The Church on the Hill

THE HOPEWELL HERALD

May 2015 “The Church on the Hill” Hopewell Presbyterian Church, Franklin, Indiana 548 W 100 N Franklin, IN 46131 317-736-6829 Pastor Brad Moger’s information: [email protected] (317-494-8461)

Communion May 3, 2015 Pastor Brad’s Letter May 2015

Dear Family & Friends of Hopewell,

As we turn the calendar to May, and the temperatures slowly feel like Spring, we know that Summer is just around the corner. We will soon be making plans and getting ready for our Hopewell Corn Roast. I’d like to again THANK Pat Stevens who is Chairing this year’s event. Please be ready to say “Yes” when Pat, or one of her team, give you a call, or tap you on the shoulder. We need every single one of us to make this event special for our guests, and successful for our church. We look forward to another wonderful Corn Roast!

We are also looking forward to learning more from Jesus as we continue our “From Easter to Ascension” sermon series. It has been both comforting and challenging for me as we have worked our way through the Appearances of Jesus after his Resurrection, and before he went to be with God the Father. Jesus gave great peace and confidence to His Disciples during these appearances – and I hope that you are receiving peace and confidence as well! But Jesus also challenged those first followers with repeated commands that they (and we, Jesus’ followers today) had a mission. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21) We are going to spend a lot time thinking and talking about what that verse/instruction means for us at Hopewell – What does it mean that Jesus is sending US into the world, the same way that God the Father Sent Jesus? Even more specifically, we want to be answering and asking the question

“God, to WHOM are you sending us?”

This is key for us as we desire to be a church God will continue to use for his mission and for his purposes. Our Revitalization Team (Janet Tearman, Rob Henderson, Carol Poe, Elizabeth Jones, Melinda Frazier, Janet Stone, and Pastor Brad) has been working hard to seek to answer this key question. We believe God is leading us to some specific answers. The Team will be meeting with the Session this month, and very soon, will be presenting ideas and plans to the whole congregation.

It is fairly clear that God is not only sending us to some specific people groups in our Johnson County community, but God is sending us to one another! We know that God wants us to care for the world around us, and for each other – Jesus clearly commanded all his disciples to “love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34) The Revitalization Team continues to welcome any ideas or thoughts you may have as to how we can best “love each other like Jesus loves” and “go into our world like Jesus did to his.” We are in this journey with Jesus together!

A quick personal note …

Just in case I have not shared this good news fully, Kristin and I are very excited to be welcoming TWO daughter-in-laws into our family – one in May and one in June. We will be in PA for two days in Mid-May for a private, very small wedding ceremony for our son Samuel – as he marries Samantha! Sam & Sam will be moving to Nashville, TN in June, then having a large wedding celebration in January 2016 in CT. Then in June, we will travel (as part of our vacation) to Newport, Rhode Island for a large wedding of our son Elijah to Jennifer. Eli & Jen will continue to live in the Boston area. Our son Aaron gets to be Best Man for both of his brothers!

May YOU have a Wonderful Month of May,

Pastor Brad Mission News From: The Coodys

Words alone fail on occasion to capture the emotion, intimacy and urgency of the need for people to hear the Gospel. Every April 23, tens of thousands of Muslim Turks make a trip to an island near Istanbul where they pull strings up a long hill in hopes of having their wishes fulfilled. The ritual is embedded in paganism but reveals their spiritual emptiness and provides a unique opportunity to spread the Gospel to massive numbers of people. Yesterday Ron was able to join a large united team of believers from a dozen nations to pass out thousands of books and bibles. The team also included 600 of the Martyrs’ Story book which crowds were happy to get. Ron and others had many moments through the day to gather crowds and publicly preach the Gospel. Many welcomed prayer that they would discover the truth.

Pray for Fruit: 1. For people to read the materials with attention. 2. For widespread follow-up and getting people into churches. 3. For more open doors like this in days to come. 4. Thank God for all the unity and effort of the church to make this happen.

THANKS—Thank you very much for your extraordinary giving to reach the world’s unreached and least reached people. Ron and Jean.

Deacon News Cara Kelsay and Brandi Henderson are co-chairpersons of Deacons. Deacon meeting May 3 at 8:45 a.m. There will be a dinner on May 17th. The King's Daughters Afternoon Circle

Please join us the second Tuesday afternoon of each month in Fellowship Hall. We have one more meeting and then we will gather for lunch in June. We are studying Women of the Bible. We meet at 1:30 for study time and refreshments. All women of the church are invited. Please bring plastic bags for the Food Pantry this month.

Jr. Church News & Youth News

May 3, the Hopewell Jr. Church children will be doing a presentation about the mission of Heifer International. They have learned about this mission all year and will share with the congregation. They have collected money to help supply sheep to impoverished communities around the world. The children want to extend an invitation to the congregation to give to this mission project. Please consider bringing in extra change/bills that the children will collect during the service that day. Thank you! On May 10 they will share what they have learned about Psalm 23. Last day for Jr. Church is May 17 until after Labor Day.

Campfire Stories at Hopewell VBS June 1-June 4, 5:30-8 p.m.

The Children’s Ministry Team is excited to announce that this year’s Hopewell VBS will be sharing dinner together and hearing special guests telling Bible stories around the campfire (as well as playing games, singing songs, doing crafts, etc.) The final night will be an open invitation to all to enjoy an old-fashioned church picnic/cookout. Register early in the side sanctuary at church. Youth Group

We WILL Have Youth Group Meetings on May 3 and 17 at the “Regular Time” – 6:30 to 7:30: We are OFF the following dates: May 10 (Mothers’ Day), May 24 (Memorial Day).

May 31st meeting will be our school year-end CELEBRATION!

Place: Mogers (Manse) 5:30-8 p.m. Open to ALL Students, Grade 5 -12, even new folks and guests. We'll start with a Cook Out meal - hot grill provided. Bring your own meat to grill, and a side dish to share. We'll provide all the drinks. Activities will include: Outdoor games, including some that might get us WET Campfire activities: games, discussions, S'mores, etc. Music to listen to ... bring an iPod, phone or CDs if you'd like! An end of year message from the Lord! A discussion of summer ideas ...

Questions? Call Pastor Brad (317-494-8461) or Miss Kristin (317-572 -9832)

Choir News Hopewell choir continues to prepare music for most Worship services. The choir is working on the final segment of the ministry year, culminating with a special "Music Sunday" in June. Please consider joining - new singers are always welcome. No experience or special musical skills required - just a willing heart to help in worship. Practice is on Thursdays from 7-8PM. For information or questions, contact Gail Mercer. (317) 341-0859 or [email protected].

Mother’s Day Dinner at Hopewell Wednesday, May 6th at 6 p.m. “In Your Mother’s Shoes” is the theme. Bring shoes that have a story or just tell a story. Please bring a salad to share. Sharon Denny and her band will entertain.

Prayer Requests

Kay Henry family, Kyle Dell, Nila Bales (cancer), Pam Cliburn, Edie Henderson, Blake Howard, Helen Meyer, Rhonda, Celeste Hilderbrand, Richard Clark, Walter Brown family, Harold Dougherty, Ron Johnson (cancer), Shirley Calvert (health, D. Jones’ mother), Corbie Snyder, Darrell Calvert, Paul Harsch’s son Paul, David Bagby (J. Shilts’ g-father), Sara Robards (starts chemo), Dana Chandler (cancer), Harold Dougherty (health), Laurie Alvey (brain tumor), Jean Johnson, Kim Rothacher (cancer return), our missionaries- Ron and Jean, Betty Means, the Cooleys, our Youth Group. Our law enforcement officers and all who struggle with alcohol and substance abuse, those looking for employment and our Revitalization Team. Updates can be sent to: [email protected]

Praise Bill Frosch, home

Trustee News

Sandy Ditmars priced tables and chairs to replace the wooden tables and the older chairs used at Corn Roast. Sandy reported a price of $79.88 per each 8 foot table, commercial grade and $10.37 for metal chairs that come in a 4 pack of chairs. Sandy said we need to create a Sam’s Club membership for the Hopewell at a cost of $45. We could receive several membership cards for the account. Creation of the account would allow for our tax exempt status. Members of the church cannot use the tax exempt number belonging to the church to buy from their accounts. Sam’s does not allow this and so they ask us to create the separate account to accomplish our tax exempt goals. Members and families have promised 3 tables of the 22 needed. 80 chairs are needed. Bill Liverett, Secretary. Table and Chair Drive

Please consider donating for new tables and chairs. We need 22 tables and 80 chairs. These are lighter in weight and will be much easier to move. You may put checks in the offering with “tables and chairs” in the memo line. Tables are $80 and chairs are $10.

New Borrowing Policy Procedure for borrowing any items from the church including tables and chairs:

1. Check with Sharon in the church office to make sure no events are scheduled. Sharon is in the office 8-12 p.m., 4 days a week (M,T,TH,FR).

2. Call the Chairman of the Trustees (Paul Harsch) for permission. Let him know how many of each item you need and the dates you will need them.

3. Sign the items out on the clipboard in the church office when you take them.

4. Sign the items back in on the clipboard in the church office when you return them. Thank you for your cooperation!

Our next meeting is May 17th. We are in Chapter 8 of Mark. The Rev. Greg Manship is our leader and we are learning much more than just what is written. What is really behind the words of Scripture—who spoke and what was the motivation? We meet at 4 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Please join us. Hopewell was founded on May 23, 1831.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Congratulations to our graduates!! Good luck!

Jacob Hash Open House May 30th, 2-5 p.m. 326 E. State Road 144, Franklin BOILER UP!!

Sable Tearman graduates on May 16th at the Indiana State Homeschool Graduation Ceremony and invites Hopewell friends to an open-house May 23rd from 5pm - 8pm at 2651 N 200 W, Franklin. She has been accepted to attend IUPUI’s Kelly School of Business as an Honors College student with the benefit of the Chancellor’s Scholarship. She plans to major in accounting and minor in philanthropy and Spanish. Memorial Day, May 25, 2015

Birthdays for May

Jennifer Doty George Dow Libby Findley Alex Grissom Leah Shilts Ron Kelsay Rob Shilts Bill Leser Thelma Thompson Bill Liverett Marian Weaver Laura Morefield Raeann Moore Michelle Plummer Tommy Thompson Pam Victory Steve Victory

Please remember to bring your aluminum cans to church to help fund a mission project in North Korea. The Rev. Quentin Small is collecting these cans and sending the money to help purify water in health clinics in that country. Look for receptacles in the pie room.

Flowers: Just contact Sharon at the office and tell her which Sunday you will bring them.

Liturgists/Greeters: If you would like to be a liturgist or a greeter one Sunday, please sign up on the easel board in the side sanctuary.

Newsletter Herald/Updates: Please send newsletter items to [email protected] throughout the month. If you have any pictures or newsworthy items, please share.

Website: Sandy Ditmars will now be updating our web page monthly. If you have a meeting etc. you would like on the web calendar, please email Sandy at: [email protected]