1/5/2025 New Year's Sunday Announcements

1. *HAPPY NEW YEAR’S FIRST LORD’S DAY of 2025 & WELCOME to HOSANNA! – *Praise God for granting us a first Sunday in 2025! We hope you had a joyful and safe new year’s celebration this week! Warmest welcome to all of you, especially if you are visiting or re-visiting! Please let our Welcoming Team give you our welcoming gift of a t-shirt and beige multi-purpose bag! Fill-out a yellow newcomer’s contact card so that we can keep in touch! We welcome you into this family of Christ’s loving arms and remain here for you as His body to grow and flourish together!
2. *DISMISSAL of children (kinder to 5th grade) to Children’s Ministry! – At this time, children from kindergarten to 5th grade can head over to Minister Sewon Cho’s children’s ministry – please proceed to the children’s chapel down the hallway to the left! *Preschool worship children should already be in the preschool worship room with Director Rachel and assistant Ashley, and will continue to begin simultaneously at 10:40am in the preschool worship room.
3. *SEND-OFF BLESSING to COLLEGE & POSTGRADUATE & POST-SR. HIGH STUDENTS! – It was a blessing to see many of the remote college and postgrad students back on break. For most, today is their last Lord’s Day with us before returning to their schools. Pray and bless them!
4. *CONGRULATIONS to Elder Heather on becoming a grandmother! – Elder Heather’s granddaughter – Leia Jeong – was born last Monday evening (12/30/2024). Let’s keep little Leia’s nurture and spiritual growth in our prayers. Congratulations!
5. *NEW SEASON OF BAPTISM OR CONFIRMATION ORIENTATIONS beginning 1/19 (Sunday) – A new season of those ready or inquiring about baptism or confirmation of faith (if infant baptized) will begin on 1/19 (Sunday). Let us pray for all those who are being led to faith as well as confirming their faith in Christ! See our Pastor for more interest and more details.
6. *2024 GIVING STATEMENT REQUEST - Sign-up for your 2024 Giving Statement in the office during the full month of January for your tax-filing purposes. See Elder Heather Lee for details.
   
7. *NOTICE for NEXT SUNDAY (1/12): CONGREGATIONAL MEETING, 11:45am after-service – We encourage all covenant partners to be present for important updates regarding the changes and future direction of our spiritual leadership, exciting upcoming major events into 2025, and a majority-voice vote to pass the 2025 projected budget for the coming year. Let us exercise our covenant responsibilities with joy and faithfulness!
8. *NOTICE for NEXT SUNDAY (1/12): COMMISSIONING/SEND-OFF BLESSING – During worship, we will hold a sacred consecrated time to commission and send-off with our blessing and prayers those whom the Lord has called to the next chapter of covenant life in Christ’s church to fulfill the third pillar of our vision – to go as commissioned ambassadors for the making and maturing of more followers of Jesus Christ! Let us prepare our hearts and ready ourselves to bless with Christ’s hands and heart!
9. *TODAY (1/5) BREAKOUT DISCUSSION GROUPS after-service – Take time to gather with your group #’s, discuss together the spiritual questions, and pray. May the Lord Jesus draw near to us as we do!
10. *TODAY (1/5) TABLES/CHAIRS CLEANUP in GYM CAFETERIA afer-lunch – Bethany Korean Church has assigned Hosanna the entire month of January for this service. *JOHN families life group is scheduled to lead us in today’s tables/chairs cleanup after-lunch, around 1:15pm. Consider supporting and helping them in this labor of Christ’s love! *JAMES families life group is scheduled for setup this Saturday (1/11), and *AGAPE young adults life group is scheduled for cleanup next Sunday (1/12).
11. *THIS FRIDAY (1/10) AGAPE young adults life group, 6:30pm – The AGAPE young adult family has kicked-off their 2025 gatherings with Shepherd and Elder Patrick Liu! Join us!
12. *THIS SATURDAY (1/11) KITCHEN MINISTRY – It’s that time again to assist monthly our Bethany Korean kitchen team in the breaking bread ministry. Take note of our covenant schedules - *JAMES families life group is scheduled to help 9:30am kitchen prep this Saturday (1/11). *JOHN families life group is scheduled to help 12:40pm dishwashing next Sunday (1/12). Thank you for serving this labor of Christ’s love for His table!
13. *NEXT SUNDAY (1/12) STAFF GATHERING, 1:15pm @ Corner Conference Room – The staff will hold their monthly gathering. Pray for our honored staff members and support them!
14. *KINGDOM EXPANSION PRAYER – This week’s Kingdom expansion prayers will focus on our 2025 New Year & January Tables/Chairs Ministry

 
Scripture:
 
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (ISAIAH 43:18-19)
 
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (EPHESIANS 4:22-24)
 
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (LAMENTATIONS 3:22-24)
 
Prayer (written by Pastor Chester):
Heavenly Father,
We give thanks for Your grace that makes this earth rotate around the sun once more. So also, let our lives center around Your eternal Son Christ Jesus, to see His glory again through His Church again. We remember not the former things, nor consider the things of the old patterns of thought and life. Behold, You are doing a new thing! It is springing forth! Help us perceive it, Lord. Make a way in the wilderness! Make rivers in our deserts! We put off our old selves in 2024, those that belong to our former manner of life in corrupt deceitful desires. Renew the spirit of our minds to put on the new self, created after Your likeness in true righteousness and holiness! Lord Jesus, let us be with You and like You more this new year of 2025. Your steadfast love never ceases, Your mercies never come to an end, for in 2025 they will be new every morning for us. Great is Your faithfulness! You are our portion. Holy Spirit, we hope in You. In month, we lean on Your strength to fill us to wipe tables, fold tables, setup chairs, prep food, wash dishes – help us be lowly servants as Christ was for us, to bless Your table of fellowship. Thank You for humbling us, and keeping Hosanna pressing on with the heart of Christ Jesus more and more, in His resurrected Name, Amen & amen.