So, are you ready? Are the clothes set ready for Tuesday morning? Back packs packed? New lunch containers ready to go?
And another question—how on earth did we get to Labour Day weekend already? It seems like I just get used to summer and the garden mums show up in the stores and the CNE starts! I was just getting into the rhythm of summer and now I have to adjust to a whole new rhythm.
There’s something exciting about the start of a new season, however, and this time of year is probably the most exciting. Things feel fresh as the weather starts to cool down. There’s so many new beginnings—children starting school for the first time, some of our students are leaving home for the first time, and teachers are welcoming a whole new crop of students. Here at Hope Fellowship, just like churches everywhere, we are looking forward to a new ministry season. Zone coordinators and leaders are working hard to prepare materials for the ministries that will start again this month. A number of years ago Hope Fellowship learned that it is painful to do things in our own strength and that running ahead of God and making our own plans doesn’t work. Our leaders wisely decided that we needed to spend a week together praying and fasting and seeking God’s will for our church. We were brought to our knees literally and figuratively. I will never forget the sight of two men who had been angry with each other and said many hurtful things to and about each other on their knees together, rising from prayer to embrace each other as brothers. It was a beautiful time of healing and restoration!
Deciding that once was not enough, we knew that we would need to gather together every year at the beginning of our ministry season to lay our hopes and dreams before God and listen to what He has to say to us. So every year, the first full week of September has become The Week of Prayer and Fasting. Those who consider Hope Fellowship home are asked to look at their lives and find something that they can give up for one week—chocolate, coffee, TV, social media—something that will make a noticeable difference in your life. When you bump up against your desire for that which you are doing without, it will be a reminder that we are called to pray together. Every evening from Monday to Friday we will gather together in the sanctuary to pray together for one hour. One hour to pray? It sounds like a long time, but it really isn’t. It’s a time to focus on God’s Word and not just talk to Him and lay our requests before Him, but a time to hear what He is saying to us. If you’re not comfortable praying out loud, that’s OK. God hears our hearts too.
So we have five hours to pray together. Five hours out of an entire year. That’s not much! So set your schedule now to come at least once. Monday, September 10 to Friday, September 14, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Each evening we focus on one zone in particular, but not exclusively.
We ask that you not schedule any meetings during this time. If you have to have a meeting, or find it convenient to meet because you are all together at the prayer time, please set your start time for 8:00. No meetings will be booked at the church or advertised during this week with a start time before 8:00.
Once our week of prayer and fasting is done, we dive in! We will start with our Rev Up Sunday on Sept. 16, which will include a vehicle display in our parking lot. If you have a car, truck or motorcycle you’d like to display, please get in touch with Andy or contact the office to reserve your spot. The Rev Up Sunday is our kick off for the season. It’s a lot of fun so make sure you are here for that Sunday.
On the same Sunday we will host the first regional service of the season. A number of area churches get together several times over the course of the year and we have been asked to host the first service. The service will be focused on the paintings we are privileged to display for the month of September. The Creator’s Sacrifice tour, entitled reForming Relationships, is an step in the process of reconciliation and healing of relationship between Christian Reformed and Aboriginal people. You will have an opportunity to learn about North American history from the Aboriginal perspective through “The Blanket Exercise for Worship”.
The Regional Service, the Week of Prayer and Fasting, and Rev Up Sunday are only three of the events that are being planned for the new season. Check out the rest of the newsletter for more updates and ways to be part of the ministry happening at Hope Fellowship.
- Evelyn Oudyk
And another question—how on earth did we get to Labour Day weekend already? It seems like I just get used to summer and the garden mums show up in the stores and the CNE starts! I was just getting into the rhythm of summer and now I have to adjust to a whole new rhythm.
There’s something exciting about the start of a new season, however, and this time of year is probably the most exciting. Things feel fresh as the weather starts to cool down. There’s so many new beginnings—children starting school for the first time, some of our students are leaving home for the first time, and teachers are welcoming a whole new crop of students. Here at Hope Fellowship, just like churches everywhere, we are looking forward to a new ministry season. Zone coordinators and leaders are working hard to prepare materials for the ministries that will start again this month. A number of years ago Hope Fellowship learned that it is painful to do things in our own strength and that running ahead of God and making our own plans doesn’t work. Our leaders wisely decided that we needed to spend a week together praying and fasting and seeking God’s will for our church. We were brought to our knees literally and figuratively. I will never forget the sight of two men who had been angry with each other and said many hurtful things to and about each other on their knees together, rising from prayer to embrace each other as brothers. It was a beautiful time of healing and restoration!
Deciding that once was not enough, we knew that we would need to gather together every year at the beginning of our ministry season to lay our hopes and dreams before God and listen to what He has to say to us. So every year, the first full week of September has become The Week of Prayer and Fasting. Those who consider Hope Fellowship home are asked to look at their lives and find something that they can give up for one week—chocolate, coffee, TV, social media—something that will make a noticeable difference in your life. When you bump up against your desire for that which you are doing without, it will be a reminder that we are called to pray together. Every evening from Monday to Friday we will gather together in the sanctuary to pray together for one hour. One hour to pray? It sounds like a long time, but it really isn’t. It’s a time to focus on God’s Word and not just talk to Him and lay our requests before Him, but a time to hear what He is saying to us. If you’re not comfortable praying out loud, that’s OK. God hears our hearts too.
So we have five hours to pray together. Five hours out of an entire year. That’s not much! So set your schedule now to come at least once. Monday, September 10 to Friday, September 14, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Each evening we focus on one zone in particular, but not exclusively.
We ask that you not schedule any meetings during this time. If you have to have a meeting, or find it convenient to meet because you are all together at the prayer time, please set your start time for 8:00. No meetings will be booked at the church or advertised during this week with a start time before 8:00.
Once our week of prayer and fasting is done, we dive in! We will start with our Rev Up Sunday on Sept. 16, which will include a vehicle display in our parking lot. If you have a car, truck or motorcycle you’d like to display, please get in touch with Andy or contact the office to reserve your spot. The Rev Up Sunday is our kick off for the season. It’s a lot of fun so make sure you are here for that Sunday.
On the same Sunday we will host the first regional service of the season. A number of area churches get together several times over the course of the year and we have been asked to host the first service. The service will be focused on the paintings we are privileged to display for the month of September. The Creator’s Sacrifice tour, entitled reForming Relationships, is an step in the process of reconciliation and healing of relationship between Christian Reformed and Aboriginal people. You will have an opportunity to learn about North American history from the Aboriginal perspective through “The Blanket Exercise for Worship”.
The Regional Service, the Week of Prayer and Fasting, and Rev Up Sunday are only three of the events that are being planned for the new season. Check out the rest of the newsletter for more updates and ways to be part of the ministry happening at Hope Fellowship.
- Evelyn Oudyk
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