It’s that time of year when Christmas music seems to follow us everywhere. In the car, in the grocery stores, and of course the malls! One in particular must be a favorite for social media; I felt like I couldn’t get away from it lol. Maybe you’ve been hearing it too – “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” And I thought to myself, is it? Because for some people, this season doesn’t feel light and joyful. It feels tender. It feels different than it used to. You might be missing someone you love, or carrying a quiet sadness that doesn’t disappear just because the calendar says Christmas. And that’s okay to admit. But here’s the truth I don’t want us to miss. Even in the middle of heartache, this still is the most wonderful time of the year. Not because everything is perfect. But because this is the season when we celebrate the greatest Gift ever given. God stepping out of eternity and into our broken world, wrapped in humility and love, in order to be with us. The Bible reminds us of that promise over and over. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT) and “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.” (Isaiah 41:10) and one more: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Christmas isn’t a celebration of how good life is. It’s a celebration of how good our God is. It’s the reminder that even in our loneliness, our grief, and in seasons that feel heavy, we are not alone. He came for us. He is Emmanuel, God with us. So if your heart feels a little tender this season, I hope you remember this: the most wonderful part of Christmas isn’t the noise or the decorations or even the memories. It’s the unchanging truth that God came near, and He is still near today.
Merry Christmas my friends! ~ Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
Strong and Courageous
(Joshua 1:1-9, 16-18)
Whoever said that God never gives you more than you can handle has clearly never read the Bible before. God’s story is full of situations where his people are faced with overwhelming odds, and if we are honest, our lives mirror that pattern. Whatever challenge or calling God has placed in your life it is all too easy to feel unprepared and unqualified. We can compare ourselves to others or look at our past mistakes, and before too long the hill God gave us to climb may as well be Mount Everest. In the book of Joshua though we find good company. Not only does Joshua have big sandals to fill after the death of Moses, he also has to do something he has never done before, invade and conquer the land of Canaan. When God gives this quest to Joshua, however, he does not equip him with great battle plans, a massive army, or a secret weapon. Instead, God calls Joshua to be strong and courageous. This week we will look into how God calls Joshua to courage and what we can learn about God and our own callings in the process.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY: On Hiatus
Our Wednesday evening programs are on break for the month of December.
Starting January 7th, Pastor Mark will be leading a new series, “Find Rest.” We all know the frustration of misplacing something and not being able to find it. We try to remember the last time we saw it, but it seems like every time we look somewhere new, it just isn’t there. Most of us live our lives chasing a thing that our soul needs, but that seems impossibly lost. We all need rest. In fact, Jesus tells us that we are called to it and that He gives it to us when we come to Him. So why do so many of us struggle to find it? Let’s see what may be stopping us from the kind of renewing rest that Jesus gives.
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
A daily essential in any believer’s walk with God is time in His word. That’s why Hope has curated two special bible reading plans for you to choose from to start in the new year! You can grab our “Bible In A Year” plan or pick up one of our bookmarks that will give you a sampling of the entire bible over the course of 2 years. All options are available at the Connection Center!
LOST & FOUND:
Our lost and found bin is overflowing! Swing by the back of the auditorium next to the Production Booth to pick up any missing items. At the end of the month any unclaimed belongings will be donated. Thanks!
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES: Today!
This year are 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!
NEW TO HOPE RECEPTION:
If you are new to Hope within the past six months, our leadership and staff would love to get to know you more! Stop by our kitchen in-between services on Sunday, January 11th for a sweet treat and a hot cup of coffee. Bring your family, we can’t wait to meet them!
YOUNG ADULTS
We are currently on hiatus for the month of December. Stay tuned for details on our January kickoff!
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!
Follow us on Instagram here!
For any questions about Hope’s Young Adults contact Mark & Dana Ott.
HOPE YOUTH
We are currently on hiatus for the month of December. Stay tuned for details on our January kickoff!
All 6th through 12th graders are invited to join us on Sundays from 6-8pm for games, bible study, worship, and more!
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!
PAJAMA DAY: December 28th
All of our HopeKids! children and volunteers are invited to join us for Pajama Day on Sunday, December 28th. Wear your favorite jammies and let’s celebrate the end of the year together!
MOVE-UP SUNDAY:
Our 6th graders will officially move up into the main auditorium for Sunday morning services on January 4th! It has been our joy to serve these incredible kids. We’re excited for all the fun they’ll have as they get connected in Hope Youth, and grow deeper in their faith in the main service!
WONDERZONE SNOWFLAKE SPECTACULAR:
Sign-up to be a part of the fun happening on Saturday, January 17th from 10:30am-noon for our first ever WonderZone Snowflake Spectacular – a celebration for preschoolers (infants through Pre-K) and their parents! We’ll make snowflake crafts, play games, sing preschool worship songs, hear a snowy story, and more!! We can’t wait to see you and your preschooler(s) there!
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.
Check out our social media (and more) here!
For any questions about HopeKids! Ministry contact us at: kids@hopechristianfellowship.org
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