Speak Lord, I'm Listening 2 Corinthians John 5:17 4 February 5, 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 Service Times 8:15 am 9:30 am 11:00 am
Welcome to Worship at First Friends! Lead Pastor, Stan Hinshaw "Speak Lord, I'm Listening" 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. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:1, 14 Within God s nature and character is the desire to reveal Himself. John says Jesus is the Word. Join us on Sunday mornings as we study the Gospel of John and discover how to hear God speak personally to each one of us through Scripture. As part of this sermon series, practice hearing God s voice in Scripture with my new book and listening prayer method, PRAY Scripture. Reserve your copy at the Welcome Center and participate in the daily Scripture readings from the Gospel of John.. Pastor Stan Hinshaw, Lead Pastor Daily reading plan WEEK 3, Monday, February 6 - Saturday, February 11: *Day 15 John 5:16-30 Day 16 John 5:31-47 *Day 17 John 6:1-15 Day 18 - John 6:16-24 (see also Matthew 14:22-36) *Day 19 John 6:25-40 Day 20 John 6:41-59 Day 21 Sunday Sermon * Indicates the passages to choose if you are only doing 3 times P.R.A.Y. per week. 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. Come, Grow, GO - REACHING NEIGHBORS & NATIONS A Praise Report from SALT (Systematic Asian Leadership Training) After 3 years of hard work,18 trainees were awarded certificates of completion. But the certificate represented more than just completed courses. It was a symbol of the opportunity for learning and growth otherwise unavailable to these students. One graduate gave this touching address at the graduation ceremony: As pastors, we need to be equipped with His truth. It is not easy for us to get theological training because of our age and education level; we just cannot leave our families and churches to attend school. Higher education is a dream that will not materialize. However, our Lord has called us and we cannot give up preaching. He has put this burden in our hearts. Although we do not have any theological training, we are willing to get into the pulpit and preach. It is so difficult to prepare a sermon. It is like fighting our way in the mist, yet we continue on. It is God s protection that we have not fallen. It is also His work to have this result. Today we are different. Now we are equipped. We know the method, we mastered the skill, we learned His truth, we own the baton, and we must pass it on. Pray for this group of graduates as they use new knowledge and skills in their ministries and that 2017 will equip more believers to shepherd the growing flocks throughout Asia! PRAYER & CHURCH NEWS Have a Prayer Need? Call or email Greg Roth at 330.454.4100 or groth@neo.rr.com. Our faithful prayer warriors will lift your request before the Lord. Our Love & Sympathy to the families of Denny & Yuvonne Millican in the death of Denny's mother, Norma Millican; the Dick Corbit family; Don & Sherri Saltis in the death of Don's father, Donald Saltis. Hospitals and Rehab Paula Cressy, Diana Hinton, Irene Lanning, Chuck Zerger, Marissa Miller "P.R.A.Y. Scripture Pastor Stan s first draft of his new book P.R.A.Y. Scripture - Learning to Hear God s Voice in His Word is now available. Sign up at a Welcome Center for your copy. The reading plan for the Gospel of John is included. Opportunity for Service One of our ministries to families who are going through the loss of a loved one, is to provide a meal following the funeral/memorial service. Would you be willing to help provide food for the meal? Call Janet at 330.966.2800 for more information and to volunteer to be a part of this ministry. First Friends Men's Ministry Mission Trip We will be going to Grace and Peace Missionary Fellowship in Baharona, Dominican Republic, June 10-17. Join us for an informational meeting on February 12 after the 3 rd service in L-6. Child Dedication 11:00 am Ella Grace Crossman Date of Birth: October 22, 2015 Parents: Rich & Missy Crossman
SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30 am Children may go directly to their Sunday School classes. Help children hide God s Word in their hearts by memorizing their verses this month: Preschool Kindergarten Verse "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Psalm 143:10 Elementary Verse "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." Isaiah 40:29 CHILDREN'S CHURCH 11:00 am Children in grades 1 through 5 will be dismissed from the service to go to Children's Church in E-110. Help children hide God s Word in their hearts by memorizing their verses this month: Preschool Kindergarten Verse "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Psalm 143:10 Elementary Verse He said to his disciples, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them." Mark 10:14b CHILDREN Contact Tammy Forsythe at tforsythe@firstfriends.org Kids Open Gym February 20 Join us for a day of fun for all ages. We ask parents to stay and enjoy time with their children. It's also a great opportunity to meet new people. Meet in the gym with the fun beginning at 10 am and ending at 11:30 am. 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. Childcare Positions Available We are currently seeking people interested in working in our childcare room on Monday nights and Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. This is a paid position. If you have questions or would like to set up an interview, contact Kris Lackey at 330.966.2800. Children's Choirs It's not to late! Children are still welcome to join choir. Choirs start at 6:00 pm, Wednesday evenings before CLC. Little Praisers: 4 yr old - 1st grade meet with Miss Glenda in E-122. Glory Gazers: 2nd grade - 6th grade meet with Miss Tammy in E-110. Questions? Call Tammy at 330.966.2800. We've developed some holes and you might be able to help fill one. The 4th grade class at the 9:30 am service needs an assistant every other week. The 3rd grade class on Wednesday for CLC needs a teacher. If you'd like to help fill one of these holes please contact Tammy at 330.966.2800. Looking Ahead February 8 Children's Choirs 6 pm; CLC 7 pm 20 Kids Open Gym, 10 am MIDDLE SCHOOL Contact Ben Croston at bcroston@firstfriends.org Sunday Morning Sundays, 9:30-10:45 am (E-101) Join us for worship, lessons, and activities. HIGH SCHOOL Website: www.greenhouse242.com Website: www.warehouse514.org Contact Scott Calhoun at scalhoun@firstfriends.org Sunday Morning Sundays, 9:30-10:45 am (E-111) Come join us for worship and a relevant message to help you grow in your faith and experience a friendly, fun, and exciting atmosphere. Winter Retreat at Camp Y-Noah February 17-19 The cost is $70 for lodging, food, and fun. Spots are limited. Sign ups due by February 5. Permission slip/medical form needed. Skymax release also mandatory. Pick up a flyer in our room, or go to warehouse514.org for information and forms. Wednesday Night Wednesdays, 6:30 8:30 pm (E-101) Join us for a time of fun, friendships, and fellowship with God. Snow Camp Friday, February 10 - Sunday, February 12, Cost: $100 Registrations are due TODAY! Join us for a Middle School Retreat to Somerset, PA. Some of the activities include paintball, snow-tubing, indoor laser tag, gaga ball, ping pong, and more. Don t miss out on a weekend of fun, friendships, and a time to grow in friendship with God. More information and applications can be found in the Middle School Room and our Website. Wednesday Night Wednesdays, 7:00 8:30 pm (E-111) Come experience a high-energy night of worship, games, and a relevant teaching and participate in small group Bible studies (Connect Groups). Summer Missions Trip June 18 24, 2017 We will be going to Toronto, Canada and partnering with Youth Works. The cost is $300. Information sheets are in E-111 or on our website. Limited spots are available. Deposit and applications are due February 12.
CONNECT GROUPS Contact Theresa at tmaxin@firstfriends.org 2017 Winter Connect Group Directory is now available. Online sign-up is now open. Winter semester began the week of January 15. Pick up your directory today! Honeymooners Sundays, 9:30 am (M-121 off the gym near Sports Offices) This group, led be Phil and Mandi Johnson, has a new time and location. The class is moving to 9:30 am and will be in room M-121, which is in the gym near the sports offices. FFC Financial Update Weekly Need* Received Last Week YTD Weekly Average General Ministries $45,000 $29,281 $36,672 Missions/ Faith Promise $2,059 $1,025 $1,467 Total $47,059 $30,306 $38,139 Home Improvement Received in 2017 *to fully fund budget $2,400,000 $6,491 YOUNG ADULTS Contact info@firstfriends.org Altitude Sundays, 9:30 am (E-106) Join other young adults for our Sunday morning Bible Study. 2017 Budget is based on 51 Sundays. One entire Sunday offering will be given to mission projects. SENIOR ADULTS Contact Paul Johnson at pjohnson@firstfriends.org Senior Adult Luncheon Saturday, February 11, 11:30 am, Cost: $8 (L-42, 43) Join us to hear the Malone Chamber Choir. Sign up by February 7 at either Welcome Center. WOMEN'S MINISTRY Contact Theresa at tmaxin@firstfriends.org TRUST Monthly, next meeting, Monday, February 13, 6:30 pm (E-110) We are a group for women who have experienced divorce or marital separation and seek a safe and trusting place for support, encouragement and prayer. Women's Ministry Spring Women's Conference Friday and Saturday, April 28 & 29 Mark you calendars now to join us for {RE} Purpose: Hearts Transformed for Him, with guest speaker Lisa Whittle. SPORTS 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 Spring is right around the corner! Believe it or not, spring is right around the corner which means it won't be long before our youth soccer, youth baseball/softball and men's softball leagues get started! We offer several levels of youth baseball and softball, ranging from players participating for the first time at age 5 to players age 15 who have more experience with the sport. These leagues, led by Nick Campanelli, will start with assessments in March (no assessments for T-ball and Coach Pitch), begin practice in April, start playing games in May and end by June 24. Similar to our youth baseball and softball, youth soccer represents a wide age range (from 4 years old up to 15) that are divided into age appropriate divisions to better serve each player's skill and development level. This program, headed up by our Program Director Matt Sutter, will begin early April for our older groups (late April for our Under-7 Division) and conclude by mid-june. Men's Softball, led by League Director Rob Newman, provides the men, both in our congregation and in the community a chance to compete, have fun and fellowship on the diamond. This program is divided into an Upper competitive league and a lower recreational league. Assessments start in April, league play begins in May and the season will end at the beginning of August. Do any of these leagues interest you or someone in your family? More information is available online at firstfriendssports.com (Soccer registration is OPEN NOW!)
Saturday, February 11 6:00-10:00 pm, E-111 First Friends Church Marriage Retreat presents Seasons Building a Marriage to Weather Every Season Twinsburg Hilton Garden Inn February 24-26 Brochures are available in the racks and at the Welcome Centers Next Phase Building Plans Information Meeting Sunday, February 19, 6:00 pm Make plans to attend this very important meeting to hear the recommendation for our next building project! Our Next Phase Building Team will present how we arrived at this change from our original Master Plan and the approximate cost. This will NOT be a voting meeting but a time of Q & A, and invitation to join us in listening prayer regarding our future. This is a very big spiritual and financial decision and we need everyone there! Childcare will be available. Join Pastor Stan Hinshaw Holy Land 2017 10 Days, November 28 - December 7 Holy Land 2017 Information Meeting on Sunday, February 12 after third service (12:30 pm) in L-2. The meeting will last about 30 minutes. 5455 Market Avenue North Canton, Ohio 44714 330.966.2800 info@firstfriends.org FirstFriends.org