, Expense & Attendance

1/1/2017 6,893.00 52

1/8/2017 1,410.00 52

1/15/2017 11,956.00 51

1/22/2017 1,092.00 60

1/29/2017 6,275.00 51

January Income 27,626.00

January Expenses -12,502.56

Balance for month 15,123.44

Noisy Offering for January 48.23 Noisy offering is designated to support

Mt. Hope sponsored Food Truck for Crawford County.

On March 12th after the potluck, Education will be offering euchre for anyone interested in playing!

Check out the latest newsletter from the

Mahlburg family! It’s posted on the

missionary bulletin board.

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Midweek Lenten Series: The Ten Commandments Lent is a holy, reflective, and penitential season. We approach God, fully aware of our sins, humbly asking for His forgiveness. We are also reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross because of our sins, and that by His death, we are forgiven, by His wounds, we are healed. At each of our midweek Lenten services, we will be examining the Ten Commandments, where we find God’s holy Law, as well as God’s many gifts to us. We will read Martin Lu-ther’s explanation of each commandment in our services, as well as consider what the commandments reveal about us, our Savior, and our need for Him.

God Gives Us Contentment Ash Wednesday March 1 9th and 10th Commandments (1 Kings 21:1-16) God Gives Us a Good Reputation Midweek 2 March 8 8th Commandment (Matthew 26:59-61) God Gives Us Possessions Midweek 3 March 15 7th Commandment (John 12:1-8) God Gives Us Marriage Midweek 4 March 22 6th Commandment (2 Samuel 11:1-5) God Gives Us Life Midweek 5 March 29 5th Commandment (Genesis 4:1-16) God Gives Us His Representatives Midweek 6 April 5 4th Commandment (Luke 2:41-52) God Gives Us His Word and Sacraments Maundy Thursday April 13 2nd and 3rd Commandments (Matthew 26:17-46) God Gives Us Himself Good Friday April 14 1st Commandment (John 19:1-16a)

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1st-Sherry Hanson 5th-Terry Tody

8th-Sherry Hanson 12th-Sherry Hanson 15th-Sherry Hanson

19th-Terry Tody 22nd-Sherry Hanson

26th-Mike Nowak 29th-Sherry Hanson

Greeters

Opportunities to Serve the Lord In March 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.

1st-Mark Buchinger 5th-Mark Buchinger 8th- Mark Buchinger

12th-Dan Stocker 15th-Dan Stocker

19th-Jack Owens 22nd- Jack Owens

26th-Mitch Linendoll 29th-Mitch Linendoll

5th-Crafty Prayer Warriors 12th-Stewardship Board-Potluck

19th-Evangelism Board 26th-Choir

Coffee Hour

Ushers

1st-Kay Vedder 5th-Janelle Buchinger 8th-Janelle Buchinger 12th-Janelle Buchinger 15th-Janelle Buchinger

19th-Ruth Stocker 22nd-Ruth Stocker 26th-Kay Vedder 29th-Kay Vedder

1st-Mike Nowak & Sherry Hanson 5th-Mike Nowak & Sherry Hanson

8th-Sharon Hopkins & Ken Bendick 12th-Kathy Winarski, Nancy Hatfield,

Lynn Richmond, Sherry Hanson

15th-Mike & Carol Shields 19th-Mike & Carol Shields

22nd-Mark & Janelle Buchinger 26th-Mark & Janelle Buchinger

29th-Sherry Hanson & Ginger Lyons

March 22nd, 2017 is the deadline for the April 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-1pm Tuesday & 9am-3pm Thursday

Elders

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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

Assisted Living & Nursing Home List

Northern Pines –Grayling Allen DeLoge John Linendoll

The Brook Dick Slater Jean Wittig Gayle Prause Kay Gregg (Gaylord) Vera Small (Gladwin)

Grayling Nursing & Rehab Dorothy Ballard

Grand Rapids Home for Veterans Kenneth Hopkins

TO PLACE SOMEONE ON PRAYER CHAIN:

Call Lynn Richmond at 989-344-0601 or 989-390-8632

Sharon Hopkins ~ 1st George Spielhaupter ~ 3rd

Jennie Polzin ~ 5th Caleb Fenton ~ 9th Dan Stocker ~ 10th Mike Nowak ~ 14th

Austin Robison ~ 18th Sharon Wakeley ~ 23rd

Mary Heinlein ~ 25th Allen DeLoge ~ 30th Ken Heinlein ~ 30th

Cancer Members Jan Pahssen Steve Koch

Harry Schulz Bob Chumack Rodger Heliste

Friends May Ruth Rock

Patsy Lawe Jack Chenette Kate Wagner Mary Herman Julie Morris

Christine McMahon

Jane Osga Steve Wirtjes

Melody Grimes Garrison Koch

Dave Bourgeois

Healing Members

Jackie Bulmer

Friends Pie Tuttle

Jim Alexander Kate Kelsey

Buddy Hopkins, Jr. Ron Schunk

David Reisinger Joyce O’Connor

In Military Service

Todd McCarver, Brandon Latusek, Will Romain, Victoria Doster, Conner Weissenborn,

Rob Tanzola, Ron Dillenbeck

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Keep on Believing Through major life challenges, Christian singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp has learned to walk by faith and cling to his hope in Christ. While he was growing up, Camp’s family (which includes a brother with Down syndrome) struggled with poverty. When Camp was just 23, his wife of several months died of cancer.

The first song Camp wrote after her death was the chart-topper “I Still Believe.” In the chorus, he sings:

I still believe in Your faithfulness I still believe in Your truth I still believe in Your holy word even when I don't see, I still believe. Camp says trusting in God during life’s valleys takes lots of courage. “You can say, ‘All right, Lord, I don’t get it, but I’m going to trust you,’ and go to the only One [who] offers life and hope and peace and joy.”

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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-1pm & Thursday 9am-3pm

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 Judi Mesack (989) 344-0359

TREASURER Mary Heinlein (989) 348-4350

BOARD CHAIRMAN

ELDERS Jack Owens (810)869-0944

EDUCATION Janelle Buchinger (989) 370-1138

EVANGELISM Frank & Susie Moore (734)755-6817 Sherry Hanson (989) 348-9564,

Ginger Lyons (989) 344-1097 Ruth Stocker (989) 370-0443

STEWARDSHIP Dee Musselman (989) 275-5274

TRUSTEES Lee Sperry (989) 448-2643

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

Run the Race

“The Christian life is a race along a course that is set out before

us,” said William Barclay. Hebrews 12:1 encourages Christians to

run our particular race with perseverance.

Interestingly, the Greek word for race is agon, which means

aching or agony. Like marathon runners, we may be tempted to

give up long before the finish line.

But the Hebrews passage also offers hope for how we can

continue on: “[look] to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,

who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the

cross, disregarding its shame …. Consider him who endured such

hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow

weary or lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3, NRSV).