I recently came across a quote that spoke to me: “Everything I’ve let go of has claw marks on it.” It made me laugh but it also brought to mind a sobering truth – that is SO me! I stubbornly refused to let my husband remove a bush from the yard simply because it’s always been there and I’m used to looking at that exact bush in that exact spot. Oh dear – what will it look like WITHOUT that bush?! (I know you’re laughing at my foolishness!) And then, to my surprise, I found I liked it better without the bush! You’d think I would learn my lesson, because that’s what usually happens. Once I relent or submit to the change, I like the outcome.
Letting go isn’t easy because holding on is our natural response. What do we tend to hold onto? Relationships, goals and dreams, the past, old hurts, wrong ideas and perceptions, timing, possessions, and more. God shouldn’t have to pry these things out of our tightly clenched fists. How will we know what He has in mind for us if we continue to cling to what is familiar or ‘safe’? How can we fulfill His purpose for us if we are afraid to release our own expectation and allow His divine hand to guide us? I don’t want to leave claw marks on things. As Corrie Ten Boom said, “It hurts when God has to pry your fingers open.” I want God to be the thing I’m holding onto the tightest; everything else should be held loosely in my hand so that He can easily remove it from my stubborn grasp. “I cling to You; Your strong right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:8)
Held in His Hands ~ Lois
SPIRITUAL CARE
The Sower and The Seed: Part 2 – Which Are You?
(Luke 8:1-21)
In this second installment of the famous parable, we are going to take a closer look at the different types of people that Jesus describes. He makes it clear that the difference in fruitfulness is not a difference in sower or seed, but in the type of soil it lands on. Jesus explains this parable to His disciples to show what He is illustrating with each type of soil. The clear question to us is this: which soil are we?
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 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.
NEW TO HOPE CLASS: Tonight!
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 tonight, 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. Even if you didn’t get a chance to sign-up, we’d love for you to join us!
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.
ADDICTIONS MINISTRY:
We are looking to start a Christian 12 step recovery meeting here at Hope. If you are interested in helping or being involved, we will be having an informational meeting on Sunday, May 31st following the second service. Please plan to attend. If you have questions, reach out to Bob Baumiester.
JOIN OUR NEWEST TEAM: Ministry Support Meals
Do you love making food? Are you gifted in the kitchen? Then we’ve got a place for you to use those gifts! We’re looking for folks to join a new team that would provide meals for scheduled ministry meetings – think soups, salad, sandwiches, or other lunch-type foods. Your gifts would be a huge benefit and we’d love to include you. On June 7th following the 2nd service, please join us for a meeting where we’ll share more detailed information and next steps for getting involved. Please sign up at Connection Center and contact Dana Ott with any questions.
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!
JUNE 2ND: Making Friends
There’s a TV show from the 90s that makes friendship look amazing and easy. As kids, it seems like we find our way to friendships with people pretty simply. Friendships often don’t need to carry any weight or stand the test of time. But when we become adults, it gets more challenging to make and keep new friendships. It isn’t that we don’t meet new people. But connecting and bonding seems somehow more difficult and rare. What is the secret to making friends? How does a being a believer play into the ongoing struggle with loneliness and isolation? The good news is that there are simple steps you can take that open your heart up to relationships. Ultimately, it is about finding a way to give relationships what they need to flourish and grow, even if it’s a bit of effort and risk.
Follow us on Instagram here!
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!
SENIOR SELECT SERIES:
It’s our final series of the school year and we asked our seniors what topics they wanted to cover most. Burning questions, insightful lessons, and messages they think are vital for the younger students to learn. Each lesson is a partnership with a different senior student and an investigation of a valuable and applicable lesson centered on Scripture. Don’t miss out on what the Class of 2026 wants to share!
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 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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