1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Welcome Hosts: 8:30 am: June and Don Stroop
11am:
God has called you! See what amazing things God will do through you!
Need volunteers for Hosting. "Coordinators needed" for the 11am service.
Projection:
Audio Tech:
Refreshment Hosts:
Counting Team: #3 Bob Bonetz, Jeff Ney and Kim Simcox
We are glad you are worshipping with us today!
March 15, 2015
8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. 8:30
Children Church Leaders
Nursery: 8:30am: Carol Rhoads
Children’s Church: 8:30am: Cathy Russell
11am: Jen Choudhry
God has called you! See what amazing things God will do through you!
Volunteer Now!
10 am Sunday School Leaders
Preschool & Primary Rm 6: Jen Choudhry
Intermediate Rm 5: Marisel Smith
Youth Rm 2: Brian Bergey & Shelly Sobel
GSP Rm 4: Nancy Hartman and Gerry Hawk
MENS Bible Study, Doug Franks Leads: Discussion Format
NEW! Library Rm 3: SHARE & PRAY HOUR –
Share your ideas with the Pastor!
Exodus Bible Study Rm 1: Steve Young & Mike Sobel
Rev. Dr. Sharon Barley, Lead Pastor
Kim Simcox, Administrative Secretary
ALL Members, Ministers
117 North Monocacy Creek Rd. Douglassville PA
610-385-7141 www.HopeChurchAmity.org
Please check all ministry happenings on Face Book
Attendance from 3/8/15
Sunday School 44 (YTD Average 45)
8:30am Worship 46 (YTD Average 52)
11am Worship 38 (YTD Average 40)
Total Worship 84 (YTD Average 86)
BIBLE STUDY MEETS IN LIBRARY
Wednesdays: Meal at 6:30 p.m; Study at 7:00 p.m.
Hope UM Church,
March 15, 2015 – 4th WEEK in LENT
8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Worship
*Please feel free to remain seated if you are unable to stand.
Worship Leader & Choir Director: Lauren Young (volunteer)
Music and Drama Leadership: Janine Gonyea (volunteer)
Music Leadership: Cathy Misciagna (volunteer)
Thank you to all our musicians and singers today for your faithful encouragement
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLES: “Jesus is the Light of the World”
* GATHERING PRAISE & WORSHIP – Please come in and greet
someone you don’t know and connect with your friends in ministry!
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Dr. Sharon Barley, Lead Pastor
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians Chapter 2: 8 – 10 (MSG)
Chris Bergey 8:30 am
Mason Jolivette 11:00 am
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Tammi Boatman
JOYFUL NOISE OFFERING: Over and above your tithe to support all
special needs in Hope Church ministries. God bless your generosity!
Please put your weekly giving commitments in the box at each door.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING OVER OFFERINGS
Tammi Boatman
* PRAISE AND WORSHIP SERMON:
SERMON AND TEXT: John 3:14-21
Dr. Sharon Barley, Lead Pastor
Called to Faith in Christ Alone,
Ephesians 2:8-10
The Message (MSG)
8-10 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this
world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ
Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him
enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t
play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that
we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves.
God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ
Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten
ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
John 3:14-21
Living Bible (TLB)
14 And as Moses in the wilderness lifted up the bronze image of a
serpent on a pole, even so I must be lifted up upon a pole, 15 so that
anyone who believes in me will have eternal life. 16 For God loved
the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 God did not
send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
18 “There is condemnation for those who trust him to save them. But
those who don’t trust him have already been tried and condemned
for not believing in the only Son of God. 19 Their sentence is based on
this fact: that the Light from heaven came into the world, but they
loved the darkness more than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
20 They hated the heavenly Light because they wanted to sin in the
darkness. They stayed away from that Light for fear their sins would
be exposed and they would be punished. 21 But those doing right
come gladly to the Light to let everyone see that they are doing what
God wants them to.”
Sermon Notes
* DEDICATION SONG:
Praise and Worship Team
BLESSING FOR YOUR WEEK AHEAD
Dr. Sharon Barley
HOPE’S Happenings This Week
Sunday, March 15
8:15 am
8:30 am
9:45 am
10 am S.S.
11 am
1:00 -3 pm.
6:30pm-8pm
One Great Hour of Sharing
Pre-service Prayer Time
Celebration Worship Service
Refreshments and Fellowship – Kitchen to Classes
A Sunday School for everyone! Please join
Celebration Worship Service
TODAY Confirmation Classes for Middle & High Schoolers
at Cedarville UM Church – car pooling as needed
Couple’s Bible Study in room 1
Monday, March 16
7pm
Celebration Team meeting in room 3
1 – 4; 6-9
Pastor meeting; Pastor in office 6-9
Tuesday, March 17
9 am -1 pm
Church office OPEN
Wednesday, March 18
9 am – 1 pm
Church office OPEN – Pastor in office 1pm
6:30pm
Lenten Study in room 3
7pm
Knotty Knitters Class room 4
7pm-8:30pm
Youth Group in rooms 1 & 2
7pm
Praise Team Practice in Worship Center
Thursday, March 19
9 am -1 pm
Church office OPEN
6:30pm-7:30pm Zumba Class in Worship Center
Friday, March 20
All Day
Pastoral Visitation & Counseling
Saturday, March 21
8:30am-3:30pm Faith Sharing Workshop (New Hanover UMC)
9am-12pm
Cooking for Jesus in Hope’s Kitchen
Sunday, March 22
8:15 am
8:30 am
9:45 am
10:00 am S.S
11 am
6:30pm-8pm
Pre-service Prayer Time
Celebration Worship Service
Refreshments and Fellowship – Kitchen to Classes
A Sunday School for everyone! Please join.
Celebration Worship Service
Couple’s Bible Study in room 1
PLEASE CALL PASTOR SHARON IF YOU ARE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL
OR IN ANY EMERGENCY: 717-917-7066 or email [email protected]
PRAYERS FOR
OUTREACH:
Hope Builders
Hope’s ERT Mission
Love Inc.
Red Bird Mission Testimony
Salvation Army
St Paul’s Food Pantry
Open Hearts-Open Arms
making food each month
PRAYER FOR NEW
MINISTRY STARTS…
Need Coordinators for:
• Hope Church Kitchen Team
to organize and care for our
Kitchen
• Hope Church “Care Team”
to organize food, and support to
shut-ins and those in the
Hospital or recently ill and need
support.
• Hospitality Team to organize
Welcome events, visitor
mentors and follow-up of new
and old members.
• Outreach Team to organize
sporting events, and all efforts
to reach our neighbors for
Christ.
• UM Men’s Ministry Team at
Hope Church
MEMBERS PRAYER
REQUESTS
Keith Golembiewski
Joan Kulas
June & Don Stroop
Chick Carey
Tracy Harris
Leonard Gresh
Betty Siebert
Ken Rhoads
Evelyn Davidheiser
Dorothy Christman
Pastor Sharon’s Mom
Donna Shaw
Megan Coffelt
Steve Danzig
Rosemary Claycomb
Janelle
Nancy Oakley
Sharon Specht
(week of 3/8/15)
PRAISES:
God
Hope Church!
My manager chose to put me in
the manager training program at
work and I have an interview for
the manager position.
My granddaughters are going to
church
Dad, Robert Becker, had a
successful procedure to get his
heat back into rhythm
Hope Church and how happy I
feel when I leave, Courtney
For son to find employment
Mack Family
Upcoming interview
Continue healing for my
dad, Robert Becker, to
regain strength and energy
Harold & Mary
Mrs. Shelly
Nancy Oakley-healing of
eyes
Sharon Specht-healing
*Please Note: For any prayer to be published, please obtain permission.
Long-term prayer contact: 610-582-7646 or [email protected]
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES 2015
H.O.P.E. 100%
Easter Sunday morning we will be hosting an "Easter Treat" potluck during the
Refreshment time. Just as we celebrate Christmas together by everyone bringing in
cookies, this year we will celebrate Easter by everyone contributing a favorite Easter
treat to share during the fellowship time between services.
NEED LEADERS NEEDED: Hospitality and Outreach Leader, Prayer
Ministry Leader, and a Small Group Ministries Leader. These are all
NEW ministry initiatives so that we can focus on
1. OUTREACH
2. DISCIPLESHIP.
CHIILDRENS MINISTRY TEAM: is seeking volunteers to serve in the Sunday School,
Children’s Church and Nursery. NO experience is necessary…just a love for children! See Jen
Choudhry for more information!
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PASTOR: Pastor Sharon will be in the library
between services for coffee and conversation. This is a time for you to express or receive
support, for prayer together, and to grow together in Christ.
GRIEF CARE & SHARE:
Led by Bev Didario. This grief share group will be for men and
women that are, or have previously experienced a time of grief. This can be grief created not
only by loss through death but also loss of health, financial changes, loss of a pet, retirement,
empty nest, any type of grief or major life change. This group will be to help reach into our
deep self through art, journaling, coping skills and "visual language". You don't have to be a
writer or an artist or a speaker. Please sign-up for the NEXT GROUP AND BEST TIME.
THE GREAT EXODUS:
Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. in room 1. Co-led by Mike Sobel
and Steve Young. This Bible study will take you on an incredible journey into the historic text
of Jewish history. Have you seen the movie? What is real and what is false? Is the movie a
good portrayal of the biblical text or just another sensational rendition of Hollywood’s
dreams? Come learn about some key insights and truths about the EXODUS!
Coming SATURDAY, May 16th – An ALL-CHURCH Retreat..
This retreat will give you an opportunity to discover your spiritual gift and help shape the
VISION, MISSION, AND CORE VALUES of Hope UM Church. We must know where we are
going to get there: Vision. We must know what is at the heart of our practice of ministry and
how to get there: Mission. We must know ourselves, ourselves in Christ, and what makes up
the people called HOPE Church: Core Values.
th
Put May 16 from 9-3 pm on your
calendar. breakfast included.
Hope’s Nursery will offer childcare for children birth through preschool during the 8:30
service. The nursery will be open for parents to utilize during the 11:00 service, but childcare
will not be provided. If you are interested in volunteering to serve in the Nursery, please see
Jen Choudhry!
Middle School and Youth Confirmation classes are NOW being held! PLEASE
MEET TODAY AFTER CHURCH WITH YOUR PARENTS PERMISSION FOR TRANSPORTATION. the
confirmation classes are held at 1pm at Cedarville UM Church. Lunch is provided for the
youth. Every youth that participates has an adult mentor. Please contact Bob Simcox, Crissy
Bergey, or Pastor Sharon for more information.
2015 STRETCHING OUR MINISTRY MUSCLES
Stepping-stones to church growth and spiritual renewal:
H. Hospitality: March 21st. Cooking for Jesus begins 9 am. Come
Saturday morning and help cook up some dinners to freeze. Bring in your recipes for
SOUP! We would like to organize our own Open Hearts, Open Arms Hope Church
Recipe Book in the kitchen if someone volunteers to be the “keeper of recipes.”
O. Outreach: Have an idea? A neighbor in need? Hope Builder’s Ministry needs
your help. Please put in your name for your interest to be contacted as outreach
ministry projects are made known. Please contact the Church Office or send us an
email!
P. Purpose: That’s why we praise Him, that’s why we sing…. New Exodus Bible
Study Class, and Grief Care began in January. If you are in need of private spiritual
direction and prayer, please call Pastor Sharon directly.
E. Engagement: Use your spiritual gifts to bring glory to GOD!!
District Conference will be held on April 12th (Sunday) at 3pm.
Location: First UMC of Phoenixville (865 Main St., Phoenixville, PA)
Upcoming Central District Trainings
Trustee Intensive Training - March 28th
Time: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Location: New Vision United Methodist Church
Finance Intensive Training - April 25th
Location: Haven Peniel UMC
Time: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Nominations Intensive Training - April 25th
Location: Evans burg UMC
Time 8:30am - 12:30pm
WEDNESDAY Lenten Bible Study – LET US BREAK BREAD
TOGETHER. Join Pastor Sharon for a supper of delicious, warm
soup and bread as we study and walk in the shadow of the cross
together. Begins this Wed. Feb. 25th at 7 p.m. Through Bible study,
prayer, reflection and worship we walk a Lenten journey together every Wednesday
to Maundy Thursday, our Seder Meal here at Hope Church. Lent is a time of
preparation, repentance, celebration, and rejoicing, Deepen your faith and sense
God’s care and love for you along the journey.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Church’s observance of the
Lenten season—six weeks set apart for the purpose of drawing closer to God
and seeking him with greater intensity.
ASH Wednesday As we received the symbolic gesture of the imposition of
ashes on our foreheads, we acknowledge our human finiteness and mortality.
No matter who we think we are, receiving the ashes reminds us that, “You
are dust and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19). Invite a Friend to
journey with you throughout our Lenten Study together in the library.
Feb. 25th - Growing in the Gift of Joy through LOVE
Lent begins with an invitation to honesty and clarity. We can receive God’s
gift of Joy when our hearts and minds are pure before him. What gracious
gift awaits us if we are willing to heed, hear, and obey His Word.
March 4th - Servanthood, Breaking the ME-first MIND-set
The season of Lent is not a simple rearranging of outside priorities, or
breaking old habits, or giving up ‘stuff.’ It is a whole new, fully renewed
mindset. Let’s break bread together and eat soup and let God change us!
March 11th – The Foolishness of the Cross – What is Faithful
Suffering?
Suffering is a path and journey we all must take at some point in our life.
We avoid suffering, fight against suffering, withdraw from suffering in all
circumstances and in particular – when we suffer a wrong, or offense, or
being misunderstood. Jesus chose to suffer. WHY?!
THIS WEEKS STUDY:
March 18th – SURRENDER. The Moment of Letting Go.
Surrender. We hate that word. We want our rights, privileges and freedom.
Surrender is not in our vocabulary God! God has made a way for us to find
true freedom in our life, it is not through resistance or withdrawal – but
uniquely and wholly through surrender. Struggling with letting go of
something or someone? Come find true freedom in simple words of grace.
March 25th – True Humility. Can We Find is Anywhere Anymore?
The Christian Gospel is framed in this one core value that brings salvation to
millions throughout history and every day. We have an upward mobility, yet
God continues to call us to a downward mentality. Is joy and love gained by
outward success or is there something more. Come learn about the GREAT
PARADOX of Scripture and a way to total freedom NOW>
HOLY WEEK Sunday, March 29th – Saturday April 4th
Thursday, April 2nd – Seder Meal Together – more info to come.
Resurrection EASTER Sunday, April 5th
“‘And yet even now,’ says the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart . . .’”
—Joel 2:12
“Where in my life have I gotten away from God, and what are the
disciplines that will enable me to find my way back?”
Honest to God
As we prepare for Lent, we are called to be as honest as we are able
about the ways we have “left” God and slipped into spiritual mediocrity.
“You desire truth in the inward being,” Psalm 51 points out. “Therefore,
teach me wisdom in my secret heart.”
As God gives us wisdom and insight about our true condition we can
choose spiritual practices that are uniquely suited to help us return to God in
the places where we have strayed or to renew our passion where our hearts
have grown cold.
God’s Steadfast Love
Serious as the Lenten season is, it is also a time of great hope as we
experience God’s steadfast love for us, even in the midst of whatever sin we
are acknowledging. With confidence we pray, Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out
my transgressions.
In the shadow of Christ’s cross and impending resurrection we are
assured that there is forgiveness and cleansing for all who turn to him. In
Christ there is the power to pass from death unto life in the places where we
ourselves are in need of resurrection.