First Free News & Notes: November 2007

Parents of K-6^th Graders: Look for some changes on Sunday mornings starting in December for your children. If you didn't receive a letter or would like some information, please pick up a letter at the Creekside Canteen this morning.

Musicians from FEFC will perform at the Christkindlsmarkt Outdoor German Christmas Market in downtown Excelsior today at 3 pm.

Christmas Decorating: Are you interested in helping to make First Free look beautiful for Christmas? We'll be decorating on Saturday, December 1^st starting at 9:30 AM. Lunch will be provided. Call Jennifer at (612) 824-5120 if you can come.

Women's Guild Christmas Luncheon, Tuesday, December 4^th at 1 pm at Vi Fjellman's party room. Make reservations by calling Janice Nielsen at (952) 929-6941 or Vi Fjellman at (952) 929-8462. The cost is $6. Bring your filled shoe boxes for the Marie Sandvik Mission. We will not meet in January.

Seniors' ABF Christmas Party, Friday, December 14, at 2 pm, at church. Enjoy beautiful music and a Christmas meditation. We will also be singing Christmas carols. The cost is $5 per person - see Rod Holman or Don Erickson for details.

YTD Giving: Local Ministries: $314,856 Budget: $337,035
Nov. 11, 2007 Outreach: $ 79,142 Budget: $ 92,813

Congo Bible Project

2007 Christmas Card Fund

Following years of turmoil from civil war, many Congo Evangelical Free Churches are experiencing a shortage of Bibles. During the war Bibles were destroyed or stolen. It is not uncommon for a church of several hundred people to have only a handful of Bibles. In some of the small rural churches, not even the pastor has a Bible.

However, you can help! The leaders of the CEFC have asked the EFCA to help make the Word of God available once again to believers in Congo. Lingala Bibles are now available through the Congo Bible Alliance for $8.50 a piece. Yet, even at this price, most people in Congo can't afford one. We want to underwrite $6 per Bible in order to make them accessible.

Thanksgiving Food Drive for CES: Your bags of food are due in the church foyer this morning. Thanks for giving!

How to reach out to a Muslim person: The final session in this series meets today, 9:30 AM, in Room 103 (new Fireside). A guest will share experiences from her time in Turkey.

Our next Fresh Encounter will be held tonight at 6:00 PM in Room #105. Child care will be provided for nursery - grade 6.

Join Sam Song to hear about ICED's work in China this afternoon at 2:30 PM in Room #105. Dessert will be served.

Harvest of Praise Service will be Wednesday, November 21, at 7:00 PM. No others activities are scheduled that day.

Thank you to all our First Free family for your cards and for attending our 50^th anniversary celebration. Thanks, also, for Church Chairman Steve Mondy's kind remarks and for the gift from the church. Friends are a true blessing. ~Gwen & Lowell

Thank you for your generous donations of socks and other items for the children at Fort Hope, Ontario, Canada. These gifts are already being put to use there and have been given to many kids and families in need. ~Barb & Guy Hugo

Musicians from FEFC will perform at the Outdoor German Christmas Market in Excelsior on November 25^th at 3 pm.

YTD Giving: Local Ministries: $305,337 Budget: $326,822
Nov. 4, 2007 Outreach: $ 77,519 Budget: $ 90,000

Congo Bible Project

2007 Christmas Card Fund

In Honor of our WWII Veterans we have booklets available on the table in the foyer with stories of their service.

Welcome Guests: You are invited to a luncheon today at 12:15 PM in Room #105. Please feel free to join us!

Reaching Out to a Muslim Person: This class will meet today, November 11, at 9:30 AM in Room 103 (New Fireside). Come with questions to ask. On November 18, a guest will share helpful cultural suggestions from her time in Turkey.

You're Invited to Lowell & Gwen Larson's 50^th Wedding Anniversary Reception this afternoon. Come to the church gym any time between 2-5 pm. No gifts please

Thank you to all my dear friends who joined us at the beautiful party on October 28^th and for the generous money gifts. Your friendship and faithfulness over many years is one of my most precious memories. ~ Grace Vandervort

The next Quarterly Business Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 12, at 7:00 PM.

Thanksgiving Food Drive for Community Emergency Services: Pick up a bag in the foyer and bring your donation to church by Sunday, November 18^th. All items you contribute will be delivered to the CES food shelf by Thanksgiving.

Operation Christmas Child: Creekside Clubs are packing shoe boxes for needy kids on November 14^th. If you would like to help donate items, place them outside Beth's office. See the back of your November church calendar for gift ideas.

Our next Fresh Encounter Prayer & Praise Experience will be held on Sunday, November 18^th at 6:00 PM in Room #105. Child care will be provided for kids in nursery to grade 6.

Join Sam Song to hear about ICED's work in China on Sunday, November 18, at 2:30 PM in Room #105. Dessert will be served. Please RSVP by calling Sam at (612) 822-2342.

Harvest of Praise Service will be Wednesday, November 21, at 7:00 PM. No others activities are scheduled that day.

YTD Giving: Local Ministries: $305,337 Budget: $326,822
Nov. 4, 2007 Outreach: $ 77,519 Budget: $ 90,000

Our hearts go out to Mildred Smith & Family, her brother, Lester Westlund, went home to be with the Lord on October 31^st. His funeral arrangements in Rockford are pending.

In Honor of our WWII Veterans we have booklets available on the table in the foyer with stories of their service.

Women's Guild: Patsy Alfors will be sharing her mission work in Cameroon with us on Tuesday, November 6, at 1:00 PM.

You're Invited to Lowell & Gwen Larson's 50^th Wedding Anniversary Reception. Come to the church gym any time between 2-5 pm on Sunday, November 11^th. No gifts please. If you have questions, call Michelle Larson at (612) 869-4230.

Welcome Guests: You are invited to a luncheon on Sunday, November 11, at 12:15 PM in Room #105. Please mark your Welcome Card if you plan to attend.

Community Emergency Services invites you to a free benefit concert by "The Travelin' Shoes Gospel Choir" on Sunday, November 11, 7:00 PM at Augustana Lutheran (704 11^th Ave). A free will offering will be received to benefit CES food shelf.

China Outreach is looking for volunteers to host Chinese International Students on Sunday, November 11^th. This will involve hosting a family in your home for a meal and taking him or her to a short outreach at the U. For more information, see the sign up sheet at the Welcome Center.

The next Quarterly Business Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 12, at 7:00 PM.

Operation Christmas Child: Creekside Clubs are packing shoe boxes for needy kids on November 14^th. If you would like to help donate items, place them outside Beth's office.

Grace Vandervort & Michael Beck invite their friends from First Free to join them at the celebration of their marriage on Saturday, November 24, 2:00 PM, at church. A dessert reception will follow. Please RSVP to Grace by today.

Senior Singles will not meet for lunch during the month of November. The next luncheon is planned for December 2^nd 12:30 PM at Steak 'n Ale.

YTD Giving: Local Ministries: $292,093 Budget: $316,608
Oct 28, 2007 Outreach: $ 74,411 Budget: $ 87,188

Would you like to learn how to reach a Muslim person?

A 4-week class to help you share Jesus Christ will meet again today at 9:30 AM in Room #103 (New Fireside Room) and the next two Sunday mornings (November 11 & 18).
An additional session, which will not duplicate the Sunday morning sessions, will be held Saturday, November 10, 2-4 PM in Room #105.
A powerful video of two personal stories will be shown, followed by small group discussion on "Knowing the Mindset of Muslims and Answering their Questions."

If you have questions, please contact Joy Fleming or Grace Elasky.