Hope Notes 4/18/13
Dear Friends of Hope~
What kind of porch light do you have? We have the old fashioned kind that you actually have to turn on when it gets dark. Many of our friends have the newer kind that automatically turns on when you get near the house. They always frighten me; if I don't know they own one, it startles me when a big spotlight suddenly blinds me. If I DO know they have one, I approach with trepidation, waiting for the moment when darkness turns to blinding light. I don't know why, but that kind of light doesn't seem as 'friendly'. I guess that's because there's no thought behind it. It goes on/off all on itself. At our house, we turn the light on when we are expecting someone; it lets them know we know they are coming and we want them to have a 'safe passage' to our front door. To me, leaving the porch light on means you are waiting to welcome someone into your home or for someone to return. I bet that God's porch light is not the automatic kind that only turns on when you get close – I bet His is ALWAYS on, beckoning, welcoming, waiting. And just as we only turn our porch light off when everyone in our family is home safe, His porch light will remain 'on' until all His children are called home.
SUNDAY MESSAGE
April 21 – Living Blind or Empty (2 Peter 1:8-11)
SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE PREVIEW
Distracted driving can be tragic! It seems like common sense that your primary focus as the driver is to be directing your sight and attention to the road. But it is too easy to rationalize looking away to something else. Too often, the price that gets paid for the distraction is extreme. Peter talks about turning our attention away from our primary calling in our spiritual life. This willful blindness can make us feel like everything is fine, even while we are being set up for devastation. He encourages us to not forget what has happened in our lives so that we will enjoy a 'rich welcome' when we see the Lord!
SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE
We will be previewing our Saturday night service in April and May. We're trying this out to see if it works for us and we'd love for anyone interested to come out and be a part! We will start the service at 7:00pm on Saturday evening April 20th and May 18th. It will be the same music and message as Sunday morning (an identical service) but there will be no other programs happening on Saturday night (no nursery or children's classes). After we try it out a few times, we'll have a better idea if this is a way for us to reach more people and see if we can handle the challenge!
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
APRIL CHALLENGE VERSE
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
APRIL PRAYER PROJECT
For those who are struggling with addiction
Many of us know the struggle personally, either from our own experience or from someone we love. Please pray that God will use us in bringing freedom and healing to those who have faced the powerful force of addiction. We want to be a church where the power of God is setting free those who are enslaved and bringing life to those who are spiritually dying!
WORKSHOP WEDNESDAYS
Workshop Wednesday classes are coming up soon! We are excited to be able to offer this again. Signup sheets are in the lobby.
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
CHUCKLES & CHOCOLATE
LADIES NIGHT AT HCF
Sunday May 5th @ 6:00 pm
Come join us for an evening filled with sweets and fellowship, along with lots of laughter and inspiration from Sue Duffield (www.sueduffield.com). Please bring a dessert to share so that we can have plenty of goodies! Come prepared to give a love offering (if you are able) to help support Sue's ministry. A signup sheet is in the lobby – feel free to bring a friend if you'd like – but please sign their name as well so we are prepared with seating. See Lorraine Otis with questions.
"Kind words are like honey (or chocolate!), sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." Proverbs 16:24
HCF SOFTBALL TEAM
Softball Season has begun! Bring your friends and family to come root for our team. It's a fun evening of fellowship! Be sure to check the Salt & Light for the weekly game schedules. See Lenny Little with 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
Hard to believe, but our Small Groups will be winding down in April! Start planning now with your group to find a way to stay connected over the summer. You might want to have a Game Night or a backyard BBQ here and there just to stay in touch. Meanwhile, make sure to keep picking up your Study Sheets and attending all your meetings so that you can enjoy every last bit of fellowship!
SMALL GROUP SAMPLER
If you didn't get to be a part of our Small Groups this term, don't despair! We will be doing a Small Group Sampler for 3 weeks in August. It will be open to anyone who wants to participate, and all you'll have to do is sign up for the weeks you're available. We will schedule the Small Groups and assign everyone to a different group each week. So if you sign up for all three weeks, you'll get to mix with three completely different groups. Then, as we set out to form groups in September, you'll be one step ahead in the process because you'll have met lots of other people in a small group setting!
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 (4/24)
Come out and enjoy our normal night of fun and then we will hear from special guest speaker, Bryan Collins. Bryan is a college friend of Dave's.
GROW GROUPS SR. HIGH STUDY
2nd and 4th Monday Evenings
If you are between 9th – 12th grades, this is an awesome opportunity to grow closer to each other and closer to God.
This Week at Grow Group (4/22)
Why do bad things happen to good people? We've all experienced bad times in our life and wondered where God was. Come out this Monday and discuss your thoughts on Why bad things happen to good people.
MISSION TRIP MEETING – THIS SUNDAY
Sunday April 21st
There will be a meeting in the 1st-2nd grade classroom immediately following the service for all attendees and their parents.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FREE GAS STOVE
We are getting rid of the gas stove in Hope's kitchen. It is available for free to anyone who can come and pick it up. Contact Brad Hopkins (609-502-0510) if you are interested.
OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE
VOLUNTEERS FOR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEEDED
We are in need of a few volunteers to help us with our Elementary Class (1st-5th grades) and our Pre-school Class (3-5 year olds) on Wednesday nights for the months of May and June. We will provide curriculum and any resources needed. If interested in this opportunity, see Pastor Mark right away!
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 TEAM
Our Sound Team can always use more helpers. Don't be scared; they will train you! Contact Brian Ott if you are interested at ottbriant@aim.com.
THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery Sue Quinn, Lucy Muhlbaier
Toddlers John & Dawn Brazelis, Madison Toomin
Pre K – Kindergarten Kim Lawlor, Erin & Ryan
1st – 3rd Kathleen & Cheyenne Toomin
4th & 5th Kimmie Rice
Counters LaTosha Briggs, Lois Hartwell
Greeters Matt Austen
Emily Hartwell
Lisa Minner
Connie Matthews
Wed. Evening Alicia & Don Heverly
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
Brazelis Families – Please keep them in your prayers as they mourn the loss of Ed & John's sister, Diane.
Saturday Night Service – Please lift up the service as we prepare and go forward with our first Saturday evening worship!
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!
Designed by the Master,
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
7:27 AM
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