Dear Parents,

What I am about to write might sound very compromising to some of you.  I work with students and it feels important to have the right “vibe” to be in their world and yet not of it.  Anne Lamont who wrote a book called “Traveling Mercies” calls youth-group leaders, “adults who know how to act like adults but with a kid’s heart.”  So, I like my music loud.  My kids think I sing loud enough to be considered a little bit crazy.  What I like to sing most are the classics.  Good Rock N Roll songs from the era when I was in high school and college.  Songs like More Then a Feeling by Boston or Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith.  I even sing songs that I should not admit to singing like one from a group called Meatloaf.  I know the morality is wrong but the tune and the lyrics are clever and they make me smile.

This morning after spending time in God’s word I began to sing another song.  “Praise Ye the Lord The Almighty” A song from my childhood and written in the 1600’s.  What struck me about this was that I was not singing one of the great contemporary songs we sing in our church today.  I was not humming along to a song by Chris Tomlin or singing out loud something from worship this past Sunday.  Maybe I’m just old and sometimes what comes to mind for me when I’m reflective or needy are all those songs that were imprinted in my long-term memory when I was a child.  I like the songs we sing at our church.  I raise my hands and sing with passion with the people around me.  Sometimes tears come as the words from these songs touch something so true or real about God in my soul.   But it’s interesting to me that when I am in need or I discover some wonderful truth about God the classics come to mind before the contemporary.  I guess that there is some good and bad with that.  Sometimes old habits or thought patterns are hard to break.  I am not talking about music here but feelings or thoughts of low self-worth or even bad memories of a time gone by but I digress.  I am grateful that the Bible tells me that in Christ God will remember my sins no more.

So after my time with God this morning I was singing, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! 
O my soul, praise Him, for He is my health and salvation!”  I am grateful to God today. Despite all my worries for my children or wondering how I will get done all that needs to get done today, God has been good to me.  So I leave you with the words from another classic song to begin your weekend, “Be at rest once more O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”  Psalm 116:7

Program Notes:

*Any senior graduating from High School will be recognized during the 11:15 worship service on May 13^th.  Our seniors will be prayed for and be given a gift devotional from Hope.

*For you calendars, middle and high school ministry will not meet on Memorial Day weekend Sunday.  The following Sunday June 3^rd will be the last regularly scheduled “youth group” time for the school year.   Both High School and Middle School will meet at the same time on June 3^rd for an end of the year dinner and teaching on the patio beginning at 6:00.   We will be finished that evening by 8:00.

*Registration is now open for Middle School and High School summer camps.  These summer camps have been life-changing for many of our students and have deepened relationships with each other.  Please go to www.hopecentral.com and look for the Great Escape or Fun in the Son link on our student page.

Learn more and Signup…

“Give Me Faith” by Elevation Worship
Amazon MP3
iTunes

“White Flag” by Passion
Amazon MP3
iTunes

“Awakening” by Hillsong United
Amazon MP3
iTunes

Kim Newlen, Founder of Sweet Mondays, and hostess of the World’s Largest Tea Party, will be our special guest.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8

RSVP to women@hopecentral.com, and please mention if you need childcare.

The Hope team with the George Family, The Repic family (Novi Sad, Serbia) and the Mihalecz family (Szoreg, Hungary)

April 20, we returned from a fantastic week in Szoreg, Hungary.   Jay, Dave, Wes and I flew over the previous Friday and met the George family (Rob, Donna, Hannah and Sarah) there.   The Georges lived for seven years in Hungary and, after an 8 month stint back in Richmond, moved to Germany, where they continue to do great work furthering Christ’s kingdom there. We flew into Budapest, drove ~2 hours to Szeged, a small, beautiful city near the Serbian border. We spent Saturday and Sunday seeing the city, visiting with friends of the George family and attending the service of their church, Scion, while in Hungary.

On Sunday evening, we drove to Szoreg, a small village 20 minutes outside of Szeged.   We went to a farm managed by the Mihalecz family, Bela, Bea and their daughter, Regi.   To say that they are a wonderful family that truly lives with Jesus at the center of their lives is an understatement…

The main crop that Bela grows is strawberries.   He and Bea sell that and other fruits and vegetables in the small store that they operate next to their home.   People come not only to buy fruit and vegetables, but also to talk to Bea andor Bela.   They truly have a gift for relating to everyone that comes to see them, telling them about the Good News that can be theirs!

Their Bible studymeets every week at their house.   They also have regular outreach worship services, where they invite people from their church and other friends & family, and people from their village who are not believers, but are intrigued by the amazing things going on there.

A big part of their ministry vision is converting the green house (that currently contains about 1/5 of their strawberry crop) into a church, where they can comfortably worship and study the Bible.    Our effort during the week was focused on this mission, building brick walls and installing windows.

The construction part of the trip was great and, in addition to having a lot of fun working together, we accomplished a lot (click for pictures).   But the fellowship during our brief stay was unbelievable.   The 4 of us bonded significantly during the week, but we also forged a strong relationship with Rob, Donna and their amazing daughters, Sarah and Hannah.   And we are forever changed by being around Bela, Bea and Regi – they are amazing.   I have never seen people who better demonstrate furthering God’s kingdom before their own in every aspect of their lives.   Their house is filled with humbleness and a love for Jesus Christ.

Bela told us that he has at times felt alone in their efforts to further Jesus Christ in the lives of fellow Hungarians.    I told him that he should never feel alone, he has an army of friends and family praying for them here in America.   So thanks for all of your support!

Details for the weekend:
The cost is $20, which covers transportation and food. We will be meeting at Hope Church on Friday the 27th at 5pm and will be returning on Saturday the 28th at 5pm. Drivers to this event will include Nicole Unice, Cody Buchan, Stacie McGeever, Andre Pliodzinskas and Jacob Minnick. We have rented a 15-passenger van and will also be driving larger SUV’s. A few other staff will also be attending. Again, all your meals will be included.

We will be going to a cabin in Cumberland county that a family in Hope owns and has graciously offered it to us to use for this event! The cabin has a big yard, field and a pond that is beautiful and a perfect place for us to get some quality time with the Lord and with each other! There are indoor bathrooms for us to use. We are going to be splitting up the very large yard into a ‘girls camp’ and a ‘guys camp’ where we will all be sleeping in tents. Nicole, myself and the other youth staff are looking forward to this time of community together!
Attached is the packing list along with the waiver form that. Be sure to bring the signed waiver form with you on Friday night when you arrive at Hope!

Permission Consent Release Form HSM 2012

Pack List_campout