Human beings are created by God to crave connection, but our lives require so little of it anymore. We can order groceries. Do self-checkout. Text instead of talk. Doorstep delivery. Work online. We can get through days without really needing another human. But God created us to be people who live life with others. In fact, God Himself is relational. Look at Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, Let US make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness…..” We have the Trinity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 2:18 we see the recognition that “It is not good for man to be alone,” leading to the creation of Eve. Now, I love to be alone. I don’t mind it one bit. However, deep in my heart I know that God’s design for me and you is connection and fellowship with one another. Some of us require more, some a little less. But we do need it in order to accomplish what’s laid out for us in Scripture. We are called to support each other and to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ”. (Galatians 6:2) We need to build one another up. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) And one last recommendation pointing us towards encouragement and fellowship is found in Hebrews 10:24-25. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near”. Bottom line? Don’t let the conveniences and efficiency of today’s world keep us from living our lives as God intended. After all, He created us and He knows what is best for us.
Created with a purpose ~ Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
Role Reversal – A Word from Jim Jefferson
(Matthew 6:19-21, Mark 10:45, Philipians 2:5-8)
In so many parts of our lives, titles are given to define roles, assign responsibilities, and maintain a sense of order. Navigating life and the many lanes that we operate in can feel overwhelming, whether it be with family, friends, work, church, or even in our neighborhood. Jesus, by his life, gave us a road map on how to live a life that is worthy of our calling, in whatever space we occupy. Through our time in the Word together, let’s see how we can honor the Lord in our walk through this life.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY:
Pastor Mark is continuing in the 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. Join us at 6:30P for coffee & donuts, and 7:00P for study. (HopeKids! Programs will be provided for infants through 5th grade, and Hope Youth will meet for 6th-12th grades.)
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
Women of Hope is continuing in their video series by Lisa Harper called “Lyrics of Life – A Psalm for Every Situation.” Join us Monday, March 2nd from 6:30-8:00pm for a time of study, prayer and fellowship. Even if you have never been out to Women of Hope before, you are more than welcome to hop in at anytime! This group is open to women who are post-high school and up. For any questions, contact Mary LeBeau.
NEW TO HOPE RECEPTION:
If you’re new to Hope within the past six months, our elders and staff would like to get to know you better! Please join us on Sunday, March 8th in between services in the kitchen. No need to sign-up, just show up! We’ll have hot coffee and some sweet treats to share. Bring your family and let’s chat!
GALA FOR GALS: Sign-up Now!
Get ready to walk the red carpet at our first ever Gala for Gals on Friday, March 13th at 7:00pm! We’ll have lots of fancy treats & desserts, a red-carpet, a photobooth for pics with friends, and of course some fun games and prizes! In a world that elevates the glitz and glamour of the finished product, we often miss what is happening “Behind the Scenes.” So, we’ll take some time to reflect on the many ways God is at work in our lives even when we don’t see it. Feel free to get a little fancy but there’s no required dress code – just come ready for a great night! Please sign-up at Connection Center so we can make sure to save you a spot! Our women’s events are for all women post-high school and up – see Dana Ott with any questions or for more information.
BAPTISM SERVICE:
Baptism is an important symbolic opportunity to declare your testimony, and decision to follow Christ, in front of the church body! We’d love you to participate if this is something you’ve yet to do in your journey of faith. The baptism service will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at 7:00. To participate, you’ll need to attend two classes – each will be held after the second service on Sundays March 15th & 22nd. Please sign-up at Connection Center and be sure to grab a book! Any questions can be directed to Pastor Mark.
SPRING CLEANING:
We need all hands on deck for our huge Spring Cleaning event on Saturday, March 21st at 9:00am, rain or shine! We will be working on cleaning projects, organizing projects, light maintenance work, and outside landscaping / cleanup. We could use every person who can come for an hour or two and stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of our church family. Sign up today at Connection Center!
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!
MUSIC: March 3rd
Music is everywhere. From movies to shows to commercials, it fills in the spaces around our stories. Many people put in earbuds and listen to music as a backing track for their lives. But should we be intentional about the music we listen to? The Bible talks pretty regularly about our thought life and our choices about what to ‘consume’ intellectually. We are gatekeepers of these inputs. So what should we keep out and what should we let in? And what kind of impact does our music diet have on the well-being of our souls?
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For any questions about Hope’s Young Adults contact Mark & Dana Ott.
HOPE YOUTH
All 6th through 12th graders are invited to join us on Sundays from 6-8pm for games, bible study, worship, and more!
HUNGRY FOR CHANGE: New Series
Giving to those in need is more than just a nice gesture and more than good deed, it is the outflow of a key teaching of Jesus, one he reiterates and models throughout the gospel of Luke. In this series, as we prepare our hearts for the Hungry for Change mission project, we will be exploring Jesus’ teachings to give to those in need, understanding what core aspect of Jesus’ mission that this action flows out of, and learning how we can apply it to our daily lives. Join us as we sit at the feet of Jesus and learn how we can be Hungry for Change on Sunday nights starting March 1st at 6pm.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS: Exodus, Our God Saves
Exodus begins with a genocide and only ramps up from there. The parting of the Red Sea, the 10 Plagues of Egypt, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Exodus and in our Hope Youth Wednesday Night Bible Study we will be diving so much deeper. As we read through the classic Exodus narrative we will be looking at what the story says about God, how we can apply it to our own lives, and see how the whole Exodus story points to a baby boy who would be born in Bethlehem. Join us on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8pm for our new series “Exodus, Our God Saves.”
HUNGRY FOR CHANGE: Missions Event
Hope Youth is serving Woodbury this Spring with its “Hungry for Change” mission project! Similar to years past, Hope Youth will be collecting sponsorships and dry goods as they prepare their hearts and minds for an overnight fast, this year being held on April 17th – 18th. There are two twists this year, as for the first time ever we will be partnering with other local churches in the area, as well as donating all of our proceeds to Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries! All students from grades 6th-12th are invited to be a part of this powerful mission seeking to serve those in need in our own backyard! Don’t miss out on the fun and fellowship as we serve God and Woodbury. Students can learn more and sign-up here!
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.
WEDNESDAY EVENING PROGRAMS:
Our WonderZone and GoZone teams are excited to continue sharing Jesus with all of our infants-5th graders alongside of our adult Bible Study on Wednesday nights! Classes open at 6:45pm for all of our HopeKids! Our team can’t wait to continue cultivating relationships, diving into Scripture, and establishing a foundation of faith with all of our little ones!
WONDERZONE EASTER JAM:
Our annual WonderZone Easter Jam event is coming up on Saturday, March 28th from 10:00am-Noon! We are so egg-cited to welcome all of our WonderZone-aged children (infants-PreK) and their grownups for songs, games, crafts, the Easter story, the Easter Bunny — and even an outdoor Easter egg hunt (weather-permitting)! You won’t want to miss the fun!! Click here to sign-up today!
GOZONE EASTER JAM:
This year, we will be hosting all of our elementary schoolers (K-5th graders) and their grownups for an egg-stra special GoZone Easter Jam on Saturday, March 28th from 2:00-4:00pm! We’ll have music, games, crafts, and some fun competition as we dig into the story of how Jesus died for us and the good news of His resurrection! Sign up for the fun here!
Check out our social media (and more) here!
For any questions about HopeKids! Ministry contact us at: kids@hopechristianfellowship.org
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