The Family Church
Family Connections Newsletter
November 2011 |
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| Fall Festival at TFC | |
Coming Up SOON!
Sunday, Nov. 13th
from 4-7 pm
Music
Cake Walk
Obstacle Course
Tot Spot
Duck Shoot
Apple Dunk
Face Paint
Hamburgers/Hotdogs
Balloon Animals
Games
Pumpkin BakeOff
Be sure to come and
Invite Your Friends
Fun for All!
For More Information,
See FSM Newsletter Below
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| Interfaith Hospitality Network |
NOV. 27-DEC. 4
HELP is always needed
and much appreciated.
If you would like to get involved
and cook a meal or spend
an evening with the families or provide another need,
please contact Michele Thomas .at:
michele.th@gmail.com
OR
Joann Ugliano at jugliano@yahoo.com
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A Word From Max | |
I woke up this morning to cool, crisp air outside and a sun that didn't rise until several hours after I got up. Autumn is upon us, and it will soon be time to celebrate Thanksgiving. Of course, for believers, every day is a day of gratitude and thankfulness. In fact, the Apostle Paul ties gratitude together with life, with wholeness and with peace. It is such an important part of discipleship. I hope you are regularly practicing gratitude.
One of the things I am continually grateful for at The Family Church is our wonderful facility. As most of you know, our renovated, much larger sanctuary was completed a few years ago, giving us a couple of hundred additional seats (that we desperately needed), a baptistery (that has been in action on so many weekends since), and some much needed improvements to our facility. At the same time we also constructed our wonderful 24,000 square foot Family Student Movement building. It has enabled us to minister with excellence to our growing infant, children and youth population, as well as hosting Celebrate Recovery, Adult Classes, and The Academy Pre-School. Our new children's facility was full to capacity on opening day! Clearly we needed those as well. Of course, it was never about buildings, but about the life change and ministry that those buildings would make possible. I am so glad we trusted the God who makes "All Things New" and stepped out in faith to build those buildings.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON
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Whispers in the Dark | |
Scripture: Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered. (Acts 12:8)
Observation: Herod is bloodthirsty. He had James killed by the sword and he noted that the people rejoiced in James' murder. This arrogant ruler then had Peter arrested to feed his popularity among the crowd. Nothing like another lynching to get your popularity ratings up! While Peter was chained to two Roman soldiers with guards at the gates, God intervened. Light flooded the jail, Peter's chains fell off, and an angel tells him to get dressed, put on his sandals and follow him out of the jail.
Earlier in scripture we look at Exodus 3 when Moses appears before the burning bush and is told to take off his sandals. Interesting: both Moses' instruction to take off his sandals and Peter's instructions to put them on were from God. For Moses, the call was to recognize the holiness of God and follow Him. For Peter the call was to obey God and follow Him.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON:
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| Take Precautions! | |
Please be aware that we have recently experienced some "smash and grab" incidents with cars parked in The Family Church's parking lot. These have taken place in broad day light and have involved broken windows and theft of valuables.
Please do not leave tempting items within plain view in your cars when they are parked at the church. Purses, cell phones, wallets, cameras, etc, are best hidden away, or brought inside with you. We don't want you to be a victim. |
| Prayer Partners Notice |
Attention Prayer Partners: If you have ALREADY been trained as a prayer partner at The Family Church, please contact Elder Dave Hankins by email (daveh467@windstream.net) to let him know if you are willing to continue serving in the prayer partner ministry.
You may also choose to attend the upcoming training on Saturday, November 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the church if you are already a prayer partner. Elder Dave will be giving some new training and preparing us for a new season of ministry. Please email Dave as soon as possible.
Thank you. |
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Worship and Arts Ministry Larry Carpenter | 
Hi everyone...this year is flying by and the holidays are just around the corner.
We continue to grow in different ways and as some of you know, we have recently combined the 1st Touch Ministries (Ushers / Greeters / Welcome Desk) with the Worship & Arts program to round out the weekend worship experience.
This has been a good fit because of our leaders Ata, Vicky and John and all the "friendly" volunteers that make up those teams...truth is; we have room for you too!
Make this the season to get involved with your God given gifts!
Come join us as we grow, Larry |
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Orphan Care Ministry with Scott and Haley Long |
Her name is Olesya. She is a real child. She lives in a formerly Communist country in Eastern Europe. Olesya was born with Down Syndrome and considered shameful to her family and her society. So her family's doctor suggested that they put her in an orphanage with other special needs children, and here she has lived for four years. At age four she is not yet twenty pounds. She cannot walk. She is never hugged or played with. Olesya's crib is shared with another child in a dark corner of the orphanage. Here she spends most of her days, too drugged to want to do much because she is given tranquilizers to be sure she is not a bother to anyone. When Olesya turns five, she will be transferred to a mental institution with adults who sleep in cribs and children who are atrophied and wasting away because they are never moved.
Perhaps this is not the kind of story you were hoping to read in your Family News this month. Perhaps you wonder if it is sensationalized or a rare case. But it is neither. And, if you are like me, you are saddened but feel far removed and helpless to do anything. But be encouraged. God is working in the hearts of His followers in our country, and He is entrusting us with the stories of these forgotten children. And His people are responding. In the past few years that we have been involved in the world of adoption and orphan care, we have been truly amazed at how God is taking ordinary, once fearful and self-consumed believers and filling them with the boldness and faith to care for "the least of these". To be sure, it is not easy. Yet I have never met one family who regrets beginning this journey through faith. Or one who would ever go back to their old way of life before they knew... before they responded. For what they have gained is far more than what they have lost. (Though what they have lost seems like 'everything' in the world's eyes). What is more, they "consider it all rubbish" for all this they have lost "for the sake of Christ", and now they know just a bit more the "surpassing greatness of knowing Christ and being found in Him" (Phil. 3).
Oh, would you like to hear the rest of Olesya's story?
CLICK HERE
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Living Fossils: Oxymoron By Stephen F. Larner, PhD | |
An evolution enigma - living fossils, creatures alive today that are identical to fossilized forms believed to have lived millions of years ago. Examples include the coelacanth fish (believed to be 340 million years old), Gingko trees (125 million years), crocodiles (140 million years), horseshoe crabs (200 million years), the Lingula lamp shell (450 million years), Neopilina molluscs (500 million years), and the tuatara lizard (200 million years). Case in point, the discovery of fossilized old sea turtles believed to be 110 million years was once thought to have exciting implications for evolution. However, contrary to evolutionary expectations, they look, basically, the same as sea turtles do today. The other problem, these sea turtle fossils (like all living fossils) appear suddenly in the fossil record with no hint of a nonturtle ancestor, i.e., it lacks transitional ancestors. Note, just declaring they are over 100 million years old does not make it an observed historical fact.
A New Scientist article1 pointed out that 'living fossils' pose a conundrum for evolution. They asked 'Why have these life-forms stayed the same for all that time?' Several evolutionists they quoted alleged 'chance' and 'luck' were the answer. Other more skeptical evolutionists look for alternative, more scientific, explanations.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON:
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| Ladies Council Members Introductions | |
 | | Sherry Meurer |
Introducing Sherry Meurer
Hi, my name is Sherry Meurer and in addition to being on the Ladies Council, I am also on staff at the Family Church and on the Praise Team AND if you are reading this between October 26th and November 8th, I am away serving on a Mission Team in INDIA. My life stays busy but God is good...all the time....and His timing is always perfect. He knows the desires of my heart and He gently teaches me exactly what I need to learn from Him...each day!
Our family has attended TFC since its 2nd service, over 18 years ago, and both our children grew up in this church. I love being in India, but I also love being here serving you at The Family Church and Lord willing, I look forward to being here many more years! "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts....let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God...and whatever you do...give thanks..." Col. 3: 15-17
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Family Student Movement
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Hey TFC,
Greetings from the youth department...or to put it in teen lingo, "What up!" I write you this month to communicate a need that has just recently come to light in our FUZE student ministry.
After several years of excellent and faithful service, my administrative assistant, Brittany Jones is leaving to further her education at the University of Central Florida. Brittany has felt a calling to teach for some time now and we fully support her direction towards developing her teaching career. Ours prayers go with her, but her departure in December will leave a void on our youth ministry team that we need to fill. To that end, I will begin accepting resumes for a new youth ministry administrative assistant immediately. If details, organization and teenagers are some of the things you love and if you would like to join a team of folks seeking to rescue a lost generation from spiritual darkness, then submit your resume with a cover letter to me
via email markh@thefamilychurch.net) or bring it by the office during regular hours.
I would ask each of you to be in prayer for us as we seek God's direction for this position as well as for Him to continually pour out His Spirit on the hearts and minds of students here at TFC. Thanks! I'm blessed to be given the opportunity to serve here and be a part of this Family.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mark
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE FSM NEWSLETTER
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| Men's Ministry Devotional | |
But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. - Daniel 12:4 (NIV)
The high school class had decided to create a time capsule to bury behind the school. Each student selected one item representing the present culture to be included in the capsule. Then they chose a date 25 years in the future when they would all gather again, dig it up, and reflect on the changes in society over that time. It was agreed that only they would know when it would be opened. They excitedly anticipated the reunion and the joy of seeing the completion of their project.
Jesus told us that we will also be part of a great reunion when He returns to take us to Heaven. Only God knows when that will be and everything that awaits us, but we eagerly anticipate the completion of the promise of Heaven. But while we wait, let's tell others about Jesus' love and mercy so they can attend the celebration also!
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| On The Home Front with Connie Reid | |
We are entering my favorite time of the year in Gainesville. The cooler weather entices people out of their houses and the sense of community is at its height with festivals and activities galore. Many are free and perfect venues for family outings.
My absolute favorite is the kick off of the "Sounds of the Season" which is free and held at the Phillips Center Performing Arts Center. I think I have mentioned it before but I do not want you to miss it. This year it is on Dec 4 at 7PM. Get there early for the best seats.
Also on that day is free admittance to the Haile Plantation Homestead off of Archer Rd. The homestead will be open from 12 to 4PM. It will be all decorated for a Victorian Christmas and docents will be on hand to answer questions. There will be cider, home baked treats, period costumes, and gifts for visitors. The Haile family has recently donated many original furniture pieces to the homestead for display. Here is a great chance for you to educate your children about local history and have some seasonal treats too.
Coming up in November will be the 30th Downtown Festival and Art Show which is also free to attend. That event is being held November 12th and 13th, 10AM to 5PM. See on Facebook and UTube. There will be some live music and food treats as well.
CLICK HERE
To Print off a recipe for Corn Pudding: a quick side dish to use at your holiday meals.
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| Missions Pastor Jeff West | |
The rest of the story.... so far - Last month, I closed my article with a teaser about Rod Ingram rocking the world through partnerships and innovations. It would have been more accurate to say that he is "papercreting" the world through partnerships and innovations. Rod is one of those guys who always finds a way to get things done. He grew up as a missionary kid in East Asia so he is a "third culture person" or "TCP." Third culture people like us see the world differently because we have developed a "local" perspective due to our extensive time living in a culture that is different from our home culture.
Rod has been using his recycling business as the framework for developing tools that can not only service the needs of our missionary/ministry partners in developing countries around the world, but also could serve as appropriate technology based businesses to promote God's Kingdom purposes. Papercrete is a combination of paper and cement (not concrete which contains heavy gravel/rocks) that make a lightweight, but durable, building material. Granted, Rod did not invent this, however, his mission-oriented thinking is taking this idea in a very purposeful direction.
CLICK HERE For the rest of the article and photos
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Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything but
in everything, by prayer and petition,
with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phillippians 4: 4 - 7
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