March 2022 newsletter

 House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church           March 2022

 All God, All the Time?

Brother Lawrence,” born in France in 1611, experienced a spiritual awakening at age 18 when one day he took time to reflect on a tree in winter that was stripped of its leaves. Just meditating on the simple fact that these leaves would soon reappear, accompanied by an abundance of flowers and fruit, led to a deeper awareness of the providence and power of God.

In 1649, he joined the Order of “Barefooted” Carmelites in Paris. There he was assigned kitchen duty as a lay brother in his austere monastic community, an assignment he carried out cheerfully in spite of his aversion to this kind of work. His goal was to constantly "practice the presence of God" the spiritual discipline that has become associated with his name.

I've often wondered if it is really possible to live that way, to have every part of every day of our life, the "spiritual" and the "natural" alike, be lived in harmony with God's Spirit, with a far less sharp dividing line between the "sacred" and the “ordinary."

Lent is a good time to regularly remind ourselves of the need to listen deeply to the still, small voice of God--with the third ear of the heart--so that every moment becomes holy, every meal becomes a Eucharist. and every meeting with another an epiphany.    

                                                                                                                  - Harvey Yoder

Notes, Prayers and Praises

WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE of our beloved Neal Nelson who passed away at Envoy Nursing Home early Friday morning, February 18, We offer special love and prayers for Elly during this time of grief and remembering. At our 2/20 meeting we agreed to cover a recent medical bill and to offer other assistance as needed.

THE SEASON OF LENT begins with Ash Wednesday, March 2.

KAREN CAMPBELL continues to improve at Harrisonburg Health and Rehab Center (cell number is 540-209-2675).

OUR TREASURER SENT $3000 to support the Open Doors Homeless Shelter from our church budget surplus from last year.

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Ruth Stauffer 3/28!

“SPECIAL THANKS for your prayers and support in the recent loss of my brother Sanford in Costa Rica.”   - Harvey and Alma Jean

March Lectionary Texts

6  John 11:1-44 Raising Lazarus, Jesus as the resurrection and life. (Psalm 104:27-30)

13 John 13:1-17 Footwashing as a sign of Jesus’ love and example. (Psalm 51:7-12)

20 John 18:12-27 Jesus’ trial before Annas, Peter’s denial. (Ps.17:1-7)

27 John 18:28-40 My kingdom is not from this world. (Psalm 145:10-13)

March Services, 4-5:30 pm 

6 Location: on line 

Worship and sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Kent Palmer

13 Location: on line Elly Nelson

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

20 Location: on line

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder

Bible Study: Elly Nelson

27 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder