HANFIELD
DISCIPLES MAKING DISCIPLES
SUNDAY MORNINGS
Classes for Everyone
9:15 AM
Worship Service (On-Site & Online)
10:30 AM
LIVE STREAM – SUNDAY @ 10:30 AM
Nothing beats gathering with the church live and in person, but we’ll maintain a library to help those that can’t join us or those looking before they visit us.
Staff
A Picture of Forgiveness
READ
Take some time before you begin to rest in silence. Let your mind settle. Silently read the passage.
Genesis 50:15-21
[If you want to read more, like I did today, read these chapters in Genesis, too: 37, 42, 45 & 50]
THINK
Read the passage again, this time aloud, listening specifically for a word or phrase that touches your heart. When you finish, close your eyes. Recall the word or phrase, taking it in and mulling it over. After a few moments, write it down. No need to write anything else, yet.
PRAY
Read the passage aloud again, searching for how forgiveness is illustrated in the text. Think about what it feels like to be the forgiver, as well as what it feels like to be the forgiven. How is this expression of love meaningful to you? Briefly note your thoughts.
Stop and listen for what God is inviting you to do or become this week. Perhaps his invitation will have to do with a new perspective on who you are in his eyes, or maybe you sense an action he is calling you to take. After your prayer, write down what you feel invited to do.
LIVE
Take time to meditate on the following quote from the Book of Common Prayer, and let it become your own, “Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; nor the hope of the poor be taken away.”
Read more...
Praying for Bhutan
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your prosperity, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Hebrews 10:34
Until the 1980’s, Bhutan was largely isolated from the rest of the world by its Himalayan geography, poor infrastructure and poor international relations. In 2008, the country adopted a multiparty constitutional democracy and implemented a new constitution that officially protects freedom of religion. Most Christians in Bhutan are of Nepali heritage; however, believers are focused on reaching ethnic Bhutanese people with the message of Christ. The few Bhutanese Christian leaders in the country are focusing on biblical and ministerial studies.
Christians make up about 1.5 percent of the population. The king is considered to be the defender of the Buddhist faith. The government works covertly to discourage the spread of Christianity. Christians are considered followers of a Western religion. There are not church buildings in Bhutan. Christians often lose their jobs, are passed over for jobs or are not able to find jobs because of their faith. Many Christians must practice their faith in secret – burying their dead at night or deep in the forest in hidden locations.
Read more...
Like a Firework…
Read: Matthew 6:19-23
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples not to store up treasures for themselves on earth, but to store up treasures in heaven, “where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.”
St. Augustine once said that since every creature is made ex nihilo, it carries with it the heritage of nonbeing. There is a kind of penumbra or shadow of nothingness that haunts every finite thing.
This is a rather high philosophical way of stating what all of us know in our bones: no matter how good, beautiful, true, or exciting a thing or state of affairs is here below, it is destined to pass into nonbeing. Think of a gorgeous firework that bursts open like a giant flower and then, in the twinkling of an eye, is gone forever. Everything is haunted by nonbeing; everything, finally, is that firework.
But this is not meant to depress us; it is meant to redirect our attention precisely to the treasures of heaven, to the eternity of God. Once we see everything in light of God, we can learn to love the things of this world without clinging to them and without expecting too much of them. Think of how much disappointment and heartache could be avoided if we only learned this truth!
Read more...
Cynical or Successful?
Right now, you are becoming either cynical or successful. One thing will determine which you will become. Over my decades as a leader, I’ve seen influencers whose hearts have grown cold or were set on fire. When I noticed what made the difference in these leaders, I made a commitment to follow the example of those whose hearts were on fire. Here’s how to do it…
We’ve all been around cynical people and influencers. They are no fun. They are a downer at parties and in conversations. But what makes them like this? As an influencer yourself, you will need to understand what makes people become this way.
And here is how they became cynical…THEY DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THEIR HURT.
You will become hurt in ministry leadership and in life in general. Many times this hurt will catch you off guard. Someone will say or do something or NOT say or do something that will hurt you. I’ve found that many times in my own life, the people who have hurt me had no idea or intention to do so. And let me be clear, I’ve done my share of hurting others too.
But, I have also had many experiences of people intentionally trying to hurt me. Make no mistake, there are some mean people out there. There are some people out there who don’t like me and talk bad about me. People may consider me their enemy, but the feeling is not mutual. I remain steadfast in my position: I have no enemies.
I could tell you some of my own horror stories. I’ve been cheated, stolen from, lied to and about, betrayed, and on and on. And if you’ve been leading for any amount of time, you have your own horror stories too. Some are worse than others. My point is we all will become hurt in life and leadership.
Do you know what the #1 reason is people leave ministry leadership in my experience? They get hurt, and they don’t know how to handle it. They allow it to derail them from leading and influencing. This is tragic because I’ve seen great leaders fall away from being an influencer because they didn’t know how to respond to hurt.
If you DO NOT handle hurt the right way you will…
…quit
…become critical
…become cynical
…feel sorry for yourself
…allow your heart to grow cold
If you DO handle hurt the right way you will…
…go on
…become tougher
…become tenacious
…show grace and mercy
…allow your heart to grow stronger
In my next post, I’ll share the 3 ways you can handle hurt.
Keeping leading!
Jeff Eckart, CEO
Never The Same
Read more...
Worship
Corporate Worship: Sunday Mornings
On Sunday mornings at Hanfield, our goal is to have a holistic Worship Experience. We worship through song, tithing and offerings, testimonies, dancing, Bible-based sermons, and prayer.
Our children also praise God with singing, Bible stories, memory verses, and activities that help them learn the lesson for the day. A nursery is available for infants and toddlers as well.
We want the whole family to join us for worship on Sunday morning. There is something for younger kids to do each hour, but we encourage you to have them join you for a worship service as soon as you feel they are ready.
Personal Worship: Every Day
Your goal every day is simple: to praise God. In everything you do every day—work, play, hobbies, chores, relationships, family—everything. Part of it involves doing some of the same things we do corporately on Sunday mornings: giving your time, praying for each other, and studying God’s word.
This tells God, “I love you. I trust you. I am committed to you.”
Get involved!
Commit to worshiping God corporately on Sunday morning every week.
Commit to worshiping God in everything you do every day.
Connect
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. —Acts 2:42
Adult Connections
Adult Bible Fellowships
Many people call them Small Groups, but we call them Adult Bible Fellowships (ABFs). ABFs generally meet on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM prior to our Worship Service (10:30 AM), but they can meet whenever and wherever groups want or need to gather! ABFs are designed for you to connect with others in a smaller, more intimate setting.
Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling our life. This group meets locally at Hanfield on Thursday nights from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.
Worship Community
On Thursday nights (7:00 PM – ?) you can come and go from the sanctuary as we prepare the music for the weekend service. This is not a service as much as it is a gathering of worshippers. This is an opportunity to come and worship and share together as a hybrid of our weekly corporate worship and daily personal worship experiences.
Youth Connections
Our youth group (grades 7-12) explores and discovers Biblical truths about topics relevant to their lives. Not only do they meet for Bible study and fun, but they also learn about how they can live their faith in the real world. They don’t just talk about it—they get out into the community and serve. They meet on Sundays at 9:15 AM and at 6:00 PM. For more information about the youth and their upcoming activities, check out their Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/HanfieldYouth/).
Kids Connections
Nursery & Pre-K Ministry
Available during both the 9:15 AM and 10:30 AM hours on Sunday.
K-4th Grade
Our 9:15 AM hour is our discipleship hour for these groups. These groups then join us for worship at 10:30 AM and then head upstairs for their own special time together after the pastoral prayer time.
Preteen
5th & 6th graders meet on Sunday at 9:15 AM throughout the year in the Stained Glass Room. Club 56 is the title for their 6-7:30pm gathering during the school year and occasionally have a special party or go on an outreach trip.
GAP Kids
GAP Kids is a prayer group for kids K-6th grade who are serious about prayer.
Special Events
We have many special events throughout the year, and we always encourage our kids to invite their friends. These include Vacation Bible School, Easter Egg Hunt, Roller Skating Party, Pool Party, Jingle Jam, and more! For more information about the youth and their upcoming activities, check out their Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/HanfieldKids).
Get Involved!
Please reach out to one of the groups that interests you! We would love to have you and your family join in.
Serve
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to SERVE others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. —1 Peter 4:10
- God wants us to know about our spiritual gifts so we can grow.
- When we serve others, we are fulfilled.
- When we grow in our faith, others grow too.
- When others grow, God’s Kingdom grows.
What Are Spiritual Gifts?
A spiritual gift is simply a special talent or ability that God has given you. There are many spiritual gifts, and although the list varies depending on how one interprets scripture, all of them are useful for serving others to help further God’s Kingdom.
What are YOUR Spiritual Gifts? At Hanfield, we believe that everyone has at least one spiritual gift, and many have 2, 3, or even more. Do you know what yours are? If not, there are a few ways to find out: Pick up a Spiritual Gifts Inventory at the Welcome Center on Sunday morning, or take an online test (try this one at SpiritualGiftsTest.com). Once you find out what your spiritual gifts are, start looking for service opportunities that match your gifts.