Prayers for Justice and Peace:  Pray for Children’s Network International.  This is a humanitarian relief organization dedicated to help alleviate the suffering of children and their families throughout the United States and around the world.  CNI’s mission is to provide increased self sufficiency by providing food, clothing, personal care items, and medical supplies without regard to political affiliation, religious belief, or ethnic identity.

Prayers for People of Faith:  please pray for all RCA missionaries – locally and around the world.

Free Organ Concert – Sunday, Feb. 19, at 3:00 p.m. at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, presented by members of the American Guild of Organists.  Rhonda Edgington, Hope Church organist, will be participating.  Rhonda also will be giving a talk to this local organ guild (American Guild of Organists) in Holland about her time in Germany and what she learned there. The public is invited - it will be Monday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 pm in the organ studio in Nykerk Music Hall at Hope College.  Rhonda will play a bit of music, show some recordings, videos, and pictures of the instruments that she studied for her Fulbright project, and talk about how she grew and changed musically because of her time in Germany. 

Update on the Room for All Affirmation process: At the congregational gathering on January 29, there was discussion about and an advisory vote taken on the Room for All Affirmation.  The discussion focused first on what the implications would be for Hope Church in supporting this affirmation (notes were recorded about this discussion), and then on personal statements of support or concern about the affirmation.  The advisory vote was taken and the result was in favor of recommending to Consistory to approve the Room for All Affirmation, which designates Hope Church as a Room for All congregation.  The tally of the vote was Yes – 111, No – 7, Abstain – 3.  The Consistory has received all of the written input from the gathering as well as the advisory vote, and will take action on the Room for All Affirmation at its February meeting.  The gracious spirit of the discussion was a blessing for our congregation, and we pray for God’s grace to continue to guide us forward.

Adult Education:
Out of Darkness:  The Facts, Changes and Choices of Living with Chemical Dependence
Feb. 19                                    9:40 am                                                           Commons
Living in Chaos - A Family Perspective on Addiction & Recovery
Addiction is unlike any other health issue a family may have to face.  The distorted personal interactions between family members and a loved one struggling with addiction have devastating effects that can last a lifetime.  Addiction is an affliction that leaves a scar on every family member.  Each family member needs to understand what recovery means for their loved one, and what it means for them as well.  This session will explore the family response to both addiction and recovery.  Rich Campbell, Executive Director of OAR is the presenter.  Rich has Master's Degrees in Political Science and Social Work, is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and has been working with families facing addiction for the past 14 years in church and social service settings.

InterPlay comes to Hope Church on Sunday, February 12 – Do you ever get that feeling in the months of January, February and March, that there’s mid-winter crud sticking to you (like the stuff that accumulates in the wheel-wells of your car when there’s sticky, wet snow on the roads), that you’d love to shake off?  Hope Church Prayer and Spirituality Ministry – the joyful sponsors of Quiet Days and other practices of spiritual care – would like to warmly offer an alternative.  It’s called InterPlay, and we’re excited to share an experience of it with all of you on Sunday, Feb. 12, from 3 – 5 p.m. in the Commons.  What is it exactly?  InterPlay is devoted to fun.  It requires no experience and no specific level of “ability”.  It teaches the language and ethic of play in a deep and powerful way.  If you would like to become a “recovering serious person,” it might just be for you.  InterPlay is the perfect antidote to stress and cynicism, a stimulant to creativity and lightness.  In a fragmented world, it integrates body, mind, heart, and spirit, helping to draw things together into balance and wholeness.  InterPlay uses a series of incremental “forms” to encourage participants to move, tell stories, enter stillness and experiment with voice and sound.  Through this fun and easy process, we invite experiences of grace in ourselves and our communities.  For our first try at this as a church we are recommending that participants be 16 years of age or older . . . . and also anticipate intergenerational fun in future sessions.

COFFEE TIME!  This is a caring outreach and fellowship opportunity for residents and their friends at different locations to meet with the pastors and other congregation members and staff. Two or three staff members, Congregational Care Ministry representative(s), and any other congregation members who would like to attend are all welcome. The next Coffee Time will be at Warm Friend on February 14 at 10:30 a.m. Mark your calendar, and come for an hour! 

Discerning Our Future: What's Next for Hope Church  - A Facilities Discussion
As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we’re also looking ahead.  Part of what we’d like to assess is how our current facility will serve our needs as we move into the future.  You’re invited to participate in this discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6:30 – 9:30 pm, in the Commons.  A light supper will be provided.  The evening will be facilitated by Tracy Brower, Hope Church member and director of Performance Environments for Herman Miller, Inc.  We will focus on developing a compelling vision of the attributes for the environment we share.  “Rather than trying to develop a plan from historical experience, this process will develop a vision by conceiving the future ‘backward from perfect,’” Tracy says.  The workshop will help us to envision, through creative collaboration, the facility that will support Hope Church in living our mission statement and the themes of the Belhar Confession.  To help the event planners and to receive the advance assignment for participants, sign up in the Gathering Area today.  If you’re unable to attend the event but would like to share your thoughts, go to Life of Hope Church blog for a link to an online survey.

Hope Church Readers will meet on Wednesday, February 15 at 1:00 p.m. in Commons II. Marilyn Cook will lead a discussion of Bloody Crimes by James Swanson. Visitors are always welcome!

Bowling: Fellowship Ministry is hosting a church bowling party on February 19 at 2:00 p.m. at Century Lanes. Sign up in the Gathering Area at the Fellowship Ministry bulletin board. The cost of $8 per person includes two games and shoe rental.

CAH PANTRY UPDATE: Shortages right now are for all dish and laundry detergents, catsup, pasta sauce, tomatoes, cereals, and any personal care products. Please put your donations in the "Big Basket" in the Gathering Area to weekly meet the shortages and needs of the Pantry.

Home Energy Meters:  Do you know how much energy your home appliances use?  You can easily find out.  In partnership with Herrick District Library, Holland Board of Public Works is making 22 Energy Smart Electricity Home Monitoring Kits available to be checked out at the library, just like a book!  The kits will include a Wattmeter, instructions for use, and easy tips for lowering your energy bill.

Energy Plan:  Peter Boogaart will present an overview of Holland's Community Energy Plan on Sunday, February 26 in Room 106 at 12:30 p.m.   The plan's forty year design would make Holland a "highly competitive world-class community."  The future of our community will be determined by the energy decisions we make today.  Take this opportunity to be informed
and to participate in the process.  Grab some pizza, bring your questions, and join the discussion.  

As part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of Hope Church, Fish Club is in need of some help from the congregation.  Fish Club would like to make a collage of some of the events they have had over the years - in particular, Adventure Weekend, CranHill Retreats, participation in Advent activities, Crop Walk, and the Appalachian Trail.  If you have any pictures lying around, or any digital photographs, please share them!  Drop off pictures in the church office, or send digital copies to anneduinkerken@gmail.com  It would be great to have pictures from the present to 10, 15, or 25 years ago!  Please drop off or send them by Feb. 26 and label with names and dates if possible.

Restorative Circles at Hope Church:  If you would like to call a restorative circle to deal with a conflict in your life you can stop by the Restorative Circle display in the Gathering Area to get a list of trained facilitators you can contact.  A restorative circle practice group meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the youth room.  This group is open to any who would like to attend.  If you have not received any orientation to Restorative Circles, please plan to come at 6:45 p.m. for some brief introduction to the practice.  It is important that you contact Ann McKnight at annmck@sbcglobal.net or Pastor Jill if you are coming for that 6:45 pm orientation so that the evening’s leader can be prepared to meet with you at that time.  The next dates are March 6, April 3, and May 1.

Looking Ahead – the following books are available for purchase at the Welcome Desk for the Lenten Adult Education course on “A Tempest in a Teapot” led by Keith Derrick and Marlin VanderWilt:  Love Wins by Rob Bell, A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren, and The Heart of Christianity and Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg. 

Hope Church Greeter Opportunities:  The Outreach and Hospitality Ministry would like to extend an open invitation to all members and friends to sign up (on a week to week basis only) to volunteer as a greeter.  This is a great opportunity to become more involved without adding a huge commitment to your schedule.  Please consider signing up for a Sunday or two.  There is a sign up sheet at the Welcome Center or at the Life of Hope bulletin board in the Gathering Area.  You may also contact the church office for more information.

Congregational Care Ministry offers this resource: Mission Magazine can be heard on WJQ 1250 on Sundays at 2 p.m.  In addition to the weekly show, it can be heard daily—Monday through Friday—at 2:59PM.  The show features Karen Mulder with Wisdom of the Wounded. You can also access the radio program from www.wisdomofthewounded.com  Upcoming titles:  Feb. 12 – Power of Prayer; Feb. 19 – The Most Wonderful Gift; Feb. 26 – Telling Your Story; March 4 – Good Grief; March 11 – Barb’s Story – Part 1; March 25 – Barb’s Story – Part 2.  Also part of the entire radio show is Rodger Price with Coaches Corner; Molly Green from Water Missions International and Larry Doyle with Encourage.

Institute for Racial Healing:  Tuesdays, 3 – 5 p.m., February 28 until April 24.  Cost is $100 per person (financial hardship scholarships available).  This will be held at the GVSU Meijer Campus at 515 S. Waverly, Holland.  Call (616) 846-9074 for more details or to register.  A poster with more information is posted on the kiosk in the Gathering Area. 

Holland Audubon:  Tuesday, Feb. 14, 7:00 p.m. in the Hope Church Commons – A Walk in Paradise: Virgin Islands National Park. Robert Venner, Director of DeGraaf Nature Center will present. 

Health Tip:  Balance your food choices – don’t eat too much of any one thing.  You don’t have to give up foods like hamburgers, french fries, and ice cream to eat healthy.  You just have to be smart about how often and how much of them you eat.  Your body needs nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat, and many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and A, iron and calcium from a variety of foods.  Balancing food choices from the Food Guide Pyramid and checking out the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels will help you get all these nutrients.                   
from www.fitness.gov/10tips

Community Conversations – March 12, 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.  Register now to participate in this conversation with Peter Block who will discuss changing the existing context of community from one of deficiencies, interests, and entitlement to one of possibility, generosity, and gifts.  Cost is $10 per person and deadline to register is March 2.  The event will be held at Resurrection Life Church in Grand Haven.  Register online or call (231) 760-1350.

Office Hours:  Personnel has decided to institute a three month trial, from February through April, of having the church office closed on Fridays.  Office hours will be Monday through Thursday from 9 – 5, open during the lunch hour.  Toward the end of the trial, feedback will be solicited as to whether to continue or reinstitute the Friday morning office hours.

Check out the hope church blog:
www.lifeofhopechurch.wordpress.com