Hope Women Summer Update

Dear Women of Hope Church,

As the mom of an elementary student, I have rediscovered my love of summer vacation. The agonizing weeks of counting down the days til break (dreadfully too late in June in my opinion) have faded into the slower pace of late breakfasts, lazy days at the pool and summer nights catching fireflies. It is good to be a mom in the summertime.

Those longer days and slower pace allow me time to pause and be grateful for the things I have in my life, and Hope is high on that list. Sometimes time away from things gives us a chance to enjoy them all the more (which is why it’s easy for me to write with fondness about mothering, I’ve been away from home all week!)  I treasure these summer moments while looking forward to things to come. I love Hope, and I love Hope women. I continue to be amazed by the authenticity, transparency, and faithful seeking after God and his will in the women I know. I want you to get to know them too, and here’s some places to do that:

Here’s some things going on around Hope for you to know!

• Hope Blog: For the past two years, the Hope Women blog has been another place to find life @ Hope…with announcements, teaching segments from Thrive (click), devotionals and discussions. Hope’s website has received a facelift and the women’s information has been integrated into the site. Our amazing Hope webmasters are still working to find a way to allow us to send you updates via that blog. So until then, you can expect to receive these short email updates. This same information is posted on the blog, and I invite you to check it out!

• Beth Moore: Mark your calendars! Living Proof Live and Beth Moore are coming to Richmond August 27-28^th. Beth Moore is one of my favorite bible teachers—a passionate and powerful teacher who is a great storyteller—and funny to boot. A group of women at Hope will be carpooling to the event, and the team is also planning a lunch on Saturday afternoon after the event concludes. You must sign up for the event at Lifeway, but also contact Heather Beam and let her know that you’ll be attending so we can find seats together.

• Event Team: Do you like to party? Now that I have your attention, we are looking for a few women who enjoy planning events to help with two potential outreach opportunities over the next year. If interested, please contact me at nicoleunice@gmail.com.

• New Group: Are you a working girl out in the daily 9 – 5 mission field either by choice, necessity or default?  Entering, re-entering or just struggling in the daily grind and a need some sister support?  If you are interested in joining a 10-week book club, to read and discuss Dondi Scumaci’s “Designed for Success” please contact Page Brothers at 501-0202 or page.brothers@assuraconsulting.com .  Very relaxed atmosphere—just time to fellowship and connect over a great book!  Time and place will be established based on the needs of the group

• Thrive is our Thursday women’s ministry that meets September-May. The leadership team is already preparing for the 2010-11 year, and we would love for you to join us. Thrive meets Thursday mornings at 10 with childcare, and also repeats that teaching on various Thursday evenings. Thrive’s vision is to provide a place of community and connection for women around sound biblical teaching and honest discussions. Come meet others who love God and like to wrestle together to figure out how to do “God-life” as modern women. For more information, contact Jeanne at fiveoos@comcast.net or PHONE. Thrive will resume mid-September 2010.

• The Wednesday evening bible study, led by Susan Chesson, will be on a six-week summer break. This small group meets at Hope on Wednesdays studying various books, discussing life and praying together. For more information, contact Susan at biblicalsolutionsllc@verizon.net.

Hope is part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and our women’s ministry is supported by the Women in Ministry of the EPC. Women in ministry provide resources, support and encouragement for women to live out their influence in their homes, workplaces and churches. You can find out more at www.epcwomeninministry.org, or join the Facebook group the EPC Network.

All-Church Info:

• Summer Reading: Hope continues a tradition of offering summer reading. This summer we have two recommendations: Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller and The Jesus Storybook Bible for reading with the kids. To discuss the first, Hope will offer an adult class Tuesday evenings in August—for more information, sign up for Hope for the Week Updates—and in you want to discuss the second, perhaps you should check out a Hope playgroup this summer!

• Playgroups meet Thursday mornings around Richmond through the summer. To get included on the email list with times and places, just contact Darya Suleske at darya@suleske.com

• Babysitters: I’ve found a great followup to a morning playgroup is an evening date night, and if you agree, you might want to check out our new list of Hope babysitters. It’s up to you to find one that works for your family, but hopefully this information will give you a great start.

• College Kids: If you know a college student home for the summer, please invite them to Hope’s Summer Hangout:  A large group of students gathers at Hope on Wednesdays at 8pm for great music and relevant teaching. This week I’ll be teaching on “When God Feels Far.” Please pass along to any babysitters, family or friends who might be interested.

• Healing Hearts: A great Christian counselor (and my new friend) has moved from Charlotte to the Richmodn area this past year, bringing with her more than a decade of Christian counseling and ministry experience. Here’s a group she’ll be offering this fall through The Barnabas Center:

Have you ever wished you could talk openly and confidentially to a few others who really understand what it is like to feel the ache, rage, fear, and confusion from abuse?  What would it be like to have a safe place to grapple with the real but hidden questions in your heart; a place to ponder the truth about your own story? Healing Hearts provides a biblically based, professionally led, confidential context where women can find their hearts again, receive support and wrestle with the difficult realities of being harmed by childhood abuse.  By considering and telling your story, pondering the Scriptures, reading books, and engaging in intimate conversation, this group will help you take another courageous step on the path toward a life of faith, hope, and restored honor. For more information, contact Lisa Ould at 592-9817 or lould@thebarnabascenter.org

On a personal note, I’d invite you to join the conversation on my blog at The Stubborn Servant. Each week I post thoughts on seeking God in everyday life, as well as book reviews, reader questions and resources. And check out www.giftedforleadership.com or www.fullfill.org, two great websites for women leaders of all kinds.

OK, back to lazy summertime. I welcome your thoughts, questions or ideas anytime of the year…you can find me at nicoleunice@gmail.com or 288-4679. And if I forgot to mention something you are a part of, please send me a cyber-lashing and I’ll include it in the next update. J

Peace to you,

Nicole

Director of Women’s Ministries at Hope