March 24th

WEEKLY

COMMUNITY
FREE CHURCH
!

Whether you are on vacation or stay-cation. Whether you are

flying or driving, my prayer for you and your family is that
you would take a break; a deep breath, a good laugh, smile,
sleep in, and spend time delighting in the Lord.
So please join me in taking some time this week to pray for
ourselves, and our brothers and sisters who are out of town
(and in) enjoying some time away from it all.
Father, we come to you in delight. We love You and the lives
you have given us, formed by the grace from which you
saved us.
We humbly admit that we are not always so good at taking
time to get away and celebrate that grace.
We humbly admit that sometimes we are so weary from
work that we find it hard to even sing your praises, let alone
delight in our families.
Yet, as we read Your Word we find over and over again, this
word Selah, to rest. A word that You gave us to remind us
how important that rest really is in our relationship with all
things.
So, Father, we pray for all and ourselves this week.
We pray that we will take time away to delight in you so that
we might delight in all the things around us with new eyes
and! a fresh heart. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Welcome Our New

Church Secretary!
It is with great joy that the Elders and
Overseers have hired Jan Piasecki as
the church secretary. This is a part of
some even bigger things cooking at
CEFCM that could not be possible
without this position.
The church office
is open weekly:
Weds
Thurs
Fri

12-5pm
12-5pm
12-5pm

If you have any

questions or just
want to say; Hi
to Jan, please
call the office!

Whats Happening This

Week at Your Church?
Tuesday
3/24
No Ladies Bible Study 9:30am at CEFCM
Finding Hope in the book of Revelation.
For more information email: d.henrikson@yahoo.com

No Womens Bible Study Fellowship 9:10am

at First Christian Church
The Life of Moses. More information email: shafer5@mchsi.com

Community Groups 6:00pm Schifo Home

More information email:tschifo@gmail.com

Community Groups 7:00pm Wright Home

More information email: bhenrikson@parkland.edu

Wednesday 3/25
Youth Group 6:00pm Pastor Jake Barrett
Community Groups Piasecki Home 6:15pm
More information email: mikejanp@msn.com

Thursday

3/26

Prayer Request from

Pastor B in Uganda!
"Now, we have 150+ people
coming to meet in a tent for
Jesus! We are praying that the
Lord would provide church land
for us as we get larger! Also
prayers for the orphans ministry
here. And for my family as we
live to serve those around us!
Thank you and be blessed!"

Background:

Persecution continues to increase

in Uganda, as "tabliqs" ('Muslim
evangelists') advance the cause of
Islam through positioning
themselves strategically in all
levels of politics and governance,
as well as creating the Allied
Democratic Forces (ADF), who
have continued to cause deadly
attacks on civilians, the majority
being Christians.

Congregational Prayer 6-7:00pm

Worship Practice 7:30pm

Saturday

3/28

Act Like Men Breakfast at the Church 7:00am

Continuing the Act Like Men Discussion!

No Basketball 8:30am
Sunday

3/30

Christian Education 9:30am

Childrens Sunday School 9:30am
Childrens Church 10:45am
Worship Gathering 10:45am

AWANA 6:00pm

What if your kids

couldn't go to school
because they are
believers?
Again, 6 students in Laos have
been denied school enrollment.
The students families are part of
a house church that was started
in 2006. Although Christians in
the village have faced
persecution for years, the house
church continues to grow. The
head of the village recently
became a Christian after
witnessing the faith and unity of
the church members! (Prayer
request from VOM)

me to simply let it go (cue the Frozen soundtrack). I

just cant - because I believe with all my heart that I am
called to be your pastor.

This past week I was forwarded an article from, of all

places, a rodeo blog. The person who sent it to me told
me that I would enjoy what it had to say. As I read the
article, I was really touched, because it was a
testimony of transformation of someone we all know
very well. As I got to the end of the article I read these
words:
My pastor, Jason Schifo, was a major factor in my
mindset. After hours and hours of talking with him, I
finally realized that perfection wasnt ever going to
happen. It was beyond my control. What was in grasp
of my control was the proper mindset, and
remembering to get better with each and every run to
the best of my ability. Leaving it all in the arena, one
run at a time. Zakk Tompkins
When I read that I wept. Truth be told, anyone who
does counseling with me, or spends significant time
with me will come to find out that I weep fairly easy. I
am transparent with how I feel and many times that has
been a blessing and a curse.
I want to be honest with you. I am far more
comfortable weeping in front of you, than I am
receiving your praise. I dont like applause, or
adulation much. When people clap I get
uncomfortable, and I get even more uncomfortable
when they cheer. (Amens are okay, though, because
God gets the glory)
What isnt uncomfortable, and what I do love hearing,
are the words my pastor. Not because I feel as
though I need my position validated, or my ego stoked,
but because I love being your pastor. Though I may fall
short at times (which may make it hard for you to say,
Thats my pastor...) this is a calling I take seriously.
Therefore, I take seriously the things you suffer and
struggle with. I take seriously the things that you share
both in those moments of great praise and utter
frustration. In every instance I try my best to carry in
confidence the weight of our journey together.
I would be lying if I told you that sometimes the weight
is not crushing. I have some friends who view ministry
in the context of career and not calling who have told

Maybe some of you dont always feel that way. It is

such an imperfect relationship at times. I can so
identify with Moses as he is trying to lead the people
and be led by God. On any given Sunday, you might
feel that I avoided you or didnt talk to you, and for that
I am deeply sorry. Some Sundays I am like you,
overwhelmed by the Spirit of God, and just need to
leave and spend time talking with the Pastor, Jesus.
One of the verses I come back to continually in this
imperfect journey of being your pastor is 1 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm
your calling and election, for if you practice these
qualities you will never fall.
I ask myself often, what are the qualities Peter is
referring to here? In verses 3 through 9 Peter mentions
Knowledge of God, faith, virtue, self-control, and
steadfastness. He goes on to say that through Jesus
these are not just present in us now, but also ever
increasing into the future.
Therefore, through the increasing nature of Christ, I
weather those days where I close my office door and
think of every reason in the world to throw in the
towel. Those days where Jesus is so faithful to come as
the Great Pastor (The Great High Priest in Hebrews)
with that still small voice like Elijah at the cave to
strengthen me with joy for the days ahead as your
pastor.
I am called to be your pastor, but Jesus is our senior
pastor and it is in Him whom we delight.
What am I trying to say in this weeks article?
That which I may not say often enough:
That I thank God for calling me to CEFCM,
and thank you for letting me be your pastor.

(You can read the article about Zakk Tompkins journey

here: https://fjthomasblog.wordpress.com/
2015/03/23/living-on-the-edge/)

March 21st, 2015

Family and Friends,

Recently, as you may know, it was announced that for the 2015/2016 season, CEFCM and
Grace Church would each be offering their own AWANA programs. This effectively doubles the
number of children that can be ministered to each week through AWANA.
In 2014, Grace Church communicated to us that AWANA was their primary childrens
ministry, and that they were wanting to offer it at their own campus to help unify their Childrens
Ministry. Due to time constraints, though, they were not able to put together their program for fall
of 2014. Therefore, they continued with CEFCM for one more season.
We are excited that, starting this fall, AWANA will be offered twice each week in Mahomet
- Wednesdays at Grace and Sunday nights, as always, here at CEFCM. For those who have had
concerns of a rift between the two churches, be assured that this is not the case. This decision
simply reflects Grace Churchs desire to unify their Childrens Ministry. Both churches value the
many years we have worked together. It is simply time for each church to move forward as we are
led.
What does this mean for you?
To host an AWANA program takes volunteers. We are trusting the Lord to
raise up volunteers, both from CEFCM and other churches in the area.
Might you be one He is calling to this task? There are many ways you can
serve on Sunday nights, and you dont have to be a Bible scholar to do it!
Simply have a passion for Christ and kids!
Also, we need to get the word out. Just the other day, my son had a friend
over, and we were talking about AWANA. The friend said, That sounds so cool!
I want to come! I believe there are many kids who would want to come
to AWANA. We just need to get passionate and creative in telling them
about it! Can God use you in this way?
We believe that we are called to minister to kids through AWANA, and God has not
removed His hand from that particular calling for usso we will press into it with even more
tenacity and joy for His Glory!
Trusting in Gods provision and your faithfulness!

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call me at: 217-586-5165.