Prayer Requests
Volume 2-36
THE VINE I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruits, because apart from me you can do nothing.
March 21, 2012 Weekly Schedule
-John 15:5
3/13-8:00pm No training this week 3/16-7:00pm Petra & South Home Group Bible studies 3/17-6:00pm NE Home Group 7:30pm West Home Group 3/18-9:40am Prayer Time in the Pastor’s Office 10:00a Sunday Worship Service 11:00a Fellowship and Bible Study
Upcoming Schedule
Prayer Requests
Chili Cook Off Mach 25
Bangladesh Mission report
Pray for Syria, peace in Middle East.
April 1
Palm Sunday
Praying for our community who are going through lost of loved one, health concerns, and transitions in life. Special pray for Erik’s father, Elder Oh’s father, Cynthia’s mother, MiSuk’s father,
April 6
Good Friday Worship
Pray for 2012 Ministry Goals for our church. Pray for the search for search process for NHC college pastoral intern. Pray for Nicaragua Mission planning.
New Hope Church of Michigan 27075 West Nine Mile Road Southfield MI, 48033 248-356-4488 [email protected] www.thenewhopechurch.com
Pastoral Musing: We Choose The Way Last week’s musing, I shared with you the proposal to the session and the diligent work of our elders in embarking on the journey to seek for God’s vision and mission for our beloved community here at New Hope Church. The session met Wednesday night, prayed and discerned over the steps proposed by Elder Do and Elder Miki. Then came to an agreement on the steps ahead. This week’s musing, I am happy to report to you all what the session will be charging some of you and then all of you to do for the vision and mission discernment and strategic planning for our community. As I stated last week, you all have done great work to rise up and take hold of leadership in the process of becoming a congregation. With the blessings and supports from the KPCMD community, NHC was born and set on its way on the path of being a spiritual community. You also worked together to complete a pastoral search and mission defining survey. In it, the characteristic, and focus of the congregation emerged. Thus it helped you to seek and call a pastor to walk with you on this much-anticipated journey. While that survey was comprehensive, and I must say, I am inspired by its content and your resolves, it is the first step to lead us into planning for the congregation for the next 3, 5 or even 10 years. What we need to do is to collectively and prayerfully seek for God’s guidance for our next steps. Each step requires careful planning. Remember the Israelites in the wilderness? How long did it take them to go from being a band of ex-slaves into a “congregation?” It took them over 25 months! It was a transformative process that not only fundamentally changes their identity, but also strategically formulated their mission, goal, and direction. With well over 2 millions people on the move, it could have easily turned into a massive chaos. Instead, with clear identity, defined mission, and well lay out plans, they set out as a force, “spiritual force,” to be reckoned with! Well, we need that clear identity, defined mission, and well laid out strategic plans to unit us, to mobilize us, and to activate all of our gifts (spiritual, communal, financial, etc). So what are our next few steps, as you excitedly
waiting for me to share? The nominating committee has been charged and invited to “resurrect” to help the session select 5 members from the community to form the critical strategic planning team. First on procedure, we are Presbyterians after all! Since this is not electing officers, thus it doesn’t require a congregational voting. You elected the elders and charged them to do the work of the church, so the session will be the deciding body here on the steps ahead. As we lay out more clear plans and actions, the session or I will continue to communicate with you. At some points, we will convene to approval the final plan. For the time being, pray for your elders, pray for me, pray for the nominating committee’s work to gather this strategic planning team. Elder Hong and his team will need your prayers as well. This goes without saying, pray for yourself. If God should call you to be on this strategic planning team, pleas share that with Elder Hong. We hope to receive a slate of planning team by the end of April. Once this team is formed and recommended to the session, the session will approve the members, and begins the work of gathering the right survey and data analysis to help us define what God is calling us to do. Again, we are Presbyterians, and everyone has a voice! Pray that God speaks to you clear and you hear God clearly. Then we will take what you have done to call a pastor to the next level. The next deadline will be determined at the April session meeting. One resource, should you be interested in reading with us, we are using is called “Holy Conversation” by Gail Randall. This is a highly recommended resource on leading the congregation to have these “holy” and sacred conversations about identity, mission, strategy, and action. We will walk together on this journey. As the Israelites of the new generation must do and every generation must do, we must choose to be the generation to follow God. Now we choose to walk on this “path” or the “way” of Christ so to be a community that shares boldly the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ of compassion, justice, love, and faith to all. Continued…
2
Announcements Lenten Sunday Worships
Bible Verse of the Week
Palm Sunday is on April 1. Come and join us for the festive, palm leaves waving celebratory worship. Then on April 6, we will remember Jesus’ incredible sacrifice on Good Friday worship at 7pm.
Prayer for our leaders Let’s keep the nominating committee in our prayers as they seek to help the Session form a strategic planning team.
Calling all men of NHC In June, we will have a men’s retreat. It will be a weekend for all the men. So guys, look at your calendar, talk to your spouse (if married) and work out the schedule so to attend the retreat.
Sunday Message Do you have faith in your prayer? Do you believe what you ask of God will come true? I suppose Jesus includes prayers for more enchanting vacation, comfortable lives, to world peace and global harmony. Right? What do you think Jesus mean in saying “what we say will be done for us?” Come and let’s explore prayer, God’s will, and power of God’s kingdom on earth.
Mark 11:12-14, 20-25 Jesus answered them, “have faith in God.” Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,” and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.
3
THE VINE I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruits, because apart from me you can do nothing.
March 21, 2012 Weekly Schedule
-John 15:5
3/13-8:00pm No training this week 3/16-7:00pm Petra & South Home Group Bible studies 3/17-6:00pm NE Home Group 7:30pm West Home Group 3/18-9:40am Prayer Time in the Pastor’s Office 10:00a Sunday Worship Service 11:00a Fellowship and Bible Study
Upcoming Schedule
Prayer Requests
Chili Cook Off Mach 25
Bangladesh Mission report
Pray for Syria, peace in Middle East.
April 1
Palm Sunday
Praying for our community who are going through lost of loved one, health concerns, and transitions in life. Special pray for Erik’s father, Elder Oh’s father, Cynthia’s mother, MiSuk’s father,
April 6
Good Friday Worship
Pray for 2012 Ministry Goals for our church. Pray for the search for search process for NHC college pastoral intern. Pray for Nicaragua Mission planning.
New Hope Church of Michigan 27075 West Nine Mile Road Southfield MI, 48033 248-356-4488 [email protected] www.thenewhopechurch.com
Pastoral Musing: We Choose The Way Last week’s musing, I shared with you the proposal to the session and the diligent work of our elders in embarking on the journey to seek for God’s vision and mission for our beloved community here at New Hope Church. The session met Wednesday night, prayed and discerned over the steps proposed by Elder Do and Elder Miki. Then came to an agreement on the steps ahead. This week’s musing, I am happy to report to you all what the session will be charging some of you and then all of you to do for the vision and mission discernment and strategic planning for our community. As I stated last week, you all have done great work to rise up and take hold of leadership in the process of becoming a congregation. With the blessings and supports from the KPCMD community, NHC was born and set on its way on the path of being a spiritual community. You also worked together to complete a pastoral search and mission defining survey. In it, the characteristic, and focus of the congregation emerged. Thus it helped you to seek and call a pastor to walk with you on this much-anticipated journey. While that survey was comprehensive, and I must say, I am inspired by its content and your resolves, it is the first step to lead us into planning for the congregation for the next 3, 5 or even 10 years. What we need to do is to collectively and prayerfully seek for God’s guidance for our next steps. Each step requires careful planning. Remember the Israelites in the wilderness? How long did it take them to go from being a band of ex-slaves into a “congregation?” It took them over 25 months! It was a transformative process that not only fundamentally changes their identity, but also strategically formulated their mission, goal, and direction. With well over 2 millions people on the move, it could have easily turned into a massive chaos. Instead, with clear identity, defined mission, and well lay out plans, they set out as a force, “spiritual force,” to be reckoned with! Well, we need that clear identity, defined mission, and well laid out strategic plans to unit us, to mobilize us, and to activate all of our gifts (spiritual, communal, financial, etc). So what are our next few steps, as you excitedly
waiting for me to share? The nominating committee has been charged and invited to “resurrect” to help the session select 5 members from the community to form the critical strategic planning team. First on procedure, we are Presbyterians after all! Since this is not electing officers, thus it doesn’t require a congregational voting. You elected the elders and charged them to do the work of the church, so the session will be the deciding body here on the steps ahead. As we lay out more clear plans and actions, the session or I will continue to communicate with you. At some points, we will convene to approval the final plan. For the time being, pray for your elders, pray for me, pray for the nominating committee’s work to gather this strategic planning team. Elder Hong and his team will need your prayers as well. This goes without saying, pray for yourself. If God should call you to be on this strategic planning team, pleas share that with Elder Hong. We hope to receive a slate of planning team by the end of April. Once this team is formed and recommended to the session, the session will approve the members, and begins the work of gathering the right survey and data analysis to help us define what God is calling us to do. Again, we are Presbyterians, and everyone has a voice! Pray that God speaks to you clear and you hear God clearly. Then we will take what you have done to call a pastor to the next level. The next deadline will be determined at the April session meeting. One resource, should you be interested in reading with us, we are using is called “Holy Conversation” by Gail Randall. This is a highly recommended resource on leading the congregation to have these “holy” and sacred conversations about identity, mission, strategy, and action. We will walk together on this journey. As the Israelites of the new generation must do and every generation must do, we must choose to be the generation to follow God. Now we choose to walk on this “path” or the “way” of Christ so to be a community that shares boldly the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ of compassion, justice, love, and faith to all. Continued…
2
Announcements Lenten Sunday Worships
Bible Verse of the Week
Palm Sunday is on April 1. Come and join us for the festive, palm leaves waving celebratory worship. Then on April 6, we will remember Jesus’ incredible sacrifice on Good Friday worship at 7pm.
Prayer for our leaders Let’s keep the nominating committee in our prayers as they seek to help the Session form a strategic planning team.
Calling all men of NHC In June, we will have a men’s retreat. It will be a weekend for all the men. So guys, look at your calendar, talk to your spouse (if married) and work out the schedule so to attend the retreat.
Sunday Message Do you have faith in your prayer? Do you believe what you ask of God will come true? I suppose Jesus includes prayers for more enchanting vacation, comfortable lives, to world peace and global harmony. Right? What do you think Jesus mean in saying “what we say will be done for us?” Come and let’s explore prayer, God’s will, and power of God’s kingdom on earth.
Mark 11:12-14, 20-25 Jesus answered them, “have faith in God.” Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,” and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.
3
