MORTGAGE BURNING
New Hope will celebrate with a "Mortgage Burning Ceremony" on Sunday, February 19. Charter members Garfield and Erma Dreas, Lois Cox and Ruth Bradley are the core of the planning committee. This promises to be a joy-filled historic day for our congregation.
SHANE GASTER TO PREACH FEBRUARY 12
Chaplain Shane Gaster will be in the pulpit during Dr. Mulkey’s absence next Sunday. His sermon will be an encore of a message from a recent Men’s Breakfast which Dr. Mulkey wanted the entire congregation to hear.
NEW HOPE 101
Do you know what Baptists believe? Do you know what church membership involves or anything about New Hope’s history? These questions and more will be answered by Dr. Mulkey on Sunday afternoon, Feb.19 at 4:00 PM. This teaching time is for new members, visitors or other
“inquiring minds.” A sandwich meal will be provided.

MISSIONS
New Inreach Ministry
“Help Yourself”
Too much month at the end of the money? As a church we want to “reach in” to our own folks in addition to the food donations we bring for Halifax Urban Ministries. To that end, we have instituted a program we will call “Help Yourself.” As you are able, please bring staple food items for our pantry. If you find yourself in need of some groceries to tide you over until payday, you will find a pantry with cloth grocery bags in the Choir robe room. Please “help yourself.” Go to the pantry, fill a bag with groceries, and know that it is the response of your own church making sure you have something to eat if you are in a difficult situation. There is no form to fill out, no questions asked, no money needed later to reimburse the church. It’s for you – it’s for us.

We ask that you do not take a bag of groceries for someone else. If your neighbor needs some assistance, direct them to HUM.
Shane Gaster
Additional Ministry of Assistance
This past year, the Church Council approved a line item in the budget to provide each deacon with gift cards to Wal Mart. If you find yourself in a tight spot, and need some assistance, please call your deacon. He/she will provide you with that card immediately, no questions asked. It’s not a loan – it’s a gift. Receive it if you need it.

All members of the church have a deacon assigned to them. If you do not know who your deacon is, the list is posted on the bulletin board in the rear of the sanctuary.
Shane Gaster

Halifax Urban Ministries
What a caring group you are! Your donations of canned goods, cereals, baby foods and paper goods fill an entire car trunk on the first Sunday of each month for delivery to Halifax Urban Ministries. These items feed local struggling families who contact HUM. That number has grown significantly over the past year with the result that HUM shelves frequently are sparsely filled. Your continued donations are a blessing to these families.

Country Side Lakes ALF
Come show a little love to the assisted living residents celebrating birthdays during Valentine month on Wednesday, February 15 at noon. Your visits, smiles and hugs are always appreciated.
Bill Batchelor

Benevolence Offering
The Benevolence Committee would like to thank everyone for their generous contributions during the past year. During 2011, we collected $2708.61 and we spent $2629.50 helping 45 people with various types of needs, such as food, rent, FPL, water, clothing, etc. Everyone we helped was so very grateful for our aid.
Jeanne Mathieson

MUSIC AND WORSHIP
Cantata Scheduled for April 1
The Choir is preparing an Easter Cantata on Wednesday nights and I would like to invite those who are interested in singing with us to meet for rehearsal at 7:30 PM. THE TRIUMPHS OF HIS GRACE by Marty Parks is taken from Charles Wesley’s immortal hymn “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and it involves choir selections and multiple solo/duet opportunities that sing about Christ’s victory over death and the grave.

While this preparation is going on, I have been dealing with eye surgery on my right eye and eventually on the left eye. I am seeing so much better already. I want to thank the pastor and the church for allowing me the time away from my responsibilities to take care of this matter.

Once again, I am participating in the Choral Union of Stetson University and we are preparing two major works for presentation on Tuesday, April 24. The first is a work by Beethovan featuring Michael Rickman, pianist and the second is Franz Joseph Hayden’s MASS IN TIME OF WAR in C Major for Soli, Chorus and Orchestra.

Lenten Season
On Wednesday, February 22, the season of Lent begins with ASH WEDNESDAY. During this time the drape on the cross will be violet (purple) and will remain this way through Holy Week (the week prior to Easter) which will be April 8.

Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra
February 19, 2012, 3:00 PM
First Presbyterian Church, Daytona Beach
Romancing the Strings
Ernest Murphy, Tenor
Vivaldi, Mozart and Mendelssohn
Dennis Bucher

LADIES LUNCH
Tuesday, February 28, 11:45 AM
Caribbean Jacks on the river
(Ballough Road just south of the Seabreeze Bridge)
With rising gas prices, let’s plan to car pool.
I will need a head count by the Sunday prior.
Linda Manners

MEN’S BREAKFAST
Saturday, February 18, 8:00 AM
If you are bringing visitors/guests,
please notify Dalton Kirk.

ON THE BOOK SHELVES
If you are enjoying Dr. Mulkey’s sermon series based on Greg Baer’s book Real Love, it is on our shelves. Also added recently is The Fundamentalist Takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention for those from non-Baptist backgrounds interested in knowing why the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship was begun.

Did you receive a share-worthy book for Christmas? If so, consider adding it to our shelves.
Elaine Hardy

SCRAPBOOK GROUP FORMS
A new fun and fellowship group built around pictures and memories began last Thursday evening. This group is open to both anyone interested in learning to Scrapbook or those experienced in this activity. The group will meet alternate weeks on Thursdays from 6:30-9:00 PM in the Choir robe room. Experienced scrappers, we would appreciate your bringing a finished book or one in progress to show those new to the craft. The next meeting will be February 16. For more information contact Dusti Heil @ 898-1122 or Paula Seebold @ 761-7456.

A WORD ABOUT THE
CHILDREN’S SERMON
Two suggestions have come my way—that the children sit on the platform during the children’s sermon and that their responses be on mic. I have declined for the following reasons. While the children are cute and you want to see and hear them, the children’s time in worship is not a performance. Their attention needs to be focused on the objects and ideas presented without the distraction of seeing your responses. The sermon is designed to be age-appropriate for our young children, therefore it may seem simplistic or repetitive to you. It is a way to include them as welcome participants in the service. When appropriate, Dr. Mulkey’s text for the day is used. While I speak to the children not the congregation, hopefully it enhances the service for the entire body.
Elaine Hardy

RECIPE
Ham and Cheese Chowder
Mary Huber
3 c water 4 medium potatoes, diced
1 c thin sliced carrots 2 t salt
1 c thin sliced celery ¼ t pepper
½ c diced onion
Simmer until tender.
White sauce:
½ c margarine
1 qt. milk
½ c flour
Add 2 c diced ham
1 lb. grated sharp cheese
After the vegetables are tender, pour the remaining ingredients in and season with parsley. Yield: 8-10 servings.

BIBLE BUZZ
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Can you complete these Bible couples? (Answers may be found at the bottom of the page.)
1. Abraham and ___________________________?
2. Ahasuerus
3. Isaac
4. Moses
5. Jacob
6. Boaz
7. David
8. Ahab
9. Zacharias
10. Aquila

YOUTH UPDATE
Trivia Question: What do trombones, a keyboard, and two violins have in common? Our New Hope Baptist youth musicians! They are working on two well known hymns to present during an upcoming talent show and spaghetti dinner. What talent do you have to share? Brush off the old instruments, bring out the soft shoe, perfect the timing on a couple of jokes and get set for "Spring Fling" on March 11. The young people are looking for participants in this entertaining event - be ready! Details of this fun event will follow in the March edition of Connections.

Our teens are also practicing to lead Wednesday prayer meeting in a couple of praise songs beginning in mid-February.

Ask any one of them who was the big winner of Wii game night this past Friday night. Fun was had by all.
Leesa Holloway

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, February 7, 1:00 PM
Led by Dr. Mulkey
If you have a neighbor or friend dealing with grief, please let them know of this support group. The group will be using the book Understanding Your Grief.

A LOOK BACK
► February 2007 Attendance at the morning worship service averaged 71
► February 2008 By-Laws were revised; We began providing Children’s Church for K-4th grade during the worship service
► February 2009 Dennis Bucher and Armand Melnbardis were honored for 10+ years of musical service at New Hope; The Church Health Team (now Long Range Planning Committee) sponsored a “Night to Dream;” Cub Scout Pack 475 joined us in worship
► February 2010 The first 9:00 AM worship service was held; A Grief Support Group was offered; Winter Visitors were honored at a Snowbird Evening.
► February 2011 The Young Adult Bible Study Class began.

FLOWER CALENDAR
If you would like to place flowers in the sanctuary in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a special anniversary or occasion, sign up on the flower calendar on the bulletin board. As the date approaches, give particulars to Wanda Buchanan for the Sunday bulletin.

IN HOUSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE
• One or two volunteers are needed to assist Lois Cox on Saturdays replacing offering envelopes, pens, visitor cards, etc. in the chair pockets. If you live close to the church and can spare 30-45 minutes, please see Lois for times.
• A signup sheet is being circulated for nursery workers on Wednesday nights. Volunteers are needed if we are to offer this service. See Kathy Stryker if you can serve on a rotation basis.
• Do you have a green thumb? Weeding of the plant beds and watering flowering plants can be done on a “drop by” basis as it suits your schedule. Planting flowers which will bloom around Easter time would enhance our Taylor Road church sign.

♥ Answers to Bible Quiz ♥
1. Sarah 6. Ruth
2. Esther 7. Michal & Abigail
3. Rebekah 8. Jezebel
4. Zipporah 9. Elizabeth
5. Rachel 10. Priscilla