Hope Notes 1/5/17

Dear Friends of Hope ~

This time every year, I purchase a new calendar to hang in our kitchen. Before I hang it, I painstakingly copy all the birthdays, anniversaries, and important dates from the previous year to the new calendar.  I love doing this; I know it's probably not a very efficient method and certainly very low tech.  But it gives me the chance to remember loved ones and to reflect on things that have happened over the past year. There is joy and sorrow on those old pages; they are a compilation of the life we've lived.  Alternately, the new calendar is blank.  It brings the promise of a fresh, new year brimming with possibilities.  As I put pen to paper and write the names and dates on each month, I am aware that we do not know what the year will bring.  We are not guaranteed anything.  But we can have hope anew each and every day in Jesus.  We don't really need a brand new, blank calendar with pristine pages in order to start fresh and new.  Revelation 21:5 tells us, 'He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"  2Corinthians 5:17 says, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!'

SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE

THE WORDS OF JESUS SERIES

(A Study from Luke)

Because we trust and follow Jesus, we thought it would be a great idea to take a walk through the gospel of Luke and dig into the words of Jesus Himself.  We'll find them challenging and full of insight.  And with open hearts, we'll allow the Spirit to instruct us on how we should walk as Christians in this world.

January 8^th – Love Your Enemies (Luke 6:27-36)

Communion

Our loved ones are what gives our lives a sense of depth and meaning.  Those we are close to somehow transform what would otherwise be a string of meaningless activities into dear memories and feelings.  It's easy to see how normal it is to love those who love us.  But Jesus tells us to love our enemies.  That almost looks like a misprint! How can we do that?  Why would we do that? And what does this mean in practical terms for our lives?

 

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

 

JANUARY CHALLENGE VERSE

Matthew 28:19-20

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY – "FIND REST" – BEGINS NEXT WED, JAN 11^TH

7:00 – 8:15 pm

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

 

ANNUA CHURCH BOWLING EVENT

January 29^th 3:00-5:00pm

Mark your calendar for our annual church outing at the Deptford Brunswick Zone! Cost is $5 per bowler and includes 2 hours of bowling & shoes. Bring the whole family! Be sure to reserve your spot by signing up in the front lobby at church.

 

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!

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT GROW GROUPS

7:00 – 8:15

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

SEEDS OF HOPE

Seeds of Hope Ministry is the umbrella organization for four ministries that have operated in Camden for many years.  Under 'My Father's Hands', they provide a hot breakfast every Saturday to those on the streets in Camden (anywhere between 150-300 people). They not only provide transportation to the breakfast but when men and women arrive they are given clothing, toiletries, blankets, etc. 

We here at Hope would like to help and are going to be collecting blankets, jackets and gloves for men.  We will have bins at each entrance for you to drop your items in.  The collection will run from Sunday, January 15^th thru Sunday, January 29^th.  Winter is brutal for those on the streets – let's do all we can to help them keep warm!    seedsofhopeministries.org  

 

LEADERSHIP MORNING

Saturday, January 21^st

Pastor Mark is asking anyone who is leading at Hope in any capacity to join us from 9:00 to Noon so that he can talk through our approach to leadership.  He will be sharing tips and ideas, as well as some foundational truths about leadership.  There will be light fare provided so that we can enjoy breakfast together.

 

HOPE HAS A PHONE NUMBER!        

Many of you have been asking about this, and now we are happy to announce that we have a phone number connected directly with our church!  It will be displayed on our website, Google Maps, etc. and will make it easier for people to connect with us.  Our number is 856-537-1165.  Run and write it down in your directory, add it to your phone, and spread the news!

 

UPDATE ON KIMMI BIGLIN

Please continue praying for Kimmi. She is having her trach replaced with one that will be a better fit for her and then will continue her stay at Good Shepherd as they wait for a second opinion on whether or not she has to stay on the ventilator permanently.  Your prayers are most coveted for this situation; obviously this would mean some serious changes for Kimmi.  She is still being nourished via a feeding tube and communicates through a letter board and some very deliberate mouth motions.  She is in good spirits, but we all know she is quite the 'people person' and is feeling rather isolated.  If anyone is able to visit, that would be a real blessing for her!  Her address is listed below for cards and/or visits. 

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 17^th – 19^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.

 

'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.

 

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!

 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEEDS

We have some big time needs for January and February in our children's programs.

          SUNDAY MORNINGS:       Teachers and helpers for 1^st – 2^nd grade Sunday School.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS:  Helpers for Nursery, a helper for 3 - 5 year olds, and

                                                volunteers to help with Theme Nights for our 1^st – 5^th

                                                graders.

If you can help with any of this, please see Matt Russell.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS

Nursery 9:00        Paige Thomson, Lesley Russell

Nursery 11:00      Leah Hallahan, Lauren Czyzewski

Toddler 9:00        Kim Haines, Leah Aureli, Katherine DellaRova

Toddler 11:00      Rebecca & John Jacob, Natalie Mariani

Pre-K/K 9:00       Pat DellaRova, Libby LeBeau

Pre-K /K 11:00    Karen & Amanda Merriell

1^st & 2^nd 9:00        Lisa Fiorile, Charlotte Zediker

1^st & 2^nd 11:00      Katie Newshel

3^rd – 5^th 9:00         TBA

3^rd – 5^th 11:00       TBA  

Ushers 9:00          TBA

Ushers 11:00        TBA

Wed. Nursery       N/A

Counters              LaTosha Briggs, Melissa McGinness

Greeters               Greg Corrado

                             Sharon Sambucci

                             Jane Hanuszczyk

                             Pat Keith

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.

 

Made New,

Lois

 

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