Have you ever chased after something only to find out it wasn’t what you thought it would be? This could be a relationship, a job opportunity, or any sort of life decision that you were sure would bring you happiness. I did this in quite the literal sense. My husband and I pulled into our favorite diner during a rainstorm and jumped out of the car to make a quick run for it. I couldn’t figure out why he was running in front of me and, no matter how many times I called his name or yanked on his jacket, he just kept going! We got to the entrance where I discovered…it wasn’t HIM! Some poor man was running from me (aka the crazy lady trying to accost him) while my husband was still in the car laughing hysterically. Here he had been delayed by a sudden sneezing fit. Oh, the embarrassment!
Anyway, we often chase after things that we think will solve our problems, make us happy, give us a sense of worth, or otherwise take care of anything that’s wrong in our lives. However, the solution to all of these issues cannot be found in the things of this world. At best, they are temporary. At worst, they offer a false sense of security and satisfaction that the enemy is only too happy to allow us to rely on. We should be looking to the Lord our God and the things of His Kingdom to bring us true peace. “We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen last forever.” (2Corinthians 4:18 GWT) This doesn’t mean we don’t strive for better jobs, better relationships, better mental health for ourselves. It just means we know that God is the true Author of these things; our eternal security lies in Him. Knowing Him and trusting Him will get us much further than trying to chase after everything on our own, without seeking any wisdom through prayer or biblical counsel. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Now, if only He would have directed my path away from that random man in the diner parking lot!
Chasing after HIM…Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
Who is the Fool? (2 Cor. 11:16-33)
From different points of view, the same information can have dramatically different impacts. For example, a national election can bring results that cause some to feel euphoric and others to feel doomed. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he talks about their idea of foolishness versus his own understanding. He uses sarcasm quite a bit in these chapters, so if you’re fluent in that language, these passages are easy to relate to. But what he says is that they love to listen to people who are actually fools while calling Paul a fool for his devotion to the cause of the Gospel. Paul’s example is challenging to us all. In order to live anything like he did, we have to grapple with our own ideas of what is wise and foolish and we would have to leave behind what seems wise to this world. Paul’s bragging here is what he labels as foolish, but he needs to help the Corinthians open their eyes to the ways that their ‘spiritual conversations’ with these new leaders have actually dragged them into foolishness. If we can learn from this, it can help us from believing we are being wise while we are actually turning into fools.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY: On Hiatus
Our Wednesday night studies are on hiatus for the months of November and December, but make sure to check out the announcements below to see the other Wednesday evening events we have planned!
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
We’re asking every Hoper to join us in prayer. James 4:2 says “You do not have because you do not ask God.” We know that everyone is struggling financially. Our church is no exception. So let’s pray that God will pour out His providence for our expenses and our unmet needs. Please partner with us by asking the Lord to increase our financial resources in the coming months so that we can continue to minister effectively and begin to address some of our unfilled needs.
2025 BUDGET & BUSINESS MEETING:
Our proposed budget for 2025 is now available in the lobby. Please pick-up a copy to review, and direct any questions you have to Pastor Mark or our Leadership Team. Voting for the budget will take place at our Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, November 24th following the second service. All Hopers are welcome to attend, but only partners will be able to vote.
BAPTISM SERVICE: Tonight!
Join us for one of the most special services of the year! You will be moved and encouraged as you hear the testimonies of fellow Hopers. Come out and support your brothers & sisters in Christ as they make this public declaration of faith! HopeKids! will have programs for our infants through preschoolers; GoZone students can sit with their families for this service! We’ll have hot coffee & donuts ready at 6:30P, and the service will begin at 7:00P.
DIRECTORY DAY: This Sunday!
Did you know that Hope has an online directory where you can access the contact information of other Hopers? Our directory is password protected and available to Hopers only. This tool is a great way to stay connected to one another – there’s even a mobile app! To be a part, join us on Sunday, November 17th for Directory Day. We will be registering new folks in the kitchen after each service. You’ll even get your photo taken for the site! Any questions, contact Emily DiLorenzo.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: Due Back Sunday!
It’s that time of year again! Join us in spreading joy and hope across the globe by participating in Operation Christmas Child. Let’s make a difference this Christmas—grab a shoebox and fill it with love this week! Due back on Sunday.
WOMEN OF HOPE: November 18th
Join us for our last meeting before we take a December hiatus and enjoy the holiday season! We’ll be meeting on Monday, November 18th at 6:30 to discuss the story of Hannah. Bring your bible and a friend! Open to all women post high school and up. Contact Mary LeBeau with any questions.
IRON MEN: November 18th
All fathers of children up through high school age are invited to join this small group where we can challenge, explore, and sharpen each other. We are currently studying the book “The Jesus Style”. We will challenge each other in biblical principles to become better leaders in our homes, here at Hope, at our work, and throughout all other aspects of our daily lives all while perusing growth in relationship with God. No need to sign-up, just show up! We meet the 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month at 7:00pm. If you have questions, please contact Bob Esser (856-889-7939) or Chris James (856) 693-9061).
LEADERSHIP AMA: November 20th
Have you ever wondered why a certain decision was made at Hope or had questions you wanted to ask about our direction? Whether you are an official partner or simply a Hoper, we’d love to invite you to join us for a conversation with our Leadership Team on Wednesday, November 20th at 7:00P. Our entire Leadership Team is planning to be there to answer any questions you may have. We’ll do it in a public format, and we’ll answer what we can to the best of our knowledge and without breaking any confidences. We may have to have follow-up conversations afterwards to give more specifics, or to come back with answers after we research a little, but we’ll do our best to use that evening wisely for all who attend. There’s always an invitation to “ask us anything,” but we set this night aside to do that as a large group. Please be a part of this conversation as the Lord continues to lead Hope forward into the coming year.
LADIES CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA:
Christmas is just around the corner, so mark your calendars now and save the date for Friday, December 6th at 6:30pm. All ladies (post high-school and up) are invited to our “Think Pink Christmas” Extravaganza and Ornament Exchange! We’re so excited for this opportunity for our ladies to get together for some holiday games, fun, food, and friendship! Please sign up in the front lobby and indicate if you’re able to bring a snack or dessert to share. Also, bring a wrapped Christmas tree ornament ($10 or less) for a fun exchange! See Dana Ott with any questions or reach her at danaott@hopechristianfellowship.org. Feel free to invite friends or family – the more the merrier!
CHRISTMAS AT HOPE:
Mark your calendars for the special services we have planned for the month of December! And be sure to share our social media post and pick up a card from the lobby to invite out your friends and family!
- December 1st: Morning of Worship
- December 8th: WonderZone Christmas Program
- December 15th: Christmas Cantata, “The Story”
- December 22nd: GoZone Christmas Program
- Candlelit Christmas Eve Services at 3:30p, 5:00p, 6:30p
YOUNG ADULTS
FALL SCHEDULE: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00P
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. 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! Tired, exhausted, stressed-out, afraid? Peace can be hard to come by in the lightning quick pace of teen life, but God has a plan that not only provides peace but also guides us in holding on to it when life gets tough. Join us in our new series, Quiet Waters, as we explore God’s plan for peace through the lens of Psalm 23 on Sunday evenings.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NERF WAR: This Saturday!
Duck, dodge, and blast your way to victory on Saturday, November 16th at our Middle School Hope Youth Nerf War! Invite a friend and join us for an afternoon of fun, pizza, and prizes! All students from 6-8th grade are invited, even if they’ve never been to a youth group before! Event starts at 12:45pm and ends at 2:30. Don’t miss out! The event is free but we still need you to Sign-up here so we can get an accurate head count for the event!
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.
WONDERZONE JINGLE JAM:
As we continue gearing up for the Christmas season, we’re excited to be hosting our second annual Jingle Jam event for our WonderZone children and their families! Save the date for this special event on Saturday, December 14th from 10:30am-noon. We’ll build gingerbread houses, make Christmas crafts, hear the real Christmas story, enjoy a hot drinks bar, and even take pictures with Santa! Sign your preschooler up today! Contact Kara May for more information.
GOZONE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM:
It’s time for Christmas in the GoZone! Our Christmas Program is Jingle Bell Beach, an exciting musical about a beach Christmas singing competition where the competitors end up learning the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus! The program is going to be here before you know it, so mark your calendar for December 22nd at both services! Program practices are officially getting started, so look out for the parent info letter and make sure your kiddos start listening to their songs. Click here to access the GoZone Christmas music! If you have any questions, reach out to Pastor Ryan.
WONDERZONE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM:
This year, our little ones will share the good news and celebrate by putting on an “Incredible, Gigantic, Humongous VeggieTales Christmas Show!” Practices will continue every Sunday morning through Dec. 1st. Be sure to have your little ones in their regular Sunday morning classroom on time and ready to go so they don’t miss out on practicing our songs and lines each week! Listen to the songs on Google Drive and watch Miss Kara’s Motion Videos on YouTube to practice at home today! Contact Kara May with any questions.
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!
For any questions about HopeKids! Ministry contact us at: kids@hopechristianfellowship.org