From the Pastor’s Office . . .

Monthly Newsletter First Brethren Church,

South Bend, IN

Just like we say

every year at this time, “I

can’t believe another

year has gone by”. Yes it

has, and yet the colony at

FBC has accomplished

many things for the glory

of God. I am so proud to

be a part of this ministry

and part of this Body of

Christ, and excited to see

what God has in store for

us in 2016.

2015 had many good

things take place in the

world, but we also had a

lot of not so good things

as we look around and

remember the tragedies

and conflicts. With that in

mind, God has led me to

a topic for 2016 that is

very pertinent for the

Church in the coming

days.

2016 is going to be a

year that we focus on

“Absolute Truth”. The

world is wishy-washy

when it comes to abso-

lutes, and is very focused

on being tolerant of so

many things that truth

becomes irrelevant. To

try to make everyone

happy by accepting things

that are wrong as correct

is very dangerous.

Is the church ready to

be challenged about what

it believes and what is

without question abso-

lutely true, even if it is

not politically or cultural-

ly correct? To be totally

honest, I’m not really

sure, and I’m not sure if

the church of Jesus Christ

really cares sometimes.

We are going to be

studying God’s Word and

what God says about

what we are to believe

and how we are to live.

John 16:13 says,

With all the challenges of

the world around us, I

pray that you will join me

in this relevant study of

truth and how to live in

God’s truth without suc-

cumbing to the ways of

the world.

Along with the sermon

series this year, the

B.A.S.I.C. Second Hour

CE class will be using the

curriculum called “The

Truth Project”, which

will correlate with the

truth study. Also, we are

starting a Bible study

called “Friday Night Cof-

fee” which is for the FBC

colony and for those in-

terested in the study of

“Prophecy”. This will

start on Jan 8th at 6:30pm

at FBC.

Keep faithful in serv-

ing the Lord. I pray that

you had a Merry Christ-

mas and that you are

looking forward to a

wonderful new year in

Christ. Please let me

know if you need any as-

sistance. You can contact

me at the church

(574) 291-4909, email:

fyoungen@att.net or my

cell phone 330-903-1044.

I will do my best to pray

for you all and together

may we know and live

the Absolute Truth of

God’s Word. God Bless

Pastor Fred

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

Upcoming Events

Friday, January 8, Friday

Night Coffee, 6:30pm

Saturday, January 9,

Men’s Prayer Breakfast,

8:00am

Monday, January 11,

Official Board Meeting,

6:30pm

Monday-Wednesday,

January 18-20, Annual

Prayer Retreat, Camp

Shipshewana

Saturday, January 23,

Deacon Food Pantry,

10am-12pm

Inside this issue:

Church Calendar 2

Monthly Volunteer

Schedule 3

Birthdays, Anniver-

saries, Library News, 4

Youth Activities 4

2016 Officers 5

News from Benjamin 6

Newsletter Survey 7

Prayer/War Room 7

Colony Communiqué Volume 2, Issue 1

January, 2016

** Please note that the Deacon Food Pantry will only be open ONE DAY this

month, which is Saturday, January 23rd from 10am-12pm.

The month of February will also have just ONE DAY on Friday, February 19th from 5-7pm. Be sure to make note of these changes. Thank you.

**

Page 3 Colony Communiqué

SUNDAYS

Greeters

1- 3 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Evelyn Zigler

1 - 10 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Bev Wolf

1 - 17 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Sally Wagner

1 - 24 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Beulah Bozenski

1 - 31 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Sandy Sherrod

* * If anyone else is interested in being a Greeter on Sunday Mornings, please contact Bonnie as soon as

possible. Thank you. * * *

Hosts

1 - 3 Bev Wolf

1 - 10 Ellen Gilbert

1 - 17 Bev Wolf

1 - 24 Jan Kary

1 - 31 Bev Wolf

This is a ministry that expands hospitality to our Sunday morning guests. Any questions please contact Bev Wolf, 251-1244.

Nursery

1 - 3 9:30am - ________________________

10:45am - Linda Kohman & Cindi Jewett

1 - 10 9:30am - Angela Scott & Corinne Freel

10:45am - Fawn Robertson & Connie Wood

1 - 17 9:30am - Peggy Baer & _____________

10:45am - Peggy Baer & Hanna Galbreath

1 - 24 9:30am - Kris & Claire Wright

10:45am - Kris & Claire Wright

1 - 31 9:30am - _________________________

If you are unable to serve on your assigned Sunday please contact Peggy Baer, 259-2912. We are in need of more volunteers to help in the nursery. Please see Peggy if you can help.

Blood Pressure Screening

This will be available on Sunday,

January 17 in the Conference Room next to the library starting at 10:30am.

SUNDAYS

Van Drivers

We are in need of additional drivers. If you can help, please contact the church office at 291-4909.

1 - 3 Dennis Wood

1 - 10 Dennis Wood

1 - 17 Rich & Kathy Hollister

1 - 24 Dennis Wood

1 - 31 Dennis Wood

Financial Stewards

1 - 3 Charmaine & Kathi Ginter

1 - 10 Bev Wolf & Linda Kohman

1 - 17 Jack Kary, Sr. & Kathy Plaia

1 - 24 Jack Kary, Jr. & Becky Reynolds

1 - 31 Charmaine & Jack Kary, Sr.

If you have any questions, please contact Charmaine, 255-4938.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

MONDAYS

Monday Morning Mailers

1 - 4 Sandy Sherrod

1 - 11 Judy Rose-Walley

1 - 18 Jan Smith

1 - 25 Charlotte Meller

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Sherrod, 256-9481. We are looking for additional volun-teers to help one Monday per month.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Trustee of the Month - Chad Freel

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

February 5-7 - Winter Craft Retreat - $90.00

February 15-17 - Winter Blast (Jr /Sr High) - $90.00

SEE KIOSK IN THE FOYER FOR DETAILS.

January Volunteer Schedule

Page 4 Colony Communiqué

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

January Birthdays 1/4 - Albert Martinez 1/6 - Charlotte Meller 1/8 - Eleanor Porte 1/10 - Jennifer Baker 1/13 - Merlin Seske 1/14 - Veronica Martinez 1/14 - Grace Phillips 1/16 - Linda Kohman 1/19 - Shirley Ulbricht 1/25 - Brittany Lange 1/26 - Becky Reynolds 1/28 - Bev Baker

Anniversaries 1/12 – Dan & Lora Richard

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Upcoming Opportunities

~ WMS Women’s Meetings

Due to weather concerns, we have decided not to have WMS Saturday meetings for the months of January and February. We will resume meetings in the Spring of 2016. We look forward to seeing you then.

Friendships Warm the Heart ATTENTION LADIES - - -

Sunday, February 7, 2016 from 12:15- 2:00 pm.

All Ladies of FBC, please join us for an afternoon of friendship and fellowship.

We are planning a Soup and Salad luncheon, soup will be provided, please bring a salad to share.

We are gathering for the purpose of friendship and to share that friendship with others. Bring your friend, Bring a guest, all are welcome! We ask that you reach out to one another, invite and provide transportation to a lady who may have restrictions and is not always able to attend, or invite someone who hasn’t attended in a while, or invite the friend that you see every Sunday, for whatever the rea-son help us to extend a hand of friendship to the ladies of FBC.

LIBRARY NEWS There is no sadder story to me

than a child that has been abused

and no happier story than the

child that made it through a terrible

childhood triumphant. That is the

true story of Dave Pelzer in his book “A Child Called

‘It’” (267.3). Dave is that child now an adult offering

hope to others that may be it similar situations or com-

ing out of an ordeal. As you can imagine Dave didn’t do

it alone. He came to know the loving God that showed

him that he had a name and it was “precious”, for he is

precious to the living God. Such a tragedy but with a

happy ending for Dave. There are many other storied of

men, women, boys and girls who have faced challenges

head on and come through. Check out our biography

section (267.1,2 &3).

YOUTH ACTIVITIES FOR JANUARY

January 3 - 10:45am Make meal for needy family

January 10 - 10:45am Make scarves for homeless

January 17 - 10:45am Recap, Reflection & Preparation

January 24 - 10:45am Miller Veteran’s Center

January 31—10:45am Meet in Youth Room

February 7 - 4:00-6:00pm Youth Bible Study & Activity

~ Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, January 9 at 8:00am. All men are invited for fellowship, good food and a dedicated time for prayer and Bible reading as a group of men.

Page 5 Colony Communiqué

2016 Church Officers

Moderator: ............................................ Jennifer Kary (1 year term) Vice-Moderator: .................................... Kris Wright (1 year term)

Recording Secretary: ........................... Jan Kary (1 year term) Assistant Recording Secretary: .......... Mary Wisniewski (1 year term)

Financial Secretary: ............................. Charmaine Lange (1 year term) Assistant Financial Secretary: ............ Jack Kary, Sr. (1 year term)

Treasurer: ............................................. Kathy Plaia (1 year term) Assistant Treasurer: ............................ Jeaniece Bumgardner (1 year term)

Head Usher: .......................................... Dave Lange (1 year term) Assistant Head Usher: ......................... Kevin Kohman (1 year term)

Librarian: ............................................... Suzanne Bush (1 year term) Assistant Librarian: .............................. Hanna Galbreath (1 year term)

Sunday School Superintendent: ......... Linda Kohman (1 year term) Assistant Sunday School Supt: .......... Kathy Barber (1 year term)

Board of Christian Education: (term expiration indicated below) Hanna Galbreath (2016) Corinne Freel (2017) Karen Carson (2016) Jan Kary (2017) Judith Heying (2016) Tony Passannante (2017)

Trustee Board: (term expiration indicated below) Chad Freel (2016) Chuck Lambert (2016) Bill Grenert (Bldg. Sup) (2017) Kris Wright (2017) Aaron Wright (Chairman) (2018) Richard Hollister (2018)

Stewards: (1 year term) John Bush Jack Kary, Jr. Kathy Plaia Kathi Ginter Linda Kohman Becky Reynolds Jack Kary, Sr. Charmaine Lange Bev Wolf

Nominating Committee: (1 year term) Peggy Baer Bonnie Coffman Jan Kary

Deacons & Deaconesses: Joyce Birk Beulah Bozenski Jeaniece Bumgardner Karen Carson Kathi Ginter Rich & Kathy Hollister Jan Kary Jack & Jennifer Kary Kevin & Linda Kohman Phil & Kathy Plaia Joyce Schafer Kristina Wright (inactive - Eleanor Porte, Glen Scott, Mary Jane Teske)

It is hard to believe that another year is here. I know I have been saying it a lot but time seems to be flying by. As I have been thinking back over 2015, re-membering one of the highlights, of Pastor Fred and Janna’s first year at FBC.

If I had to mention only one of my favorite services it will have to be the Seder Service on Good Friday. What a special service that was. I enjoyed the Memorial Day Sunday and Labor Day carry-in dinners, too. (Anything involving food is good to me!).

I enjoyed the all-church study of Nehemiah this summer. And I enjoyed very much the Candles and Carols service the Sunday before Christmas. There were many more things.

It was wonderful to welcome Pastor Larry and Bev back after their winter in the west. And now I want to wish a good winter to all the rest of the snowbirds.

I know that something happened in 2015 that was hard to understand but I know that God is bigger than we are. And He knows best. I want to thank eve-ryone who helped with the Haven and Roots programs and ask you to pray about what is going to happen next. We will be taking the month of January off and will be trying something different starting in February. Please pray for our new program. Remember, we still need adult workers for the kids programs. Also, keep all the children and youth in your prayers.

We will try something different for the Food Pantry in January and February but we still need food to pass out to people. We will only have one distribution day per month for those 2 months. And remember, we will be doing Hay School weekend food bags again when the kids go back to school. There is always a need for helpers to pack, and for food and funds.

As I am writing this, I am looking forward to the New Year’s Eve service. And there is something new starting January 8 called Friday Night Coffee. It will be a new bible study that Friday at 6:30pm here at the church. If you don’t drink coffee, please still come! I hope to see a lot of people come.

I know some of you were reading the Bible through in 2015. If you didn’t finish, just keep reading. And if you finished, why don’t you do it again. You will learn more each time you read through the Bible.

Well, I don’t want to write to much so I will stop for now. Happy New Year everyone and God bless,

Benjamin

Wishing everyone a

Blessed 2016!

We are changing the Newsletter format for the new year and wanted to get a re-sponse from our readers. Please answer the following questions and return to the church office. (drop it off, mail it or email your responses) THANK YOU.

NAME ________________________

1. How much of the newsletter do you typically read? ____ all ____ most _____ only a few pages (please list pages)

_________________________________________________________

2. Are you interested in continuing to receive the Newsletter? Yes / No

3. If yes, how would you like to receive your Newsletter? ______ Pick-up at church / ____ e-mail to: _______________________

____ Mail / ____ I’ll look on the FBC webpage / Other _______________

4. What other feedback would you like to offer? _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Page 7 Colony Communiqué

Newsletter Opinion Survey

Where’s your War Room? On New Year’s Eve, we were blessed to be able to watch the Movie, “War Room” together as a church family. This is a power film that prompts us to be seeking God from the solace of our own personal Prayer (War) Room. Where can you find one in your house? If you don’t have a spare closet to give up, how about a corner of your bedroom, or next to your bed where you can post prayer concerns and answered prayers, too!

Here are some suggestions for setting up your own Prayer Room:

1. Post prayer requests for each part of your life to a visible area of your wall, and make it a point to cover them in prayer daily!

2. Or get REAL extreme and plaster the whole wall in sticky note prayers! 3. Push all your stuff to the side and grab a prayer chair! 4. Put together a prayer caddy with all of your supplies for Bible study and prayer! 5. Add a rug and some throw pillows for a peaceful meditation with God and in His word!

The most important thing is that you spend time in prayer!!! JAMES 5:16, “THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE.”

4909 S. Ironwood Dr. South Bend, IN 46614 (574) 291-4909

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"And because you belong to CHRIST you are COMPLETE, having EVERYTHING you need. ."

~ Colossians 2:10

2016 Sermon Series “What is Absolute Truth?”