First Free News & Notes: January 2003

The Quarterly Business Meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 10, at 7:00 PM.

All ladies welcome to Women's Guild, Tuesday, February 4, at 1:00 PM. Our outstanding speaker will be Monica Totman, who has served the Lord in Japan and Singapore for over 15 years. Reminder: March is project month.

Girls' Club will go ice skating this Wednesday, January 29, 6:30-8:00 PM at Pearl Park. We'll carpool to Pearl Park (54^th and Portland). Dress warmly and wear boots! Bring ice skates if you have them. There are skates for "borrowing" at the park also. Contact: Cheryl Vatsaas (651) 681-8606.

A Chaim Class Game Night is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 7:00 PM at the church gym. We'll be playing gym games and interactive group games. Bring a snack to share. Beverages and games provided. RSVP to Vanessa Beckett at (612) 721-6885 or scizot_indahouse {at} hotmail.com.

Sojourner's Class Social: Pre-Super Bowl Potluck, right after church in the gym today. If you forgot your salad or hot dish come anyway! Beverages will be provided.

Sojourner's Valentine Party, Saturday, February 15, 6:00 PM, at the Rose's Romantic Getaway (708 Minnehaha Parkway) bring an appetizer or dessert to share.

A small group study discussing the 40 Days of Purpose meets on Thursday evenings at Jerry & Marilyn Fisher's home. If you would like to join us, please call 612-724-9311.

Just Do It! The Caring Commission is challenging EVERYONE to make plans with someone from our church family during the month of January. Meet someone for coffee or dessert, go for a walk, invite someone over for dinner - be creative! You KNOW you've been meaning to do it. . . so call today!

Be "In the Know" - visit the church website and sign up for either or both the News and Prayer email lists. You'll be glad you did! (http://www.firstfreechurch.org/mailing_list/)

Camp Shamineau Annual Meeting, Sunday, February 2, 3:00 PM at Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church, 8585 Rice Lake Road, at 3:00 PM. If you have any questions, call Becky at Camp Shamineau at (218) 575-2240.

Pearl & Roy Lotsberg write, "We are so fortunate to have so many friends in our church family. We want to express our thanks for the many visits, cards, and gifts of thoughtfulness this Christmas season. We especially want to thank Rev. Bob Chapman for his visits and love shown."

Bring a friend to Dinner & a Movie on Monday, January 20, at 5:45 PM. If you can help with setup or cleanup, please contact Rose Hecker at (612) 729-9053.

On Wednesday, January 22^nd join thousands of Minnesotans at the State Capital in St. Paul at 12:00 Noon for the MCCL "March for Life." The march commemorates the deaths of 42 million unborn babies killed by abortion since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

The Quarterly Business Meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 10, at 7:00 PM.

Sojourners' Class Socials: 1) A Pre-Super Bowl Potluck, Sunday, January 26^th, right after church in the gym. A-L bring a salad, M-Q a hot dish, and R-Y a dessert. Beverages will be provided. 2) Valentine's Party, Saturday, February 15, at the Rose's Romantic Getaway (708 Minnehaha Parkway) bring an appetizer or dessert - details to follow.

A small group study discussing the 40 Days of Purpose meets on Thursday evenings at Jerry & Marilyn Fisher's home. If you would like to join us, please call 612-724-9311.

Last Call . . . if you are Interested in a small group study on the 40 days of Purpose, meet tonight at 6:00 PM in the New Fireside Room. All are welcome.

Just Do It! The Caring Commission is challenging EVERYONE to make plans with someone from our church family during the month of January. Meet someone for coffee or dessert, go for a walk, invite someone over for dinner - be creative! You KNOW you've been meaning to do it. . . so call today!

Youth Wilderness Retreat is scheduled for January 24-26^th. There is still time to get involved - come and "rough it" with us! Contact Eric ASAP if you plan to attend.

Be "In the Know" - visit the church website and sign up for either or both the News and Prayer email lists. You'll be glad you did! (http://www.firstfreechurch.org/mailing_list)

Missionary Prayer Focus

Okontoe Sports Ministries - Dave Boeltl
Summer Beaver Trip, January 15 - 20

(The ministry team includes: a hockey team, The Rotators band, and the prayer team, which includes Barb Hugo.)

Pray for the people to know Jesus.
Pray that our team will find favor with the community.
Pray for our health, that no one would get hurt while playing hockey or anything else, and that we would stay warm.
5 other skaters from Fort Hope will be joining us. They want to pattern what we do to other neighboring native communities. Pray that the Lord will use them as a special witness and testimony.
Pray that the people would see our faith, acts of kindness, and God working in us and would give God the glory!

Congratulations to Mary Nessel & Erick Ericksen who were married at First Free Church this past week. Mary's new address is 10420 Morris Circle, Bloomington, MN 55437, phone (952) 835-5577.

We extend our prayers and sympathy to Tom Peterson. Christopher & Lori (son and daughter-in-law) lost their baby, Callie Jean, at 8 ½ months (one-half month before birth). Her funeral was held this past week.

Glenn & Apryl are planning a medical/ dental mission trip to Honduras from January 24- February 2. If you would like to support this effort, please mark Honduras Trip on your offering envelopes.

Bring a friend to Dinner & a Movie on Monday, January 20, at 5:45 PM. If you can help with setup or cleanup, please contact Rose Hecker at (612) 729-9053.

Are you interested in starting the new year as part of a small group that will review and discuss the book, "The Purpose Driven Life," that we recently completed as a congregation? We have begun to meet on Thursday evenings at Jerry & Marilyn Fisher's home. If you would like to join us, please call (612) 724-9311.

If Thursdays don't work for you, another opportunity to join a small group study will be tonight at 6:00 PM in the Old Fireside Room. We also plan to study the 40 Days of Purpose in more depth. If you have an interest in finding out more about this, come to the planning meeting tonight.

Youth Wilderness Retreat is scheduled for January 24-26^th. There is still time to get involved - come and "rough it" with us! Contact Eric ASAP if you plan to attend.

Glenn Hultstrand will be sharing with us this morning. Glenn grew up at First Free and has known Jesus for over 40 years. He is married to Apryl, and they have two college-age daughters, Heather and Heidi. Glenn currently teaches the college-age Sunday school class.

Interested in knowing more about First Free? On Sunday, January 12, a 4-week class, Exploring Church Membership, will begin at 11:00 AM. Call (612) 827-4705 in you are interested.

Are you interested in starting the new year as part of a small group that will review and discuss the book, "The Purpose Driven Life," that we recently completed as a congregation? We plan to meet Thursday evenings at Jerry & Marilyn Fisher's home (3601 46^th Ave. So., Minneapolis). If you would like to join us, please call (612) 724-9311. We will have a startup meeting on January 9^th at 7:00 PM to discuss plans for this group.

If Thursdays don't work for you, another opportunity for a small group study will be Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM. We also plan to study the 40 Days of Purpose in more depth. If you have an interest in finding out more about this, write 40 Days Small Group on your Welcome Card or call the church office at (612) 827-4705.

Women's Neighborhood Bible Study will begin Wednesday, January 8^th. They will be studying 1 John and James and will be focusing on Faith that Knows and Shows. If you have any questions contact Lois Chapman at (612) 827-6513.