Hope Notes 3/14/13

Dear Friends of Hope~

The other day, while washing dishes, I began to have an interesting chain of thoughts wander through my head. It started because the dishtowel I was using had been given to me by a friend.  Of course, I think of her whenever I use it.  I then began to think of how many things there are in my house that have been given to me by people I love.  It seemed that everywhere I turned was another item reflecting the love of its giver towards me.  I started to feel a soothing balm of this collective love pour over me. How blessed I am to have people in my life who know me and love me anyway! Their gifts are tangible evidence of their thoughtfulness and love.  This led me to thinking about God and how HIS love is shown more through intangible things.  Sacrifice, salvation, grace, mercy, my very life and breath.  But then I thought about how the fact that I HAVE those people in my life is a tangible manifestation of God's love. There are many blessings He bestows upon me in the form of other people, material things, His Word, and His world.  All tangible, touchable, reminders of His love for me.  All this - from a sink full of soapy water and a much loved dishtowel!

 

 ^"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  James 1:17

 

SUNDAY MESSAGE

March 17 – The Call to Casting (1 Peter 5:7, 10)

Anxiety.  Worry.  Fear.  Stress.  Ambition.  We all experience heavy emotions that chase us down on a daily basis.  These feelings (and many others) can make our lives feel weighed down and wear us out!  In this famous passage, Peter calls us to cast our cares.  His thought is that all of those heavy emotions can be relieved if we live and walk by faith.   What exactly does it mean to cast our cares on the Lord?  Why does it work?  And what can we expect when we do it?  We'll dig through Peter's words on all these topics as we continue in 1 Peter.

 

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE   

March 29^th @ 7:00 pm

Our service commemorating Good Friday is going to be an extra special one this year.  It will include Communion, of course, but we will also be having a Passover 'demonstration'.  There are many tie ins between the Jewish and Christian ceremonies. Come observe the richness of these traditions and learn more about the Jewish faith.

 

5^th SUNDAY TEEN PRAYER

Our normal time of prayer in the Youth Room for our teens has been moved to the 1^st Sunday in April (4/7) since Easter falls on the regularly scheduled 5^th Sunday this year!  Make sure to mark your calendars so that you can come and spend some time in prayer for our teens and their leaders.

 

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.

 

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

MARCH CHALLENGE VERSE

James 1:19-20

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

 

MARCH PRAYER PROJECT 

For our Nation 

That God's power and Spirit would move in the hearts of the people, bringing those who don't know Him into a relationship with Him, that He would stir the hearts of His people to live following His lead…. That God would work in our leaders (political and otherwise) and that our nation would turn in our hearts to Him… for those who are in desperate need in our nation, and for those who think they need nothing!

 

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

HCF SOFTBALL TEAM

Softball Season is here again. The Hope softball team will join forces with our brothers, Pitman Methodist, in the Gloucester County Christian League, for the 2013 season.

We are looking for men and ladies, age 15 or older, to come out and join our team. This is an excellent opportunity for fellowship, fun and exercise. Season starts April 8^th. Sign Up sheet is in the back. See Lenny Little if you have any questions.

 

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 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 @ Rooted (3/6) - We've spent several weeks talking about doing hard things. Hopefully you've seen the potential you have to do hard things, but if you're still wondering "What can I do?" we'll address that exact question this week.

 

GROW GROUPS SR. HIGH STUDY

2^nd and 4^th Monday Evenings

If you are between 9^th – 12^th grades, this is an awesome opportunity to grow closer to each other and closer to God.

 

This Week at Grow Group (3/11) - Can You Lose Your Salvation? That's the question we will be looking at. Use Bible verses, other people's opinions, or whatever other information you can get your hands to help you arrive at an answer. Feel free to use Heb. 6:4-6 and Rom. 8:29-39 as a starting point

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

DIRECTORY UPDATE

God has blessed us with so many new faces at Hope that we need to make an update to our church directory.  This is not a brand new directory complete with pictures; we will simply be adding some pages with all the new names and numbers.  If you are not in our directory or need to make a change to your existing information, this is your chance! Information sheets are on the table in the lobby.  Sheets will be there throughout March.  Contact Lois Hartwell with any questions foolsforchrist7@yahoo.com.

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

NURSERY

Could you help us out?  Once in awhile, the scheduled worker(s) need to unexpectedly cancel their day for Nursery duty.  We'd like to have a list of back up "substitutes" willing to jump in just for that day.  If you think you would be willing to do this, please contact Alicia Heverly at lilfeet21@hotmail.com.

 

COFFEE TEAM VOLUNTEERS

Do you enjoy your morning cup of coffee at our café? How about taking a turn helping to clean it up afterwards?  It won't take but fifteen minutes of your time! Contact Tony Dariano if you are interested at anthony.a.dariano.sr@reagan.com.

 

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@gmail.com

 

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

We've been busy cleaning out the pantry and have come up with a good list of what is needed:

          Canned fruit, canned puddings, jello, cake & brownie mix, packaged cookies, crackers,

          pretzels. 

          Non-refrigerated beverages such as juices, Snapple, or water.  No soda please.

          Ground beef, hot dogs, meat and poultry for our freezer.

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@gmail.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 jimbradshaw3@gmail.com for media.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery                          Naidona & Brian Ott

Toddlers                         Karen Blythe, Diane Beardsworth, Emily Foster
Pre K – Kindergarten    Linda Landis, Linda Ellison, Ryan Winstel
1^st – 3rd                         Kathy Mayfield, Madison Toomin

4^th & 5^th                         Mary LeBeau, Dylan Ott
Counters                        Kathy Berry, Carole Baumiester
Greeters                         Art Muhlbaier
                                       Lucy Muhlbaier
                                       Jeanne Wurst

                                       Charlotte Zediker
                                     
Wed. Evening                 Kristy Tomasello, Lynn Shute

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

For our Youth as they attend their retreat at Delanco Camp this weekend.

 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

 

All Glory to Him,
Lois

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