Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 12, 2009
9:30 a.m.
Aberdeen Manor banquet hall
It’s almost here! Join us at 9:30 on Easter Sunday morning for a light breakfast/brunch and an engaging service, while your kids enjoy their own service geared just for them. Yep, it’s just like every other Sunday at Living Hope. Including the “no dress code” thing. Wear your Easter Sunday best, your Monday morning casual, or your Saturday afternoon usual. It’s your choice… just so long as it’s something you’re comfortable spilling coffee on.
Harvest Party – Nov. 2, 2008
Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, join us for some Harvest Party fun at the Birkys’ house (142 N 500 W) from 4:00 pm until whenever you decide to leave. Â We’ll have hayrides, a big bonfire, hot dogs and marshmallows for roasting, and whatever other food you decide to bring! Â So please bring a chair or blanket and some food to share.
To get to the Birkys’ house, go west on Hwy 30 from Valparaiso, turn left/south at the light at 500 W, and about a mile later, after a curve or two, their house will be on your right.
ShareFest work day
Saturday, October 11, 2008
8:00 am – Registration & dedication service
9:00 am – Work projects begin
Full details at www.sharefestpc.org/valparaiso.
This year, we’re remodeling the teacher’s lounge at Parkview Elementary School. We’re installing cabinets, painting the walls, and assembling some furniture. The direct link to register for this project is here.
You can also donate blood or work in lots of other projects. It’s a fantastic chance to show the love of God to our neighbors here in Valparaiso!
It’s Picnic Time!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
11:00-3:00-ish
Summer is finally here… so it’s picnic time! After worship, we’re taking the 5-minute drive to the big back yard of Jeff & Sherry Reeder’s house – 157 W 150 S (Google Maps / Mapquest). We’ll have volleyball, a big inflatable game, and lots of picnic food… well, if you bring it, that is! We’ll provide the drinks and the meat for the grill, but we need you to bring side dishes and desserts. (If a couple of you would bring your camping chairs, too, that’ll help.)
Pastor Rich’s sabbatical begins
May 27 – August 12, 2008
Way back in 2006, Living Hope’s church board started planning to give Pastor Rich and his wife Stacey a sabbatical break in the summer of 2008. Through a generous grant provided by the Lilly Endowment for Clergy Renewal, the financial costs of this sabbatical are covered, including the cost of bringing in guest speakers during Pastor Rich’s absence.
Part of the rationale for the break is to give Pastor Rich time to recharge and get energized for the next stage of Living Hope’s growth and development. We’re on the verge of a new chapter in the church’s life, and we want to be sure we have a pastor (and pastor’s wife) who are ready to lead us forward. Please join us in praying for Pastor Rich and for Stacey, that this will be a renewing, inspirational time both for them and for us.
Guest Speakers
- June 1, 8, 15, & 29 – Mike Justice
- June 22 & July 6 – Tom Manzke
- July 13 – Dr. Lee Woolery
- July 20 – Keith White
- July 27 – Matt Stermer
- August 3 & 10 – Dan Martin
New worship time begins
Sunday, May 11, 2008
9:30 am
From Mother’s Day to Labor Day, we’re moving to a combined Sunday morning service at 9:30 am instead of our current two-service schedule.
So if you’ve been coming at 9:00, sleep in a little later! And if you’ve been coming at 10:30… well, just pretend you never set your clock an hour ahead back in March!
🙂
Baptism Service
Sunday, April 20, 2008
1:30 3:00-3:30 pm at the Valparaiso YMCA
We have a location! The YMCA has agreed to let us use Stoner Pool for our baptism service. It’s not available until 3:00, so we’ve changed the time from 1:30 to 3:00. We hope you’ll join us!
Baptism is a sacramental moment that marks a person’s turning from sin and turning toward God. It symbolizes the washing away of sin and being born anew into the family of God. On Sunday, we’ll be baptizing three people who are wanting to publicly say, “Yes, Jesus has forgiven my sins, and I’m trusting him to lead me into a new life!”
If you would like to be baptized as a sign of your faith in Jesus Christ, please get in touch with Pastor Rich Schmidt by email or at (219) 462-1245.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, March 23, 2008
9:00 & 10:30 a.m.
Aberdeen Manor banquet hall
It’s almost here! Join us at 9:00 or 10:30 on Easter Sunday morning for a light breakfast/brunch and an engaging service, while your kids enjoy their own service geared just for them. Yep, it’s just like every other Sunday at Living Hope. Including the “no dress code” thing. Wear your Easter Sunday best, your Monday morning casual, or your Saturday afternoon usual. It’s your choice… just so long as it’s something you’re comfortable spilling coffee on.
Guest Teacher: Mike Justice
On Sunday, January 27, Mike Justice will be our guest teacher at Living Hope. Mike is the youth pastor at Real Life Community Church, our parent church in Portage.
Coming up…
Sunday, Feb. 3: Rich Schmidt
Guest Teacher: Tom Manzke
On Sunday, January 20, our good friend Tom Manzke will be our guest teacher at Living Hope. Even though they can’t be with us every Sunday morning anymore, due to other ministry responsibilities, we’re glad to call Tom and Jen, and their sons Isaac and Samuel, part of our Living Hope family.
Coming up…
Sunday, Jan. 27: Mike Justice
Sunday, Feb. 3: Rich Schmidt
Hernan Osorio
On Sunday, January 13, Hernan Osorio visits Living Hope as our guest teacher for the morning. Hernan pastors an emerging Hispanic ministry in the Mishawaka area. (Don’t worry – he will have a translator with him!) If you’d like to hear the Good News from a fresh perspective, join us at 9:00 or 10:30 am this Sunday!
Candlelight Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24, 7:00 pm
- Christmas carols
- Candlelight
- Communion
- Christmas cookies…?
It’s our only evening service of the year, so we’re breaking out the candles! It’s a mellow celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, followed by Christmas cookies and hot cider. All in all, a great part of your family’s Christmas celebration.
Right now it looks like this service will be held in the banquet hall, just like our usual services. There’s a slight chance, though, that we’ll be holding this service in the new wedding chapel. Watch for an update soon!
Lunch with the (Burger) King
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
12:00-1:00 pm
at the Burger King on Hwy 30 at Horseprairie Ave.
(Google Maps / Mapquest)
Want to get together during the week? Here’s a chance to do a quick lunch while the kids enjoy the free indoor playplace.
RSVP not required, but if you have a chance to let Danae know you’re coming (email or 219-242-3938), she can be watching for you.
Kids Ministry Lunch
Sunday, November 4, 2007
12:00-1:00 pm
at the District Office, 970 Mill Pond Rd. (Google Maps / Mapquest)
New things are happening with the Sunday morning kids ministries at Living Hope (as you may have heard this past Sunday). To learn out what’s coming and how you can make an eternal impact on kids, join us for this lunch on Sunday!
To RSVP, call Pastor Rich (462-1245) or use the contact form. If you have kids coming with you, please let us know!
Volunteer Appreciation Party
Friday, November 9, 2007
7:00-8:00 pm
at the District Office, 970 Mill Pond Rd. (Google Maps / Mapquest)
If you give your time and energy to volunteer at Living Hope, then we want to say “Thanks” with a little pie & ice cream! Join us for an hour of food, fun, and stories of the difference you’re making in people’s lives.
Need childcare? There’s no room for it on-site, so we’re doing something different: We’ll pay for your childcare, up to $20. So hire your favorite babysitter for the night, join us for some pie & ice cream… and then take your sweet time getting back home! 🙂
If you’re planning to join us, please RSVP by calling Pastor Rich (462-1245) or by using the contact form.
Fall Fest 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
4:30-6:30 pm
at Merlyn & Mary Jo Birky’s house
142 N 500 W
Fun for all… and all are invited!
We’ll have a big bonfire for roasting hot dogs and s’mores, a hayride, seed-spitting contest, cornhole, and more!
If you can bring some finger/snack food to share, that’s great. But if you can’t, don’t sweat it! Just be sure to dress for the weather!
Click for a larger map and driving directions at Google Maps.
Popcorn Festival 2007
Every year we do a couple of things at the Popcorn Fest as a fun way of showing the community God’s love:
1. We give away thousands of bottles of bubbles to kids (and kids at heart) along the parade route before the parade. This year we’ll hand out just over 4,000 bottles of bubbles!
2. We do other fun stuff for kids all day long at our booth. This year, we’re doing this right at our food booth instead of setting up a separate kids booth on the opposite end of the festival grounds.
Our food booth is how we pay for those bubbles. If you’re hungry for a hot dog or looking for an ice cold water or can of Coke, we’d love to see you! We’ll be on the east side of Michigan St. south of Lincolnway (the parade route). Wait… a map would be easier…
Please stop by to say hello! (And if you’d like to volunteer at the food booth, please let us know!)
7th Birthday Party
Hard to believe, but it’s true: Living Hope is turning seven years old! On Sept. 16, we’ll celebrate in two ways:
1. At 9:00 & 10:30 am, we’re kicking off a revealing new message series called “Confessions of a Pastor.†You may discover that you’re not alone in having questions and issues to deal with on your spiritual journey!
2. At noon we’re having a BBQ / picnic / birthday party in the big back yard of Jeff & Sherry Reeder’s house – 157 W 150 S (Google Maps / Mapquest). We’ll have volleyball, cornhole, a 4-in-1 combo inflatable, swimming (weather permitting), lots of picnic food… and if the kids have anything to say about it, then the pastors will be getting pies in the faces again this year!
We hope you’ll stop by and celebrate with us! (If you can bring a side dish or dessert with you, that’s great. If not, come anyway!)
Whispering Pines
Sunday, July 1, 1:30-2:00 pm
On the first Sunday of each month, a team from Living Hope leads a short worship service for the Alzheimer’s patients at Wispering Pines (3301 N. Calumet Ave). They sing some old hymns, share a short message from the Bible, pray, and visit. These men and women can’t get out to a church service, so we help bring the church service to them.
If you’d like to help, let Pastor Rich know (email / phone) and plan to be there a few minutes early so that you can find your way up to the Alzheimer’s ward (called TIMBRE). When you arrive, drive “around back” between Whispering Pines and the Pines Village retirement community and enter using the doors under the drive-up/drop-off overhang. Take the elevator to the 2nd floor, and when you exit, go through the doors in front of you and on the right. The room with the huge TV in it is the one we use for the service.
Spring Valley Shelter
Thursday, July 12, 6:00-8:00 pm
Once a month, a team from Living Hope helps staff the Child Enrichment program at Spring Valley Homeless Shelter (2001 N. Calumet Ave). While their parents are in classes of their own, this group engages kids in learning activities and games. If you’d like to help, let Pastor Rich know as soon as possible (email / phone), so you can get registered with their volunteer coordinator.
National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 3, 2007
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
inside City Hall, 166 Lincolnway, Valparaiso
The National Day of Prayer is an opportunity for all of us to pause and ask God to guide, strengthen, and bless our nation and those who lead it at every level. The Valparaiso Christian Ministerial Association (of which Pastor Rich is a part) is sponsoring a lunch hour prayer time in the council chambers at City Hall. We’re keeping it brief so you can participate and still be back to work before your lunch hour ends. We would love to have you join us.
Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 13, 2007
9:00 & 10:30 a.m.
We hope you’ll join us on Mother’s Day as we celebrate God’s goodness to each one of us. Kids will be making a special presentation in each service, in addition to their usual fun activities… which means Mom can relax and enjoy the service, not struggle to keep junior entertained. And on Friday, May 18, a special Ladies’ Night Out will allow her to unwind after a hectic weekend of being treated like a queen. (You are going to treat her like a queen, right?)
And don’t worry, Dads. This isn’t the kind of church that gets all girly and pink on Mother’s Day. Feel free to bring your testosterone with you to church.
Living Hope meets at the Aberdeen Manor banquet hall on St. Rd. 2, about 2 miles south of Hwy 30, right next to the Family Express. (That building that’s going up on the corner where you turn right? That’s the Aberdeen Manor’s new wedding chapel. No, we don’t plan to meet in it. Too traditional. :))
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 8, 2007
9:00 & 10:30 a.m.
If it’s been a while since you’ve been to church, Easter Sunday is a great time to give it another go! We’d love to have you drop in at Living Hope for a relaxed-but-engaging Easter worship service, including fun stuff for your kids and the usual complimentary breakfast table. You don’t even have to dress up (unless you feel like it).
We meet at the Aberdeen Manor banquet hall on St. Rd. 2, about 2 miles south of Hwy 30, right next to the Family Express. (That building that’s going up on the corner where you turn right? That’s the Aberdeen Manor’s new wedding chapel. No, we don’t plan to meet in it. Too traditional. :))
Special bonus: On Easter Sunday, we’re beginning a 40-day journey of listening our way through the entire New Testament in just 28 minutes a day. To make it easy, we’re giving everyone a free MP3 CD of the New Testament in audio drama format. It’s yours to keep whether you join us on the 40-day journey or not. Happy Easter!
WIRED Youth Group
Thursday, May 3, 6:45-8:15 pm
At Jonathan & Jill Wilson’s house (2656 Calaveras Dr., Valpo – Google map)
For students 6th-12th grade
The first & third Thursdays of each month are youth group nights. Students talk about everyday life and learn how the Bible connects with what they care about. The location alternates between sponsor homes.
WIRED Youth Group
Thursday, April 19, 6:45-8:15 pm
At Scott & Danae Hezlep’s condo
For students 6th-12th grade
The first & third Thursdays of each month are youth group nights. Students talk about everyday life and learn how the Bible connects with what they care about. The location alternates between sponsor homes.
Christmas Eve services
With Christmas Eve on a Sunday this year, we’ve decided to hold our Christmas Eve services at our normal service times of 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. There will be no evening services.
We hope you’ll join us for a fun family service filled with Christmas carols, the celebration of communion, and the story of St. Nicholas being told by none other than Jolly Old St. Nick himself! That’s right, Santa’s making an appearance on Sunday morning! (Feel free to bring a camera if you want a picture of your child on Santa’s knee…)
While we won’t have our usual children’s ministries that morning, we will have a cry room available for parents who want (or need) to take advantage of it.