June 9th 2015COMMUNITYFREE CHURCH WEEKLY

Amy Krutsinger with Pastor Jason

Ronda Ekberg

Lori Stalter

Tasha Schifo

Katie McCue (Dependent on attendance)

Bruce Henrikson will beserving as our 2015/16 AWANA Commander! If you attended the final AWANA ceremony, Bruce helped to share the vision of AWANA for the coming year. It is only fitting that this vision, coupled with his character, integrity, and leadership would serve to take us into this new season of AWANA ministry.

2015/16 AWANA Directors:

The Church Grounds Team needs help landscaping the church sign area on June 13th from 9am - noon.

We will be weeding, planting, as well as laying bricks and stone. Come for as little or as long as you can, and help us spruce up the sign area!

-Big AWANA Updates!-Missions Meeting Minutes!

-Christian Education! -VBS is Coming!

Pray for the AWANA committee planning for the next years program. Pray for how God might use you to help make AWANA amazing! Pray that God would prepare hearts to answer the call to serve.Pray for boldness in going out into the community to share about AWANA. Pray that God would open doors to reach kids who have never heard the Gospel. Pray for wisdom, clarity, and direction for the AWANA committee.

Are you interested in helping with AWANA? Email Michelle Shafer: shafer5@mchsi.com or see Pastor Jason

PRAY RIGHT NOW!

This past week, the AWANA committee had a super meeting led by the Holy Spirit and attended by many! Here are just a few updates (along with the announcement of the Commander and Directors on the front page):

Discussed sending out postcards to kids to keep them connected to AWANA. Suggested that leaders write a personal message to their kids - Great idea Donna Smith!

We will utilize bracelets, postcards, and information bags to help promote the program. We also talked about getting into the neighborhoods to share AWANA.

Move bulletin board from stairs down by other boards to serve as an AWANA board. Great Idea Deb Henrikson!

Discussed having an AWANA float at the RiverFest parade, along with a booth handing out ice cream! Great Idea Mark Thompson!

There were so many more great things said and shared that will be implemented in the weeks and months to come that will make this the best year of AWANA ever! What is most important is that we minister the Gospel to every boy and girl that we can, so that they have the chance to grow to know Jesus Christ as their Lord AND Savior!

Tuesday 6/9 Community Groups No Schifo Home 6:00pm

Wednesday 6/10 True Woman 101 Bible Study 8:30am With Tasha Schifo

Youth Ministry 6:00-8:00pm

Thursday 6/11 Parking Lot Prayer 7:00-7:20am Worship Practice 7:30pm

Saturday 6/13 Act Like Men 7:00-8:15am **Basketball will Resume in the Fall Sunday 6/14 Christian Education 9:30-10:30am Ladies Bible Study Donna Smith Gods Prophets Demand Justice Bruce Henrikson Counter Culture Pastor Jason Praying with Paul Jim Sackett Senior High Jake Barrett Junior High Ronda Ekberg Childrens Sunday School 9:30-10:30am

Childrens Church 10:45am Worship Service 10:45am

Monday 6/8 Church Office closed Martial Arts 6:00pm

Whats Happening This Week at Your Church?

Committee MeetingOn 6/3 the Missions Committee held a meeting led by Skip Doval. Thanks for all who attended, especially new members of the Committee: Mark Thompson, Shellie Christman, and Deb Henrikson.

The Committee voted to sponsor Jaymi Nettleton for $400.00 towards her summer mission as a Project Director with Summer Mountain Project in Pigeon Forge, TN. As a Project Director she oversees the discipleship of all the girls on the project - A huge responsibility.

The Committee voted to approve $275.00 towards bringing the Christian Musical group: Sidewalk Prophets to the Sangamon River Festival.

The Committee had a discussion about providing ice cream for the Sangamon River Festival booth to bless and encourage people in the heat. Mark and Skip are checking on Ice cream pricing and Pastor Jason is looking into a freezer unit.

The Committee discussed changing the bulletin board to better connect you to missions. Stay tuned!

We are going to start sending out our weekly newsletters to every missionary.

We are looking to start a ministry that sends birthday and encouragement cards monthly to missionaries.

Deb Henrikson is spearheading an initiative to help us engage the persecuted church worldwide. This is exciting as it is Debs passion! Stay tuned!

Next Meeting: Aug 5th 7:00pm in the upstairs conference room. Join us!

Over the next 12 issues of this newsletter we will celebrate Summer by looking at parts and pieces of the EFCA Statement of Faith. The goal is to ask the question: Do we know what we believe?

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect.

The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils among us. A whole new philosophy of the Christian life has resulted from this one basic error in thinking. A.W. Tozer

We believe in one God.

Believe (From Dictionary.com)1. To accept as true or real 2. To credit with veracity3. To expect or suppose; think4. To have firm faith, especially religious faith.5. To have faith, confidence, or trust We believe is the heart of the EFCA Statement of Faith, and is repeated once for each of the 10 doctrinal distinctives.

Saying I believe is the personal proclamation that what we believe is absolutely true.

God is immutable, meaning that He is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and he is one with everything as creator.

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

We believe God is the Creator of all things

In the order of things, God is above us, because he created us. This statement gives us a picture of Gods place as creator of all things. He, therefore, has a special knowledge that knows all things.

In a much lesser way it is like when my wife makes a special dish, and I say, what is that flavor I taste? Since she created that dish, and knows all the ingredients that went into it, she has a special knowledge of it.

In a much greater way, God is Omnicient, meaning that He is all-knowing at all times. God knows everything, because, all things were created through Him (Colossians 1:16).

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

We believe God is Holy

The idea of holiness is a common description of God's unique power and position as the sovereign Lord of the universe.He is distinct from all that is evil, impotent, and impure.

By definition God's holiness means that He is set apart. He is distinct and separate from all created beings and false gods. There is no one like him in any way, any place, or any form.

His righteousness and his power show us that there is no one like Him. He is not sinful and impure as people are, or as the false gods are; neither is He powerless as people and pagan deities are.This is why Moses can say:

Exodus 15:11Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

We believe that God is infinitely perfect

Infinite means that God is immeasurably or inconceivably great or extensive. Subject to no limitation or external determination. Perfect means that He is absolute and complete. having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; free from fault.

You will never catch God doing anything wrong. Even though we often make mistakes and do wrong things (sin), God never makes mistakes. He never sins. He is holy, which means He is perfectly good and above us. If you could race against God, He would always beat you. If you could give God a really hard test, He would always answer every question correctly. If you tried to trick God, youd fail because He knows your thoughts. He is omnipotent, which means all-powerful. God is not like us. He knows everything, can do anything, and is everywhere at once. Adventures in Odyssey

Pastor Jason Schifo for upcoming work published on the EFCA Statement of Faith.

Weekly Bible Reading

Each of the movements in Hebrews 11 is marked by the phrase by faith. What we learn as we read each verse weekly, is that the people of God live by faith at every turn. What we notice is the events dont always appear to bless them, but they, by faith, serve as a blessing in Gods bigger plan. Likewise, you are a blessing in His greater purposes.

Read Hebrews 11:27 - Moses left Egypt unafraid of the anger of earthly kings, but instead he was driven by the invisible call of the King of all things, God Himself. What might it take for us to forsake the fear of those things seen, that we might not live by the allure of sight, and move as Moses did, by faith?

In honesty, though, let us not romanticize Moses actions too much. The Bible tells us he endured, which means it wasnt easy. There were good days and bad days, but everyday was a God day - and thats what mattered most.

June 7th Galatians 4 June 11th Ephesians 2June 8th Galatians 5 June 12th Ephesians 3June 9th Galatians 6 June 13th Ephesians 4June 10th Ephesians 1 June 14th Ephesians 5

at Candlewood EstatesInterested? Email Tasha at: tschifo@gmail.com

June 29th through July 3rd11:00 - 1:00pm

Join Tasha Schifo this Summer as she launches into an 8 week study on biblical womanhood through True Woman 101: Divine Design Wednesdays: June 10th ,17th, 24th and July 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 8:30am-10:00am.

If youre tired of the worlds cheap imitations and knock-offs - or if youre tired of clichd advice, shallow caricatures - then this foundational teaching and insight from Gods Word is for you!

Find out why...

Email Tasha at tschifo@gmail.com or call her at 309-857-2693 to sign up for this study.

$15 Suggested Donation

Pastor Jason:We are going to be looking at some of the toughest issues Christians are facing: Marriage, Poverty, Racism, Sex Slavery, Persecution, Abortion, Pornography, and Orphans. Suggested Donation $14

Jim SackettGod doesn't demand hectic church programs and frenetic schedules. He only wants his people to know him more intimately, says top-selling author D. A. Carson. Suggested donation $14

Donna Smith Kay Arthur The Book of Numbers Join the Ladies as they dig deeper into this great book!

Bruce Henrikson Gods Prophets Demand Justice June 7 Amos 2:4-8 June 14 Amos 5:14-15, 18-27 June 21 Amos 6:4-8, 11-14 June 28 Amos 8:1-6, 9-10 Senior High Jake Barrett Junior High Ronda Ekberg