January 31, 2010

For an electronic copy of the Spirit,

please log on to our website at:
www.hopelutherancranberry.org

The Spirit of

To All,

Here are our latest numbers:

2010:
228 Families/Giving Units
114 Families made a Commitment for 2010
February 6 & 20, 2010
Hope Lutheran Church from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
23 Families who made a Commitment in 2009 did
not make a Commitment thus far for 2010
Childcare will be available if needed. Please sign
22 Families made a Commitment for the 1st time in up at the Welcome Table, online at the “Events
2010
Registration” or call the church office
2009/2010 Total Commitments: 724.776.3141.
General Fund: $276,855 (79% of our goal)
Expansion Fund: $ 87,408 (58% of our goal) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total : $364,263 (73% of our goal)

Needed to meet our Goals:

General Fund: $ 73,145 Update with the
Expansion Fund: $ 62,592 Hope(ful) List:
Total: $135,737

Rich blessings to you, Our choir chairs were

commissioned to be
Pastor Ron crafted (a process that
normally takes approximately
5 months) at the end of last
year. Due to our
wonderful manufacturer – the chairs will
The Church Council minutes arrive TOMORROW!!
are now available for member
interest. If you would like to
receive a copy of the minutes, We have ordered 25 chairs and 19 have
please call the church office (724.776.3141) or already been donated…we need 6 more
email the church to place your name on the chairs donated. Any contribution you give
distribution list. will be greatly appreciated.
 SOUPER
BOWL
IS COMING
TO HOPE!!!!!!
Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday will be celebrated at
Hope the weekend of February 6 & 7, 2010, at all
services. We will be supporting the ELCA for Gleaners Food Pantry
Disaster Relief Fund!!
Bring some extra cash with you to worship and give 2010 Collection Dates:
to a local charity soon to be announced. We are February 14
encouraging donations of $1 or $2 for every March 14
member of your family in worship that weekend. April 18
Our youth will be standing at our exit doors May 16
following worship to receive your generous June 13
donations. July 18
Since the Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990 August 15
with one youth group, the youth of America have September 12
raised more than $60 million for food banks, soup October 17
kitchens, and other charities across the country. November 7 - Thanksgiving
Now it‘s OUR TURN to fight hunger and social December 5 - Christmas
issues in an event that is transforming Super Bowl
weekend into the nation‘s largest youth-led Christians Care and Share
weekend of giving and serving.
Please bring a canned good every Sunday
Remember February 6 & 7 as the weekend to give for Jesus.
to others. Visit www.souperbowl.org for more
information. God bless you for your generous
discipleship living. To God be the glory! Hope’s Dinner Group - will be meeting at
the Blue Water Tavern in
Wexford on Saturday,
Pleasant Valley Homeless February 20, 2010 at
Shelter Dinner 6:30 p.m. Please call
February 21, 2010 Paul Wunderlin for more
information 724.775.1977.
Baked Ziti donated: 8 lbs. Ziti
(Please bring the Sunday before)
Sauce - provided
Tossed Salad donated: (2) big bags from Costco
Fresh Tomatoes NEED: (2) or (3) quartered
Dressing donated: (2) – 8 oz. Italian and
donated: (2) – 8 oz. Ranch
Italian Bread NEED: (3) loaves sliced
Soft Margarine NEED: (2) – 8 oz. tubs (2 donated)
Meatballs - provided
Assorted Desserts donated: enough for 35 men Thank you very much for your generous giving the
past couple of weeks. You gave close to $1,000 for
Terry Seeman & Ken Parshall will be cooking. the ELCA Disaster Relief for our sisters and
NEED: (2) volunteers to serve. (2 people have brothers in Haiti.
already signed up.) We leave Hope at 7:00 p.m.
and are usually back around 8:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Next Dinner is April 18th - menu to follow.
 HOPE'S HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH
MINISTRY & RETREATS
SNOW TUBING AT
WILDWOOD HIGHLANDS
WHO: All of Hope‘s 6th - 12th graders. Friends
are always welcome.
DATE: Rescheduled for February 14
TIME: Meet at the church at 1:45 p.m. for a 2:00
p.m. departure. (We will be leaving PROMPTLY
at 2:00 p.m. so don‘t be late.) We will travel as a
group to Wildwood Highlands. We will be snow
tubing from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and returning to
the church at approximately 5:30 p.m. for pick up.
COST: The cost is $15.95 per person. Please
bring CASH for we will be having the kids pay
individually when we get to Wildwood Highlands.
(Please do not send checks made out to Hope
Lutheran Church.) Wildwood Highlands also has a
snack shack if you want to bring money for a snack.
Each person participating must fill out a Hope
Lutheran Church permission form and a release
form from Wildwood Highlands. Each of these
forms needs a parent’s signature.
Wildwood Highlands will NOT sell anyone
a ticket without the signed release form.
Copies of the forms are located in the Narthex. If
you need additional forms for friends, you can go to
the church website for our form and the Wildwood
Highlands website for their release form.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Our youth are at camp!
This weekend many of our
Middle School youth and some brave adult
chaperones are away at Camp Lutherlyn in
Prospect, PA on a Winter Retreat! Let‘s continue to
keep them in prayer as they conclude their camping
experience with worship at camp this Sunday
morning. They will be arriving back at Hope
Sunday afternoon around noon. Parents, please
be on time to pick up your students. They will be
tired (and our adults will be ready for a Sunday
afternoon nap!) and anxious to see you. Praise God
for a vibrant and growing youth ministry at Hope!
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY
TONIGHT!!!!
6:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.
“Slap of Reality”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
January‘s high school youth group is going to be very
special. We are pleased to have one of Youth
Encounter‘s Pittsburgh Youth Quake/Zone trek leaders,
Cam Warba, with us that night to present a Youth
Encounter trek called ―Slap of Reality‖, dealing with the
choices we need to make during our life and our spiritual
walk with Christ.
We‘ll have lots of good games and food, but the study
and discussion will be something extra special. Cam
traveled with a Youth Encounter Captive Free team a
few years back and has received training in relational
youth ministry. He loves to sing, dance, pray, play the
drums and share his passion for Jesus with others. Let‘s
make this an amazing youth group night.
You can make that happen by being there! Sign up at
www.hopelutherancranberry.org under ‗event
registration‘ located on the ‗for our members‘ tab.
FRIENDS WELCOME!
__________________________________________
New Committee: The Youth
Committee has recently formed a
Fund Raising Sub-Committee to
organize their fund raising
efforts for mission trips. We
have close to 50 youth going on
Mission Trips this summer to
West Virginia and Virginia.
Some fund raisers that we are in the process of
planning are: (1) a spaghetti dinner in March, (2)
Hope night at Max & Erma's in April, and (3)
International Food Night and Auction in October.
If you have an interest in serving on this committee,
please contact Amy Wolfe at
wolfera@zoominternet.net.
 HIGH SCHOOL AND CHAOS YOUTH
ROADTRIP!!! CHAOS
(Christ Has All Our Solutions)
Next Meeting Date:
March 14, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010 6 P.M.-8 P.M.
Meet at Hope 5:00 p.m. Grades 6 – 8 and their
Return to Hope 9:15 p.m. friends are invited to join us
STEPHANIE SMITH AND for our monthly gatherings.
JAY MICHAEL IN CONCERT! What are we all about? We are about making friends,
Monacrest Free Methodist Church having a ton of fun and learning how to follow Jesus.
995 Elmira Avenue Join us each month at Hope Lutheran Church. . . You
Monaca, PA 15061 won’t want to miss it! Anything can happen here!
Dinner included.
SIGN UP ON THE YOUTH BULLETIN BOARD OR RSVP to Karen Johanknecht, karens@johanknecht.com
UNDER ‘FOR OUR MEMBERS’
WWW.HOPELUTHERANCRANBERRY.ORG Mark your calendars for the next CHAOS meetings:
April 11 – May 2 – June 6
Stephanie Smith, who was personally signed by
Toby Mac and is coming fresh from his Winter Wonder
Slam tour, has been signed by Gotee Records and
currently has released two CD's. Stephanie has a self
proclaimed love for rock n roll, and most of her songs Next Meeting:
reflect that—especially her latest EP. To hear some of February 7, 2010
Stephanie's music, check out
www.myspace.com/stephaniesmithmusic 4 to 6 p.m.
Jay Michael started a rock band called Shudder I hope 2010 brings your family joy,
at the age of 18 and toured around the country with peace, and many blessings! One of
names like Decypher Down, Disciple, and Michael Trait. my blessings is being able to spend
Years after the band's beginning and after the realization time with your child at KIDZ KLUB!
that all the members of the band were headed in different
directions in life, Jay started his own solo career with his Please send me a quick RSVP at drmunn@yahoo.com or
recent CD, Hippie Boy. Jay has been playing recently call 724.742.3868 if you are planning to attend.
with bands like Capitol Lights, This Beautiful Republic,
and Remedy Drive. Check out some of his music at Next Kidz Klub dates:
www.myspace.com/meetjaymichael March 14 – April 11 – May 16
Cost is $12. Friends are welcome!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Classes begin in March, so mark
your calendars now! Come Sail the High Seas with
First Communion is for
any child in second
VBS!
You can feel the sea spray on your
grade or above.
face as sails snap overhead – your
children will experience the deep, rolling waters of
Join us from 6 to 7 p.m.
God‘s love with their crew! This will be the best
in the Fellowship Hall
time your children will have all summer! Plan
on Monday, March 8, 15, & 22, 2010.
now: July 12 -17. Look for more information in
weeks ahead…and parents, we will definitely need
You may sign-up online
your help steering this expedition. Don‘t hesitate to
www.hopelutherancranberry.org under the ―News
call either Diana Munn (724.272.1459) or Diane
& Events – Event Registration‖ or in the sign-up
Lewis with any questions (724.934.9063).
book at the Welcome Table.
Mark your calendars now for the…
INTERNATIONAL FALL FESTIVAL -
October 30, 2010
The Hope Youth Group is sponsoring a fantastic
Recipe Book. It will be divided into 2 sections:
American and International.
All recipes are due by February 14, 2010.
We need at least 350 recipes in total. Please drop
off all recipes at the church office - attention
Clarissa Esterhuizen.
Please note one recipe per page: 8 ½‖ x 11‖
Please state whether American or International.
VOICe is hosting a
Mardigras
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. at the
Mansion (Route 8 South of Butler). The cost to get
in is $25.00 pre-sale and $30.00 at the door.
See the flyer on the bulletin board behind the
Welcome Table or call 724.776.5910 /
724.283.8700.
VOICe News
The VOICe donation box under the coat rack is
available for you to place your new donation items
for VOICe. For donations of larger items or
furniture, please contact Karen Johanknecht at
724.452.5665 or volunteer@johanknecht.com.
VOICe would like to thank Hope Lutheran Church
for the continued support over the past year. Your
donations, prayers, and commitment to VOICe is
greatly appreciated!!
Current VOICe Wish List:
Paper products
Trash bags
Femine products
Liquid laundry soap
Kid‘s cereal
Gift and Phone cards
6 Week Women's
Lenten Study to
Begin!
Join us at Hope Lutheran Church for a time of
fellowship, study and renewal as we discuss Six
Hours One Friday by Max Lucado. At times in your
life, you've been caught by life's storms. Maybe you
are in the middle of one right now. No matter when
or what the storm clouds bring, you can face your
pain with courage and hope; all because of what
happened 2,000 years ago, six hours-one Friday, on
a cross. Whether you are in the midst of a storm
right now or not, this study will remind us of all that
Jesus went through for us. This will be a wonderful
time of small group discussion and renewal for each
of us so please invite others to join us. Everyone is
welcome!
Study Time and Dates:
7 p.m. on Thursdays, February 11, 18, 25, March
4, 11, 25 (no study on March 18) OR
9 a.m. on Fridays, February 12, 19, 26, March 5,
12, 26 (no study on March 19)
Childcare: Will be provided on Friday mornings
only.
RSVP: To Karen Johanknecht via
email, karens@johanknecht.com, sign up at the
Welcome Table, or contact the church office at
724.776.3141.
We need your help shoveling
snow at the church.
Please sign up on the bulletin board
behind the Welcome Table in the
Narthex.

Theme: LOST?
“Finding what you have always been
looking for!”
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES:
February 17, 2010 at NOON and 7 p.m.
During Lent, Hope will offer Holden Evening Prayer
Services on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. beginning
February 24 to March 24, 2010.
Soles4Souls is a collection for gently used shoes
that CHAOS will be doing from January 17 -
February 14. Please visit the website:
www.giveshoes.org if you would like more information.
Anyone can bring in their gently used shoes from
January 17- February 14 and place them in the
appropriate box under the coat rack at Hope. If able,
please rubber band or tie pairs together or place them in
individual bags so that pairs don't get separated from
each other. A $2 donation along with each pair of shoes
would be helpful to offset shipping costs.
CHAOS would like to thank you for supporting
this project to help others who are in need!
Facts:
* Over 1.5 billion pairs of shoes lay idle in American
closets.
* Over 300 million children around the world are
without shoes.
* Why not help us help them and clean out those
closets in the meantime.
* Because of people like you, Soles4Souls give away a
pair of shoes every 13 seconds
Prayer List
for
We have a new prayer list for 2010. Please notify the church
office if prayer is desired. Prayers will be listed for one month.
Madeline Morris - broken hip, surgery and re-hab; Joy West’s
mother
Charles Davis - surgery; Barb Rickert’s father
Chuck Zimmerman and Ron Pitchuki - final stages of bone cancer;
friends of Ginny Hill’s cousin
Joni McCune - intense cancer treatment; friend of the Wills’
family
Gram Norman - recovery from a heart attack; friend of Ginny Hill
Mollie Banas - recovery from surgery; Ginny Hill’s mother
Joan and Casey Walz - recovery from a car accident; Aunt of Karen
Morrison, Tom Majeski, and Linda Delahanty
John Norton - back surgery; Jane Fahringer’s brother
Betty Norton - eye surgery; Jane Fahringer’s mother
Jan Toumey - cancer; friend of Joy West
Dillon Family - friends of Peggy Mays
Kate and Scott - premie twins; friends of Peggy Mays
Allen Majeski - acute leukemia; Father of Karen
Morrison, Tom Majeski, and Linda Delahanty
Coach Wolfe - cancer surgery and recovery;
Brooks - cancer
Rebecca Sayre
† Youth Encounter Staff – pray for safe travel as they arrive in
Pittsburgh for their annual Youth Encounter; also pray for the youth
and adults attending the conference that the Holy Spirit will move.
† Please pray for the family of Megan Durst. She recently joined the
Church Triumphant very unexpectedly. She is survived by her
husband and young children.
† Please pray for the families of the three teenage boys (Sam Bucci,
Trevor Barkley, & Elijah Lundsford) from Seneca Valley who
recently joined the Church Triumphant very unexpectedly from a car
accident.
Austin Ridge: Iraq; nephew of Bill Ridge
Anthony Cerrone: Afghanistan; Nancy’s nephew
Dean Weimer: Afghanistan; son of Larry and Linda
Jimmy Martin: Iraq; Alyson Morrissey
Adam Sellers: Afghanistan; son of Eric and Cathy
Attendance and Offering: Several gifts (most of them
anonymous) have already been
donated to Hope. Special thanks
January 24, 2010
to all for the following:
5:00 p.m. – 46 Operating Fund: $ 6,011.30
9:00 a.m. – 172 Expansion Fund: $ 763.00 GPS System for the Youth
11:00 a.m. – 99 Private donation for the Mission Trips
next Summer
Total: 317 Total: $ 6,774.30 Donation for QuickBooks
CD Player (two donors)
Sunday School Attendance for January 14: 93
Sunday School Offering: $31.30 1 TV and DVD player
19 Choir Chairs
Paging System for the Nursery
Single Cup Coffee Maker

USHERS:
There are new Usher Badges for you to
wear. They are on the Usher Board, located Attention Married Couples: Could your marriage
use a ―tune up?‖ Now is the time to sign up for
in the storage room off the Narthex.
your Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend
designed to revitalize and strengthen ALL
If you do not see your name, please let MARRIAGES. All costs for 2 nights lodging, 5
Emily Kroll know so we can personalize one meals for each of you, and all supplies are covered
for you too! by a $45.00 per couple registration fee plus a
confidential contribution of whatever amount you
choose that you are given the opportunity to make
toward the end of the weekend. Thanks to the great
response from the State College area, the March
19-21 at the Toftrees Golf Resort and
Conference Center in State College, is almost full.
Please email or call the Schambers at the
information below to check availability before
signing up for that weekend. Other 2010 Western
PA weekends are scheduled for: April 30-May 2 at
The Riverside Inn in Cambridge Springs, PA, a
& Sanctuary splendid, historic Victorian Inn in Cambridge
Springs (20 miles south of Erie); and October 22-
Candles 24 at the Radisson in Sharon, PA (an hour north
There are still a few dates of Pittsburgh.) For further information or to register
left to reserve for the 2010 online, go to: www.GodLovesMarriage.org, or
Sanctuary Candles: contact Fred & Julie Schamber, Western PA
Directors, at email: fjschamber@comcast.net or
March 7 & 21 June 13 & 27 724-325-3166 with questions or to receive a
July 11 brochure with registration form. Sign up today to
May 16 & 23 November 28 discover more about living the loving relationship
our Lord intended.
HOPE(FUL) LIST
Have you ever wanted to donate a special gift, either as an
outright gift or perhaps to honor or memorialize someone, to
Hope Lutheran? Here is an opportunity for you to purchase
an item whether small or large. A Hope(ful) List has been
compiled of non-budgetary items requested by various
committees, Council, and staff. Since these are specific
requests, we ask that you not purchase the item directly but
rather donate the cost. In addition, this allows the donor the
proper tax deduction. Please do not feel that you have to
donate the entire amount for a gift, any amount you can
donate will be greatly appreciated.
CHRIST &
CAFFEINE
Join us for our next book
discussion series as ―Christ and Caffeine‖ descends
upon Steamer’s Coffee Shop, located in The
Streets of Cranberry on Rt. 19. We‘ll change up the
location and type of book this time so get a contrast
to our previous book, Velvet Elvis, by Pastor Rob
Bell.

Please review the list to determine how you can best help. We‘ll meet each Monday during Lent starting at
Donor cards are in the Narthex. 7:45 p.m. (come at 7:30 to order your coffee)
beginning Monday, February 22, 2010. Our text
Christian Education:
will be The Comeback God: A Theological Primer
-27‖ TVs (1 donated; need 1 more – approx. $300)
for a Life of Faith written by Michael Cooper-
-DVD players (1 donated; need 1 more – approx.
White. We‘ll spend some time talking about some
$150)
of the ‗big theological teachings‘ of the Lutheran
- Whiteboards with easels, size: 4‘ x 3‘ (need 4;
Church and compare to the work of Rob Bell.
approx. $175 per set of whiteboard & easel)

Staff: Prepare for some in-depth conversation on topics

-Additional TV with VHS and DVD player like revelation, Scripture, the Trinity, eschatology,
-Digital camera pneumatology, Christology, the sacraments,
justification, postmodernism, pluralism, gender
Stewardship: issues, and the stewardship of creation. All this
-Donations / program money (for mailings: stamps, over the latest caffeine craze. Space is limited so
envelopes, etc.) log on to www.hopelutherancranberry.org and sign
up under ―News and Events‖. Purchase the book at
Worship & Music: your favorite bookstore or online at
-Matching black stoles and cassocks www.augsburgfortress.com
-Kneelers
-Handbells
-Antiphonal addition to the organ
-Adjustable organ bench
-Lavabo bowl (a basin) for communion
-Choir robes
-Choir Chairs (19 donated; need 6 more)
-Hymnals ―With One Voice‖ (need 200; approx.
$10.00 per book)

COVENANT PLAYERS February 18 – March 25, 2010

7 to 8:30 p.m.
February 21, 2010
at 6:30 p.m. Men…you don’t want to miss this study!

A special drama
performed at Hope!