Hope Notes 12/23/10 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dear Friends of Hope~
Are you ready?  Or are you panicking?  Are you thinking of all the things still left on your To Do list?  Or are you remembering what it is we are really celebrating?  There is so much hustle bustle during the Christmas season.  All the extra cooking, cleaning, and decorating.  We are so busy trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on our list that we forget about the gift of Immanuel – God with us.  Please take some time during your holiday preparation frenzy to sit back, take a breath, and unwrap His gift to you – the gift of His presence.

 

SUNDAY MESSAGE

12/26 – Adult Cantata - Wise Men – Looking for Light

Matthew 2:1-12

Light is one of those necessities we tend to take for granted.  After all, sunlight is free and shows up every day.  We are so accustomed to turning on lights in the dark that we hardly ever think about what life would be like if we didn't have light.  But just because we're used to having light doesn't make it any less vital for our lives.  And that applies to our spiritual lives as well.  We need light to find a way that actually works.  In this part of the Christmas story, we find the 'late arriving' participants – the wise men – looking to the lights in heaven to find their way.  It is such an appropriate picture because the One they found is the Light of the World and the only hope any of us have to find our way!

 

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
Our Christmas Eve service will be at 6:00 pm and last for less than an hour.  We will have music, carols, Scripture readings and candle lighting.  Make sure to set aside some time to come and reflect on the birth of our Savior.
Please Note:  We will be taking an offering to help care for families in need.  Please pray and give as you are led.

 

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 DECEMBER – LEVITICUS
Leviticus is basically a list of "dos and don'ts" that helped distinguish the Israelites from the surrounding pagan nations that did not know God.  It spells out in detail how the Jews were to live and what kinds of sacrifices and offerings they were to present to God.  Although we aren't required to keep these laws today (Jesus fulfilled them for us) it is still important to understand them, for they point to the work of Christ and help us picture what His death accomplished for us.

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.
Please Note:  There will be no Bible Study until January 5^th.

YOUNG ADULTS
Monday January 3^rd at 7:30
Attention all young adults (post High School through early thirties)!  Come and be a part of our Young Adults group.  We are making a six month commitment to meet once a month on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 right here at Hope.  We will be doing a study together and will also use this time to get to know one another.  At the end of six months, we will reevaluate and figure out what God has in store for us next!  If you are in this age category, please come and join us.  Your participation is important to the group and to Hope.

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.  The elementary classes will begin in January

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

SMALL GROUPS
Please note that the Small Groups will be on hiatus until after the Christmas season.  The next study sheets will come out on January 9^th.

 

WEEKEND TO REMEMBER
February 25 thru 27, 2011
Pastor Mark & Dana would like to invite you to join them for this weekend of relationship building.  It's a wonderful time of connecting and improving your marriage.  If this weekend isn't good for you, there are still other locations and dates for the conference that can be found on their website.  Any of their conferences in 2011 can be signed up under our group rate ($159 per couple).  In addition to registering with Family Life online or by phone, each couple will need to make hotel reservations for the weekend at the hosting hotel (or another area hotel).  The contact info for the hotels is listed with the registration information on the website.
To register, simply log on to http://www.familylife.com/groups/hopenj  and signup as a part of our group.  Our group name is "hopenj".  You will automatically receive the discounted rate.  After you register for the conference, call the hotel and reserve a room as well.  .  If you sign up for the Hershey conference, we'll be having a meeting on the Sunday before we go to give everyone some idea of what to expect. Then, get ready to spend the weekend with the one you love, building your relationship as husband and wife!

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

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
Monday, December 27^th 1:00 – 7:00pm
Please be sure to come and donate blood next week.  It's right here at Hope.  You can contact Bob Baumiester at 609-458-7777 or register online at redcrossblood.org.  Our sponsor code is 10550.

 

CAR NEEDED

We have a person here at Hope in need of a car.  They are currently taking a taxi just to get to church.  If anyone can be of help, please contact Lorraine Otis at 856-686-1557.

NO MORE SIGN IN TABLE!
We now have buzzers in each class (nursery, toddlers, and pre-school) so we have eliminated the Sign In table.   Parents with children in these age groups should now sign your kids in at their classes.  If you have kids in multiple classes, you will get a buzzer at the first class, and use that buzzer number for all classes (so you only have one buzzer for all your kids, like before).  Please do not drop your children off at their classroom before 9:45 in order to give our teachers a chance to prepare for class.

 

TODDLER & PRE-K MEETING
January 2, 2001
There will be a meeting for all teachers who work with the Toddler and Pre-K classes immediately after the service on Jan. 2, 2011 to discuss the new buzzer system, learn how to use it properly, and pray together as a group for the children and the upcoming year.

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
Our budget and the list of nominees are now posted in the back so that our partners can pray and be ready for the annual business meeting which takes place Wednesday, December 29^th at 7:00pm.  There are copies of the proposed constitutional amendment on the back table for our partners to review before voting at the meeting.  See Pastor Mark with any questions.

 

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
Wednesday, December 29th @ 7:00pm
Along with the voting for our nominees, our budget, and our constitutional amendment, Pastor Mark will be sharing some of what God has laid on his heart for the future direction of Hope.  We need for all of our partners to be here to vote, as well as anyone for whom Hope is home.  Come out and see what God has in store for us!
Please Note:  There will be no Children's Program or childcare that evening so that everyone can attend the meeting.

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. 
 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.

 

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

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Want to help us with the most effective and powerful ministry at Hope?  Join in as part of our Kid's Ministry!  Here's what to do:
          Nursery
                   Contact Brain or Naidona Ott
                   856-589-2047 or ottbraint@netscape.net
          Toddlers & Preschool
                   Contact Franne Harkin
                   609-458-2124 or fhark7@yahoo.com
          Elementary
                   Contact Anita Little
                   856-783-7168 or alittleshopper@yahoo.com
          Wednesday Night Program
                   Contact Jen Winstel
                   856-782-7798 or jenwinrn@comcast.net
Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

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.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
SIGN-IN TABLE:	Kara Ott
LAMB'S MINISTRY:	John & Dawn Brazelis	(T)
	TBA	(I)
	Tina & Craig Campana	(C)
	Melissa McGinness	(1st & 2nd)
	Kimmie Rice	(3rd- 5th)
GREETERS:	Mike Hartwell
	Lisa Minner
	Greg Corrado
	Lillian LaRue
COUNTERS:	Bill Berry & Rob Devereaux
CLEANERS:	Jess St.Petery
TOY CLEANERS:	Ken & Karen Blythe

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
Dan Rozinski – For Dan's brother, Dave. He has been fighting cancer for years and now has cancer in his liver. Needs strength and faith to keep fighting. Also lift up his wife and 2 kids.
Paul Homan - For his dad, Russ, recovering from triple bypass/valve replacement.  For his mom, Anna, to have the strength to go through the recovery process with him.
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.

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

Waiting Expectantly for the Long-Expected One,
Lois
 
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