March 29, 2014

@newhopefulton

Praise and Worship Pastor Jason Decena !

Message Two Guys Walk Into a...

Pastor Mike Speegle

!Community Life

Dave Wooster (First Service) Kofi Schuleterbrandt (Second Service)

Closing Thought Pastor Mike Speegle

Worship at New Hope Community at Worship 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. | Kingdom Kids Worship (Rm. 121) 10:30 a.m. | Middle School Worship (April 12) 10:30 a.m.

Community Life 2 !!!New Hope Young Adults 3 !!Family Resources 4

connect. serve. grow.

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Today’s MessageThere is one fatal flaw that none of us see or want to see, but it is always there, ready to take us down. Today, we look at another short story from Jesus that goes to the heart of religion. Use the sermon notes inside to follow along during Pastor Mike’s message!

#newhopefulton

community life !Welcome to New Hope! We're here to help you grow in your spiritual journey. This page highlights some exciting ways for you and your family to make meaningful connections and grow your relationship with God.  !If there is anything we can do to support you on your journey, let us know. !!Church Office Hours Mon-Thu 9a-5p, Fri 10a-2p !Phone/Text Message 410-541-6394 !Email info@lookingforachurch.org

march april april

29 EASTER AT NEW HOPE Choir Practice Worship Center, 2:30 p.m.

FULL Cast Rehearsal Worship Center, 5 p.m.

Additional rehearsal times, opportunities to serve and details in the lobby or at easteratnewhope.com/schedule.

2 Ignite your prayer life and deepen your relationship with God, 7:30 p.m. at the church. Natalie Clothier will share her testimony.  Our focus: What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey.

12 Save the Date for Communion! New Hope practices open communion, and all Christians are welcome to participate. 

29 A Bible study for middle school youth begins TODAY, 10:30 a.m., Room 208. This study is designed to help youth make the decision for baptism. For schedule info, contact Pastor Ann Roda at 301-741-1926 or  annroda@lookingforachurch.org.

6 The eight-week spring soccer season of Sports on Sunday begins. Cost: $50 per child. Practices: Sundays, 9-10:30 a.m., at Cross Creek Community Park in Beltsville, Md. Register today at www.sportsonsunday.org!

19 Power of a Praying Man meets at 9:30 a.m., in the Prayer Room (Room 111). Come join this group of men who are not afraid to kneel and pray! For details, email info@lookingforachurch.org.

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CHURCH LIFE Welcome, guests! We’re glad to have you here today. You can find out more about New Hope in Seven Minutes or Less, a brief information session after today’s worship service by coming to the first two rows in the front left of the worship center!

Watch the worship service rebroadcast Sundays (11 a.m.), Wednesdays and Fridays (7 p.m.) at lookingforachurch.org.

Chadash, a women's prayer group, meets April 5, 9:30 a.m., in Room 111. !

Do you have a passion for prayer? Channel it into ministry and join New Hope’s prayer team! For details, pick up a Prayer Ministry card at the Ask-Me Desk. !

FAMILY MINISTRIES www.newhopelovesfamilies.com!

The children's Bible lesson for today is found in Luke 10:25-37, “Jesus Tells About the Good Samaritan.” Kids will learn that God values compassion. Parents, you can continue the Bible lesson discussion at home: See the back page for additional resources.

FLAG (Fun Learning About God) Camp at New Hope runs June 23-Aug. 1. For children in grades K-8. Pick up an information packet at the Ask-Me Desk to learn more and register.

FLAG Camp is hiring for various leadership positions to manage the summer day camp. Pick up employment info at the Ask-Me Desk or call Lynne at 301-854-1866 for details.

The next family dedication is May 3. To be scheduled for yours, contact Prithy at 301-854-1866.

YOUNG ADULTS www.youngadultsconnect.com !

Connect, a Bible study group just for young adults, meets Sabbaths from 11 a.m. to noon in the portable building. More info: info@youngadultsconnect.com

New Hope Young Adults potluck is TODAY in Room 215/216. Come with a friend and bring your favorite dish to share! Questions? Email info@youngadultsconnect.com

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April 18, 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. !

Help us share the greatest story ever told with our community! Inside today's bulletin, you'll find invitations to Easter: A Story of Hope. !Consider inviting your neighbors, coworkers, friends, family and anyone else you might think of to one of our Easter weekend performances. Need more invites? Stop by the Ask-Me Desk.!

www.easteratnewhope.com

ADULTS

From monthly potlucks to Bible study and game nights, New Hope offers a number of opportunities for young adults (ages 18-35) to get together for worship, fellowship and fun. Michelle Bernard, one of the group leaders, shares more in this Q&A. !How long have you been involved with New Hope Young Adults? I've been attending Young Adults events for two years and have been helping plan Restore [read on for more about this] for a year.!Why do you think it's important for New Hope to have a group specifically for young adults? We all need fellowship and community. One of the reasons I joined New Hope was because this group was so friendly to me when I was new. I hope we can continue doing that for other young adults in the church. !What do you enjoy about New Hope Young Adults? I really enjoy the people. 

About how many people would you say are involved in the group? It really varies — but between 10-20 regulars.  More are always welcome!!What events and activities should young adults coming to New Hope to know about? Potluck (usually the fourth Sabbath of the month), Restore (also fourth Sabbaths during the summer), Sabbath School (at 11 a.m.). We want to start having community service opportunities for the group, picnics, Sabbath hikes and some relaxed, fun events and outings. !

What is Restore? We want Restore to be a place where we can worship, fellowship and just have open, honest conversation. During the summer it will be on the same Sabbath as potluck. In the fall, we have it the second Friday of the month.  !What would you tell young-adult newcomers about the group? We're a friendly, open group. Why wouldn't you want to join us?

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Michelle Bernard

Sabbath School: This Bible study starts at 11 a.m. Saturdays and runs until about 12:15 p.m. or later, depending on how long the discussion goes.

New Hope Young Adults ActivitiesFor more info, visit www.youngadultsconnect.com or email info@youngadultsconnect.com.

Monthly Potlucks: Sometimes themed (i.e., favorite salads, brunch), these deliciously fun meals usually take place the fourth Sabbath of each month.

Restore: This evening worship gathering serves as a time for fellowship specifically for adults ages. During the summer, Restore will take place the fourth Saturday evening of each month. In the fall, it moves to the second Friday.

I was waiting for my connecting flight in Salt Lake City. The gate was packed, which meant it was going to be a full flight. Passengers were already crowding around the boarding area, hoping to be first on the plane so they could get overhead bin space for their bulging carry-on luggage. Everyone seemed to be glaring at the gate attendant as if staring would quicken the boarding call.

The crowd kept inching forward until there was a tight semicircle at the entrance of the boarding lane. People were intent on getting on the plane.

That is why no one saw the blind man as he made his way down the wide but crowded concourse. He had a long, white stick in front of him, tapping to the left and right as he walked. He would occasionally stop and listen, trying to figure out which gate he was at. It was obvious he was having a difficult time trying to discern his gate location.

When people did notice him, they turned to look at him — even stopped and stared. But no one made an effort to help him.

Another passenger and I got out of the line to assist the man, but someone else got to him before we did. When we got back in line, the other passengers suddenly began talking to us, explaining why they themselves did not go help the blind man when they could clearly see he was having a hard time.

One person said, “I was afraid he would be offended if I offered my help. Blind people like to be independent.” Another said, “Speaking to him may have startled him, and I didn’t want to do that.”

Jesus told a story about a man, most likely a Jewish man, who was robbed, beaten and left to die as he traveled on the road to Jericho. A priest, considered to be a representative of God, walked by but did not stop to help. Perhaps he thought the man was dead and did not want to touch the dead body. Then a Levite, someone who assisted the priest, walked by, but he too did not stop. Perhaps he might have been afraid of being attacked by the same robbers.

Finally, a Samaritan, who was an enemy of the Jews, stopped to help the injured man. He went a step further to make sure the injured man would be taken care of by paying for his lodging for days, perhaps weeks.

We all have good explanations for why we do not step up to help others. But God is not interested in explanations or excuses. God expects us to show mercy — treating people with love and compassion. Mercy requires action, not explanations. Sometimes those actions will cost us, just as it did the Samaritan. Sometimes it will cost us time and effort — requiring us to put aside our own needs to stop and help others.

God’s mercy required action — the action of Jesus going to the cross for you and me because we are worth it to Him. No explanations. No excuses. Just mercy in action.

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!The Back Page follows the Bible lessons that children and youth are studying and serves to help kids and adults continue the spiritual discussion at home and establish patterns of a devotional life.

Thought for the Week !God’s Daily Word Use these passages to explore more biblical insights on God’s mercy.

SUNDAY Psalm 145:9; Psalm 86:5

MONDAY Ephesians 2:4-5; Titus 3:5

TUESDAY Jeremiah 1:4-5; Jeremiah 31:3

WEDNESDAY Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 1:3

THURSDAY Micah 6:8; Luke 6:36

FRIDAYLamentations

3:22-23; Colossians 3:13

Ann Roda

Pastor for Families

annroda@lookingforachurch.org

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!MYNEWHOPECHURCH.COM/GIVE

Weekly Challenge Plan a little extra time each day when you don’t have anything on your to-do list. Be on the lookout for people in need whom you can help in your spare time. !

For the Family Read Micah 6:8 together as a family. Have a discussion with your kids on what it means to treat others fairly, to show mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord. Make a list of two to three actions, from each category, of what this would look like at school, on the playground or at home. Encourage your children to do one thing from the list every day. Talk about their experiences each evening.

Find us: 12350 Hall Shop Road, Fulton, MD 20759 !Call us/ send a text message: 410-541-NEWH (6394) !

Email us: info@lookingforachurch.org !Visit us online: www.lookingforachurch.org

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Monthly Goal

Received in Feb.

Received to Date

Goal to Date

Tithe 61,617.30 184,998.63 !Church Budget ($41,855.41)

32,955.18 56,234.88 77,702.50

Mortgage ($13,623)

7,805.75 12,576.32 27,246.00

FEBRUARY GIVING REPORT ($)