June 2015 Newsletter

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

Should We Join ‘Faith In Action’? - Harvey Yoder

Faith in Action is a newly forming coalition of local congregations I have been working with over the past number of months. Based on similar groups around the country like IMPACT Charlottesville (of which our overseer Roy Hange has been a part for the past decade), it is to be a way of working together not just for ministries of mercy, but to build a more just community where some of the root causes of poverty, homelessness, and crime are addressed.     

After listening to members of all covenant congregations, the group would select one issue each year on which to focus. Then for the next year the group would meet with members of both public, private and provider agencies that relate to the concern in question.  For example, how can we better invest in the needs of our neighbors with mental health and substance abuse issues and to have fewer of them become homeless or incarcerated?

Covenant Congregations participate in these joint efforts and agree to participate with an annual contribution of $500-$1000 ($200 in our case). The group is to officially launch in September of this year.

Our involvement could vary from year to year depending on our interest in the theme chosen. Every effort would be made to address local public servants with respect, using only the power of prayer and persuasion, keeping in mind the mandate to “love God with passion and love our neighbors with compassion”.

A key scripture for the group is from Micah 6:8,
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the            LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Notes, prayers and praises
SPECIAL JUNE BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Sophie May, 6/2, Josiah Dumas 6/9, Karla May 6/16, Isaiah May, 6/27 and Harvey Yoder 6/30!
JOSIAH DUMAS’s current address is 40990 Waxwing Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175.
VIRGINIA MENNONITE CONFERENCE ASSEMBLY will held at the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church this June 11-13, starting with a 7 pm Thursday evening service. That and the Friday evening meeting will be of special interest to delegates and non-delegates alike.
HARVEY AND ALMA JEAN will be away over the 6/21 weekend.
LOIS RIVERA-WENGER current address is 1317 Lake Access Road, Smithfield, KY 40068 (502-663-3195).

June lectionary readings
7   1 Samuel 8:4-20, 11:14-15  Psalm 138  2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1  Mark 3:20-35
14  1 Samuel 15:34-16:13  Psalm 20  2 Corinthians 5:6-17  Mark 4:26-34
21  1 Samuel 17:1-49  Psalm 9:9-20  2 Corinthians 6:1-13  Mark 4:35-41
28  2 Samuel 1:1-27  Psalm 30  Lamentations 3:22-33  2 Corinthians 8:7-15     Mark 5:21-43

June services worship at 4, meal at 6
7 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802     574-6141
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Paul Swarr                                                      Carry-in Meal
14 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave.  432-0531
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder    Finger Foods Meal                                        
21 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr., K’town
Worship and Sharing: Margie and Guy Vlasits
Bible Study: Ellie Nelson                                                    Carry In Meal
28 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr, 22802           564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                    Carry-in Meal