WORDS OF HOPE from Pastor Joel

Mother’s Day, Don’t Forget!

As Mother’s Day approaches, I cannot help but ponder the incredible impact my mother has had on my faith over the years. I would guess that there are a lot of people out there that could say the same thing. When you think of the attributes of mothers, in many ways it goes hand in and with the attributes Jesus shared throughout his ministry. He was loving, forgiving, supportive, and continually sacrificing himself for the well-being of the others.   

Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) first suggested the national observance of an annual day honoring all mothers because she had loved her own mother so dearly. At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Miss Jarvis gave a carnation (her mother's favorite flower) to each person who attended. Within the next few years, the idea of a day to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother's Day was observed in several large cities in the U.S. On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

It is interesting how national days come about. This one originated out of a deep sense of love and appreciation, and rightly so. What would our lives be like without God providing mothers and motherly figures in our lives? When I talk to youth and adults alike about who has been most influential in their faith the answer given more than any other is their mother or grandmother. On Mother’s Day don’t forget to thank them for their care and also thank them for putting in the time to help you grow in faith. 

John Killinger described a mother’s love this way, “It is stronger than steel, softer than down, and more resilient than a green sapling on the hillside. It closes wounds, melts disappointments, and enables the weakest child to stand tall and straight in the fields of adversity.”

Celebrate your mother’s love on this special day that has been set aside. And in the season of Easter also celebrate God’s love. While a mother’s love is incredible, it truly is only a shadow of God’s love for you. Praise God for mother’s and our God who blesses us through them.  

Important Youth Ministry Dates

Affirmation of Baptism Service – Sunday, May 1^st 10:00 am

Senior High Youth End of the Year Event – Wednesday, May 4^th

Senior Recognition – Wednesday, May 15^th at 6:30pm or Sunday, May 18^th at 10:00am.

Graduating seniors will receive a quilt as a gift from the House of Prayer quilters. They must be present to receive the quilt.

Rummage Sale – June 10^th & 11^th

2022 House of Prayer Summer Youth Retreat July 22-28, 2022

Camp Amnicon in Northern Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior

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House of Prayer Rummage Sale

June 10^th & 11^th from 8am-5pm

We will begin taking donations starting May 9^th.

We will have designated drop off times on Wednesdays & Thursdays from 1-6  

with someone there to help unload. This will begin May 11^th - May 26^th.

If you drop off outside of the designated drop off time you must be able to unload the donations yourself.   

Items we will NOT be able take are TV’s or large exercise equipment. 

All furniture donations will need to be approved by Tracie.

Volunteers will be needed.

June 5-9 for sorting and set up & June 10-11 to help work the sale.

YIKES, this second half of the Sunday school year has flown by. We only have a couple more weeks of Sunday school before we end of this school year. Sunday school will resume in September with registrations starting in the beginning of August; you will find information about fall Sunday school sign-up through email, HOP newsletter and bulletin. 

We will be celebrating the work of our hard-working Sunday school teacher volunteers and all their dedication this year on May 1^st. I truly appreciate each and every one of them!

Special THANK YOU to all who donated to our noisy offerings, as we work to raise $4,000.00 for new chairs in the classroom’s downstairs. Thus far, we have raised $2,429.87!!! WOW, we are sooo close!! I feel so blessed to be a part of such a giving congregation. Our last noisy offering will be May 8^th. 

Special Days in May…

May 1^st - Sunday School Serving Coffee and Treats

May 1^st - Teacher Appreciation Day

May 4^th - the 5^th graders will be served a spaghetti supper, along with a presentation from Pastor Joel, and receive their first holy communion with their family/godparents

May 8^th - Singing MOTHER’S DAY!!

2022 Vacation Bible School Registration has begun!! Get your kiddo(s) registered for VBS, it will be held May 31-June 2 8:30am-12:30pm for students entering K to 6 grade THIS FALL 2022. $30/child. There will be a max limit of 40 kiddos!! Registration forms can be picked up at the church or emailed to you. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact me ASAP!

If you are not receiving my Sunday school emails with weekly lesson and newsletter, please contact me.

Many Blessings,

Phobe Frye

701.226.2911

phobefrye@gmail.com

CHURCH IMPROVEMENTS

The Church Council meets monthly to make decisions to better serve individuals and families in our congregation and plan and coordinate the church's work. One of the pieces of this task is to keep the church building in good condition to fulfill the faith mission we do within our walls.

At the last meeting, the council discussed the aging church siding and other building maintenance issues that have been brought to attention, and they passed a motion to raise funds to replace the rotting siding and fix water issues in the basement. Replacing the siding with maintenance-free material and repairing the basement water issues will ensure the longevity of our church building and the future of our ministry.

We will be looking to the congregation to help with these expenses. As soon as the committee gets a detailed plan and cost estimate pulled together, we will communicate the plan and share opportunities to help make these critical improvements to the church. 

Thank you for the continued support of House of Prayer! Please contact Michelle,  Pastor Joel or any Council member with questions or to offer assistance with this project. 

Thank you for being a part of God’s mission at House of Prayer! Just the fact that you are reading this demonstrates a desire to be a part of God’s kingdom.

This month I wanted to share a brief excerpt from a book called “A Spirituality of Fundraising” by Henri J. M. Nouwen.

HELPING THE KINGDOM COME ABOUT

What is the kingdom? Jesus is clear that if we make the kingdom our first priority, “all these other things will be given you as well” (Matt. 6:33). The kingdom is where God provides for all that we need. It is the realm of sufficiency where we are no longer pulled here and there by anxiety about not having enough. “So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself” (Matt. 6:34). Jesus also compares the kingdom to a mustard seed, “which, at the time of its sowing, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth. Yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade” (Mark 4:31-32). Even a seemingly small act of generosity can grow into something far beyond what we could ever ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20)—the creation of a community of love in this world, and beyond this world, because wherever love grows, it is stronger than death (see 1 Corinthians 13:8). So when we give ourselves to planting and nurturing love here on earth, our efforts will reach out beyond our own chronological existence. Indeed, if we raise funds for the creation of a community of love, we are helping God build the kingdom. We are doing exactly what we are supposed to do as Christians. Paul is clear about this: “Make love your aim” (1 Cor. 14:1). Kadon Hintz & Jarred Roloff

September 8th!

Shawn Reynolds is an international comedian, dad of SIX, the founder of Stand-Up for Adoption, a comedy benefit that has raised has raised thousands for families trying to adopt children with special needs. He's won numerous awards for his "clean comedy" and he's coming to HOP on September 8th for a fun night of comedy for couples. 

Check out his website to learn more:  

We gathered on April 8-9th and listened to some incredible speakers, met new friends and strengthened our relationships and our faith. A huge thank you to Jane Gowen and Krisha Fuller for leading our worship for the weekend and for all those who took the time to be in community with us.  

There are some great resources on ifgathering.com for women of all ages and stages.  

LITTLE FREE PANTRY

UPDATE: The building of the LFP is delayed a bit but we're still on to be a host site. We are looking for about 4 more businesses to "sponsor" the pantry for 1 month/year. Contact Michelle with questions or if you or your business, family, neighborhood would be interested in committing to this.  

The University of Mary Emerging Leadership class will be building and installing a Little Free Pantry for us in the very near future!  

This is an incredible opportunity to reach our neighbors in south Bismarck. I encourage you to fill the pantry when you’re able.

The Guiding Principles for LFP:

• We share the movement!
• The mini pantry movement is everyone’s, and we talk about it!
• We work together!
• Together, we create something big from something "little!”
• We challenge assumptions!
• We are interdependent!
• We practice radical trust!
• We are inherently trustworthy!
• We give without expectations or strings!
• We mutually benefit!
• We feed neighbors!
• Our neighborhoods can make good change from the bottom up!
• We nourish neighborhoods!

Putting the Ha in Hallelujah

DRAWING A PICTURE OF JESUS

A kindergarten teacher was walking around her classroom while her students drew pictures. One little girl was scribbling so intently that the teacher asked what she was drawing. The little girl replied, “I’m drawing a picture of Jesus.” The teacher said, “Oh honey, nobody really knows for sure what Jesus looked like.” The little girl, without missing a beat, responded, “They will in a minute.”

GOD WILL PROVIDE

A young woman brought her fiancé home to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother told her father to find out about the young man.

The father invited the fiancé to his study for a talk. 'So what are your plans?' the father asked the young man. 'I am a biblical scholar,' he replied.

'A Biblical scholar. Hmmm,' the father said. 'Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in?'

'I will study,' the young man replied, 'and God will provide for us.'

'And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?' asked the father.

'I will concentrate on my studies,' the young man replied, 'God will provide for us.'

'And children?' asked the father. 'How will you support children?'

'Don't worry, sir, God will provide,' replied the fiancé.

The conversation proceeded like this, and each time the father questioned, the young idealist insisted that God would provide.

Later, the mother asked, 'How did it go, Honey?'

The father answered, 'He has no job and no plans, and he thinks I'm God!'

“You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”  

2 Corinthians 9:11