Comments for Hope Church http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com to know and to show the love of Jesus Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:29:55 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Communion of Believers? by Karen http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/communion-of-believers/#comment-663 Karen Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:29:55 +0000 http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/?p=920#comment-663 I agree with you Linda - these programs are NOT dead. Everything goes through seasons and we are transitioning at this time which is to be expected as we transition between pastors. I believe that we are in a season of prayer and preparation for the amazing things that God has in store for HOPE as we transition between our seasons, placing our trust and HOPE in Him to direct our paths. The stirring that has taken place in response to a call to pray re: loneliness, disconnect etc. is only testimony to God at work in and through the Holy Spirit...... I am excited because I anticipate great things because we serve a GREAT God! I agree with you Linda – these programs are NOT dead.

Everything goes through seasons and we are transitioning at this time which is to be expected as we transition between pastors.

I believe that we are in a season of prayer and preparation for the amazing things that God has in store for HOPE as we transition between our seasons, placing our trust and HOPE in Him to direct our paths. The stirring that has taken place in response to a call to pray re: loneliness, disconnect etc. is only testimony to God at work in and through the Holy Spirit……

I am excited because I anticipate great things because we serve a GREAT God!

]]> Comment on Communion of Believers? by Linda http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/communion-of-believers/#comment-662 Linda Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:58:05 +0000 http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/?p=920#comment-662 Repsonse E talks about "the demise of cell groups, “guess who’s coming for coffee”, and now Alpha"... is this really true? Are these programs dead, or merely... resting? Church programs ebb and flow, just like events in our personal lives. Maybe we shouldn't think of these programs as dead but just dormant for a time, waiting to be revived in the future; in their old form or perhaps a new form, by someone with vision. This dialogue is great. I'm feeling more connected already! And I have been doing some reaching out as well... what about others? Repsonse E talks about “the demise of cell groups, “guess who’s coming for coffee”, and now Alpha”… is this really true? Are these programs dead, or merely… resting?
Church programs ebb and flow, just like events in our personal lives. Maybe we shouldn’t think of these programs as dead but just dormant for a time, waiting to be revived in the future; in their old form or perhaps a new form, by someone with vision.
This dialogue is great. I’m feeling more connected already! And I have been doing some reaching out as well… what about others?

]]> Comment on Communion of Believers? by John http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/communion-of-believers/#comment-661 John Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:38:35 +0000 http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/?p=920#comment-661 Let's keep the conversation going! To be one as a community of believers is critical to our mission to know and show the love of Jesus. Jesus prays: "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. " John 17:23. Our love for ane another seems to give credibility to Jesus claim that He was sent by the Father. Jesus is saying our caring for each other gives the world the message we are one with Him and are not only his desciples but also share in his glory. There is a lot at stake if we truly want to "show the love of Jesus" to our neighbours. Let's be more intentional to show that love to each other and especially to those who don't feel connected. Let’s keep the conversation going!
To be one as a community of believers is critical to our mission to know and show the love of Jesus. Jesus prays:
“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ” John 17:23.
Our love for ane another seems to give credibility to Jesus claim that He was sent by the Father. Jesus is saying our caring for each other gives the world the message we are one with Him and are not only his desciples but also share in his glory. There is a lot at stake if we truly want to “show the love of Jesus” to our neighbours.
Let’s be more intentional to show that love to each other and especially to those who don’t feel connected.

]]> Comment on Sunday PM Service ?? by John http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/sunday-pm-service/#comment-660 John Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:53:16 +0000 http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/?p=853#comment-660 Henry your suggestions are all to do with a greater emphasis on teaching more about our roots and our beliefs. I think that is something we don't focus on in the morning service so I support your idea. As a former history teacher I find myself thinking that we need to know as a church where we came from before we can know where we are going. There is definitely a need to address this issue of understanding the "faith of our fathers" as the old hymn says it. Some won't see this as exciting as you say but that does not make it any less important. I had to deal with that attitude many times when discussing such "exciting " issues as constitutional history or economic development. But its critical to for example to understand the history of revivals like the reformation or the Azusa Street revival if we are to appreciate the need for revival today. Let's keep talking. Henry your suggestions are all to do with a greater emphasis on teaching more about our roots and our beliefs. I think that is something we don’t focus on in the morning service so I support your idea. As a former history teacher I find myself thinking that we need to know as a church where we came from before we can know where we are going. There is definitely a need to address this issue of understanding the “faith of our fathers” as the old hymn says it.
Some won’t see this as exciting as you say but that does not make it any less important. I had to deal with that attitude many times when discussing such “exciting ” issues as constitutional history or economic development. But its critical to for example to understand the history of revivals like the reformation or the Azusa Street revival if we are to appreciate the need for revival today.

Let’s keep talking.

]]> Comment on Sunday PM Service ?? by henry http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/sunday-pm-service/#comment-659 henry Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:49:08 +0000 http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/?p=853#comment-659 I would also be intrested in some kind of informal worship time on Sunday evenings. Could be from Praise and Worship to Study and Discussion on Church History or time of reflection and discussion on doctrine and creeds! Sounds exciting? I would also be intrested in some kind of informal worship time on Sunday evenings. Could be from Praise and Worship to Study and Discussion on Church History or time of reflection and discussion on doctrine and creeds!
Sounds exciting?

]]> Comment on Sunday PM Service ?? by Karen http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/sunday-pm-service/#comment-658 Karen Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:39:03 +0000 http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/?p=853#comment-658 I think there is a hunger for what you have suggested. I could and would fully support any of those suggestions. There was always something more 'intimate' in Sunday evenings, something we just can't seem to experience in our more formal and structured Sunday morning services. I think there is a hunger for what you have suggested. I could and would fully support any of those suggestions. There was always something more ‘intimate’ in Sunday evenings, something we just can’t seem to experience in our more formal and structured Sunday morning services.

]]> Comment on Prayer at Hope by John http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/prayer-at-hope/#comment-657 John Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:49:41 +0000 http://hopeforportperry.wordpress.com/?page_id=812#comment-657 Good to see so many come out already. God is going to pour His grace and mercy and power on our community as we seek His face and humble ourselves. 2Ch 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive s their sin and will heal their land." Let's not limit what our God can do through us! Good to see so many come out already. God is going to pour His grace and mercy and power on our community as we seek His face and humble ourselves.
2Ch 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive s their sin and will heal their land.”
Let’s not limit what our God can do through us!

]]>