House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church July 2012
Church: Back to Basics - Harvey Yoder
“Growing up, I was forced to go to a church I never liked,” wrote blogger Lissa Rankin, on the November 7, 2011 Care2 site. “The scripture felt foreign. The people didn’t speak my language.... The sermons caused me to tune out. I got bored. ...And as soon as I went to college and had a say over what happened on Sundays, I stopped going to church.”
Lissa does however, support the idea of observing “Soulful Sundays,” an idea shared by of her fellow bloggers, Melanie Bates, who describes such sabbaths as times to “Reflect. Go to your chapel inside. Work on the temple that is you. You don’t need to eat bread to forgive yourself and others. Fill your own cup.”
I don’t want to criticize anyone’s spiritual journey, but a major part of what I would find missing in the above is regular, accountable and supportive relationships with a group of fellow humans who form a forgiven and loved community of faith.
Since 1988, our house church congregation has met each Sunday in the living room of one of our members for a time of singing, sharing of prayer needs and a scripture study together, always followed by a carry-in meal. We have no real estate to maintain, no paid clergy, no elaborate liturgy. We have been blessed by church stripped to its bare essentials, just a group of people seeking to love God and serve each other--and others--in the best way we know.
Maybe spirituality isn’t meant to be be so much about something “out of this world” as it is about simply coming together in the round, celebrating and thanking God, loving and caring about each other, caring about others in need and discovering that God is present right here in our midst.
Notes, prayers and praises
* WE WELCOME KAREN SOICH to our FOH family. She is living with Guy and Margie Vlasits and helping with the Bed & Breakfast. Her phone number is 330 209 7916.
CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR LOIS RIVERA-WENGER as she goes through her radiation therapy, and for BILLY MAY as he recovers from his recent surgery.
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Lois Rivera-Wenger 7/30 and A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Guy and Margie Vlasits 7/27!
* GET FOH UPDATES at http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogpost.com.
July lectionary readings
1 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Psalm 130 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43
8 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Psalm 48 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13
15 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 Psalm 24 Ephesians 1:3-14 Mark 6:14-29
22 2 Samuel 7:1-14a Psalm 89:20-37 Eph 2:11-22 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
29 2 Samuel 11:1-15 Psalm 14 Ephesians 3:14-21 John 6:1-21
July services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (except July 29)
1 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing: Karla May
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
8 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: James Stauffer Carry-in Meal
15 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy & Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
22 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
29 Location: We will join the 7 pm Vesper Service at the Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center this evening. The youth group from the Mt. Pleasant Old Order Mennonite Church will sing and one of their ministers, Tim Showalter, will speak. Bring lawn chairs. No meal this evening
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
June 2012 newsletter (updated 6/3)
House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church June 2012
A Last Supper for Miguel 11/17/39-5/14/12 - Harvey Yoder
Just two days prior to his death Alma Jean and I celebrated the Lord’s Supper with FOH member Michael Rivera-Wenger and his wife Lois in their home. Michael was alert enough to greet us warmly and to receive with joy the bread and the cup of the Eucharist. He drank his grape juice through a straw and expressed his desire for more, as if he knew he needed an extra measure of this life giving bread and wine to sustain him through the last days of his journey home, knew that he needed the priceless life blood of Jesus in that cup to give him the strength to die.
Michael always had a great fondness for good food, so he will relish having a choice seat at the great wedding supper of the Lamb described in the last book of the Bible. He also knew first hand what it was like to be embraced by an extravagant Father spreading a welcoming table for him to celebrate his return to faith and family some years ago.
God is always like that. Whenever there is a homecoming, there is music and dancing and laughter and tables heavy with good food, just as the prophet Isaiah promised long ago (Isaiah 25:6-8):
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.
Come home, Miguel, come home. It’s suppertime.
Notes, prayers and praises (note birthday updates!)
MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER died Monday, May 14, after years of declining health. A service was held in his memory Monday, May 21, at the memorial garden Lois created for him at their home at 204 Homes Lane, Staunton, VA 24401. Our love and sympathy go to Lois and to their family, and we offer special prayers for Lois, who is facing radiation and on June 4, a lumpectomy for breast cancer. You can reach her at 502-525-8650.
PRAY FOR BILLY MAY as he recovers from his May 30 knee surgery.
THE CIVIL WAR ERA-BASED DRAMA “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks,” will play at EMU’s Eshleman Theater June 1-3, June 8-10, & 15-17 Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm – Sundays at 3 pm
BERTHA SWARR has returned home from her stay at Oak Lea and is doing better.
GUY AND MARGIE VLASITS are on an extended cross country trip and expect to return around June 30. Their long time friend KAREN SOICH has become a part of their household and is taking care of their bed and breakfast in their absence. Her cell number is 330-209-7916.
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Sophie May, 6/2, Josiah Dumas 6/9 (he'll be 18!), Karla May 6/16, Isaiah May, 6/27 and Harvey Yoder 6/30!
GET FOH UPDATES at http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogpost.com.
June lectionary readings (corrected!)
3 Psalm 29 Isaiah 6:1-8 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17
10 Psalm 130 Genesis 3:8-15 2Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-35
17 Psalm 92:1-15 Ezekiel 17:22-24 2Cor 5:6-10, 14-17 Mark 4:26-34
24 Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 Job 38:1-11 2Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41
June services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (a couple of corrections)
3 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
10 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing:
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
17 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
24 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: James Stauffer Carry-in Meal
Family of Hope House Church June 2012
A Last Supper for Miguel 11/17/39-5/14/12 - Harvey Yoder
Just two days prior to his death Alma Jean and I celebrated the Lord’s Supper with FOH member Michael Rivera-Wenger and his wife Lois in their home. Michael was alert enough to greet us warmly and to receive with joy the bread and the cup of the Eucharist. He drank his grape juice through a straw and expressed his desire for more, as if he knew he needed an extra measure of this life giving bread and wine to sustain him through the last days of his journey home, knew that he needed the priceless life blood of Jesus in that cup to give him the strength to die.
Michael always had a great fondness for good food, so he will relish having a choice seat at the great wedding supper of the Lamb described in the last book of the Bible. He also knew first hand what it was like to be embraced by an extravagant Father spreading a welcoming table for him to celebrate his return to faith and family some years ago.
God is always like that. Whenever there is a homecoming, there is music and dancing and laughter and tables heavy with good food, just as the prophet Isaiah promised long ago (Isaiah 25:6-8):
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.
Come home, Miguel, come home. It’s suppertime.
Notes, prayers and praises (note birthday updates!)
MICHAEL RIVIERA-WENGER died Monday, May 14, after years of declining health. A service was held in his memory Monday, May 21, at the memorial garden Lois created for him at their home at 204 Homes Lane, Staunton, VA 24401. Our love and sympathy go to Lois and to their family, and we offer special prayers for Lois, who is facing radiation and on June 4, a lumpectomy for breast cancer. You can reach her at 502-525-8650.
PRAY FOR BILLY MAY as he recovers from his May 30 knee surgery.
THE CIVIL WAR ERA-BASED DRAMA “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks,” will play at EMU’s Eshleman Theater June 1-3, June 8-10, & 15-17 Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm – Sundays at 3 pm
BERTHA SWARR has returned home from her stay at Oak Lea and is doing better.
GUY AND MARGIE VLASITS are on an extended cross country trip and expect to return around June 30. Their long time friend KAREN SOICH has become a part of their household and is taking care of their bed and breakfast in their absence. Her cell number is 330-209-7916.
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Sophie May, 6/2, Josiah Dumas 6/9 (he'll be 18!), Karla May 6/16, Isaiah May, 6/27 and Harvey Yoder 6/30!
GET FOH UPDATES at http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogpost.com.
June lectionary readings (corrected!)
3 Psalm 29 Isaiah 6:1-8 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17
10 Psalm 130 Genesis 3:8-15 2Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-35
17 Psalm 92:1-15 Ezekiel 17:22-24 2Cor 5:6-10, 14-17 Mark 4:26-34
24 Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 Job 38:1-11 2Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41
June services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (a couple of corrections)
3 Location: James & Ruth Stauffer 1250 Parkway Dr 22802 574-6141
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Paul Swarr Carry-in Meal
10 Location: Rachel Stoltzfus 1359 Two Penny Drive 433-3983
Worship and Sharing:
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
17 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
24 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: James Stauffer Carry-in Meal
Thursday, April 26, 2012
May 2012 Newsletter
House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church May 2012
My Lord, What a Morning - Harvey Yoder
On Easter Sunday morning this year, those of us who gathered to celebrate our annual sunrise service met as usual at the entrance of what was once known as Massanutten Caverns, next to the home of Guy and Margie Vlasits. We assembled around the locked steel door of the cave at our usual 8 am time, and since this is right on the west side of Masssanutten Peak, the sun actually just comes up over the ridge at about that time.
That morning, in fact, the sun made its appearance right at the very time our speaker Elly Nelson spoke the words “He is risen!” as a part of her Easter homily. Elly inspired us to reflect on what the resurrection story means to all of us, that light is replacing darkness, life is replacing death. That’s what we celebrate. That’s what the Easter story is all about.
It seemed fitting that we had a woman bear this witness, since it was Mary, the mother of Jesus, and other women, not our Lord’s male followers, according to the gospel texts, who first arrived on the scene. It was women who exercised the courage to bring spices to apply to the body of their recently buried loved one. No one knows how they expected to enter a guarded cave with a large stone rolled in front of it, not unlike the barred steel door of our cave, marked with the words, “This Cave is Protected by Virginia Law.” Perhaps they simply trusted God to take care of that detail. Sabbath being over, love must find a way.
In the words of the 17th century poet George Herbert:
Can there be any day but this,
Though many suns to shine endeavor?
We count three hundred, but we miss:
There is but one, and that one ever.
Notes, prayers and praises
WE THANK GOD FOR IMPROVED HEALTH FOR RACHEL STOLTZFUS, who had been hospitalized for gall stones and a heart condition, for JAMES STAUFFER, doing well after having a cancerous growth removed from his ear lobe, and for Gail Blackburn’s brother ALLEN, recovering from surgery for mouth cancer.
MICHAEL RIVIERA WENGER, who is also showing good signs of recovery, will be at an assisted living facility near Charlottesville through May.
MAY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Margie Vlastis 5/1, and Alma Jean Yoder 5/15!
CONGRATULATIONS TO GUY VLASITS on his official retirement after working the past 15 years at the Community Services Board. He and Margie will be traveling across the country during much of May and June.
ALMA JEAN AND HARVEY YODER are planning to be with their daughter Joanna and family April 22-29, and Jim and Ruth Stauffer will be out of town the first three Sundays in May.
* GET FOH UPDATES at http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogpost.com.
May lectionary readings
6 Psalm 22:25-31 Acts 8:26-40 1John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8
13 Psalm 98 Acts 10:44-48 1John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17
20 Psalm 1 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 1John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19
27 Psalm 104 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Acts 2:1-21 John 15:26-16:15
May services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (except May 20)
6 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave. 432-0531
Worship and Sharing:
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Finger Foods Meal
13 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy & Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
20 Area House Church gathering at New Market Community Center at 9:30 am, followed by a noon fellowship meal.
27 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study:: James Stauffer Carry-in Meal
Family of Hope House Church May 2012
My Lord, What a Morning - Harvey Yoder
On Easter Sunday morning this year, those of us who gathered to celebrate our annual sunrise service met as usual at the entrance of what was once known as Massanutten Caverns, next to the home of Guy and Margie Vlasits. We assembled around the locked steel door of the cave at our usual 8 am time, and since this is right on the west side of Masssanutten Peak, the sun actually just comes up over the ridge at about that time.
That morning, in fact, the sun made its appearance right at the very time our speaker Elly Nelson spoke the words “He is risen!” as a part of her Easter homily. Elly inspired us to reflect on what the resurrection story means to all of us, that light is replacing darkness, life is replacing death. That’s what we celebrate. That’s what the Easter story is all about.
It seemed fitting that we had a woman bear this witness, since it was Mary, the mother of Jesus, and other women, not our Lord’s male followers, according to the gospel texts, who first arrived on the scene. It was women who exercised the courage to bring spices to apply to the body of their recently buried loved one. No one knows how they expected to enter a guarded cave with a large stone rolled in front of it, not unlike the barred steel door of our cave, marked with the words, “This Cave is Protected by Virginia Law.” Perhaps they simply trusted God to take care of that detail. Sabbath being over, love must find a way.
In the words of the 17th century poet George Herbert:
Can there be any day but this,
Though many suns to shine endeavor?
We count three hundred, but we miss:
There is but one, and that one ever.
Notes, prayers and praises
WE THANK GOD FOR IMPROVED HEALTH FOR RACHEL STOLTZFUS, who had been hospitalized for gall stones and a heart condition, for JAMES STAUFFER, doing well after having a cancerous growth removed from his ear lobe, and for Gail Blackburn’s brother ALLEN, recovering from surgery for mouth cancer.
MICHAEL RIVIERA WENGER, who is also showing good signs of recovery, will be at an assisted living facility near Charlottesville through May.
MAY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Margie Vlastis 5/1, and Alma Jean Yoder 5/15!
CONGRATULATIONS TO GUY VLASITS on his official retirement after working the past 15 years at the Community Services Board. He and Margie will be traveling across the country during much of May and June.
ALMA JEAN AND HARVEY YODER are planning to be with their daughter Joanna and family April 22-29, and Jim and Ruth Stauffer will be out of town the first three Sundays in May.
* GET FOH UPDATES at http://familyofhopehousechurch.blogpost.com.
May lectionary readings
6 Psalm 22:25-31 Acts 8:26-40 1John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8
13 Psalm 98 Acts 10:44-48 1John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17
20 Psalm 1 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 1John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19
27 Psalm 104 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Acts 2:1-21 John 15:26-16:15
May services worship at 4 pm, meal at 6 (except May 20)
6 Location: Family Life Resource Center 273 Newman Ave. 432-0531
Worship and Sharing:
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Finger Foods Meal
13 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3448 Caverns Dr K’town 908-0391
Worship and Sharing: Guy & Margie Vlasits
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Carry-in Meal
20 Area House Church gathering at New Market Community Center at 9:30 am, followed by a noon fellowship meal.
27 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
April 2011 newsletter
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
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 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
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