Hope Notes 1/3/13
Dear Friends of Hope~
My family teases me for my tendency to date everything, but I don't care! I like it and here's one example of why I do. I've just spent the last few days putting away our Christmas decorations. As I tenderly wrap them up in tissue and tuck them away in their boxes, I can take note of what year we bought them. I think back to that year and what our lives were like at that time. Sometimes I am amazed at how much time has passed since we first put out that particular decoration; it seems like it was just yesterday! Because they are only brought out once a year, they are very definite 'markers' of moments in time. We can use things like that to help us remember where we were spiritually one year ago. Think about it. Hopefully, we can all say there has been spiritual growth, a deepening of our relationship with the Lord, and a more concerted effort to surrender our lives to Him. If not, now is the time to take stock of what we can do to insure that NEXT year at this time we will be in a better place spiritually. Commit to daily time in His Word, to an ongoing communication with Him through prayer, and to coming to church to learn and to have fellowship with other believers. If you haven't put away your decorations yet, stop and think about this when you do, and remember it when you take them out again next year!
SUNDAY MESSAGE
Raising the Bar
As a culture we have lowered our expectations of what it means to be a teenager. Teenagers are expected to be immature, irresponsible and rebellious just because they fall between the ages of 13-19. We have painted adolescence as a vacation from responsibility when really it should be the launching pad of life. Now we have put our teenagers in a tough position, we ask very little of them but we get frustrated when they give us very little.
This problem of low expectations is not unique to teenagers; it has infiltrated the church as well. The early church knew the importance of making disciples and that is what they sought to do, make committed disciples to Jesus Christ. Today our main goal seems to simply be getting people to 'believe in Jesus.' Once a city on a hill, we have tried to blend in with the rest of society. The church used to be a place to rise above expectations, but now we try to get away with doing as little as possible. Jesus didn't come along to make things easy. He came to raise the bar. For our teenagers and ourselves it's time we raise the bar and ignore the low expectations of the world and answer the call of Jesus to do hard things.
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 1st – 5th 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. If you're a part of a small group, make plans to re-start in January. 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.
This Week in Youth Group:
We take our first step into the series 'Do Hard Things.' Come out as we look at the wasted potential of the teenage years. It's time to start tapping into that potential, dreaming big and doing hard things.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MISSIONARY UPDATES
Please be sure to stop by our Missionary Bulletin Boards and take a look at what's going on with their ministries. We have sent each of them a check from the offering we took in December, and their thank you letters are coming in! We are posting the notes on their respective boards so that everyone can enjoy reading them.
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.
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!
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 TBA
Toddlers Ardra Jarvis, Joyce James, Sammy & Adeyemi
Pre K – Kindergarten Franne Harkin, Maurice Brazelis, Jake Gottshall
1st – 3rd Kathy Mayfield
4th & 5th Mary LeBeau
Counters Karen Jones, Lois Hartwell
Greeters Dan Gotshall
Cheryl Gotshall
Katarina Mariani
Greg Corrado
Wed. Evening Bill McGinness, Mary McFarlane
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!
Reborn for Eternity,
Lois
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posted by Hope Christian Fellowship at
7:39 AM
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