3/10 Sunday Announcements

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1. *LENT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE – As we continue into this season of lent, we are using the online devotional by our friends at Highland Park Presbyterian Church of Dallas. One Scripture text is given per week, with different aspects of the text highlighted throughout each day to draw us deeper into God’s Word. This week’s text is JOHN 19:25-27 with the theme, “The Provision of People.” In these days leading up to Easter, let us grow our hunger for the LORD through a fresh devotion to Him! The devotional can be found at the QR code or unlisted online webpage here: https://www.hosannapc.org/lent.html
2. *NEW TABLE SIGNS AND NEWCOMER’S WELCOMING PLATE SHEETS! – Just another reminder that we have table signs and plate sheets for new and returning visitors. Be the hands and feet of Jesus in serving our guests in table fellowship. Let each empty plate sheet remind us to always be reaching out to those around us to share the living bread of Jesus Christ and to grow together in reflecting His image and love into the world.
3. *TODAY’S LUNCH MENU – DRIED POLLOCK FISH AND RADISH SOUP (boog-uh-guk)! – Also a children’s menu of seaweed and rice will be provided weekly. As time allows, join us after-service to break bread together in the gym as an important part of our worship on the LORD’s day. Today’s menu is delicious Korean dried pollock fish and radish soup! Thank the team that prepared it by enjoying the soup!
4. *TODAY’S KITCHEN MINISTRY continues – Thank you to yesterday’s 9:30am food prep servants (Heather Lee; Ashley Chung) and today’s 12:40pm dishwashing servants (Edward Jeon; Aiden Song) for their ministry. For those willing to serve in this ministry, please see Elder Heather Lee.
5. *TABLES/CHAIRS SETUP/CLEANUP continues – For all Sundays in March, Hosanna is taking stewardship of the 12:45pm Saturday setting-up and 1:00pm Sunday cleaning-up of the tables/chairs, seating for 300 people, in the gym for Sunday lunch. *Special thank you to those who helped yesterday’s setup. Cleanup continues today at 1:00pm with table wipe-down and chairs/tables cleanup. Thank you!
6. *TODAY, PRAISE TEAM meeting, 1:30pm @ Corner Conference Room – The Praise Team and Media Team Coordinators will be gathering after the tables/chairs cleanup for an important meeting concerning future direction and discernment.
7. *THIS FRIDAY (3/15), AGAPE life group, 6:30pm! – This Friday, the Lee’s (Heidi and Sam) have generously opened their home. Thank you in advance to the Lee’s for their godly hospitality. We invite all young adults to this Friday’s gathering. RSVP to Deacon Hana or in the group chat. Pray for our AGAPE ministry of college, postgraduates, and newlyweds, gathering every Friday evening at 6:30pm at various homes, and our shepherd, Deacon Hana Lee, as she guides this precious family.
8. *NEXT SUNDAY (3/17), SESSION/ELDER BOARD meeting, 1:45pm @ Corner Conference Room – The Board will be gathering for their monthly meeting. Pray for our Elders and overseeing shepherds in their gathering.
9. *APRIL SPRING PICNIC! – On 4/21 (Sun), we will not gather at our church facility but at Mary Heads Carter Park in Carrollton for an outdoor Sunday worship, followed by a delicious BBQ picnic lunch with games/fellowship from 10am to 3pm. *The purpose of our Spring Picnic is to be a “House of Prayer for All Nations” (ISAIAH 56:1-8), calling all to true righteous worship (not sourced in a location) and mobilizing cross-generational fellowship across our congregation (from children to adults) to inspire godly unity and outreach to our neighbors in need of His love and His house. As we keep announcing this blessed picnic worship throughout the next few weeks, familiarize yourself with the location change for that particular Sunday (4/21). Enjoy God’s beautiful outdoor weather and creation as we become a house of prayer for all nations! *DISCLAIMER: This event is not sponsored by the City of Carrollton.
10. *KINGDOM EXPANSION PRAYER – After two complete cycles of praying for God’s Kingdom to expand in the state of Texas through the work of our Texas Presbytery and ECO denominational family, we will be moving to pray for a wider vision of God’s Kingdom to expand through the global prayer guide for the persecuted church and persecuted Christians worldwide from The Voice of the Martyrs organization. Today, we are praying for our persecuted Afghan brothers and sisters in Christ.

 
**Prayer Topic: Persecuted Christians in Afghanistan
      The Good News of Christ reached Afghanistan by the second century, but today there are no church buildings. Cultural and religious opposition to the gospel as well as significant security issues remain great challenges for all missions efforts in this Central Asian nation. And sadly, most Afghans have never heard the gospel, do not know a Christian and have been indoctrinated to follow Muhammad’s teachings without question. Radical Islam and violent tribal political activity make the nation a difficult and dangerous place for Christians to practice their faith. There is, nevertheless, a special unity among Christians laboring for the gospel in Afghanistan. Indigenous, near-culture and expatriate believers are boldly taking risks and using every possible opportunity to help believers grow in faith and connect with local house churches. While church growth has been slow among the more than 40 unique people groups, significant Christian growth has occurred among the Hazara people, and members of other people groups are also coming to know Christ.
      Afghan Christians cannot worship openly. They must worship in homes or other small venues, and evangelism is forbidden. Christians and seekers are highly secretive about their faith or interest in Christianity, especially since the resurgence of the Taliban. Beatings, torture and kidnappings are routine for Christians in Afghanistan. Although waves of Christians have fled the country to worship openly, some Afghan Christians have stayed to maintain a witness for Christ. A small number of Christians are martyred every year in Afghanistan, but their deaths generally occur without public knowledge. A few are also in prison, but imprisonment is not common. Christian converts from Islam are often killed by family members or other radicalized Muslims before any legal proceedings can begin.
 
The Scripture for today is:
 
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12)
 
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:12-14)
 
Prayer by Pastor Chester:
Our Father, we lift up to You our Afghan brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for their peace, protection and provision for them and their families. We pray for their small gatherings in prayer will uplift their souls with encouragement, training, and true worship to keep following after Your Son in the power of Your Spirit. We pray for front-line workers involved in evangelism, discipleship, and house churches throughout Afghanistan – strengthen them and make their work fruitful through Bible translation, radio, TV, and social media ministries. May it bear much fruit to reach more of the Afghan people. We pray our brothers and sisters will persevere through opposition, even at great sacrifice to their families and safety. We pray for greater access to Afghanistan, that Your Word may go forth to every language, tribe, tongue. Through the Savior whom You sent for Afghanistan and the Afghan people, their Deliverer Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.