We would like everyone who is currently serving to fill one of these sheets out, along with anyone who would like to serve in a new way. This will make sure we have up-to-date information. Thank you for everything you do to serve and minister at Hope!

This is a follow-up note to last month’s article about God answering prayer with yes, no, and wait. In that article I wrote,

Sometimes asking of God is like asking for presents at Christmas time. Sometimes our request is such that if we did get it we wouldn’t be ready for it. Or it would affect others in ways we didn’t think of, but God thinks of.

Nevertheless, God tells us to “ask,” “seek” and “knock.” And in the process of waiting to see if the answer is ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or ‘wait’ we learn a lot about ourselves and our motives. So ask and seek and knock before God. And learn.

I was thinking about this when I asked for the organ pipes. Yes, you heard that right. St. Paul Lutheran in Farmers Branch is closing and giving their pipe organ pipes away. When I heard about I decided to ask for them (for free). I knew we had to learn a lot after asking. (July Newsletter)

And learn we did. And the learning came in a surprising way. One Sunday after church Stuart Bohannon, who has been attending the 8:00 AM service for some months now, came over to Cathy Peterson with some thoughts about the organ sounds. Cathy realized that he knew a lot about organ sounds and appreciated his help. She then inquired about how he knew about this organ. As it turned out Stuart installed the organ thirteen years ago.

Once Cathy realized what a gold mine he was she asked if he knew about pipe organs. As it turned out he knows a lot. She asked if he read pastor’s July article wondering if that moved him to come talk to her about the organ. He hadn’t seen it. They ended up talking
more and one thing turned to another and soon I was getting copied on emails.

I thought, “Ok, Lord, I think you are helping us out here. Thank you.”

And God did help. Stuart ended up getting us connected to Bill Ehrke who has incredible expertise and soon after both Bill and Stuart went to look at the pipes. They were truly a Godsend because Bill determined fairly quickly that the pipes at St. Paul’s were in a state that it would take quite an expense to bring them back to playing quality, and they were short quite a few pipes on top of it. Bill said that the pipes were basically decorative.

This was all we needed to know. I wrote St. Paul’s and thanked them for the chance to look into the pipes but that we wouldn’t be taking them because of the expense and incredible effort it would take to move the project along. St. Paul’s understood and were happy to learn more about the pipes themselves. They realized they could leave the pipes in place and allow them to decorate the building for the next group using it.

I see God’s fingerprints all over this. He was protecting us from going down a road that would have cost a lot (when we do not have money for such things) and would have cost a lot of effort (when I would rather see effort spent elsewhere right now.) Thank you Stuart. Thank you Bill. And thank you Cathy for seizing the moment to get an answer from God. After a short time of giving the answer “wait,” God’s final answer was, “No.” His ways are best. God is truly good!

Pastor Joel

Many of you were at church Sunday, May 30 when Pastor Rob Moore from Briarwood preached and led our worship services.

You are invited to the FIRST EVER BriarWOODSTOCK, coming to Briarwood on Sunday, August 1st, for “3, er, 1 day of Peace and Music” (well, you get the idea). The day will start at 11:00 a.m. with a “camp style” worship service. Come and experience the enjoyment that campers and counselors have in a fun-filled time of praise and worship.

A variety of delicious food will be available for sale in our dining hall starting at 12:00 noon. Bands will start performing at 1:00 p.m. We have a great variety of bands (see the list to the below) who will entertain and inspire everyone. Cost is ONLY $5.00 in advance (or $10.00 at the gate). Space is limited!! (Yes, even at camp space is limited). So get your tickets today by calling 940-241-2099 or emailing Briarwood at bw {at} briarwood(.)org.

This will be a GREAT event for youth groups, families, and people of all generations! So make your reservations now!

June 14-17, 6-9 PM (with light meal)
St. Anne Church, Desoto, TX
June 17 will be CALL LINK Training Pilot Event

Registration details will be handled by St. Anne.
For more info, see www.callinc.org or Pastor Wendy

Mark your calendar now!

The Conference Worship will be this Sunday, May 2, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Glenn Heights (click here for directions). The Potluck will start at 4:30 PM (Hope has been asked to bring vegetables). Worship & Prayer Service at 6:00 PM.

• Everyone will be divided into groups of 3-5 people and given a map of your prayer walk route.
• You will be given door hangers for the national day of prayer.
• Individually, you will walk up to a house, drop a door hanger, and say a short prayer of blessing for the house.
• Anyone can do it!

Holy Week Schedule

• March 28, Palm Sunday 8:00 & 10:00 AM
• April 1, Maundy Thursday 7:00 PM
• April 2, Good Friday 7:00 PM
• April 3,  Prayer Vigil 8AM – Midnight

April 4, Easter Sunday Schedule

• Worship – 8:00 & 10:00 AM
• Breakfast – 9:00-9:45 AM
• Easter Egg Hunt – 9:15 AM

Additional Information and Announcements

Easter Lillies. Easter Lilies will lend their splendor to our Sanctuary on Easter Sunday.  You may purchase them in honor/memory of someone, event, or for yourself to plant in your garden.  The cost this year is $11. and you will find the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex. The sign-up deadline is March 28.

Annual Easter Prayer Vigil. Saturday, April 3, 8:00 AM to Midnight. Through the ages, the church has held a prayer vigil on Easter eve. Share with us in this rich tradition of praying. Sign up in the Narthex. Guidance and suggestions for prayer and meditation will be provided. Prayer cards with specific requests are also available and may be placed in the basket for the prayers. Contact Jan Koska for more information.

Easter Pancake Breakfast. Our youth will host a pancake breakfast Easter Sunday, April 4, from 9:00-9:45 AM to raise money for their Youth Mission Fund. The breakfast menu will consist of pancakes, fruit, sausage, juice, and coffee. For Easter Sunday we will have some specialty pancakes and syrups. Thank you for supporting our youth!

Flowering of the Cross. Continue our tradition of flowering the cross on Easter Sunday. Please remember to bring some flowers for this event, so we can once again have a cross full of beautiful flowers.

Easter Egg Hunt. Sunday, April 4, 9:15 am on the playground. Children, (pre-k – 6TH grade) join us for a fun-filled Easter egg hunt! Activities will include the egg hunt plus making an Easter craft. Parents please bring 12 plastic eggs (for each of your children) filled with individually wrapped candy by Palm Sunday. Any questions, please contact Deb Burleson (call or email the church office for her contact information).