First Free News & Notes: November 2002

There will be no Children's Church this morning for grades K - 6. Instead, children will be dismissed from the service around 10:30 this morning to practice for the Children's Christmas program.

We warmly welcome our new church members: Betty Renstrom and John & Jenny Merry. You will have a chance to greet them during the dinner following the service.

All Night Youth Lock In, Friday, November 29^th, at Central Free Church of Minneapolis. Enjoy games, fun, and food with youth from Central, Salem, and First Free! Drop off time is 6:30 PM and pick up time is 8:30 AM. The cost is $5. If you are interested, call Vanessa & Scott Beckett at (612) 721-6885.

Let the Joy Begin, Saturday, December 7, 5:00 PM, at Jon & Carrie Boyum's house (7432 Chicago Avenue South). It's a potluck so bring a dish to share. Also, please bring a white elephant gift per person attending the party. RSVP to Vanessa Beckett at (612) 721-6885 or email scizot_indahouse {at} hotmail.com.

Sojourner's Class Christmas Social will be held on Saturday, December 7^th. Meet at church at 10:00 AM. We will take the van to Goldenman's Christmas Tree Farm in Zimmerman. More information will be available in class this morning. If you have questions, call Lori Peterson at (612) 722-9793.

The Agape Christmas Banquet will be held at the Timber Lodge Steakhouse (see Agape Loveletter for map), Sunday, December 8 at 6:00 PM. Greg Anderson, a blind singer and keyboard artist, will perform many Christmas selections.

Jim Forstrom will be at the church on December 1st. He will have a new book available for sale during our fellowship time called A Living Legacy - A Pictorial History of the EFCA. The cost is $20 (including tax).

Pastor Joel, Becky, Hope and Jacob have moved to their new home in South Minneapolis! We warmly welcome them to the neighborhood. Their new address is: 4817 10^th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55417. Phone: (612) 822-0767.

November 17, 2002

Stacy Olson will be sharing her testimony with us during the worship service this morning. Stacy has been a Christian for 17 years. This past summer she was in Hong Kong ministering to students and reaching out to her birth family. She is currently attends the College of Visual Arts.

You are invited to a special Clarinet Recital given by our own Jerry McDonald on Monday, November 18, 7:30 PM, at Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall inside Ferguson Hall at the U of MN.

Dinner & a Movie is back for an encore performance on Monday, November 18, at 5:45 PM. This is an outreach event, so you are encouraged to come and invite a friend.

Help is needed to prepare food for Dinner & a Movie on Sunday evening. Help is also needed for clean up on Monday. If you can help, contact Rose Hecker at (612) 729-9053.

Come with a heart full of thanksgiving to the Harvest of Praise Service & Pie Social on Wednesday, November 27^th, 7:00 PM. Each family of four or more please bring a pie to share.

Continue to pray for the Persecuted Church. A special insert on the persecuted church is available at the Info. Booth.

You are invited to celebrate the marriage of Susan Monday & Eric Stabnow on Saturday, December 21, 4:30 PM. If you would like to attend, please pick up an invitation at the Info. Booth. RSVPs for the wedding dinner are due November 18th.

If you were out of town last week, we have copies of the 40 Days of Purpose ministry brochure, "Get in the Game" that are available for you to pick up at the Information Booth.

November 10, 2002

Bud (or Vernon) Anderson will be sharing his testimony with us during the worship service this morning. Bud has been married to Beda for 60 years and has been a Christian for as long as he can remember. Bud currently serves on the Outreach Commission and served as a missionary to Venezuela from 1950-1966. He also teaches English to Hispanic women through the Salem Free Church.

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. A special insert on the persecuted church is available in this week's Prayer Guide located on the tables in the foyer.

You are invited to a special Clarinet Recital given by our own Jerry McDonald on Monday, November 18, 7:30 PM, at Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall inside Ferguson Hall at the U of MN.

Ralph & Estella Roberts want to say Thank You to everyone at First Free for their prayers and caring during Ralph's recent hospital stay. This was very strongly appreciated.

A Bridal Shower will be held for Susan Mondy today, November 10^th, at 3:00 PM. Susan is registered at Marshall Fields, Crate & Barrel, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and at Sears.

The Council will meet Monday, November 11, 7:00 PM, at Ross Olson's home. Don't miss the Quarterly Business Meeting on Tuesday, November 12, at 7:30 PM.

You are invited to an open house for Jim & Patty Rodine's 50^th Wedding Anniversary. It will be held on Sunday, November 10^th, at Lakewood Free Church, 2600 East County Road E., White Bear Lake, from 2:00-5:00 PM.

Choir Rehearsals will be meeting Tuesdays, 6:45-8:00 PM, until the concert on Sunday, December 15. Please arrive at 6:45 and be ready for warm-ups by 6:50 PM. Worship Ensemble will meet from 8:15-9:00 on Tuesday evenings.

Sojourner's Class Christmas Social will be held on Saturday, December 7^th. Meet at church at 10:00 AM. We will take the van to Goldenman's Christmas Tree Farm in Zimmerman. If you have questions, call Lori Peterson at (612) 722-9793.

Several items have been reported missing from our church! Please keep your purses and other valuables close at hand. If you find a purse or wallet, please contact the church office.

November 3, 2002

Tim Audette will be sharing his testimony with us during the worship service this morning. He has been a Christian for 14 years and has been married to Brenda (Symington) Audette for 2 ½ years. They have two daughters, Olivia and Daisy. Tim is currently working as a Network Engineer for Medtronic and grew up in Osseo, Minnesota.

Do you need the Purpose Driven Life book? Pick up your copy today in the church foyer.

A Bridal Shower will be held for Susan Mondy on Sunday, November 10^th, at 3:00 PM. Susan is registered at Marshall Fields, Crate & Barrel, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and at Sears.

The Council will meet Monday, November 11, 7:00 PM, at Ross Olson's home. Don't miss the Quarterly Business Meeting on Tuesday, November 12, at 7:30 PM.

You are invited to an open house for Jim & Patty Rodine's 50^th Wedding Anniversary. It will be held on Sunday, November 10^th, at Lakewood Free Church, 2600 East County Road E., White Bear Lake, from 2:00-5:00 PM.

Choir Rehearsal, Tuesday, November 5, 6:45-8:00 PM. Rehearsals will be weekly until the concert on Sunday, December 15. Please arrive at 6:45 and be ready for warm-ups by 6:50 PM. Worship Ensemble will meet from 8:15-9:00 on Tuesday evenings.

Guild and all ladies welcome! On Tuesday, November 5, at 1:00 PM, come and hear Melinda Ludwiczak from the Skyway Senior Center share a program called, "Memory Magic." Come prepared for the Christmas Offering for our missionaries.

An Election Prayer Meeting will be held on Monday, November 4, from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Come for the entire time or only a portion. Our own Joy Fleming will be leading this event located at Ridgewood Church in their Fireside Room. Call Ridgewood at (952) 474-0858 for directions. Voter guides are available at www.mnvoter.com for each zip code.

If you had to miss the Simulcast for the 40 Days of Purpose, Contact Bob Chapman at (612) 827-6513 to check out the video.

This document last modified on Thursday, November 9, 2006

A Thought From God's Word:

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. [Psalm 96:1-4]