Week of April 13, 2008

  • Pastor David Hillis
  • Apr 14, 2008

While Pastor Duane is away fly fishing at Lee's Ferry today, I am sending you this update with some of the encouraging things happening here in recent days.

Yesterday, we had our first experiment with a CONNECT Sunday, which is a combination of what used to be "New Friends Sunday," "Newcomers Pizza" and an all-church lunch.  The HopeKids children's ministry hosted the lunch, and all proceeds went toward helping purchase playground equipment for the kids (the plastic equipment out there currently isn't in good shape).  Thanks to your genorosity (and the hard work of kids pushing lemonade!), they were able to raise $950.  Some others in our church have mentioned that they can use these funds to help build some new, more solid, wood playground equipment.

As part of CONNECT Sunday, we had a "Behind the Scenes" tour for newcomers who stayed for lunch.  Ministry leaders were at 9 different stations around the building and shared with the group for about one minute about their ministry.  Thanks to all of you who helped serve during the tour...as well as those who helped with the lunch!

Please keep our men in prayer as they head up to Prescott Pines on Friday.  There will be 34 men and 4 teenage young men going.  Also pray for our retreat speakers...Brian Pollard, Doug Diehl, David Keane and Mark Sullivan, as they share from God's Word and challenge our men to be the men of God that He has called us to be.

Speaking of prayer, I just finished talking with someone purchasing our India team's international flights, and she was able at the last minute to get them for $400/ticket less than anticipated!  The agent has been watching them for several weeks for us, and said flights to Delhi have never been so cheap, but on Friday they just dropped temporarily and she was able to reserve them.  Praise God...as that frees up another $3200 in funds for our trip!  We are now at 8 on the team...5 women and 3 men...6 from Hope and 2 from other churches.  Please keep this team in your prayers. 

Don't forget about these items...

  1. Have you signed up yourself (and your family) to attend the "He Has Done Great Things" all-church celebration dinner on April 27?  It is free of charge, but RSVPs are required to attend, so that we have enough food and seating for those who come.  If you haven't RSVP'd yet, click this link above and then click the "RSVP" link at the bottom of the page to log in and RSVP for the event.  The event is catered by Tom's BBQ and includes country music & line dancing (I know what some of you are thinking, and yes I am a bit terrified by the line dancing thing...I know Teresa is going to want me to join her, and frankly I'd rather help Guy Worthington build a house than to go dancing in public!).  Nevertheless, all are urged to attend (6th grade and up), and childcare will be available for those younger than that.
  2. Are you interested becoming a member of Hope?  Or in getting baptized?  Pastor Duane will be doing a baptism service on May 4 and will be having a class very soon.  If you are interested in either, email him or call the church office.
  3. Have you saved the date for the Extreme Makeover Work Day?  It's going to be the morning and early afternoon of May 17.  There will be projects at two different homes with need and also a big painting project at the East Valley Men's Center.  We'll be signing people up soon...Guy's counting on us!!!


I love you...it is such a joy serving you each week and being a part of your lives,

Dave's Photo-Signature


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