Hope Weekly
April 3, 2020
The palms for Palm Sunday arrived the day that we began the "stay at home" order issued by Dr. Acton and Governor Dewine, and suddenly the magnitude and reality settled in all at once. In January, we had planned a special worship service that would include musicians from both services and a movement from loud hosannas to the experience of our Lord's passion for Palm Sunday. This was an experience echoed by pastors, worship leaders and musicians across the church. Palm Sunday in many places begins with a liturgical procession that feels much more like a parade and requires the presence of people and in quantities that violate every suggestion and mandate.   Someone posted that this was going to be "The Lentiest Lent We Ever Lented." It has gone viral like the phrase Pastor Kristin shared last week, "I never thought I would give up so much for Lent." We even had planned for Palm Sunday to be First Communion Sunday at Hope as we welcomed more of our children to the sacrament of the altar.
 
One of my seminary classmates who now teaches at Luther Seminary, Dr. Karoline Lewis reflected that this may well be the Holiest Holy Week we have ever Holied.   To be sure, there were crowds present when Jesus entered Jerusalem and the crowds shouted crucify him as they demanded that Barabbas be released, but most of the rest of the events of Holy Week were a stark contrast from our own observances. To be honest, what we love about Easter Sunday in worship has nothing in common with any of the four evangelists' gospels report.
 
Each week Bishop Daniel has been doing a Zoom video check in with rostered leaders across the Northwest Ohio Synod on Tuesday afternoon. While he has expressed a similar grief about the inability to worship in our sanctuaries, he praised the opportunity to worship together using social media such as YouTube and Facebook. We won't use the term "virtual" because the community is gathered and connected electronically, and the worship is very real. His comments reminded me of the reflections by Dr. Lewis as he invited us to use this week as a time for reading and reflection on Jesus' journey to the cross and finally the empty tomb.
 
I Invite you to join others from Hope for 1 service at 10 AM online on Sunday Facebook and YouTube as we hear the Palm Sunday Gospel and read the passion together. (If you can't make it at 10 AM you can always watch it later though you miss the chance to interact with everyone live.) On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday we will post to Facebook and YouTube a piece of music and a suggested scripture reading. I invite you into this Holiest of Holy Weeks as we read and pray and prepare our hearts.

Pastor Kevin JPG
PS - The Hope staff has been trying to check in with our members and friends to see how everyone is doing. If you haven't been contacted, you will likely be this week. For those in at risk groups, we have volunteers willing to shop and deliver items while practicing safe distancing. We have not heard any reports of anyone that has contracted the coronavirus as of the time that this is written which means you are heading the precautions and for that I give thanks. If you have any needs please let me know.

Palm Sunday Worship at 10:00 am
By popular demand we will have  one worship service at 10 AM on Sunday .  Join the Hope family on  Facebook live  or our  YouTube Channel .   If you can't make 10 AM you can always watch later, though you'll miss the chats with others live.

Palms for Palm Sunday:
This week, our yearly order of palms arrived at Hope for Palm Sunday. If you live near Hope and would like to pick up palm branches to wave on Palm Sunday, we will be putting them out on Friday morning through Monday morning for you to pick up. They will be next to the benches on the Indian Road side of the sanctuary. We also invite you to find a branch in your own yard or neighborhood that you can wave or to download this palm coloring page to use instead: Coloring Page
 
Holy Week

4/5 Palm Sunday           10 am Combined Worship
4/9 Maundy Thursday  7 pm Worship
4/10 Good Friday          noon & 7 pm Worship
4/12 Easter Sunday       9 am Contemporary Worship
                                          10 am Traditional Worship

Ministry and Office Hours
During Social Distancing
During this time of social distancing, we want to assure our members and friends that ministry continues and your pastors are here to support you. Hope staff will work from home as much as possible and the office will be supported with staggered staffing. The office will remain open 9 am-4 pm Monday through Thursday and 8 am- noon Friday. We encourage you to reach out to us by phone or email when possible. In addition, our custodial team is deep cleaning and sanitizing the building to prepare for a safe return to full ministry programs.  
Sunday morning Children's Story
Join us at 11 am this Sunday for a short children's story all while staying at home. Just click the link to join the Zoom this Sunday Click here for Children's Story
 
Children's Faith Formation Resources
elbow-children-line.jpg
While we are not meeting at church for DIT and Toddler and Tots, weekly faith formation resources are being emailed out to families. If you are not receiving it and would like it please contact the office and ask to be added to the list. Additionally, if you would rather get a paper copy rather than an email please let us know.
 
Devotional: Christ in our Home
With the outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 in North America and around the world many people may be without a physical copy of Christ in Our Home. To assist with devotional life during this time, Augsburg Fortress is offering a limited-time complementary email subscription. Sign up and we will deliver the daily devotional to your email at 4am Central Time for the remainder of March and April 2020.
Click here to sign up

We also have the Word in Season that we can mail to you. If you would like a copy, just call the church office.
Easter Decoration Fund
We are planning to celebrate Easter and the Risen Christ the first Sunday we are able to worship in person. With that in mind, if you would like to make a contribution toward the Easter Decoration Fund in honor or memory of someone, please call or email the office or you may mail in the name of your loved one with a check (note "Easter Decorations" in the memo line.)  
Vacation Bible School June 15-19
Make sure you have June 15-19 from 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. marked on your calendar to join us in as we journey into a wintry land on a quest for the kings armor.  Registration has been pushed back to open April 6th for those that attend Hope and friends. Registration will open to the general public on April 27th. To register, please visit hopetoledo.net We close registration at 120 kids and start a wait-list. For more information contact Katie at kdumproff@hopetoledo.net