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Worship Service Schedules
8am-
Traditional
Service
9:30am-Contemporary Service
11:30am-Contemporary Service
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February 2013
The Family Church
'Family Connections' Newsletter
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A Word from Max 
Sowing and Reaping
We have talked a lot recently at TFC about life in the Spirit. But each of us has a choice to make as to what we sow into life. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians (6:7-9) that a person reaps what he sows. Those who keep sowing in the field of their old nature will eventually reap ruin; but those who keep sowing in the field of the Spirit will reap from the Spirit everlasting life.
Paul is issuing a serious life alert. He is not only exposing seriously flawed thinking, he is warning us not to mock God. To mock someone is to refuse to take them seriously. God is serious about spiritual sowing. He is saying, "Wake up and get this right." A high school friend and pastor in Indiana, Jerry Keller, shared some interesting thought with me recently about the nature of sowing into life.
We sow every day. There is a tendency to think that this verse applies only to the times we choose to sow. However, sowing is not optional. It is an ongoing part of every life. Sowing is not an occasional activity but the pattern of our living. It is how we spend our time, invest our money, use our influence, and react to the situations of each day. The only choice we have is how we sow.
We sow in one of two fields: the field of the flesh or the field of the Spirit. There are no other alternatives and the fields do not overlap. It is not possible to sow simultaneously into the field of the flesh and the field of the Spirit. The choice of soil is made deliberately when sowing in the Spirit. It is made by default in the flesh.
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Whispers in the Dark
Scripture - Lamentations 3:19-23: "Remember my afflictions and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind and therefore have hope. Because of the Lord's faithful love, we do not perish for His mercies never end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness."
Observation - As Jeremiah calls on the Lord to remember his suffering, it is clear that he is also remembering it. And not just remembering, he is dwelling there, wallowing in it, with deep bitterness setting in. He is rehearsing all the wrongs committed against him, and no doubt wishing he could get even with those through whom his hurts have come. And the end result is depression. But then he lifts his eyes. He looks beyond his own self-pity and looks to God. And as he does so, hope returns. He remembers that not only is God faithful and good, merciful and loving, but His mercies are also new every morning. That means a couple of things. First, yesterday's trials, hardships, sins and failures do not determine what God can do today! Jeremiah certainly knew that before God he was as guilty of sin as those who had sinned against him, but the unending mercies of God, the amazing grace of our Lord, was sufficient to give him a clean slate each morning. Second, as he became aware of the debt of gratitude he owed to the Lord for the Lord's gracious mercies in his life, he was able to move out of bitterness and release a lot of the baggage that was keeping him depressed. It is amazing how much easier it is to offer forgiveness, grace and mercy to others, and to let go of bitterness and vengeance, when we are consciously aware of the wonder of God's grace in our own lives.
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Global Impact Celebration
February 13-17, 2013
"Lord of the Harvest"
Wednesday, February 13th
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Missionary Orientation
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Dinner: Missionaries &
GIC Team
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Opening Celebration Service
Guest Speaker: Paul Emery,
Grace at Fort Clark UMC, Gainesville, FL
Thursday, February 14th
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Missionary and Church
Staff Lunch
Friday, February 15th
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Missionary Networking Lunch -missionaries only
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Missionary Focus: The Harvest & The Harvesters, and International Food Festival
Saturday, February 16th
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Separate Men's & Women's Mission Breakfast
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Family Group Home Briefings & Pot Luck
Sunday, February 17th
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Communion Service
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM Faith & Life Commitment Worship Service
Guest Speaker: Pastor Jorge Acevedo, Grace Church, Cape Coral, FL
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Faith & Life Commitment Worship Service
Guest Speaker: Pastor Jorge Acevedo, Grace Church, Cape Coral, FL
1:00 AM - 2:30 PM "Invitation Only" Missionary Debrief Luncheon
Find link to Print GIC Schedule on
Missions Ministry Block
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Worship and Arts Ministry
Hi everyone!
As we begin the new year I would like to continue celebrating our talented volunteers that make our weekend services very special. Jud Babcock is one of our media team members that I really enjoy having on board...I'll let Jud take if from here:
Getting to know the Babcock Family:
"My wife Elisha and I have two kids, Kara and Tobin, as well as a third one due in March. We moved to Gainesville in 2010 because the Air Force is sending me back to school for my PhD. We knew we found the right church for us because of the uncompromising messages and the emphasis on missions. We got involved in a family group and have enjoyed it very much. I've always tried to give back to my church by contributing/volunteering and I thought that the tech team was something that I could balance with the time I need to devote to my studies. After some prodding by the Holy Spirit, and encouragement from the family group, I finally joined and it's been really great to contribute to the services."
We are fortunate to have Jud, Elisha, Kara, and Tobin here at Family and I would like to say thanks to the family group who encouraged Jud to jump in and bring his talent to the team!
Come join us as we grow, Larry
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Discipleship Ministry
 | | Aaron Read |
At the request of Greg Guzman and David Rhea, Mark Messersmith started a men's group in the fall which meets at 6am on Monday morning at Starbucks. What started with a few men now is using almost every chair outside of Starbucks. Here is an email Mark sent recently about what God is doing in the lives and through the lives of those coming:
I wanted you to see how a simple thing like an early morning coffee meeting can lead to some real discipleship.
You already know the story about Greg Guzman and how now all his step kids have accepted Jesus. Now two other guys, both men of influence in the Alachua County Sheriff Department, have decided to step out quite boldly and host a Friday evening 'meet and greet' session at their home. The following email was sent out to many/most of the Sheriffs:
"This year David and I had an idea that maybe there are some people we work with who may be curious about faith/God/church (fill in the blank), but do not feel comfortable sitting in a church pew for whatever reason. We thought it would be cool if we opened up our homes and invited anyone interested in hearing about why we believe what we believe. We've talked a lot about the work we do and the evil that we may encounter on any given day (Newtown, CT) and we wonder how God fits into all this.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON:
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Missions Ministry
 | | Jeff West |
It is GIC time!
If you have not yet seen it in the church bulletin,
"Lord of the Harvest" is the theme for our 2013 Global Impact Celebration, February 13th through 17th. This event represents the heart of who we are, and who we should be as a church. Helping fulfill the Great Commission through our support of both local and global outreach and the imperative of making disciples, is not a program of The Family Church... it is our central purpose and reason for existing. There are numerous events that I strongly encourage full participation by the church Body. The schedule is listed below, but please allow me to highlight a few important points. This year, in addition to our regular ministry partners that we support, we will have guest missionaries representing ministries to three different unreached people groups. We will also have ministries represented that are developing a wide variety of technologies that are being used to advance the gospel. Sunday morning, February 17th, there will be a surprise before you walk in the church, that you will not want to miss (not that you would want to miss ANY of the wonderful activities we have planned). Volunteer to help out too!
Additionally, this year we will have both the Faith Commitment (financial commitments) and Life Commitments on the same weekend. In previous years, the Faith/Financial commitments were made the week following GIC, however this year everything will be done on that same Sunday, February 17th. Therefore, be praying now about what the Lord is laying on your heart and be ready to fill out your Faith Commitment Card at that time.
Pastor Max's good friend, Pastor Jorge Acevedo, will be bringing us the message that Sunday morning. As an experienced GIC speaker, I am sure this is a message you will not want to miss. I am excited about what the future holds for The Family Church's role in God's global mission. The GIC Faith Commitments is the sole basis for establishing our mission budget. I am trusting that God will provide an increase this year so that we can expand the mission efforts to reach the vision making disciples of the nations. I am also trusting that the Lord of the Harvest will call, raise up, and send out more laborers into the harvest fields locally and globally, by both STMs (Short Term Missions) and vocational missionaries from The Family Church. Maybe God is calling you!?!
CLICK HERE:
For a printed copy of the GIC schedule
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Youth Ministry
Party On
Superbowl Fans! February 3rd 6pm
 Bring an appetizer and a friend. |
Kidz Under God's Instruction By Janelle Burns
CLICK HERE:
To Read The First Linkz Newsletter
CLICK HERE:
To Read The Kidz Venture Newsletter
Children's Calendar for the Month of February
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Men's Ministry 
by Mark Ulmer
Valentine's Day is a day when we think about "Love". We send pretty flowers, give rich candies, and spend money on a nice dinner. But the greatest gift that we can give is Love. But what is Love?
There is hardly a wedding where the "Love Chapter," I Corinthians 13, is not a part of the ceremony. We hear what is said, but have you contemplated the words?
To put the chapter in more modern language, no matter how well you say something, if you don't say it with love, it is just noise (sounding gong). If you are the smartest person around and have a great belief in yourself, but have not loved, it is all worthless (I am nothing).
If you are the most generous person around, but have not loved, it is just a waste. Love waits for others (patient); Love says nice things (kind); Love is not jealous (envy); Love is not making yourself more important than you are (boasting).
CLICK HERE TO READ ON
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Women's Ministry
 | | Vivian Sawyer |
The Women's Ministry is pleased to welcome Cynthia Freeman to the Council. Cynthia brings tremendous organizational experience and skills and is a much needed asset to our team.
 Cynthia Freeman has been a member of The Family Church since 2004. She is so blessed by The Family Church and all of the people who make up the body. They have truly become her family. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up in New York and New Hampshire and moved to Gainesville after graduating from college in Vermont. She is married to Robert and between them they have five children and nine grandchildren. Cynthia works as an administrative services coordinator for the Area Health Education Center at the University of Florida.
This past summer, God miraculously healed her of severe back and stomach pains she has had for many years and now she is eager to use her gifts of administration and service in the Women's Ministry. She was drawn to work with the Women's Ministry by the enthusiasm and blessing of both Vivian Sawyer and Bobbie Robinson while attending the Ladies Spring Retreat at Steinhatchee last year. She had been hearing the Lord direct her to join the Women's Ministry for some time, but it wasn't until the opportunity to join the Council was presented this past fall that it seemed that the door was open for her to jump in and serve the Lord there. She is both humbled and excited to join this dedicated and godly group of women.
The Spring Bible study "Covenant - God's Enduring Promises" by Kay Arthur will be held from February 20 -April 10, 6:30-8:30 in the sanctuary. Robin Arnold will lead the discussion sessions. Watch the bulletin for signup information and plan to join us.
Spring Retreat at Steinhatchee - April 12-14
Mother/ Daughter Tea - May 4
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Sixth Sense, It's for Real1
Stephen F. Larner, PhD
To experience the physical world, humans use five senses: sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing. These senses allow us to assess accurately our surroundings. However, our five senses are limited, they cannot detect everything. The world is full of information beyond our reach, but not necessarily from the other God-designed animals with which we share this planet. Many of them have the ability to sense physical phenomena of this unseen world that allow them to survive and thrive in their habitats.
Motion Sensors: One of these senses, mechanoreception, is how web-spinning spiders perceive minute pressure on their exoskeleton. Spiders have specialized organs called slit sensilla. These organs, small grooves at the spider's joints, change shape when stressed. A spider resting on its web can detect the slightest movement on any strand because a slit will change shape.
The slit sensillum is so discerning a spider can distinguish whether the movement is due to a victim caught in its web, even to the point of determining its size and weight, or just the strain of a passing breeze. The slit sensillum and other special senses may be as important to a spider's survival as its eyes.
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My face is shining upon you, beaming out Peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face to Face with Me, your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out "Help me, Jesus!"
and I will lift you up.
The closer you live to Me, the safer you are.
Fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes.
Philippians 4:7, Matthew 14:30, Hebrews 12:2
Excerpt from the January 15 devotional of Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.
God Cares About Every Detail
God cares about every detail of your life...
He collects every tear in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8)
He numbers every hair on your head. (Luke 12:7)
He knows every hurt in your heart. (Psalm 34:18)
The Lord knows all you are going through.
He loves you, He cares for you,
and He will make sure not one detail is overlooked.
Thinking of You and Praying too
God cares, cares right down to the last detail.
James 5:11 The Message
DaySpring Devotions <mailing@dayspring.com>
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The Family Church
2022 SW 122nd Street
Gainesville, FL 32607352-332-6459
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