the Evangel - First Free Church - October 2022

OCTOBER 2022 | VOLUME 48 | ISSUE NO.10

the

EVANGEL

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH

Serve Saturday

By Kevin Labby A group of more than thirty servants from First Free joined us for our first Serve Saturday on September 24th, starting at 8:00 am! We had three teams complete three kinds of work to God's glory.

City Team This team spent the day completing scheduled home repairs at one of our McKeesport neighbor's homes under the direction of Dave Abel and in partnership with Rebuild Together Pittsburgh (RTP). The team offered love and encouragement to the homeowner while performing numerous repairs, cleaning projects, and safety improvements on his residence.

One of our newest church members even made the

2022 First Free Women’s Conference

by Sarah Howard, Director of Women’s Ministry Psalm 34:3 Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

Psalm 34:3 ran through my mind throughout the day of the women’s conference. It was not just during the singing or Abby Hutto’s sessions but also during our conversations casually over a meal and small group discussions. The singing, teaching and conversations exalted the greatness of God, drawing us to know God deeper. Abby used 3 passages from the book of John to point our hearts and eyes to the Father who feels our hurt, joy, desperation and pain and draws us to Himself through Jesus. Our response to this message was worship - exalting God together.

After the conference I had conversations with several women all with the same theme-God’s care and love for us seen in the Gospel of John and experienced in the presence of the other women changed our perspective. As Psalm 34 continues Those

(2022 First Free Women’s Conference cont.) who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This verse expresses the reality these women felt. When we look to God our faces reflect his radiance not our own shame or guilt.

Operation Christmas Child

By Pastor Joel Rishel

The Psalmist continues a few verses later Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! The conference was certainly a time to feel God’s goodness and take refuge in the truth of Scripture. What a great blessing it is to gather with believers and magnify the Lord.

Have you ever wanted to help needy children around the world, but didn’t know what you could do?

For the month of October, we are partnering with Operation Christmas Child from Samaritan’s Purse by collecting shoeboxes to send to children overseas. You can pick up an empty shoebox in our church lobby and pack it with fun toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and a “wow” toy like a stuffed animal or a soccer ball.

You can do this as individuals, as a family, or as a growth group project. Children of all ages love to get involved—they can even write a note or send pictures of themselves to include in the shoebox.

Then return the packed shoebox to the church lobby by October 23. From there, we will take all the shoeboxes to the regional collection center, and then they are sent to one of 100 countries, to children we will never meet.

Samaritan’s Purse distributes the shoeboxes along with a gospel book called The Greatest Gift, and they seek to provide

140th Anniversary Picnic PRAISE GOD FOR SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY TOGETHER!

(Operation Christmas Child cont.) ongoing training and instruction through local churches.

Please consider packing a shoebox or two to help us extend God’s loving invitation to children around the world.

(Serve Saturday continued) homeowner a delicious meal to enjoy later that evening!

PAWS for Jesus at McKeesport High School

By Pastor Alex Ielase God has opened a door for us to be at McKeesport High School. Since last year we have been fortunate to get to share the Word and God’s love with hundreds of students and staff at the school. We love that the focus is on missions-not just a holy huddle! We meet weekly in a teacher’s room.

During that time, we share the Word, pray for each other, and plan what the next outreach will be. Every month is a different opportunity.

We’ve ministered to many sport’s teams and student organizations.

Last spring, we even got to bless the entire High School teaching staff-92 of them!

During our latest outreach, we packed snack bags with an invitation to the club and Scripture verses enclosed.

God opened a door for us to speak with the whole football team and coaching staff for a few minutes, then pray for them. All glory to Jesus!

Church Team Under the direction of Joe Squires and Brian Matthews, our church team completed much-needed post-renovation clean-up and beautification projects around the building and grounds of First Free Church. Their work involved spreading fresh mulch, wiping down all pews to remove construction dust, cleaning windows, organizing and storing materials used for past worship services in the gymnasium, and storing leftover construction materials for future use.

Community Team This team, heavily composed of First Free students, performed yardwork and helpful projects at the homes of members and friends of First Free Church under the direction and encouragement of Pastor Alex Ielase, Michael Sapelli, and Kevin McNeil, Sr. The regional director of Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, Andy, expressed deep thankfulness to First Free Church for its generous support of RTP's mission to help our neighbors live in safe and healthy homes. We join him in thanking everyone who made our first Serve Saturday an expression of God's deep love for our city, church, and communities.

Watch for information about future Serve Saturdays! We'd love to get you involved.

First Free White Cross Our White Cross Ministry puts together supplies for the Tandala Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and are always looking for extra hands.

MARK YOUR

CALENDARS!

For more information, please contact the church office!

UPCOMING SENIOR ACHIEVER SCHEDULE Senior Achievers Luncheon Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 11:00 am fellowship 11:30 am luncheon Bring a side dish, dessert or

Fall Out at the Lake-Students

October 1 Next Gen Prayer Mtg. October 2 at 12:30 pm Being & Bringing Good News

October 8 from 9 - 3 pm Senior Achievers Luncheon October 11 at 11:00 am Couples Hayride October 15 at 6:00 pm White Cross October 18 at 9:00 am Student Ministry Fall Retreat

October 28 - 30 Next Gen Prayer Mtg. November 6 at 12:30 pm

ANNIVERSARIES Mick and Diane DeStefano 44 years John and Jean Callahan 60 years Joel and Lisa Meilander 30 years

$7.00

David and Janice Callanan 47 years

MEMORIAL GIFTS

Greg and Sandy Smith 48 years

Lucinda Jones Dave and Barb Badstibner Diane Ruhe Marilyn Fawcett Greg Smith James Charlesworth

OUR CHRISTIAN LOVE & SYMPATHY TO Bill and Marlene Koerbel at the passing of Bill’s sister, Janie Lynn McCurdy The family and friends of Marie Sprentz at her passing, September 17th Sandy Smith, family and friends at the passing of husband and father, Greg Smith.

Copyright © 2022 | First Evangelical Free Church. All rights reserved.

Marty and Cathy Kelly 42 years William and Erin Hooke 36 years Mike and Kelly Siktar 30 years Frank and Jean Willard 53 years Dave and Linda Parkinson 49 years Kevin and Dona Timlin 34 years Norbert and Erika Sliwinski 58 years