Hope Notes 12/20/12

Dear Friends of Hope~

I don't know about you, but I am having a hard time believing that Christmas is less than a week away.  My hope and prayer for all of us is that these last few days leading up to Christ's birth will not be swept away in a chaotic frenzy of last minute preparations.  Rather, I want to be mindful and purposeful in focusing on the sacrifice that began in the manger and ended on the cross.  Jesus was born to die for our eternal salvation.  He willingly stepped out of eternity and left His rightful place at the Father's right hand in order to come to earth in human form so that we could know Him.  I don't want to be caught up in anything other than preparing my heart to properly celebrate His birth – to step back, take a deep breath and give the day the reverence it deserves.  May you all be able to experience the same!

 

SUNDAY MESSAGE

 December 23 – A Savior is Born

Christmas is here and for many, it is the culmination of a very busy time in their life.  We hope that all the preparation and planning brings a wonderful celebration on Christmas Day!  But the Christmas story in the Bible is just a beginning, not a finish line.  It is the start of a story that fulfills the promise of bringing a Savior to the world.  We'll see that from the start of His life, Jesus was targeted for rescuing the lost.  In fact, hundreds of years before Jesus arrived, prophets wrote about how He would accomplish this unbelievable miracle.  So as we celebrate Christmas together, let's remember that Jesus' birthday brings us so much joy because He came to save us.

 

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.

 

OVERFLOW ROOM

Our Youth Room is open as an "overflow" space in order to give us extra seating for any Sunday that is filled to near capacity.  The video feed will be live from the start of the service, so anyone who is willing or interested in using the overflow space can find a seat there as soon as the service starts.  As another option, everyone is welcome to join us in the auditorium for worship (since we're all standing anyway) and then those without a seat can make their way to the overflow room when the message begins. 

 

PRAYER HUDDLE

9:30 – 9:35

The prayer huddle is open to anyone who would like to come pray - but it is specifically intended for those who are serving on that Sunday.  So if you're scheduled to be in kids' ministry, greeting, in the tech booth, on worship team, or any other ministry role for a given Sunday, join us at 9:30 sharp to pray together for God's power in each of us.  We can do all things through Christ, and nothing of worth without Him, so let's come together each Sunday to ask for God's Spirit to fill us and use us!

 

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 Pat Harkin at Prayer Team with any questions.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

DECEMBER CHALLENGE VERSE

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

^"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Please remember to post what God is doing in your life as you consider the challenge verse for the month.  It is such an encouragement to see how God is working in all of our lives!

 

DECEMBER PRAYER PROJECT 

For our marriages

 That the Lord would do a work in our homes, starting with the relationships between husbands and wives and that the enemy would not gain traction trying to divide and frustrate this sacred relationship that God ordained as the foundation of our families and our church.  Not everyone is married or is called to be married, but for those who are married at Hope, there is a desperate need for those relationships to be growing and moving in a healthy direction.

 

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

7:00 – 8:15

Be sure to come out and join us for our Bible study on I Corinthians.  Don't miss this mid-week spiritual boost; there's nothing like diving into the Word of God to keep you grounded in His Truths.  Childcare is provided.

Please Note:  There is no Bible Study on December 26^th.

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

7:00 – 8:15

Keep Jesus fresh in your child's mind and heart!  We have classes for children ages 3 – 5 and for those in 1^st – 5^th grades.  Nursery is provided for infants thru age 2.

 

YOUNG ADULTS

7:30 in Youth Room

First and Third Monday 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 provided.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP

7:00 in Prayer Room

First and Third Monday of every month

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

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

Our Small Groups are taking a break for Christmas and will resume again in the new year. Look for the new small group study sheet to be out in the beginning of January.  If you're a part of a small group, make plans to re-start again in the new year.  And if you're not in a small group yet, consider joining one or starting one with some of your friends at Hope!

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.

Please Note:  Rooted will be taking a break over the holiday season.  They will resume meeting again in January 2013.

 

ROOTED CHRISTMAS PARTY – THIS FRIDAY

Friday, December 21^st, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Join us for our 2^nd annual Christmas Party!  We will once again do a white elephant gift exchange with a $5 maximum on all gifts. Bring something used from your house or spend no more than $5 on a gift. We will play games, share snacks and exchange gifts. Any questions contact Dave Hallahan.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

FREE CHRISTMAS TREE

Jeanne Wurst has a 6 foot artificial Christmas tree available free to whoever could use it.  Contact Jeanne at:  crazycat05@comcast.net

 

LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS NEEDED

Matt Austen is looking for a low cost place to live in the Glassboro area for his next semester at Rowan.  (The closer to Rowan, the better)  He would need to live there from mid-January to mid-May.  If you know of anything that would be helpful let Matt know so he can look into it.  You can reach Matt by text, cell, or email.  (856) 776-8979 or mattausten18@comcast.net.

 

 

*****CHRISTMAS ANNOUNCEMENTS*****

 

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

6:00 – 7:00

Our Christmas Eve service is such a relaxed, special time.  If you have an hour to spare this night, make sure you come on out to Hope. We realize that people may have family traditions or obligations and can't make it out, but we sure hope you can.  We have special readings, music, and the all important candle lighting ceremony to really get you in the Christmas spirit!

 

CHRISTMAS CHOIR

Rehearsal Schedule

Only one rehearsal left - December 22 (Saturday)! We will be presenting our mini cantata during the December 23^rd service.  If you have any questions, please see Dana or email her at danaott@hopechristianfellowship.org).

 

 

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! 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!

YOUNG ADULTS OUTREACH

December 29^th

All donations need to be in by this Sunday, December 23^rd. 

Our Young Adults will be doing their "5^th Saturday" Camden Outreach – distributing sandwiches to those in need.  There's a signup sheet in the back for volunteers to donate bread, snacks, fruit, water bottles, etc.  They are also accepting hats, gloves, scarves, and coats.  Food can be dropped off in the kitchen and there are big, red buckets in the Resource Room for the hats, etc.  See Jess St.Petery or Ryan Herrero with any questions.

 

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

Thank you for all the donations we've been receiving.  Our pantry is nice and full!  See Karen Jones with any questions regarding the pantry.

Please remember to check the expiration dates and leave all donations in the basket located outside the kitchen door.

 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Want to help us with one of the most effective and powerful ministries at Hope?  Join in as part of our Kid's Ministry!  Here's what to do:

          Nursery
                   Contact Don or Alicia Heverly at Lilfeet21@hotmail.com  
          Toddlers & Preschool
                   Contact Franne Harkin at fhark7@yahoo.com
          Elementary Grades 1-2
                   Contact Kathleen Toomin at jktoomin.98@comcast.net
          Elementary Grades 3-5

                 Contact Anne Jefferson at annemarie523@junoc.com

          Wednesday Night Program
               Contact Jen Winstel at 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 Brian Ott for sound at Brian Ott at ottbriant@aim.com or Jim Bradshaw at spaceheadjim@yahoo.com for media.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery                          Naidona & Brian Ott

Toddlers                         Karen Blythe, Thereshea & Luke
Pre K – Kindergarten    Linda Landis, Linda Ellison
1^st – 3rd                         Kelly Louis

4^th & 5^th                         Kylie Ott
Counters                        Damon Briggs, Rick Mounce
Greeters                         Al Lewis
                                       Lorraine Otis
                                       Wendy Lynch

                                       Charlotte Zediker
                                     
Wed. Evening                 No Programs 12/26

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 Pat Harkin directly at Prayer@hopechristianfellowship.org.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Bob & Lisa Mousley - Pray for Mike and Jean Franks. Mike had a massive heart attack and has had several surgeries (with major complications).

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!

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18

 

Rejoicing with you in our Savior's Birth,
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.