The Apostle Peter shares the command in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The Greek word used here for grow means to cause to grow, to increase, to become greater. So, when we are challenged to grow in faith, we are to increase or mature in our relationship with the Lord.
When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are born again spiritually into God’s family. But just as a newborn baby requires nourishing milk for growth and strong positive development, so a new follower of Jesus Christ requires spiritual food for growth. Milk is used throughout the New Testament as a symbol of the basic need of Christians. However, when that same baby begins to grow, its diet needs to change to include solid foods. The milk here refers to the pure milk of the Word of God. It is reading and being nourished by Bible stories and the principles enumerated throughout the Bible. The solid food which growing Christians need is to go far deeper in the teachings of Christ. As we read in Hebrews 6:1, “Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.” By the way, milk has nothing to do with our chronological age, you can be 90 years old and still be a baby Christian – only drinking milk.
Ultimately, we need to remember that our growth as Christians comes from God. It is God that causes the growth! As the Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” Let us all pray for God to grow us deeper in our walk with the Lord in 2022!!
Sunday Worship
This Sunday, Pastor Glen will continue his Ephesians series: Ephesians: Our Identity and Purpose. His sermon is entitled, “Deeper Intimacy,” based upon Ephesians 1:15-17. Please read this verse in context in preparation for worship!
Poinsettias
There are poinsettias available for anyone interested in taking one or more. They are in the welcome center at the church!
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, as we study Matthew 9 – Jesus and Miracles! Please bring your Bible!!
Children’s Sunday School
Our dynamic Sunday school team is requesting volunteers to serve as Sunday school teachers. You would serve no more than once a month! Pray that God will raise up more teachers for this important ministry!
Tithes and Offerings
An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, online giving opportunities are available on the website.
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.
Church Directory Available Online
Annual Congregational Meeting
Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 23rd, immediately after our worship service. There will be no adult Sunday school that Sunday.
Mission Corner
This year, we as a mission team are going to try to provide you the congregation with more information about the missions we support. Each month, we will highlight a different ministry.
ComfortCare Women’s Health is a life-affirming, nonprofit medical clinic that seeks to engage, educate, empower and equip women and men most vulnerable to abortion when facing an unintended pregnancy.
We are collecting donations of paper towels, toilet paper, cans of ginger ale, and bottled water for them to provide to their clients. Additionally, we are kicking off the baby bottle campaign. Pick up a bottle in January. Collect your spare change through February, then bring back your bottle for us to give to Comfort Care.
Adult Choir
Our Adult Choir will NOT meet until further notice due to increased COVID cases.
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, together, we believe God for answers to various prayer requests.
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.
January Birthdays
Sam Lucas (1/6); Cheryl Reynolds (1/7); Janis Glickman and Stephen Wright (1/14); Candi Brown (1/22); Janet Coiner (1/27); Linda Ritchie (1/30)