Dear New Hope Family,
Ok, I love snow but sometimes you can get too much of a good thing. “The weather outside is frightful,” is more than the words from a holiday song this year. “A White Christmas” no longer seems to be something we are dreaming of, but a forecast of Portland reality. With all that said, we have been planning some Christmas services for you to experience this weekend, and we want to let you know the contingency plans in case you wake up to “a winter wonderland” Sunday.
It is really hard to make a call this early as weather forecasts can often change radically, come a day late or sometimes not at all. What we do know is that snow has been forecast for Saturday, a lot of snow. Sunday has the potential of rain or freezing rain. What that means is that on Sunday morning a two to four degree difference in temperature can either shut the whole city down, or make Sunday one of the biggest shopping days of the year. If it turns out to be rain it will be clearing the roads for us and we will have a great day.
Here are the plans as of now. We are planning on having two outstanding Christmas Worship Services this Sunday, December 21 at 9 and 11am, as well as our student and children’s ministry. As of today our parking lots have been entirely cleaned off. We have contracted with a snow removal company to remove any snow before the services Sunday morning and also to gravel the entries and exits.
We will send you an iPastor weather update on Saturday evening at 8 pm about our Sunday morning services. If things are still uncertain we will send additional communication out again on Sunday morning at 6 am. This information will be posted at the same time on our web site and answering machine.
If we cannot have services, a video of Pastor Brent’s Advent Conspiracy message for this Sunday will be online by 9 am. You can go there now to watch my message from last weekend.
Don’t forget that this Sunday is New Hope’s Christ’s Birthday Offering. If you can’t be here you can give on line by clicking here, mail it in or bring it to one of the Christmas Candlelight Services. We are still collecting food for Esther’s Pantry and the Clackamas Service Center as a part of Advent Conspiracy throughout December. Thanks for your generosity so far. This last week we gave 437 lbs. of food, plus the 237 lbs. the week prior.
This Sunday December 21
This Sunday will feature Week #4 of our Advent Conspiracy, our 100 voice Christmas Choir, Josh leading the worship band, the Kid’s Birthday Party for Jesus, and a Stu Com Christmas at 11am. We will present a check from New Hope to Open Arms International for the Africa Village and AIDS orphans.
Giving Report from Last Sunday
Thanks to the 230 who were here last Sunday and a lot of people who went online, our offering totaled a little over $30,000 of our weekly $49,990 budget. That leaves us about $20,000 short, but it was great all things considered. If weather cancels our services next Sunday it will make it extremely difficult. We appreciate your faithfulness in spite of the weather in giving online or mailing in your tithes and offerings.
An Encouraging Note
This morning I invited the manager of the Plaid Pantry to our services this Sunday. She indicated she would be there. As I left I said, “I will see you Sunday if the storm isn’t too bad.” She immediately responded, “I will see you Sunday, storm or no storm.” Wow.
I also received the monthly report from our Families in Crisis Ministry:
• Groceries for 18 families
• Help with rent so two families can keep their apartments
• Help with Thanksgiving and Christmas for seven families so far
• Heating oil for a senior couple who were without heat
Last Sunday we gave a check for $16,539 to Habitat for Humanity to more than fulfill our commitment to the current house we are building. New Hope Kids gave almost $1,700 of this amount. Way to go kids! Thanks to all of you for your wonderful generosity and making a difference in other people’s lives through your giving.
Be praying for this Sunday. Don’t forget our Christmas Candlelight Services on Tuesday, December 23 at 7pm and Wednesday, December 24 at 5pm. Please invite all your friends, you won’t be disappointed.
You are loved,
Pastor Ray
Friday, December 19, 2008
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1 comment:
I, for one, think this snow is a great way for families to be together during the Christmas season and truly reflect on the real meaning of the season - God ans His amazing love. While it's been inconvenient, I do believe God has a way of taking center stage when He desires to, and I think this Christmas the acts of helping others & loving one another will be brought out by this 'emergency'. I think it'll be the Christmas people remember for the rest of their lives, and not just because of the snow. Only God can do something like that. While I am saddened by the Christmas Candlelight services being canceled, I am more and more looking forward to sharing the story of Jesus' birth with my daughter again and again through this time at home. Christmas Eve snuggled in blankets reading from the Bible (or a toddler one) & praying for those who need Jesus, and Christmas morning 'stranded' with my family, sharing the love of Jesus to the one who don't know Him personally yet. I love it (and I don't feel guilty for choosing not to go to church, which would have been the only other way it would have happened). :)
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