Students Are in Town

August 17th, 2024
by Jennie Edwards Bertrand

Dear Hope,
The EBs live one mile from ISU and 2 blocks from IWU. Even without being on campus everyday as I once was, you can tell students are back in town! It's in the air. And I can hear the BHS marching band practicing from my back yard. All signs point to back-to-school!
If I'm being real, I'm still not done with summer. Van and his D87 friends spent all day Friday at the pool while their Unit 5 buddies were in their 2nd day of classes. And Wesleyan students still have a second before they start, too. But, soon all the students and professors and teachers will be back at it.
Tomorrow in worship, we'd like to pray for and honor all the educators and students in both services of worship. If you have a backpack or messenger bag or tote you or your child will use, bring it to worship! While this is a common tradition in many other churches in town, it will be our first year doing this. Mary Harsh has created bag tags for everyone to remember that no matter what is happening at school, they are loved and valued by God and their faith community.
See You Tomorrow, Jennie

Hope Youth is Back!!
We all know the congregations that have big or active youth ministries, also have youth ministry staff. Hope does not yet have staff, but we DO have junior and senior high students and we DO love them.(Maybe you'd like to volunteer an hour or two/month with our students either in the a.m. or p.m.?)
Either way, tomorrow we are starting Hope Youth! We know that every family has a different schedule and practices and travel sports and rehearsals, so we are offering two times:

Sunday Mornings 11-Noon - Conversation and Connection in the Youth Corner (the back part of the Gathering Space)
Sunday Evenings 7:30-9:00 - Activities, Service, Conversation, and More.

Tomorrow morning, Em (our nursery coordinator) will lead a conversation. And tomorrow evening, without much planning or advanced notice, all the junior and senior high students are invited to go bowling at our next door neighbor, with Mary and I. Drop-off and Pick-up will be at the church. If you can send your student with $10, great. Or it will covered.

Student & Parent & Volunteers Meeting & Potluck - Sept 8th at 6pm
Students and Parents and Volunteers let's gather for a planning meeting and potluck on September 8th at 6pm.
I'll share a calendar for this academic year, we'll look at any gaps in volunteer needs, and figure it out together!

Deadpool and Wolverine
Tomorrow is our second week of Hope at the Movies. We'll continue with a look at Deadpool and Wolverine. A panel of Marvel-lovers has come together to introduce this movie and share the overlaps between these characters, who we are, and our faith!

Thank You to Hope's Young Adults!
I was blown away last Sunday when almost THIRTY young adults showed up at my house for a cookout! It was so fun!
Here's what we're thinking for the moment - monthly fun gatherings to continue to build connections.
September - TBD
October 20th 6pm (BLOCK YOUR CALENDAR NOW): Drag N' Paint comes to Hope!
November - Friendsgiving Potluck
December - Christmas Party