Hope Notes 5-15-2008

Dear Friends of Hope ~

Don't come to church this Sunday! At least, don't come to the fire hall. Remember, this is the Sunday we are meeting at the synagogue in Woodbury to "test" our worship service there. It will be extra special because we are having Communion. Don't worry..........God won't get lost. He's already there - ready for us to come and worship Him!

SUNDAY SERVICE

COMMUNION AT THE SYNAGOGUE

God's Gifts - 2Thess 3:16-18

God gives. We are tempted to think that He takes, but His Word clearly tells us that He gives. As we finish our study in 2Thessalonians, we will see some pretty amazing stuff that God gives to His children. Actually, it is an "exclusive offer" - no one else can give these things! On the day that we remember God's biggest gift (His Son), it is important for us to see how much God has given us.

HELP US MOVE

May 17 @ 10:00

Meet at Hope with your vans and pickup trucks to help us load the sound equipment and get it over to the synagogue. We will also need help getting things back to Hope after the service Sunday morning.

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 MAY - ROMANS

Romans is the apostle Paul's most theological letter and answers the question, "How can sinful man be accepted by a holy God?" The first eleven chapters offer the most straightforward, easily understood explanation of the plan of salvation that can be found in the New Testament. Romans can definitely help you explain to non-believers why they need to know Jesus and how they can receive His free gift of salvation.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

GRIEF GROUP

May 30 @ 6:00

The last meeting of the Grief Group until September will be a dinner held at Lorraine Otis' home. Reminder: Anyone needing Christian grief reading material for someone can contact Lorraine at lorraineotis@comcast.net.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ice Cream Social - June

Adult Picnic - July 26th at the Baumiester's

Family Picnic - August

Harvest Crusade - October 3rd to 5th

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

"Do I Have to Live Stressed Out?"

Join us this week as we continue on with our 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 yields a great return for your week!

20-SOMETHINGS BIBLE STUDY

Friday 5/16 @ 7:30

Due to a schedule conflict, the Bible study will be meeting again this Friday at Brad & Karla Hopkins' house. The study will then return to being every other Friday.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BILL McGINNESS

Now is the time to help support Bill as he ministers with the Saints Prison Ministry softball team. The prison mission field is ripe for the harvest; many of these young men have never been shown the love of Christ before, and every summer there is a great response to the gospel message. Please prayerfully consider supporting Bill financially. He has to raise his own support and any donations would be greatly appreciate and used for God's kingdom. Just write Bill's name on the envelope and make the check payable to Hope.

HARVEST CRUSADE

October 3rd thru 5th

There are some wonderful opportunities available for us here at Hope to be a part of the Harvest Crusade. You can be a part of the "Follow Up Team" that receives all the cards for people who made decisions for Christ at the crusade in our local area. You will then have the opportunity to call these people and invite them to Hope. Al Lewis & Ellen Jones are heading up the Follow Up Team. If you would like to be a part of this, contact Al at lewis@voorhees.k12.nj.us with any questions.

In addition, there are classes available for those who would like to be ushers or counselors at the crusade.

A sign up sheet is in the back of the church for anyone interested in any of these opportunities.

Contact Lois Hartwell (foolsforchrist7@yahoo.com) or Karen Jones with any questions regarding the Harvest Crusade. We need to have these positions in place by June 1st.

WEST VIRGINIA MISSION TRIP

September 18th thru 21st

Make a difference in someone's life this fall. Consider a long weekend mission trip to Chestnut Ridge, WV. Cost of the trip is $225/person. This includes your meals, lodging, and construction materials. You will be helping a family or local church in need. See Mike or Lois Hartwell with any questions. Sign up sheet in back of church - please sign up by June 1st.

DRIVER NEEDED

Dorothy Haines needs a ride to & from our Sample Service on May 18th and to & from the Baumiester's "Contagious Christian" study Monday nights. If we move to the synagogue, she will need a ride to & from each Sunday. Dorothy lives right down the street from Hope. Anyone who can help should get in touch with Dorothy.

ACTIVITIES TEAM

Our Activities Team needs you! The church activities are a vital part of our fellowship and an important part of Hope. It would be great to have some more heads for ideas, and some more hands for putting things together. Please see June Elliott if you are interested.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS ARE:

SIGN-IN TABLE: June Elliott

LAMB'S MINISTRY: Jim Bradshaw, Kara Ott (T)

Bill McGinness, Damon Ott (I)

Damon Briggs, Mauricio V.(C)

Anne Owens, Sharon

Sambucci, Jess St. Petery (P)

GREETERS: Karen Blythe

COUNTERS: Bob and Bill

CLEANERS: Poppy

PRAYER REQUESTS

Hartwell - For the Cote family whose son, Jonathon, was beaten to death after 523 days of captivity in Iraq.

Melissa Bradshaw - For her friend Jaci's father (Bob Morris) who just had an emergency triple bypass.

Building - For God's leading to be made clear as we at Hope pursue different options on a new church home. Please keep praying for God's direction with the synagogue, as well as with the land!

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

God's Child,

Lois