What will the new year bring to Hope Community Church?
New Year’s Eve has traditionally been a time for looking back to the
past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year.It’s a time to
reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and then resolve to
follow through on those changes.Some of the top resolutions made
before the clock strikes midnight include spending more time with family
and friends, exercising, losing weight, quitting smoking, getting out of
debt or getting organized.New Year’s Day then is a time to refocus
our energies and prioritize our lives.
I have been thinking about the new year in front of us—praying, and
considering options for our Sunday morning gatherings.I’d like to give
you a preview sketch of the possibilities being considered.
We will begin the new year exploring our Ministry & Mission Design
aimed at providing a place where God grows hope one life at a time:
Receiving Hope through Christ, Growing Hope in Community, and Sharing
Hope with Others.We will also learn about how this design changes
some of our organizational structures.
In February we will shift our focus to Family Life exploring together
parenting struggles and learning how to thrive in our families, no matter
what the circumstances.We will have a special celebration on
Valentine’s Day for those in our congregation who will be celebrating a
5-year (5, 10, 15, 20...) anniversary in 2010.
In March we will give our attention to answering the question “Why
Pray?” and then celebrate the resurrection as we enter April.The
rest of April, May and the beginning of June we will take a closer look
at the book of Philippians with an emphasis on how to enjoy your
life in spite of all of the problems that life brings. We will looks at how
to reduce conflict, how God helps us to change, how to conquer
complaining, how to succeed in life, how to manage stress, explore
the secret of a satisfying life, and God’s model for manhood.As we
take this deeper look at Philippians we will also celebrate Mothers Day,
Fathers Day and celebrate with our Graduates as they cross the
finish line and prepare for their next steps in life.We might even have
a special “Blessing of the Bikes” for our cyclists.
Summer will include another Picnic on the Hill, Picnic in the Park,
Softball, and a special Farmers’ Sunday.As we enter September and
October we will focus our time together with a whole church spiritual
growth campaign called 40 Days of Community in which we will
explore how we are better together as we pursue God’s plans and
purposes for our lives.
With a few additional areas of teaching and a fresh look at Christmas,
2010 will be behind us.Will we have grown in our walk with Christ?
Will we have achieved God’s plans and purposes for our lives in 2010?
Will those around us move closer to Jesus through seeing our lives and
hearing our words?I am filled with much anticipation.
