EVENTS & INFORMATION
January 24, 2021
2020 Annual Report Revision 2Revision 2 of the 2020 Annual Report has been emailed to all members and attendees of the church body. This revision includes updates from the Elders and Finance committees. Only pages 53-55 have been affected. If you have already received or printed a copy, these are the only pages that are changed. Printed copies are available upon request, email the church office to request one, actonfaithefc@gmail.com.
Annual Business Meeting
The Annual Business Meeting is tomorrow Saturday, January 23rd at 6pm. The meeting will be held over zoom, the meeting link information is noted in the Friday announcements and in the email sent yesterday. At 5pm, the zoom link will be open for fellowship prior to the start of the meeting. See you at the meeting!
Kids Clubs
Meets This Week! January 24, 2021
Clubs will meet 6-7:30 this Sunday. Don’t forget your towel and water bottle! All the church COVID-19 safety regulations will be followed.
If your kids have not attended Clubs yet this year or have any questions, please email Sue Lewis.
- NO Kids Clubs February 7th due to the Super Bowl.
- Future Dates: February 21; March 7, 21; April 11, 25; May 16 (Closing program in the MPR)
8:15-9:30am Indoor Service
As of this morning, there is room to sign up for in person worship at the 8:15am service this Sunday. Go here to SIGN UP.
9:45-10:30am Adult and Teen Sunday School
Class Link Information Noted in Reminder Section
(Additional class at 3:30 as noted below!)
CHILDREN'S CHURCH (age 4 to grade 3) provided during the sermon
11am-12:15pm Indoor/Livestream Service at FEFC
As of this morning, there is overflow room to sign up for in person worship at the 11am service this Sunday. Go here to SIGN UP.
3:30-4:30pm Adult Sunday School Class
Class Link Information Noted in Reminder Section
Adult - Parenting Tweens and Teens
6-7:30pm ReaLife and Kids Clubs
ReaLife 7th -12th Grades
Sundays 6-7:30pm
7th-12th Graders, come join us for youth group night! Physically distanced fun, worship, and Bible study to learn and grow. We’re meeting with spacing and masks. Friends are welcome!
Teen & Family Service Day (on your own)
Saturday, February 6 (or day that works for you)
Pastor Christian would like to encourage teens and their families to think and pray about a way to serve to show love, serve others, or be a witness for God as a family on February 6 - or a day in February that works best for you. You can do it with just your family or reach out to another family to do it together. Here is a link to a list of ideas (including some you can do from home).
ReaLife Winter Retreat @ Camp Berea!March 12-14, 2021
Fun together, all-camp games and more. Worship and message times to help us worship and grow in relationship with God. Great opportunity to invite a friend! (We will be using then-current COVID-19 guidelines for MA and NH respectively.) Find more details and register right away at faithevfree.org/realife. See Pastor Christian for questions.
Missions
Quarterly Missions Prayer Listing
The missions committee has published an updated prayer list for all of our missionaries which has been emailed to those who receive the weekly missions updates. If you would like to receive the updated prayer listing and be added to the weekly missions emails, please contact the office. Thank you for praying for our missionaries!
MOMS GROUPS
Intergenerational Moms (Moms of all ages) Winter Spring 2021
Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, Mar. 22, Apr. 26, May 24
7:30-8:00pm optional open conversation – join when you can
8:00-9:00pm main topic discussion
9:00-9:30pm optional extended conversation – leave when it’s best for you
Zoom link information in Friday announcements.
Listen to this podcast from Risen Motherhood (or read the transcript) before the January meeting: Monday, January 25
• Ep. 171 (October 7, 2020) Quick Fix
https://www.risenmotherhood.com/show-archive/quick-fix
Silver Moms (Moms of adult children) Winter-Spring 2021
Fridays, 1:00-2:15pm, Feb. 12, Mar. 12, Apr. 9, May 14, June 11
Zoom link information in Friday announcements.
Listen to this podcast from Risen Motherhood (or read the transcript) before the February meeting. Meet on Zoom and talk about how this topic affects our lives as moms of adult children.
Friday, February 12
• Ep. 176 (November 11, 2020) I Wouldn’t Do It That Way: How to Love Moms Who Are Different than Us
https://www.risenmotherhood.com/show-archive/ep-176-i-wouldnt-do-it-that-way-show
LIFE Church Worship
We're thankful that we have had the ability to meet online for fellowship, Bible Study and worship during this pandemic. It has been a blessing to stay connected with church members who are travelling and have moved away. Please pray that we can continue to connect with new people in the local community as well. Also, we wish to congratulate Alex and Lilia Flores on the recent wedding of their son Pedro to Queroline on January 11! Best wishes to them as they begin their new life together! Thank you!
Livestreamed on our website: https://www.lifechurchayer.com/
Or, contact lifechurch.ayer@gmail.com or actonfaithefc@gmail.com for specific Zoom link information.
NOTE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES SECTION following reminders
REMINDERS
EVENTS & INFORMATION
Adult Sunday School Classes
Zoom Link Information in Friday announcements email
Women of the Bible, Sally Abbott
Sunday, 9:45am EDT
Cat and Dog Theology, Steve Ezzy
Sunday, 9:45am EDT
Overflow room OR Zoom
New Testament Survey, Pastor Brad Johnson, Chris Coughlin
Sunday, 9:45am EDT
Parenting Tweens and Teens, Tim & Laura King
Sunday, 3:30-4:30pm EDT
2 Corinthians Overview, Mike Young
Sunday, 9:45am EDT
Adult Classroom (across from library) OR Zoom
Online Youth Sunday School
Sundays, 9:45-10:30
7th-8th Grade - The current JH series is about how to study the Bible. Link to sign in is in Friday announcements email.
9th-12th Grade - This year's focus for HS class is an overview of the New Testament. NOTE: We are meeting in-person in the youth room as well as via Zoom. Weekly sign in link is in Friday announcements email.
'Lord, Teach Us How to Pray'
This is an inter-generational study using the Lord's prayer as a model. Every week a 20 minute pre-recorded video will help introduce your family to the lesson then your family will have questions to consider, activities and Bible memory. It is not too late to start this program! Take home kits are available through Sue Lewis. All 13 videos can be viewed at any time. Contact Susan Lewis to register and participate.
Vacation Bible Camp
Joy Bible Study
March for LifeThe annual March for Life takes place on Friday January 29th in Washington DC. Taking place every year since 1974 following the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, thousands gather in Washington D.C. for this powerful and peaceful demonstration. The event always includes a great line-up of inspiring speakers and musicians. Join the chorus of pro-life voices on the National Mall this year and give joyful witness to the beauty and dignity of every human life.
Offering envelopes have been placed in your church mailbox and many have been picked up. Because of how the counting is done now, it is not required for you to have the envelopes, but it can be convenient. If you pay directly or mail in a check, you do need to designate what account your gift should go towards (Ex. general fund, missions, Continue with Faith, etc.). If you would like your envelopes, but would rather not pick it up in the building, please contact the church office and we will mail it to you.
2020 Tax Receipts
Tax Receipts for donations made through Tithe.ly will be distributed by email. Paper tax receipts for donations made by mail or in person will be mailed to your home address. For questions or concerns, please contact Karen Hanson, Financial Secretary.
Livestream Information
To view the livestream of the 11am worship service go to:
- FEFC Website: www.faithevfree.org and follow the link on the home page.
- FEFC Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/actonfaithefc/
- FEFC YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/c/FaithEvFreeChurchActonMA
- You may also listen to the service from the church parking lot on 87.9 FM radio.
FEFC Safety Standards and Practices
The document linked (here) is an updated version of our church's COVID-19 safety standards and practices, including the steps we have followed and will continue to follow if someone attending a worship service tests positive for COVID-19. Our goal with these protocols is to continue to worship in person while guarding the safety of those who attend and respecting the privacy of any individual who becomes infected by COVID-19. Please contact an elder if you have any questions about these safety standards.
Due to FEFC's increased online ministry through website, Facebook, and YouTube and the video of the 2019 Journey to Bethlehem, please note that it is possible that pictures of those attending or participating may appear online without any name attached.
Online Giving Available for Tithes and Offerings
For those interested in online donations to the church, we have enabled the Tithe.ly Giving app (green icon). Download it from your app store. The first time you open it you will need to create an account. With location enabled on your phone, select FEFC, Acton. From that point, you can begin making donations. You will be given the opportunity to select which fund or funds you would like to donate to.
Church Building Notes
The church building remains closed at this time to all activities except the FEFC ministries and elder approved activities. We are continuing to host the Korean and Brazilian church congregations.
Office Notes
All announcements and worship service related information are posted on the website, www.faithevfree.org. Announcements are emailed out weekly on Fridays. The Order of Service and Sermon Notes are emailed out weekly by 5pm Saturday.
The sign up links for the Sunday services are sent out on Monday morning at 9am and are posted on our website.
NOTE: If you have information that you would like included in the weekly announcements, please email it to the office actonfaithefc@gmail.com by 11am on Friday. Thank you.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Acton Food Pantry Donations
It is the season again for our church to make its quarterly donations to the Acton Food Pantry. Normally, we collect items for the food pantry here at the church; however, due to the COVID-19 guidelines we are asking you to make your donations directly to the food pantry. They are accepting donations at their Acton grocery store sites (Donelan's, Roche Brothers, Stop and Shop), the Main post office as well as at their location on Summer Road in Boxborough. Please see their website for further drop off locations and information https://www.actonfoodpantry.org/food as well as suggested items needed for donating.