Hope Notes 4/25/13

Dear Friends of Hope~

Last week I got to have a double blessing and a double portion of Hope Christian Fellowship.  I went to the Saturday AND the Sunday service!  Even though the music and the message was the same, both services had a very different feel.  On Saturday, just for fun, I tried pretending that it was Sunday morning.  After all, we were inside and the lighting was all the same.  How would anyone know if it was day or night?  It didn't work.  It just felt very different.  Not bad different, just different!  I enjoyed both services and actually felt more prepared to hear Pastor Mark's message again on Sunday.  I always take notes, and so I kind of 'knew' what to be ready for as far as writing things down.  God speaks so clearly through Pastor Mark, and I often can't write fast enough to capture all the wisdom.  But this Sunday I had my pen poised – eagerly waiting to transcribe what I knew was coming!  If you weren't able to make the Saturday service, I encourage you to mark your calendars now for May 18^th and come enjoy a service that's the same, yet different!

 

SUNDAY MESSAGE

April 28 – Refresh Your Memory (2 Peter 1:12-15)

It has been said that the dullest pencil is better than the sharpest memory.  The question in our lives is often not one of information or understanding, but of remembering.  We have so much going on in our lives that it is easy to lose track of things we need to do – even very important things.  In our journey of faith, this is true as well.  It isn't that we don't know some of these basic and powerful truths; we just need to be reminded.  Peter talks about his passion to leave a legacy that these believers will not forget.  What he wants them to remember for all time also resonates with us!

 

SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE

Our next Saturday night service will be at 70:00pm on May 18^th. 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 giving it a try a few times, we'll have a better idea to see 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

7:00 – 8:15

We will be putting our study of 1Corinithians aside for spring and breaking into individual classes.  The groups offered are shown below.  We want to be sure we have enough books for everyone, so please sign up right away!  Classes begin May 8^th.  Childcare is provided.

 

The Land Between (Bob Baumiester)

Author Jeff Manion explores the way in which the Israelites' reactions to leaving Egypt, but not yet being in the Promised Land, can provide insight and guidance on how to respond to God during our own seasons of difficult transition. These situations offer our greatest opportunity for spiritual growth. God desires to meet us in our chaos and emotional upheaval, and he intends for us to encounter his goodness and provision during these upsetting seasons.

 

Sun Stand Still (Damon Briggs)

Does the brand of faith you live by produce the kinds of results in your life that you read about in the biblical stories of men and women of faith?  Author Steven Furtick challenges you to believe that the audacious faith that we see in the Bible, the faith that caused a man to pray and see the sun stand still in the sky, is the same faith we can claim for ourselves today.

 

Too Busy NOT to Pray (Mike Hartwell)

The urgent need for prayer is clear, but busyness still keeps many of us from finding time to pray. True prayer, prayer that changes us and allows us to participate in God's work in the world, can't happen on the fly.  In this book, Bill Hybels takes a look at the struggle each believer faces to slow down in this fast paced life and spend some time in conversation with our amazing God.  We each need that deep connection with our Lord everyday; this book gives us the tools to do just that.

 

The Basics of Christianity (Steve Jones)

Whether you are a new Christian, or a long time believer, this study provides the opportunity to explore your faith and God's Word for yourself.  In this study, each one of us will be able to see for ourselves what God says about some of the basic issues of being a Christ follower.  From eternal security, to the inspiration of the Bible, to the person of Jesus Christ, we'll tackle issue after issue and learn how to study God's Word and know what it says from first-hand experience.

 

 Do I Have to Live Stressed Out (Pastor Mark)

We all face stress.  It surrounds us every day.  It is constantly poured into our lives in various forms.  But what should a child of God do with that?  We will take a look at why we live stressed out, and how to turn from the choices that will keep us there.  This study will begin by looking at God's promises for our lives – what He wants us to experience.  Then we'll take a practical look at some of the ways we turn from what God has provided and live in less than what He wants us to have.

 

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

SPRING CAFÉ

May 1^st / 7:00 – 8:15

This week is your last chance to sign up and share your talent at our Spring Café! You can sing, dance, share a testimony, or dazzle us with a rare hidden ability.  Otherwise, just come on out for an evening of fellowship and fun!  Please bring a dessert to share.  See Kim Biglin for more information.

 

CHUCKLES & CHOCOLATE

LADIES NIGHT AT HCF

Sunday May 5^th @ 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

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

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  

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.

 

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 immediate need of a teacher and a helper for 1^st thru 5^th grades and a helper for the 3-5 year olds for Wednesday evenings in May and June.  We need to have all our workers in place by May 8^th.  Please see Pastor Mark right away if you can volunteer your services!

 

CHILDCARE NEEDED

We are in need of volunteers to provide childcare during our Workshop Wednesday classes.  Please see Pastor Mark ASAP in order to fill this need!  Thank you.

 

VBS – COLOSSAL COASTER WORLD

Can you believe it's time to start thinking about VBS already?  There will be plenty of different options and opportunities to help. More information will be coming.  Contact Anne Jefferson at annemarie523@juno.com if you'd like to volunteer to be a part of this exciting program for our children.

 

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.

 

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery                          Sue Quinn, Lucy Muhlbaier

Toddlers                         John & Dawn Brazelis, Madison Winstel
Pre K – Kindergarten     Kim Lawlor, Erin & Ryan
1^st – 3rd                         Lisa Fiorile

4^th & 5^th                         Kim Biglin, Kerry Crowley
Counters                        Kathy Berry, Melissa McGinness
Greeters                         Matt Austen
                                       Emily Hartwell
                                       Lisa Minner

                                       Connie Matthews
                                     
Wed. Evening                 Spring Café – no nursery

 

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!

"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

 

Delivered Into Light,  
Lois

 

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