We've purchased RightNow Media access for everyone in our church!
You will receive free access to a huge, streaming, online, view-on-any-device library of over 10,000 video Bible studies, leadership videos and kids shows.
To sum it up — it’s like the Netflix of Bible study videos. You will have FREE access to thousands of video resources to help you with parenting, marriage, discipleship, studying the Bible, worship, apologetics and more.
Please check your email inbox for the digital invitation on Sun., March 29 after 4:00 pm. **
All you need to do is click the "GET STARTED" link in your email invitation. It's that easy!
We hope you and your family enjoy this wonderful new resource for our church.
**If you don't receive the email invitation on the afternoon of Sunday, March 29th, please check your Junk Mail folder.
If you do not receive the email invitation and would like access to our church subscription please contact Melissa O'Dell.
Sermons, Services &
Updates
ONLINE SUNDAY SERVICE
at 10:45 AM
This Sunday, March 29th is 🌺 Hawaiian Shirt Sunday! 🌺 We ask that you and your family wear Hawaiian shirts as you watch the online service and take a group selfie or photo. If you don't have a Hawaiian shirt, you can still participate by wearing any kind of summer attire. ☀️🧢👒🕶 Then, please share your pictures on Facebook or Instagram and tag @mefchurch or use the hashtag #mefchurch.
We also encourage you to post your picture in our Midland Free – Beyond Sundays group on Facebook. We invite anyone from Midland Free to join the group so we can share pictures, build community, and have some fun! You can join the group here.
The intent of this day is to have a fun way to express our hope -- hope for the coming of Spring, and our Hope for the coming Savior, whose resurrection we celebrate in just two weeks! Even though it's still cold and gray in Michigan, we can be sure of our hope in the coming of Spring. Similarly, even though the world can be a cold and scary place, we can be sure of our hope and security in the coming Savior.
Upcoming online service on Sun., March 29 at 10:45 AM based on 1 Peter 4:7-11
Due to the stay-at-home order issued by the Governor on Monday, March 23, the Midland Free church building is closed, and as a result, all ministry events at our campus are cancelled or postponed until further notice.
God reminds us in Psalm 46 that He is our refuge and strength, and our ever-present help in trouble. Armed and confident in this truth, we hope and pray that we will, as a church body, use this opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us. He gives us tremendous hope during this time of cultural uncertainty and change. This is a great time to call a neighbor, colleague, friend, or relative to offer encouragement and the hope we have in Jesus!
Mission Vision Forum
In light of the realities of the most recent Executive Order issued by the Governor on Monday, the Elder Board Forum that was scheduled to live stream on Wednesday, March 25th at 6:30 PM was postponed. We will let you know when this event is rescheduled (hopefully in April). We posted updates about event cancellations on our website and social media channels, but neglected to send an email. We sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused, and will use both communication methods for important notices in the future.
Good Friday Service - ONLINE Friday, April 10 • 7:00 PM
You and your family are invited to worship during an online Good Friday service on Friday, April 10th at 7:00 PM. We will reflect on 1 Peter 2:19-25and Isaiah 53 during the service.
Easter Sunday Service - ONLINE Sunday, April 12 • 10:45 AM
Our Easter celebration will take place online on Sunday, April 12th at 10:45 AM. Join us as we praise Jesus, our Risen Savior. Invite a friend or neighbor to tune in this joyful service!
HELP US KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU
As we face the reality of connecting virtually in the near term, please take a moment to review and update your contact information in our database, specifically your mobile phone number (for text messages) and your email address. 📱📧 You can do this by logging into the Portal on our website. Once you have logged in, please click on “My User Account” and make the appropriate updates to your contact information.
Thank you for helping us in our efforts to communicate effectively with you in urgent situations. May the Lord be with you.
Financial Updates &
Continued Giving
WAYS TO GIVE
GIVING & TITHES:We are taking prudent cost-saving measures as a staff during these unprecedented times. However, the financial needs of the church and facility continue, as nearly 71% of our annual budget is “fixed” costs (such as our mortgage, utilities, and salary and benefits costs).
Historically, March is our second biggest giving month of the year. So far, giving in March has remained healthy despite the lack of an in-person Sunday morning offering. We are so thankful for the blessing of God's continued provision by YOUR continued generous giving. Thank you!
We hope you will continue to give as you are able so we can continue to meet the needs of our church body and also work toward our shared goal of spreading the Gospel locally and around the world.
Online giving continues to be the most convenient and preferred method to receive your generous contributions to our ministry efforts. You can contribute in one of the following ways:
CHECK: Mail your check to Midland Evangelical Free Church, 7221 N. Jefferson Ave., Midland, MI 48642.
Thank you!
BULLETIN UPDATE
Financial Focus For 8 months ended 02.29.20
At the end of February, expenses remained below giving, but only because we skipped our mortgage payment for one month due to the refinancing. For the first time this fiscal year, giving was substantially below budget. We are encouraged by the March giving trends so far and continue to trust in God's perfect provision through His people.
CARE & COMMUNITY
Pastor Gib's thought for the day: If the Holy Spirit brings someone to your mind, please stop and text or call them. Ask how they are doing, what they need, offer some encouragement, pray with them, or simply listen.
CORONAVIRUS PRAYER GUIDE
Here's a free prayer guide from our friends at LifeWay. 🙏God works through prayer. Let's all commit to praying regularly while we work together to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
Midland Free is a
Midland Public Schools
Food Distribution Site
during COVID-19
Midland Evangelical Free Church is a pick-up location for meals from Midland Public Schools on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00-9:45 AM now through the end of the COVID-19 school closures. Please go to the South Entrance.
ANY child age 0-18 is eligible.
Anyone can pick up the meals for the children (Mom, Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Neighbor, Friend, etc.)
When visiting our church, meals will be available in a ‘grab and go’ fashion as Center for Disease Control guidelines discourage communal gathering.
A breakfast and lunch will be provided during each pick-up for the immediate and following day(s) between scheduled times.
For more details, please click hereto read the full announcement from Midland Public Schools.
At times we need help in a physical form. We help members and regular attendees with needs. This help may involve finances, financial counseling, home and car repair, and many other areas. If you need this type of help, please complete the Benevolence Application by following the link above.
STEPHEN MINISTRY
Are you going through a difficult time? Do you need encouragement and support? You are not meant to walk alone as you experience painful times and we are here to walk beside you. Trained lay ministers from our church are here for you!
These compassionate people are supportive, encouraging and are very beneficial for anyone -- inside or outside our church. Please send an email to stephen@mefchurch.org.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
We as a church want to minister to those who are going through crises and difficult life experiences and encourage them to trust God to provide what they need. Here is a partial list of additional sources of assistance in the community:
Please read and share this excellent article that lists a number of different places to get assistance during this crisis: Michigan Coronavirus Help
211:This is an excellent resource for our community.
Click on https://www.211nemichigan.org/. You can call them, text, chat or search for information. Take a few minutes and dive into the system. Click search, put in your zip code and city and look at the variety of resources available. They have many options including bill payment assistance, food, health care, housing/utilities, mental health assistance, personal/household items, transportation, etc.
MOBILE PANTRY - MIDLAND COUNTY EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY NETWORK: There will be a distribution on Friday, April 3rd at the Dow Diamond Parking Lot, 825 E. Main St., Midland. Enter the parking lot off of Buttles. Park in the lot on the right - the ticket office side. Please note - DO NOT go into the Loons Stadium. The distribution will be in the parking lot only. Registration begins at 9:00 AM with the distribution at 11:30 AM. You stay in your car for registration and they will deliver the food right to your car. Please bring empty bags/boxes.
If you’re a nonprofit, individual, or small business seeking COVID-19 relief,click here.
Ministry Highlights
Midland's Open Door is still open and functional. The homeless are still among us and still need meals. There are some changes coming up until the Coronavirus restrictions are lifted. If you are healthy, have been self-screening (no symptoms of COVID-19), and are between the ages of 13-64, you can volunteer by helping box to-go lunches.
We need 6 volunteers from our church on each of the following days from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM to help prepare to-go lunches:
We are sorry to announce that the Rummage Sale scheduled for April 24 & 25 is cancelled. At this time there is no reschedule date, but we will keep you updated as the team makes decisions.
GoLocal Wonderfully Enabled Dance
A ROYAL EVENING
CANCELLED
We are sorry to announce that the Wonderfully Enabled Dance scheduled for Saturday, April 18th is cancelled. Thank you to everyone who had already signed up to volunteer. Your willingness to serve was deeply appreciated! At this time there is no reschedule date, but we will keep you updated as the team makes decisions.
NOTE: The event below is contingent on the most current COVID-19 directives issued by the federal, state and local government. We will post updates after April 13th regarding any change to this event. Thank you for your patience and flexibility during these unprecedented times.
SECRET CHURCH 2020 Friday, April 24 • 6:30 pm - 1:00 am
Rooms 306/308
Secret Church 2020 will explore how the gospel transforms the way followers of Jesus relate to governing authorities in any nation for the glory of God in all nations. The purpose of this Secret Church is to establish biblical foundations for understanding how the character of God and the content of the gospel totally transform the way Christians relate to government. More details here.
BLAST Children's Ministry
BLAST UPDATE
The BLAST Children’s Area will continue to be closed on Sunday mornings through at least April 12th. Watch for more information from Kristi Smith on how you can continue to engage your children with our BLAST Ministry.
Connect with the Children's Ministry on the BLAST Facebook Group for all the latest updates.
Sunday School Lessons at Home
Videos & Printable Activity Sheets
SUNDAY SCHOOL VIDEOS: Click hereto access the weekly videos. The videos are password protected. Please email Kristi Smith for the password.
ACTIVITY SHEETS:Click here to access the weekly printable activity sheets.
LifeWay Kids App
Download theLifeway Kids App for more video clips and activities for your family to stay engaged with our journey through Scripture!
YOUTH
X-TREEME UPDATE
X-TREEME will no longer meet in person on Sundays through at least April 12th (X-Treeme was previously not planning to meet on Easter Sunday). However, please watch out for further communications from Pastor Chuck and his staff about how we will continue to connect within those ministries, including DG Groups.
JAM Update
JAM will no longer meet in person on Wednesdays through at least April 8th. However, please watch out for further communications from Pastor Chuck and his staff about how we will continue to connect within those ministries, including DG Groups.
YOUTH IMPACT TRIPS Coming this summer!
For more details about trip locations, cost, expectations, and registration please follow the appropriate link below:
