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Everyone is a Minister of the Gospel
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your acts of kindness, and give glory to your God. Matthew 5:16

Statement Of Call:
We are called by God to be a radically inclusive, caring community of faith – offering personal and social transformation through Jesus Christ.

We are a reconciling congregation welcoming people of all sexual orientations.

2011–12 Worship Schedule
8:30 a.m. Chapel Worship with Communion and Singing
9:00 - 9:45 a.m. Adult Forum
9:00 - 9:35 a.m. Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m. Worship and Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Coffee and Fellowship

Office
Monday–Friday, 9–noon
7600 Harold Avenue, Golden Valley, Minnesota 55427
763 545 0239 • Fax 763 546 3109
Sunshine Valley Childcare: 763 545 6906

Staff:
Ministers: Congregation
Pastor: Rev. Ed DuBose
Youth and Family Minister: Debra Johnson
Minister of Music: Jerry Rubino
Instrumental Music Coordinator: Paul David Stanko
Office Manager: Peggy Bocklund
Children’s Choir Coordinator: Jane Samsal
Administrative Assistant: Janine Hall
Quartet: Wendy Gennaula, Susan Hofflander, Tom Witry and Max Wojtanowicz
Website ideas or comments? Steve Rossi

“In a world of technology, facts, and information, music brings us back to our basic humanness. It is one of the fundamental ways we have invented to search for life’s meaning and to express our human essence in this world. It is a main means of caring for and preserving the life of our spirit.”

Music! It's Role and Import in our Lives
Charles Fowler
Glencoe, 1994

Praise through music!
At Spirit of Hope Church we enhance our worship of God by allowing ourselves to express our faith through hearing and participating in musical expressions. Every worship service is unique because classical, traditional and contemporary forms of music are used. Just as our congregation is diverse, so is our musical style.

Our music program at Spirit of Hope offers:

• congregational singing as part of worship, including traditional hymns as well as praise and worship songs.
• an opportunity to discover, nurture and offer the artistic gifts we have been given by God.
• the leadership of three keyboard instruments: a 16-rank pipe organ, a 6-foot Yamaha grand piano, and a Kurzweil electric keyboard.
• cultural enrichment opportunities for the church community, including multiple church and interfaith opportunities.
• an outreach to the world through our compact disc, “Many Gifts, One Spirit.”
• the opportunity to participate in the following ensembles.

Our philosophy: “We love it when you’re here and bless you when you’re gone!” That means attendance every Sunday is more than welcome, but not required, to participate. Can’t wait to see you—

Jerry Rubino is beginning his 22nd year as Minister of Music at Spirit of Hope.

Along with Spiritual conviction, Jerry brings a tone of musical excellence and great enthusiasm to the musical offerings at Spirit of Hope.

Jerry Rubino is a conductor, pianist, singer, and coach regarded for his diverse musical interests, engaging artistry, and passionate enthusiasm for performing arts. Jerry founded and directs VOICES 360, a vocal and instrumental ensemble that prioritizes the collaborative process of the singer/actor and dancer to present multi disciplined performances of repertoire including early music, classical music, gospel, pop and jazz. His groups appear in diverse venues from Macy’s to Orchestra Hall. He is a music editor with Oxford University Press and the Hal Leonard Corporation, is the assistant conductor of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Chorale and his workshops and music directing have taken him to Australia, Asia, Europe, Canada and throughout the United States. In Minneapolis, he has taught at Northwestern, Augsburg and Carleton Colleges and recently music directed Swing at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters and Nautilus Music Theater productions of Man of La Mancha and Carousel at the Southern Theater.

Paul David Stanko,
Instrumental Music Coordinator
Serving various church families as Minster of Music for over 25 years, Paul David graduated from Coe College with a degree in percussion performance studying under such teachers as Dr. Paul Smoker (The Paul Smoker Trio, Joint Venture), Dave Samuels (Spyro Gyra), Bill Moersch, Libby Larsen and Phil Haynes.

He is a skilled marimbist as well as composer, arranger and singer. Paul David has served as a percussionist for several local orchestras and theater companies over the last 20 years in the Twin Cities.  He is also sought after as a composer, clinician and guest musician.

Paul David works for Macy’s Southdale as the General Manager for the Marketplace Foods and Confections. He and his partner, Tom, live in Plymouth with their two dogs.

Jane Samsal,
Children's Music Coordinator
Jane is excited to be a part of  the Spirit of Hope community and to be making music with all of the young people.  Jane has been singing and dancing professionally in the Twin Cities and around the country since she graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in vocal performance.  In 2003, she joined the music staff at Jefferson High School in Bloomington as the director of the JIVE show choir.  Working with the JIVE inspired Jane to become a full-time teacher and she is currently pursuing her teaching license in K-12 vocal/instrumental music and a Masters in Instruction.  In 2011, Jane added to her course load at Jefferson when she was hired to teach beginning and advanced dance in addition to her work in the music department.  Outside of school, Jane teaches private voice lessons and finds time to still sing and perform.  Music is truly her passion and being able to share her passion with young people is a privilege that she does not take for granted.

Adult Groups

Adult Choir
Led by conductor, arranger, and accompanist Jerry Rubino, our choir includes a wide spectrum of ages (9th grade through adult) and musical experience. We prepare musical offerings that vary in style from gospel and contemporary to jazz and classical. If you would like to join us as we seek to grow musically and spiritually by learning music to lead our worship services, our rehearsals are on Sunday morning at 9:00 AM.

Spirit A’Peal
Led by Jerry Rubino and assisted by Trudy Hoag and Kris Kooiker, this group of ringers, 9th grade through adult, uses four octaves of hand bells and two octaves of hand chimes to create music to enhance worship. If you enjoy music and can comprehend fundamental rhythmic notation, join us for rehearsals on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Instrumental Ensembles

Spirit of Hope Orchestra
The Spirit of Hope Orchestra, directed by Paul David Stanko,  is open to anyone with the desire to praise God through the gift of instrumental music. Basic music reading abilities and playing in an ensemble setting are required, but every skill level is welcome. We know the scriptures 1 Chronicles 13:8 NRS
David and all Israel were dancing
before God with all their might,
with song and lyres and harps
and tambourines and cymbals
and trumpets. talk of using cymbals, harps, lyres, trumpets, flute and tambourines to worship God. We strive to assist our congregation in entering into God’s presence with our musical gifts. This ensemble adds color and texture to our hymns, choral anthems and special music. The commitment is open, but regular attendance is encouraged. 

Spirit of Hope Praise Band
Scripture doesn't state it, but we're sure God loves a good beat! This group is the rhythm to our melody and harmony. Bass, drums, guitar and keyboardists are welcome to come and join our revolving pool of musicians. This group is a more advanced musical outlet. Ability to sight read, play in an ensemble, improvise and lead worship are recommended. Advanced brass and reed players are welcome as well.

Children’s Groups
The children’s and youth music ministry at Spirit of Hope is growing daily! We have so many children and youth participants, we had to split into different groups. Our goal is to provide musical experiences that teach songs and musical skills in a nurturing environment that mirrors the fun and fellowship found in the adult musical groups. This fosters a sense of belonging to an organization that provides something unique. Thus, beginning the process of what it means to make a contribution of time and talent and how that contribution enhances the worship experience for the church at large.

Holy Spirits
Tom Witry and Max Wojtanowicz, along with other artists from the congregation, provide leadership for this group of 4th through 9th grade youth most Sundays after church in the upstairs chapel. Open to all experience levels, the goal is to inspire and build on prior musical knowledge as well as teach the fundamentals. Holy Spirits explores musical fun through singing, hand bells, chimes, rhythm instruments and drama. Holy Spirits presents their musical gifts in church services whenever the “spirit” moves them to do so! 

Spirit Ringers and Spirit Singers
Susan Hofflander and other musicians from the Spirit of Hope congregation gather children from pre-K through 3rd grade for games and fun with music most Sundays right after church in the Fireside Room. They learn special songs, worship choruses, and hymns as well as hand chime and other instrumental arrangements of Christian music. This group provides presentations in church whenever they’re ready!

Susan Hofflander
Versatility is the hallmark of Susan Hofflander’s voice. Susan’s solid vocal technique allows her to perform opera, musical theater, jazz, gospel or contemporary Christian music with equal ease and stylistic accuracy. This unique ability brings Susan many diverse performing opportunities: from Bach to Bernstein, from Vivaldi to Webber. Twin Cities audiences may have experienced her performances with Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, The Guthrie Theater, Nautilus Music Theater and the national touring company of “Phantom of the Opera” at the Ordway. At Spirit of Hope, she volunteers her time to sit on the Music Council as well as co-director of the youth/children’s choirs. Susan has enjoyed the blessing of participation as a Praise Team member at Spirit of Hope since 1996 and looks forward to more great music and worship experiences!

Max Wojtanowicz
Max Wojtanowicz is thrilled to be singing at Spirit of Hope! A native of Rice, Minnesota, Max has been performing in the Twin Cities since graduating from St. Olaf College in 2006. He has worked with many theaters around town including the Children’s Theatre Company, Guthrie Theater, Skylark Opera, Heritage Theater, Urban Samurai, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Populus Theatre, the Great River Shakespeare Festival and Nautilus Music-Theater, where he first met Jerry and Susan.

Tom Witry
Tom has performed nationwide in over 50 professional theatrical productions, many of which he has shared the stage with his wife, Melissa O’Neill. He brings a strong choral background to all his work in the performing arts. His musicality and leadership skills provide him great versatility as a music director/arranger, stage director, stage manager and choreographer for productions and revues. Tom leads the adult bell choir (Hope Ringers), and is a member of the Staff Parish Relations Team at Spirit of Hope. Tom sings with Jerry in his vocal group, Jerry Rubino Plus, and is also a freelance model and commercial artist in the Twin Cities.

Melissa O’Neill
Melissa has performed professionally in a wide variety of venues from Opera to Musical Theater to Jazz and Contemporary Christian. She toured nationally as a featured soloist with Tony Sandler (Sandler & Young), and has sung and danced on the stage with such greats as Joel Grey, Phyllis Diller, Michael Feinstein, and with Steven Ross at the Ordway’s McKnight Theatre in the acclaimed production of, “I Won’t Dance.” Melissa has had the great pleasure of performing in the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s 50th Anniversary Chorale, with The Minnesota Opera Company, The Dale Warland Singers, North Star Opera Company, The Guthrie Theatre, Nautilus Music Theatre, and in many musical productions at The Ordway Center. It brings her so much joy to be singing with her hubby Tom here at Spirit of Hope. Melissa recently started teaching full time at Wayzata High School. There she conducts two 9th grade choirs, a small women’s ensemble called, “Vive Voce”, music directs the Fall and Spring Musical and has a private voice studio where she teaches over 30 students a week. Tom and Melissa are truly blessed to have a wonderful and amazing 9 year old son named Ian.