Hope Notes

Hope Notes 2/16/12

2012-02-16T07:07:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~

I know I need to get my prescription changed in my glasses. For the past few months, I have been struggling to find the 'sweet spot' in my lenses that will enable me to see clearly. I look through the top, the bottom, I peer over the top of the lenses, I take my glasses off. Nothing works! Thank goodness there is a simple solution – go get new lenses. But how about spiritual clarity? We don't always see things clearly when it comes to spiritual matters. Sometimes, they just don't 'make sense' to us. Sometimes the eyes of our hearts are blind. Sometimes, we don't want to see clearly. But, in all of this, we have another simple solution. Go to the Word of God and ask Him to give you the wisdom to understand (Jas 1:5). He will open your eyes to see His Truth clearly. He will open your heart to let those Truths sink in deeply. Now, I just need to get my lenses adjusted so that I CAN read His Word!

SUNDAY MESSAGE
2/19 – Unresolved Issues (2 Samuel 14)

COMMUNION

Sometimes we say that people "have issues". What we mean is that they have battles raging inside them that spill out into their interactions with others. Many times, those issues arise from struggles within their relationships. Our issues can be so overwhelming that we feel powerless to even know how to address them. So we find ways to sidestep those issues and just leave them where they are. But the problem doesn't just lie still – it keeps popping up over and over again. Our choice is to continue to let it fester, or to roll up our sleeves and dive into the messy process of working through it. In David's life, his children have become a source of real heartache. But he chooses to leave those issues unresolved. He tries many of the tactics that we try. But he never actually resolves the issues that are destroying his family. This day, we'll take a look at some of the ways David tried to avoid what he needed to do – hoping it would just go away. And we'll dig into the truth in God's Word about resolving the issues that swirl in our relationships with one another.

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.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER TIME
Our Sunday morning prayer time is open to everyone. We start at 9:15 am in one of the classrooms. We pray for the services that morning and for the needs in the church. If you would like to participate, just show up! Contact Jim Bradshaw at Prayer Team with any questions.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY PRAYER TIME

All Sunday School and Nursery teachers/helpers are invited to come join us in the Toddler Classroom every Sunday from 9:40 – 9:45 for a time of prayer before the children begin arriving.

BIBLE READING FOR FEBRUARY – ESTHER
Here's a little Bible trivia for you – did you know that the book of Esther is the only book of the Bible in which the name of God does not appear? But make no mistake about it; just because God's name isn't mentioned doesn't mean He's not there! This book has been a great encouragement to persecuted Jews throughout the centuries because it underscores the ultimate deliverance and the survival of God's people. That is the kind of encouragement we ALL need sometimes!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
7:00 – 8:15
You don't want to miss our study of 1Corinthians! The Christians at Corinth were like so many of us today – they knew Christ, but they still needed His cleansing! Gathering together midweek to dig into God's Word is key in staying connected to our church family and to our Lord. Childcare is provided.

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

YOUNG ADULTS
Meets the 1^st and 3^rd Monday of every month at 7:30 in the Youth Room at church. Anyone who has graduated high school up to their early thirties is welcome. We now have childcare available. We have a schedule so that everyone can volunteer to take a week and keep the childcare going. See Pastor Mark or Dana for more information.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

BOWLING NIGHT
Sunday, March 11
5:00 – 7:00pm
This is a great even we host every year – you can meet folks and make new friends, and get to enjoy time with your family! Brunswick Lanes, Rt. 47, Deptford (near Wal-Mart). $5.00 /person for shoe rental and two hours of bowling. Sorry, no age discounts -- anyone who bowls pays $5.00. Watching and cheering on is free! Signup sheet is in the Resource Room.

LOVE AND RESPECT CONFERENCE
March 2-3, Friday night and Saturday morning

The conference will be held at Calvary Chapel in Philly. The cost is $35 per person (before Feb 20th). You can register by going to www.loveandrespect.com and choosing the Philadelphia conference. Since this conference is within driving distance, it is a very economical way to build your marriage. Of course, there are local hotels available, so you can also make it into a weekend getaway if you'd like. But whether your marriage is everything you want it to be or not, it is always beneficial to spend a few days focused on one another. You won't be disappointed in what God does if you take this opportunity!

PS - the "Weekend to Remember" conference that we've attended the past several years is also available locally including Hershey Pa in February, the Poconos in March, and Washington DC in March and April... for more information about this conference, you can go to www.familylife.com and go to Weekend to Remember.

HCF BLOCK PARTY

Saturday May 19^th

It's not too early to mark your calendars for this special day! This is the first of two main outreach events for our community this year.

We're going to need 'all hands on deck' to make this a success, so we wanted to get that date out to everyone right now so that we can save the date on our calendars. In the next month, we'll be asking for help in all kind of areas, from food, to games, to give-aways, to vendor or crafter tables, to parking and setup and cleanup. There is more to do than we've ever done before, but we are excited for what God is going to do as we reach out to our community on that day. Keep watching for more information in the coming weeks!

SMALL GROUPS
Study sheets are located in the back of the auditorium, or you can print a copy right from our website! At Small Groups, we'll take a look at how the Bible emphasizes God's plan for us to grow and be healthy through relationships within our spiritual family. Anyone still looking for a Small Group to plug into can see Damon Briggs; he will help you get connected!

YOUTH NEWS

YOUTH GROUP
Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:30
This is a great mid-week boost for our teens to stay connected, grow in the Lord, and have a fun time with each other! See Dave Hallahan with any questions.

YOUTH RETREAT

April 20th-22nd @ Delanco Camp.
Early registration is $95.00. Any registration within a week of the retreat will be $125. Students who attend five Wednesday night meetings from February through the retreat will receive $25 towards their registration fee and those who attend ten meetings will receive $50. More information can be attained through contacting Dave Hallahan (dmhallahan5@gmail.com or 856-340-8519) or from Delanco.org. Be sure to register all students with Dave. A down payment of $45 will be required at time of registration.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WEBSITE LUNCHEON

Sunday March 18^th

We are going to hold a lunch meeting after church on March 18th for anyone who is interested in helping us with our church website. We want to make our website everything it needs to be in order to help those checking out our church get a good feel for who we are and what we're about. If you have experience with websites, or are a writer or photographer or graphic designer, we'd like you on our team. The lunch will be a chance for us to gather everyone interested and organize so that we can keep our website fresh and informational. Coming to the lunch doesn't mean you are committed, but we are praying that God will draw together the right team to work together on this powerful tool. See Pastor Mark or Dana with any questions.

AUTOMOBILE NEEDED
Ron and Amy Patterson are looking for a car to replace theirs that was totaled in an accident. They are looking for a 4 door car and have about $2500 to spend. You can reach Ron any time of day at 856-655-4134.

CHOICES OF THE HEART BABY BOTTLES
Are you remembering to put your change into your Choices of the Heart baby bottles? You can even keep it simple by writing a tax deductible check made payable to Choices of the Heart and slip it into the bottle. As women see their babies on the free ultrasound tests, the percentage who choose life is remarkably increased. Save the babies – fill your bottles and return by March 4^th. See Wendy Devereaux with questions.

DIRECTORY PHOTOS

Prints of the church directory photos are available for those of you who are interested! To order, visit http://syllipsiphoto.smugmug.com/Children-Families/Hope-Christian-Fellowship-2011. You can also contact Kristy Straub for additional information at syllipsiphoto@gmail.com, or text/call 856-217-7233.

DO YOU "LIKE" HOPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP ?
For those of you on Facebook, this is just a reminder to go on our Facebook page and "like" it so you can keep up with what's happening. It's a great way to stay current with all the activities at Hope. Don't forget our Young Adults and our Youth Groups pages as well. Even if you don't fall into that age category, it's fun to check them out and see what they're up to. Plus, fun pictures get posted!

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

MEALS MINISTRY
Needs Team is updating the Rotating Meals Ministry list. We could use some other willing hearts to prepare the occasional meal for a family during a time of need. Anyone who would like to be added to this list please see Lorraine Otis or contact her at lorraineotis@comcast.net.

FOOD PANTRY

Our food pantry has been given a good housecleaning and is ready to go! All expired food has been tossed and we find that we are low on the following items:

v Pasta Sauce

v Peanut Butter and Jelly

v Boxed Macaroni and Cheese

v Complete Meals in a Box

v Canned Fruit

Please remember to check the expiration dates and put all donations in the basket located outside the kitchen door.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Want to help us with the most effective and powerful ministry at Hope? Join in as part of our Kid's Ministry! Here's what to do:
          Nursery
                   Contact Brian or Naidona Ott
                   856-589-2047 or ottbriant@netscape.net
          Toddlers & Preschool
                   Contact Franne Harkin
                   609-458-2124 or fhark7@yahoo.com
          Elementary
                   Contact Anita Little
                   856-783-7168 or alittleshopper@gmail.com
          Wednesday Night Program
                   Contact Jen Winstel
                   856-782-7798 or jenwinrn@comcast.net

SOUND AND MEDIA TEAM
Our Sound and Media Team can always use more helpers. Don't be scared; they will train you! Contact Steve Jones for sound at jones.stephen.d@gmail.com or Jim Bradshaw at spaceheadjim@yahoo.com for media.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Brad & Karla Hopkins
Toddlers                        Judy Gotshall & Abbey Harkin, Lauren Maslinski
Pre K – Kindergarten    Bill McGinness & Isaiah Owens, Rachael Schweigart
1^st – 5^th                           TBA
Counters                        Bill Berry & Jim Bradshaw
Greeters                        John Brazelis
                                       Lucille Franchetti
                                      Lisa Fiorile
                                      Helen Mastalski
Wed. Evening Workers (N) Pat Nolan (4-5) Liz Johnson & Franne Harkin

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 Jim Bradshaw directly at Prayer@hopechristianfellowship.org.

PRAYER REQUESTS
Don and Alicia Heverly – For their friends whose daughter is a month and a half old and needs a kidney transplant in order to survive. Her parents are desperate and are doing everything they can to find a match. Please pray for baby Eva and her family that she finds a donor.
Youth Pastor – Please pray for our new Youth Pastor, Dave Hallahan, as he beings the task of ministering to our teens, planning programs for them, and moving forward with God's call on his life here at Hope.
Kids Ministry Director. Please pray for God to connect us with the right people at the right time and let Him have His work in all of this!

"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

Through Grace,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Hope Notes 2/9/12

2012-02-09T11:28:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~
Do you like Valentine's Day? ♥♥♥ It seems to be a holiday people either love or hate. Personally, it's one of my favorites. I like being given an "excuse" to express my love in a tangible way for the people I care about. Regardless of whether or not you have a sweetheart, you do have people you love and who love you! Why not let that day be a reminder of how much God loves us (enough to die for us) and how His love never fails. As Christians, we all know that God is love (1John 4:8). We are also probably familiar with 1Corinthians 13:4-7, the "love chapter". Go get your Bibles, read through that passage and insert the word "God" for every time it says the word "love". Now THAT'S my kind of Valentine!

SUNDAY MESSAGE
2/12 - Heartache Multiplied (2 Samuel 13:20-39)

When you first learn your times tables in elementary school, it is quite amazing. You move from simple addition to this high-speed math called multiplication. Suddenly, small numbers can become large much more quickly. But this is also a great way to describe what Satan likes to do with pain and heartache. He likes to multiply it! Of course, he won't tell you that he's doing that – instead, he'll talk to you about how someone doesn't deserve your forgiveness, or about how you've been wounded too deeply to ever heal or forget. But the ultimate result is that pain continues instead of diminishing. And then he tries to multiply it by pouring hatred, anger, bitterness, and frustration out from you to those around you. Perhaps you feel they deserve it – or maybe they just happen to be in the way. As we continue in the story of David (and his family), we'll see how the enemy did exactly this to Absalom and multiplied the heartache in David's family.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY PRAYER TIME

All Sunday School and Nursery teachers/helpers are invited to come join us in the Toddler Classroom every Sunday from 9:40 – 9:45 for a time of prayer before the children begin arriving.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

MEN'S BREAKFAST – THIS SATURDAY

Saturday, February 11^th @ 8:30

Bring a friend to come and share some good food and fellowship with our brothers-in-Christ. Tony Dariano will be sharing.

LOVE AND RESPECT CONFERENCE
March 2-3, Friday night and Saturday morning

YOUTH NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CARD SHOWER

Adria Colic is in a hospital in Washington DC and could use our encouragement and prayer. Please send her a card to let her know we are praying for her and that we miss her!
Her address is The Center, 4228 Wisconsin Ave, Washington DC 20016

DIRECTORY PHOTOS

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

FOOD PANTRY

Our food pantry has been given a good housecleaning and is ready to go! All expired food has been tossed and we find that we are low on the following items:

v Pasta Sauce

v Peanut Butter and Jelly

v Boxed Macaroni and Cheese

v Complete Meals in a Box

v Canned Fruit

Please remember to check the expiration dates and put all donations in the basket located outside the kitchen door.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Brad & Karla Hopkins
Toddlers                        Dawn & John Brazelis
Pre K – Kindergarten    Beth Fox & Heath Gravenor
1^st – 5^th                           TBA
Counters                        Lois Hartwell & LaTosha Briggs
Greeters                        John Brazelis
                                       Lucille Franchetti
                                      Lisa Fiorile
                                      Helen Mastalski
Wed. Evening Workers (N) Kristy Tomasillo (4-5) Katrina Mariani

PRAYER REQUESTS
Hartwell Family – For their friend Skip and his family. He buried his father Tuesday and his sister also passed away later that same day. They are all believers.
Don and Alicia Heverly – For their friends whose daughter is a month and a half old and needs a kidney transplant in order to survive. Her parents are desperate and are doing everything they can to find a match. Please pray for baby Eva and her family that she finds a donor.

Dave Bolser – A PRAISE that Dave came home from the hospital this week; please continue to pray for healing and strength.
Youth Pastor – Please pray for our new Youth Pastor, Dave Hallahan, as he beings the task of ministering to our teens, planning programs for them, and moving forward with God's call on his life here at Hope.
Kids Ministry Director. Please pray for God to connect us with the right people at the right time and let Him have His work in all of this!

"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

Belonging to Him,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Urgent Prayer Request

2012-02-06T12:49:00.001-08:00

From Vince and Christine Jeminey:

Seeking urgent prayer support for a dear friend, "R" (due to personal nature of issue). Vince and R go back over twenty years. R's wife is saved, we're not completely sure about him - and now he is in a very scary situation plus they have three little ones at home who need their daddy. Please excuse the detail, but I'm in favor of specific prayer when possible: R has been bleeding when going to the bathroom since Thursday - he went to ER on Saturday but since his blood count was good they told him to follow up with their GI this morning and sent him home. When his wife came home from church yesterday, she found him collapsed in the bathroom with continuous bleeding. He is currently in the hospital and still bleeding. They are giving him some extra blood. Doctor's still not sure just yet what is causing this; they are running tests and hopefully will have answers soon. Any prayers the prayer warriors at church could offer to our Great Physician would be so deeply and cherished and appreciated. God's will above all else.

Trusting in Christ,

Vince and Christine Jeminey

Hope Notes - Worker Schedule

2012-02-02T06:10:00.001-08:00

Ooops - hit the send button too soon! Here is the list of this week's workers.

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Sharon Sambucci & Pat Schug
Toddlers                        TBA
Pre K – Kindergarten    TBA
1^st – 5^th                         TBA
Counters                       LaTosha Briggs & Lois Hartwell
Greeters                      Al Lewis
                                      Lorraine Otis
                                      Charlotte Zediker
                                    Wendy Lynch
Wed. Evening Workers (N) Melissa McGinness & Anita Little (4-5's) Lucy Muhlbaier

Hope Notes 2/2/12

2012-02-02T06:03:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~

I cannot believe that it is February and we have green grass, buds on our forsythia, robins hopping around and dandelions in the yard! Our daffodils have foolishly sprouted about six inches above ground. I want to tell them "No – its still winter. Suck yourselves back into the ground!" I don't know what's going on, but I like it! I am thankful for God's delay of the harsher winter weather. Remember how much snow we were buried under at this time last year? It all reminds me that we can't ever predict what God will do. In the same way He can give us April's weather in February, He can shower us with unexpected blessings, take a broken relationship and bring restoration, or grab hold of a seemingly impossible situation and turn it around. That is why all our hope and all our faith should rest in Him.

SUNDAY MESSAGE
2/5 – A Family Devastated (2 Samuel 13:1-19)

People often ask, "How can God be loving and allow so much pain and hurt in the world?" But God's love is not diminished by the choices He allows people to make – even choices that bring unspeakable pain into the life of another. The good news is that God's love is the only hope for people facing those kinds of wounds. As we continue in the story of David, we will see more of the horrible repercussions to David's fall. The episode we will look at this morning is disturbing and almost unbelievable. But it isn't that different from what goes on each day in our world. We will take a hard look at the damage mankind inflicts on one another, and the healing that is available in Jesus Christ.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY PRAYER TIME

All Sunday School and Nursery teachers/helpers are invited to come join us in the Toddler Classroom every Sunday from 9:40 – 9:45 for a time of prayer before the children begin arriving.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

YOUNG ADULTS SUPER BOWL GET-TOGETHER – THIS SUNDAY
Sunday, February 5^th @ 6:00 pm

You're invited to Pastor Mark and Dana's for a great time of fellowship, food, and of course... the big game!!! The Otts will be providing meatball sandwiches, hoagies, and drinks, but please bring a snack to share if you can. (brownies, chips, etc.) And if you can peel yourself away from the game long enough, there will be ping-pong, pool, and foosball - plenty of fun for everyone! See Pastor Mark or Dana with any questions or contact them at ottzoo@gmail.com. You can also check out Hope's Young Adults facebook page for details and directions to their house. (6 East Avenue, Clayton, NJ 08312).

MEN'S BREAKFAST

Saturday, February 11^th @ 8:30

Bring a friend to come and share some good food and fellowship with our brothers-in-Christ. Tony Dariano will be sharing.

LOVE AND RESPECT CONFERENCE
March 2-3, Friday night and Saturday morning

YOUTH NEWS

SUPER BOWL PARTY – THIS SUNDAY
Sunday, February 5^thAfter church until 2:00 pm

Football – Food – Games – Snacks. What could be better?! After church until 2 pm. Contact Dave Hallahan with any questions either in person, (856)-340-8519 or dmhallahan5@gmail.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHOICES OF THE HEART BABY BOTTLES

Pick up as many bottles as you, your family and friends can fill in one month. All donations will go to help women and men who are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Choices of The Heart is a Christian non-profit in Turnersville and Burlington who provide free ultrasound testing, counseling, cribs, car seats, and layettes, abstinence programs, and community awareness information. Bottles are due back to Hope by March 4^th See Wendy Devereaux with questions.

JANUARY GIVING REPORT

For the month of January, we averaged $4317 per week, which is well short of our new target of $5000 per week. We feel like the Lord has really challenged us this year in giving, and we're praying together as a church that each person coming to Hope will seek the Lord on how much they can sacrifice for God's kingdom in supporting Hope (just like Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:2). We're excited for all that God has for us as a church in this new year, so let's pray for God's provision and power as we go forward!

DIRECTORY PHOTOS

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

COFFEE CLEANUP CREW

The coffee cleanup crew could use a few more helpers! This is a quick and easy way to serve all of our church friends! Really – it will only take about 15 minutes of your time. Please contact Al Lewis at Lewis@voorhees.k12.nj.us

FOOD PANTRY

Our food pantry has been given a good housecleaning and is ready to go! All expired food has been tossed and we find that we are low on the following items:

v Pasta Sauce

v Peanut Butter and Jelly

v Boxed Macaroni and Cheese

v Complete Meals in a Box

v Canned Fruit

Please remember to check the expiration dates and put all donations in the basket located outside the kitchen door.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Sharon Sambucci & Pat Schug
Toddlers                        Rebecca & John Jacob
Pre K – Kindergarten    Kim Lawlor & Ryan Sweeney
1^st – 5^th                           TBA
Counters                        TBA
Greeters                        John Brazelis
                                       Lucille Franchetti
                                      Lisa Fiorile
                                      Helen Mastalski
Wed. Evening Workers (N) Mary LeBeau & Lisa Fiorile (4-5's) Connie Matthews

"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

Hungry for More of Him,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Hope Notes 1/26/12

2012-01-26T10:01:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~

We live in a fallen world. The consequences of sin are all around us. There is a pattern of reaping and sowing. Our hearts or spirits are sometimes broken during this process. I tried to convey this idea to someone who indignantly proclaimed, "I am not a sinner and I've certainly never been broken!" Her idea of being broken was completely different than mine. Sometimes being broken is the only way God can truly reach you. Sometimes when you are in pieces on the ground that is the only time you would "allow" God to scoop you up and begin to put you back together again. I don't see being broken as a weakness or a bad thing. I view it as a time when God in His wisdom and His mercy takes all our broken pieces of our lives, blesses them, and rebuilds our lives to be more in His image. It is a time when you can experience God's love and grace in abundance. Don't be afraid or ashamed of being "broken" – instead, use it as a time to surrender yourself completely to the Lord and feel the healing balm of His loving kindness.

SUNDAY MESSAGE
1/29 – Appealing to God (2 Samuel 12:15-31)

Have you ever felt so heartbroken and overwhelmed at the path your life is taking that you just cry out to God to change it? Those moments can be brief or can seem to last forever, but the experience in every minute is having every fiber of our being screaming against where we are headed. David faced a moment like that in the story we'll read today. He spent sleepless nights pouring his heart out to the Lord. Is it OK for us to ask God to change what is happening? And how do we deal with the reality that the change may not come? As we wrestle with the hard realities of our lives on this earth, we need to learn from David's experience.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY PRAYER TIME

All Sunday School and Nursery teachers/helpers are invited to come join us in the Toddler Classroom every Sunday from 9:40 – 9:45 for a time of prayer before the children begin arriving.

BIBLE READING FOR JANUARY - ACTS
The book of Acts is the place to look if you're curious about the history of the church. There's a lot of encouragement to be found in reading about the miracles of the early church, the persecution it endured, and the great things it accomplished through the power of the Spirit of God. Acts traces the history of the church from the time Jesus ascended to heaven, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and through the exploits and trials of New Testament heroes of the faith, such as Peter and Paul.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

LOVE AND RESPECT CONFERENCE
March 2-3, Friday night and Saturday morning

YOUTH NEWS

5^th SUNDAY PRAYER SERVICE - THIS SUNDAY
January 29^th
YOU are invited to join the youth leadership team in the youth room immediately following the service on Jan. 29th. We will have a couple of different ways that we can pray for the youth. There is no time commitment, stay for as long or as short as you'd like.

SUPER BOWL PARTY
Sunday, February 5^thAfter church until 2:00 pm

Football – Food – Games – Snacks. What could be better?! After church until 2 pm. Contact Dave Hallahan with any questions either in person, (856)-340-8519 or dmhallahan5@gmail.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DIRECTORY PHOTOS

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

COFFEE CLEANUP CREW

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Dave Bolser – Please pray for healing and strength for both him and Debbie.
Youth Pastor – Please pray for our new Youth Pastor, Dave Hallahan, as he beings the task of ministering to our teens, planning programs for them, and moving forward with God's call on his life here at Hope.
Kids Ministry Director. Please pray for God to connect us with the right people at the right time and let Him have His work in all of this!
Young Adults – Please pray that God would give the young adults here at Hope a heart for our new ministry so that they can grow in the Lord and forge closer relationships with each other.

"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

Praising our King,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Hope Notes 1/19/12

2012-01-19T11:31:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~

Most every day I take a walk out to the back of our property, into the woods. I like to look up into the trees and past them to the sky. Every season presents a different view – soft hazy buds, lush greenery, beautiful autumn colors, or stark bare branches. I like it in the winter when all the leaves have disappeared. The trees project their silhouettes in sharp contrast against the sky. Suddenly, everything that has been hidden by the leaves is revealed. The haphazard squirrel's nest and the carefully constructed bird's nests are now visible. They were there all along; I just couldn't see them. Daniel 2:22 tells us that "He reveals deep and hidden things…" I know God wants to reveal more to us than just the bird nests; He wants to reveal His truths. He gave us the perfect tool to do so – the Bible, His Word. God's Truth is always there, always available. It isn't hidden at all! We don't need to wait for the leaves to fall for it to be revealed; we just need to open the Bible and read it.

SUNDAY MESSAGE
1/22 – God's Discipline (2 Samuel 12:1-14)

No one likes to be in trouble. We spend great amounts of energy trying to avoid it or trying to get out of it! When God brings discipline into our lives, it can very much feel like getting in trouble. But it is so much deeper than those childish notions. God's work in our lives when we've done what is wrong is redemptive and designed to draw us into awareness of our wrong so that we can turn from it. There is certainly much pain in the process, and we do suffer losses as a result of our sin. But God is not simply inflicting punishment. He is calling us to true and deep repentance so that our lives can be set back on the right track. As we look into the story of Nathan's confrontation of David, we'll see an example of how God works in discipline in our lives. And we'll have the opportunity to respond to His call to turn away from our sin and fall into His grace and mercy.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY PRAYER TIME

All Sunday School and Nursery teachers/helpers are invited to come join us in the Toddler Classroom every Sunday from 9:40 – 9:45 for a time of prayer before the children begin arriving.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

LOVE AND RESPECT CONFERENCE
March 2-3, Friday night and Saturday morning

YOUTH NEWS

5^th SUNDAY PRAYER SERVICE
January 29^th
YOU are invited to join the youth leadership team in the youth room immediately following the service on Jan. 29th. We will have a couple of different ways that we can pray for the youth. There is no time commitment, stay for as long or as short as you'd like.

SUPER BOWL PARTY
Sunday, February 5^thAfter church until 2:00 pm

Football – Food – Games – Snacks. What could be better?! After church until 2 pm. Contact Dave Hallahan with any questions either in person, (856)-340-8519 or dmhallahan5@gmail.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FREE PROM/FORMAL DRESSES
Saturday Jan 21^st & Sunday Jan 22^nd
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
"The Rose Petal" community service group would like to offer one free gown to any girl who is not able to afford to purchase a dress for their Prom/Formal. Each girl must come in person.

LOCATION: Beacon Academy Preschool, 570 Egg Harbor Rd, Washington Twp, NJ. Check out therosepetal@comcast.net for more info.

FREE DEVOTIONALS

There are copies of the daily devotional "Our Daily Bread" available in the resource room for free. The current edition has devotionals for each day through the end of February.

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

COFFEE CLEANUP CREW

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       TBA
Toddlers                        Rebecca & John Jacob
Pre K – Kindergarten    Kim Lawlor & Ryan Sweeney
1^st – 5^th                           TBA
Counters                        Bill Berry & Mike Hartwell
Greeters                        John Brazelis
                                      Lucille Franchetti
                                      Lisa Fiorile
                                      Helen Mastalski
Wed. Evening Workers (N) Steve & Karen Jones (4-5's) Pat Nolan

PRAYER REQUESTS

Dave Bolser – Dave has been in the hospital over ten days and had surgery Tuesday. He is not responding well and is in ICU. Please pray for healing and comfort for both him and Debbie.
Youth Pastor – Please pray for our new Youth Pastor, Dave Hallahan, as he beings the task of ministering to our teens, planning programs for them, and moving forward with God's call on his life here at Hope.
Kids Ministry Director. Please pray for God to connect us with the right people at the right time and let Him have His work in all of this!
Young Adults – Please pray that God would give the young adults here at Hope a heart for our new ministry so that they can grow in the Lord and forge closer relationships with each other.

"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

One of His,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Hope Notes 1/12/12

2012-01-12T08:08:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~

This week we commemorate Jesus' sacrifice on the cross with Communion. We partake in this celebration a little differently at Hope. We form a circle around the auditorium – no beginning and no end to our circle. I remember back when we were just a little horseshoe shaped group. We didn't even make it halfway around! Now, it is such a blessing to see how we not only complete the circle, but have "extras" piled up in the corners! We are so full. God has truly blessed Hope with an abundance of His people. I believe it is a testimony to the work God is doing here and to the faithfulness of His followers. Please be sure to come, take your place in the circle and celebrate with us!

SUNDAY MESSAGE
1/15 – A Successful Cover-Up (2 Samuel 11:14-27)

COMMUNION

What is the answer for the mistakes and failures of our life? Some would say that the best solution is to "move on" and pretend they never happened. But most of us instinctively act like the only thing we need to do is successfully cover up our wrongs. For many, we believe we can continue to live in our failures as long as no one knows! In fact, we have become accustomed to one scandal after another where some public figure has covered their sins for a long time. Unfortunately, our humanity believes we actually can hide what we've done and act like it never happened. This drive caused David to deal with his awful sin with Bathsheba by doing even more terrible things. Never underestimate the power of our desperate and limitless human desire to hide our shortcomings.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

MEN'S BREAKFAST
Saturday, January 14^th @ 8:30 am
Make sure to come and be a part of the fellowship and food that make up a wonderful morning of connection with our brothers-in-Christ. Bring a friend along to share the experience.

LOVE AND RESPECT CONFERENCE
March 2-3, Friday night and Saturday morning

YOUTH NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LOCATION: Beacon Academy Preschool, 570 Egg Harbor Rd, Washington Twp, NJ. Check out therosepetal@comcast.net for more info.

FREE DEVOTIONALS

There are copies of the daily devotional "Our Daily Bread" available in the resource room for free. The current edition has devotionals for each day through the end of February.

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
We are still in need of a helper for our 4-5 year old classes and a teacher/helper for our 2-3 year old classes. Please search your heart to see if God is calling you to help with this ministry. We will have to cancel classes if we do not get the volunteers we need.

Contact Jen Winstel at jenwinrn@comcast.net or Pastor Mark to volunteer.

COFFEE CLEANUP CREW

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY MEETING
Sunday, January 15^th
We are in need of a few new teams for the Toddler and Pre-K/Kindergarten classes for the upcoming year. We will have a quick meeting with all Toddler and Pre-K/Kindergarten teachers and helps, along with anyone who might be interested in serving this ministry. We will be meeting the Toddler Room. Contact Franne Harkin (fhark7@yahoo.com) with any questions.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       TBA
Toddlers                        Ardra Jarvis and Natalie
Pre K – Kindergarten    Tina & Craig Campana
1^st – 5^th                           TBA
Counters                        Bill Berry & Mike Hartwell
Greeters                        John Brazelis
                                      Lucille Franchetti
                                      Lisa Fiorile
                                      Helen Mastalski
Wed. Evening                TBA

PRAYER REQUESTS
Youth Pastor – Please pray for our new Youth Pastor, Dave Hallahan, as he beings the task of ministering to our teens, planning programs for them, and moving forward with God's call on his life here at Hope.
Kids Ministry Director. Please pray for God to connect us with the right people at the right time and let Him have His work in all of this!
Young Adults – Please pray that God would give the young adults here at Hope a heart for our new ministry so that they can grow in the Lord and forge closer relationships with each other.

"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

The Babe is Born,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Hope Notes 1/5/12

2012-01-05T08:14:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~
Last night we had our Annual Business Meeting at Hope. We need to think of a new name for it, because "Business Meeting" sounds so dry and boring. I actually found it exciting as Pastor Mark took us back to last January and put our goals up on the big screen. It was awesome to see what God has helped us to accomplish throughout the past year! I know that I had forgotten what most of our goals were; it was great to be reminded of them and to see so many of them met beyond our expectations. Let me "boast in the Lord" and say what a feeling of delight I had for our church and the continued growth we have experienced. God is sending the people and we are doing our best to be faithful to Him and minister to everyone who comes. Being part of a meeting like last night's really gives you a sense of the family that we are and of the ownership each and every one of us has in Hope. Now if we could just come up with a better name…………

SUNDAY MESSAGE
1/8 – The Path to Failure (2 Samuel 11:1-13)

When we look at people who do terribly wrong things, we can easily start to think that they are somehow abnormally evil or callous. But the truth is that most people who make very large mistakes begin by making very little mistakes. The pathway to the 'big' sins is through little choices that probably feel inconsequential, but which take us into danger. As we look at one of the major failures in David's life, we'll see how a seemingly small choice leads to unbelievable sin in the life of this godly king. We'll look at the process by which David is drawn deeper and deeper into evil, and learn how we too are drawn by these forces to go further and further into wrong. Let's take this opportunity to learn from David's life and be better prepared for the deceptive power of our own flesh.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

ALL WEDNESDAY EVENING PROGRAMS RESUME JANUARY 11^TH, 2012

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

LOVE AND RESPECT CONFERENCE
March 2-3, Friday night and Saturday morning

SMALL GROUPS
Small Groups are starting up again after our holiday hiatus! New study sheets are out in the back of the auditorium, or you can print a copy right from our website! At Small Groups, we'll take a look at how the Bible emphasizes God's plan for us to grow and be healthy through relationships within our spiritual family. Anyone still looking for a Small Group to plug into can see Damon Briggs; he will help you get connected!

YOUTH NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DO YOU "LIKE" HOPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP ?
For those of you on Facebook, this is just a reminder for the new year to go on our Facebook page and "like" it so you can keep up with what's happening. It's a great way to stay current with all the activities at Hope. Don't forget our Young Adults and our Youth Groups pages as well. Even if you don't fall into that age category, it's fun to check them out and see what they're up to. Plus, fun pictures get posted!

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

Contact Jen Winstel at jenwinrn@comcast.net or Pastor Mark to volunteer.

COFFEE CLEANUP CREW

The coffee cleanup crew could use a few more helpers! This is a quick and easy way to serve all of our church friends! Please contact Al Lewis at Lewis@voorhees.k12.nj.us

VBS PROGRAM 2012 MEETING – THIS SUNDAY
January 8th
We are excited that so many people showed an interest in coordinating VBS at our first meeting! We will have another meeting immediately following the morning service January 8^th.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       TBA
Toddlers                        Ardra Jarvis and Natalie
Pre K – Kindergarten    Tina & Craig Campana
1^st – 5^th                           TBA
Counters                        Rick Mounce & Damon Briggs
Greeters                        John Brazelis
                                      Lucille Franchetti
                                      Lisa Fiorile
                                      Helen Mastalski
Wed. Evening                TBA

PRAYER REQUESTS
Jerry & Carol Bryt – For Carol's father who is in the hospital after a massive stroke. He has been taken off all support and they are simply waiting. Please pray for peace as they prepare to say goodbye.
Youth Pastor – Please pray for our new Youth Pastor, Dave Hallahan, as he beings the task of ministering to our teens, planning programs for them, and moving forward with God's call on his life here at Hope.
Kids Ministry Director. Please pray for God to connect us with the right people at the right time and let Him have His work in all of this!
Young Adults – Please pray that God would give the young adults here at Hope a heart for our new ministry so that they can grow in the Lord and forge closer relationships with each other.

"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

The Babe is Born,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

HOPE NOTES CORRECTION

2011-12-29T10:53:00.001-08:00

Hello Friends ~

I mistakenly copied the message for January 8th instead of January 1st! Below please find the correct message for this coming Sunday.

1/1 – Listening to God (1 Samuel 3:1-10)

It's a new year! And that means we have new opportunities and new possibilities. But it also means we are aware of how much is unknown about what lies ahead. As we begin this new year, it is a fitting time to remember that we need God's leading in our lives. We must get better at listening for His voice. So, we'll take a look at this story in the life of Samuel and see how he learned to listen to God. And we'll challenge ourselves to learn from his example. Setting out on a new adventure in a new year can be amazing or catastrophic… let's make sure we know how to hear God's voice so we know what we need to do.

Hope Notes 12/29/11

2011-12-29T09:26:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~
Here we go, folks, the last Hope Notes of 2011! Can you believe it? A year seems to pass so quickly. Whenever we come to a marker of some kind, be it a birthday, a holiday, or perhaps a new school year, I always feel a little bittersweet about the whole thing. I am not one to easily toss aside the past year and run with open arms into the next. I would rather hold on to what I know than to embrace change with excitement. GOD, however, does not want me to do that! He knows that He has prepared a future for us all that is completely good and safe and perfectly His. He has shown me quite a lot about letting go these past few years, and I plan on continuing to trust Him to lead me. But……...I still don't think I'll ever fling myself towards the future with complete abandon!!!

SUNDAY MESSAGE
1/8 – The Path to Failure (2 Samuel 11:1-13)

BIBLE READING FOR DECEMBER – ACTS
The book of Acts is the place to look if you're curious about the history of the church. There's a lot of encouragement to be found in reading about the miracles of the early church, the persecution it endured, and the great things it accomplished through the power of the Spirit of God. Acts traces the history of the church from the time Jesus ascended to heaven, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and through the exploits and trials of New Testament heroes of the faith, such as Peter and Paul.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

ALL WEDNESDAY EVENING PROGRAMS RESUME JANUARY 11^TH, 2012

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

LOVE AND RESPECT CONFERENCE
March 2-3, Friday night and Saturday morning

SMALL GROUPS
Small Group study sheets are in the back of the auditorium, or you can print a copy right from our website! At Small Groups, we'll take a look at how the Bible emphasizes God's plan for us to grow and be healthy through relationships within our spiritual family. Anyone still looking for a Small Group to plug into can see Damon Briggs; he will help you get connected!

Please Note: Our Small Groups will be on hiatus during the Christmas season, so we will not be putting any new study sheets out. Feel free to meet and celebrate the holidays with your group if you so desire! Next study sheet will be out January 8^th.

YOUTH NEWS

"POST CHRISTMAS" CHRISTMAS PARTY – THIS FRIDAY

Friday, December 30^th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Come dressed as your favorite Christmas character from any Christmas movie. There will be prizes for best dressed and most creative costume! Also, please bring a gift for the White Elephant Gift Exchange. It can be something you already own, or purchase with a $5 MAX limit. The goal is laughter, not awesome presents! See Dave Hallahan with any questions.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANK YOU FROM OUR PASTOR
A HUGE Thank You from Dana and I to our church family for their amazing generosity in our Christmas Gift. We are absolutely overwhelmed with the support and love we have from each of you, and we are ready to begin another year of adventure together for God's kingdom.
From Pastor Mark and Dana.

DECEMBER GIVING
We averaged $5581 per week for the month of December, which brings our annual average giving for 2011 to $4390 per week. We are so thankful for the faithfulness and sacrifice of our church family this year. And we ask each person who is a part of Hope - especially those who have never done so before - to take some time and ask the Lord what sacrifice you can make in the New Year to be faithful and supportive of what God is doing at Hope. We need each family to respond to God's call in giving so that we can keep going forward and be prepared for the growth that continues to come our way!

FREE TV'S
Ken Blythe has a lot of 20" cable ready, color TVs with remotes available for FREE! These are not flat screen. If you are interested, contact Ken at kblythe99@hotmail.com. He will bring them to church and you can pick them up there.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING – THIS COMING WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00pm

We will be having our annual business meeting in place of Bible Study. This will be a night where we take a look at this past year and see what the Lord has done. It is also a very important time of vision for the new year where we can all see the challenges ahead that we need to take on together. We will be voting on officers and the new budget, so we need our partners to join us. And as always, this meeting is open for anyone who is a part of Hope!

Please Note: There will be no Children's Ministry or Youth Group on January 4^th.

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

CHILDCARE HELPERS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Our Young Adults meet the 1^st and 3^rd Monday of every month. Those who have small children are often unable attend. Come be a blessing to these couples and this ministry – volunteer to take a turn in the Nursery! Let Pastor Mark or Dana know if you can help.

Contact Jen Winstel at jenwinrn@comcast.net or Pastor Mark to volunteer.

VBS PROGRAM 2012 MEETING
January 8th
We are excited that so many people showed an interest in coordinating VBS at our first meeting! We will have another meeting immediately following the morning service January 8^th.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Kacy Maska & Kristy Straub
Toddlers                        Judy Gotshall & Abbey Harkin
Pre K – Kindergarten    Franne Harkin
1^st – 5^th                           TBA
Counters                        Rick Mounce & Damon Briggs
Greeters                        John Brazelis
                                      Lucille Franchetti
                                      Lisa Fiorile
                                      Helen Mastalski
Wed. Evening                No Programs

"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

Glory to God,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Service for Ken Blythe's Father

2011-12-28T10:47:00.001-08:00

MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM KEN AND KAREN BLYTHE

Dad passed away on the 27th of December, a GLORIOUS day for him. He's FREE of pain and for all eternity he will be with the LORD.

The viewing will be Saturday, December 31st from 9:00 - 11:00 with a short service immediately following. Viewing is being held at Williams/Lombardo Funeral Home, 30 West Baltimore Ave., Clifton Heights, PA. 19018.

From the entire Blythe family, we want to thank all of you for the calls...the cards... and the prayers.

Prayer Request

2011-12-27T13:17:00.001-08:00

Please pray for Ken Blythe and his family. Ken's father passed away this morning.

PRAYER REQUEST

2011-12-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

Please pray for Norman Buehler, father of Carol Bryt, who is the wife of Jerry Bryt - a regular attender of Hope. Norman suffered a massive stroke on Christmas and is not expected to live more than a few days. Please also pray for peace and comfort for Carol and Jerry during this difficult time. Thank you.

Hope Notes 12/22/11

2011-12-22T08:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~
Maybe it's because we don't have any little ones at home, or maybe because we don't have extended family around, but I am really excited to be able to spend Christmas morning with my family at Hope! Christmas is such a special day, and for me, this will help to make it extra special. Isn't being with the ones you love a big part of the Christmas celebration? I am grateful beyond words that God loved us enough to make the sacrifice that began in a manger and ended on the cross. I consider myself blessed to be able to celebrate with you all the birth of our Savior.

SUNDAY MESSAGE
12/25 – Christmas Sunday – A Child is Born - Isaiah 9:6-7

On this Christmas Sunday, we'll celebrate the birth of Jesus with Christmas carols, the Christmas story, and some Christmas music. It is a special blessing to be able to be with our spiritual family on Christmas, and remember together the reason for this special season and day. Without the child who was born that day, there would be no real meaning for our decorations and presents. God gave the most precious gift ever given – His Son, Jesus Christ. We'll close our brief service this morning by looking at Isaiah's prophecy about who this baby would be, and what He offers to each one of us as the Savior of the world!

BIBLE READING FOR DECEMBER – PHILIPPIANS
Joy is the overriding theme of this book – joy in the blessings of God showered on His people. Yet joy has little to do with circumstances; when Paul wrote this book he was sitting in a Roman prison. Paul was a great example of living joyfully while enduring a harsh situation. His letter to the Philippians is affectionate, warm, and full of encouragement. Philippians proves that joy has nothing to do with our circumstances, but only with our commitment to the work of Christ.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Note: There is no Bible Study or Children's Programs 12/28.

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

YOUTH NEWS

"POST CHRISTMAS" CHRISTMAS PARTY

Friday, December 30^th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHRISTMAS EVE
Please take note that there will be no Christmas Eve service this year. With Christmas falling on a Sunday, it's just logistically too difficult to do a service like that on Saturday evening followed by another service on Christmas morning. We'll simply have one very special service on Sunday morning!

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00pm

We will be having our annual business meeting in place of Bible Study. All partners are strongly encouraged to come and vote for our Leadership/Elder and Deacon candidates. Anyone interested in finding out more about where we've been as a church in 2011 and where God is taking us in 2012 is also encouraged to come. Although being a church is a spiritual thing, we also have business to take care of and this is when we do it!

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

CHILDCARE HELPERS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
We are still in need of a helper for our 4-5 year old classes and a teacher/helper for our 2-3 year old classes. Please search your heart to see if God is calling you to help with this ministry. We would hate to have to cancel these classes due to lack of help.

Contact Jen Winstel at jenwinrn@comcast.net or Pastor Mark to volunteer.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Kacy Maska & Kristy Straub
Toddlers                        Judy Gotshall & Abbey Harkin
Pre K – Kindergarten    Franne Harkin
1^st – 5^th                           TBA
Counters                        LaTosha Briggs & Lois Hartwell
Greeters                        Rick Mounce
                                      Judy Gotshall
                                      Katrina Mariani
                                      Rick Ayusa
Wed. Evening                No Programs

PRAYER REQUESTS
Joy Phillips – (Our missionary in Africa, and her sister Linda) For safety and God's protection as they endure the hardships of the Sudan while sharing God's love with the Sudanese December 10-17.
Youth Pastor – Please pray for our new Youth Pastor, Dave Hallahan, as he beings the task of ministering to our teens, planning programs for them, and moving forward with God's call on his life here at Hope.
Kids Ministry Director. Please pray for God to connect us with the right people at the right time and let Him have His work in all of this!
Young Adults – Please pray that God would give the young adults here at Hope a heart for our new ministry so that they can grow in the Lord and forge closer relationships with each other.

"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

Love Has Come!
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

FINAL REHEARSAL FOR ELEMENTARY KID'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

2011-12-15T13:08:00.001-08:00

This Saturday, 12/17 is the final rehearsal for 1st-6th grade children participating in the Christmas program!! Please have your children at church by 10:00am - we need everyone there on time so we can get started right away. We will be providing a simple lunch for the kids, and then finishing the rehearsal with a final run-through. We hope to be done around 1:30pm. Your child does not need to wear their RED or GREEN shirts for this practice, but be sure they wear them to church on Sunday for the program!

On Sunday morning, children should be at church by 9:30am and dropped off in the Youth Room to get warmed up and ready to go. Any questions, please contact Dana Ott at danaott@hopechristianfellowship.org. Thanks!

Hope Notes 12/15/11

2011-12-15T09:57:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~
I thought I'd put out a little bit of info entitled "Reverse Visitor Etiquette". Usually, whenever we expect to have a higher-than-usual amount of visitors, we would encourage everyone to move towards the front and middle of the auditorium. This enables our visitors to stay closer to the back and sides, which is more comfortable for most guests. However, THIS WEEK we would encourage you not to be possessive of your "up front" seats; instead let all the friends and family who have come to see their children in the Christmas Program sit nice and close so they can take pictures and enjoy the presentation. Of course, all other Visitor Etiquette still applies! Look around to make sure you welcome those new faces and are there to offer help to anyone who looks lost or confused!

SUNDAY MESSAGE

12/18 – Kid's Program – Legacy of Love (1 John 2:15; 4:23)

What gifts are we giving this Christmas? Our kids are giving us a great gift this morning by presenting their Christmas program for us this Sunday. The Christmas season always hits full stride when we reach this moment, and we have been looking forward to this for quite a while. But it is more than just the adorable kids and our great love for them! What they present this morning has deep meaning. Our elementary kids will present a program centered on the idea of leaving a legacy for those who come after us. And this Christmas is an opportunity like that for each of us. Is there a gift you can give your loved ones this Christmas that will be more than just a present? Something that will last so much longer? Let's see what God can do in our lives to make us a blessing to those we love!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Note: There is no Bible Study 12/21 so that we may all enjoy the Christmas Café!

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

YOUNG ADULTS CHRISTMAS CAROLING AND PARTY – THIS MONDAY

December 19^th at 6:00

We will meet at the church at 6:00 for some Christmas caroling and then gather together at 7:00 for our Christmas party! Don't worry if you can't make the caroling; be sure you still come to the party. Please bring a snack to share and be sure to have your game face on for some Christmas fun!

CHRISTMAS CAFÉ – THIS WEDNESDAY

Wednesday December 21^st

We will be holding our annual Christmas Café in place of Bible Study this Wednesday. It's a great way to get in the spirit of Christmas – we set up the round tables, sit with each other and enjoy some delicious holiday treats. Entertainment is graciously provided by different members of our very own Hope family!

YOUTH NEWS

"POST CHRISTMAS" CHRISTMAS PARTY

Friday, December 30^th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00pm

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM SECTION

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARENTS
Sunday December 18

Next Sunday is our Kid's Christmas Program!! Parents of Toddlers and Pre-school children please have your children here next week at 9:00am. You can take them directly to their regular classes. Kara (with her helpers) will be gathering them to get a "sound check" on the big stage one more time before the service starts. Parents of 1st-6th graders should plan to arrive no later than 9:30am. That class will be meeting in the Youth Room to warm up on a song or two and then get ready to go! Thanks for your help in being on time for this special day!"

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

CHILDCARE HELPERS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
We are still in need of a helper for our 4-5 year old classes and a teacher/helper for our 2-3 year old classes. Please search your heart to see if God is calling you to help with this ministry. We would hate to have to cancel these classes due to lack of help.

Contact Jen Winstel at jenwinrn@comcast.net or Pastor Mark to volunteer.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Nicole Babli & Mallory Pantaleo
Toddlers                        TBA
Pre K – Kindergarten    Linda Landis & Linda Ellison
1^st – 5^th                           Christmas Program
Counters                        LaTosha Briggs & Lois Hartwell
Greeters                        Rick Mounce
                                      Judy Gotshall
                                      Katrina Mariani
                                      Rick Ayusa
Wed. Evening                Christmas Cafe

"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

Serving a Risen Lord,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Clothing Need

2011-12-11T17:51:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope ~

Friends of a family at Hope have lost almost all their clothing due to an infestation of bed bugs. The bugs made their way from the apartment next door into this family's house! Needless to say, they are in need of clothing. If anyone could contribute, the following is a list of what is most needed:

Girl's Clothing Size 5T

Boy's Pants Size 8 and Shirts Size 10/12

Boy's Pants Size 14/16 and Shirts Size 14/16

Please bring items to church and give to anyone on the Needs Team - Mike Hartwell, Lorraine Otis, Karen Jones, Al Lewis, or Charlotte Zediker

Thank you!

Benevolent Offering

2011-12-08T17:22:00.001-08:00

We have two needs in the body and have prayerfully decided to take an offering to help meet these needs this coming Sunday, December 11th. We know that this is a difficult time of year financially for many people; we simply ask that you pray about this and give only as you feel led. We are thankful to have a congregation that is willing to give sacrificially to others.

Christmas Blessings,
Mike Hartwell
Needs Team

Hope Notes 12/8/11

2011-12-08T06:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~
The Christmas elves have visited us at Hope! I just love walking into church and seeing the auditorium transformed with all the beautiful Christmas decorations. That first glimpse is always the best; before we stop actually seeing it and begin to take it for granted. If we are brutally honest, I think we'd have to admit we do that with so many things. God showers us with a blessing and at first it's the most awesome thing and we tell everyone about it. Then, before you know it, that blessing seems like old hat and we forget how grateful and amazed we were to receive it. God grants us an answer to prayer that is exactly what we were hoping for; we tell everyone who will listen about how merciful our God is. Then, the wonder fades and we are left doubting that He is listening to our petitions. Let's make a concerted effort to take notice of not only the Christmas lights, but also everything God is doing for us, and not let it fade from something spectacular to something ordinary.

SUNDAY MESSAGE
What God Gave…

This Christmas season, we're going to take a look at why Christmas is the most festive holiday season of the year. There are no other holidays that are an entire season – some of them even sneak up on us and are almost overlooked! But Christmas is celebrated for several weeks (and for some, even longer than that!). As we zero in on the reason Christmas is so huge in our hearts, we want to go past the decorations, music, and presents, and get to the root of why this day is so precious. So let's take a few weeks and look at what God gave to the world (and to us) at Christmas!

12/11 – Christmas – Hope and Help (1 Peter 1:3, Romans 8:24-28)

What really happens without hope? There may have been one or two things in the course of history that happened by accident without anyone believing they could, but in real life, almost nothing ever happens without hope! Someone believes in what is possible, even though it hasn't shown up yet. Hope is a powerful gift – and one that God gave to us in Jesus at Christmas. We'll take a look at the idea of hope, and how it might be a little different than we might think. And we'll also see what drives our hope… the fact that God has also given us help! The fact is that there is no real hope without help from God. And in Jesus, God has offered us both!

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

December 18^th
At last! We finally get to see our children put on the Christmas Program they've been working so hard on. This is a great Sunday to invite your friends and family out to Hope. Who doesn't love seeing all the adorable kids singing and proclaiming the Christmas message? It's a surefire way to warm your hearts and get you in the Christmas spirit!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Note: The adults will have Bible Study in the Youth Room on 12/14 so that our youngsters can practice in the auditorium for the Christmas Program.

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

MEN'S BREAKFAST – THIS SATURDAY

Saturday, December 10, 8:30am-10:30
Food, good talk, and no women or children! If that sounds awesome--don't admit it out loud--then come out for our Men's Breakfast! Nothing fancy - no quiche or lattes, just a brief teaching/devotional and a chance for the men of Hope to get together for fellowship and to pray for each other and our families. Please email Bob Rice (riceiii@verizon.net) if you are planning to attend so that we can plan for food. Feel free to invite friends and family members.

YOUNG ADULTS CHRISTMAS CAROLING

December 19^th at 7:00

We will meet at the church for some Christmas caroling and then gather together for our Christmas party! You do not want to miss this!

CHRISTMAS CAFÉ

Wednesday December 21^st

YOUTH NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GIVING UPDATE
We averaged $4193 in the month of November, which is more than our weekly giving target of $4000. This brings our annual average giving to $4291. Please pray with us that the Lord will enable us to finish the year strong in giving, and that we will be able to take a step forward next year in our giving for the call God has placed on Hope!

FREE COLOR TELEVISION
Free 32" color tv in perfect working order available for someone in need. It's not a flat panel and will require two strong people to move it. Also available is a 46" color tv (not flat panel) in perfect working order. Appliance hand cart is available to help with the move. Anyone interested can contact Denise Tigner attigner12@verizon.net or call 866-848-6025.

DIRECTORY PICTURES
Make sure you come to church looking extra "nice" and get your picture taken for the latest edition of our Church Directory. We are blessed to have many new faces, and it will be a real help to be able to look people up and put a face to the name! You can take a minute before or after worship and have your photo taken.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00pm

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM SECTION

PHOTOS NEEDED!!
This Sunday, 12/11 is our deadline for getting photos of your loved ones to Melissa McGinness. We are hoping to make a pictorial slideshow to be used in our Kid's Program next week and we'd love to include family or friends who have passed away, but have left a godly legacy to you or your children. Please see Melissa on Sunday and either bring in hard copies of your loved one or email digital pics to her at MELISSAMCGINNESS007@comcast.net.

UPCOMING PRACTICE SCHEDULE

December 14^th – Elementary program practice in auditorium on Wednesday night. (Adult Bible study in Youth Room)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARENTS
Sunday December 18

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

GREETERS
Can you shake a hand and smile in the mornings? Then come on and join our Greeters Ministry! This is a fun and easy way to get to know the folks of Hope as well as meet newcomers to our church and make them feel at home. We usually have teams of four who serve a month of Sundays at a time, spaced throughout the year. If you are interested in helping, please contact Bill Berry at billandkathyberry@comcast.net or Lois Hartwell at foolsforchrist7@yahoo.com. Please let us know as soon as possible since we are in the process of making next year's schedule.

CHILDCARE HELPERS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

We are looking for people who are passionate about children to help us staff our Wednesday night kids program for the upcoming semester (January - April). We need a teacher and helper for the 2-3 year olds, and for the 4-5 year old classes. We also need someone to coordinate our volunteer nursery on Wednesday nights. Contact Jen Winstel at jenwinrn@comcast.net or Pastor Mark to volunteer.

VBS PROGRAM 2012 MEETING
January 8
We are excited that so many people showed an interest in coordinating VBS at our first meeting! We will have another meeting immediately following the morning service January 8^th.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Nicole Bablie & Mallory Pantaleo
Toddlers                        TBA
Pre K – Kindergarten    Linda Landis & Linda Ellison
1^st – 5^th                           Christmas Program Practice
Counters                        Carole Baumiester & Kathy Berry
Greeters                        Rick Mounce
                                      Judy Gotshall
                                      Katrina Mariani
                                      Rick Ayusa
Wed. Evening                Lorraine Otis

"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

Awaiting Our King,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.

Hope Notes 12/1/11

2011-12-01T10:41:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends of Hope~
"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you…" (Psalm 55:22) Do you "cast your cares" on the Lord and then reel them right back in? I know I do! Imagine if we were trying to fish; we'd never catch a thing! Oh, sometimes I wait a whole day or so before I reel them back in, but the end result is the same. I don't always leave my troubles in the hands of the Lord. I can't imagine why I do this when I have available to me the hands of the One who created the universe, who breathed life into man, and whose wisdom knows no bounds. God alone knows what is best for me, what I need the most, and what needs to happen for that all to occur. He alone knows the timing of all these things as well. Whatever would make me think that MY hands would be the better place to hold all my trials?! I know I'm not alone in this; I'm just putting it out there to share. Can I get an "Amen"?!

SUNDAY MESSAGE
12/4 – Thinking the Worst – 2 Samuel 10

Many people believe that expecting the worst is generally the best approach. If you're wrong, you're pleasantly surprised. And if you're right, you're not caught off guard. But our story in the life of David today shows us that this idea is wrong. When we always think the worst, it generally makes us miserable, and puts huge obstacles between us and the good that God wants to do in our lives. We are NEVER ready to receive the good, because we always expect the bad. As we read this story, let's take special note of the destruction and death that comes from someone who thought it was safer to think the worst. And let's ask God to give us wisdom coupled with an open heart so that we can embrace every good gift that He wants to bring our way!

Note: The adults will have Bible Study in the Youth Room on 12/7 and 12/14 so that our youngsters can practice in the auditorium for the Christmas Program.

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Our Children's Program runs at the same time as Bible study. We currently offer classes for 2-3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, and 1st thru 5^th graders.

WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Room at church. All women are invited to attend.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP

MEN'S BREAKFAST

YOUNG ADULTS CHRISTMAS CAROLING

December 19^th at 7:00

We will meet at the church for some Christmas caroling and then gather together for our Christmas party! You do not want to miss this!

CHRISTMAS CAFÉ

Wednesday December 21^st

YOUTH NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MISSIONARY UPDATE
Our missionary in Africa, Joy Phillips, and her sister Linda will be entering the Sudan on December 10^th for seven days. In all of South Sudan there are only 3miles of paved roads (it's the size of New England), and there is no electricity or running water. It's also their hottest time of year; typically over 110 during the day and a "cool" 90 at night. Joy and Linda will be staying in tents. Yikes! Add to this the instability of being the newest country in the world (there is still a lot of fighting, bombing, and violence) and you can imagine the difficulties this trip poses. This is a journey that will push them way out of their comfort zones, challenging them emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Please keep them both in prayer as they minister to the people of Sudan.

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM SECTION

PRACTICES
Practice for our Children's Christmas Program is being held on Sundays during the worship service. Once again we are inviting the 6^th graders to join our program to help us make it even better! We all love to have the kids on stage for the program (which this year will be on December 18^th), so please make sure they are at church every Sunday to practice so that they can be a part of the program!

UPCOMING PRACTICE SCHEDULE

December 7^th – Toddler and Preschool practice in auditorium on Wednesday night. (Adult Bible study in Youth Room)

December 14^th – Elementary program practice in auditorium on Wednesday night. (Adult Bible study in Youth Room)

NEEDS

We're putting finishing touches on our Christmas program and need a few items to make it complete. If anyone has a cut out lawn Nativity (those wooden looking silhouettes) that we can borrow for the program, please let us know. We're also looking for a park bench. If you have either of these items and are willing to share, please contact Anita Little as soon as possible. Reach her by phone 856-373-2090 or email (alittleshopper@gmail.com) by December 4.

PICTURES

Who has left their mark on your life? During the Christmas program this year, we'd like to honor those people who have left a godly legacy in your family. This could be a grandparent, aunt or uncle, parent or even a non-relative that has passed, but who has made a difference in your family's Christian walk. We're putting together a slideshow to be presented during one of the songs in the Christmas program and would love to include a picture of your loved one. If you're interested, please give a picture of your loved one to Melissa McGinness or email it to her at melissamcginness007@comcast.net. Deadline for pictures is 12/11.

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

OPPORTUNITES TO SERVE

Do you want to truly feel like you are a vital and connected part of Hope? Then find a place where you can serve! Here are some ideas!

CHRISTMAS DECORATING – THIS SATURDAY
Saturday, December 3^rd
We will be decorating our church for Christmas from 10:00 till 12:00 – all are welcome to come out and lend a hand!

CHILDCARE HELPERS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Saturday, December 10th
Represent Hope Christian Fellowship at a table at the Williamstown Santa Saturday and Craft Bonanza to be held at Williamstown High School (700 N. Tuckahoe Rd.) This huge Christmas craft fair attracts people from all over. Volunteer to man the table and talk to craft-goers about our church. We don't expect you to be an expert in everything, but just to be willing to come and talk to people about your experience with HCF. Volunteers can be teenagers and up! Sign up by one hour time slots on the sign-up sheet in the resource room. Whether you sign up for one hour or the whole day; any time you can give is greatly appreciated! Also looking for volunteers willing to set up the table and take it down. See Ellen Lewis with questions.

Just pick where you would be most interested in helping and give that person a call. They will fill you in on the current needs and tell you whatever you need to know!

THIS WEEK'S WORKERS
Nursery -                       Sue Quinn & Lucy Muhlbaier
Toddlers                        Jim & Debbie Bradshaw
Pre K – Kindergarten    Bill McGinness & Isaiah Owens
1^st – 5^th                           Christmas Program Practice
Counters                        Carole Baumiester & Kathy Berry
Greeters                        Rick Mounce
                                      Judy Gotshall
                                      Katrina Mariani
                                      Rick Ayusa
Wed. Evening                Denise & Amanda Brathwaite

"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

Depending on Him,
Lois

Note: If you do not wish to continue receiving Hope Notes, simply reply to this email and I will remove your name from the list. Any correspondence for Hope Notes goes to Hopenotes Email.