It has been said that the church is like a family. I’ve always wondered about this because some of the families I know don’t function all that well.
We read in Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship . . .” The Greek word fellowship means to “share something in common.” Acts 2:42-47 fleshes out this concept as we learn that they were “all together” (verse 44), they met together in the temple courts (verse 46), and they ate together (verse 46).
This passage mentions three times that they ate together. Shared meals played an important role in the life of the early church. Maybe that’s why when we’re together, we like to eat!
We read in verses 44-45: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”
In the South, there is something that you get sometimes whether you order it or not – grits. There is no such thing as one “grit.” They don’t come by themselves; they come in a community of other grits. You can’t just order one grit. We are a lot like grits. Of course, some of us are “grittier” than others!! But, we’re not here on our own; we have been created to be in community with others. Other people have touched our lives – parents, neighbors, friends, and teachers, among others. Some people touched you for the better, and others may have made you cry.
God made us that way. He said that it is not good for human beings to experience the oppressing, isolating aloneness that wounds the heart. Genesis 2:18 says “It is not good for man to be alone . . .”
As we learned in this text, the first Christians met together every day! They worshipped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness. If you are not in a small group that meets regularly, I want to encourage you to find one. We need one another!!
Worship
Pastor Glen’s last message in our study of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians is this Sunday. His message is “Communion of the Saints,” based on Philippians 4:21-23. Please read this text in preparation for worship!
We will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper this Sunday. We encourage you to examine yourself before receiving the Sacrament per 1 Corinthians 11:27-32.
Adult Sunday School
Our Adult Sunday school class will meet this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the large Sunday school room. Please join Janet Coiner and others for a wonderful time around God’s Word!! We will continue our study of the Acts of the Apostles. This Sunday we will focus on Acts 27: The Storm and Shipwreck!! Please bring your Bible.
Men’s Bible Study
Our Men’s Bible Study meets every Tuesday from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. in the Community Room at Panera Bread. Over the next several weeks we will explore some of the Psalms. Next Tuesday we will explore Psalm 3. Our last Tuesday Bible study before the summer break is May 14th. All men are invited and encouraged to join us.
Our annual end-of-the-year picnic will be on May 21st, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Lofton Lake, thanks to the gracious hospitality of Harold Cook.
Church Grounds Cleanup Day
Please come out for our church cleanup day THIS SATURDAY (May 4th), beginning at 8:00 a.m. Please bring rakes, shovels, brooms, and wheelbarrows to help mulch and spruce up our church grounds!!
Spring Fling
HCC needs help with Spring Fling
May 11th from 7:00 a.m. to Noon
Ways to get involved.
Sign up at the Welcome Center Table
- Sign up for a table. (Sell your own goods, we ask that a portion of your proceeds be donated to church missions or designated to any church fund of your choice.)
- Sign up to bring Yard Sale items to donate to HCC.
(We ask that you do not donate appliances)>
- Sign up to bring simple breakfast items.
Donuts, muffins, cinnamon buns, etc. (Free to anyone that comes to the yard sale).
- Sign up for Childrens Craft and Balloons.
(Crafts for children to do and balloons to be given away).
- Sign up to help put together Mother’s Day Gift Bags.
(Gift bags to be given away to all the moms that come to the event).
Pastor Search Committee Update & Prayer
Your Pastor Search Committee has finalized the Church Information Form and will begin the search for our next lead pastor.
We invite you to covenant to pray for the next pastor and specifically for the Pastor Search Committee, as they together with you, seek the Lord!
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37:4-5)
Will you claim the promise of God’s direction to those who seek to know His will?
PRAYER: “Gracious Heavenly Father, today I commit myself to join our church family in crying out to You for the man who is to shepherd this flock. You already know him and we pray you would reveal him to us. Guide our Search Committee in their great responsibility. For the sake of Christ’s Kingdom and in His glorious Name. Amen.”
Tithes and Offerings
An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, Online Giving
Financial Assistance
In the wake of Jeff Forbis’s serious accident, we would like help raise some funds to help assist with medical expenses. If you are interested in helping, you can contribute on his GoFundMe site: https://www.gofundme.com/jeff-forbis
Individuals may also contribute directly to Hope Community Church. Just indicate for Jeff Forbis Support to the Caregiving and Relief Ministry. Thank you!
Welcome to the Waynesboro Choral Society and Faithful Men
The Session has invited the Waynesboro Choral Society and the Faithful Men to use our facility for their rehearsals during the week and on Sunday afternoons. We are excited to welcome these outstanding community choral groups to our facility. We especially look forward to having both groups assist in worship in the near future!!
Golden Oldies
The next gatherings of the Golden Oldies will be . . .
May 8 at 10:30, meet at Panera Community Room with our speaker, Richard Ammons (Chaplain of the Waynesboro Fire Department for seventeen years!).
Richard will encourage attendees that Christian service is an opportunity for all of us in a plethora of ways. He will share with the group about the free smoke detector program that both the City and County have for its residents (AND battery changing, too!) and how to obtain it. He will also show off a typical fire extinguisher and what critical actions homeowners need to do to keep them functional (plus access to a recorded demonstration made at another church on how to put a fire out, etc. put on by WFD); the Knoxbox system for secure, rapid access available to both City and County residents free of service costs, etc, with a residential model Knoxbox there for demonstration; and what typical firefighters “turnout coat” looks and feels like, in addition to a helmet, up close and personal. He plans to be in his Class A uniform which indicates that he is a Chaplain for all but a Christian in faith. ANYONE in the church is welcome to attend this informative program!!
June 12 at 10:30, meet at Panera Community Room to play Bingo! We request for everyone to bring a wrapped gift so all can be winners! $10 max amount of gift.
Prayer Concerns and Praise Reports
- Until someone in the congregation volunteers to be the Coordinator of the Prayer Requests and Praise Report, HCC requests that all individual prayer requests, praises, and updates be emailed to our church administration email address at admin@hopechurchwaynesboro.org to be included on the weekly report.
- We will make every effort to share all requests for prayers with the understanding that the requests need to be current and active as well.
- Each prayer request will be listed for four weeks unless we receive a request or update to keep a specific prayer request on the report.
- At the end of four weeks, prayer requests that have not been updated will be moved to “Request For Continuing Prayers” which will show a listing of names only. Thank you to everyone for the many ways in which your prayers uphold those on the prayer list.
Driver Assistance
If you or someone in our congregation needs a ride to a doctor’s appointment or other appointments, please call Tom Reider (540.649.5162). He has agreed to coordinate rides. He has a list of those who have volunteered to give those rides. We are grateful for this important ministry!!
Mission Corner
Love INC Support: From April through June we will be collecting various paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, boxed tissues, napkins) AND household cleaning items (toilet bowl cleaner, all-purpose cleaners, dish soap, laundry soap, etc.). May we be a blessing to those desiring to improve their lives.
Our next mission team meeting will be Wednesday, May 1, 6:00-7:00 p.m. for those interested in participating.
The Missions Team is active keeping in touch with our missionaries and other ministries. Please keep updated! You can visit our website and go to the Outreach page
May Birthdays
Tom Reider & Marcella Walters (5/2); Bill Flournoy (5/5); Deborah Kleinschuster (5/7); Loretta Watkins (5/12); Sherry Holder (5/20); Paul Childers (5/22); Larry Roberts (5/25)