What do you think about social media? Do you sometimes feel your life is lacking after reading everyone’s ‘interesting/happy/accomplished’ posts? Not to mention checking out the pictures of all the fun places they go, the beautiful children they have, and the delicious food they are eating! I’m not at all against it. I’m a regular user; I like how it keeps me feeling connected to friends and family. But measuring your life by social media’s standards is truly an unfair comparison. You know people only post the best parts of their lives, right? I can attest from personal experience that looking at someone’s page while knowing what’s actually going on in their real life can present a very different picture. Let’s look at what God’s Word says about this kind of comparison. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7) And how about this gem from Matthew condemning the Pharisees: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. (Matthew 23:27) It’s pretty clear that we are not to judge by outside appearances. You never truly know what’s going on in a person’s life or heart. Just something to think about the next time you gaze longingly at another’s page and feel the tug that says “I’m just not as good/fun/pretty/interesting, etc.” Remember that you are only seeing the outward appearance; no idea about what’s happening on the inside!
Thankful that God sees inside our hearts and loves us anyway! ~ Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
Temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13)
If you’ve ever started a diet, you know that there are so many messages about food – especially food you shouldn’t eat – that saturate your daily life. You are helpfully reminded that the local fast food restaurant has a sale on their quick lunches. The donut stand near your workplace is always ready to serve. And the evening munchies sneak up on you every night. Temptation is a battle that we know well. Spiritually, it is very much the same. We are pulled by our desires into choices that we should never make. God promises a way to escape, but how can we find it. And how can we WANT to find it? Jesus underwent severe temptation to show us the way. As we read about His experience, we can take heart in the battles we face with temptation!
NIGHT OF WORSHIP: Next Wednesday!
Please join us on Wednesday, June 25th at 7:00pm for a Night of Worship as we lift our voices and proclaim the power, peace, and freedom that is only found in the name of Jesus! This night will be filled with songs and scriptures that encourage us to look above the discouragements and burdens of this life and instead find answers, power, and hope in His mighty name. We’ll have coffee & donuts beginning at 6:30pm and WonderZone classes for our infants through preschoolers will be provided. Can’t wait to worship with you!
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
Help Kids Alley equip children for a successful school year by donating new backpacks and school supplies for their annual “Back to School Rally.” This event provides students from underserved families in Camden County with essential tools like notebooks, pencils, crayons, and more—each child receives a fully stocked backpack to start the year with confidence! We will be collecting donations throughout the month of June. You can find the full list of items needed here. Donation bins will be located in the front lobby and at the back doors of the church. Every contribution helps Kids Alley empower children with the resources they need to thrive academically and personally. Thank you for being a part of this effort to make a lasting impact!
JOIN OUR PARKING TEAM:
We’re looking for friendly faces who want the chance to be the FIRST Hopers to say hello to folks on a Sunday morning. Our parking team greets everyone who comes out to church and helps direct people to available spaces. For those who are coming out to Hope for the very first time, this team is the first “line of defense” in welcoming them and helping ease their anxiety! It’s a special opportunity and makes a big impact for a small commitment. If you are available to join our crew, please contact team lead Mark Buzby.
ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC: This Sunday!
Join us at 3:00 for yard games, an epic waterslide, bounce house, and more fun outdoor activities for the whole family! Then we’ll have delicious FREE dinner at 5:00. (If you signed-up to bring food, make sure to arrive by 4:45 and bring it to the kitchen.) You don’t want to miss out on participating in this amazing tradition at Hope!
VBS DECORATING NIGHT: Tuesday!
It might seem hard to believe, but we’re just a little over a month away from VBS kickoff! We’ll be having our first decorating night next Tuesday, June 27th from 7:00-9:00pm. Everyone is welcome to join us as we start to prep decorations to make our church’s transformation complete!
SUPPORT YOUNG LIVES: Sponsor Anne Jefferson
Our very own Hoper, Anne Jefferson, is partnering with Young Lives – a ministry that is dedicated to introducing teen moms and expecting adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. They do this by building authentic relationships with teen parents ages 13-21 with children. This summer, Anne will be leading a group of young moms & their babies to Young Lives Summer Camp at Lake Champion for a week. This week is designed to give them the best week of their lives while creating space to encounter Jesus in a fun, adventurous, and distraction-free environment. To make this happen, Anne needs to raise $750 to cover one mom’s camp costs. This amount will allow her to spend an entire week investing in teen parents, sharing God’s love, and helping them take steps toward starting a relationship with Jesus. Would you consider partnering with Anne by making a donation to help her reach this goal? To contribute, contact Anne – any amount, big or small, would be a huge blessing! Most importantly, she would love your prayers as she prepares to bring the gospel to a generation of teen moms from Gloucester County who need the love of Jesus.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
JULY 21st-25th:
Our Preschool VBS for potty-trained 3-5 year olds takes place in the mornings (9:30am-12:00pm). Our Elementary VBS for K-5th graders runs in the evenings (6:00pm-8:30pm).
VBS CHILD REGISTRATION:
Can you believe that summer is almost here? VBS season is NOW, so get ready for an exciting adventure in the great outdoors! This year’s VBS theme is TRUE NORTH, and where you will discover how you can trust Jesus in a wild world! Your child will participate in memorable Bible-learning activities, sing catchy songs, and learn amazing lessons about how putting your trust in Jesus will help you navigate all that life throws at you. It will be an unforgettable week celebrating God with one-of-a-kind Bible Adventures, collecting Bible Memory Buddies, and exploring the wonders of God’s creation. Your family won’t want to miss it, so register now!
VBS VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION:
We’re looking for prep night helpers, registration team members, church decorating help, and an energetic group of crew leaders and station helpers who will connect with the kids every day one-on-one! To make this all happen, WE NEED YOU! Our Preschool VBS for our 3-5 year olds takes place in the mornings (9:30am-12:00pm) with volunteers needed each morning by 9:00am. Our Elementary VBS for our K-5th graders runs in the evenings (6:00pm-8:30pm) with volunteers needed each evening by 5:30pm. Come be a part of the fun – register now!
DONATION BOARD: Don’t forget to bring items to the kitchen!
As we plan and prepare to make an eternal impact in the lives of all who attend, we need support from people like YOU who are willing to donate items for the various activities, games, and decorations that will help inspire and energize the VBS experience! We have various options for items you can donate on the wall by the GoZone, next to the HopeKids! bulletin board—just pick an item, tear off the slip (feel free to take more than one!), and leave your donations in the HopeKids! donation baskets in the kitchen. Thank you for your support!
YOUNG ADULTS
Meets the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00P
Here at Hope, our Young Adult group provides a place to connect, serve, apply God’s Word to real life, and live in relationships with others. Hope’s Young Adults is a great way to grow your faith and find help to navigate the big decisions on the horizon. Open to anyone post high school through their 20s! And starting in May, all high school seniors are invited to join us!
JULY 1ST: Let’s Talk About Politics
We definitely live in a political world. And social media gets filled up with people who know what we should think. We can think that we know how everything should be and what everyone should think. At the same time, most people acknowledge that the political discussions in our country have not been helpful for quite some time. The polarization and conflict in the political realm has caused either gridlock or chaos. How should a believer interact with politics? And are there foundational ideas that help us navigate our role in the political sphere without sacrificing our hope, peace, or joy?
YOUNG ADULTS BBQ:
You’re invited to a Backyard BBQ & Swim Night at Pastor Mark and Dana’s house on Friday, July 18th at 5:00pm! We’ll grill burgers, hot dogs, and provide drinks and side dishes too. All you need to do is sign up and let us know you’re coming – if you can bring a dessert, there’s a spot to include that too. Be sure to throw in your bathing suit and towel and come ready for some backyard games, plenty of food, and the opportunity to hang out with each other! Ott home address is: 6 East Avenue, Clayton, NJ 08312. Contact Dana with any questions!
For any questions about Hope’s Young Adults contact Mark & Dana Ott.
HOPE YOUTH
POOL PARTY: July 11th
Summer is here and you know what that means; Hope Youth pool parties are back! Join us for the first of the season on Friday, July 11th from 3-6pm at 973 Johnson Road, Sicklerville for an afternoon of fun in the sun! We’ll have free grill food, plenty of snacks, a diving board, and of course a pool to jump into! The Hope Youth Pool Parties are a summer staple and you won’t want to miss out on the fun and fellowship that’s about to take place! Use the link to sign-up so we can get a head count for food and bring as many friends as possible!
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
HOPEKIDS!
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.
For any questions about HopeKids! Ministry contact us at: kids@hopechristianfellowship.org