Hope Notes 12/17/14

Dear Friends of Hope ~

I know you can't see it, but there are blood, sweat, and tears all over this edition of Hope Notes.  My laptop died and I had to get a new one.  That means a new operating system and a whole new set of problems for me since everything works differently.  I am driving my daughter crazy with questions and I am upsetting the dog because I keep sighing (don't ask me why, but sighing scares her).  I have to confess that this is one instance where I can't figure out how to pray.  God can't make me suddenly computer savvy, nor can He change this back to a system I'm used to.  (Well of course He CAN, but that's not usually how these things go!) I hate when I let this kind of thing get to me.  It is ridiculous to be so frustrated over something that has so little meaning.  Honestly, what are the eternal consequences of me not knowing how to get these Hope Notes typed and sent?  I guess I simply need to ask the Lord for patience and continue to seek instruction.  Psalm 16:22 says, 'Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed'.  SO…....if my daughter can put up with me, I will ask for direction and persevere!

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE  

December 21 – MARY (Luke 1:26-38)

Kids Christmas Program

What is Christmas Dinner like in your family?  There's probably a lot of food and people in a room filled with warmth and conversation.  What if you found out at noon on Christmas Day that you'd be hosting dinner at your house for your extended family?  While there are probably a lot of emotions you'd experience (panic, frustration, fear), chances are you'd feel overwhelmed and unprepared.  The task seems hopelessly too large for the time and your mind would struggle to even find a way to begin.  Part of the Christmas story is about God using people for tasks that feel overwhelming and for which they feel quite unprepared.  Mary is one of the major characters at Christmas that has to process a calling that seems far beyond her ability or strength. The angel that delivers the news also delivers a promise – one which reminds us why the birth of Jesus is such a huge celebration around the world each year!

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

DECEMBER  BIBLE VERSE

Luke 1:37-38

"For nothing is impossible with God. 'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered.  May it be to me as you have said."

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 1st – 5th 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

1st & 3rd 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

CHRISTMAS PARTY - THIS SUNDAY

Sunday, December 21st

6:30-8:30

It's our FOURTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY! We'll have our normal hijinks - ($5 white elephant gift exchange, 'the Grinch') and some new twists!  For Middle and High School.

Note:  Over the holidays there will be no Rooted on December 24th, 28th, 31st, and January 4th.

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

HOPE TEE SHIRTS

Just in time for Christmas - our new Hope tee shirts are here!  They will be available in the lobby for only $10.  Stylish, comfortable, and a great way to spread the word about our church!

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

December 28th

We will be holding our annual business meeting immediately following our morning service. This is where Pastor Mark shares where God has taken us over the past year, and where He is leading us for the upcoming year. It's interesting to revisit our goals for 2014 and see all that has been achieved through God's provision and leading. Everyone is welcome to attend, but please remember that only partners of Hope can vote. 

BAPTISM SERVICE

Wednesday, February 11th

We're planning a baptism service dependent on response.  We'll need a sufficient number of people interested in order to go ahead with the service.  As always, there will be two classes leading up to it.  See Pastor Mark if you have any questions.

MARRIAGE CONFERENCE

February 13th – 15th ♥

Hope will be going to the "Weekend to Remember" marriage conference by Family Life in Hershey, PA once again.  Make plans now so that you are ready to spend this romantic and powerful weekend away with your spouse.  You can register at Hershey Lodge under the group name 'HopeWoodbury'.  More info will be coming, but have the conversation now about setting that weekend aside to look into what God has to say about marriage!

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*****

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Wednesday, December 24th

Join us from 6:00 – 7:00pm for our candlelight service.  The nursery won't be staffed, but will be open and available with a video feed from the service for anybody with little ones who needs to use it.  

HOPEKIDS! CHRISTMAS PROGRAM - THIS WEEKEND

Saturday, December 20th @ 6:00pm

Sunday, December 21st @ 10:00 am

We will be collecting items for Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, a Christian meals ministry which serves the homeless of Camden. Donations of cleaning items or new white men's socks would be appreciated.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

CHRISTMAS UN-DECORATING

January 3rd @ 9:00 am

It's not as much fun as decorating for Christmas, but we still need to do it!  Anyone who is willing to volunteer please mark your calendars and help us put Hope back to 'normal'.  Contact is Bob Baumiester.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Our Building Team is looking ahead to winter and hoping to put together a list of volunteers to come clear our sidewalks when it snows.  If you would be willing to do that, please contact Brad Hopkins at 609-502-0510 or Bob Baumiester at 609-458-7777.

NEEDS

Dependable car available at no cost.

If anyone can help meet these needs, please contact Ken Blythe at kblythe99@gmail.com.

NURSERY HELP

Our nursery is overflowing with babies!  We need to add more helpers in order to provide adequate care for our little ones.  If you can rock a baby, we need you!  Contact Don or Alicia Heverly if you would like to volunteer – lilfeet21@hotmail.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

During the holiday season, we have been getting extra requests for food.  This has left us with  a shortage for baby food, freezer items, tuna fish, canned goods, soup, pasta and sauce, etc.

Any donations would be 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         Dave and Leah Hallahan

Toddlers         Kit Foster, Diane Beardsworth, Emily Foster
Pre K – Kindergarten Lisa Landis, Madison Winstel
1st & 2nd         Go Zone Christmas Program Rehearsal

3rd - 5th                  Go Zone Christmas Program Rehearsal
Counters         Mike Hartwell, Damon Briggs

Greeters         Jon Pinero

        Mary LeBeau

        John Brazelis

        Lisa Fiorile

Wed. Evening Nursery Christmas Eve

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

Second Service – We're targeting March 1, 2015 as the Sunday to begin having two services.  Lots of planning and work to do to make this possible.  Please pray for God's leading, provision, and strength!

Financial Projects – We have two big needs for 2015.  Looking at approximately a $15,000 cost to change from oil to gas in order to save thousands of dollars each year.  We also need to replenish our emergency fund of $10,000 (we used almost all of that to address vandalism and theft issues this past year).  Please pray as we ask the Lord to provide funding in both of these areas.

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

Turning to Him,
Lois

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