Spring is such a hopeful season, don’t you think? All the trees work so hard on budding and the flowers burst forth from the winter ground with determination to feel the sun’s warmth once again. Just seeing this display and effort from nature fills me with a wonderful sense of hope and healing. The cold, dark days of winter are ending; light and warmth and color are returning. The rain no longer feels frigid and biting. Instead it has that intoxicating ‘summer smell’ as it falls softly on the earth, bringing the necessary moisture so important for growth. I found a verse in Hosea that tells us how God will do the same for us: “His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.” (Hosea 6:3 CEV) We can put our hope and trust in Him because we know He will not let us down. “….Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” (Isaiah 49:23) As hopeful and happy that the approaching springtime makes me, I know that my true hope lies in my heavenly Father. After all, even spring can disappoint. This year the unexpected freeze cost many farmers to lose precious crops! I will leave you with this verse that showcases what we can expect when we choose to place our hope and trust in the Lord: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Spring has sprung! ~ Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
God’s Children (1 Samuel 1)
As we set aside a day to celebrate and give thanks for the mothers in our lives, we recognize that the One who came up with the whole idea of motherhood is God Himself. Most moms feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for a precious child. Likewise, it is not unusual for dads to feel unprepared and unqualified. But what we’re going to see in Scripture today is that this feeling is a reminder of a very important truth. Jesus told us that the truth would set us free, and this concept can definitely do exactly that. There is rest and peace for parent – even parents with wayward children – that comes from the truth we are looking at this morning. And this idea is applicable to any and every calling in our lives, no matter how big or small. Let’s see what we can learn from a mother who desperately wanted a child and then made a very unusual choice. We may not take exactly the same action, but we can make the same choice in our hearts by faith.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY: Psalms
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. 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 we 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 April we averaged $10,924 per week in giving which brings our annual average up to $10,785. These are both above our annual target of $10,500. This is a great start and we are thankful for each Hoper that faithfully and sacrificially gives to support God’s work in our church. We do need to see this number grow to meet our current need for a new home (as well as other financial obligations for a quickly growing church). Please pray with us that the Lord will continue to meet every need!
MAY COLLECTION:
For the month of May we will be collecting items for our upcoming Mission Trip to donate to Restoring Hope Village. We are collecting requested items for children of all ages: Boys & Mens Sweatpants (S–L), Socks (6–12), Boys Boxer Briefs (8–10, 12–16); Girls & Ladies Pajamas & Sweatpants (S-M), Girls Socks (10–4), Ladies Socks (5–9), Cotton Washcloths (no microfiber), Chapstick, Small Gifts (Barbies, fun socks & craft supplies). Please place donations in bins at the front or back of the church by May 31st. For additional items, see our Amazon wishlist. Questions? Please reach out to Wendy Ball or Jodi Jacoby.
CHICK-FIL-A SPIRIT NIGHT:
Here’s an easy and delicious way to support our Mission Team heading to South Africa! Grab dinner at the Deptford Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday, May 13th between 4:00-8:00P and a portion of the the proceeds will be donated to our team! Make sure to mention Hope’s Mission Trip when ordering. Swing by for a convenient dinner en route to bible study!
MEN’S BREAKFAST:
All men post high school are invited to join us on the 2nd Saturday of each month for a delicious and FREE hot breakfast! We meet in the GoZone for fellowship, bible study, and prayer. All are welcome, bring a friend! We’ll see you this Saturday, May 9th from 8:00-9:30!
NEW TO HOPE CLASS:
If you’re new to Hope within the past year, you’ll want to join us for a special evening just for you! Join us on Wednesday, May 20th at 7:00P. Come learn how we do things (and why we do them!) here at Hope. This class will be taught by one of our Elders. Sign-up at the Connection Center to attend!
PARTNER CLASSES:
If God has brought you to Hope and convinced you over time that this is the church for you, we’d love for you to become a partner. This is our way of doing ‘membership’, but we use the word ‘partner’ instead because it connects us to the Biblical idea that we are called to partner together in ministry (Philippians 1:3-6). As partners, we share the burdens and work of the ministry together, and we serve our Lord as a team. Our Partner Classes will cover the way our church functions as well as what we believe. Join us on Wednesdays at 7:00 on May 27th, June 3rd, and June 10th. Sign-up at Connection Center!
MEN’S WIFFLEBALL TOURNAMENT:
Hey men! Our 5th Annual Wiffleball Tournament is happening on May 30th! You won’t want to miss this awesome time of fellowship, competition, and free food! Whether you’re a pro or a rookie, we’d love for you to join us. We’re hoping to have our biggest year yet – with additional awards and prizes, alongside the champion’s trophy! Sign up by May 24th as a team (3-5 guys), or as a free agent and we’ll find you a team! Open to all men, high school and older. If you have any questions, see Dylan Ott or email him at dylan.ott.11@live.com.
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!
MAY 19: Can A Gay or Trans Person Be A Christian?
Many people report tremendous suffering because they do not feel that their body represents their “true” gender. Similarly, it has become very normalized for a person to identify as someone attracted to the same sex (or both sexes). The loudest voices in society have advocated that we affirm this understanding as good and healthy, often packaging the argument by calling it “love” and “support.” What is a Christian response to this reality in the secular world? Does the Bible instruct us on these matters? If so, does it agree with or disagree with our culture? How do we take what we find in God’s Word and use it as we interact with people around us? We certainly are people of love (John 13:35). How does that come into play as we seek to love those who are navigating these challenging waters in life?
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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!
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.
GIRLS & GUYS NIGHTS: Friday, May 22nd 6:00-8:00P
Hope Youth’s annual Girls & Guys night is fast approaching and here’s all you need to know! Brothers can bond with brothers through fierce competition in our Bounce Championship! All male students from 6th-12th grade are invited to hang out, enjoy free pizza, and compete to have their name engraved on the coveted Championship Paddle. Last year was an epic turnout and an intense showdown, so bring a friend and don’t miss out on this free time of fellowship! It all goes down here at the church! Meanwhile, our girls will also get an awesome night out as they join Mackenzie and our female leaders for special crafts and ice cream! All the youth group girls from 6th-12th grade are invited to Pastor Dan and Mackenzie’s house (309 West Ave, Pitman NJ) for a night of fun and fellowship as Mack leads meaningful conversation, fun crafts, and a pleasant stroll through downtown Pitman for some ice cream! All students please register here, and feel free to bring a friend!
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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