Reading the Word in 2024
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)
My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. (Proverbs 4:20–22)
Jesus answered, “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
God has told us how very vital it is that we have a steady diet of daily Scripture in our lives. Is it a daily vital part of your life? Do you have a plan for Bible reading for 2024? Is it a good plan? How will you execute the plan? Do you have any accountability with others in getting in the Word? Without a plan, chances are not great that you will be consistent in the Word and receive all the promises God offers to those who feast on His Word daily.
Some questions as you develop your individual reading plan:
1. When do you read the Bible? Morning, night, selected times during the day…
2. How much do you read during your reading time? Chapters, pages, minutes, “read through the Bible in a year” …
3. Do you journal when you read? Do you use a devotional book as a guide?
4. Do you read Old and New Testaments simultaneously?
5. Do you read out loud? Do you meditate on the Word as you read?
Some suggestions from me:
One way of Bible reading is not necessarily more holy than others. The main goal is that we are getting in God’s Word and being diligent to do everything written in it. Here are some suggestions from me that might help anyone who has been struggling with Bible Reading as a daily habit.
1. Before setting out for your day or doing anything else, open up your Bible and read through a chosen book one small piece at a time (start with John, Acts, or Psalms/Proverbs). Keep reading until you feel like you have heard something super sweet, convicting, or especially given to you from the Lord. This could be one sentence or several chapters. This can be done alone or with someone.
2. Journal what you read and what stuck out from that section of Scripture. Journal anything you need to think upon or interact with the Lord about. Look for an opportunity to think more upon that thought throughout the day. Also, look for an opportunity to share what you read with someone who might need the encouragement.
~Pastor Randy
Christmas Eve Service 2023
Thanks Hope for serving at the previous Feed My Starving Children Tucson mobile pack in February of 2023!
According to the United Nations, over 700 million people go hungry every day. That’s one in 10 people globally! Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is playing a huge role in helping reverse that trend, and so are churches like Hope in the greater Tucson area.
In 2024, Tucson once again will host a mobile pack for FMSC at OVCN (500 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley, AZ 85704), where they hope to pack 1.4 MILLION MEALS in just one week’s time!
Hope Community Church will be serving on February 10 - from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We have 83 spots open and would love for YOU to join us. Kids 5 and up are welcome to come. Each person volunteering must register! Deadline to register is January 17.
Men save the date! If you are thinking of joining us for the next semester of Core 12 (Men's Discipleship Groups) our overnight kickoff event starts Friday, January 19 at 5:00 p.m. at El Rancho Robles Guest Ranch. We will end at noon on Saturday, January 20. Interested in attending? Register below. Need more information? Contact Randy Hesselink at randall.hesselink@gmail.com.
December Baptisms
Ethan Alexander
Lillian Corsiglia
Madelyn Corsiglia
Isaac Stadelman
Joseph Stadelman
If you are interested in being baptized, please contact Gina at info@hopetucson.com.
Women's Ministry
Suzi King, Director
sking@hopetucson.com
Ladies, join us on Saturday, January 13 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. for movie night. We will be showing the "Jesus Revolution". Bring a friend!!!
Thanks to all of you who brought in Christmas items for the residents and walk-in clients at the Casa Paloma Women's Shelter and a big thank you to those women who came out and helped put stockings, gift bags and treat plates together for the women at the Shelter. Here is a message from Melissa, the director of the Shelter, "Each of the women were so grateful and overwhelmed with emotion as they opened their Christmas bags. Thank you once again for blessing them and for all that you do for our Shelter."
Guys, have you ever felt like there must be more to the Christian life than just going through the motions of “trying to be better”? This Conference will be a challenge to understand what Jesus meant by “taking up our cross and following Him”, as a true Christ-Follower. Jesus would never ask us to be someone, or do something that we couldn’t attain in His power and strength!! Let’s explore what it means to be “Soul-ed Out For Jesus”, and start living the victorious and satisfying life we were created to live and be!
Lynne Hooge, HopeKids Director
lhooge@hopetucson.com
Happy New Year, Hope Families!
What a blessing to watch our precious HopeKids sing on December 17th! They did such a great job! A big thank you to Karen Tvrdy and Connor Terpstra for helping us learn the songs and motions; and to Pastor Matt and his team for making it all come together in the service.
We have a lot of special things planned for 2024! Be sure to check the Hope Events page on your app for upcoming events.
This month we want to honor and appreciate our HopeKids Volunteers who help on Sundays, in AWANA, or at VBS. If you are one of our faithful volunteers, we will have a special Appreciation Dinner on Friday, January 19 in the Community Room. Please join us as we honor you and lay out some of our plans this year. You can sign up on Hope's Events page (on the app) or below.
Our Verse this Month
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work
in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
What We’re Learning...
Big Picture Question:
What will happen for all Christians in the future?
One day all Christians will see Jesus in His glory and live with Him forever.
January 7 (Family Sunday): Running the Race; Philippians 3
January 14: Paul Before Rulers; Acts 24-26
January 21: Paul’s Shipwreck; Acts 27-28
January 28: Brothers in Christ; Philemon
Emersyn Mason 1/8
John Carter 1/8
Enzo Fleming 1/14
Sadie Foss 1/27
Tanner Hunt 1/28
Awana begins again on Wednesday, January 3. Hope’s AWANA ministry is for children 4 years old through 6th grade. Contact timtolson@comcast.net if you have questions.
Reindeer Games at Awana!!!
Church-wide Prayer and Praise – beginning January 31, our church will meet the last Wednesday of every month for a focused time of worship and prayer from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Billy Graham once said, “To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.” Please join us as we worship God through song and prayer, as we intercede for the church, for the lost, for missionaries and the persecuted church, for revival and for God’s kingdom to come.
"Come as you can, come whether you pray silently or out loud – that our many voices may be united as one." (Acts 4:24) "O, magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together." (Psalm 34:3)
There will be a 1Mission meeting on Sunday, January 7 at noon following Church service in the Community Room.
Pertinent information:
Date: February 22-25
Where: Rocky Point, Mexico
Price Per Person: $375.00 (cost may change with fundraising)
Important Steps...
1. Get Passport ASAP
2. Confirm your spot ASAP
3. Attend the next meeting on January 7th
Sign up today!
Kevin Mason, Associate & Youth Pastor
kmason@hopetucson.com
“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” (Colossians 1:28-29)
Interested in joining a Home Group? Contact Pastor Kevin at kmason@hopetucson.com.
Mark your calendars: Home Group Leaders' Dinner on Friday, April 19 at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Dinner will be provided.
Our vision in Men’s Ministry is to train and build up men in godly masculinity. We desire all men at Hope to be rooted in a Biblical identity and to embrace their role as leaders in the Kingdom.
Important Dates:
No Men's Breakfast this Month please attend the Conference!
Friday & Saturday, January 19-20 - Core 12 Discipleship Retreat at El Rancho Robles Guest Ranch
Saturday, January 27 - Men's Soul-ed Out Conference from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the Community Room
Men's Dinner - February 16 at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room
December was a blessing as we remembered the birth of our Savior and the fulfillment of His New Covenant. "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17) "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33) Praise the Lord! What a Savior!
January 6: Bible Study 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room
January 13: Ladies, join Hope's women's ministry as they have a movie night (Jesus Revolution) 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Community Room and Gents, special guys only event...more details to come
January 20: Event TBA
January 27: Bible Study 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room
January Calendar for Youth Group:
Sundays, January 7, 14, 21, & 28: HopeYouth from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room.
We will be having a chili dinner on January 7 and a pasta dinner on January 21. If you are interested in helping provide food for these meals, please contact Pastor Kevin at kmason@hopetucson.com.
It looks like Middle School - Sunday School will begin in February. If you are interested in being a teacher please contact Pastor Kevin at kmason@hopetucson.com.
Christmas Service and Bingo with the Residents of Life Care Center!
Bob & Merrillee Whren, Directors
Interested in our Seniors' Ministry? Contact Bob Whren at bobwhren@gmail.com.
