Sunday, May 27, 2012

June 2012 newsletter (updated 6/3)

House-to-House
 Family of Hope House Church         June 2012

A Last Supper for Miguel 11/17/39-5/14/12
   - Harvey Yoder

Just two days prior to his death Alma Jean and I celebrated the Lord’s Supper with FOH member Michael Rivera-Wenger and his wife Lois in their home. Michael was alert enough to greet us warmly and to receive with joy the bread and the cup of the Eucharist. He drank his grape juice through a straw and expressed his desire for more, as if he knew he needed an extra measure of this life giving bread and wine to sustain him through the last days of his journey home, knew that he needed the priceless life blood of Jesus in that cup to give him the strength to die.

Michael always had a great fondness for good food, so he will relish having a choice seat at the great wedding supper of the Lamb described in the last book of the Bible. He also knew first hand what it was like to be embraced by an extravagant Father spreading a welcoming table for him to celebrate his return to faith and family some years ago.

God is always like that. Whenever there is a homecoming, there is music and dancing and laughter and tables heavy with good food, just as the prophet Isaiah promised long ago (Isaiah 25:6-8):

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
   
a feast of rich food for all peoples,

a banquet of aged wine—
   
the best of meats and the finest of wines.


On this mountain he will destroy
   
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,

the sheet that covers all nations;
       
he will swallow up death forever.


The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
   
from all faces;

he will remove his people’s disgrace
  
from all the earth.

The Lord has spoken.


Come home, Miguel, come home. It’s suppertime.

Notes, prayers and praises (note birthday updates!)

MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER died Monday, May 14, after years of declining health. A service was held in his memory Monday, May 21, at the memorial garden Lois created for him at their home at 204 Homes Lane, Staunton, VA 24401. Our love and sympathy go to Lois and to their family, and we offer special prayers for Lois, who is facing radiation and on June 4, a lumpectomy for breast cancer. You can reach her at 502-525-8650.

PRAY FOR BILLY MAY as he recovers from his May 30 knee surgery.

THE CIVIL WAR ERA-BASED DRAMA “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks,” will play at EMU’s Eshleman Theater June 1-3, June 8-10, & 15-17 Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm – Sundays at 3 pm

BERTHA SWARR has returned home from her stay at Oak Lea and is doing better.

GUY AND  MARGIE VLASITS are on an extended cross country trip and expect to return around June 30. Their long time friend KAREN SOICH has become a part of their household and is taking care of their bed and breakfast in their absence. Her cell number is 330-209-7916.

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Sophie May, 6/2, Josiah Dumas 6/9 (he'll be 18!), Karla May 6/16, Isaiah May, 6/27 and Harvey Yoder 6/30!

GET FOH UPDATES at http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogpost.com.

June lectionary readings
(corrected!)

3   Psalm 29 Isaiah 6:1-8 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17
10 Psalm 130 Genesis 3:8-15 2Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-35
17 Psalm 92:1-15 Ezekiel 17:22-24 2Cor 5:6-10, 14-17 Mark 4:26-34
24 Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 Job 38:1-11 2Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41

June services    worship at 4 pm, meal at 6  (a couple of corrections)      

3 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802     574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr                                                        Carry-in Meal

10 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive                433-3983
Worship and Sharing:
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                                                  Carry-in Meal  
                                               
17 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr K’town   908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                    Carry-in Meal

24 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802        564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: James Stauffer                                                    Carry-in Meal

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