Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church and Early Childhood Center The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod 9600 Leverne, Redford MI 48239

Office Phones: 313-937-2424, 313-937-2233

Senior Pastor: Rev. Paul Undlin, pastorpaul@hosannatabor.org

Website: www.HosannaTabor.org

Concordia Lutheran School Principal: Mr. David Kusch, dkusch@ConcordiaLS.org

Website: www.ConcordiaLS.org

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Another Ending… A New Beginning

We’ve made it through yet another year. It was a year full of joys & sadness. It was a year full of

challenges conquered & being conquered by challenges. It was a year in which both everything &

nothing changed. In other words… it was a year much like most every other year that has already

passed.

3000 years ago, the author of Ecclesiastes (likely Solomon) exclaimed, “What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (1:9). A more

modern cliché expresses much the same sentiment, “The more things change, the more they stay the

same.”

Turning to the Book of Ecclesiastes might seem like a strange way to start off a New Year. The New

Year should be all about making resolutions, changing your life for the better, looking to the future

through rose-colored glasses and hoping for the best. But does any of that actually bring about any sort

of lasting change? Sometimes. Maybe. A little. Not really… The reality is, left to our own efforts and

devices, all of our attempts are little more than, “vanity and a striving after wind.” (repeated throughout

Eccl.).

Our own works mean little more than a hamster’s efforts running on a wheel in a cage – going nowhere

as quickly as we can. Is the world really better off because of my life? Regardless of what the internet

memes or the motivational posters might tell us… the answer really is, no. Eventually, everyone comes

to this disheartening realization. My best efforts change nothing in the long run. My life is meaningless.

It’s worthless. Or is it?

If your life was worthless, would the Father have sent His Son to rescue you? If your life was

meaningless, would Jesus have been willing to die for you? The answer is actually surprising – YES!

While your life was meaningless & worthless, the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you and to

rescue you from bondage to sin, death, & the devil. St. Paul writes the Romans, “God shows His love for

us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (5:8).

Your life now has purpose, meaning, & worth, not because of what you can bring to the table – but

because of what God was willing to pay (to sacrifice) for you.

In this New Year, let’s stop chasing after the wind and relying on our own work. Instead, in this New

Year, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your

ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

Blessings,

Pastor Paul

january 2016

SERVING YOU IN JANUARY

CHANCEL GUILD Clean: Debbie Pranschke Communion: Ardythe St. Pierre Linens: Margie Milz ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

COUNTERS

January 03 Sharon Fischer, Walter Schultz, Dan Woodruff, Daryl Lapham January 10 Bob Cochran, Judy Cochran, Charles Fischer, January 17 Jane Reed, Gerry Moehring, Barb Brzuchanski January 24 Mick Giandiletti, Sally Lubeck, Jim Lubeck, Judy Cochran (dimes) January 31 Sandy Bryer, Mick Giandiletti, Dan Woodruff

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ELDER 8:30 a.m. service 11 a.m. service

January 03 Gerry Moehring Mick Giandiletti, Rich Lewandowski January 10 Paul Mills, Ken Lindeman Bob Cochran, Jim Pranschke January 17 Chuck Fischer Mick Giandiletti, Rich Lewandowski January 24 Paul Mills, Ken Lindeman Bob Cochran, Jim Pranschke January 31 Paul Mills, Ken Lindeman Mick Giandiletti, Rich Lewandowski

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FELLOWSHIP

January 03 Bekah Hoeft, Gale Molisee January 10 Sue Sheppard, Michele Barnes January 17 Jean and Debra Pichan January 24 Michele Barnes, Sue Sheppard

January 31 Chris Pisha ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

GREETERS

January 03 Mary Murphy, Ardythe St. Pierre, Janet Krupski January 10 Barbi Hardoin, Sharon Fischer, Bill Ehlers January 17 Lowell & Marie Peterson

January 24 Jennifer Undlin January 31 Marion Salo

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PRAISE TEAM Julie Gnagey, David & Zoe Hardoin, Jim Hoeft, Ben Mitchell, Larry Thornton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

READERS 8:30 a.m. service 11 a.m. service

January 03 Judy Schwaegerle Kris Bieniewicz January 10 Cheri Petri David Hardoin January 17 Sharon Fischer Tom Pichan January 24 Ken Lindeman Joseph Pranschke January 31 Margie Milz Bob Cochran

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USHERS 8:30 a.m. service 11 a.m. service January 03 Jim Pranschke, Karl Smith, Mick Giandiletti, Ken Lindeman Jim Pranschke, Joseph Pranschke January 10 Don Rahn, Barry Matukaitis, Bill Mueller Gordon Kraning, Gordon Kraning, Jr. January 17 Bob Cochran, Gerry Moehring, Frank Weide Robert Passeger, Kyle Bieniewicz January 24 Paul Mills, Paul Kacsmark, Sharon Fischer, Bill Ehlers TBD

January 31 Jim Pranschke, Karl Smith, Mick Giandiletti, Ken Lindeman Jim Pranschke, Joseph Pranschke

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ELDERS REPORT – For December 1 Meeting (November stats)

Attendance Report: Average Weekly Sunday Attendance in November: 120 Special Services Attendance in November: 46

MEMORIAL DONATIONS:

From: Ken Pranschke, in memory of Hilde Pranschke’s birthday Designated For: Undesignated

From: Cheryl Navan & Family, in memory of Eileen Lecznar Designated For: General Fund

From: Cheryl Navan & Family, in memory of Eileen Lecznar Designated For: Quilters

THANK YOU TO THE PRAEDEL FAMILY for sponsoring the bulletin on Sunday, December 13, in memory of Maryloise Huseltine

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR SPONSORING

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS:

Richard & Sandy Bryer – in memory of loved ones Sharon Fischer – in memory of Kenneth Noel Fischer

Chuck & Rosalie Hanson – in memory of Chuck & Kay Hanson, and Ed Makowske, and Bud Hale Sally Lubeck – in memory of Loran Krause

Dave & Marge Milz – in memory of loved ones Gerry & Elizabeth Moehring – in memory of loved ones

Bill & Roxanna Mueller – in memory of their parents Jim & Debbie Pranschke – in memory of Rev. Roy & Hilde Pranschke, and Rev. Sam Pranschke

Jane Reed – for blessing of great-grandchildren Rosemary Reschke – in memory of Harry Reschke

Steve Vedder – in memory of Kathy Brule and Laura Vedder

Week Month Date Count Service Day

Sunday

TOTAL

44

November

1

52

63

8:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

115

45

8

60

59

8:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

119

46

15

41

110

8:30 a.m.

11 a.m. Upper Grade Choir

151

47

22

41

34

8:30 a.m.

11 a.m. 5” Snow

75

48

29

40

50

8:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

90

Treasurer’s Report

July – November 2015

Fiscal year to date:

Financial Summary

Actual Budget Better (Worse) Than Budget

Last Year

Income 192,976.20 157,122.10 35,864.10 163,695.40

Expenses 180,861.86 173,408.96 7,452.90 176,417.16

Excess (Deficit) 12,114.34 -16,296.86 28,411.20 -12,721.76

November 2015:

For this, our November report, we are thankful for God’s blessings to us in that we have another positive month. The adjusted net income for November is $4,389.76, with is $3,398.55 over budgeted expectations. Although current offerings, plate contributions and memorials were under budget, daycare and day school income exceeded budgeted expectations. We can be thankful that the Early Childhood Center is operating at full capacity. Thanks to all of our dedicated ECC staff who work hard caring for the children in this program. We also received a generous donation which supported the cost of the 60th Anniversary luncheon. The only major over budget expenditure in November was additional cost for repairs on the (vent) heating units in various areas of the building when the boilers were turned on. Amounts toward other ministries paid out in November are: Dimes for Missions (Scott Salo) $193.75 Dimes for Missions Rev.Ferry $136.56

Long term debts as of November 30, 2015: CEF mortgage $737,022.73 CEF renovation loan $108,866.12 Redford Township paving $3,352.03 Total $849,240.88 Mortgage and renovation loans

principal paid $1,228.32 Hoping you all enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Giving thanks to God, our Father who enables us to enjoy His blessings and be good stewards of what He has given to us. In His service, Sharon Fischer, Treasurer and Debbie Pranschke, Assistant Treasurer

Church Council Meeting Minutes

December 15, 2015

Present: S. Consani, S. Fischer, M. Giandiletti, D. Lapham, R. Lewandowski, S. Lubeck, E. Molisee, Pastor Undlin. Pastor opened with a devotion and prayer. Trust in the one true known, our God.

Treasurer’s Report – November was a positive month. The adjusted net income was $3,398.55 actual

to budget. Although current giving, plate offering and memorials were slightly under budget, preschool

and day care were above budget. Building and grounds expenditures were over budget by $4,500 due

to repairing the heat registers in the rooms. Concordia School is currently behind in pension plan

payments. D. Pranschke and S. Fischer will talk to D. Kusch about getting up to date. After discussion, it

was moved, seconded and passed to pay bonuses to the staff from money donated for that purpose.

Christian Education – Forty invitations were sent out for the Sunday School Christmas Party, Dec. 20th.

S. Consani will make some phone calls to personally invite families with children to the party. The Line

Dancers plan to hold a fund raiser in the spring to help purchase a defibrillator for the church. The

event will be held off campus and led by S. Consani and J. Owen.

Properties Board – The board is organizing a list of needed projects, including getting an estimate to

repair, repave the parking lot and getting the parking lot lights working.

Setting up the food pantry will be on hold until later next year.

A reception celebrating Dave Milz’s 60 years as a church organist is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 17th

between services.

A sign-up sheet for Lenten Service dinners will be posted. Groups are encouraged to sign up promptly.

CEF $1,000 Technology grant – After discussion it was moved, seconded and passed that Pastor order a

projector with the cost not exceeding $1,500.

National Youth Gathering – The four youths attending the youth gathering will meet in the New Year to

come up with some fundraising ideas for their trip. The Council voted to give the youth the 55” flat

screen TV received from signing the new copier contract to use in their fundraising efforts.

There is only one Children’s Bible left to hand out at the next baptism. Pastor asked that a few

Thrivent members use their Thrivent Action Team dollars to restock the bibles.

Ellen Mills is retiring from teaching next year. Her retirement celebration will be June 19th.

Pastor will be out of the office between Christmas and New Year’s.

Pastor closed with prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Sally Lubeck

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THANK YOUThank you for your response to our

Toys for Tots drive!

Your generosity was overwhelming!!

A van full of toys was delivered to the

collection point at the

Redford Twp. Fire Department.

May God be glorified through your

faithfulness in sowing into the community in

which He has placed us. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Free Piano Available We have a piano in the downstairs fellowship area that is no longer in use. If you are interested in it, please contact the church office at 313-937-2424. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lent begins in early

February this year.

Help us to begin planning now for our annual Lenten

Dinners. Please sign up in the ramp way if you (or you and a few friends) are able to host a dinner. Thank you in advance! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Monday, January 4th

The “Live” Mystery Board Game Join an Old Fashioned Ladies Society Gathering and celebrate the New Year in Fancy Dress! Bring your favorite Dessert to delight and share. From Mrs. Peacock to Professor Plum, dust off your feather boas, bring out

your charming chapeau, and join us for an evening of mystery and fun! Costumes are not required, but they sure are fun.

Please sign up in the ramp way if you plan to attend

We will be “undecorating” the church from all

the Christmas trimmings on Saturday, January

9. Please join us at 9 a.m. if you are able.

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MONTHLY PINOCHLE: Saturday,

January 9. Bring a finger food and meet

at the Cochran’s home at 7 p.m. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

MEN’S CLUB - January 14, 7 p.m.

In January, Men’s Club will meet in the Bible Study Room for an evening of “Ask the Pastor”, and event planning for the 2016 year. Bring a snack and beverage, and plan for a time of great fellowship.

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Hosanna-Tabor will be hosting

on Monday, January 18,

from 7 – 9 p.m. The cost is $93 per attendee

(couples count as one attendee). Please sign up

in the ramp way if you plan to attend. Payments

should be given directly to Jim Pranschke.

Financial Peace University (FPU) teaches us how to

make the right decisions with our money. Through

video teaching, class discussions and interactive

small group activities, FPU presents Biblical,

practical steps for you to manage the resources God

has blessed you with.

A video preview will be presented in the

7th

/8th

Grade Classroom on Sunday,

January 3rd

.

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RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH: Mitchell’s Fish Market in Livonia is our pick for

January. We will get together on Sunday, January

24 at 2:00 p.m. Check the sign-up board in the ramp

way for monthly restaurant information. Please call

Judy Cochran if you want to coordinate

transportation.

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FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER DEADLINE is Wednesday, January 27. Please send your

information via e-mail to dporter@concordials.org

or call the church office at 313-937-2424.

january 2016

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2John Kreutzkamp Daryl Lapham

3 4 5 6 7 8 9Timothy Johnson, Jr. Jeff Salo Sharlene Caltabiano

10 11 12 13 14 15 16Rebecca Bozzi Ralph Butzke Jim Gibbs

17 18 19 20 21 22 23Judean Owen Susan Sheppard Tim Henry, Jr.

Eric & Gale Molisee

24 25 26 27 28 29 30Ray Praedel Tatum Sheppard Lucas Howe Judy Johnson

Margaret Witherspoon Pat Klopschinsky

Frank Weide

31Carolyn Bellis

Ardythe St. Pierre

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Stewardship Minute

“In all things I have shown you that . . . we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord

Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). And indeed it is.

Does this not strike a chord that resonates in us all? Which of us can’t recall the look of surprise and

thanks for the Christmas gifts that we labored to give to those whom we love? And the joy written on

their face when that gift is received with thanksgiving means more than all the gifts we have received. It

is more blessed to give than to receive.

Our Lord knew this because He practiced it. He gave of Himself, sparing not even His life in death, in

order to give us back to our Father in heaven. He knew that in giving, you get more because in giving

joy is multiplied: the one who receives and the one who gives both rejoice in what is given and received.

What is more the one who receives is thankful and only wants to give back to the one who gave so

generously.

So also with our tithes and offerings in church. We want to give because we have received from God all

that we are and all that we have. Our giving does not originate in what we must do to earn God’s favor.

We have God’s favor because of the gift of His Son which we receive through Word and Sacrament.

Thus, we are made free from the compulsion of giving. Now our tithes and offering are freely given in

thanksgiving for what God has so generously given to us.

Why then does the church struggle to make budgets? Why does the church always seem stretched so

thin? After all the Church is the place where God not only gives to us once, but continually again and

again. And what gifts He gives! He gives us the forgiveness of sins, generously pouring out His grace

and mercy because He loves us. So why does the church struggle?

It is because sin still clings to us. Our fallen nature makes us selfish and miserly. It leads us to believe

that we can have our cake and eat it too. Because of sin we want to receive, but not give. We want God's

blessings, but we don’t want to share them with those around us. We want to remain comfortable in our

own self-contained, neat, and tidy lives, without the headaches of loving those around us by helping

them in their time of need.

“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to

receive.’” Remember that God has placed you in a church, not only to receive His grace and mercy, but

also to use you to bless others. Your tithes and offerings ensure that those around you have a pastor to

preach the life-saving and life-giving Word of God. They ensure that the lights and heat and air-

conditioning are working. They ensure there is water for Holy Baptism and bread and wine for the Holy

Communion. Everything the Church does, she is able to do by and through the generosity of the

members of the Church.

So remember the words of the Lord Jesus. It is more blessed to give than to receive. And remember the

joy that attended the gifts you gave at Christmas. This same joy attends your gifts to the church.

Bill Burmeister Church Extension Fund – Michigan District 800-242-3944 t bill.burmeister@mi-cef.org

This document is provided to assist you in your estate planning process and is not meant to offer financial or legal advice. Please contact your Attorney or Financial Advisor to obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances.

What Resolutions Will You Make??

A new year is starting. You may reflect on how things have gone the previous year. You decide to work hard to make some changes for the future. A list of resolutions is created, written down and even shared with someone to help hold you accountable. What’s on your list? Be more consistent with your quiet time and Bible reading? Exercise or at least walk three times per week? Finally lose the 10-15 pounds that has been on your list before? The day comes, the clock starts and you are determined to carry through this time.

It is good for us to set goals. It helps us to stay on task. We start fast and keep a steady pattern of activity, praying we can create the habit and make it part of our routine. But slowly distractions happen and life gets in the way of our good intentions. Does this sound like an all too familiar story?

God also made long range plans or resolutions. Luke 3:4 reminds us of Isaiah’s words, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Isaiah lived more than seven hundred years before John the Baptist preached by the Jordan River. Obviously God sees further into the future than we do. That’s why we trust Him when he tells us how to live our lives. He knows what’s coming and we don’t.

Now our future is secure. Jesus lived, died, rose from the dead and has gone ahead to prepare a place for us. As we travel through this earthly life getting ready for the time that we go home, how are we doing living out the plans God laid out for us? Are we caring for others, sharing the great news of salvation and supporting the ministries that have made a difference in our lives?

One of your resolutions may be to review your Estate Plan, making sure your Will or Revocable Living Trust do exactly what you want to see happen. Or it could be to finally get started putting your plan in place after many false starts. Have you included a Christian Preamble? Have you talked to the people listed as Personal Representative or Power of Attorney to make sure they are willing to accept those responsibilities? Did you include a gift to your favorite ministries as part of your Estate Plan, to support them when you get the “best gift”, eternal life? Now is a great time to complete that resolution!

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AUCTION TIME It is time to get ready for the 2016 CLS Auction, “With One Heart.” Our annual auction is a great time of fellowship as well as a major fundraiser for our school. We ask you to consider doing three things to support the auction: attend, donate, and solicit. First, the auction is only successful if lots of people attend. Please consider attending and perhaps putting together a group for a table (you get a free ticket if you buy a table). Ticket order forms can be found in the back of church and ticket are available in either church/school office. Second, the auction is only successful if we have items to auction off. Perhaps you make a craft item that you could donate or you saw something on sale for a great price at a store that you could buy and donate. Finally, the third item is really an extension of the second. You could solicit donations from others. Instead of (or in addition to) donating something you could solicit a donation from someone else. An example would be asking for a gift certificate from a business that you frequent. Donation forms are available in the back of church or in either church/school office. We pray that you will find some way in which you can support the 2016 CLS Auction.