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Table of Contents
LECTIONARY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE 8:15AM
- SUNDAY
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE NEWS
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HELPED WITH OUR
JANUARY BLOOD DRIVE.
I heard quarterback Kurt Warner give
thanks to God after his team, the Arizona Cardinals, won the NFC championship
on Sunday. I’ve heard President Obama
talk openly about his faith and the importance he places on it. Why do these high-profile figures feel
compelled to give witness to their faith?
Certainly, one reason is to answer the call expressed in the gospel of
Mark. It is a call to go into the world
and preach the good news to everyone, everywhere. They understand the pedestal they have been
given and the influence they possess.
More than that, however, my hunch is that they have found in faith a
reason for joy and strength and goodness and peace and wisdom and hope and
serenity and grace and wonder and beauty and patience and love. And when you find such a treasure--trove,
it’s hard to stay silent. In fact,
silence is not an option. Whether one
speaks of their faith or allows their actions to speak, it is a response set in
motion by the grace of God. One can do
nothing else.
I’m rooting for the Arizona Cardinals
to win the Super Bowl. I have emotional
ties with the Cardinals because they were once the St. Louis Cardinals. I like them because they have never won the
big prize and have been perpetual doormats in the league. I like the players. I like the uniforms. And I like Kurt Warner. His story of success is almost biblical in
its telling, rising from grocery store bagger to Football Hall of Fame
candidate. Warner is real, authentic,
and a person who finds his purpose not in playing a game but in his Lord. If he wins the big game on February 1, he
will praise God. If he loses the big
game on Feburary 1, he will praise God.
He can’t help himself.
Grace & Peace & Go Cardinals!
Pastor Jay
February
1 Deuteronomy 18:15-20
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28
February
8 Isaiah 40:21-31
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
February
15 2 Kings 5:1-14
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Mark 1:40-45
February
22 2 Kings 2:1-12
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9
SCRIPTURE….. PREACHING…...PRAYER
The Christian
Education committee will begin planning Vacation Bible School in the coming
months. We are tentatively planning VBS
for early June. At this time we are
looking for those that are interested in helping out in anyway! Areas that will need assistance include teaching
Bible lessons, crafts, snacks, recreation, and music. If you are interested in helping out this
summer, please contact Amy Pannier or Carol Helle. We are also planning a short informational
meeting on February 22, 2009 after the worship service to discuss the theme and
needed planning. Please watch for
further announcements and information.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25th
Soup and
sandwich lunch will be held in the fellowship hall immediately following
worship.
The
congregational meeting will be held in the sanctuary after lunch.
**********************************
Our Lenten
season begins on Wednesday, February 28th with our Ash Wednesday service of
ashes. Dinner will be served at 6:00p.m.
followed by worship at 7:00p.m.
Beginning on
Wednesday, March 4th, we will serve a meal of soup and sandwiches each week at
6:00p.m. in the Miller Fellowship Hall.
We will then move to the sanctuary for a short Lenten service. Our focus this year will be some of our local
missions. We will have representatives
here to explain their mission and where our donations are used.
If you would
like to attend these meals, please sign up when sheets are passed.
Our custodian/secretary Gail
Weber is scheduled for rotator cuff surgery on Thursday, January 22. The entire congregation prays that Gail comes
through the operation in good health.
On Wednesday night, January
14th, the consistory unanimously approved the hiring of church
member Eric Ebel to be the Hope Church Coordinator of Maintenance. As Maintenance Coordinator, Eric will be
responsible for all grounds and property projects at Hope Church. He will also coordinate all custodial duties
involved in keeping Hope Church clean.
During 2009, the Missions Committee will try to highlight one of our local mission projects.
This month we are collecting loose change, bills or checks in baby bottles for the Mosaic Pregnancy and Health Centers. This center reaches out to those who find themselves in an unwanted pregnancy. They have three metro-east locations--Belleville, Edwardsville and Granite City and a 24-hour helpline.
Upon arriving at the pregnancy center, clients are offered a peer-counselor who supports them throughout the pregnancy. Counselors listen and respond with godly, moral counseling meant to touch their lives, heal their hurts and help them move forward. Counselors build a connection with their clients by walking in their shoes and seeing life through their eyes. This gives Mosaic Pregnancy and Health Centers the opportunity to extend the love of Christ to their clients.
Clients are assisted in obtaining an appointment for prenatal care with a local doctor, referring them to public service support, and notifying them of other community resources available.
Childbirth and parenting classes are offered during the last trimester of pregnancy with free baby supplies given upon completion of all classes.
For more information on Mosaic Pregnancy and Health Centers, please call 355-9977 in Belleville or call the church office.
Dear
Hope Church Family:
This
year I was home for the bazaar and thought I could help work but my health said
different. I always enjoyed being with
my friends from Hope and working with you.
Since I couldn’t be there to eat and visit with you, I really
appreciated having the soup and desserts sent to me.
I,
also, want to thank everyone who sent cards and said prayers for me. I still need your prayers as the treatment
they gave me was not kind to me.
Your
Hope Friend,
Dorothy
Kueker
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Thank
you Hope Church!
I
was very surprised so many people signed the Christmas card. It meant a lot to me to see so many people
supporting me. See you all in a couple months.
Airman
May Christopher
****************************************
FLAGS ARE FLYING IN HONOR OF
THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES
BY
JERRY
AND MINNIE BLACKBURN
If you are interested in purchasing
the flags (American and Christian) in memory or honor of a loved one, please
contact the church office. The cost is
approximately $115.00 and you will receive the flags at the end of 3 months.
January
25................................. Soup/Sandwich Lunch and Congregational Meeting
January
27................................. MOPS, 6:30P
January
29................................. Book Club, 10:30A
February
1.................................. Christianity fundamentals/overview class, 9A
February
8.................................. Return Baby Bottles for Mosaic Pregnancy &
Health Centers
Confirmation
Class Begins, 6:00P
February
9.................................. Senior Fellowship, 7P
February
12................................ Singles Luncheon, 11:30A
February
13................................ BCC Dinner
February
25................................ Ash Wednesday Dinner, 6:00P and Worship
Service, 7:00P
Thursday, February 12th
The February lunch for
seniors will takie place on the 12th at 11:30a.m. and feature guest
speaker Jack McCarty. In recognition of
the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, Jack will present a program about our 16th
president. Jack is well-versed on all
things Lincoln and the Civil War. Please
call the office and make a reservation.
A Christianity fundamentals/overview class will be
offered beginning February 1 during the Sunday School hour. It is an open invitation for anyone wishing
to join the church and desiring instruction or members wanting to review
doctrines of the faith. The class will
be led by Pastor Jay and meet in the youth room.
Confirmation classes for youth will start February 8,
6:00-7:30PM in the youth room. The
classes will culminate with the students baptism (if needed) and confirmation
on May 31 during morning worship. Call
the church office for details.
February 7th
thru April 18th
(Saturdays from 10:00 - 11:30A)
Where: Unity Hospice, 907 N. Bluff Road, Suite 3,
Collinsville
Free and open to anyone who has
experienced a loss.
Please call Yvonne Jordan,
Bereavement Coordinator at 346-1111 or 1-888-394-1055
January
Martha Hoering 1-01
Ken Bade 1-05
Michelle Smith 1-07
Nolan Pannier 1-08
Jesse Joiner 1-09
Katelyn Carter 1-11
Heather Carter 1-11
Wayne Lindauer 1-12
Don Steinkamp 1-16
Aidan Lougeay 1-18
Lena Mae Gamblin 1-20
Bill Gamblin 1-20
Charlye French 1-20
Jordon Douglas 1-24
February
Nancy Joiner 2-05
Larry Mueller 2-13
Eric Stephens 2-16
Joyce Patton 2-23
Courtney May 2-28
We will be revising our
Telephone/Address Directory in the next couple of weeks. Please take a few minutes and check the
information for your family in your current directory. Would you like to add your email address or
have you changed the address since this time last year? The new directories will be available in
February.
We
had 23 people who tried to donate.
Two
people were first time donors and we had 19 productive units collected.
Next
Blood Drive
Thursday,
March 5
Thursday,
January 29
10:30AM
“A Thousand Splendid Suns”
by Khaled Hosseini
We extend our
sympathy to:
·
Martha Hoering and her family in the loss of her nephew
David Yuengel.
·
Helen Jones and her family in the loss of her
sister-in-law Fran Peterson.
During the past
month, the following gifts were received:
·
In memory of Bob Luther by Pearl Luther and
Family
·
In memory of Elaine Fischer by Rosella Rose