Family of Hope House Church
Living by the Values of the Future
Since the recent rash of mass killings in this country, we’ve been hearing a lot of voices advocating for more people being armed to prevent such tragedies. But to me that represents a huge step backwards to a less civilized and more barbaric era of human history.
I once heard George Brunk III, former dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, say, “Our faith is not so much about preserving values from the past as it is about living by the values of the future.”
In other words, we’re not just about resisting change and holding on to our good heritage, but are called to radically demonstrate a way of life now that has never yet really been, except maybe in the Garden of Eden. Thus as a people of God we are to be an advertisement about what the future will be like, when the Prince of Peace is fully sovereign, when God’s will will be done on earth as it already is in heaven.
That’s what it means to become a people who are already living by the rules of the future, when people everywhere will model the prophet Isaiah’s vision of “beating swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks,” and will “study war no more.” Like Jesus, we will already live as though the wolf were lying down with the lamb, the leopard with the kid, and with a little child leading them. It will be said of us, “(T)hey will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea.”
That’s the future we’re being enlisted now to join and prepare for, to truly become an Exhibit A, a showcase, a demonstration site, of what God’s forever world will inevitably be like. - Harvey Yoder
Notes, prayers and praises
JANUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to James Stauffer 1/8, Susan Campbell 1/17, Becky Morlan 1/28, Dick Dumas 1/30!
PRAY FOR RACHEL STOLTZFUS, gradually regaining her health and strength after having had another mild stroke last month.
DAVID WEAVER’S address is 1032 Smith Avenue, Harrisonburg 22802 and his phone number is 421-4504.
FOH BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA includes approving a 2013 budget and electing two members to the Leadership Team.
GET FOH UPDATES at http:/familyofhopehousechurch.
HARVSPOT, Harvey’s blog, is at http://harvyoder.blogspot.com.
January lectionary readings
6 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12
13 Psalm 29 Isaiah 43:1-7 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
20 Psalm 36:5-10 Isaiah 62:1-5 1Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11
27 Psalm 19 Nehemiah 8:1-10 1Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21
January services (worship at 4, meal at 6)
6 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
13 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr., K’town 908-0391
Church business meeting and Communion Meal c/o Harvey Yoder
20 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave 432-0531
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas
27 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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