My heart hurt just a tiny bit when I heard my grandson say he was worried about us driving down an extremely dark country road. I could sense his unease about the eeriness of the long road, illuminated only by our headlights. His daddy quickly reassured him that he was safe and laid his worries to rest. Worry is often described as a feeling of concern regarding something that has happened or might happen. It has also been described as thinking about problems or fears. For me, the feeling of concern blossoms into full blown worry if I continue to dwell on those thoughts. Worry is sure to be followed by anxiety if nothing stops the ‘worry wheel’. God doesn’t want us to get to the point of anxiety. He wants us to come to Him with our concerns and worries, before they turn the page to anxiety. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) David put that into practice in Psalm 94:19 (GNT) – “Whenever I am anxious and worried, you comfort me and make me glad.” All it took for our grandson to be reassured and for his worries to dissipate was a word from his father. Our heavenly Father is waiting for us to turn to Him and trust Him with our cares. He gives us this promise in Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Let us stop trying to power through and instead allow God to comfort and reassure us as only He can.
Resting in Him………….LoisSPIRITUAL CARE
Hope (Romans 5:1-8; 15:5-6, 13)
We call ourselves Hope Christian Fellowship. Over the next three weeks, we’re going to look at each word in our name. This Sunday we look at hope. What kind of hope do we have? How do we get it and what does it do? We’re going to look at some words from Paul who describes the process for each believer receiving hope, and then he describes how each one experiences that hope more and more. Our hope is not a cross-your-fingers-kind of hope. It is a solid foundation on which to build our lives. It colors every experience we have. And the best part about it for our church is that we are designed to understand this, live this, and share this together as a church.WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY:
Join us at 6:30 for coffee & a sweet treat before we head into classes at 7:00. We’ll have HopeKids! and Hope Youth programs, in addition to our studies for adults (see details below).
- IDENTITY: Finding The Way To Know You Have Enough Worth Led by Pastor Mark We live out of our value (or our perceived value) all the time. If we are worried that we aren’t a good parent, we live chasing the target of “always doing exactly the right thing” so that the feedback of criticism or blame will never come our way. If we believe that we are a misfit or an outcast, we live pulled back from everyone and everything, or when we do engage, we do it with caution and self-protection. At work, at school, in our relationships, and even in our worship, we bring our own ideas of worth into all that we do. Younger adults often struggle from feeling like a ‘fake’ or ‘fraud’ and run from anything that might expose their façade. Older adults struggle with regret and shame (or with pride and arrogance) based on how they perceive their own accomplishments in life. Every single one of us need to know how to know we have true and lasting worth. We’re going to look at a few of the Satanic traps that wreck people. And we’re going to look at the miraculous way we can find all the value we’ll ever need which can bring stability, contentment, and satisfaction in life.
- MALACHI Led by Pastor Ryan In the book of Malachi we arrive at a point in the Old Testament when God’s people had once again turned away from Him, even though they didn’t quite realize it. God speaks to His people through Malachi and calls them to turn away from their sin – a corrupt priesthood, rote worship, disrespect for the sanctity of marriage, disregard for the social plights of their neighbors, and neglecting to tithe appropriately – so that they can re-enter relationship with their Heavenly Father. It is a small, but powerful, book full of important wisdom for Christians today on how to maintain a healthy relationship with God!
PRAYER HUDDLE:
If you’re volunteering on a Sunday morning, whether its greeting, HopeKids!, in the sound booth, etc., please join us for a team prayer huddle! We want to gather together everyone who is serving to pray for the services. Meet at 8:40 in the GoZone!
SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER:
Anyone can join us Sunday mornings at 8:30 in Pastor Mark’s office to pray for that morning’s services. Contact Bob Baumiester for more information (rbaumiester@gmail.com).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
For the month of August, we averaged $8583 per week bringing our annual weekly average down to $9420. Both of these amounts remain significantly below our target of $9950. As we’ve learned from 2 Corinthians, God’s people give faithfully, sacrificially, and generously to the Lord’s work. So let’s pray together that the Lord will move in all of our church family to provide all the funding the church needs to operate and serve people well. Our weekly giving target for Building Fund is $2000. This month we averaged $369 per week. Our average weekly giving since we began the Building Fund in May is $585 per week. As we look at the growth we’ve seen this year and the upcoming opportunities to grow in the fall, we are praying for the Lord’s provision for the space required to serve all that God brings our way.SMALL GROUPS: Get Connected!
This past Sunday, Pastor Mark taught about the importance of connection, and how God uses community with each other to bring us salvation and battle against loneliness! One of the most vital ways we believe you can be connected here at Hope is through a Small Group. To explore our church-based groups, join a home-based group, or host your own group visit our website here. Our first Small Group study sheet will be available this Sunday!
MEN’S BREAKFAST: September 14th
All men post high school are invited to join us on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 8:00-9:30 for delicious free breakfast, fellowship, and bible study.
HOPE HARVEST: Sign-up this Sunday!
One of the ways we share the goodness of God is through fun and celebration! Let’s gather together for our second annual Hope Harvest on Saturday, October 19th from 3:00-6:00! Mark your calendar now for this FREE fall family event including giveaways, contests, live music, food and drinks – plus this year we’re also doing pony rides! In order to make this awesome event possible, we need our Hopers to team together and help us run our food and activity booths. We also have items needed for donation. Sign-ups will be held at the back of the auditorium on Sunday, September 15th following both services, so be sure to swing by and put your name down on a spot (or two!) For general inquires, you can contact Emily DiLorenzo.
WOMEN OF HOPE: September 16th Kickoff
All women post-high school and up are invited to join us on the 1st & 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 for a time of fellowship, study, and prayer. We’re excited to launch of our fall series after summer hiatus and spend time with our sisters in Christ! Bring your bible and a friend!
SEPTEMBER COLLECTION: Sign-up to help pack!
We’re excited to announce our hygiene donation drive for the GWCM Food Pantry! Throughout September, we are collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, disposable razors, deodorant, and dental floss. Please make sure items are full sized not travel size. These items need to be no taller than 10 inches in height. At the end of the month, we will host a packing event at Hope, where we will assemble these items. Your donations and participation can make a significant impact this Christmas. Please drop off your items at donation bins located at the front and back entrances. We also need people to join us for the “packing and pizza” event on Sunday, September 29th at 12:00 in the GoZone. If you’re available to help package these items for GWCM, sign-up in the lobby! Contact Jodi Jacoby for any questions.
LADIES BLACK & WHITE NIGHT:
Who doesn’t love a fun theme night with friends? Come out and join us for our next ladies event, “Black & White” Night on Friday, September 27th from 7:00-9:00 here at Hope. We’ll enjoy some black & white desserts, coffee, and cold drinks too! Of course, we’ll have some fun games and a short devotion on living in harmony with like-minded friends and especially with friends who might think differently than we do. For an extra fun time, feel free to get fancy in black, white, or both! Please sign up in the front foyer and let us know you’re coming and if you’d like to bring a sweet snack, check out the sign up sheet with some black & white ideas! Contact Dana Ott with any questions.
HOPE YOUTH OC RETREAT: Food Donations Needed!
Every year Hope Youth receives financial donations from Hopers like you that make a big impact on our teens. Such donations have allowed students to attend our annual Ocean City Weekend retreat who otherwise may not have the opportunity – such a blessing! This year Hope Youth wanted to make a different kind of request to those who are eager and willing to help. We are looking for food donations to help feed the teens for every meal during the trip. Though buying a box of pasta or pop tarts may seem like a small thing, these kinds of donations help us to keep the retreat cost low so more students can experience the power of a weekend with God! Take a look at the list of items here and please consider donating whatever God puts on your heart! Also, please do not hesitate to reach out to Pastor Dan for any questions regarding drop off and timing as some items may be perishable. Donations are due back by September 25th.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR:
Calling all singers – Christmas Choir is back!! It’s been a few years so we’re super excited for a choral presentation on December 15th at both Sunday services! Whether you’ve been part of our Christmas choir in the past, or you are brand new to Hope, we would love for you to join us this holiday season as we prepare a beautiful cantata called “The Story.” With songs written by Nichole Nordeman, and based off of a book by Max Lucado, this cantata shares more than just the story of Jesus’ birth, but the extraordinary story of God’s redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation. Choir rehearsals will be on Saturday nights, from 7:00-8:30pm starting on October 13th and we’re planning to have childcare provided for anyone who needs it. We need enough people to sign up and commit to this 8-week rehearsal schedule in order to move forward – so please sign up today to be a part of this fun but powerful ministry opportunity! See Dana Ott with any questions or contact her for more information.
FALL SCHEDULE: September 17th Kickoff
The Young Adults ministry at Hope is a group of post-high school through their twenties adults truly seeking to explore life, engage culture, and empower change while remaining ground in the Word of God. We’ll kickoff our fall series on Tuesday, September 17th at 7:00p and meet on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month from there. Join us as we start a new study in the book of James! And as always, we’ll have plenty of snacks and fun fellowship at each meeting!For any questions about Hope’s Young Adults contact Brian & Wendy Ball at: briwensean@aol.com
HOPE YOUTH
HOPE YOUTH: Sundays from 6:00-8:00P
All teens (6th-12th) are invited to join us every Sunday from 6-8PM for youth group! This year Hope Youth is diving deeper into God’s Word than ever before by exploring the repeated theme of water throughout Scripture! While we often take water for granted it was vital for people who lived during Bible times. As such it’s no surprise that Scripture is flooded with the theme of water, but how did the Biblical authors use this symbol and what does it mean for us today? Hope Youth will answer these questions and more through our year long theme called Living Water.
HOPE YOUTH ON WEDNESDAY:
If you’ve ever imagined that the Prophet Jonah sat and prayed on the tongue of giant whale, then this series is for you. At Hope Youth On Wednesday students will be taking an honest look at the famous Sunday School story and exploring what really happened, and crucially, how readers are meant to respond. Leave your picture bibles at home and get ready to get into the nitty-gritty of The Book of Jonah.
OCEAN CITY RETREAT: September 27th-29th
Nothing says the start of a new school year quite like the annual Ocean City weekend retreat. And while the new school years *feels* like a million miles away it’s closer than you think! Don’t waste a second in signing-up and being a part of this amazing retreat. It’s a great opportunity for our high school students to connect with other teens, grow deeper in their relationship with God, and kick-off the school year with a bang! We hope that your high schoolers (9th-12th grades) will join us for this great event, bring a friend, and make it a retreat to remember! Click here to register!
HOPE YOUTH CALENDAR:
Parents, stay up to date with everything happening on our calendar here!
JOIN OUR TEXT THREAD:
Stay in the loop for all of the most important notifications! Text “”hopeyouth” to (856) 420-6078 to start receiving updates this week!
For any questions about Hope Youth contact Pastor Dan at: danlein@hopechristianfellowship.org
HOPE KIDS
SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAMS:
We offer childcare and classes from our littlest Hopers to our 5th graders every Sunday morning at both services. Each classroom is staffed with friendly, enthusiastic, background-checked team members to ensure your child’s safety. Our WonderZone! serves our youngest children from infants through Pre-K, who are full of wonder about who God is! K-5th graders gather in the GoZone! where we GO for God, GO for growth and GO forever.
HOPEKIDS! HANGOUT: Sundays from 6:00-8:00P
All K-5th graders are invited to attend HopeKids! Hangout on Sunday nights from 6-8PM! This program is designed to give our elementary schoolers space for extra fellowship, Bible study, and exciting games/activities with other believers their age. We’ll be digging deep into the Bible by continuing through our series “The Heart of God” and discovering what Scripture teaches us about the character and nature of our Creator!
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS IN GOZONE:
1st-5th graders will love our fun and exciting midweek program, where we review Sunday morning’s Bible story with new videos, new games, new small group activities, and a WEEKLY Scripture Memory Verse Challenge! You don’t want your elementary schooler to miss out on this weekly opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the Bible and fellowship with other HopeKids!
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS IN WONDERZONE:
Our Nursery team is excited to love on your little ones (0-2), while our Preschool team dives back in with our Alphabet Scripture Memory study! Our 3-5 year olds will pick up where we left off, learning a new Bible Verse each week and earning letters to add to their Scripture Sashes from the spring! Your kids will want to join us each Wednesday night to plant God’s Word in their hearts, earn all of their letters, build a foundation of faith, and even have a chance to connect with our Elementary kids every week!
For any questions about HopeKids! Ministry contact us at: kids@hopechristianfellowship.org
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