Wednesday, October 8th (Read time: 7 min 52 sec)

This Week at a Glance

Wednesday (10/8)

Saturday (10/11)

Sunday (10/12)

Tuesday (10/14)

Wednesday (10/15)

6:30a Men of Hope Bible Study (Hope Church)

Things to Know:

Women of Hope Fall Road Trip! – Saturday, Oct 11

Instead of our usual Sunday night gathering, we’re heading out on a fun day trip! Join us Saturday, Oct. 11 for the North GA Apple Festival in Ellijay. We’ll meet at the Holly Springs Walmart (Exit 14 off 575) at 9:30a to carpool together. Entry cost is $10. Bring your fall spirit, comfy shoes, and a friend—it’s going to be a great day of apples, laughter, and community.

Questions? Email jessica@HopeChurchATL.com

Serve Saturdays & Fall Food Drive – Get Involved!

Hope Church is excited to launch Serve Saturdays, a new missional outreach opportunity happening once a quarter. This fall, we’re partnering with Encompass Ministries to support their community food pantry. Our first Serve Saturday will be limited to 15 volunteers, so watch the newsletter closely for sign-ups coming soon!

Leading up to the event, we’re kicking off a Fall Food Drive. Starting Sunday, Oct. 19, bring pantry items to the donation barrel in the lobby. Each week will feature different items to collect, so stay tuned for updates. You can also start bringing items from Encompass’ Amazon wishlist here: https://a.co/8UcHJNn.

Questions or want to get more involved with outreach? Email christy@HopeChurchATL.com. Let’s serve together and make a difference in our local community!

D.O.G Hike – Saturday, Oct 18th

Daniel Lathrop is launching his new DOG Ministry (Disciples of God), and to kick things off, he’s inviting you to a morning of fellowship, fresh air, and wagging tails! 🐾 Join us at the Red Top Mountain State Park Visitor Center on Saturday, October 18, from 10–11 AM. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

We’ll enjoy a 1-mile hike on a flat, paved trail—great for all ages. Plus, there will be a short obedience session for the pups. If your dog has any behavior challenges, please let Daniel know ahead of time so he can help you prepare.

And here’s the best part—you don’t even need a dog to participate! Bring your furry friend, your family, or just yourself. Kids are welcome too!

Be a Voice for Hope This Advent

Advent is the season when we prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of our Savior and King—and God may want to use you to encourage someone this Christmas! We’re looking for writers to share a reflection in our weekly blog emails. The ask: You’ll be given a topic to meditate on and reflect as the Lord leads. Blogs should be about 600–900 words (5–7 minute read), with submissions due Sunday, Nov. 17.

Advent is the season when we prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of our Savior and King—and God may want to use you to encourage someone this Christmas! We’re looking for writers to share a reflection in our weekly blog emails. The ask: You’ll be given a topic to meditate on and reflect as the Lord leads. Blogs should be about 600–900 words (5–7 minute read), with submissions due Sunday, Nov. 17.

If you feel led to participate, email jessica@HopeChurchATL.com—let’s make this Advent a season of hearts stirred, encouraged, and ready to celebrate Jesus!

Save the Date

  • Men of Hope Night: Sunday, Oct 25 at 5p
  • Malawi Missions Interest Meeting: Sunday, Nov 2 after service
  • Serve Saturday: Saturday, Nov 15 (signup coming)
  • Blood Drive: Tuesday, Nov 18 from 1 to 6p
  • Decorating for Christmas: Sunday, Nov 23 after service
  • 5th Sunday Supper Potluck: Sunday, Nov 30 after service
  • Women of Hope Christmas Party: Saturday, Dec 13 at 10a
  • Christmas at Hope Service: Sunday, Dec 21 at 6p

Email hello@HopeChurchATL.com for information on all upcoming events!

NEeds | Prayer Requests | Celebrations

Hope Church Prayer Wall

A little more hope…

Living on Purpose: Standing Firm

Paul opens Philippians 4 by telling us to “stand firm in the Lord.” That phrase can feel simple—until you realize what it actually takes to stand firm in a world that’s constantly trying to pull your attention in a hundred different directions. The sermon this week leaned into prayer as the primary tool for standing firm, and rightly so. Prayer shifts our focus from our anxiety to God’s power. But as I’ve been sitting with these verses, another piece keeps calling out: our minds.

In verse 8, Paul writes, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—dwell on these things.” The word dwell here is intentional—it’s about calculation, careful thought, meditation. Paul isn’t just telling us to hope for the best. He’s saying: choose where your mind goes.

And let’s be honest: we all meditate on something every day. The question is what we let consume our mental bandwidth. Often, we replay worries, feed fears, or scroll through content that heightens anxiety rather than peace. Standing firm requires redirecting our thoughts. It’s less about forcing positivity and more about training our minds to recognize truth, purity, and God’s promises as worthy of our attention.

When we practice this kind of meditation, we position ourselves to experience the next promise in Philippians 4:9b, “And the God of peace will be with you.” Not just peace as a feeling, but the God of peace Himself. Our God walks with us, guards our hearts and minds, and gives us His presence as an unshakable defense against fear, doubt, and distraction.

So, standing firm isn’t just physical endurance or moral determination. It’s about cultivating the habit of intentional thought—meditating on God’s Word, His character, and His goodness. It’s prayer plus meditation: we take our worries to God, and then we allow His truth to saturate our minds. This is where the peace of God meets our anxious hearts and keeps us steady.

Reflection:
This week, notice where your mind drifts. What dominates your mental space? Then, deliberately dwell on one of Paul’s categories—true, lovely, pure, praiseworthy. Practice turning your thoughts toward what God says, rather than what the world shouts. Stand firm. The God of peace is with you.

Need to catch up on any of our Sunday messages? Find past sermon series here…

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