WIXLIB

Steps on the Transition Process to a New Head PastorI want to share an update on the transition process as House of Hope moves toward a new Head Pastor. Of course, ministry is both about the planned steps andthe unexpected interruptions that can beimportant parts of the journey. I includesome of those surprises, as they are important for what comes next. Along theway there may be some additions to theprocess that may helpful. I would expectthe Pastor Nominating Committee to beunderway early in 2019. Get to know the congregation andthe staff. Build relationships with congrega-tional leaders for trust and open communication. Learn how Session and committeesare functioning. Address immediate pastoral needs. Interview congregational leaders forinsights about the congregation. Say goodbye to Rev. Jeff Foels andDiane Smith. With Personnel Committee, developjob description for Transitional Associate Pastor. With Personnel Committee, developjob description for Director of Administration. Do search for Transitional AssociatePastor and for Director of Administration (in process). Develop and implement a few newideas to see how open the system isto new ideas. Have a Leadership Retreat with Session, Trustees, and program staff tobegin thinking about new directions.ooGather 12–15 focus groups to listen tohopes, dreams, and goals of members.ooPercept sociological review of congregational context.ooGather a group to talk about thechurch history, as it helps us seefuture directions.ooGather a group of 20–30 people forthree meetings to develop a short listof core values.ooTest the core values out with the congregation in a variety of groups.ooDevelop a list of core values.ooDevelop a list of goals and priorities.ooDevelop a Position Description for theHead Pastor.ooCongregation nominates a PastorNominating Committee (PNC)ooPNC (with assistance from Presbytery)does nationwide search for the nextHouse of Hope Head Pastor.If you have questions or insights, I wouldenjoy hearing from you.—Andrew McDonaldTransitional Pastor/Head of StaffProject Home at House of HopeJenny Stevens, Project LeadFor 21 years, our congregation hashelped homeless families in our community through Project Home. And we’vedone it again! This year, more than 100volunteers spent more than 400 hoursof their time managing our emergencyovernight center.Thank you to all the volunteers thatheard the calling to help with ProjectHome this year. I would also like toextend an extra thank you to those whohelped several times over the month andthose that helped with short notice. Wecouldn’t have done it without each andevery one of you.In loving memory of our dear friend,Dennis Anderson.42018 Project Home VolunteersJan Anderson, John Anderson, KatieAnderson, Paul Anderson, Ginger Bailey,Walt Bailey, Marilyn Bjorklund, Mary EllenBland, Phil Bolinder, Georgia Bond, DixieBrachlow, Stephen Brachlow, Sara Braun,David Cleveland, Leo Coenen, MickCoenen, Mike Coenen, Judie Cooper, BillCovington, Margie Crone, Leslie Erickson,Todd Erickson, Jan Favorite, Dave Finholt, Jane Flad, Allan Floyd, Betty Folliard, Debby Fulton, Laurel Gamm, AnnGeery, Bill Geery, Kelsea Gilliland, TimGodfrey, Allison Golnik, Layna Grecula,Sarah Grecula, Darrel Gubrud, BruceHarrington, Clare Harrington, Eric Holter,Dave Hutchinson, Julie Jacobsen, ErikaJamison, Lee Jamison, Roger Jensen,Sarah Jensen, Don Johnson, Kurt Johnson, Stacey Johnson, Marilyn Knudsen,Russ Koebrick, Sue Koebrick, Patty Lacy,Joe Lane, Linda Lane, Renee Lane, BillLiike, Dave Mayer, Sherla Mayer, DonnaMcCarthy, Martha McCartney, DennisMcCarty, Chris McHugh, Doug Melena,Leslie Meyer, Margaret Miller, Mike Nord,Jackie O’Keefe, Dave Olson, Gloria Olson,Mary Patton, Dave Pearson, Tyler Penniman, Connie Phillips, Dave Phillips, CathyPomeroy, Sherwood Pomeroy, MarkPrpich, Sarah Prpich, Derek Robb, Maddie Roth, Jim Ruhl, Nancy Sabin, PaulSatre, Tehout Selameab, Mary Senkbeil,Mijung Seo, Evan Shipp, Greg Shipp,Leah Shipp, Tom Skovholt, Dianne Smith,Doug Snaza, Paul Solon, Kay Solon, KieraStegall, Charles Stephens, Addie Stevens,Geoff Stevens, Holly Stoerker, EvelynSunness, Linda Touhy, Bernie Touhy,Ingrid Verhagen, Shana Wagner, KevinWalli, Becks Westrem, Robyn Westrem, JillWinter, Lisa Yost

House of Hope Stewardship 2019Our annual Christmas Offerings will bereceived at all three worship services onChristmas Eve. Your gift to this offeringsupports the church’s mission and ministry in our community.End of Year GivingAs the year draws to a close, please makeyour 2019 Stewardship pledge today.We welcome your contributions in manyways, including check, credit card, orstock transfer, among others. You canset up your donation through automatic giving on the HOH website. Visithohchurch.org and click “My HOH” inthe top menu bar. To create an account,select “Need a Log in” or log into your MyHOH account and manage your donations online.Gifts of stock or securities and qualified distributions from IRAs are alwayswelcome and the process is not difficult.If you have any questions, please contactMichelle Freyholtz, MichelleF@ hohchurch.org, (651) 223-7556.If you are making a payment towardyour 2019 pledge in calendar year 2018,be sure to indicate in the memo line ofyour check that it is for a “Prepaid Pledgefor 2019.” This ensures the correct allocation of your gift and allows us to processyour gift acknowledgement in a timelymanner.Please remember that to be creditedfor the 2018 tax year, checks must bepostmarked by no later than midnighton December 31, 2018.Thank you for your contributions. Yourgenerous support is vital to this ministry.As faithful followers of Christ and activecitizens of the world, we believe that Godcalls us to be generous and joyful givers.We have so much for which to be grateful. House of Hope offers tremendousprograms, has a committed clergy andstaff, and participates actively in missionoutreach within our community.Each year House of Hope works hard tomeet its budget, so your contribution isnot simply giving, but giving back.Thank you for your consideration and foryour commitment. You may place yourenvelope in the offering plate at any ofthe Christmas Eve services or mail it tothe church.Get in the holiday spirit with a visit tothe Cloister Gallery this month. Favoritewreaths of House of Hope memberswill be on display. Stop by to view awide variety of styles and traditions.Working Toward a Peaceful and Just WorldThe Peace and Justice Committee andits half-dozen working groups anticipatea full and challenging year ahead. Weinitiated a second adult education trackon Sunday mornings. Over recent weekswe have held forums on gun violenceand criminal justice reform. Look forfuture sessions on health care reform,child abuse prevention, environmentalstewardship, and housing equity.Please check out our our new pages onthe church’s website. Under the Missiontab, you can now find several pagesdevoted to Peace and Justice issues andefforts. Our position statements and action plans are posted. We will announceevents and opportunities for advocacy asthey arise, particularly during the upcoming legislative session.In connection with the Peace and JusticeCommittee’s housing equity efforts,Rev. Dr. Andrew McDonald and otherarea pastors recently toured the Wallof Forgotten Natives in Minneapolis. Alarger effort grew out of that visit. BeaconInterfaith Housing Collaborative, Avivo(a service provider), and the Red LakeNation will respond to the urgent needscreated by the Minneapolis encampment. As of this writing, at least eightpeople from the encampment moved toAmerican House, a Beacon property inLowertown St. Paul. It is anticipated thatanother 25 will move in over the comingmonths.Our committee meets the first Mondayof each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Library.If you are interested in a particular issuethat we are working on, or if you havean issue that you would like to bringforward, please join us. For more information, contact committee co-chairs:Mike Nord, mnord@amerion.com or DebJames, dsjames96@gmail.com.5

Children, Youth,and Family ProgrammingMaking a World of Differencethis Advent SeasonAdvent calendars can help us celebratethe Christmas season to the fullest andprepare our minds and hearts for thecoming of the Christ Child.House of Hope is putting a differentspin on the Advent calendar this year byintroducing a Penny Advent calendar.The idea is to count down to Christmasby reflecting on our many blessings. Weaimed to create something to fill theseason with a bit more intentionality andthoughtfulness.The money we collect will be used tobuy livestock for families through HeiferInternational. May your Christmas seasontruly be Christ-filled as you help your children seek Him even as the Wise Men did.“Go into all the world andpreach the good news to allcreation.” Mark 16:15Say a prayer for im- Donate a quarter ifpoverished children you ate three mealsand families in thetoday.US and around theworld.Donate 1 if yougo to school ordaycare.Donate a penny forevery book in yourroom.Donate a nickel forevery video gameyou own.Donate a quarter ifyou’ve ever been tothe dentist.Donate 1 if youknow how to reador will be able tolearn to read.Donate a dime forevery faucet in yourhome.Donate 50 cents ifyour home is warmin the winter.Donate a quarterfor every car yourfamily owns.Donate 50 cents ifyour family owns acell phone.Donate 1 if someone said, “I love you”to you today.December Childcare ScheduleDecember 22We will have nursery available for theTraditional Christmas Tableaux service.December 23We will have nursery and One-RoomSunday school for K–sixth graders.Christmas Eve ServicesWe will have nursery during the 4 p.m.Christmas Eve service.We will have nursery and One-RoomSunday school for K–first graders for the7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service.There is NO nursery or Sunday school atthe 9:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service.Children’s Holiday Party andLock-In December 14 8:30 p.m.Please bring a wrapped “gift” to share.It should be something that you haveeither found in your basement/attic, orpurchased with the purpose of confusing, bewildering or amusing. This willentail a “White Elephant” gift exchangewith extremely strict rules and mandatory participation. Each person shouldalso try to bring a holiday snack to share:salty, sweet, savory or sippy.We will end the lock-in at 9 a.m., butyouth are invited to stay for an extra houror so to help load trucks for the Christmas Sponsor-a-Family.December 30We will have nursery and One-RoomSunday school for K–first graders.Our first Cookies and Canvas event was a smashing success. Many children andadults stopped by to paint a canvas and enjoy some award-winning cookies.6

Choir SchoolBEHOLD! Choir School Christmas ConcertSunday, December 9 11:15 a.m.All are invited to remain in the Sanctuary following worship for the annual ChoirSchool Christmas Concert. This festive program features anthems, carols, and hymnssung by the choristers of our Choir School. Join us as we celebrate the season withthe sounds of singing.Choir School Reg

Dec 11, 2018 · Sunday, December 2 First Sunday of Advent 10 a.m. Worship Rev. Dr. Andrew McDonald, preaching Motet Choir and Choir School 11:15 a.m. Advent Celebration Sunday, December 9 Second Sunday of Advent 10 a.m. Worship Rev. Dr. Andrew McDonald, preaching Motet Choir and Choir School 11:15 a.m. Choir Scho