December 2019 newsletter

House-to-House

 Family of Hope House Church                   December 2019

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend on us, we pray

This season we celebrate the advent of that One and Only Child in whom God descends to earth naked and disarmed--a defenseless Lover and Lamb unwelcomed in the town of his ancestry. "He came to his own, and his own received him not."

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born in us today

In a world of great evil, need and hunger, we celebrate the baby who comes to us holy and innocent, needy and hungry, so dependent on the care of his parents, young and poor. This is the wonder of Christmas, the focus of our songs and of our celebration.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell 

We celebrate this time when God tugs hard at our hearts and calls us to care deeply and provide generously for all the newborn of the world, red, brown, yellow, black and white, for all of the Afghans, Hondurans, Haitians, Congolese, Palestinians, Syrians and others for whom there is no room except in stable-like shelters, tents and tenements. "As you have done to the least of these, you have done it unto me."

O come to us, abide with us

Our Lord, Immanuel

As you are born in us, help us all to love as God loved, live as Christ lived, so Christmas will not have come in vain, so all will be blessed, and there may yet be "peace on earth, goodwill to all." 

Notes, Prayers and Praises

• WE WILL HAVE A THANKSGIVING CARRY-IN MEAL at Susan Campbell’s Sunday, December 1, following our worship service.
• “SINCERE THANKS for all of your kindnesses, prayers and many expressions of support during my recent surgery and recovery.”                                                                                   - Harvey Yoder
• HARVEY YODER’s surgery revealed a tumor in his parotid gland that proved to be cancerous, but was removed and his prognosis is good. 
• JOSIAH DUMAS’s hernia surgery is now set for December 17.
• DECEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Karen Campbell 12/26/69!
• A WALKING ROOTS BAND Christmas MCC Benefit Concert will be held December 8, 7 pm in the theater at Eastern Mennonite School.

December Lectionary Texts

1 Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:36-44

8 Isaiah 11:1-10   Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19  Romans 15:4-13  Matthew 3:1-12

15 Isaiah 35:1-10      Luke 1:46b-55 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11

22 Isaiah 7:10-16  Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19  Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25

29 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26  Psalm 148  Colossians 3:12-17  Luke 2:41-52

December services, worship at 4, meal at 6 pm

1  Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr, 22802       564-1524 

Worship and Sharing: Elly Nelson                                  

Bible Study: Dick Dumas  Carry-in Thanksgiving meal (turkey provided)            

8  Location: Lewis and Mary Ellen Overholt                             432-7277

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger                                    

Bible Study: Kent Palmer                                                  Brown bag meal                                         
15 Location: FLRC 173 Newman Avenue (lower level)             432-0531

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder                                     

Bible Study: Lewis Overholt                               Simple finger foods meal

22 Location: Guy & Margie Vlastis 3399 Caverns Dr. K’own   908-0391                     

Worship and sharing: James Stauffer

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                                                  Carry-in Meal

29 Location: FLRC 173 Newman Avenue (lower level)            432-0531

Worship and sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Elly Nelson                                                  Brown bag meal