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SEPTEMBER 2008
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Contents
LECTIONARY
FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
HOPE
CHURCH COOKBOOKS FOR SALE
“If
a man’s religion does not affect his use of money, that man’s religion is
vain.” Hugh Martin
When the subject of money arises,
people change. It seems to be the
driving force behind much of the sin in the world. The power of money causes children to kill
their parents, parents to sell their children, and respected business people to
compromise their reputations. The big
lie is that money will fix everything.
No more problems, no more hardships, no more stress--the lure of riches
promises that. But to say that money is
a bad thing is incorrect. It fixes many
problems that harm or threaten humanity.
Like everything, it seems, money used properly has great healing
power. Conversely, when used improperly,
it can destroy.
The quote which begins this article
names religious faith as the primary safeguard which protects us from falling
prey to the inherent hazards of money.
That works, however, only if the person in the pew buys into the
message. The same applies to the message
of love and forgiveness. One’s life will
improve and be blessed only if one believes the message enough to practicie it in their life.
If not, it is yet another platitude that sounds great from the pulpit
but is much too impractical to actually practice. So what does religions faith teach us about
money? The following
words come to mind--sharing, generosity, magnanimity, commitment, sacrifice. When we practice these, it is declared who is
boss. We have declared that we have
power over money instead of money having power over us. And power is the name of the game.
October is Stewardship and Finance
Month. The focus will be Hope Church’s
financial present and future. You will
be asked to practice the five words mentioned in this writing. Your devotion is requested. Let me be clear, however, that your devotion
is needed not only for Hope Church’s solvency, but also to equip yourself on
this journey of faith. Buying into the Good News of Jesus means making the transition from
interested bystander to dedicated participant. And that means sacrificial giving.
Grace and Peace,
Jay
As
a congregation, we met yesterday and voted to replace our heating system. It is a much needed project --that ancient
boiler could die at anytime. We have
postponed the job long enough. Thank you
all for your support!
Once
again this year, we will participate in “Operation Christmas Child”. Last year we filled 90 shoeboxes--let’s try
for 100 this year! This program will
kick off on September 28th.
Also
on the 28th, we will participate in “All Things Chocolate”, the big
fundraiser for Christian HomeCare Services. As one of the supporting churches, we are
looking for a good turnout at this event.
MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is
coming to Hope on Tuesday, September 23rd at 6:30p.m. This group will meet on the 4th
Tuesday of each month. Our thanks go to
all who are helping with this outreach program.
Please call the office if you need more information.
Please
remember that your consistory members are here to help. Please call on us if there is a need.
Peace
to you,
Bill
Wilkinson, President
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
(Volunteers
are Needed!)
For more
information, contact
Jim
Smallwood or Eric Ebel.
October
5
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9,
12-20
Psalm
19
Philippians
3:4b-14
Matthew
21:33-46
October 12
Exodus 32:1-14
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14
October
19
Exodus 33:12-23
Psalm 99
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
October
26
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 22:34-46
8:15 AM
SUNDAYS
SCRIPTURE……PREACHING……PRAYER
We
are organizing a Hope Church Book Club to meet monthly. We will read a book each month and meet to
discuss it.
We
will take turns selecting from a wide variety of books.
If
you like to read and would enjoy this fellowship of book lovers, please come
and join us. For more information,
please call Pastor Carol at 234-2358.
PLASTIC
(NOT A FUNDRAISER)
We
have a garbage can (clearly labeled PLASTIC) in the big kitchen
to collect plastic containers (soda or water bottles) that you empty while you
are at the church. WE ARE NOT
BEING PAID for the plastic and the staff is taking the containers home and
placing in their personal city recycling containers. Once again, plastic recycling is only for
items we empty while at the church.
ALUMINUM
RECYLING FUNDRAISER
Thanks
to Tin Man Recycling of Belleville, we now have an aluminum recycling bin next
to our soda machine in the hallway outside the fellowship hall. The recycling center will give us 5 cents per
pound over the going rate for our cans (BEER AND SODA CANS ONLY), so
please drop your cans in the bin.
PAPER
RECYCLING FUNDRAISER
We
have a paper recycling container in the back of the church on the parking lot
behind the fellowship hall. Newspapers,
junk mail, catalogues, telephone books, etc. can be placed in this bin. Please do not fill with corrugated
cardboard. We receive approximately $25
per month on this fundraiser.
The
flags currently flying are in memory of the loved ones of Shirley Carriger.
Are
you interested in purchasing flags for our flagpole outside Miller Hall? Flags can be purchased in honor or memory of a
loved one and their name(s) will be posted in a frame on the wall outside the
church office. The cost of purchasing
both flags is approximately $114.00.
Please contact the church office if you are interested.
$10.00
(Available in the church office)
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A class will be offered
each Tuesday evening in October, 6:30-8:00P, teaching the techniques of
self-defense. Ed French, spouse of Charlye French, will be the instructor. Ed is an accomplished teacher in martial arts
and encourages people of all ages to gain knowledge as the holiday season
approaches. We will need at least 10 people
(men and women, ages 14 and over) in this class. A fee of $10 per person will need to be paid
on the first night of class. Please call
the church office or contact Pastor Jay to reserve a spot.
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SHENANIGAN’S
RESTAURANT & BAR
FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 3 - 7:00PM
(Must
be over 21)
A
gift card was received from Shenanigans during the bazaar last year to enjoy
pizza and appetizers in their party room.
The Hope family is invited to attend - Adult Fellowship, BASIC class,
Senior Fellowship or anyone that helped with or plans to help with the
bazaar. Because we are using the party
room, you must be 21 years old. Please
RSVP to the church office if you plan to attend so the restaurant can plan the
food.
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Dear
Friends of Hope,
Thank
you for the cards and visits from the Pastor and Carol during my stay in the
hospital.
Dolores
Weiss
********************
Dear
Church Family,
Thank
you so much for your prayers, visits, calls, and cards during my recent
hospitalization. I appreciate all of
your love and concern.
Priscilla
Russell
********************
To
My Hope Family,
Thank
you all so much for phone calls and all the beautiful cards for my 90th
birthday. Enjoyed each
and every one of them. Thank you
again.
Margaret
Brand
********************
Dear
Hope Church Friends,
We
just want to say thank you for all of your prayers, cards and phone calls these
last few months as we awaited the arrival of our grandson Bruce Robert Portell. Thanks to
the Manna Team who provided a delicious meal for us. Many thanks to Pastor Jay
for his visits at the hospital.
Hs presence was greatly appreciated.
His words of comfort on the day of Bruce’s birth helped us through a
difficult time. The letter Pastor Jay
wrote to Bruce Robert in the Herald of Hope touched our hearts deeply. We are so thankful for Pastor Jay and all of
our church family.
Bruce
& Debbie Hicks
*****************
Dear
Hope Church,
I
especially want to thank Pastor Jay for being there for our family during my
surgery and recovery. Pastor Carol, your
phone calls and cards were words of encouragement. The fruit basket and nut bread were
appreciated. I can’t express enough
thanks to the congregation for the cards and especially the phone calls. I always think of Hope Church as my extended
family.
In
Christian love,
Sandy
Rujawitz
*****************
Dear
Hope Church Family:
I
want to thank you all for your prayers, cards, and phone calls during my bedrest. Knowing
that I had your support made those long days and nights more tolerable. I feel that you all had a part in the miracle
of the safekeeping and birth of Bruce.
Thanks,
also, for the delicious Manna meal--I have a new appreciation of home cooked
dinners!
With
love,
Nicole
Portell
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We extend our congratulations to Doris Keck on the
birth of her great-granddaughter Lana Marie Keck on August 19, 2008. Lana’s proud parents are Brian and Stacy
Keck.
We extend our sympathy to Pat Poole and her family
in the loss of her husband Elmer Poole on September 16, 2008. Elmer was a dear member of Hope Church. Elmer is the father of Rick Poole,
grandfather of Scott and Lyndsay Poole, and
great-grandfather of Megan and Kate Summers.
Meets
4th Tuesday of each month at Hope Church, 200 Dapron
Drive, Belleville
Child
Care Is Provided for each meeting!
When: September 23
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Agenda: Introduction to Adventures
in Mothering
When: October
28
Time: 6:30p.m.
- 8:30p.m.
Agenda: St. Clair Co. Sheriff’s Dept and Belleville
P.D.
Child
Safety/Car Seat checks/Child ID Kits
Please
RSVP to Amy Pannier at 618-977-3479 or 566-9431 or contact the Church office.
We are
also looking for nursery volunteers!
If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity (one time a month
for a couple of hours) or would like to visit to see what MOPS is all about,
please contact Amy.
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“LET’S GO
SHOPPING”
Do you like to go shopping? We are looking for YOU! Each year we take a collection of donated
items to make our “Themed” Gift Baskets.
After many years of having “Gift Baskets” they seem to still be a great
seller. We give thanks to all of you who make this possible.
Again to make your shopping easier,
there will be a suggestion list located in the Library area on Sunday, October
19, 2008. Please take a list…(or please
use your own ideas). Please keep in mind
that our best sellers are $15 and under.
Higher value baskets are harder to sell.
A collection box will be provided during the weeks of October 19 and
October 26, 2008 in the Library Area.
The collection deadline will be on Sunday, November 2, 2008.
BASKET
MAKERS NEEDED !!!!!! Sunday, November
9th (after worship service)
We need YOU to help put the baskets
together. (The more helpers, the quicker
we get done.) We need your help this
day, so plan to volunteer. It’s a great
way to help with the bazaar. (In the
past few years it has only taken a few hours to make the baskets).
BASKETS
NEEDED: We need medium and large baskets. We can also use a variety of containers to be
used like baskets. A variety gives a
great selection.
BAZAAR
WORKERS NEEDED: Helpers to sell the baskets during the bazaar
are always needed. Our basket area is a
great place to work and all shifts are available. You can make your own schedule. Let us know whenyou can help. Please plan to help in any way possible. We need Shoppers, Makers, Workers!
Thank you - Julie Douglas and Carol
Krausz
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Jewelry Wanted for Bazaar: We need your old
jewelry and watches (broken or not).
Silver or gold makes no difference.
Please bring to the church office or see Lena Mae Gamblin.
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·
EVENING OF FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP AT SHENANIGANS -
OCTOBER 3, 7P
·
WORK DAY AT HOPE - OCTOBER 4, 8A
·
SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES AT HOPE - OCTOBER, 7, 14, 21,
28, 6:30 - 8P
·
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY, OCTOBER 11, 9A
·
FALL FESTIVAL AND PET BLESSING AT HOPE, OCTOBER 24,
5:30p
·
CROPWALK, OCTOBER 26
·
BLOOD DRIVE AT HOPE
- OCTOBER 29, 3:00 - 7:00P
·
HOLIDAY BAZAAR, NOVEMBER 14-15