Mt. Hope United Methodist Church

02/09/2025

Reminder we have change to our new page: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15xXAmdC5e/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/02/2025

Good Morning Family,

Reminder we have moved to our new page: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19pFBTsqsq/

01/19/2025

Good Evening Facebook Family,

Due to the forecasted inclement weather and out of an abundance of caution, the church has decided to conduct our Sunday service online via Zoom.

We hope you'll be able to join us in song, preached word, and online fellowship, safe and warm from the comfort of your home.

Online giving can be performed via Zelle at: [email protected] or via US Postal service at: P.O. Box 125, Sunderland, MD 20689.

The service will start at 10:00 AM, but will not be broadcast on Facebook.

Please use the following Zoom link to attend the online service.

https://zoom.us/j/97160726984

We hope you will make every effort to join us online.

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01/12/2025

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Loving God, you bless us with your love. You know each one of us. We live in confidence and trust, knowing your care for us. We bring these gifts to you, our source of life. Use them, we pray, that others may experience your grace and live free from fear.

Amen

01/12/2025

NEW TESTAMENT: LUKE 3:15-17, 21-22 (NLT)

15 Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

16 John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with[a] water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.[b]

17 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

21 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened,

22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.[a]”

01/12/2025

OLD TESTAMENT: ISAIAH 43:1-7 (NLT)

The Savior of Israel

1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia[a] and Seba in your place.

4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.

5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west.

6 I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel
from the distant corners of the earth.

7 Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’”

01/12/2025

Leader: Come, all who are waiting expectantly, searching for
hope and truth. Like those in John’s Day, we may wonder where
salvation will come from.

All: We rejoice that our Savior has come, One more powerful
than we can imagine, who meets our deepest needs.

Leader: John baptized with water, calling people to repentance,
but Jesus comes to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire.

All: We open our hearts to be purified, renewed, and empowered by His Spirit today.

Leader: As Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, and the Holy
Spirit descended like a dove.

All: In our own lives, we long for the presence of the Spirit to
guide us, comfort us, and remind us of God’s love.

Leader: And the voice of the Father declared, “You are my Son,
Whom I love; with You I am well pleased.”

All: We stand in awe, knowing that through Christ, we too are
called beloved children of God.

All: Let us worship with joy and gratitude, for Jesus brings
salvation, the Holy Spirit empowers us, and the Father call us
His own!

01/05/2025

The Ingathering of the Dispersed

1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

4 Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms.

5 Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and rejoice;[a] because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

01/05/2025

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, teach us to render to you all that we have and all that we are, that we may praise you, not with our lips only, but with our whole lives, turning the duties, the sorrows, and the joys of all our days into a living sacrifice to you; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

01/05/2025

NEW TESTAMENT: 3:1-12 (NLT)

God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed

1 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles[a] . . .

2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.

3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me.

4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.

5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.[b]

7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

9 I was chosen to explain to everyone[c] this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him,[d] we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

01/05/2025

OLD TESTAMENT: ISAIAH 60:1-6 (NLT)

Future Glory for Jerusalem

1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.

2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.

3 All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

4 “Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home.

5 Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands.

6 Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah.
The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will come worshiping the Lord.