| The best part of Christmas has to do with the wonder of
its surprises. Just imagine, angels coming to your address, singing
in the middle of the night! What is in that package with your name
on it? God's love coming as a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth!
Yes, heaven is yours! Emmanuel! God is with you and for you.
The weariest soul becomes an expectant child again and all is new.
Come, Lord Jesus, be born in us!
Hope is bustling with excitement! We have found our new Minister
of Music, Mr. Dean Poulsen, who will join us in January. His
brief biography appears in our newsletter. A new Religious Dance
Team is meeting to dance God's praises. The three and four-year old
Hope Christian School children are getting ready to share the Christmas
Story with family and friends. Our Sunday School children are eagerly
learning their parts for the Christmas Pageant, our annual miracle!
An Adopt-a-Family Christmas tree has appeared in our narthex! And Christmas
joy is breaking out all over the calendar!
Advent Worship: Join us each weekend for the lighting
of our Advent wreath as the Nativity comes alive! Our Hope
Family Covenant for the new year will open for signing on the first Sunday
in Advent, November 30th.
Decorating the Narthex Hope Family Christmas Tree:
7 PM Monday, December 1st Come and place your family's
ornament on the tree and enjoy refreshments with us.
Christmas Cookie Exchange:
7:15 PM Friday, December 5th. Bring nut-free cookies (and recipe!)
and a $5 wrapped ornament to exchange. Games, refreshments and fun!
Women of Hope Christmas Dinner:
6 PM Wednesday, December 10th at Café Colore, 3333 Rt. 9 N.
RSVP now with Wanda. Bring an Open Door food donation and cash for
your dinner and tip.
Wisdom Club Christmas Luncheon and Program:
11:30 AM Thursday, December 11th Active seniors are invited for a dutch-treat
lunch at Peking Pavilion, 110 Hwy 33 W., Manalapan, and then to the home
of Pat and Dick Genthner to enjoy their trains and dessert.
Gathering of Men Christmas Breakfast: 9 AM Saturday,
December 13th at Hope.
Blue Christmas Service (for those who are struggling or bereaved):
5:30 PM Saturday, December 13th. We worship Emmanuel, God With
Us; hear God's Word; share in song, prayer, and Communion and light a memorial
candle. All are welcome.
Hope Christian School Christmas Programs:
9:15 AM and 1 PM Thursday, December 18th and Friday, December 19th
Sunday School Children's Christmas Pageant:
5:30 PM Saturday, December 20th "Santa Gives Back Christmas!"
Enjoy the Christmas music and joyful children!
Senior High/College Christmas Breakfast:
9:30 AM Sunday, December 21st at Patty Cakes, Freehold. RSVP
with Phyllis Cozzi.
Celebrate on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th:
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4 PM Children's Service: Lessons, Carols and the Christmas
Story, "Can you Shock a Shepherd?" with a story cookie for each child. |
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7 PM Family Service: Harpist, Religious Dance Team, Lessons,
Carols, Candlelight Communion and Christmas Story "Can you Shock a Shepherd?"
with a story cookie for each child. |
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9 PM Festival Service: Lessons, Carols, Candlelight Communion,
choral music and Christmas Message: "To You A Savior!" |
Service of the Word and Carols:
9:30 AM Sunday, December 28th Music will be provided by the
father-daughter team, Gregg and Casey Heinzmann. Our
December birthdays will be celebrated. There will be no Saturday
night service December 27th.
My husband Roy and I invite you to our home, 22 Story
Court, Freehold, for an Open House, Sunday, Jan. 4th from 3 to 8
PM. The perfect hostess gift is food for Open Door!
We look forward to noshing and relaxing with our Hope Church family.
God's richest blessings to you and yours!
Love,
Our Lutheran Church encourages every member to grow in our knowledge
and use of the Bible, our "Book of Faith." To learn more about the
ELCA "Book of Faith Initiative," to download a personal assessment, to
learn how to read the Bible in a year and access other helpful resources,
click on this link:
http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/The-Bible/.
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