|
 Biblical Virtue to Pray for our Kids - This month let us pray that our children will learn perseverance. "Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them" (Heb 12:1)
 VBS is being held June 14-18, 2010. We need lots of help, last year we had more kids come and join us than ever before! Please pray about helping us share the the gospel with them. Sign up begins March 7th.
As we go into the 4th and last quarter of the Awana year (hard to believe!) we are continuing to see new faces at club each week. I know I speak for all of the Awana leaders when I say that we feel so honored and privileged to be called to serve alongside God where He is working to bring so many into His church to be ministered to, through this ministry!
Coming up in March we have a couple of dates to bring to your attention:
***Friday March 5th is Awana Family Pizza/Movie Night here at church from 6:00pm - 8:30pm. Pizza, pop, chips, dessert, and popcorn will be provided (donations accepted), and then we'll be watching the movie "UP". Come and share a fun evening with your family, and your favorite Awana leaders and friends. A toddler playroom & a Veggie Tale movie will be available for very young children.
***During our regular club meeting on Monday March 15th the Cubbies club will be having a special Veggie Tale themed evening complete with Veggie games, Veggie crafts, Veggie songs, Veggie snacks, and a Veggie movie! This is also Pajama Night for all three clubs so come dressed in your comfy cozies!
***On Monday March 22nd there will be NO regular Awana club meeting due to Spring Break, however we will be offering a Craft Night from 6:30pm - 8:00pm, which the T&T club is hosting, for clubbers of all ages that are interested in attending (Cubbie, Sparks, or T&T).
Look for info regarding the Awana Grand Prix, and our Closing Ceremonies Night, in the April newsletter.
Serving in Christ,
 Vicky Steege
Awana Cubbies Director
|
|
 Nursery
Would you love the opportunity to share God's love with little ones? We are in need of nursery workers for Easter Sunday. If you are interested in serving, or if you have questions about serving, please contact Tara Minger at 815-270-0328 or email at denver_tdd@yahoo.com.
Thank you to all of you who serve in the nursery, whether it be monthly, or once in a while. As a parent of three little ones, I cherish the time I can spend in worship and in fellowship, knowing that my children are well-cared for and safe. Providing nursery for little ones is a wonderful ministry to Hope and to our guests from the community. I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you who volunteer in the nursery.
'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.'" Matt. 19:14.
Tara Minger - Nursery Coordinator
|
|
Student Ministries
Greetings all you wonderful parents and students out there! Well, it looks like by the time you read this we may be well on our way to spring which brings lots of busy-ness - and then SUMMER!! When school is out - student ministry's in! Here's what we have coming up...
- Stem Cells, Cloning and the Value of Human Life: join us for an in-depth look at truths on these issues that will not be reported in today's media. This is an Answers in Genesis DVD production with a Q&A follow-up - additional resources include IFI (Illinois Family Institute), Crisis Pregnancy and New Life Family Services contacts available. Discover just how much humanism has influenced your thinking (via media) and what God has to say about His creation. Wednesday night, 03 MAR 2010, 7-8:30 pm, "Upper Room" of the Hope church building.
During March we will be wrapping up our look into the book "Worldliness" while our two months of "Holiness" comes to a close. Pray for our students as we look forward to challenges like the "Media Fast". I hope your families have had great dialog over this book and the many challenges we face "speaking the truth in love" one to another. Most important, my hope is that the issues addressed during this time have driven every family to search out the scriptures daily... together!
31 MAR (Wed.) 7-8:30 - Easter Special in the "Upper Room"! This is the Wed. (traditionally) before resurrection Sunday and we will be holding a special "Lord's Supper" in the "Upper Room" of the Hope church building. Leave your cell phones, ipods, gadgets and gizmos @ home - this will be a somber occasion with candles, great music and fresh-baked bread! Wednesday, 31 March, 7-8:30 pm.
PRELIMINARY SIGN-UPS FOR B.U.M.P.  (Bridging Urban Mission Project, 16-26 JULY) will be in the foyer for those students who will commit to praying about it through March. As with last year, this is not a usual if-you-have-enough-money-or-might-make-the-time-then-I'll-sign-up-and-go-type youth event. This is a student ministry which will equip you as a student to reach out to your neighborhood and give you practical, hands-on experience speaking the gospel message one-on-one. It is a pray-about-it-and-ask-God-to-give-you-everything-you-need-to-do-this-type event (that includes the conviction that you probably should be doing more of this kind of thing!) In a nutshell, the preliminary sign-up gives us a possible head-count for a possible team (ideally - the whole student ministry!). Everyone prays about and performs the checklist provided in the packet (picked up in the foyer at the time of sign-up). At the end of March our team will be formed and the first $150.00 deposit is due.
Our training schedule: Sundays, 4 training nights: 18 APR (also day of parent meeting and introductory training night!), 02, 23 MAY and 13 JUN
5 "Saturprays": 01, 22 MAY, 05 JUN & 03, 10 JUL (times TBD by team)
In addition, we will be "training in" at the Hope VBS 14-18 JUN
Total cost of inner-city mission: $350.00. Cost of room, board and ministry materials: $0. Cost of sharing the gospel with inner-city students: priceless.
18 APR: Semi-annual Parent/Student/Interested leader/Anyone who desires to work with youth meeting. Twice yearly we meet to look back, look ahead, share what we've been learning and ask some questions - oh, and don't forget the good food. Right after our usual Sunday am gathering, we head over to the fellowship hall for about an hour and a half of good food and "catching up". This year we have our first graduating BRICK class - YAY! Also, there will be more information on our youth intern, Andrew Voigt - but wait - THAT'S NOT ALL... be there - and we'll throw in a few presentations from our youth leaders, a few residual corny commercials from our Valentine Dessert Buffet - but wait - THERE'S MORE... be there - and get a genuine Ichiban knife set (you know - the kind you can cut your engine block in half and then slice tomatoes with!) Well, ok, perhaps not the knife set. See you there!
14-16 MAY - we will once again have the opportunity for our annual "Prom Alternative". More fun than your parent's prom (guaranteed - just ask last year's crew) and the best part is there's so much RIGHT about it! (Just ask yourself, "What's right about prom?" and you may decide to come with us!)
Looking Ahead: Camping in the Dells (JUN), BUMP (JUL), Hail n' Farewell (AUG), 22 SEPT SYATP!
|
|
  
Yes it is still winter, but time is coming soon when rosters will need to be submitted for our softball teams. Our softball ministry has grown tremendously (4 teams last year!) over the last several years. If you want a fun evening out with the guys while competing together and growing in our faith together, please notify Pastor Brad at pastorbrad@hefc.net to let him know you are interested in playing. We would love to have you.
|
Senior Saints, March 9th, 12 Noon
Pastor Andy and Anne Wallman will be handling the musical portion of our program - and some of it will be a sing-a-long. There are so many great songs that pertain to the Good Friday / Easter holiday. Pastor Ken will be bringing a devotion. The menu calls for baked chicken! We had a great time last month with the Goldenaires! Please call Betty Alexander (815-623-2336) with your reservation by Friday, March 5th. Suggested donation is $4. We encourage you to come and invite a friend to come with you.
A.W.L.S. - Saturday, March 13th from Noon to 4:30 in Fireside Room. A.W.L.S. stands for Awesome Wise Lively Singles. This is a social, support networking group of somewhat older adults who felt a need for activity and fellowship. Living alone can be a very lonely experience. Having an activity to look forward to can lift your spirits. These AWLS have met twice now and the group is growing. There's devotions from the Word of God, FOOD, LOTS OF LAUGHTER, fellowship, and a couple of hours playing some table games of one sort or another (bring your favorite). Several from the group bring the lunch. A free-will donation is accepted to cover costs. To reserve your spot at the table, call Sharon Vinson (815-623-6857). If you are an Awesome, Wise, Lively person who happens to be single, you are a member of this elite 'club' in which there are no dues!!!
Stateline Pregnancy Clinic's Annual Fund Raiser Dinner, Thursday, March 11, 2010, one of our local missions that we support at Hope, is having their annual Fund Raiser in Beloit, at Peoples' Church, 340 W. Grand Ave. Dinner and Program is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Catherine Coyle. The dinner is complimentary. An opportunity to make a contribution to the ministry will be given to each attendee. This is for adults only, please. Call 608.365.5433 before March 3, 2010 to make your reservation. Several adults from Hope are seeking to fill a table at this dinner. Our White Cross ladies make quilts and other helpful items for these young mothers in need. Attend and learn what this ministry is doing to help bring down the number of abortions being conducted in the Stateline area.
CREATION MUSEUM BUS TRIP, APRIL 29 - MAY 1
First EFC of Rockford is inviting seniors from Hope EFC to go with them by bus to visit the wonderful, awesome Creation Museum in Ohio. The cost of this trip will be approximately $250 per person, double occupancy. This covers the cost of the bus, two nights in quality motels, breakfasts at the motels, two dinners and entrance fees at the Museum. The only expense not covered is your lunches.
If you are interested in more information, contact Pastor Ken at the church office.
|
 Music Ministry
Coming Sat, April 24th at 7pm & Sun, April 25th at 10am....Mark your calendars now to include "A Celebration of Hope" Spring Concert - presented by our Celebration Choir, Orchestra ensemble, Guitar Praise Band & Teen Choir. Join us as we celebrate what God has done for us! This will be a concert full of life and encouragement for both believers and unbelievers. The days/times are once again arranged in such a way that makes it ideal for you to invite friends, family, neighbors or co-workers you have been praying for and dialoging with. How about dinner at your home followed by the concert Saturday night - or dessert together after the concert? For Sunday, the 10:00 time creates an ideal time frame to fellowship with your guests after the concert for lunch either at your home or "out". In any case, be praying now about whom you will bring.
You won't want to miss it! We're gonna have a great time!
|
 Upcoming Events
Good Friday Service, 7 pm April 2
Easter Worship Service
Sunday, April 4, at 10 am at Hononegah's Performing Arts Center, Rockton, IL
Spring Concert
A Celebration of Hope
Saturday, April 24 at 7 pm
Sunday, April 25 at 10 am service
(only one service that day!)
Vacation Bible School
| |
|
|
 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. |
|
Helpful Links
click on our website links at
|
|
Hope, Thank you so much for the adorable gift basket. At this time of joy we appreciate the thoughtfulness. Thank you so much, Andy, Amanda and Abigail Lawsen
Dear Hope Free Family, Thank you for your kindness in remembering us with the scripture and pretty little red rose bush. The rose will remind us of Nancy and our Hope Free Family. We look forward to the hope of Spring to plant outside, and the promise of heaven and life eternal. Gratefully, Marnie and Dan McAvoy
Hope Church, Thank you for my basket of goodies.I am feeling much better now! Love, Quinn Nagel
|
WHITE CROSS UPDATE
Sharon Vinson & Connie Ruden, Coordinators
What a wonderful response in February to our call for Touch of Love Care Kits for children in Haiti and for workers to spend extra hours preparing quilts for Haiti and for our local mission groups! So far we've had 83 kits and 15 quilts completed in February. Hooray! The needs are still great in Haiti and in the state-line area as so many people have donated for the earthquake disaster and left local ministries in dire need. Please pray for what you can do to help.
Our March workdays are Tuesday, March 2, and Tuesday, March 16, from 8-12 in Drake Hall so do plan to join us. We'll be tying quilts, cutting out dresses for the dress kits, cutting materials for receiving blankets and quilt tops, etc. Just bring your scissors and come enjoy some fellowship with other willing workers for Jesus.
Our needs this month include:
- Blankets & mattress pads for inside of quilts (can't wait for spring garage sales)
- Lightweight flannel for receiving blankets in 1-yd. increments
- Rickrack, bias tape, thread, small scissors, pins & needles to include in the dress kits
- Gallon storage bags (ziploc style)
- Sheets, sheets, & more sheets for quilt backs (flat, any color)
- Campbell's labels for education (for local schools)
We look forward to seeing many workers make a difference in God's kingdom as we try to supply for the needs of those in Haiti, Congo, Tanzania, Bosnia, Romania, Mongolia, and more. Won't you join our efforts in helping the poor wherever God sends us.
|
Quarterly Congregational Meeting
Sunday, March 28
at 6 pm
|
Would you love the opportunity to share God's love with little ones? We are in need of nursery workers for Easter Sunday. If you are interested in serving, or if you have questions about serving, please contact Tara Minger at 815-270-0328 or email at denver_tdd@yahoo.com.
to table of content | |
