Discover
YOUR FAITH.
Live
Grow
IN COMMUNITY.
GOD’S MISSION.
DEEPER WITH CHRIST VOLUME 5 ISSUE 3 2018
Discover. Grow. L i v e.
GoDeeperWithChrist.org
HOLY COMFORTER LUTHERAN CHURCH 1901 WOODLAND HILLS DRIVE - KINGWOOD, TX - 281.358.6500 - GODEEPERWITHCHRIST.ORG - FACEBOOK.COM/HOLYCOMFORTERLUTHERAN www.godeeperwithchrist.org 1
PASTOR’S MESSAGE Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As part of our commitment to the mission, vision and ministry of Holy Comforter Lutheran Church, the 2.5 Campaign is underway. HCLC 2.5 is a church-wide campaign to get everyone at Holy Comforter going deeper in faith, study and service. As part of the 2.5 Campaign, everyone is invited to attend one of the 2.5 Gatherings held at 9:30 am on Sundays, August 12, 19, and 26. There you will receive information about every ministry and opportunity for growth and giving currently at Holy Comforter. Everyone is invited to be involved in at least 2.5 ministries of education and serving in, at and through HCLC by filling out the 2.5 Ministry Survey that will be distributed at the 2.5 Gatherings. It is the hope of the leadership of HCLC to get everyone engaged in, as they are able, weekly Bible Study (1), weekly serving (1), and some other type of ministry (.5). For some individuals, this will sound like a campaign of relief because their commitment goes far beyond the above mentioned. For others, this will be a time and opportunity to get more involved in growing deeper in their discipleship and getting more involved in the church. 2.5 is only a suggestion of involvement, engagement and growth. Some will be engaged in many more and others fewer. Please remember: The mission of God is dependent upon volunteers using their God-given gifts to share the good news of Jesus Christ in the world. Weekly worship is understood as a given, commanded by God. Everyone is asked to review the 2.5 Ministry Survey and to prayerfully consider how God is calling you to get involved. If there is something not listed, a ministry that is on your heart, talk to one of the staff, and we will discern together if this is something HCLC should pursue. If you are not sure where to begin, talk to one of the staff. If you’d like to make some changes to your current serving, talk to one of the staff. We are here to help you in your faith formation. All are asked to return the completed form by Sunday, September 5th. Ministry Leaders of the various areas will contact those interested is learning and serving. We are blessed to be part of such a unique gathering of people at Holy Comforter. Our intent is to continue to grow deeper as disciples of Jesus Christ, to invite others in, and to live faithfully this abundant life we have been given. As your leadership, we thank you for your support. In Christ, Pastor Barb Bartling Jesus said to his disciples, “…I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
TABLE OF CONTENTS Discover
Faith Story: NYG Attendees[page
4]
[page 4] Remembering Harvey [page 4] Worship & Music Ministry [page 5] HCLC 50th Anniversary
Grow
Front Pew Sunday
[page 6]
New Adult Class on Wednesday
[page 6]
[page 6] Praise Walkers [page 6] Second Family Care Team [page 6] All-Church Small Group Campaign [page 7] HCLC School [page 7] Prayer Shawl Ministry
Live
[page 8] High School Service Trip [page 8] Gathering Place [page 9] Sneakerdoodles Galore! [page 9] Camp Hope [page 10] Associate Pastor’s Message [page 12] Children at Fiel es Dios [page 12] Camp Hope T-Shirt Contest [page 13] National Youth Gathering [page 14] Middle School Service Trip
GO! GO! is a quarterly magazine produced and published by the members of HCLC. The content of this magazine is intended to be shared. It is designed by Michelle Palmer and printed by PostNet - Kingwood. Editor’s Note: For article and photo submission, please contact Pam MacNaughton at 281.358.6500 or pam@godeeperwithchrist.org.
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Faith Story: national youth gathering “It was really cool, being there in Houston and meeting all the people from all over the country. It was even cooler to help out in my own community and to watch all of the performances at the stadium and interact with everyone there. I really felt my faith growing by being there and being supported by HCLC chaperones, Sheryl Stucky, Colleen Engel and my Dad (Rick Janacek) AND over thirty thousand other Lutheran Youth.”
-Evan Janacek
I had a great time from the beginning to the end. At first, I enjoyed the hotel, my friends and the food. The longer we stayed the more I realized why we were there. It was fun being around positive people all day. I got to learn many things about my faith that I did not know before. I also got to give communion to about 1,000 people! Thank you to everyone who provided me this awesome opportunity!
-Talon Balcom
The ELCA National Youth Gathering was a really great experience. It was cool to see thirty thousand people who share the same faith that you do. The week was filled with tons of different events. At the end of every day, everyone gathered into NRG Stadium to listen to songs, and hear people speak. The different speakers all had different stories and come from different backgrounds. We did a service project at a small church in a neighborhood with a lot of homeless people. The pastor told us about the church and it impact on the community. After that, we decorated used water bottles to look like flowers and put it on a fence in front of the building. Overall, the youth gathering was a life changing experience and I’m looking forward to going to the next one in Minneapolis, in 2021.
-Michael Kell
HCLC 50th
Anniversary!
Holy Comforter Lutheran Church, the first church in Kingwood, will celebrate its Golden Anniversary on Sunday, October 28, Reformation Sunday. We will worship together at 8:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and will have a special hour of reminiscing and looking forward at 9:30 a.m. Think of some of your favorite moments to share and come enjoy a cake and punch reception. All are welcome.
Hurricane Harvey - Not forgotten! You may have noticed in our worship that we continue weekly to remember in prayer those affected by natural disasters,
including Harvey. This summer I attended the national conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians (in full communion with the ELCA) where I personally thanked the president of the organization for calling me after Harvey, offering ongoing support as our congregation and others seek to rebuild following this awful disaster. I spoke with him in person at the conference, and the man sitting next to him joined the conversation. The other man pastors two congregations, and the United Church of Christ congregation he serves also remembers us weekly in prayer! I was moved to tears to hear that… the love of Christ extended from people we will never meet. We will remember those suffering due to Hurricane Harvey in a special way in worship on August 26. By Marsha Seale
Going deeper in faith, service, & relationships Worship & Music Ministry in 2018 “DISCOVER – your faith” HOW do we SING?!? The May 2018 issue dealt with WHY we sing in worship. This article continues with HOW, inspired in part by John L. Bell’s book The Singing Thing too: Enabling Congregations to Sing. Approximately one-fourth of the people in the worship assembly believe that they cannot sing, while those who sing in a choir know they can. As you know by now, I believe that EVERYONE can learn to sing! Music plays a vital role throughout the entire worship service as we ALL gather to worship God. Like worship, singing is a sacred duty. It is important. We are singing God’s story to each other: the horizontal, and directly to God in praise and prayer: the vertical. It forms the shape of a cross. Singing is not an add-on or a spectator sport, despite Gloriaour Dei Choir Crawfish Boilindicate. What what culture might we sing in worship shapes what we believe. Singing has been a large part of worshiping communities throughout the ages. The Old and New Testaments have numerous references to singing as a norm. The primary instrument for worship is the human VOICE. Holy Comforter is a singing church. We have a very large body of hymns and songs from various times and places that we know well and sing heartily. Sometimes we seem to forget to keep singing heartily as a hymn or song continues on. We start strong, then flag a little. That’s when we need to engage our bodies as well as our hearts and minds, breathe a little deeper in the belly, sit or stand a little taller with shoulders up and back, open our mouths, and give it some energy. If you would like some help with singing, feel free to approach me individually or give choir a try. You might even choose to observe
at first and work by yourself in the privacy of the shower! Every one of us can improve. We are not called to be perfect but to give our best. Many people think they cannot read music, but if we open Evangelical Lutheran Worship (“the cranberry book”) to the page numbers and hymn numbers indicated in the worship folder, we can see the notes, rests (silences), and more. Not to be patronizing here, but if the note goes up, the pitch goes up. Notes go up or down by steps (a little bit) or skips (a little bit more). The spacing of the notes and words gives us clues about how LONG a note or syllable might be held, too. There’s more on the page than we might have realized before having a closer look. Want to learn more? See me for a little tutoring or join or observe a choir in rehearsal at HCLC. Regarding the value of practicing what’s important: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — American writer, historian, philosopher Will Durant (1885-1981) (Some have attributed it to Aristotle.)
Of course, the assembly (congregation) is the primary “choir” that sings when we come together to worship God. Some of us find deeper meaning in participating in a group that rehearses regularly, that delves deeper into the music we sing, ring, and play, that makes special offerings in worship – usually a choir. We invite you to join us in music ministry, to explore your musical gifts, whether or not you have ever done so before. We have room for more people in every musical group at HCLC for musicmaking, prayer, worship, fellowship, learning, and “go-deeper-moments.” Join us to observe or participate as you wish. Everyone is welcome. Fall is the very best time to come give it a try
The rehearsal schedule: All meeting in the sanctuary except children and youth, who meet in the music room off Luther Hall before and as part of WoW (Worship, Word, and Witness on Wednesdays): Voices of Praise - women’s choir – Mondays 12:15-1:15 p.m. Middle/High School Choir – singing, percussion, more – Wednesdays 5:30-6:00 p.m. Children’s Music/Learning – ages 3-5th grade – Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. with additional learning Bells of Praise – handbell choir grade 6 through adult – Wednesdays 7:30-8:45 p.m. Gloria Dei Choir – mixed choir grade 6 through adult – Thursdays 7:309:00 p.m. Instrumentalists and Soloists – all ages as schedules and preparation permit Fall rehearsals for all groups have just begun. Tutoring and childcare are available UPON REQUEST. See the brochures in the narthex for more detailed information, and/or contact Marsha Seale. Many, many people serve in worship in non-musical ways: lectors, servers, acolytes, crucifers, altar guild, ushers, sound technicians, cantors, children’s chapel leaders, actors for dramas, lay eucharistic ministers who take Holy Communion to those unable to come to worship, and other worship assistants. We are blessed to have so many people involved, giving their time, talent and commitment week after week, and we value each one. Every contribution matters. Come be a part of it! Contact Linda Utecht for details and training opportunities. We need YOU! By Marsha Seale
Minister of Worship & Music
1. Lecture in a synogogue. 2. Worship at conference. 3. A BIG bell! 4. Mother-Daughter ringers. 5. Polishing. 6. Three generations of ringers! 7. All in the family. 8. Polishing bells: Happy times! 9. Polish, then party!
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FRONT PEW SUNDAY
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ADULT CLASS
Join Pastor Barb on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Luther Hall beginning August 22nd for Making Sense of the Cross-- a video discussion series by The Rev. Dr. David Lose. The study will give us an opportunity to “listen in” on a conversation with two people having an open and candid conversation and discussion about the cross. One assumes the role of teacher or coach, someone who has had the time and opportunity to study the faith in some depth. The other is curious, knows a little bit about the faith, and brings a lot of questions: So what’s with the cross? What does the cross say about God? What’s the big deal? Did Jesus have to die? The study will be thought-provoking and life-changing as we go deeper in study about one of the central elements of the Christian faith-- the Cross. Everyone is invited to dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by this class for adults. By Pastor Barb
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Are you in need of prayers? Or do you know someone who is? Members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry incorporate prayers into every shawl they knit or crochet. Knit three, purl three reminds the knitter of the Holy Trinity and makes an interesting pattern at the same time. Double crochet also uses a trinity. Wrap the yarn around the hook twice and pull through a loop once, twice, three times for the finished stitch. Some of our stitchers use other patterns, but all the prayer shawls are created with love and prayers. Each month, members of the group lay their hands on the finished shawls and ask the Lord to bless the recipients. Prayer shawls are freely available in a closet at the back of the sanctuary. You may take one for yourself or for someone you know who is in need of comfort. All we ask is that you sign on the clipboard so we have an idea of where the shawls have gone.
PRAISE
WALKERS
By Sue Goodwin
Praise Walk is a group that meets every morning for an hour of exercise in the narthex area using mostly DVDs with a variety of types of exercise (walking, aerobics, weights, bands, etc.). During the summer we use private pools to do water aerobics on weekdays whenever possible. If no pool is available, we will be walking at church. We are now meeting from 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. Monday – Friday. Anyone is welcome to join us. Call Beth Moseman 281-358-5501 for details. By Beth Moseman
SECOND FAMILY CARE TEAM updates
The Second Family Care Team will meet Tuesday, October 2, at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in helping us is welcome to join us. We are in special need of drivers to help take care partners to a doctor appointment or other such errand. The SFCT is a ministry that provides practical, emotional and spiritual support to our care partners. We do such things as visits, household tasks, transportation, social outings, assistance with errands, and more depending on the needs of each individual. We are committed to serve with dignity, compassion and respect for each person. The team has just celebrated 20 years of serving our community with their valuable, faithful, caring, and compassionate ministry. Since that first day in August of 1998 they have offered more than 13, 410 hours of service to over 81 families. If this sounds like something you would enjoy doing, please contact Beth Moseman 281-358-5501. We can always use more volunteers! By Beth Moseman
Early Childhood Education Eric Delgado Hudson Hinson
Congrats Graduates!
Mrs. Barker
Marisol Escobar Anderson Grant Remilee Mickelson Lucas Perez Camille Oltman Payton Ballengee Makenna Everts Aidan Carver Alberto Drukaroff Harrison Hagendorf Kenneth Jones Patrick Scott Henry Rawls Evan Pate Nolan Bearden Maxton Felton William Connelly Timothy Hays Locke Lowry Rylie Warr Sofi Marin-Alvez Cailyr Stephenson Maxwell Bloom Sofia Salvitti Ivy Johnson Logan Gazzana Easton Dunham Max Wentzel Miles Moffitt Abigail Miller Elisabeth Brown Gwendolyn Strauss June Shoemaker Tyler Marple Lucas Winslow Logan Whichard Calvin Aasen Hazel Caldwell
Mrs. Snyder
Mrs. Story
@HCLC
Holy Comforter School congratulates the 2018 Graduating Class of 4 year olds.
The 2018-19 School year began on Monday August 20th. Space is still available. Contact Colleen Engel 281-3589337 for more information.
Fall All-Church Small Group Campaign You’d be hard-pressed to overstate the extent to which fear, anxiety, and worry permeate our lives today. Fear wreaks havoc on our relationships and communities. It leads us into making bad decisions. It holds us back from the very pursuits that promise fulfillment and joy. Making matters worse, not a week goes by when some new threat or calamity is dominating the headlines. Why are there so many tragedies? we wonder. What will happen next? As the senior pastor of a large, diverse church in America’s heartland, Adam Hamilton has seen the cost of fear up close. When he surveyed his congregation on how fear affects them, 2,400 people responded-and what they said was eye-opening. Eighty percent admitted to living with moderate or significant levels of fear. Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times is Reverend Hamilton’s insightful and impassioned response. Drawing on recent research, inspiring real-life examples, and fresh biblical insight, Hamilton shows how to untangle the knots we feel about disappointing others, failure, financial insecurity, loneliness, insignificance, and aging. Then he helps readers understand and counter fears related to such outsized perils as terrorism, death, and the apocalypse. Writing with generosity and intelligence, Hamilton shows how believer and unbeliever alike can develop sustaining spiritual practices and embrace Jesus’s recurring counsel: “Do not be afraid.” For anyone struggling with fear or wondering how families and communities can thrive in troubled times, Unafraid offers an informed and inspiring message full of practical solutions (taken from Amazon.com description of the book). The Fall All-Church Small Group Campaign will begin the week of October 28. Various leaders will facilitate 1-1/2 hour long sessions for five weeks in various locations, both at the church and in members’ homes. Everyone is invited to sign up for a Small Group and participate in this five week study. Sign-ups are located in the Narthex/Lobby of the church.
By Pastor Barb
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
SERVICE TRIP
The Middle School youth service trip was amazing. The trip was local. Alexa, Eddie, Cort, Jacob, and Claire served at Houston Food Bank, Humble Area Assistance Ministries, Society of St. Stephen and visited with two of Holy Comforter’s elderly church members. We discussed Micah 6:8 together and we reflected on what it means to live a compassionate life. We also went bowling and swimming. The youth had such a good time that they asked Pastor Amy to offer the trip again By Pastor Amy next summer.
HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE TRIP
The Senior High service trip was wonderful. Senior High youth: Talon, Michael, Evan, Zach, and Matt served at Christus Our Daily Bread in Galveston. Christus Our Daily Bread is a soup kitchen for homeless men and women that serves breakfast and lunch five days a week. We helped prepare food, set tables, and clean dishes. We met the lovely Ms. Sissy, who talked a lot about God’s provision through God’s people. The youth cooked all of our meals at the condo, too; turns out two of our young men make a very tasty chili. We also served by cleaning a stretch of beach one hot afternoon at Galveston State Park. And for fun we swam and visited the rides at Pleasure Pier. We ran into Jeanne and Tom Street and they grilled burgers for us at their campsite -awesome! By Pastor Amy
GATHERING
PLACE
The Gathering Place at HCLC meets on the first Friday of each month to offer respite care to families with a loved one who has dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, etc. During the hours that care partners are at HCLC our volunteers engage with them in activities, crafts, exercise, music, and more. We offer entertainment and lunch along with fellowship and support. During our last Gathering Place on August 3, our theme was “Fun in the Sun” and our entertainment was our own Bob and Wanda Byars who played guitar and sang for us. Future dates are September 7 with the
theme “Let’s Celebrate”, to recognize our thirteenth year of ministry, October 5, which will be “Illusion Month” with a magician entertaining, and November 2 has the theme of “Veteran’s Month”. So come join the fun. If you are interested in volunteering (once a month) or know someone who would benefit from attending The Gathering Place as a care partner, please contact Pam MacNaughton 281-460-9252 or Beth Moseman 281-3585501.
By Beth Moseman
Sneakerdoodles Galore!
Our Sneakerdoodles project was a success. More than forty kids will start the school year with new shoes thanks to the giving hearts here at Holy Comforter. The shoes are all very colorful which means the kids will love them. Thank you for your generous giving. By Karen Geffert
Over forty pairs of shoes for HAAM!
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CAMP HOPE 2018
Thank you to the Camp Hope team: Linda Utecht, Jennifer Kell, Christy Janacek, Melissa Balcom, and Rita Hansen for planning, interviewing staff, and publicizing our day camp. Thank you to Linda Johnston, Cathie Tanner, Cindy and Bill Goebel, Karen Geffert, Linda Tennant, Elyse Carson, and Kim Hanus for helping with many of the Camp Hope tasks. Thank you to everyone for praying for Camp Hope, collecting items, and providing snacks for our Camp Hope staff. Thank you, Thrivent, for paying for the Camp Hope snacks. Thank you to our amazing Senior High staff and our awesome Middle School staff! We served 42 campers the first week, 40 the second week, and 52 the third week.
Peace, Pastor Amy
Photos by Pastor Amy
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ASSOCIATE PASTOR’S MESSAGE
Camp Hope forms Christian leaders for our churches and for the world. Through Camp Hope, an adult-mentored, youth-led, threeweek day camp for children, Holy Comforter and community teenagers learn important life skills: leading by example, showing initiative, being responsible, being prepared to teach and keeping a group of 10-12 children engaged and safe. Our youth leaders also learn many important skills for their lives now and in the future: conflict resolution, communication, flexibility, adaptability, and community building. And since we are a Christian community, they learn 15 Bible stories, how to teach those stories, and how to make meaning out of those stories for themselves and for children. How do we do this? First, I recruit Senior High and Middle School youth to serve as staff. I personally invite youth to apply. I encourage our youth to see themselves as leaders. I remind them of the gifts that I see in them. At Camp Hope, we believe everyone has the potential to be a leader. Everyone is gifted and everyone has something to offer. After we interview all the Senior High youth, then there is a two-day required training every year in June, where our youth come together and learn things. We discuss expectations and we talk about creating a safe environment for all. We learn 15 stories. We talk and share ideas around behavior management. And we practice together. I lead the training and they watch me and the Camp Manager in action. Then, at Camp Hope, our Senior High youth lead songs, games, classes, and rotations, and they model for our Middle School youth what it means to create a safe, engaging, fun, listening, kind community for all. Many of our middle school youth and campers are given the opportunity to lead a song and prayer alongside of our Senior High youth. On Fridays, our Middle School support staff take the lead while our Senior High paid staff provide the support. At the end of every day during Camp Hope, staff reflect with the Camp Manager how the experience is going. And finally, we celebrate and give thanks for the many positives that occur at Camp Hope from the amazing compliments we receive from parents. Here is a sampling: “Talon was the best-est counselor,” “My child woke up at 7:30 a.m., raring to be here,” “My child asked if Camp Hope could be overnight. She would like to be here all the time.” We are happy and grateful, too, for the amazing number of children who turned out, 52 in week three! Forming leaders is what discipleship is all about for all of us. Learning the Bible stories and making meaning out of the Bible stories is our calling, too. Join us this fall for a Sunday Faith Formation for adults at 9:30 a.m. or classes for all ages at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, which started August 22. Or become involved in a small group study, with the all-church session beginning October 28 for five weeks. Let us all be leaders, by deepening our faith, through study together.
Children at Fiel es Dios At Fiel es Dios, in Iquitos, Peru, many in the congregation are children. They are children of the ghetto, living in homes without walls that flood in the rainy season. Their parents are often unemployed, or they have gone elsewhere looking for work and left the children in the care of their grandmothers. Sometimes the children go to school – but rarely. The schools are overcrowded and substandard, and there are no truant officers to enforce attendance. The children come for companionship and for the love that members show toward each other. They also come for the lunches, made by Rudy’s mother, Marta, and other mothers in the congregation. Food for the lunches is provided from the money we collect here at Holy Comforter following worship on the second Sunday of each month. At Fiel es Dios, Pastora Yoli and our scholarship student, Rudy, teach the children how to read and write. Rudy Java Mozombite, an active member of Fiel es Dios, is studying for a degree in tourism and hospitality at the Scientific University of Peru. His scholarship money is collected separately through our KIX (Kingwood Iquitos Exchange) Fund. We are in the early planning stages of an expedition to Peru in 2019 and would love to have you join us. We also hope to bring Rudy and Pastora Yoli to Kingwood next summer so that those of you who are not able to go to Peru can meet them. You will hear more about that in the coming months, but meanwhile, if you have questions, you can ask Pastor Amy or other members of the Peru Team: Sheryl Stucky, Wade Wallinger and Sue Goodwin. And if you are interested in being on the Peru Team yourself, you will be enthusiastically welcomed. Just let Pastor Amy know. By Sue Goodwin
Peace, Pastor Amy
Cathie Tanner reading to the children at Fiel es Dios
t s SHIRT e t n o C DESIGN
Fourteen amazingly talented HCLC students (ages 7 - 17) submitted entries for this year’s Camp Hope T-shirt design contest. The competition was fierce and only eight finalists were selected. After 190 folks voted on their favorite design, the winners of the Camp Hope T-shirt Design Contest were announced: 1st place - River Balcom 2nd place - Pierce Dietrich 3rd place Audrey Miller Congratulations to all of our winners and finalists: Claire Carver, Alexa Taylor, Cort Schmidt, Michael Kell, and Evan Janacek. By Christy Janacek
ICE CREAM SOCIAL @ SUB ZERO
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NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING 2018 VOLUNTEERING AT THE ELCA YOUTH GATHERING On June 28 and 29 I had the privilege of volunteering as a Project Supervisor and being part of the service learning experience for those attending the triennial ELCA Youth Gathering which was in Houston this year. On June 29 I was at Nabor House Community, an early childhood learning center for children from low income families, located off Wirt Road on the west side of Houston. At 8:00 a.m., a bus with about 45 youth and their adult chaperones, all from the state of Wisconsin, arrived. This group (see the photos) sorted books; cut labels; organized the resource room; created bulletin boards; washed windows; carried items up to, removed unwanted items from, and organized everything stored in the attic; weeded small gardens and painted the concrete blocks forming one garden; tore apart about 10 used pallets; and built a planter box to go beside the entry door. After a quick box lunch about noon, the group was on its way to the main gathering location by 1:00 p.m. It was so uplifting to see the youth (and the adults) willingly and eagerly accept any and all tasks. When one task was complete, the members of the group were seeking new tasks and other ways to help. It was also rewarding to see how much the work done by this group of people from Wisconsin meant to the Nabor House staff. The thank you address by the Nabor House staff as the group was about to leave was heartfelt and moving. I am certain that this experience will leave a lasting, positive impression on those who gave of their time to make this service learning opportunity a success.
By Duane Utecht
Photos by Duane Utecht, Rick Janacek & Colleen Engel
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Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives. The theme for this year’s event was This Changes Everthing. Holy Comforter was well represented by our youth attendees Talon Balcom, Evan Janacek, and Michael Kell and adult leaders Colleen Engel, Rick Janacek, Sheryl Stucky. Those from our congregation who participated in other ways included Pastor Barb, Christy Janacek, Linda Johnston, Cathie Tanner, and Duane Utecht.
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Discover. Grow. L i v e.
GoDeeperWithChrist.org
Holy Comforter Lutheran CHurch Staff
The Reverend Barbara Bartling Senior Pastor pastorbarb@godeeperwithchrist.org Pastor Amy Oehlschlaeger Associate Pastor pastoramy@godeeperwithchrist.org Marsha Seale Minister of Worship and Music marsha@godeeperwithchrist.org Bill Goebel Financial Secretary bill@godeeperwithchrist.org Pam MacNaughton Director of Administration pam@godeeperwithchrist.org Colleen Engel Education Director colleen@godeeperwithchrist.org Duane Utecht Operations Coordinator operations@godeeperwithchrist.org
Church Council Members
Steve Bost - President Peter Kaleda - Vice President Duane Utecht - Treasurer Ken Holder - Secretary June Portz Sancy Rhodes Past President - Steve Hansen
Holy Comforter Lutheran Church is the sum of its members blessed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do ministry together. We are a traditional church & congregation that thinks and works “outside the box” to bring progressive ministries, services, programs and outreach to our local community and beyond! Holy Comforter Lutheran Church & School was the first church and preschool program in Kingwood, Texas. We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Visit www.godeeperwithchrist.org for more info on our Mission & Vision, History, Pastor, Staff & Council, Ministries, Communion Policy, Testimonials & Worship Services. Cover Photos by Colleen Engel