Have you ever found yourself at a place in your life where you may be questioning exactly what it is that God wants from you? Where is He leading you? How are you supposed to know how you should be living your life as a believer? In short, these questions boil down to that most elemental of queries: what is God’s will for my life? Obviously, God has special and unique plans for each one of us because He has given each of us specific gifts and circumstances. But you can find a broader set of answers that applies to each and every one of us. If you’ve ever wrestled with this line of questioning, I’m going to give you a cheat sheet.
One of the clearest verses on this subject is found in Thessalonians 5:18 – “……give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Note that it says IN all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances! This passage in Deuteronomy 10 spells out a few things we are called to do – “Have reverence for the LORD your God and worship only him. Be faithful to him and make your promises in his name alone.” (vs 12-13) and “Praise him-he is your God, and you have seen with your own eyes the great and astounding things that he has done for you.” (vs 20-21) The last one I’m including refers to the commandments. But I’m figuring a commandment is something we are all called to obey and, as such, would be God’s will for us. “Jesus declared, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) So the next time you find yourself wondering……..just pull out this cheat sheet and review!
Scripture has the answers we are looking for……LoisSPIRITUAL CARE
Faith Unleashes Power (Luke 8:40-56)
We all know what hopeless looks like and feels like. We witness it from afar, hearing about things broken beyond repair in someone else’s life. But it hits differently when it’s our own life. Most of the time, it shocks us because we never thought we would be facing something like this. Some of the time, we have lived with the problem for long enough that it feels settled: we will always have this brokenness. Today, we look at two stories intertwined by time and place where Jesus teaches that the answer for hopelessness is to know and trust the One who can do the impossible. Today is an invitation from Luke to learn how to trust Jesus like these people and to watch His power work in our lives.WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY: Psalms – Final Study!
Join us 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 close out this series tonight. (Meeting in the auditorium.)
ATTENTION ALL HOPERS: Special Informational Meeting
We all know that we have been looking for a new home for Hope. It is clear that we are out of space which is becoming a hindrance to what the Lord is doing at Hope. Pastor Mark and the elders would like to ask that all Hopers join us on Wednesday, June 17th at 7:00pm in the auditorium for a special information meeting. We will not have other programs that evening, but we would like at least one representative from each Hoper household to be able to come and hear this information. We will try to catch everyone up on the process and the challenges we face in finding a new home. Since we are partners, this is something we all should know about and with this information, we can all act more purposefully and pray more specifically. Join us to find out what has been happening in this vital matter and what we need to do next as a church.
SUMMER BIBLE STUDY: 1 John – Coming Soon!
Join us Wednesday nights starting June 24th at 7:00P in the GoZone (6:30P for coffee & donuts.) We will not have HopeKids Programs for this series. The Book of 1 John provides simple yet profound teaching on what it means to know God and to live in relationship with Him. Christians are challenged to hold tightly to the truth and live in a way that reflects the love of Jesus. Our world is full of ideas about spirituality and morality. But our culture encourages people to mix and match various religions and philosophies to create their own customized worldview. So, does it matter what you believe? Without question—yes. Come join us for this transformative bible study series.
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
Help Kids Alley equip children for a successful school year by donating new backpacks and school supplies for their annual Back to School Rally. This event provides students from underserved families in Camden County with essential tools like notebooks, pencils, crayons, and more—each child receives a fully stocked backpack to start the year with confidence! We will be collecting donations throughout the month of June. Every contribution helps Kids Alley empower children with the resources they need to thrive academically and personally. Donation bins are located in the front lobby and at the back doors of the church. Questions? Please reach out to Wendy Ball or Jodi Jacoby.BABY | CHILD DEDICATIONS:
We believe that children are some of the most incredible gifts that God gives to families and to our church. Many parents want to dedicate themselves and their children to the Lord. Our next Child Dedication Service will be on June 21st. There will be a class after the 2nd service on June 14th for all parents participating. Please sign-up at Connection Center and grab a book to participate! If you cannot make that class, please contact Pastor Mark to set up a time to go over the information before that class. We are excited to pray over these families and children and to witness the declaration of parents committed to raising their children as God directs.
ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC: June 28th
Mark your calendars for one of our biggest events of the year! Join us on Sunday, June 28th from 3:00-7:00 for yard games, an epic waterslide, bounce house, and more fun outdoor activities! Then we’ll have delicious FREE dinner at 5:00. But we need your help to make this tremendous event possible! Make sure to sign-up at Connection Center to bring a dish to share, or to help with the activities by signing up to staff the inflatables or serve dinner. You don’t want to miss out on participating in this amazing tradition at Hope!
IT SUPPORT TEAM:
Are you someone with experience in trouble shooting technology? Do you know how to easily set up & connect new devices? We want you to join our new IT Support Team! We are looking to build a team of Hopers to help assist staff & volunteers in the upkeep & management of computer software systems utilized among different ministries at Hope. If you have skills in trouble shooting computers or printers, connectivity issues, start up of new devices or any other useful IT abilities, we would love to have you be part of this team. An informational meeting will be held after second service on Sunday, July 12th to go over more specifics and to answer any questions. You can sign up here, and contact Kelli Rehm with any questions at Kelliarehm@gmail.com.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
JULY 27th-31st: Our Preschool VBS for potty-trained 3-5 year olds takes place in the mornings (9:30am-12:00pm). Our Elementary VBS for K-5th graders runs in the evenings (6:00pm-8:30pm).
VBS CHILD REGISTRATION:
Can you believe that summer is almost here? VBS season is NOW, so get ready for an exciting adventure in the tropical rainforest! This year’s VBS theme is RAINFOREST FALLS, where you will explore the nature of God! Your child will participate in memorable Bible-learning activities, sing catchy songs, and learn amazing lessons about who God is. It will be an unforgettable week celebrating God with one-of-a-kind Bible Adventures, collecting Bible Memory Buddies, and exploring the wonders of God’s creation. Your family won’t want to miss it so register now!
VBS VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION:
We’re looking for prep night helpers, registration team members, church decorating help, and an energetic group of crew leaders and station helpers who will connect with the kids every day one-on-one! To make this all happen, WE NEED YOU! Our Preschool VBS for our 3-5 year olds takes place in the mornings (9:30am-12:00pm) with volunteers needed each morning by 9:00am. Our Elementary VBS for our K-5th graders runs in the evenings (6:00pm-8:30pm) with volunteers needed each evening by 5:30pm. Come be a part of the fun – sign-up now!
DONATION BOARD:
As we plan and prepare to make an eternal impact in the lives of all who attend, we need support from people like YOU who are willing to donate items for the various activities, games, and decorations that will help inspire and energize the VBS experience! We have various options for items you can donate on the wall by the GoZone, next to the HopeKids! bulletin board—just pick an item, tear off the slip (feel free to take more than one!), and leave your donations in the HopeKids! donation baskets in the kitchen. Thank you for your support!
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 16th: Choices & Consequences
Sometimes life beats us up. Things go wrong and then get worse. We face problems that overwhelm us and feel like giving up (or that we have no choice). This can happen because we live in a broken world that includes sickness, death, and evil. But it also can happen because of choices we make along the way. Our faith addresses both. When you have done nothing to bring the trouble, you can trust God to sustain you and hold you in hope. But, more often, when trouble comes, it is the harvest of something we planted a while ago. Choices have consequences. We see that more clearly as we embrace the wisdom of God’s Word. Let’s take some time to think about how our choices connect to the consequences we face. And then let’s commit to learning how to be intentional about what we plant so that we will enjoy the harvest it brings.
Follow us on Instagram here!
For any questions about Hope’s Young Adults contact Mark & Dana Ott.
HOPE YOUTH
SENIOR SELECT SERIES: Final Night!
All 6th through 12th graders are invited to join us on Sundays from 6-8pm for games, bible study, worship, and more! June 14th will be our last Sunday night meeting for the summer. 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!
POOL PARTY:
The sun is beaming, school is almost out, and summer is finally here! And with it comes Hope Youth’s annual pool party! Join us Sunday, July 12th from 3-6pm for an afternoon of fun in the sun! We’ll be diving into a pristine ground salt water pool, playing plenty of yard games, and chowing down on delicious summer favorites! It’s the perfect way to stay connected with friends and make new ones! Whether you’re leaving 12th grade this summer, going into 6th grade this fall, or anywhere in between you are invited! Bring a swimsuit, bring a towel, bring a friend and meet us at 973 Johnson Rd, Sicklerville. We’ll see you there!
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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