Hope Notes 4/14/16

 

Dear Friends of Hope ~

Where do you live?  I don't mean your physical address; I am referring to the place your mind or your heart goes to on a regular basis.  For instance, do you find yourself reliving the past and ruminating over prior situations or conversations, wondering what you could have said or done differently, fixated on 'if only'?   Or do you often find yourself catapulting into the future, consumed with 'what ifs'?  Now you get what I'm talking about!  Unfortunately, most of us seem to spend time in these two places.  Living in the past often produces feelings of regret, guilt, or shame.  Living in the future, usually produces feelings of worry, anxiety, and fear.  None of this is good or productive.  God's Word instructs us to leave the past behind.  ("Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." Isaiah 43:18)  God's Word clearly tells us not to worry in Matthew 6.  We are also instructed in James 4 not to get ahead of God and carry forth with all our plans for 'tomorrow'.  We don't even know if we will BE here tomorrow!  Where does God want us to be?  Right here.  In the moment.  With Him.  Trusting Him for His grace over our past and His protection and plan for our future.  There's a corny old saying, but its true – "Today is God's gift to you; that's why it's called the PRESENT".  Let's try and live like we believe that!

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE

The Proverbs Path – Exploring the Everyday Wisdom of Proverbs

4/17 – Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3)

COMMUNION

Here's a spoiler: magicians don't actually have magical powers.  While it can seem like they have otherworldly powers, the reality is that they are very clever and skilled in performing illusions that seem to have no possible explanation.  If you simply believe what your eyes see, you will be tricked!  Spiritually this is also true.  We have to decide if we are going to trust what we see, what makes sense to us, and what we can count or if we're going to put our trust in the Lord.  Things like money or knowledge can give the illusion of being trustworthy and even seem to make us more secure.  But Proverbs says to put our trust in the Lord.

 

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

8:30 – Prayer Room
Do you have a heart for prayer? Our Sunday morning prayer time is open to everyone. We pray for the services that morning and for the needs in the church. If you would like to participate, just show up!  Questions?  See Bob Baumiester.  "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

 

APRIL CHALLENGE VERSE

Acts 1:8

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

                                                                                   

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

7:00 pm

Join us as we dig into 1Corinthians and gain a deeper understanding of God's Word and its application to our daily lives.  Childcare is available.

 

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.  Contact Dave or Leah Hallahan at dmhallahan5@gmail.com.  Childcare is provided.

Please Note:  Young Adults is now working on a 'semester' schedule, therefore there will be no Young Adults for the month of April.  We will resume again in May.

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

 

HCF COED SOFTBALL TEAM

HCF teams with our brothers of Pitman Methodist.  You must be 15 years old before the close of the season (mid-July) in order to play.  Our season runs from April through July.  Games are played on week nights (except Wednesdays) at 6:30, 8:00, or 9:00.  There is a signup sheet in the lobby if you are interested.  See Lenny Little with any questions.

 

SMALL GROUPS

After our last small group study sheet goes on April 17th, we will be taking a break from official 'small group season' through September, which means we will not be putting out small group study sheets during that time.  However, if your small group wants to continue meeting through the summer, here are some recommended studies you can do together. These books are readily available on Amazon or at Christian Book Distributors.

Unoffendable - Brant Hansen

Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

Principle of the Path - Andy Stanley

One of us is Crazy - Tim and Joy Downs

Search for Significance - Robert McGee

 

GOD'S GIRLS WOMEN'S GROUP

Mondays at 7:00

The Bible tells us we are wonderfully made - but why do our emotions seem so complicated? That's what we'll be talking about as we resume meeting this Monday.  We will begin studying Patsy Clairmont's book, "I Second That Emotion." Join us as we learn what makes us tick, and how God would like us to respond to the crazy emotions we all share. Signup sheets are in the lobby, or contact Mary Lebeau (316-6301/marylebeau@verizon.com) for information.

 

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 

YOUTH GROUP

Our middle school and high school groups meet at the church on Sundays from 6:30-8:30 all year long! Come out for another amazing year as we grow closer together and closer to God!

 

UGANDA MISSION TRIP

July 2016

Hope Christian Fellowship is sending a team to Uganda to work alongside the Josh & Kelly Hallahan this July!  Dave Hallahan, Jim Jefferson, Anne Jefferson, Jess St.Petery and Patti Tomasetti will be raising funds over the next several months before heading to Uganda from July 8-22. The cost is about $3,200-4,000 per person. There will be several fundraisers coming your way over the next couple of months. In the meantime, the team would appreciate your prayers!  If you would like to and are able to donate to their trip you can do so by visiting their GoFundMe page. https://www.gofundme.com/83hyz9rg. If you have any questions see any of the team members!

 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEWS

 

GO ZONE

Go Zone is our Sunday Morning kid's service, planned especially for 1^st - 5^th graders.  Our goal is to encourage the kids to live with their focus on "GOing for GOD, GOing for GROWTH, and GOing FOREVER!" This service includes worship, games, and exploring important biblical truths in fun and creative ways before heading off to Sunday school.

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

                                                                              ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

HCF NEW DIRECTORY

April is picture month!  Look at your calendars and pick a Sunday that you'd like to be photographed for our new directory.  We'll be taking individual & family every Sunday after both services throughout April.  Our goal is to have everyone included (you don't have to be a partner!) so that we can all place faces with names.  Directory Information Forms have been emailed to our entire Hope Notes list so you can simply fill them out and send back to me, or you can bring it to church and drop it in the Offering Box. There are also forms on a clipboard in the lobby, or you can fill one in when you register for your picture.  Contact Lois Hartwell @ foolsforchrist7@yahoo.com with any questions.

CAMDEN OUTREACH

Saturday, April 30^th  

We will meet at the church at 10:00 am, make lunches and then hand them out in Camden. The signup sheet for donations (lunch items) is in the lobby.  All donations are due on Sunday April 24th.

 

SPECIAL MISSIONARY PROJECT

Our missionaries, Josh and Jackie Frankeas, will be leaving for South Africa the end of May.  They will be working with 'Restoring Hope', an organization that has established homes with parents and foster children.  As the Frankeas prepare to leave, they are packing a container with their own supplies to be shipped to South Africa. They have some additional space in their container that they'd like to fill with supplies for these children and families.   We here at Hope have an opportunity to be a part of this missionary outreach.  Near each of the two entrances of our building, will find a large box marked for the Frankeas.  We are looking to fill these boxes with school supplies, some baby supplies, and footwear of all sizes.  Boxes are located by each entrance and have a detailed list of supplies needed next to them that you can take. We have until April 24th to fill the boxes.  Any questions, see Barb Frazeur.

 

ENVELOPES FOR DESIGNATED GIVING

If God has laid it on your heart to give a little something extra for His kingdom, we have provided envelopes for you to do so!  These are not for your usual Sunday offering; they are for you to use if you'd like to give to a special project or ministry.  The envelopes are in a wall mounted bin next to our regular offering slot.

 

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.

 

HOPE 4 RECOVERY

Tuesdays at 7:00 pm

Are you ready to let go of strongholds?  Have you tried and tried on your own with no success?

Hope for Recovery is 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.  We meet in the 1^st/2^nd grade classroom.  Enter through the rear doors. Contact Hope4Recovery@yahoo.com with any questions.

 

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.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

 

CONNECTING AND SERVING AT HOPE

There are so many places to connect and serve here at Hope.  Keep your eyes on this section to be aware of all the different opportunities for you to effectively serve at Hope. There truly IS 'something for everyone' and we want to make it easy for you to know all the different options!

 

LANDSCAPING DAY

Saturday, April 23^rd

Let's make Hope look pretty!  Asking for volunteers to help plant flowers and relocate some of our existing mulch.  We are meeting at the church at 11:00 am.  Please BRING GLOVES!  See Ken Blyth with questions.

                                             

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery 9:00                Amy Fleck, Gail Birney, Katherine DellaRova 

Nursery 11:00               Don & Alicia Heverly

Toddlers 9:00               Amy & Brooke Mariner, Katherine DellaRova

Toddlers 11:00             Kirsten Hoy, Natalie Mariani
Pre K – K 9:00              Linda Landis, Libby LeBeau

Pre K – K 11:00            Kim Lawlor, Prisca Ogunkanmi
1^st & 2^nd – 9:00            Nina & Michelle Abate

1^st & 2^nd – 11:00         Ann Schweigart, Debbie Davis

3rd - 5^th   9:00             Michelle Schmidt, Nance Reeves

3^rd – 5^th   11:00           Anne & Jim Jefferson

Ushers 9:00                 Bruce Clark

Ushers 11:00               Tom Albright

Counters                      Mike & Lois Hartwell

Greeters                       Paul & Donna Hoffman

                                     Lisa Minner

                                     Patti Tomasetti

                                    

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.

 

 

Here with Him,

Lois

 

 

 

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