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Februry 19 - 21, 2010
Come join us for:
Missionary Guests from around our community and around the world.
Special worship celebrations
Village Day revisited!!
Come take the missions journey with us!
There will be a
Short Term level 1 Mission Class
on Tuesday, January 5th from 6:30-8pm.
This class is required if you are planning on participating on a short term mission trip with TFC. Contact
Jeff Moody at jeffm@thefamilychurch.net for more details
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It's a New Year!
It's New You!
As a new year begins do you often hear people saying that they are going to make this and that type of commitment? We say things such as, 'I am going to get organized', 'I am not going to over-commit myself and family this year', 'Get in shape', 'Eat right', 'Do my quiet time daily', 'Teach my children more about God', 'Be a Spiritual Leader', etc. We have all heard these things. I don't suspect that this year will be any different than the ones before but it could be.
Nursery News
Children's Newsletter
Youth Newsletter
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Volunteer Appreciation |
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Margaret Applegate
and
Evelyn Lea.
Pictured here are a couple of our Thursday afternoon "bulletin stuffers" who faithfully serve the church body every Thursday afternoon when we have inserts for the weekend bulletin. Help is always needed if anyone would like to volunteer....you can join them any Thursday at 2pm. Contact Sherry in the church office for more information.
Jo (L) and Joe (R) Haddox
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| IHN Family Response |
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Recently we at TFC had the privilege of hosting our first Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) families for the first time. This included feeding. sheltering and fellowshipping with four families consisting of six adults and seven children. Below they have responded to us with great appreciation:
"Dear Family Church:
The families of I.H.N. would like to thank you all for making us feel like we were at home. Once again, our prayers have been answered by giving us a wonderful place to stay with all the hugs, laughter, and great hosts. This really means "family church".
God bless you all, and remember that God has given us all 'extended family' to love. For this being your first host, no one could have done any better. Thanks for the memories and all the love.
Sincerely, The Familes of IHN"
Thanks to all of you who have gener-ously donated items and volunteered to help us show hospitality "Family Church" style.
Michele Thomas, IHN Contact Michele.th@gmail.com or 331-3701 or 871-7001.
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| Christmas Child Response |
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The Family Church received a letter of appreciation from
Franklin Graham in regard to our participation in the Christmas Child Shoebox Project.
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The Family Church Newsletter |
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A Word from Max
Can you believe the first decade of the 21st century is over? I know I can't. I hope that you and your family had a great Christmas celebration and are preparing to enter the new decade with Christ filled hearts, with hope and with purpose. Remember Philippians 1:6. The best is yet to come.
At The Family Church there is much new for 2010. Although all of this will was spelled out at the State of the Church address on Sunday, December 27th, I want to recap it here. You can also listen to that message on our web site if you missed it on the 27th.
First of all, the elders have decided that it is time to ordain some new elders. We have received nomination for two men: Mark Messersmith and George Arola. The elders are very pleased to present these names for your consideration. We are currently in a season of investigation. If you have any Biblical or spiritual objections to either of these men serving as elders at TFC, please put your specific objection in writing and get them to one of our current elders on or before Sunday, January 3rd . We will be holding an ordination service for new deacons and elders in January, 2010. Please stay tuned for more details.
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Whispers in the Dark
Scripture - Matthew 5:1-2, 6; 7:7 - "Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him and He began to teach them saying: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you..."
Observation - Jesus has an interesting approach to church growth. The scriptures regularly indicate that Jesus watches people, observes groups and individuals, and contemplates the crowds. On the occasion of the "Sermon on the Mount" Jesus did the same. Matthew says He "saw the crowds...." His response is interesting. He did not look at the crowds, rush into the middle of them and begin to try to gain their interest. Instead, upon seeing the crowds Jesus went the other way, up the side of a mountain where He sat down and waited. Matthew then says, "His disciples came to Him." The choice of words is interesting. He saw the "crowds" but out of the "crowds" it was only His disciples who came to Him. I believe it is to His disciples, to those who will leave the crowd to seek Him, that He is speaking when He says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." The progression of events is significant - He saw/He sat/ they sought/He taught.
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Bacteria, Small and Surprising By Stephen F. Larner, PhD
Bacteria, God's surprising created creatures. Living cells fall into two general kinds: a) those that have inside them membrane-bound organelles like a nucleus, and b) those that do not. The former, like the cells in our bodies and in plants, are called eukaryotes. The latter are called prokaryotes and this is the class bacteria fall. Yet even if less sophisticated than the eukaryotes, bacteria are so complex that even with tens of thousands of scientists spending decades studying them they still don't know very much about them. They continually find new things and even new bacteria.
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Worship Through Creative Arts with Larry Carpenter
My friends in Whistler Canada have been pounded with 5½ meters of snow as of the first week in December. That's over 18 feet of wonderful powder if you are a skier like myself!!! I can't help but think that God has a sense of humor and is saying; "are you serious?" when jealous arrogant global leaders meet in Copenhagen to increase taxes on productive people around the world under the bizarre claim that humans have the ability to alter the weather, not to mention that the jury is still out regarding climate change. Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!
Here's the deal: Every breath is a gift from God and Christ is the author of all things good. It's that simple. Let us take the time this season to notice all the incredible blessings and humor that God has given us each minute of the day and pass them on...even if it's 18 feet of snow!
Have a 'Happy New Year'!
Larry
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Women's Ministry with Rene Cloutier
Praying Always. . . Ephesians 6:10-13
". . . . be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ladies, Welcome to 2010! May the blessings of God be upon you and those you love.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. Luke 6:37-38.
REALLY?! Do you believe this? Is this your experience in your Christian walk and your relationship with God? You may be saying, 'Renee, you aren't for real in asking me this, are you? I mean, this is the word of God, of course it is true.' Yes, you are right. The word of God is true; all of it. So this scripture verse is true also. But I ask you again, is this truth your truth? Are you living each day with the assurance of what this scripture teaches?
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| Focus on the Family Groups
The Family Church is having a planting party
"With this point in mind, we constantly pray for you, that God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." 2 Thessalonians 1:11
I believe most evangelical Christians encounter seasons of their journey when worship is routine, quiet time is a call to duty in order fulfill a commitment, and our prayers are reflecting off our self insulated ceiling. In a former season of life, our congregational worship was referred to as "fulfilling our weekly obligation". If we approached our spouses with a similar attitude, not only would romance be out of the question but the building trades would experience a boom in constructing new dog houses. How can this be? One of the greatest promises of hope for born again Christians is Jesus' proclamation "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do EVEN GREATER THINGS than these because I am going to the Father". John 14:12
In my quiet time of daily devotion, The Holy Spirit has given me a burden to walk in deeper faith and surrender. God is "spurring me on' to walk as "one of those who believe and who know the truth" 1 Timothy 4:3. In short, I have not even scratched the surface of living within the promise of John 14:12. Paul's message to the Ephesians in 3:16 is "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with POWER through his spirit in your inner being." My loving God is discipling me to fully plug into my source of power (it's His power; not mine) to walk away from my unbelief and to act as if the promises of God are real and true. My power source is THE TRUTH.
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| God Will Make a Way!
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
It's been over 2000 years since Jesus came to Earth as a baby and fulfilled the prophecy that he would truly be 'God with us'. But even though Jesus is no longer physically here, He promised that He would never leave us and that the Holy Spirit would dwell within us. Trusting in God although we cannot see Him is the essence of our faith.
Perhaps 2009 has been a difficult year for you. Maybe you lost your job, saw your savings evaporate, had family problems, faced health issues, or encountered other challenging situations. But as the Christmas season passes and the New Year has come, remember that Immanuel has not left you. God is still with us, and you are not alone. The presence of Jesus brought hope to a dark world 2000 years ago. Let God's presence in your heart bring hope, joy and peace to your life as you trust and follow Him every day.
Coming up: The second meeting of the Men's Council will be held on January 12th at 6"30 pm to consider some new discipleship courses for men. Please try to attend.
For more information and upcoming events,
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 On The Homefront: Tips about practically everything by Connie Reid
This week the area saw the first freezing temperatures which turned my thoughts to making another batch of wassail. My family has enjoyed this hot drink for two generations now making it often during cold weather. The ingredients make it a powerful drink for warding off colds and soothing one if you already have the symptoms. The word itself is a middle English word meaning to "be healthy" and was often used as a greeting. It dates back to medieval times.
The modern day recipes vary somewhat from the wassail referred to in the Christmas carol about going "wassailing" where the carolers would be rewarded with the drink. They both, however, are a hot, spiced drink with a fruit juice base.
I served wassail at our last family group gathering of 2009 and several members requested the recipe. Here it is for you to try if you are so inclined. It is very easy to make and fills the house with a wonderful aroma of spices. We like sipping ours from teacups.
Wassail
This will make 3 quarts.
In a large metal pot, mix the following ingredients.
1 46 ounces of unsweetened pineapple juice
1 46 ounces of apricot nectar
4 to 5 cups of apple juice or cider
3 Cups of orange juice (I use juice with no pulp)
6 inches of stick cinnamon
1 generous teaspoon of whole cloves
Heat to boiling and immediately lower to a simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the spices with a slotted spoon and serve hot. | |
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