House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church April 2012
Bread for the Journey - Harvey Yoder
At our March 11 church gathering Skip and Carol Tobin shared their vision for the church being less about trying to attract others to come to us, and more about preparing and sending us out to minister to others.
At the close of our service, as we prepared for our usual evening meal together, we shared the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper as a living sign of the poured out and broken life of Jesus. Since one of our members has a gluten allergy, we used rice crackers as our bread. It was brittle fare, nothing like the bland texture of leavened bread, and a fitting sign of a life broken for others.
As we poured grape juice into cups for everyone around the table, we invited members to share what they needed from God for the week ahead. Blood is a sign of life, we reminded ourselves, not just of death, so we expressed, by turn, our need for renewed life from a God who offers it abundance for all.
It was a moment of clarity for me, that in the partaking of this life-giving meal we were not only celebrating our coming together, broken and in need of renewal, but that in communion we were preparing for going out, ready and able to share with others what we received in the Eucharist.
In order to live in the world in the imitation of Christ, we need all the spiritual energy we can get--life giving bread, life enhancing drink.
...As this food gives up its life for us,
may we follow that pattern of
self surrender for each other.
May we be life for one another.
from “Prayers for the Domestic Church” by Edward Hays
Notes, prayers and praises
PRAY FOR RACHEL STOLTZFUS, who is recovering from gall stones and a heart condition, for JAMES STAUFFER, who has had a cancerous growth removed from the top of his right ear lobe, and for Gail Blackburn’s brother ALLEN, recovering from surgery for mouth cancer.
APRIL BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Bertha Swarr 4/13, Jack (Hong
Yan) Zhou 4/14, Cathy Atwell 4/19, Bo Hu 4/20 and Randy May 4/21!
OUR PRAYERS AND SYMPATHIES to Hong Yan Zhou on the death of his mother in China. Contact him at 5615 W. Wren Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291, or JACKHONGYAN@GMAIL.COM. His phone number is 559-713-6258.
ALMA JEAN AND HARVEY YODER are planning to be with their daughter Joanna and family April 21-29.
April lectionary readings
1 Psalm 31:9-16 Isaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 14:1-15:47
8 Psalm 16 Isaiah 25:6-9 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Mark 16:1-8 Acts 10:34-43
15 Psalm 13 Acts 4:32-35 1John 1:1-2:2 John 20:19-31
22 Psalm 4 Acts 3:12-19 1John 3:1-7 Luke 24:36b-48
29 Psalm 23 Acts 4:5-12 1John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18
April services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (except April 8 and 15)
1 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
8 Easter Sunrise Service: 8 am at 3448 Caverns Dr., K’town 908-0391
Easter meditation by Elly Nelson, followed by Easter singing and a breakfast provided by our own Margie Vlasits!
15 Easter Sunset Service: EMU Discipleship Center (5 pm!) 432-0531
(This is the day Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter)
Carry-in Picnic Meal
Worship, Sharing and Bible Study led by Harvey Yoder, followed by an anointing service for Rachel Stotzfus.
22 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 TwoPenny Drive 22802 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal (Rachel is not to prepare food)
29 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study:: James Stauffer Carry-in Meal
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
March 2012 newsletter
House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church March 2012
Simple wisdom
In the introduction to Amish farmer David Kline’s latest book, “Letters From Larksong,” are these words by his friend, poet Wendell Berry:
.... my friend David Kline told me,
"It falls strangely on Amish ears,
This talk of how you find yourself.
We Amish, after all, don't try
To find ourselves. We try to lose
Ourselves"--and thus are lost within
The found world of sunlight and rain
Where fields are green and then are ripe,
And the people eat together by
The charity of God, who is kind
Even to those who give no thanks.
In my old age I’ve been thinking a lot about the Amish/Anabaptist focus on choosing to lose one’s life, as taught by Jesus, rather than spending our energies trying to preserve as much of it as we can. This means seeking to live a life of “Gelassenheit,” a German word describing a spirit of yieldedness that results in engaging in humble service to others rather than in a lifetime pursuit of domination and accumulation.
My Amish mother, known throughout our rural community as “Aunt Mary,” was a good example of such a life. It wasn’t uncommon for her to go help a sick neighbor, a new mother or a needy friend at a moment’s notice, or to provide hospitality around our dining room table for all kinds of guests, even from our meager means.
Maybe life really is meant to be a gift to be given away. In the end, we have to lose it all anyway, whether we choose to or not. So why not be intentional about it, experience joy in giving away our gifts and assets to make the world a happier and better place?
And then just die peaceful and well spent. - Harvey Yoder
Notes, prayers and praises
* FOR UPDATES ON FAMILY OF HOPE services and other information, log on to http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogspot.com.
* PRAY FOR MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER, who has been blessed with some improvement in his condition.
MARCH BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Ruth Stauffer 3/28, and Elianah Zhou 3/25, c/o Jack Zhou, 5615 W. Wren Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291.
* BE PREPARED FOR SOME CONGREGATIONAL GOAL SETTING at our March 11 service with Skip and Carol Tobin of Virginia Mennonite Missions.
March lectionary readings
4 Psalm 22:23-31 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38
11 Psalm 19 Exodus 20:1-17 1Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22
18 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Numbers 21:4-9 Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21
25 Psalm 51:1-12 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33
March services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6
4 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr., K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
11 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave. 432-0531
Worship and Sharing: Skip and Carol Tobin
Bible Study and church goal-setting: Skip and Carol
Carry-in Finger Foods Meal
18 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
25 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
Family of Hope House Church March 2012
Simple wisdom
In the introduction to Amish farmer David Kline’s latest book, “Letters From Larksong,” are these words by his friend, poet Wendell Berry:
.... my friend David Kline told me,
"It falls strangely on Amish ears,
This talk of how you find yourself.
We Amish, after all, don't try
To find ourselves. We try to lose
Ourselves"--and thus are lost within
The found world of sunlight and rain
Where fields are green and then are ripe,
And the people eat together by
The charity of God, who is kind
Even to those who give no thanks.
In my old age I’ve been thinking a lot about the Amish/Anabaptist focus on choosing to lose one’s life, as taught by Jesus, rather than spending our energies trying to preserve as much of it as we can. This means seeking to live a life of “Gelassenheit,” a German word describing a spirit of yieldedness that results in engaging in humble service to others rather than in a lifetime pursuit of domination and accumulation.
My Amish mother, known throughout our rural community as “Aunt Mary,” was a good example of such a life. It wasn’t uncommon for her to go help a sick neighbor, a new mother or a needy friend at a moment’s notice, or to provide hospitality around our dining room table for all kinds of guests, even from our meager means.
Maybe life really is meant to be a gift to be given away. In the end, we have to lose it all anyway, whether we choose to or not. So why not be intentional about it, experience joy in giving away our gifts and assets to make the world a happier and better place?
And then just die peaceful and well spent. - Harvey Yoder
Notes, prayers and praises
* FOR UPDATES ON FAMILY OF HOPE services and other information, log on to http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogspot.com.
* PRAY FOR MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER, who has been blessed with some improvement in his condition.
MARCH BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Ruth Stauffer 3/28, and Elianah Zhou 3/25, c/o Jack Zhou, 5615 W. Wren Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291.
* BE PREPARED FOR SOME CONGREGATIONAL GOAL SETTING at our March 11 service with Skip and Carol Tobin of Virginia Mennonite Missions.
March lectionary readings
4 Psalm 22:23-31 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38
11 Psalm 19 Exodus 20:1-17 1Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22
18 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Numbers 21:4-9 Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21
25 Psalm 51:1-12 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33
March services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6
4 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr., K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
11 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave. 432-0531
Worship and Sharing: Skip and Carol Tobin
Bible Study and church goal-setting: Skip and Carol
Carry-in Finger Foods Meal
18 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
25 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
Sunday, January 29, 2012
February 2012 Newsletter
House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church February 2012
How Much Real Estate Does God Need?
I well remember a sign I saw once along along Highway 33 east of town that announced, “God is about to do something wonderful here.” Turns out God was apparently planning to turn some irreplaceable farm land into a large asphalt parking lot and a multi-million dollar brick and concrete house of worship.
As open land in our Valley becomes more and more scarce, I’ve long been concerned about our preserving as much of our remaining wooded and agricultural land as possible. This calls for help even from churches.
In theory I favor believers being able to buy and build wherever they choose. Having said that, I would also expect them to be careful about how much of God’s good earth they gouge out and pave over.
Could we honor God more by having numerous services in our existing structures, since it is nowhere written that we need to "assemble ourselves together" only on Sunday mornings? The local Blessed Sacrament Church, for example, with a parish of over 1500 households, holds four separate services each weekend. When the church added a larger auditorium in 1995, they built on downtown property they already owned.
And there are other options. Numerous local congregations rent “secular” spaces for their services, such as schools, store fronts and town halls.
Church historian Howard Snyder notes that “church history shows an inverse ratio between dynamic church multiplication and preoccupation with buildings.” Certainly this has proven to be true in Europe, which has the world’s most beautiful cathedrals but a decreasing number of practicing Christians. - Harvey Yoder
Notes, prayers and praises
* FAMILY OF HOPE’S GIVING GOAL remains at $18,000 for the coming year, even though we did not quite reach that amount in 2011. But due to fewer expenditures for our own needs we were still able to meet all of the giving to other causes included in last year’s giving plan.
* PRAY FOR BILLY MAY, who is recovering well from his January 23 hip surgery, and for MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER, who remains at home in weakened condition.
* FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Trish Levesque 2/23. Her address is 17600 14th Avenue North, Apt. 127, Plymouth, MN 55447-2951.
February lectionary readings
5 Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147:1-20c 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Mark 1:29-39
12 2 Kings 5:1-14 Psalm 30 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Mark 1:40-45
19 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9
26 Genesis 9:8-17 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15
February services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6
5 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Drive, K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
12 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Karla May
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
19 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
26 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing:
Bible Study: James Stauffer Carry-in Meal
(Skip and Carol Tobin will be with us next month instead of today as previously scheduled)
Family of Hope House Church February 2012
How Much Real Estate Does God Need?
I well remember a sign I saw once along along Highway 33 east of town that announced, “God is about to do something wonderful here.” Turns out God was apparently planning to turn some irreplaceable farm land into a large asphalt parking lot and a multi-million dollar brick and concrete house of worship.
As open land in our Valley becomes more and more scarce, I’ve long been concerned about our preserving as much of our remaining wooded and agricultural land as possible. This calls for help even from churches.
In theory I favor believers being able to buy and build wherever they choose. Having said that, I would also expect them to be careful about how much of God’s good earth they gouge out and pave over.
Could we honor God more by having numerous services in our existing structures, since it is nowhere written that we need to "assemble ourselves together" only on Sunday mornings? The local Blessed Sacrament Church, for example, with a parish of over 1500 households, holds four separate services each weekend. When the church added a larger auditorium in 1995, they built on downtown property they already owned.
And there are other options. Numerous local congregations rent “secular” spaces for their services, such as schools, store fronts and town halls.
Church historian Howard Snyder notes that “church history shows an inverse ratio between dynamic church multiplication and preoccupation with buildings.” Certainly this has proven to be true in Europe, which has the world’s most beautiful cathedrals but a decreasing number of practicing Christians. - Harvey Yoder
Notes, prayers and praises
* FAMILY OF HOPE’S GIVING GOAL remains at $18,000 for the coming year, even though we did not quite reach that amount in 2011. But due to fewer expenditures for our own needs we were still able to meet all of the giving to other causes included in last year’s giving plan.
* PRAY FOR BILLY MAY, who is recovering well from his January 23 hip surgery, and for MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER, who remains at home in weakened condition.
* FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Trish Levesque 2/23. Her address is 17600 14th Avenue North, Apt. 127, Plymouth, MN 55447-2951.
February lectionary readings
5 Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147:1-20c 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Mark 1:29-39
12 2 Kings 5:1-14 Psalm 30 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Mark 1:40-45
19 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9
26 Genesis 9:8-17 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15
February services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6
5 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Drive, K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
12 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Karla May
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
19 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
26 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing:
Bible Study: James Stauffer Carry-in Meal
(Skip and Carol Tobin will be with us next month instead of today as previously scheduled)
Sunday, December 25, 2011
January 2012 newsletter
House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church
Making Resolutions Work - Harvey Yoder
One of the key factors in experiencing personal growth and change is to “begin with the end in mind,” to first be able to picture the outcome we want, i.e., the new and improved self that, with God’s help, we see ourselves becoming.
One way to start is with a written description of that self, one done in the present tense, as though it were already true. As in, “By faith I am someone who.... I am able to...” etc. This is not to envision being some super man or woman, but simply a healthy, whole person, the kind of person we would want our own son or daughter to be. This is a bit like when we are putting a jigsaw puzzle together, with this kind description being like the picture on the puzzle box we keep in front of us as we work at fitting all the pieces together.
The second part of achieving change has to do with repeated practice, where we keep engaging in the kinds of behaviors that are congruent with that picture, that description of our improved self.
Practice can be of two kinds, one involving a lot of mental rehearsals in which we engage our minds in new responses to challenging situations in our lives. In doing so, we help retrain our brains to successfully live out the new behaviors we want to have become new habits and new patterns in our lives.
The other kind of practice, of course, is to actually engage in these behaviors in the real life situations we confront every day.
So first of all, we need to picture a new and more healthy, whole self, then engage in the hard work it takes to practice that self’s Christ-like behaviors over and over again until they become more natural to us.
Notes, prayers and praises
* OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OFFERING for Heifer International totaled $541.29, more than enough to buy a heifer (or two water buffaloes), plus a rabbit and a small flock of chickens for a needy family abroad.
* BERTHA SWARR has returned home after a stay at Oak Lea. BILLY MAY is scheduled for hip surgery January 23. MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER remains at home in a stable but weakened condition.
* JANUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to James Stauffer 1/8, Susan Campbell 1/17, Becky Morlan 1/28, Dick Dumas 1/30!
,
January lectionary readings
1 Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Psalm 8 Revelation 21:1-6a Matthew 25:31-46
8 Genesis 1:1-5 Psalm 29 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11
15 1 Samuel 3:1-20 Psalm 139:1-18 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51
22 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:5-12 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20
29 Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm 111 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Mark 1:21-28
January services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6
1 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
8 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Drive, K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Annual FOH “business meeting” c/o Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
15 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Avenue 432-0531
Worship and Sharing
Bible Study, church goal-setting: Skip and Carol Tobin Finger foods meal
22 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
29 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
Family of Hope House Church
Making Resolutions Work - Harvey Yoder
One of the key factors in experiencing personal growth and change is to “begin with the end in mind,” to first be able to picture the outcome we want, i.e., the new and improved self that, with God’s help, we see ourselves becoming.
One way to start is with a written description of that self, one done in the present tense, as though it were already true. As in, “By faith I am someone who.... I am able to...” etc. This is not to envision being some super man or woman, but simply a healthy, whole person, the kind of person we would want our own son or daughter to be. This is a bit like when we are putting a jigsaw puzzle together, with this kind description being like the picture on the puzzle box we keep in front of us as we work at fitting all the pieces together.
The second part of achieving change has to do with repeated practice, where we keep engaging in the kinds of behaviors that are congruent with that picture, that description of our improved self.
Practice can be of two kinds, one involving a lot of mental rehearsals in which we engage our minds in new responses to challenging situations in our lives. In doing so, we help retrain our brains to successfully live out the new behaviors we want to have become new habits and new patterns in our lives.
The other kind of practice, of course, is to actually engage in these behaviors in the real life situations we confront every day.
So first of all, we need to picture a new and more healthy, whole self, then engage in the hard work it takes to practice that self’s Christ-like behaviors over and over again until they become more natural to us.
Notes, prayers and praises
* OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OFFERING for Heifer International totaled $541.29, more than enough to buy a heifer (or two water buffaloes), plus a rabbit and a small flock of chickens for a needy family abroad.
* BERTHA SWARR has returned home after a stay at Oak Lea. BILLY MAY is scheduled for hip surgery January 23. MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER remains at home in a stable but weakened condition.
* JANUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to James Stauffer 1/8, Susan Campbell 1/17, Becky Morlan 1/28, Dick Dumas 1/30!
,
January lectionary readings
1 Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Psalm 8 Revelation 21:1-6a Matthew 25:31-46
8 Genesis 1:1-5 Psalm 29 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11
15 1 Samuel 3:1-20 Psalm 139:1-18 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51
22 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:5-12 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20
29 Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm 111 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Mark 1:21-28
January services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6
1 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
8 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Drive, K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Annual FOH “business meeting” c/o Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
15 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Avenue 432-0531
Worship and Sharing
Bible Study, church goal-setting: Skip and Carol Tobin Finger foods meal
22 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
29 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
Saturday, November 26, 2011
December 2011 newsletter
House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church
A Subversive Christmas? - Harvey Yoder
Ever notice how much attention is given to first century political leaders in the first Christmas story?
In Luke’s gospel the story begins with the familiar words, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that all the world should be taxed,” followed by his noting that “this census was first taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.”
Then in the gospel of Matthew King Herod, puppet governor of Roman-occupied Judea, becomes a prominent player in the story as well.
These kings and emperors were ruthless despots under whose rule any rebellion was met with brutal force. Like other tyrants of their time they freely ordered people crucified, tortured, beheaded or otherwise eliminated as ways of intimidating their subjects into submission.
Emperor Caesar Augustus, undisputed sovereign over most of the so-called civilized world in the first century, claimed to be a divine son of God, and a god himself, with titles like "god from god," "Lord," "Liberator," and "Savior of the world."
Thus the early gospel writers were taking their lives into their own hands by claiming the divine birth of a king born of a peasant girl in an occupied country, and by announcing the coming of another kingdom ruled by another Sovereign, Yahweh, whose son was Jesus--sovereign Lord, long awaited Messiah and Prince of Peace.
This would certainly have sounded like a form of seditious heresy to the powers of that time, and could have resulted in the Roman military dealing harshly with it, just as Herod did in ordering all the male children in the Bethlehem area to be killed to eliminate any future rival.
All of which makes Christmas more than just about festivity and merry making, but a bold announcement about who--and in the end, what power--is really sovereign, a declaration that still divides the world in two.
Notes, prayers and praises
* PRAY FOR MICHAEL RIVERIERA-WENGER, who has been receiving hospice care at his home at 204 Homes Lane, Staunton, VA 24401.
* CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSIAH DUMAS who scored in the 94th percentile range in the GED test he recently passed with flying colors.
* GUY VLASITS unexpectedly spent most of his 65th birthday (11/21) and the next day undergoing tests at RMH. Thankfully, he was pronounced well and was able to attend a belated birthday party the next evening.
* BERTHA SWARR has been recovering well at Oak Lea Nursing Home and looks forward to being home soon.
* DECEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Karen Campbell 12/26!
* INVITE YOUR FRIENDS to our 12/11 Christmas gathering (below)!
December lectionary readings
4 Isaiah 40:1–11 Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13 2 Peter 3:8–15a Mark 1:1–8
11 Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11 Psalm 126 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 John 1:6–8, 19–28
18 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16 Luke 1:47–55 Romans 16:25–27 Luke 1:26–38
25 Isaiah 52:7–10 Psalm 98 Hebrews 1:1–4, 5–12 John 1:1–14
December services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (except 12/11)
4 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr
Carry-in Meal
11 Annual Christmas Celebration with other house churches at 12:30 pm
Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Drive, K’town 908-0391
Meditation: Bill Stultz
Plus carol singing, a children’s story, food offerings for the Food Pantry, and a money offering for Heifer International
12:30 pm Carry-in Meal
18 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas
Carry-in Meal
25 To be announced
Family of Hope House Church
A Subversive Christmas? - Harvey Yoder
Ever notice how much attention is given to first century political leaders in the first Christmas story?
In Luke’s gospel the story begins with the familiar words, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that all the world should be taxed,” followed by his noting that “this census was first taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.”
Then in the gospel of Matthew King Herod, puppet governor of Roman-occupied Judea, becomes a prominent player in the story as well.
These kings and emperors were ruthless despots under whose rule any rebellion was met with brutal force. Like other tyrants of their time they freely ordered people crucified, tortured, beheaded or otherwise eliminated as ways of intimidating their subjects into submission.
Emperor Caesar Augustus, undisputed sovereign over most of the so-called civilized world in the first century, claimed to be a divine son of God, and a god himself, with titles like "god from god," "Lord," "Liberator," and "Savior of the world."
Thus the early gospel writers were taking their lives into their own hands by claiming the divine birth of a king born of a peasant girl in an occupied country, and by announcing the coming of another kingdom ruled by another Sovereign, Yahweh, whose son was Jesus--sovereign Lord, long awaited Messiah and Prince of Peace.
This would certainly have sounded like a form of seditious heresy to the powers of that time, and could have resulted in the Roman military dealing harshly with it, just as Herod did in ordering all the male children in the Bethlehem area to be killed to eliminate any future rival.
All of which makes Christmas more than just about festivity and merry making, but a bold announcement about who--and in the end, what power--is really sovereign, a declaration that still divides the world in two.
Notes, prayers and praises
* PRAY FOR MICHAEL RIVERIERA-WENGER, who has been receiving hospice care at his home at 204 Homes Lane, Staunton, VA 24401.
* CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSIAH DUMAS who scored in the 94th percentile range in the GED test he recently passed with flying colors.
* GUY VLASITS unexpectedly spent most of his 65th birthday (11/21) and the next day undergoing tests at RMH. Thankfully, he was pronounced well and was able to attend a belated birthday party the next evening.
* BERTHA SWARR has been recovering well at Oak Lea Nursing Home and looks forward to being home soon.
* DECEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Karen Campbell 12/26!
* INVITE YOUR FRIENDS to our 12/11 Christmas gathering (below)!
December lectionary readings
4 Isaiah 40:1–11 Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13 2 Peter 3:8–15a Mark 1:1–8
11 Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11 Psalm 126 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 John 1:6–8, 19–28
18 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16 Luke 1:47–55 Romans 16:25–27 Luke 1:26–38
25 Isaiah 52:7–10 Psalm 98 Hebrews 1:1–4, 5–12 John 1:1–14
December services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (except 12/11)
4 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr
Carry-in Meal
11 Annual Christmas Celebration with other house churches at 12:30 pm
Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Drive, K’town 908-0391
Meditation: Bill Stultz
Plus carol singing, a children’s story, food offerings for the Food Pantry, and a money offering for Heifer International
12:30 pm Carry-in Meal
18 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas
Carry-in Meal
25 To be announced
Saturday, November 5, 2011
November 2011 newsletter
House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church November 2011
Selling a Fake Gospel - Harvey Yoder
One of our problems in America is that we have an enormous capacity for producing goods, but a limited number of people to buy them. So we’ve developed a huge advertising industry aimed at persuading people to buy more and more of what they don’t need and can’t afford.
Christopher Decker, in an article in the Wall Street Journal called “Selling Desire, Why Chastity is Bad for Business," notes that there was a time when advertising emphasized thrift, durability, and economy. Choices were usually made around how good a product was and how long it would last. But a consumer society has to reverse these values, he notes, because if advertising is to succeed, and business thrive, people have to be convinced that desires alone are sufficient reasons to buy something and that all of our passions are to be indulged now, rather than denied or postponed. So the very notion of chastity has to go, he says, because that represents a mindset that is opposite from a throw away, consumer culture that urges us to get our our Visa cards to buy and use stuff with abandonment, and then simply discard it for whatever you like even better.
According to Dr. Sut Jhally of the University of Massachusetts, the right question to ask about how a given commercial affects us is not how much it influences whether we buy that particular product, but how advertising as a whole affects our buying into a whole different set of values that are counter to the ones we profess to believe. Modern advertising promotes a magical way of thinking, he says, making fantastic promises about what certain products will do for us, like offer us incredible happiness, gain the gloating admiration of all kinds of desirable people, and transform us into an instant, spectacular success. Consumerism promises all, and as such becomes a kind of religion that replaces the faith we actually claim to live by.
.
We need to teach ourselves and our children to talk back to the blatantly false messages we’re all hearing on television and other media every day. Or better yet, just unplug ourselves from the barrage of untruths we're being bombarded with and read or tell them some good messages of our own.
Notes, prayers and praises
* OUR PENNY POWER OFFERING totaled $229.29. This year’s Relief Sale sale brought in $301,477 for the worldwide relief and service program of Mennonite Central Committee, up from last year's total of $284,914. Over $7.3 million is raised each year from such sales.
* PRAY FOR BERTHA SWARR, .who was admitted to RMH October12 with cellulitus, then transferred to Oak Lea (Room 135) October 18. Husband Paul had cataract surgeries October 12 and 26.
* NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Neal Nelson 11/2, Rachel Stoltzfus 11/5, Paul Swarr 11/10, Emily Zhou 11/11, Michael Riviera-Wenger 11/17 and Guy Vlasits 11/21! And Elly Nelson’s birthday was 10/28.
* ALMA JEAN AND HARVEY YODER attended the funeral service of brother-in-law Vernon Zehr in Greewood, Delaware, October 20.
November lectionary readings
6 Psalm 78:1-7 Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 1 Thess 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13
13 Psalm 123 Judges 4:1-7 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30
20 Psalm 100 Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Ephesians 1:15-23 Matt 25:31-46
27 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Isaiah 64:1-9 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37
November services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (except 11/6)
6 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
We invite everyone to take in the Virginia Missions sponsored men’s music service at EMHS at four, then meet for prayer and sharing afterwards.
Carry-in Meal
13 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 TwoPenny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: James Stauffer
Carry-in Meal
20 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Drive, K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Roy Hange
Carry-in Meal
27 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder
Carry-in Meal
Family of Hope House Church November 2011
Selling a Fake Gospel - Harvey Yoder
One of our problems in America is that we have an enormous capacity for producing goods, but a limited number of people to buy them. So we’ve developed a huge advertising industry aimed at persuading people to buy more and more of what they don’t need and can’t afford.
Christopher Decker, in an article in the Wall Street Journal called “Selling Desire, Why Chastity is Bad for Business," notes that there was a time when advertising emphasized thrift, durability, and economy. Choices were usually made around how good a product was and how long it would last. But a consumer society has to reverse these values, he notes, because if advertising is to succeed, and business thrive, people have to be convinced that desires alone are sufficient reasons to buy something and that all of our passions are to be indulged now, rather than denied or postponed. So the very notion of chastity has to go, he says, because that represents a mindset that is opposite from a throw away, consumer culture that urges us to get our our Visa cards to buy and use stuff with abandonment, and then simply discard it for whatever you like even better.
According to Dr. Sut Jhally of the University of Massachusetts, the right question to ask about how a given commercial affects us is not how much it influences whether we buy that particular product, but how advertising as a whole affects our buying into a whole different set of values that are counter to the ones we profess to believe. Modern advertising promotes a magical way of thinking, he says, making fantastic promises about what certain products will do for us, like offer us incredible happiness, gain the gloating admiration of all kinds of desirable people, and transform us into an instant, spectacular success. Consumerism promises all, and as such becomes a kind of religion that replaces the faith we actually claim to live by.
.
We need to teach ourselves and our children to talk back to the blatantly false messages we’re all hearing on television and other media every day. Or better yet, just unplug ourselves from the barrage of untruths we're being bombarded with and read or tell them some good messages of our own.
Notes, prayers and praises
* OUR PENNY POWER OFFERING totaled $229.29. This year’s Relief Sale sale brought in $301,477 for the worldwide relief and service program of Mennonite Central Committee, up from last year's total of $284,914. Over $7.3 million is raised each year from such sales.
* PRAY FOR BERTHA SWARR, .who was admitted to RMH October12 with cellulitus, then transferred to Oak Lea (Room 135) October 18. Husband Paul had cataract surgeries October 12 and 26.
* NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Neal Nelson 11/2, Rachel Stoltzfus 11/5, Paul Swarr 11/10, Emily Zhou 11/11, Michael Riviera-Wenger 11/17 and Guy Vlasits 11/21! And Elly Nelson’s birthday was 10/28.
* ALMA JEAN AND HARVEY YODER attended the funeral service of brother-in-law Vernon Zehr in Greewood, Delaware, October 20.
November lectionary readings
6 Psalm 78:1-7 Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 1 Thess 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13
13 Psalm 123 Judges 4:1-7 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30
20 Psalm 100 Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Ephesians 1:15-23 Matt 25:31-46
27 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Isaiah 64:1-9 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37
November services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (except 11/6)
6 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
We invite everyone to take in the Virginia Missions sponsored men’s music service at EMHS at four, then meet for prayer and sharing afterwards.
Carry-in Meal
13 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 TwoPenny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: James Stauffer
Carry-in Meal
20 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Drive, K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy and Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Roy Hange
Carry-in Meal
27 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder
Carry-in Meal
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Slide Show of FOH reunion!
Elly Nelson, a local friend of Family of Hope, has produced a beautiful slide show of our recent reunion, using pictures provided by Margie Vlasits. We thank them both!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)