The 19th Day of Christmas Joy

A friend of mine introduced me to Hope Community Church back in 2007. It was at a time when we were in between churches and I was becoming very comfortable not going to church at all. The only problem is I had a 6 year old continue to ask me regularly why we don’t go to church anymore. My answer would go something like this….well, um, you see, uh followed by some awkward silence (this is when my brain would be racing for a really great answer to which none would come) until I could figure out a way to dodge her question with a question.

I shared this story with my friend and she came up with this brilliant idea to solve both of our dilemmas. She had just had a baby and they also volunteered at church regularly which meant they spent an entire Sunday morning at church. Not conducive to a newborns schedule. So she offered to swap kids with me one Sunday morning. She would take EmmaGirl with her and I would keep the baby so she could stay on her napping & feeding schedule….winner winner chicken dinner, in my mind anyway!

Until, EmmaGirl came home that Sunday and proclaimed that it was the best ever and that we should go there every Sunday! So now, I have got to go to church. Could I really say no to church when my 6 year old is driving that bus?

I will never forget our first time there I had a bad attitude, was not interested in attending church, but was there for my child. I sat there in the auditorium with a chip on my shoulder just trying to get through it. Mike Lee, the Pastor started his sermon, he was funny & engaging, but that was not going to get me. Until halfway through when I really started paying attention, hmmm, I thought. This place is onto to something different than any church I had previously visited. He concluded that sermon with a “to be continued” and I was hooked. I could not wait to come back for the conclusion like it was a series finale on a popular hit show. Remember, I have already admitted to being a dork in an earlier postJ

Anyway, I absolutely love this church, my church and so does EmmaGirl. We both actively serve on Saturday evenings as well as attend service too. It makes my heart happy to see her so eager to serve and to be involved in a small group for herself.

There are so many great things at Hope that I can’t even begin to scratch the surface here. There is always an open invitation if you would like to come see for yourself what I am talking about J

Thank you Hope Community Church for not only giving me hope each and every day, but a whole lot of 

JOY!