November 2018 newsletter

House-to-House

 Family of Hope House Church                     November 2018

Is Some Exodus History Repeating Itself?                    

"The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children." 

- Exodus 12:37

Today we are witnessing an unprecedented migration of people fleeing for their lives from one of the poorest and most violence-ridden countries in the world, Honduras. I can't help thinking of similarities between their plight and that of the Israelites deprived of their freedom and in fear of their future under Egyptian Pharaohs many years ago.

In this case the 'Pharaoh' is a corrupt and drug-infested government of a nation that has a higher poverty rate than that of Haiti. Teen age girls and boys are in particular danger of being raped and pressured to cooperate with drug cartels, with precious little protection from Honduran police. Unemployment is at a record high, and wages for those who are working are among the lowest in the world. 

But this isn't a case of people simply looking for better economic opportunity. Most of these migrants' very lives are in danger.

On our side of the border we have a choice. Will we work with our neighbors to the south to help provide reasonable protection and better opportunities for them, and by investing in "cities of refuge" on both sides of the border? Or will be like the Philistines in the biblical story who do everything we can to keep them from 'invading' the very part of our West we once invaded and conquered as Mexican-held territory?

Historically, God has always been on the side of needy refugees rather than on the side of world powers who have shunned them.

                                                                                       - Harvey Yoder

Notes, Prayers and Praises

• THE 17TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF PRAISE, featuring ten local men’s music ensembles and a combined men’s choir, will be held at the Eastern Mennonite School auditorium Sunday, November 4, at 4 pm. Our service is cancelled so all can attend this event.
• OUR ‘MY COINS COUNT’ (Penny Power) contribution to MCC at the Relief Sale was $101.51.
• NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS 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! 
• CHECK OUT THE EXHIBIT on WW I war resisters at EMU's Hartzler Library October 1-November 17. 

November Lectionary Texts

4   Ruth 1:1-18   Psalm 146   Deuteronomy 6:1-9  Hebrews 9:11-14  

            Mark 12:28-34

11 Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Psalm 127 1 Kings 17:8-16  Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44

18 1 Samuel 1:4-20  Daniel 12:1-3   Psalm 16   Hebrews 10:11-25      

            Mark 13:1-8

25 2 Samuel 23:1-7  Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14  Psalm 93   Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37

November services, worship at 4, meal at 6 pm

4 Today’s Family of Hope service is cancelled in favor of our being able to attend the Festival of Praise event at EMS (see note above).

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

Worship and sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger                                              
Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                 Brown bag meal

18 Location: Lewis and Mary Ellen Overholt  Heritage Haven G49

Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt                              432-7277

Bible Study: Elly Nelson                                                   Brown bag meal

25 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802      564-3716

Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer                                           

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                               Annual Thanksgiving meal