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Interfaith Hospitality Network dates are:
April 29- May 6th.
Help is needed with meal prep, set up, take down and spending time with the families.
Contact Michele Thomas or Joann Ugliano and see the bulletin for more info.
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The April Churchwide Prayer Gathering will be on Wednesday,
April 25th
from 6:30-8:30pm in the fellowship hall.
Everyone is
Welcome!
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April 2012
The Family Church
'Family Connections' Newsletter
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Word from Max
Spring is in the air, the caterpillars are taking over the outside of the church, the flowers are blooming, and the blooming pollen is wrecking my sinuses. That can only mean one thing...Holy Week and Easter are right around the corner. Holy Week is, without doubt, my favorite week of the year. In a crazy world where Christmas has been turned into some crass commercial cacophony of spending and parties, where Halloween is now the second biggest celebration in our land, and where St. Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras, and Cinco de Mayo are excuses for a large portion of our society to drink excessively, there is still something pure and wonderful about Easter.
Granted, we have some confused ideas there too, what with the eggs, and bunnies, and marshmallow chicks....OK, I admit, I like the chicks...but for those of us who have put our entire trust in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, there is no week filled with more majesty and mystery, more horror and hope, more wonder and awe that Holy Week. And because of that we plan to celebrate it with all our hearts here at The Family Church.
As I write this, I am in the midst of an extended season of fasting and prayer, both to help me hear more clearly from the Lord, and to help prepare me for Easter week. I hope you are also preparing yourself for the Lord to speak in your life this year. I am praying for all of you.
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Whispers in the Dark
Scripture - "But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will." (Luke 23:23-25)
Observation - Just like the people calling for Jesus' crucifixion, I too can be insistent on getting my way. And like them, if I am not careful, my voice can prevail and my demand granted. I am not much different at times from the very ones that were behind the Golgotha spectacle. And here is the phrase that struck my heart: "and he [Pilate] delivered Jesus to their will." Jesus, when "delivered to my will," can be molded and fashioned to my desire. He can be shaped to fit my wishes and bent to match my purposes. How often I think I have wanted Jesus "delivered to my will." !
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Holy Week Services
Thursday, April 5 @7:00 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Service: a time to remember the Last Supper
Friday, April 6 @ 12:00 Noon - Good Friday Service
Friday, April 6 @ 7:00 p.m. - Celebrate Recovery
There will be NO service on Saturday, April 7th
as we anticipate Resurrection Sunday.
Sunday, April 8 @ 6:30 a.m. - Easter Sunrise Service
Sunday, April 8 @ 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. - Easter Celebrations
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Worship and Arts Ministry
 | Larry
332-6459 ext 19
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Hi everyone!
We've had a great start into 2012 with newcomers in different teams that share their time and talent in many ways. This month I would like to feature one of our lead players Don Henesy.
 | | Don & Sonia Henesy |
My Music and Church Experience:
I got my first guitar when I was 7 years old. Prior to that I used to make my brother make guitar cardboard cutouts so I could play along with records. I played in high school bands, and for my own enjoyment. I didn't begin playing guitar in church until 2003 when I began playing at a church plant in Gainesville called Common Ground Church. By late 2004 I was leading worship there with Buddy St. Pierre who also plays at Family Church now. In 2007 when Common Ground Church folded we began looking for another church to serve in and that is when we met Larry Carpenter at Tower Road Church. We immediately felt God calling us to that church and a connection with Larry. We served as the worship team at Tower until they merged with Anthem Church. When Larry joined The Family Church he let us know what great things were in store and that we were welcome to be part of it. What a blessing being part of TFC's music team has been and continues to be. I truly feel blessed to serve in the music ministry and thank God everyday that he allows me to use my talents to uplift our Lord and Savior.
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Missions Ministry
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Jeff West
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Missions and Evagelism go hand in hand. The Great Commission places the imperative on "make disciple" as we are going into all of the world, reaching all ethnic groups beginning in our own Jerusalem and beyond. The "go" of the Jesus Christ's final command to His disciples implies that we take the initiative. Initiative simply means that we take the first step toward people. This is consistent with each Christian's role as an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We do not have to wait for someone to ask us because our king has given us the authority to speak words of life. The motivation is highly relational because "Christ's love compels us" (2 Cor. 5:14). This ministry of reconciliation is truly good news because the lost are truly lost without Christ!
Easter is just around the corner. Resurrection Day is my favorite day in the Christian calendar. It is also one of two times each year when many people are more open to considering and even talking about spiritual things, life and death, and new beginnings. I would like to see a new kind of Easter EGG hatch in The Family Church this year . . . one in which we share the "Good News" with our neighbors, families, colleagues, and friends, where we Evangelize Greater Gainesville. I understand that evangelism "programs" are often not very popular and are sometimes even awkward even though they do not have to be. So I am NOT proposing an evangelism program; however, I am suggesting that we align ourselves with the Word of God to have an evangelism mindset.
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Hey there TFC,
Just a quick note of thanks to everyone who lent a hand making Axis Launch weekend such a success for our student ministry. 40 students and 15 adult leaders were treated like royalty by our host families so a special thanks to the Shenks, Priors, Duiguids, Wyatts, Reads and Sandy Frost for opening up their homes to us!!
Another BIG shout of thanks to my support team of Brittney Ranard, Neil Zimmerman and Jason Payne (our event leader) for pulling it all together. Of course there are many others who either helped provide or serve food, cleaned up, prayed for and just basically loved on our group all weekend and leading up to the event itself, so if you helped in any way (and you know who you are), THANKS!!! Our team couldn't have done it without you. It is a huge blessing to serve here in this church with such supportive leadership, families and students. BRING ON THE SUMMER!
In His grip,
Pastor Mark
CLICK HERE FOR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NEWS
CLICK HERE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS
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Irreducibly Complex Genome DNA: Designed from the Beginning
by Stephen F. Larner, PhD
Evolutionary theory assumes all life organisms evolved from simpler ones. Evolutionary naturalism, or atheism, teaches life began by the random assembly of atoms to form complex molecules. These hypothetical molecules eventually evolved into cells and, after billions of years, into all life existing today. This belief suggests the complexity found in living things did not develop all at once, but developed incrementally. Evolutionists believe each incremental change eventually evolved complex structures benefiting the organism. However, they do NOT believe this was goal-directed, but that it had to occur by completely random processes to lead to these complex systems (1).
Biochemist Dr. Michael Behe, though an evolutionist, challenged this widely held belief (2).
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Women's Ministry
 WOW! What a weekend at Steinhatchee!! Bobbie Robinson and the committee did a wonderful job of planning a weekend of fun, fellowship and spiritual renewal. It began with a worship time Friday evening, led by Erin Cook, Sherry Meurer, and Lucinda Terry, followed by a time of trying to guess "who we were": Names of a famous person or place pinned on our back gave us a chance to get acquainted with the other women attending while trying to guess the name on our back. We got even better acquainted Saturday evening with line dancing and karaoke. I could tell you some stories...starting with Patsy Cook or Victoria McArthur...but you know, what happens in Steinhatchee, stays... Saturday and Sunday we experienced a time of spiritual uplifting and challenge by the God anointed messages of Robin Cook. Our theme was "Treasures" and one of the treasures that Robin spoke about was ...God's Word... and how so many spend so little time in God's Word and especially in memorizing God's Word. She ended by exhorting us to begin serious scripture memorization...I do mean serious...like the book of James as an example! So little time spent in knowing God's Word, yet how vital to our spiritual walk. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" Psalm 119:11; "How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word" Psalm 119:9 or "Your laws please me; they give me wise advice" Psalm 119:24. Robin's passion was so real that many of us have answered the challenge and whether it's an entire book (of your choice), a single chapter or various verses, I urge you to consider joining the challenge also. What a reward, "Make me walk in the pathway of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found" Psalm 119:35. Katie West will tell you...it pays in more ways than one to memorize! Cynthia Freeman summed it up...the room was fantastic... the speaker a blessing...Steinhatchee was a wonderful location...I look forward to next year! AND SO SHOULD YOU! Blessings....Vivian Upcoming Events...see bulletin for details April 20 - Popcorn & Movie May 2 - Girls Night Out at Doart May 12 - Mother - Daughter Tea |
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