Hopewell Herald –
January 17, 2019
Dear
Congregation,
This week’s
morning sermon text has kept me thinking about how we have not perished, but
rather been given life—and that life abundantly—in
Christ Jesus.
And this the
Lord did for us at the cost of His Son, so that He might clothe us with His
Son. What cause for thankfulness, and love, and zealous service, and obedience!
How
appropriate it is, then, that we also hope by God’s help to celebrate the
Lord’s Supper together. There’s a busy couple days before the Lord’s Day, but
we must certainly not let them be so busy that we fail to anticipate and
prepare for the Table.
Looking
forward to Word, sacrament, and prayer with you,
Pastor
CONFERENCE-PREPARATION WORK DAY!!
Immediately following the Men’s Breakfast this saturday, at
8:00a.m., we will be having a congregational work-day to knock out several
tasks to make our campus more hospitable for the upcoming Winter Theology
Conference. All who can participate in the work day or help with lunch for the
workers, please contact the Johnstons.
And don’t
forget MEN’S BREAKFAST, Saturday, at 6:30a.m. We look forward to good
fellowship and food, earthly and spiritual, as we continue to study
Ecclesiastes together.
HOSTS’
HOMES SIGN-UP
We are hoping for a large number of guests for the Winter Conference, and
Elder Mangum is compiling a list of available hosts’ homes. If you are willing
to be blessed by sharing your space and time with other believers in town for
the conference, please communicate to Charlie your details (which nights, room
for how many in beds, room for how many on couches, room for how many in
sleeping bags, family/ages preferences, etc.).
LORD'S DAY – January 20, 2019
10 a.m. Study
Class
Westminster
Confession for Study Classes. We’ll be continuing
the 4th subject: The Trinity.
11 a.m. Morning Worship
▫Children’s Catechism for Jan 20
Q. 105. What is prayer? A. Prayer is asking God for things
which he has promised to give.
▫Shorter Catechism for Jan 20
Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? A. The
eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or
our neighbor's wealth or outward estate.
Hymns and Psalms
Basis of first portion of worship service
Scripture Readings
Sermon Scripture text and topic
In Genesis 3:20-24 the
Holy Spirit gives us the first example of a believer expressing faith, the
first display of the covering of sin, and clear instruction that the way to
life is not backward to Eden, but forward to Christ.
The Sacrament of the
Lord’s Supper
As we come to show forth the Lord’s death until He comes, we
do so by feeding upon Him by faith at His table. As we learned recently in
John, this “feeding” is a coming to Him, beholding Him, believing in Him, abiding
in Him, and having Him as our life and our purpose (cf. Jn
6:35,37,40,45,47,56,57). You may wish to employ the attached document as you
prepare for this holy meal.
12:45 p.m. Catechism Class
1 p.m. Food Fellowship
There is an open invitation each
Lord’s Day to join the several households of the church family that stay to eat
and worship together throughout the afternoon). During the meal we have an open
mic time, and the “Pastor’s Memory Challenge.”
▫Memory Verse for Jan 20
(Genesis 3:20) And Adam called
his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.
2:30 p.m. Church-Family Worship
The weekly p.m. service includes
an extended singing time of favorites selected by the congregation, a Scripture
teaching time from “the epistle reading,” and elder-led prayer. All are welcome
to this worship time!
Hopewell this Month
Hopewell’s Presbytery
Prayer Focus for January:
In
Christ Church in Los Angeles, CA
January Psalm of the
Month
Our
ushers for the month of January are: Elijah
Loud (head
usher), Thomas Johnston, Nathan Buonomo, Andrew Buonomo
Congregational Prayer Requests (new/updates in bold)
▪ The Winter Theology
Conference, February 1-3
▪ Jeff and Carrie Maskevich and family for her recently
discovered cancer
▪ Pray with KC for her friend Kathy who is in chemo and
radiation for grade 3 adenocarcinoma of her abdomen and pelvis, asking for
peace, guidance, healing & not reacting to the chemo drugs on the 24th
or 14th; and, other acquaintance Linda who doesn’t seem to know the
Lord, and just lost 21 year old son
▪ Pray with E&S E for provision and wisdom for their new
home construction project. It has been exhausting, and they feel needy of
strength and good decision making
▪ Pray with D&M G for her mother who is back in the
hospital; and, pray for comfort and
against bitterness for husband Amos and six children (ages 2-12) of a nearby
Amish lady who was killed by a drunk driver in front of her 9 year old son
while they were bicycling; and, for
son Jeremiah with wife Julianna: marriage, work for him, and their walk with
Christ
▪ Pray with SG for
young Jedediah Vick (along with parents Austin and Esther) who has been
diagnosed with meningitis.
▪ Pray with
J&H H for his father’s cancer, and sweetness in their remaining time
together; and for his youngest brother; and for his sister-in-law and family as
she faces and fights stage three breast cancer
▪ Pray with G&M H for grown children James, Paul, and
Holly, that the Lord would turn them back to Himself and bring the stability of
His peace, joy, and wisdom into their lives
▪ Pray with R&M J for physical and spiritual comfort in
the wake of the departure to glory of their baby in the womb; and for 7 & 9
year old karate classmates of Thomas, whose father is dying
▪ Pray with C&T P for her brother Todd, needing to live
a life of faith in and love to Christ; for the Lord’s mercy and healing in her
many health issues
▪ Pray with J&D P for her brother-in-law, Tracy Seat,
recovering from a pneumonia bad enough to put him on IV antibiotics and cause
concern that a return of cancer might be the underlying cause
▪ Pray with D&K R for their family’s growth in godliness,
especially dying to self, godly speech, and Lord’s Day keeping
▪ Pray with J&M R for Mariah’s adoption; and for friend
Del Bailey and family in his recent cancer diagnosis with very poor prognosis
▪ Pray with GR for friend Abby to come to faith in Christ
▪ Pray with JR for believing friend Jeanette Cary who is in
poor health
▪ PRAISE with D&D R for Ms. Margarite’s recovery
from flu and pneumonia; continue to pray for her health and comfort as a
resident @Magnolia
▪ Pray with R&R T for her siblings (brother and 2
sisters) who are not believers, and especially wisdom and grace toward the
sister who is particularly hostile
▪ Pray with S&V Y
for him as he quits smoking; and for continued health for Brittney, wife of
Andre, with peace and joy for their entire family, after her strokes
▪ Please pray with In Christ ARP
Church in Los Angeles, CA, throughout the month of January
▪ Please pray for all
ARP presbyteries, churches, and agencies
Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious
worship, is by God required of all men: and, that it may be accepted, it is to
be made in the name of the Son, by the help of his Spirit, according to his
will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and
perseverance; and, if vocal, in a known tongue. (WCF 21.3)