Hope Notes 12/15/16

Good morning Hopers,

You have a guest writer this week, as I'm filling in for my mom who had an unfortunate run-in with a kitchen knife that has left her finger handicapped! So while she recovers, you get to hear from me! As we get closer and closer to Christmas, many of us are filled with joy, anticipation, and excitement. But the holidays can also be a difficult time of year for people. The other night I was lying in bed, unable to sleep, and my mind was swirling with the many prayer requests that I had heard or read this week. I laid in bed, praying for each person, feeling completely overwhelmed by the heaviness that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing. So many of the circumstances left me at a loss for words, feeling like I had nothing adequate to lift up to our Lord. Then a quote by Max Lucado popped I into my head, "Thankfully the power of prayer is in the one who hears the prayer, not the one who prays it." Can I get an "Amen!"? We can rest knowing that our great God hears each and every one! His power is put into action when we come to him! What an awesome privilege we have! Let's be encouraged to continue to lift each other up in prayer, no matter how small or simple our prayers may be.

 

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE

Christmas Series

12/18 – Your Christmas Hope – Kids Program (Luke 1:26-38)

Our kids are such a huge part of our church.  And when Christmas rolls around, one of our greatest blessings is the annual kids Christmas program.  This Sunday we get to enjoy this holiday tradition.  It reminds us of how blessed we are as a church and as families to have these amazing kids.  Plus, it brings joy that is beyond description to have them as a part of our Christmas celebration.  We welcome so many guests this day and we want them to know that we're glad they are here.  At the end of our service, we'll close our program by looking at the story of the angel announcing Jesus' birth to Mary. In that interaction, we find that Christmas is inevitably tied to hope.  And we'll offer that hope today to every person who joins us!

 

UPCOMING MESSAGE SERIES – "THE WORDS OF JESUS"    

Join us each Sunday as we kick of 2017 by exploring the Gospel of Luke. Because we trust and follow Jesus, we're going to take a walk through this gospel and dig into the words of Jesus Himself.  What did Jesus actually say about marriage, forgiveness, revenge, and so many other topics? With open hearts, we'll allow the Spirit to instruct us on how we should walk as Christians in this world.

 

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 in Pastor Mark's Office
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

 

DECEMBER CHALLENGE VERSE

John 1:14

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

 

UPCOMING WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY – "FIND REST"

7:00 – 8:15 pm

PLEASE NOTE:  Bible Study will resume 1-11-17.

Are you constantly worn out and racing from one thing to the next?  Maybe this has more to do with the condition of your soul than the overload of your schedule.  Join us on Wednesday nights in January as we look at what brings rest to our hearts and souls.  It may change your choices in scheduling stuff, but it will probably go much deeper than that and invite you to a completely different life!

 

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.

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

 

YOUNG ADULTS NEW YEARS PARTY

January 2nd

Young Adults is taking the month of December off, but join us January 2nd to kick off the New Year in style! We'll be enjoying a night of games and snacks! See Dave Hallahan for more details.

 

SMALL GROUPS

We want everyone to be a part of a small group! If you have a small group together, use a REGISTRATION FORM to list the when and where of your group as well as the people who are included.  Give that form to an elder or the pastor, or drop it in the offering slot. If your group needs some more members, post your partially filled group registration form on our 'Small Group" bulletin board so others can sign up for your group. If you don't have a group, you can sign up on one of the groups posted on our Small Group Bulletin Board or start your own! Study sheets are available online at our website under 'Small Groups" (www.hopechristianfellowship. org) and in the Resource Room.

 

GOD'S GIRLS WOMEN'S GROUP

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

Contact Mary Lebeau for more information

856-316-6301 or marylebeau@verizon.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.

 

                                                           YOUTH NEWS

 

SUNDAY NIGHT ROOTED YOUTH GROUP

6:30 – 8:30

Our middle school and high school groups meet right here at church! Come out for another amazing year as we grow closer together and closer to God!

 

ROOTED CHRISTMAS PARTY – THIS SUNDAY!

Dec 18th

It's time for our annual Christmas party! Come ready for some games, snacks and the yearly appearance of the Grinch! Bring a gift for the gift exchange as well! $5 max on the gift.

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT GROW GROUPS

7:00 – 8:15

Please Note:  Grow Groups are taking a break through the month of December and will resume January 11, 2017.

 

ASCENT RETREAT

January 6^th – 8^th

Last years' Ascent retreat was an awesome weekend for our youth group! Don't miss this years! All middle and high schoolers are welcome! The cost is $75 (payment assistance available). See Dave Hallahan for more details!

 

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

 

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR HELEN MASTALSKI'S DAUGHTER

Viewing and service for Helen's daughter, Kelly Ann, will be held Monday night, December 19^th, from 6:00 – 8:00 at Boucher Funeral Home in Deptford. Helen also asks if anyone is able to bring a dessert of any kind to her home after the service. Helen's address is 202 Williams Ave in Deptford. For more information regarding the services, and to read the obituary, follow the link:

http://www.boucherfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=4039189&fh_id=10325

 

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST

Just wanted to give an update on our dear sister, Kimmi Biglin, and ask you to continue to pray for her full recovery! Kimmi is currently recovering from her bout with severe pneumonia at a rehab center in Philly where they are working to wean her off of the ventilator. They are keeping her nourished through a tube in her nose and because of the trach she is unable to speak, but we are so thankful that she is alert and awake!

Information on visitation or sending cards is listed below. I know she deeply appreciates her Hope family's prayers!

Good Shepherd Penn Care Rehab
1800 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Room #5054
Visiting hours are 9am - 9pm
(There is a parking garage within a block at: 1740 South Street)

 

MARRIAGE CONFERENCE – "WEEKEND TO REMEMBER"

February 10^th – 12^th

The annual opportunity to invest in your marriage is coming again!  And between January 2nd and 23rd, Family Life is offering a 'buy one, get one' on registrations, taking the price from around $250/couple down to $175.  Hotel reservations (at Hershey Lodge) are separate, and if you are planning to go, you should reserve your room there now (800-437-7439). Ask for the Family Life Weekend to Remember rate of $122 per night.  If you have any questions, you can check their website (www.familylife.com/weekendtoremember)  and use our church code to register (HopeWoodbury).  Or you can see Pastor Mark.

 

NEW PARKING FOR SUNDAYS

We are asking those who park on Warner to park on only ONE SIDE on Sunday mornings.  We will be putting out safety cones on our side of Warner in front of the church.  Parking on both sides causes a safety issue by creating such a narrow passageway for people as they leave the 9:00 service and others arrive for the 11:00 service.  Don't worry, there are almost always parking spaces available in the rear lot, even after the service begins, so you can just drive around back!

 

'HOPE SHARE' LAUNCH

DON'T THROW IT OUT – SHARE IT!

There's a new feature on our website!  It's called Hope Share.  Simply put, it's a place to share things we no longer use and look for things we need.  In a culture that feels like we're always trying to 'catch up' financially, Hope Share will allow us to be wise in both asking if someone has what we need and is ready to give it away - and also to share the stuff we're ready to get rid of without having to throw it away. It's a place where we can maximize our ability to help one another and also to avoid wasting things that others could use.  Go on and check it out to see how you can upload photos of things you'd like to give away and to search for that special item you just might need!

 

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 TO SUPPORT HOPE

It's easy and convenient!  Simply go to our website at www.hopechristianfellowship.org  and click Online Giving.  Text to Give coming in January. More information will follow.  Contact Damon (damon.briggs@mitchellandness.com) or LaTosha (usafinancial2000@hotmail.com) Briggs with 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.

 

*******CHRISTMAS ANNOUNCEMENTS*******

 

CHRISTMAS AT HOPE

Here's what the Christmas season looks like at Hope!

 

HOPEKIDS CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – THIS SUNDAY!

December 18^th

'All About That Baby' is the program our elementary children will be presenting to us this year.  Nothing says Christmas more than a bunch of sweet kids singing about Jesus and His birth!  This is a great Sunday to invite lots of friends and family members out to Hope.  Who could resist an invitation for something as endearing as this?!

 

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES

December 25^th

We will have services at our usual times – 9:00 and 11:00.  Each service will only be an hour long.  We'll have lots of special music, sing some Christmas carols (of course!), and have readings from Scripture that remind us what this day is really all about.  These services are designed for the whole family to be together; no nursery or separate kids' programs.  Come and celebrate the birth of our Savior with us!

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!

 

PANTRY NEEDS

Our pantry is pretty well stocked with food items, however there are some things that we don't have!  We are looking for those personal hygiene items such as toilet paper, shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, etc.  These donations would be greatly appreciated by those families in need!  Thank you.

 

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery 9:00        Sara Cartella & Anki Hill

Nursery 11:00      Melissa McGinness & Bethany Pineda

Toddlers 9:00       Christmas Program

Toddlers 11:00     Christmas Program
Pre K – K 9:00      Christmas Program

Pre K – K 11:00    Christmas Program
1^st & 2^nd – 9:00     Christmas Program

1^st & 2^nd – 11:00   Christmas Program

3rd - 5^th   9:00      Christmas Program

3^rd – 5^th   11:00     Christmas Program

Ushers 9:00          Bob Kerr

Ushers 11:00        Bill Berry

Wed. Nursery       None

Counters              Kathy Berry & Wendy Devereaux

Greeters               Jon Pinero

                             Mary LeBeau

                             Janice Simpson

                             Michelle Schmidt

 

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.

Fellow Prayer Warrior,

Emily

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