September 2012 Newsletter

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


Feasting on Wisdom                           -Harvey Yoder

Wisdom... has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
    she has also set her table.
She has sent out her servants, and she calls...,
    “Come, eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your immature ways and you will live;
    walk in the way of insight.”   (Proverbs 9, a lectionary reading for 8/19/12)

At our Sunday Bible studies, it’s always a challenge to connect the day’s lectionary texts together in a meaningful way. We choose to use these readings to give us a common focus for our weekly gathering, and to help keep us from simply dwelling on each of our own favorite texts. So we trust each service can offer a buffet of some of the rich and varied Biblical fare for which we need to come prepared with a good appetite and an eagerness to feast on God’s wisdom.

     Wisdom is one of the most praised virtues in the Bible, since it forever blesses us and helps us live in ways we will never regret. By contrast, foolishness represents the kind of living that bring us no end of remorse.   

     As Christians, we see Jesus as the embodiment of God’s wisdom, the one who invites us to eat and drink of himself in a life-giving feast we call the Lord’s Supper. Here he is both host and heart changing meal.

     In a counter story in the book Genesis, our first human ancestors were surrounded by a veritable feast of good foods, but were also warned against eating from one certain tree God had forbidden them to taste. But to them its fruit not only looked especially delicious but as something that could make them extraordinarily “wise.” You know the story. Choosing the forbidden fruit turned out to represent the most foolish and fatal choice of all time.

     Our weekly carry-in meals viscerally remind us of God’s best of all feasts, in which we take in the very life and wisdom of Jesus himself, the bread and wine that daily sustains and energizes us.

Notes, prayers and praises

* THE 46TH ANNUAL VIRGINIA MENNONITE RELIEF SALE will be held at the Rockingham Fairgrounds October 5-6.
* PRAY FOR THOSE ATTENDING the Mennonite Women of Virginia Fall Retreat Sept. 21-23 at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center.
* SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS to Billy and Karla May 9/3!
* GUY AND MARGIE VLASITS plan to leave for Texas September 20 to  
   spend two weeks with their son and family.
* GET FOH UPDATES at http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogspot.com/

September lectionary readings

2   Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Psalm 72 James 1:17-27 Mark 7:1-23
9   Proverbs 22:1-23 Psalm 125 James 2:1-17 Mark 7:24-37
16 Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19  James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38
23 Proverbs 31:10-31 Psalm 1 James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a  Mark 9:30-37
30 Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 Psalm 124 James 5:13-20 Mark 9:38-50

September services  worship at 4 pm, meal at 6

2 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802   574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr                                                      Carry-in Meal           
9 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive                433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                     Carry-in Meal
16 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr K’town   908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy & Margie Vlasits
Bible Study:                                                                          Carry-in Meal
23 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave   432-0531
Worship and Sharing: Women's Retreat participants
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                         Carry-in Finger Food Meal                 
30 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802   574-6141
Worship and Sharing:
Bible Study: James Stauffer                                             Carry-in Meal