July 30, 2017 Vision: Transform the Heart... Transform the Home... Transform the World 5455 Market Avenue North, Canton, Ohio 44714 330.966.2800 info@firstfriends.org FirstFriends.org Summer Service Times 8:30 am & 10:00 am
Welcome to Worship at First Friends! Lead Pastor, Stan Hinshaw The Book of Acts - The Age of the Spirit and the Church" Prayer at the Altar Here at First Friends God works through prayer. We offer different opportunities for prayer at our altar each Sunday. During our musical worship, if you would like to come and pray at the altar in private, we invite you to come to the left side by our cross. If you would like one of our Prayer Team to pray with you, please come to the opposite side (right) of the altar. We will also continue to offer prayer at the end of each service. Before Jesus ascended into the heavens he told his disciples to wait for his Holy Spirit to come and bring power into their lives. It was only in the Spirit s power that they would be his witnesses from Jerusalem into all the world. It was Jesus Holy Spirit working in them that would unite them and birth what we call the Church... God s people gathering and going on God s mission. This summer we will be studying the Book of Acts and praying for God to unite and empower us in new and fresh ways to be God s people gathering and going on his mission! Read and P.R.A.Y. Scripture from the Book of Acts reading plan each week to prepare yourself for what God will do in us together as the Church! Summer Reading Plan for P.R.A.Y. Scripture: June 11 - Acts 1:1-11; 4:32-37 July 9 - Acts 2:8; John 16:12-15 June 18 - Acts 2:1-21; John 14:16-17, July 16 - Acts 3 June 25 - Acts 2:22-41; Psalm 16:8-11 July 23 - Acts 4:1-31 July 2 - Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:4-10 July 30 - Acts 5 Pastor Stan Hinshaw, Lead Pastor Thank You for Considering Others in Worship Please silence your cell phones during the worship service. Also, if your child becomes restless and loud, the service can be heard in the hall, the women's restroom nursing room, or you can take your child to one of our excellent church nurseries. REACHING NEIGHBORS & NATIONS Brian & Alyssa Holaday - (Cru: Ohio State) Usually Holadays summer assignment is to help lead a Summer Mission with Cru - in Chicago, Slovenia or elsewhere. But this summer, they re attending Cru s Institute of Biblical Studies in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is a curriculum of 11 seminary-level classes for ongoing training and development of Cru staff. They completed the first three classes during summer 2013 when they joined long-term staff. This summer, they completed two more classes during the first term. They re currently taking Biblical Communication and God/Bible/Holy Spirit (with Dr. Gregg Allison of Southern Theological Seminary) during the final term. They re excited about learning so much, but their hope and prayer is that ultimately, knowledge would not lead to pride but to deeper humility and love for God and others. They re grateful for their partners who enable them to become more faithful, hopeful, loving and effective ministers of the gospel on campus! Please pray: - That the Lord would use their instructors at Cru s Institute of Biblical Studies to deepen their faith in and love for God, His Word, and people. - That the Lord would use their Spirit-empowered diligence in their classes to deepen their effectiveness as campus ministers. - That they would trust God to provide the ongoing financial support they need to stay on campus fulltime this coming school year, bless their students, and (Lord-willing) expand their family in the future. PRAYER & CHURCH NEWS Have a Prayer Need? Call Gerry Bradshaw at 330.499.5575. Our faithful prayer warriors will lift your request before the Lord. Hospitals and Rehab Ben Wertz Is Yours Missing? Please put your name in your Bible so we can call you if you accidently leave it behind. Child Dedication The next child dedication will be Sunday, August 6. A one-time class is required. Please call Nancy at the church to register. Library Would you be interested in doing a book review for the library newsletter? Reviews need to be approximately 500 words long on a book available in the library. If interested, contact Trisha Abbruzzi at tabbruzzi@firstfriends.org. Opportunity to Serve Would you be willing to serve families of our fellowship who are going through the loss of a loved one by preparing a casserole, salad or dessert for a dinner following the funeral? If so, please call Janet at 330.966.2800 to let her know. **Today's Altar Flowers were given by Dane & Sally Ruff in celebration of their 70th wedding anniversary.
SUNDAY SERVICES 8:30 am Nursery for children 4 and under will be available in E-141. SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am Children in the nursey through Kindergarten may go directly to their classrooms. Today is the 5th Sunday of the month. One of our values is to include children in our worship of God. Today families will have the opportunity to worship together in the service. If parents participate in a Connect Group at the 10:00 am service their children may join the class in E-110. Help children hide God s Word in their hearts by memorizing their verses this month: Preschool Kindergarten Verse "I want to know Christ-yes, know the power of his resurrection." Philippians 3:10a Elementary Verse Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." John 14:6-7 CHILDREN Contact Tammy Forsythe at tforsythe@firstfriends.org Children's Ministry Christian Education Team 2017-2018 The new year is just around the corner. Would you be willing to help teach or assist a class and help our children learn about Jesus? Begin to pray and ask Jesus if you're being called to this wonderful opportunity. Check out the insert in your bulletin for specific opportunities. If you have questions or are ready to say yes - contact Tammy Forsythe at 330-966-2800. All Church Fellowship Lunch Today, July 30; 11:30-1:30 pm Join us at 11:30am- 1:30pm at the Pavilion. Hot dogs, baked beans, chips and water will be available by donation. Childcare Positions Available We are currently seeking people interested in working in childcare positions for the fall. This is a paid position. If you have questions or would like to set up an interview, contact Kris Lackey at 330-966-2800. Safety Doors Our safety doors will close 10 minutes after each service has started, opening again at the end of each service. If you would need to go to your child's classroom before the service has ended please go to the Welcome Center for assistance. LOOKING AHEAD August 6 Child Dedication 26 Community Fun Day MIDDLE SCHOOL Website: www.greenhouse242.com Contact Ben Croston at bcroston@firstfriends.org Follow us on facebook at: facebook.com/greenhouse242/ Wednesday Night Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm (E-101) Join us for a time of fun, friendships, and fellowship with God. HIGH SCHOOL Website: www.warehouse514.org SOUP'S ON! Contact Scott Calhoun at scalhoun@firstfriends.org Sunday Morning Youth Support Rally the Youth Canoe/Kayak/More! Mission trips. Point Rooms E & Tuesday, E-111 August 1; 9:00 am - 2:00 pm 9:30 am (L-1) Come for a fun day of canoeing, kayaking, and more! During the summer months, we are going to meet Bring shoes for the water and dry shoes for other to connect before the 10:00 am service. Join us to activities. Cost is $5 and make sure to pack a lunch. As find out information about upcoming events. always, permission slip/medical form is required. Warehouse Wednesdays Now- August 23, 6:30-8:30 pm (E-111) SENT: Warehouse 514 Service Project Join us for worship, a message, and a time of Saturday, August 12; 9:00 am - 2:00 pm fellowship together. Location to be determined. Hiking Trip Today, July 30; 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm Join us as we go to Cuyahoga Valley National Parks for a hike. Bring a change of clothes and shoes as we will be getting wet. Lunch can be at the All Church Fellowship Luncheon in the Pavilion or bring money for lunch. Permission Slip/Medical Form required. Meet in E-111. Tuesday Girl's Study Tuesday, August 1; 7:00-8:30 pm (Allison Harris' House) This study is for girls going into 8 th grade and 9 th grade. The study is called the Thinking Series. It is on Right Now Media. More information can be found outside of the middle school room.
CONNECT GROUPS Contact Theresa Maxin at tmaxin@firstfriends.org For all the latest information on Connect Groups and church events follow First Friends Church on Facebook. Fall Connect Group Directories will be available August 20! Interested in Becoming a Leader? Have you ever considered leading a Bible study or P.R.A.Y. Scripture group? If you have an interest, contact Theresa Maxin. Leader training will be held before Fall groups begin. MARRIAGE & FAMILY Contact Shawn Yost at syost@firstfriends.org Family Camp September 1-3, 2017 Brochures are available at the Welcome Centers and in the brochure racks. Registration deadline is August 23, 2017. WOMEN'S MINISTRY Contact Theresa Maxin at tmaxin@firstfriends.org For encouragement and all the latest information about Women's studies and events, follow All Things Women on Facebook. Girls Night Out *Save the Date* Saturday, September 9, 2017 We are looking for helping hands for this event in areas of set-up, tear-down, decorating, and food preparation. If interested, contact Theresa Maxin. MWF Fall Retreat October 13-15, 2017 Held at Carlisle Inn, Sugarcreek, OH with keynote speaker Christine Woolf, author of Pick Me, Pick Me. Brochures available at main Welcome Center. FFC Financial Update Weekly Need* Received Last Week YTD Weekly Average General Ministries $45,000 $44,671 $41,472 Missions/ Faith Promise $2,059 $2.093 $1,608 Total $47,059 $46,764 $43,080 Home Improvement Received in 2017 *to fully fund budget $2,400,000 $46,441 2017 Budget is based on 51 Sundays. One entire Sunday offering will be given to mission projects. STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY Biblical Wisdom: Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 YOUNG ADULTS Contact info@firstfriends.org Have you checked out our Blessing Board on Facebook? Some of this week s items added to the blessing board: Warm steam vaporizer that glows in the dark, small youth soccer socks and shin guards, French mirror, crock pot and a wireless copier/printer/fax machine. SPORTS Altitude Sundays, 8:30am (E-106) What are boundries? Why do we need them? Join other young adults as we find out how to recognize and respect our own and others Boundries (Cloud/ Townsend). Connect Wednesdays, 8:30 pm (L-43) Join us as we study the book of Luke. Call the Sports Office at 330.966.6868 or visit firstfriendssports.com Registrations available in the church brochure racks and on our website firstfriendssports.com 2017 Spring Sports Sunday On Sunday, July 2nd, our Sports Ministry had the privilege of inviting all of our spring sports participants to be a part of our 2017 Spring Sports Sunday. We are excited to announce that in total, 151 people participated in the event with 60 of those being guests to our church. We want to thank all of our First Friends family for the hospitality that you showed our guests and for your support of these young athletes this past Spring. During the Sunday program, we mentioned that this Spring we had a total of 897 participants. Here is how we are asking you to partner with us as we bring this season to a close... 1. Pray that God would continue to cultivate any seeds that were planted in the lives of our participants and their families as they experienced His word this season. 2. Continue to lift up our leadership in prayer as many of them are already hard at work preparing for summer sports camps and the fall season. 3. Pray ahead of time for the families that will be a part of our ministry this summer/fall... that God would begin even now to open their hearts and minds to receive what God is/will be speaking to them.
All Church Fellowship Lunch Today, July 30, 11:30 am in the Pavilion Join us for lunch and a time of fellowship after second service. Hotdogs, baked beans, chips and water will be available by donation. First Friends Church Family Camp September 1-3 * Brochures are available at the Welcome Centers and the brouchure racks. Registration deadline is August 23, 2017. Water Baptism Sunday, August 27 We will be celebrating a water baptism service on Sunday, August 27. A one time class is required and held on August 6th at 8:30am. Please call Nancy at the church by August 2nd to register.