We look forward to the Children’s Christmas Program which will be followed by the Youth Group’s Christmas Presentation. After this, we will all enjoy participating in singing carols by candlelight in the garden – something new for HCC. The whole church will celebrate in remembrance of Christ’s birth. All are welcome – bring your friends.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – Dec 24 @ 9pm
HCC’s traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is a wonderful time to focus on the main event and reason for Christmas – the birth of God’s own Son, Jesus. Born in like manner as His brothers and sisters here on earth, in lowly circumstances, He accepted God’s will for His life, death and resurrection; and ushered in the New Covenant of peace between God and man. It is this Jesus that we celebrate and recognize: not just His first coming in the form of a baby in the manger in Bethlehem, but also as being reborn in our hearts as we accept Him and the gospel, the “Good News.” And we also look to the future time when He will return to earth again as King of kings and Lord of lords.
This is the Jesus Christ that we remember today. This is the Advent that we are preparing for – the coming of Christ our Lord – the anointed one.
All are welcome to the worship service! Bring your friends.
Welcome Potluck @5:30PM
Every year we look forward to the Welcome Potluck when we acknowledge and welcome new comers to HCC. As Egypt is a cross-roads in the world, we benefit from meeting new people from many nations. This is a great time to fellowship, make new friends and deepen the bonds with other believers.
All are welcome. Please see the bulletin for more information.
Evening of Prayer and Worship
We are planning an evening of prayer and worship in addition to our morning worship service. Plans are underway and more details will follow….
Farewell Potluck (Covered Dish Meal) @ 6pm
Our annual “Farewell Potluck” May 24th. All are welcome as we share a covered dish (potluck) meal and say “Farewell” to those who are leaving HCC and moving back to their home country or on to other places. We want to pray for those leaving and acknowledge and bless them. A time of sweet sorrow and fellowship, we know that even though we will miss our dear brothers and sisters, we remember what the scripture says:
“4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4
HCC Family Retreat: April 24 – 27
Each year, HCC has been blessed with a retreat at a center on the Mediterranean Sea. We choose a holiday in the spring when we can enjoy 3 nights away from the busy, busy city of Cairo. This is a family retreat with a special program for the nursery age kids, and also the school age kids. This year, the kids grade 1 and up will be learning about, “Experiencing God through the Five Senses.”
The adults (and youth) will be blessed with a visiting speaker, Rev. Ken Chupp from Warsaw Missionary Church in Warsaw, Indiana. He is planning to concentrate on what we can benefit by carefully considering the Scripture, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
In addition, there will be lots of time for praise and worship with 2 afternoon sessions planned to be lead by the youth. We also have the opportunity for sports, swimming, use of a track, and lots of nooks and spots for quiet conversation, personal time and meditation.
We rejoice that we will be able to take this time together to build relationship with our HOLY GOD and with each other in this way.
All-night prayer time May 16 – 17
The youth group (4th Dimension) have participated in and been blessed with all-night prayer times, but this will the first time that all of HCC will be offered this type of prayer in a very long time. So we are happy and excited at the prospect of a prolonged time of prayer – both corporate and the individual prayers – and worship and praise. There will be enough time to “wait on the Lord,” and practice silence or other spiritual disciplines in conjunction with prayers.
Please check the bulletin for more details. All are welcome.
April’s Intercessary Prayer time: 10:45am
The first Friday of every month is set aside for some special intercessory prayer time. However, due to a conflict in scheduling, the day has been changed to the 2nd Friday, the 12th.
We meet after the worship service for an hour of focused prayer. Each time a different brother or sister leads the prayers, so there is a variety of leadership styles and different kinds of prayer included. But we always praise, worship, adore, humble ourselves before and intercede for our country, church, different peoples and groups – according to the felt needs.
We serve a GREAT GOD and look to Him in every situation. All are welcome.
Easter Cantata @ 6:30pm
This year’s Easter Cantata is entitled “You Thought of Us!” It will be presented by the Cleopatra Engeli (Protestant) Church on Friday, April 19, at 6:30pm. This date is between the Western Easter (March 31) and the Eastern Easter (May 5) and is appropriate where our cultures unite in celebrating the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection.
The theme of Easter and focusing on the Lord Jesus unites the different Christian groups around the world. As Ephesians chapter 4 says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” And this, rather than the actual date of remembering the passion of the Lord, is the most important thing.
All are welcome – bring a friend.
Easter Services: Palm Friday (Mar 22), Good Friday (Mar 29) and Easter Sunrise Service (Mar 31)
Our Easter services this year are planned according to the Western Christian calendar when Easter is remembered on March 31st. Here in Egypt, the majority of the Christians follow the Coptic Christian calendar in which Easter falls on May 5th.
So our Palm Friday (as we meet on Fridays here, not on Sunday, for our weekly worship services) is March 22. We plan for the children to open the service by carrying their palm branches and singing a celebration song.
On Good Friday, (Holy Friday) the youth group will present a human video – a drama related to the Easter message. Pastor John will also be preaching on this theme.
Easter Sunrise Service is planned for early Sunday morning on March 31. All are welcome. Please see the bulletin for more details.