Experiencing the
HOPE
Of Jesus Christ
April 2017
Grace and peace,
I had hip replacement surgery this last week in
March. I must say that I was so looking forward to
not having pain in the hip. The final week was the
worst as far as pain is concerned. I prayed
scripture prayers and reminded myself that “I can do all things
through Christ who gives me his strength.” Philippians 4:13. Those
things helped me. But I know that praise is the biggest help of all.
As I came out of surgery on Monday after having had the tube out
of my back and was being watched by a nurse, I began to have a
song run through my head. Now that’s not unusual, but this song
is. As it played through, I realized that it was pure thanksgiving
and praise to God who had gotten me through this and would
bring me the rest of the way. I told the nurse who seemed to
know it and said she’d sing with me. Some of you know this song,
you sing it for scouts and camp as a table blessing. “Oh, the Lord
is good to me. And so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I
need: The sun and the rain and the apple seed; The Lord is good
to me.” I give thanks and praise to the Holy One who spoke these
beautiful words to my being so that I might praise and thank Jesus
Christ for bringing me through surgery and who will bring me the
rest of the way in rehab and recovery.
I pray that you will ask God to speak words of encouragement,
praise, and hope and then join in. Your heart and whole being will
be blessed. God is with you if you ask and commit your life to
Christ Jesus. It’s a promise that we are not alone even in the midst
of storm and struggle. The Lord is good to me… and to you!
In ministry together,
Pastor Pam
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Lenten Fast
Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from apparent darkness;
Feast on the reality of light.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on optimism.
Fast from thoughts of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from worry;
Feast on Divine Providence.
Fast from unrelenting pressure;
Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on positives.
Fast from complaining;
Feast on appreciation.
Fast from hostility;
Feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from anxiety;
Feast on hope.
Fast from yourself;
Feast on a silent heart.
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At the March council meeting, the council selected ministry areas
to focus energy and make report. Our 2017 council and their
positions are listed below.
Term expires in January of
Rev. Pam Thorson Pastor
Under Call
Michelle Eckart
President /Fellowship
2020
Rich Patterson
Vice President/Finance
2020
Isaac Huggins
Secretary
2019
Charles Lemons
Treasurer
Appointed
Cindy Lemons
Financial Secretary
Appointed
Dan Hof
Property
2020
Teresa Morgan
Co- Treasurer/Evangelism
2019
Bill Smith
Pastoral Care
2018
Louise Taylor
Worship
2018
Robin Grega
Outreach
2018
Committees will be formed as the year moves forward. Please
commit to 1 committee.
In other business, the council approved a Continuing Resolution to
form a Board of Trustees to handle endowments, legal work, and
overall care of the facility. Details of the duties and
responsibilities will follow as the Board takes shape.
Meetings are generally the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30
PM. All meetings are open.
Holy Week and Easter
Palm/Passion Sunday 10:30 AM Palm and Passion
Noon Brunch
Maundy Thursday, 7 PM Foot washing w/ Eucharist
Good Friday, 12 PM Meditation & Worship
7 PM Worship
Easter Sunday Breakfast 9 AM
Holy Communion 10:30 AM
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Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School will be done in conjunction with Child
Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). Child Evangelism Fellowship is a
Bible-centered organization composed of born-again believers
whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word
of God and in the local church for Christian living.
Our team will work with CEF to bring a great week of Bible School
to House of Prayer. Please join the team!
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Thank you to everyone who worked the Pancake Breakfast and
Silent Auction on Mar 18th. We had a great time visiting with
friends and sharing in fellowship with our church members.
Over $1,600 was raised for the building fund Hope Center Project.
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all
those listed below for their donations to
the silent auction. We couldn’t have done
it without you!
Arby’s
Big O Tires
Colton's Steak House
Denny’s
Derby Dinner Playhouse
Duke's Sporting Goods
Elizabethtown Athletic Club
Great Clips
Ken & Emily McElhaney
Ken Towery's Auto Care
LifeWay Bookstore
Massage and Wellness Center
Michel's Tires
Myo Rejuvination Med Spa
Papa John's Pizza
Ride-Wright Tires
Robin Grega
Sam’s Club
Steve & Joan Klotz
Stone Hearth Restaurant
Suzanne Kiser
Texas Outlaw BBQ
The Home Depot
The Kentucky Railroad Museum
The Louisville Zoo
Thrivent Financial
White Castle
Woo Hoo's Gyros & Fries
The Results Are In
Thanks to all those who participated in our
second annual pancake breakfast and silent
auction. *Here are the dollar totals once all
money is collected:
Silent Auction
$822.00
Tickets Sold
$642.00
Monetary Donations $402.96
Grand Total
$1,866.96
*There is still $99.00 to be collected for silent auction items
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Women of HoPE – Meet Apr 22nd - "Crush Your Worries”
We all have burdens to bear at one time or another
and have had times that we’ve felt crushed. Come
join the Women of Hope as we learn how to
“Crush our Worries.”
We will meet
Saturday morning Apr
22 at 10:30 am at church. Come for the
fellowship and bring a friend. All women
of the congregation are welcome!
Prayer Shawl Group meets at 9:30 AM before Women of HoPE.
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Hike Buffalo Lake Trail
On Saturday, the youth of the church are invited
to go on a nature hike at Buffalo Lake Trail in
Elizabethtown (near Texas Roadhouse). There is
no cost. Meet at the church parking lot at 0930.
We may need some parents as drivers.
Buffalo Lake Trail is a 2-mile city trail. It contains a variety of geographic
features such as cliffs, rock formations, creek-side vegetation, trees of
all ages, springs, gullies and flat land.
Kevin says: Young children are encouraged! This will not be a long hike.
We will walk about one-half mile from the trailhead at the road to the
lake and back.
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Water Wells for Zimbabwe Our ministry focus for the summer
has been to raise funds for sponsoring the drilling of a bore-hall
(water well) in the community where our mission partner Bishop
Dube ministers. Each well costs $4000 to construct. WE ARE
ALMOST THERE!
Buy a Brick – Building Committee
Brick orders are ongoing. We will order for each
10 we receive. Get yours in this month. You can
do in memory of someone or in honor of a
special occasion.
https://www.bricksrus.com/order/hopecenter
Check out the bricks in the entryway!
Usher/Greeter Training
If you missed training you must make it up. See Pastor Pam. All new
and experienced ushers must receive training. Did you know the
importance of this ministry? The main component is Hospitality That all would experience the love of Jesus Christ.
Altar Guild
We have a new Altar Guild Director in Shirley Rioux. Shirley has
many years of experience with the servant ministry of the Altar
Guild. Thank you to our great team: Jahi Huggins, Michelle Eckart,
Cindy Lemons, Tina Patterson, Teresa Morgan, Evely Oliver, and
Shirley Rioux.
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James 5:14 - "Are there any sick amongst you?
Let them call for the elders of the church and let
them pray over them anointing them with oil in the
name of the Lord and the prayer of faith shall save
(heal) the sick and the lord shall raise them up and
if they have committed sins it shall be forgiven
him" James 5:14
There are 3 'shalls' here... no maybe's!
This is a promise from the Almighty, the God Who cannot lie and
does not change, to us, His Church, the Body of Christ. It is also a
message from our 'Heavenly Father' Who loved us so much, He
gave His Son for us.
Forgiveness of sin = healing for your body. Jesus said so!
They brought a paralyzed man to Jesus for healing. When Jesus
saw their faith, he said to them "Son be of good cheer,
your sins are forgiven you!" Jesus said to those that questioned
this, "What is easier to say? Your sins be forgiven or be healed?".
Read Mark 2:1-12 - Matt 9:1-7 Forgiveness of your sins = healing
for your body. Jesus said so!
To demonstrate how the forgiveness of sin is so closely related to
healing. Jesus said to the paralyzed man who was lowered down
by his friends through the ceiling. "Son, be of good cheer, your
sins are forgiven you." But, He didn't come for the 'forgiveness of
sins' but healing for his body! The Scribes started to argue about
this and Jesus said to them. "Why do you reason in your hearts?
What is easier to say? Your sins are forgiven, or to say rise up
and walk." In the eyes of the Lord, forgiveness of sin brought
healing to the body. Jesus also told a man who he had just healed
to "Go & sin no more, less a worse thing come upon you."
King David saw this too. "Bless the Lord, who forgives all your
sins, who heals all your diseases." James reiterates, that the
"Prayer of faith will heal the sick. If he has committed sins, they
shall be forgiven him." James 5:14 ~ There are 3 'shalls' listed
here... no maybe’s.
Jesus said, "What things so ever you desire (includes healing)
when you pray believe you have received what you asked for and
you shall have.
John Reynolds Ministries
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Just what is fervent love? You hear it read
every Sunday during the post-communion
prayer, “We give you thanks, almighty God,
that you have refreshed us through the healing
power of this gift of life; and we pray that in
your mercy you would strengthen us, through
this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love
toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.”. But
what does fervent mean? The definition given at Dictionary.com
says it is an adjective meaning: having or showing great warmth
or intensity of spirit, feeling, and enthusiasm. Peter tells us in 1
Peter 1:22 to “…love one another fervently with a pure heart” and
in 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one
another…” Other Bible translations for fervently are: Sincerely,
Earnestly, Deeply, Eagerly, Intensely, Warmly, and Genuinely.
It is not enough for us, as Christians, not to bear hatred, nor to
have common respect for one another, we must intensely and
fervently love each other. To love “fervently” means you try to
understand the other person…
This love will be inclusive, not exclusive.
It means you will give the person the benefit of the doubt…
It means you will not be easily offended….
It means you take the effort to reach out to others…
Some people are absent minded (they don’t mean to slight you)
Some people are rough around the edges (they don’t mean to
hurt you)
Some people are really busy with family, life… (they don’t mean to
ignore you)
Some people are in a big rush (they don’t mean to be
inconsiderate, when they go past you without speaking…)
And finally, some people are just plain mean, immature, and do
things that aren’t nice—but we should still love them too.
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Need Help to Organize the Library in the Hall
We have received several boxes of good current Christian books
on prayer, healthy eating, devotionals, eschatology, and other
various topics. We need someone to organize tall the shelves. Do
we have any Martha sorts who can give their time and talent to
this great project. Pastor’s shelves are overflowing. Thank you!
April Calendar Items
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Weekly Bible Study Wed 10:30 AM
1st and 3rd Wed. Noon Healing and Holy Communion
8th Memorial Service Hildegard Price 10 AM
8th Elizabethtown Symphony Orchestra
9th Palm Sunday Brunch after worship
13th Maundy Thursday 7 PM
14th Good Friday Noon and 7 PM
15th Family Hike 9:30
16th Easter Sunday breakfast 9 AM worship 10:30 AM
17th Council Meeting 6:30 PM
22nd Prayer Shawl Ministry 9:30 AM
22nd Women of Hope 10:30 AM
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Deaths in the Family Now Passed onto Glory
Hildegard Price
June 20, 1931 – September 26, 2016
Hilde, a former member of the House of Prayer, died in
September. Hilde had moved to Florida to be close to her
daughter. Hilde was the cook at
Hardin Memorial Hospital for
many years. She was born in
Reichenberg, Germany part of
the Czech Republic today. She
enjoyed spending time with her
many friends and her church
family.
A Memorial Service is planned
for Saturday, April 8 at 10 AM at
House of Prayer. Burial follows
at Elizabethtown Memorial
Gardens.
James W. Higdon
June 24, 1932 – March 7, 2017
Jim was a Colonel in the United States
Army serving around the globe through his
lengthy career. Upon retirement, Jim
settled into church work. He loved to make
sure everything was done well for the Lord
Jesus. Jim was a member serving at Christ
Episcopal, St. Timothy’s Anglican, and most
recently for the last 5 years at House of
Prayer Lutheran. Jim loved children and
they loved him. He had a ready smile and a
bit of a joke to go with it. Services were
held March 24 at HoPE.
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Sunday Schedule
Christian Education 9:15 AM
Worship 10:30 AM
Wednesday
10:30 AM Bible Study
Noon Eucharist 1st, 3rd, 5th
Healing 3rd Wednesday