April 2022 newsletter

 House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church           April 2022

 A Muslim Scholar Writes About Easter

Two thousand years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher and miracle worker walked across the Galilee, gathering followers to establish what he called the "Kingdom of God." The revolutionary movement he launched was so threatening to the established order that he was captured, tortured and executed as a state criminal…

     Obviously the notion of a man dying a gruesome death and returning to life three days later defies all logic, reason, and sense. One could simply stop the argument there, dismiss the resurrection as a lie, and declare belief in the risen Jesus to be the product of a deludable mind.

     However there is this nagging fact to consider: one after another of those who claimed to have witnessed the risen Jesus went to their own gruesome deaths refusing to recant their testimony. That is not, in itself, unusual. Many zealous Jews died horrible deaths for refusing to deny their beliefs. But these first followers of Jesus were not being asked to reject matters of faith based on events that took place centuries, if not millennia, before. They were being asked to deny something they themselves personally, directly encountered…

     They were repeatedly arrested and abused for their preaching; more than once their leaders had been brought before the Sanhedrin to answer charges of blasphemy. They were beaten, whipped, stoned and crucified, yet they would not cease proclaiming the risen Jesus."

    - Reza Aslan, author of Zealot--The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth

Notes Prayers and Praises

ACCORDING TO OUR RECENT FOH POLL almost all of our members want to resume regular in person meetings at some point but are not ready to do so right away. VMRC is not yet available to outside groups. 

APRIL BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Mary Ellen Overholt 4/5 and Cathy Atwell 4/19!

KAREN CAMPBELL will soon have her foot brace for therapy at Harrisonburg Health and Rehab Center to help her be able to walk again. She is in Room 55, and her cell number is 540-209-2675.

A SERVICE OF MEMORY for Harvey’s older brother Sanford will be held at the Pilgrim Fellowship School near Stuarts Draft at 10:30 Saturday, April 16. 

                                                   

April Lectionary Texts

3  John 19:1-16a Jesus is condemned, they have no king but Caesar. (Psalm 146)

10 John 19:16b-22  Sign above the cross proclaims the crucified king. John 12:12-27, Triumphal Entry 

Good Friday Reading: John 19:23-42 Woman, behold your son; I thirst; It is finished;, a royal burial. (Psalm 26:3, 31:9-18)

17 John 20:1-18 Empty tomb, Jesus calls Mary by name. 

(Psalm 118:21-29)

24 John 20:19-31 Jesus gives the Spirit, appears to Thomas. 

(Psalm 145:13-21)

April Services, 4-5:30 pm 

3 Worship and sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Kent Palmer

10 Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

17 Worship and Sharing: Kent Palmer

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder

24 Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Elly Nelson

March 2022 newsletter

 House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church           March 2022

 All God, All the Time?

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

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

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

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

                                                                                                                  - Harvey Yoder

Notes, Prayers and Praises

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

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

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

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

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Ruth Stauffer 3/28!

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

March Lectionary Texts

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

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

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

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

March Services, 4-5:30 pm 

6 Location: on line 

Worship and sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Kent Palmer

13 Location: on line Elly Nelson

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

20 Location: on line

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder

Bible Study: Elly Nelson

27 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder

February 2022 newsletter

House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church         February 2022

Highlights of FOH Annual Business Meeting

4:30-5:30 pm, Jan 30, 2022, via Zoom

    Our 2021 giving budget was $16,800, and actual giving was $13,904.78.
    Harvey encouraged using automatic electronic fund transfers for monthly giving as some are already doing. 
    It was decided to move the $250 for Faith in Action spending from the discretionary fund to its own budget category.
    We finished 2021 with over $3000 in our account. It was  suggested that we disburse some of these funds to those in need rather than let it sit our account for another year. Some want to some of this used assist the homeless in our community as in a gift to Open Doors, but there is also a desire to help those in our fellowship with medical bills, etc. We do have $2500 budgeted for the congregational aid fund, none of which was used in 2021. Members are encouraged to share any needs they have.  
     We will revisit how to spend the extra funds in our account over the next few weeks.
     Harvey asked whether anybody in the congregation felt called to serve as a delegate to the semi-annual Virginia Mennonite Assembly and the quarterly meetings of the Harrisonburg District.
    Then there was a discussion of the Church’s leadership team, which has not met recently. Dick and Harvey are still designated the leadership team.
Note: the above are simply key excerpts from Kent Palmer’s notes. See the next post for his full minutes.

Notes, Prayers and Praises
SUSAN CAMPBELL, our treasurer can give you the information you need to do your FOH giving through automatic bank transfers.
LEWIS AND MARY ELLEN OVERHOLT celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary January 13!
KAREN CAMPBELL is now in Rm 89 at Harrisonburg Health and Rehab Center (cell number is 540-209-2675).
PLEASE SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK on how we use the extra $3000(?) we currently have in our FOH bank account. The local Open Doors Homeless Shelter has been suggested as one need to consider.

February Lectionary Texts
6  Healing Stories John 4:46-54, 5:1-18 (Psalm 40:1-5)
13 Bread of Life John 6:35-59 (Psalm 34:1-10)
20 Living Water John 7:37-52 (Ps 147:1-11) 
27 A Man Born Blind John 9:1-41 (Psalm 27:1-4)

February Services, 4-5:30 pm 
6 Location: on line 
Worship and sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger
Bible Study: Kent Palmer
13 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing: Elly Nelson
Bible Study: Dick Dumas
20 Location: on line
Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger
Bible Study: Elly Nelson
27 Location: on line 
Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt
Sermon: "The Man Born Blind--A Very Sharp Fellow" Dan Bowman

Family of Hope Business Meeting, 4:30-5:30 January 30, 2022, via Zoom

Present: Dick Dumas, Harvey Yoder, Alma Jean Yoder, James Stauffer, Ruth Stauffer, Lewis Overholt, Mary Ellen Overholt.  Ellyn Marshall-Nelson, Lois Rivera-Wenger, Kent Palmer, Susan Campbell, Donna Sacra

Following a time of worship and sharing as well as a devotional on John 4:1-42 about Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at the well as a part of the future Bride of Christ, Family of Hope started its Annual Business Meeting.

1. We began by reviewing last year’s budget and spending.

It was noted that we budgeted $16,800 for giving in 2021, but actual giving was only 13,904.78.

Harvey noted that we do not have weekly offerings and we do not even pay much attention to giving, yet people are generous and give to support the work of the church. This enables us to support the wider church. We spend very little on ourselves.  We could each donate to the wider church agencies ourselves, but it is a joy to pool our resources for sharing in support of the church.

2. Some of us are using electronic fund transfers for monthly giving. Susan will supply account info to others who want to make donations directly by bank account transfer. This is especially convenient if you are a member of Park View Credit Union, but it can easily be done from any financial institution (Note from Kent: It is important that the account info not be posted online since the same information used to put money into our account can be used by people to take money out of the account.)

  

3. $200 was budgeted for delegate fees.  Susan noted we had not spent anything this year on delegate fees, because she was not notified of a need to pay them.

Funds for congregational and personal retreats have not been used for several years.

4. The congregation gives a small amount to various Virginia Mennonite Conference Agencies.  Pleasant View Home, Highland Retreat and other agencies regularly thank us for our support. 

There was a discussion of whether we should reduce the amount we send to Harrisonburg District. The suggest amount is $20 per member.  For FOH that would be $240. We opted to continue support at $300 per year.

5. Discussion then shifted to our support of the broader Church. Last year we supported MCC with a $2000 donation and Mennonite Mission Network with a $1000 donation.  We provided smaller donations to a variety of other MC USA agencies.

6. We then discussed our support of other church outreach efforts.  This included $500 split between three missionary families. 

7.There was some discussion of Faith in Action. We previously decided to provide a $250 donation this year to support their work. This year they are focusing on issues related to housing in the Harrisonburg area. In past years, Faith in Action focused on welcoming refugees and criminal justice.  It was decided to move Faith in Action spending from the discretionary fund to its own budget category.

8. The discretionary fund last year helped with purchasing a car for a person who needed transportation. Another person was assisted in paying for overnight accommodations during a housing transition.

9. We thanked Susan for all the things that she does to manage Family of Hope’s financial affairs.  

10. Harvey noted that we finished 2021 with over $3000 in our account.   He suggested that we might want to disburse these funds to those in need rather than let it sit our account for another year.

Dick and several others expressed a desire to use a portion of the surplus funds to assist the homeless in our community.  Harvey noted that Open Doors would soon lose the ability to use the Red Front property.  They are looking at some other properties including the former Shenandoah Presbyterian Office complex on North Main.  They have significant financial needs and would appreciate our support.

11. Lois also expressed a desire to assist those in our fellowship with medical bills. Harvey noted that we had budgeted $2500 for the congregational aid fund in 2021, but none of these funds were spent.  People are encouraged to share any needs they have so the congregation may assist in meeting.  

12. We will revisit how to spend the extra funds in our account over the next few weeks. Paying particular attention to providing for those in our congregation with medical bills and the needs of the homeless in our community.  

13. Harvey asked whether anybody in the congregation felt called to serve as a delegate to the Virginia Mennonite Assembly.  There is a meeting next Saturday and another meeting in July. The delegate would also attend quarterly meetings of the Harrisonburg District.

14. Then there was a discussion of the Church’s leadership team, which has not met recently. It was suggested  suggested they may want to gather at least for prayer.  Dick and Harvey are presently on the leadership team.

15. Dick noted that the basic purpose of the Church is “to know God and make him known.”

Harvey noted That’s why we meet together so we can share with one another and build one another up and help us understand and know God more.

Donna closed the meeting with prayer.

Kent Palmer, recording secretary

January 2022 newsletter

House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church           January 2022

The Holy Nativity In Mark’s Gospel

The Gospel of Mark begins not with Christ's birth, but with his baptism. Might it be that Mark saw this event as the more significant sign of God's "advent"?

     In Luke's birth account, the heavens open up with an angel's joyful announcement, followed by a multitude of heavenly hosts proclaiming "Glory to God! On earth peace and to all goodwill.” In the account of Jesus's baptism in Mark, the heavens open up with God"s Spirit breaking in in the form of a dove, accompanied by the inaugural announcement, "This is my Beloved, in whom I am well pleased"!

     Jesus is here experiencing his second “birth," not through the water of Mary's womb but in the Spirit-drenched baptismal water of the Jordan, where his Hebrew ancestors crossed over into their new life and new liberation as God's free-at-last people, as a sign of the coming of heaven’s reign on earth.

     In our present violence-prone world, as then, God hovers over us with Dove-power rather than bursting in with the scream of an eagle. Jesus comes as Lamb, and becomes Spirit-filled as Dove. He comes as prey rather than predator, as Life-giving Redeemer rather than as Warrior and Conqueror. But in the end, it is the power of God's grace and truth that conquers and prevails.

    Such is Advent. Such is Lent. Such is baptism and new birth. Such is the power of divine suffering and resurrection, of Good Friday and of Easter. And of Christmas.

     Feliz Navidad! The Lord has come!             -- Harvey Yoder

Notes, Prayers and Praises

KAREN CAMPBELL is now in Room 55 at Harrisonburg Health and Rehab Center (cell number is 540,209-2675). We are grateful for recent answered prayers for numerous health and other concerns!

PRAY FOR MARGIE VLASITS’s surgery set for January 18.

JANUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to James Stauffer 1/8, Susan Campbell 1/17,  Becky Morlan 1/28, and Dick Dumas 1/30, and blessings on Lewis and Mary Ellen's anniversary is January 13!

WE WILL HAVE OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING Sunday January 30. We will approve our church giving plan for 2021 and discuss future meeting plans. Our giving this year is down from previous years, but we have been able to meet all budgeted amounts.

THE WALKING ROOTS BAND Christmas Concert at the EMS auditorium to benefit MCC netted over $60,000!

January Lectionary Texts

2  Jesus Says “Come and See!” John 1:35-51  Psalm 66:1-5

9  Wedding at Cana John 2:1-11  Psalm 104:14-16

16 Jesus Cleanses the Temple John 2:13-25  Psalm 127:1-2 

23 Nicodemus John 3:1-21  Psalm 139:13-18

30 The Woman at the Well John 4:1-42  Psalm 42:1-3

January 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: Guy and Margie Vlasits

Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder

23 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Lois Wenger

Bible Study: Elly Nelson

30 Location: on line ℅ Harvey Yoder and Susan Campbell

Worship, Sharing and annual business meeting  

Brief Business meeting after the 12/26/21 service

Present: Dick Dumas, Elly Nelson, Kent Palmer, Lewis and Mary Ellen Overholt, Lois Rivera-Wenger, James and Ruth Stauffer, Paul Swarr, Harvey and Alma Jean Yoder

Susan, our treasurer, needs to know how we want the annual $500 special missionary support fund to be allocated. It was agreed by consensus that we allocate it the same way as we did last year, including to Jonathan Bylers with Wycliffe and Gracie and Yugo with Servants to the Asian Poor.

Faith in Action is requesting that we increase our $200 contribution if possible this year as members of that organization. It was agreed by consensus to have Susan send $250 from the Discretionary Fund to Faith in Action, P.O. Box 964, Harrisonburg, VA 22803.

Harvey Yoder

recorder

December 2021 newsletter

House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church        December 2021

An Amish Christmas 

My parents, with nine children, the youngest being my adopted little sister, may have been poor, but we celebrated Christmas in a way that could have warmed the heart of Ebenezer Scrooge himself. Yet by today’s standards it was bare beyond belief. 

So why did we experience such an adrenaline-rush anticipation of Christmas day? We had no Christmas tree, no holiday wreaths, no Christmas lights. Some pine cones and evergreen branches decorated our mantles and window sills, but that was about it. The meager presents we had made or bought from our modest means were carefully hidden until the eagerly waited Christmas morning, when we also each got a plate loaded with hard candy, nuts and an orange for each of us children, treats to be savored at leisure. Other gifts were often homemade, though in later years there might be jigsaw puzzles, coloring books, a set of Tinkertoys or other inexpensive playthings to be shared. 

When I compare this with our current Christmases, with mounds of wrapping paper and boxes and an abundance of battery-operated, high tech purchases, I can’t help wonder who really had the most fun. Could it be that in our efforts to give our children and grandchildren everything we didn’t have, we may fail to give them some of the good things we did have, like the ability to experience great joy in experiencing small pleasures, a priceless gift indeed.

                                                                                               -- Harvey Yoder

Notes, Prayers and Praises

KAREN CAMPBELL is now in Room 89B,  Harrisonburg Health and Rehabilitation Center, 1225 Reservoir Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. Her cell number is 540,209-2675.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Karen Campbell, 12/26!

SPECIAL THANKS TO LOIS RIVERA-WENGER for her generous gift of a copy of the new VOICES TOGETHER hymnal for each FOH household! Please have your copy with you for upcoming services.

THE WALKING ROOTS BAND will perform in a Christmas Concert at the Eastern Mennonite School auditorium at 7 pm Sunday evening, December 12 to benefit Mennonite Central Committee. There is a $10,000 matching fund available, so the local Relief Sale Board is hoping to raise at least another $10,000 at this event, in order to bring the total to $20,000.

December Lectionary Texts

5   Ezekiel: Valley of Dry Bones Ezekiel 37:1-14  (John 11:25-26)

12 Word Accomplishes God’s Purpose Isaiah 55:1-13  (John 4:13-14)

19 Word Made Flesh  John 1:1-18  (Psalm 130:5-8) 

26 A Voice in the Wilderness John 1:19-34  (Psalm 32:1-2)

December Services, 4-5:30 pm 

5 Location: on line 

Worship and sharing: Elly Nelson

Bible Study: Kent Palmer

12 Location: on line

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger 

Bible Study: Dick Dumas

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

Worship and Sharing: Lewis Overholt

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder

26 Location: on line 

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Elly Nelson