November 2022 | VOLUME 48 | ISSUE NO.11
the
EVANGEL
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH
CHANGED LIVES To see more people know God’s life changing power and love, grow in community and live out his truth daily, we need YOU! Speci cally, we’re asking every member and friend of First Free Church to: Pray
Grief and Hope Through the Holidays By George Buck, GriefShare Ministry
Listen Respond Watch For more information, please visit myfefc.org/changedlives.
"Bereavement is a universal and integral part of our experience of love." — C.S. Lewis The holiday season can be especially challenging if you are dealing with the death of someone close to you. Whether it was a recent loss or one that occurred some time ago, feelings of grief can be heightened and may seem overwhelming during the holiday season. Grief is not an enemy or a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being human. Grief is the cost of loving someone.
Thank you for your continued support of this ministry!
One Midwestern mother described grief this way- “Grief, I have learned is really just love. It’s all the love that you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in the hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.” It is an unwavering truth that love never dies.
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The holidays can bring about a wide range of emotions. You
(Grief and Hope Through the Holidays continued)
Grief and Hope Through the Holidays By George Buck, GriefShare Ministry "Bereavement is a universal and integral part of our experience of love." — C.S. Lewis The holiday season can be especially challenging if you are
Veterans Day 2022 To all members of our military, all branches - past and present, and to their families, we thank you for your great sacri ce to preserve the freedoms of this country. We remember you and honor you.
dealing with the death of someone close to you. Whether it was a recent loss or one that occurred some time ago, feelings of grief can be heightened and may seem overwhelming during the holiday season. Grief is not an enemy or a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being human. Grief is the cost of loving someone. One Midwestern mother described grief this way- “Grief, I have learned is really just love. It’s all the love that you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in the hollow part of your
Couples Hayride @ the Fawcett Farm
Praise and Thanksgiving Service 2022
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Mark your calendars! Sunday, November 20th at 6 pm is our Praise and Thanksgiving Service! And what better way to top o Praise and Thanksgiving than with a pie and pudding fellowship! We hope to see you there.
you or someone you care about, we would love to meet you! We can con dentially discuss your concerns, explain what our meetings are about and how we can help move you or your loved ones onto a healthy physical, emotional, and spiritual place of strength. AA and NA have been around for many decades and have helped guide those who faithfully participate to a place of sobriety.
Spiritual Recovery Workshop
It speaks to the importance of coming to recognize, what they refer to as, the god of your understanding. What we o er at the Spiritual Recovery Workshop is a biblical view of who God is, that being
By Dan Ruccio
Jesus Christ! A relationship with Him is the missing factor in most
In October First Free began
recovery programs.
o ering a weekly meeting for
Please consider coming to our meeting to see if this may be a place
those struggling with addiction
where you can nd the knowledge and supportive friendships that
or other life controlling issues.
will aid you into a place of healing and con dence.
It’s called the Spiritual Recovery Workshop. If you nd yourself
We meet every Tuesday evening from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Adult
questioning whether this is for
Learning Center. For more information please contact the church
Please pray for them and their families as they entrust these children to their great God and King! •Finn Fawcett, son of Tim and Abby Fawcett
Baby Dedications
• Duke Hennon, son of Matt and Missy Hennon • Kennedy and Mac Murray, children of Michael and Lindsay Murray • Emma Whitney, daughter of Patrick and Beth Whitney
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We rejoice as a church family over the dedication of these children! What precious gifts of God! We celebrate this statement of faith by their parents to raise them under the wisdom and grace of God.
Prayer Please continue to join us praying for the following needs of the church: • As we advance in the interview process with candidates for the position of Pastor/ Director of Worship and Creative Arts • Our Changed Lives Campaign • Weekly ministry in and through the church • The next generation of children at First Free
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS! ANNIVERSARIES GriefShare
November 3 - 10 am or 7 pm
Senior Achievers Luncheon
Tom and Elaine Humenik 40 years
GriefShare
Regis and Renee Donnelly 23 years
Understanding Islam Seminar November 12 at 9:00 am
White Cross
November 15 at 9:00 am
GriefShare
Thomas and Arlene Barnes 69 years Rich and Sue Wilson 38years Robert W. and Anne Hamilton 39 years Joseph and Sharon Bower 47 years
November 17 - 10am or 7 pm
Ernest and Meri Segady 22 years
Thanksgiving Service!
Carl and Pam Pearson 50 years
November 20 at 6 pm
No Connect November 23
Church O ce Closed
Joe and Julie Squires 11 years Randy and Joyce McDonald 46 years
November 24 and 25
SYMPATHIES
First Sunday of Advent
Our sympathy and love to Gerry Nelson and family at the passing of Wayne Nelson.
November 27
*Christmas Fest*
December 9 and 10 at 7 pm
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Robert and Arlene Squires 42 years
November 8 at 11:00 am
November 10 - 10am or 7 pm
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Doug and Melissa Fraker 13 years
UPCOMING SENIOR ACHIEVER SCHEDULE Thanksgiving Luncheon Tuesday, November 8th 11:00 am social hour 11:30 am luncheon Menu: $18.00 Turkey (all white meat) Stu ng Mashed Potatoes/Gravy Sweet Potato Casserole Cole Slaw Rolls and butter Pie Program - The Buck Family Devotions - Pastor Labby
MEMORIAL GIFTS Michael Abel Dave and Barb Badstibner Clyde Hennon Jim Charlesworth Greg Smith Anonymous Laurie Bezeck Bob and Anne Hamilton Ruth Sutherland
James Sutherland