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APRIL 2022 |VOLUME 48| ISSUE NO.4

EVANGEL

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH

Stop and Smell the Roses Through the day the color fades to almost white and then each of the five petals drops to the ground. By day’s end, the plant is completely void of blooms, but the next morning, many new flowers will be in full bloom to cycle through the end of another day Written by Nancy Jo Demolin

My father grew up on a small farm where growing vegetables and raising livestock enough to feed a family of eight children was a means of survival. His parents were both teachers which meant reciting the Gettysburg Address as you hoed corn and beans and such. My mom, on the other hand was raised in the ‘city’, but soon became a gardener in her own right. Well into their eighties, they spent every morning starting at 6 am; mom weeding her flower beds and dad hoeing his vegetables. They passed this love of gardening onto my three brothers and me. My oldest brother, a Master Gardener; my second brother, spends his retirement years working at a commercial greenhouse; my younger brother, a Professor of Horticulture at Clemson University; then there is me, not a green thumb by any means, but one who loves to look at a flower and recognize the glory it gives to its Creator. This tiny blue flax flower reminds me that God’s mercies are new every morning. (Lam. 3:22-24) Each morning it greets its beholder with bright periwinklecolored flowers.

The Pussy Willow is the first flower to emerge in spring. It may begin blooming in January! The softness of a Pussy Willow reminds me of the gentleness of our powerful Savior. Jesus described Himself as ‘gentle and lowly’ in heart.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28-30) (Check out, “Gentle and Lowly” a wonderful book written by Dane Ortland.) "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,” (2 Cor. 2:14-15) My favorite fragrant flower is the lilac. I love to sit on my deck and smell the fragrance of my lilac bush as it permeates the air around me. I hope that I permeate the fragrance of Christ to others.

Stop and Smell the Roses, cont. Do you ‘smell’ like Jesus? In 2017, as my mom’s health was fading, I was praying that she would be able to enjoy her flower-filled yard one more spring. However, God had different plans and called her home in March. When she passed, my brother picked a bouquet of these tiny early spring flowers from her yard and placed them in her casket. Their Latin name is Chionodoxa, or more commonly named ‘Snow glories’ since they often bloom amidst snow in early spring. Now each year when they bloom, I remember my mom is enjoying the glories of heaven and someday so will I.

Upcoming Senior Achiever Schedule April 12: White Elephant Auction

You may be familiar with the idiom, ‘Stop and smell the roses’. It reminds us to take time to appreciate the things in life that we have a tendency to miss or ignore in our fast-paced culture. Springtime gives us a wonderful display of God’s goodness and faithfulness as we see new life sprouting all around us. Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands Robed in the blooming garb of spring Jesus is fairer Jesus is purer Who makes the woeful heart to sing (from the hymn, "Fairest Lord Jesus") Let’s take the time to “smell the roses” and sing a song of praise to the One who is more beautiful and fairer than all -- Jesus who told us to “Consider the lilies of the field…” (Matt. 6:28)

Job Postings Maintenance We are looking to hire a part-time Maintenance Worker. If you are interested in applying, please contact the main office at

11-11:30 a.m. – Social Time

info@myfefc.org, or 412-678-6655.

11:30 a.m. – Lunch (Covered dish or $7.00)

Changed Lives

Devotions by Pastor Joel. Wayne Nelson will act as auctioneer.

May 10: Honoring Women 11-11:30 a.m. – Social Time

To see more people know God's life-changing power and love, grow in community, and live out his truth daily, we need you. Specifically, we're asking every member and friend of First Free Church to: Pray Listen Respond

11:30 a.m. – Catered Lunch (Price TBD)

Watch For more information, please visit

Devotions by Pastor Kirk. Program by Shepherds Voice.

myfefc.org/changedlives. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry!

Summer Blast

Building Update

Written by Joel Rishel

I recently connected with a new family that has begun attending our church. One of their children had come to Summer Blast, but I didn’t know their story. They first heard about us when they received a Summer Blast invitation card at the White Oak Memorial Day Parade. Then their child was given another invitation card at school—the McKeesport Area School District was so kind to allow us to distribute them! At this point they had one of those moments: Hey, isn’t this the same thing we heard about at the Parade? Yes, it is! And weren’t some of our friends also talking about Summer Blast? Hmmm, looks interesting. Let’s check it out.

Auditorium | pews & carpet removed

They did. Their child attended Summer Blast, and loved it. But that’s not the end of the story. In September they began to bring their kids to Awana. Soon, their family began attending on Sunday mornings. We want to encourage, love, and serve this family in their process of following Christ. This is why we do things like Summer Blast. This year, Summer Blast will be held on July 25-29. It’s a highenergy week-long event for 6-11 year olds that mixes music, puppets, storytelling, games, and drama. We want to dazzle kids with our great Savior. Each day the kids learn something new about their feelings, and how Jesus is the one who can help us when our feelings go wrong.

Office Hallway | New Wall

If you would like to be a prayer partner for Summer Blast, let me know and I will send you prayer requests periodically. If you want to help with what we call our Adult Safety Net Team, get in touch—we need van drivers, registration volunteers, greeters, snack preparers, listeners, and wraparounds. And yes, we will be promoting Summer Blast at the White Oak Memorial Day Parade on May 30; please join us if you can. Summer Blast gets a little loud! We all have a lot of fun. The kids love it, our teens love it, and I think parents are glad to send their kids to something like this. But we never want to lose sight of the main reason for doing this—it’s an outreach. We want to reach more families like the one I shared. We want to be able to tell their kids about Jesus, and we want to reach into their family to find out how we can love them and serve them.

Lobby Hallway| New Cafe space

Mark International Your Calendars WRITTEN BY KIRK ALBRECHT Partner Spotlight Next Generation Prayer Meeting | April 3 following service in ALC Student Ministry Support Dinner |

Family News Memorial Gifts THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED MEMORIAL GIFTS FOR THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE.

April 10 from 5:30-7 p.m. Senior Achievers | April 12 at 11 a.m. Good Friday Service | April 15 at 7 p.m.

For Regis Hutchison Laurie Bezeck For Nancy Maser Anonymous Laurie Bezeck

White Cross |

Gary & Sharon Chamberlain

April 19 at 9 a.m.

Mike & Judy Davis

Student Ministry Game Night | April 22 at 7 p.m.

Stephanie Dojak Irene Meininger Ed & Hannah Opatrny

Awana Picnic | April 23 at 11 a.m.

General Assembly |

For Joseph Sacramento Deanna Strednak

April 24 at 12:30 p.m. Men's Retreat | April 30 9 a.m. - 4 p.m..

Anniversaries CONGRATULATIONS TO...

Next Generation Prayer Meeting |

James & Virginia Cottrell for 51 years of marriage on April 3.

May 1 following service in ALC

Ed & Bette Rae Campbell for 45 years of marriage on April 16.

Creative Arts Appreciation Dinner | May 7 at 6 p.m.

Bernard & Theresa Florian for 53 years of marriage on April 19. Mike & Beth Jewel for 35 years of marriage on April 25.

Senior Achievers | May 10 at 11 a.m. Reach Senior Recognition | May 22 at 5:30 p.m. Memorial Day - office closed | Monday, May 30