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January 2024 | VOLUME 50 | ISSUE NO.1

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EVANGEL

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH

Understanding Islam Seminar First Free Church Saturday, February 3, 2023 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Being & Bringing Good News Workshop First Free Church Saturday, March 2, 2024 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Led by Pastor Kirk, Being & Bringing Good News is an interactive workshop intended to help you grow as a more e ective witness for Jesus in your world. Register online at myfefc.org or call the Church O ce.

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Lunch and snacks included. Donations welcome.

By Pastor Kevin Labby Our words are powerful - for good and for evil. The Book of Proverbs warns about the power of words when it says: The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.- Proverbs 18:21 Given this power, our speech is often more consequential than we think or imagine. It a ects and shapes our spouses in marriage, partners in dating relationships, children and grandchildren, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and beyond. Think of the capacity words possess for good. Looking back on life, you may remember helpful conversations that encouraged you during a dark time or pointed you in a new and hopeful direction. Perhaps you recall someone sharing a di cult truth with you in love. Sure, it was hard to hear, but you bene tted from that trusted friend's willingness to brave the awkwardness for your sake. Words and conversations like these can protect and promote lasting good. Now, think of the power of words for evil. Most, if not all, people bear scars from malicious words spoken to or about them. Even after many years, harmful words wielded like weapons can still

Lunch will be served. Donations for lunch are accepted and appreciated.

T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak

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A seminar, led by Pastor Kirk, to gain an understanding of the religion of Islam and how we as Christians can engage Muslims in Gospel discussions. Register in the Main Lobby, at myfefc.org, or through the Church O ce.

(T.H.I.N.K., continued) wreak havoc in our minds. And sadly, we must also confess how often our words, whether spoken or withheld, harm others - even those we love more than anything else. Recognizing their power, we face a choice: will we speak words that harm or heal? The book of Proverbs encourages us toward the latter, noting that healing speech is a mark of the wise: "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18

Day of Prayer and Fasting On Thursday, February 22nd, we plan to open our auditorium at 9:00 a.m. for those desiring to pray at the church building throughout the day, either individually or in small groups. Then, Lord willing, we will conclude with an intimate Prayer Service featuring songs of praise at 7:00 p.m. Please plan to participate throughout the day and join us in the evening!

I remember when one of my children su ered a deep gash on their foot due to a jagged piece of metal at the base of a door. The metal cut them directly and deeply. I rushed them to an urgent care clinic. The attending physician had minimal "bedside manner." His rash words, though medically accurate, lacked compassion. Instead of warm reassurance, he provided cold, dispassionate appraisal. He scared my child; his words didn't make anything better. We bandaged the wound tightly and drove to the local children's hospital. The doctors and sta , accustomed to working with children, were kind, compassionate, and calming. Although every bit truthful, the form and force of their words brought healing. My child relaxed, leaned back, got stitched up while watching Spongebob Squarepants, and thanked the physician before leaving. Words mattered in that moment and often matter much more than we think. Healing words are a deliberate choice. One of the things we said in a recent message is that following Jesus, running the race of faith, is a deliberate choice. We don't do

it accidentally. It's intentional. Predictably, the same is true of our speech. We won't just fall into honest, hopeful, and healing words and conversations. We must choose these things, build habits that promote them in our lives and relationships, and continually embrace them. To help us move in these directions, we started a new sermon series around the popular acronym and encouragement: to T.H.I.N.K. before we speak. Learning to ask these ve questions will help us communicate more healing and hopeful words, not harmful ones, in everyday conversations. T - Is it TRUE? H - Is it HELPFUL? I - Is it INSPIRING? N - Is it NECESSARY? K - Is it KIND? Can you imagine a political debate striving to maintain these parameters? A marriage relationship? A family or parenting relationship? A workplace? A school? A neighborhood? A culture? A social media channel? A website comment section? What a blessing for all involved!

Of course, our words and conversations will never be perfect in this life. However, even incremental improvements in our speech can make a signi cant and positive di erence over time. Healing and hopeful speech is worth the e ort. It brings glory to God and good to others and those who THINK before they speak.

Announcement from Pastor Kirk Albrecht This past Sunday, January 14th, Pastor Kirk Albrecht shared news of great change for he and his wife, Sarah. We both mourn and celebrate this news as a church family. Please read below for his announcement.

It’s a New Year, and like most years, it will bring changes to our lives – you can count on that! For Sarah and me, it will hold some of the biggest changes we have experienced in a long me. For several years, I have gone through the challenge of being a grandfather with limited me with our grandsons. My heart has longed to be closer to them and be more regularly involved in their lives. This has been a pull on my heart. During this me, our oldest son Josh has been asking us to move closer to his family in Butler. When we would get together, he would usually ask me, “So when are you moving up here?” Our roots in this church family are deep – for almost 25 years on sta , but all the way back to 1988. To consider leaving was very di cult for us. We have walked through many joys as a church family, and some signi cant challenges together over those years. We have rejoiced, laughed, wept, prayed, and followed Jesus together. But the pull of family is strong – I think you grandparents know how precious the bond is with your grandchildren. In a few short years they will be out of the home and gone. And so we announce today that we are moving on from First Free. It has been probably the hardest decision of my life. This church is like a family to us. Yet God was opening a new window of ministry that surprised me. On June 10, I will take on the role of Head of School at Grove City Chris an Academy. This is a new venture for me, yet Sarah and I have both sensed God’s leading. Many trusted counselors in our lives have unanimously a rmed this direc on for me as we hit our mid-60’s and look to make a di erence in the lives of the next genera on in a way that dovetails my abili es with the current needs of the school. Our desire – with the approval of the Elders and the Trustee Board – is to move to Butler in May this year, our last Sunday here will be May 5. We hope to help provide a healthy ministry transi on for the church in these coming months, much like Nancy Jo did last year when she re red. We know for most of you this is sudden. We expect you might have ques ons – we will try to answer any that we can. We hope no one would try to read into this transi on anything other than what it is – a desire to be closer to family, and an opportunity that God provided, to do that. In the next 4 months, I will con nue in my normal ministry du es, seeking to help people grow in becoming healthy followers of Jesus Christ. I will con nue to give leadership in adult ministries, over our growth groups and ABF’s, and provide pastoral care to the church. And we’re not moving to Lithuania – just about an hour up the road. I expect we will see you all regularly in the coming years, God willing. You will remain precious to us. Thank you for the privilege of serving among you over these years.

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-Past K k

CALENDARS! ANNIVERSARIES Spiritual Recovery Tuesdays 7 pm

Mark & Valerie Bradley 37 years

Wednesday Nights at First Free

Mike & Kathy Budden 50 years

Wednesdays 6:30 pm

William & Janet Nagy 48 years

GriefShare Thursdays 10am, 7 pm

Couples Growth Group Sacred Marriage Series

MEMORIAL GIFTS

January 7 - February 11

Art Anderson Laurie Bezick

First Free Bus Trip Registration Deadline January 30

Understanding Islam Seminar February 3, 9am - 2pm

Day of Prayer & Fasting

Beverlee Barna Anonymous Bill Guy Dave & Barb Badstibner Sally Irwin Anonymous

February 22

Marcia Marko Anonymous

Prayer & Praise Service

Ron Pry Anonymous

February 22, 7 pm

AWANA Party February 24, 10am - 4pm

Being & Bringing Good News Workshop March 2, 9am - 3pm

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MARK YOUR

Louise Shearer Anonymous Rick Tarsala Anonymous Jim Charlesworth

SENIOR ACHIEVER SPONSORED BUS TRIP June 19 - 20, 2024 All are invited on the 2024 First Free Bus Trip to Lancaster, PA to see Sight and Sound’s production of Daniel. This is a two-day trip lled with good food and good fun! Deposits are due by January 30th. Sign-up in the Main Lobby on Sunday or call the Church O ce for more information!

SYMPATHIES Our Christian love and sympathy to The family and friends of Ron Pry at his passing. Cindi Higdon and the family & friends of Rick Tarsala.