THE HOSANNA HERALD
WHERE OUR MISSION IS “TO KNOW JESUS NOW AND MAKE JESUS KNOWN NOW!”
DECEMBER 2011
134 Camp Meeting Rd. James L. Mueller, Pastor
Kerrville, TX 78028 Jim Bretthauer, DCE
A Message from the Pastor:
Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is
given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
During this Christmas Season, Hosanna is setting
aside special times of worship and reflection so that
we can all grow in our faith this year. We invite
your family to come and come often to Hosanna
this season. Our schedule:
Advent Midweek Services (6pm)
11/30 – Advent 1
12/07 – Advent 2
12/14 – Children’s Christmas Pageant (“A Walk Through Bethlehem”)
12/24 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Sundays without Bible Class Hour (10:30am)
12/25 – Christmas Day
01/01 – New Year’s Day
In Christ Alone,
Rev. Jim Mueller
A Wonderful Experience for the Whole Family
Last year’s A Night in Bethlehem was such a huge hit that we decided to do it again and I think it will become a
Hosanna Christmas staple for years to come. A Night in Bethlehem is a family-friendly event where you can
experience what it was like in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. Come taste the bread from the local bakery,
make pottery, be a carpenter in the wood shop, write Christmas notes in the scribe shop and much more. Visit
with the citizens of Bethlehem--some popular and friendly and some...well maybe not so friendly! And most
importantly come see the nativity where Jesus lays.
Stop by with your family, take a break from hectic Christmas shopping, schedule a journey as a special
Christmas outing with family and friends, or give the people you care about an uncommon gift and send them
an invitation to A Night in Bethlehem.
Along with experiencing Bethlehem, come worship with us at 6p.m. on December 14th as the children sing and
lift their voices to the Lord and the 4th, 5th and 6th graders entertain us as they act out a modern version of Luke
2.
Blessings to you as we enter the Christmas season and celebrate the birth of our New Born King,
DCE Jim Bretthauer
2012-2014 Church Council Officers & Elders
President Stefan Klima
Vice President Mike Patterson
Treasurer Joan Glazener
Financial Secretary Gerald Schulze
Recording Secretary Nancy Taggart
Church Properties Larry Faber
Christian Education Ruth Castillo
Evangelism Brenda Hug
Fellowship Gayle Eastwood
Public Relations Jan Railsback
Stewardship Larry Hilzer
Elders :(8 Elder’s needed) Clyde Nix Bret Ford
Neil Peterson Ramiro Castillo
Sal Vetrano Paul Hofmann
Perry Bushong Doug Hug
LWML 2012 Officers
Gaye Krueger President
Linda Railsback Vice President
Judy Groth Treasurer
Lynnette Cooper Secretary
Fall Festival 2011
Hosanna has reached our goal of $10,000 for CAM! THANK YOU HOSANNA!!! With all the proceeds from Fall
Festival, Thrivent Care Abounds in Community funds and extra donations from Hosanna members we proudly
presented the check to Christian Assistance Ministry on November 27. With this donation CAM will be able to
provide food, prescription assistance, utility assistance and clothing for the needy in Kerr County and
surrounding area.
CAM CHECK PRESENTATION
Hosanna Lutheran Church presented a check for $10,000 to Christian Assistance
Ministry (CAM) Kerrville Vice President of Public Relations Neva Pratt on Sunday
November 27, 2011. The donation was the total collected from Hosanna’s Fall
Festival on October 8, 2011, in addition to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
contribution of $1600 toward the final amount of $10,000 (called Care Abounds
in Community). CAM provides food, clothing, financial assistance, miscellaneous
items, counseling and referrals to other agencies for clients who qualify. From left
to right: Brenda Hug (Fall Festival coordinator), Neva Pratt, Pastor Jim Mueller,
and Doug Hug.
Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) Representative – Jane Brown has volunteered to be the representative
for CAM. Susan Sliva is no longer available to serve as Hosanna's CAM representative, and we want to give
Susan a “BIG Thank You” for all the years that you served in this position for Hosanna with CAM.
Loyalty Sunday
th
December 4 is “Loyalty Sunday,” the day you will return two of the commitment cards. On Sunday,
November 21, you received a stewardship letter and three commitment cards. The letter explained what you
are to do with the commitment cards. The white card is to be placed in the commitment box in the Narthex
and the envelope with your commitment will be placed in the Altar box, during the service. Following the
worship service today, we will have a pot luck dinner, so stay around for some “fun and good eats.
ANNUAL HOSANNA LADIES CHRISTMAS SOCIAL Tuesday, DECEMBER 13, 2011 6:00 P.M.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP,
GAMES, CAROLING, FOOD AND CELEBRATING
CHRISTMAS IN LOVE, BECAUSE OF
JESUS OUR SAVIOR!
PLEASE BRING: A FAVORITE HOLIDAY SALAD OR APPETIZER AND
AN UNWRAPPED TOY FOR HILL COUNTRY CARES (for 6 - 12 year old child)
Punch, Hot Wassail, Coffee, and Desserts Provided____________________________
Hosted by Morning Star LWML (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League)
Chili Cook-off/Potluck- December 4th, following the Worship Service. Sign up to
compete for a trophy. You can cook your chili at home and bring it in. We will
also have a potluck to go along with the Chili competition. This is also a fund
raiser for the Youth, so be generous with your donations when you sample the
chili, there will be a free will offering.
Board of Stewardship
Over 2,000 years ago the world received the greatest gift that has ever been given. The angel announced this gift to
shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. The message of God’s angel explained what a truly remarkable
event this was. The angel said: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today
in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” Suddenly a great company of heavenly host
appeared with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom
His favor rests.” (Luke 2:10-12; 14 NIV)
Those shepherds were never the same again. They went to Bethlehem to see for themselves this great happening.
After seeing the Christ child with their own eyes they left in great joy and shared this good news with everyone they
met.
On that first Christmas God fulfilled His promise to send a Savior who would rescue His people from their sins. What a
blessing for the lowly shepherds to be the first people besides Mary and Joseph to hear about and see this great
happening!
Years later the Apostle John by inspiration of the Holy Spirit acknowledged this miraculous gift with one of the most
memorable verses in the Bible: “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV) This single verse expresses two things that God delights
in doing and those two things are loving and giving.
Children are richly blessed when they have good and godly parents who bring them up in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord. Children are also blessed when they imitate the positive qualities of their Christian parents.
St. John in the third chapter of his first letter stated: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we
should be called children of God! And that is what we are.” (1 John 3:1 NIV)
What does this say to us as God’s stewards of all [including time, money, abilities and much more] that He entrusts to
our management? It says this: If we are to grow as children of God we will develop those godly characteristics of our
Heavenly Father, namely loving and giving.
Christmas is in the very best sense a gift that keeps on giving. May the Holy Spirit help us to receive this great gift with
joy and thanksgiving and respond with growth in loving and giving as God’s children! This desire could become an
important part of our New Year’s resolutions! Wouldn’t that make our part of the world so much better?
Have a blessed Christmas and a joy-filled New Year!
Always remember that God loves you more than you will ever know and cares for you in ways that you will never fully
understand. See you in church and bring a friend.
Bill Sliva
Texas Partners in Mission (TPIM): We are witnesses to the immeasurable power of God in our Texas
District. This is a bold statement, but it is true! God is opening doors for reaching the lost that can only be
described as miraculous! The world has moved to Texas, nationalities that far expand our traditional eastern
European Lutheran roots. In the Texas District, the saving message of Jesus Christ is now shared in over 35
languages and dialects. Yes! This is happening within our Texas District! And, this message is being shared
by men and women serving in missionary roles who also represent nationalities. Planting missions to reach
these souls is expanding exponentially. Individual churches are beginning to look at their areas with "mission
eyes" and seeing opportunities to plant new missions for reaching the lost.
Each month in the Texas District section of the Lutheran Witness, you will find an article on recent activities of
TPIM.
We invite you to prayerfully consider a gift to TPIM. Any size gift is valuable to this mission initiative. Gifts
to TPIM are totally dedicated to more than 90 men and women who serve as missionaries in Texas. To make a
gift, send check to Texas Partners in Mission, Texas District LCMS, and 7900 East Highway 290, Austin, TX
78724 or call-1-800-951-3478. Your gift can be doubled, while at the same time gain a 1% bonus on an
investment, with the 100PLUS1 program offered by the Texas District Church Extension Fund (CEF). Call the
CEF office at 1-888-951-1233 for more information. This matching program is a "win-win-win" for you,
TPIM and CEF. If you would like more information about TPIM contact Bill or Susan Sliva, 257-8636, or
wsliva@stx.rr.com. You can also visit the TPIM website, http://www.txdistlcms.org/tpim.
Kerrville Lighted Parade
On Saturday, November 19 Hosanna Sunday School Children participated in the
Christmas Parade in Kerrville. All the children were "decorated" at Christmas gifts.
Our theme was "JESUS, is your Christmas Gift!" A very special "thank you" to
LeDon for providing the awesome 1931 Chevy flatbed truck that pulled the
Hosanna Flyer wagon. He also provided the 1967 Buick Skylark Convertible that
followed the Hosanna float! THANK YOU, LEDON!!!
After the parade the children enjoyed hotdogs and refreshments as we kicked off
the holiday season.
Thank you to all who participated or donated in some way to make this the best Hosanna float ever.
SYMPATY To David and Lourdes Lehmann and Family for the death
of David’s Mother on Saturday November 5th
Habitat for Humanity – Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 3rd at 8:00 am for
Hosanna’s Habitat Workday. Helping needy families earn essential housing, that’s the spirit
of Christmas. Ken Mohnke will be our site coordinator this week as I will be out of town.
“We're glad that we are able to participate. Besides helping someone have a home, it's
also a great time for fellowship.” This is a quote from one of our Hosanna volunteers last month. The
Habitat office is located at the corner of Rankin Nix and Meeker. No special tools or experience required. Lunch is
provided. For more information contact Bob Gilmer at bgilmer@milbankpowergen.com or 830 285 2693
ANNIVERSARIES AND BIRTHAYS
12/1 David & Amy Moldenhauer 12/18 Deanna Aguero
12/2 Gary & Cathy Willson Kayla Brock
Tommy Brock Diane Cornelius
Linsey Peterson 12/21 Al & Marilyn Polzin
12/3 Susan Sliva 12/23 Janet Gilmer
12/5 Stefan Klima 12/28 Sal & Winnie Vetrano
12/6 Manfred Schulz 12/29 A.C. & Rebecca Hobratschk
12/8 Linda Oldham Louann Jensen
12/12 Ethan Aguero Cliff and Kathy Zeliff
12/14 Bob Gilmer 12/30 Paul Alvarez
12/16 Charles Collier Craig & Pam Boyer
ELDER ACOLYTES ALTAR GUILD ALTAR FLOWERS
A C Hobratschk 04 Angel Butzke Lou & Richard Rode 04 Gary and Cathy Willson’s Anniversary
11 Hailie Reynolds 11 Ford’s, Lance’s Baptismal Birthday
18 Deanna Aguero 18 Lynnette Cooper Memory of Danny
25 25 Poinsettias
ADVENT ACOLYTES
30 Hailie Reynolds
7 Ruth Hobratschk
14
UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT HOSANNA
Wednesday, December 7th 6:00 PM Advent Midweek Worship
Wednesday, December 14 6:00 PM Advent Midweek Worship /Sunday school Christmas Program
Saturday December 24 6:00 PM Christmas Eve Service
Sunday December 25 10:30 AM Christmas Day Service No Sunday School
Sunday January 1 10:30 AM New Years Day Service No Sunday School
PARENTS!!!!! & ALL MEMBERS – THERE WILL NOT BE SUNDAY SCHOOL ON CHRISTMAS DAY OR
NEW YEARS DAY. WORSHIP SERVICE WILL BE AT THE SAME TIME, 10:30 AM ON CHRISTMAS DAY
AND NEW YEARS DAY.
Hosanna Lutheran Church - 134 Camp Meeting Road- Kerrville, TX 78028
Church office hours: 8:00 to 1:00 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Phone 830-257-6767
Pastor Mueller’s cell phone: (512)351-5983; Jim Bretthauer cell phone 285-1196
Emails: Church Office: hosanna@stx.rr.com; Pastor Mueller:pastor@stx.rr.com;
Jim Bretthauer: youthguy@stx.rr.com; Web page: http://www.hosannakerrville.org
Pastor Jim’s Blog: www.hosannapastor.blogspot.com
Children’s Sunday School 9:00 a.m. & Adult Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Holy Communion is observed on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays.
HOSANNA LUTHERAN CHURCH
134 CAMP MEETING ROAD
(at Highway 16 South)
KERRVILLE, TEXAS 78028
THE HOSANNA HERALD
December 2011