Hope Notes 8/13/15

Dear Friends of Hope ~

This may seem like a weird train of thought to you, but bear with me!  I received an invitation to a cruise for my high school graduating class.  Many fellow classmates were responding on Facebook; it was interesting to see them as they are today and remember who they were way back then!  And I had a funny thought.  Most of them are probably still the same person.  They may have matured and gained life experiences, outgrown teenage rebellion (or not!), and turned into adults with adult responsibilities.  But their basic core, their character, their very nature remains the same.  On the other hand, I have had the privilege of being two very different people in my lifetime.  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2Cor 5:17).  I keep trying to wrap my head around that.  I may have the same personality and character traits, but my very nature – my innermost soul – has changed.  The day I gave my life to Jesus I was reborn as His child.  I am NOT the same person!  Are you following what I'm trying so poorly to say?  I was given a whole fresh, new start.  A clean slate.  A brand new birthday, so to speak.  I've lived two very different lives with very different purposes.  Besides the obvious reason of where some of my classmates will spend eternity, it made me very sad to think that they were still the same old souls.  This gives me a new perspective on sharing Jesus with others.  Who WOULDN'T want the chance to start over?!  I just wish I had 'started over' way back then!  Those high school years and beyond would have been a whole lot better!
                                                              

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE 

August 16 – TEEN SERVICE

Micah 6:8

At Hope, we don't think of our youth group as a place to just entertain our teens. We are inviting them to take active roles in our church and in serving.  This week, our teens have been serving our community, and today they will serve our church family by taking over our morning service. We love supporting our teens – even in simple ways like filling up the auditorium this Sunday as they lead our service.  This weekend our youth are embarking on a three day service project to help do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly alongside local ministries. Our students will be working with Choices of the Heart, Atlantic City Rescue Mission and the people of Camden. Come out this Sunday to hear about the work they did and how you too can learn to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.

 

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

8:40 – 8:45 for Both Services

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 8:40 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 at 8:30 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

 

AUGUST CHALLENGE VERSE

Proverbs 16:25

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

Please Note:  Our Bible Study will be on hiatus until fall. 

Join us for August Family Nights during the month of August!

 

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.

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

 

SMALL GROUPS

September will be upon us before you know it and now is the time to begin thinking about Small Groups!  Let's take the month of August to pray about starting or joining a Small Group.  Think about who to ask, along with where and when to meet. It's so easy – you can facilitate the group or just offer your house as a hosting site. Contact Damon Briggs for further information at damon.briggs@mitchellandness.com.  First study sheet will be going out on 9/27.

 

SMALL GROUPS FACILLITATOR / HOST MEETING

In preparation for the kickoff of our small groups, we want every facilitator and host to join us for a meeting on September 20th.  We will be holding the meeting twice, once after each service that morning in the kitchen.  Pastor Mark will be talking about how we want small groups to run and answer any questions you have.  We want this vital ministry in our church to get off to a great start and for every host and facilitator to have all the info they need.

 

AUGUST FAMILY NIGHTS

MOVIE NIGHT

August 19^th 7:00 – 8:30

Join us for an old fashioned movie night, complete with freshly made popcorn and movie theater type snacks and candies! 

Adults are watching Grace Card:

"When Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, the ensuing 17 years of bitterness and pain erodes his love for his family and leaves him angry with God. Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God's grace. Offer THE GRACE CARD ... and never underestimate the power of God's love."

Kids are watching Despicable Me

Contact Deb Caranci debcaranci@gmail.com.

HCF SUMMER PICNIC

August 26^th 6:00 – 8:30

The cap off to our August Family Nights is our picnic!  This is a great evening of good food and good fellowship with our church family.  We have lots of fun activities for the little ones right on up to the adults.  Come out and reconnect with old friends and make some new ones!  All you need to bring is a side dish or dessert.  We take care of everything else!  Look for a sign up to be out shortly.  Contact Melissa McGinness melissamcginness007@comcast.net.

 

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.

 

YOUTH NEWS

 

AUGUST

13-15: Mission Trip*

19:     Movie Night

26:     Summer Picnic

*Youth Mission Weekend (8/13 - 8/15)

UGANDA MISSION TRIP

July 2016

In July 2016, we have the opportunity to bring a team of Hopers to Uganda to work alongside the Hallahan family. As a church, we have supported Josh, Kelly, and their family through our prayers and finances but we are very excited to be able to get our feet on the ground with them in Uganda. Get with Dave Hallahan for further information.

 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEWS

 

GO ZONE

Go Zone is our Sunday Morning kid's 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

 

*****WEDDING INVITATION TO OUR HOPE FAMILY*****

You are all invited to the wedding ceremony

of

Cliff Sharber and Linda Salgado

Saturday, August 15^th @ 1:00 pm

Right here at Hope!

 

ONLINE GIVING OPTION

It's easy and convenient!  Simply go to our website and click 'Online Giving'.  You have the options to set up recurring donations (like automatic bill pay), or give one time donations as well.  The amount and frequency are up to you.  This will allow many of us to be intentional and faithful in our support of Hope.  Contact Damon or LaTosha Briggs with any questions.

 

ENVELOPES FOR DESIGNATED GIVING

Sometimes, God lays it on our heart to give a little extra for His kingdom.  He may have provided the financial means for it or just the nudge in our hearts.  In order to help make this easier for you as the giver and Hope as the receiver, we have some envelopes in a wall mounted bin next to our regular offering slot.  If you'd like to give to a special project or ministry, just use one of these envelope and check off the correct category.  Please note that these envelopes are not for your usual Sunday offering. 

 

HAVE OUR ELDERS PRAY WITH YOU

The New Testament has this wonderful ministry for the elders of a church - PRAYER.  And we'd like to offer it to anyone who is in need of healing (physical or otherwise) or who needs the power of God to be at work in their lives in a special way.  If you or anyone you know would like to take advantage of this ministry, contact Pastor Mark to set up a time after one of our Sunday services for the elders to pray over you.

 

MISSIONARY MOMENT

 

JOY PHILLIPS – WORLD GOSPEL MISSION

Prayer Requests:

• Looking for a house to rent in Nairobi - pray that God will lead her to the right place soon.
• Sending a cataract team to South Sudan from August 13 - 21st.  The hospital that is hosting the team has around 500 blind patients lined up to see them.  Pray for the team to work well and for smooth working conditions so those who show up can be operated on.  
• Pray for the security situation in South Sudan.  The fighting that started 20 months ago continues with no signs of peace and the people of South Sudan are suffering. 
• Pray for Joy as she reaches out to WGM missionaries around the world, helping them incorporate transformational practices into their ministries.  

Contact Info:

joy.phillips@wgm.org

Blog: joyphillips.blogspot.com

Donate: Mail to:

World Gospel Mission

P.O. Box 948

Marion, IN 46952-0948

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

 

KIDS ALLEY CONVOY OF HOPE

Saturday, September 19^th from 12:00 – 4:00

Just a reminder to SAVE THE DATE to help with the carnival games. We will be putting more information back in the Hope Notes in a few weeks.  There is now a signup sheet in the lobby for possible volunteers and an informational meeting to be held on Sunday, August 30^th between services to learn more details.

 

CONNECTING AND SERVING AT HOPE

There are so many places to connect and serve here at Hope.  For a little change of pace, we are going to spotlight a different ministry each week or so and also list any immediate needs (if any) in that area.  There truly IS 'something for everyone' and we want to make it easy for you to explore all the different options!

 

PRAYER TEAM

Prayer is one of the most effective ways to touch hearts and change lives.  It is vital to our Christian walk.  We have a prayer ministry that receives the requests of those in our congregation and prays for them.  If you have a heart for prayer and would like to be a part of this team, contact Bill Berry at billandkathyberry@comcast.net for more details.

 

URGENT NEED FOR TODDLER'S CLASS

The Toddlers' Class is in urgent need of two new teaching teams (one adult and one teen, or two adults) for the month of August.  We love being able to provide this class for every service, but we won't be able to do so if this need is not filled. If you are interested in serving, please contact Kara Ott at karajoellxo@gmail.com or 856-397-8965.  Please join us in praying for this need to be filled so that we can continue to provide childcare for our toddlers.

 

IMMEDIATE NURSERY NEED

Still in need of at least one more volunteer.   Contact Alicia Heverly if you can help at Lilfeet21@hotmail.com

 

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery 9:00                Lorraine Koch, Lynn Schute

Nursery 11:00               Amy Fleck, Gail Blakely

Toddlers 9:00               Kit & Emily Foster

Toddlers 11:00             TEACHERS NEEDED, Prisca Ogunkanmi
Pre K – K 9:00              Bill & Griffin McGinness, Libby LeBeau

Pre K – K 11:00            Jennifer & Samantha Edwards
1^st & 2^nd – 9:00            Nina & Michelle Abate

1^st & 2^nd – 11:00          Ann Schweigart, Helper TBD

3rd - 5^th   9:00              Faith DeWalt, Mary Kearney

3^rd – 5^th   11:00            Kimmi Biglin, Nance Reeves
Counters                       LaTosha Briggs, Barb Frazeur

Ushers 9:00                  Rick Ayusa

Ushers 11:00                Joe Sambucci

Greeters                       Ken Blythe      

                                     Delores Baade

                                     Ellen Boales

                                     Lorraine Koch

                              

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 Contact Us Form on our website.  http://www.hopechristianfellowship.org/contact/.  If you have any questions or would like to join the Prayer Team, please contact Bill Berry directly at billandkathyberry@comcast.net.

 

 

"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

 

Made New,
Lois

 

 

 

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