HERALD
OF HOPE
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Table of Contents
CHRISTMAS
EVE CANDLELIGHT WORSHIP
LECTIONARY
FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY
MOPS
MEETING SCHEDULE January - May 2009
At
this time of the year, I instinctively reflect on those gifts for which I am
thankful. The season is good at doing
that. We are awed at the wonder, the
energy, the stillness of the celebration which fills the heart and quiets the
soul. As we age, however, our blessing
evolves from receiving to giving. As we
age, our completeness is found in another’s joy. May we all be made complete this Christmas.
Now
that I have waxed philosophic, I admit that it is still fun to receive a
gift. Allow me to describe a few of the
awesome gifts that have been presented to me.
These are items that I will not be returning.
1)
On December 23, I will have been married
27 years. It doesn’t seem possible. And yet, I can’t imagine my life having gone
in any other direction with any other person.
2)
As frightened as I was to have
surgery, a new hip has cured my pain. I
walk without a limp and I can put on a sock and tie my shoe. If only I could go through the metal detector
at the airport without a strip search.
3)
Jack is a model of perfect love and
devotion for me. His needs are
few--food, water, and an occasional display of affection. I just can’t figure out why Jack Buente likes
to have his ears scratched so much.
(Just kidding--Jack is my 10-year-old greyhound.)
4)
I told my son when he enrolled at
Miami University that the chances were good he would find someone with whom he
would spend his life. Kelsey Longcamp
agreed to his request. And I’m very
grateful she did.
5)
When my daughter moved to Las Vegas,
my greatest concern was not the distance, the city, or her inexperience. My soul was disquieted because she was going
alone and would be alone. Enter a young
woman name Olivia who has become like a guardian angel to me.
6)
Last Sunday in the welcome center, a
visitor remarked, “this is really a warm and friendly church.” I had to agree. But that’s not all. We are a family blessed with gifts and
graces. Thanks, Natalie, for a great
cantata. And thank you, “the people of
Hope,” for responding with magnanimity to the call of helping one among us who
recently lost her home to a fire. You
responded as the people of God respond.
I am very thankful to be your pastor.
Have
a very merry Christmas.
Grace
& Peace,
Pastor
Jay
7:00P
CHRISTMAS
EVE COMMUNION
Our
traditional Christmas Eve service will include holy communion
to all who desire to receive it. In
addition, for individuals, groups, or families who would like to celebrate the
sacrament, Pastor Jay will remain an hour after the service to serve them and
pray with them.
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If
you would like to hear some gospel bluegrass, the band Dudley’s Rush will lead
the Christmas Eve worship service at Union UMC, 721 E. Main Street at noon in
the chapel.
January
4 Isaiah 60:1-6, 9
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
January
11 Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-38
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
January
18 Isaiah 62:1-5
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11
January
25 Nehemiah 8:2-10
1 Corinthians
12:12-27
Luke 4:14-21
8:15AM - SUNDAY
- SCRIPTURE…..
PREACHING…...PRAYER
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.
Annual report articles are
due in the church office on Sunday, January 5. Articles can be emailed to:
hopesec@peaknet.net
or dropped off in the church office or the secretary’s mailbox in the hallway.
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Once again we collected money for the Nothin’ but Nets program and forwarded $130 to this lifesaving venture. The children of the church spearheaded the effort with their gifts at children’s time during worship. Thank you for all who contributed to buy mosquito netting for African families being harmed by disease-carrying mosquitoes.
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Thank you for your
generous response to the mother of Heaunita
Peoples. Having escaped a house fire, she
lost a home and her possessions.
On Sunday, December
14, a request was made by Pastor Jay during worship and the Hope family
responded with an offering of $500. Many
thanks for your spirit of giving during the season of giving.
A
course in food service sanitation is meeting in our church on several days
throughout the year. The Safe Food
Handlers Corporation is teaching the class and has offered it to any person in
our congregation free of charge. If
interested, contact the church office.
Early
in the new year we will offer confirmation classes and
Christianity fundamentals classes.
Confirmation is designed for sixth grade and beyond. Anyone is welcome to the class offered in Christianity
fundamentals, especially those contemplating baptism and/or joining the
church. Contact Pastor Jay if you are
interested in either class. Details
about date, place, and time will follow.
As
advertised last month, a 10 week program on women’s health will be offered
beginning Wednesday, February 4, 6-7P. A
$5.00 fee for the entire 10 weeks will be collected at the first
gathering. The Illinois Department of
Public Health is sponsoring it and will cover a variety of topics including
nutrition, physical activity, stress management, aging well, diabetes,
etc. Free glucose and cholesterol
screenings will be offered as well as giveaways. Call the church office to register.
8TH Annual “Family Feud”
Hope
Church Miller Hall
Saturday,
January 17 - 6:30p.m.
Please
RSVP
Larry
& Karen Mueller - 234-2457
Please
bring an appetizer to share!
To the Sunday School Department:
A big thank
you to the large group of children, parents, choir members and Pastor Jay who
came caroling last Saturday at Four Fountains Convalescent Center. Joe enjoyed
all the attention and everyone enjoyed the wonderful singing. It was beautiful. God bless all of you for blessing the
residents there.
In Christian love,
Joe and Marcie Altman and Family
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Dear Hope family, Pastor Carol and Pastor Jay,
Joe and I want to express our appreciation to all
of you for the cards, visits (Joe loves to see your friendly faces come in , and especially your prayers for him during his
illness. He is waiting for gall bladder
surgery to be scheduled soon and then hopes to regain his strength to be able
to walk again. Wishing
God’s blessings to all of you at Christmas and in the New Year.
In Christian love,
The Altmans
Joe, Marcie, Julie, Lori, son Joe and families
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AT
HOPE CHURCH
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 8, 2009
3-7:00P
Blood Donors, Volunteers,
Sandwiches and Pies are needed!
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January 4 Memorial
Service during worship to remember those we have lost from our Hope Church
family.
January 8 Singles’
Luncheon, 11:30A
Red
Cross Blood Drive, 3-7P
January 9 BCC Lunch
January 12 Senior
Fellowship, 7P
January 15 St. Clair County
Youth Night, 5:30P
January 17 Adult Fellowship
“Family Feud”, 6:30P
January 18 Kids’ Skating
Party at Fun Spot, 1P
January 25 Soup/Sandwich
Lunch and Congregational Meeting
January 27 MOPS, 6:30P
January 29 Book Club, 10:30A
Heating and
Cooling System
Friday the rooftop units were removed and one has been
replaced. They are taking measurements
on the other one. There are still a few
minor touch-ups on the remaining units.
Weather permitting they will set the remaining rooftop unit and we
should be finished soon.
The company that received the contract for the roof
replacment over the Quilters and Stitchers room has been given the go
ahead. The work should be done as soon
as weather permits.
As a reminder, all gifts to Hope Church need to be in the
church office by Wednesday, December 31 to be on the 2008 giving
statements The 2008 statements will be
mailed in January. If you have any
questions, please contact me in the church office.
Bonnie Jones
Financial Secretary
January 27 - “Moms
on A Misson For
Family Nutrition”
February 24 - Cheryl
Moody presents
“Life
is a Balancing Act”
March 24
- Self Defense lessons with Ed
French (we will have two meetings this month for the lessons. Second meeting to be determined)
April 28
- Mother’s Day Message with
Hope Church’s Associate Pastor Carol Wilkinson
May 26 - Year
end wrap-up with potluck
If interested in joining us, please contact
Amy Pannier.
Next meeting
will be January 11 after morning church service. All Sunday School teachers
are requested to attend. Contact Amy
Pannier for any questions or further info.
Come Join us!
Fun Spot Roller Rink
Sunday, January 18
1P - ?
We’ll meet at Fun Spot at 1P for
skating and fun! All are welcome! Don’t miss out on the fun! Contact Amy Pannier for further details.
Thursday, January 8
11:30A
Please come and bring a guest!
RSVP to Pastor Carol by January 4
Thursday,
January 29
10:30AM
“A Thousand Splendid Suns”
by Khaled Hosseini
The boxes are
available in the library. Boxes were
issued to everyone who contributed to Hope Church during 2008. If you did not receive a box of envelopes but
would like to, please contact the church office. You do not have to be a member of Hope Church
to use the envelopes.
We wish to extend
our sympathy to Shirley Muren in the loss of
her brother.
During the past
month, the following gifts were received:
·
In memory of Harold Vogt and in honor of Frieda
Vogt by Fred and Kathy Bruss.
·
In memory of Pastor Bob Coon by Norma Coon
and her family.