Sunday, May 24, is Pentecost Sunday, when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, given to Christ’s disciples after he ascended to heaven. It is the same Spirit who calls us and equips us to be followers of Christ, and we remember those meaningful moments in our life of faith when we respond to that call.
On Pentecost Sunday at 11 a.m. worship in the sanctuary, we will have the opportunity to celebrate these moments for several new members.
- Baptism: The Reformed Church in America administers this sacrament as a sign of God’s covenantal love for us and a recognition that we belong to God and are called to live our lives in commitment to God. We will be privileged to witness the baptism of both children and adults at this special service.
- Profession of Faith: When a person decides to accept Christ as Savior, they come before the congregation to profess their faith in Christ and vow to follow him. It is a joyous time when young people take this step to join with the body of Christ in a public way.
- Welcoming New Members: Hope Church is always pleased when new members join, by baptism, profession of faith, or transfer of membership. We will welcome those who have decided to become a part of this body and encourage them to find ways to live out their faith with the community of believers at Hope.
- Communion: This sacrament follows the command of Christ to remember his life and his sacrifice for us and be nourished to live a life that follows his teachings. As we celebrate, we rejoice in our unity in Christ and the love which binds us together as part of God’s family.
Following the worship service, we will combine our monthly Pizza Sunday meal with a reception recognizing the new members. It will be a chance to greet them and learn a little more about them through fellowship and conversation. Hope to see you there!
A REMINDER: May 24 is the last Sunday worship begins at 11 a.m. for this season. On May 31, Hope begins its summer schedule: no education hour or chapel service, and worship in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. Young children are invited to leave the service for Summer Church School with Miss Jocelyn at 10:15 a.m.