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Where Friends Are Family

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Thanks for taking the time to

check out what’s going on

around The Friends Church!

There are 168 hours in a week,

and we only spend one in church

on Sunday morning. Our prayer

is that this publication would not

only inform, but also inspire you

to see how God can use you in

the other 167 hours.

Get to know our volunteers who work tirelessly to make our church the best place it can be.

What’s your name?

Rich Spina

How do you serve at church?

I’m a member of the praise band & I edit Paster Chad’s radio show

What’s something you like to do the“old-fashioned” way?

Make music

How do you relax after a hard day of work?

A hot bath & a good book

What movie title best describes your life?

Almost Famous

What is special about the place you grew up?

Everything, it was like the TV show “The Wonder Years”

What is the most embarrassing music you have on your phone/CD/etc.?

None of the music I love embarrasses me...not even my Partridge Family CDs

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

You cannot change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails

What do you love most about The Friends Church?

The weekly sermons, the members & being part of a church family

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Countdown toChristmas

Even people who are not professing Christians think they are familiar with the story of the Nativity. Every Christmas, displays of Jesus resting in a manger populate lawns and churchyards, and songs about shepherds and angels fill the air. Yet, despite the abundance of these Christian references in popular culture, how many of us have examined the hard edges of this biblical story?

Beginning Sunday, October 20th at 9:30 AM two of our Adult Bible Fellowships will be uncovering the surprising Truth behind the birth of Christ and you’re invited.

From the book, entitled “Hidden Christmas”, best-selling author and pastor Timothy Keller takes his readers on an illuminating journey into the surprising background of the Nativity. By understanding the message of hope and salvation within the Bible’s account of Jesus’s birth, class participants will experience the redeeming power of God’s grace in a meaningful and deeper way.

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HERE IS THE CHURCHDanbury

“The Church gathered is for worship and the Word. The Church scattered is for encouraging and evangelizing!” Not only was that a key point from last week’s sermon, for more than a dozen church members it was an action point to take the love of Jesus to a group of senior adults, their families and staff at the Danbury Assisted Living Home in Broadview Heights.

For nearly three years, The Friends Church has held a Sunday afternoon chapel service where familiar hymns, Bible teaching, encouraging words and warm smiles are shared with the residents at Danbury. Over that time, we have seen many new faces call Danbury home and many more called home to be with God in glory!

With so much of the church growth movement focused on children, teens and young families; ministry to senior adults

reminds us that the church is not just about the future… it’s about FOREVER! And those whose hair have turned silver and years to gold have much to gain from hearing the reassuring Truth about God’s eternal love and constant care for His children--no matter how young or old!

Sunday’s chapel reiterated that very fact. God’s children from ages 2 to 92 shared in a special musical presentation of our combined choir selections: “Here Is The Church” and “This Little Light of Mine”! What a blessing to hear the generations joined together in praising God with our voices while passing on the torch of faith in Jesus Christ by vowing to “not let Satan blow it out, nor hide it under a bushel. NO!” Rather, with one voice serving One God we promised to “Let Our Little Light Shine… ‘til Jesus Comes!”

*Danbury Chapel Services are held the 2nd Sunday of every month from 1-2 o’clock. Please pray for the residents, their families and staff of the Danbury Home. Consider joining us for a monthly service, dropping in for a personal visit throughout the week or sending a note, card or letter to one of our shut-ins at home, at Danbury or one of the many other quality care facilities in our area.6

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“If I don’t receive God’s love, I can’t love God,

and if I can’t love God, I can’t love other people,

because I can’t give what I don’t have.”

PASTOR CHAD DEWEERD

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Beyond the essentials of Worship, Instruction and Fellowship the church of Jesus Christ is to be a “REACHING BODY” committed to Evangelism. One preacher described it like this: “The church is to be a body that can’t keep its hands to itself.”

With seven kids, Debbie and I remember it well. It’s how our kids could tell that they were part of the family. It’s why others could easily identify them as brothers and sisters. “He looked at me.” “She touched me.” “He looked at me like he was thinking of touching me first.” Sound familiar? That ought to describe the “stick-to-itiveness”, “stick-togetherness” and “stickiness” of every Christian church.

In our study of Acts 2:43-46, we found a growing momentum stirring in the early church. There was love, acceptance, vulnerability, compassion, caring , a glad spirit and a willingness to give. Physical needs were being met. Emotional needs were being tended too and needs of the Spirit were not overlooked; but acknowledged and cared for. NO WONDER they couldn’t keep people from coming to the Lord daily.

They didn’t silence the resurrection of Jesus… they shouted it! They didn’t hold back the Gospel… they hollered it! They didn’t keep the joy of Jesus to themselves… they shared it! vIt wasn’t something they designated to worship service once a week. Instead, they took it to the streets: to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest parts of the earth…AND IN DOING SO, they fulfilled the Great Commission by following the Great Commandment.

LOVE GOD & LOVE OTHERS

How are we doing? Take a look at the following story about sharing our faith. Although the author is ANONYMOUS… the Lord knows, loves and longs for us to reach out to everyone who could still sign their name to this all too poignant poem, entitled,

“Are You My Friend?”

My friend I stand in judgment nowAnd feel that you’re to blame somehowOn earth I walked with you day by day

And never did you point the Way

You knew the Lord in Truth and gloryBut never did you tell the Story

My knowledge then was very dimYou could have led me safe to Him

Though we lived together on the earthYou never told of the second birth

And now, I stand this day condemnedBecause you failed to mention Him

You taught me many things, that’s trueI called you friend and trusted you

But I learn now it’s too lateYou could have kept me from this fate

We walked by day and talked by nightAnd yet you showed me not the light

You let me live and love and dieYou knew I’d never walk on high

Yes, I called you friend in lifeAnd trusted you through joy and strife

And yet on coming to this endI cannot now call you my friend.

-Author Unknown-

EVANGELIZE

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Let me pass along four final thoughts about evangelism drawn from the first four chapters of the New Testament book of Acts. In doing so, I pray that you might be encouraged to get involved in sharing the greatest story ever told; and if necessary… use words.

1Evangelism was never limited to the church gathering. In fact, it was there that it occurred the least. First century believers did not congregate to win the lost. They assembled for worship, to be instructed and experience close fellowship. They spread out to evangelize. It’s high time we follow this Biblical model and obey the Scriptural mandate to break out of our Sunday morning huddles, stop giving high fives simply for showing up, get back on the field, into the game and be the church by showing off God’s goodness, grace and glory to a lost and hurting world.

2Evangelism was always initiated by the Christian. Sadly, many have the misguided idea that suggests, “If someone wants to become a Christian they’ll ask.” It usually doesn’t happen that way. How about when you trusted the Lord? Was it the result of your own personal quest, a superior search and the consequence of asking all the right questions of the right people? Or was it the result of people who cared enough for you to share the Gospel—long after you had given up on yourself and even God? Just as Christ came to us, we are to carry the Good News to a lost world as initiators of God’s grace and extensions of His love for the lost.

3Evangelism was usually connected to another event or unrelated activity. Read through the book of Acts and you’ll see this evidenced. For instance: In the midst of persecution, difficulty and distress—the Gospel was proclaimed and people responded. Amidst a need for healing, a conversation, an argument or a chance meeting came a Divine appointment where salvation was offered and grace received. Even today, news of natural disasters, economic crisis, political chaos and life’s uncertainties are platforms for God’s grace to reach out with understanding and compassion…all for the sake of introducing others to their real need: a Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord!

4Evangelism was never something anyone was forced into. The Bible gives no indication that the early church ever coerced or manipulated unsaved people into a faith in Jesus Christ. No huge promotions, no special programs or “today and today only” campaigns where pressure was applied. That’s not to say they didn’t preach boldly, because they did…and pray powerfully for God to move as they waited on the Holy Sprit to do what only He can do—convict men and women of sin and draw them unto Himself that they might be saved.

Remember, the sacred need not be secret. We’ve got a story to tell, a truth to share and a God to make known. Without this Evangelistic mindset and heart beat for the lost, the Church cannot broaden its impact. (When that happens, we officially become an ingrown, self-centered, spiritual social club for the believer and no longer a hospital for the sick, lonely and lost.) We must keep reaching out to others, because God never stops reaching out to us. That’s what love is all about. It moves us from a sense of complacency and having it all together as an individual to the place of being all together as One Body, serving One Head and One Lord—Jesus Christ! And in doing so, we become His people and His Church and because we can…WE MUST!

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We are taking part in Love INC’s

Annual Coat Drive this year.

The drive is underway, and all

donations must be received by

this Sunday, October 20th.

Coats, hats, gloves, and scarfs

will be accepted and the greatest

needs are coats for men and

children.

Our annual No Fright Friends

Night will take place on Thursday,

October 31st at 6:30pm.

Come in your favorite wholesome

costume for this free event

featuring a campfire, games, and

(of course) candy! There is no fear

in God’s perfect love (1 John 4)

and there is no fear at No Fright!

Our monthly Hangout will be

this Saturday, October 19th, from

6:30-9pm.

Students in grades 6-12 are

welcome to join us for food, fun,

and games as we grow in faith

through fellowship.