HERALD
OF HOPE
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Table of Contents
LECTIONARY
FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
BELLEVILLE
CHRISTIAN CENTER MINISTRY
TRANSPORT
FOR CHRIST ANNUAL DINNER AUCTION FUNDRAISER
CENTRAL
ILLINOIS COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
HOPE
CHURCH YOUTH OPEN GYM NIGHT
SUNDAY
SCHOOL CHILDREN “GOING TO THE MOVIES”.
A
recent issue of the Social Psychology Quarterly suggests
that intelligent people are less inclined to believe in a supreme being than
their lower functioning counterparts. There
was a strong connection between high IQ scores and persons who espoused no
religious convictions. The study group
that supplied these findings were teenagers and young
adults, demonstrating that humanity is evolving to greater reliance on self and
less of a need for a Deity, according to the researcher. “Here’s the problem with that research,” says
columnist Kevin Horrigan of the St. Louis Post
Dispatch. “Most young adults haven’t had
much experience with death yet, and death is something that challenges
religious beliefs (or nonbeliefs) in unimaginable
ways.” I would also add my commentary to
this research. It would be negligent to
dismiss the natural link that exists between ability and ego. Power often equates to an exaggerated opinion
of oneself and one’s abilities. Afterall, who needs God when you’re as smart as I am? Tiger Woods’ recent fall from grace is a good
example. During his public confession of
infidelity, Tiger stated that his position as the most famous athlete in the
world gave him a sense of entitlement that the rules did not apply to him. Power and privilege run amok, out-of-control,
distorting one’s character and abilities to make good decisions that are
life-affirming. This isn’t a new
concept. The Bible describes it as one’s
need to “humble themself
before the Lord.” Jesus refers to it as
taking on the role of a servant as the way to experience one’s full
humanity. And a full humanity is the
destination toward a fulfilled and joy-filled life.
As
we journey through Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, we celebrate the same
traditions that centuries of Christian believers have celebrated. The traditions have stood the test of time
and provided something to the community of faith that quantitative research
cannot know. It is that intangible thing
compared to a mustard seed that grows to be the largest bush in the
garden. It is a burning fire, a strong
wind, a solid rock foundation upon which a life is built. It is not just a part of life, it is
life. And because it is, I will gladly
accept my lower evolutionary position.
It’s much easier to breathe down here.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Jay
Sunrise Worship Service - 7:00AM
Easter Breakfast - 8:00 - 10:00AM
Quilters, Stitchers, Crafters
This month we recognize three very
special groups at Hope Church. A big
thank you to our Quilters, our Stitchers and our Crafters!
These ladies meet every week and work
all year on projects to benefit our church.
We appreciate all of your
dedication and talent. Thank you!
3rd
Thursday this month
April 15 -
11:30AM
“Spring
Salads”
Please
bring a salad to share.
Thursday, April 22 -
10:30AM
“The Glass Castle”
by Jeanette Walls
We will not
be needed again until September for a meal. We are asking for Easter baskets to be
donated by March 21st. Thanks
to all who give so generously to this ministry.
The jewelry
committee is in the process of collecting any of your old or broken jewelry for
the November bazaar.
Thanks,
Lena Mae Gamblin
& Sandy Rhodes
If you are
interested in joining Hope Church, please contact Pastor Jay.
SATURDAY, APRIL 10 -
5:30PM
BANDANAS BBQ
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS
Please RSVP
§
Lisa Smallwood -
235-2616
§ Hope Church - 234-2358
Easter Sunday, the Altar Committee
will be decorating the sanctuary with the silk lilies purchased last year.
This year the money collected for
memorials will be placed in the altar fund and used to purchase a couple new
arrangements for our altar and freshen up a few of our older arrangments. We are asking for a $10 donation for Easter
memorials and a form will be in the bulletin on Sundays beginning March
21. You can also send your information
to the church office. Any questions can
be directed to the church office at 234-2358.
Bonnie Holweck Bonnie Jones
Dorothy Meinkoth Brenda Noble
Dolores Williams
Saturday,
April 10 - 9:00AM
SWIC -
Belleville
5K Walk/Run
1 Mile
“Fun” Walk
Educating
Us + Uniting Us + Serving Us
Individuals with HIV or other
diseases experience stigma and discrimination and may choose not to walk at all
for their cause. The same is often true
with victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and disorders just to name a
few. The goal of Project U.S. is to
dispel the myths and allow everyone to join together to build bridges and
strengthen community connectedness.
Registration information, pledge
form, and incentive programs information can be found on the following websites
support@walk4projectUS.org
www.walk4projectUS.org
TRANSPORT
FOR CHRIST
EAST ST.
LOUIS
A mission organization dedicated to
reaching, supporting and encouraging truck drivers. To lead truck drivers as well as the trucking
community to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith, to provide an
effective ministry to truck drivers throughout the world, that no trucker
should have to drive more than a day without being able to find a TFC Mobile
Chapel.
Where: Hope
Church
When: Saturday, April 17
Time: Doors open at 4:30PM. Dinner begins promptly at 5:00PM
Cost: $175 for a table of 8
Reservations must be turned in no
later than Saturday, April 10. If you
are interested in supporting a table, please call Dan & Raydean Stuckey at
402-201-3131. We are encouraging our
church family to get involved and support a table and enjoy a fun evening of
food, entertainment, and fundraising for Transport for Christ.
The Missions Committee is
sponsoring one table at the Dinner Auction.
If you would be interested in sitting at that table and representing
Hope Chruch and the Missions Committee, please contact Christy Pannier at
618-314-2745 or Bonnie Jones in the church office. Please remember that those who sit at our
Missions table will be encouraged to participate in the silent auction bidding.
Saturday, April 17
- 9:00AM
Picking up trash on Royal Heights Road
Contact Lisa Smallwood if you can help!
Hope Church
welcomes Wendy Arneson as a counselor/therapist who will
locate in our facility. Wendy, of Horizon
Hope Counseling, will keep hours at Hope Church as needed for
appointments. She is a graduate of
Covenant Seminary where she received a Master of Arts degree in
counseling. In addition, Wendy is
experienced in leading Bible studies and seminars for individuals, couples, and
groups. Wendy brings knowledge,
experience, and compassion that make her a gifted counselor. We welcome her to Hope Church!
We extend our sympathy to:
- JoAnn
Buchanan and her family in the loss of her mother.
- Nicole Kreiter and her family in the loss of two grandmothers.
- Jim and Lisa Smallwood and their
family in the loss of Jim’s aunt.
March 23........... Open Gym, 5:30PM, MOPS, 6:30PM
March 24........... Lenten Service, 7PM
March 25........... Fox Theater Tour, Leave Hope Church, 9:45AM, Book
Club, 10:30AM
March 28........... Palm Sunday, New Member Sunday, 10:30AM
March 31........... Blood Drive, 3-7PM
April 1................ Maundy Thursday Service at Union United
Methodist Church, 7PM
April 2................ Good Friday Services at Hope, Noon and 7PM
April 3................ Easter Egg Hunt, 9A-11AM
April 4................ Easter Sunday Service, 7A and 10:30AM, Easter
Breakfast, 8-10AM
April 10.............. Adult Fellowship, Bandanas BBQ, 5:30PM
April 15.............. Senior Singles’ Lunch, 11:30AM
April 17.............. Adopt-A-Highway, 9AM,
Transport for Christ Dinner/Auction, 5PM
During the past
month the following gifts were received:
In memory of Kenneth
Schneider In
memory of Rev. Robert Hedeman
By Doris
Grandcolas
By Wilmer &
Janet Krausz
Thank you Hope Church for remembering me in your prayers and for the
personal visits. You all
brought me through a very rough period.
I’m well on my way back and bless you all.
Sincerely,
Patricia S. Adams
Thank you and your
staff for the use of the church for TJ’s service and all the things you
did. Thank God for you all.
God bless,
The Collins Family
HOPE CHURCH -
MAY 11
SENIORS, ARE YOU
ELIGIBLE?
A representative
from Christian HomeCare Services will be coming to
Hope Church on Tuesday, May 11 to help you fill out an application for Circuit
Breaker. Please look over the following
guidelines and see if you are eligible.
You do not need an appointment but we do need to have an idea of how
many people will be coming. Please call
the church office to sign-up.
You
must be: 65
years or older before January 1, 2010
or
Turn 65 years old
during 2010
or
Be between 16 and 64 years
old and receive disability
Income
Limits: $27,610
for single individuals
$36, 635 for you and
your spouse or you and one
qualified
additional resident
$45,657 for you, your
spouse, and at least one
qualified additional
resident
You
may be eligible for:
IL
CARES RX - Help
with prescriptions at the pharmacy (cheaper co-pays)
or a $25 monthly rebate
LICENSE PLATE DISCOUNT
- A discount for one
vehicle in the household
CIRCUIT BREAKER TAX GRANT -
Based on how much one pays in rent or property
tax and how much income they receive
Wednesday, March 31 3-7PM
We need donors, volunteers
to help with the refreshments, pies, and sandwiches. Please sign the clipboards in the welcome
center or call the church office and let us know how you can help.
Tuesday, March 23 5:30PM
Tuesday,
March 23 6:30PM
After checking your children into the
nursery, please join us for this month’s meeting in Room 1 (Choir Room).
March 28
Lincoln
Theater
“How
to Train Your Dragon”
Please
contact Amy Pannier (977-3479)
if you can attend and
the show time
We still need help
with donations for our Easter Egg Hunt being held on Saturday, April 3. Please check out the board in the Welcome
Center to find out what donations are needed.
Items need to be at the church by Sunday, March 28.
Hope Church
June 13-18
6-8p.m.
Sunday, April 4th
8AM - 10AM
Free Will Offering
Egg Casseroles, pastries, fruit,
cereal, coffee and juice
The
Church Life and Membership Committee is asking for
help from our members in supplying the pastries and egg casseroles. Casseroles made with egg beaters are
needed in addition to the traditional recipe.
Casseroles need to be fully cooked when delivered to the
committee. We will be putting them into
our ovens to keep them warm. Casseroles
can be dropped off in Miller Fellowship Hall between 7:00 and 9:00AM Sunday. Help with set-up on Saturday at 11:00am and
cleanup on Sunday at 10:00am is also needed.
Please contact Debbie Ebel if you can help or
call the church office for more information.
.