Hope Notes 11/11/10

Dear Friends of Hope~
Do we miss Pastor Mark and his family?  Sure we do!  But isn't it comforting to see how God provides the people and the things we need to "keep us going" while they are away?  It makes me feel like we truly are a family; pitching in to help when one of us is unable to be here.  Let us make a special effort to extend that love and care to everyone who walks through Hope's doors.  I am confident that even the visitors will see that we are a church body who supports one another and who pulls together as a team.  They might not get to meet our pastor if they come on a Sunday when he isn't here, but they will surely meet the love of Jesus as shown by our congregation!

SUNDAY MESSAGE
11/14 – MESSAGE FROM DWIGHT LEIN
We will have the privilege of having one of our own share his gift of teaching with us! Dwight has been a part of Hope for about two years and has worked as a pastor and youth pastor for many years.  We look forward to hearing Dwight share what God has laid on his heart through the Word.  This will also be a special Sunday for our worship team since they get to sit back and enjoy worship led by Glenn's band mate and friend, Rick Sawyer.

CD'S AVAILABLE
Did you know that Sunday's worship service is available on CD immediately following the service for FREE? Pick up a copy for yourself or for anyone you would like 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. If you would like to participate, just show up! Contact Jim Bradshaw at Prayer Team with any questions.

BIBLE READING FOR NOVEMBER – EZEKIEL
This book condemns the spiritual condition of the Jewish people prior to the fall of Jerusalem.  Ezekiel announces that there will be severe judgment, including the destruction of the city and its Temple.  He had warned them not to place their trust in a building, but in God; yet they didn't listen.  The last third of the book makes numerous prophecies concerning the restoration of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY
7:00-8:15pm
Think the book of Genesis couldn't possibly relate to us and the world in which we live? Think again! Genesis means beginnings and that's just what this book is about. It describes a loving God who made all things perfectly, but also tells about the beginning of sin and how it ruined what had been a perfect relationship between God and man. Isn't that still happening today? Join us as we continue our study on the book of Genesis.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT KIDS PROGRAM
7:00 – 8:15
The adults aren't the only ones who could use a spiritual boost in the middle of the week!  We are thrilled that we now have a program currently running for ages 2-3 and 4-5. Classes meet in the same rooms as those age groups meet on Sundays.
Our elementary children will be practicing their Christmas program on Wed nights during this time frame. Then, in January, we'll add a program for that age group on Wed nights. 

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
1st and 3rd Monday of each month, starting Monday, October 4 @ 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at Church.  All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP
Friday, November 19^th @ 7:00 pm
We're inviting all of our young adults (anyone who has graduated from high school all the way through their early thirties) to a fellowship and game night! Bring a dessert or snack if you can; we'll have coffee and drinks, plus some extra snacks.  Pastor Mark and Dana will take some time during the evening to talk through a tentative plan for moving forward as a Young Adults Group. Our heart is to pull this group together and see if God directs us to start having regular get-togethers. We'd love for every young adult at Hope to be there to give their feedback!

DINNER EVENT
SUPPORT OUR GUATEMALAN MISSIONARY, LAUREN PUPCHICK
Basket Full of Hope Dinner/Chinese Auction
Friday, December 3^rd @ 7:00 pm
Cost $25/person & $1.00 for each auction ticket
Special Guest Mirna Perez, Director of Proximos Pasos Girl's School
Here's your opportunity to do work on the mission field without even leaving your home!  Make a difference in the lives of 125 Guatemalan girls by supporting this event and helping to raise the $15,000 needed to finish building their Christian school.  
The dinner is being held at Scarpinato's Catering, 333 Preston Ave, Voorhees, NJ. Lauren will also be there!
For more details contact Lauren's sisters: Juliet @ 609-221-2264 or Jaci @ 856-625-2342.  There is also an invitation posted on our Missions Bulletin board.

CHRISTMAS PARTY / CAFÉ
Wednesday, December 8^th @ 7:00 pm (in place of Bible study)
Singers, poetry readers, story tellers, actors, any talent, wanted!  Watch for sign up info to come.

YOUTH ANNOUNCEMENTS – ROOTED
"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water." Jeremiah 17:7-8

YOUTH GROUP
Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30
Note that this coincides with Bible Study. This is a great mid-week touch point for our youth a spiritual shot in the arm to get them through the week. Please make every effort to get your kids here; you won't regret it.

HOAGIE SCAVENGER HUNT – DATE CHANGED TO 11/20
Saturday, November 20^th
Meet at church at 5:00 pm
Who can make the best hoagies?  After we go on a scavenger hunt for all the hoagie fixings, we'll come back to church for judging and declaring a winner!  Of course, then we will hang out and EAT the hoagies!
We need families close to church to open their house for a short visit by youth to pick up pieces of hoagies. We also need a few extra drivers to escort the kids from house to house. Please contact Steph Mulder at (856) 745-0932.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CURCH CLEANING
The people who used to clean for Hope are no longer able to do so.  We are looking for a company that knows how to handle cleaning large facilities – like us!  We would prefer a Christian company, if possible.  If anyone can recommend someone, it would be a big help.
Until we can get a company scheduled to come out, we need some volunteers to come early Sunday morning or Saturday during the day to help maintain the building. This would entail vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, moping, dry moping, etc.  Please see Jess St.Petery, Glenn Johnson, or Bob Baumiester if you are interested in helping.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY MEETING
Sunday November 21
There will be a brief meeting immediately following the service for those who are interested in helping with our Wednesday Evening Children's Program beginning in January. TD BANK AFFINITY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
We're Almost to our Goal!
 We recently joined TD Bank's Affinity Membership Program, which provides Hope Christian Fellowship the opportunity to earn annual cash contributions.  There is no cost to the church or the congregation.  TD Bank contributes a percentage of the annual balance in every one of our members' accounts.  Checking, savings, money market, CDs and retirement accounts are all included! We just need 50 households in the program in order for us to receive a contribution. We currently have 37 households signed up for the program.  That means we need to get at least 13 more households to signup.  We need to exceed 50 in order for the cash contributions to keep accumulating.  If we go below 50 households, the earnings will stop until we get back to 50 households participating. 
 All you need to do is make TD your bank!  If you already have accounts at TD Bank, simply have those accounts linked to the Hope Christian Fellowship Affinity Membership Program.  On Sunday, there will be sign up forms on the back table for those that didn't get a chance to sign up previously. Also, we are not limited to just our church family.  If you have any friends, family or colleagues that currently bank with TD, ask them if they would be willing to link their account(s) to Hope Christian Fellowship Affinity Membership Program.  The church will NOT have any access to any account information linked to the program.  For more information on this program, see Damon Briggs.

ADULT CHRISTMAS CHOIR
Practices will be from 11:45-1:15pm each Sunday afternoon with the exception of 11/14 & 12/29.  If you have not picked up a practice CD, please see Dana Ott. Choir books have arrived and will be on the right side of the stage this Sunday - feel free to take one home and begin to familiarize yourselves with the songs - just be sure you don't lose it! Looking forward to a great season of celebrating Jesus' birth in song!

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Keep in mind that the Toddler and Pre-school classes will be practicing for their Christmas program each Sunday morning during the worship service. Please have your children here as much as possible over the next few months so that they can learn the songs and verses well!  Also, the Primary Class (1-5th) is meeting each Wednesday night during Bible Study (7:00 until 8:15 sharp) to prepare for their program.

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS – NOVEMBER
THANKSGIVING DINNER – We are coordinating with Pam Fein to collect items needed for Thanksgiving Baskets.  She will have a signup sheet in the back; please check the sheet and write down what you will be contributing.  We are looking for items like turkeys yams, stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, biscuits, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, pies, etc.   Please Note:  Donations can
 be put in the wicker basket that's to the left of the kitchen door.

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

HELP NEEDED FOR PRIMARY CLASS
We are in need of helpers for the 1^st & 2^nd and 3^rd-5^th grade class.  Please see Anita Little if you would like to volunteer.

NURSERY NEED
Praise God for some volunteers! We now need just 2 adults and 3 teens from the youth group to maintain a 12 week rotation of 2 weeks on and 10 weeks off on Sunday mornings. Please note that anyone wishing to serve must have a background check done by the church before they can serve. If you are interested, please see Brian or Naidona Ott.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
SIGN-IN TABLE:	Kylie Ott
LAMB'S MINISTRY:	Matt & Jenn Headley	(T)
	TBA	(I)
	Kim Lawlor & Erin Sweeney	(C)
	Kathleen Toomin & Janet Welsh	(1st & 2nd)
	Anne Owens	(3rd- 5th)
GREETERS:	Al Lewis
	Lorraine Otis
	Charlotte Zediker
	Wendy Lynch
COUNTERS:	Carole Baumiester & Karen Jones
CLEANERS:	Kathleen Toomin
TOY CLEANERS:	Melissa & Bill McGinness

HOPES PRAYER TEAM
If you have a prayer request, please fill out a prayer request card and drop it in the offering slot at the back of the church on Sunday or use the "Prayer Request Form" on our website. If you have any questions or would like to join the Prayer Team, please contact Jim Bradshaw directly at Prayer@hopechristianfellowship.org.

PRAYER REQUESTS
Chandra Fallstick –For Trent Williams, a 6 year old recently diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer. He is starting 6 weeks of daily radiation therapy, then a month's rest before starting 6-8 months of chemotherapy.
Please pray that God gives the doctors the wisdom to help his body heal. Also for his family to deal with his illness and for finances as they have to travel 2 hours to the hospital, plus cover over and above the insurance!
Brian Rozinski – Please pray for wisdom & discernment as the doctors try to diagnose some debilitating health issues. Also for healing and for patience as Brian and his family go through this process.
Ron Brion -. Please keep Ron and his family in prayer as he struggles with setbacks and complications from his recent heart attacks and as he begins the process of rehabilitation.
Please pray for God's direction in putting together a group for our Young Adults.

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

Seeking His Face,
Lois
 
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