First Free Family,

Can you believe this is weekly update #15?! As we prepare for in-person services to resume, it’s time for us to retire the COVID-19 weekly update. Of course, that doesn’t mean we won’t be communicating. Beginning next week, we’ll be making a digital version of our bulletin available on our livestream page. You can also sign up to get that sent to your inbox each week by clicking the button below.

We’re still working hard on preparing for in-person services and getting things set up to be able to livestream simultaneously. Since we’ve added a third service time, there are still quite a few open spots to volunteer, especially on our hospitality team (ushers, greeters, parking lot team, cleaning crew). If you’re interested in helping out, please email Pastor Jordan Green and he’ll get you connected to a team leader. You can find out more specifics about what Sunday mornings will look like here, but also watch for an email on Tuesday with more details about the RSVP and a video of what to expect. We can’t wait to welcome those of you who will be joining us! We’ll also continue to provide an online option for those who aren’t feeling well, have health concerns, or aren’t comfortable meeting in person yet. Our 9:30 service will be livestreamed and the video will be made available afterward to view any time.

As a reminder, we will be doing an RSVP each week to help us have a place for you and to balance out attendance between the services. That form will open on Tuesdays. We are also asking everyone who is able (age three and up) to wear a face mask while in the building for each of our three services. For adults who won’t do that, we ask that you consider tuning in online or only attend the 11:15 service. We know many of you would rather not wear a mask, but ask you to join us in putting one another’s safety over personal preference.

This Sunday our video will be available online by 9am and Pastor Dominick will wrap up our series on 2 Peter!

COVID-19 Resource Page>>>

Membership Updates

Dean and Cindy Walter have been added to our membership.
The Elders also recommend Claire Drevets for membership. If you have any input regarding this recommendation, please contact an elder before July 1.

Financial Update
June Giving Goal: $233,540
Still Needed to Meet Goal: $129,788
General Fund Giving Last Week: $41,618

Missions Partner Highlight
Each week, we’ll be highlighting one of our missions partners in our weekly emails so you can learn more about their ministries and be praying for the gospel to go wide through their work. If you would like to send one of our missions partners a note, please email Pastor Lucas and he’ll connect you.

First Free supports our denomination’s seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), and funds two scholarships for members pursuing theological education. TEDS is a dynamic community of learners who are serious about ministry preparation, biblical studies, theological reflection, and cultural engagement. Their faculty are gifted men and women who minister as much through research and writing as through local church involvement, but their primary ministry is teaching and caring for students. TEDS is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in the Chicago area. As an institution “entrusted with the gospel,” it seeks to educate men and women to engage in God’s redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness, and lifelong learning. TEDS is a part of Trinity International University (TIU), which comprises four schools—Trinity College, Trinity Graduate School, TEDS, and Trinity Law School. TIU is also home to four major centers that host conferences and other academic programs, including The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity and The Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding. They share the following requests: 

1. Pray for wisdom for university leadership as they make plan for next year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and all the needed adjustments.
2. Pray for the faculty of the seminary as they bear the weight of entrusting men and women to faithfully communicate the message of the gospel and prepare them to shepherd the flock of Jesus, the Chief Shepherd.
3. Pray for the ministers of the gospel who are working on and have completed their studies at TEDS to remain faithful to their calling. 

To him be the glory,
Pastor Ron