Maybe you know the story about a famous American League baseball umpire of the 1930s and 40s. His name was Bill Klem. He was known for having one of the loudest voices in the entire league. He could be heard without a microphone all over ballparks. One day he was umpiring a game in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The score was 2 – 2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Cleveland and New York. The Yankees were at bat with two men out. Frankie Crosetti, the potential winning run, was at second base. Gil McDougald, the batter, sliced a single to center field.
The Cleveland Indian centerfielder came in and fielded the ball as Frankie Crosetti rounded third base and was digging toward home. The Cleveland Indians centerfielder, as fast as he could, threw the ball into home plate. The Cleveland Indians catcher caught the ball and tagged Frankie Crosetti as he crossed the plate. All over Yankee Stadium, Indians fans yelled out, “He’s out!” Yankee fans yelled out, “He’s safe!” The umpire, Bill Klem, took off his mask and looked around at everyone all over the stadium, and said, “He ain’t nothing until I say so!” So, it doesn’t matter what the manager thinks; it doesn’t matter what all the fans think. Everybody can be excited, but there’s only one voice that matters and that is the voice of the umpire.
Is God the umpire in your life? If God’s word is the most important word in your life, then we must first remember to stay close to Jesus Christ. Oswald Chambers said, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows the one leading.” Are we staying close to Jesus Christ? Are we assured of his reliability and willing to follow wherever he leads?
Following Jesus Christ is NOT an easy road; it is a hard road. The radical Gospel of Jesus Christ means that we remember the way of Jesus is a tough way. So often we want fulfillment, and we don’t want denial. So, the question we need to ask is, “Is there room in our life for Jesus Christ? Following Jesus Christ is to say that we play to an audience of one. It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks. What matters is what God thinks and calls us to do.
By the way, you know, Frankie Crosetti, who slid across home plate – he was safe! Not because the Yankee fans said so or because the manager said so or because the announcer said so. He was safe because, in the opinion of the umpire, he was safe. Tell me, who is the umpire of your life?
Worship
Pastor Glen will continue the sermon series this Sunday in 1 John. His sermon is “Does Purity Matter?” based on 1 John 3:2-3. Please read this text in preparation for worship.
Adult Bible Study Class
Our Adult Bible Study 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 focus on Romans 16: “Paul’s Personal Greetings.” Please bring your Bible.
Exploring Hope Class
Come to our next Exploring Hope Class! Exploring Hope is a gathering designed to communicate a brief overview of what is important to us here at Hope, including our history, what we believe, our values, our focus, our direction, and how to get connected. Our next Exploring Hope Class will be THIS Sunday, September 8th, after worship. The two-hour class will include lunch in our main Sunday school room. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Pastor Glen.
Pastor Search Committee Update & Prayer
Your Pastor Search Committee is in the process of searching 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 seek the Lord! You may even wish to fast for a meal or a day or more as the Lord directs. Corporate prayer is so needed! Join with other sisters and brothers if you can.
“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 & Offerings
An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, Online Giving
Session Highlights
Our Session met on August 19th at 5:00 p.m. The following are some of the highlights:
- Study and Reflection on 1 Peter 2:9 led by Elder Albert Danraj. We focused on how we are all “priests” under the New Covenant.
- We approved the Session minutes of July 22nd and August 7th and approved the minutes of the Congregational Meeting on July 28th on behalf of the congregation. We also discussed various correspondence.
- Pastor Glen reported on the ongoing leadership training for the newly elected elders and deacons.
- Review of the budget by Elder Tim Stewart, including the status of capital improvement projects
- We approved the establishment of a church website content review team, including the website manager, Session member, and the pastor.
- We reviewed the accuracy of church members and non-members in ChurchTrac.
- We discussed a policy regarding attendance at church meetings by church members.
- We discussed backup for critical responsibilities, including treasurer duties; A/V Sound Team; HCC website manager; Security
- We discussed plans for offering the Alpha Course, beginning in the New Year.
- We were updated on the HCC website redesign, which is in process
Please pray for the Session, as they will meet next Monday, September 16th.
Budget Update
Total Tithes/Offerings for August: $22,014.54 YTD: $208,595.54
Total Expenses for August: $12,526.66 YTD: $136,732.00
Golden Oldies
We will meet on September 11th at 10:30 in the Waynesboro Panera Bread Community Room. Attorney Bill Watkins will be the speaker to give help on navigating legal paperwork. In addition to the Golden Oldies, other church folks are invited to join us! Have your questions ready!!
We will meet on October 9th at 10:30 in the Waynesboro Panera Bread Community Room with Lori Showalter as our guest speaker. Lori is the Director of Volunteer Services for Augusta Health and Hospice of the Shenandoah (of Augusta Health). She will give an informative overview of Hospice.
We will meet on November 13th for a lunch out. The group will decide the place to dine!
FALL FEST 2024
Mark your calendars now for our Fall Fest on October 12th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Fun, food, music, and games! This will be a craft fair with BBQ chicken, giveaways, a cake walk, and games for all!
We need your help to donate craft or art items, help set up, volunteer during the event, and we will also need cakes. Also, if a corn hole game could be borrowed for the event, it would be appreciated. Sign-up sheets will be available in the welcome center at the church this Sunday. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please contact Candi Brown (540.241.2021) or Nina Gross (540.480.3441). More information to come!
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
Mission Opportunity
Our congregation will be serving the meal for the Love INC dinner at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, September 24th. We need people to make sloppy joes. (The recipe is available in the welcome center, and the sloppy joes can be made ahead of time, frozen, and delivered to Kim Holman). We also need cookies made and workers for that evening to set up, serve, and clean up. According to the sign-up in the welcome center, we are still in need of people to make sloppy joes and cookies! This is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those taking the “Change Your Life Class”!
Love INC Support: From July through September, we will be collecting paper products (Paper towels, toilet paper, Kleenex, etc.). May we be a blessing to those desiring to improve their lives.
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 Mission Page
August & September Birthdays
Harold Coiner & Desiree Graham (9/6); Kristen Folks (9/11); Pat Layne (9/13); Russell Fisher & Rodger Daniels (9/14); Kerry Keyes (9/16); Tina Norcross (9/18); Chris Haynes (9/24); Dede Hamilton & Marge Sass (9/26)