House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church __ January 2024
A House Church In Name Only?
Family of Hope began as a group of believers who, with the blessing of the overcrowded Zion Mennonite Church near Broadway, began meeting to pray and to discern whether to plant a new church somewhere in the northeastern part of Rockingham County.
The group eventually became involved in working with homeless and needy individuals and families, and a number of visionary seminary students and others joined. The group became the Virginia Mennonite Conference’s first and only house church congregation, and focused on investing primarily in ministry rather than in real estate and paid staff. Members experiencing church in its most basic essence, as an assembly of believers gathering for prayer, study, fellowship and in a mission of serving others at home and around the world. From the first, carry in meals were a regular part of each Sunday afternoon gathering.
The spread of Covid brought about a change to meeting by Zoom rather than in person, and ever since, for a variety of reasons, including becoming a more aged and ailing congregation, the group never resumed regular meetings in person in each others’ homes.
So are we still a “house church,” or has the name of our monthly newsletter, “House to House,” become a misnomer?
Recently we have spent considerable time in prayer and discernment about our future. A survey of members revealed a wide range of views as to whether we should continue as an organized congregation, and if so, whether we would have hybrid, Zoom and/or in-person services. On October 23, in a meeting in the patio of VMRC’s Village, we had only five people arrive in person by 3:30, but eventually had eight present in person and six online, indicative of some of our mixed feelings about where and how to meet.
I do sense, in our aging and ailing congregation, that the “ties that bind” are deep and strong, but we clearly need to discern what God wants for our future. We will have our annual business meeting January 21, and I suggest we meet in person.
- Harvey Yoder
The group eventually became involved in working with homeless and needy individuals and families, and a number of visionary seminary students and others joined. The group became the Virginia Mennonite Conference’s first and only house church congregation, and focused on investing primarily in ministry rather than in real estate and paid staff. Members experiencing church in its most basic essence, as an assembly of believers gathering for prayer, study, fellowship and in a mission of serving others at home and around the world. From the first, carry in meals were a regular part of each Sunday afternoon gathering.
The spread of Covid brought about a change to meeting by Zoom rather than in person, and ever since, for a variety of reasons, including becoming a more aged and ailing congregation, the group never resumed regular meetings in person in each others’ homes.
So are we still a “house church,” or has the name of our monthly newsletter, “House to House,” become a misnomer?
Recently we have spent considerable time in prayer and discernment about our future. A survey of members revealed a wide range of views as to whether we should continue as an organized congregation, and if so, whether we would have hybrid, Zoom and/or in-person services. On October 23, in a meeting in the patio of VMRC’s Village, we had only five people arrive in person by 3:30, but eventually had eight present in person and six online, indicative of some of our mixed feelings about where and how to meet.
I do sense, in our aging and ailing congregation, that the “ties that bind” are deep and strong, but we clearly need to discern what God wants for our future. We will have our annual business meeting January 21, and I suggest we meet in person.
- Harvey Yoder
Notes, Prayers and Praises
LOIS RIVERA WENGER will be leaving to be with her daughter Lorna and family in Kentucky. We will greatly miss her and pray for a good (and temporary?) stay.
PRAY FOR MARGIE VLASITS as she continues her measured recovery at the UVA Medical Center.
JANUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to James Stauffer 1/8, Susan Campbell 1/17, Becky Morlan 1/28, and Dick Dumas 1/30!
WE WILL HAVE OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING at the first floor conference room at VMRC’s Crestwood at 3:30 pm Sunday, January 21.
BIBLE STUDY TEXTS for January will be chosen by Bible study leaders.
January Services, 3:30-5:00 pm
7 Location: online
Worship and Sharing: Elly Nelson
Bible Study: Dick Dumas
14 Location: James and Ruth Stauffer’s apartment in Crestwood’s Redbud unit, with worship and Bible study on the Lord’s Prayer led by Harvey YoderBible Study: Dick Dumas
21 Location: FOH annual business meeting at Crestwood’s first floor conference room.
28 Location: online
Worship and Sharing Kent Palmer
Bible Study: Elly Nelson
28 Location: online
Worship and Sharing Kent Palmer
Bible Study: Elly Nelson
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