online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975

MY FIRST AND ONLY HIGH SCHOOL PARTY

by Pastor Mike

Some twenty years ago I was in high school - that puts me in the awesome 90‘s! I was hardly the center of social circles but not so awkward that I was stuffed in my locker between periods. Because of my time in football and track and various school clubs I had friends in a lot of cliques - the baseball hat, nerd, honors, and drama cliques to name a few. Despite my connections only one time in my high school career was I invited to a party. And I went! It happened to be a birthday party and it was going to be a “Host a Murder Mystery” party. It was a good group of kids so my parents signed off on my attending. Come to find out the friends of the birthday girl had a reason they cast me as her husband, Palmer Cortland, but ignorance is bliss and I had a fun night without giving it much thought. I share this because my one and only high school party was a new experience with a new group of people at a place I had never visited before, yet I went. Someone I knew invited me so I went.

Invitations are a big deal. Evite is a website so popular that the word has become a part of the everyday English language. A bride will spend a fortune on fancy paper, embossing, and curly fonts so no one will miss the biggest day of her life. Many people never venture into new experiences or make new friends or gather with a church community because they have not been invited. People we interact with regularly are just waiting to be invited and included. Some do not even realize the Jesus party is on!

Jesus’ words, “Come, follow me” are the Great Invitation. They were first offered to the Twelve disciples who kept on inviting. We are sent to do the same. My challenge to you this Fall is regularly invite others into your life. At least once invite someone to join you in following Jesus. I am striving for this in my personal life. We will provide opportunities for this each month in EFC life. Will you join in Jesus’ Great Invitation?

Would I have gone to another party in a high school? I guess I was not rad enough to know. Regardless, it sure would have felt good to have been invited to more. I may not have gone but I would have known someone thought I was special enough to invite me.

E F C F O C U S O C T O B E R 2 0 1 3

Family Dinner @ Family TreeTuesday, October 8th

All are invited to help us prep and serve a meal to the folks who live at the Family Tree Apartments. We will meet at Hope Church at 5pm to prepare the meal and serve the

meal at the Family Tree Apartmetns at 6pm. We will clean-up and head home around 7pm.

MENU: Taco bar (sign-up online to bring food or help).

Invite a couple to join you in improving your marriage. Talk to Pastor Mike and Pascale for more information (425) 387-1975.

EFC will be serving this weekend by hosting a family celebration for those who live at the Family Tree Apartments near Silver Lake. Each EFC family is invited to sponsor and run an activity booth for this special evening of relationship building. Contact Pastor Mike for more information (425) 387-1975.

PRAXIS YOUTH MINISTRYT u e s d a y s , 7 : 0 0 - 8 : 3 0 p mGreat study! Goofy games! Good food! Friends of gold! Perry and the youth leaders provide a fun space for middle and high school students every Tuesday evening.

YOUTH CORNMAZE 2013! We will be heading to Bob’s cornmaze in Snohomish on Tuesday, October 22nd. We will meet at Hope Church at 6pm and be back around 9pm. Cost is $12 per person ($10 for those under age 13).

Talk to Perry Travis for more information at webtravis@juno.com or 206/412-0688.

online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975

Family Dinner at the Family Tree. We resumed our monthly food service to folks in need and blessed the residents at the Family Tree Apartments - part of Mercy Housing. We cooked up a taco bar and served the folks on Tuesday, September 10th. We will continue to serve the folks there!

Praxis Youth Returns! Perry Travis continued to lead the teaching and discipleship time of our youth on Tuesday evenings. The Fall teaching series began this month looking at whether the truth really matters and what is the most dangerous book ever.

Unstoppable Night. On September 24th we joined over 100,000 to hear the good news of Jesus and consider where God is in the midst of tragedy. The film was inspired and dedicated to Matthew, a 15 year old who died in last year after a lifetime bout with cancer. One of the youth we invited declared, “That was one of the best films I’ve ever seen - I want to buy that right now!”

Family Gathering. The community of EFC continued to gather for the purpose of worship, growing in God’s word, and encouraging one another. Our study of the life of David will finish in November.

Several of the EFC men returned in a teaching skit of Dav id and h i s mighty men. Why do we do these sk i t s ? F i r s t , t o p r e s e n t G o d ’ s

word in a visual and creative way. Second, to set-up our sermon and teaching time. Third, we enjoy celebrating and laughing as a church family. More to come as we move into October!

Boy, we love them. Dan and Jenn Bell and Steve and Jan ine R ip ley have been ser v ing and shepherding as our Community Pastors. In the spring they began to facilitate the time for the adults following the sermon. I (Pastor Mike) like all of you, are honored and grateful for their ministry, encouragement and teaching.

SEPTEMBER REWIND

E F C M a n a g e m e n t T e a mDan Bell, Janine Ripley, & Mike Wright

Your continued support is an important part of your ministry. Join the other families who are doing their part in supporting Pastor Mike and the EFC mission. As you do so,

teach your children about joyful and generous giving!

................Monthly operating budget $6,200

......................Total Joy Box gifts in September* $4,389....................Total EFC spending in September* $3,085

................................ Community Ministry gifts* $506* Numbers current as of September 24th.

Everett Family Church is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Tax Identification # 71-1025722

E F C B I R T H D A Y SLet me know if your birthday is missing!

.....................October 13 Isaac

Experiencing God in a Kid-Sized Way!We are studying the life of David as a church. Our

Family Gatherings are focused on helping the children experience God in a kid-sized way. We have a music set to help them worship, a Bible teaching skit followed by a concise sermon from Pastor Mike after which he leads a

special breakout time for the kids. The Community Pastors lead a time for the adults during the elementary and youth breakouts. The evening will

conclude with a simple meal and fellowship.

Invite a friend or family who desire to grow kids in their relationship with

Jesus!!

FAMILY GATHERINGS A T U R D A Y S @ 5 P M

SCHEDULE:4:30pm, prayer time5pm, family worship

6pm, breakouts7pm, dinner and

fellowship

Crosswalk & LIFE GroupF R I D A Y, O C T O B E R 2 5 T H

In October the Community Groups will be meeting to serve the families at the Family Tree Apartments. We will be hosting the Family Fall Festival rather than meeting in homes this month. If your family is willing to sponsor, create and run a booth please contact Pastor Mike. We are hoping for 10-12 booths. Candy donations are also needed. All children are invited to bring their families for the fun!

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:5pm - Festival setup6pm - Festival begins8pm - Clean-up