Easter is my favorite holiday. As a believer, it has deep spiritual meaning for me. Don’t get me wrong; I love making an Easter basket filled with goodies, the warmer weather that often accompanies the holiday, and of course the adorable chicks and bunnies. But it’s the resurrection of our Lord and Savior that has the most impact on me. Easter is both the saddest and then most joyful time for Christians. The suffering that Jesus went through in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) and then the agony He endured on the cross is unimaginable. But the joy when the tomb was found empty! In fact, at a recent school pick up, my grandson hopped into the car and eagerly began telling me about the ‘nice ladies who went to Jesus’ tomb to take care of Him and found it empty’. (Don’t you just love that he called them nice ladies?!) “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” (Luke 24:1-3) The empty tomb is a powerful witness to the fact that Jesus was resurrected. It is a symbol of hope for believers. It may not be all cute and fluffy like the Easter bunny, but for me the empty tomb and the cross remain the true symbols of Easter.
The Tomb is Empty! ~ Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
Misunderstood Jesus (Mark 15:22-39)
Communicating with others is a challenge. They don’t think like you do and they don’t express themselves in your ways, so it can be hard to hear them and for them to hear you. Misunderstanding is at the root of so much of the conflict that happens in our lives. Mature people know how to backtrack and figure out where things got disconnected and misconstrued. As we celebrate Easter, we are going to celebrate together that Jesus is alive! But we’re also going to take a look at how badly those around at His crucifixion misunderstood what was happening. Maybe you think being a Christian is about power or about being rescued from problems. The amazing truth about Jesus’ death and resurrection is that it brings so much more to those who believe.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDIES: Beginning April 8th
Join us Wednesday nights at 6:30P for coffee & donuts, followed by bible study at 7:00P. HopeKids! Programs are provided for ages 0-5th Grade.
- Interpreting Scripture: In the month of April, Pastor Mark is going to take four Wednesday nights and teach on the process of properly understanding and interpreting the Bible. If you’ve struggled to understand what the Bible says or if you’ve notice that people make it say all kinds of different things, this class will be an overview of the principles that guide faithful understanding of God’s Word. (Meeting in the GoZone.)
- Psalms: The Psalms have been a powerful tool for believers for thousands of years. Acting as the worship hymn book for the Israelites, the Psalter remains a powerful book of reflection, devotion, encouragement, and theology for believers today. Join us as Pastor Dan helps us unpack its poetic elements, learn its core message, and apply that message to our personal lives. (Meeting in the auditorium.)
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
This year we’ll be having three identical Easter Sunday services: 8:00a, 9:30a, and 11:00a. There will be coffee and free donuts before the start of each service, beginning at 7:45. We’ll also be having a Good Friday service at 7:00P with special music, scripture reading, and communion. HopeKids! programs will be available for all ages. Flyers are available in the lobby to spread the word and to invite your family and friends! You can also share our post on social media!
WOMEN OF HOPE: Next Monday
Women of Hope is continuing in their video series by Lisa Harper called “Lyrics of Life – A Psalm for Every Situation.” Join us Monday, April 6th 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 staff and leadership would love to get to know you! Please swing by the kitchen on Sunday, April 19th in between services for a hot drink and sweet treat. We can’t wait to meet you and your family!
LADIES CRAFTING EVENT:
Hey Ladies! You’re invited to come out and get your craft on! Please join us on Saturday morning, May 16th from 10:00-noon, where we’ll be creating a wood craft & painting project led by our own Kristina Mulcahy and her family-owned company, “Rooted in Crafts”. The cost for this event is $25 and you’ll need to sign up by May 1st to save your seat. In order for Kristina to plan for supplies and set up, our deadline date is firm and space is limited so don’t delay in filling out the form to register! We’ll have donuts, bagels, coffee, and breakfast snacks to munch on while we craft. You don’t need to bring a thing – just join us for the fun and fellowship! Remember our Women’s Events are open to anyone post-high school and up. Contact Dana Ott with any questions or for more information.
RUN FOR LIFE 5K:
We love to partner with Seeds of Hope Ministries, and one way you can support them is through their Run for Life 5K! They are planning their 6th Annual Run for a Life Run/Walk/Pray, that will not only raise funds to continue this vital ministry, but will serve to bring hope and practical resources to the families and loved ones of those caught in addiction. All proceeds benefit Seeds of Hope Ministries, Inc. The run takes place on Saturday, April 25th at 9:00am. For more information, and to register, click here.
FOOD PANTRY:
Did you know we have a food pantry here at Hope? If you are in need of groceries, stop by our kitchen after either service. We’d love to serve you! Our friendly volunteers are ready to help you bag up the food you need.
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!
MONEY: April 7th
In this stage of life, most of us don’t have a ton of money. We have plenty of financial stress and needs, but we’re either just starting out in our working career or we’re still borrowing a ton of money for our education. If we don’t choose to think differently, money (or the lack of it) seems to define the quality and stress level of our lives. But what if we are developing unhealthy ideas about money without even realizing it? The patterns we allow now will stick with us until we confront them and change them. So, let’s take a night and look at some of the basic ideas about money that we find in God’s Word. Maybe we will find that we don’t have to live like money has as much power as everyone seems to think.
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For any questions about Hope’s Young Adults contact Mark & Dana Ott.
HOPE YOUTH
(Please note there will be no Hope Youth on Easter Sunday)
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: Current 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.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS: Psalms
Hope Youth will be diving into something new on Wednesday nights as we join the adult Bible study for deep look into the Psalms. Ancient and powerful, the psalms have been a source of reflection, devotion, encouragement, and truth for believers for thousands of years. Join us Wednesdays at 7:00pm beginning April 8th as we take a look at a new psalm each week, unpacking its poetic elements, core message, and applying it to our personal lives.
HUNGRY FOR CHANGE: Missions Event
Hope Youth is serving Woodbury this spring with its Hungry for Change mission project! Hope Youth will be collecting sponsorships and dry goods as they prepare their hearts and minds for an overnight fast and fellowship event. 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! The event will take place at First United Methodist Church of Collingwood from 5:30pm on Friday April 17th until 1pm on Saturday April 18th. To be admitted, students must raise a minimum of $50 and collect 10 dry good donations. 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!
LAUNCH TRAMPOLINE EVENT:
Jump into Spring at our annual Hope Youth Launch event! We’ll be heading over to the Deptford Launch Trampoline park for a night of frantic fun! Trampoline basketball, foam pit, arcade, and so much more! Fill out the sign-up and meet us at the park on Friday night, May 1st from 6:00-8:00pm! Open to all 6th-12th graders.
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:
(Please note there will be no Wednesday programs on April 1st)
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!
Check out our social media (and more) here!
For any questions about HopeKids! Ministry contact us at: kids@hopechristianfellowship.org
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