The Voice January 2021

God Shines On and In This Dark World

Another year has come and gone. And most of us may think, “None too soon.” The time period we label “2020” has been filled with a good deal of unsettling events. Whether it be the weather conditions or financial variations, the political processes or virus and medical challenges, things were unpredictable. Add to this government responses, technological developments, or changes in your personal family situations, and the past year has been rather disruptive. Unlike prior years, the schedule of events seen as routine for the next few months is not laid out for us. Most folks are in a mode one might call “tentative” as they wait to learn when there might be vaccines for them. Others are not sure they want to risk trying such a thing. Some might say it looks like you are in dan- ger if you get a shot, and in danger if you do not. What is sure and certain for us? Take a deep breath, and recall the reaction of the Magi when they left Jerusalem. Where were they headed? To Bethlehem they went, following the star that brought them, until it stopped. They moved as long as the light in front of them was moving. Where it led, they went. When it stopped, they stopped. When it showed them the right spot to be, they rejoiced! God gave them light in a time of darkness, a star in the night of ignorance. God did not abandon them. God does not abandon us, either. As was discussed in Bible class this past December, and mentioned in sermons as well, the Word of God is a lamp for our feet. The Bible provides a light for the path on which we walk. God does not leave people in the dark. God sends His light and His truth into this world. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” As the Magi followed the leading of God’s light, so do we. In Jesus, St. John reminds us, is the light of humanity, and that light is life. We show it in our worship, as we light candles to teach us that light is from God, in Christ. We show it in the lights on Christmas trees and wreathes, on porches and roof lines, lights shining in the darkness at the celebration of the One born King of Judah, and of all people of God. That light is shining still. Do we now know exactly what will happen next? Of course we do not. But we do not need to know; God knows. That light is shining on us. That light is also shining through us , as we confess Jesus to our family, to our friends and neighbors, even to strangers we may encounter. “On those dwelling in deep darkness, a light has dawned.” The church-all of us, each of us-makes up the body of Christ, the Lamb of God. The Lamb is the light of the city of God, as well as the light of the world. God shines on and in this dark world. God said, “Let there be light!” And so there is light.

Pastor Theiss

A monthly publication of Hanover Lutheran Church, Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Page 2 The Voice of Hanover Youth Group News

Hanover Youth Group participated in the Jackson parade of lights on December 6, 2020. It was a wonderful afternoon and evening and we enjoyed the float and spreading Christmas cheer.

Thank You to everyone that ordered the Hanover 175 year ornament. If you have not picked your ornament up yet they are in the church office window.

Youth Group wants to wish and pray for everyone to have a safe and Happy New Year!! “Oh eternal father, thank you for the blessings of the year pass. We ask you to be our guide in the year to come in Jesus name amen”

Congratulations to Kaitlyn, Lauren and Nate for completing their confirmation. It took longer than expected but their faith statements expressed their love for our heavenly father and their banners are wonderful.

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Board of Ed News

Our annual Christmas Eve Children’s Program looked a little different this year. We had planned to have a “Live Nativity” outdoors, however, it was too COLD!!! So, we held our Children’s Program in the warmth of the Sanctuary on Sunday, December 27th for our parents and grandparents. Thank you to everyone that helped make this program happen!

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Ladies Aid News

The 175th Anniversary Cookbooks are here and ready for purchase! The cost is $12.50 each and they are available at the office or by contacting a member of the Ladies Aid.

Thank you to everyone who contributed recipes!

A note from the Chairman…

Proposals for Voters’ Assembly Meetings

I would like to discuss the proper method in which all proposals are to be submitted to a Voters’ Assembly Meeting for Voter Approval. According to the Hanover Constitution (Article 7, item D) any ‘motion’ re- quiring Voter approval must first be submitted to Church Council in writing by a Board or Committee for review and approval by Council. Upon approval by Council the proposal would then be submitted to a Vot- ers’ Assembly meeting for a vote by Voters’.

Therefore, if anyone is interested in bringing a ‘motion’ to a Voters’ meeting you would first bring the item to the appropriate Board or Committee, who would submit it in writing to Church Council and if approved move on to a Voters’ Assembly Meeting.

Thank you for using this appropriate process allowing all ‘motions’ to be thoroughly evaluated before going to a Voters’ Assembly Meeting.

Thanks for your time, Tom Hadler, Chairman of the Congregation

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From the Director – January 2021

Greetings my Hanover friends! The new year has arrived full of hope and promise! I have nothing especially insightful about the upcoming year except to agree with many that last year was challenging. Of course soci- ety's response to Covid19 has changed the way things are done and why things are done in our world and at Hanover also. It's January and time for me to make the annual invitation for interested individuals to contrib- ute to the music program at Hanover. Contributions can be in various forms (and we can use all forms) in- cluding talented or enthusiastic people to make music for Hanover to God's Glory. We also need prayers concerning our musical efforts and gifts of treasure are also appreciated.

I have also been asked to coordinate a group of people to assist in recording services and Bible studies to make the study of God's Word available to our members who may not be able to attend in person. As the subject of helping out at church comes up (and there are more opportunities to serve at Hanover than the groups in which I am involved) I often hear comments about a person's lack of musical talent, a lack of au- dio/visual knowledge or a discomfort with volunteering, which led me to remember...

This past month I happened to be reading in the book of Hosea, the minor prophet, where among other things, he was told to take an unfaithful woman, Gomer, for a wife (and “to try again” and take her back after she left him). Fascinating story that relates how Israel was looking at other idols and not putting their trust in the Lord, in His gift of salvation. I really wanted to write something scholarly that paralleled our music de- partment and some aspect of Hosea's life. But I'm not theologically educated enough to make that compari- son. However, I do wonder if Hosea was comfortable marrying Gomer. Read the story and tell me what you think. Maybe by then I will understand the story better myself.

My line of thinking led me back to my newest challenge of 2021. VIDEO. I don't know a lot about it yet, but it's pretty easy to find information to study. Why don't you join me and we can learn how we can serve our Lord and meet the challenges before us.

The good news (that you already know if you read Hosea) is that God still loves us, even when we stray from the path He has set for us. Chapter 14 speaks of the glory of repentance. God lets us get back on the path. Glory to God!

In His service,

Keith Koenig Music Director Hanover Lutheran Church 573.579.2614

Page 6 The Voice of Hanover

Those Serving in January

Ushers 7:45 am 10:15 am

Captain: Rich Behring, 334-0931 Bruce Schmidt, 979-6846 Alex Brown, 979-7075 Randy Arbuckle, 979-5351 Terry Gerlach, 334-7002 Jonathan Fritzler, Jacob Koenig, 243-9110 John Hall, 334-2999 Samuel Koenig, 243-9110 Ben Meyr, 275-6604 Adam Koenig, 243-9110 Coire Michael, 579-7273 John Morgan, 75-7714 Altar Guild Pam Woodruff, 803-9348 Patsy Goodpasture, 270-4794 Liz Brown, 579-4722 Amy Roth, 450-1132

Giving for December Memorials Given in December Count from December 2, 2020

General Fund $ 9,433.50 In loving memory of: Designated $ 815.00 Building Fund $ 470.00 Old Church Fund $ 20.00 David Roth Ruby Moore

Count from December 15, 2020 Marty Schuessler

General Fund $14,379.00 Designated $ 742.00 Building Fund $ 665.00 Old Church Fund $ 315.00

Count from December 29, 2020

General Fund $14,004.50 Designated $ 562.50 Memorials $ 1295.00 Building Fund $ 1120.00 Old Church Fund $ 50.00

January 2021 Page 7 Happy Birthday! Adelynn Lewis 1/4 Kylie Bilek 1/14 Eddie Lowrey 1/4 Janet Brandes 1/14 Cali Knepp 1/4 Tom Campbell 1/15 Matthew Mangels 1/6 Amy Roth 1/15 Paul Lowes 1/7 Callie Brown 1/16 Ellie Cagle 1/8 Nicole Bilek 1/17 Grace Davis 1/8 Bill Hennecke 1/18 Joan Cantwell 1/9 Tyler Gerlach 1/21 Zachary Walter 1/9 Vanessa Stevens 1/22 Sean Eom 1/9 Ruth Strack Hunze 1/23 Jack Miller 1/9 Mike Brown 1/23 Tammy Knepp 1/10 Kenneth Volkerding 1/24 Carie Arbuckle 1/11 Dutch Meyr 1/24 Earl Bartels 1/12 Jamie Hutson 1/25 Robert Keller 1/12 Laure Meyr 1/26 Donna Wallace 1/12 Bailey Walter 1/28 Ian Roth 1/13 Zack Childers 1/30 Denae Walter 1/13 Pat Renner 1/30 Jane Sinn 1/13

Joe & Melissa Ford 1/1 Woody & Pam Woodruff 1/3 Dan & Lois Conklin 1/9 Sean & Soon Eom 1/19 Kenneth & Mary Whitlock 1/22

Page 8 The Voice of Hanover

History of New Year’s Resolutions

The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the new year—though for them the year began not in January but in mid-March, when the crops were planted. During a massive 12-day reli- gious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. These promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. If the Babylonians kept to their word, their (pagan) gods would bestow favor on them for the coming year. If not, they would fall out of the gods’ favor—a place no one wanted to be.

A similar practice occurred in ancient Rome, after the reform-minded emperor Julius Caesar tinkered with the calendar and established January 1 as the beginning of the new year circa 46 B.C. Named for Janus, the two- faced god whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, January had special significance for the Romans. Be- lieving that Janus symbolically looked backwards into the previous year and ahead into the future, the Romans offered sacrifices to the deity and made promises of good conduct for the coming year.

For early Christians, the first day of the new year became the traditional occasion for thinking about one’s past mistakes and resolving to do and be better in the future. In 1740, the English cler- gyman John Wesley, founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal Service, most com- monly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Also known as known as watch night services, they included readings from Scriptures and hymn singing, and served as a spiritual alternative to the raucous celebrations normally held to celebrate the coming of the new year. Now popular with- in evangelical Protestant churches, especially African American denominations and congregations, watch night services held on New Year’s Eve are often spent praying and making resolutions for the coming year.

Despite the tradition’s religious roots, New Year’s resolutions today are a mostly secular practice. Instead of making promises to the gods, most people make resolutions only to themselves, and fo- cus purely on self-improvement (which may explain why such resolutions seem so hard to follow through on). According to recent research, while as many as 45 percent of Americans say they usually make New Year’s resolutions, only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals. But that dismal record probably won’t stop people from making resolutions anytime soon—after all, we’ve had about 4,000 years of practice.

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Saturday 2 9 16 23 30

Friday 1 OFFICECLOSED 8 15 22 29

Hanover Lutheran Church Lutheran Hanover

Thursday 7 14 21 28

Wednesday 6 13 20 27 10:Study 00amBible 3:30pmConfirmation 10:Study 00amBible 3:30pmConfirmation 6:00pmHandbells NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 10:Study 00amBible 3:30pmConfirmation 6:00pmHandbells 10:Study 00amBible 3:30pmConfirmation 6:00pmHandbells 4:45pm Finance Board Finance 4:45pm Board Finance 4:45pm

Tuesday 5 12 19 26

6pm

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sMeeting 6pm

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Monday 4 Cross Red Blood Drive(AC) 2 11 18 25 Church6pm Council Voter

TRUSTEES

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January 2021 2021 January

Sunday CHECK FILTERS 3 10 17 24 31 9:00amSS/Bible Study Worship10:15am 7:45amCommunion 9:00amSS/Bible Study 10:15amCommunion Worship7:45am 9:00amSS/Bible Study Worship10:15am 7:45amCommunion 9:00amSS/Bible Study 10:15amCommunion Worship7:45am 9:00amSS/Bible Study Worship10:15am Worship7:45am

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REQUESTED SERVICE RETURN

Synod Missouri - Church Lutheran

www.hanoverlutheran.com Website:

8583 - 335 - 573 Phone:

63701 Missouri Girardeau, Cape

Road Perryville 2949

Church Lutheran Hanover