From the Pastor’s Office . . .

Monthly Newsletter First Brethren Church,

South Bend, IN

Welcome to

February FBC Colony!

February—what does that

even mean? Interesting

enough, the Roman month

Februarius was named after

the Latin term februum,

which means purification, via

the purification ritual Februa

held on February 15 (full

moon) in the old lunar Ro-

man calendar, which derives

from an earlier Etruscan

word referring to purging.

What should we be purify-

ing and purging this month?

I spoke to you last

month about our theme of

“Absolute Truth” this

year, but we also have a

sub-theme this year with

“sabbatical”, meaning to

rest or take a break. I know

we are in sabbatical as far

as the business and admin-

istration side of First Breth-

ren Church, but ministry

and life will continue. If Feb-

ruary is a time to purify,

then what do I need to

purge and purify in my own

life, or take a break from?

James reminds us in 4:8,

that the truth is that we

need to purify our hearts,

and Peter tells us in 1 Peter

1:22, “since you have in

obedience to the truth pu-

rified your souls for a sin-

cere love of the brethren,

fervently love one another

from the heart”. We must

keep ourselves spiritually

clean before God, and then

love one another. This

should be the goal of all of

Christ’s followers. I must

continually keep my life

clean before our awesome

God. This constant evalua-

tion of my life takes time

and honesty with myself to

make sure that I am truly

doing what God desires in

my life.

As I stand here and

write this newsletter to

you, I look at my calendar

and see a lot of events

scheduled. For example:

Moody Bible Institute's

“Founders Week”, Luvabil-

ity camp, Friday Night Cof-

fee, district meetings,

Maria's basketball games,

food pantry, the movie

“War Room”, and still all of

our regular weekly services

and ministries. I think I'm

already tired. :-)

The busyness of ministry

will always be there, but it's

the blessing of ministry that

we must never forget. Even

in the difficulties of physical

pain, emotional distress,

mental anguish, financial

need, and even spiritual

uncertainty, we as God’s

people must remain faithful

to God and His people. We

must continue to encourage

and help those in need.

To tie together the 3

topics: truth, sabbatical, and

purity, I want us to remem-

ber the truth that we must

take a break from the regu-

lar routines of life often to

reflect and purify ourselves

before Almighty God. I

hope to teach you a

new/old chorus this month

called “Purify My Heart”. It

is a call to worship that will

help us focus on our need

to examine and purify our-

selves as we come to God

in worship.

Even though February is

busy from the calendar’s

point of view, let us rest in

the God of Sabbath and

Worship and Adore Him.

As I always conclude, Please

let me know if you need

any assistance. You can

contact me at the church

(574) 291-4909, email me:

fyoungen@att.net or my

cell phone 330-903-1044. I

will do my best to pray for

you all and together may

we know and live the abso-

lute truth of God’s Word.

God Bless

Pastor Fred

Upcoming Events

Sunday, February 7,

Ladies Luncheon, 12:15pm

Monday, February 8,

BCE Meeting, 6:30pm

Friday, February 12,

Friday Night Coffee,

6:30pm

Saturday, February 13,

Men’s Prayer Breakfast,

8:00am

Sunday, February 14,

HAPPY VALENTINES

DAY!

Friday, February 19,

Deacon Food Pantry,

5-7pm

Sunday, February 21,

Congregational Meeting,

9:30, War Room Movie,

12:30pm

Monday, February 22,

Deacon/Deaconess Mtg,

6:30pm

Inside this issue:

Moderator Moment 2

War Room Challenge 2

Church Calendar 3

February Volunteer

Schedule 4

Birthdays, Anniver-

saries, Library News 5

Youth Activities 6

March Volunteer Sch. 6

News from Benjamin 7

Volume 2, Issue 2

February, 2016

Purify my

heart

Page 2

War Room Challenge

Part of Miss Clara’s powerful prayer cries out, “Lord, we need an army of believ-ers who will stand on Your Word above all else; Lord call us to battle! Raise them up Lord! Raise them up!”

Before an army can be shipped into battle they have to go through boot camp or some sort of training. God needs to train us up in order to raise us up, as we volunteer to be a soldier in His army. The old hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers” keeps running through my mind as I type these battle plans. Worship music is a strong motivator but always remember your “sword;” the Word of God. There may be times we are tempted to “lean on our own understandings,” instead of standing on the Word of God. Hu-man experiences and education are good, but God’s Word is BEST. God uses our education and experience to help us grow as the branches abiding in Him, the vine. His Word is the root that keeps us steadfast and the sap that feeds and strengthens us. We must look at our experiences and education through the lens of God’s Word; it is our “Christian worldview.” Write down a few things that you believe that determine the way you behave; find them in Scripture and write down each verse that is the foundation of this belief you stand on above all else. If you cannot substantiate your belief with Scripture then you need to replace it with truth. Be careful, Satan is sneaky, he likes to twist and blur the Word to make it sound like something else that appeals to our flesh. Write down the Scriptures that give you clear wisdom about God’s will and ways and do not wa-ver! Then open your ears to hear Him calling you to battle; be prepared and armor up, He is raising up an army and you have just been recruited! (Ephesians 6:10-18)

- Taken from War Room 30 Day Prayer Calendar by Kathy Branzell

Moderator Moment: The past several years have been very busy for our congregation. We have successfully transi-tioned the senior pastor role, thrown an amazing retirement dinner for Pastor Larry and Bev, host-ed a welcome event for Pastor Fred and his family, merged our two worship services into one blended service, participated in a Natural Church Development survey and organized an assess-ment process, and kept all of our normal events going such as the Pork Chop Dinners and Back to School Bash. Let's face it...many of us are very tired. The Official Board recently went through a visioning process and one of our top priorities was to take a sabbatical. A sabbatical means to take a rest or a break. God himself took a break after creating the world, so what makes us think we can continue at such a fast pace without taking a break? This next year, we want to allow peo-ple to take some much needed rest and to also take a break from some our "normal" activities in order to assess the effectiveness of our ministries and programs. During 2016, you will hear us talk more about sabbatical and what that means. In the meantime, you may see some changes to the calendar, including putting some of our normal events on hold such as our Pork Chop Dinners and Back to School Bash. This does not necessarily mean that these things are gone forev-er...but rather are put on hold for the current year. As we talk more about sabbatical, you will be encouraged to do three things - 1) deepen your relationship with God; 2) deepen your relationship with others in our congregation; and 3) deepen your relationships within our communities, in par-ticular, identifying where we can partner with other churches and organizations. When asked about what taking a sabbatical means, I have said repeatedly, "we will not be taking a break from God or each other...but we are taking a break from the things that have worn us down." I look forward to hearing your ideas about how you will embrace "sabbatical" in the coming year. Serving with you, Jennifer Kary

** Please note that the Deacon Food Pantry will only be open ONE DAY this

month, which is Saturday, January 23rd from 10am-12pm.

The month of February will also have just ONE DAY on Friday, February 19th from 5-7pm. Be sure to make note of these changes. Thank you.

**

Page 4

SUNDAYS

Greeters

2 - 7 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Kathi Ginter

2 - 14 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Sherri Benko

2 - 21 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Judy Rose-Walley

2 - 28 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Kathy Galbreath

* * If anyone else is interested in being a Greeter on Sunday Mornings, please contact Bonnie as soon as possible. Thank you. * * *

Hosts

2 - 7 Bev Wolf

2 - 14 Ellen Gilbert

2 - 21 Bev Wolf

2 - 28 Jan Kary

This is a ministry that expands hospitality to our Sunday morning guests. Any questions please contact Bev Wolf, 251-1244.

Nursery

2 - 7 9:30am - ________________________

10:45am - Linda Kohman & Cindi Jewett

2 - 14 9:30am - Angela Scott & Corinne Freel

10:45am - Fawn Robertson & Connie Wood

2 - 21 9:30am - Peggy Baer & _____________

10:45am - Peggy Baer & Hanna Galbreath

2 - 28 9:30am - Kris & Claire Wright

10:45am - Kris & Claire Wright

If you are unable to serve on your assigned Sunday please contact Peggy Baer, 259-2912. We are in need of more volunteers to help in the nursery. Please see Peggy if you can help.

Blood Pressure Screening

This will be available on Sunday,

February 21 in the Conference Room next to the library starting at 10:30am.

SUNDAYS

Van Drivers

We are in need of additional drivers. If you can help, please contact the church office at 291-4909.

2 - 7 Dennis Wood

2 - 14 Dennis Wood

2 - 21 Rich & Kathy Hollister

2 - 28 Jack Kary

Financial Stewards

2 - 7 Charmaine & Kathi Ginter

2 - 14 Bev Wolf & Linda Kohman

2 - 21 Jack Kary, Sr. & Becky Reynolds

2 - 28 Jack Kary, Jr. & Kathy Plaia

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

MONDAYS

Monday Morning Mailers

2 - 1 Sandy Sherrod

2 - 8 Judy Rose-Walley

2 - 15 Jan Smith

2 - 22 Charlotte Meller

2 - 29 Sandy Sherrod

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Sherrod, 256-9481. We are looking for additional volun-teers to help one Monday per month.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Trustee of the Month - Aaron Wright

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who donated hats, mittens or gloves to the “Everything Winter Tree”. Items donated included: 47 hats, 39 gloves, 3 jackets and 2 pair of boots.

_______________________________________

Men’s Conference Saturday, March 19, 2016 8:30am - 4:55pm Elkhart, IN

February Volunteer Schedule

Page 5

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

February Birthdays 2/1 - Kathi Ginter 2/2 - Peggy Baer 2/2 - Kathy Plaia 2/2 - Ryne Wright 2/5 - Ethlynne McKee 2/5 - Nancy Hollister 2/8 - Tracy McKee 2/10 - Win Zaw 2/11 - Bill Grenert 2/11 - Ruth Ragle 2/16 - Robert Hardesty 2/16 - Alexis Kary 2/19 - Ruth Bilinski 2/20 - Keith Bennett 2/21 - Sally Wagner 2/22 - Rebekah Plaia 2/24 - Karen Simko 2/27 - Ruthann Millage Anniversaries 2/1 - Bill & Laurie Grenert 2/16 - Mike & Amy Riley

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Upcoming Opportunities

Friendships Warm the Heart

ATTENTION LADIES - - -

Sunday, February 7, 2016 from 12:15- 2:00 pm.

All Ladies of FBC, please join us for an afternoon of friendship and fellowship. We are planning a Soup and Salad luncheon, soup will be provided, please bring a salad to share.

We are gathering for the purpose of friendship and to share that friendship with others. Bring your friend, Bring a guest, all are welcome! We ask that you reach out to one another, invite and provide transportation to a lady who may have restrictions and is not always able to attend, or invite someone who hasn’t attended in a while, or invite the friend that you see every Sunday, for whatever the rea-son help us to extend a hand of friendship to the ladies of FBC.

~ Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, February 13 at 8:00am. All men are invited for fellowship, good food and a dedicated time for prayer and Bi-ble reading as a group of men. Plan to attend!

LIBRARY NEWS

Recently I found this piece in a book from our library. As a

mother it touched me because I didn’t do all of these things but

God still worked in my life and the lives of my

children just showing that he can use imper-

fect people in His plan. Please check out our

shelves to find what inspires or teaches you.

Love: a variation on a theme from Love Adds a

Little Chocolate by Medard Laz (245)

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,

but have not love, I am a

housekeeper—not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,

but have not love, my children learn cleanliness—not godliness.

Loves leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love is present through the trials.

Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the

child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Love is the key that opens salvation’s message to a child’s heart.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.

Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child. As mother there is

much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love.

Jo Ann Merrill

YOUTH ACTIVITIES FOR FEBRUUARY

February 7 - 10:45am Make Valentines for shut-ins

February 14 - 10:45am Deliver scarves to homeless

February 21 - 10:45am Recap, Reflection & Preparation

February 28 - 10:45am El Campito

Page 6

SUNDAYS

Greeters

3 - 6 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Karen Carson

3 - 13 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Connie Wood

3 - 20 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Arthur Barry

3 - 27 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Charlotte Meller

* * If anyone else is interested in being a Greeter on Sunday Mornings, please contact Bonnie as soon as possible. Thank you. * * *

Hosts

3 - 6 Bev Wolf

3 - 13 Ellen Gilbert

3 - 20 Bev Wolf

3 - 27 Jan Kary

This is a ministry that expands hospitality to our Sunday morning guests. Any questions please contact Bev Wolf, 251-1244.

Nursery

3 - 6 9:30am - ________________________

10:45am - Linda Kohman & Cindi Jewett

3 - 13 9:30am - Angela Scott & Corinne Freel

10:45am - Fawn Robertson & Connie Wood

3 - 20 9:30am - Peggy Baer & _____________

10:45am - Peggy Baer & Hanna Galbreath

3 - 27 9:30am - Kris & Claire Wright

10:45am - Kris & Claire Wright

If you are unable to serve on your assigned Sunday please contact Peggy Baer, 259-2912. We are in need of more volunteers to help in the nursery. Please see Peggy if you can help.

SUNDAYS

Blood Pressure Screening

This will be available on Sunday,

March 20 in the Conference Room next to the library starting at 10:30am.

Van Drivers

We are in need of additional drivers. If you can help, please contact the church office at 291-4909.

3 - 6 Dennis Wood

3 - 13 Dennis Wood

3 - 20 Rich & Kathy Hollister

3 - 27 Jack Kary

Financial Stewards

3 - 6 Charmaine & Kathi Ginter

3 - 13 Bev Wolf & Linda Kohman

3 - 20 Jack Kary, Sr. & Becky Reynolds

3 - 27 Jack Kary, Jr. & Kathy Plaia

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

MONDAYS

Monday Morning Mailers

3 - 7 Sandy Sherrod

3 - 14 Judy Rose-Walley

3 - 21 Jan Smith

3 - 28 Charlotte Meller

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Sherrod, 256-9481. We are looking for additional volun-teers to help one Monday per month.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Trustee of the Month - Bill Grenert

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

March Volunteer Schedule

* * * One of the suggestions we received for the Newsletter was to give 2 months of Volunteer

schedules so we are trying it this month. Hopefully this way everyone is kept more informed

ahead of time and can plan accordingly. Thank you! * * *

I’m thinking warm thoughts for everyone. Winter may have come late, but it’s here now and it sure has been cold. This building is cold when no one is here. I have been wearing extra layers (yes, church mice wear clothes). So if you ever see a mouse without clothes in this building, it’s not me.

It’s hard to believe that I am writing my letter for February. Time is going so fast. Ash Wednesday is February 10 and Easter will be March 27.

I know that some Christians give something up for Lent but I would like you to do something for Jesus, like read and study the Bible more. Pray and Praise the Lord more. Come to think of it, to do more for Jesus, you might have to give something up to have the time. Next month we will share plans for Holy Week.

There is going to be a Soup and Salad luncheon for the Ladies on Sunday, February 7 from 12:15-2:00pm. The soup will be provided. Please bring a sal-ad to share. All ladies are invited, so encourage every lady to stay after church that day. I’m not sure what is going to happen besides the meal but it is going to be a great time of food and fellowship. Being a male mouse, I wasn’t invited but I am going to hide and listen and hopefully get something to eat.

On February 21 at 12:15, there will be a replay of the movie “War Room”. I enjoyed this movie on New Year’s Eve and it is worth seeing again. A light lunch will be served that day. Everyone is invited. Mark your calendars and plan to stay after 2nd Hour.

Speaking of 2nd Hour, I have been having a hard time picking a class to go to each Sunday, they are all so good. If you haven’t been staying, why don’t you try to stay some Sunday and try one or all of them on different Sundays?

Friday Night Coffee Bible Study will meet February 12th at 6:30pm. I en-joyed the first one and learned a lot. Everyone is welcome so please come.

The Food Pantry will be open Friday, February 19 from 5-7pm. Remember, we can always use financial assistance, food or help for the Food Pantry. The same is true for the Hay Food Bags that are put together weekly.

I hope to see everyone at worship service and 2nd Hour each week. Re-member that Men’s breakfast is February 13 at 8:00am. Being a male mouse, I enjoy the fellowship and prayer with the men. Oh, and I enjoy the food too.

Well, I’m getting cold so I am going to get under extra blankets. Please pray for each other and FBC. Keep safe and warm. Check on each other and your neighbors. Show the love of Jesus to all.

Men, just remember that Valentine’s Day is February 14. Being a mouse, it’s not important to me but I think it is to humans.

God bless you all,

Benjamin

Warm greetings to all!

4909 S. Ironwood Dr. South Bend, IN 46614 (574) 291-4909

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"Who shall separate us from the LOVE of Christ? Shall trouble or hard-ship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who LOVED us."

~ Romans 8:35-37

2016 Sermon Series “What is Absolute Truth?”