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Christmas BLVD is HERE!
If you are not already on our campus as you read this, we hope that you have plans to get over to EvFree soon and experience the joy of Christmas with us! The event is from 4–9pm, tonight through Sunday.
If last year is any indication, we are expecting big crowds each night. So, you might come early, find parking and even get in line early for A Walk Through Bethlehem. You won’t want to miss the expanded experience of the little town on the night that Jesus was born. With a new script, over 100 costumed actors and live animals, you will be immersed in the story of our God who came “Unto Us.”
Don’t forget we have some great musicians performing two nightly concerts each night. The concerts are only 35 minutes each so there will be plenty of time to grab some coffee at The Well, sit for a concert and still experience all of the other great things happening at Christmas BLVD. Tonight, the PawnShop kings will bring their soulful southern sound. Friday night is the holiday doo wop of The Alley Cats. Saturday is the jazzy soul of AJ DeGrasse. And Sunday is our Family Sing-Along! And this year, we will have a variety of our own musicians performing in The Well throughout each evening.
Finally, let’s be reminded that this event is our gift to the community and there will be thousands of visitors on our campus. Maybe you will be bringing someone who has never been to our church–or ANY church for that matter! Let’s all be on the look-out for opportunities to meet and bless those who walk our campus with the grace, peace and love of Jesus!
See you on the BLVD or walking Bethlehem!
(Click here for all the details and follow us on Facebook or Instagram to see highlights from Christmas BLVD. #evfreefullerton #christmasblvd2017 #awalkthroughbethlehem. Below is a preview of some behind-the-scenes and what you'll see in Bethlehem!)
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Making Their Mark on the Family Room
It all started with a generous gift. A couple in our church felt led to give to the Thanksgiving offering to help with the cost of creating the fabulous new Family Room. As they talked more about their donation they realized the Holy Spirit was laying a plan on their hearts to use their donation to create a unique giving opportunity for our EvFree Kids.
This is how the Make Your Mark project was born. The idea was simple: any child who was interested would check out $10 of seed money that would be used to create some type of “business” with the hope of multiplying the original $10 and then donating all their earnings back to the Thanksgiving offering. We encouraged the kids to be creative, have fun, involve their families and friends...
Click here to read the exciting, full story from Nikki Bridgeford.
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Gifts for Our Neighbors, Far and Near
We have a history of being a generous people. Whenever we hear of a legitimate need we are eager to be an example to our families of sacrificial love for others. This season we have a great opportunity to again model our kingdom values to our family and the world.
Clothes of all sizes donated this season will be sent to Mongolia where our Christian partners will give them to families who have fled from North Korea and live in deep poverty outside the city. Your personal clothing and shoes will be given in Jesus' name to bring relief and an opportunity for them to hear the gospel. Some of the clothes are also sold at a thrift store that employs persecuted Mongolian believers and funds a ministry for an entire year.
At the same time we provide food, clothing and helpful resources to families in need in our community. Donated food items will go to prepare weekly nourishing meals for families at El Dorado motel, the homeless in La Palma Park and given to those that come daily to our Good Samaritan Center.
Let’s raid our closets and pantries and again show some love to those far and near in the name of Jesus.
Food items such as cans of stew, chili, tuna, chicken or fruit; pasta, peanut butter, boxes of crackers, hamburger helper, oatmeal packets, mac & cheese, and mashed or scalloped potatoes are particularly needed. The collection bins are located in the Chapel parking lot and open for contributions on Sunday mornings, during office hours (8am–5pm M–F), and at Christmas Blvd. Donations will be collected until January 7, 2018.
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Generosity at Year-End
Our congregation is especially generous in their year-end giving of time and finances. Consider Christmas Blvd & The Walk Through Bethlehem:
… four hundred are serving
… tens of hundreds are inviting friends and family
… thousands in the community are feeling Christ’s love and hearing the gospel
Thanks to all who helped renovate the Family Room. Next is the renovation of the exteriors of A & B Buildings. Give as you can to the “Future Facilities Fund.”
Be fully in at EvFree with your time, talents and giving. Especially at year end, your financial gifts are needed to fuel ministry. Give to the General Fund.
For contributions to be tax-deductible this year, they need to be:
- Postmarked by December 30
- Brought to the church upstairs “A” building mail slot by midnight, December 31
- Made online by midnight, December 31
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