FELLOWSHIP AT HOPE UNITED CHURCH

Knowing God's Will - The Key to Everything!

Christ taught us that knowing God's will and living in obedience to that will is the key to life! God is the potter; we are the clay. God keeps us spinning on His potter's wheel, shaping and reshaping us as He bathes our lives in tears and blessings to make us more Christ-like. We have sought to keep our hearts and minds open to God’s direction as we have prayed and met to discern the plan for future growth at Hope United Church.

God has provided us the exciting mission of reaching out to our members and the surrounding community. Our growth in worship attendance and Tuesday night Youth Club testifies to the many who need the nurture and teaching of the Good News of Jesus Christ. God has blessed us with a debt free sanctuary and room to expand in a prime location.

At the July session meeting unanimous approval set The Wave of Hope in motion to plan and construct a multi purpose building to serve God’s Kingdom here in Southwest Florida. Based on the congregation’s input our focus is to create space for classrooms for all ages, after school sports programs for youth and adults, concerts, drama, glee club performances, congregational dinners, full service kitchen, as well as community meetings and classes. We encourage all to participate in the adventure of partnering with the Lord to provide for the spiritual growth of our community.

Jeremiah 33:2-3: "Thus said the LORD...Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not."

DEACONS DESK

The office of Deacon is first mentioned in Acts 6:1-7 where it describes deacons as helpers to the priests, doing things to assist the priests, allowing the priests to devote their time to “prayer and to serving the word of God.”

In the Presbyterian Church, the office is one of sympathy and service, after the example of Jesus Christ, especially helping one another in times of need.
At Hope United, there are six Deacons who serve communion to homebound d members each month, deliver t he chancel flowers each Sunday to brighten someone’s day, deliver Poinsettias at Christmas and Lilies at Easter to our homebound members, organize meals fo families of terminally ill members, hold receptions for families after funerals, send out birthday and get well cards, visit church members in hospitals and keep in touch with our military personnel through gifts and cards.

CHOIR OPPORTUNITIES

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE
PSALM 100

The Spirit of Hope Singers sing to the glory of God for the traditional 9:00 A.M. Sunday church service at Hope United Church. Our music is usually seasonal or based on the sermon topic, and ranges from classical to spiritual to contemporary.

During the church year we will sing in a special concert such as a “Hymn Sing” or gospel program and every September we are invited to sing in the Interfaith Caregivers of Lee County Concert. At Christmas, Easter and on Patriotic July 4th Sunday, we sing special musical presentations, which feature songs, hymns and narration.

Two small singing groups have been formed from The Spirit of Hope Singers and they are Array of Hope and Hope in Harmony. These groups sing at the regular services at Hope United and at other churches in the area.

We are always adding to our singers and anyone may join us at any time. Choir rehearsal is on Tuesdays at 7:30P.M. For more information call the church and ask for the music director.
 

Mission and Outreach at Hope United Church

Our statement of faith "we at Hope Church are a Christ centered community of people led by the Holy Spirit to share God's love with others" guides and directs our plans for outreach and mission. As in the past we expect to continue helping such agencies as: Beth-el farm workers in Immokalee, Interfaith Caregivers of South Lee County, Our Mother's Home, Tres Isla Orphange, Echo and Compassion International.

Our hopes and prayers are to become more involved in hands on mission work in our own communities of Collier and Lee counties. One of our first projects this year will be a trip to Immokalee to help feed the farm workers and share God’s love through fellowship.

We have developed a program called 5 on the 5th, which means that each month there is a 5th Sunday all are encouraged to give 5 of something to a project selected by Session. This could be 5 quarters, 5 dollars or 500 dollars. In 2007 there will be 5 Sundays in April, July, September and December.

We continue to support the projects of Peace River Presbytery through the One Great Hour of Sharing, Peacemaking offerings, and the Christmas Joy Offering
 

We invite you to come worship with us.
Rev. Dr. James R. Berger, Pastor