A LETTER FROM OUR PASTORAL STAFF
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Hello EvFree Family!
I have an aversion to what I call “glittering images” – putting forth a better, more attractive version of ourselves, while hiding what and who we really are.
It began when I was a teenager. My father separated from my mother and moved out. He called a couple of weeks later, saying that old friends had unexpectedly arrived from out of town. He told my mother to pretend he hadn’t left and to act like he still lived there when he brought them over to the house. My mother agreed (she didn’t want the divorce), but in her pain, she just couldn’t keep up the “glittering image.” Once the friends learned the truth from her, they left immediately.
“Glittering images” can sometimes appear at church. We feel pressure to look good and happy and strong like those around us seem to be. If we do admit to struggles, they’re in the past-tense (“I used to struggle with…but I have victory in Christ.”). We believe that the current, struggling version of us isn’t good enough to show to others, so we hide behind that attractive, polished image.
Our church has been a place where I – and many others – feel safe to lay aside the “glittering image:”
- In our 30+ years here, we’ve seen so many adult fellowships and small groups encourage and support their members who admit to struggling – in the present-tense.
- In my women’s Bible study, I could talk about my loss of hope when my teenagers rebelled. My real self was accepted by that group, and my relationship with God deepened.
- In THRIVE! and The Third Option classes, there are no “glittering images.” Just real people humbly admitting their own need for growth.
- There are no “glittering couples” coaching in our premarital class, Love for Life. In fact, when we recruit couple-coaches, we say “no perfect couples need apply.”
- Our pastors speaking on Sunday morning (such as Mitch last week) can be open about their real-life frustrations and current struggles. Amen!
It turns out that the “glittering image” is an even bigger problem than our actual problems. Maintaining that image keeps us isolated from the love and support we could get from the body of Christ. May we be a church where you – the real you – feel welcomed and accepted! After all, you’re so much more attractive (to us and to God) than those two-dimensional “glittering images!”
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Alex Flecky
Co-Director, Thriving Relationships
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Join Team Bethlehem at Christmas BLVD
We return for a third year to Bethlehem to tell the story of Jesus' birth during our large community outreach event, Christmas BLVD, December 6 - 9. We are recruiting actors and auditions will be October 23 & 24, 6:00-9:00pm in the Commons. Other opportunities include carpenters, costumers, painters, set dressers, stage managers, and box office personnel. We are happy to train you to perform the specific assignments for this project.
Click the button below to volunteer and one of our Team Bethlehem leaders will be in contact with you. For more information visit christmasblvd.com or email Robert Jensen.
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SCRIPTURE READING & JOURNALING
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Studying God's Word Together
On October 7, we launched a new series on the Gospel of John called “Love & Trouble.” As we begin this new series, we want to continue to encourage you to think deeply and study God's Word regularly. To facilitate this, we are inviting you to:
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: We have launched an Instagram account for sharing our insights and creativity with one another. We call it illumination.ink. We encourage you to follow this Instagram account and get involved in the conversation as we use our John Journals to guide our study. Click here to follow illumination.ink.
RECEIVE OUR WEEKLY EMAIL: We have created an email list in order to send out weekly emails with Scripture passages for the week. Click here to sign up to receive the weekly email and read along with us!
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Family Business Meeting Recap
Last Sunday, our quarterly Family Business Meeting was held and led by our elders and pastor. In addition to stories of ministry, information was shared regarding the elder nomination process, church financial status, refinance of the apartment loan, new staff updates, and other ministry initiatives.
Click here to watch the video.
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Grand Huddle – How to Handle the Holidaze
TONIGHT! Thursday, October 18, 7:00pm in NC190
Bring your Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's family traditions. Come and learn how to better navigate some of the 'family holiday issues' that often confront us when schedules are busy, emotions are frayed and relationships are challenged. And...let's figure out together how to be more intentional in sharing our faith, our stories and our Lord with those whom we love the most when perhaps hearts are most tender. There will also be a musical treat as Scott Wesley Brown joins us with some music as well as sings his new song "Grandprints"! Invite your friends.
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Prayer Somewhere
Saturday, October 20, 1:00pm, in the Worship Center Foyer
Wednesday, October 24, 7:00pm in The Well
Join us in prayer weekly for "Prayer Somewhere" – a weekly gathering in an ever-changing location.
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Q Commons
Thursday, October 25, 7:00pm in the Commons
Q Commons brings the Q National event experience to our community. Join thousands of participants in cities around the world as we gather to learn and consider how to advance good in our local communities. This two-hour live event will educate Christians on how they can bring hope and leadership to their communities in a critical moment for America. Speakers include local leaders as well as Bob Goff (Author of Everybody Always & Love Does), Jo Saxton (Author, Leadership Coach & Church Planter), and Scott Harrison (Founder & CEO of charity:water) via satellite.
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Child Dedication Class
Sunday, October 28, 10:00am in the Modular Lobby
Children are a gift from God and, as a church, we celebrate a formal opportunity to dedicate our kids to a life of following Jesus. Child Dedications will take place on Sunday, November 4, in all three services. If your family would like to participate in this dedication, you are asked to attend the mandatory Child Dedication class. Please register here.
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Trunk or Treat
Wednesday, October 31, 6:00 - 8:00pm, Main Campus Gym & Parking Lot
Hosted by EvFree Kids, a trunk or treat is basically cars creating a circle in the parking lot with their trunks facing the inside of the circle, people then decorate their cars and create a simple game or activity for kids to complete as they walk from car to car trick or treating.
There will be bounce houses, face painting and plenty of trunks to get treats from. So grab your family and friends, throw on a costume and join us! Not only are we hoping you will all bring family and friends to this event, but we would like to invite you to partner with us by host a trunk. We also need a TON of candy! If you would like to donate candy, you can drop it by the Family Room on Sunday or to the modular during the week. Email Kristen Rhode for more information on hosting a trunk.
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Baptism Registration and Class
Sunday, November 11, at 11:30am
Kids Class (grades 1-4) in Family Room / Adults Class in Choir Room
If your child is interested in being baptized, please sign up here to attend the baptism class with them. This class (designed for 1st grade and older) will help them learn more about this important step in their spiritual journey. For adults please register here or for more information visit our website. Our next baptism is scheduled for Sunday, November 18, at 4:00pm on the Plaza.
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Baptisms on the Plaza and Chili Cook-off!
Sunday, November 18, 4:00-6:00pm
On November 18, we as a family have the opportunity to witness and celebrate our brothers and sisters being baptized and publicly declaring their faith in Christ! You may sign up here if you'd like to get baptized. Immediately following the baptisms on the church plaza, we will celebrate with a chili cook-off for dinner in the gym! Bring a crock pot of chili to enter into the contest, where 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards will be given, or just bring a pot of chili to share! Drinks and root beer floats will be provided. You may drop off your chili at the gym and then head over to the Plaza for the baptisms. Email Kelsey Crowe with any questions. See you there!
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Elder Nominations
In the Spring of 2019, our church will affirm new elders to our Elder Board. Well in advance, it is our practice to solicit names from the congregation of those men qualified for the role of elder at EvFree. Please prayerfully consider someone to nominate and submit the name(s) here.
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Larry Bartosiewski – a long-time member of EvFree, entered into eternal life on October 4. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 20th at 10:00am in NC190 with a cookie reception to follow. Larry was involved in Family Fellowship, International Students and Acts of Kindness.
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Tommy & Rachel Kirven – serve as missionaries in Oxford, England. We rejoice with them at the birth of their first child, David ‘Davie’ Wylder, born on September 29.
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Budget—Year to Date
Budget: $2,910,000
Received: $2,579,864
Surplus (or deficit): ($330,136)
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Actual—Year to Date
Actual Income: $2,579,864
Actual Expenses: $2,606,564
Negative Cash Flow: ($26,700)
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Annual Audit – Every year the church hires an independent accounting firm to conduct our external audit with the aim to determine whether the accounting records are complete and accurate. It is also done to ensure that the statements accurately represent the church’s financial position and are prepared in accordance to current laws. The audit firm prepares our Consolidated Financial Statements and present them to our audit committee and then those financial statements are given to the Elder Board.
The church has made these yearly audits a priority so it is funded by the General Fund. We are happy to announce that once again the audit for our fiscal year of 2017-2018 has been completed and there were no findings to report.
Numbers are based on an annual budget of $7 million dollars.
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We praise God for our team of musicians and artists who lead us each week in meaningful worship. May Jesus be glorified in our pursuit of Him through all of our expressions and responses to the grace and hope we find in Him!
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