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March 19th

COMMUNITYFREE CHURCH

WEEKLY

On March 21st, from 9-Noon we will be hosting a pre-Easter workday to freshen up many areas in the church.

There will be a host of things that need to be done for all ages and skill levels, so don’t let anything stop you from serving with your church family!

We will be cleaning, painting, purging, reorganizing, and preparing the church for some big things in the next number of months.

Saturday morning we will have donuts, bagels, juice, coffee, and other things to snack on during the serving time. Come out for all, or even just a little and help us make a dent in the “to-do” list!

After many years of faithful partnership, Grace church has decided to start their own children’s program (AWANA or another program) on Wednesday night’s, and will be discontinuing serving in AWANA with us on Sundays. This will mark a big change for us as a church, but not one that is bigger than the God who has called us to love on, and teach His children through AWANA. If you serve as an AWANA leader, volunteer, or have a passion for this great program please make it a priority to attend this meeting. We want to start preparing faithfully now for what God has called us to do in the future for His glory!

Overseers MeetingOn Thursday, March 19th at 7:30pm, we will be having an Overseers Meeting with a 30 minute conversation regarding the 2015/2016 AWANA program at CEFCM.

Welcome Our New Church Secretary!It is with great joy that the Elders and Overseers have hired Jan Piasecki as the church secretary. This is a part of some even bigger things cooking at CEFCM that could not be possible without this position.

Starting next week the church office will be open:

Wednesday 12-5pmThursday 12-5pmFriday 12-5pm

**There will be childcare available for the 30 minute meeting.

Thursday 3/19 Congregational Prayer 6-7:00pm

Overseers Meeting AWANA 7:30pm

Worship Practice 7:30pm

Saturday 3/21

“Act Like Men” Breakfast at the Church 7:00am Continuing the Act Like Men Discussion!

Basketball 8:30am

Church Workday 9:00am-12:00pm Come Help!

Sunday 3/22

Christian Education 9:30am Children’s Sunday School 9:30am Children’s Church 10:45am

Worship Gathering 10:45am Brent Ressler is joining us to share a message!

**No AWANA - Spring Break

Tuesday 3/17 Ladies Bible Study 9:30am at CEFCM Finding Hope in the book of Revelation. For more information email: d.henrikson@yahoo.com

Women’s Bible Study Fellowship 9:10am at First Christian Church The Life of Moses. More information email: shafer5@mchsi.com

Community Groups 6:00pm Schifo Home More information email:tschifo@gmail.com

Community Groups 7:00pm Wright Home More information email: bhenrikson@parkland.edu

Wednesday 3/18 Youth Group 6:00pm Pastor Jake Barrett

Community Groups Piasecki Home 6:15pm More information email: mikejanp@msn.com

What’s Happening This Week at Your Church?

Worshippers in Pakistan Killed Worshipping

More than 70 people were hurt in the explosions, which targeted worshippers attending Sunday mass at the churches in the Youhanabad area.

Violent protests erupted after the blasts, with a mob killing two men accused of involvement in the attacks.Pakistan's Christian community has often been targeted by militants.An offshoot of the Pakistan Taliban, calling itself Jamatul Ahrar, has said it carried out the attack.

Witnesses say suicide bombers were responsible for the explosions but police have not confirmed this.The bombers are said to have detonated their explosives near the gates of St John's Catholic Church and Christ Church.

- Thank God for our ability to worship and lift up His name publicly without fear. Repent of the ways we have taken that for granted.

- Pray for those who worship without fear even when the very real threat of death and injury overshadow every gathering of the saints.

© 8thirty8

 

I wrote this article last week and have “sat on it” trying to decide if I wanted to share it or not. I want to be graceful and loving, but also I have a commitment to you and the truth. So as I write this please know that I am not being condemning, but coming in a spirit of truth, sharing truth in the midst of cultural confusion.

From 3/10/2015As I write this I cannot help but think what a crazy question this is. Yet, now it is one that has to be asked since the story of Jessey Eagan, a Christian Children’s Ministry Director at Imago Dei Church in Peoria, Illinois, has chosen to wear a hijab, the traditional Muslim head covering, for Lent.

Right off the bat, I want to say that on a heart level I can truly understand Jessey’s motives, and while I understand it, that does not mean that I agree with it. The Apostle Paul ministered to people of great variety and said “I desire to know nothing amongst you except Christ and Him crucified”. Why? Because Christ is enough. As a Christian it is important that we send the right message regarding our faith.

Worship.

In Islam the wearing of the hijab is not a wardrobe choice, but instead an act of worship and submission to the commands of the Quran and Sharia law. This is why when the question comes up in interviews: “Are your Muslim friends offended by your choice to do this?” the answer is; "No, not at all." In fact, they celebrate her choice. 

Verse 30 of Surah 24 in the Quran speaks of wearing the head covering as an act of worship: “Tell the believing men

to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do.”

Furthermore, verse number 59 in Surah 24 says:“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them [when they go abroad]. That will be better, that so they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

They celebrate her choice because wearing the hijab means much more than just the covering of the body; more than just being an outsider. It refers to the code of modesty outlined in Sharia and Quaranic Law. Therefore, women who wear the hijab are submitting to a clearly and distinctly Muslim code of conduct. 

The problem with social justice of this sort, is that society left unto itself is never just. This is the reason that we submit to the authority of scripture. We never come in power, with the ability to change anything, if we leave the position of truth. Without truth we have no power. Paul was clear that power of the truth was the cornerstone of his authority and call to ministry.

Leadership. James tells us in 3:1, ”Not many of you should become teachers for you will be judged more severely”. Paul tells Timothy to “keep careful watch over his doctrine and practice”. In Galatians the Apostle rebukes Peter for leaving clear devotion to the commands of God to try to “love” another group operating in opposition to scripture. 

On her blog, Jessey says of her choice: “I told my husband my idea and he encouraged me to do it, but I decided that I needed to ask a local Muslim friend her thoughts on it.” After checking with her Muslim friend she showed up at the Christian Church she works at and surprised her senior pastor, Charlie Dean, who wrote on his blog:

“She (Jessey) showed up in my office this morning wearing a hijab (the veil worn by many Muslim women) and told me it was part of her observance of Lent. So I asked her to write a blog post...”

When I read this I was quite honestly shocked that prior to the choice of wearing the hijab Jessey did not first, come beneath the authority of her church. Wearing a hijab over the course of 40 days while leading and teaching children in a Christian context moves well beyond being just an illustration on “knowing and loving others”, and into something else entirely. I have to be honest.

If I were in this church I would pull my kids out, not because I am a bigot, but because I am a Christian discipling younger impressionable, and easily confused Christians, namely my kids.

cont. on next page...

“Should I Wear a Hajib?”

Christ:But the real question is this: Why put on anything?

Why not instead follow Colossians 3:1-4 and rest in the fact you have been clothed in Christ, and love Muslims by sharing the gospel with them. Anything other than that leaves the church looking like that confused “coexist” bumper sticker, rather than a place whose clear singular purpose is to glorify God and defy all ways, albeit even subtly, we are pulled to worship other Gods. 

There is already so much confusion on the topic of Islam that what we need now is solid teaching and clarity, not more confusion. Reaching out in love is great, but if that love causes confusion is it really love? I would argue that it is not. 

To be fair there has been a great deal of praise in liberal news media, social media and her church. This praise though never answers the very real questions of worship, leadership, and the confusion this is causing for so many people.

Just look at the Twitter response from today for the account that the Eagans set up: #40daysofhajib to follow Jessey’s Lenten journey:

One of the powerful takeaways that has come as I have watched this is from the marginalized Muslim women who have challenged Eagan. They see #40daysofhajib as a kind of short term missions trip that culturally appropriates their cause, but doesn’t really make a true impact. Sure there has been media attention, but for Eagan not Muslim women. This is important because the very women Eagan seeks to understand she is marginalizing in the process.

Just think about this:

Lastly, the key of the lenten observance is to focus on repenting of sin and consecrating oneself to God. Lent should not be a time of boasting of one’s sacrifice or trying to earn God's favor or increasing His love. God’s love for us could not be any greater than it already is. Therefore, as I see all the interviews, the blog posts, and the hashtag: #40dayofhijab I am concerned that this thing has become far more about a making a statement than resting in a meditating on God. 

Again I am drawn back to the words of Martin Luther: “Peace if possible, but truth at all costs, because only truth leads to lasting peace.”

Jesus is Alive!

This has reignited in me a desire to finish the teaching material I started last year on Islam which I will be presenting at CEFCM over 3 days in April. It is my hope that in understanding better what Islam and the Quran are we will be better able to understand the Muslim community. Not because we pretended to be them, but took the time to really understand who they are.

Do you wish you knew how to more effectively study God's Word and teach it to women? If so, Revive '15 is just what

you’re looking for. Get motivated, encouraged,

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“The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host.”

– Psalm 68:11

Join Tasha this fall as she attends the Revive Our Hearts: “Women Teaching Women” 2015 conference in Indianapolis.

The cost to attend the conference is $109 before September 20th, plus the cost of sharing a hotel room and meals. (Hotel cost will depend on the numbers of ladies attending the conference)