Type

to

July 26, 2014Type to enter text

@newhopefulton

Worship at New Hope Community at Worship 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. | Kingdom Kids Worship (Resumes Aug. 23) | Middle School Worship (Rm. 206) 10:30 a.m.

Community Life 2 !!Pastor Mike’s First Year in Review 3 !Family Resources 4

connect. serve. grow.

W

RSH

IP

Today's MessageEver find yourself foraging through the refrigerator, only to discover something that's clearly been overlooked and long forgotten, and that you need to check if it's still OK? Today, we'll look at why our lives are like our refrigerators — and why we need to periodically clean them out. Use the sermon notes inside to follow along as Pastor Mike continues his series on a new way to connect with God.

Welcome Pastor Jason Decena

Worship Through Praise Pastor Jason Decena

Message Pastor Mike Speegle !Community Life

Jerry Woods (First Service) Ansel Oliver (Second Service)

Closing Thought Pastor Mike Speegle

!!

!2

Thank You! Last week, New Hope volunteers delivered more than 60 bags (of 102 received!) to residents at Morningside Park Apartments in Jessup, Md. Thirty more were delivered this week to seniors at Tiber Hudson Apartments. Thanks for your donations and help! Our last summer food drive is Aug. 9. Pick up a grocery bag and shopping list! For details, call Angie Bernard at 301-254-0300.

community life !Welcome to New Hope! We're here to help you grow in your spiritual journey. This page highlights some exciting ways for you and your family to make meaningful connections and grow your relationship with God.  !If there is anything we can do to support you on your journey, let us know. !!Church Office Hours Mon-Thu 9a-5p, Fri 10a-2p !Phone/Text Message 410-541-6394 !Email info@lookingforachurch.org

july august august

26 Join us for Lunch on the Lawn TODAY starting after first service! We'll provide the drinks, cups and napkins; you bring your lunch, hang out and enjoy the chance to make new and catch up with old friends.  !

2 Communion will take place during both worship services. No matter what your challenge, communion reminds us that there is hope, and we can stand on the victory we have through Christ!

19 Power of a Praying Man meets at 9:30 a.m. in the Prayer Room (Room 111). Come join other men in a casual and supportive group. For more information about men’s small groups, contact info@lookingforachurch.org

26 Join New Hope Young Adults during Lunch on the Lawn after second service, then meet at 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot to go for a hike at Patapsco State Park!

2 Women's small group Chadash meets, 9:30 a.m., in the Prayer Room (Room 111). Join other women in a powerful, supportive prayer group. For more info, contact info@lookingforachurch.org.

30 Make a life-saving donation during our summer blood drive. For more info, email info@lookingforachurch.org.

CHURCH LIFE Welcome, guests! We’re glad to have you here today. You can find out more about New Hope in Seven Minutes or Less, a brief information session after today’s worship service by coming to the first two rows in the front left of the worship center. Our parents' room is on the second floor for you to hear and watch the service with your little one.

Watch the worship service rebroadcast Sundays (11 a.m.), Wednesdays and Fridays (7 p.m.) at lookingforachurch.org.

Ignite your prayer life and deepen your relationship with God, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the church. Our theme: Running the race with Christ. !

Welcoming our newest members (second reading of transfers in): Lisa Turpen, Earl Nichols Jr., Sonia Zaft-Pandit and Sam Watkins.!

Save the date. New Hope Camp is Oct. 17-19. Registration begins in August.!

YOUNG ADULTS www.youngadultsconnect.com !

Connect, a Bible study group just for young adults, meets from 11 a.m. to noon in the portable building.

FAMILY MINISTRIES www.newhopelovesfamilies.com!

The children's Bible lesson for today is found in Daniel 6:1-23, “God Protects Daniel in the Lions’ Den.” Find family resources on the back page of the bulletin, or at the Ask-Me Desk.

Kids Church is on summer hiatus until Aug. 23. Special quiet bags are available with fun children's activities tied to what the kids learn in Sabbath School. Pick one up at the Ask-Me Desk.

Do you enjoy meeting new people? Serve in Kids Church registration and greeting once monthly. For more info, email info@lookingforachurch.org.

LAST WEEK of FLAG Camp, a full-day camp at New Hope ending Aug. 1. Grades K-8. Details at the Ask-Me Desk.

This month, Senior Pastor Mike Speegle celebrates one year at New Hope. In this Q&A, he reflects on the past year and shares his plans for the ones ahead.

How was your first year at New Hope? It's been great and relatively smooth. I've appreciated the openness and affirmation from our church throughout this transition.!What were the year's highlights? What have you enjoyed the most thus far? The biggest highlights have been Easter, the International Food Festival and, on a more intimate note, the baptisms. There's nothing better than experiencing people respond to God and follow Him. Easter worries me…in the years ahead. We had such a great response to our big event this spring, but our future challenge will be being more strategic and intentional, focusing on inviting our community and making room for them, because that's who we're here to reach. The International Food Festival was just fun to be part of and to enjoy such an amazing variety of food while supporting a great cause: our school in Mozambique. !What do you consider a major accomplishment of your first year? The addition of Pastor Jason [Decena] to our staff. Getting our staff in place has been huge, and what Jason as well as Pastor Ann [Roda] bring to our team makes this staff the best I've ever been part of.!What is one unexpected thing you've found or experienced since coming to New Hope? The amount of behind-the-scenes work that happens each and every week. We have some incredibly dedicated leaders and volunteers.!What changes have you seen in the congregation since your arrival? I think we've seen our attendance grow at our two Sabbath morning worship services. I've seen a lot of details that got placed on hold during the transition beginning to get clarified. And I've seen us building on the great things that happened before under Pastor Newman's and Pastor Dixit's leadership. Pastor Ann and Pastor Dave Gemmell have provided great continuity through this year. !What would you like to see happen at New Hope moving forward? Greater opportunities for connection and community. We are challenged in space (we've already outgrown our facilities) and geographically (we are spread out all over the place; from the D.C.-Baltimore metroplex to northern Virginia to Pennsylvania), which makes for some huge challenges in finding ways to connect.!What are your plans — big and small — for year No. 2? I'm taking a few weeks off from preaching in August to plan out the next year's sermons as well as focus on plans for creating our next big event — Christmas — that we'll spend a lot of time and money creating over the next year and a half for Christmas 2015 (stay tuned for more information). We're also looking at rebooting small group options so that we can connect during the week and are looking at creating a connecting place on the second floor that will be sort of a juice bar/coffee house.!If you had to sum up the year in five words or less, what would they be? A learning and growing experience.

!3

A First Year in Review: Q&A With Pastor Mike Speegle

It was after the morning rush hour. I had left my hospital night shift late and was alone on the subway leaving the city. I was sleepy, and as the train entered a station, I noticed there was no one on the platform; I closed my eyes and settled into a semiconscious state. It was going to be a long ride home.

Just as the train doors were closing, I suddenly sensed someone had entered my car. Opening my eyes, I saw a man sitting at the far end. I was unnerved by how he was staring at me, but it was too late to get out.

As the train picked up speed, he got up and slowly walked toward me. I saw the emergency pull switch from the corner of my eye. As I bolted toward it, he lunged forward to stop me. He grabbed my arm, twisted it and pushed me against the wall. His angry words hissed in my ear as he put even greater pressure on my bent arm.

Though I was terrified, the emotion I felt even more was anger. I was angry this human being had the nerve to enter my personal space, physically hurt me and demand things of me. I was angry I allowed myself to be in this position. Being angry seemed to make me feel stronger. So I fought back — hard! — determined he would not overcome me.

Suddenly, we entered the next station. I looked up and saw a platform bursting with people, which was unusual for that time of day. My assailant was equally surprised and quickly let go of me. As the crowd streamed into the train car, they pushed him farther back, away from me. I swiftly slipped out just as the train doors were closing.

Safely on the platform, it took me a few moments to stop shaking and begin breathing again. A metro policeman saw me and asked if I was okay. I explained what had happened and how thankful I was for the people who got on the train. He looked at me

oddly and said, “Lady, I’ve been on this platform for the last 15 minutes. There has not been a single person. You're the first I’ve seen.” God protected me in this situation; He protects us all in many situations we face.

However, I’ve come to realize His protection plan is greater and farther-reaching than my superficial expectations of being free from terror, harm or even death. We cannot escape the fact that hardships await us. The evil one wants to destroy us, to inflict pain, torture and terror to diminish our faith. He brings temptation to deceive us and causes us to distrust God’s good and perfect will. He puts doubt into our minds about God’s love, goodness, mercy and grace.

But here’s the bottom line. Satan may win a battle or two in our lives, but he can never win the war against our souls. Why? We are protected because of what Jesus did on the cross. We are protected from condemnation, judgment and the consequences of our sin. We are protected from worry and anxiety because God said He will take care of us. We are protected from the stresses and challenges we face because God will offer us peace that surpasses all understanding. We are protected because whatever happens on this earth is not the end!

“My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety. The Lord saves me from those who want to harm me. I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I will be saved from my enemies” (2 Samuel 22:3-4).

!

!4

!The Back Page follows the Bible lessons that children and youth are studying and serves to help kids and adults continue the spiritual discussion at home and establish patterns of a devotional life.

Thought for the Week !God’s Daily Word Use these passages to explore more insights on God's protection.

SUNDAY Psalm 4:8; Psalm 5:11

MONDAY Psalm 10:14-18

TUESDAY Psalm 91:1-4

WEDNESDAY Psalm 91:5-8

THURSDAY Psalm 91:9-13

FRIDAY Psalm 91:14-16

Ann Roda

Pastor for Families

annroda@lookingforachurch.org

!!!!!!

Weekly Challenge Identify something to which you’ve given too much time and worry. Resolve to put it away — either mentally or literally, depending on what it is — for a week. At the end of the week, ask God to help you give Him that anxiety permanently as you seek His protection.!

For the Family 1. As a family, memorize Psalm 91:1-2.2. Each evening, discuss how God has protected every family member and praise Him for His

protection.3. Establish a family prayer journal. Each day, write down a praise and a prayer. Be sure to go

back regularly and see how God has answered your prayers.

Find us: 12350 Hall Shop Road, Fulton, MD 20759 !Call us/ send a text message: 410-541-NEWH (6394) !

Email us: info@lookingforachurch.org !Visit us online: www.lookingforachurch.org More info: give@mynewhopechurch.com

We’re so close to 4000 Likes, we can taste it! If you haven't already, head on over to our Facebook page and click the "Like" button.!facebook.com/newhopefulton