Hope Notes 7/12/12
Dear Friends of Hope~
Ever notice how a certain smell can quickly trigger a long buried memory? I was walking back in our woods when I spotted a sassafras tree. I plucked off a leaf and rubbed it between my fingers. I was immediately transported back to childhood picnics with my best friend in the sassafras grove. There are so many other sweet fragrances of summer – honeysuckle, fresh mown grass, the way the earth smells after a soft summer rain, and all those wonderful beach breezes. When you get a whiff of them, you know that summer is here. The Bible says that " ……we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.." 2Cor 2:15 Think about that! Just as those certain aromas signify summer to us, WE are an aroma that represents Jesus to others! Do our lives reflect a sweet smell or are we emitting an unpleasant odor that repels people? If I am a fragrance of Christ, you'd better believe I want to be sure it's a good one!
SUNDAY MESSAGE
7/15 –Appealing in Faith (1 Kings 1:11-27)
What do you do when life doesn't go your way? Some people fight against the unwanted direction with every tool at their disposal. Others give in to despair and let resentment and bitterness take over. But how should a believer react? Is it OK to make an appeal? We see several examples in the Bible of people doing exactly that – addressing what they thought was headed the wrong direction to those in authority. The key for each of them is that they acted in faith rather than trying to manipulate the outcome. Can we put our faith in our Heavenly Father in those moments of life when all we want seems to be slipping through our fingers? Let's see how Bathsheba and Nathan make an appeal in faith.
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.
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY PRAYER TIME
All Sunday School and Nursery teachers/helpers are invited to come join us in the Toddler Classroom every Sunday from 9:40 – 9:45 for a time of prayer before the children begin arriving.
BIBLE READING FOR JULY – COLOSSIANS
Paul wrote to warn the Christians at Colosse about the false teaching that was infiltrating the church. It said that Christ was good, but that to reach real spiritual maturity you needed to believe certain worldly philosophies or contact a certain angel. Paul rejected all of that. He warned the Colossians of the danger of trusting worldly wisdom or institutions and instead encouraged them to focus on Jesus Christ and His saving work. Jesus is the Creator, fully divine and fully the head of the church. He's all we ever need.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
7:00 – 8:15
Don't forget about coming out on Wednesdays just because it's summertime. We have a summer full of interesting speakers for our Bible Study – we even have a Worship Night lined up for August 29th! Nursery is provided.
Please Note: There will be no Bible Study July 18th (VBS week).
WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
PLEASE NOTE:
Uh-oh, looks like we need to clear up some confusion with our kid's program! We are not having any classes for our 3-5 year olds or 1st-5th grade on Wednesday nights during the summer. If someone is interested in taking these classes over the summer, please let Pastor Mark know. But we only have five weeks left of regular Bible study, so our plan has been to give our kids workers a much needed break. We will resume classes for both age groups in September. In the mean time, kids in these age groups should come into the auditorium with their parents (on evenings when the nursery is not packed, 3 year olds can go in the nursery). Kids should NOT plan to go into youth group - that group is for 6th - 12th graders. We apologize if any of this was unclear before. Thanks for your help in all of this!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Week of July 16, 2012
Mark your calendars and be a part of Backstage with the Bible, our first VBS event! Age levels for classes are Preschool through Grade 6. Make sure your kids don't miss out on this fun packed week! Invite their friends to come, too! Program begins Monday, July 16th and runs from 6:15 till 8:45pm.
For more information, contact Erin at ecl6292@comcast.net, Harriet at habrittingham@yahoo.com, or Anne at annemarie523@juno.com.
YOUNG ADULTS
7:30 in Youth Room
We've got an exciting summer coming up! For the months of June, July, and August, our group will only be meeting for the FIRST Monday of every month, but we'll have an activity the LAST weekend of every month!
Anyone who has graduated high school up to their early thirties is welcome. See Pastor Mark or Dana for more information. Childcare is available.
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY – SUMMER WITH SISTERS
Monday July 9th at 7:00pm
Our ladies' Bible study will meet every other Monday throughout the summer. There is a sign up and the first week's worksheet on the sign up table in the lobby for anyone interested in joining. The group will be meeting in the Prayer Room. See Kim Rice with any questions.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP
NEW FAMILIES FELLOWSHIP
August 26th
Our Leadership Team is hosting a New Families luncheon here at Hope for families who have begun attending within the past year. So many new families have been visiting lately that we want to set aside some time specifically to get to know one another. We value relationships and are excited to have this opportunity to make these connections by fellowshipping with each other. A signup sheet will be out near the end of July; we're just giving you a head start to go home and clear your calendars so you don't miss out on this event!
WOMEN OF FAITH
September 7th and 8th
7-10pm and 9am-5pm
Wells Fargo Center
Philadelphia, PA
Tickets are $60.00 – first paid, first served. Signing up on the sheet does not secure your ticket; paid-in-full receipt from Melissa McGinness does secure your ticket. Cost does NOT include lunch.
Checks can be made payable to "Hope Christian Fellowship" with WOF in the memo section.
All payments should be given directly to Melissa McGinness.
For those who wish to register for the conference on their own you may do so at the following website:
http://www.womenoffaith.com/events/philadelphia/
Tickets are $99.00 per person (less than 10 guests) and $89.00 per person (10 guests or more). There are many seats still available.
Do you have any questions? Please contact Melissa McGinness at melissamcginness007@comcast.net or via phone at 856-906-8742.
MEN'S BREAKFAST
Second Saturday of Every Month
8:30 am
Come and join us for a delicious breakfast and a good time of fellowship/sharing with the men of Hope. Feel free to bring a friend! Open to men 18 and older. If anyone would like to help set-up and/or prepare, we meet in the kitchen at 7:00 am. See Bob Rice with any questions.
SMALL GROUPS
It's really not too early to start praying and think about forming a small group in September. Our church depends on the connections, caring, and spiritual interaction that happens in a small group. Our goal is for every adult to be a part of one! More specific info will be given at our Small Group kickoff on September 9th. In the meantime, we'd like everyone to be praying and seeking the Lord's direction in anticipation of this important part of our church family life!
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FREE PRINTER INK
There is a bag of HP02 ink on the table by the sound booth. Anyone who has a printer that uses this is welcome to take it!
SAINTS PRISON MINISTRY
Still have a need…………
Did you know we have our own prison missionaries right here at Hope? Anne and Jim Jefferson, and Bill McGinness are actively involved in the Saints Prison Ministry. Their mission is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to prisoners through athletics and to provide them with opportunities for spiritual growth. They compete against inmate teams in softball, basketball, soccer and women's volleyball, and then present the Gospel to them right on the playing field. They need to raise their own support in order to participate in this ministry. Please consider helping them out with your prayers and any financial contribution you can give. Bill specifically still needs $400.00. Checks should be made payable to the individual.
LOVE & RESPECT MARRIAGE CONFERENCE
October 26-27
We're planning a Marriage Conference right here at Hope in October on Friday night and Saturday morning. It will be a low cost and powerful way to build each and every marriage in our church. This is an opportunity you do not want to miss out on. Mark your calendars now and look for more information to follow! "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Eph 5:33
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!
SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE
Do you enjoy our Coffee Café on Sunday mornings? How about pitching in and taking a turn cleaning up the coffee after the service? It's a short job – just a few minutes – but it certainly helps us to have everything put away before we all go home! We could also use someone interested in being a backup for Pastor Mark in setting up for times when he's away. That way, we don't miss any weeks of being able to have our morning coffee! Please contact Al Lewis with any questions.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Our first VBS adventure begins the week of July 16th. Classes run from Preschool through Grade 6. We need plenty of teachers, helpers, and volunteers. There's something for everyone to plug into!
Contact Erin at ecl6292@comcast.net, Harriet at habrittingham@yahoo.com, or Anne at annemarie523@juno.com with any questions.
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY TEACHERS NEEDED
We are in need of two teachers ASAP for the 1st-3rd and 4th -5th grade classes. Please contact Anita Little if interested at alittleshopper@gmail.com or phone 856-373-2090.
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 at lorraineotis@comcast.net.
FOOD PANTRY
Our pantry is almost bare!!
The following is a list of our most needed items:
Canned fruit, tea bags, hot or cold cereals, pancake mix, pasta & sauce, mac & cheese, instant potatoes, peanut butter, canned veggies, soup, condiments.
Of course, any food donations are always welcome! See Karen Jones with any questions.
Please remember to check the expiration dates and put all donations in the basket located outside the kitchen door.
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 Sharon Sambucci, Pat Schug
Toddlers Dawn & John Brazelis, Madison & Natalie
Pre K – Kindergarten Beth Fox, Heath Gravenor
1st – 3rd Kathleen Toomin
4th & 5th Anne Jefferson
Counters Lois Hartwell & Carole Baumiester
Greeters Al Lewis
Lorraine Otis
Charlotte Zediker
Wendy Lynch
Wed. Evening No needed – VBS week
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
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!
Running to a Glorious Reward,
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
6:01 AM
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