August 2015 newsletter

House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church                            August 2015

Gaining Altitude                               - Harvey Yoder

 For even young people tire and drop out,
    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
    they walk and don’t lag behind.
                                                                         Isaiah 40:31 (the Message)
I still remember this as the text used by a local pastor at my "graduation" from the Weekday Religious Education program at Stuarts Draft Elementary back in 1951. As a seventh grader it made an indelible impression, not because I often felt emotionally exhausted or drained, but because of the beauty and power of the words. It has been one of my favorite Bible passages ever since.
     As an adult I know very well what its like to experience stress to the point of feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes all we can see or think about is the elephant problem in the room.
     One of the benefits of "waiting upon God" is getting outside the room, gaining a new perspective, seeing the bigger picture. This kind of prayer is not meant to give us a means of escape as much as to help us gain the elevation we need to get a God's eye view of whatever is bothering us.
     When we see problems as a part of our larger and ongoing life picture, they don't magically disappear, but more of the rest of our God-blessed life appears and we are able to see things in a different light. Through the eyes of faith we can better see what an experience may look like and feel like in the overall scheme of things, in the context of a month, a year or even a lifetime from now.
     To me, that is a vital means of gaining strength, of being able to run without becoming weary, to walk without lagging behind or dropping out.
     Sometimes it's all about gaining some altitude.

Notes, prayers and praises

AUGUST BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Gail Blackburn 8/30! And Alma Jean and Harvey’s anniversary is 8/8 and James and Ruth Stauffer’s is 8/30.  
ROBERTA  McCROWELL’s address is 1491 Virginia Ave  #502 Harrisonburg, VA 22802. Her phone number is 540-564-6536.
CHECK THE FAMILY OF HOPE BLOG for any updates on the church schedule. http://familyofhope.blogspot.com

August Lectionary readings

2  2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a  Psalm 51:1-12  Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35
9  2 Samuel 18:5-33  Psalm 130  Psalm 34:1-8  Ephesians 4:25-5:2 
John 6:35, 41-51
16 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14  Psalm 111  Proverbs 9:1-6  Ephesians 5:15-20  John 6:51-58
23 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43  Psalm 84  Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 Ephesians 6:10-20   John 6:56-69
30 Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9  Psalm 15  James 1:17-27  Mark 7:1-8, 14-23

August services worship at 4, meal at 6

2 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802   574-6141
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Paul Swarr                                                     Carry-in Meal  
9 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave.  432-0531
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Elly Nelson                                                 Finger Food Meal
16 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr., K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                      Carry-in Meal
23 Location: Joyce Ulrich
Worship and Sharing: Lois Wenger
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                                           Carry-in Meal
30 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr, 22802             564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: James Stauffer                                                     Carry-in Meal