Hope Notes 12/22/11
Dear Friends of Hope~
Maybe it's because we don't have any little ones at home, or maybe because we don't have extended family around, but I am really excited to be able to spend Christmas morning with my family at Hope! Christmas is such a special day, and for me, this will help to make it extra special. Isn't being with the ones you love a big part of the Christmas celebration? I am grateful beyond words that God loved us enough to make the sacrifice that began in a manger and ended on the cross. I consider myself blessed to be able to celebrate with you all the birth of our Savior.
SUNDAY MESSAGE
12/25 – Christmas Sunday – A Child is Born - Isaiah 9:6-7
On this Christmas Sunday, we'll celebrate the birth of Jesus with Christmas carols, the Christmas story, and some Christmas music. It is a special blessing to be able to be with our spiritual family on Christmas, and remember together the reason for this special season and day. Without the child who was born that day, there would be no real meaning for our decorations and presents. God gave the most precious gift ever given – His Son, Jesus Christ. We'll close our brief service this morning by looking at Isaiah's prophecy about who this baby would be, and what He offers to each one of us as the Savior of the world!
MESSAGES 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 – PHILIPPIANS
Joy is the overriding theme of this book – joy in the blessings of God showered on His people. Yet joy has little to do with circumstances; when Paul wrote this book he was sitting in a Roman prison. Paul was a great example of living joyfully while enduring a harsh situation. His letter to the Philippians is affectionate, warm, and full of encouragement. Philippians proves that joy has nothing to do with our circumstances, but only with our commitment to the work of Christ.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
7:00 – 8:15
You don't want to miss our study of 1Corinthians! The Christians at Corinth were like so many of us today – they knew Christ, but they still needed His cleansing! Gathering together midweek to dig into God's Word is key in staying connected to our church family and to our Lord. Childcare is provided.
Note: There is no Bible Study or Children's Programs 12/28.
WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5th graders.
YOUNG ADULTS
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month at 7:30 in the Youth Room at church. Anyone who has graduated high school up to their early thirties is welcome. We now have childcare available. We have a schedule so that everyone can volunteer to take a week and keep the childcare going. See Pastor Mark or Dana for more information.
WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP
SMALL GROUPS
Small Group study sheets are in the back of the auditorium, or you can print a copy right from our website! At Small Groups, we'll take a look at how the Bible emphasizes God's plan for us to grow and be healthy through relationships within our spiritual family. Anyone still looking for a Small Group to plug into can see Damon Briggs; he will help you get connected!
Please Note: Our Small Groups will be on hiatus during the Christmas season, so we will not be putting any new study sheets out. Feel free to meet and celebrate the holidays with your group if you so desire! Next study sheet will be out January 8th.
YOUTH NEWS
YOUTH GROUP
Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:30
This is a great mid-week boost for our teens to stay connected, grow in the Lord, and have a fun time with each other! See Dave Hallahan with any questions.
"POST CHRISTMAS" CHRISTMAS PARTY
Friday, December 30th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Come dressed as your favorite Christmas character from any Christmas movie. There will be prizes for best dressed and most creative costume! Also, please bring a gift for the White Elephant Gift Exchange. It can be something you already own, or purchase with a $5 MAX limit. The goal is laughter, not awesome presents! See Dave Hallahan with any questions.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FREE TV'S
Ken Blythe has a lot of 20" cable ready, color TVs with remotes available for FREE! These are not flat screen. If you are interested, contact Ken at kblythe99@hotmail.com. He will bring them to church and you can pick them up there.
CHRISTMAS EVE
Please take note that there will be no Christmas Eve service this year. With Christmas falling on a Sunday, it's just logistically too difficult to do a service like that on Saturday evening followed by another service on Christmas morning. We'll simply have one very special service on Sunday morning!
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00pm
We will be having our annual business meeting in place of Bible Study. All partners are strongly encouraged to come and vote for our Leadership/Elder and Deacon candidates. Anyone interested in finding out more about where we've been as a church in 2011 and where God is taking us in 2012 is also encouraged to come. Although being a church is a spiritual thing, we also have business to take care of and this is when we do it!
OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE
Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!
CHILDCARE HELPERS FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Our Young Adults meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month. Those who have small children are often unable attend. Come be a blessing to these couples and this ministry – volunteer to take a turn in the Nursery! Let Pastor Mark or Dana know if you can help.
WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
We are still in need of a helper for our 4-5 year old classes and a teacher/helper for our 2-3 year old classes. Please search your heart to see if God is calling you to help with this ministry. We would hate to have to cancel these classes due to lack of help.
Contact Jen Winstel at jenwinrn@comcast.net or Pastor Mark to volunteer.
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY MEETING
Sunday, January 15th
We are in need of a few new teams for the Toddler and Pre-K/Kindergarten classes for the upcoming year. We will have a quick meeting with all Toddler and Pre-K/Kindergarten teachers and helps, along with anyone who might be interested in serving this ministry. We will be meeting the Toddler Room. Contact Franne Harkin (fhark7@yahoo.com) with any questions.
VBS PROGRAM 2012 MEETING
January 8th
We are excited that so many people showed an interest in coordinating VBS at our first meeting! We will have another meeting immediately following the morning service January 8th.
MEALS MINISTRY
Needs Team is updating the Rotating Meals Ministry list. We could use some other willing hearts to prepare the occasional meal for a family during a time of need. Anyone who would like to be added to this list please see Lorraine Otis or contact her atlorraineotis@comcast.net
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 Brian or Naidona Ott
856-589-2047 or ottbriant@netscape.net
Toddlers & Preschool
Contact Franne Harkin
609-458-2124 or fhark7@yahoo.com
Elementary
Contact Anita Little
856-783-7168 or alittleshopper@gmail.com
Wednesday Night Program
Contact Jen Winstel
856-782-7798 or jenwinrn@comcast.net
SOUND AND MEDIA TEAM
Our Sound and Media Team can always use more helpers. Don't be scared; they will train you! Contact Steve Jones for sound at jones.stephen.d@gmail.com or Jim Bradshaw at spaceheadjim@yahoo.com for media.
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!
THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery - Kacy Maska & Kristy Straub
Toddlers Judy Gotshall & Abbey Harkin
Pre K – Kindergarten Franne Harkin
1st – 5th TBA
Counters LaTosha Briggs & Lois Hartwell
Greeters Rick Mounce
Judy Gotshall
Katrina Mariani
Rick Ayusa
Wed. Evening No Programs
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
Joy Phillips – (Our missionary in Africa, and her sister Linda) For safety and God's protection as they endure the hardships of the Sudan while sharing God's love with the Sudanese December 10-17.
Youth Pastor – Please pray for our new Youth Pastor, Dave Hallahan, as he beings the task of ministering to our teens, planning programs for them, and moving forward with God's call on his life here at Hope.
Kids Ministry Director. Please pray for God to connect us with the right people at the right time and let Him have His work in all of this!
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.
Love Has Come!
Lois
Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.
posted by Hope Christian Fellowship at
8:09 AM
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