Hope Lutheran Church will host "Friendship Weekend" on February 20-21, culminating with "A Taste of Hope" to be held after the 10:40 a.m. service on Sunday.

"Friendship Weekend" is a part of the ABLAZE! movement where Hope joins the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and its partner and sister churches worldwide in a movement to reach 100 million people with the saving message of the Gospel by the year 2017, the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's Reformation.  ABLAZE! began as a vision of the LCMS World Mission to involve every member of the LCMS in a concentrated effort to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who do not know or accept Him.

LCMS has 2.5 million baptized members and ranks as the second largest Lutheran Church body in North America and is the 11th largest denomination in the United States.

A special part of "Friendship Weekend" will be the welcoming of new members to Hope.  The new members are presented with corsages to make them feel welcome, as well as so members can recognize and greet them.  Bags containing church information, a wooden wall cross and Hope cookbook are presented to the new members.

Hope Lutheran Church invites friends and neighbors to see what the church is like as a part of Friendship Weekend on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. at the blended worship service or Sunday for the 8:00 a.m. traditional worship or 10:40 a.m. contemporary service.

Following the 10:40 a.m. service, "A Taste of Hope" will be held in the fellowship hall where various groups within the congregation will have displays exhibiting what they do.

This year "Taste of Hope" goes international.  Each group will pick a mission/missionary and provide a food item from the country.  A competition between groups will be part of the fun of the event.  Guests are also invited to attend.

The community is invited to visit this weekend (or any weekend).  Hope Lutheran Church is located one block east of Fond du Lac Avenue and one block south of 4th Street at 260 Vincent Street.

Action Advertiser Fond du Lac, WI

Born in Freemont, Ohio, the second son of Reverend Robert O. and Jane Huff, he was no stranger to moving.  His father served as a pastor in American Lutheran Church congregations in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. After graduating from Eastern Michigan University, he went to law school in Columbus, Ohio before leaving half way through to enter Trinity Lutheran Seminary.  Upon graduating in 1983, Pastor Huff joined his father as an Associate Pastor at First Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wisconsin where he served for five years. 

In January 1989 Pastor Huff entered the Armed Forces chaplain school and in March was assigned his first tour of duty in Brunswick, Maine at the Naval Air Station.  While there he served with Navy air crews flying the P-3 Orion.   

A plank-owner on the USS Gettysburg CG 64 and the Aegis Cruiser USS Monterey CG 61, Chaplain Huff spent the majority of the next three years overseas.  From 1995 to 2009, Pastor Huff has served with Marines.  His first Marine tour was at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Virginia.  While there he was assigned to the staff at Officer Candidate School (OCS), was given the duties of the senior chapel pastor of the Marine Corps Memorial Chapel, and served as the Protestant Chaplain for the FBI Academy.  Leaving Active Duty, Pastor Huff joined the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment out of Chicago, Illinois, which had units in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. 

When he wasn’t spending time with Marines, Steve worked at Monterey Mills in Janesville as their corporate chaplain.  Pastor Huff joined the staff at Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hartland, Wisconsin in 2004 and went through the colloquy process of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod during the spring of 2005.

Pastor Huff has served in three church bodies, the American Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the LCMS.  On the military side, he has served with sailors, coast guardsmen, and Marines around the world in over thirty foreign countries. 

Pastor Huff is married to the former Barbara Lynn Shella of Jasper, Minnesota.  They have three children:  Leah, Megan, and Sam.  Leah is a graduate of Marquette University and is married to Brandon Strong of Milwaukee.  Megan is a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran and teaches children at Hope Lutheran School in the Milwaukee central city.  And Sam is a senior finance major at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin.

News Release - April 2009
Preserving the Pipes

At Hope Lutheran Church on Vincent Street, the classic organ hasn’t gone out of style. In fact, the congregation has gladly donated the money to keep it playing the last 30 years.  Music director Ken Hill said the organ costs about $500 per year in upkeep, but a recent maintenance project totaled around $18,000. Through fundraising, the church made $50,000. The extra money will be saved for future repairs and maintenance.

Keeping a classic organ healthy is no easy feat. The 3,000-pipe instrument spans the balcony of the church. To reach it, maintenance personnel enter a door at the base, then crawl around the pipes and up ladders to reach various parts. Flashlights and steady feet are a must.  The pipes’ size also makes things interesting. Hill said the tallest one stands about 16 feet. The smallest are about the length of an average adult hand.  Hill said the different parts allow a wider range of sound.  “The longer the pipe is, the lower its pitch,” he explained.  Smaller pipes have the opposite effect. Some are so high they may resemble a dog whistle.  Hill said a little sacrifice now could have its benefits down the road, considering that new organs cost around $400,000.  “We want to keep it in good shape,” he said. “It’s worth the investment.” 

The Reporter, Fond du Lac, WI

News Release - March 2009
Hope Presents “Understanding Depression and How to Help”

A presentation entitled “Understanding Depression and How to Help” will be held at 7:00 p.m. on March 26 at Hope Lutheran Church, 260 Vincent Street, Fond du Lac, sponsored by the Parish Nurse Ministry and the Board of Outreach.  The presentation is being offered to the community as a part of their efforts to reach out to those in need in and around Fond du Lac.  This presentation is free and people dealing with depression, either themselves or with loved ones, are invited and encouraged to attend.  No registration is required.

The presenter is Steve Lande, MSSW.  Steve is a clinical therapist with Lutheran Counseling and Family Services.  He is a graduate of the University of Madison with a Masters Degree in social work.  He has been working with individuals, couples and families with mental health and relational issues for over 14 years.

News Release - March 2009
Hope Lutheran Donates Paper Shredder

A "change for change" fundraising effort held at Hope Lutheran Church of Fond du Lac has resulted in the purchase of a commercial grade paper shredder donated to the clients of Day Care Service Facility in Waupun, a branch of Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services.

Members of Hope Lutheran Church donated their loose change for several weeks, collected into a large plastic bottle kept in the narthex of the church. Children involved in Hope Lutheran's Sunday School Program also participated in the fundraising event. Additional funds were raised through the selling of greeting cards.

The purchase of the industrial shredder allows the clients of Day Care Service Facility to shred papers for businesses. Day Care Service Facility provides care, education, daily life skills and job training for 32 developmentally disabled adults. The clients of Day Care Service Facility perform several tasks for area businesses, including Rock River Labs, Berres Brothers Coffee, Uncle Josh's Fishing Bait and Federal Mogul of Waupun. Some jobs pay by the piece, others pay by the hour. The clients performing the work receive the pay.

Becky Smith serves as the manager of Day Care Service Facility.

The senior high youth group at Hope Lutheran Church will host a Mexican Fiesta night in the Fellowship Hall, 260 Vincent Street, Fond du Lac on Tuesday, February 17, serving from   4:30 pm – 7:00 pm.  The cost of the meal is $4.00 (ages 10-adult) $2.00 (ages 3-9) and children 2 and under eat free.  The All-You-Can-Eat Menu includes hard and soft shell tacos, taco in a bag, refried beans, nachos, desserts and beverages. The public is invited to attend the 2009 Mexican Fiesta.

Profits will be used for the Senior High Youth and three adult chaperones who will travel to the Ysleta Lutheran Mission in El Paso, Texas for their annual summer servant event.  Matching funds have been applied for through Thrivent Financial Services. 

Hope Lutheran Church will host its annual “Taste of Hope” on Sunday, February 15, in the Fellowship Hall following the 10:40 a.m. Contemporary Service.  Various groups within the congregation will have displays exhibiting what they do, along with lots of tasty treats under the theme “Food for Friends”.  A competition between groups will be a part of the fun. 

The “Taste of Hope” is open to all members, friends and to the community at no charge.  Hope Lutheran Church is located one block east of Fond du Lac Avenue and one block south of 4th Street at 260 Vincent Street.