June 2021 newsletter

 House-to-House

 Family of Hope House Church                          June 2021

Staying Awake Is Hard To Do   

"But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!” 

                            - Ken Peterson, Romans 13:11ff THE MESSAGE  

Among the few books we had in our family library at home was one on the April 14, 1912, sinking of the Titanic, billed as the finest and most reliable ocean liner ever. I remember how horrified I was reading about the fate of all the people who wined and dined together in high style on that voyage, oblivious to the disaster that awaited them.

In a similar way we may find ourselves lulled into believing that our ship of state, the now aging republic known as the United States of America, will endure forever. We are promised it will not only manage to avoid any future decline or disaster (of the kind that all empires of the past have experienced) but will gain ever increasing greatness.

Thus in spite of the fact that both scripture and history tell us differently, we continue to trust in our broken economic and political system as though there were no tomorrow, or that our every tomorrow will be just like the present.

Followers of Jesus know better.

Notes, Prayers and Praises

WE WILL HAVE AN OUTDOOR CHURCH SERVICE at the Vlasits home at 3399 Cavers Drive, Keezletown Sunday June 6. Otherwise we continue to meet online from 4-5:30. For a phone connection dial 646-876-9923. For video:  https://zoom.us/j/2849269967.

OUR CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS  for Ruth Stauffer in the recent loss of her sister, Martha Bowman, and for Donna Sacra in the loss of her mother, Anna Mae Crist. Also pray for complete healing for Donna as she faces an upcoming biopsy of some suspicious tumors in her breast.

WE PLAN TO USE THE NARRATIVE LECTIONARY TEXTS through this summer, a series of book studies as follows: May30-July 4, Jeremiah; July 11-August 1, Ephesians; and August 8-September 5, Revelation. We start with "Jeremiah, A Prophet For Distressing Times."

JUNE BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS  to Josiah Dumas 6/9, and Harvey Yoder 6/30!

June Lectionary Texts

6    Jeremiah 18:1-11 Potter and the Clay 

13  Jeremiah 36:1-8, 21-23, 27-31 Scroll Burned and Rewritten

20  Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 Letter to the Exiles

27 Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 Planting and Building

June Services, 4-5:30 pm 

6  Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3399 Caverns Drive, Keezletown 

Worship and sharing: Elly Nelson

Bible Study: Kent Palmer

13 Location: on line

Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt 

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

20 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder

27 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder

Bible Study: Elly Nelson

May 2021 newsletter

 House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church                           May 2021

For Family of Hope Covenanting Sunday

Our Vision (who we are)

  “God calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, to grow as a community of grace, joy and peace, so  that God’s healing and hope may flow though us to the world.”

Our Mission (what we are about)

“We meet weekly to seek guidance from Scripture and to find encouragement and direction from our worship and fellowship together in order to more effectively bring about God’s shalom and healing in our church family and in the communities in which we live and work.”

Our Personal Covenant (what we each commit ourselves to)

"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.”

Notes, Prayers and Praises

WE CONTINUE TO MEET ONLINE from 4-5:30. For a phone connection dial 646-876-9923. For video:  https://zoom.us/j/2849269967.

OUR ANNUAL COVENANTING SERVICE, with a celebration of communion, is set for Pentecost Sunday May 23. Each will provide their own bread and grape juice

WE PLAN TO USE THE NARRATIVE LECTIONARY TEXTS through this summer, a series of book studies as follows: May30-July 4, Jeremiah; July 11-August 1, Ephesians; and August 8-September 5, Revelation. 

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS  to Mary Ellen Overholt, 4/5 (belated!), Margie Vlasits, 5/1, and Alma Jean Yoder 5/15!

May Lectionary Texts

2  Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 15:1-18  Luke 2:29-32

9  Sixth Sunday of Easter Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21  Luke 18:9-14

16 Seventh Sunday of Easter Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29  Luke 1:68-79

23 Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-4; Galatians 4:1-7 5:16-26 Luke 11:11-13

30 O.T. Book Study Jeremiah 1:1-10; 7:1-11 

May Services, 4-5:30 pm 

2  Location: on line 

Worship and sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Kent Palmer

9 Location: on line Worship and Sharing: Elly Nelson 

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

16 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Guy Vlasits

Bible Study: Roy Hange

23 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt

Covenanting and Communion: Harvey Yoder

30 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder

Bible Study: Elly Nelson

April 2021 newsletter

 House-to-House

 Family of Hope House Church                       April 2021

A Parable For Good Friday and Easter

I first saw the short film “Parable," when I showed it many years ago when I taught Bible courses at Eastern Mennonite High School. It was produced by the Lutheran Council of New York and was widely viewed at the Protestant Pavilion at the New York World's Fair in1964. 

Directed by Rolf Forsberg, the film was highly controversial at first in that the Christ-figure in it is introduced as a silent, white-robed and chalk-faced clown riding a donkey, quietly trailing an elaborate and noisy circus procession coming into town. This Christ is then shown moving among the abused members of the circus crew, where he reaches out to them and rescues many of them in the oppressed state they are in under the rule of Magnus, the circus director and a puppeteer who strings up human beings as living marionettes and in other ways literally controls their lives. 

The Christ figure in the Parable (Clarence Mitchell) is then cruelly murdered by Magnus after his circus enterprise is totally disrupted by his workers finding freedom from the domination under which they lived. In the end, a repentant Magnus smears his own face with white paint and rides the clown's donkey behind the circus parade as it leaves town. 

Here's a link if you want to view this sometime over Good Friday and Easter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHIIlv1NiPc                                         - Harvey Yoder

Notes, Prayers and Praises

WE CONTINUE TO MEET ONLINE from 4-5:30. For a phone connection dial 646-876-9923. For video:  https://zoom.us/j/2849269967.

“DEAR FAMILY OF HOPE MEMBERS, I want to take a moment to express my thanks for the money you gave me for the purchase of my car. I am deeply touched by your kindness and generosity. Thank you so much.”                                                                       - Emily Vandevander

LEWIS AND MARY ELLEN OVERHOLT plan to be in Florida the first three weeks of April. Pray for safe travels and a blessed time with family members.

WE INVITE YOUR SUGGESTIONS for Bible books or themes for our future Bible studies. For April we will continue to list texts from the Narrative Lectionary readings, but Bible study leaders are free to choose any other texts or themes they wish until the group decides otherwise. 

SHOULD WE START HAVING IN-PERSON church gatherings once or twice a month after we are all immunized?

April Lectionary Texts

4  Easter Sunday Luke 24:1-12   Psalm 118:17, 21-24

11 Second Sunday of Easter Luke 24:13-35  Psalm 30

18 Third Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60  Luke 23:33-34a, 46

25 Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 8:26-39  Luke 24:44-47

April Services, 4-5:30 pm 

4  Location: on line 

Worship and sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Easter Celebration of Readings and Songs: Kent Palmer

11 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Elly Nelson 

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

18 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Kent Palmer

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder

24 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Guy VlasitsBible Study: Elly Nelson

March 2021 newsletter

House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church                         March 2021

Then Lent Came

we gave up foolish things for Lent

 a bag of sugar, 

  a pound of butter

we gave up the easy 

  and found it hard

 our soft underbellies glistening

  like pride

then Lent came   like an earthquake

  and gave up foolishness for us

 took hammer and nails, took

    excuses, took away normal,

  took away soft living

good Lent, brave Lent

 slapping us with sacrifice

  rejecting our burnt offerings

demanding the fasting of doing justice

 loving mercy

  walking humbly with 

a God we dare to say we worship

 Lent broke us apart

      let us bleed

and dared us, double-dared us,

 to ask God why he had forsaken us

Lois A. Saylor

copyright 2020

Notes, Prayers and Praises

WE CONTINUE TO MEET ONLINE from 4-5:30. For a phone connection dial 646-876-9923. For video:  https://zoom.us/j/2849269967.

THE CHURCH HAS AGREED TO use $2000 of our surplus fund from 2020 to apply for an Everence Good Samaritan Matching Grant to help Lois Rivers-Wenger’s niece at Heritage Haven replace her ailing vehicle. Lewis Overholt is working at finding a eplacement.

March Lenten Lectionary Texts

7  Third Sunday in Lent Luke 15:1-32   Psalm 119:167-176

14 Fourth Sunday in Lent Luke 16:19-31  Psalm 41:1-3

21 Fifth Sunday in Lent Luke 18:31—19:10  Psalm 84:1-4, 10-12

28 Palm Sunday Luke 19:29-44   Luke 23:1-25  Psalm 118:19-23

Maundy Thursday (April 1)  Luke 22:1-27   Psalm 34:8-10

Good Friday (April 2)  Luke 23:32-47   Psalm 31:5-13

March Services, 4-5:30 pm 

7  Location: on line 

Worship and sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder

14 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Kent Palmer 

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

21 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Elly Nelson

28 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder

February 2021 newsletter

House-to-House 

Family of Hope House Church                     February 2021

Narrative Lectionary Resources

We will be using the Narrative Lectionary Texts on a trial basis during Lent, with the understanding that the designated Bible Study leaders may use any, all or none of those particular scriptures in their study, but members will be encouraged to follow them in their personal reading.

The scriptures are arranged in a nine-month sequence to help people see the narrative arc of Scripture, a story that has coherence and which moves and develops over time. From September into Advent, the texts begin with the early chapters of Genesis, move through the stories of Israel’s early history, the exodus, the kings, prophets, exile and return. Each Sunday, a short companion Gospel reading is identified, and which may be expanded if wished. 

From Advent through Easter there is a sustained reading from one of the Gospels. From Easter to Pentecost the texts are chosen from Acts and Paul’s letters. During the summer there is flexibility, with a variety of Biblical series available from Old and New Testaments.

RESOURCES

Worship resources (suggested hymns, anthems, “prayer of the day”) for each Sunday: https://www.workingpreacher.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/narrative_lectionary_worship_2020-21_rev1.pdf 

Commentary on the current Sunday’s readings: www.narrativelectionary.org

Facebook group page for sharing resources (must submit request to join this group): www.facebook.com/groups/NarrativeLectionary

Notes, Prayers and Praises

WE CONTINUE TO MEET ONLINE from 4-5:30. For a phone connection dial 646-876-9923. For video:  https://zoom.us/j/2849269967.

MINUTES OF OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING are posted on our house church blog at http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogspot.com/ Our total giving goal for 2021 remains at $16,800. You can set up an automatic transfer payment if you have a Park View Credit Union account.

WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT on how to invest the $2000 surplus from last year's budget, which could be used for a Samaritan Grant for a local need and for which Everence would provide a matching amount.

February Lenten Lectionary Texts

17 (Ash Wednesday) Luke 9:51-62  Psalm 5

21 (First Sunday in Lent) Luke 10:25-42  Psalm 15

28 (Second Sunday in Lent) Luke 13:1-17, 31-35  Psalm 122

February Services, 4-5:30 pm 

7  Location: on line 

Worship and sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Roy Hange (text Luke 1:18-29)

14 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Elly Nelson 

Bible Study and personal story: Kent Palmer

21 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

28 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder

Bible Study: Elly Nelson

Family of Hope Annual Business Meeting January 24, 2021

5:30 pm Jan 24, 2021, via Zoom

Present: Dick Dumas, Guy Vlasits, Harvey and Alma Jean Yoder, James and Ruth Stauffer, Susan Campbell,Lewis and Mary Ellen Overholt, Lois Rivera-Wenger, Kent Palmer, Paul Swarr, David Weaver

1. Review and approval of minutes of last year’s meeting.

2. Much appreciation was expressed for Kent setting up Zoom meetings.

3. Review of 2020 FOH Income and Expenses report, noting that our total receipts were $13,985.96, up by nearly $4000, partly due to getting an Everence Matching grant to help someone get a better vehicle. We have a bank balance of $3023.48 after our budgeted giving to Virginia Conference and MCUSA, along with other institutions and agencies.

4. Discussion of whether we should contribute $2000 of that surplus to some needy cause, whether for something like MCC or for a local need. Susan suggested giving to something for which we could get an Everence Matching Fund grant. 

5. Reviewed congregational expense items, and discussed whether to continue to list items such as personal retreats or congregational retreats, since we have’t used either for some years. Local expenses were again far below budget, with only $50 used for a special speaker, for example. Did not set up a special category for an annual $200 for Faith in Action, but will again take that from the Discretionary Fund. It was agreed that we hold $2000 of what we have in our bank account for awhile to make sure we would have enough to help with any need by one of our members until we get more in the FOH account. Harvey agreed to check with Everence and report back about local giving where they would match the amount. Agreed to keep the same budget with the same items and numbers for 2021.

6. Discussed what kinds of Bible studies we would do this year. Dick Dumas misses using the lectionary, and Kent wondered about using the alternative Narrative Lectionry that Park View Church is using.  Lewis expressed appreciation for the sharing of our stories, and he and Mary Ellen prefer book studies over the use of lectionary texts. Jim likes a mixture of the two, as does Guy Vlasits. Alma Jean prefers book studies, and Susan would like just going through the Bible, chapter by chapter. Harvey agreed to come up with a proposal that would take all of these suggestions into account. 

7. Adjournment at 5:25 p.m.

Lois Rivers-Wenger, acting secretary

January 2021 newsletter

 House-to-House

 Family of Hope House Church                      January 2021

Notes, Prayers and Praises

WE CONTINUE TO MEET ONLINE from 4-5:30. For a phone connection dial 646-876-9923. For video:  https://zoom.us/j/2849269967.

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR those suffering from COVID and other traumas during this difficult time.

JANUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to James Stauffer 1/8, Susan Campbell 1/17,  Becky Morlan 1/28, and Dick Dumas 1/30!

WE WILL HAVE OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING Sunday January 24. We will approve our church giving plan for 2021 and discuss the kinds of Bible studies we would like to do in the coming year. 

January Bible Studies 

We continue with members of our congregation leading us in scripture-based reflections on how Christ became a lifelong part of their lives.  

January Services, 4-5:30 pm 

3  Location: on line 

Worship, sharing, scripture and life story: Lois Rivera-Wenger

10 Location: on line 

Worship, sharing, scripture and life story: Harvey Yoder

17 Location: on line 

Worship, sharing, scripture and life story: Elly Nelson

24 Location: on line 

Worship, sharing and annual business meeting ℅ Harvey Yoder and

Susan Campbell

31 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder

Scripture and Life Story: Guy Vlasits