WEATHER UPDATE | JANUARY 14 | 9AM WORSHIP.
Service Simplified Due to Cold Temps Due to the sub-zero temperatures, windchills and icy road conditions throughout metro Denver we will give our staff and volunteers the morning off by simplifying and shortening our typical Sunday service tomorrow January 14. Rebecca and I will be at the church to greet and facilitate an informal family-style gathering for any of you and/or guests who want to venture in. Please remember, your safety is of utmost importance to us. We encourage you to spend time in worship, prayer and meditation on God’s Word wherever you can stay safe and warm, and we look forward to reuniting as usual next Sunday, weather permitting!
Love, Dean
Please note: there will be no livestream or sermon recording this week.
MEMORIAL SERVICE. Many of you are aware that our dear friend Pauline Haines passed into Jesus’ presence this past December. In addition to praying for Woody and the Haines family, please plan to join us as we thank God for Pauline and honor her life’s testimony as a servant and child of God. There will be a service at Hope Church Friday, February 16 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception in the Reception Hall downstairs.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ELDER BOARD CHAIR, DAN KASKUBAR. Starting next month, our Lead Pastor Dean Wertz will be taking a 6-week sabbatical: from February 5 to March 17. Rebecca will be joining him for much of this time. This is short notice and some of you may be thinking, “Didn’t Dean take a sabbatical in the fall of 2022?” And you’d be right! Hope’s employee handbook clearly states that the Lead Pastor should receive the benefit of a 6-week sabbatical in each 5-year period. Yet, Dean did not take one between 2015-2019. So in 2022 as a board we repented of not honoring this Sabbath commitment and made the decision, in obedience to God, for Dean to do a “make-up” sabbatical that year. This was especially important considering the time and energy that went into pastoring our community through COVID.
There are many reasons for the timing for this one, some of which have recently manifested. The first and most straightforward one is that 2020-2024 is the current 5-year sabbatical period for him, and we’re in the final year of that period! Another is that since Dean is taking this year as a bi-vocational experiment, we have shifted our staffing model and are better equipped than ever for others to step in. Hope staff are unanimously supportive of this sabbatical, and in his Executive Pastor role, Arik Stewart has been taking on more responsibilities and is ready and able to lead all staff during this time. Please join me in celebrating our talented staff!
Other than officiating Pauline Hayes’ memorial service alongside Jay Oertli on February 16, Dean will be tucked away and unavailable, and this is by design. He’s happy to share his plans for those who are curious. He will be back in time to lead Hope through Holy Week, including the services on Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday. We believe this time and space is good for both him and Hope for the long-term, and we anticipate him being rested and refreshed to lead with renewed strength. Please approach me or another elder if you have any confusion or lingering concerns or questions. Thank you, Hope Church! – Dan Kaskubar
HOPE GROUPS. We are so thankful for all the Sunday service assistance from our wonderful Hope Groups. This Sunday, we thank the Englewood Hope Group for helping! Hope Groups are an amazing way to connect to others, deepen your relationship with God, and discover there is a family here for you at Hope. If this sounds like something you are interested in, we’d love to have you join us! Click here for more information on all our Hope Groups.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY.
Children’s Church – Kids, ages 3 yrs old – 5th grade are invited to join us in Children’s Church following worship. This 2nd Sunday of January, we continue in the book of 1 Peter, learning what mercy is and why God’s mercy is something to greatly rejoice in!
Nursery – The nursery is available for younger children, 0-2 yrs old, on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. This Sunday, families with babies and toddlers are welcome to remain with their parents in the Sanctuary or utilize the baby sky box if desired.
YOUTH. Are you in middle or high school? Then join us this Sunday, January 14, for Youth Hope Group following the service! All students in 6th-12th grade are invited to join us from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. in the Youth Room for snacks, games, and discussion. See you there!
MEMBERSHIP CLASS | SUNDAY, JANUARY 21. Not an official member with Hope Church? Interested in becoming one or just learning more about Hope’s history and theology? You are warmly invited to join us next Sunday after the service for a short, informal Membership Class led by Lead Pastor, Dean Wertz! To RSVP, there will be a sign-up sheet in the back of the Sanctuary this Sunday or email Pastor Dean.
FINANCIAL UPDATE. Thank you so much to the households who gave generous year-end gifts in addition to those who give regularly. We continue to be in a cash-positive position this ministry year. Thank you, Lord for continuing to provide financial peace! If you have any questions about Hope’s financials, please contact Arik Stewart.
GIVING. We thank God for the many households who give generously and consistently to Hope Church, resourcing us to fulfill Christ’s mission and vision in our community and around the world! You can give online here, by mailing a check to 1801 S. Logan St. Denver, CO 80210, or by using the offering boxes in the sanctuary.
FOOD BANK. The Community Ministry is in need of the following items: Canned Tomato Sauce, Cereal, Jelly, Soup, Diced Tomatoes, Warm Jackets for Adults. Please consider donating these items by placing them in the collection basket in the foyer. Thank you, Hope!
HAVE A NEED? Your Hope family is here for you. If you need financial assistance, please contact Pastor Arik. For prayer or help in any other way, reach out to Tara Farrell.
We welcome you to visit the resources below!
