One of Satan’s favorite tools is BUSY. Being Under Satan’s Yoke. Too busy to pray, too busy to read your Bible, too busy to serve at church. Does that make you think differently about the things that keep you busy? I know it does for me! Probably the hardest for me is making sure I don’t let my morning get started without reading my Bible. Sometimes it just feels like I hit the ground running while my Bible sits waiting for me. But when I think about it as being one of Satan’s strategies, I realize the things I’m rushing off to do hold no weight in light of the things of eternity. Sports, careers, even simply our families can keep us too busy. We ought to remember that Scripture advises us to be the opposite of busy – “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Busyness can lead to spiritual disconnection, while stillness allows for spiritual focus. In Luke 10:41-42 Jesus reprimands Martha for busily rushing around instead of sitting and listening to Him like Mary. “Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Let’s make it a point to prioritize better over busy and choose to focus more on the things of God than our packed schedules!
Not today Satan ~ Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
Morning of Worship
Please plan to join us for our upcoming Morning of Worship this Sunday, April 12th as we focus on King Jesus! We’ll spend the hour worshipping the One who is worthy of all our praise and adoration – the King above all kings and the Name above all names. We’ll observe communion and take time to remember the sacrifice He made to bring us into His eternal kingdom, so don’t miss this special morning here at Hope!
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDIES: Tonight!
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
For the month of March, we averaged $11,059 per week bringing our annual average up to $10,742. Both of these are above our annual target of $10,500 per week. We are thankful to all who continue to give and support God’s work at Hope. As we discussed last year, meeting and significantly exceeding our budget target is vital to our mission. It is the reason we are able to add Pastor Gregg and has a huge impact on addressing our need for more space. Pray for God’s abundant provision throughout the year!
MEN’S BREAKFAST: This Saturday
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!
THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: April 21st
It is pretty common today to notice a difference between God’s words and actions in the Old Testament in comparison to what we find through Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament. Without digging too deep, most people think God was violent and angry before Jesus came and then the whole tone shifted to love and grace. Is this true? What do we do with this assumed understanding? Does this suggest that some of the Bible is less reliable or true? Does it mean that maybe God isn’t trustworthy – or worse yet, doesn’t exist at all? Let’s explore a little of the stories of the Old Testament and see if this viewpoint actually lines up with what we read. And let’s move towards settling the question in our mind of whether God was different in the Old Testament.
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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: 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:
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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