Where Can You Use Your Gifts?

If you find a ministry that matches your gifts and passion

contact Pastor Willmar or Church Chairperson Bob Poulseen

and they will plug you in!

Church Chairperson:  S/he provides administrative leadership of the Church and presides at Church business, Church Council and Church Executive Meetings.  They are elected to a term of two years.

Church Secretary:  S/he keeps complete and accurate minutes of all regular and special business meetings, meetings of Church Council and Church Executive meetings.

Church Treasurer:  S/he acts as cashier and keeps a central set of financial books covering all the accounts of the Church and of all its participating organizations.  They work closely with the Board of Trustees to pay Church bills.

Board of Trustees: Is a group of five members who basically take care of the physical Church property and business. They make sure the building remains in good condition and they also put together the church budget. Below are several ministries that fall under the Trustees.

Cemetery Committee: Mow the cemetery grass and other cemetery maintenance.

Sexton/Assistant Sexton: Keep records of cemetery. They locate and mark graves for burial.

Social Committee: They coordinate and supervise congregational receptions and fellowship meals.

Video and Sound: Record Sunday morning Worship and other special Church services.

Board of Deacons: Is a group of six members who help people meet their Spiritual needs. Their business is soul care. Ministries include: ministering to the sick, admonishing and encouraging members, provide for worship services, mediate conflict, provide for hospitality for visitors and members alike, assist in administering the ordinances, cooperate with the pastor, administer a benevolence fund. Below are several ministries that fall under the Deacons.

Mennonite Mutual Aid Representative: Work with MMA to promote Mutual Aid and to find matching grants for                                                            benevolence needs. Also promote Stewardship Education.

Sunday Morning Greeters: Receive and welcome members and visitors as they arrive at Church.

Ushers: Welcome people, hand-out printed materials, invite people into the sanctuary, help with the offerings.

Visitation Team: Each quarter you are assigned a visitation schedule that invites you to visit a shut-in and/or                                          widow(er) member.

Board of Education: A group of 3 people who coordinate various educational functions within the Church. They develop and review regularly the goals and objectives of all our educational programs. Below are several ministries that fall under the BOE.

Sunday School Teachers: Teach our children and adults.

Midweek Leaders: Help teach our children and adults

Children’s/Adult Superintendent: Two separate ministries, each order and distribute the S.S. materials to students and                                                     teachers.

Music Committee: Organize the music ministry of the church. They arrange for special music and church choirs.

Sounds of Hope: Hoffnungsau singing group open to anyone who likes to sing. Help lead Sunday morning worship.

Praise Team: Help lead contemporary music during the worship service.

Pianists and Organists: Help accompany music during worship services and offer their gift of music in other settings.

Peace and Social Justice Committee: Develop and implement Christian peace and justice education. They keep the                                                               congregation aware of peace and social justice issues and are also in place to                                                               assist our young people if they need to deal with the Selective Service and military                                                         conscription.

Congregational Historian: Collects and archives relevant church records, documents and photos from individuals,                                                boards and committees.

Library Committee: Maintain, develop and promote the church library and its materials.

Bethel College Committee: Promote our relationship with Bethel College , N. Newton KS .

Mennonite Disaster Service Committee: Serve as contact person who promotes, coordinates, and encourages people to respond to MDS projects and or other disaster aid.

Relief Committee: Serve as contacts that promote, coordinate and encourage people to participate in the efforts of the church to provide Christian relief and aid. They vigorously support and help with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) projects. Three are: 1) MCC meat canning; 2) MCC Relief Sale ; 3) The Bag Factory (making MCC kits).

Mission Supper: This outreach ministry organizes the annual Mission Supper. They choose a project and then organize the event. Last year the event raised over $5500, feeding 400 people.

Gift Fund: This group of people serves as caretakers of a sizeable endowment. Each year they award grants to outreach projects generated by Hoffnungsau members. Currently the endowment sum is $50,000.

Happy Hour Circle: A women’s group that meets for worship, fellowship and service. They have a strong history of supporting ministries with their quilting and other projects. They are very active in church ministry.

Pleasant View Home Board Member: Represents the interests of PVH to the Church and “vice versa”.

Hutchinson Soup Kitchen: Every 3^rd Monday of the month Hoffnungsau members help serve supper at the Christian Soup Kitchen Ministry in Hutchinson .

Tree House Pre-School : Our newest ministry scheduled to open in the Fall of 2006. Rachel Ediger runs the pre-school and is always in need of volunteers to help in a variety of ways. For more general information or registration information contact the church office.

These are just the tip of the ice-berg for ministry and service opportunities at Hoffnungsau.

Where do your gifts fit in?

We welcome new ideas and if they fit into the vision and faith

of the Church we are willing to work with your vision and gifts to reveal

the love and grace of Christ

around the world and across the street.