GO! HCLC Bi-Annual Magazine Vol8Iss2

Discover

YOUR FAITH.

Live

Grow

IN COMMUNITY.

GOD’S MISSION.

DEEPER WITH CHRIST SPRING & SUMMER / VOLUME 8 ISSUE 2 2021

Discover. Grow. L i v e.

HOLY COMFORTER LUTHERAN CHURCH

GoDeeperWithChrist.org

1901 WOODLAND HILLS DRIVE - KINGWOOD, TX - 281.358.6500 - GODEEPERWITHCHRIST.ORG - FACEBOOK.COM/HOLYCOMFORTERLUTHERAN www.godeeperwithchrist.org 1

PASTOR’S MESSAGE Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ-Let us call it what it has been and what it is-- Trauma. Trauma has been our existence for the past 15 months or perhaps even more. Pandemic, hurricanes, flooding, loss of a job, death of a loved one and perhaps any other host of events outside of our control that have impacted our lives. In a split second, or over the course of hours, days, weeks or months our world has changed. COVID-19 and all of those other traumatic events hit us like a storm and we are still trying to navigate it. It also seems that these traumas build on us and even more overwhelm us. Trauma.

Perhaps before I go any further I should give a definition of trauma. At the 2021 Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Assembly, keynote speaker The Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner gave the following working definition: Trauma is an embodied blow or wounding of the mind and spirit/self that occurs when our experience or an event cannot be fully understood in the moment or assimilated into preconceived frameworks of understanding.

Trauma is experienced in the unknowing. Perhaps it is in the unknowing that causes the trauma. Unfortunately, many of us, during these traumatic times, retreat into our shells not knowing what else to do. In the event of a pandemic, it seems that our shells are the only safe place to be.

Thankfully, it seems that we are finally proceeding to the other side of the pandemic. If you have not already done so, it is time to reconnect with the community of faith God has given us. It is time to corporately worship, study and serve the God who loves us beyond measure. It is time to gather again to be the community God has created us to be. Together. Not only do you need this community, but this community needs you. We together, can walk through the storms of life, and we together can be the hands and feet of God in this traumatized world.

May the God of compassion and understanding give you hope and peace and life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Christ, Pastor Barb

TABLE OF CONTENTS Discover

Faith Story #1: Ruby and Wade Wallinger [page 4] Faith Story #2: Duane and Linda Utecht [page 5] Palm Sunday Worship [page 6] Easter Worship [page 7] Easter Egg Hunt [page 8] Pentecost and Graduation [page 10] Worship & Music Ministry [page 11] A Word from our Church Manager [page 12] Taking Easter Home Kits [page 13] WoW [page 13]

Grow

HCLC School [page 14] Front Pew Sunday [page 17] Women of the ELCA [page 17] Becoming a Welcoming Church [page Youth Service Project [page 18] Flat Jesus Travels [page 18] Youth Ziplining [page 19] HCLC Graduates [page 19]

17]

Live

Praise Walkers [page 20] Second Family Care Team [page 20] Gathering Place [page 20] Kitchen Renovation [page 21] Bird House Donation [page 21] Kid’s Hope [page 21] A Word from Communication Minister Color Run [page 23] Peru Project [page 24] Work Day at HCLC [page 25] Stewardship [page 26] Endowment Sunday[page 27]

GO! GO! is a biannual magazine produced and published by the members of HCLC. The content of this magazine is intended to be shared. It is designed

by Michelle Valenzuela and printed

by PostNet - Kingwood.

[page 22]

Throughout the magazine, you will see various QR codes. To watch the video(s) scan the QR code with your smart phone camera or code app!

Editor’s Note: For article and photo submission, please contact Christy Archer Janacek at 281.358.6500 or christy@godeeperwithchrist.org.

www.godeeperwithchrist.org

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FAITH STORY #1: The Wallingers

The Joy of Living a Generous Life

To watch the video, scan the QR code with your smart phone camera or code app!

Or, you can go to www. godeeperwithchrist.org/ generosity

God brought something to our attention. He opened our eyes to think

differently about our retirement savings. You see, our investments have done quite well from the start of 2020. Why wouldn’t we share a portion of them now?

Melissa helped us allocate our assets through our end of life documents.

And we have been working with Liz Johnson on additional ways we can be to Holy Comforter and to our heirs when we pass. But, we want to have with a portion of those assets now. Why wait to give a portion of our assets until we are no longer around to see their impact?

We would like our to spawn conversations about throughout our church. We want others to experience the joy of living a life, to live with a sense of having enough rather than a sense of scarcity. We want our to grow in its vision to serve more and to welcome those who aren’t here yet.

Ruby and I are offering an unrestricted gift in the amount of $100,000. We have challenged the Council to determine what is calling us to do with this new and unplanned .

What we don’t want is for this church to think that this sorts out our financial challenges, or that smaller s are not just as precious to the . That’s not what motivated us to . Our prayer is that this may inspire each of you to walk in faith through to the mission of our congregation.

generous fun generous

gift

church gift

Lord

generosity

God

gift give generosity

-Wade and Ruby

FAITH STORY #2: The Utechts

The Holy Spirit Nudges

The story began with a study written by some of Holy Comforter’s members called “Let Your Light Shine.” The intent was to help us become more comfortable telling our faith stories. Faith stories! ME? I’m a doer rather than a thinker. I’d rather help organize a closet or clean the church kitchen than serve on council or, heaven forbid, a long-range planning, visualizing team. I figured that for me this was never gonna happen, is just wasn’t in my “comfort zone.” But I gave the class a try and lo and behold I was able to put into words something I probably already real-

ized deep down inside. That is, that my husband, Duane, - our life together - is a gift from God, the outcome of answered prayer. Except for the grace of a loving God, that man I married is the best gift I’ve ever been given.

I read in a novel recently one character asking “What does love feel like?” The answer was “-if it’s real love, true love that lasts the length of your life-it settles into a kind of peace in the pit of your stomach. A security that compares with nothing else. A warm blanket on a winter’s night. Now, that sort of love is worth everything.” (Traci Borum Painting the Moon). I contend that for me not only is this what it feels like to love and be loved by Duane … BUT ALSO to know that I’m loved by God - and it IS worth everything.

Well, knowing that our marriage was an answer to prayer and after years of being involved in church life, you might think it wouldn’t surprise me to find that the Holy Spirit was at work again … but it did.

I was introduced to the idea of praying with beads while participating in another small group. We were studying a book with a prayer journal at the end.

It was suggested that if you have trouble staying on track while praying, holding

and using a strand of beads might be helpful. Well, being a life-long crafter and already doing some beading and liking color, shape, texture, and creating things with my hands, this sounded an instant call to me. So, I visited my old friend Google and found out that there are books about making and praying with beads and there are many different styles of protestant prayer beads, too.

Taking what I had learned, I then began to create my own style of prayer beads.

And never being one to do things by half, I soon had quite a collection of them. I realized that if I wanted to continue this endeavor, (and at this point in time it was still a crafting experience) I would have to find some way to divest myself of those I had already made. I began to give beads to family, and friends. Pastor Amy took some to our companion church in Peru, and members of Holy Comforter began choosing some for themselves, too. I sent some to friends in Canada, South Africa and England.

One friend, who took extra strands home with her, began to relate the amazing ways God put her in the right place at the right time to give just the right strand of beads to someone who needed them. Hmmm, maybe this was something special. But I still didn’t truly “get” it.

I began to get what I call little nudges.

Could I maybe take prayer beads to the Synod Assembly? The answer was yes, and, although we couldn’t attend that year, I sent prayer beads to the Assembly and the attendees gobbled up everything I sent!

Another nudge-Could put a basket of prayer beads in our doctor’s waiting room? She thoughtfully agreed and now each time I go to the office to refill the basket, the nurse, receptionist and the doctor herself tell me how meaningful the beads are to the patients and how much they appreciate having them there.

Then I remembered a trip we took when I was just beginning this prayer bead experience. We have collected antiques our entire married life, and if we were out antiquing and a sign said “Antiques ahead” the car turned off, but if we were on any other type of trip and the sign said “Antiques ahead” we went straight

on. On this trip our car amazingly followed a sign to “Shipwreck Beads this exit!” I guess Duane must have gotten a nudge, too. Shipwreck Beads has turned out to be where I get some of my nicest crosses for the prayer beads.

Well, somewhere among all this crafting, giving, remembering, and hearing how meaningful the beads are to others, the message FINALLY got through to me. Making and giving away prayer beads is not just something to do because I like creating, rather it is something I have been called to do by the Holy Spirit. “Prayers in My Pocket” is my attempt to answer that call. I wish I had kept track from the beginning, but a rough estimate is that I have made and given away over 4,000 strands of beads so far. Who would ever have guessed.

This, however, is more than just MY story. You know, not many people have lightning-flashing, fireworksshooting, sun-rays type of “Epiphanous” moments. Sometimes you just look back and say “That was God at work there,” or “The Holy Spirit surely had a hand in that…” God comes when we least expect Him to, and chooses people who might never expect to be chosen to do amazing things. The message here for all of us is Be alert!

Be watchful! Listen and be ready! You never know when God is going to tap you on the shoulder or touch your heart.

Maybe the Holy Spirit will whisper in your ear, or maybe YOU’LL get a little nudge. You too may find a whole new, unexpected, and exciting way to serve and grow.

By Linda Utecht www.godeeperwithchrist.org

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WORSHIP

Palm Sunday

Easter

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EASTER EGG HUNT

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Bells of Praise polishing party

WORSHIP

Pentecost & Graduation

Bells of Praise polishing party

Going deeper in faith, service, & relationships orship & usic inistry in A most unusual season--- Part 2!

It’s been a long, hard year already – for everyone. Finally the COVID-19 pandemic protocols are easing! We assume that we have made it through the worst, and that we can return to something that more closely resembles “normal.” At this writing, we are just days away from opening the church to regular worship and activities without social distancing, with masks optional instead of required, with Holy Communion in the forms of bread AND WINE, etc. Our worshiping community is trickling back, and we are eager to see what God has in store for us!

Enthusiasm is high, gratitude is palpable, and silver linings are all around us. I have seen tears streaming down the faces of individuals as they return to worship after many months away, some saying that they had despaired that they might never be able to enter through our doors again. I have heard muffled speaking and singing through masks, striving to breathe well enough to participate fully with their voices and their entire beings. It’s a glorious sound of praise and thanksgiving as we gather to worship our great God. We have had unexpected time to evaluate what is most important in our lives – separately and together.

We have begun to include a few elements that we had cut from worship, as the need to abbreviate the time we are together is diminishing. At Easter we added Worthy Is Christ (This Is the Feast) and the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy). Now that we are beginning the long green and growing season of Pentecost, we’ll sing Glory to God instead of This Is the Feast, and we’ll return to Setting One of the Liturgy, since it does not require a cantor. We are proclaiming the Apostles’ Creed instead of the Nicene Creed.

More to come…

Since October, in reduced numbers, the Gloria Dei Choir (adults) and Voices of Praise (women’s choir) have been singing, and the Bells of Praise handbell choir has been ringing, masked and socially distanced, adapting as needed to make music together. All have provided wonderful musical leadership in this time of challenge. A great big THANK YOU to each person who has participated. It is my hope that everyone will be back in the fall, and that children’s music will resume. Newcomers are welcome in all groups! We have plenty of room, now that social distancing is not required.

The Bells of Praise also have polished all the handbells and done routine maintenance on these fine instruments. See photos in this issue of GO! We provided another intergenerational Taking Faith Home set of boxes of items, activities, devotions, and conversation starters for Holy Week through Easter through the Day of Pentecost. A number of volunteers assisted in putting these boxes together to be distributed to every family that wanted one. See pictures in this issue of GO! Thank you to every volunteer: every musician, every usher, lector, sound tech, stream team member, altar guild worker, bulletin volunteer, choir mom, logistical planner, assistant, and more. Every person matters! These many, many people involved truly help things go smoothly. I look forward to even greater involvement by many more individuals and families as we continue to grow our ministries again.

By Marsha Seale

Minister of Worship & Music

BoP Rehearsal

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Worship, Word, Witness on Wednesday

WOW LIGHT

closes out for the school year.

A WoW LIGHT for every season.

For every season during this pandemic time, there was a WoW LIGHT. Starting last September, between seven and twenty-one people joined us Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for an interactive, intergenerational midweek spiritual touchpoint via Zoom. Following a brief time of worship and discussion, participants were invited to stay on for optional peer-group hang-out time. We were even able to do service work together during this pandemic time when we created Christmas Cards for our Care Partners.

We had Advent and Lenten mid-week worship services during WoW Light time and had WoW LIGHT Wild Card, Epiphany, All Saints, Game Night, and more!

The goal of this ministry, requested by last year’s 20/20 Virtual Visioning team was to be an abbreviated time, requiring minimal commitment, that would be a placeholder for the return of “real WoW”.

However, this substitute ministry, appropriately called WoW LIGHT, quickly evolved, with the help of the Holy Spirit, into something much more. It grew into a worship service with readings, songs, and lessons as well as a meeting place to reconnect with God and our HCLC church family. During prayer time we reflected on God’s love for us and counted our many blessings during this pandemic time, which recentered us and helped us reprioritize our lives. We prayed together for those we were concerned about and any people in need. Sometimes we cried together and lifted each other up during times of fear and suffering. We welcomed friends and family from out of town to share their passions, and prayers with us because Zooming made it possible!

These shared experiences deepened our relationships and renewed our faith and energy for the rest of the week. We look forward to being together once again for the in-person version of this ministry in the near future but we so cherished our time together and are glad that those who needed and wanted it, chose to gather in this alternative way. Several elements of WoW LIGHT will make their way over to in-person WoW NIGHTS - Worship, Word, and Witness on Wednesdays, beginning August 18th at 6:00 p.m. in Luther Hall. Save the Date!

By Christy Archer Janacek

WORSHIP A word from the church manager Greetings Church Family,

I cannot believe it has already been three months since I started here, and I already feel so welcomed and I genuinely love this community already! It has been evident to me since day one, that God knew exactly where I needed to be and when. I am so grateful for this new adventure!

As many of you have seen, one of the goals of the church staff was to redesign the weekly worship folder (also known as the bulletin) for an updated look. The goal was to also include the headlines and happenings of the church taking the place of the supplement Pathways. We are also excited to make it look unique to this church with custom artwork, photos, and meaningful pictures. So, this is where YOU come in! We would love to involve the entire congregation in submitting content to us for not only print use, but digital as well. This includes photos you would like to share of church events, artistic shots of a sunset or other images of God’s beautiful creations. If you would like to share something we may use, please send to Paula Tobey at paula@godeeperwithchrist.org or Christy Janacek christy@godeeperwithchrist.org I am also excited to share with you, all the wonderful things we are planning for fall! We know most of our members are glad to be back to normal, and we are too. We are also leaving space for those who are not quite ready yet. We See You, Hear You, and know that by fall, it is time to get ReConnected, Re-Energized, Re-Focused and Re-Engaged. It will be a wonderful time to plan to plug back in and be a part of all the amazing opportunities we are planning! We invite you to First come back to service if you have not yet done so and hear about all the things that are being planned. Second, we were so excited from the attendance and ideas that came from the planning meetings June 6th and 13th. If you missed them, it is not too late, you can still get your family ReEngaged!

Sunday, August 22 will be the Fall Kickoff and it is the perfect time to plug in! This year’s theme, Restart, Reconnect and Remember is all about Re-Starting the habit of attending church, Re-Connecting with God, the church family, and the community. Re-Member is about remembering your Baptism, your membership in the kingdom and the great commission to share the good news. Together as a team we will all Discover, Grow and Live a life Deeper with Christ.

I hope you have a wonderful and safe summer, and if we have not yet met, please do not hesitate to stop by and say hello! I am just so happy to be here and a part of this kind and generous congregation.

Many Blessings, Paula Tobey Church Manager

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Early Childhood Education@HCLC WINTER & SPRING SEASON

PreKindergarden Graduation

Holy Comforter Lutheran Church School year began on August 10, 2020 with a lot of uncertainty. The staff and school board were confident and protocols from the State were followed.

We were blessed to be able to remain open throughout the entire school year. 36 preschoolers graduated on May 27th with well over 100 parents, grandparents and friends attending in person. Over 25 people were able to view the livestream thanks to Rick Janacek . There was so much joy in the faces of the children as they were able to do their program with their families here watching. Grandparents were overjoyed to be able to finally attend an event with their families.

Thanks to Holy Comforter Lutheran Church for their continued support of all we do in this school.

In His Service, Colleen Engel

100 Days of School

2021 Rodeo

Teddy Bear Sleepover

Mrs. Barker and Mrs. Bockstanz classes had a teddy bear sleepover to celebrate T week. The animals got into some fun mischief during the night and created lots of excitement!

S’mores with Mrs. Loper

Teacher Appreciation

Mother’s Day Morning PE

Winter Storm

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Early Childhood Education@HCLC Easter Parties

WINTER & SPRING SEASON

Outdoor Fun!

WOMEN ELCA OF THE

Our Women of the ELCA unit at HCLC is back to meeting inperson! Martha Circle meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am to tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief. They meet in the Wittenberg room. You do not need any sewing skills to help tie quilts! In January our quilts we sent to Lutheran World Relief were sent to Bosnia. Naomi Circle has been meeting for Bible study on the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 am in the Wittenberg room. They took a hiatus this summer and hosted a Just L.I.F.E. (Liberation Is For Everyone!) Retreat on Saturday, July 10 from 8:30 am-Noon in Luther Hall. The Bible Study was from Gather Magazine: Just L.I.F.E. - Just Wisdom, Just Truth, and Just Hope. Breakfast was served at 8:30 am. | Service project: Children’s Snack Packs for HAAM. Priscilla Circle/Prayer Shawl ministry meets on the third Thursday at noon in the narthex area for lunch followed by working on prayer shawls. Sarah Circle (Busy Hands) meets the third Wednesday at 1 pm. If you’re interested in joining us please contact Beth Moseman 281-615-1131

By Beth Moseman

Paula Tobey, our new Church Manager helped Pastor Barb lead the 4 week book study “The Welcoming Church” By Thom Rainer. It was a great way for her to get to meet some members and find out some of the church history and important things about the congregation.

Paula recapped the experience by saying, “I especially loved how we could share our combined hopes for becoming a more welcoming environment to those who have yet to join us! It was apparent to me how truly blessed we are to have such passionate followers of Christ. I am super excited to see all the groups beginning to form because of that study! We had people want to help in many areas from, the Welcoming Center to helping with signs and the website, to fixing up the building to look better! It is not too late however to join in, as we all know it takes many hands to complete God’s work.” There are sign-up sheets in the narthex to join the welcoming effort at HCLC and be a part of one of these exciting new teams.

Front Pew on Sunday

Scan the QR code to watch the April Front Pew video!

MAY APRIL

JUNE

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YOUTH & FAMILY@HCLC

Color Run Goody Bags & Easter Egg Stuffing

SERVICE PROJECT:

The High School Youth at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church made the best of a bizarre situation this school year, with several events involving fellowship, outreach and faith formation. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic changed how and when the youth group met, they still were able to get together at least once a month during the entire school year.

The youth over the last few months helped stuff easter eggs for the HCLC Easter Egg Hunt, participated in the Resurrection Play on Easter Sunday, helped with the annual Color Run, and capped off the year with a ziplining trip to Big Rivers Waterpark and Adventures.

FLAT goes JESUS on vacation!

In May, we said goodbye to several of our Seniors with the Blessing of the Graduates on Graduation Sunday. Heading off to college were Evan Janacek, Sam Dykstra, Ashley Taylor and Audrey Miller.

We can’t wait for the next school year, when we are able to get back together on a weekly basis. We have a great group of students and adults, but we are looking for new mentors to help organize activities and faith formation opportunities. If you are wanting to help, please contact Rick Janacek at 281-928-4305 or rjanacek@dreamonent.com.

By Rick Janacek

The HCLC Youth helped engage the community with service projects preparing for two big HCLC events. In April, they stuffed over 800 eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt and in May they made 150 goody bags for the color run!

Youth Zip Lining

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March

HEALTH CABINET Praise Walkers Change Schedule

BACK IN PERSON

Praise Walk is a group that meets every morning, Monday thru Friday, for an hour of exercise from 8:15 – 9:15 am. We meet in the narthex area and mostly use DVDs with a variety of types of exercise (walking, aerobics, weights, yoga, bands, etc.). Occasionally we walk outdoors. During the summer we occasionally add water exercise at a private pool to our schedule. You are welcome to join us but please contact Beth Moseman 281615-1131 for schedule details.

By Beth Moseman

May June

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. Currently we have 25 care partners that we are assisting. If this sounds like something you would enjoy doing, please contact Beth Moseman 281-6151131. We can always use more volunteers!

April

Second Family Care Team Updates

The Gathering Place at Holy Comforter is back in person! We meet on the first Friday of each month from 10 am – 1 pm 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. We are picking up where we left off last year in our “Around the World” themes. For June 4th our theme is “Peru,”July 2 will be “England,” August 6 we’ll visit “Austria,” September 3 is “Israel,” October 1 will be “Germany,” November 5 is “India,” and December 3 will be “Sweden.” If you have visited any of these countries please let us know if you would come share your experience with us. 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 281-615-1131.

By Beth Moseman

Kid’s Hope Kids Hope Gets Help with a New Director.

Congratulations Chris Stinson!

Hello, Chris Stinson here. As the in-coming director for Kids Hope, I am excited to see this program continue. Our church has had a relationship with Bear Branch Elementary for about 12 years. Those of us who have worked as mentors have stories of positive relationships that have benefited children in all areas of their school experience. The teachers and counselor recommend children who could benefit from one to one time with a caring adult. Training is provided and the website kidshopeusa.com has a wealth of information. The school counselor helps facilitate as well. If you have an hour a week you could devote to this endeavor your time would be well-rewarded. We also are in need of prayer partners who pray for a specific student and mentor. I hope you will prayerfully consider this important outreach for the children and their families in our community.

KITCHEN RENOVATION Luther Hall

We would like to acknowledge and thank the “Kitchen Remodel Team” for the beautiful work they did tiling behind the stove and beyond. It started off as a small stove back splash project that needed to be done for insurance.

The team worked hard to get the stove done, and once it was completed, the rave reviews inspired further action to tile it all! A huge thank you to the team for the facility improvements! We would also like to thank Linda and Bonnie for taking the reigns as the ‘clean team’ going through cabinets, the fridge and more. Every surface is sparking clean and looks great!! Thank you all so much!

By Paula Tobey

Bird House Donation Thanks Carol Roby for the wonderful addition of a platform bird feeder and a bird house (we already have birds!!). The children love watching our bird friends!!!!

For more information, contact Christie Stinson at stinsons87@yahoo.com or go online to www.Kidshopeusa.org.

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Have you Heard God’s Voice?

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

On June 13th, six staff members and 37 people from the congregation met in-person (hallelujah) to eat breakfast, hear beautiful music and participate in a visioning meeting for the fall.

After a recasting of the HCLC Vision and a review of the traumatic times that the congregation and community have endured this year, the group responded enthusiastically to Pastor Barb’s announcement about the upcoming Bible Study - From Surviving to Thriving, as modeled in the Book of Acts.

Following this vision recast, the Voices of Praise, who were invited to sing at the meeting, sang Have You Heard God’s Voice, setting by Frederick Chatfield with Evan Janacek, soloist. Marsha Seale, HCLC’s Minister of Worship and music explained that the text of the song was a perfect setting for the visioning meeting, as it was a heartfelt call to discipleship, “have you heard God’s voice; has your heart been stirred?

Are you still prepared to follow?”, and the challenges of answering this call, “Have you made a choice to remain and serve, though the way be rough and narrow?” Whoa. The text went even deeper asking us to make disciples, “Will you trust in One who entrusts to you the disciples of tomorrow?”, which was especially poignant to me because my son Evan sang the opening and closing solo parts on the song with Voices of Praise.

Evan just graduated from high school and will soon be heading to college, so this really struck me as he makes his way toward adulthood. It is so important for children to be given an opportunity to be in a Christian community and education. It makes them better humans!

We are so blessed that Evan attended pre-school at HCLC and that we became members of the church. He has been given such a deep spiritual guidance and education during his time in this community and we know that he will bear much fruit as he continues on his way into adulthood.

Following the song, Paula Tobey recapped our recent “How to Become a MORE Welcoming Church Book Study ‘’ and shared the importance of welcoming those who aren’t here yet by providing a safe, clean, welcoming environment. She asked those in attendance to consider joining one of the three teams that evolved from this study. Several moving testimonials were also shared during our time together, including one from a high school youth about the warmth and care showed by the congregation to her family as they face illness. Another testimonial was shared via recorded video about the importance of stewardship and announcing the heartfelt financial gift they have shared. I shared the plan to include new classes to engage the community as part of WoW Nights - Worship, Word, and Witness in the fall, beginning Oct. 18. Attendees offered several good ideas for fall engagement and programming, including Parents Night Out (Kid’s Night In), and people seemed enthusiastic about the parenting, meal planning, and financial planning classes being considered. The staff also shared the plan for the Fall Kickoff BBQ - Re-Start, Re-Connect, Re-Member on Sunday, August, 22nd after 11:00 a.m. worship. We will have The Blessing of the Students and Teachers during worship on this day as well, so please Save the Date. Other dates to keep in mind are a Conversation with Council and special meeting 9/26, Blessing of the Animals (Pets) drive through 10/10. The Kingwood Oktoberfest has also been green lighted by Council, so reach out if you’d like to be a team leader for this event and we will need all hands on deck to facilitate it for the community! Traditionally, we have it on the third Saturday in October, so the tentative date is 10/16.

Please be prayerfully considering how you can plug back in at HCLC and beyond. We need your help to serve the needy, care for the sick, educate our children (the disciples of tomorrow) and share God’s love with those on the margins. You can sign up in the narthex if there is an area you are passionate about or contact the office to discuss available opportunities.

Our prayer following this pandemic time is that we can galvanize our congregation and engage our community to come together with even more energy than before to Go Deeper with Christ by Discovering our Faith, Growing in Community and Living God’s Mission!

By Christy Archer Janacek

COLOR RUN

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Update on Peru and our partnership with Fiel es Dios in Iquitos, Amazon

We have 2 ministries we support as we accompany each other in our walk of faith –

#1 #2

Childrens’ Ministries – covers the children’s lunches mainly, but also books for their library – as well as Christmas gifts for all the children and youth. The Sunday coin collection and other direct donations cover these amounts.

KIX – Kingwood Iquitos eXchange - College Student Rudy whom we chose to support 4 years ago when we visited with him at Fiel es Dios. These donations are separate from the support for the children in general.

We asked the congregation to join us in this support of Rudy’s final year of college.

Rudy is a devoted member and helps with the children and older youth. Our prayer is that as we are God’s hands and feet in the world blessing him – that he will continue to pay it forward and bless others in his community. We see this in our own youth whom we’re celebrating today.

He is studying Tourism in a 5 year program. If you follow their FB page, you’ll see him in many of the pictures. He’s helping with the children, during the service, and also with the older youth in group activities. Recently Rudy was seen in a FB post teaching youth about Environmental Justice in the Amazon – deforestation, reforestation, conservation. The youth were in a community village that Fiel es Dios themselves supports in Panguana.

Rudy expects to graduate by the end of 2021, which is on time. This is pretty amazing considering that they have had COVID delays and online learning also. To graduate he has to attend certain tourism experiences around Peru, so he’s hopeful these will start again in the Fall as the country opens up – and he’ll finish timely.

College costs appx $3,500/year in Peru – reasonable compared to the US. You all have been generous the past 4 years. We need to fund the last year. As of March, we had $871 in the account, needing about $2,700. We made an appeal in early April and we’ve raised about $1,575, so we’re about 2/3 of the way there! Gracias! We need to raise that last $1,000. If you have the capacity to donate, we’d appreciate it! Please note on the website or on your check that it is for Peru – Education/KIX. Please join us in supporting Rudy, as we celebrate our own youth who are carving their path into the world. Our fervent prayer is that our youth will continue to be God’s hands and feet as they go out into the world.

Muchas Gracias! Sean las manos y los pies de Dios! (Be the hands and feet of God!)

WORK DAY

@HCLC

Congregation members take a day to clean and refresh the church grounds

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Why Joyful Giving is Showing God’s Love Based on Galatians 5: 1-26 Years ago, my husband Seth and I had the opportunity to take the course “Financial Peace University”

by Dave Ramsey. As parents of young children, we found ourselves in a mountain of debt. I believe we owed in upwards of $65,000 between student loans and credit card debt. I for one had no interest in money, budgets, or anything of the like, I did however find Dave Ramsey funny, and he is a great teacher, so I went willingly to the course. This course helped change our marriage and that was the best benefit!

fruits include the ones you may have heard about. An article by Paul Fritz, professor at Trinity College, shares “The Fruit of the Spirit is Love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control are it’s

other storms. Many of us who flooded were recipients of those gifts!

You see, the Gift of Joyful Giving is the way in which we bless others and ourselves. It is how we show the fruits of the spirit through Love. Giving teaches us joy. Giving brings us and them peace. Giving shows kindness. Giving develops goodness.

Giving demonstrates faithfulness. Giving away money establishes within us selfcontrol. Wow!

” Love is the crowning virtue of a Spirit controlled believer.

Love is an unselfish concern that seeks another person’s good. It is the true expression of the Spirit that lives within each believer.”

One thing I learned in that course, is that in the bible, money comes up 140 times. That is a LOT! It makes me realize that it is particularly important for us to learn about!

I also took away one of his famous quotes “Live Like No One Else So later you can LIVE and GIVE like No One else!” I wrote that one down on my cash envelops in my wallet and it helped remind me at every purchase, my goal to change.

I later learned about how the book of Galatians 5 is full of amazing truths and many that tie directly to money. Yes money! You see, giving money, tithing and stewardship all tie back to Love. Galatians 5 teaches us all about Love and the fruits of that love, and what they look like.

Joyful Giving is Showing Love through our acts, service, and obedience.

These gifts bear fruit and those

by-products”. He says “a person’s wealth does not depend so much on what he has as on what he can live without. The fruit of Spirit allows a person freedom from dependence on the works of the flesh.” Love is the crowning virtue of a Spirit controlled believer. Love is an unselfish concern that seeks another person’s good. It is the true expression of the Spirit that lives within each believer.”

This article led me to the realization that if we are truly to love our neighbor as ourselves, we must consider their needs first. Often how we do that in the church comes in the form of sending money. It can however come in other forms! For those in need we often give the Gift of Prayer. We give the Gift of Time, or we give the Gift of Service, and obviously we can give the Gift of Giving money. When disaster strikes, it is how our community came together during Hurricane Harvey, Imelda, and many

“The Fruit of the Spirit is Love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control are it’s byproducts”

Galatians 5:6 states “For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus there is no benefit to being circumcised or un-circumcised.

What is important is Faith expressing itself in Love”. Now in the New Testament, they clarify the usage of the word circumcised meaning Christians are urged to be “circumcised of the heart” by trusting Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross. We are to express our faith in Jesus through our love.

Paul Frits goes on to say, “The wealthiest man is the most spiritually fruitful. Spiritual fruit abides forever, riches fly away with time. The fruit of the Spirit gives one a many-sided virtuous character. Do not be content to blessed by the Spirit, produce fruit in keeping with repentance”.

Therefore, I ask you to join me in praying, Dear Lord, help us to abide in YOU so your Spirit can produce much fruit Through us! In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

By Paula Tobey

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ENDOWMENT SUNDAY CELEBRATION

the generosity of a few families we were able to grow the April 11th 2021 With HCLC Endowment Fund from about $25,000 to over $32,000 in

2020, with the help of the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest. In February we received our first distribution of $707! The congregation provided overwhelming support for the endowment to be used to alleviate hunger, and we gave our distribution to HAAM and ELCA World Hunger at the 11:00 service on Endowment Sunday, April 11th. Tiffany Stafford of HAAM, Signe Fredrickson of the ELCA, and Liz Johnson of the LFSW also joined us for Coffee Chat at 9:30 am to share more about the process and about their ministries. There are materials in the narthex describing the Endowment Fund and their ministries as well. There are also green arrows guiding you from the narthex over to our new Endowment Wall in the hallway on the way to the school. With Liz’s help and lighting installation from the volunteer HCLC Facilities Team, we created this wall as an Endowment Fund showcase. Thanks for all you do for God’s Kingdom.

Pick up an Endowment Fund brochure or contact the HCLC office or a member of the Endowment Team for details on how you can participate in this meaningful Stewardship opportunity at HCLC.

By Wade Wallinger, Endowment Team & Council Member

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GoDeeperWithChrist.org

Holy Comforter Lutheran CHurch Staff

The Reverend Barbara Bartling Senior Pastor pastorbarb@godeeperwithchrist.org Marsha Seale Minister of Worship and Music marsha@godeeperwithchrist.org Paula Tobey Church Manager paula@godeeperwithchrist.org Christy Archer Janacek Minister of Communication christy@godeeperwithchrist.org Bill Goebel Financial Secretary bill@godeeperwithchrist.org Colleen Engel School Director colleen@godeeperwithchrist.org Duane Utecht Operations Coordinator operations@godeeperwithchrist.org General Email office@godeeperwithchrist.org

Church Council Members

President - Melissa Lanier Vice-President - Wade Wallinger Secretary - Larry Montano Treasurer - Steve Hansen Other members: Gregg Howsmon, Dale MacNaughton, Stacey Taylor, Pastor Barb Bartling 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 Photo and Art by Christy Archer Janacek