Hope Notes 12/26/13

Dear Friends of Hope ~

I have to admit, it's a little bit hard to switch gears from yesterday to today.  Yesterday morning was full of family time - relaxing over homemade cinnamon buns and opening presents.  Today it's 'business as usual'.  My family is back to work, laundry is begging to be done, and there are Hope Notes to write!  Yesterday was a quiet reflection on the goodness of God, His sacrificial love for us, and the many blessings He has bestowed on us as a family.  Today I can feel my thoughts shift to more 'practical' things that need to get done.  I don't want to lose the reverence and awe that Christmas brings to mind.  We spend too much time focused on temporal, earthly matters that don't really count for anything.  The sacrifice from God that began in a manger and ended on a cross is so mind blowing that I cannot believe I would ever think anything else was important.  My heartfelt prayer for myself and for all of you is that we would not lose sight of the babe in that manger and what He came to do for us. Let us keep the wonder of Christmas close to our hearts all year long.

 

SATURDAY EVENING & SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE

December 29 – Vision 2014

As we come to the end of our year and we give God thanks for all that He has done in our lives and in our church, we want to take a look at the vision that we have for the coming year.  With our annual business meeting to follow the Sunday service, we thought it would be a great moment to talk about what God is challenging us to for 2014.  Our church has strengths and weaknesses like any church.  And for the new year, we really want to build on our strengths.  We want to stretch and grow in some very important and key areas.  Our hope is that we'll take our heart for kids and our kids ministry to a new level of impact and outreach.  We want to take a hard look at how we can make our church the warmest and most welcoming place to everyone who comes through our doors.  And we want to direct compassion towards those in need in bigger and better ways.  Plus, we'll get an update from Lauren Pupchik on what God is doing in her life and ministry in Guatemala. Join us for the discussion and pray with us for these big ideas in 2014.

 

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

 

DECEMBER CHALLENGE VERSE

Psalm 121:1-2

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

 

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.

 

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.

 

GOD'S GIRLS

Women's Bible Study – Bible Bus Stops

This study meets the 1^st 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!

Please Note: Next study date will be Monday January 6, 2014.

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

 

YOUNG ADULTS PRE-NEW YEAR'S EVE COFFEE HOUSE

Monday, December 30^th @ 7:00 pm

Have any plans on Dec. 30^th?  Of course you don't – it's the day before New Year's Eve!  Well come on out to Hope's Young Adults Pre-New Year's Eve Coffee House. It's guaranteed to be the coolest night of the year. Live music, delicious food, hot and iced coffee – and, best of all, it's ALL FREE!! 

 

NEW FAMILIES LUNCHEON

Sunday, January 19^th

Are you fairly new to Hope?  Would you like a chance to meet some other new families?  Hope's Leadership Team is throwing a 'welcome luncheon' just for you!  As our church grows, it gets harder and harder to connect with everyone.  We want you all to know that we are glad you're here; we want you to know that your presence at Hope matters.  Please join us for lunch after the service.  All you need to do is sign up on the signup sheet in the lobby so we know how many to prepare for.  Contact LaTosha Briggs (usafinancial2000@hotmail.com) with any questions.

 

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

 

Stay tuned till after the holidays…………..

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PARENTS OF ELEMENTARY KIDS - FYI

This coming Sunday (12/29), we will go back to our 'normal' schedule - the elementary kids will start in the auditorium and move to their classes after worship.

The following Sunday (Jan 5th) we'll have the elementary kids begin in the youth room and then be dismissed to their classes from there. Hint: There just might be a special screening of their Christmas Program for them to view!

 

FREE MATTRESS

Queen sized mattress – like new.  Available for free!  Call Amy Fleck at 856-562-0917 if you are interested.

 

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING – THIS SUNDAY

Sunday, December 29^th

We will be holding our annual business meeting immediately following our morning service. This is where Pastor Mark shares where God has taken us over the past year, and where He is leading us for the upcoming year. It's interesting to revisit our goals for 2013 and see all that has been achieved through God's provision and leading. Everyone is welcome to attend, but please remember that only partners of Hope can vote. 

PLEASE NOTE:

The budget for 2014 and the nominees for deacon / elder are posted on the bulletin board at the sound booth.  We're asking everyone to pray with us in preparation for the meeting so that our partners will be ready to vote on these issues at that time.  If you have any questions or concerns, please ask an elder before the meeting so we can keep our meeting as brief and simple as possible.

 

CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTO SESSIONS

Beginning Next Sunday (1-5-14)

We have so many new families who are not represented in our current directory that we are going to make a new one!  A directory is a great way to get to put names and faces together.  You know that person you keep saying hi to but don't know their name?  Just run home and check your directory!  Every Sunday in the month of January, Kristy Straub will be taking family photos immediately following the service.  You do not need to be a partner of Hope to be in the directory.  Contact Lois Hartwell (foolsforchrist7@yahoo.com) with any questions.

 

ATTENTION 1^st & 2^nd 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 – 16^th

We're getting a group together to go to the Family Life "Weekend to Remember" conference in Hershey, PA.  Family Life is offering a special promotion for this conference.  From January 6 to 27, the rate for each couple is only $149.99.  Hotel reservations & costs are separate.  Signup online at www.familylife.com and use the group name HopeWoodbury to get the discount.  Don't miss this chance to invest a weekend into your relationship - spend some time focused just on the two of you and get some powerful training from God's Word about God's design for marriage. 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.

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

NURSERY HELP NEEDED

God has been blessing us with lots of little babies here at Hope; we just need some more hands to care for them!  We need 3 more nursery workers for the 2014 schedule. Please contact Alicia Heverly (lilfeet21@hotmail.com) if you are willing to volunteer.

 

TEACHERS AND AIDES NEEDED

 We have a need for Sunday School teachers and aides for the 3-5th grade classroom beginning in January. Teachers work on rotation, with 2 weeks in the classroom and 6-8 weeks off. We could use one to two more teachers for this age group. We would also like to have an aide in the classroom at all times. High school teens, this is a great way to minister to the younger kids! We would like to make "teaching teams" of one teacher, one aide, so if an adult-teen team is interested in working together, let me know. Thanks so much for your willingness to serve our youngest family members.

Please contact Mary Lebeau (marylebeau@verizon.net; 856-316-6301) if you're interested or if you have any questions about the program.

 

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                          Lucy Muhlbaier

Toddlers                         Karen Blythe, Diane B, Emily
Pre K – Kindergarten     Kim Lawlor, Erin & Ryan
1^st & 2nd                        Kathy Porch, Madison Toomin

3^rd - 5th                         Mary LeBeau, Dylan Ott
Counters                        Kathy Berry, Melissa McGinness
Greeters                        Tony Dariano

                                      Mickey Dariano
                                      John Brazelis
                                      Lisa Fiorile                      

Wed. Evening                Happy New Year!

 

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

Saturday Night Service – Please lift these up as we move forward in offering a second service.

Kids Ministry Director – Continuing to seek God's direction as we move forward in this area.

"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

 

Celebrating With You in the Birth of Our Savior,
Lois

 

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