Poetry Corner

Hosted by Randy Smit and Rhonda Edgington We are honored to welcome one of Hope Church’s resident poets to this month’s Poetry Corner: Sharon Arendshorst. “This poem was written in the spring of 2020, early in Michigan’s lockdown, during the discussion of essential workers. The poem written by Lucille Clifton, although written decades ago, speaks […]

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Queer Christianity: Meditations on Exile

By Elliot Weidenaar, Western Theological Seminary Intern I have spent much of my life in Iowa – a place that in my childhood was largely socially liberal. In the past ten years that has changed. In the past five years I have fled Iowa three times: once to the District of Columbia, once to London, […]

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Soul Tending in These Days

By Mary Van Andel “So,” I said to my husband, Ben, “I’ve been asked to write an article about spiritual self-care during these times, with a focus on Advent. I don’t feel like I know much about spiritual selfcare, even less so right now. I would probably just tell them to go see their Elizabeth.” […]

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The Gift of Advent

By Beth Carroll, Associate Pastor of Discipleship Challenging and unstable times remind us why we need Advent. Though we might feel as if we are being catapulted into the unknown, Advent reminds us that we are tethered to the all-loving, ever-present Trinity. I wrote this essay for The Twelve a few years ago about my […]

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Advent Traditions for Children

By Jocelyn Van Heest, Children’s Ministry Director The children know that it’s the beginning of the church year. We’ve just completed Growing Time and are now entering a time of preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Each week the children have watched the pointer on the church-year circle move closer to the purple weeks […]

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Christmas Eve Services: December 24

Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols Service 6:30 p.m. on Facebook Live. This service, broadcast from the Hope Church sanctuary, will include lessons and carols as well as a story for children. Hear again the good news as the scriptures and carols, the music and candlelight all point us toward the revelation of God-with-us. Christmas Eve […]

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Fourth Week of Advent: December 20

Advent Candlelight Gathering 6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on Zoom. On this fourth Sunday in Advent we will light the candle of love and share a story that brings to mind the Christmas Pageants of years past. Children have been sharing the gospel story of Jesus’s birth for generations and while we will not be able to […]

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Christmas Cards for Our Members

Enrich your Advent season by sharing Christmas cards by December 13 with members who will receive caroling. Decorated gift bags for each will be on pegboards in the vestibule off the parking lot entrance to collect your card contributions. The vestibule is open 9 am – 3 pm, Monday-Thursday. Christmas Card Mailing List LeVada Bombe […]

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Advent & Christmas Organ Music

There will be two December organ music events livestreamed on the Hope Church Facebook page this year, for those who love holiday organ music. The first will be an evening of Advent and Christmas music and poetry – on Sunday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m. This will be led by Rhonda Edgington and Laurie Baron, […]

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Third Week of Advent: December 13

Advent Candlelight Gathering 6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on Zoom. We will light our third candles and view a special caroling video that is being curated to share with those whom we would have visited for Christmas caroling. After viewing the video together we will have a Christmas Cookie Show-and-Tell, when we can show each other the […]

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