Hope Notes 2/27/14
Dear Friends of Hope ~
I was in the doctor's waiting room the other day………waiting AND waiting! As I looked around, I noticed that every single person there, young and old, had their heads looking down at their laps. What is going on? Has everyone been overcome with some strange sleeping sickness? Then I realized they were all busy tapping and scrolling away on their phones. There was an entire room full of people with absolutely no interaction. I tried to catch someone's eye just to smile and say good morning; no one would look up. This experience made me wonder two things: If we've lost the ability to engage in simple pleasantries with each other and if we've lost the ability to engage our own minds with imagination and thoughts when we are at rest? More importantly, when we constantly keep our minds occupied like that, we leave no room for the things of God to seep in. How can we hear the Spirit whispering to us or ponder the mysteries of faith? God tells us to "Be still and know that I am God." (PS 46:10) How can we do that if our minds are never allowed to 'be still'? How about if the next time you're stuck waiting somewhere, instead of pulling out your phone, you ask God to clear your head and allow your mind to breathe? I think you will find you like what He fills it with.
SATURDAY EVENING & SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE
March 2 – Not Enough (John 6:1-15)
Have you ever gone to a restaurant and found out at the end of the meal that you didn't have enough cash on you to pay for the meal? Maybe you forgot to bring money or maybe you forgot that you already spend the money on something else. Panic or embarrassment can overwhelm you in a moment like that! It's even worse to look at the challenges and situations of your life and feel like you just don't have enough inside you to face what's coming. Jesus faced a very large and very hungry crowd with no food. What they come up with as a solution reminds us all that He is the master of taking what seems like too little and making it all that we need!
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
MARCH CHALLENGE VERSE
Philippians 3:13-14
"Brothers I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
DAILY BIBLE READING CHALLENGE
Pastor Mark has thrown down a challenge! He is challenging everyone to read their Bible every day during the month of March. It can be a chapter a day (like the book of Proverbs) or it can be simply picking up a copy of The Daily Bread in our resource room and reading the corresponding passage each day. There are online resources and reading plans available on many sites (one of the most popular is www.bible.com where you can download the app and pick a daily reading plan). But however you do it, find a way to spend some time each day reading God's Word for yourself!
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 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
BOWLING
Sunday, March 16th
You don't want to miss this! Our annual bowling outing generates a lot of friendly competition! Even if you don't bowl, it's fun to come and cheer everyone on. We're meeting at the Brunswick Zone in Deptford from 5:00 – 7:00pm. Cost is $5/person, which includes shoes but NOT food/drink. There is a signup sheet on the table in the lobby. All money will be collected at Brunswick when you arrive. Contact Kathleen Toomin with any questions.
HCF SOFTBALL LEAGUE
It's hard to believe that baseball season is right around the corner with all this cold and snow, but it is! We'd love you to join our team! It's an awesome chance to meet and fellowship with not only Hope's family but other churches in our area.
Hope Fellowship's softball team is open to our guys and ladies. You must be 15 before the start of the season. Games are played on week nights; usually once or twice a week (6:30, 8:00 or 9:30). Fields are in Sewell and Pitman. Season runs from April to mid July.
Contact Lenny Little with any questions at littlemanlenny@yahoo.com.
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
Sr. High Grow Groups will not meet again until 3/24.
ROOTED WEDNESDAYS
Rooted Wednesdays (3/5) -
Guy Talk - We're men. We're strong. Or else we like to think we are. But do we even know what it means to be strong? If God were judging a strongest man competition what would the events look like?
Girl Talk - Secrets, secrets are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone. There's some truth in that saying, but we've probably all experience the pain of having a secret revealed. What are the benefits to keeping a secret versus gossip?
RE-PLUGGED RETREAT
3/7 – 3/9
There is still time to get your money and registration in! Registration forms are outside of the youth room. The cost is now $60 per student. All checks can be made payable to hope. We'll be leaving from the church at 6:30pm on Friday the 7th and returning at 2:00pm on Sunday afternoon.
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEWS
ATTENTION PARENTS
For security reasons, we will be asking parents to sign their children in and out of their classes on Sunday mornings starting this Sunday. We want to ensure the safety of each child - every single Sunday so please doesn't forget!
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY CONFERENCE
Saturday, March 22nd
Children's Ministry Workers! You are invited to a Children's Ministry Conference here at the church on Saturday, March 22nd from 9:00am-2:00pm. It'll be an awesome and unifying time as we discuss where our Children's Ministry is headed and what the next few months will look like. We'll also take time for training and group discussions. Breakfast and lunch will be served. You won't want to miss it!
Please Note: if you are thinking about being a part of our team for this amazing ministry, join us for this day. We need helpers and teachers in many different age groups – there's sure to be a place for you to plug in!
SAVE THE DATE for VBS!
Vacation Bible School will be July 28-August 1 for children 3 years old and up to 5th grade! We'll meet each night 6-8:30pm. The theme this year is Weird Animals. God filled the world with a lot of crazy creatures...including you! When kids feel weird, different, or even lost in a crowd -- nothing compares to the extraordinary love of Jesus! So mark your calendars! We'll need plenty of volunteers to help out, so if you're interested in being a part of this amazing ministry contact Matt Russell: mattrussell@hopechristianfellowship.org.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALLING ALL MUSICIANS & TECHIES!!
Saturday, April 5th
We are planning a Workshop for Worship right here at Hope from 9:00am - 2:30pm and we want you here! This workshop is for everyone who is currently involved in our Music Ministry (Worship Team, Sound Tech Team, and Words Ministry). This day is also for anyone who is interested in exploring the possibility of getting involved - whether it's a technical position like running sound or MediaShout, or a musical role like playing in the band and/or singing! This day will include breakfast, a time of worship and teaching, some specialized break-out groups, lunch, and lots of information! Please see Dana Ott (or email her at danaott@hopechristianfellowship.org) by March 23rd with any questions or to let her know you're coming!
CHOICES OF THE HEART BABY BOTTLES
The Choices of the Heart baby bottles are here! Simply take home a baby bottle as a reminder to pray for the unborn and fill the bottle with spare change or a check made out to Choices of the Heart. Choices is a local crisis pregnancy center that supports women who choose to keep their babies through free pregnancy tests and Ultrasounds, with ongoing counseling & group support. They also offer post-abortion services, help for male partners, and high school prevention education.
Bottles should be returned to Wendy Devereaux by Sunday, March 23rd.
CHURCH DIRECTORY – FINAL SUNDAY FOR PICTURES – FOR REAL!
This Sunday is the deadline to have your picture taken, to turn in any photos you would like to have used, and to fill in the registration form if you have not done so. Remember, even if you are currently in the directory now, we still need you to register for the new one.
Contact Lois Hartwell (foolsforchrist7@yahoo.com) 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'. Find us on facebook at Hope Christian Fellowship or on twitter at @HCF_Woodbury, @HCF_YoungAdults, or @HCF_Rooted.
OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE
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 Sara and Anki, Katherine
Toddlers Kara Ott, Jenna Gaventa, Abbey Harkin
Pre K – Kindergarten Franne and Abbey Harkin, Maurice Brazelis, Stephen Bradshaw
1st & 2nd TBA
3rd - 5th Kim Biglin, Kerry Crowley
Counters Bill Berry, Damon Briggs
Greeters Art Muhlbaier
Lucy Muhlbaier
Charlotte Zediker
Jeanne Wurst
Wed. Evening Dana & Kylie Ott
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
Standing Still Before Him,
Lois
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