Hope Notes 11/21/13
Dear Friends of Hope ~
I am so looking forward to this Sunday's Praise Service! It is an annual touch stone for me; there have been years where my heart was just overflowing with things to be thankful for, and other years where it felt like a bit of a stretch to give thanks. I'm sure you've all been there. 1Thess 5:18 challenges us to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Notice that it doesn't say give thanks FOR all things; it says give thanks IN all things. That's a big difference. We can be thankful in our difficult times because we know God is our loving Father, that the days of our lives are planned ahead by Him (PS 139:16), and that He will use even the worst of circumstances for good (Romans 8:28). No matter what state your heart is in, I guarantee you that when you come to the Praise Service you will not walk out the door feeling miserable. You may have entered with a heavy heart, but I promise you will leave feeling encouraged by the evidence of God's mercy and love at work.
SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE
November 24 – Praise Service (Joshua 1:6-9)
NO SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE
Each year we set aside this Sunday to give thanks and praise to our amazing God. He has done so much in our lives and has promised to never leave us or forsake us in our time of need. Our service will be filled with music and will include an opportunity for you to give the Lord thanks for what He's done in your life. Let's take this time as we prepare for the week of Thanksgiving and root ourselves in genuine and sincere gratitude. If we don't, we risk getting swept up in the chaos of sales and Christmas celebrations that are about to flood into our lives. Without a God-ward heart and eyes lifted up to heaven, we will miss out on any depth of meaning and experience during this wonderful and joyful season. So join us in praise this morning!
SATURDAY EVENING SERVICES
Our Saturday evening services continue and seem to be growing! Please remember that there will be no Saturday evening service on December 15th.
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
NOVEMBER CHALLENGE VERSE
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight."
WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
7:00 – 8:15
1Corinthians
Make sure you set aside time to come and study God's Word mid-week. This helps keep you rooted in Scripture and connected to each other. Childcare is provided.
PLEASE NOTE:
There will be no Bible study or any other programs on November 27th (the night before Thanksgiving).
On December 11th, Adult Bible study will move to the Youth Room since the Preschool/Toddler class will be practicing for the Christmas Program in the auditorium.
On December 18th, we will divide our Adult Bible study into a few groups in two separate classrooms so that the Elementary class can practice for the Christmas Program.
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.
GOD'S GIRLS
Women's Bible Study – Bible Bus Stops
This study meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month from 7:00 – 8:30pm. There will be discussion and reflection on the Proverb of the Day taken from the One Year Bible. It's like riding the bus; jump on and off anytime you are available!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP
MEN'S BREAKFAST
Second Saturday of Every Month
8:00 – 9:30am
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. See Steve Jones with any questions.
MEN'S MORNING PRAYER GROUP
Every Friday at Church
6:00 am – 7:00 am
Join us for a time of prayer, intercession and lifting up our hearts together with our brothers. "Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you know not of."
YOUTH NEWS
CAMDEN OUTREACH – SENIOR HIGH
Saturday, November 30th
Don't forget – this outreach is for you guys, too! Join in with our Young Adults and make a difference in the lives of those in need in Camden.
ROOTED CHRISTMAS PARTY
Friday, December 13th
It's almost that time of year! Come out from 7:00 – 9:00 pm for a night of Christmas fun and games as we celebrate Christmas together. Be on the lookout for more details
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.
Rooted Wednesday (11/20) – Come out as we take our last look at our "When in Rome" series for the year 2013.
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.
Grow Groups (11/25) - We'll be wrapping up our Surrender series by looking at what it means to surrender ourselves. This will be our last Grow Groups of 2013 so be sure to come out.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ATTENTION 1st & 2nd GRADE TEACHERS
New Winter Teacher Guides are now available for pick-up in the classroom. See Kathleen Toomin with any questions.
MARRIAGE CONFERENCE
February 14 – 16th
We're getting a group together to go to the Family Life "Weekend to Remember" conference in Hershey, PA. The cost is $89/per plus hotel costs (register separately). This is a great opportunity to invest some time as a couple in your marriage and also to get away for the weekend! Signup online at www.familylife.com and use the group name HopeWoodbury to get the discount. See Pastor Mark with any questions.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
Don't be shy! Jump in and get engaged in some spiritual conversations via social media stuff like facebook and twitter. We'd love for you to share your thoughts and your spiritual journeys so that we can walk through life a little more 'together'. Share something you're thankful for, share what God is doing in your life through the challenge verse, share what you learned at our last service, etc.
*****CHRISTMAS ANNOUNCEMENTS*****
CHRISTMAS CAFÉ
Wednesday, December 4th @ 7:00 pm
Enjoy a night of desserts, fun and fellowship as we kick off the Christmas Season. Sign up to sing, play an instrument, share a story or testimony, or some other gift the Lord has given you. Please bring a dessert to share. The church will provide coffee, tea, etc. This is for EVERYONE – no youth or kids programs will be running – we're all together in the auditorium! If you have any questions, please contact Kimmi at 881-4877 or Kimmi_B@comcast.net.
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Saturday, December 21st @ 7:00
Sunday, December 22nd @ 10:00
Be sure to invite your family and friends to come see our kids share the real Christmas story through this fantastic program! See Matt or Kelli Russell with any questions.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
What a wonderful response to our shoebox collection! We had 84 boxes distributed this Monday. Your generous spirits will be sure to touch the lives of children all over the world. Thank you so much for giving!
OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE
COAT DISTRIBUTION – THIS SUNDAY
Sunday, November 24th
If you or anyone you know is in need of some winter warmth, be sure to join us after worship this Sunday and pick out a coat FOR FREE! We have quite a collection of coats and want to see everyone who could use one walk out with just the right coat! See Lisa Minner with any questions.
FOOD PANTRY
Current pantry needs: Hot and cold cereals, peanut butter & jelly, and freezer items such as burgers, hot dogs, entrees, etc.
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 Brian & Naidona Ott
Toddlers Franne Harkin
Pre K – Kindergarten Linda Landis, Madison
1st & 2nd Lisa Fiorile
3rd - 5th Kim Biglin, Kerry Crowley
Counters LaTosha Briggs, Lois Hartwell
Greeters Rick Ayusa
Frank Caranci
Helen Mastalski
TBD
Wed. Evening No Wednesday Evening Services 11/27
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
Anonymous -Please lift up Bryan Brittingham and the 150th Engineer group serving a year in Afghanistan
Chris Bunnell – For his mentally challenged ex-classmate who has an abusive family. Also for someone Chris knows who has been taken from his parents and is in an orphanage.
Christianna Chimeng – For a young Christian woman who has been abandoned by her husband; raising 6 children on her own. Husband returned to Nigeria Africa and has not been supporting his family financially. She is bout to be evicted and children placed in foster care. Please pray for her and for God's conviction on her husband's behavior.
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 – We are thankful that Matt Russell has stepped in to run our Children's Christmas Program! Let's keep him in prayer as he takes the lead in 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
Thankful in All Things,
Lois
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8:12 AM
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