Hope Notes 2/20/14

 

 

Dear Friends of Hope ~

We're well into the first quarter of the year and for me that has meant a lot of 'start up' paperwork for different things at church.  I finally feel like I'm pretty much caught up and things are progressing as they should.  You might think that this would cause some stress or pressure, but you know what?  It doesn't.  I love it.  I know that God has placed me in just the right areas to serve at Hope.  I can say this with confidence because I've been on the other side of that where I've been serving out of pressure, or guilt, or because no one else would do it.  That also meant I was serving on the basis of my own strength.  It was awful.  There is a huge difference in serving where God wants you to be through HIS power, and struggling through on your own.  I'd like to encourage those of you who are afraid to serve because you think it will be a chore or you're afraid you won't be able to do it.  It may take some courage to step out of your comfort zone, but I promise you – if God is leading you to a certain ministry, He will provide you with everything you need to do the job.  Not only that, but He will honor your choice to serve with blessing after blessing.  Really spend some time praying and thinking about those little nudges you feel, the places where your thoughts turn to, the ideas you want to share. If you keep your heart tuned towards these things, God will absolutely guide you to where you need to be!

 

SATURDAY EVENING & SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE

February 23 – Ignoring the Testimony (John 5:31-47)

Have you ever recounted a story that you witnessed firsthand and had someone tell you that you were wrong?  Maybe there was some trouble and the person you're speaking to is trying to place the blame on you.  Or maybe they just don't want to believe what you are saying.  It is overwhelmingly frustrating to know that what you are saying is the truth, but to be ignored or dismissed.  Jesus talks about that experience to those who doubted him.  He points to several supporting proofs for his identity and role.  But no matter how much these people need the truth, they refuse to believe.  Let's not fall prey to ignoring the truth about Jesus!

 

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

 

FEBRUARY CHALLENGE VERSE

Proverbs 25:28

"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control."

 

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

 

BOWLING

Sunday, March 16^th

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

(2/24) - Our last week with Hark! Come as we have another great discussion about apologetics.

 

ROOTED WEDNESDAYS

Next topic coming….

 

RE-PLUGGED RETREAT

3/7 – 3/9

In today's media driven culture we are always plugged in - plugged in to the drama of our friends, plugged into the constant news cycle, plugged in to the latest trends in music, fashion and everything else. Bad news is that doesn't leave us much time to be plugged into God. Come out for a weekend of unplugging and then re-plugging. We'll have plenty of fun as we grow closer together and closer to God.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

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 23^rd.

 

CHURCH DIRECTORY – FINAL SUNDAY FOR PICTURES

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.

 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY CONFERENCE

Saturday, March 22^nd

Children's Ministry Workers! You are invited to a Children's Ministry Conference here at the church on Saturday, March 22^nd 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!  

 

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 HELPERS NEEDED

We have enough workers to fill the schedule, but we still need a few extra helpers to be on call in case there are a lot of babies in the nursery on any given Sunday.  Our baby population has been booming and it's a little too much for only 2 workers.  Contact Alicia Heverly at lilfeet21@hotmail.com if you are interested in helping.

 

COFFEE TEAM

Have you been enjoying our coffee café?  Why not lend a hand to our Coffee Team and take a turn occasionally to set up on Saturday night (about 15 mins) and cleanup on Sunday after the service.  Contact Jeff Toomin at jktoomin.98@comcast.net with any questions.

 

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

One of our teachers is moving and so we are in immediate need of a teacher for our 3^rd-5^th grade classroom.  We could also really use one additional teacher and one more helper. 

Teachers work on rotation, with 2 weeks in the classroom and 6-8 weeks off. 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 helper, 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                          Sara and Anki, Katherine

Toddlers                         Kara Ott, Jenna Gaventa, Abbey Harkin
Pre K – Kindergarten     Franne and Abbey Harkin
1^st & 2nd                        Kelly Louis

3^rd - 5th                         Anita Little, Nancy Reeves
Counters                       Carole Baumiester, Lois Hartwell
Greeters                        Glen Baade

                                      Delores Baade
                                      Ellen Boales
                                      Diane Beardsworth          

Wed. Evening                Lucy & Art Muhlbaier

 

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

Lynn Shute - Please pray for their Aunt as she undergoes surgery for 2 large cysts in her stomach.

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

 

Serving our Risen Lord,
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.