Have you ever been called by God to do something which you felt unqualified to do? I know I have. In fact, most times the calling comes with doubt and some anxiety on my part! Isaiah received just such a calling. God was handing him a sobering assignment – preach to people who will hear but not understand, see but not perceive. He didn’t know every detail (horrors), but he know Who was calling him. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) I would love to say that I respond like Isaiah, bold and brave, hand raised high in the air. But if I’m being honest, I’m a lot more like Moses. “But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13) Moses said exactly what many of us are thinking. He doubted his ability, questioned his qualifications, and pointed out all his flaws as if God had somehow overlooked them. But God chooses who He chooses. Our insecurities don’t surprise Him, and our excuses don’t slow Him down. When He calls, He already knows what He’ll supply. Our heavenly Father will guide us, correct us as needed, and empower us in spite of ourselves. He isn’t looking for perfection; He’s looking for willingness. If you’re anything like me, you may not feel qualified. You may be worried you’ll mess up. You may think someone else would do it better. But the Lord equips those He calls, and He loves to work through ordinary people who are simply willing to trust Him. May we be courageous enough to step forward in faith, even when we feel uncertain, with our excuses quieted and our fears calmed.
“God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called” ~ Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
Each year, the Sunday before Thanksgiving is a special service for us. We set aside this service to worship and praise our wonderful Savior. And then we give our church family an opportunity to give thanks. People will share what God has done or just give thanks. It is a service that is precious to our church family and we hope you will join us for all of it. Don’t miss one moment of this kickoff to our week of Thanksgiving!
LEADERSHIP AMA: Tonight!
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. 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. Join us at 6:30 for coffee, donuts, and fellowship before we dive into discussion at 7:00. We will have HopeKids! Programs for all children 0-5th grade.
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
Thank you to everyone who picked up a shoebox! Now we just need them to return to Hope! The final deadline to collect shoeboxes is this Sunday, November 23rd. Please bring them to the lobby. We want every child possible to receive this gift!
HOPE SHARE:
Did you know we have a private Facebook group for Hopers only to share gently used items and free services? Hope Share is a place to serve each other by offering furniture, toys, clothes, etc. to our church family before tossing it or giving it away elsewhere. To join, simply click here!
NEW TO HOPE RECEPTION:
If you are new to Hope within the past six months, our staff and leadership would love to get to know you better. Stop by the kitchen in between services on Sunday, November 30th for a sweet treat and hot beverage! Bring your family and we’ll see you then!
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING:
Our proposed 2026 budget is now available at the Connection Center. Voting for the budget will take place at our Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, November 30th following the second service. All Hopers are welcome to attend, but only partners will be able to vote. Please join us as we discuss the proposed budget as well as our vision for 2026. (We will have ballot box out for those who are unable to stay for the meeting.) For questions about the budget, please contact our Leadership Team.
WOMEN OF HOPE:
Our last meeting of the year is coming up on December 1st at 6:30pm and we’re excited to kick off the month with a Christmas gathering. We’ll have a devotional to get us in the holiday spirit, some fellowship, and party snacks too. Coffee and other hot & cold drinks will be provided, but if you’d like to bring a snack or dessert to share with the group, that would be great! We’ll also have some fun with a “white elephant” gift exchange, so jump in by bringing a wrapped gift under $10. Invite a friend to come along and if you have any questions, reach out to Mary LeBeau. Open to all ladies post high school and up.
ANNUAL LADIES CHRISTMAS PARTY:
Christmas is just around the corner, so mark your calendars now and save the date for Friday, December 12th at 6:30pm. All ladies (post high-school and up) are invited to our “Winter Wonderland” Party & Ornament Exchange! We’re so excited for this opportunity for our ladies to get together for some holiday games, fun, food, and an encouraging word for every season, even the winter blues! Please sign up at Connection Center 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! This year we are collecting donations of winter scarves, hats, and gloves/mittens to take to Jeannette’s Closet (which is part of the GWCM) giving out clothes to those in need. If you want to donate, please bring any of the above for women, men, and children! Dana Ott with any questions. Feel free to invite friends or family – the more the merrier!
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES:
It might be hard to believe, but Christmas Eve is only 5 weeks away! This year we will be offering two identical services at 3:30P & 5:00P. We’ll have scripture reading, special music, and candle lighting. There will be HopeKids! Programs for our WonderZone (ages 0-5.) We’ll also have hot coffee ready! This year’s Christmas Eve offering will be designated to go to Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries in support of the increasing need in our community. Invite your family and friends and join us for one of these special services!
YOUNG ADULTS
If you are post high school through your 20s, our Young Adult group provides a place to connect, 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. We meet the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00P in the GoZone!
DECEMBER 2nd: Christmas Party
Come out for our “Dip-fest” Christmas Party! We’ll be meeting for a fun night to kick off the holiday season with some Christmas games, snacks, and hanging out with friends. You’re invited to bring a yummy ‘dip’ to share with the group – think chips & salsa, apples & caramel, pretzels & cheese dip, veggies & ranch, or a favorite of yours. Extra points if you wear a Christmas sweater, sweatshirt, or jammies! Feel free to invite your friends and join us at our last YA meeting of 2025 – see you there!
Follow us on Instagram here!
For any questions about Hope’s Young Adults contact Mark & Dana Ott.
HOPE YOUTH
HOPE YOUTH:
All 6th through 12th graders are invited to join us on Sundays from 6-8pm for games, bible study, worship, and more!
CURRENT SERIES: Fight Like Heaven
It is common practice in our current culture to win arguments at any cost. Whether that be by twisting facts to meet your message or hurting others with the truth even Christians can get dragged into the fray when emotions are high on heated topics. That’s why Hope Youth is diving into a series on Conflict Resolution and learning how the Bible teaches us to defend our faith with truth and love. Rather than diving into every controversial topic, we’ll be taking an in depth look at how we can disagree well, encourage others to see the truth of Scripture, and navigate arguments with grace and patience.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NERF WAR: This Saturday!
Back by popular demand, Hope Youth will be hosting another Nerf War just for Middle School students! All students from 6th-8th grade are invited for an afternoon of foam dart mayhem as we engage in tactical chaos, intense showdowns, and PIZZA! Got a friend who might be interested? Bring them along! This free and fun event is great ammunition for students to invite their friends and draw them to a place where they can encounter Jesus! It all happens Saturday, November 22nd from 1:00-3:00pm. Sign up here!
WINTER RETREAT:
Hope Youth is going on another retreat and we are inviting ALL STUDENTS! If you or someone you know is in 6th-12th grade they are invited to join us for our 2026 Winter Retreat at America’s Keswick happening January 23rd-25th! Their “Beyond the Weekend” retreat is a powerful weekend of worship, fellowship, and spiritual formation. With moving sessions, an environment of praise, tons of fun activities (like a volleyball tournament, an indoor swimming pool, video game competitions and so much MORE) it’s no wonder Beyond the Weekend is packed every year with youth groups from all over the tri-state area. Hope Youth is PUMPED to be a part of this awesome event and we want you to join us, so complete the permission slip and turn it in to Pastor Dan no later than December 14th! You can pay the $100 fee by cash, check, or PayPal. Spaces are filling up fast so don’t wait!
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!
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICES: Happening Now!
This year, our WonderZone will celebrate TWO separate Christmas programs with our Toddlers program for all 2-3 year olds on December 7th and our Preschool program for all 4-5 year olds on December 14th! Our GoZone program for all K-6th graders will be on December 21st. Practices are taking place in each of these classrooms during regular Sunday morning services, so be sure to have your kids in class and on time each week! For more information, click here for the Toddler Parent Letter, Pre-K Parent Letter, and GoZone Parent Letter. Additionally, your children can practice at home with all songs and motion videos here! If you have any questions, please contact Kara May.
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 ON WEDNESDAYS:
Our WonderZone teams can’t wait to snuggle and care for your infants (0-18m) in our Nursery 1 class, while our Nursery 2 team builds connections with your toddlers (18m-2yr) through lots of playtime on Wednesday nights! Our Preschoolers (3-5yrs) will continue our “Growing with God” study, designed to help preschoolers learn about the reality of God’s love through play and apply it in their daily lives! You won’t want to miss out on this awesome opportunity to prioritize and pour into the foundation of faith for your little ones — we hope to see you there!
GOZONE ON WEDNESDAYS:
The GoZone team is booming on Wednesday nights with our K-5th graders! Each week, we have a chance to review Sunday morning’s Bible lesson in a new way — new lesson videos, new games, and new small group activities will help to reinforce these important Bible truths! You don’t want your elementary kiddos to miss out on this opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the Bible and fellowship with other HopeKids!
Check out our social media (and more) here!
For any questions about HopeKids! Ministry contact us at: kids@hopechristianfellowship.org
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