THE UPDATE On January 5 we will resume our message series titled THE STORY with chapter 12, a look at the story of King David and his fateful encounter with Bathsheba, as Pastor Bill brings us a message titled How to Handle Failure. # We began this series back on September 15, and we have taken a brief hiatus during the Advent season. Now it s time to pick up THE STORY where we left off and continue our adventure with the amazing story of God s plan for redeeming and connecting with people.# If you haven t been with us for the first part of THE STORY, no worries you can jump right in with us now. Although we are no longer arranging for bulk purchases of resources for books and other resources, you can easily obtain a copy of THE STORY from online retailers or from local booksellers such as Signs of Life at 722 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence.# THE STORY is the Bible itself, in an abridged and chronologically-ordered edition of the New International Version. Each week, preschoolers through adults will cover the same material, with age-appropriate curriculum, designed to help us all experience God's great story and understand how it connects with and impacts our own individual stories.# If you have missed any of the messages in this series, you can find most of them online at lfmchurch.org/sunday-messages. You can download Pastor Bill s sermon notes, listen to the sermon audio right in your Web browser, or even download an MP3 file of the sermon to listen to on your ipod or other MP3 player, or to burn to an audio CD.# THE RESUMES STORY is a great way for you to experience the Bible with your whole family. There are great resources available for parents and children, any of which can help parents do what Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): # And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Join us for the rest of THE STORY (More information at lfmchurch.org/thestory.) Financial Peace University returns February 9# Are your finances where you want them to be? Join the journey to financial security this February when Financial Peace University, the personal money management program founded by Dave Ramsey, is back at LFMC. (Continued on next page) Blended worship (nursery and preschool care provided)# Contemporary worship and programs for kids and teens# 9:00 a.m.# 10:35 a.m. PAGE 1
Financial Peace University (Continued from previous page)" Financial Peace University is a ninesession program that helps people dump debt, get control of their money, and build wealth. Through commitment and accountability, the average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 in the first 91 days. On average, people who go through this program are debt-free within 2 years. # The FPU Team has personally benefited from the FPU course, and they do a great job in helping and ministering to all who finish Financial Peace University Look for information and a registration form in the Sunday bulletin. FPU 2014 will run February 9-April 6. Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m. Cost: $89. If you have questions, please contact Tylor Shearburn at: tylordale81@hotmail.com or 785-393-8885. There will also be a registration and information table in the lobby on Sundays. DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES ADULT MINISTRIES Equipping men and women to walk with God, make disciples " and serve Christ for a lifetime Women in the Ancestry of Christ# Following the example of the Berean Christians who "searched the Scriptures daily, this Bible study will examine the lives of each of the women named in the ancestry of Christ. As we study their stories, character qualities, failures and gifts, we will discover valuable truths and relevant lessons to apply to our own lives today. # Class will meet Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 at the church, January 23 through April 10. Cost is $10 ($5 if you already have a notebook). For more information, contact Susan Hoisington (785-843-7660) or Dana Bryant (785-331-2795). PAGE 2
Men s Fraternity# The next Men s Fraternity series, titled A Man and His Work, will run February 6 through March 13. # Men being involved in a community of men is key for our spiritual development, for making it over the long haul as husbands, fathers, and for living a life that has impact Every man needs other men encouraging him on his journey to authentic manhood. Having other men around you helps you gain a better perspective on your life. Others can help you discover your blind spots and avoid costly mistakes. We all need men in our lives who will be honest with us to help us become better men. Sharing life with a community of men makes the great times feel like a celebration and provides much needed support when life gets rough.# If you are interested in getting connected, Men's Fraternity is a great on-ramp The theme for Men's Fraternity this year is A Man and His Work. There is a great need for men to rise up and be the men God calls them to be. A Man and His Work is based on Authentic Manhood: 33 The Series. We will learn how to leave a legacy of eternal significance, integrity, and a great name# We meet weekly on Thursday mornings, February 6-March 13, at Hy-Vee Café at 23rd and Kasold at 6:00 a.m., finishing promptly at 7:15 a.m. Guys, this is a great deal and will be well worth your time and investment Cost is $30 for the 6 weeks of sessions. Cost includes training book, videos we will view and process together, juice, coffee, and breakfast rolls. # Men's Fraternity is open to all men. Please feel welcome to come and check it out (The Hy-Vee location was selected so that your unchurched friends will feel more comfortable. This is a great venue to invite a friend to attend with you) # For more information contact Pastor Larry at lbaldridge@lfmchurch.org or visit authenticmanhood.com. Primetimers# Twenty-one Primetimers attended a taco luncheon on December 10. It was a nice change of pace after the recent Thanksgiving menus. A special double thanks to Ruth Schneider and Carol Wilcox for preparing the taco meat and providing the applesauce and center pieces. Ava Lea Denton presented an inspiring God s Moment. We concluded the meeting by singing a number of Christmas carols. Barbara Walden assisted our singing by playing the piano.# We will meet again for our usual potluck luncheon at noon on January 15. Please bring a main dish and a salad or a dessert. Of course, if you meet the qualification of being 50-orbetter and have never been a part of the group, you are welcome to be our guest. Our guest speaker will be Ms. J. Green. Her presentation will be on the Underground Railroad, which is very fitting since January is the month we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King s birthday. You won t want to miss this program. If you have questions or need more information you can contact Ernie Dyer at 785-841-2990 or 785-393-3846.# If it becomes necessary to cancel our meeting due to the weather, we will attempt to contact you. If the weather is bad and you haven t heard from us, please feel free to call Ernie. CONTACTING THE UPDATE# The UPDATE is a monthly publication of the Lawrence Free Methodist Church. Letters to the church ("thank you" notes, etc.) may be dropped in the UPDATE box in the church office, or e-mailed to update@lfmchurch.org. The deadline for the February issue is January 27. The online version is at http://www.lfmchurch.org/update. PAGE 3
Divorce Care at Lawrence Free Methodist Church# Sundays at 6:00 8:00 PM" Room 22 (across from kitchen)" January 19, 2014 Session 1 What s Happening to me?# January 26, 2014 Session 2 The Road to Healing/Finding Help# February 2, 2014 No meeting [Super Bowl Sunday]# February 9, 2014 Session 3 Facing My Anger# February 16, 2014 Session 4 Facing My Depression# February 23, 2014 Session 5 Facing My Loneliness# March 2, 2014 Session 6 What Does the Owner s Manual Say# March 9, 2014 Session 7 New Relationships# March 16, 2014 Session 8 Financial Survival# March 23, 2014 Session 9 KidCare# March 30, 2014 Session 10 Single Sexuality# April 6, 2014 Session 11 Forgiveness# April 13, 2014 Session 12 Reconciliation# April 20, 2014 No meeting [Easter Sunday]# April 27, 2014 Session 13 Moving On, Growing Closer to God# There is a workbook for your own personal use that follows the content covered each week. There is no pressure to share any personal notes or insights from the workbook, but participants may do so if they wish.# The workbook allows session attendees to review the previous Divorce Care session material and helps them gain clearer insight into their own situations. # It is highly recommended but not mandatory for all attendees to obtain a workbook and the cost is $15. # Child care is not provided.# If the scheduling of the Lawrence Free Methodist Divorce Care group doesn t fit into your schedule, this same program is also offered locally by other churches and other Christian organizations. Please check out the following web site for locations, times, and contact information for these other meetings:# http://www.divorcecare.org/findagroup (Enter your zip code to find the closest meetings and details.)# For more information about the LFMC group, contact Nick Zavatchin, DC Facilitator, at nzavatchin@hotmail.com. Laboring in the Harvest# Training in Relational Evangelism" We are told of Jesus: "He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields'" (Matthew 9:36-38).# God's plan is to involve His people in His work. Reaching out to others with the Good News is a process by which God involves his people to incarnate and communicate the truth, in love, to the lost.# You may have heard it said, "You are the only Bible some people read. In 2 Corinthians 3:3, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes, "...you are a letter of Christ..." The unchurched and non- Christians are reading us Our non-verbal communication often speaks louder than what we say. Relating to non-christians and the unchurched can be difficult at# (Continued on next page) PAGE 4
(Continued from previous page)" times. As a disciple of Christ, initiating, developing, and nurturing relationships with the unchurched should be a life-long lifestyle. It involves forethought and being intentional in the use of our time and in nurturing relationships that will bear the weight of the truth of the gospel. # In Laboring in the Harvest, we will be looking at what the Scriptures say regarding some very practical principles of purposefully relating to the unchurched and lost that will help them relate to us, and that will help us to help others in the process of coming to know Christ# Laboring in the Harvest will run February 9 through April 13. Cost is $25 and includes the study guide, training manual, and handouts. For more information contact Pastor Larry at lbaldridge@lfmchurch.org. CHILDREN S MINISTRIES Nativity Thank You# Thank you to all who donated to, helped at, and participated in the Family Nativity Party on the evening of Dec. 15. We had a fantastic evening celebrating the birth of Jesus together# K.R.E.W. leads worship, too Thank you, K.R.E.W. Our kids worship team, K.R.E.W. (Kids Raising Exciting Worship), did an amazing job leading kids and adults in worship throughout the Christmas season. On Nov. 20, the K.R.E.W. kids had everyone on their feet as they lead Christmas songs at the Gratitude Party. Singing along with K.R.E.W. at the Family Nativity Party on Dec. 15 was so much fun K.R.E.W. also lead Sunday worship in the Worship Center on Dec. 22 and 29. A huge thanks you to the members, leaders, and parents of K.R.E.W. for making Christmas 2013 at LFMC so memorable PAGE 5 K.R.E.W. Members: Hannah AuYeong, Joel AuYeong, Malachi Barron, Malia Eicholtz, Malea Flakus, Makenna Hayes, Marley McCune, Haley Miller, Erica Monroe, Abby Sharp, Cody Smith" K.R.E.W. Leaders: Jalon Grogan, Marlon Wesley, Gary Schmidt, Kelly Hayes, Vic Birch.
Children's Ministries Family Swim Night# Friday, February 7 " Time: 5:30 7:45 p.m." Cost: $1/person" Looking for something to do during the cold winter months? Wanting to give your kids a break from videogames and a chance to get a little exercise? Would you like to meet more LFMC families? Join our Children s Ministries Family Swim Night at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center (connected to the west side of Free State High School near 6th and Wakarusa). All families of preschoolers and grade school children are invited, but children need to bring a parent with them (no drop-offs, please). As your children swim, you can either get in the pool with them or hang out with other parents from church. Friends are most definitely welcome Feel free to come for part or all of the evening. (LFMC won t have exclusive use of the pool.) 1st-6th Midweek Programs Resume January 8# Kids LIVE and Club 56 Hands-on Bible Study will kick off another awesome semester on Wednesday, January 8, 6:30-8 p.m. Register at the church or online at lfmchurch.org/kids-midweek. (There s no need to register again if your child attended KL or HOBS last fall.)# Kids LIVE, for 1st 4th graders, is all about helping kids grow their friendships with Jesus. Kids will build that relationship in a relevant way as they experience the Scriptures through fun, engaging activities. At Kids LIVE, kids get into the Bible and the Bible gets into kids# Club 56 Hands-On Bible Study, for 5th and 6th graders, offers a unique, hands-on approach to learning about God. When Jesus taught, he used everyday objects like coins, fish, and plants to help people remember God s truth. Most kids retain more by interacting with a lesson instead of just hearing it. At Club 56 Hands-on Bible Study, preteens will experience each lesson, arming them with valuable truths and life-lessons that will stick with them for a lifetime. Wednesday Night Weather Alert If evening activities for Lawrence Public Schools are canceled, our church programs will also be canceled that night. PAGE 6
Club 56 and Revolution to Winter Jam# For 5th 12th graders" Friday, January 31" 4pm midnight " Cost: $15/person (except drivers) for ticket and transportation (bring approx. $7-10 for food at the Sprint Center.)" We need parents to drive kids and attend the concert with the kids. We ll provide a ticket and parking money for all drivers. Our adult to child ratio will be at least 1 to 4 for 5th-6th graders and 1 to 6 for Middle and High School students.# Club 56 and Revolution Student Ministries are family-friendly programs. If you volunteer to help, other children in your family are invited to attend.# Registration form and $15 are due January 26. Questions? Call Leslie at 785-691-5482 or Carolyn at 785-691-6644. Move-up Day in our Preschool Area# Sunday, February 2, is move-up day for children in the Monkey and Lions rooms. # Children who have been going to the Monkey room on Sundays, will be three years old by February 1, and who are potty-trained will be moving to the Lions room that day. If your child has turned three in the past few months and is potty-trained, please plan to arrive a few minutes early on February 2 to check him or her into the Lions room.# Children who have been going to the Lions room and will be four years old by February 1 will be moving to the Giraffe room.# If you like, feel free to stay for a bit to show your child around the room and help him or her get settled.# If you have questions or concerns, please contact Nursery Director, Katie Faulk, at kfaulk@lfmchurch.org or Preschool Director, Kristi Keefer, at kristi@sunflower.com. PAGE 7
Second Sundays Hot Breakfast# Sunday, January 12, 8:30-10:20 a.m." Join us on Sunday, January 12, for a hot breakfast in the Family Life Center and support our student ministry in the process. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 10:20 a.m. Come early to enjoy a hot breakfast before you go to worship or stop by after the 9:00 worship service. Winter Jam# Friday, Jan 31, 4 p.m. midnight" For students currently in 5th - 12th grade" Cost: $15, includes concert and transportation Don t miss out on Christian music s largest annual tour Featured bands are Newsboys, LeCrae, Tenth Avenue North, Thousand Foot Krutch, Plumb, Newsong, Colton Dixon, Love and the Outcome, Everfound, Derek Minor and speaker Nick Hall.# Chili & Soup Cookoff# Sunday, Mar.2 noon 1:30" Join us at noon in the Family Life Center (gym) for lunch as chefs from our congregation compete for fabulous awards for their masterfully made soups and chilis. You'll get to sample many types of soups and chilis and cast your votes for the best ones. There will be plenty of food to feed your entire family What an easy way to enjoy lunch and have some fun. All profit from the cookoff will help support our teens as they raise money for FMYC, summer camp and other church-sponsored events.# If you would like to donate a pot of soup or chili for this event, please contact Judy Pitts at tpitts1943@aol.com or 856-1245. PAGE 8
Infuse# Wednesdays at 6:30 in the Teen Center" Starting again on January 8" Come ready to have fun while you get to know God better and get the BIG PICTURE of what He's up to and what He wants to do in your life Young Christians Weekend at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO# March 28-30" For 7th- 12th grade" Friends are welcome" Join us for music that moves you, speakers that inspire you, and thrill rides that turn your world upside down # Meet at LFMC at 4:15 on Friday, March 28. You ll get back to the church around 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 30.# # The fee includes a two-day pass to Silver Dollar City, entrance into all the concerts and workshops, transportation, lodging, and meals. Bring money for snacks and souvenirs.# Cost is $75 if registration form and a non-refundable $25 deposit are turned in by February 23. The cost goes up to $85 if registration form and a non-refundable $25 deposit are turned in after February 23, 2014. The remaining balance is due March 16.# More information and the registration form are available in the lobby, in the Teen Center, and at lfmchurch.org/youth.# Contact MarSue Mackey at mrs.mackey82@gmail.com or 785-383-8280 for more information.# PAGE 9
Durley Camp# Greenville, Illinois" June 15-20, 2014 For students completing 6th-8th grades" Join teens all over the Midwest for fun activities, late night games, making new friends and an opportunity to encounter the living God and learn what it means to truly live# Cost: $220 if registered by March 15; $250 after March 15. More information and the registration form are available in the lobby, in the Teen Center, and at lfmchurch.org/durley. Free Methodist Youth Conference# Fort Collins, Colorado July 5-11, 2014 for students completing 8th-12th grades" Join thousands of other teens from Free Methodist Churches across the country for There and Back Again. At this national youth conference, teens will be able to develop authentic relationships with God and others, discover their potential to minister to others, and serve the needs of others in Fort Collins, CO. They will also have access to the stellar Colorado State University recreation center during free time. The week will end with a day in the mountains where students can participate in an activity of their choice, like hiking, white-water rafting, zip lining, or relaxing with friends. Some activities will have additional fees.# More information and the registration form are available in the lobby, the Teen Center, and at lfmchurch.org/fmyc2014. PAGE 10
MISSIONS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE An Update from Roger and Vangie Stone# Jesus Speaks Mag-Indi In September we had the privilege of helping the Ayta Mag-Indi record the Jesus film in their language. While there were challenges in the recording process, the final resulting video is excellent. We have already duplicated disks for distribtuion and at least one public showing has already taking place. We also hear rumors of people showing the video in their homes and welcoming neighbors to come and watch. There are reports of some crying when they view the film and others expressing surprise at how it happened that Jesus speaks their language. We are praying that not only will the film go viral but that it will plant significant gospel seeks in the lives of many Ayta Mag-Indi.# Solar Mp3 and CDs in the mountains There is widespread drunkenness and violence in the Ayta-Abellen area, but we hear reports of illiterate men who would not attend church or who live in remote areas requesting and using our solar Mp3 players that contain dramatized versions of Luke, Acts, and James as well as 21 songs and the gospel invitation from the Jesus film. These men carry the players with them wherever they go in the mountains. We are pretty sure that families and neighbors are listening to the truth as well. While we all want to see instant results, we are learning to be content for now with knowing that gospel seeds are being planted through these Mp3 missionaries. We rejoice in this opportunity to plant seed in remote places# Translation In the last three months the Ayta teams have made more progress in translation than at any other time in the history of the projects. The Ambala are pressing ahead on the book of Luke with the vision of having the Jesus film in their language. The Abellen are working hard on Colossians and Revelation, while the Mag-Indi are working on Jude, Philippians and Acts. Each moth the Abellen and Mag-Indi meet for four days to work on the book of John together. To date, they have finished John 1-7. We will continue on with this routine until the end of the book of John sometime in 2014.# Roger and Vangie Stone PAGE 11
An Update from Ricardo and Beth Gomez# As November 2013 began, we still faced the daunting task of raising support for both 2013 and 2014. As you know, with the help of generous donors, we put forth a challenge to meet the 2013 budget.# You responded in force and 100% of our 2013 budget was met As you will see in the letter from our area director, the success of that campaign led to our official release back to the field: # It gives me great pleasure to inform you that Dr. Ricardo and Beth Bomez have successfully completed their year of Partnership Building in the US and are moving to Medellín, Colombia on Dec. 27. Ricardo and Beth will be teaching at the Seminario Biblico de Colombiz and will be involved in education in Latin America -- a great fit for their spiritual gifts, passions, and extensive educational training." Beth and Ricardo have worked incredibly hard to get to this point, making 2013 a very challenging year for them and their family. As the year comes to an end, I can see God's grace and prvoision written all over their lives and ministry. Please join me in celebrating this milestone in their lives and--by extension--in the life of our missionary team." Thank you all for all you do to fuel and sustain an apostolic movement to reach Latin America for Christ." With gratitude to God for your lives," Dra. Delia Nüesch-Olver" Area Director-Latin America" Free Methodist World Missions" An Update from Dustin and Megan# As we have celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have not forgotten to give thanks for all of you We depend on the way you carry us in prayer. We want to give a few updates that will help you feel connected to us and know how to pray.# It is with great joy that we announce Megan's graduation from Asbury Theological Seminary with an MA in Pastoral counseling.# While we were stateside in the fall, we were informed by Impact Middle East and Free Methodist World Missions that we will be relocated and no longer based out of the country we were serving in in the Middle East. We have been advised to stay stateside on partnership building at least until May. Our baby is due to arrive late February and many feel it is best for us to give birth in the states. We will continue to raise country budgets and wait on the Lord for the next step. As we wait with our leadership in prayer, we ask you to join us as we seek wisdom and discernment which country to live in, come May.# We are thankful that we have gotten to be at the front lines in the Middle East until PAGE 12 (Continued on next page)
now, and we know that we remain there through prayer. We are ever reminded that it is not "our" ministry but the ministry of the Father that we have been joining in. It was going before we arrived and will remain after we leave.# We have so many stories we could tell but the article below gives a glimpse into the work taking place in the area we just left. Not a day goes by that we are not aware of our indebtedness to you for your continual support and partnership. We thank God for the gift that each one of you is to us# Learning obedience, practicing trust, grounded in love,# Dustin and Megan# # Militant or Person of Peace? It's easy for us to forget that Saul s Damascus Road conversion (Acts 9) took place in a land which is today amidst deep civil war. Images on our evening news show us the modern setting for this biblical story in which Saul encounters Jesus and comes to know Ananias, a Christian disciple in Damascus. Through prayer, Ananias is instructed to seek out Saul, yet he fearfully questions how he, a believer, could willingly meet such a dangerous persecutor." Islamists and other militant Muslims are to the modern day Arab church what Saul and his men were to the first century church. Just as God prepared Ananias and revealed himself to Saul, so today, God is raising up believers to disciple Muslims who are discovering the person of Jesus." Bushy bearded, gruff looking, and a known member of the free Syrian army (rebel forces), Abu Ahmad found himself lying on a bed paralyzed from the torture he received from the Syrian army (Syrian Government Army). X-rays showed five broken vertebrae that left him with paralysis in his legs and extreme pain in his upper body. He hardly seemed like a person of peace to whom God was revealing himself." Perhaps that is why God gave one disciple in a Middle Eastern country a vision through which he was instructed to pray for Abu Ahmad in Jesus name for healing from paralysis. This modern day Ananias would confess he did this more out of obedience than out of a faith that Abu Ahmad would actually be healed." Ananias began to visit this intimidating Muslim neighbor. He prayed one visit for the right leg of Abu Ahmad. Abu Ahmad felt a fiery sensation throughout his body when Ananias prayed. The next visit Ananias prayed for his left leg and the same fire was felt. As Abu Ahmad explains it, Every time he prayed for me in Jesus name, I felt fire come over me, and something in my body felt better. " As of today Abu Ahmad has before and after x- rays that show three out of the five broken vertebrae healed. He can feel both of his legs and move them a little more day after day. He has no doubt that his gradual healing is from Jesus. He says, Allah sent me the Church to show us the light and strengthen our faith. A series of visits with him began not only a relationship, and physical healing, but also the beginning of spiritual awakening." Abu Ahmad is learning who Jesus is and what it means to follow him. Jesus, who has been healing him, is calling him to follow his teachings in the gospel. With the help of his modern Ananias, he has begun studying stories from the Bible and sharing with his family. Abu Ahmed is now praying in Jesus name for another paralyzed Syrian who also was tortured in prison. This man also is experiencing the same fire when Abu Ahmad prays in Jesus name. Abu Ahmad says he will continue in the faith and share with everyone his experience of Jesus. " Sometimes those we tend to fear can be the very ones to whom God is revealing himself. God is working in the hearts of those we fear. Those who might at first be enemies of the Gospel, can be those whom God uses as his chosen instruments to take his Gospel to a new group of people. Sometimes Jesus encounters even our enemies, or those simply different than us, calling them to himself, and to carry his name among the nations. PAGE 13
Habitat for Humanity Build Day and MusicFest # LFMC Habitat Build Day" Sat., Jan. 18, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m." To volunteer, " call the church office" at 842-2343 or write "Habitat" on your Connection Card" Nearly two dozen people braved cold temperatures and a low wind chill on Nov. 23 as part of our Habitat for Humanity build day. Volunteer crew members were able to make progress on several tasks, including hanging external siding, building a reinforced room for safety during a storm, hanging drywall, and digging a retaining wall. Randy and Kaye Mayer's small group also provided a plentiful (and hot) lunch for the workers that day.# The house at 1812 E. 17th Street has taken on added significance for Lawrence Free Methodist Church because once finished it will be the home of Tammy Bevens and her daughter, Jazmine. Tammy, a longtime employee at Checkers who attends our church, is this year s Building on Faith Family partner with Lawrence Habitat for Humanity. Our church is a Habitat covenant church as well that helps with their Faith Builds every other year. # Since she was selected last year for a house, Tammy has been volunteering and putting effort to reach 225 sweat equity hours with Habitat, which is a requirement for Habitat homeowners. The sweat equity requirement allows homeowners to secure a zero-interest loan on the house Habitat and its volunteers build.# Habitat is working to put the finishing touches on Tammy s house in January, and our church has scheduled another build day to help. If you would like to volunteer from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, (or for part of the time during that window) please call the church office at 785-842-2343 or write Habitat on your connection card on Jan. 5 or 12. We have spots for 20 builder volunteers.# Our church will also play host to Habitat s annual MusicFest at 6 p.m. on Jan. 26, where various Lawrence church choirs and music groups will perform to raise funds for the next Building on Faith house scheduled to be built in 2015. The event is open to the public.# PAGE 14
International Ministries:# Donations for Haiti Children# Our church is sending two missions team to Haiti Feb. 7-22, 2014. They are going to take some donations for the children at the Kids Alive school and would love for you to get involved.# All donations must be brought to the church January 12-24. Please leave them at the Support our Missions Effort in Haiti table in the main lobby. # Please don t donate anything that isn t on this list." CLOTHING: Good quality used clothing is great. # Girls (ages 5-18): # dresses & nice skirts for church (Both must be knee length or longer and the dresses must have sleeves in them.)# blouses with sleeves for church # skirts (knee length or longer) for everyday wear# new socks & underwear# baby blue socks for girls for school# bras for teenage girls# Don t donate shorts, capris, or pants for girls.# Boys (ages 4-16): dress pants or khaki pants (but not cargo pants or pants with large pockets)# button-down shirts# polo shirts that don t have a logo# short and long-sleeved shirts are both acceptable# new socks & underwear# cream/khaki-colored socks for boys for school# belts# SMALL GIFTS to be used as incentives, birthday gifts or Christmas gifts:# For Girls# For Boys# Gender Neutral# jewelry# hats# card games# bead sets# cars# art supply sets# journals# balls# paint by number# perfume# marbles# watches# scented lotion# cologne# etc.# hair ties/barrettes# etc.# Lego sets# etc.# Thank you for blessing children in Haiti with the blessings that God has given you# Next LINK Service Date# Thursday, February 6" Our church will be serving at LINK (Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen) on Thursday, February 6. If you would like to provide food for the meal or serve, please sign up in the church lobby starting January 19 or email Pastor Carolyn at cheacock@lfmchurch.org.# PAGE 15
Sunday services and programs# 9:00 a.m. Blended Worship, programs for nursery and preschool# 10:35 a.m. Contemporary Worship, programs for nursery through senior high teens# Nursery available 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.# Church Office Information# Office hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. to noon and # 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.# Phone: 785-842-2343# Fax: 785-842-2351# E-mail: info@lfmchurch.org# Web: http://www.lfmchurch.org# E-mail contacts# Bill Bump, Senior Pastor bbump@lfmchurch.org# Larry Baldridge, Pastor of Discipleship lbaldridge@lfmchurch.org# Carolyn Heacock, Family Pastor cheacock@lfmchurch.org# Bethany Harvester and NicoleLimones, Secretaries secretary@lfmchurch.org# Leslie Sharp, Children's Ministries Director# lsharp@lfmchurch.org # Doug Heacock, Director of Media and Contemporary Worship# dheacock@lfmchurch.org# Jonathan Thomas, Director of Choir and Blended Worship# jthomas@lfmchurch.org# The Update# Lawrence Free Methodist Church# 3001 Lawrence Avenue# Lawrence, KS 66047# PAGE 16