House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church November 2017
Remembering Karla May, 1947-2017
I first got to know Karla when she became a friend of my younger sister, when both attended Eastern Mennonite High School. I’m sure that one of the things that drew them together was the fact that each was adopted, which both made them special and maybe sometimes also made them feel a little different from their peers. I know my sister, whom we loved very much, still sometimes wondered why she was neglected and not cared for by her mother and placed in foster care, and then adopted.
Alma Jean and I each had the opportunity to be Karla’s teachers at EMHS, and Karla adopted my wife as a special friend and mentor, and frequently visited us. Then some years ago Karla became adopted into our little house church, where she was as an active member for many years. She always had a heart for people she felt might be overlooked or neglected, and wanted to make sure everyone was remembered and loved. For example, there was no one in our church more faithful in sending birthday or get well or sympathy cards to any of our members celebrating a life or experiencing a loss. Karla cared deeply.
As we all know, she went through unbelievable suffering herself in recent years, and I’m sure there were times when she wondered about God’s care for her as his special adopted daughter. But she’ll always have a place of special belonging in our hearts, and I know in the hearts of her husband, children and grandchildren. And I believe God has a special place set for Karla at Jesus’ great banquet table. He’s saying, “Come home, come home, my daughter, it’s supper time.”
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes,
“When the fullness of time was come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, to redeem us, so that we might receive full rights as God’s adopted children. And because we are children, God’s Spirit in us calls out, ‘Abba’ (‘Papa’), Father’,… and since we are children, we are also heirs, by adoption.” That’s the way God loves all of us.
So welcome home, Karla, you’ve suffered long enough, you’ve waited long enough. Welcome to the forever banquet. As Isaiah promises, “On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death for ever.”
So welcome home, Karla. You’ve got a place, yes, you’ve got a special place at God’s welcome table. So save us a seat. We hope to join you soon.
- Harvey Yoder
Notes, Prayers and Praises
- OUR FOH “MY COINS COUNT” total for the Relief Sale added $150.62 the $25,083.79 brought in this year. The SOS giving campaign brought in $35,575 and the entire sale may have raised a record-breaking amount, with final results yet to be tabulated.
- NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Neal Nelson 11/2, Paul Swarr 11/10, Emily Zhou 11/11, and Guy Vlasits 11/21. Neal and Elly Nelson’s 25th anniversary is November 26!
November Lectionary Texts
5 Joshua 3:7-17 Micah 3:5-12 Psalm 43 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Matthew 23:1-12
12 Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 Amos 5:18-24 Psalm 70 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13
19 Judges 4:1-7 Psalm 123, Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30
26 Ezekiel 34:11-24 Psalm 95 Ephesians 1:15-23 Matthew 25:31-46
November services, worship at 4, meal at 6
5 Location: Festival of Praise at EMHS at 4, followed by fellowship and a sandwich/fresh fruit meal at Park Place, second floor meeting room
12 Location: Guy Vlasits 1260 Parkway Drive 269-6706
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Elly Nelson Carry-in meal
19 Location: FLRC 273 Newman Avenue 432-0531
Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Finger foods meal
26 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr, 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Lewis Overholt Carry-in meal
Bible Study: Lewis Overholt Carry-in meal
