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April 12, 2014Type to enter text

@newhopefulton

Praise and Worship Pastor Jason Decena

Message Pastors Roda, Gemmell and Decena

!Community Life

Mike Speegle (First Service) Christian Moore (Second Service)

Closing Thought Pastor Mike Speegle

Worship at New Hope Community at Worship 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. | Kingdom Kids Worship (Rm. 121) 10:30 a.m. | Middle School Worship (Rm. 206) 10:30 a.m.

Community Life 2 !!!Easter: A Story of Hope 3 !!Family Resources 4

connect. serve. grow.

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Today, We Receive CommunionThis significant moment is open to all believing Christians. No matter what your challenge is, communion reminds us that there is hope, and we can stand on the victory we have through Christ! Rooms 215 and 218 are set up for foot washing.

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

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12 EASTER AT NEW HOPE Choir and full cast rehearsal today at 5 p.m. in the worship center. !Find additional rehearsal times, opportunities to serve and other details at easteratnewhope.com/schedule.

16 Ignite your prayer life and deepen your relationship with God, 7:30 p.m. at the church. Our focus: What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey.

19 Connect with our community and help serve a meal to homeless men, women and children, 4-6 p.m., at Grassroots, a walk-in crisis shelter here in Columbia, Md. All are welcome! For more info, contact Nathan Taylor at 478-737-4224.

12 The Bible study for middle school youth, 9:30 a.m., in Room 208. This study is designed to help youth get to know Jesus better and make the decision for baptism. The next meeting is April 26. For schedule info, contact Pastor Ann at 301-741-1926 or annroda@lookingforachurch.org.

19 Power of a Praying Man meets, 9:30 a.m., in the Prayer Room (Room 111). The greatness of a man is defined by a thriving prayer relationship with God. Come join this group of men who are not afraid to kneel and pray! For details, contact Jose Hernandez at info@lookingforachurch.org. 

26 Join New Hope Young Adults for potluck after second service, and come back at 6 p.m. for a campfire!

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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!

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

Do you have a passion for prayer? Channel it into ministry and join New Hope’s prayer team! For more info, pick up a Prayer Ministry card at the Ask-Me Desk.!

Second reading of transfers in: Jared and Anika Anderson, David and Marlene Lawrence, Lania Quanno.!

First reading of transfers in: Hearly Mayr, Andrea Alegria and Eugene Simonov.!

FAMILY MINISTRIES www.newhopelovesfamilies.com!

The children's Bible lesson for today is found in Matthew 21:1-11, “Crowds Welcome Jesus to Jerusalem.” Children will learn that it is good to praise Jesus. Parents, you can continue discussing the Bible lesson at home: See the back page for family resources.

FLAG (Fun Learning About God) Camp at New Hope runs June 23-Aug. 1. For children in grades K-8. Pick up an information packet at the Ask-Me Desk to learn more and register.

FLAG Camp is hiring for various leadership positions to manage the summer day camp. Pick up employment info at the Ask-Me Desk or call Lynne at 301-854-1866 for details. 

The next family dedication is May 3. To schedule yours, contact Prithy at 301-854-1866 or send an email to office@lookingforachurch.org.

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Adventurers and Pathfinders to Meet April 26 !

Because of our Easter weekend performance and festivities, meetings for the Adventurer and Pathfinder clubs (our co-ed scouting groups) have been postponed to the afternoon of April 26 (instead of today). Be sure to check with club leaders for more details!

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Next weekend is our first big Easter event, a dramatic musical performance that takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 18-20) at 7 p.m. This week, Pastor Mike Speegle provides an update and tells us more about the production of Easter: A Story of Hope. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This is your first Easter program at New Hope. How did you decide what to choose for this first major event?  I wanted us to put on an event that will be more than a performance, more than a worship service — that will be a community event.!Tell us what's been happening over the past few weeks. What's gone into making this production — a first for New Hope — happen?  We’ve been busy with stage construction, creating the angel choir loft, the gathering of props, costume preparation, lining up people to help in the crew, reshuffling the cast. People have spent hours of their time planning and executing construction, purchasing, creating, making and practicing.!Care to give us a teaser of what to expect Easter weekend? The story we're telling is from the perspective of the angels as they watch the story of Jesus' life unfold. Our story begins as Jesus has concluded His experience in the wilderness, moves through His invitation to 12 men to follow Him, His teaching and miracles, His arrest and crucifixion, and His incredible resurrection.!You've encouraged inviting people but emphasized that our focus should be our community — not other Adventists or Christians. Why? It's easy to do an event for ourselves that we feel good about, but we're not here for ourselves. As Christians, part of our job description is to tell God's story to those who have never heard it or whose picture is a little fuzzy. I'd rather have 100 non-churchgoing individuals in the audience than 500 Christians/Adventists because at least we'd have our target audience.

Why should people attend this particular Easter event? It's a great time to reconnect with Jesus' story or have the opportunity to experience it in a safe, non-pushy environment: There's no cost or donation taken; there's no push to come back for a church service or some other event — just the opportunity to experience Jesus' story through a pretty powerful dramatic musical presentation.!You've been involved in doing this kind of community-oriented church production before. What have you seen happen as a result of such events? One of the great things about doing a Big Event is that it will, over time, give us some name recognition in our community as folks connect us to quality experiences.!What do you hope our community gets out of this event? The chance to not only hear but experience the story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.!Any final words to share about the production or important details you'd like us to remember? The doors open at 6:30 p.m. each evening and close at 6:55 p.m., with the production beginning at 7 p.m. This is an event to which you can be proud to invite a neighbor, coworker or friend.!

Learn more about this year's Easter musical at easteratnewhope.com. And if you've run out of invitations, stop by the Ask-Me Desk for more!

A few years ago, while walking toward my gate at Miami International Airport, I came upon an excited crowd that caused a people traffic jam in the concourse. The people were surging toward something or someone, and many had their smartphone cameras held over their heads, taking pictures. Someone began clapping, and soon the entire concourse was thundering with applause. The excitement was getting intense as people began pushing, running and screaming for others to follow along.

Curious about what was happening, I decided to join the crowd and found myself being swept up in the enthusiasm. I jostled the people around me and walked on my tiptoes, trying see exactly whom I was getting excited about. The crowd was thick, and it was impossible to see anything. Then, the mass of people ahead of me opened slightly — just long enough for me to see the person causing all the commotion. It was Sean Penn: movie star, two-time Oscar winner and Hollywood bad boy.

There was something interesting about those who were following Sean Penn. In the first group were Haitians. They were dancing, smiling and clapping as they walked with him. They were excited, and it seemed they genuinely adored him. The second group was people with smartphones, thrusting them into his face and attempting to get a selfie with him. They were the people who were excited because Penn was a celebrity.

Almost immediately after the 2010 Haitian earthquake that killed more than 300,000 and left 1.5 million people homeless, Penn flew down to personally work with disaster-relief efforts. Long after the many international

organizations left the country, he stayed. He developed the J/P Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO) to help manage the camps where the displaced lived; help them rebuild their communities; and bring sustainable community development programs that have a lasting impact on the people of Haiti. J/P HRO is one of the most successful post-earthquake organizations, making a real difference in the country. Penn did not just send money and supplies to Haiti. Rather, he lived with the people there, buried their dead, suffered with them and continues to work side by side with them to rebuild. That’s why the Haitian people adore him. Not because he is a celebrity but because he didn’t leave. He stayed and cared and loved.

When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, people surrounded Him, shouting, singing and dancing. Some people were there because they were caught up in the excitement of something big and loud. Perhaps some were there because Jesus was something of a celebrity. Then there were those who followed Jesus into Jerusalem because they adored Him. Jesus had cared for them; He healed them; loved and saved them and their praises flowed from a deep well of gratitude.

How do you praise Jesus? Like a celebrity? Or like someone who gave His life for you when you least deserved it?

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!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 As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd surrounding Him quoted Psalm 118. Read these verses for insights on living a life of praise.

SUNDAY Psalm 118:1-4

MONDAY Psalm 118:5-7

TUESDAY Psalm 118:8-14

WEDNESDAY Psalm 118:15-21

THURSDAY Psalm 118: 22-25

FRIDAY Psalm 118:26-29

Ann Roda

Pastor for Families

annroda@lookingforachurch.org

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Weekly Challenge Read 2 Chronicles 20:20-22. How can you incorporate praise for God before He even works in your life? What does that lifestyle of praise say about your attitude toward God?!

For the Family Each night this week, as a family, read a chapter beginning with Psalm 145 through 150. Each time you read the word “praise,” have everyone raise his or her hands in praise and adoration. Tell your children these songs were used to worship God 3,000 years ago, and they are just as effective today!

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

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Five Ways to Prepare Your Children for Easter