Is there a hopeless situation you are dealing with today? What are you hoping for today? We all live with some kind of hope. We hope it will be a nice day. We hope our IRA will grow. We hope our team will win the championship. But what is hope? The Bible tells us that it is more than just wishful thinking; it is a calm assurance. When the Bible talks about the “hope of heaven,” it isn’t talking about hoping we get into heaven, but rather the hope that comes from the reality of heaven.
Max Lucado tells the story of a man who traveled from the United States to Canada shortly after the law was changed to require a passport to make the trip by air. With urgent processing and overnight delivery, the passport still didn’t arrive on time. The trip could not be cancelled. And this trip wasn’t for pleasure; it was a business trip. So, he left on the trip with the “hope” that he would be allowed to enter Canada and return to the United States. On the day of his return, he called home and told his parents that he had cleared all the checkpoints; he would soon be on his way home.
At what point do you think the young man experienced real “hope?” It was when he had cleared the last checkpoint and all doubts were erased. Before that, he didn’t have hope. He only had wishful thinking.
When the Apostle Peter wrote his first letter (between 65 to 70 AD), the early Church was just beginning to go through significant persecution. The Christians had been inconvenienced up to this time (business dealings, social settings, etc.), but Peter is sensing the beginnings of widespread persecution among Christians. Many Christians will be tortured and killed. Peter himself was about to be crucified upside-down. Peter sees this persecution coming on the horizon, and so he writes this letter to encourage the believers. This letter is brimming with a positive spirit, with joy and with hope. No matter what happens, Peter is encouraging the early Christians to build hope and joy into their days.
We read in 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead . . .” This “living hope” is not something we store away for the future. It is alive. The hope that we have empowers us to live today the way that God intended for us to live. What we hope for won’t fade away, rust, or shrink in significance – it is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,” as we read in verse 4.
In Peter’s day, the resurrection was the biggest thing that had ever happened . . . it still is the biggest thing! Don’t diminish this! Nothing will ever be the same again. The stone was rolled away! So, amid the hard times of your life, when you don’t know if things are going to work out, celebrate that in the end, they are already set right. Sin and death have been conquered! So, may we have this “living hope,” knowing that even amid seemingly hopeless situations, we can have this calm assurance in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!
Worship
Sunday Morning Bible Study Class
Our Adult Bible Study class will meet this Sunday at 9:15 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 2 Corinthians 12: “Paul in Paradise, Thorn in His Flesh, and Final Warnings.” Please bring your Bible.
Tithes & Offerings
An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, Online Giving
Holy Week Combined Worship Services
All Combined Worship Services begin with Praise & Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. and Worship begins at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16th – Host Church: Hope Community Church – Preacher: Rev. Earl Pendleton
Thursday, April 17th – Host Church: Pleasant View United Methodist Church – Preacher: Rev. Warne Dawkins
Friday, April 18th – Host Church: Union Baptist Church, but meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church – Preacher: Rev. Glen Holman
Easter Day Sonrise Service, April 20th – Host Church: Shiloh Baptist Church – Preacher: Rev. Eric Strother (Begins at 6:00 a.m.)
Resurrection Day Worship Service at Hope at 10:30 a.m.
Blue Sunday: Taking a Stand Against Child Abuse
Laurie Bame is an Ambassador for the Valley Children’s Advocacy Center located in Staunton. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the critical issue of child abuse and neglect. In observance of this important month, our Outreach team here at Hope, with the Session’s blessing, is asking you to participate in Blue Sunday, an initiative aimed at uniting faith communities to take a stand against child abuse.
Blue Sunday will take place on April 27, 2025, and we invite you to participate in any of the following ways:
Connect with your local Children’s Advocacy Center to support professionals bringing hope and healing to child abuse victims.
Donate to your local Children’s Advocacy Center to support essential services for child abuse victims’ healing and recovery. Supplies and time volunteering as well as monetary donations are greatly appreciated.
This Week @ Hope
If you would like to include any announcements in This Week @ Hope, please get information to Pastor Glen by Thursday morning. Also, if you or someone you know would like to receive This Week @ Hope, please let Pastor Glen know. Thanks so much!
HCC Prayer Concerns and Praise Report
If you are not receiving the weekly HCC Prayer Concerns and Praise Report and would like to receive it, please send an email that contains your email address and cell phone (and/or home phone) number to Tim Stewart at .
Session Highlights
Our Session met on Monday, March 24th, and Sunday, March 30th. The following are some of the highlights:
- We gathered around God’s Word and corporate prayer. Ruling Elder Marty Porter focused on 1 Peter and 2 Corinthians.
- We approved the minutes of the Session meeting on February 24th and extended on February 28th.
- Elder Tim Stewart presented a summary of the financial budgets as is our protocol.
- Elder Bob Simmons provided the Session with the status regarding the Pastor Search committee.
- Discussion regarding potential assistance (prayer, etc.) for an EPC church plant in Charlottesville (Presbytery involvement)
- Discussion regarding website
- Elder Marty shared about the progression of the Alpha Course, including the upcoming retreat at Natural Bridge
- Laurie Bame agreed to design and assist with a modified “bulletin”
- Session agreed to prepay $20,000 to our loan from Stephen and Theresa Martin for our building.
- Kathy Doyle was present to discuss thoughts regarding the placement and storage table for Love INC and the Prayer Room and mission statement in the redecorated welcome center.
- Session agreed to continue the responsibility of nominating church officers until a church nominating committee can be elected by the congregation.
- After informal discussion, it was agreed that a 3–5-year team be established to evaluate reaching younger generations of people with the Gospel and the adequacy of our building for growth. The team would be composed of both genders, younger and older members.
- The Session approved the expenditure of $700 for upgrading the Main Street property appearance.
Budget Update
Total Tithes/Offerings for February: $23,070.75 YTD: $39,907.71
Total Expenses for February: $17,410.34 YTD: $36,878.40
Golden Oldies
Mission Corner
The Prayer Room is an outreach ministry in downtown Waynesboro that cares for people practically and shares the good news of Jesus Christ! We are collecting personal hygiene products and wrapped food items to support this ministry. Donations can be brought to the church and given to the Prayer Room.
Love INC
We are collecting household cleaning products (laundry detergent, dish soap, all-purpose cleaners) from April through June for Love INC.
The Missions Team actively keeps in touch with our missionaries and other ministries. Please keep updated! You can visit our website and go to the Mission Page
April Birthdays
Judy Hiner (4/17); Wayne Mahanes and John Berry (4/19); Roger Graham (4/20)
