Hope Notes 7/4/13

Dear Friends of Hope~

Since today is the Fourth of July, my mind is turned to freedom.  Much is made over the fact that we live in a free country.  As Americans, we relish our freedom and our independence.  We even added the Bill of Rights to the US Constitution to protect our natural rights of liberty and property.  But are we really free?  Many of us are enslaved in some way.  It may be an addiction, a relationship, money, power, or any sin pattern we can't break free of.  What looks like 'freedom' is often a trap set by the enemy to further drag us down. True freedom only comes from surrendering your life to Jesus and letting Him have total control.  Only His love and mercy can break our bonds of slavery.

^"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

 

SUNDAY MESSAGE

July 7 – God's Timing (2 Peter 3:8-10)

Playing baseball can be a challenge for those not athletically gifted.  The art of hitting a baseball with a bat can be extremely difficult to master.  There are so many ways it could go wrong.  If you have the perfect pitch and swing perfectly to meet it, but you're one second late, you completely miss the ball.  Your sense of timing is a feel, and not everyone's feel is the same!  Peter talks today about how God's timing is different than our timing.  His feel on the right time to return and bring judgment on the world is often questioned and mocked.  But God is exactly right about His sense of when it will be the right time to bring this age to a close and usher in eternity

 

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

 

JULY CHALLENGE VERSE

Matthew 5:14-16

 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

 

WEDNESDAY EVENING PROGRAMS

7:00 – 8:15

We will be putting our study of 1Corinithians aside for summer and offering the following events.  There is no childcare during July Jams.

 

JULY JAMS

During the month of July we want to change up our normal Wednesday night Bible study by taking things outdoors under the big tents! We'll start the night with some music from some of our own musicians followed by a devotional from Pastor Mark.

July 10 – Matt and Kelli Russell / Cupcakes (in honor of Mark's birthday!)

July 17 – VBS – No July Jams

July 24 – Kylie and Kara Ott / Carnival Night – Popcorn, Candy bars, Peanuts, Ice Cream Bars

July 31 – Tom Albright and friends / Cookies and Brownies

 

SUMMER WITH SISTERS/WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY

Mondays at 7:00 pm

July 29, August 5, 12, 19, 26

A five-week study of the book of Ruth, led by our own Kim Rice. Come out and learn what the book of Ruth, a remarkable woman of the Bible, has to teach us about living as a woman in today's culture. A sign-up sheet is at the information table. (The Women's Prayer group will not meet during this time period.)

 

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.

Please Note:  This program is not meeting during July Jams.

 

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.

 Please Note: Young Adults will not be meeting as usual on the third Monday in July (7/15) due to VBS.  We will meet again as usual on the first Monday in August (8/5).

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

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 Steve Jones with any questions.

 

SMALL GROUP SAMPLER

If you didn't get to be a part of our Small Groups this past term, don't despair! We are doing a Small Group Sampler on the first 3 Wednesdays of August.  The groups are open to anyone who wants to participate, whether you've been in a group previously or not.  Simply sign up and you will be assigned to a small group for whatever Wednesdays you are available. The deadline for signing up is Sunday, July 14^th, so that we can make sure we have a plan that includes everyone and gives us time to get that plan to all the group members in time for the first small group.  Signup sheet is in the lobby.  Childcare is not provided.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Annual Church Picnic – September 8

 

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.

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.

Please Note:  Youth Group & Grow Groups are taking a break over the summer.  We will keep you informed of our upcoming summer events!

 

ROOTED SUMMER SCHEDULE (Details will follow)

July 3, 10, 24 – July Jams

July 15 thru 19 - VBS

July 21^st – Mini Golf After Church

July 31^st thru August 4^th – Mission Trip

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PROMOTION SUNDAY – THIS SUNDAY

July 7^th

Every year on the first Sunday in July, we move our kids up to their next grade level in the Children's Program.  To avoid any confusion, here's a refresher course on our classes:

          Nursery – (Infants and 1 year olds)

          Toddlers - (2-3 year olds)

          Pre K / Kindergarten – (4-5 and 5-6 year olds)

          Elementary – (Grades 1-2)

          Elementary – (Grades 3-5)

Just be sure to bring your child to his/her class that corresponds with their age or grade they will be in come September.

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

SIGNUP SHEETS OUT

Signup sheets for the HELPING HANDS (Ken Blythe) and BUILDING PROJECTS (Brad Hopkins) ministries are now out in the lobby.  These are both 'as needed' areas of ministry. Anyone willing to volunteer – please add your name to the list! 

 

YOUNG ADULT CHILDCARE

We are in need of 1 or 2 people who are willing to provide childcare for our Young Adults meetings. This group has been growing like crazy and being able to provide babysitting is a wonderful way we can support and encourage them in their journey of faith. We have rotating teams right now, but need a little more help so each team only needs to serve 1x every 6-8 weeks. Please see Dana Ott or email her at danaott@hopechristianfellowship.org for more information if you are interested in helping out.

 

VBS – COLOSSAL COASTER WORLD

July 15^th – 18th

There are plenty of different options and opportunities to help.  Contact Anne Jefferson at annemarie523@juno.com if you'd like to volunteer to be a part of this exciting program for our children.  There is a signup sheet in the lobby.

 

URGENT VBS NEEDS

We are in real need of teachers/ helpers to work with our Toddler and Pre-K age groups for the week. If you can help, please contact Franne Harkin at fhark7@gmail.com.  Franne will be holding a short meeting after service this Sunday (6/30) to discuss details.

 

FOOD PANTRY

We are in need of the following items for our pantry:

          Ground beef, hot dogs, meat, poultry, french fries, etc. for the 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                          Don & Alicia Heverly

Toddlers                         Dawn & John Brazelis, Madison
Pre K – Kindergarten     Tina & Craig Campana
1^st – 3rd                         Lisa Fiorile

4^th & 5^th                         Kim Biglin, Kerry Crowley
Counters                        LaTosha Briggs, Carole Baumiester
Greeters                         Dan Gottshall
                                       Cheryl Gottshall
                                       Katrina Mariani

                                       Greg Corrado
                                     
Wed. Evening                 None during July Jams

 

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

Lydia Sherbondy – Homeless and seeking God's provision for shelter.

Claire Orsino – For her grandson, Brendon, to open his heart to Know Jesus. He is in pain; his mom (Claire's daughter-in-law) died and he is angry.

Saturday Night Service – Please lift up these services as we move forward in seeing if a Saturday evening service is a good fit for us.

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

 

Set Free by the Son,
Lois

 

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