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EVANGEL
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH
CHRISTMAS FEST 2023! Dear Church Family Recognizing this year's signi cant transitions, we plan to o er a modi ed version of our Christmas Fest ministry outreach. Here is what we're planning:
DATE & TIME Friday, December 8th 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
God Didn’t Forget About You
DESCRIPTION
By Pastor Kevin Labby "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1 When my kids were little, my wife and I occasionally took them out for ice cream cones. Sometimes, we'd drive to McDonald's or Dairy Queen, order the cones in a drive-thru, and then pass them back, one by one, to our four children, all sitting eagerly in the back of our minivan. Sitting in the far back, the two eldest kids usually got their cones rst. The middle waited in their car seats while delicious ice cream cones passed right over them. As you can imagine, that didn't go over very well - especially with the youngest. As they watched ice cream cones y over their head, their facial expressions changed to confusion, sadness, and sometimes ery anger. They would cry, yell, and pound their little hands on the car seat like a tiny Mussolini, thinking that we somehow overlooked them or were showing gross favoritism.
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We plan to pivot away from a musical stage production this year toward two showings of The Shepherd: A Story of the First Christmas by the producers of The Chosen (6:20 p.m. and 7:20 p.m.) It is approximately 19 minutes long. We will open these with a brief welcome from our pastors. We will then close each with a short gospel presentation followed by singing Christmas carols led by Nick Barilla, our Worship and Technical Arts Leader, some of our musicians, and an ensemble of on-platform carolers.
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November 2023 | VOLUME 49 | ISSUE NO.11
(Christmas Fest 2023 continued) Outside, we plan to o er luminaries and outdoor lighting to welcome guests to our church building, a cozy re pit in our parking lot, an outdoor Nativity animal petting zoo, and a Christmas cookie table. We plan to o er hot cocoa and warm apple cider outdoors, too. We plan to o er ambient Christmas carol music played on a piano in the church foyer, a Christmas photo booth, and a Cafe Concession lled with popcorn, candy canes, and bottled water to enjoy during the movie showings. We plan to have creative play, craft, and story time options for kids. Early next year, we will meet to consider any future installments and the form of our Christmas Fest outreach ministry. However, until then, we look forward to planning, promoting, and o ering this ministry to our church and community. Are you interested in helping? Great! Please complete the Christmas Fest Volunteer Form below or sign up in the Main Lobby, and we'll connect you with the appropriate team leader. Blessings,
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Your Friends at First Free
First Free Women’s Ministry By Tammy Badstibner It was a joy to gather as women of First Free on Saturday, October 14th for our annual Women’s Conference. This year we built the day around a new study by Lifeway Women called When You Pray. We dug deep into the prayers of Jesus, Hannah, and Paul with teaching from Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry and Jada Edwards. In addition to their rich teachings, we enjoyed times of worship, breakout discussion sessions, delicious food and fun! Many thanks to those who came out to seek God in His Word and accept His invitation to draw near to Him. If you have yet to plug into the Women's Ministry programming available here at First Free, please do! We would love to get to know you as we grow together in the knowledge and love of our Lord and Savior. Our nal event for the year will be a Christmas Tea on Sunday, December 3rd. We will enjoy delicious tea-time fare, Christmas music, a Bible devotional, and warm fellowship as we prepare our hearts for the Christmas season. In the coming year, let me encourage you to join one of our weekly women’s growth groups. In a church this size, growth groups are where you can come, grow, serve and invest in your relationship with the Lord and really get to know others on a deeper level. It has been an absolute blessing to serve in Women’s Ministries this year as we looked at the spiritual disciplines of bible study, prayer and worship. Many thanks to all those who served alongside me to equip our women in their walk with the Lord and share the love of Christ with our church family. I pray that our e orts glorify God and that the Holy Spirit continues to work in and through the teaching of the Word. Photos om our 2023 Women’s Conference! Photography by Emily Rothey
God Didn’t Forget About You By Pastor Kevin Labby
Veterans Day 2023 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.
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1 When my kids were little, my wife and I occasionally took them out for ice cream cones. Sometimes, we'd drive to McDonald's or Dairy Queen, order the cones in a drive-thru, and then pass them back, one by one, to our four children, all sitting eagerly in the back of our minivan. Sitting in the far back, the two eldest kids usually got their cones rst. The middle waited in their car seats while delicious ice cream cones passed right over them. As you can imagine, that didn't go over very well - especially with the youngest. As they watched ice cream cones y over their head, their facial expressions changed to confusion, sadness, and sometimes ery anger. They would cry, yell, and pound their little hands on the car seat like a tiny Mussolini, thinking that we somehow overlooked them or were showing gross favoritism.
Praise and Thanksgiving Service 2023 Mark your calendars! Sunday, November 19th at 6:00 pm is our Praise & Thanksgiving Evening Worship Service! And what better way to top o Praise and Thanksgiving than with a pie and pudding fellowship! We hope to see you there!
We would try to comfort them, saying sweet things like, "Don't cry. We'd never forget about you! Your cone will be here soon!" Every single time, they got their ice cream cone soon after; they just had to wait a few more seconds. Not surprisingly, the more times this happened, the less the little one cried. They slowly learned they could depend on us; that while one child might receive their blessing a little earlier than another, all of our children would - in time - receive the blessing. We have no favorites at our house. Sometimes, seeing our Father blessing those around us is frustrating, while we seem to go overlooked. Feelings of confusion, sadness, and - yes - maybe even anger can follow. It's tempting in those moments to think that God somehow missed us, that he's forgotten us. Please don't believe it.
More photos om our 2023 Women’s Conference!
Women’s Christmas Tea
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Save the Date for this lovely teatime fellowship!
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(God Didn’t Forget About You continued)
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS!
UPCOMING SENIOR ACHIEVER SCHEDULE Thanksgiving Luncheon Tuesday, November 14th 11:00 am fellowship 11:30 am luncheon
GriefShare
Thursdays - 10 am or 6:30 pm
Spiritual Recovery Workshop Tuesdays - 7:00 PM
ANNIVERSARIES
Next Generation Prayer Mtg
Carl and Pam Pearson 51 years
November 5 - after worship
Robert and Anne Hamilton 40 years
Senior Achievers November 14 - 11 am
Being & Bringing Good News Workshop November 11 at 9 AM - 3 PM
Thanksgiving Service! November 19 at 6 pm
White Cross
November 21 - 9 AM
No Connect November 22
Church O
ce Closed
November 23 and 24
First Sunday of Advent December 3
Christmas Fest 2023
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December 8 at 6:00 PM
MEMORIAL GIFTS Michael Abel Dave & Barb Badstibner Richard Bowen Bob & Anne Hamilton Vilma Pavuk
Menu: $12.00 Turkey (all white meat) Stu ng Mashed Potatoes/Gravy Candied Sweet Potatoes Green Bean Casserole Cranberry Sauce Pumpkin Pie Program - Norbert Śliwiński “Jaars” Devotions - Pastor Alex Ielase Sign-ups October 22nd, 29th November 5th
SYMPATHIES
Ron Dries Bob & Anne Hamilton Vilma Pavuk
Our Christian love and
Ellen Firda Geraldine Nestor Colleen Opalko Hamill Manufacturing Co.
family at the passing of
Jan Pry Duane & Barbara Kasprzyk
passing of wife, mother &
sympathy is extended to... Todd & Cheryl Nestor & Cheryl’s mother, Ellen Firda Ron Pry & family at the grand- mother, Jan Pry