Hope Notes 1/31/13

Dear Friends of Hope~

Have you heard the phrase "hound of heaven" – referencing God as our relentless pursuer?  I was thinking about it the other day when I took our dog for a walk.  She was almost immediately on the trail of something and she sniffed her way through the length of our yard till she found what she was looking for.  She sniffed at things that had long since gone – perhaps they passed through our yard under cover of darkness many nights ago.  But she could still "sniff them out".  God is like that with us!  He is unremitting in His pursuit of us.  It doesn't matter where we go, or how cold our trail is.  God always knows exactly where we are (literally and spiritually) and meets us right there.  He will not give up 'sniffing us out'.  I love what Nicole Nordeman said – "God is in relentless pursuit of our terrified hearts".  That's Him, our hound of heaven.  I take great comfort in knowing that God is hot on the trail of all who are running from Him.

 

SUNDAY MESSAGE

February 3 – Living Strange (1 Peter 4:1-6)

Think of the strangest person you know.  What do you think makes them so strange to you?  It could be their background or their personality.  Or it could just be that their tastes are so different from yours.   What if you were the one people thought strange?  Peter tells us that many people will think that about you if you are following Jesus.  And Peter talks about what will make us so different when we become believers. Our ideas about fun and 'enjoying life' start to go in dramatically different directions than they used to.  Even what we think life is all about or where it is all headed will be strange to those who don't know Jesus.  So let's embrace the call to live strange!

 

COMPASSION SUNDAY

February 10^th

This Sunday will be a chance for anyone who has this on their heart to be able to sponsor a child through Compassion International and reach out to them in the love of Christ.  There won't be any big sales pitch or pressure; we're simply going to present the opportunity and allow you to respond as the Spirit leads!

 

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.

As

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

FEBRUARY CHALLENGE VERSE

Colossians 4:6 "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

 

FEBRUARY PRAYER PROJECT 

For the people God is bringing to Hope………Let's pray together for people who are new in our church family, that God will lead them and use us to welcome them and make them feel at home.  Let's also pray that God will guide them through the sometimes difficult and scary process of getting integrated and involved!  And let's pray for those that haven't come yet, but are being invited by the Lord through so many different means to join us at Hope.

 

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.

 

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 Group study sheets are out! You can pick one up in the Resource Room or download one direct from our website. Our existing groups should be getting back to meeting, and looking for others to include in their group if they have room!  If you aren't in a small group yet, you need to begin right away exploring God's path for you by looking at the free agent list, and talking to people God puts on your heart about forming or joining a group.  Our small group year runs through the end of April, so there's still a lot of small group time left!  Don't miss out!

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.

 

This Week in Youth Group:

We've established that low expectations do exist for teenagers, but we've done little in giving specific ways for you to rise above them. This week we will move away from the theoretical and towards specific things you can do to start realizing your full potential.

 

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE – THIS SATURDAY

February 2^nd

We will be heading out to Delanco Camp to participate in their Polar Bear Plunge. Who do you want to see jump into the icy water of Lake Agape?  Make sure you come to Youth Group and vote for a leader to take the plunge!  Then come on out February 2^nd to see it happen!

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

JANUARY GIVING

We averaged $4837 per week for the month of January.  This is below our new annual giving target of $5400 for 2013.  Please continue to sacrifice and give as faithfully as God directs.  If you are already giving regularly, thank you for investing in God's kingdom.  And if you haven't started giving each week, please ask God to direct you in sacrificing so that His work can flourish in our church!  We have so much that God is calling us to do and we're excited to step up to the challenge this year.

 

ROSE PETAL OPEN HOUSE "PROM 2013"

February 9^th & 10^th / 10:00am – 3:00 pm

If financial difficulties are keeping you from purchasing a dress for your Prom, The Rose Petal is generously offering one free gown to each girl who comes to their Open House. The event will be held at Beacon Academy Pre-School, 570 Egg Harbor Rd, Washington Township, NJ.  Must come in person to claim your gown.  Check out their Facebook page or contact them at therosepetal@comcast.net.

 

DISTRACTION FREE ZONE

In an effort to keep our service as distraction free as possible, we are asking that anyone with young children or those who know they will need to get up during the service to kindly sit in the back of the auditorium so that you can easily go out the back doors.  Please remember that once our service has started, we need everyone to enter from the back doors and not either of the doors up front.  This helps keep the disruption to a minimum.  Thank you so much for your cooperation!

 

PRIMARY CLASS (1^st – 3^rd) MEETING – THIS SUNDAY

February 3rd

There will be a brief meeting right after service for anyone who teaches or helps with the 1st - 3rd grade class. We will meet in the classroom.  See Kathleen Toomin with any questions.

 

BAPTISMAL SERVICE

February 24^th – 1:30

Calvary Bible Church, Deptford

This church is kind enough to let us borrow their building for our event, and it is always a great blessing to be there for this service.  Anyone interested in being baptized should see Pastor Mark right away.  This is for those who have trusted Christ as their Savior by faith and are ready to give a public testimony of that faith.  We will be having two required classes at Pastor Mark's house on 2/12 and 2/21 at 7:00 pm to prepare for this event - anyone who wants to be baptized should plan on being there for both classes.  Pastor Mark will have a book to give to each participant very soon so that everyone can come to the first class already prepared.

 

DENTAL HYGIENE OPPORTUNITY

Kylie Ott is looking for patients for her last semester of dental hygiene school.  She is looking particularly for patients who have not had their teeth cleaned professionally for 5+ years.  She needs reliable patients with flexible schedules that are willing to come in for multiple appointments (if necessary).  If you know of anyone who has not had a cleaning for a long time or who fits these qualifications, please contact Kylie as soon as possible.  Contact Info:  856-562-3481, kyliekutie302@gmail.com

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

PRE-K / KINDERGARTEN CLASS

This class has DOUBLED IN SIZE over the past few weeks!!  That means that one adult helper is just not going to cut it!  We are so thankful for the children God has brought into our classrooms – now we just need to find some adult helpers to minister to them!  If you feel led to help, contact Franne Harkin at fhark7@yahoo.com.

 

TEAM SIGNUPS

Signups sheets for our functional teams are out on the table by the Resource Room.  There are a number of different opportunities for you to be a helping hand at Hope.  We want everyone to find the place that fits you best and feeds your passion!  Once we have your names, you will receive a call so that we can touch base with you as we work on getting our teams up and running.  See Mike Hartwell 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 Carole Baumiester or contact her at needsministry@gmail.com.          

 

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@juno.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                          Sue Quinn, Lucy Muhlbaier

Toddlers                         Rebecca & John Jacob, Natalie/Abbey
Pre K – Kindergarten    Kim Lawlor, Eric/Ryan
1^st – 3rd                         Kathleen Toomin

4^th & 5^th                         Kimmie Rice
Counters                        LaTosha Briggs, Lois Hartwell
Greeters                         Frank Caranci
                                       Deb Caranci
                                       Wendy Lynch

                                       Diane Beardsworth
                                     
Wed. Evening                  Georgia Perrong

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

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

 

Glimpsing His Glory,
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.

 

 

Hope Notes 1/24/13

Dear Friends of Hope~

"He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes." Psalm 147:16

 Well, we've got a little bit of 'wool' out there this week!  Just enough to be pretty, not enough to cause any problems.  That's the way I like it!  I heard someone on the radio quote this verse and I had to come home and read the whole Psalm.  It was comforting and encouraging, humbling and inspiring; a beautiful reminder of who God is and the power He has.  Plus, I'd never read a verse describing God with the winter weather.  I feel like I only remember ones about wind, rain, sun, stars, heat, etc.  I love it when God reveals something new in His Word.  Even when it's not some earth shattering revelation that is going to change my life!  I just really enjoy the word picture this gives me.  My suggestion for you this week is to open your Bibles and read this psalm.  I guarantee you will find something in it that speaks to you!

 

SUNDAY MESSAGE

January 27 – Jesus' Work (1 Peter 3:18-22)

COMMUNION

In church, we talk all the time about becoming a 'believer' or a 'child of God'.  Sometimes we'll even use the description that we're 'saved'.  But what do all of these words mean?  What is actually the difference between someone who is a believer and someone who is not?  Peter takes some time to describe what happened spiritually when Jesus died and rose from the dead, and what it does for us.  If you're not sure where you stand with the Lord, you'll hear how you can know that you are His.  And if you already have become a believer, Peter will talk about the incredible miracle that happened to us when we put our trust in Jesus.

 

COMPASSION SUNDAY

February 10^th

This Sunday will be a chance for anyone who has this on their heart to be able to sponsor a child through Compassion International and reach out to them in the love of Christ.  There won't be any big sales pitch or pressure; if you already have a child you won't be asked to add another.

 

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

JANUARY CHALLENGE VERSE

Proverbs 14:31 - He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

 

JANUARY PRAYER PROJECT 

For those in need……Some we know and many we don't, but as we head into a new year, let's allow God to put compassion on our hearts for those in our world who are in daily need.  Ask God to provide for them like you'd want Him to provide for you and for your loved ones, and ask Him to open doors for us to help those in need.

 

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.

 

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 Group study sheets are out! You can pick one up in the Resource Room or download one direct from our website. Our existing groups should be getting back to meeting, and looking for others to include in their group if they have room!  If you aren't in a small group yet, you need to begin right away exploring God's path for you by looking at the free agent list, and talking to people God puts on your heart about forming or joining a group.  Our small group year runs through the end of April, so there's still a lot of small group time left!  Don't miss out!

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.

 

This Week in Youth Group:

We've established that low expectations do exist for teenagers, but we've done little in giving specific ways for you to rise above them. This week we will move away from the theoretical and towards specific things you can do to start realizing your full potential.

 

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE

February 2^nd

We will be heading out to Delanco Camp to participate in their Polar Bear Plunge. Who do you want to see jump into the icy water of Lake Agape?  Make sure you come to Youth Group and vote for a leader to take the plunge!  Then come on out February 2^nd to see it happen!

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

DISTRACTION FREE ZONE

In an effort to keep our service as distraction free as possible, we are asking that anyone with young children or those who know they will need to get up during the service to kindly sit in the back of the auditorium so that you can easily go out the back doors.  Please remember that once our service has started, we need everyone to enter from the back doors and not either of the doors up front.  This helps keep the disruption to a minimum.  Thank you so much for your cooperation!

 

PRIMARY CLASS (1^st – 3^rd) MEETING

February 3rd

There will be a brief meeting right after service for anyone who teaches or helps with the 1st - 3rd grade class. We will meet in the classroom.  See Kathleen Toomin with any questions.

 

BAPTISMAL SERVICE

February 24^th – 1:30

Calvary Bible Church, Deptford

This church is kind enough to let us borrow their building for our event, and it is always a great blessing to be there for this service.  Anyone interested in being baptized should see Pastor Mark right away.  This is for those who have trusted Christ as their Savior by faith and are ready to give a public testimony of that faith.  We will be having two required classes at Pastor Mark's house on 2/12 and 2/21 at 7:00 pm to prepare for this event - anyone who wants to be baptized should plan on being there for both classes.  Pastor Mark will have a book to give to each participant very soon so that everyone can come to the first class already prepared.

 

DENTAL HYGIENE OPPORTUNITY

Kylie Ott is looking for patients for her last semester of dental hygiene school.  She is looking particularly for patients who have not had their teeth cleaned professionally for 5+ years.  She needs reliable patients with flexible schedules that are willing to come in for multiple appointments (if necessary).  If you know of anyone who has not had a cleaning for a long time or who fits these qualifications, please contact Kylie as soon as possible.  Contact Info:  856-562-3481, kyliekutie302@gmail.com

 

WEEKEND TO REMEMBER MARRIAGE CONFERENCE

HALF PRICE REGISTRATION – ENDS JANUARY 28
Now $74.99 per person. Regular rate $149.99 per person.

This is a powerful conference with lots of good information and insight to help couples build their marriages. No matter where the marriage stands - from crisis to bliss - taking a weekend to focus on each other and get great Biblical input produces amazing results!  Local conferences are as follows:

Hershey 2/15 – 2/17, Skytop in the Poconos 3/8 – 3/10, and 3/15 – 3/17.  Go to www.familylife.com to register for one of these conferences today!  Your promotional code is BOGO.

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

PREK / KINDERGARTEN CLASS

This class has DOUBLED IN SIZE over the past few weeks!!  That means that one adult helper is just not going to cut it!  We are so thankful for the children God has brought into our classrooms – now we just need to find some adult helpers to minister to them!  If you feel led to help, contact Franne Harkin at fhark7@yahoo.com.

 

TEAM SIGNUPS

Signups sheets for our functional teams are out on the table by the Resource Room.  There are a number of different opportunities for you to be a helping hand at Hope.  We want everyone to find the place that fits you best and feeds your passion!  Once we have your names, you will receive a call so that we can touch base with you as we work on getting our teams up and running.  See Mike Hartwell 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 Carole Baumiester or contact her at needsministry@gmail.com.          

 

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                          Sue Quinn, Lucy Muhlbaier

Toddlers                         Rebecca & John Jacob, Natalie/Abbey
Pre K – Kindergarten     Kim Lawlor
1^st – 3rd                         Patty & Rich Bunnell

4^th & 5^th                         Anne Jefferson
Counters                        Kathy Berry, Carole Baumiester
Greeters                         Dan Gotshall
                                       Cheryl Gotshall
                                       Katarina Mariani

                                       Greg Corrado
                                     
Wed. Evening                  Dan & Cheryl Gottshall

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

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

 

Thine is the Power,
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.

 

 

Hope Notes 1/17/13

Dear Friends of Hope~

According to my daughter I do something very strange.  When I look at people, I wonder about what they looked like as a child. In fact, it's usually one of my first thoughts.  Especially if it's someone I'm getting to know.  I always think it would be fun to get a group of people together, have everyone post a picture of themselves as a child on a board, and then we all try and match them up!  Come on now, wouldn't that be a great ice breaker or a crazy party game?  ANYWAY, that led me to think about how God obviously knew before He even formed us what we would look like as children, teens, and then as adults. Psalm 139:16 says, "Your eyes saw my unformed body…".  Isn't that cool?  But you know what?  Although it's true that God could easily match each one of us up with our baby pictures, it doesn't matter to Him what we look like!  He has another way of identifying us. 1Samuel 16:7 tells us, ^"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  I love that we serve a God who can recognize us from our outward appearance, but more importantly from our innermost heart!

 

SUNDAY MESSAGE

January 20 – Prepared to Give an Answer (1 Peter 3:11-17)

We all have taken exams in school, and we know from experience that we are better off going into those exams when we've studied ahead of time.  If you've ever taken a test without preparing for some reason, you know that the stress level is magnified many times over.  Life has tests too, and in our passage for today, Peter instructs us to be prepared.  But you can't cram for these tests – your preparation comes from the heart.  Are you ready to find out how prepared you are?

 

COMPASSION SUNDAY

February 10^th

This Sunday will be a chance for anyone who has this on their heart to be able to sponsor a child through Compassion International and reach out to them in the love of Christ.  There won't be any big sales pitch or pressure; if you already have a child you won't be asked to add another.

 

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

JANUARY CHALLENGE VERSE

Proverbs 14:31 - He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

 

JANUARY PRAYER PROJECT 

For those in need……Some we know and many we don't, but as we head into a new year, let's allow God to put compassion on our hearts for those in our world who are in daily need.  Ask God to provide for them like you'd want Him to provide for you and for your loved ones, and ask Him to open doors for us to help those in need.

 

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.

 

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 Group study sheets are out! You can pick one up in the Resource Room or download one direct from our website. Our existing groups should be getting back to meeting, and looking for others to include in their group if they have room!  If you aren't in a small group yet, you need to begin right away exploring God's path for you by looking at the free agent list, and talking to people God puts on your heart about forming or joining a group.  Our small group year runs through the end of April, so there's still a lot of small group time left!  Don't miss out!

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.

 

This Week in Youth Group:

 Elephants are huge animals. They are incredible strong and incredibly smart. They can be trained to play games, learn dances and help farmers with physical labor. Come out this week to learn more about elephants and what any of this information has to do with you.

 

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE

February 2^nd

We will be heading out to Delanco Camp to participate in their Polar Bear Plunge. Who do you want to see jump into the icy water of Lake Agape?  Make sure you come to Youth Group and vote for a leader to take the plunge!  Then come on out February 2^nd to see it happen!

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

BAPTISMAL SERVICE

February 24^th – 1:30

Calvary Bible Church, Deptford

This church is kind enough to let us borrow their building for our event, and it is always a great blessing to be there for this service.  Anyone interested in being baptized should see Pastor Mark right away.  This is for those who have trusted Christ as their Savior by faith and are ready to give a public testimony of that faith.  We will be having two required classes at Pastor Mark's house on 2/12 and 2/21 at 7:00 pm to prepare for this event - anyone who wants to be baptized should plan on being there for both classes.  Pastor Mark will have a book to give to each participant very soon so that everyone can come to the first class already prepared.

 

DENTAL HYGIENE OPPORTUNITY

Kylie Ott is looking for patients for her last semester of dental hygiene school.  She is looking particularly for patients who have not had their teeth cleaned professionally for 5+ years.  She needs reliable patients with flexible schedules that are willing to come in for multiple appointments (if necessary).  If you know of anyone who has not had a cleaning for a long time or who fits these qualifications, please contact Kylie as soon as possible.  Contact Info:  856-562-3481, kyliekutie302@gmail.com

 

WEEKEND TO REMEMBER MARRIAGE CONFERENCE

HALF PRICE REGISTRATION – ENDS JANUARY 28
Now $74.99 per person. Regular rate $149.99 per person.

This is a powerful conference with lots of good information and insight to help couples build their marriages. No matter where the marriage stands - from crisis to bliss - taking a weekend to focus on each other and get great Biblical input produces amazing results!  Local conferences are as follows:

Hershey 2/15 – 2/17, Skytop in the Poconos 3/8 – 3/10, and 3/15 – 3/17.  Go to www.familylife.com to register for one of these conferences today!  Your promotional code is BOGO.

ROOM FOR RENT

Looking for a God-following woman as roommate. Two bedroom house with a full kitchen, living room, one bathroom, and full backyard. Located in Glassboro in Chestnut Ridge right next to Rowan University. Very nice and safe neighborhood. The bedroom is 12X15 with a 13' closet. $650/month, all utilities included. Contact Nina Cannatella at ncannatella@gmail.com.

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

TEAM SIGNUPS

Signups sheets for our functional teams are out on the table by the Resource Room.  There are a number of different opportunities for you to be a helping hand at Hope.  We want everyone to find the place that fits you best and feeds your passion!  Once we have your names, you will receive a call so that we can touch base with you as we work on getting our teams up and running.  See Mike Hartwell 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 Carole Baumiester or contact her at needsministry@gmail.com.          

 

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                          Don & Alicia Heverly

Toddlers                         Franne Harkin, Maurice & Jake
Pre K – Kindergarten    Tina & Craig Campana
1^st – 3rd                         Patty & Rich Bunnell

4^th & 5^th                         Anne Jefferson
Counters                        Kathy Berry, Carole Baumiester
Greeters                         Dan Gotshall
                                       Cheryl Gotshall
                                       Katarina Mariani

                                       Greg Corrado
                                     
Wed. Evening                 Linda Landis, Lisa Minner

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

Tania Avant – Health issues: Son with sickle cell anemia is sick with cold & fever. Seven year old is having problems with asthma. Provision: Need a pullout bed or futon – children are sleeping on floor.

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

 

Known by Him,

Lois

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