August First Free Newsletter _______________________________ Responding to the Word of God
According to H. Wayne Johnson this passage contains a “revelation – response” structure for worship. First, hear the Word of God (revelation), and then respond to the Word of God. Last month we looked at the “hear” portion of this structure and I challenged you to find ways to really attend to the Word of God in a world filled with distractions. This month I want to explore how our response to God’s revelation is actually a response to God himself. Undivided God: This passage reveals to us who God is: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. There are two important aspects of this revelation. (1) The Lord is undivided. We must keep in mind the Israelites were given this revelation right before they went into Canaan. In Canaan they would be bombarded with the polytheism and idolatry of the Canaanites. They needed to be reminded that there was only one God, and that the LORD is not divided – he is one. (2) The LORD is revealed as “our” God. The LORD is a personal God who wants to be known and to know his people. Undivided Devotion: Following this revelation the Israelites were given a string of other commands, which are a response to the revelation: (1) Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. This is a command to give God our undivided devotion. We must give our whole self to him; all of our affections, thoughts, and intentions must be given in love of God. Love for the undivided LORD, must be undivided. (2) Teach them…when you sit…when you walk…when you lie…when you rise. Bind them…on your hand…as frontlets between your eyes…write them on the doorposts…and on your gates. Our relationship with the undivided LORD must be undivided – it cannot be compartmentalized. It encompasses all of life from morning to evening, from Sunday to Saturday, at work and at home. This devotion to the LORD is personal – we are to love the LORD your God – but it is not private. In summary, undivided devotion to the undivided LORD is deep and wide – it requires all of who we are, and everything we do. It is important to see how our response to God is directly related to the revelation we have about God. The commandments in this passage are not arbitrary – actually none of the commandments in Scripture are arbitrary. The commandments flow out the very character of God. This text describes who God is, and then the text prescribes what the people of God are to do and be. We are commanded to give our undivided devotion to God, but that is in response to the revelation that he is undivided. As you attend to the Word, and let it sink in deeply you will begin to see these connection more clearly throughout Scripture. Pastor Josh Black ___________________________________ The Great Giveaway The Great Giveaway, our ministry to internationals in the community, is Sunday, August 29. If you have household goods (kitchen items, lamps, linens, etc.) that you can donate, bring them to the church gym on Saturday morning, August 28, between 9:00 a.m. - noon, or on that Sunday morning. Please do not bring them early and do not bring clothes. If you are donating furniture, do not bring it to the church, but take a picture and e-mail it to Randall Harms at rharms@avmi.org. Call Randall at 619-8318 for more information. New items are always appreciated - especially rice cookers.
Children's Ministries Returning from Camp Quaker Haven is a mixed bag of emotions for me. I love being back home and at work in the church office, but I’m also sad to leave camp. There is a sweetness mixed with all the sweat, noise and exhaustion that is just hard to leave. I think I know why. The camp staff – The staff is primarily teens who purpose to set aside all their needs, wants, and desires for 5 days to assure that the eight or so campers in their charge have a fantastic week. If campers want to see the sunrise, you’ll find a counselor willing to get up extra early to sit on the hill to watch the sunrise with them. If campers want to go on a hike in the hottest part of the day, there those counselors are trudging through the trails hauling a back pack full of water bottles. If a camper is hot, you’ll find a counselor who will take off his special attach-to-the-bunk fan and give it away. I could go on and on, but I hope you get the picture of how special our staff is. God is visibly at work in their lives as they die to themselves and live for Him by serving their campers. The campers – You’ll have to wait until next month to hear about the campers. One of the things on my plate the week after camp is to see how ready we are to launch the new ministry year on August 15. Sadly, there are still many spots to fill. We especially need adults to commit to teach our preschoolers this year and folks who will commit to being a buddy for a child in our church family with special needs. We need adults who will set aside their need to be with peers, their desire to not have commitments on Sunday morning to say yes to our kids. We need adults to say yes to a commitment that will cost them something. We have many great examples in folks who are already serving children and adults, but there are still many slots to fill. Over the past few years we have more teens apply for the camp staff than we have spots to fill and we have the difficult task of sending rejection letters to them. I am praying that some day we will more adults who want to serve kids on Sunday morning than we have spots to fill and we’ll have to turn some away. Please consider working with kids from August 15 through the end of June. Please consider sacrificing for kids who need to learn about Jesus from people who love Him. Judy Hollander Contacts There are many needs for the upcoming Fall year in Children’s Ministry. Contact the appropriate person below if you are interested in serving in that ministry area:
First Friends Openings
Mommy & Me Playgroup Mommy & Me will only meet once in August. Join us for our last summer play group on Monday, August 9, from 9 - 10.30 a.m. at Fairmount Park, 3500 E. 15th St. N. (near WSU). There are water fountains and playground activites for children, so wear swimsuits, bring sunscreen, a cold drink and kid snacks! _____________________________________________________ Student Ministriesis is As I think through summer thus far, I see God’s fingerprints all over each Wednesday night, each Summer Team meeting, each conference or camp, each lesson taught, each relationship built, and each person that has entered the doors of the youth ministry at our church. My prayer for this summer has been that God would be revealed in a mighty way to each student and volunteer. As God so often does, He has already answered my prayer and answered above and beyond my request. I have heard many stories from students and volunteers of how they have felt God moving in their hearts and I have seen fires ignited in their lives. Just because summer is almost over does not mean that I am going to stop praying that God would continue to reveal Himself to each student and volunteer, and I ask that you do the same. Will you join me in this prayer for our youth ministries? Käte Dorsey _________________________________________________
Divine by Design Trends for Fall - What’s New and What’s Next Let us introduce you to the fall “designs” in Women’s Ministry on Monday evening, Aug. 30, at the home of Becky Miller. Stop by anytime between 7 and 8:30 to see what’s happening this fall and how you can be involved. We have a “design” for you: Bible study and discipleship, scrapbooking and Book Club, the Mommy and Me Play Group, several fall events, connecting with women one on one and much more! Special fun for the evening will include home decorating tips and the “how to” for a new healthy recipe or two. We’d especially like to make sure new women to First Free are invited.
Scrapbooking Friday, August 6, 5:00 - 11:00 p.m.
First Free Book Club The First Free Book Club meets August 19 and will discuss the book, “Fields of Grace” by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Contact Helen Finley with questions. _________________________________________________ Men’s Breakfast There is no Men's Breakfast this month.
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Family News *~*~*
Come help us celebrate 50 years together on Friday evening, Ted and Pat August
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David and Susie Eastman
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