June 2017 newsletter

House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church                     June 2017

Remembering Rachel Stoltzfus 1925-2017

On May13, just before Mother's Day, our friend and fellow member Rachel Stoltzfus, 91, died peacefully at the Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, the community she and her late husband Robert had chosen to spend their last years together. On Friday she had become very ill and was admitted to RMH while with her son and daughter-in-law west of town, David and Twila Stoltzfus.

For years Rachel and Robert had lived in a modest home on the corner of Two Penny Drive and Mt. Clinton Pike, where she continued to live after his passing until she moved to Bethesda, Maryland, four years ago. There her home was with her daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Gonzalo Accame.

It was a privilege being Rachel's pastor, and we at Family of Hope house church grew to deeply love and appreciate her during the many years she was a part of our little close-knit congregation. She frequently hosted our church meetings in her home, and was hospitable to scores if not hundreds of international students attending EMU during the years she and her husband lived near the campus. After he died she continued that ministry on her own.

This July 4 her family and her church family will be hosting a celebration of her life at the River of Life Church on Blackberry Lane just off Mt. Clinton Pike. Rachel and Robert had been an active part of the New Covenant Mennonite Fellowship which built the meeting house where the her memorial service will be held. At that service we will share our fond memories of this remarkable saint.

- Harvey Yoder

Notes, prayers and praises 

• RACHEL STOLTZFUS, who died May 13 at age 91, will be greatly missed and long remembered. Her memorial service will be held at the River of Life Church near her former home along Mt. Clinton Pike at 11 am July 4.
• ON PENTECOST SUNDAY, June 4, we will have our annual covenanting service, in which we agree to the following: “I support the goals, vision and faith of Family of Hope, will attend weekly services as regularly as I am able, and will use my gifts and offer my encouragement to this church family to the best of my ability. I invite other members to support me--and to confront me as needed--in being faithful to this commitment.”
• 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!

June lectionary readings

4    Numbers 11:24-30  Psalm 104:24-35  1 Corinthians 12:3b-13  John 7:37-39

11  Genesis 1:1-2:4a  Psalm 8  2 Corinthians 13:11-13  Matthew 28:16-20

18  Genesis 18:1-15  Psalm 116  Romans 5:1-8 Matthew 9:35-10:8

25  Genesis 21:8-21  Psalm 86  Jeremiah 20:7-13  Romans 6:1b-11  Matthew 10:24-39

June services, worship at 4, meal at 6

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

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder 

Bible Study: Paul Swarr                               Sandwich and fresh fruit meal                                                 

11 Location: Guy Vlasits 1260 Parkway Drive, H’burg            269-6706   

Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer

Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                      Carry-in meal                            

18 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave    432-0531

Worship and Sharing: 

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                                             Finger foods meal                                                                        

25 Location: TBD

Worship and Sharing: Guy Vlasits                                          

Bible Study: Elly Nelson                                                       Carry-in Meal