Hope Notes 12/18/08

Dear Friends of Hope ~

Come and celebrate Christmas Sunday with us as we give praise to the One who left His rightful place in heaven and stepped down to earth to show us His love. If you've been unable to attend for awhile, this is the perfect Sunday to come out and worship with us! God is right here, waiting to greet you with open arms………..and so are we.

SUNDAY SERMON

12/21 – Too Late for Redemption? (Luke 2:1-7)

When is it too late for someone to turn their life around? It is easy to say that it is never too late, but for many, real life doesn't seem to bear that out. Do we know people that need to be "redeemed" but quietly believe that they'll never be redeemed? Maybe there are people in our church or people we know who have given up on ever turning their life around. But the message of Christmas is that Jesus steps in when the world says there is no more hope and brings life and healing and forgiveness against impossible odds. On this Christmas Sunday, we want to celebrate and turn our hearts to the Rescuer for us all by seeing what He can do for a man rejected and disgusting to his own people, a God follower who fell hard, and a dying sinner.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

December 24^th @ 6:30

We will be having a short service for everyone who wants to come and celebrate Christmas together as a church. We'll read the Christmas story, have some music and prayer. We won't be long (maybe 45 min), but it will be a great time to help us all keep Christ as the center of Christmas!

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.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER TIME

Our Sunday morning prayer time is open to everyone. We start at 9:15 am in one of the classrooms. We pray for the services that morning and for the needs in the church.

BIBLE READING FOR DECEMBER - 1 CORINTHIANS

Paul's first letter to this church tackles all sorts of problems - pride, sexual immorality, infighting, and drunkenness at communion services. Christians in the church there had continued to take part in some of those sins even after their conversion. Paul wrote to them to correct both their thinking and their behavior. They were like many of us today - they knew Christ, but they still needed His cleansing.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER

February 13 - 15, 2009

Hershey Lodge

PO Box 446

Hershey, PA 17033-0446

1-800-437-7439

We are getting a group of married couples together to experience this amazing marriage seminar. You can register by phone or email -

(www.familylife.com/groups/HOPEHANDS). The cost is $89/person if using our group code 12332. This is good up until 10 days prior to the event (about 1/30/09). If you register 10 days or fewer, the cost per person is $129. See Melissa McGinness with questions.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

SPECIAL WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

NOTE: There will be no Bible Study on 12/31 - study will resume on 1/7.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BLOOD DRIVE

Monday December 29^th 1:00 - 7:00 pm

The synagogue is sponsoring a blood drive. Call Grace at 845-0540 for an appointment.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

December 28^th

We will have our business meeting immediately following the service. Partners should be prepared to vote for the Leadership & Deacon Team positions.

LEADERSHIP TEAM & DEACONS

Nominees are posted on the bulletin board on the back table. Please prayerfully consider who they will vote to appoint to these positions.

HELP WANTED

Pre-School Class - Two more teams needed to fill out our teaching rotation. If anyone can help, please contact Debbie Bradshaw (856-417-3242).

Media Team - Looking for people with computer or video skills, some creativity, or just a willingness to learn! See Matt Headley or Dylan Albright for more info.

NURSERY SUPPLIES NEEDED

We are looking for items to furnish our nursery - changing table, crib, etc. If anyone has things they can donate, see LaTosha Briggs.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS ARE:

SIGN-IN TABLE: June Elliott

LAMB'S MINISTRY: Matt Headley, Katie Ott (T)

Jennifer Headley, Rachael Goeggel (I)

Damon Briggs, Maurice Brazelis (C)

GREETERS: Bill & Nancy Murray

COUNTERS: Karen J & Lois

CLEANERS: Jess

PRAYER REQUESTS

Colette Bleistine - Twenty year old only child of George & Nancy Bleistine (friends of Pam & Dan Rozinski). She is in the hospital awaiting a lung transplant due to complications from her cystic fibrosis.

Seeking Employment - Bill Berry and Mike Hartwell. Pray for doors to open for a job and for patience as they wait & search.

Building - For the Lord to direct us as to how to best use the building He's provided, including what work to do and where to spend money. Also, continue to seek God's direction in the search for a permanent home for us.

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

Celebrating With You the Birth of our Savior,

Lois

God gives the very best to those who leave the choices up to Him!

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