Hope Notes 1/16/14

Dear Friends of Hope ~

With the New Families Luncheon being this Sunday, I have the families of Hope on my mind.  I was thinking how many new families we have and how much harder it is to 'keep tabs' on everyone.  We don't always get a chance to touch base with one another; often we don't even know if someone is missing on a given Sunday! We never want anyone to feel as though no one notices or cares when they don't show up, but it's become virtually impossible to keep track of everybody.  My suggestion is this:  how about if every single one of us makes a pledge to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading in noticing an absence?  If you notice that you haven't seen a certain face for awhile, go ahead and give them a call, send a card or shoot off an email.  It's nice to know that you've been missed! You'd be surprised at how often that one gesture can be a soothing balm to a wounded heart.  We can't all touch base with everyone, but we can all reach out to a few. And that would cover a lot of ground in letting the body of Hope know that their presence matters!

 

SATURDAY EVENING & SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE

January 19 – Ripe for Harvest (John 4:27-42)

If you're looking for a harvest, it really matters that you are looking in the right place.  In the downtown area of a major city, you'd be hard pressed to find a meaningful harvest.   But if you were driving through the Midwest, you probably would have no problem locating a place that brings in large amounts of food.  As Jesus' disciples return, they are confused as to why he is speaking to a woman at a well.  Jesus answers them by talking about a harvest.  Do we understand how to follow Jesus in this calling to be reapers?  There is a harvest all around us if we're willing to see it and bring it in!

 

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

 

JANUARY CHALLENGE VERSE

Philippians 2:3-4

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

 

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!

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

 

SMALL GROUPS

We're here to help!  If you have not found a group and want to be in one, please sign up on the "Free Agent" list on the table next to the resource room.  We will be forming groups from the names on the list.  Our goal is to place everybody in a small group that is on the list by the end of January, so sign up quickly.  You are still free to form your own small groups (or add to them) - but please make sure your group is registered with Damon Briggs so he knows what groups have been formed.  Any questions, you can contact Damon via email at damon.briggs@mitchellandness.com.

 

NEW FAMILIES LUNCHEON – THIS SUNDAY!

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. 

 

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 MEETING

Every Friday at Church

6:00 am – 7:00 am

A fellowship of praying men contending for His will done on earth as in heaven.

 

YOUTH NEWS

 

GROW GROUPS

January 27

Has something ever happened to you or around you that you couldn't explain? Would you call it a miracle? Do miracles actually even happen anymore? Mike Hark joins us again to discuss these questions and more.

ROOTED WEDNESDAYS

January 22

We'll continue our look at what it means to be 'Rooted' by looking at being rooted in prayer.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PRE-K / KINDERGARTEN MEETING – THIS SUNDAY!

Sunday, January 19^th

Please note that will we be having a quick meeting for all Pre-K / Kindergarten teachers so that we can pray together, touch base and see how everyone is doing in the classroom.

 

RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP

We here at Hope are looking into the possibility of forming a 12 step Christian recovery support group to help those struggling with addiction. We are also looking for anyone who is involved in recovery, has knowledge of recovery and would be able to help us start this group. If you are interested in helping or attending, please contact Liz McCool at 856-423-7919 or email her at irelandljm@netscape.com.

 

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.

 

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.  Signup online at www.familylife.com.  Our group name is HopeWoodbury; use the Promo code 'Love' to get the discount.  Hotel reservations & costs are separate.  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

 

SUNDAY MORNING OPENING

We're looking for anyone who would be interested in helping Matt or becoming a part of the Sunday morning openings for kids.  You would be playing some games, singing together, and other fun stuff!  If you think you might like to get involved, contact Matt at mruss80@gmail.com.

 

SATURDAY EVENING CHILDCARE

We'd like to have some basic childcare for our Saturday evening services.  Anyone interested in watching little ones (3 and under) on a rotating basis, please contact Pastor Mark.

 

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

Please check the expiration dates of any donations and place in the basket located outside the kitchen door. Contact Karen Blythe with any questions or if you are interested in helping with our pantry.

 

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery                         TBA

Toddlers                        TBA
Pre K – Kindergarten    Karen & Amanda Merriell
1^st & 2nd                       Kathleen & Cheyenne Toomin

3^rd - 5th                        Anne Jefferson, Brittany Bley
Counters                       Mike Hartwell, Damon Briggs
Greeters                        Dan Gotshall

                                      Cheryl Gotshall
                                      Katrina Mariani
                                      Greg Corrado                           

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

Sunday Morning Children's Opening – Let's keep Matt Russell in prayer as he leads in this new venture for our children.

"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

 

His Love Never Fails,
Lois

 

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