 |
|
Hope's 2020 Christmas Celebration drive-thru event on December 12 was a social-distanced success. 350 gift bags containing face masks, cookie decorating kits, and ornament crafts were distributed to our members, friends, and local senior care centers to spread the joy of Christmas.
Here are some scenes from the event:
|
|
|
 |
|
This crew pulled together 350 gift bags for HOPEs Christmas Celebration
|
|
|
|
Pastor Jim delivering over 100 gift bags to a senior care home as part of HOPEs Christmas Celebration
|
 |
|
|
|
Santa & Mrs Claus with their elf helpers... passing out gift bags in front of HOPE.
|
|
|
Having lots of fun passing out Gift Bags.
|
 |
|
|
|
As a member congregation of the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council, we want to communicate that we have an awareness and are taking a stand against the advancement of racism.
This is the Interfailth Council's published statement:
Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council’s Statement Against Racism
The ancient words of Micah 6:8 remind us: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
The Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council is outraged by the systemic racism that continues to exist in our country. Abuse of power, misuse of authority, and misguided sense of privilege has created a chasm of inequality that pains us and thereby must be the genesis of our collective efforts to improve life for all people.
Our association of diverse faiths stand in solidarity, of one mind and one purpose; Acting justly in decrying racial injustice, not only in regard to George Floyd, but for all people of color. One central precept of our varied religious traditions is that all people are created in the image of God therefore we must act justly and be merciful toward all humanity.
We recognize and walk humbly with God and with those who engage in peaceful protest in honor of the memory of George Floyd and so many others who suffer at the hand of this evil sin called racism. At the same time, we decry the unnecessary looting and violence that denies voices of the peaceful to be heard and not ignored.
Our prayers of healing are with the families of George Floyd and all those whose loved ones have been subjected to similar brutalities. Our efforts will be centered on working towards the dismantling of systemic racism at all levels. Our words must not lay idle, as our hearts and minds will be set on building interracial and further interreligious coalitions with others throughout our Northwest suburban communities and beyond, in the pursuit of eliminating racist policies and pursuing true equality for every person of every color under God’s firmament.
Rabbi Lisa Bellows, Congregation Beth Am;
Rabbi Richard Prass, Congregation Beth Am;
Rabbi Morris Zimbalist, Congregation Beth Judea;
Rabbi Ilana Baden, Temple Chai;
Rabbi Emeritus Stephen Hart, Temple Chai;
Cantor Scott Simon, Temple Chai;
Rev. James Andrews, Hope Lutheran Church
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow, Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue
Rev. James Preston, Kingswood United Methodist Church
Pastor Clayton Edwards, Kingswood United Methodist Church
Rev. David Breese, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
Rev. Dan Whiteside, St. Mary Parish
Rev. Richard Sztorc, St. Mary Parish
Deacon Dan Georgen, St. Mary Parish
Father Joseph N. Le, St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish
Father Corey Brost, St. Viator House
|
|
 |
|
Creating Community: Spreading Love, Eradicating Hate
Our congregation has recently created a committee, called Creating Community, which is dedicated to spreading LOVE and eradicating hate through education, understanding, tolerance, and positive action. While everyone talks generally about love, there is very little discussion about how specifically to promote love in our everyday lives. Therefore, we have come up with a vision.
Our plan is to create a series of workshop events where we invite the public to a 1-2 hour program
consisting of a presenter, a small group discussion, followed by a large group discussion. The presenters would be professionals who work to promote understanding and tolerance. The discussions would be focused on: what specifically can I do to promote love and good will in my community? How am I going to change my behavior? How can I make a difference? We will be inviting congregations of all faiths, as well as secular groups and individuals to attend. We see HOPE as a catalyst for promoting positive discussion on these issues. Watch for announcements of upcoming events!
If you want more information, or would like to participate in the planning, please contact Renee Clark at renee@reneeclarkhomes.com
|
|
|
 |
|
Hope Lutheran Church members and friends donated the contents for 38 Thanksgiving Baskets to provide needy families in our area with food for Thanksgiving dinners.
|
|
|
|
