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1. *WELCOME to HOSANNA! – *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 beige multi-purpose bag! Stay with us after-service for our breakout discussion groups and a time to break bread together in the gymnasium as well. 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 (children (kinder to 5th grade) to Children’s Chapel with Minister Sunny! – At this time, children from kindergarten to 5th grade can head over to Pastor Sunny’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. ***CONTINUING TODAY, after-service BREAKOUT DISCUSSION GROUPS! – Thank you for staying for a few minutes after-service and being a blessing to one another through the breakout discussion group ministry. It’s really exciting to see the randomized groupings every week and who God will bring us to talk and pray with after-service, isn’t it? Let’s do it again! After-service, gather with your same number (written on the bottom of the sermon note-page in the bulletin program) and spend 15 to 20 minutes discussing the one applicational takeaway question (that will be projected on the screen as well) about the message preached, and close in praying for one another.
4. *TODAY until NEXT SUNDAY, PRAYER PERIOD for ORDAINED DEACON CANDIDATES – We thank God for the end of our prayerful search for the next 2024-2025 class of servants for ordained office. Last Sunday, you received a handout of the candidates. *If you have not received the handout, pick one up at the welcoming table and their candidacy profile is also on the wallboard. We ask the congregation – all the covenant partners – all who call Hosanna their spiritual home – to enter into a period of prayer for the candidates for this final week before the vote. *Please do not share the handouts or copy them. *If you are not a Covenant Partner, we encourage you to courageously step into full membership to participate in this historic election and vote for the 2024-2025 class of Ordained Officers (see Elder Heather).
5. *THIS FRIDAY (9/6) AGAPE Life Group, 6:30pm @ location TBA – The young adult AGAPE life group will be gathering for a meal and a time to share life around “Session 2: Philippians 1:12-26.” Pray for our AGAPE ministry of college, postgraduates, and newlyweds, gathering every Friday evening at 6:30pm at various locations, with their shepherd, Elder Patrick Liu, guiding them, as they journey through the letter to the Philippians with leadership coach Jo Saxton.
6. *THIS SATURDAY (9/7) JAMES life group, 4:00pm @ Ezra Chapel – We invite all our adults and families part of the JAMES life group (led by Chong Choe) to this Saturday’s gathering to share life through “Session 2: Time Is Never Lost.” Pray for our shepherd Chong Choe as he guides this precious family through their study on “Faith, Doubt and God’s Mysterious Timing: 30 Biblical Insights about the Way God Works” with speaker and author Laurie Short.
7. *NEXT SUNDAY (9/8) after-service, CONGREGATIONAL VOTE – Next week, we will postpone our Breakout Discussion Group time after-service and hold a congregational meeting to vote for the new candidates for the office of ordained Deacon. *This is our due diligence and spiritual responsibility as covenant partners and we ask all to take this seriously and reverently before the LORD – for all who are called to build God’s Kingdom at Hosanna. Come ready to cast a vote of “confidence” (meaning, yes I approve and support the candidate) or “no confidence” (meaning, no I disapprove and decline the candidate). *You must mark either option for each candidate. There is no “neutral” option. If there is no marking for one or multiple candidates, your ballot will not be counted. All ballots will be counted and the results given immediately after the vote. Each candidate must receive a 2/3 majority vote to pass candidacy. We sincerely ask for your full participation in this historic election. *Again, if you are not a Covenant Partner, we encourage you to step into full membership to participate (see Elder Heather).
8. *KINGDOM EXPANSION PRAYER – For this final week, our prayers will center on the Deacon candidates, for God’s Kingdom to expand through our new election of His servants.

 
*The Scripture for today is:
 
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. (ACTS 6:2-6)

1. *WELCOME to HOSANNA! – *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 beige multi-purpose bag! Stay with us after-service for our breakout discussion groups and a time to break bread together in the gymnasium as well. 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 (children (kinder to 5th grade) to Children’s Chapel with Minister Sunny! – At this time, children from kindergarten to 5th grade can head over to Pastor Sunny’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. ***CONTINUING TODAY, after-service BREAKOUT DISCUSSION GROUPS! – Thank you for staying for a few minutes after-service and being a blessing to one another through the breakout discussion group ministry. It’s really exciting to see the randomized groupings every week and who God will bring us to talk and pray with after-service, isn’t it? Let’s do it again! After-service, gather with your same number (written on the bottom of the sermon note-page in the bulletin program) and spend 15 to 20 minutes discussing the one applicational takeaway question (that will be projected on the screen as well) about the message preached, and close in praying for one another.
4. *LAST TIME, TODAY! GYMNASIUM TABLE & CHAIRS CLEANUP – *Wow, it is our last week doing this labor of love! Thank you to all who have picked up a chair, unfolded a table, wiped down and cleaned up our gymnasium seating for Sunday’s breaking of bread ministry throughout the month of August! You have done incredible work for the LORD! Our final cleanup continues today after-lunch at approximately 1:00pm with wiping down the tables, folding back the chairs and tables – for the final time of 2024! Thank you in advance for all the lifting, stacking, and setting!
5. *TODAY, ORDAINED OFFICER CANDIDACY INFORMATION – We thank God for the end of our prayerful search for the next 2024-2025 class of Deacons/Elders. Today in your handouts, we present the candidates to you that the Session has prayerfully supported. We ask the congregation – all the covenant partners – all who call Hosanna their spiritual home – to enter into a time of prayer for the candidates for the next two weeks, and be ready to cast a vote for each of them, as the Lord leads, on 9/8 (Sunday). *Please do not share the handouts or copy them. *If you are not a Covenant Partner, we encourage you to courageously step into full membership to participate in this historic election and vote for the 2024-2025 class of Ordained Officers (see Elder Heather).
6. *TODAY, BETHANY CHILDREN’S MINISTRY PTA (parent-teacher) MEETING, 1:00pm @ Children’s Chapel – Parents, there is an important PTA meeting with Children’s Minister Sunny at 1:00pm in the Children’s Chapel, with discussions for the Christian education plan for the remaining year and future direction of the children’s ministry.
7. *TODAY, SESSION/ELDER BOARD gathering, 1:30pm @ Corner Conference Room – The Elder board will gather for their monthly meeting today for prayer, discernment, and direction to guide Hosanna into God’s future path and ways. Please pray for our elders!
8. *THIS FRIDAY (8/30) *BREAK WEEK* for AGAPE Life Group – The young adult AGAPE life group is taking a break this Friday. Pray for our AGAPE ministry of college, postgraduates, and newlyweds, gathering every Friday evening at 6:30pm at various locations, with their shepherd, Elder Patrick Liu, guiding them, as they journey through the letter to the Philippians with leadership coach Jo Saxton.
9. *THIS SATURDAY (8/31) JOHN life group (led by Elder Joung Park), 4:30pm @ Ezra Chapel – We invite all our adults and families part of the JOHN life group (led by Elder Joung) to this Saturday’s gathering. Pray for our shepherd Elder Joung as he guides this precious family.
10. *KINGDOM EXPANSION PRAYER – We are continuing 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 brothers and sisters in Christ residing in the country of China, east Asia.

 
     Revival and rapid church growth have characterized China’s churches since the 1990s. About 130 million Chinese are Christians, most of whom worship within the house church movement. Millions of others worship with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), which, as the only legal church, is controlled by the Communist government. Despite continuous pressure and oppression from the Communist government, house church leaders refuse to compromise the gospel by joining government-controlled churches. Because of decades of government oppression, many Chinese Christians do not have their own Bible or access to discipleship literature. Those living in rural areas have little access to Bibles and usually cannot afford them even when they are available. Bibles can be purchased at some bookstores operated by the TSPM, but rarely in significant numbers.
     Influenced by their atheistic government, many Chinese are nonreligious. About 20 percent are Buddhists and another 20 percent practice Chinese folk religion. 9 percent are Christians. In the early 2000s, many unregistered churches enjoyed some freedom from government intrusion and harassment despite their illegal status. However, in recent years restrictive religious regulations and persecution have increased significantly. Hundreds of churches have been forced to close, pastors and church members have been arrested or detained and the online sale of Bibles has been prohibited. The government has installed hundreds of millions of facial recognition cameras, many in or near churches, to identify those who attend worship services. Church leaders are under intense pressure to join the government-controlled TSPM. It is illegal to disciple anyone younger than 18. Christians are often charged with participating in cults or with other spurious accusations, such as “bad business practices” or “intent to undermine the state.”
 
*The Scripture for today is:
 
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ACTS 2:46-47)
 
Prayer by Pastor Chester:
 
Our Father in heaven, we bring before You our brothers and sisters in China, east Asia. Day by day, as they gather in their homes, worshipping You and sharing their bread together, would You add to their number those who are being saved? No matter how fierce the government tries to bring control, may Your untamable and uncontrollable Spirit go forth to reach the nation of China, to the farthest rural corners to the biggest city centers, with the gospel of Your only eternal Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! In the powerful name of Jesus, we speak against all idolatry, all folk religion, every atheistic spirit in this land.! Open up new churches despite the forceful closure of some. Open up the prison doors to free Your detained servants. Make way for more Bibles to get into the hands of our Chinese brothers and sisters, especially the children. Raise up a new generation of godly Chinese youth who will change the country for Your glory. Continue to make us Your house of prayer for east Asia and for all nations. Thank You for the grace to gather in freedom and to pray for China. In the risen Savior of the people of China, Jesus Christ we pray, Amen & amen.

1. *REMINDER: BACK in EZRA CHAPEL & keeping 10:40am START-TIME! – *As we are back in the Chapel, there is no more need to park near the south entrance side or enter through the south entryway or the gymnasium. Feel free to use our northeast lot and entrance directly closer to the Ezra Chapel. We are also keeping our accustomed new start-time of 10:40am so that our revised Sunday worship order can continue. Thank you for all the adjustments and understandings throughout the past two months!
2. *DISMISSAL (children (kinder to 5th grade) to Children’s Chapel with Minister Sunny! – Children from kindergarten to 5th grade, at this time you can head on over to Pastor’s Sunny’s children’s ministry – please proceed to the children’s chapel! *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. ***CONTINUING TODAY, AFTER-WORSHIP BREAKOUT DISCUSSION GROUPS! – Thank you for staying for a few minutes after-service and being a blessing to one another through the breakout discussion group ministry. It’s really exciting to see the randomized groupings every week and who God will bring us to talk and pray with after-service, isn’t it? Let’s do it again! After-service, gather with your same number (written on the bottom of the sermon note-page in the bulletin program) and spend 15 to 30 minutes (or more, as able!) discussing the one applicational takeaway question (that will be projected on the screen as well) about the message preached, and close in praying for one another.
4. *TODAY AND CONTINUING THROUGHOUT AUGUST, GYMNASIUM TABLE & CHAIRS SETTING & CLEANUP – It’s that time again for the entire month of August to setup and cleanup the gymnasium chairs and tables for Sunday breaking-bread ministry, seating for around 300 people. Yesterday, thank you to those who faithfully came to setup! Cleanup continues today after-lunch at approximately 1:00pm with wiping down the tables, folding back the chairs and tables. Thank you in advance for all the lifting, stacking, and setting! *We will continue the setup phase this Saturday (8/24) at 9:30am – please join us to serve this spiritual labor of love!
5. *TODAY, STAFF GATHERING, 1:30pm @ Corner Conference Room – The Hosanna staff will gather for their first meeting together. *Please pray for our honored staff servants (Director Rachel, Director Trey, and Pastor Chester) as they seek godly unity, humility, and faithful servanthood to flourish the Lord’s people and His church!
6. *TODAY, MEN’S PING-PONG FELLOWSHIP, time TBA @ Castle Hills Community Center (The Colony) – Let’s play ping-pong, brothers! See our organizer – Elder Joung – for more details.
7. *THIS FRIDAY (8/23) AGAPE life group FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITY NIGHT, 6:30pm @ location TBA – We invite all young adults to this Friday’s fellowship activity night! We’ll put a brief pause on the life studies through the letter to the Philippians and have a relaxed and fun time with an activity TBA. RSVP to interim shepherd Elder Patrick Liu or in the group chat. Please pray for our AGAPE ministry of college, postgraduates, and newlyweds, gathering every Friday evening at 6:30pm at various homes or at church, and our interim shepherd, Elder Patrick Liu, as he guides this precious family.
8. *THIS SATURDAY (8/24) JOSHUA life group (led by Chong Choe), 4:00pm @ Ezra Chapel – We invite all our adults and families part of Chong’s group to this Saturday’s gathering as they begin studies on, “Faith, Doubt, and God’s Mysterious Timing: 30 Biblical Insights about the Way God Works.” Childcare ministry will be provided. Pray our shepherd Chong Choe as he guides this precious family.
9. *NEXT SUNDAY (8/25) ORDAINED OFFICER CANDIDACY INFORMATION – We thank God for the end of our prayerful search for the next 2024-2025 class of Deacons/Elders. Next Sunday, we will present the candidates before you in a handout. We ask the congregation to enter a time of prayer for the candidates and be ready to cast a vote on 9/8.
10. *NEXT SUNDAY (8/25) BETHANY CHILDREN’S MINISTRY PTA (parent-teacher) MEETING, 1:00pm @ Children’s Chapel – Parents, there is an important PTA meeting with Children’s Minister Sunny at 1:00pm in the Children’s Chapel, with discussions for the Christian education plan for the remaining year and future direction of the children’s ministry.
11. *NEXT SUNDAY (8/25) SESSION/ELDER BOARD gathering, 1:30pm @ Corner Room – The elder board will gather for their monthly meeting next week for prayer, discernment, and direction to guide Hosanna into God’s future path and ways. Please pray for our elders!
12. *NEXT SUNDAY (8/25) WOMEN’S PAINTING FELLOWSHIP, 1:30pm @ Maria’s home – Women of Hosanna, come paint and fellowship in Christ together! See organizer Maria for more details.
13. *REMINDER – FREE GIFT for Hosanna! – RIGHTNOW MEDIA BIBLICAL RESOURCES – We are more than glad to gift each one of you an incredible library of biblical resources through the RightNow Media ministry. From Life Group discussions, to small group Bible studies, to personal devotion, to marriage/family life resources, to children’s Bible stories, this gift will surely be a treasure trove of spiritual food and training for us all. *You must have an email to receive this gift – if you have not received the invitation already, please give Pastor Chester your email. You can register and access RightNow Media through the app on your phone, desktop, and multiple devices. Scan the QR code or follow this link to register now and start your journey! Enjoy! https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/hosannapc. You may also text "HOSANNAPC" to 49775 and RightNow Media will text you back with the link to register.
14. *KINGDOM EXPANSION PRAYER – We are continuing 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 brothers and sisters in Christ residing in the country of Chad, central Africa.

 
     Villages in parts of predominantly Christian southern Chad are routinely raided by militant Fulani Muslims, much in the way Christians are attacked in north-central Nigeria. While the goal of these raids is primarily to steal land for cattle grazing, there is definitely an element of persecution against Christians. The radical Islamic group Boko Haram is also responsible for violent extremist activity in the Lake Chad Basin. More than 56% of Chadians are Muslims, while 25% identify as Christians.
 
*The Scripture for today is:
 
Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (JAMES 5:11)
 
Prayer by Pastor Chester:
 
Our Father in heaven, we bring before You our brothers and sisters in Chad, central Africa. Let us share in their sufferings. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray for Your peace, for the violence to end, for the militant persecutors to be brought to justice, and for Your gospel to advance with even greater passion in the believers through persecution. Like Job, we pray they remain steadfast to see Your purpose, to see Your glory through sufferings. Meet their pains with Your overwhelming compassion. Meet their persecution with Your overflowing mercy. Continue to make us Your house of prayer for central Africa and for all nations. Thank You for the grace to gather in freedom and to pray for Chad. In the risen Savior of the people of Chad, Jesus Christ we pray, Amen & amen.