EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2013

HISPANIC MINISTRY

from Pastor Fidel Torres

Dear church,

The month of September is very important to us because we will have our first Hispanic wedding,

something not very common in the Latino community these days. Usually people only come together

to live together without getting married, and that ends up being a problem in families. And this couple,

Vicente and Yanai, want to honor God and this is worthy of mention. This is my first wedding to be

performed. I'm really expectant of what God will do on that day.

We will also have our anniversary celebration as a church. We will celebrate our third anniversary, and

give glory to God for it. In our Sunday school I continue to teach about the biblical picture, knowing

the structure of the Bible. We will go through the Old Testament to know what books it consists of,

what each of them is about, and how to get to them quickly. In September I will be preaching, God

willing, the life of Jesus in the Gospels.

We ask for your prayers for the contacts made at

the Lincoln Elementary School event and also by

all members of the Hispanic church, that God will

continue allowing us to grow as a church both in

number and in maturity. Also, for the prompt

return of my wife, Lulu. I plan to take a trip to

Texas this month, too, for a conference.

May God give us wisdom and discernment to

guide His Church.

Philippians 1:6 ~ “Being confident of this very

thing, that He who began a good work in you

will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING There will be a special congregational meeting immediately after the 2

nd Service on Sunday,

September 8, at 12:10 p.m. in the sanctuary. The purpose of the meeting is to

request permission from the members of the church to use up to $6,500 from

the building fund to make changes in the décor and design of our worship

foyer to enhance the welcoming environment of our church. The property

committee has already approved the allocation of $5,000 from their budget to

help with this renovation project. Members are encouraged to attend. Proxy

forms will be available at the Information Desk for those members unable to attend.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Attention AWANA Volunteers and Kids! AWANA BEGINS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 AT 6:30

Awana meets each Wednesday from 6:30-8:00 PM. The three clubs we offer are: Cubbies – 3 yr. olds - Pre-school Sparks – Kindergarten - 2nd grade T&T – 3rd - 6th grade We also offer nursery for infants and toddlers during AWANA time so parents can volunteer to help or participate in a Bible study. Clubber books, handbags, shirts/vests are all available for purchase. If you have questions about AWANA or want to volunteer, contact Alanna Armstrong at 463-1441 or alanna4321@windstream.net. AWANA CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER September 4 KNOW YOUR LEADER NIGHT – earn prizes for learning about and listening to your leader September 11 DUCT TAPE NIGHT – decorate with duct tape September 18 MARSHMALLOW NIGHT – earn marshmallows for sections learned September 25 MANNERS NIGHT – learn how to show respect to others

NURSERY DATE 8:30 AM WORSHIP 9:45 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 AM WORSHIP

Sep. 1 J Kalvelage/B Aipperspach J Messerer/**Need Volunteer** A Fullerton/J Armstrong Sep. 8 M/P Krueger C/S Shade K Hemberger/Kenzie Carson

Sep. 15 W/M Rathje S/A Trimble R Busking/**Need Volunteer** Sep. 22 **Need Volunteers** M Ostrander/J Khamouna A/A Hoagland Sep. 29 **Need Volunteers** **Need Volunteers** **Need Volunteers**

CHILDREN’S CHURCH Sep. 1 – Horstmann Sep. 8 – Strom Sep. 15 – Drake Sep. 22 -- Horstmann Sep. 29 -- Strom

Christian Education Teachers/Helpers For the Fall Quarter

18 months-2 year olds Tami Humphreys/Deb Reiners Room 17

3 year olds Shelli/Payton Calhoun (every other week only) Room 18

Preschool Deb Drake/Donna George Room 16

Kindergarten Monica Nordby/Amy Fullerton Room 15

1st Grade Nathan/Shalene Huyser Room 14

2nd Grade Julie Rosenquist/Kathy Murman/Deb Staggs Room 12

3rd / 4th Grade Penny Birky/Mary Stoner/**Need Volunteer** Fellowship Hall

5th / 6th Grade Paige Schweitzer/**Need Volunteer** Fellowship Hall

**We are always looking for more new volunteers to our Children’s Ministries program. If you have a heart for children and have interest in helping in either the

Nursery, Children’s Church, or Sunday School, please contact Alanna Armstrong.

WORK DAY AT CHURCH Our Service Team Work Day is Saturday, September 7th. We will start at 9:00 AM for the projects that need to be taken care. Volunteers need to wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals) and bring gloves, chain saws and any other tools to clean up around the large garage. A list of jobs to be completed and any supplies needed will be available. Lunch will be provided for those helping. Questions…contact Jack Flanigan at 402-984-6631.

PRAYER CHAIN If you want to be added to the email prayer chain, send a note to evangelicalfree@windstream.net.

You're invited to The Gathering The Gathering is designed to bring two congregations together in worship. Pastor Fidel's church will be joining us for a special gathering of God's people on Sunday, October 13 at 11:00 AM. Our normally scheduled Sunday School hour will begin at 9:45 AM and our

normally scheduled 8:30 AM early service will be cancelled. Please be in prayer for The Gathering as we seek to honor Him together as one family!

Night of Worship: Hymn Sing Series The Night of Worship: Hymn Sing Series is a series of evenings throughout the year where we encourage young and old to join us as we worship singing the songs we all know and love. Our prayer is that you are encouraged and energized by God through these wonderful opportunities, not only of musical worship but through the teaching of the Word as well. Join us this year on Sunday, September 22 and Sunday, November 17 at 6:00pm in the Sanctuary.

ADULT BIBLE FELLOWSHIP {ABF} CLASSES Adult Bible Fellowship classes meet Sunday mornings from 9:45-10:45 AM. They include adult electives of Bible studies and group discussion. Here’s a list of the current ABF electives:

Bible Explorers [Room 1]: If you want to dig into a book of the Bible to discover what it says, means and how to apply it to your life, this may be the class for you. There is a wide age range in this class, so anyone 18 & over would feel comfortable.

Bridge Builders [Room 5]: The genesis of this class’s name was that they want to build bridges

to other people and generations, including serving others. This class is comprised mostly of adults age 50 & over and addresses a variety of biblical and topical studies.

Contemporary Christian Issues [Fireside Room]: This class often takes an issue that we deal

with in society today and interprets it from a Christian perspective. Most of this class is 50 & over, but it is open to anyone.

Truth Seekers [Room 4]: This class is comprised primarily of 40s & 50s. They seek to know the

truth of God’s word and apply it to their lives. So whether you are an empty nester, a couple with kids, single or single again, this group can help you grow. Currently they are studying: R12 - True Spirituality - (based on Romans 12, learn "how to relate rightly, out of grace, from the heart, to God, to the world around you; get to know yourself, how God views you, how to relate to other believers", etc.

Young Family Builders [Room 6]: Do you have preschool or school-age kids? This is a great

place to plug in to solid biblical teaching and to meet other young families. Young Marrieds [Room 3]: This is a group for Young Married Couples.

If you have questions about any of the ABF classes, contact Pastor Matt Sass or the office.

‘NOT ALONE’ LADIES GROUP ‘NOT ALONE’ will meet Sept. 1 & 15 at 11:00 AM in Room 6. Call Sandra @469-0331 or Gene @984-4614 for information. This group is designed to help women who come to church alone for various reasons.

We last met the 16th of August for our Fabric Fun Quilting. Delma Carr

brought two pretty quilt tops she will soon make available for someone from the

church family to purchase. Virginia Thomsen brought a Bambi quilt and

prepared to have it ready for someone to purchase. The group tried their new Bandage Roller successfully, as we

rolled old sheet strips into hand-sized rolls for Congolese patients. Delma took home five Receiving Blankets to

hem. Several old sheets and old pillow cases were taken home to make into bandages. Our group will plan to meet on

Friday, September 20, at 1 PM in Room 11. Please join us on the 20th if you’d like. Questions…contact Virginia

Thomsen at 402-705-3723.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP Are you interested in joining the Hastings E-Free Church? If so, please speak to one of our Pastors about getting a Membership Application packet. In order for them to be voted on at the October Quarterly Business Meeting completed forms must be turned in by September 8.

ELDER BOARD The Elder Board will meet on

Tuesday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m.

LABOR DAY The church office will be closed

Monday, September 2nd

Celebrate Recovery is: A ministry for life’s daily hurts, habits and hang-ups. “my grace is enough for you...” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Join us any Saturday Night for Celebrate Recovery* ‘Celebration Station’ program for children ages 6:30 pm – Open Doors 3-13 is available from 6:45-9:00 PM at no cost 7:00 pm – Worship and teaching or testimony 8:00 pm – Men’s and Women’s groups meet *You’re welcome to attend any or all portions 9:00 pm – The Cove Café of the CR program!

For further information about Celebrate Recovery, please go to their website – www.hefccr.org or contact Larry/Karen Mohlman.

Living Stones Youth Group upcoming events

SEPTEMBER 2013

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 8:30/11 AM Worship 9:45 AM SS/ABF 11:00 AM Hisp. WS 11:00 AM Not Alone

2

Labor Day Office Closed

3

10:00 Staff mtg

4

6:30 AWANA begins 7:00 Finance Cmte Mtg-Fireside Room 7:15 Hisp. Prayer Gr @ downtown site

5

6

7

9:00 AM Serve Team Work Day @ Church 7:00 Celebrate Recovery

8

8:30/11 AM Worship 9:45 AM SS/ABF 11:00 AM Hisp. WS 12:10 Special Congregational Meeting

9

8:00 Men’s St.

10

10:00 Staff mtg 7:00 Elder board

11

6:00-8:15 Youth Group Kick Off 6:30 AWANA 7:15 Hisp. Prayer Gr @ downtown site

12

6:30 Relay4Life meeting – Fell.Hall

13

14

**Vincente/Yanai Wedding 7:00 Celebrate Recovery

15

8:30/11 AM Worship 9:45 AM SS/ABF 11:00 AM Hisp. WS 11:00 AM Not Alone

16

8:00 Men’s St.

17

10:00 Staff mtg

18

6:00-8:00 JH Youth 6:15-8:15 SH Youth 6:30-8:00 AWANA 7:15 Hisp. Prayer Gr @ downtown site

19

7:00 PM Choir rehearsals begin

20

1:00 ‘Fabric Fun’ Quilting - Rm. 11

21

**Trautman/Richter Wedding 7:00 Celebrate Recovery

22

8:30/11 AM Worship 9:45 AM SS/ABF 11:00 AM Hisp. WS 6:00 “Hymn Sing” Worship Series

23

8:00 Men’s St.

24

10:00 Staff mtg

25

AM See You at the Pole at area schools 6:00-8:00 JH Youth 6:15-8:15 SH Youth 6:30-8:00 AWANA 7:15 Hisp. Prayer Gr @ downtown site

26

7:00 PM Choir

27

6-11 PM Scrapbook Ministry - Rm 6/7

28

7:00 Celebrate Recovery

29

8:30/11 AM Worship 9:45 AM SS/ABF 11:00 AM Hisp. WS

30

8:00 Men’s St.

M.O.P.S. – Mothers of PreSchoolers The fall kickoff for MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers), a Christian-based, non-denominational, internationally organized group, will be held on Thursday, September 5th, 9:00 AM in the Celebration Center at First St Paul's Lutheran Church. All moms with children ages birth thru kindergarten are invited to attend. MOPS is held the 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month

(September-May) 9:00 AM-11:00 AM. Meetings include breakfast, fellowship, and fun. Childcare is available. Membership dues apply (1st meeting is free). The theme for the upcoming year is "A Beautiful Mess." Life can be one big beautiful mess. Moms need MOPS because messes are better together. MOPS invites women to be part of honest conversations, to receive practical advice and encouragement, and to find their identity by journeying together.

Ain't

He was just a little boy, on a week's first day.

Wandering home from Sunday School, and dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass; He even found a caterpillar.

He found a fluffy milkweed pod, and blew out all the "filler."

A bird's nest in a tree overhead, so wisely placed up so high.

Was just another wonder, that caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zig zag course, and hailed him from the lawn;

Asked him where he'd been that day and what was going on.

"I've been to Bible School", he said, and turned a piece of sod.

He picked up a wiggly worm replying, "I've learned a lot about God."

"M'm very fine way," the neighbor said, "for a boy to spend his time."

"If you'll tell me where God is, I'll give you a brand new dime."

Quick as a flash the answer came! Nor were his accents faint.

"I'll give you a dollar, Mister, if you can tell me where God ain't."

Author Unknown