The Voice of Hope - MAY
“Equipping God’s people to be His presence in our community”
Mother’s Day! May 9
Mother’s Day will be special at New Hope this year. BUT, you need to be here early! For the last several weeks, musicians from the congregation, some who are very good, and others who have not played in decades (please define that as you wish), have been practicing to play in “The Hopeful Sounds,” otherwise known as the “New Hope Band.”
Our Service will begin at 10:55 on the 9th with a special tribute to mothers. This will feature our band and Tom Dent who will sing with the band. During the service the band will play several other pieces as well. Please join us as they lift their instruments to glorify God and honor those special women in our lives - Our MOMS.
From the Pastor. . .
The Call of God
I just read an article on “Compassion Fatigue” among law enforcement officers. Without a doubt officers spend most of their time helping and serving. They have a desire to help, that is a primary reason they entered law enforcement. However, the intensity of the work and the exposure to the worst side of humanity wear away at the compassion that is necessary to help. Where can these people turn when the load gets too much? In healthy situations, there are counseling resources, friends who understand and family who care. Other times stress is relieved through much less healthy means.
But it is not just law enforcement officers who experience “Compassion Fatigue.” In fact, this is a major issue for many serious Christians. Jesus called his disciples to reach out to the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed and the lonely. This work can be very rewarding. When we see a family saved from the brink of collapse through the loving care we have offered, it is wonderful. When a child discovers the beauty of being loved and forgiven, no matter what they have done, the glow in her face alone will energize you. When through the ministry of prayer a new hope is birthed in a teen mother, our hearts are warmed.
But there are other times when it seems like heaven is silent. There are times that despite our best efforts, our motives are questioned and our help is refused. There are times “Compassion Fatigue” builds and we find ourselves empty. At these times, where do we turn for renewal? Certainly the same resources available to law enforcement officers can help. But for the believer there other resources as well. First, the church is the body of Christ, when the resources of one are limited, the rest of the body must pitch in. We are not in this thing alone. The doctrine of the Body of Christ reminds us that we need hands and feet and ears and eyes if the work is to be done, and none of us have all the resources ourselves. Second, we have the resource of prayer. Through prayer, we learn to listen to God, and God will reassure us of his continual presence, love and understanding. Third, the Hope of the Believer is a tremendous resource. When we reach the end of our store of compassion, there is the Hope, not a dream or a fantasy, but a Hope that is grounded in the Person and Work of Christ that this world is not the sum total of reality. It is the Hope that one day a New Creation will be established and all be set right.
And fourth, and I think we miss this often, is the resource of the Call of God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we do not reach out to those around us simply because we are nice people. We do not work for the poor just because we feel badly for them. No, we minister, because we have been called by God, the creator and redeemer, to be people of compassion. It is not a short term mission project, compassionate ministry is our life. We are not doing it for ourselves, but we do it for God! It is the Call of God, it is His smile that we seek, and it is His words, “Well done, good, faithful servant” that we long to hear.
The next time you feel “Compassion Fatigue” coming on, remember your call and rest in the resources God has provided.
Doug
Sunday, May 16
Sunday the 16th will be a special day for us at New Hope. First, at our Morning Worship service Teen Challenge, a ministry with troubled youth and young adults from Saginaw will be with us to share music and testimonies.
Teen Challenge was founded in New York City in 1959 be David Wilkerson, a rural preacher from Pennsylvania. Today, Teen Challenge has one of the highest success rates anywhere in the world. Since it's first center opened in New York in 1960, Teen Challenge has grown to over 150 centers nationwide and over 100 centers in 60 countries. In Puerto Rico the organization is building an AIDS hospital, the first of its kind.
Shortly after the opened the first center a skeptical psychiatrist observing the program remarked, "It seems to me you're just using Jesus as a crutch." "Then give me two of them," a resident of the center responded. "What is the program?" the psychiatrist asked. "God in the morning, Jesus in the afternoon and the Holy Ghost at night," the resident replied. This “program” has transformed thousands of lives all around the world.
Mid-Michigan Teen Challenge operates as a 14-month treatment and training center. The program remains focused on the transforming work of Jesus Christ in the lives of the residents. On the 16th you will experience testimony of release from these who come. To learn more about Teen Challenge International and Mid-Michigan Teen Challenge, click the links.
Business Meeting on the 16th
Also on the 16th, following our worship service with Teen Challenge, we will gather for a pot luck dinner and then for our second congregational meeting of the year. This will be an important meeting that will help provide direction for the rest of this year. Your voice is important, your voice is needed.
From The Mortensen’s
regarding Monthly Newsletter by E-Mail:Thanks so much for including us on this list. So much easier for us and faster. We like feeling more connected to all of you. Thank you for your support, your prayers and interest, and for publishing our notes in the newsletter!
Love from the Mortensens in Panama
Another Mission Opportunity
This is from Steve Stratton, he is preparing for a 4 week mission journey to work with a church planting ministry.
Konnichiwa!
Many of you know that last summer I traveled with a group called the Xtreme Team to Japan. It was a wonderful experience where I was able to do more things in one summer than many people who have lived there 30 years have been able to do. It only increased my interest in Japan and the possibility of doing full-time ministry there someday. I want to thank those of you who made the trip possible through your prayers and donations, it was amazing! Thank you!
As we were traveling across the country we stopped at a thriving church in a little community and spoke with the pastor who told us something that has stuck with me. He told us that he feels the people of Japan are being strangled by the spirits of the religion Shinto. This is spiritual warfare that is evident almost every place you go. Many Japanese have said that Christianity is incompatible with their heritage. This causes people to feel that to become Christian means to turn your back on your culture, which is a huge sacrifice to make. Many of their rituals and celebrations have religious significance in Shinto and Buddhism, and many Christians struggle wondering what they should and should not participate in. If they do not go to the festivals they are turning their back on who they are, but if they do go are they turning their back on God?
These are some of the issues I saw our Japanese brothers and sisters dealing with last summer. But God is moving in mighty ways. In Ueno Park, where over 50,000 homeless people live we participated in a Christian service where the Gospel was presented, right in the middle of the park, and then helped to feed over 500 people. We met an aspiring pastor who is excited about doing ministry in Shibuya, where sex and drugs are creating a destructive web in the youth culture. We met a missionary who performs Christian wedding ceremonies and sees this as an amazing opportunity to share the Gospel with people who may otherwise never enter a church (in one weekend he performed 13 weddings!).
There is still a lot of work to be done in Japan. Less than 1% of the people claim to be Christian, and over 84% of the people say they practice Shinto and/or Buddhism. This summer I have been accepted to lead a small group of people from Judson College back to Japan to work with a church doing outreach and evangelism. The organization we will be working with is called Asian Access (www.lifejapan.org) and is totally focused on church planting in Japan. They are responsible for almost 90% of the church growth there. I'm very excited about what this group is doing and the opportunity to work with them. We will be serving there July 5th-August 4th doing outreach events like English teaching, coffee houses, music ministry, and anything else we can do to help out. I would like to ask you for your prayers for our team as we will experience things and be stretched in ways many of us never have been before. There is also a financial need I would ask you to consider supporting us in if you are able and lead to do so. There are 5 team members and we each need to raise $2,900 which will cover airfare, training, and daily expenses. We would love for you to join us in this mission of reaching out to the Japanese. Please prayerfully consider supporting us and being a part of spreading the love of Jesus to people in Japan this summer.
In His Service,
Steve Stratton
Judson College Team Leader
Want to Go Deeper?
At times I have been asked questions about sermons I have preached. Sometimes there has been an itch created that needs scratched, sometimes people have been convicted and want to study more, and sometimes people are simply confused (most common). If you want to see more about a sermon, you can find the message at Sunday Sermons.
Youth and Family Camps!
American Baptist Churches of Michigan are very blessed to be able to offer camping experiences at two beautiful camps.
Camp Lael (originally Detroit Baptist Camp) offers year 'round program for groups large and small in a variety of settings. Wooded and hilly, set on Skinner Lake, Lael accommodates church, school, and community groups for summer camps, winter weekends, outdoor education, and retreats.
Lael is Hebrew for "to God" and means dedicated to God and to bringing boys and girls, men and women into a loving relationship to the Lord.. The schedule for camp at Lael follows:
Camp Lael -- "Water Walkers"
C0204 Introductory Camp I -- Grades 3-4 -- June 20-23 -- $100
C0304 Middle High I (Junior High) -- Grades 7-9 -- June 20-25 -- $245
C0404 Kinder Camp -- K-2 -- June 26-27 -- $40 per person
C0504 Senior High -- Grades 9-12 -- June 27-July 2 -- $245
C0604 Introductory Camp II -- Grades 3-4 -- July 4-7 -- $100
C0704 Junior Camp I -- Grades 5-6 -- July 4-9 -- $245
C0804 Single Parent Family Camp -- Families -- July 9-11 -- $44 adult/$22 child
C0904 Junior Camp II -- Grades 5-6 -- July 11-16 -- $245
C1004 Middle High II (Junior High) -- Grades 7-9 -- July 11-16-- $245
For information contact the camp director, Jim Davis, 800.636.8452.
Our second camp (perhaps first in the hearts of many in our congregation) is located on beautiful Lake Louise (Thumb Lake) in Charlevoix County. The camp accommodates 100 campers per session throughout the summer season in a perfect setting for drawing closer to God.
Twenty wooded acres and a large, sandy waterfront invite children, youth, and adults to a deeper spiritual walk. Here is the schedule for Lake Louise:
Lake Louise Baptist Camp -- "Keep in Step"
L0104 Work Week -- all willing hands -- June 6-11 -- $45
L0204 Kinder Camp -- K-2 -- June 13-15 -- $50 per person
L0304 Introductory Camp -- Grades 3-4 -- June 16-19 -- $100
L0404 Junior Camp I -- Grades 5-6 -- June 20-26 -- $245
L0504 Bike Camp "Rails to Trails" -- Grade 7-Adult -- June 20-24 -- $245
L0604 Middle High I (Junior High) -- Grades 7-9 -- June 27-July 3 -- $245
L0704 Junior Camp II -- Grades 5-6 -- July 4-10 -- $245
L0804 Middle High II (Junior High) -- Grades 7-9 -- July 11-17 -- $245
L0904 Senior High Camp -- Grades 9-12 -- July 18-24 -- $245
L1004 Family Connections -- Families -- July 25-31 -- $175 adult/$100 under 12
L1104 Family Golf -- Families -- August 1-7 -- $175 adult/$100 under 12
L1204 Extreme Paintball Weekend -- Grade 7-Adult -- August 13-15 -- $120
L1304 Senior Jamboree -- AARP -- August 16-20 --$100
For information contact the camp director, David Johnson, 800.440.1238.
The Education and Nurture Ministries Team of New Hope has made camp involvement a top priority. Every camper will receive scholarship help to make attendance possible. If you are interested in participating in camp this summer, please call the church at 989-684-6830 for more information.
Rachel Circle - We are taking orders for the Patriotic Wreaths. There is a sign up sheet located in the narthex. The cost will be $12. Our next meeting will be for Bible Study on
Monday, May 3, 2004 at 7:00p.m. at Garnetta Barretts home.
Dorcas Circle - We will meet again Tuesday morning, May 11th, at 9:30a.m. Then, we will take a break for the summer and meet again on Tuesday, September 14, 2004. We want to especially thank the “Children of Hope” for helping to tie so many quilts! That’s a lot of love to send to the women and children at the Women’s Center. Also, we want to thank those that take
home material to cut and sew and tie! We delivered 9 quilts to the Women’s Center today, April 13, 2004, and 4 quilts to the Frankenlust Fire Dept.
When you’re SPRING CLEANING and find extra material you would like to donate, remember
Dorcas Circle. Also, we need more cheerful, willing helpers - won’t you join us in May or
September? God bless you and have a wonderful summer! - DORCAS CIRCLE
Membership Care Meeting - Our next meeting will be held on Monday, May 17, 2004 at
11:15a.m. at New Hope.
PRAYER CHAIN - Anyone who would like to be on the prayer chain, either E-mail or phone, please contact Membership Care (Lois Didier, Chairman) at 686-3512. Thank you.
Letter Carriers’ Food Drive - Saturday, May 8, 2004
Just place non-perishable food items in a bag by your mailbox, and your postal employees will
carry the food you donate to your local food banks. It’s so easy and your generosity can help so
many!
HIDDEN HARVEST DISTRIBUTES 875,227 LBS. OF FOOD - We are off to a great start for 2004! This past fiscal year (10/1-02/ - 9/30/03} Hidden Harvest distributed more than 875,000 pounds of surplus food products. 290 food donors throughout the Tri-County area participated in our food rescue efforts and 141 recipient agencies received food items. Since 1994, (it’s our 10th year of service), we have distributed more than 4.7 million pounds of surplus food. Hidden Harvest does not charge agencies for any of the food we provide.
Food that otherwise would be discarded, if not for Hidden Harvest, now helps alleviate hunger in our community. Waste is eliminated; hungry children and adults eat well-balanced meals and hard-working charitable organizations are able to channel scarce operating dollars into their other programs.
Hiddent Harvest continues to focus on the issues of hunger in our tri-county community. The
homeless, near homeless and the working poor in the tri-county area are often without the
potential to purchase food. Agencies serving these citizens struggle to meet the demand for food. Due to limited funding and limited resources to secure healthy and nutritious food many agencies struggle to meet the food nutrition needs of their people. Food insecurity is a major
problem for many of our neighbors in these challenging economic times.
Created For Caring -Single Parent? Being a single parent or co-parenting can be stressful...
Come get the tools needed to be a successful single parent. This is a chance to meet others who share your struggles. For more information on Single Parent Support Group, call Created For Caring at 892-7475 and ask for Jackie. Also, we are still in need of furniture items. If you can assist, please call and schedule a pick-up. We have many citizens waiting for beds and dressers.
Thank you for all your support!
Attention Youth! WTRK 89.1 - “Christian Youth Skate”
The third Monday of each month, from 6-30-8:30p.m. Join us for a night of FUN!
Bay Area Emergency Food Pantry Network - Already in the 16 weeks of 2004 New
Hope and the Food Pantry (along with Hidden Harvest, Christ United Methodist, and multiple
food drives throughout the year) has fed 39 adults and 44 children. Serving 27 Families altogether. That’s 1911 meals since the beginning of the year. Thank you for your generosity.
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North Area Women’s Meeting - First Baptist Church-Imlay City - May 1, 2004
9:30a.m. Registration - Cost $7.00 per person
10:00a.m. Program Begins
If anyone is interested in attending, please contact Lois Didier at 686-3512 or Prudy Bannick
at 892-9014.
A Day with 55+ - First United Methodist Church, 300 N. Wenona (At Ohio)
This will be on Saturday, May 15, 2004 beginning at 12:00 noon. There will be dinner first
with a musical program to follow.
Mother-Daughter Banquet
Friday, May 7, 2004
6:00p.m. at New Hope
Our meal is being catered. The cost will be $7.00 per adult; $3.50 for girls 3-9; Under 3-Free
Our program this year will include a Balloon Artist! A Sign-Up sheet is located in the narthex.
Come and enjoy a wonderful meal as well as a fun-filled evening! Sunday, May 2 will be
the last date to sign-up.
Bay City Michigan AGLOW
“A Community lighthouse for Women”
May 7, 2004,
11:00a.m. at the Lindenhof, 201 N. Euclid Ave., Bay City, MI.
SPEAKER: Joyce Peterhans of Essexville, Michigan - Joyce is the mother of two natural born children and two adopted children. She is grandmother to three blood related grandchildren and two by legal adoption and at least three others by “claimed” adoption. Joyce
has a 12 year old granddaughter and her friend, Kathryn Van Wormer, 10, who both attend
“Restored to Glory”, will be dancing. She will be sharing from experience that:
* When a loved one dies - God is good
* When finances are slim - God is good
* When children are rebellious and unloving - God is good
* When friends have betrayed us - God is good
* When we are lonely and dejected - God is good .
Camp Forget-Me-Not - Children’s Grief Camp - June 26-27, 2004
This is a two day, day camp facilitated by professional staff and trained volunteers from Visiting Nurse Services of Michigan. Children, ages 6-14, who have experienced loss due to the death of a loved one are eligible to attend. Located at Lions Bear Lake Camp. Camp Forget-Me-Not provides a program For more information, please call 1-800-840-3147 or 989-895-4750.
Camp Forget-Me-Not provides a program of support groups, learning and camp activities, including: Swimming, Music, Art and Craft programs, Team Sports, Nature Walks and a Memorial Service.
American Baptist Women’s Conference - Alma College on June 4-6, 2004
Speaker: Ruth Polgren (Bible Study Leader)
Missionary Speaker: Rev. Judy DeRolfe (Missionary to Japan)
Fees are as follows: Whole Weekend - $105.00
Sat. & Sunday Only - 85.00
Saturday Only - 65.00
All fees include meals, overnight stay and registration fees. If anyone is interested in attending,
or would like further information, please contact Lois Didier at 686-3512. All reservations
need to be in by May 15th.
GAITHER HOMECOMING CONCERT - CELEBRATION TOUR 2004
The Gaither Homecoming Concert is coming to Detroit, MI! Homecoming concerts continue to be an exciting adventure from night to night as we experience unforgettable gospel music, performances, comedy for the entire family, and toe-tapping favorites which hark back to the all-night singings of the 50's and 60's.
This all-new tour features a great line-up of Gospel music’s most beloved artists who bring together an eclectic mix of bluegrass, country, Christian contemporary, old-fashioned gospel quartet music, and everything in between!
Make your plans now for another exciting event as we celebrate what is most important in our lives...faith, family and friends.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 4, 2004 - Palace of Auburn Hills
You can reserve your tickets now by calling (888) 217-0301 or by visiting them on the web.
Have you ever wanted to help a sick child? Here’s your chance! C.S. Mott Children’s
Hospital in Ann Arbor collects pop tabs. Then they have enough pounds of tabs, they take them
to a recycling center to convert them into funds for their programs.
Here’s how you do your part...
Before you recycle your aluminum soda cans, pull off the pop tab.
Bring the tabs to church. A collection jar will be in the narthex for your tabs.
When the jar is full, it will be sent to Connie Kemner who will make sure
it gets to Ann Arbor.
BAY AREA WOMEN’S CENTER - As you may already know, The Bay Area Women’s Center provides residential and non-residential emergency and supportive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence and their families. We are inviting you to join us in our efforts to end domestic and sexual violence through volunteering. Volunteers are ordinary people doing extraordinary things and are clearly the backbone of our agency. Without them we could not provide the many services that we do. While volunteering at BAWC, they will experience the joy and satisfaction of knowing that they are needed and are making a difference in our community. Volunteers keep the future bright, are partners in tomorrow and are the key
to success. Training is provided to volunteers in two fashions:
*They may participate in one-on-one training in the area(s) of their interest and are invited to attend our 20-hour volunteer training program each time it is offered. *On-going training is also provided through in-services conducted during volunteer committee meetings, held every other month, and during our quarterly Professional Development series.
Being part of our team and volunteering your time to assist victims in rebuilding their lives is a very rewarding way to spend your spare time and give back to your community! If you are interested in joining our team, please feel free to contact Rosanna Wellner at (989) 686-4551 or rosebawc@yahoo.com at your convenience. We look forward to working with you soon!
GRADUATION PARTY FOR DIANA PERRY - SATURDAY, MAY 1ST, 2004 -3:00P.M.
It will be held at New Hope and everyone is welcome to come and congratulate Diana for all her accomplishments. The party starts at 3pm and will be quite a fun time! See you there!
Hymn Festival at St. Lorenz - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 7:00p.m.
The final concert of this season’s Music at St. Lorenz will be an Ascension Day Hymn Festival
performance by Dr. Walter Pelz. The concert is free and open to the public. An offering will
be gathered. For more information you may contact Scott. Hyslop, Director of Parish Music,
St. Lorenz Lutheran Church at 989-652-6141 or shyslop@stlorenz.org.
Women of Virtue - MI. State Wide Conference, May 21-22, 2004
The conferences will be held at Trinity Church, 3355 Dunckel Road, Lansing, MI.
The cost is $39.00 per person. A sign-up sheet is located in the narthex. For more
information, please call Lois Didier at 686-3512.
BAY CITY 3RD ANNUAL “PRAISE & PRAY BY THE BAY
Thursday, May 6, 2004
Time: 6:00p.m. - 8:30p.m.
This event will be held at the Wenonah Park/Friendship Shell. In case of inclement weather, this event will be held indoors at Messiah Lutheran Church, 501 S. Catherine Street, Bay City. (Just across the river from the Friendship Shell) Concessions provided by Bay Arts Council and rest rooms are available. “Prayer Square” available for private prayer.
LLOYD SEVERANCE THUMB GOSPEL MUSIC CONVETION - August 27-29, 2004
There will be 18 Gospel Groups with all proceeds going to Bay Shore Camp-Sebewaing, MI.
Saturday - Breakfast Buffet, 7:30 - 11:00a.m.
Saturday - Chicken BarBQ, 3:00 - 6:00p.m.
Sunday - Noon Dinner
Camp Housing & RV Sites are available. Register by mail. For more information, please call
(989) 883-2501.
RED, WHITE, BLUE CHRISTMAS CONCERT - THURLOW SPURR
NOV. 19, 2004 - Heritage Theater - 7:30p.m. Tickets are $20.00 per person. We need the money and confirmation by Sunday, May 2nd. If you would like to attend, please call the church office or contact Lois Didier at 686-3512.
Birthdays for May - 1-David Strudgeon, Tiffany Thorne, 2-Michael Leggett, 8-Merritt Anderson, 9-Melissa Anderson, 10-Alice Rice, 11-Candace Pietryga, 14-Ev Didier, 16-Sheryl Stratton, 18-Keven Riegler, Zale Anderson, Payton Anderson, 20-Jack McClelland, 27-Samantha Hanley, 29-Maxine Colling, 30-Breonna Perkins, 31-Dena Moore
Anniversaries for May - 1-Mark & Annette Nuenke, 27-Ron & Bev Buchanan
Communion Servers - May 2 - Ev & Lois Didier, and Matt & Diana Perry
Shut In-Ministry for May - 2-Adele Kroening, 9-Toyo Hill, 16-Ila Drabble, 23-Eleanor
Stringer, 30-Lena Horner
Worship Assistants for May - 2-Kitty Perkins, 9-Howard Perkins, 16-George Barrett,
23-Mark Dewitt, 30-Jack McClelland
Nursery Workers for May - 2-Kay Murphy, 9-Lois Didier, 16-Kathy Perkins, 23-Andrea
Harman, 30-Kay Murphy
Sound System for May - 2-Mark Dewitt, 9-Matt Perry, 16-Diana Perry, 23-Linda Philipp
30-Mark Dewitt
