Congratulations to Chris & Angie Hansen, the proud parents of Lucy Joy Hansen, who was born on August 21^st. She weighed in at 7 lbs. Mother and baby are doing well.

New Orleans Mission Trip: A mission trip to New Orleans is scheduled from November 11-18. Prayerfully consider whether God would like you to be part of this team. If you have questions, contact John Symington or Pastor Joel.

Teachers' Planning Meeting: On Monday, August 28, at 6:30 pm a planning meeting will be held at church for all preschool teachers. If you have questions or can't make it, contact Beth Brown.

Blood Pressure Checks: Nurses will be available on Sunday, September 3^rd, during fellowship time in the hallway outside of the gym to do blood pressure screening.

Women's Guild: We would like to invite all our ladies to our first meeting on September 5^th at 1:00 pm. Our speaker will be Sheryll Erickson.

Women's Bible Study: All ladies are welcome on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:00 am beginning September 13^th. We will be studying the Gospel of Mark. If you have questions, please contact Patty Mellema at (612) 822-7875.

MOPS Volunteers are needed to work with the kids program on Friday mornings, or to help with special events, set-up and clean-up. If you can help, please contact Carrie Boyum.

Small Groups Leaders Wanted: We are scouting out small group ministry here to get a picture of what is happening and then to support, network, and train small group leaders. If you were in a small group this past year and are interested in being part of a network, please contact Pastor Eric at (612) 910-1763 to see how we might work together.

Prayer Room Oversight: We are looking for volunteers to let people into the church to pray from 5:00-8:00 pm during our Prayer Emphasis Week, September 11-15. If you can help, please sign up on the sheet at the Welcome Center.

New Church Directory: A new directory will be published in September. Please help by checking your name and phone number for accuracy at the Welcome Center. Thanks.

YTD Giving: Local Ministries: $152,545 Budget: $192,808
Aug. 13, 2006 Outreach: $43,681 Budget: $53,846

We rejoice with those who are being baptized at Lake Nokomis this morning! They are as follows:
Tchotchovi (Amavi) Dablaka, Amanda Kriesel-Koll, Nick Larson, Vanessa Stacknik & Cassandra Tellez

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Jinjun (Gene) Xiao who passed his PhD thesis defense on August 7 and is now a doctor. He left for St. Louis on August 12 for a post-doctoral position at Washington University. He writes, "I'll really miss this great church, the people, and my time here."

Teachers' Planning Meetings: On Monday, August 21, at 6:30 pm a planning meeting will be held at church for all preschool teachers. On Tuesday, August 22, at 6:30 pm a meeting will be held for all K-6 teachers. If you have questions or can't make it, contact Beth Brown.

Women's Bible Study: All ladies are welcome on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:00 am beginning September 13^th. We will be studying the Gospel of Mark. If you have questions, please contact Patty Mellema at (612) 822-7875.

Small Groups Leaders Wanted: We are scouting out small group ministry here to get a picture of what is happening and then to support, network, and train small group leaders. If you were in a small group this past year and are interested in being part of a network, please contact Pastor Eric at (612) 910-1763 to see how we might work together.

PRAYER EMPHASIS WEEK: Prayer will be highlighted from September 10-17 as we kick off our fall season. Come anytime to pray from 7:00 am - 8:00 pm in the church library. We will also have two sermons on prayer, Wednesday evening prayer group, and will wrap up with a Potluck and Fresh Encounter on September 17.

Prayer Room Oversight: We are looking for volunteers to let people into the church to pray from 5:00-8:00 pm during our Prayer Emphasis Week, September 11-15. If you can help, please sign up on the sheet at the Welcome Center.

New Church Directory: A new directory will be published in September. Please help by checking your name and phone number for accuracy at the Welcome Center. Thanks.

YTD Giving: Local Ministries: $152,545 Budget: $192,808
Aug. 13, 2006 Outreach: $43,681 Budget: $53,846

Our prayers go out to Audrey Sollie & Family. Her dad, Harry Johnson, passed away on August 9^th. His funeral was held on Saturday, August 12^th.

The Quarterly Business Meeting will be held on Monday, August 14, at 7:00 pm. Due to our Street Hoops event, please park on the street or in the parking lot behind Marios.

Wanted, Small Groups and their Leaders: Were you a part of a small group that met in one another's homes this past year? We are scouting out small group ministry at First Free to get a picture of what is happening and then to support, network, and train small group leaders. If you were in a small group this past year and are interested in being part of a small group network, please contact Pastor Eric at (612) 910-1763 to see how we might work together.

Are you male? Do you have muscle? We need 4-5 men the nights of August 14-16, either at 5:30-6:00 pm or 8:00-8:30 pm to set up and tear down equipment for Street Hoops, a neighborhood basketball outreach. There will be food. Other needs include: referees, coaches, and registration staff. In interested, please call Pastor Eric at (612) 910-1763.

PRAYER EMPHASIS WEEK: Prayer will be highlighted from September 10-17 as we kick off our fall season. Come anytime to pray from 7:00 am - 8:00 pm in the church library. We will also have two sermons on prayer, Wednesday evening prayer group, and will wrap up with a Potluck and Fresh Encounter on September 17.

Prayer Room Oversight: We are looking for people to sign up to man the Prayer Room in the church library and let people into the church during our Prayer Emphasis Week, September 11-15. If you can help, please sign up on the sheet at the Welcome Center. Thanks!

New Church Directory: A new directory will be published this fall. Please help by checking your name and phone number for accuracy at the Welcome Center. Thanks.

Last Sunday for Lost & Found: Lost & Found items are located in the hallway outside of the gym. If you see some things that belong to you, please take them home. Unclaimed items will be donated or thrown away.

YTD Giving: Local Ministries: $146,961 Budget: $183,167
Aug. 6, 2006 Outreach: $41,794 Budget: $51,154

Blood Pressure Checks: Nurses will be available today during fellowship time in the hallway outside of the gym to do blood pressure screening.

Wanted, Small Groups and their Leaders: Were you a part of a small group that met in one another's homes this past year? We are scouting out small group ministry at First Free to get a picture of what is happening and then to support, network, and train small group leaders. If you were in a small group this past year and are interested in being part of a small group network, please contact Pastor Eric at (612) 910-1763 to see how we might work together.

Are you male? Do you have muscle? We need 4-5 men the nights of August 14-16, either at 5:30-6:00 pm or 8:00-8:30 pm to set up and tear down equipment for Street Hoops, a neighborhood basketball outreach. There will be food. Other needs include: referees, coaches, and registration staff. In interested, please call Pastor Eric at (612) 910-1763.

PRAYER EMPHASIS WEEK: Prayer will be highlighted from September 10-17 as we kick off our fall season. Sign up for a time slot or come anytime to pray from 6:30 am - 9:00 pm. We will also have two sermons on prayer, Wednesday evening prayer group, and will wrap up with a Potluck and Fresh Encounter on September 17.

Women's Bible Study will be held on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:00 am beginning September 13^th. They will be studying the Gospel of Mark. All ladies are welcome.

Directory Correction: Hazel Johnson's new address is: Main Street #8, 7601 Lyndale Ave S, Richfield, MN 55423, (612) 869-8394.

Lost & Found Table: The table in the gym will have items for you to look over. If you see some things that belong to you, please take them home. Thanks!

YTD Giving: Local Ministries: $137,792 Budget: $173,527
July 30, 2006 Outreach: $39,717 Budget: $48,462