December 11th was the Women of Hope's Christmas Extravaganza! Other than hearly every school in Oregon having a Christmas program that night, keeping several of our ladies tied up, we had a great evening! The food was wonderful and the fellowship was great! A big thank you to all who made centerpieces for our tables and for those who helped with singing, playing the piano and well, just everything.
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On December 6th, Holly Rugg coordinated a wonderful "Breakfast with Santa" for our children! It was open to the community and we had I believe over 100 people attend! It was phenomenal! Thank you Santa for your special visit and wonderful story about the real reason of Christmas - Christ!
On November 21st, about 20 of our ladies and some guests got together and scrapped our hearts out! Despite the glitches, the night was fantastic! We ordered pizza and worked the night away! Join Melanie (our new Scrapbook coordinator)and all of us for our next Scrapbooking adventure on January 9th from 6 pm to Midnight at the Ministry Center!
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We are inviting all ladies to join us at the Women of Joy Conference, May 1st through the 3rd, 2009, in Sevierville/Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The cost is $109 and includes hotel accomodations for two nights, and three days of conferences, including a Casting Crowns concert, Kirk Cameron, Carol Kent, Priscilla Shirer, and many more.
You will not want to miss this awesome conference! We need a $25.00 deposit by this coming Sunday, November 9th. The remaining $84 is due by January 30th. Women's MInistries will be paying for the gas, so you will only need to worry about food and spending money in May!
Here are the pictures from last years WOmen of Joy conference! Sharon Hulet, Jody Hamilton, Crystie Hartman, Jackie Bergman and myself all went down for this fabulous weekend!
Tickets are selling out quickly! We need your reservation ASAP!!!!
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Yesterday, our hearts broke, they cried out in pain, in tragedy, in lack of understanding. The news that a young boy in our community had been hit and killed came crashing down on our hearts like bricks. If you were like me and many others, the tears began and just wouldn't stop. Romans 12:15 tells us to Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. While I do not personally know Mrs. Takacs, or Austin, her son tragically killed, or the driver, Rita Grivanos or all of those involved including his dad and sister, my heart broke with theirs and continues to break today. And while I cannot pretend to understand their pain, I do feel pain for them all. There are few words that I or anyone else could possibly say to make this any easier to understand or any easier to deal with. There is a song of hope that I thought appropriate for everyone involved. My thoughts and prayers are with them. May God carry Mr. & Mrs. Takacs, their daughter, Mrs. Grivanos and each child on the bus, on His wings giving them strength to face each day.
Bells will be ringing this holiday season as thousands of runners and walkers hit the nation’s pavements, pathways and parks this winter to fight arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability.
Get in the spirit this holiday season! Join the Hope Community Team on December 13th from 2 to 4 pm in Fremont, Ohio. Tie jingle bells to your shoes, dress in a festive costume, and run or walk in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis with Hope Community!
Hope Community is forming a team of friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members to participate in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk in an effort to fight arthritis. Not only will we have a great time at the event, but we’ll raise money to help prevent, control and cure arthritis.
Please visit our Web page to learn more, join our team or make a secure, online contribution to help our team reach our goal. Together, we can make a difference for the 46 million Americans with arthritis.
So, lace up those sneakers, and join us!
The Church of the Nazarene is a global family. Each Nazarene in 151 world areas deserves to attend the celebration of our Centennial. For this reason, on October 5, 2008, the Centennial Celebration took place across 24 time zones in every local church.
From the Hallelujah March around the Pilot Point tent in 1908 to almost 21,000 local churches today, the Church of the Nazarene has grown in ways that no single tent, sanctuary, or even coliseum could now hold the gathering of our entire church.
Yet how thrilling it was to sense the bonds of a growing Nazarene family in our Centennial Celebration as we united in common worship content, our guest speaker, Rod Trim knowing that almost 21,000 fellow pastors were standing before their congregations Sunday to proclaim the same message, scripture, and theme.
This week's Centennial Sunday allowed us to celebrate our Nazarene doctrine, core values, heritage, and mission. It afforded us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate holiness in a way that no Nazarene generation has yet been privileged to do. From the most spacious sanctuary to the open-air shade tree, in every language, in every culture, every Nazarene deserved to celebrate the Centennial.
At Hope Community Church of the Nazarene, we celebrated with a tent service, harkening back to the days of our heritage in Pilot Point Texas. The children of our church presented a short drama commemorating that fateful and faithful day in 1908 when the Church of the Nazarene came into existence with a common goal to share the gospel as one out of many.
We also presented several Heritage Awards to people who God has used over our 75 years as a congregation to bless our people and our community. We were privileged to have reminisced about these faithful people, many who have already gone home to be with the Lord: Marge & Roscoe Isbell, Henry & Alta Tober, Helen & Stanley Schultz, Lavonne Mills, Clyde & Norma Jordan, Sue & Bill Northrop, Thom & Robin Sneed, Tim & Pam Jordan, Mary & Jim Cribbs, and Larry & Evelyn Avery. Each of these brothers and sisters in Christ has truly left a lasting legacy and heritage in our church and in the lives of their families.
God has truly blessed and looked after Hope Community Church of the Nazarene. On our denominations 100th anniversary we were given the honor of celebrating not only the centennial but also the grand opening of our new ministry center! We buried a time capsule in our courtyard and had a open house celebration the entire weekend!
Two of our beloved family members were baptized on Sunday: Steve Bancer and Diane Ludwig! Another awesome Spirit-filled event!
Overall, the weekend was just a great reminder of how faithful God is to His children! We praise Him and thank Him for all He has done and all He is doing for not only Hope Community but for all of His churches around the world!
This Friday, October 3rd at 7 pm, you won't want to miss our Ladies Night Out at the Naz. There will be games, pampering, comedy, crafts, fellowship, food, and lots of prizes. We will also have a silent auction that you will be able to participate in if you wish. There is child care for nursery through 10 years old.
Hope to see you at our new Ministry Center, 5650 Starr Ave. Oregon, Ohio, tomorrow night!!!! It's free!!!!
This past weekend, Fireproof, staring Kirk Cameron opened in theatres across the US. It is showing right here in Toledo, Maumee and Perrysburg. This movie is a must see for Christian couples. Please make it a date night with your spouse! Or if you can't do that just a night out with the girls!
This past Saturday, the Women of Hope presented Dinner & A Story featuring Steve Kinsey, a local artist. Steve is a Christian man who feels led by God to paint extravagant renderings of churches that do not exist in reality and of landscapes. Just over 25 women and men, listened as Steve shared his story of how God has worked in his life through his talents. Please check out Steve's website. I have added it to our links on the right.
As always the food was divine and the fellowship was sweet! If you have never joined us for our Dinner & A Story events I encourage you to do so in the future. It is night where we eat together (potluck) and usually one woman shares her story of faith. This time we were blessed to have one man share his story of faith. Stay tuned for more information about our next Dinner & A Story.
This past weekend Hope Community took 47 girls and women to Columbus, Ohio for the Revolve Tour. Revolve was created by Women of Faith. It is basically a Women of Faith for teens and preteens. Our girls experienced concerts by Hawk Nelson, Natalie Grant, Krystal Meyers, Group 1 Crew and the worship team. They heard speakers like Natalie Grant, Danielle Kimmey, Chad Eastham, Jenna Lucado and the Revolve Drama team (directed by Nicole Johnson) talk about what it means to have ALL ACCESS to God and giving God ALL ACCESS to them. They learned about loving themselves and valuing their lives. And they were presented with the opportunity to give God all access to their hearts and lives.
It was a phenomenal weekend! One in which, even us moms and chaperones learned about our relationship with God. And were reminded what it was like to be a young girl. Please pray for our teen girls! They are living in a world that is crushing their self-esteem, their value. If you are able and willing send our teens a card or note telling them there value to you, their value to our church, and most importantly their value to God! Our teens need us now more than ever before.
Every year at Women of Faith, the ladies who attend are introduce to building a better world for children. Last year, Lin and I considered sponsoring a child and passed on the opportunity. This year, we again did the same. This past weekend both of us were at the Revolve Tour with our teen girls and were again presented with the opportunity to sponsor a child. We, as the Women of Hope Directors have prayerfully decided to sponsor a child through World Vision. We are partnering with our teen girls to raise the necessary funds each month. We have chosen a child with a birthday of Sept. 12, the date of the Revolve Conference, to serve as a reminder of the lessons we learned.
Starting October 5th you will notice a Women of Hope table in the foyer on Sundays. On that table you will find a bank that says "Dimes for Diana." Our commitment is to raise at least $30 per month for one year. Will you help us by donating? We are looking for ladies who are willing to commit to a set amount each month, maybe $1.00 or $2.00 or even $10, if you are able. If all 167 women on our role could give $1.00 per month. Imagine how God could us to offer hope in the world and starting with one child, change the world!!!
Please join us in the small commitment! Hope changes everything!!!
We'd like to introduce you to our child. 
Diana Isabella lives with her parents and has no brothers or sisters. Her parents struggle to provide for the family.
Diana Isabella is growing up in a poor rural community in the western region of Honduras. A typical home in the village is constructed of adobe bricks with tile and wood roofing. Families eat beans, rice, vegetables and chicken. It is hot and humid in this region, with lots of rain. Temperatures reach 80 degrees and fall to only 60 degrees. The local terrain is broken and uneven.
Diana Isabella is not in school at this time. She likes to play with dolls. She helps at home by learning to do small tasks. She is in satisfactory health.
Our sponsorship commitment will help provide Diana Isabella and her community with access to nutritious food and improved health care and hygiene. Our support will also provide educational opportunities for children and adults. Parents will receive skills training that will enable them to start their own small businesses, thus helping them provide better for their families. Through Christian witness and spiritual development, they will have a chance to know God's love.
Please partner with us in bringing hope to Diana through our "Dimes for Diana" ministry.
The Women of Hope present our next
Dinner & A Story
Saturday, September 20th at 5:30 pm
This is a potluck event for women! Come share in the food, fellowship, fun and door prizes!
We will have a National Renowned Christian Artist share His story of faith!
You may ask why we share our stories. Here's a brief glimpse:
"In the story of Esther in the Hebrew Bible, Mordecai learns of a plot to destroy the Jews. Haman, an officer of King Ahasuerus, plots against the Jews because Mordecai, himself a Jew, will not bow down before him as did all the other servants of the king. When Mordecai, knowing that all will be lost if the king is not alerted, charges Esther with going to the king in her role as queen to plead on behalf of the Jews, Esther shrinks from the task because she has not been summoned to speak with the king, a considerable problem since those who speak uninvited are subject to death. But Mordecai is not put off. He retells Esther's own story in a way to empower and embolden her. "Who knows?" he says. "Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this." In his retelling he shifts Esther's understanding of herself from one of powerlessness as one of the servants of the king to a position of power in which she sees herself in a role of royal dignity. She is moved from fear to courage--all in the retelling of who she is."
(Excerpt from Telling the Better Story by Gil Rendle)
Telling our stories connects us to one another! Telling our stories effectively helps others to find their place in our story, so they can become participants in the next chapter.
Join us on the 20th to share in this special story and to find a way to connect to the story of Hope Community Church!
Nazarenes on the Move! Past, Present, & Future
By Tim Jordan, Ph.D.
“This World is Not Our Home . . . or is it?”
“Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”
(Colossians 3: 1)
The year was 1929. The American stock market tumbled to the ground with a loud crash! The great stock market crash left the American economy in shambles and led to 10 years of a great depression. 2,500 banks in the United States failed and closed their doors. Many people lost everything. People could not pay their mortgages. Many foreclosures of homes, farms, and businesses.
By 1931, the unemployment rate had doubled to 16.3%. (300% higher than today). Due to a serious drought in the Midwest, food prices skyrocketed as the farm fields turned into dustbowls.
Many U.S. car manufacturers went out of business as people did not have money to buy cars.
The average wages per year in 1931 was $ 1,800. Gasoline was $ 0.10 per gallon. A loaf of bread was $ 0.08. A Ford Model A car cost $ 640.
Ah yes, 1931 was quite a year! Al Capone was convicted that year on tax fraud charges. The Empire State Building was completed and became the tallest building in the world. Work began on the Hoover Dam. Herbert Hoover was President of the United States and Charlie Chaplin’s film, “City Lights” became a top attraction.
That same year, a young married couple in Oregon Township on Cresceus Road, decided to organize a small group in their home and have weekly meetings on Sundays. Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Wescott began to invite their friends, neighbors, and co-workers to their new home group.
In just a few months, the small group of Christians grew quickly and outgrew the Westcott’s home. They moved to a vacant building that formerly housed a café.
On October 29, 1932, they officially formed a new church.
After counting the cost, and testifying to the Saving Grace of Jesus, and to the sanctifying power of the Power of the Holy Spirit, the fledgling congregation was officially organized as the Third Church of the Nazarene.
This group of committed, faithful believers continued to share their faith with others and the church continued to grow. They moved out of the vacant café to a rented hall and then moved again to a larger storefront.
In late 1934, church members gave $ 700 for the construction of the new church building. By 1936, the new building was complete and became known as the East Broadway Church of the Nazarene.
Throughout the decades of the 40’s and 50’s God continued to nurture and grow this community of Nazarenes, bringing about another time of transition and relocation.
In the late 1950’s, property was purchased at 2350 Starr Ave. in Oregon and construction began on a larger church. People of the church gave sacrificially of their time, talents, and money . . . some even mortgaging their homes to help pay for construction costs. On July 16, 1961, the Oregon First Church of the Nazarene was dedicated to the Lord.
In 1999, after much prayer and deliberation, church leaders agreed that the facility and property at 2350 Starr Avenue was too small to meet the needs of future generations.
After four years of searching for property, God miraculously provided 38 acres of property on Starr Avenue Extension. In April of 2003, the congregation unanimously voted to purchase the property. In April of 2004, the congregation voted to relocate to the new property.
On Sunday September 7, 2008, the congregation worshipped together for the first time in the new facility that God provided. The congregation praised God enthusiastically as they celebrated God’s grace and goodness! At the start of the service that morning, they rose to their feet as one, raised their hands to heaven, and shouted, “Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord!”
Setting everything up!
Lin bagging purchases
We had lots of stuff!! Thank you to all who donated!!
Bev Andrews, one of our great women who donated her time!!!
Tim Rugg cleaning the floors when we were all done!!
This Sunday, September 7th, will be the first Sunday in our new Ministry Center at 5650 Starr Ave., Oregon, Ohio. The excitement is rising! Work is still being done! Sunday School is at 915 am and Worship service is at 10:30 am. Please join us!! We'd love to have see you there!
all the time God is good!
Our church is building a new ministry center. Well, actually we have built one and this week we are all moving in. I need to buy a locking storage cabinet for Women's Ministries and after looking at Staples and Office Max and other places like that, I discovered it was going to cost us a small fortune. So I decided to look for a used one on Craigslist. I didn't find one but I did find something else.
I was just talking with Ronda, our office manager the other day about office furniture and because of the cost of our new building, office furniture was put on hold. Everyone was just going to use what they currently had, which is pretty bad but it would work until it broke down completely. While on Craigslist, I saw an ad for a company moving sale. They had cherry office furniture that had to be out by Aug. 27. Well, yesterday was the 27th, but I figured it doesn't hurt to ask if they still had anything.
This morning I received an email from their owner saying that they still had 6 office sets left and to call if we were interested. So I did. I spoke with the wife about everything, told her who I was and why I was looking for the furniture and explained that we have no budget but wondered what their bottom line was. She started explaining to me that the other sets they sold went for $600 each. Well, that was definitely out of the question. She told me that they work with Christian Ministries and they can probably make us a sweet deal if we could take it all. I told her still that was alot but I could pass the info on and see what happens.
She told me to hold on and talk to her husband. I, again, explained who I am and what I was looking for and also why. And wondered how low he would go because we could really use all 6 sets but could in no way afford but maybe one at a lower price for our office manager.
Are you ready for this? This is God's part of the story! He said "In no way would I ever accept money from a non-profit. What ever you need is yours. You come and see and take whatever you need. It's all yours if you need it." My jaw dropped! As I about peed my pants. How exciting!!!
The storys not over. I started making arrangements for meeting him and looking at it. I asked where it was and it was at 5650 _______. Another God thing. I think it was God's icing on the cake....our new church address is 5650 Starr Ave. How cool is that?
So today I spent the day with Pastor Thom, Bo, Kyle, Bill T., Ronda, Brenda and Pat picking up furniture and moving it to our new building. This furniture has some scratches and discoloration but it is solid cherry wood. All matching... made by lazy-boy. We figure that if we were to have purchased this all new it would have cost us about $10-15000. PRAISE GOD!!! He is so good!!! He was at work in the whole thing.
It's funny because when the reality set it that new office furniture wasn't a part of the plan. Brenda said she wasn't counting God out yet. She was right!!! He had a plan and he provided!!! His hand was in the whole thing because had I not looked for that cabinet for WM than I would have never found this!!! And by the way, we will be able to use some of the storage pieces that we got today for WM so we won't have to spend the money either!!!
Here are some pics of some of the furniture but there's even more than this. Plus we were given some chairs and some cafe tables. God just really came through!!! Thank you!!! And thank you to this awesome company who was willing to love Hope Community Church and bless us for years to come!!!
Ladies, there is no way that we could ever repay this commerical company. We can't patronize their business or anything like that. But I do feel that we need to show them our appreciation and love by sending thank you cards. I will be circulating one this Sunday at church, see me to sign it. But also I think that if several of us showered them with cards they would know just how much of a blessing they have been to our church! Please email me if you would like their address!!!
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend a benefit concert for Rusty's House, a local ministry thats mission is to educate and assist young people with their recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Seventh Day Slumber was the headliner. Joseph Rojas is the lead singer of SDS. He told a story that I believe touches home with so many hurting people out in our world.
" We were playing a show in California, and in the middle of the show and I heard this women scream 'Joseph, I need to talk to you'. In this crowd of 10,000 people, I heard her. She looked like a soccer mom. I told security to let her through. I began talking to her and she said 'Your song Caroline really touched me'. She said 'The last two years have been the hardest years of my life. I've felt like I'm starting to drift away from God and wonder if there even is a God.' She said 'I was at work on a Saturday, when my 18 year old son called me. He said he didn't want to live anymore. He said his life felt pointless and he didn't want to continue. He told her it wasn't her fault and that he loved her and he was sorry. He hung up the phone in the middle of her pleading. She left work as quickly as possible and got home in 15 minutes. She walked in and found that her son had commited suicide after he hung up the phone. She said that she was questioning God's existence. How could God let this happen. One day she was driving on the express way and our song Caroline came on and she felt like God was talking directly to her. She pulled over and just sat and listened. I felt that a women that had been through so much deserved a song."
Though this story is filled with tragedy, it is so crucial that we don't miss the HOPE that is weaved through out it and the GRACE that it rests upon and the LOVE that projects from it. God is here with us. He used this band to touch the life of someone who was hurting and He is turn used her story to touch the world through Seventh Day Slumber. Because of this tragedy, He gave Jospeh Rojas the words and music for a song that is touching the lives of so many in our hurting world.
Ladies, there is HOPE, no matter the circumstances. If you've made mistakes, there is forgiveness. If your marriage is hurting because of bad choices, because of pornography, because of an addiction, there is HOPE. If you're not being all that you know you should be, there is someone who will stand beside you and even carry you when you can't go any further. There is someone who will pick you up, just as you are and will shoulder your burden and get you through. Don't give up! Don't look for answers where you aren't going to find them. Look to Jesus. It will be the hardest thing you do in your life! It's not easy to trust, to let go...but you have to look to Him. He is our HOPE!!!! And by His GRACE AND LOVE He will bring you through!!!! He will heal your life, your marriage, your children...
Throughout the New Testament, a Christians walk of faith is equated to running a race. With the Olympics here, I couldn't help but think about what it means to run a race. I don't know about you but running is a word that in normal definition doesn't fit too well into my vocabulary. Running is not my thing. I can handle aerobics or weight training and even some fast-paced mall walking. But running has always been a struggle. I don't even like to watch people run.
Despite all of that, I'm left asking myself, how would our lives be changed if instead of walking in our faith, we were running in it? If we actually pressed forward with all eyes on the prize, running, holding our baton (the Word of God) out for the next sprinter to grab hold of and run; advancing the Kingdom one runner at a time. Could we take home the Gold?
Paul said, "I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (I Corinthians 9:23-25)
Ladies, if we are running for a crown that will last forever shouldn't we be running with all our strength? Shouldn't we be so set on this crown that we run like we have never ran before? That we push forward not looking back, taking our faith with such a seriousness that our spirit and energy becomes so contagious, people can't help but see Christ in us?
We should want with all our heart, mind, body and soul to be like Paul, to run our race, not just walk it. So that like Paul we can say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
I was recently emailed the testimony that follows so that I could put it in our newsletter. However, I believe it is a perfect example of running the race to which we have been called. The author is unknown, but is believed to be a young pastor in Zimbabwe who was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ. It was found in his study:
I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me. My banner will be clear!
Here are some pictures from Women of Faith - July 18-19th in Cleveland Ohio. If you attended and have pictures, please email them to Sharon.
Two Sundays ago, Pastor Thom planned an excellent evening out on the Bay. The weather was perfect for a movie under the stars! Several attended and watched "Everyone's Hero." The kids had a blast and the adults enjoyed watching them. Many Maumee Bay visitors stopped by to watch and inquire! It was definitely a great evening! When we do it again, make sure you make plans to attend!!!
Starting today, May 21st, our Wednesday night Panera Bread distribution has some changes. You may now pick up bread, bagels and pastries at 2737 Navarre Ave, Suite 205 (the church office) between 9 am and 3 pm every Wednesday.
Please remember to take an extra bag for a friend or neighbor!
Ants! 
My kitchen counters were crawling with them! Now I saw the Disney movie "A Bug's Life," and I even rooted for them against the mean grasshoppers, but on my kitchen counter they weren't so cute. They are stubborn little creatures. They feed on the tiniest morsel and they are really difficult to get rid of. At first, there is only one. However, if you don't eradicate them immediately you will soon be overrun.
A.N.T.S. Anti-Attractive, Negative ThoughtS. They can be stubborn. They are really difficult to get rid of. They can crawl into your mind and feed on the tiniest little morsel. At first there is just one little one, then before you know it you're overwhelmed with a negative and harmful mind-set. "I can't do that." "The Lord can't use me." "I wish I were more like so and so." This is just Satan's way of crippling our lives.
Goldie Yuan - Oregon, Ohio
Betty and her daughters, Angela & Melanie
Norma & Betty
Shannon and her daughter, Heather
