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“Nowfaithistheassuranceofthingshopedfor,theconvictionofthingsnotyetseen.”

Hebrews11:1

CHRISTMAS2016

DearFamilyofNewHope,

You’vehearditsaidbefore,Faithisblind!Whileitistruethatsomefaithisblind,thisisnotagooddescriptoroftheChristianfaith,oryouasdisciplesofJesus.ThewritertotheHebrewswrote:Nowfaithistheassuranceofthingshopedfor,theconvictionofthingsnotyetseen(11:1).Itistruethatthehopedforthingsarestilloutofoursight,butthatdoesn’tmeanthatweareblind.FortheHolySpiritopensoureyestoseeChristfully!AnditisalsotruethatwehavetheassuranceofthingshopedforbecauseoureyesthatareopenedseeGod’sactivityinthepast!

ThisAdvent,onbothSundaysandWednesdays,wewillbefollowingthroughHebrews11&12.ThesearethegreatchaptersonfaithandthroughitwewillbeinvitedinfaithtoseeagainGod’sgraciousactionsinthepast,totrusthispromisesforthefuture,andtofollowhiminthepresent.

Soattend.Letusbedevotedtogethertothisseasonweenter.AttendworshiponSundays.AttendworshiponWednesdays(andeatdinnerbeforehandat6p).OcomeletusworshiptheLord!+PastorDavid

calendars

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NOVEMBER:•Sun.11/20:EducationHour@9a.Worship@10:15a

•Sun.11/20:CongregationalMeeting@11:30a(p3)

•Sun.11/20:YouthBake‘NRakefrom3-6:30p@NHL(p4)

•Wed.11/23:7-7:40pThanksgivingEveWorship.7:40pPieFellowship!!!(p4)

•Sun.11/27:10:15aWorship(NOEDUCATIONHOURAT9A)

•Sun.11/27:11:30aDecorationofSanctuaryforAdvent&Christmas!Snacks&Beveragesprovided(p4)

•Mon.11/28:NHLEldersMeeting@7p

•Wed.11/30:AdventDinner(Pastor’sPancakes&Sausage)@6-6:45.AdventWorship@7p(p1)

DECEMBER:•Thur.12/1:Mom’sInPrayer(GeorgetownElementaryMoms)@9:30a

•Sun.12/4:EducationHour@9a.Worship@10:15a

•Sun.12/4:CollegeCareKitPacking!11:30a(p4)

•Wed.12/7:Men’sBibleStudy@6:20a

•Wed.12/7:AdventDinner(ItalianFood)@6-6:45.AdventWorship@7p(p1)

•Thur.12/8:Women’sBibleStudy@9:30a

•Sun.12/11:EducationHour@9a.Worship@10:15a-KIDSCHRISTMASPROGRAM!

•Wed.12/14:AdventDinner(BakedPotato&SoupBar)@6-6:45.AdventWorship@7p(p1)

•Thur.12/15:Mom’sInPrayer(GeorgetownElementaryMoms)@9:30a

•Thur.12/15:Retirees&FriendsBibleStudy&Lunch@11a-BringFoodtoPass!

•Sun.12/18:EducationHour@9a.Worship@10:15a

•Sun.12/18:YouthChristmasParty&ServantProject@3p@NHL(p4)

•Wed.12/21:Men’sBibleStudy@6:20a

Sat.12/24:ChristmasEveWorship@4p&6p

Sun.12/25:BriefChristmasDayWorship@10:15a&ChristmasCarolingatNursingHome@10:45a

FOR A COMPLETE AND ALWAYS UP-TO-DATE CALENDAR GO TO:WWW.NHLCHURCH.ORG

life togetherBuilding Expansion UpdateNewHopeFamily,itisthehopeoftheNewHopeCouncil&Eldersthatatourcongregationalmeetingon11/20/2016wewillhaveeverythingneededtomakeadecisiononwhethertomoveforward,andifso,when.Hereisarundownofmuchofwhathasledtothismoment:

• Inearly2016weexceededourfundraisinggoalof$100,000towardthecostofexpansion[25%oftheestimatedbuildingcostin2012].

• Havingmetthisgoal,inMay2016,thevotersapprovedgoingforwardwithhavingblueprintspreparedandrequestinganupdatedbuildingcostestimate.

• InJune2016,ameetingwasheldwiththearchitecttooutlinethestepsnecessaryforgettingtheblueprintsandcostestimatecompleted,beginningwithupdatingthe2012floorplan.

• InJuly2016,thearchitectpresentedanupdatedrenderingofthefloorplanforreview/approval.• Thebuildingcommitteereviewedtheupdatedfloorplan,andfollowingdiscussionwithvariouschurchboards,revisionswereproposed.

• TherevisedfloorplanwasreviewedbythecommitteeinAugustandafewminorrevisionswererequested.

• OnSeptember29thecommitteemet,reviewed,andapprovedtheupdated,proposedfloorplan.• Thenextstepwastomeetwiththearchitectandengineer(s)toprovidemoredetailedinformationfordevelopmentoftheblueprints.Thisalsotookplace.

• Itisourhopetohavetheblueprints,andbringtheestimatedconstructioncosttothe11/20/2016congregationalmeeting(afterworship)tomakefurtherdecisionsasachurch.Sopleasedocometothismeeting!

Congregational MeetingThisSunday(11/20/2016),directlyafterworship,wewillbehavingoneofourtwoannualcongregationalmeetingscalledforbyourconstitution.Alongwithanormalpastor’sreportandstewardshipreport,willbetheproposed2017Budget.Additionally,asstatedabove,wehaveareportontheBuildingExpansionplans,andwillhopefullyhaveinourhandsabuildingcostestimatewithwhichwecanmakefurtherdecisions.Pleasedocometoworship,andremainforthemeeting.Iamsoveryproudathowwecarryoutourcongregationalmeetings,andIamverythankfulfortheparticipationofGod’speopleatNewHopeinthosemeetings.Childcarewillbeprovided,andwewilldoourverybesttobeefficientwithyourtime.+Pastor

Thanksgiving Eve Worship & Pie Fellowship!!!WenotonlycelebrateThanksgivingwithourfamilies,butwealsogathertogetherthenightbeforetogiveourLordGodthanks.Pleasejoinusat7ponWednesday,Nov.23,forabrief40minuteservice.AndthenstickaroundforourfirsteverNewHopeThanksgivingEveWorshipPieFellowship!

Christmas DecoratingIt’saboutlmetodecorateyourhomesforChristmas.And,itsnearlylmetodothesamehereatChurch.So,slckaroundamerworshiponSunday,November27togiveahand.Togetherwecangettheworkdonequicklyasweenjoyfellowshipwitheachother.Snacksandbeverageswillbeprovided. p. 5

christmas day

NEW HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH3232PortSheldonStreetHudsonville,MI49426

Yes it’s true! We do have Christmas Eve Worship at both 4p & 6p on Dec. 24.

And, yes it’s also true that we have worship on Christmas Day - Sunday - also!

But hear this. It will be different. We will gather at 10:15a. We will sing some Christmas songs, hear a Christmas Day reading, hear a quick reflection, and pray - 25 minutes max! And then...

And then we will get in our cars and head 2 miles down the road to the Laurels Nursing Home of Hudsonville. There we will read the story for them of the birth of Jesus and we will sing Christmas Carols. So come on out. For we will worship...

And on Christmas Day we will serve our neighbors with the Good News of Jesus on Christmas Day!

youth & familyBake ‘N RakeThisSunday(11/20/2016),wehaveournextyouthevent,startingat3p.ButallofNewHopeisinvitedtoparticipatebeforehand!Howso?

NewHopemembersareinvitedtobakecookiesovertheweekend,andbringthemtoworshiponSunday.Inparticular,weareaskingforsugarcookies,chocolatechipcookies,andoatmeal-raisincookies.Inallcasesweareaskingthatyoudonotincludenuts.Whatwillwebedoingwiththesecookies?

OnSundayafternoonallyouth,andtheirfamilies,areinvitedtocometochurchat3pandbringasmanyrakesasyouhave.Togetherwewillbevisitingourneighborsrightherenexttochurch.Wewillbetakingthemplatesofcookies,andwillbeofferingtoraketheirleaves.Afterall,it’sagoodoldfashioned‘Bake‘NRake’!

Afterwardwewillcomebackheretochurchandenjoyabaked-potato-bardinner.Again,thisisforyouth,andalloftheirfamilymemberswhoparticipate.Wethankyouinadvanceforyourparticipation!

College Student Care PackagesOnSunday,December4,afterworship,ouryouthwillbeleadinga‘CollegeStudentCarePackage’packing

party.Whatdoesthisentail?

Basicallywearesettingouttofill9shoeboxesfullofgoodiesandnotesforour9collegestudentshereatNewHope.Again,weareinvitingyoutoparticipatewithus.

Pleaseconsiderbringingsomegoodies(home-madeorstorebought)tobesplitupbetweenthecarepackages.OnthatSunday,wehopeyouwillalsoconsiderwritinga

personalnoteto,orsigningthecardprovidedfor,eachofthestudents.

Youth Christmas PartyTheyouthChristmaspartywillbeonSunday,December18,at3phereatNHL.We’vegotthreeattractionsinoneevent.Firstoff,wewillbeperformingaserviceprojectforNewHope.WewillbemakingluminariesthatwillbeuseddownthedriveandalongPortSheldononChristmasEve!Thisisgoingtobeafunproject!

Second,wewillbehavingapizzapartytogether!What’sayouthgatheringwithoutsomegreatfood?

Third,wewillbehavinga‘WhiteElephantGiftExchange.’Basicallyyouwillbebringingafunnygiftallwrappedup,andthecrazinesswillonlybeginthere!(Moreinfotocome!).Soputitallonthecalendarandwe’llplantoseeyouthen!

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life togetherChildren’s Christmas ProgramTheKids’ChristmasprogramwillbeSunday,December11,duringthe10:15aworshipservice!Preschoolthrough8thgraderswillbesinging,sharingspeakingparts,performingmusically,andushering.Everyroleisimportant!WewillbehavinggrouppracticesduringtheentireSundaySchooltime(9-10a)onDecember4and11tomakesureweareready!Allchildrenareinvitedtoparticipate-thatmeansnewcomerstoo!PleaseseeMeganRufnerwithanyquestionsyoumayhave.

Nursery NewsTherearetwoitemstosharewithyouaboutthenursery.First,asisoftenthecase,weareeagertogetnewhelpinthenurseryonSundaymorningsduringworship.Whetheryouareaparentlookingtotakeaturnhelping,oryoujustwanttohelp,wewanttoreceiveyourhelp!Youcanseethesign-upboardatthebackofchurchforavailableSundays.Second,thenurseryislookingforsometoydonations.Ifyouhaveanytoysinexcellentconditionandyourarelookingforthemtofindanewhome,pleaseconsiderdonatingthemtotheNewHopenursery!

Sunday School OfferingsSundayschoolofferingsareagainbeingcollectedbyourSundayschoolchildren.IfyourfamilyisinneedofenvelopespleasecontactSuzanneintheofficerduringtheweek,orletKellyNicholsknow.OurSundayschoolofferinggoestowardhelpingourfriendsinLestage,Haiti.Sincethehurricane,needsareincreasingandwewouldliketohelp.NewHopehasamissionteamleavingattheendofthisyearandwewouldlovetohelpwithsomeoftheneededsuppliesthattheywillbetaking.

HaitiOnThursday,December29,ateamof11peopleisheadedagaintoHaiti.Theteamismadeupof4peoplefromNewHope(includingpastor),2peoplefromSt.Matthew-GrandRapids(includingRev.RobAppold),and5peoplefromSt.Paul-Caro,MI.TogetherwewillagainvisitLestage,HaitiandreturnonSaturday,January7.

Whatexactlywillwebedoing?Inactuality,weareheadedtherewithahandfulofgoals:

• Wegototakesupplies!11peoplecantake22suitcases,mostofwhichwillcontainneededthingsbyourfriendsthere;fromseeds,tohealthkits,tomedication,totarps,etc.

• WegotobeanencouragementtoPastorTouloute,andthepeopleofLestage• WegotoshowthetwoparticipantsfromSt.Matthew-GrandRapidswhatwehavebeenabletoaccomplishwithSt.Paul-Caro,andwithPastorTouloute,inLestage.Namely,ourlong-termpartnershipwiththemhasledtotheconstructionofthenewchurchinLestage.Presentlythatincludesthefoundationandwalls.Itishopefulthattheywillbegintosupportanothernearbycongregation.

• Wegototakemorefundsfortheconstruction,andhopefullytoseethebeginningoftheconstructionoftheroofofthechurchinLestage.

• WegotoencouragethepeopleofLestage,toleadfurthertrainingfortheirelders,andtobothleadandparticipateindailyworship.

Pleasekeepourteaminyourprayers.Thankyouforallsupport.Wecan’twaittosharemoreuponourreturn!

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