This Week at Hope Church
March 1, 2026 - 125th Anniversary Sunday
"He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God..." Psalm 78:5-7
Dear Church Family,
This Sunday we will celebrate Hope Church's 125th Anniversary, worshipping our Lord and Savior Jesus for saving sinners from every time and place around the world. We praise and thank Him for planting, sustaining and using our church family the past one hundred and twenty-five years. We look for His nearing Return, and should He tarry, we plead His resilient grace for each generation in the next century and beyond.
To commemorate this anniversary, we will deposit a time capsule. You should bring a note that will tell future generations a little bit about you and your faith. You may include your name, age, artwork (printed or pencil), describe your favorite things (e.g., food, music, hobbies/activities) and a short message about how Jesus’ love and salvation is meaningful to you. We will put each of these in polyethylene zip lock closure bags to keep them stable. We will also include a copy of our Church Photo Directory. This is a meaningful way to hope in God, and communicate our faith beyond our lifetimes, to future generations.
At the end of the service, we will take an Anniversary Photograph of the congregation.
Also, Summit RealLife Church is taking this Sunday as a Day of Prayer as they consider whether to acquire the First Baptist Church Building. We will include this in our worship prayer time as well.
The Church Photo Directory has been printed and copies are in the mailboxes at church.
Lastly, I just received a phone call from longtime First Baptist Church member Alan Mitchell, inviting you to his 95th Birthday Party on Saturday, March 14 at 5 pm at Rescue Church, 300 E 2nd Ave, Flandreau, SD. Alan says, in his lovely Yorkshire accent, "No presents. I'm close enough to Heaven that I don't need any more things." ;) His email is alankmitchell2017@gmail.com.
I look forward to worshipping with you soon!
Ever yours ‘til glory dawn,
Pastor James
Marriage Conference March 21
Marriage Conference March 21, 9am-6pm, just 35 minutes north of Storm Lake, IA. Laugh and reconnect through this day of theatrical comedy and storytelling. $20 per couple, scholarships available (fee includes all materials and snacks). There will be a food truck onsite with meal options available for purchase, or feel free to bring something for lunch.
Learn more here: https://www.actsofrenewal.com/.
Announcements
About The Season of Lent
The word “lent” means “springtime” in English, and refers to the lengthening days of the season. Since ancient times, Christians have marked forty days preceding Easter as a season of humiliation, repentance and intercessory prayer. These forty days correspond to the number of days and nights which Christ spent fasting in the wilderness (Luke 4), and Moses spent mediating the covenant at Mt. Sinai (Deuteronomy 9-10). Christians use these forty days to symbolically separate themselves from the world and worldly habits in order to more fully submit themselves to Christ. Reflecting on Christ’s suffering and commemorating His atonement prepares us to celebrate His resurrection. What the Season of Advent is to Christmas, Lent is to Easter. Walking through the acts of this Gospel story shapes our everyday lives and behavior.
The Season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (the seventh Wednesday before Easter), includes Palm Sunday and culminates in Holy Week (the six Sundays preceding Easter). Ash Wednesday is a day of prayer that recalls the biblical practice of fasting with sackcloth and ashes, to remind us that, “you are made from the dust of the earth, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19). On this day, liturgical colors in the church change from green to purple, reflecting the symbolic shift from general blessing and flourishing, to Christ’s suffering and ultimate royal sovereignty in resurrection.
Lent has been a time of spiritual exercise, challenge and strengthening through spiritual habits. In light of Deuteronomy 9:18-29, it is a time of lament and interceding on behalf of others. During this time, many Christians practice the spiritual exercise of sacrifice, or self-denial, by giving up certain pleasures as an act of consecration. Some believers voluntarily forego some meals (or sometimes a particular food of their choice, (e.g. red meat, soft-drinks, coffee, sweets, chocolate, alcohol, etc.) or an activity (e.g., watching movies, playing video games, reading novels, etc.). The purpose is not to break bad habits or improve health, but rather, by weakening the grip of worldly foods, to grow hungry in our appetite for God. Hunger humbles us, reminds us to pray and places our dependence on Christ’s sufficiency. Only by understanding our limits, frailty and disordered desires, can we appreciate the grace and mercy of God.
Because of health concerns or schedule responsibilities, not everyone may be able to fast from food, and that’s okay. Some may want to forgo eating breakfast and/or lunch. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about your medical or dietary needs. Participation is not an obligation, it is completely voluntary (1 Timothy 4:1-5). As Jesus teaches us, we cannot think more or less of a person’s spirituality by what we see them do—only God sees our hearts.
Fasting should never be attempted without prayer. We must always speak and listen to our Father in Heaven, and especially so in times of trial. (For more information on the Biblical teaching of prayer and fasting, see Matthew chapter 6 and Isaiah 58:3-13 which examine unrighteous motives and proper reasons for fasting.) Personally, my prayer times have been blessed during this time by the daily reading of classic devotional literature, such as Meditations on the Life of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, or Meditations on Psalms by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. During Lent, Christians have also focused on serving the poor and needy. If you have questions about Lent, talk with Pastor James.
Church Directory
The Church Photo Directory is printed and a copy should be in your church mailbox.
Hidden in My Heart
Memorize Philippians 2:5-7 for March 8
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (6) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Minor Prophets of the OT: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
2026 Memory Verses
Jan 11 Deut 10:12-13
Feb 8 Psa 56:3-4
Mar 8 Phil 2:5-7
Apr 12 Jas 1:4-5
May 10 Col 3:1-3
Jun 14 1 Tim 2:5
Jul 12 Eph 6:14-15
Aug 9 Rom 1:16 [17]
Sep 13 2 Cor 9:8
Oct 11 Isa 46:9-10
Nov 8 John 15:5
Dec 13 Psa 23:1-2
Visit with Pastor
Pastor James would like to know you better and is available Mondays through Thursdays with times for both days and evenings. Click here to book a visit and get free food and drink at Coffee Tree, the church, or a location of your choice. Book other times and days by contacting his cell.
Google Review
Visitors often find our church through a Google search and decide to come because of positive comments they read there. Help promote the church by adding your own reviews and photos for Hope Church on Google. Take a minute to give a review or post a photo: Hope Church Google Review