Dear Hope,
As I reflect on this past year, I am deeply thankful for how God has sustained the Hope community through all the twists and turns. I’m especially proud of Hope’s kids and parents who have, from the very beginning, adapted to the changes and responded by putting extra effort into remaining united with the church and connected to one another. From Zoom meet-ups, to writing letters to one another, to sharing pictures of crazy Christmas sweaters, we have found out-of-the-box ways to keep our kids engaged with the church, growing in their friendships with one another, and most importantly, pointed toward Jesus!
When Hope’s Sunday service reopened back in August, the Covid capacity limit for churches restricted the use of our kids classrooms. Many of our families have connected consistently through our online resources while other families have been participating in the sanctuary as family units! I often hear from members in our congregation what fun it is for them to see the little ones singing, praying and snuggling with their parents during the service.
Now that the capacity limit on churches has been lifted and our Kids Wing renovation project is mostly done, we are, at last, ready to welcome back Hope’s kids (age 2y – 5th grade) to In-person Sunday school!
We will start by opening one classroom on the 2nd Sunday of each month, starting April 11th. We will follow the current Covid-19 protocol while also providing a fun, relational atmosphere for our kids! We are currently reengaging our volunteer team and working to add more weeks to the schedule in the weeks to come. Further details about safety guidelines and pre-registration will be provided soon.
As we prepare to gather our kids in person on a more regular basis, would you join me in praying for our kids, thanking God for the way he has cared for each one of them and asking him to use the challenges of this past year to shape them into the people he has designed them to be. May God use the Kids Ministry at Hope, both online and in person, toward his purpose in each of our children’s lives.
I can’t wait to have our kids together again!
Anna
Anna McMichael | Kids Ministry Director
SUNDAY SERVICE 9 AM | MARCH 21. Woody Allen acknowledged, “I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens” and Solomon observed, “the fear of man will prove to be a snare.” What if our fears are actually opportunities for growth? In this message we grapple with the realities of fear and discover from an ancient story how to grow in freedom, trust and courage in the legitimate concerns of 2021 and beyond. Don’t miss this Sunday, as Pastor Dean Wertz brings us a message entitled Displacing Fear in 2021. Join us in person or online (live and recorded service)!
KIDS SUNDAY RESOURCES.
Print Ahead: Bible Coloring Page
Kids Song: God is so Good
KIDS EASTER ACTIVITIES. In lieu of our traditional Egg Hunt at Platt Park, we are distributing supplies to each of our Hope families for egg hunts at home. We are also providing toys and treats for each child to share and bless a friend or neighbor with a surprise Easter gift bag! Join us on Hope’s North lawn after the Palm Sunday Service to select toys, candy, and eggs to fill these surprise gift bags!
YOUTH UPDATE. To encourage more Hope students in their walk with God, we are shifting from weekly Wednesday evening Youth Ministry gatherings to semi-monthly Sunday gatherings directly after our worship service. We will continue to follow safe protocols, and will be meeting on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month starting this coming Sunday, March 21. For more information, contact Arik Stewart.
WALKING WITH GOD | WRISTBANDS.We still have Walking with God wristbands (both adult and youth sizes) available. Please consider picking one up for yourself, family or friends! Write Carole Ann or visit the basket in the back of the sanctuary. What a great way to be reminded of His love, companionship, and care all throughout the day!
FEBRUARY 2021 FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT. Please click here to view.
HAVE A NEED? Your Hope family is here for you. If you need prayer, financial assistance, or help in any other way, please reach out to Pastor Jay here.
