July 2018 newsletter

House-to-House

 Family of Hope House Church                                            July 2018

LOVE—It’s What Makes a Human Being A Human Being       

- Harvey Yoder

A child's "failure to thrive" and even survive can be the result not only of genetic or medical conditions, but to a lack of nurturing relationships with loving caregivers. To be loved, held, touched, embraced, and interacted with from infancy is vital to a child's healthy development, and to his or her ability to grow up being able to love and care for others.

In understaffed orphanages in war-ravaged Europe in the last century, children who were kept in cribs, where they may have been routinely fed and diapered but provided little else, grew up being unable to talk, walk or care for themselves, demonstrating that it takes loving interactions with human beings to produce thriving human beings. And many of these children simply died.

As we grow into adulthood, we continue to need God-given love in a network of caring relationships in order to maintain good emotional and physical health. In an age of communicating through texts and experiencing fewer than ever close bonds with others, I'm concerned about increased incidents of depression, anxiety disorders and even suicide.

Our local RISE congregation has as one of its mantras "Receive Love. Give Love. Repeat." That pretty much sums up what makes us healthy and happy children of God. Without it, we find ourselves seeking every substitute possible to fill up the hole in our soul, and then wonder why we are left with a sense of loneliness and despair.

Notes, Prayers and Praises

• VIRGINIA MENNONITE CONFERENCE ASSEMBLY meets at the Calvary Community Church in Hampton, Virginia July 19-21.
• OUR CONTINUED PRAYERS for Guy and Margie Vlasits as they get things ready to move into their new house near Keezletown.
• JULY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Lois Rivera-Wenger, July 30!

July Lectionary Texts

1   Lamentations 3:22-33, Psalm 30,  2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43

8  2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, Psalm 48, Ezekiel 2:1-5,  2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13

15 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24, Amos 7:7-15, Ephesians 1:3-14,    

            Mark 6:14-29

22  2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Psalm 89:20-37, Jeremiah 23:1-6, Ephesians     

            2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

29  2 Samuel 11:1-15, Psalm 145:10-18, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21

July services, worship at 4, meal at 6 pm

1 Location: Park Place, second floor meeting room                   564-3716

Worship and sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Paul Swarr                                    light salad/fresh fruit meal

8 Location: Virginia Mennonite Conference Center                    432-0531

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder                                   

Bible Study: Clyde Kratz, VMC Executive Minister     (No evening meal)                                    
15 Location: Guy and Margie Vlasits 1260 Parkway Drive       269-6706

Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                                                    Carry-in Meal       

22 Location: FLRC, 273 Newman Ave. (ground floor)               432-0531

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder                                           

Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                     Carry-in Meal               

29 Location: FLRC, 273 Newman Ave. (ground floor)               432-0531

Worship and Sharing: Kent Palmer                                  

Bible Study: Elly Nelson                                                Finger Food Meal