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OCTOBER 2021 |VOLUME 47| ISSUE NO.10

EVANGEL

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH

Women's Retreat 2021

Following After God’s Heart WRITTEN BY SARAH HOWARD

Acts 13:22, God calls King David a man after

Gratefulness abounds when I think about First

His own heart. If I could choose how

Free’s Women’s Retreat at Ligonier Camp &

someone else describes me, this is what I

Conference Center. The past 18 months have

would want to hear. I have a heart after

taught me not to be too attached to my plans

God’s heart. Can we have such a heart?

and agenda. The ability to gather together as women this year was a privilege and a sweet

Carolyn Deemer and I spent Saturday

gift from God. We hiked, shopped, chatted

exploring what a heart after God’s heart

around a campfire, played games and stayed

looks like using the life of David as our

up way too late. We also pursued God in His

example. We looked in the Psalms and at

Word, gazing on who he is and responded in

David’s response to all of life's circumstances

praise together.

in worship. In times of fear, fleeing, lament, repentance, peace and great abundance

Our weekend theme was Following After God’s

David spoke truth about God’s character and

Heart. In 1 Samuel 13:14 and again and

responded in Worship.

Following After God’s Heart, ctd. When David had been anointed as King he trusted in God’s timing and plans rather than his own ability to speed up his rise to the throne. He believed God would keep his promise that he would be King, that he would keep him safe and in good timing fulfill his promise to David. Lastly, we looked at David’s great need for a Savior. Despite his worshipful and trustful heart he committed great sin and continued to sin to cover it up. Oh how our hearts can relate to trusting God, but still falling into great temptation. Even in David’s sin, God promised that a King would come who would sit on the throne forever. Our hearts like David’s can follow God’s heart because they trust in the King who reigns forever, who will build His house in his people just as he has promised. I’m so thankful for the many women who joined us, for the committee who helped organize, decorate, make food, lead music and make those coming feel so welcome. I’m looking forward to the next Women’s Ministry gathering, a Christmas Tea, and I hope you will be able to join us.

Being & Bringing Good News An Interactive Workshop in Living and Sharing the Gospel Nov. 5 | 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Nov. 6 | 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Pursuing Our Vision WRITTEN BY KEVIN LABBY

We have an exciting mission at First Free

Upgrading Our Facilities

Church: to guide people into becoming healthy

As you know, we are nearing the start of

followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is to see

thoroughly planned renovations to our lobby,

people know God's life-changing power and love, auditorium, and some children's ministry areas. grow in community, and live out his truth daily.

We're doing so to enhance connections at three

And by God's grace, we see evidence of His

levels: physically with the building, relationally

power and love at work toward those ends every with individuals, and spiritually with God. day. Expanding Multimedia Ministry Following God's lead, here are some of the

We're grateful for our talented and dedicated

exciting ways we hope to fulfill our mission and

tech team as they continually improve our

pursue our vision in the years ahead:

multimedia ministry. We look forward to continued and future enhancements to our live

Growing Healthy Disciples

stream, environmental projection, and more.

As shared from the pulpit in September, Pastor Kirk now leads us in a new and exciting vision

Deepening Our Reach into Our Communities

for being and making disciples at First Free.

Moving forward, we're praying and discerning ways to discover new and deepen existing

Welcoming More People

relationships within our communities.

We're also developing an expanded and intentional Welcome Team and guest-welcome

Revitalizing Global Ministries

process. We will begin rolling out these changes We love the global church, so we'll be praying this month.

and discerning new ways to partner and participate in global ministry in the days ahead.

Equipping Next-Generation Leaders We desire to identify and equip our emerging

Please join us in prayer as we seek to fulfill

leaders, members God will provide to serve as

God's mission and vision for First Free!

future elders, deacons, trustees, and other elected ministry leaders at First Free.

Praise & Thanksgiving Service with Pie n' Pudding Fellowship November 21 | 6 p.m.

International Mark Your Calendars Partner Spotlight WRITTEN BY KIRK ALBRECHT

First Free Young Adults | Tuesdays

at 6:30 p.m. in Adult Learning Center Wednesday Nights at First Free| Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Family News Anniversaries CONGRATULATIONS TO... John & Jean Callahan for 59 years of marriage on Oct. 10. William & Erin Hooke for 35 years of marriage on Oct. 18.

GriefShare Sessions| Thursday

Frank & Jean Willard for 52 years of marriage on Oct. 25.

at 10 a.m. & 7 p.m. in Adult

Norbert & Erika Sliwinski for 57 years of marriage on Oct. 30.

Learning Center

Worship Choir Rehearsals | Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Student Ministry Jr. High Girls Lock In | Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.

Passings OUR CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO... The Jewel family at the passing of Mike’s mother, Irene Jewel

Student Ministry Sr. High Girls

To the Meilander family at the passing of Lisa’s father,

Overnight| Oct. 9 at 9 a.m.

Robert Shearer

Senior Achievers |Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. in Fire Place Room

Student Ministry Jr. & Sr. High Boys Lock In | Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. Couples Hayride| Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. at Fawcett Farm All Church Picnic| Oct 17 following service White Cross | Oct. 19 at 9 a.m

To John & Jean Callahan at the passing of John’s brother, Edward Callahan

Memorial Gifts THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED MEMORIAL GIFTS FOR THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE. For Jack Bell

For Joe Sacramento

Anonymous

For Lucinda Jones Dave & Barb Badstibner

in Lower Fellowship Hall.

Joanne Schleifer For Robert Shearer Anonymous

General Assembly Meeting | Oct. 24 following service Student Ministry Game Night | Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

(ChristmasFest )

Being & Bringing Good News Workshop| Nov. 5 & 6

a celebration of Jesus December 10 & 11 | 7 - 9 p.m.

Live Nativity, Kid Zone, Petting Zoo, Family Photos, Light & Music Show!