Welcome to Hope Church

Get Connected

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What would life be like without our relation-ships? We were created for connecting both to God and to one another. At Hope Church, we take this value of connecting seriously and infuse it into everything we do. Our Hope family experiences connection through a variety of ministry settings where we see God at work. We invite you to take a look at the variety of venues Hope offers for building meaningful relationships which not only offer the joy of fellowship, but also grow us, as a church body closer to our Lord.

Crossroads Class -

Each Sunday, following the 9:30 a.m. worship service, adults and children of all ages gather in discussion groups to delve deeper into God’s Word (based on the morning’s sermon) and apply it personally in their families and professional lives. Classes for all ages begin at 10:45 a.m. and conclude promptly at 11:30 a.m. Snacks are served to all (hot coffee and tea for the adults). Crossroads is appropriate for everyone and is a fabulous format for deeper connection with God and his family.

Welcome Coffees -

Welcome Coffee provides an informal setting for newcomers to meet and get to know Pastor Dave and other leaders of Hope Church. The coffees are hosted in Dave’s office during the Crossroads hour and a brief overview of Hope’s mission and ministries is presented. The gathering also provides an opportunity for newcomers to ask Dave questions about Hope and learn ways to become involved in the life of the church. Childcare is provided during the meeting.

All Church Lunches -

The all church luncheon is always a popular favorite at Hope. We gather once a month after the worship service and Crossroads to connect with one another in a casual setting. Friendships are deepened amongst the adults and children enjoy fellowship in a family atmosphere. The luncheon is a nice venue for getting and staying connected.

Family Life Events

Join us for special connecting activities such as:

• Church at the Park

• Progressive Dinner

• Kayak Day

• Couples Dinners and more!

Check the Hope Calendar for current events!

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Hope Partnership Classes

At Hope Church, we believe God calls His followers to exercise their faith through a local church in a united, connected way as His body. God provides an illustration in Romans 12:4-5, Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Today, an effective way of living this calling is what many churches refer to as “church membership.” Joining a church is a good way of practicing God’s call to unity and inter-connectedness in the body of Christ. Many view the term membership as exclusive or formal, so we choose to refer to this process as partnering with Hope in fulfilling God’s calling as a church.

The Discovering Church Partnership class is a six session series covering the following topics:

• Hope Church Vision and Mission

• Our Beliefs, Part 1

• Our Beliefs, Part 2

• How to Grow as a Christian

• Discovering Your Best Fit for Service

• How to be a World Influencer for Christ

Classes are led by Pastor Dave and consist of teaching, discussion and occasional homework. Meetings are held Sundays during Crossroads and typically consist of 10-20 adults and teens (age 16 and up). Requirements for partnership include:

• You believe in Christ as your Savior and are following Him as your life’s Leader.

• You participate in and complete the Partnership class series (we don’t transfer memberships).

• You agree with our core beliefs presented in our Statement of Faith.

• You sign our Partnership Covenant as a commitment to living out your role as a member of the body of Christ at Hope.

Everyone interested in becoming a part of what God is doing at Hope is welcome. To participate in our next class, please sign-up through Pastor Dave by calling the office at 762-0706 Ext. 12 or email Dave at: dave.gish@hopechurchct.org

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Small Groups

If you’re looking for a place to make some new friends, experience a sense of community and find people to journey together with you in your faith, small groups are the place for you.

What’s a small group? A small group is made up of three to sixteen people who meet regularly (at least twice a month) for the purpose of Bible study, fellowship, prayer, encouragement or service with the focus of the group remaining on growing in Christ together.

What kind of groups are there at Hope? Most of our groups meet September through May and include:

Middle School Youth Groups (Oasis link)

High School Youth Groups (Oasis link)

Men’s Study Groups (Adults page)

Women’s Study Groups (Adults page)

Home Small Groups (married and singles meeting in homes in various towns)

You can become involved in any of these groups by contacting Pastor Dave at 762-0706 Ext. 12 or email Dave at: dave.gish@hopechurchct.org

We will work with you during the "come and see" phase of exploring various groups. Once you find a group that’s right for you, we ask you to commit to regular attendance in order to gain the most benefit from meeting and growing in your relationships with others in your faith.

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PRAYER

Prayer is at the foundation of everything we do as a church and is crucial to living out our relationship with Jesus. We offer several opportunities where you can either seek prayer or join with others in prayer:

1. Prayer Request Team -- Email or phone in your prayer requests to the Prayer Team at: prayerathope@gmail.com

Our team will commit to praying for your request.

2. Prayer on Sundays -- After each worship service we have members of the Prayer Team available to pray with you for any need.

3. Prayer for Hope -- We hold prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9:00 a.m. to pray for all the needs of the Hope family.

4. Concerts of Prayer -- These dynamic evening events are held throughout the year and unite the church family in prayer and worship

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A Place to Serve - Get connected through Service Opportunities at Church in the Community and the World...

God did not put you here simply to take up space and consume resources. He created you uniquely and has blessed you with knowledge, abilities, experiences and spiritual gifts, in order that you can serve him by serving others and make a difference in their lives. Hope Church is committed to equipping you and guiding you to your perfect spot for serving, where what you have to offer intersects with a real need in the world and lives are impacted for God. We believe everyone needs to find a place to serve God, either in the church, or in the world. Here are just a few of the various service opportunities we offer:

In- Church Opportunities to Serve:

Nursery Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry,

Worship Ministry, Technical Support Ministry, Welcoming Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Prayer Ministry, Small Group Leaders, Leadership Teams, CARS Ministry, Decorating Team, Meal Team, First Step Preschool, Wedding Team, Funeral Team, Hospitality Team

Serving Partnerships

Young Life

Young Lives

Bridgeport Rescue Mission

The Bridge Cafe, Norwalk (A Partnership of Bridgeport Rescue Mission and The Bridge Church)

H.O.E. (Hope for Orphans of Ethiopia) Ministries (see below)

Pivot House (Norwalk)

Single Event Service Opportunities

Summer Kids Camp (VBS)

Kids Annual Outreach Events

Passion Road Good Friday Drama Experience

Living Nativity Outreach (actors, hospitality, set, publicity, etc.)

Missions Team, Short-Term Missions,

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MISSIONS - LOCAL AND GLOBAL

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Global Missions

Hope supports numerous missions around the world. The Missions Team provides not only financial support, but also prayer and encouragement to these individuals serving God throughout the world. One of the most significant events the Missions Team sponsors is our annual Missions Conference each fall. During this weekend, Hope opens its doors to many of our missionaries offering face-to-face encouragement, support and prayer to our partners in spreading the Gospel. In turn, the missionaries educate the Hope family on their successes, challenges and the future goals of their respective ministries. If you would like to become involved in this vital ministry of Hope, please contact Bill Duncan, Director of Missions at

203.846.0272 203.846.0272 or via email: bill.duncan@hopechurchct.org

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Hoe Ministries

HOE Ministries, Inc. (Hope for Orphans of Ethiopia), is a non-profit Christian organization founded in January 2007, committed to reaching out to the impoverished orphan children of Ethiopia.

* The Ethiopian AIDS pandemic has afflicted this country of approximately 77 million people and has left countless numbers of homeless children living on the streets and in the many orphanages throughout the country.

* Ethiopia is now in a time of crisis: drought, crop failure, and the rising cost of food contribute to a countrywide famine.

HOE Ministries mission is to provide the immediate basic necessities of food, clothing, medical care, and education and most importantly, the security of a warm and friendly family environment along with a hope for the future. Tom Mustico, founder of HOE Ministries, established this non-profit organization focused solely on helping the poor, parentless and destitute children in Ethiopia. It is supported solely by individuals and organizations from Ethiopia and overseas. Since being founded in 1992 under supervision by Hanna Teshome, 22 orphan "homes" have been established, caring for over 180 children on a full-time basis, providing housing, food, nutrition, healthcare and educational needs."

For more information, visit: www.hoeministries.org

"Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God" ~ William Carey