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| Newborn Arrival One | |
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Congratulations!
on the birth of
Newborn Twins
To: John and Debbie Eccleston
who have beome the proud grandparents of twin grandaughters Saturday 7/17/10.
Makayla Faith and Makenzie Grace
weighed 7lbs 11oz and 7lbs 2oz.
Parents are
Stephen and Samantha Eccleston who are stationed in New York. The girls have an older 2 year old brother named Parker. |
| Newborn Arrival Two | |
Congratulations!
Kevin & Lindsey
Vlaardingerbroek
on the birth of their son
Conrad Vlaardingbroeck |
Born: July 1st, 2010
Weight: 6 lbs. 13 oz.
Length: 18 1/4"
CONGRATS to proud
grandparents,
George and Carol Tillson
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August 26
Fish Fry Celebration
On Thursday, August 26 at 6:47pm, the Men's Leadership Council is inviting the Men of The Family Church to a Ministry kick-off celebration and fish fry (there will be land lover food for those who can't eat fish).
Please join us for an evening of fun and fellowship as we unpack our multi-faceted plans for ministry for men in 2010/11.
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Family Connections
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The Family Church Newsletter |
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You are Invited to
OUR BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR!
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August 15th at 10:30 AM on the grounds
This will be the Only service for that weekend.
There will be No Saturday or Early Sunday Services.
Catered Dinner immediately following the service
with activities until 3 PM
Tickets are $5.00 for Adults; $3.00 for Ages 3-12
Please purchase ahead of time in The Filling Station
Includes all events except the Dunking Booth
Food Includes: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Salads, Drinks
Popcorn, Snow Cones
In addition to Dessert and Chili Contests,
Extra Desserts are Requested.
Events Include: Horseshoes, Volleyball, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Dunking Booth, Pony Rides, Train Rides,
Water Games, and Water Slide
All the sign up sheets for the chili/dessert contest
and for the other help needed are on the round table in the lobby.
NOTE: We are looking for 5-6 canopy-type tents to be used
as extra shade areas during the outside activities.
If you have a tent to loan us for this occasion,
please contact Sherry Meurer at
sherrym@thefamilychurch.net
or call 332-6459.
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How Long, Oh Lord! with Pastor Patrick Callahan
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" Isaiah 40: 31
Every breath of my life is a privilege. I am reminded of the uneven pace of life as described in Ecclesiastes 3 "a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to mourn and a time to dance". Linda and I are in a season of reflection. Perhaps it's the emotional pace that we are both hard-wired to invest, or maybe it's the examination of the highlights, "should-haves", "could-haves" and regrets of my life as I approach my 61st birthday. We have been looking at our next season of life and pouring out to God to "make clear our path". Isaiah 40:3 At times, the pace of life can be overwhelming. I recently wanted to landscape a flower garden around a new fountain that I gave Linda two months ago. As I approached the nursery and verbally inspected the panoply of choices, I shook my head and walked away as I didn't have the energy to be creative. The absence of energy can be frightening to someone who thrives on passion. In his book 66 Love Letters, Larry Crabb graphically captured my feeling in writing about the book of Nehemiah "But God the glimpse is gone. I still believe that a really good plan is underway but I'm not caught up in it. I'm back to feeling very ordinary, doing very ordinary things in an ordinary world." I was confused because God gave me the passion of Nehemiah but the energy of the people who opted for one hundred years to "live as comfortably as they could in the immediate than to preserve their destiny." P. 75 I so wanted to be energized to engage His plan and purpose. Then God used a moment of sadness to illustrate His character.
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CURRENTLY ENROLLING STUDENTS
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Worship Through Creative Arts with Larry Carpenter
With our Anniversary Service Weekend upon us in the next few weeks I'm reminded of James 2:14-17.
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
If you have spent any time here at The Family Church you know first hand that we take this to heart. Our affiliation with IHN (Interfaith Hospitality Network), which meets immediate food, shelter, and clothing needs for our surrounding community right here on campus, reflects the "Action" behind our faith in just one area of ministry. You will experience that same "servant's heart" compassion when you attend Celebrate Recovery, our three other worship services, or when you get involved with missions, home groups, and several other ministries.
To me personally it's all worship in different forms, but obviously I spend most of my time with the worship and arts crew that ranges from multiple tech members,to singers, players, and worship leaders. They too put action behind their faith when they volunteer their time and talent to bring God centered worship services every weekend. Long story short: I'm blessed to be part of what God is doing here in the lives at Family Church...
Happy
Anniversary!!!
Larry Carpenter
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with Jeff Moody
When I Grow Up, I Want to Be - I am writing this newsletter article on the day that Hebrews 5 was the 'SOAP' reading for the day. It is so pertinent to discipleship, I just wanted to share my journal entry. In the process of going from "scrawlings in my journal" to "newsletter article," I have made some editorial changes, but in some ways this is not all that "cleaned up" - for the most part, this is pretty much the heart of what I wrote this morning in my journal: S - Hebrews 5:11-14 11 - "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 - In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 - Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 -But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." O - People quit trying. That's what they do. They stop short. The writer of Hebrews is saying, "AAIGH!! I have so much I want to tell you ! My heart is so full!! But I can't make it clear, it is really hard to explain it to you! Why? Because at some point, you decided you had enough, thank you, and you just quit trying to go any deeper. You gave up any need to continue to try and understand! The truth is, you should be at the place developmentally WAY further already than what you are now.
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Iron Sharpens Iron Conference in Ocala
October 23rd
Teenage sons (biological and spiritual) have free admission
Great father and son day together
For all men of all ages to go together
Click below to read the bios of
Main Session Speakers
A Devotional for Men
"Marital Roles: Husband Authority"
Spiritual Authority comes from your relationship with God
Click below to:
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Women's Ministry
God's Love For Us by Suzanne Wood
The death of my earthly Father impacted my life in a way only God, my heavenly Father, could have done. I have struggled for years in learning to accept God's love, not his forgiveness nor his mercy and grace, but His unconditional love and acceptance of me just as I am today, who I was in the past, and what I will become in the future. So many of us did not have Fathers who were able to provide for our emotional needs. They took care of the family, and met physical needs, but were not equipped to accept and love us unconditionally because they did not know how to. I know in my life this set off a cycle of unhealthy relationships and looking for love in all the wrong places. I thought for years that if I met the right person, I would be happy and fulfilled, even after I turned my life over to God.
When I brought my Daddy home from the hospital, little did I know the work God was going to do in my heart, and his. I had forgiven my Dad a long time ago, but had not yet loved him unconditionally and it was an honor and privilege to lay my life down for him the last three weeks of his life. God put a invisible bond between us that was incredible and all the walls were torn down ( Joel 2:25: "So I will restore to youthe years that the swarming locust has eaten.")
Click to read on:
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Bats: One of Life's Unique Complex Creatures
By Stephen F. Larner, PhD
 Bats without a past. There are over 1,100 different bat species some with wingspans between 5 and 6 feet others, like the bumblebee bat, have a wingspan of only 6 inches. They can even live up to 30 years.
Evolutionist Dr. Jerry Coyne, opined: "Bats evolved from small four-legged mammals, probably resembling shrews . . . . [S]election simply retooled the forelegs into wings, along with modifying the animal's weight, shape, musculature, nervous system and bones for flying (no feathers needed)."
Without presenting any evidence, notice how he use used the word " simply" to explain presumed evolutionary changes. He did so because simple changes are more easily believed. Evolutionists' objective is to make it appear that all living things look simple. They tend to saturate their presentations with words like simple or uncomplicated. One recent TV program on the origination of the bat's flight abilities even tried to portray this feat this way.
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 On The Homefront by Connie Reid
Many of you know I am recovering from major surgery. Just prior to the operation, I was out at the mailbox and ran into my next door neighbor. I shared with her my pending surgery and the recovery time. Her immediate response after expressing concern was that she knew I would be well cared for by "the ladies" from my church. The ladies she was referring to were the Apples of Gold mentors and young ladies she had seen coming to my house through the years. Other than being an oddity, I often wonder what the neighbors think of the cars parked in front for family group, Apples of Gold and our family in general. What this neighbor was saying was that she had seen love, care and concern in the people coming to my home from our church. You will know they are Christians by their love. The love we share for our family, the love we show to one another and the love we show to our neighbors, co-workers and the strangers we encounter throughout our day, all are a direct measure of how our lives testify of Him.
With our 17th Anniversary Service coming up soon it is a good time to reflect on how we are doing as a church body. I can tell you from being on the receiving end of the love this body shows for one another that I cannot imagine being in a better place. I had a sweet sister keep watch through the night by my bedside the first night after the operation, that same sister scrubbed my kitchen floor on her hands and knees, many prepared wonderful meals providing me with two weeks worth of suppers, others drove me to follow up doctor's appointments, beautiful flowers were brought, cards with words of encouragement, and countless hours of prayer were offered on my behalf. They will know you are Christians by your love. Thank you Family Church, I am so glad we are a part of this fellowship.
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VBS, Haiti, and a Yard Sale
I am so proud of Erin Cook and Angela Renick and our children's ministry. Each year, TFC's Vacation Bible School has some sort of missions emphasis woven into it. This year our children were once again competing "boys versus girls" to bring in the most money each day, and each day a male and female staff member were the potential victims of what ever "it" was going to be for that day, as in "Mrs. Erin got it today!! She had dirt and chocolate syrup poured over her head!" This year, the funds raised by the children were going towards "Hope for Haiti," a ministry endeavor spearheaded by Mark and Carol Atkinson, whose goal is to come alongside of Mission Possible (a longtime TFC missions partner in Haiti) to build a much needed medical clinic in the community. Carol was there each day teaching the kids about Haiti, the earthquake, the needs, and the fact that God wants to use us to make a difference.
There are at least 2 little girls who also "got it" at VBS - that is, they got the message. Aaron Haynes shares this story about his girls, Lexi and Destiny:
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Check out our website at www.thefamilychurch.net
for information including:
Service Dates and Times
Weekly Calendar
Family News
Archived Newsletters
Daily Bible Readings
and/or
Listen to Sermons and great praise music and more!
To submit questions or information regarding the newsletter,
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