Small Groups

What is it?

• An opportunity for new and renewed relationships and for building meaningful community with others at Hope.

Why?

• The Bible teaches that our lives are enriched by “fellowship”, a meaningful interaction with others who have chosen to make Christ the centre of their lives.

How?

1. By meeting once each week in a local home for just six weeks to share stories, a Bible-centred conversation and some casual prayer.

2. Group conversations will arise from the book “Authentic Community”, written by Jim Van Yperen.

The discussions “are designed to build understanding and shape habits for growing ‘one another’ community in your church”.  Each study is based upon a Bible text containing a “one another” instruction for how followers of Christ are to become more Christ-like in their lives together.

Dates and Times

• Groups will be offered on a variety of days in the evening with the exception of afternoon options on Sunday and Thursday.

• Groups begin the week of February 10th and conclude the week of March 17th.  You choose the group that works for you!

• Group Meetings are just 1 ½ hour duration.

FAQ

What is the financial cost to participate?

Nothing!  Unless you select a childcare option with paid babysitters.

What about my children?

There will be some evening options for bringing your children and sharing in a “pooled” babysitting arrangement in the home where you are meeting.

Is there a way out if I don’t really like my group?

Yes!  You are not signing a contract!  You have the freedom to thank your group leader for allowing you to come and tell him or her that the group was not what you expected!  But hopefully you will love your group and want to come back.

SIGN UP – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10 at Hope or call the church office at (403) 934-2424

Day	Time	Leader(s)	Host(s)	Notes
Monday	6:30 PM	Josh & Ardis Foat	Brenda Impey	Childcare
Monday	7:00 PM	Robert & Yvonne Huse	Wilmer & Pearl Reimer
Tuesday	7:00 PM	Doug & Ranelle Sholter	Jerry & Carley Flaws	*starts Feb 19  Childcare
Thursday	1:30 PM	Hugh Fraser	Vern & Sonia Roste
Thursday	6:30 PM	Randy & Sarah Dirks	Phil & Sam Adkins	Childcare
Thursday	7:00 PM	Grant & Allison Burgess	Jason & Brandi Bobee	kids welcome
Thursday	7:00 PM	Roger & Lori Snoxell	Robert & Rosalie Rudolf
Sunday	7:00 PM	Corinne Stoter	Maleah Grauer	Young Adults
Sunday	3:30 PM	Rob & Meredith Goertz	Rod & Diane Berreth	*starts Feb 24

Haiti Mission Trip 2013

Want to make a difference?  Like to travel?  Hope’s annual mission trip to Haiti is March 28 - April 6, 2013.  If you’d like to know more, or would like to apply to go, pick up an information sheet on the Welcome Desk or talk to Josh Foat.  Deadline to apply is Sunday, Jan 27.

Haiti Missions Experience 2013

Purpose – The purpose of this trip is to expose people from North America to a cross-cultural experience, helping them to discover the life changing work of God as they serve him.

Objectives – Though we are still working out the details of exactly what project we would be doing, it is certain our efforts would be primarily directed to the medical clinic lead by Dr. Manno in the village of Limbe.  Our work will be a combination of physical labor and personal interaction.  Although things are never quite as we plan them, we are planning to work on the dorm rooms next to the clinic and in-patient building. 

Dates:  March 28 - April 6 (dates are subject to change until flights are booked)

Estimated Expenses for the trip:  

Airfare to Ft. Lauderdale                      $900.00

Airfare to Cap Haitien – LYNX            530.00

Room & Board – Haiti                           170.00

Room & Board – Florida                         60.00

Transportation/Beach in Haiti                   50.00

Misc./admin/airport taxes                       100.00

                                                           ____.__

Total                                                    1810.00 US

                                                         $1900.00 Cdn. per person

Possible Individual Personal Costs:  Passport, Tetanus, Hepatitis A&B vaccinations

Time line:  January 27 – Applications Due

                   February 3 – Notification of acceptance

                   March 1 – Provide copy of valid passport 

Team Meetings – 4 meetings – dates TBA

You are expected to be at these meetings.  There may also be a possibility of some language training which would be offered at alternate times.

Prayer Emphasis Month

Join us in January for a month long focus on prayer.  We have many events, services and special opportunities planned as we corporately and individually seek God’s will.  More information is available in booklet form at the church.

Friday, Jan 18     7 pm Introduction to Contemplative Prayer

Saturday, Jan 19  10 am - 2 pm Contemplative Prayer Session

Sunday, Jan 20 10 am Contemplative Prayer Session

  11 am Worship: Pastor Kathy Brawley        

Monday, Jan 21 Personal Prayer Time (at home)

Tuesday, Jan 22 5:30-7:00 pm Family Prayer Night (open to all)

Wed, Jan 23      Prayer Partners (pray for each other or individually)

Thurs, Jan 24 7 pm Personal Story & Prayers for Forgotten People

Friday, Jan  25 12:00 Bag Lunch and Prayer for Government Leaders      

Sat, Jan 26 Personal Prayer Time (at home)

Sunday, Jan 27 6 pm All Church Prayer Gathering

Contemplative Prayer Sessions

Relationship is based on communication and communication is best done as a 2-way conversation.  It requires as much listening as it does speaking.  Often when we think of prayer, we think in terms of how to address God and what topics and requests are acceptable.  Perhaps God is waiting for us to listen.  What might God be saying to us?

As in everyday conversation, the art of listening - fully and attentively listening - requires practice and discipline.  It begins with silence and focus.

Our weekend will be an opportunity to practice together these disciplines of silence and focus through contemplative prayer, walking the labyrinth, and times of sharing what we are hearing.  The hope is that we will each hear something new from God that might take us into new aspects of our relationship with God!

Each session as well as each contemplative text will be different. There will be value to each individual session, but even more so as part of the whole. So someone could come for just portions of the weekend and still get something from the events.

Friday, Jan 18 7:00 pm Pastor Kathy Brawley: Introduction

Saturday, Jan 19 10:00-11:30 Contemplative Prayer #1 12:30 – 2:00 Contemplative Prayer #2

Sunday, Jan 20 10:00 Contemplative Prayer #3

11:00 Worship: Pastor Brawley, speaker