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April, 2009
Hope Free Press
He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed!! |
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Hope Free Church
Our vision is to be a church whose passion for God gives rise to a heart for the lost and is
demonstrated by our love for one another.
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Our Celebration Choir will be presenting a Passion musical during worship on Sunday, April 5. This would be a good time to invite you family, neighbors and friends. This will lead into the Good Friday service on April 10 at 7 pm, and our Easter service at the Hononegah Performing Arts Center on Sunday, April 12 at 10 am.
Easter Service, April 12,10 am at Hononegah's PAC.
You Can Find Your
Hope Again! |
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Helpful Links
Click on our wesite links at
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Sermon Series This Means War
Have you ever wondered why we talk about Spiritual Warfare?
Why is Satan out to get you? Can you learn to identify those times when he is attacking you? Are there weapons available to me in this battle...if so, what are they?
This Eleven week series has been completed. Please
Click on the title to listen to series online OR contact the office to order the CD series |
Thank You
On behalf of Mission Mart and Rockford Rescue Mission, I want to personally thank you for hosting a collection site
for us on March 14 and 15, 2009. The Mission is dependent upon people like you to help collect gently used clothing and household items.
Without your help we
would not be able to
supply all the needs of
our clients or keep our
thrift stores adequately stocked.
In addition to supplying
the needs of Mission
clients and residents,
the revenue from the
Mission Mart thrift stores provides operating income
for the Rescue Mission programs.
Thank you for helping Rockford Rescue Mission rescue, recover and restore broken lives.
Partners in Hope,
Sherry Pitney
Thank you for all your prayers and beautiful flowers for my recent surgery. I have a wonderful church family! Rosemary Hansing
To Our Hope Free Family, Thank you for the beautiful floral arrangement in rememberance of Gary. I appreciate all of your prayers, cards and your thoughtfulness during this difficult time. I am secure in knowing he is with our Lord and no longer suffering. God Bless, Nancy Lundquist
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Good News!
When most college kids are looking forward to a leisurely summer, one of our own, Mallori Steege, has been listening to God's call to serve others in a short term missions trip. Mallori will be going to Kenya, Africa with 13 other staff and students from Northern Illinois University Intervarsity Christian Fellowship from June 28th till July 28th. In Kenya, Mallori will be living with a native family while she and the NIU Intervarsity team will be running a vacation Bible school program. Following that opportunity, she will be at an orphanage, working with children whose lives have been devastated be AIDS, HIV, and poverty. Hopefully by serving, God will use Mallori and the rest of the team, as tools to show His faithful and fulfilling love and mercy.
Mallori has long felt a calling from God to serve in a mission's field. When this opportunity presented itself to Mallori, she, like the rest of us would, felt great hesitation and was filled with excuses why not to serve. However, through prayer, her desire to be obedient overruled her fears. We should all follow Mallori's example.
As a church body, we are overjoyed to see someone who has grown up at Hope accept a call to serve in the mission's field. For those reading this, I challenge you to become active in Mallori's ministry by praying for the safety, and physical and spiritual health of her, and her team, Mallori's financial needs, and most importantly preparing the hearts of those they will be ministering to. Mallori has also asked for prayer for growth and application after her return home. Best wishes to Mallori and God bless! We support you and will hold you in our prayers.
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White Cross Update
Sharon Vinson & Connie Ruden, Coordinators
How can we serve? How can YOU serve others? Those questions were our focus as we looked at our goals recently.
In order to use our funds more wisely, we are now going to include a LOCAL focus, donating quilts and other produced items to such ministries as Rockford Rescue Mission, Stateline Pregnancy Center, Carpenter's Place, etc. This should reduce our shipping costs annually and address the local need as well.
Please continue to watch garage sales for the following items we need: blankets, mattress pads, and gently used sheets for quilt making. In addition, we continue to need
Natural-colored "drill" or duck cloth material for surgical linens
Ziploc-type gallon storage bags for layettes and dress kits
Small soaps, lotion, shampoo, mouthwash for Rescue Mission
Lightweight flannel for receiving blankets for layettes
Without your donations, our work would cease. Thanks for all you have done to help us help others.
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This announcement is to let you know that Pastor Ken and Sherie are trying to recruit a tour of the Holy Land for the Fall of next year. We are contemplating extended the typical tour of ten days to fourteen. This would result in a 50% increase in the actual number of days you spend touring the sites, while only adding a few hundred dollars to the over all total for the trip. If you are interested in seeing Israel, we would love to have you join us. The approximate cost will be $4,000 including air fare, hotel rooms (double occupancy), breakfast and dinner every day, all entrance fees and tips, and some money for personal purchases (lunches and things to bring home). The date is not set yet, but you would need to begin making payments on your total trip early in 2010. We hope at least 25 of you will sign up and invite a friend to go with you. Forty would put us on a nice big touring bus over there. You will never read your Bible the same again. Just ask someone who has been there!
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Pastoral Staff
Robert Ahlberg
Senior Pastor
Brad Schreiner
Pastor of Adults
Pastor of Seniors &
Congregational Life
Andy Wallman
Pat Noble
Carolyn Scherrer
Dana Butts
Administrative Assistant
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God's Perfect Response
by Pastor Ken 
I have a phrase to offer you this month to think about. It is a catchy phrase that has been helpful to me in several spiritual areas, including praying for my needs and the needs of others. As I have thought about this phrase, I have thought about many Bible stories that illustrate it perfectly. Here it is:
God is in time, on time, every time!
The only catch with this catchy phrase is that the determination as to whether God is ever late is His to make, not ours. Many times we go to God in prayer and present our need to Him. And then we wait for the answer. Waiting is hard sometimes... well, make that many times.... The truth is most if not all the time it is VERY difficult to wait. In the time of waiting, we might think God is late with His response. But the timing of His response is perfect from His viewpoint.
God saw when the perfect time would happen for sending His Son into our world. (Gal. 4:4) Pastor Bob spoke on this a while back. When we look back at that time, we see how perfect the arrival of Jesus was, politically, spiritually, economically. That is how God does things. He also sees when the perfect time will come for Jesus to return, and God will be in time, on time this time too.
I recently shared this verse with a new Christian who was asking about God answering prayer. Psalm 84:11 "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." It is important for God's children to let God decide what is and what is not good for us. If, and WHEN, something is determined by our Heavenly Father to be a good thing, then He promises not to withhold it from us if we are living lives that please Him.
I've been blessed for the past month to meet weekly with some members of our Hope church family who are currently unemployed. One common thread in their testimony is a trust in God to lead them and provide them a job - they are living in expectation that He is in time, on time, every time! This can be an exciting time in their lives as they wait. It can also be an opportunity to give a witness as they show the joy of the Lord in a time when more and more people are being laid off. {If you are among the numbers who are unemployed, we invite you to join us on Monday mornings at 8:30 for support and encouragement!}
The children of Israel complained a lot to Moses about different issues they faced when they exited Egypt. God showed Himself faithful when Pharoah's army chased them. God provided water when there wasn't any place they could see to drink from. When He sent manna, some of the people didn't obey the rules. God said, "No one is to keep any of it until the next morning." Some just didn't believe God. The next morning what they had saved was rotting and smelly... but God graciously sent manna that day and they got to go collect that day's need. The amazing manna they collected on day SIX however did not rot and smell bad on day SEVEN because God had commanded them to rest by gathering twice as much on day SIX and preparing it for day SEVEN (the Sabbath). Moses said, "It won't do you any good to go out and look for some on the seventh day because there won't be any to collect. I think some who collected more than they needed and saw it rot the next day didn't believe God, so they didn't gather twice as much on the sixth day. The morning of the seventh some of the people went out to gather it, but they found none. (Read the full narration in Exodus 16.) God was in time, on time, every time - just as His promised until Israel was camped on the plains of Jericho and celebrated Passover. The next day, after 40 years of a habit of collecting manna, the manna stopped. (Joshua 5:12)
Take to heart the teaching of Jesus that follows. And may you see in your own life that God will be in time, on time, each and every time you need Him. Matthew 6:30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
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Youth Ministry Update
Greetings, Hopelings - in the Great Name of Jesus!
Here's a little update on where we've been this past month:
05 MAR - Pastor's breakfast at Rock County Christian School
21 MAR - Cherryvale Mall experiment (middle school). We had a great time hanging out together, shopping a little, eating and talking with people about their faith! We about 6-8 leaders/parents come to help and around a dozen middle schoolers. In spite of Mall regulations that prohibit any "street interviews" the management assisted us in finding a way to quietly and unobtrusively "do our thing"! What a great real-time, hands-on, teachable moment for our middle schoolers! Thank you adults that helped and may God multiply the time and effort you put forth on behalf of these students.
22 MAR - Andy got to preach on Matthew 5 (thank you, Craig Steege for teaching BRICK class - the students said you did great and they really enjoyed you - praise God, eh!)
22 MAR - Cherryvale Mall experiment (high school). Once again, we returned for the sequel - which was just as good as the first one! There were about 6-8 leaders/parents that came to assist and around 16-18 students. What a blessing - we even got some video! One of our leaders from 'Team Moore' sent me an encouraging e-mail adding the words of the Psalmist to our experience... "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry with goodness!" Ps.107:8,9. Thank you Debbie for reminding us of God's will for His people to proclaim His goodness to others! She was blessed, her hubbie Jack was blessed - hey - we were all blessed to be on board with this one! To watch these students get excited about talking with people about faith issues and witness (live) God working in their midst is truly a privilege - Don't miss the next one!! We will be compiling our results (both written and video) and may have them available as soon as mid-April.
23 MAR - Ultimate strategy game day: we had around half-dozen students show up for pizza, snackage and major world domination! RISK 2210 a.d. and Lord of the Rings RISK - conquest and annihilation (in Christian love of course) were the words for the day!
Looking ahead to April
10 APR - We have the GREAT opportunity to get in on a semi-seder dinner (a four-hour experience condensed into 1 1/2). Our Messianic Jewish brothers (of "Yeshua's Servant Ministries") have graciously offered to take some of our family through a verbal, culinary and multi-media experience of the Passover! How exciting - this opportunity will be in the "Upper Room" (youth room) immediately following our good Friday service. Currently we have limited seating so there will be a sign-up in the foyer - students get first pick until Palm Sunday then any adults can sign up for the remaining spots the week of Easter (right up until Friday itself). We encourage whole families to sign-up for the experience that is sure to leave you with a greater understanding and appreciation for the Passover! Please keep an eye on the sign-up sheet (or contact Andy) to check on availability of spaces.
12 APR - there will be NO student ministries (middle or high school) on this evening!
26 APR - there will be our semi-annual Parent/Leader/Student meeting to enjoy breaking bread together, cover important issues and events to date, answer questions about up-coming events, and to distribute/cover our first "Hope Student Ministries Packet". Please plan on joining us for lunch that day as well as getting 'up-to-speed' on our student ministries.
Looking Ahead to May
01-03 MAY - we are offering a PROM ALTERNATIVE! This will be for juniors and seniors only (unless they invite a freshman or sophomore). Friends outside the church family are invited, however, space is extremely limited! Due to the nature of the event, availability of chaperones and attempts at keeping costs down, the plans right now include only ONE 15 passenger van. Obviously we can do more if we get more interested adults who would like to come along and help (and we will need a photographer). The Week-end WILL be better than prom -how? Fri - Road trip to MN, Worldview Academy conference at Grace church (with two other youth groups), Sat - finish up conference, dress up and go to our private dining area for the finest Italian dining in Rochester, Road trip to the Twin Cities and attend the late show, Sun - worship together, visit a park and spend the day at the Mall of America, come home! This is like prom on steroids so grab a friend, sign up (in the foyer) and save a few bucks. This is how to have a memorable prom without the peer pressure, the parties after the parties (yeah - I know all about those, kids) and "no worries" about sex or drugs (except, perhaps caffeine). Cost is around $80 (still cheaper than prom) and we get to do a whole lot more!!
10 MAY There will be no student ministries (middle or high school) Spend some time with Mom.
24 MAY There will be no student ministries (middle or high school) Spend time with family.
Just a final word of encouragement to our BUMPers! Please continue "fighting the good fight" (2 Tim.) and staying in prayer with your parents over this - remember - the finest silver goes through the Refiner's fire and has much stripped away in the process! Keep in prayer! Love, Andy |
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Music Ministry
Our Teen Choir will be performing at the annual community Pancake Day sponsored by the Kiwanas Club on Saturday, April 25th from 9:00-9:45. The Pancake Day event will be held at Kinnikinnick School in Roscoe. Breakfast will be served from 7:00-12:00. Carry-outs are available. Proceeds from this event benefit local organizations such as Rockton Food Pantry, local Schools, Goldie Floberg Home, Talcott Free Library, etc.
Support the local Kiwanas community event and our church Teens as they participate in this outreach. Tickets are $5 per person (children 5 and under are free). To find out more information or purchase tickets, contact church members Paul & Ruth Leisure at 815-624-7488. You can also contact Pat Noble here at the church.
Celebration Choir
Passion Musical
You're invited to come worship with us as we reflect on God's amazing love and the sacrifice that He made for each of us through His Son, Jesus.
Through the music of the choir and instrumentalists along with the spoken word and video, we'll look atthe events of Holy Week...from the Triumphal Entry to the Last Supper; the Garden at Gethsemane; the road to Calvary... "When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride."
Join us on Sunday April 5th
9:00 & 10:30 am
The Gospel message will be presented, so this is a great opportunity to invite your family and friends!
Good Friday service on April 10 at 7 pm here at Hope
Easter Service, April 12
10 am
at Hononegah's PAC.
Music Ministry Practice Calendar 
Thursday, April 2 6:50 Final Dress Rehearsal for Passion Musical
Sunday, April 5 Passion Musical 9:00 & 10:30
Teen Choir - 5:00
Thursday, April 9 6:50 Celebration Choir and Band
Saturday, April 11 6:30 Cel Choir and Band at Hononegah
Sunday, April 12 Easter Service at 10:00 Hononegah
Thursdays, April 16, 30 Cel Choir at 7:00.
Sunday, April 19 Teen Choir 4:50-5:20
Friday, April 24 Teen Choir at Kinnikinnik 6:00
Saturday, April 25 Teen Choir sings at Kiwanas Event 9:00
Sunday, April 26 Teen Choir 5:00
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Adult Ministries 
Town Hall for Hope!
Connect with families across the nation for a truly radical message: HOPE.
Tired of hearing the fear, doom and gloom that's filling the airwaves? Join Dave Ramsey for a nationwide town hall meeting and discover what's happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we're going. Plus, Dave will answer your questions live throughout the event!
Join us April 23 at 6:50 pm for this free event available to the Hope family and our community. We are priviledged to be one of the thousands of venues across the country to host this live feed event as we stand together to reignite the fire of hope! Please contact us at 815-623-6545 if you plan on attending.
GARAGE SALE
The Adult Ministries are having our second annual Hope Free Church Garage Sale. The Chicory Ridge Subdivision is having its second subdivision wide garage sale scheduled for April 30-May 2. We need your help. We are looking for donations of things to sell. What are we looking for?
Tools, furniture, household goods & appliances, games, cd's, DVDs, books, electronics, children's toys & games as well as children's playsets. People stop at garage sales for their children. We are not looking for clothes - they take up too much space and time to sort through.
Donations can be dropped off at the Schreiner house starting Sunday afternoon, April 5. We will collect items for several weeks so we have time to organize and price everything. If we receive an overabundance of stuff, we have two more families in the subdivision who have volunteered their garages too, so we could have three going at the same time. All proceeds will be used for additional enhancements in Fellowship Hall and/or Drake Hall. Any items not sold will be donated to Rockord Rescue Mission, same as last year, for their Mission Mart.
Any questions, please contact Pastor Brad.
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 Women of Hope Garden Tea
Anderson Japanese Gardens
Saturday, April 18th & 25th
from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.
This is our annual outreach and God has led us to Anderson Gardens as a wonderful location to bring our family and friends who do not know Christ to hear the salvation message. Whose life will you impact this spring for Jesus??
Cost is $22 per person
Garden tour tickets available for $5 each |
Registration continues through April 5
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Kids of Hope
Biblical Virtue to Pray for your Kids - This Easter season let's pray that our children will grow in "Hope" "May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13)
Preschool
Do you enjoy watching a child's eyes light up when they understand (in a 2, 3 or 4 year old way) how much Jesus loves THEM? If so, you might be one of the people we're looking for. As the number of preschoolers coming at the 10:30 hour increases we need to add teachers too. We currently have the following openings, all at 10:30:
* a teacher for the two year old class (or a team who would trade off)
* a helper in the two year old class room at 10:30
* a teacher for a 3 year old class so we can divide up the growing 3 & 4 year old class
VBS is Coming!
Mark the dates July 12-18 on your calendar! That is the week we will be turning our church into a campground. We will be using Gospel Light's Son Rock Kids Camp as this year's evangelistic VBS curriculum.
Vicky Steege will be directing the preschool program and Trisha Knaul will direct the elementary program. We need someone to help Trisha this year so they can be the director next year. If God is calling you to this position, please call Vera Juhlin at 815-623-6545.
Watch for the leader sign up sheets in the narthex soon! Be praying about what part God would have you fill in this awesome outreach week.
Nursery
The nursery committee is looking for volunteers to work in the infant and toddler nurseries on April 12, Easter Sunday, at the Hononegah High School PAC. We always need a FULL crew to minister to our regular kids and visitors. If you wish to be a part of this awesome group, call Tara Minger at 815-270-0328.
Thank you to those who donated books and toys to the nurseries. The kids are really enjoying them!
Elementary
Summer is fast approaching! We expect all of our Sunday School teachers to take several weeks off to rejuvenate so we need others to step in to help out. This is a great time to see if teaching or working with kids is an area of giftedness for you. You won't be letting anyone down if you find out it's not. Call Julie Glenn at 815-389-1983 or Vera Juhlin at 815-623-6545 if you want to be part of the team. We need people to do scheduling and admin work during the week, checking in the kids and welcoming visitors on Sunday morning, teaching, and helping with skits and crafts.
We can always use donations of glue sticks, quick grab tacky glue, construction paper, scotch tape, 3 oz paper cups, apple juice, fish crackers, etc. If you wish to donate any of these items, please bring them to the church office.
Thank you to the families who brought in apple juice and snacks - the kids appreciate you!
HOPE - a settled confidence, something to be relied on.
The Awana leaders and volunteers pray each week for searching families to be drawn to our church and to Jesus by the love we share. We fervently pray that those who are hurting would find their way to the doors of our church and be welcomed as they come in. That requires us to throw off preconceived notions of what these hurting people look like. It is usually not what we have in mind (or the look we expect), but exactly what God has in mind. Praise Him! New families are coming. Children are trusting Christ and we have a settled confidence and something to rely on that God will use this church to disciple many. We are absolutely expectant of God's answer to this prayer. Please join us in welcoming the many faces of "need" and allow God to use your light to shine in those dark places.
Boys and girls, moms and dads-there are 4 remaining Mondays
to work on verses to complete your handbook.
Mar. 30, Apr. 6, 13, 20
Awana Closing Ceremonies - Mon. April 27-6:30
A celebration of all God has done this year!
Don't forget- AWANA GRAND PRIX - Sat. April 4, 6pm
There is still time to pick up your car!
This is for 3rd through 6th grade
boys and girls.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who
asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect.
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Seniors of Hope
An opportunity to help on the Missions field has come! Brian and Lori Rowe are our own missionaries to First Nation Americans in NE Wisconsin. The Rowe's are starting a clothing "swap" for families to get gently used clothing for their children. They desire sizes to fit toddlers through junior high age. We have three weeks to bring donations for the Rowe's to help others. Please bring your donations in plastic bags or boxes and leave them in the old choir room (Classroom #8) located near the library. The clothing will be delivered on Easter Sunday.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A DEADLINE ON THIS - THE LAST DAY TO BRING CLOTHING WILL BE APRIL 5TH.
Senior Saints Tuesday, April 14th at 12 Noon
We will have just celebrated Easter together at the PAC in Hononegah High School. Anne Wallman, who sang for us at Christmas, will be sharing songs with a general Easter theme at the piano and with her voice. We will have an opportunity for good fellowship with others from the church and community. Invite someone you know to join you. The weather should be fine. Call Betty Alexander (815-623-2336) with your reservation by April 10th. Pastor Ken will be giving devotions.
Career Support Ministry, Mondays 8:30 to 10:00 AM
We are discovering the encouragement that comes from sharing our experiences in searching for a new job. We've learned the importance of networking (and how to develop a network), of the use of the Internet and of course computers. We know that there are others who are unemployed who have not come to our support group. We want to invite you to come and network with us in your search. We want to pray with you when you get an interview. We want to share web sites that have helped our searches. And ultimately we want to expand our group to people outside the church who need to learn about God's love and provisions. But first, we need a strong foundation of believers who are linked together in mutual support during a time of high unemployment.
Caring Ministry Update
Thanks for sharing your clothing with both the Rockford Rescue Mission, and toddler through junior high clothing with the Rowes in their missionary endeavor up in Northeast Wisconsin. We have been able to meet some needs with sharing household items.
RECENT: a special needs child needed after school care and we were able to link the family up with someone who will be able to help them. Praise the Lord!
Current: White chest freezer - about 7 years old. Has two baskets inside - $75 - Karen Platzbecker's Mom is getting rid of it. Call Karen at 815-623-1348.
Reminder - If you have items you no longer need, or if you are purchasing an upgrade (like a computer) call Pastor Ken to let him know what you have available. And if you need something, call him to put it on a list.
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Resource Center News
We are grateful for your patience and understanding as we transition to the new software. We are hoping to start using the barcode scanner sometime this month - which will make so many things easier (and fun)!
Please remember that the Resource Center is only available when a Library Aide is on duty (before and after the 2nd service). Please do not enter the library unless you have been trained to use the new software. If you would like to open the up the Resource Center during the week (i.e. before or after Bible studies), please contact Shannon Nordgren for training.
We need your help! Here are some ways to pitch in:
· Donate resources that are on our wish list, which is posted on the bulletin board outside our door.
· Register your family. All families need to fill out new registration forms as of March 1st. Registration forms are available on the Resource Center desk.
· Help us apply new barcode labels on all of our resources this month. This will be a big job, and many hands will make light work! There will be several times to choose from.
· Learn to be a Library Aide. These volunteers assist patrons in the Resource Center for one 15-minute time slot each month. We also need a few substitutes to call on if necessary.
· Cover books for us. This can be done on your own time - even at home! Training will be provided.
If you are interested in volunteering in the Resource Center, please contact Shannon Nordgren at (815) 494-9470 or hefclibrary@gmail.com. Thanks! | |
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Upcoming Events
Don't Forget!!
Easter Sunday 10 am service at Hononegah's Performing Arts Center
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He Has Risen, He Has Risen, Indeed!!
I Peter 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. |
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