Hopedale Mennonite Church

06/05/2026

I keep forgetting to post about our VBS offering. It is going to Love Packages this year, an organization that takes used Bibles and Christian materials and helps get them around the world. Find out more here https://lovepackages.org/about-us-2/

If you'd like to give toward our $501 goal please let us know and we'll add your intent to the total tomorrow.

Love Packages is a non-denominational, not-for-profit ministry that equips pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and teachers all over the world with free bibles and Christian literature. Everything we send is donated from individuals, ministries, and publishers in the U.S. Our mission is simple: Keep...

06/04/2026

The week is nearly over but the fun's not done. Looking forward to one more day of VBS!

06/03/2026

A few pics from our first 2 days at 2026 Hopedale Vacation Bible School

06/01/2026

We're taking walk up registrations at VBS tomorrow for anyone not yet registered!

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

Midweek Connection
Reflecting on Sunday, May 24: "When the Unthinkable Happens"

How do we respond when "the unthinkable happens"? In worship on Sunday, Tim Bertsche shared a biblical and faith-grounded response which is helpful whether we're going through the unthinkable currently or not. Even if it's not the situation we're in right now, this message is good for us to have in our back pocket if that time comes.

Based on Psalm 71, Tim shared three points that finishes the sentence "When the unthinkable happens..."

Run to the LORD your God, the Maker of heaven and earth because He is our rock and our refuge. (Psalm 71:1-3) 
Psalm 121:1-3 helps support this idea. In this first point we remember that God is and provides a durable and safe place amidst terrible storms (sometimes this happens in the form of counseling, grief stages, friends.)

Remember what the LORD your God, the Creator of heaven and earth has done for you in the past - because He is STILL our deliverer. (Psalm 71:4-18) 
David could reflect on how God supported him throughout his life, particularly through his difficult times of life. We don't know when these verses were written but it could be that David was able to reflect on God's providence and continue to praise even if he was facing challenges.

Rest in the presence of the LORD your God, the Creator of heaven and earth because He has promised to never leave your or forsake you. (Psalm 71:14-21)
This includes being still and praising, waiting and watching, trusting and questioning, believing and doubting, listening, wondering, and sensing God's love even in sorrow. When we do not have an answer, we can relinquish that desire to rest in God's presence and immeasurable hope.

The recording from worship is available here https://youtu.be/PL4fxcW4Adw?si=wn8EzPRkA1i2EsIR

Looking Forward to Sunday, May 31: "Light of the World"

John 8:12 "Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

This is the theme verse for Vacation Bible School next week. We will use it as a starting point to help us see how Jesus is the light of the world for us, no matter what age we are.

We look forward to hearing more from Kurt Walker as he shares the message in worship on Sunday.

Scripture for Sunday: John 8:12

Recording of worship from Hopedale Mennonite Church on Sunday, May 24, 2026 with guest speaker Tim Bertsche. Please note that the sharing time and congregati...

05/20/2026

Mid-Week Connection
Reflecting on Sunday, May 17: "Dear Titus"

To follow up one of the letters to Timothy from the week before, this past Sunday we looked at Paul's letter to Titus. First, we studied the context of the book which included learning about the culture of Crete, the island where Titus was helping organize the church. Crete's biggest problems included false teachers, mixing understanding of the Christian God with Greek gods (specifically Zeus), and a culture of lying and deceit.

After learning more about context, we considered a few applications for the scripture. First, Christian community is necessary and is beautiful. Second, our behavior in Christian community should also be the same in the public square. Third, the countercultural lifestyle of Christianity is possible only by the transforming grace and love of God.

The recording from worship is available here https://youtu.be/v8ebPR55QeI

Looking Forward to Sunday, May 24: "When the Unthinkable Happens"

We're looking forward to hearing from Tim Bertsche on Sunday for the message and a mission moment. During the mission moment we'll hear about Africa Inter Mennonite Mission and a special opportunity for financial support.

May the words below guide us with understanding and thanksgiving for our God until we meet again.

And now, to the God who stands with us,
who hears us,
and who waits for us,
we offer our gratitude.
To the one who has heard our complaints,
and our pain,
and who has walked with us through those difficult times,
we give honor.
To the one who, as a Servant, took on our suffering,
and freed us to a reality of joy,
we give back our love, and our being.
Merciful God, we give thanks, Amen.

Author: Ed Olfert (Canada), 2021. Grace Mennonite, Prince Albert

Scripture for Sunday: Psalm 71:1-12

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/15/2026

Don't mind us, just remembering VBS from the past few years and dreaming about the memories that we'll make this year at 2026 Hopedale Vacation Bible School

Early registrations are preferred and can be done at this link https://forms.gle/FLgwJcDDZz6tsGgv8

05/07/2026

Mid-Week Connection

Reflecting on Sunday, May 3: "Sharing Love Locally"

The image on the bulletin for this past Sunday was a map of central Illinois with hearts on all of the towns or cities where parts of our church family live, and one heart where many people actively serve. Lincoln, Armington, Minier, Hopedale, Delavan, Mackinaw, Tremont, Pekin, Morton, Peoria, and Eureka are places where the love of God is shared by our church family. And, of course, that's just naming a few, I'm sure there are many other places we visit or work where God's love shines through.

Thank you to each person that shared on Sunday. If you weren't able to be in the worship gathering, I can assure you that it will be worth your time to listen to the recording available here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVLv7qYQvlw

Looking Forward to Sunday, May 10:

We look forward to sharing at the communion table this Sunday in our worship service. It is quite astounding to think about what it means to continue a tradition that "began" with Jesus and his disciples. Although Jesus' last supper wasn't necessarily the beginning of a tradition, it was part of the Passover meal, a tradition in itself, but then it took on additional meaning in our faith story in Jesus. This Sunday we will continue the tradition and reflect on what it means for our faith and life.

Scripture for Sunday: 2 Timothy 1:1-10

Recording of worship from Hopedale Mennonite Church on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Please note that the sharing time and congregational prayer have been removed fro...

05/01/2026

Mid-Week Connection:
Reflecting on Sunday, April 26

We welcomed Lee Burnham from Pathway Ministries to worship on Sunday. He shared an update with us about Pathway and shared how God has used his story in the work that he does. All of us have a story to share and Lee encouraged everyone to consider how God can use our story and how God is calling us to share parts of our story to tell others about Jesus.

Sunday's worship recording is available here https://youtu.be/ydb4WSF5W9g. Please contact Jessica or the office if you would like a link to the unedited recording.

Looking Forward to Sunday, May 3: "Sharing Love Locally"

This Sunday is one opportunity that you have to share your story especially in the ways in which you serve and share God's love locally. We're talking about those every day, ordinary acts that may go unnoticed but are meeting a need for people in our community. We have asked two people to share on specific ways they serve but also want to hear from others.

Please spend some time this week thinking about the ways you have served neighbors, how God's love has been shown in ordinary acts, and what it means to live our lives like Jesus.

May the words of Dorothy Day (Voices Together #1036) provoke us in our actions and our thoughts...

Lay one brick at a time,
take one step at a time;
we can be responsible
only for the one action
of the present moment.
But we know that God will take them
and multiply them,
as Jesus multiplied
the loaves and fishes.

Scripture for Sunday: 1 John 4:7-21

Sunday, April 26, 2026