Hope Notes 10/30/14

Dear Friends of Hope ~

Public Service Announcement to all you 'Hopers" – Please remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night!  I have like the time change.  I truly don't mind the darkness come earlier in the evening – to me it's peaceful.  I like eating dinner snug in our cozy kitchen with the velvety darkness surrounding the house.  And, being quite the morning person, I like having the sun greet me upon arising. Lots of people grumble about the change; to make themselves feel better they say, "Well at least I get an extra hour of sleep Saturday night."  I hate to burst their bubble, but the only time in history there was any 'extra' hours in the day was when God made the sun stand still for Joshua!  "So the sun stood still and the moon stopped………….The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day." (Josh 10:11-12)  I love that verse – it's such a powerful reminder of what God can do!  So, however you feel about the time change, just please don't forget about it!

 

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE  

November 2 – Multiplication (John 12:20-26)

Investing can be a great way to grow your savings – or it can be a devastating way to lose all you have.  It all depends on where you invest!  However, you can't reap any of the benefits of investment without releasing your money.  You have to let it go in order to gain the rewards of good investing.  Jesus talks about a similar process spiritually.  Some Greeks want to see Him, and He uses this opportunity to explain how He is going to multiply His work.  His words double as an invitation for us to do the same.  How often have we ignored this foundational truth of following Christ?  We try to hold onto what we're called to let go of, and we live frustrated because we wind up losing it anyway.  The process of losing our lives to find our lives is one that we must embrace!

 

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

 

November 2014

Jeremiah 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

 

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.

Note:  Bible Study will be meeting in the 1^st & 2^nd grade classrooms during the coming months in order to accommodate the Christmas Choir rehearsals being held in the auditorium.

 

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

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP

November 6^th – 7^th is the NJ Teachers Convention so Leah and Dave will be taking you on a College Road Trip! We'll be visiting Cairn University, Eastern University, Messiah College and Lancaster Bible College. We still have four spots open so if you are in 9th-12th grade see Dave Hallahan to sign up or for more details!

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL RETREAT

November 21^st -23^rd we will be taking our Middle School youth group down to OC Maryland for the Alive 2014 Youth Retreat. Register before Halloween for a discounted price! See our website or Dave Hallahan for more information.

 

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.

 

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

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

OCTOBER GIVING UPDATE

We averaged $5245 per week in October which brings our annual average for weekly giving to $5445.  This means we are definitely behind for the year on our annual weekly giving target of $5600 per week.  Please seek the Lord with us on this matter, asking Him to provide through the generous and sacrificial hearts of our church family.

 

TRUNK OR TREAT – THIS FRIDAY

Friday, October 31^st

4:30 – 7:00 pm

Stuff your trunks (and your mouths) with candy and come to our first ever Trunk or Treat!  Setup begins at 4:00. Kids from the neighborhood will come to the church parking lot and walk through our path of cars to collect candy. Dress up your family and your car and come out to get to know some of the neighborhood kids! It's sure to be lots of safe, non-scary, family fun! 

Note: If you haven't turned in your trunk-or-treat registration form for your car please get it to Matt Russell by this Sunday, October 26^th!! 

 

HELP SUPPORT OUR TRUNK OR TREAT

Can't make it out to Trunk or Treat but still want to help?  We'd like to gather up plenty of extra candy to make sure our trunks stay full throughout the night.  If you'd like to donate candy to the event, please leave it in the bins in the lobby.  

We're also hosting an open house to go along with our Trunk or Treat.  There is a signup sheet in the lobby for anyone who is willing to bring a dessert.

 

VOTING INFORMATION – DUE THIS SUNDAY

October is Voting Month!  Voting forms are available in the Resource Room 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 posted on the bulletin board by 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 Hope4Recovery@yahoo.com with any questions.

 

*****CHRISTMAS INFORMATION*****

 

COMING SOON FOR CHRISTMAS

This year, Hope has chosen to participate in ANGEL TREE – a ministry for children who have a parent in prison.

Watch for a Christmas tree in the lobby with lots of yellow angels on it. Each angel you take with you represents one present for a child (about $15-20).  Gift desires are stated on the angel so you know what the child wants. It's EASY and it's FUN!  More information is coming, but you can get excited NOW and start saving to give a little one the gift of the Spirit of Christmas. See Dawn Blaire or Wendy Devereaux with any questions.

 

CHRISTMAS CANTATA

Sunday December 14th

Hallelujah Light Has Come

Here at Hope, we love to celebrate the Christmas season with music! This year, we are including 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. If you have any questions, please contact Dana at danaott@hopechristianfellowship.org.

 

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM REHEARSALS

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 children 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.

 

HOPEKIDS! CHRISTMAS PROGRAM REHEARSALS

Attention all parents of 1st-6th graders:

Rehearsals take place every Sunday morning immediately following the Go Zone from now until December 13th. Every child is welcome to be a part!

 

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

 

NEEDS MINISTRY

A family member (female) of one of our attendees is in desperate need of a room to rent.  If anyone can help, please contact Ken Blythe on our Needs Team at kblythe99@gmail.com.

 

URGENT NEED FOR TEACHER

The Toddler class is in immediate need of a teacher!  Please see Kara Ott or contact her at karajoellxo@gmail.com if you are able to help.

 

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                          Sara Cartella, Anki Hill

Toddlers                         Kara Ott, Amanda Mills, Prisca O.
Pre K – Kindergarten     Craig and Tina Campana
1st & 2nd                       Go Zone Christmas Program Rehearsal

3rd - 5th                        Go Zone Christmas Program Rehearsal
Counters                        Kathy Berry, Carole Baumiester
Greeters                        Rick Ayusa

                                      Patty Bunnell

                                      Frank Caranci

                                      Helen Mastalski

Wed. Evening Nursery  Amanda Esposito, Colleen Vicario

 

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

 

 

Delivered Into Light,
Lois

 

 

 

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