the
DECEMBER 2021 |VOLUME 47| ISSUE NO.12
EVANGEL
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH
Sharing the Hope of the Savior WRITTEN BY ALEX IELASE
The month of December is my favorite time to be in ministry. Our world gives us lots of reasons to be sad. The birth of Jesus gives us a reason to have true hope! "Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth." That lyric from "O Holy
2020 Christmas Gift Wrapping
Night" reminds us of how desperate we are for the coming of our Savior. In December at Reach Student Ministries, we share the Hope of the Savior in a variety of ways. For the first week, students contribute their own money to buy gifts for community families. We break up into our growth groups and head out to area stores. Armed with gift tags that have an age/gender for a child, students pick out specific gifts that the child will enjoy. Once
During the second week, we partner with ladies from our Griefshare ministry. They prepare meals and cookies for about 20 folks. We then divide up and take the meals to their homes. These are people who may have lost a loved one during the previous year. We usually end up crowded into a living room, sharing a time of song, prayer and loving fellowship.
we all make a mad dash for the checkout lines, we head back to FEFC to wrap the presents together.
2021 Cookie Delivery 2020 Christmas Gift Wrapping
Sharing the Hope of the Savior, Cont. Finally, the third week of December puts a
In all of this, we always see God at work in
bow on our Christmas ministry at Reach. This
and through our students. He uses this time
year we plan to hit the streets! We will gather
to help take our eyes off of ourselves and
and scatter throughout the
think more of others. It's also a great time
McKeesport/White Oak area with 2 goals in
for students to bond with each other and
mind: sing Christmas carols for anyone who
their growth group leaders. I am thankful for
will listen, and minister to those folks
the opportunity to work and minister here. It
through song and prayer. You never know
really is a labor of love! Please keep us in
what doors the Lord will open when you
prayer-that the Lord would open doors into
make yourself available to Him. We expect
people's hearts for the Gospel to take root.
God to do great things in people's lives!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us true hope!
The Holidays at First Free Church WRITTEN BY KEVIN LABBY
It's Advent! From the Latin, Adventus,
This gathering will blend elements that
meaning "coming," Advent is the four-week
remember the hope of Jesus Christ at
season of prayerful preparation leading up to
Christmas even as we acknowledge the
our celebration of Christ's birth over 2,000
sorrow many people feel at this time of year.
years ago in Bethlehem. During Advent, the
The Blue Christmas gathering will be a quiet
First Free Church Family will commemorate
time of reflection and remembrance using
and celebrate our Lord's birth in many
various Scripture passages and gentle music.
exciting ways!
Following the gathering, there will be cafe fellowship with light refreshments.
On Sundays, our pastors will share a sermon series entitled "Worthy: A Savior Worth
And, of course, make plans now to join us for
Celebrating!" In addition, we will fill the
Christmas Eve at First Free on December 24
Advent season with special holiday music,
at 5:00 pm! We're planning a beautiful service
including a performance by our children's
of readings and Christmas carols by
choir, readings, and more.
candlelight.
This year, we're adding something new to our
Merry Christmas!
Advent: a "Blue Christmas" gathering on December 19 from 3–5:30 p.m.
Why a Blue Christmas Gathering? WRITTEN BY NANCY JO DEMOLIN
In the midst of all the wonder, joy, and
This is why on Sunday, December 19 from
celebration of Christmas, with its carols,
3-4 p.m. will be presenting a Blue Christmas
parties, decorating, baking, gift giving, and
gathering, paying attention to the special
family time, it's easy for us to forget that in
needs of people who are "blue" or in pain at
our own church family and community there
this time. Following the gathering, there will
are those for whom the idea of Christmas joy
be a café with light refreshments.
is not part of the season this year. People dealing with - illness, loss of a loved one, or
This gathering will be a blend of elements
the burden of caring for a loved one, the loss
that recognize Christmas and the fact that
of a job, oppressive financial difficulties,
Jesus came to offer hope, as well as the fact
strained family relations, divorce or
that people are in pain. The Blue Christmas
separation. Depression and loneliness may
gathering will be a quiet time of reflection
set in.
and remembrance using various Scripture passages and gentle music.
For some people, Christmas may simply bring up memories of a difficult and troubled past.
It is our desire to offer support and healing to
And for some, maybe being confronted with
a hurting, broken world, all the while pointing
their own mortality, having thought that this
to the hope that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
may be their own last Christmas. When your life has been turned upside down by these or other circumstances, the last thing you feel like doing is singing with the angels. he reality is, of course, that in every Sunday morning service, in every choir rehearsal, and at every Christmas Eve candlelight service, there are people who are hurting and in pain, whose lives are in turmoil, and who seek help or answers. We want to minister to those among us who are struggling to enter into the joy of the Christmas season.
International Mark Your Calendars Partner Spotlight WRITTEN BY KIRK ALBRECHT
Senior Achievers |Dec. 14
at 11 a.m. in Fire Place Room
Family News Anniversaries CONGRATULATIONS TO... Robert & Deborah Dyer for 52 years of marriage on Dec. 5.
First Free Young Adults | Dec. 14
Michael & Judy Davis for 52 years of marriage on Dec. 21.
at 6:30 p.m. in Adult Learning Center
Samuel & Pamela March for 51 years of marriage on Dec. 21.
Wednesday Nights at First Free | Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. GriefShare Sessions| Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. & 7 p.m. in Adult Learning Center No Bible Fellowship Hour | Dec.19, Dec. 26 & Jan. 2
Jack & Marilyn Ashoff for 52 years of marriage on Dec. 27. Buzz & Alice Saxon for 52 years of marriage on Dec. 27. Tom & Cynthia Toia for 30 years of marriage on Dec. 28. Stephen & Audrey Nagy for 51 years of marriage on Dec. 31.
Passings OUR CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO... Michael & Michelle Martin & family at the passing of Michael’s mother, Virginia (Peggy) Martin Duane & Linda Richardson & family at the passing of
Blue Christmas Gathering |
Linda’s father, David Shaffer
Dec. 19 at 3 p.m.
the DeStefano family at the passing of Diane’s brother, Jeff
First Free Young Adults | Dec.21
the Meilander family at the passing of Joel’s mother, Lois
at 6:30 p.m. in Adult Learning Center
Meilander
No Wednesday Night Programming | Dec. 22 & 29
Office Closed (Christmas) |
Greg & Sandy Smith & family at the passing of Greg’s father, Richard (Cash) Smith Dee Ann Sapienza & Keith Seese at the passing of Dee Ann’s mother, Dolores Sapienza
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Service
Christmas Eve Service |
Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.
Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.
Childcare for ages 0-4 provided.
Office Closed (Christmas)| Dec. 27 & 28 Office Closed (New Years)| Dec. 31
Happy 100th Birthday! On Dec. 26, Peg Burtner will be
Wednesday Night Programming | Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
celebrating her 100th birthday! Let's flood her room at Juniper Village with birthday cards!
Bible Fellowship Hour | Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Peg Burtner 2589 Mosside Blvd.
Please visit www.myfefc.org for our full and updated calendar.
Room 219 Monroeville, PA 15146
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