"Church Family" [2026.01.31 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – January 31, 2026

Special Notice: due to postponement for weather the called meeting to approve a budget and elect a treasurer is scheduled for Wednesday, February 4, directly after the prayer meeting (~8p.m.). A draft budget is attached, as approved by the Diaconate and commended by the Session.

Dear Congregation,

We’ve been learning much, from Song of Songs, about the desires and delights of Christ. In Mark 3:34–35, Jesus says, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Sometimes, we speak of one another as “church family,” but the truth and reality is much better: that Jesus has made us to be His own family.

It truly is a wonderful thing that we are about to do—entering heaven with Him, Who presents us there, saying, “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me” (Heb 2:13).

Looking forward to going to heaven with you, Christ’s family,

Pastor

 

Audio lessons to help you prepare for the Lord’s Day:

▪Theology Simply Explained — CC37, What Every Sin Deserves 
▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC14, Understanding Sin, before God, since the Garden
▪Song of Songs 4:8–15, “His Love of Her Love”
▪Deuteronomy 28:15–29.1, “Learning from Covenant Curses”
▪Ecclesiastes 10:16–20, “The Harm of Fools in Authority”
▪Matthew 27:1–25, “The One Who Can Bear Our Guilt”
▪Song of Songs 4:1–7, “The Desires of the Delightful Bride”

LORD'S DAY – February 1, 2026 

9:50 a.m. Breakfast Line Opens

10 a.m. Sabbath School
We are preparing our minds and hearts for public worship by studying our Confession of Faith from Scripture, affirming that Scripture is our only ultimate authority, but also discovering that what we confess is thoroughly Scriptural.

11 a.m. Public Worship

▫Children’s Catechism for February 1. Q37 What does every sin deserve? The wrath and curse of God. [CC 37 Simply Explained: “What Every Sin Deserves”]
▫Shorter Catechism for February 1. Q14. What is sin? Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. [WSC 14 Simply Explained: “Understanding Sin, before God, since the Garden”]

▫Songs for public worship on February 1: ARP45B [mp3], ARP22A [mp3], ARP51B [mp3]

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Song of Songs 4:8–15

Scripture Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
Deuteronomy 28:15–29:1
Ecclesiastes 10:16–20

Sermon Scripture text and topic
We will be hearing the sermon from Matthew 27:1–25 about “His Blood Be Upon Us”

Lord’s Supper! (Please see the section at the end of the Worship Booklet on how rightly to prepare for and take it).

1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class

1:30 p.m. Fellowship Lunch
▫Memory Verse for February 1, Matthew 27:18, For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

3:00 p.m Evening Praise and Preaching

We will be singing at least ten Psalm selections and hearing the sermon from Song of Songs 4:16 about “The Bride’s Great Desire”

Hopewell this Month

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for February
Madison-Monrovia ARP in Harvest, AL

February Psalm of the Month
ARP22A My God, My God

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, February 4, Midweek Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from Proverbs 21:9, 19 then pray until 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 4, Congregational Meeting, 8 p.m. in the Chapel
• Wednesday, February 11, Session Meeting, 8 p.m. in the Pastor’s Study
• Saturday, February 28, Men’s (and future men) breakfast, 7a in the Fellowship Hall