Hope Notes 9/25/14

Dear Friends of Hope ~

At this time of year, you would find me on the back porch early morning/late evening doing what looks like howling at the sky.  What I'm actually doing is letting out a big breath, checking to see if I can see it in the air.  I LOVE when it's finally cold enough that you can see the mist!  Please tell me I am not the only one who looks for this early signal that frost/fall/winter is coming!  And I always think about the verse in James that says, "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (Jas 4:14)  When I am physically looking at my little puff of air, it really hits home just exactly how fast that tiny bit of mist disappears.  Is that really what our life here on earth is?  We have nothing we can measure eternity with – nothing to compare it to.  It falls far beyond our comprehension. It makes me aware how small I am and how big God is.  Why do I even let the things or worries of this world bother me when they are so minuscule in light of eternity?  I guess that's just the human part of me.  But it does give a good perspective on how things really are.  So……go on…….go outside and let a big breath loose into the air.  Watch and see how long before it is gone.  Then give thanks to our God who gave you that breath and who holds this world, AND eternity, in His hands!

 

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE  

September 28 – Jesus Does Care (John 11:28-37)

Have you ever been in a situation where your role made it unwise to let people know what you were feeling?  Sometimes a leader must project confidence in spite of their own misgivings.  Parents have to discipline their children for doing what is wrong, even if it is a big challenge to not burst into laughter at their antics.  On top of that, people have presumptions about what kind of person you are, so they think they already know your reactions.  God gets a reputation like that in some circles.  For Him to judge the wicked and punish them, some think that God must be heartless and cruel.  And when heartache and pain shows up in the lives of those who are His, it is tempting to feel like God doesn't care.  But we see a unique glimpse into the heart of God through Jesus.  One of His dear friends had died, and Jesus shows up on the scene.  We'll take a close look at the description of Jesus' reactions to more clearly understand His promise elsewhere that He will never leave us or forsake us.

 

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 from 9:15 – 9:45 am in the Prayer Room. We pray for the services that morning and for the needs in the church. If you would like to participate, just show up!

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

 

OCTOBER CHALLENGE VERSE

Proverbs 15:1

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word can stir up anger."

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

1 CORINTHIANS / 7:00 – 8:15 pm

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.  Contact Jenn Winstel with any questions at jenwinrn@comcast.net.

 

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

1^st & 3^rd Mondays 7:00 pm – 8:40pm

Studying "Becoming More than a Bible Study Girl" by Lysa TerKeurst.  Snacks are provided; please bring your beverage of choice.  For women high school age and up.  Contact Jennifer Nolan at jnolan1962@yahoo.com with any questions.

 

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.

 

SMALL GROUPS

Small Groups are a vital part of getting connected with others and forming deeper relationships than a quick 'hello' on Sunday mornings. Study sheets can be found in the Resource Room or downloaded right from our website. You can contact Damon Briggs at damon.briggs@mitchellandness.com with any questions.

 

YOUTH NEWS

 

ROOTED MIDDLE SCHOOL

Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:30

 

ROOTED HIGH SCHOOL

Sundays from 6:30 – 8:30

 

 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEWS

 

READY? SET... GO!

HopeKids! has launched the Go Zone as the new name for our kids Sunday morning service! We are GOing for GOD, GOing for GROWTH, and GOing FOREVER! The Go Zone is a service entirely focused around the kids, in which we connect by playing games, worshipping with one another, and hearing a message from God's Word in fun, creative ways before heading off to Sunday school for the rest of the service.

 

HOPEKIDS! CHRISTMAS PROGRAM REHEARSALS

Attention all parents of 1st-6th graders: We are excited to announce that rehearsals for this year's Christmas program will begin this Sunday, September 28th! Rehearsals take place every Sunday morning immediately following the Go Zone from now until December 13th. Every kid is welcome to be a part! The dates for this year's Christmas program will be December 19th and 20th so be sure to mark your calendar!  

 

Follow HopeKids! Ministries on facebook at:  facebook.com/HCFHopeKids

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

VOTING INFORMATION

Voting forms will be available starting this Sunday for partners to vote on deacons and elder candidates.  Instructions are on the forms and partners who are voting can refer to the partner list and the officers list on the bulletin board on the sound booth.  Forms must be completed, signed, and returned to Pastor Mark by Sunday, November 2^nd.  See Pastor Mark with any questions.

 

HOPE FOR RECOVERY

Tuesdays at 7:00 pm

A Christian based, 12-step approach for those struggling with addictions of any kind.  The group is a safe and confidential place for men and women to find strength and HOPE through sharing and fellowship. Contact Liz McCool with any questions at irelandjim@netscape.com.

 

TRUNK OR TREAT

We are trying to get some idea of how many people are interesting in participating in our 'Trunk or Treat' outreach on Halloween.  There is a signup and we need a response by this coming Sunday (9/28) in order to determine if we have enough interest to put together this event.  We're inviting our neighborhood to bring their kids to our church parking lot on Halloween (from 4:30 - 7:00 pm) where we'll have cars set up and decorated around the lot.  Each car will be decorated with a 'theme' and will give out candy to the kids.  It's a one stop, safe and fun alternative to marching around the whole neighborhood - and a great chance to get people out to our church.  Signing up means you'd be bringing the car, the decorations/theme, and the candy for the kids.  See Matt Russell with any questions.

 

CHRISTMAS CHOIR OPPORTUNITY

Here at Hope, we love to celebrate the Christmas season with music! This year, we are hoping to include our adults with a Christmas Cantata on Sunday morning, Dec. 14^th.  This opportunity is open for all adults (senior high and up) who like to sing. There will be a brief informational meeting following the service on Sunday, Oct.5^th.  If you are interested please plan to be there. We'll need to gauge interest, signup, and give information on practice times, etc. If you have any questions, please contact Dana at danaott@hopechristianfellowship.org.

 

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM REHEARSALS

Christmas program rehearsals are beginning.  Both pre-school (3-5 year olds) and elementary (1st-5th grades) are putting together songs and speaking parts for our Christmas celebration.  Make sure your kids are here each Sunday so they can be a part and they are ready to perform.  Performance dates are December 20^th at 6:00pm and December 21^st at 10:00 am.

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

MEALS MINISTRY

Here at Hope we like to take care of our people!  When we know someone who recently had a baby, has an illness in the family, or any other occasion where having the burden of preparing a family dinner removed would be a big help – we like to take care of that for them!  If you would be interested in occasionally making or delivering a meal, contact Pat Nolan at pationolan@comcast.net.

 

FOOD PANTRY

Brrrrrrrrrr…..it's extra cold in our freezer because it's almost empty!  Donations of hot dogs, hamburgers, frozen dinners, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

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. Thank you!

 

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery                          Nicole Babli, Lisa Landis

Toddlers                         Karen Blythe, Jenna Gaventa, Madison Winstel
Pre K – Kindergarten     Bill McGinness, Isaiah Owens, Angel Nolan
1st & 2nd                       Go Zone Christmas Program Rehearsal

3rd - 5th                        Go Zone Christmas Program Rehearsal
Counters                        Bill Berry, Mike Hartwell
Greeters                        Art Muhlbaier

                                      Lucy Muhlbaier

                                      Charlotte Zediker

                                      Jeanne Wurst

Wed. Evening Nursery  Linda Landis, Lisa Minner

 

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 Bill Berry directly at billandkathyberry@comcast.net.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Children's Christmas Program – Let's keep all the children, their parents, and the helpers in prayer as they prepare; it's a big job but it has a big result!

"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

 

 

 

A Vapor in the Wind,
Lois

 

 

 

Hope Notes 9/18/14

Dear Friends of Hope ~

While we were on vacation, I feel like all my senses were heightened.  I was so aware of God's gifts of sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch.  Maybe here at home I just don't pay attention to them because I'm experiencing mostly the same things each day.  But, standing on the dock outside our little cottage on the canal, I am acutely aware of the beauty of the sunset reflecting on the water, the sharp tang of the salt air, the sound of the gulls overhead, and the roughness of the dock beneath my feet.  I take in deep gulps of the briny air, wanting to imprint it in my memory for those winter days when the air is so frosty it hurts to breathe it in. I pull out my camera and capture the sunset in all its glory so that I can look back on it and recall just how majestic it was and how small I felt in comparison.  The canal is completely silent except for the gulls.  My ears record their cries. I am so thankful that God has given us these senses along with the ability to remember, so that we can go back to them again and again when our daily lives are wearing us down.  He didn't have to do that; He could have made the world in black and white and given us no sense of taste or smell.  But He didn't.  He gave us the most beautiful world and the senses to enjoy them.  Step outside this evening when the sun is low and the birds are singing their goodnight songs.  Stand quietly – look and listen; smell the night air and feel the grass beneath your feet. Be still and know.

 

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE  

COMMUNION

September 21 – The Resurrection and Life (John 11:17-27)

If you've lived somewhere for a long time, you probably know some of the shortcuts and back roads that can save you time and aggravation in your travels. Someone less familiar with the area may be using a map or an app to give them directions, and if you took a turn not shown on their map, they might think you were making a mistake.  But your knowledge of the area would prove that there are sometimes better ways to travel than they thought.  Jesus talks at Lazarus' funeral about being the resurrection and the life.  This is more than empty comfort or nice words.  He is talking about both life and resurrection together – and telling them that He is the source of both.  When we talk about resurrection, we're talking about death as a prerequisite.  Jesus has told His followers that He came to bring life – now they are starting to hear that life is connected to resurrection.  Let's dig into what this means for our lives as we put our faith in 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 from 9:15 – 9:45 am in the Prayer Room. We pray for the services that morning and for the needs in the church. If you would like to participate, just show up!

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

 

SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE VERSE

Proverbs 19:11

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

1 CORINTHIANS / 7:00 – 8:15 pm

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.  Contact Jenn Winstel with any questions at jenwinrn@comcast.net.

 

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

1^st & 3^rd Mondays 7:00 pm – 8:40pm

Studying "Becoming More than a Bible Study Girl" by Lysa TerKeurst.  Snacks are provided; please bring your beverage of choice.  For women high school age and up.  Contact Jennifer Nolan at jnolan1962@yahoo.com with any questions.

 

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.

 

SMALL GROUPS

Small Groups are a vital part of getting connected with others and forming deeper relationships than a quick 'hello' on Sunday mornings. The first study sheets will be out on September 21^st.  You can contact Damon Briggs at damon.briggs@mitchellandness.com with any questions.

 

YOUTH NEWS

 

ROOTED MIDDLE SCHOOL

Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:30

 

ROOTED HIGH SCHOOL

Sundays from 6:30 – 8:30

 

OC RETREAT

September 19 - 21

Our annual Ocean City retreat is right around the corner! If you are going into 9th-12th grade be sure to join us for a week of fun, worship, walking the boards, and growing closer to Jesus. Cost is $85 ($50 if money is in by Sept. 14th). Get a permission slip from the bulletin board outside of the youth room. See Dave Hallahan for more details.

 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEWS

 

READY? SET... GO!

HopeKids! has launched the Go Zone as the new name for our kids Sunday morning service! We are GOing for GOD, GOing for GROWTH, and GOing FOREVER! The Go Zone is a service entirely focused around the kids, in which we connect by playing games, worshipping with one another, and hearing a message from God's Word in fun, creative ways before heading off to Sunday school for the rest of the service.

 

Follow HopeKids! Ministries on facebook at:  facebook.com/HCFHopeKids

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

NURSERY

We have a need for at least three more people to help in our Nursery.  God has blessed us with so many babies – we just don't have enough hands to give your little ones the attention they deserve.  If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer, please contact Alicia or Don Heverly at lilfeet21@hotmail.com.

 

MEALS MINISTRY

Here at Hope we like to take care of our people!  When we know someone who recently had a baby, has an illness in the family, or any other occasion where having the burden of preparing a family dinner removed would be a big help – we like to take care of that for them!  If you would be interested in occasionally making or delivering a meal, contact Pat Nolan at pationolan@comcast.net.

 

FOOD PANTRY

We've been giving out LOTS of food – what a blessing it is to be able to help ease the burden for so many families!  But that means we are in need of a major restocking for our pantry! Any donations would be greatly appreciated!

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. Thank you!

 

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery                          Nicole Babli, Lisa Landis

Toddlers                        Karen Blythe, Jenna Gaventa, Madison Winstel
Pre K – Kindergarten    Lisa Landis, Madison Winstel
1st & 2nd                       Lisa Fiorile, Lillian Kerr

3rd - 5th                        Brittan Bley, Faith DeWalt, Angel Nolan
Counters                        Kathy Berry, Carole Baumiester
Greeters                        Art Muhlbaier

                                      Lucy Muhlbaier

                                      Charlotte Zediker

                                      Jeanne Wurst

Wed. Evening Nursery  Linda Landis, Lisa Minner

 

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 Bill Berry directly at billandkathyberry@comcast.net.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Middle School/Sr. High Split – Prayers for our youth and their leaders as they prepare to transition to this new format coming in September.

"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

 

 

In Awe of His Creation,
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.

Hope Notes 9/11/14

Dear Friends of Hope ~

Don't you love when Pastor Mark writes us a letter?  We get a bonus of hearing what's on his mind and heart regarding all kinds of church 'business'.  Maybe I should go away more often so that we can have that blessing!  Seriously though, it brought me peace of mind to know that he would cover me for Hope Notes, I had friends cover some of my other church duties, friends to watch our house and our dog.  They had my back! It was a reminder of how God takes care of all the little details so that we don't need to fret.  Isaiah 46:4 says, "I am he, I am he who will sustain you."  God sustains us not only through the big things – heartbreaking trials, difficult seasons of life – but also through the smaller things that happen daily.  If we lean on Him, we can rest easy knowing that GOD has our backs – no matter what!

 

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE  

September 14 – When God is Late (John 11:1-16)

Some people believe that being late is a good thing.  They use terms like "fashionably late" to describe the benefits of not arriving on time.  Being late on purpose is one step further than someone who is carelessly late or just couldn't seem to get there on time.   It can feel like a slap in the face to everyone else involved, like there just wasn't enough consideration or respect for those who were waiting.  Many times in our lives, it feels like God is late.  We have a crisis or some burden on our lives and we take it to the Lord.  But He doesn't act when we think we need Him too – and things happen that we wish never happened.  What is God doing?  Is it evidence that God doesn't care or doesn't pay attention?  We're going to look at the start of a story that begins with Jesus being purposefully late – and His waiting brings about catastrophic results.  But Jesus seems to see the whole situation differently than everyone else around Him.

 

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 from 9:15 – 9:45 am in the Prayer Room. We pray for the services that morning and for the needs in the church. If you would like to participate, just show up!

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

 

SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE VERSE

Proverbs 19:11

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

1 CORINTHIANS / 7:00 – 8:15 pm

Will resume September 10th

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.  Contact Jenn Winstel with any questions at jenwinrn@comcast.net.

 

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

1^st & 3^rd Mondays 7:00 pm

For women high school age and up. Our first study will be Monday, September 15th from 7:00 – 8:40 pm.  This year's study will be "Becoming More than a Bible Study Girl" by Lysa TerKeurst.  There is a signup sheet in the hallway. Snacks are provided; please bring your beverage of choice.  Contact Jennifer Nolan at jnolan1962@yahoo.com with any questions.

 

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.

 

SMALL GROUPS

Small Groups are a vital part of getting connected with others and forming deeper relationships than a quick 'hello' on Sunday mornings. The first study sheets will be out on September 21^st.  You can contact Damon Briggs at damon.briggs@mitchellandness.com with any questions.

 

 

YOUTH NEWS

 

ROOTED MIDDLE SCHOOL

Wednesdays at 7:00

 

ROOTED HIGH SCHOOL

Sundays at 7:00

 

OC RETREAT

September 19 - 21

Our annual Ocean City retreat is right around the corner! If you are going into 9th-12th grade be sure to join us for a week of fun, worship, walking the boards, and growing closer to Jesus. Cost is $85 ($50 if money is in by Sept. 14th). Get a permission slip from the bulletin board outside of the youth room. See Dave Hallahan for more details.

 

 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEWS

 

READY? SET... GO!

HopeKids! has launched the Go Zone as the new name for our kids Sunday morning service! We are GOing for GOD, GOing for GROWTH, and GOing FOREVER! The Go Zone is a service entirely focused around the kids, in which we connect by playing games, worshipping with one another, and hearing a message from God's Word in fun, creative ways before heading off to Sunday school for the rest of the service.

 

Follow HopeKids! Ministries on facebook at:  facebook.com/HCFHopeKids

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

WORKDAY

September 13th @ 9:00 am

Time to get Hope spruced up for fall!  We will be doing some inside and outside work.  Feel free to come for as long or short a time as you need. This is the same Saturday as the Men's Breakfast so guys………come on out and have a good meal and some fellowship before beginning the workday!

 

OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATION NEEDED

Our missionary, Roberta Nagel, is coming September 24^th and needs a place to rest her weary head for one night.  If anyone has the room and the heart to help, please contact Wendy Devereaux at robwendydevereaux@comcast.net for further details.

 

NURSERY

We have a need for at least three more people to help in our Nursery.  God has blessed us with so many babies – we just don't have enough hands to give your little ones the attention they deserve.  If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer, please contact Alicia or Don Heverly at lilfeet21@hotmail.com.

 

MEALS MINISTRY

Here at Hope we like to take care of our people!  When we know someone who recently had a baby, has an illness in the family, or any other occasion where having the burden of preparing a family dinner removed would be a big help – we like to take care of that for them!  If you would be interested in occasionally making or delivering a meal, contact Pat Nolan at pationolan@comcast.net.

 

FOOD PANTRY

We've been giving out LOTS of food – what a blessing it is to be able to help ease the burden for so many families!  But that means we are in need of a major restocking for our pantry! Any donations would be greatly appreciated!

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. Thank you!

 

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery                          Don and Alicia Heverly

Toddlers                         John and Dawn Brazelis, Tori Shute
Pre K – Kindergarten     Lisa Landis, Madison Winstel
1st & 2nd                       Anne Jefferson, Michelle Schmidt

3rd - 5th                        Kathy Porch, Madison Toomin
Counters                        Kathy Berry, Carole Baumiester
Greeters                        Art Muhlbaier

                                      Lucy Muhlbaier

                                      Charlotte Zediker

                                      Jeanne Wurst
                                     

                                                                                               

Wed. Evening Nursery   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 Bill Berry directly at billandkathyberry@comcast.net.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Middle School/Sr. High Split – Prayers for our youth and their leaders as they prepare to transition to this new format coming in September.

"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

 

 

Covered by His Wings,
Lois

 

 

 

Hope Notes (Pastor Letter Edition) 9-4-2014

Hi Friends of Hope!

 

Lois is away this week, and sometimes that means I get to sub in for her and write a little letter to you all.   She always does such a wonderful job – and I'm sure many of you are disappointed not to hear her 'musings' to start of Hope Notes this week! – but, I'm not going to try to replicate her newsletter.  I'm just going to write something that shares my heart and hopes for our church family.

 

First, I hope that you are getting adjusted to September. It feels like it came rather quickly this year!  Maybe that's because our family had a big wedding in the middle of summer and it felt like summer barely started and then it was over.  But in any case, we're charging towards fall, back to school, and back to more normal schedules.  If you're the kind of person that runs on 'fresh starts' and you've gotten a little disconnected or distracted, now is the perfect time to re-engage.  Whether it is the simple (but powerful) stuff you do personally (like reading your Bible and praying, listening to music that feeds your soul, etc) or stuff you do at church (showing up, serving, giving, worshipping, learning), take full advantage of this chance to reset and get back to what matters.

 

As we get rolling, we're really excited for what this fall will bring to Hope.  This Sunday, we kick off small groups and high school youth group.  I'll talk about forming small groups on Sunday, but let me give you just a bit of info.  We let you form your own groups around your own friendships – we're targeting 8-12 in each group.  We plan to meet every other week and we have a study sheet that helps you discuss what God has been teaching everyone.  If you've never been in a small group at Hope, we'd love for you to get in a group this year.  And we'll help you do just that – in whatever way we can!  If you've been a part of a small group, maybe this is the year for 'multiplying'. I'll talk a little about that on Sunday too.

 

Our youth group keeps getting bigger, and that has given us the chance to divide into middle school and senior high.  There are retreats coming up that I would highly recommend for your teens.  Mine will be there!  And I've never known anything to have the kind of impact that retreats have.  So bring your kids out on Sundays nights (High School) or Wednesday nights (Middle School). And don't forget that we start our Wednesday night kid's ministry this coming week too.

 

I can't believe how amazing our family nights in August were – we averaged well over 100 each week.  And the picnic was amazing – I certainly never expected that many people to come out, but I'm so thankful that they did.  VBS was a huge success, and I want to thank all those who served this summer to make it such a wonderful and memorable season.

 

We're thinking through some other things as we go forward – elections are coming in October, we are thinking through a Halloween community event, we have kids Christmas programs in the works, and maybe even an adult choir Christmas Cantata.  Lots of fun, but sometimes it is hard to press it all into our very packed schedules.  Take some time to pray about your schedule and let God lead you in what you should and shouldn't do.  It may be that some presumptive activities need to get bumped off your list.  Let's practice being faithful and healthy in the way we pace our lives.  Sometimes, we don't get a say about how much is on our plate.  But those should be the exception.  If you're living stressed out every single day, you're probably not weeding out the stuff that you shouldn't be carrying or doing!  Remember Philippians 4:6 and Joshua 1:9.  Great truths and promises of God! And make sure you aren't treating the things of God as optional or non-essential – that would be a huge mistake.

 

My prayer for our church is that God will work in each person's life so that they will move forward in their relationship with Him.  That will mean that you get better at serving, giving, worshipping, learning, loving, and knowing Him.  It sure seems like the time of Jesus' return is rushing toward us, and we want to make the most of every opportunity we have to serve the kingdom of God and to live as children of God.  I'm going to do all I can do to get better at what I do.  Join me – pour out your life in service to the One who is worthy.  Whether it is at your job, in your home, at church, or wherever – do all to the glory of God!

 

Have a great rest of this week and see you all Sunday!
Pastor Mark