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Sunday Morning Worship, 10 AM
Today is Pentecost Sunday! We celebrate the day the disciples of Jesus received a gift that was promised. This gift enabled these ordinary followers of Christ to do extraordinary things. The story is found in The Acts of the Apostles chapter 2. Today we look at powerful wind and tongues of fire as a gift from God and discover that the gift is still alive and well for those who want to see the church, the body of Christ, do extraordinary things.
Masks are encouraged, but not required. The service will be live-streamed to our Facebook group for those not ready to return in person. Sermons will be posted on YouTube (video) and on our website (audio)
Women's Bible Study, Friday afternoons at 1 PM Adult Bible Study: Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM
This Week's Volunteers
Liturgist: Barbara Barcus
Tech:
Communion Servers: Cindy Molles, Tammy Than & Pastor Deborah
Snacks: ??
Bagel Pickup: Wednesdays-Pastor Deborah; Thursdays-Mike & Lorraine Eyer
Bagel Delivery: Thursday West Valley Community Food Pantry-Mike & Lorraine Eyer, Friday Justa Center-Mike & Lorraine Eyer
Justa Center Sack Meals: Please join us in the fellowship hall after the Sunday service to help assemble the take-away meals.
Saturday June 4 8 AM Work Day at SOH
Sunday June 5 10 AM Worship
11:30 AM - Prepare sack meals for Justa Center
( Fireside Room)
2 PM Retirement Party for Pastor Deborah Schauer
Tuesday June 7 6:30 PM Bible Study
Wednesday June 8 2 PM Bagel Pickup and Bagging for WVC Food Pantry
7 PM Choir Practice
Thursday June 9 2 PM Bagel Pickup for Justa Center
Friday June 10 1 PM Ladies Bible Study
Last Sunday's Giving: $ 1,954 May's Total Giving: $12,595 May's Total Expenses: $13,377 Income (Deficit):$ (782)
A Congregational Prayer by Jon Elvrum
Lord Jesus,
Let us boldly lift up our hearts and sing out praise. A new call is in the air. It is at first an arresting, and even a jarring moment as we are compelled to contemplate our Pastor Deborah being sent into retirement.
We are at once startled and concerned. What will become of us, our community, our church?? We experience the fear of loss. We come hard up against sudden change, change we would rather not endure. Our faith is challenged by what we do not know. We focus prayers on Pastor Deborah, who will explore a new season in her retirement, and continue in our prayers of encouragement and gratitude.
Here is what we should know and celebrate: our new pastor, Christine, has given her life to the call of the Lord, and the call of the Holy Spirit has been uniquely placed upon her. She is called by the same Lord who tells us: do not fear; who reassures us that He will never leave us, or forsake us.
In Isaiah, the Lord asks: "Whom shall I send?" Christine has answered, even as she must answer today: "Here I am, Lord, send me."
Let us rejoice in our new pastor's call and for her fidelity and obedience to it. Let us receive Christine in her new charge with all the hopes and prayers that will nurture her in her new assignment. Let the Lord be glorified in all that Christine is led to do. Come, Holy Spirit, let this new season in all of our lives be rich, and as has been our church prayer for a long while: Lord, Surprise us. Make our faith greater than our fears. Grow us in the power of Your love. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, Come!
Within the church calendar, Sunday, June 5, is known as Pentecost Sunday. It is a significant day to remember and appreciate in the history of the church. The word “Pentecost” basically means “50”, and is doubly significant when one realizes that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those early believers who were waiting in the upper room as they waited in obedience and expectancy. This was 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and a full 40 days after he ascended back to Heaven. The full story can be found in the first few chapters of the Book of Acts.
Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church celebrates Pentecost because itmarks the powerful beginning of a global movement of the power of God's presence sweeping across the earth.As we read the account of what happened as the Spirit descended with power on God's people, place yourself in their midst. Imagine what it would look like, sound like and feel like to witness firsthand such a powerful movement of God's Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is our greatest gift. When the disciples received the Spirit they began living as Jesus did. They began speaking to, healing, and transforming a world that had known no true connected relationship with their Creator since Adam and Eve. The scriptures make it clear that our lives are to follow their example. We've been given the same Spirit as the disciples who moved so powerfully in revealing our loving heavenly Father to a world in desperate need of a relationship with their Creator. We refer to Pentecost as the birthday of the church, but is the church of today as spirited as it was at its birth? As the church, are we using this gift and power that was given or are we just acknowledging the day of Pentecost as tradition?
While there is far more to this story than this brief article, the main thing we should all be aware of is that the disciples had a spirit of expectancy as they waited for a promise to be given. We believe in the power of “expecting” when it comes to receiving anything from the Lord, and I pray you enter into this time of worship “expecting” from the Lord!
God is the same God today as was on that great day the Holy Spirit was poured out on a waiting early church. What do you need God to do in your life today? God still restores, reconnects, and heals broken lives! God still delivers from the grasps of sin! God still brings hope to the hopeless and still pours out the Holy Spirit upon expectant believers!
As we come together and celebrate Pentecost, may we all be encouraged to expect something from the Lord today.
Waiting expectantly,
Pastor Deborah Schauer
Jazz for the Soul Sunday, June 12th, 6:00 PM at Spirit of Hope
May 2022 Fifth Sunday Fellowship
Thank you, Dan and Cherry Blue, for hosting Sunday evening's Fifth Sunday Fellowship - our first FSF since 2019.
The Next Fifth Sunday Fellowship will be held on Sunday, July 31st, followed by Sunday, October 30th. There is no script for Fifth Sunday Fellowships. Past FSFs have included a Chili Cookoff, Country Music Hoedown, Karaoke, Bingo, and backyard gatherings.
Contact the Membership Chair if you are interested in hosting Fifth Sunday. Don't know who the Membership Chair is? There isn't one; Volunteer to serve and there will be one!
2022 Justa Center Barbecue
Thanks to Ken, Barb, James, Sibyl, Skip, Nathan, Ila, Dan, Pastor Deborah, Lorraine, Jeff, Mike for sharing your Saturday morning bringing a little sunshine (also hamburgers and hotdogs) into the lives of Justa Center members.
Thanks to all who donated and all who contributed.
Thanks to Patti for coordinating.
Opportunities for Service and Connection
Volunteer to help with Sunday worship and fellowship. We need liturgists, communion services, and people to bring snacks. There is a signup sheet on the back table in the Worship Center.
Women's Bible Study meeting on Friday afternoons at 1 PM. The current book study is "Forgiving What You Can't Forget." Women's Bible Study will take a hiatus in July & August. There is a list of potential books/studies for September, check it out and give your input for the next study. Talk to Judy Barber about this.
Adult Tuesday Evening Bible Study, 6:30 PM. The current book study is "The Walk" by Adam Hamilton. The Tuesday Night Study will take a hiatus in July & August. Enjoy your summer.
Watch and discuss the series "The Chosen" at the Baldisseri home on Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM
Help pick up bagels from Einstein's on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons to take to the West Valley Community Food Pantry and Justa Center. See Mike and Lorraine if you'd like to volunteer to pick up or deliver. If you'd like to help us bag the bagels for distribution, join us in Simonsen-Miller Fellowship Hall Wednesdays at 2:15 PM
Help provide take-away meals for Justa Center on Thursdays. if you would like to volunteer to help with these, see the following people:
First Tuesday meals: Join us in the Fellowship Hall on the Sunday preceding the first Tuesday of the month to assemble 80 sack meals. Second Tuesday meals: Judy Barber and the Women's Bible Study Third Tuesday meals: Barb Volk and a West Valley multi-congregational group
Fourth Tuesday meals will be provided by Willowbrook UMC
June Birthdays
A Birthday Prayer: O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on these friends as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
June 12 Janssen Puracan
June 16 Loretta Barcus
June 22 Mike Gobel
Surprise Us God!
June Prayer Emphasis
Good morning God!
Surprise us.
Make our faith greater than our fears; grow us in the covering of your love.
Lord: Thank you. I dwell upon the goodness in my life. Thank you. I cherish in my heart your gift to me. Thank you. I notice the blessings of life, breath, loving and sharing. I am so very grateful. Thank you, Lord.
The Visionary is Spirit of Hope's e-newsletter, and goes each Thursday morning. If you have items you would like included in the Visionary, please get them to Lorraine by 5 PM on Wednesday.
