Jesus declares in His famous Sermon on the Mount, “Every good tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:17, NIV). It is interesting to look at the way in which this sentence is written in the Greek, because there is a different word used for good – The first word for good, modifying tree means sound, healthy, whole, firm, or solid. In fact, in the English Standard Version of this text, it reads, “every healthy tree.” So, “good tree” in this case is a healthy, solid tree. The second word for good, modifying fruit means “beautiful.” So, a healthy tree (meaning Jesus) produces beautiful fruit (meaning people).
If we are going to compare this healthy tree to Jesus (and, if we abide in Him), then that tree will produce “beautiful” people – not beautiful in the way Hollywood defines beauty – thin, shapely bodies with no flaws.
Basically, Jesus produces beautiful people. The Bible defines a beautiful person as a servant. Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be great must be a servant. Beautiful people serve. Servanthood produces a beauty in us. God has sent you and me wherever we are – at home, in our neighborhoods, in the community, on the golf course, in the grocery store – to serve.
Followers of Jesus serve naturally. It is just who they are. Followers of Jesus have programmed into their DNA an innate desire to serve. We read in Isaiah 6 that in Isaiah’s vision, after becoming more fully aware of God’s holiness and his unworthiness – and having his sins blotted out – the Lord says to Isaiah, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And Isaiah responds, “Here am I, send me.”
May we be the beautiful people who naturally serve, in order that we produce more beautiful people . . . people who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength!
Sunday Worship
Pastor Glen will continue the sermon series, Ephesians: Our Identity and Purpose! His sermon this Sunday is “Priceless,” based upon Ephesians 2:10. Please read this verse in preparation for worship . . . just read all of chapter 2 and maybe the whole letter!!
Adult Sunday school
Our Adult Sunday school class will meet this Sunday immediately after worship in the large Sunday school room. Please join Janet Coiner and others for a wonderful time around God’s Word!! We will study Matthew 16, “Are We Blind to the Signs?” . . . Pease bring your Bible!!
Tithes and Offerings
An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, online giving opportunities are available on the website.
Click on image to learn more!
Amazon Smile
Support Hope Community Church by choosing us as your Amazon Smile charity. Simply login to Amazon. In the upper left corner, Click Amazon Smile. If you are supporting a charity already, you will see that name. Click the dropdown arrow. Click “Change Charity”. Search for “Hope Community Church Waynesboro”. Click and select.
Mission Corner
This month our church is focusing on the ministry of Love INC! Love INC helps churches help people. Members of HCC volunteer in a variety of ways to support this ministry.
Love In the Name of Christ’s vision is:
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to see Christian churches united in purpose and fully engaged in actively living out their faith
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by lovingly serving people in need in their communities.
On a separate note, there are still 4 Baby Bottles, which have not been turned in to Pat Layne to support the ministry of ComfortCare Women’s Health. Please check to see if you may have one! Thanks so much for your support!
You can visit our website and go to the Outreach Page.
Prayer Meeting
Our Weekly Prayer meeting is held at our church facility each Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. We invite you to join with us in prayer as we seek the Lord’s face!
Contagious Disease Preparedness Plan
The Session adopted a Contagious Disease Preparedness Plan to support our church family, as well as our visitors. We want to be supportive of our entire church family, as well as our community in this season of increased cases of COVID-19, including the new omicron variant. The plan has been sent to our members for reflection and feedback and is available at the church.
March Birthdays
Alice Reider (3/13); Ruby Lucas (3/16); Esther Danraj (3/18); Sean O’Ram (3/25); Debby Ray (3/31)