With whom do you identify? The Apostle Paul stated in Ephesians 4:24: “[P]ut on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Our character is the sum of our habits. We must “put off the old nature.” The point is that it is no longer ours. It is there, but it is no longer identified with us. Christ is our life now; a radical difference has come. We are now identified with Christ.
And, not only that, but it is also holy. Now there is a word we squirm at – holiness. We usually think of some pious person who looks like he/she has been soaked in embalming fluid. But let me use another word that is also an accurate translation of this word – wholeness. That means health or wholeness of personality, a whole person as God intended us to be. Now, that results from the life of the Lord Jesus living within. But the process is threefold: First, put off. Then, change the way we think. And, then finally, put on.
Putting off the old person is like squeezing the water out of a half-drowned person’s lungs. You do not do that because you want his/her lungs to be empty, you do it because you want the air to get in so that he/she can live. What the Scripture reveals to us is that this old egocentric life of ours has been asphyxiating – killing us. It has been cutting off the breath that we were designed to breathe.
The only air we were designed to breathe is God. Yet we find such difficulty believing this and therefore we do not experience it. The whole matter comes down to an appeal to the will. Put off, change the way we think, and put on. That is a choice we are asked to make whenever we recognize the deceitful urges that come from within. So, put off, change the way you think, and put on. If we want to become more like Jesus Christ, this is how we must begin. Therefore, may we identify with Jesus Christ!!
Worship
Pastor Glen will continue his sermon series exploring the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This Sunday Pastor Glen’s sermon is: “When Gain is Loss,” based on Philippians 3:4b-11. 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 Lowell Gross 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 14: Preaching the Gospel to Greeks and Paul’s Subsequent Stoning! Please bring your Bible.
Ministry Fair
Our ministry fair is on Sunday, February 11th. There will be opportunities to explore various ministries within the church and sign up to serve in a particular ministry area.
Women’s Bible Study
Join us for our morning or evening Women’s Bible Study! A 7-week study by Jennifer Rothschild, “Missing Pieces”
When? Wednesday Mornings at 10:00 a.m. February 14th – March 27th
OR
Thursday Evenings at 6:30 p.m. February 8th – March 21st
Please contact Marty Porter at (540) 471-2619 with any questions.
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. We are currently driving down Rt. 66, exploring the 66 books of the Bible. This Tuesday we explore Hebrews. All men are invited and encouraged to join us!!
Parking
Since our parking lot on Sundays is becoming fuller (which is a wonderful problem!!!), we encourage members and friends who can park in the lots to the west of the church facility. There is a path with pavers to walk around the building to the main entrance.
Tithes and Offerings
An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, Online Giving
Are You Receiving Church Emails
If you or someone you know would like to receive periodic emails, including This Week @ Hope and the weekly Prayer Requests and Praise Reports, please provide your first and last name, as well as your email address. You may give this information to one of our elders: Albert Danraj, Marty Porter, Tim Stewart, or Bob Simmons. Thank you so much!
Golden Oldies
We will meet next on February 13th from 10:30 to Noon at Panera Bread Community Room. A representative from Social Services will be our speaker. All church members and elders are invited to join us for this session.
Prayer Concerns and Praise Reports
If you have any concerns you would like to add to the Prayer Concerns and Praise Reports list or give an update, PLEASE contact our prayer coordinator, Janet Coiner (540.447.0918) by THURSDAY at 10:00 a.m.!! Thanks so much!!
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
We will continue to collect Baby Bottles to support the ministry of ComfortCare Women’s Health once again this year. Baby bottles are to be filled with extra change or any other cash or check donations. The bottles need to be returned by February 18th! If anyone needs more baby bottles or has a question, please contact Pay Layne.
Candi Brown shares her gratitude to all our folks who have donated various items to support families through Love INC! Beginning in January through March we will be collecting baby diapers and wipes. We are grateful for our partnership with Love INC and your support in making donations to this ministry!!
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
February Birthdays
Blake Porter (2/3); Albert Danraj (2/5); Harriet Wangler (2/16); Orville Bame (2/28)