Hope Notes 4-17-2008

Dear Friends of Hope ~

Let's all remember Pastor Mark's request last week and keep the Building Team in our prayers as we wait for God to make clear what we should do about a new home for Hope. We are asking for God to close doors that we should not pursue, to open doors where He wants us, and for the wisdom & courage to step through those open doors!

SUNDAY SERVICE

Pray for One Another 2Thess 2:16-3:5

We hear it all the time: Pray for me. What does that mean? What do we do? Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for him, but he goes further in giving them some specific things to pray about. As we take advantage of our privilege before the throne of God to bring our requests to Him, we must remember to lift up one another! This stretches us beyond selfishness and connects us on a deeply spiritual level to our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Let us all rededicate ourselves to praying for our spiritual family, and watch how God uses our faithfulness in prayer to bring us together.

OUTREACH SUNDAY

May 4th

Look what's coming on Outreach Sunday!

*The chance to sponsor one of our own for a missions trip this summer.

*The opportunity to sign up for a short term missions trip ourselves.

* A look at how we can be trained in sharing our faith.

* A chance to participate in a huge activity at the Wachovia Center

(for free!) in the fall with top name artists, a clear gospel presentation

and invitation.

Join us on this day as we look at many of the ways God has provided for us to be a part of building God's kingdom. This is something we all need to be a part of - come and see all the opportunities you have to share His love. Then, join in with whichever one(s) fit you best!

CD'S AVAILABLE

Please remember that our services are available on CD immediately following the service for FREE! Pick up a copy for yourself or for anyone they want to share Hope with. Pastor Mark's messages are also available on our website, www.hopechristianfellowship.org.

BIBLE READING FOR APRIL - 2 John, 3 John, Jude

2 John stresses that our love for one another and for God will show itself most when we obey God's commandments. It warns against false teaching and wordly thinking that wants to deceive us into walking away from our faith.

3 John is bit of encouragement for all of us to continue to live out our faith and to treat servants of God with the kindness and hospitality due them.

Jude warns the church against following immoral teachers and those who teach false doctrine. Jude calls us to persevere in the face of whatever opposes our faith, and he helps us to endure by reminding us of the promise of our final reward.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

Softball Team - Games Schedule has begun!

Be sure to check the Salt & Light weekly calendar for future games. Schedules will be available in the back of the church. See Damon Briggs for info.

COMMUNITY CLEAN UP - THIS SATURDAY

April 19th @ 8:45 am (April 26th Rain Date)

Gloucester County Freeholders Building

Delaw & Broad - Woodbury NJ

We need a minimum of 15 from Hope for this event so that we can raise $500 for our building fund!

Come out and join Hope as we raise money for our new building. This is a great family activity which will help our community as well as our building fund! Get ready to get dirty and pick up some trash! Trash bags, rakes, and gloves provided. Sign up sheet on Activities Board. See Poppy Gillin for more information. 856-401-0553

MEN'S SKEET SHOOT - THIS SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH

Sunday April 20th 2:00 pm

Come join us at the Piney Hollow Shooting Range in Williamstown for an afternoon of fellowship and fun! We will go out to lunch afterwards. Sign up sheet is located on the Activities Board in back. See Ray Gillin with any questions.

SINGLES POT LUCK SUPPER/GAME NIGHT

Saturday April 26th @ 6:00

See Kim Biglin or Rick Mounce for details.

RIVERSHARKS FAITH & FAMILY NIGHT

May 10th 5:00 pm

Campbells Field in Camden

Payment of $11/person is due now! Please give to Wendy Lynch.

Fireworks pre & post-game. Christian bands pre-game & during 7th inning stretch. Rob Baumiester (Bob and Carole's son) and his band, Compelled, will be playing! Sign up sheet located on Activities Board in back. Only a few reserved tickets left at $11/person, get your money in right away!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ice Cream Social - June

Adult Picnic - July

Family Picnic - August

Harvest Crusade - October 3rd to 5th

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

Last night, we talked about how we get distracted from the most important things by responsibilities and good things. Unfortunately, that sometimes leaves out what we really need, and builds stress in our lives. We're working hard, but just barely keeping up. If this sounds like your life, join us next week as we continue on this discussion. We meet at Pastor Mark's house, and for those who need to bring their children, they can play in the basement while we study from 7:30 to 8:30 (sharp!). A small investment of an hour can mean so much to your week!

BECOMING A CONTAGIOUS CHRISTIAN

Monday evenings in May and June at Bob & Carole Baumiester's.

7:30 -8:30

Featuring all new material with training by the authors of the study on how to effectively share our faith. Whether you are someone who has never shared your faith, or never thought about what you would say, or if you are a veteran witness who just needs to take some time to refresh and get some new ideas - this course will be powerful! It fits in with our focus for our Outreach 2008 at Hope. We are all called to be witnesses; we want to be trained on how to be good at it! Deadline to sign up is 5/4 so that we can order books.

GRIEF GROUP - THIS FRIDAY

The next meeting for the Grief Group at Lorraine Otis' home is April 18th.

If anyone knows of someone suffering a loss who they would like Hope to reach out to, email Lorraine at lorraineotis@comcast.net and she will provide some practical & Christian grief material for them. It can be mailed directly or given to someone at church to pass on.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNEXPECTED EXPENSE/NEED

We have come across an unforeseen expense of about $2000 to register our church as an official non-profit organization with the federal government. This will help us in applying for grants and in making our status as a non-profit rock solid. We will spend that money "out of budget", but if anyone would like to contribute in order to help offset this expense, see one of our Deacons or drop your gift in the offering and designate it as "special project". Thank you!

APPLIANCES AVAILABLE

Norm Angel has a washer & dryer for anyone who needs it. He is even willing to deliver it to your door!

DIRECTORY UPDATE

Leah Spark's cell phone #860-518-0858.

LAMB'S MINISTRY NEED

Our little lambs are thirsty! Please bring in donations of juice boxes (no red juice, please). Give to Debbie Bradshaw or LaTosha Briggs.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS ARE:

SIGN-IN TABLE: Natalie Davis

LAMB'S MINISTRY: Sissel Salayda, Drew Ott (T)

John & Jackie Salayda (I)

Mike & June Elliott (C)

Melissa & Marissa Angel (P)

GREETERS: Charlotte Zediker

COUNTERS: Bob & Bill

CLEANERS: Jess

PRAYER REQUESTS

Building - For God's leading to be made clear as we at Hope pursue different options on a new church home. The meeting with the synagogue went exceptionally well - look for more info soon, and keep praying for God's direction here as well as with the land!

Hartwell - For the Meade family as they grieve the loss of their father /

husband who was recently killed in a car accident.

Mark and Brian Ott's grandmother - is only expected to live a few more days at the most - pray for God's strength and comfort for the family.

Help us to remember to pray, Lord. Not just for these specific requests, but "in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Ph 4:6

Created to Worship Him,

Lois