Thursday, September 26, 2013

9/26 New Hope E-News

Announcements

Potluck-- This Sunday, following church!

Syrian Peacemaker-- We are blessed to host a Syrian minister this Monday evening at 7. Please be here to learn about the situation in Syria and how we can best support our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thanks to Marilyn Suber for all the work she has done to bring this event to New Hope.

Who Are We?-- We are going to wrap up our study on our roots this Sunday by exploring the story of Abraham's call.

Room in the Inn-- On October 10, Chattanooga Room in the Inn will be celebrating their anniversary from 5-8pm at Lyndsay Street Hall. Speak with Lizz if you're interested.

Wednesday Bible Study-- We started last night by studying the story of Samuel, and we'll move into Saul's life next week at 6:30!


Community Kitchen Spot
There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf.
#10 cans - mixed vegetables / peas
#10 cans fruit
Dinner napkins
Plastic forks / spoons
Dry milk


New Hope News

Sunday School—This Sunday, we'll study the 5th chapter of Matthew, which is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

Church Lawnmower-- The church is trying to dispose of the lawnmower. It's a John Deere 36” mower with many hours on the engine. If you'd like to submit a bid, please contact the church office by September 30.


Pray For:
Lynn Meyer & Christine Dyer

Krissey Parker and her upcoming surgery

Connie Robinson




Links








Keith's Random Thoughts

I had to buy ink for my printer last week, and I'm always amazed at what a successful business that is. Think about it: you buy a printer once for $60, and then every six months you spend $30-$40 to keep it working. That's a great business model. Every time I need two new cartridges I contemplate whether it's cheaper to just buy a new printer. Once a company has sold you a printer, they've got you for life! (Just think of the value of this truck crash.)
My point here is this: I think printer companies invest their time, energy and money in getting people to buy their printers. Once you've bought the printer, it doesn't matter what you do, because you have to buy ink for the thing. They don't keep investing in you as a potential customer, because it doesn't matter. You're stuck.

As the church, we have to continue investing in the people who are already attending. We are called to grow disciples—not just to gather them and make sure they don't go anywhere. As the church, it's so important that we grow together, that we pray together and study the Bible together and listen to the joys and concerns of one another. We can't just take for granted the fact that someone will be there one Sunday because they were there the last Sunday. We need to keep in touch, to be rooted in one another, and to seek constantly God's direction and guidance.

All of this should funnel us outward. When we are growing, we recognize God's love for the outsider. When we are growing together, we want to welcome others to join our fellowship. When we are growing as disciples, others see our lives being changed and want to be a part of our fellowship.

And then, as people join, they continue to grow. Their growth and energy enables others to grow, and the cycle continues. God is building his church, and he wants us to be passionate parts of it.

So let us make sure that we grow, that we as a church encourage growth, and that we reach in so that we can reach out.


Text for this Sunday
Genesis 12:1-9 (ESV)

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak[d] of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.


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