the
SEPTEMBER 2021 |VOLUME 47| ISSUE NO.9
EVANGEL
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF
The Place to Begin
As a church, we are intentionally seeking to
WRITTEN BY KIRK ALBRECHT
be more faithful to our calling as disciples as
What did you intend to do today? Did you wake up with a clear direction for your life? Or, like most people, did you just hope to get through the day, figure it out as you went, and hope it wasn’t a bad day? People who do more than merely survive live with a difference – they live intentionally. They have a plan, they take concrete steps to get there, and usually, they achieve much more than most of us. They don’t allow life to be random. Jesus was intentional his entire earthly life. At age 12, he lingered in the Temple after Passover, even after his parents had left for home. When found by his exasperated parents Mary and Joseph, his retort was, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). He knew what he was supposed to be doing. When things were going great in ministry in
we head into this fall season. Our church mission is “to guide people into becoming healthy followers of Jesus Christ”. That is what it means to be a disciple. Honestly, our desire is that everyone who calls First Free Church home would be living in the power of new life through faith in the risen Lord Jesus. We don’t want to be a collection of casual, passive Christians, but disciples who live out the life and teachings of our Rabbi. The place to begin is intention. Make it your desire today to live for Jesus in every relationship, every situation, every crisis, every challenge, every conversation. More on this in the coming months. Check out my blog on our website (www.myfefc.org) as we explore together more what it means to be a disciple.
Capernaum and people wanted him to stay there, he told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4:43). As the last few days of his earthly life began, Jesus said, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” (John 12:27).
2020-2021 Awana Students
This Fall at Awana
As kids come week after week, the
WRITTEN BY JOEL RISHEL
allowing opportunities for honest
friendships are deepened and trust is built, conversations about life, school, family,
Do you know what a splash play in football is?
friends, sports, and Jesus. It can happen
It’s when the Steelers are down by 4 points in
during the large group time with a Bible
the 3rd quarter. Ben Roethlisberger is
lesson, or during small group time where we
scrambling in the pocket and he can’t find any
memorize and discuss Bible verses, or even
targets, but he manages to gets an outlet pass
during game time.
to Najee Harris who breaks free from the secondary and runs like the wind for 45 yards.
This happens because we have volunteers
Heinz Field erupts. Momentum changes. We can
who show up every Wednesday night to
almost taste the winning touchdown.
serve in Awana. These leaders love Jesus. They love kids. And they know how to have
Summer Blast was sort of like a splash play. It
fun! Many times this kind of ministry allows
was a great success with lots of good results.
us to reach into the family and encourage
You could feel the energy, and we are still
parents, grandparents, siblings, and
experiencing the momentum. But it isn’t going
guardians. Sometimes they are so blessed
to win the game, so to speak.
they check us out online or show up to church on a Sunday morning.
We need kids to come to something more consistent. We want to spend more time with
One mother who brought her child to
them—loving them, going deeper into God’s
Summer Blast wrote me. “My daughter
word, strengthening friendships, and steadily
recently attended your Summer Blast
preaching the good news of Jesus to them. So
program which she loved. My question is she
we’ve invited all the kids who came to Summer
wants to come to Awana on Wednesday
Blast to come back on Wednesday nights to
evenings; do I need to register her? Honestly
Awana.
we have never been to church, and if I were to decide, I believe your church would be the
Awana is an international organization that
one!”
helps churches create a club environment. Starting September 8th and continuing
Thank you for being a church who loves kids
throughout the school year, we are thrilled to be
and for supporting our programs like Awana.
able to provide Christ-centered training and
Please keep all the Awana volunteers in
much-needed relationships for children. The
prayer as they continue to invest in kids and
content in Awana is age-appropriate:
meet new kids. To stretch the football
Puggles: 2 year olds
analogy just a little bit further—Awana is
Cubbies: 3-4 year olds
going to help us move the chains down the
Sparks: Kindergarten-2nd graders
field and win the game.
T&T: 3rd-5th graders
Fall Adult Bible Fellowship Schedule We are beginning our Fall Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) Schedule this September. To kick off our ABFs, we will have one combined ABF in the Auditorium on Sunday, September 5 and Sunday, September 12 at 9:30 a.m. As always, we will have the Bible Breakfast Bunch for students grades 6-12, Sunday School for ages 2-5, and Nursery for children younger than 2 alongside our ABFs. Beginning on September 19, we will offer three ABFs during our 9:30 a.m. hour on Sunday Mornings.
Salt Life Leader – Rob Gibala Location – Fireplace Room Fall Study – “A Life Beyond Amazing” video series by Dr. David Jeremiah Salt Life is about lifestyle. Not that laidback, sand-in-your-toes kind of lifestyle, but the lifestyle Christ followers need to be light in a dark world. These are challenging times and relationships can be hard – but the truth of God’s Word is powerful in every situation. Using Bible teaching series by well-known contemporary teachers, the personal testimonies of group members and participation in local and international missionary support projects, Salt Life ABF helps equip attendees to lovingly engage their families and their community with the truth of the Gospel. You don’t have to be a beach bum or like seaside vacations, but if want to live the truth of Matthew 5:13, try the Salt Life.
Ambassadors Leader – Pastor Kirk Albrecht Location – Gym Fall Study – Songs for Life: Explorations in the Psalms An ambassador represents his country with love, devotion and dedication. As servants of the great King Jesus, we seek to grow to be more like him so we can be faithful witnesses of his eternal Kingdom. Ambassadors ABF will help you on your journey through solid Bible teaching, fellowship, fun, and a sense of purpose in your Christian life. Expect growth!
Prime Time Leader – Daniel Zajdel Location – Adult Learning Center Fall Study – The Book of Romans Perhaps no single book ever written has had the spiritual impact as the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. It has been called "The Cathedral of the Christian Faith". This fall, we will review the first 11 chapters covered last year in order to refresh our memories, as well as bring new class members up to date before moving on. Prime Time is your place for indepth Bible teaching and discussion. Prepare to gain key knowledge to help you grow as a believer!
International Mark Your Calendars Partner Spotlight WRITTEN BY KIRK ALBRECHT
Combined ABFs | Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Auditorium
Office Closed (Labor Day)| Sept. 6
Family News Anniversaries CONGRATULATIONS TO... Gilbert & Linda Palm for 55 years of marriage on Sept. 2. Sandy & Betty Schink for 50 years of marriage on Sept. 5.
Wednesday Nights at First Free|
Chester & Janice Debick for 53 years of marriage on Sept. 7.
September 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Roy & Cathy Kocher for 54 years of marriage on Sept. 9. William & Dolly Halas for 63 years of marriage on Sept.13.
GriefShare Sessions| Sept. 9 at
Frank & Linda Bezak for 35 years of marriage on Sept. 20.
10 a.m. & 7 p.m. in Adult
Wayne & Gerry Nelson for 63 years of marriage on Sept. 27.
Learning Center
Worship Choir Rehearsals | Thursdays starting Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Women's Ministry Retreat | Sept. 10- 11 at Ligonier
Passings OUR CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO... Deanna Strednak & family at the passing of her father, Joseph Sacramento
Combined ABFs | Sept. 12
Gary & Kay Gibson at the passing of their son, Randy
at 9:30 a.m. in Auditorium
Ambler
Senior Achievers Movie |Sept. 14
The Neimann & Wilson families at the passing of their
at 11 a.m. in Fire Place Room
brother-in-law, Mitch Lucy
First Free Young Adults | Tuesdays
Father, Frank Shirey
To Larry & Mary Kay Shirey at the passing of Larry’s
at 6:30 p.m. in Adult Learning Center Student Ministry Game Night | Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.
Child Dedications
Fall ABF Launch | Sept. 19 at 9:30
THE FOLLOWING WERE DEDICATED ON AUGUST 29:
a.m. (See class options online.)
Lennox Hennon, born on June 27, 2021.
White Cross | Sept. 21 at 9 a.m in Lower Fellowship Hall.
Memorial Gifts
Student Ministry See You At the
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED MEMORIAL
Pole (SYATP) | Sept. 22 at 7 a.m.
GIFTS FOR THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE. For Randy Ambler
For John Dubyak
Bible | Sept. 25 at 9 a.m.
Anonymous
Dorothy Dubyak
Student Ministry Fall Out at
For Joe Sacramento
For Frank Shirey
the Lake | Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Student Ministry Dad's Breakfast n'
Please visit www.myfefc.org for our full and updated calendar.
Ruth Bowers Dorothy Dubyak
Copyright © 2021 | First Evangelical Free Church. All rights reserved.
For Mitch Lucy Anonymous