As we embrace the dawn of a new year, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the blessings of the past and faith for the future. May this year be filled with Your love, guidance, and peace. Help us to walk in Your ways, to love one another deeply, and to be a light in our world. Bless our community and guide us in serving others with joy.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
This Sunday, Pastor Sheldon will begin a new series titled "Captive." Join us as we look at Exodus 20:2-4 and learn about "Idols of the Heart."
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
If you attend our 11am Contemporary Service and would like to familiarize yourself with the songs we will be singing this Sunday, here are the links to check them out:
Lee Memorial’s Blood Drive will be at New Hope THIS SUNDAY, January 5, from 8am-1pm. All blood donated will stay within Lee County and give life to those in our community. Click here to register your time slot!
We invite you to participate in our Bible Reading Challenge to read through the New Testament in 90 days. We want you to experience the joy of discovery in studying God’s word. We don’t read just to finish the task, we read for life transformation, to be changed to become more like Christ. To participate, download the Bible app (You Version by Life Church) from the Apple App Store or Google App Store and set up an account. Once you have done this, visit the link https://bible.com/p/70757572/d2b4f15064accbce4543c5e5113aa34b and accept the reading plan. Please note that this must be done on a mobile device. It will not work on a computer or in a web browser - it must be done with the mobile app. We will launch our journey on Monday, January 6. There is also a printed version available in the lobby at New Hope if you would like to follow along with the plan in your Bible rather than the app.
Wednesday Family Nights are back this Wednesday, January 8 from 6:30-8pm! There are classes for adults, student ministry, children's ministry, and nursery care. Join us as we grow together in the Lord as a church family!
Please join us for a Town Hall Meeting and Ice Cream Social on Sunday, January 12, at 4pm. Pastor Sheldon will give an update on the work and ministry at New Hope and then we will enjoy the fellowship of God’s family with an Ice Cream Social.
JOIN US FOR MISSION FEST 2025!
On January 15 at 6pm, you can hear from our local mission partners and their ministries while enjoying a delicious meal featuring Mission BBQ for adults, and chicken nuggets with mac ‘n cheese for the kids. Prices are $15 for one person, $20 for a couple, or $25 for a family. It's a perfect opportunity for great food and fellowship. If you plan to attend, you must click here to register and pay.
If you would like to host a dinner with one of our Mission Partners and some of your friends on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday (January 16-18), please let Jim Mayer know so he can help arrange that.
Then on Sunday, January 19, we will enjoy a special message from Dr. Case Thorp, the Theologian in Residence at First Presbyterian in Orlando.
If you are interested in becoming a member of New Hope, please join us on Saturday, January 25 from 8:30am-12:30pm to learn more about what it means to be a member, what the EPC stands for, and to get your questions answered. We will provide a light breakfast and a boxed lunch, so please click here to register so we can have a count for food. There is no cost to attend.
Our student ministry Common Ground starts back up with Flapjacks & Flannels on Wednesday, January 8 from 6:30-8pm! This is a great opportunity for students to invite their friends for a night of free food and fun!
Ladies, please join us Wednesday mornings, January 8 through March 12, from 10am-noon for a Women's Bible Study. See how God reveals Himself through Scripture...it all began with the Word. We will be using God of Creation by Jen Wilkin, which is an in-depth, verse-by-verse study of Genesis 1-11 that will go beyond the surface level of knowing the stories - revealing more of both God and us. Please purchase a copy of the book before attending the class. It is available on Amazon, Christianbook.com, and other retail stores.
WELCOME TO LIVING HOPE'S
NEW COUNSELOR:
HEATHER GORNY
Living Hope Counseling is delighted to introduce our new counselor, Heather Gorny! A native of Fort Myers, Heather's journey of faith began when a friend invited her to hop on a church bus. “I faithfully attended this little church each week. Every time the doors were open, you would find me there,” Heather recalls. It was during this time, thanks to a dedicated volunteer leader, that she came to know Jesus and accepted Him as her Savior.
Heather’s passion for children and service inspired her to volunteer with youth and children's ministries during college. While she initially pursued a major in education, she soon realized that God had different plans for her. With a heart for helping others, she followed a path toward a degree in Clinical Social Work. She earned her master's degree and completed her licensure in Florida. “Through this career, I have had the opportunity for the Lord to use me in my work with children, families, and adults,” Heather shares.
Heather and her husband, Evan, along with their children, found their home at New Hope in 2014. “New Hope felt like ‘home’ and reminded me of that familiar feeling I had in the church I grew up in,” says Heather. She quickly became involved in the community, volunteering with the Children's Ministry. “Today, I lead a 9th-grade girls’ small group alongside the same friend who invited me on the church bus all those years ago. I am in awe of the ways God has used me to glorify Him and look forward to seeing how He will continue to do so,” she says.
There will be a Memorial Service for Jeannie Martin at New Hope on Friday, January 10, with 12pm visitation and 1pm service.
