Beloved in the Lord,
HFC is celebrating our 150th anniversary this year. As we give glory to God, this sesquicentennial is a time of remembering, rejoicing, and renewal.
Our mission is “to help people to believe in Christ, belong to His Church, and bless our communities. We strive to fulfill our mission through worship, evangelization, faith formation, stewardship, fellowship, and service” (Mission Statement).
My HFC150 homily series is using the key phrases of our Mission Statement. The Advent 2025 theme was, “Believe: Following Christ." The Lent 2025 theme is, "Belong: Connected to Christ and His Church."
Believing in Christ and belonging to His Church are inseparable relationships. Consider that as we prepare to renew our baptismal promises on Easter.The Word of the Lord teaches: "As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
The Church was founded by Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit to form disciples of Christ. My preaching series will look at five ways in which Christ is forming His disciples through His Church.
Prayer is essential to our renewal as a parish. Please join me in the 150 People Praying for HFC. Commitment Weekend is on the First Sunday of Lent, February 21 & 22.
See this website, our bulletin, and social media for opportunities to observe a holy and fruitful Lent.
May the peace of Christ be with you always!
Father Raymiond Harris
Pastor
SCRIPTURAL BACKGROUND FOR THE SYMBOL
"[Jesus said to His disciples, 'Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing" (John 6:4-5)
PREACHING SERIES
Belong: Connected to Christ & His Church
LENT I
RESOLUTE IN CHRIST
February 21 & 22
Connected to Christ and His Church, we are being formed to be resolute in Christ. The Lord Jesus teaches us to remember our identity and purpose. This will strengthen our resolution to be faithful.
LENT II
REPENT TO CHRIST
February 28 & March 1
Connected to Christ and His Church, we are being formed to repent to Christ. Repentance involves the sanctification of our conscience, conversation, and conduct.
LENT III
RECONCILED TO CHRIST
March 7 & 8
Connected to Christ with His Church, we are being formed to be reconciled to Christ. The Lord Jesus invites us to be reconciled to Christ and to invite others to be reconciled.
LENT IV
RESILIENT IN CHRIST
March 14 & 15
Connected to Christ and His Church, we are being formed to be resilient in Christ. The Lord Jesus enables us to grow in our faith.
LENT V
RISEN WITH CHRIST
March 21 & 22
Connected to Christ and His Church, we are formed to be risen with Christ. The Lord Jesus invites us to believe that He is the resurrection and the life. Living from an eternal perspective informs how we will live on earth.
