The new stuff doesn’t look like this. But it’s a nice picture, no?

Been hankerin’ for a new River of Hope shirt?  Or maybe you’ve not had one and never even really thought about wearing something with your church’s name on it.  Well that time has passed, my friends.  We’ve had a new logo for a while and we’ve finally gotten it on stuff you can wear.  So there.

You have until July 31 to place your order for a new tshirt, a hoodie, a crew-neck sweatshirt, or a long sleeve tshirt.  Available with your choice between 2 logos – River of Hope or Hope Floats.

$3 of each sale will be given to the youth at River of Hope.

Click on the link below and then enter: roh into the “store code” box.  Pay on-line and they will be delivered to River of Hope and we’ll bring ’em to ya at worship or at the fair.  Or maybe we’ll even show up at your front door!

Here’s the link.

Do you have a River of Hope tshirt?  You don’t?  Your old one is ratty and well worn?  Cool.  We’re gonna order new ones.  Our guess is they’ll be around $12/shirt.  Would you like to order one?  Two?  Cool.  Leave a comment below or email Anita, the Office Administrator for River of Hope at [email protected].  Tell her how many and what size too.  We’re still deciding color, so you can weigh in on that if you have a strong opinion.  “Hope Floats” will be on the back.

I often tell people – publicly and privately – that I have the best job.  I feel deeply called into this work.  I am invited into important and significant moments in people’s lives.  I’m invited into painful spots.  I get to weep and rejoice with you.  It’s really just so incredible.  If I had to sum it up in another way: I get paid to point to hope. I get to point to God.

And, at times, it is difficult to find.  Sometimes other people point to it for me.  It’s often a group effort.  Sometimes it’s so plain I can hardly stand it.  Or obvious. Or beautiful. Or terrible.

Part of our lives together, these last few months, have involved talking about money.  It’s been a painful learning curve for me.  Public learning as a leader is not for the faint of heart.  But I will emphasize the word learning in that last sentence.  Because if I weren’t learning, that’d be a whole other, terrible thing.

Just as we’ve learned together that being church today is a whole new thing, so is sustaining a church.  In all the ways we’ve been re-imagining how to be church, the financial aspect has been left in the old school ways of thinking, and it’s showing.

So, in an effort to point to hope and to what God is doing, here is what I’ve learned:

I’ve learned…

• Many have been hurt by some church in your lifetime. You’ve seen money misused and abused.  You get nervous when you hear me or others from River of Hope talk about money.  It’s mixed up with salvation and love somehow.  Sigh.
• Some don’t think church and money mix. Or that you shouldn’t talk about money in church.
• Sending a message of being “financially fine” doesn’t inspire additional giving.

I’ve also learned that

• I’m going to have to talk about money more often to our gathered community.
• AND won’t it be great when it’s in a “for the future, then we’ll…” dreamy kinda way, instead of this more panic-y, let’s close this gap way.
• We’ll share ways that hands and feet and hearts and money are helping to make things happen.

We are certainly closing the gap but the up-coming cuts will hurt.  We need office space.  We need an administrator.  We need a place to worship and we need worship leadership.  No fluff. No building campaign. No guilt.

Come and learn more with me, will you?  We live just on the edge of the Mecca of incredible Lutheran thinkers.  And they are busy re-thinking church in about every way, shape, and form.  Rethinking Stewardship July 28-30.  Register here.  It’s the anti-conference. They get to the meat of the thing and then we get to chew on it.

Hope is shaking loose out of fearful places as people step forward to make things happen on their dime.  God is stirring us up to look to the future, about what’s next.  God is bringing new people into our congregation. God is calling new leaders to step up and serve.  Creative ideas are being dreamed. New small groups are forming.  Visitors continue to dip their toes into the river.

Pastor Larry Strenge brought the Good News and an invitation & challenge to give. (also good news. small g. small n.)

Hopeful People!

We heard from Larry Strenge this morning, the Director for Evangelical Mission with the Southwestern Minnesota Synod.  Get this:

If we get 50 people signed up for Simply Giving, an automatic withdrawal program, (link here to sign up) the synod will give River of Hope $500/month for 6 months.  Fun fact, we’ve been at 27 and moved to 32.  We are well into the 30s after worship today.

You can also email John Paulsen, River of Hope treasurer, at [email protected] to get the ball rolling!

Sign up today to give consistently to this ministry.

It’s simple to give.  (See what I did there?)

It’s that time again!  All ages are invited for supper and to dive deeper into the scripture together from Sunday.  It’s interactive. It’s practice for living a life of faith.  We all need supper and we all need practice.

6-7:30.  Wednesday, April 19. Hope to see you there.