Hope Notes 12/5/13

Dear Friends of Hope ~

The 'Christmas Elves' sure were busy last week transforming Hope into a beautiful Christmas wonderland!  When I stepped into the auditorium I immediately felt some of that Christmas spirit begin to fill my soul. Its funny how simply looking at something can affect the way you feel!  That just goes to show how susceptible our souls are to the images our eyes behold.  We need to be careful what we're looking at.  Once you see something, you can't 'unsee' it.  Sadly, the world has lots of images we need to be wary of.  Questionable movies, TV shows, violent video games, magazine advertisements – the list goes on and on.  What our eyes take in seeps into our souls.

 I want to use the visual prompt of beautiful Christmas decorations to remind myself to keep my eyes not only on all the good things that God has put in the world for us to enjoy, but most importantly on our Lord God Himself!  As the old hymn says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace".

 

SATURDAY EVENING & SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE

December 8 - Christmas Decorations 

1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Luke 10:38-41; James 2:14-17

Do you drive around on these evenings and look at Christmas lights?  Some people really go all out in their efforts to celebrate and illuminate the season.  You can wonder how long it took them to set it all up and how much their electric bill is for that month, but it is undoubtedly enjoyable to take in the magic of houses that are beautifully lit for Christmas.  But a wonder inspiring display of lights does not mean that the family who lives in that home is happy or even healthy.  It could well be that your favorite light display is on the home of a deeply hurting family.  As we think about this Christmas season, let's take a look at the depth of our holiday celebration.  What are we really celebrating and how much do we actually engage that concept during our holiday festivities?

 

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 15^th.

 

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.

 

PLEASE NOTE: 

On December 11^th, 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 18^th, 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 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: There will be no meeting the third Monday of December, and our next study date will be Monday January 6, 2014.

 

 

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

 

BOWLING

December 11^th from 6:30-8:30 pm

Put your bowling skills to the test as we head to the Brunswick Lanes in Deptford. All the bowling you want for just $5.00!  Additional money will be needed if you want food/drinks.

 

ROOTED CHRISTMAS PARTY

Friday, December 13^th

It's that time of year again! Come out for our third annual Christmas party from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.  We'll have games, food, a $5 gift exchange, and a few surprises as well!

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

ROOMATE WANTED

One of our young adult ladies is looking for a young lady to share her apartment. If you would like more information, please contact Amanda Mills by email at mills.amandae@gmail.com.

 

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

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

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.  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*****

 

THE LIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS - CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Saturday, December 21^st @ 7:00

Sunday, December 22^nd @ 10:00 

Want to walk like a wise man this Christmas? Then head on over to this year's Children's Christmas Program! All family, friends and neighbors are welcome to share this Christmas event with us at Hope, so invite anyone who may need a little light this season.

 

Special Note: The program is free of charge. However, in the spirit of giving, the Children's Christmas Program has partnered with Choices of the Heart, a Christian pregnancy center which ministers to pregnant women and new moms. The kids at Hope will be shining some light on the mothers served by this ministry by collecting baby hygiene items before both performances. If you are able, please bring a donation of a baby hygiene item (lotions, baby washes, shampoos, diaper creams, etc) to the show. The kids will be collecting these items to donate to Choices of the Heart on Christmas Eve. Then sit back, relax and soak in "The Light Before Christmas."

 

YOUNG ADULT UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY

Monday, December 16^th

If you are a young adult (high school grad through young 30's), you don't want to miss this event! Come and wear the ugliest Christmas sweater you can find!  Please bring a $5 wrapped gift for our crazy, unpredictable gift exchange! We'll get started at 7:00pm and childcare is provided. You can sign up if you'd like to bring a snack or dessert.  See Mark or Dana Ott with questions.

 

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Tuesday, December 24^th @ 6:00pm

We would love to have you join us for our traditional Christmas Eve service. We know this is a busy night for many families so we make sure to keep the service to one hour.  We realize that people may have family traditions or obligations and aren't able make it out, but we sure hope you can.  We have special readings, music, and the all important candle lighting ceremony to really get you in the Christmas spirit!

Please Note:  We will be taking an offering for our needy families at this service.

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

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                          Karla Hopkins, Jeanne Wurst

Toddlers                         Dawn & John Brazelis, Madison
Pre K – Kindergarten     Franne & Abbey Harkin, Maurice Brazelis, Steve Bradshaw
1^st & 2nd                        Kelly Louis

3^rd - 5th                         Anita Little
Counters                        Bill Berry, Damon Briggs
Greeters                        Tony Dariano

                                      Mickey Dariano
                                      John Brazelis
                                      Lisa Fiorile                      

Wed. Evening                TBA

 

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

Charlotte Snobgrass – For Kayden, a 4 year old just diagnosed w/cancer. Please pray for strength for the family, healing for Kayden, and that this experience brings them to God.  Also for a co-worker's 3 day old son undergoing surgery.

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

 

Looking at His Light,
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.