From "The Key"

The following selected articles are from the August 2008 edition of The Key, Hope's monthly newsletter:
The following article is from the May 2008 edition:
From the Pastor

Wonderful things continue to happen every day. On the Sunday we restored the pastor’s study, so many gave their time and muscle power that work was done in just 45 minutes, including the installation of the large wall bookshelf unit. Electrical work, painting, refinishing and many other tasks were done because folks their talent and time. This kind of working together is the picture of Hope that is a joy to share with others.

The Interview Committee has met with three fine candidates and continues to visit to hear them preach and conduct worship. It is a great joy to see the dedication given to finding a new partner in ministry.

There is also joy in knowing we will soon see Total Construction Services, Inc. at work on the property for our renovation. Check out the article elsewhere in this newsletter to get a “heads-up” on changes to come (see the Announcements page on the Web site).

There really are no words to express my gratitude for the way so many people have taken on tasks over this past year. Hosting a coffee hour, making hymn book ribbons, painting, moving stuff, repairing things, refinishing furniture... the list goes on and on. A lively vibrant community centered in worship is a way to describe Hope. It is a joy to celebrate the way each person has contributed to our common life.

Thanks be to God!

Pastor Elizabeth Platz

What is the Book of Faith?

The Book of Faith is an initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Book of Faith initiative invites the whole church to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture, in order that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, empowered, and sen t by the Word.

The Bible is a book of faith.
The Bible is the written Word of God that creates and nurtures faith through the work of the Holy Spirit and points us to Christ, the incarnate Word and center of our faith. The Bible invites us into a relationship with God, making demands on our lives and promising us life in Christ. The Bible tells the stories of people living their faith over the centuries and, through its demands and promises, forms us as a people of faith.

The language of Scripture is our first language of faith.
The Bible teaches us about God, about the world, and about ourselves. We become renewed, enlivened, and empowered as the language of Scripture forms our hearts, our minds, our community conversation, and our commitments.

We have a calling as the people of God.
Part of our calling is to know, hear, share, and be rooted in Scripture.

We are renewed, enlivened, and empowered by the Word.
As we live into our calling as people who are formed by Scripture, we become renewed in our faith, enlivened through the Spirit, and empowered through the cross of Christ to serve God and neighbor.

The first year of the Book of Faith initiative centers on inviting everyone to join the conversation, to make a commitment, and to become part of the initiative. Check out the on-line assessment and Scripture resources at www.bookoffaith.org.

Focus Group Meetings Conclude

Two focus group meetings were held on March 30 and April 6, 2008. These allowed the Profile Committee to gather input from members and friends about the draft Profile Report. Below is a summary of those meetings prepared by one of the Committee members.

1) Description of the next pastor we would like to serve at Hope

Essentially, he or she should be an experienced minister and an intellectually-secure theologian who would enjoy supporting Hope’s collaboration with the Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Maryland. Hope is a small congregation in an unusual setting, with many friends who join us for worship but who do not become members. The next pastor should make these visitors feel welcome and continue our tradition of hospitality to the surrounding community, especially college students and faculty.

We want not only to continue our collaboration with neighboring congregations, Lutheran as well as others, but to strengthen it and hope that the next pastor would be able to lead us in engaging the wider community. He or she should be able to relate the Bible to the world around us today in his or her sermons, but special attention is also needed regarding Bible classes for children and adults, even though only one or two children might be there on a Sunday morning. Some members with growing families are concerned about the small numbers, but others argue that the children are actually better off in our small congregation because they are given a great deal of attention.

2) What we can contribute

There is a great deal of willingness to volunteer to help out, but most members lead very busy lives. It is often not possible to find the time necessary to take care of even simple tasks, but there is enthusiasm to participate fully in the life of the congregation. Hope’s Council will be especially helpful.

3) Description of Hope

Our congregation is eclectic, educated, and committed to Hope and our current ministries. We need to make sure that it is not always the same individuals who, for instance, teach Sunday Church School or prepare coffee hours.

4) What we like the next pastor to teach us

See (1) above. In addition, there is a desire among some members to learn more about reaching out to others and how, in particular, to attract families with school-age children.

5) Describe the community around Hope and our vision for the next five years

We and the University community are relatively well-off, but are surrounded by areas with much poverty and large numbers of immigrants, as in Langley Park and Hyattsville. The general expectation is that probably not much will change for the next 5-10 years, until the planned building projects in the College Park area might add more families to the large numbers of students.

Please contact the church office at 301-927-5508 if you would like to see a copy of the final Profile Report.