Hope Notes 12/9/10

Dear Friends of Hope~
The Christmas Elves have transformed our sanctuary once again!  I know we shouldn't need decorations to get us into the Christmas spirit, but it sure helps!  It just makes the whole place feel warm and "Christmasy".  You won't find any "holiday greetings" here at Hope!  We know that what we are celebrating is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and we are decorating for His birthday!

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

 

12/12 – Simeon – Learning to Wait

Luke 2:21-32

Waiting is not our favorite thing.  We should be very good at it with all the practice we have each week.  We wait in lines, we wait in traffic, and that's just the start.  In fact, it has been estimated that the average person spends seven years of their life waiting!  In the story of Jesus' birth, we find a little scene where a man named Simeon is described.  He had been waiting for a long time to see the Messiah.  When Jesus is finally presented in the temple, Simeon is overjoyed.  Most of the time, waiting produces frustration, exhaustion, or an array of problems.  But somehow, Simeon was not put off by waiting, and was able to fully enjoy the fulfillment of his patience.  Let's see what he learned about waiting that we can use to "wait well'.

 

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

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.
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

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.

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

ROOM CHANGES FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Wednesday, December 15^th
Heads Up!  We will be switching the normal rooms for a few groups.  The elementary kids will be practicing in the auditorium for their program on Sunday, so the adults will be moving back to the youth room for Bible study and the teens will be taking over one of the classrooms for their Christmas party. 

GIVING REPORT
Our average weekly giving for November was $3456, which is below our annual target average of $3500.  Please pray with us that the Lord will provide for Hope financially, and will give each of us an opportunity to sacrifice and give as He blesses!

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.

 

ADULT CHRISTMAS CHOIR
Adult Christmas Choir only has a few more practices left following the Sunday service on 12/5, and 12/12. Please remember the final rehearsal on MONDAY, 12/20 at 7:00pm!"

 

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

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:	Denise Brion
LAMB'S MINISTRY:	Jim & Debbie Bradshaw	(T)
	Helen Mastalski & Chris Rainey	(I)
	Linda Landis	(C)
	Lisa Landis	(1st & 2nd)
	Kylie Ott	(3rd- 5th)
GREETERS:	Mike Hartwell
	Lisa Minner
	Greg Corrado
	Lillian LaRue
COUNTERS:	Kathy Berry & Karen Blythe
CLEANERS:	Charlotte Zediker
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
Paul Homan – For his dad, Russ, who is having a triple bypass/valve replacement early Friday morning.  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

A Life that was Changed,
Lois
 
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