Hope Notes - Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Friends of Hope~
That was the most awesome worship service last week!  Our praise team did a great job of reminding us how great our God truly is.  If you weren't feeling thankful when you walked in to the service, I bet you were feeling mighty grateful to our God when you left!  Please take some time to count those blessings again tomorrow!  Happy Thanksgiving to my church family; I am thankful for each and every one of you.

SUNDAY MESSAGE
Christmas Series
This year, we're going to take a look at some of the major characters in the Christmas story and try to see how this story unfolded through their eyes.  In such familiar stories, it is often natural to make the characters into caricatures and miss out on the real human experience reflected in the story.  This Christmas season, let's take a deeper look at each character and learn from what God did in their lives on that first Christmas

 

11/28 – Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph had a plan for his life.  It seemed like he had everything lined up – a wonderful woman, a good career, even a relationship with God.  But one night, the Lord changed all of that for Joseph.  In a dream, Joseph learned that God was going to give Mary a child and that this child would be God's Son.  Certainly this was surprising, but more than that, it was a dramatic turn from the idea he had about where he was headed.  God does that in our lives as well.  We believe we know what should happen and what will happen, and then our lives suddenly spring off in a new direction.  Many times, this is a difficult moment when we have to let go of our ideas and plans.  But Joseph embraced God's plan for his life, trusting that what God was doing was amazingly good.

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
There will be no Bible study on 11/24 (Thanksgiving Eve)
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

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)
Can you believe the Christmas season is almost upon us?  You know how quickly the calendar fills up during this time of year, so be sure to reserve this night for the café.  It's such a great time of fellowship (and food!).  Come and see what hidden talents your church family has to display!  Singers, poetry readers, story tellers, actors – all talents are wanted!  Please sign up in the back for talent and/or food.  See Liz Johnson with any questions.
Please Note:  There will be no Wednesday Evening Children's Program or Bible Study so that everyone can attend the café`.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE
9:30 – 10:00 am
Have you noticed how "on time" our service has been starting?  Are you missing the beginning each week?  Sometime the details of life get in the way of making it on time.  So, for the month of December, we're experimenting with providing coffee for you so that you can have your morning cup here with us!  That's one less thing to do at home.  Come and enjoy the warm up of a good cup of coffee and some God designed fellowship with your church family.  Be on time, because when service starts at 10:00, the coffee will disappear!  At the end of the month, we will evaluate and see if it's something we want to keep doing.

NOMINATIONS & BUDGET
On December 5^th we will be posting a list of nominations, our budget, and a constitutional amendment for partners to review and pray over during the month of December.  We will be voting on these items at our annual business meeting which takes place Wednesday, December 29^th at 7:00pm.

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. If you have not picked up a practice CD, please see Dana Ott. 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
Please Note:  Donations can
 be put in the wicker basket that's to the left of the kitchen door.

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

COAT RACKS NEEDED
We need someone who is handy with wood working to build coat racks for the classrooms and the youth room. Please see Glenn Johnson if you are able to help.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Beginning in January we will be adding a program for our elementary age children on Wednesday nights.  This will be meeting the same time as the adult Bible study (7:00 – 8:15).  We are in need of teachers and helpers.  Please see Jenn Winstel if you are interested in helping.

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:	LaTosha Briggs
LAMB'S MINISTRY:	Patti Tomasetti & Maurice Brazelis	(T)
	Brad & Karla Hopkins, Katie Ott	(I)
	Bill McGinness & Isaiah Owens	(C)
	Melissa Angel	(1st & 2nd)
	Kim Biglin & Kerry Crowley	(3rd- 5th)
GREETERS:	Al Lewis
	Lorraine Otis
	Charlotte Zediker
	Wendy Lynch
COUNTERS:	Melissa McGinness & K. Toomin
CLEANERS:	Jess St.Petery
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
Young Adults – Please pray that God would give the young adults here at Hope a heart for our new ministry so that they can grow in the Lord and forge closer relationships with each other.
Ron Brion -. Please keep Ron and his family in prayer as he begins the process of rehabilitation and developing enough strength so that he can go home.
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

Undeserving Yet Blessed,
Lois
 
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