New Hope Christian Fellowship

Please be aware that there is a time changing coming up this Saturday night/Sunday morning (Mar. 13, 14). Remember to move your clocks forward one hour. You don’t want to be late for church.

The next men’s breakfast will be on Saturday, March 13 at 9:00 AM. It is a great time to get together with other men and eat good food, fellowship, and hear the Word. It will be taking place at the church. I’ll see you there.

A few weeks ago we sang the old hymn, “Amazing Grace,” in church. I have sung that song hundreds, if not thousands of times in my lifetime. However, as we were singing, a thought struck me that I hadn’t realized before. The song goes, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. . .” I started thinging about that line. Now, I was saved at a young age and fortunately, don’t have the regrets or scars that some people do that were saved much later in life. However, as I was thinking about that line, I realized something about that grace. Not only did that grace save us from our past, but it also saved us from our possible future. Without that grace, who would I have become? What would I have done? That amazing grace saved me for my entire life and everything I don’t do in the future is due to that grace. It could be written, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved and is still saving a wretch like me. . .”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

We, as a church are trying to help out in this challenging holdiay season. We have a goal to provide 25 Christmas baskets for those in need. Each basket will cost approximately $35. Also, you do not need to buy anything, just give any sized gift you can and everything that is needed will be purchased with your gift. If you are willing to help or have questions, please see Pastor Dennis.

The youth group will be having their Christmas party during their regularly scheduled service on December 18. For more information, talk to Gabriel Romero.

Therw ill be no services on the 23rd or 30th of December due to the holidays.

Tonight is the Christmas Potluck Dinner. Bring something to share with everyone and expect to have a good time. It starts at 6:00 Pm.

Our yearly Kidz Carnival is coming up quickly. It will be on Saturday, October 31st from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. We will be setting up around 10:00 AM that morning. If you are able to help, please talk to Hulynne. They are also looking for bagged candy to give away to all those who attend. It is a great time to interact with the community around the church.

There will be an ushers and greeters meeting after church on Sunday, October 24, 2009. Anyone who is an usher or greeter or would like to be one should attend this meeting.

It’s been a long time since I wrote a personal blog.  My waning blogs started on a little known Friday in March. Pink Friday was the day the harsh reality of the economic crisis had come to the classroom. With 26,000 new and probationary teachers laid off the time left in the classroom was an uncertain one.

For a tenured teacher like me, one who has seniority in the district I work in, I knew I wouldn’t get a lay off notice.  My job was secure.  However, two new teachers I mentored were among the many whom were let go.  It made my job of supporting them in the classroom all the harder.  How could I tell them to keep hope alive when they didn’t know where their next paycheck after June would come from?

Those of us who were kept were not untouched.  Some of us were moved to new schools and placed in new positions. I knew I would be one of the teachers returning to the classroom, but the stress of not knowing where I would be or what grade level I would teach gave me many sleepless nights.

Schools were upturned. Beloved teachers either let go or moved to new sites and grade levels. This uncertainty did not end when the school year did. I anxiously waited by the phone to find out the fate of my friends.  Every day I wondered if they would be called back.

While I was packing and moving to a new classroom, I worried about those I knew who didn’t come back.  Would they be okay?  Would they make it back to the classroom?  Would this experience dampen their love of reaching out to and touching young lives?

My heart was burdened more than I could share.  I cried for my friends.  I was upset at so many talented professionals being let go because of the economy. I blamed the district I worked in for the chaos we now found ourselves in.  I grew anxious about the future.

I didn’t cling to God’s word as much as I needed to during those dark and uncertain months.  My prayers, and my faith, felt limited because I didn’t know how to pray for everyone.  This situation was bigger than I was, yet I wanted to somehow handle it all on my own.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

It’s hard to wait for the miracle in a situation when it is out of our control.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

I am glad to say that the district I work in rehired all their laid off teachers.  Even though my friends might be working in different schools, at least they are working and can count on a steady paycheck for this school year.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:27, 32-34.

I’ve been reminded that even though some days seem to be more trouble than others, God is still in control of them.