1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

The Newsletter for Faith Community Church
N o ve m b e r 2 0 1 4
IN THIS ISSUE
Operation Christmas
Child
(Pg. 2)
_____________________
Children’s Ministry
Updates
(Pg. 3)
_____________________
Student Ministry Updates
(Pg. 4)
_____________________
Mission Awareness Week
Follow Up
(Pg. 5)
_____________________
AWANA 2015
(Pg. 6)
Kevin Cassidy
Lead Teaching Pastor
Steve Bond
Executive Pastor
Jim Johnson
Pastor of Care & Concern
Amy McDougall
Children’s Ministry Administrator
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Nate Randall
Student Ministries Director
IS OFF TO A GREAT START
Ed Regensburg
See Page 2 (Inside) for more on…
Founding Pastor, Retired
1306 Riedel Rd. Gambrills, MD 21054
410-451-1220
Building / Office
www.faithcommunity.net
info@faithcommunity.net
What’s Been Happening?
&
What’s Ahead?
What's Been Happening?
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) formally designated a Faith Community Church mission
Kick Off Sunday on 28 September; this is our 8th year supporting OCC
Izabel Bengough, Dee Buchholz and Cami Foster will be our teen leaders this year
Youth Group, AWANAs and Annapolis Area Christian School Senior Practicum project
onboard to participate
Missions Week presentations by Debbie Guidry, former Bowie Collection leader and now OCC
Regional Church Outreach Coordinator, and Ron Grahek to K-5th grade Sunday School
Youth Group designates OCC as one of their three annual focal projects (this year's goal: 100
shoe boxes)
Large table with ministry materials and shoe box packing instructions set up in the church
foyer with 600 foldable shoe boxes; we have 1,000 shoe boxes available this year & you can
use your own
What's Ahead?
Begin Congregation-wide shoe box assembly and packing (now through November 15)
Final shoe box turn-in will be Sunday, 16 November
Volunteers (7) needed for Bowie Collection Center, Saturday, 22 November, 9am-12pm
Brand new Regional Collection Center will be located in Jessup to process shoe boxes from
Maryland and surrounding states. A fabulous opportunity to volunteer anytime 27 Nov - 20
Dec, 9am-9pm Monday through Saturday. Walk-in volunteers and groups welcome
Contact Ron or Iva Grahek if you have any questions; rongrahek@verizon.net
Ladies, Mark Your Calendars! Come Join Us for our Ladies' Christmas Brunch
Saturday December 6th, 10 AM - NOON
As we Fix Our Eyes On the Light Of the World
Enjoy food, fellowship and a dramatic presentation of the LIGHT messages throughout the Bible.
Bring a friend! Look for more details in the bulletin.
Children’s Ministry News and Updates
Our new KidCheck system
launch date is Sunday, Nov.23rd
It is important that you create your free account
now at www.kidcheck.com so you will be ready!
Please contact Amy McDougall at
443-883-1837 or amy@faithcommunity.net
+
=
THE
CHRISTMAS SHOE
TREE!
There’s still time to
register your child for
the Christmas Play.
Auditions are over and
roles handed out, but
we need as many voices
as we can to sing in
choir for our Lord
Jesus.
Kids Can Serve 2
Service Projects for November & December
Nov. 9th Your child’s class is packing Operation Christmas Child
Shoeboxes! Great time for your child to do extra chores and shop for
shoebox items to donate. Nov.16th-Dec.14th Our kids can help the
children of the Baltimore Rescue Mission’s Karis Home by donating new
toys and clothing for Christmas. Your child will be bringing home a wish
list of items for the Karis Home children.
Contact Kara Floyd at
kaylafloyd3@gmail.com
or find her in Activity
Room 2 on Sunday after
second service. Sign Up
Ends Nov 2nd (This
Sunday)
Thanks,
Kayla
Student Ministry News
IMPACT SUNDAYS: Our large group gathering has officially taken on a new name—“IMPACT”. Names
don’t change hearts, but they do help us remember why we’re gathering. Our prayer is that students’
lives will be impacted—that those curious about God will find God as we worship Jesus Christ!
SMALL GROUP WEDNESDAYS: On October 19, we kicked off our Small Groups for the semester. We
are launching 8 groups of students who took a next step in their faith journey by committing to pursue
authentic relationships that encourage spiritual growth. Pray that the Lord will add adult leaders to our
Small Group Leader team so that we may see the work of the Gospel multiply in the next generation!
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: Our youth ministry is excited to jump “all in” with the Operation
Christmas Child opportunity. We want to bless others as we have been so greatly and generously blessed
by the Lord! We’ll be having a packing party on November 8.
PARTNERING WITH PARENTS: We’re excited to unveil some new discipleship tools in the near future
for our families! Hands down, parents have the biggest influence on students’ lives. We want to build
bridges to the home, get communication going between kids and parents, and see our homes experience
a life-giving Gospel-centered approach to everyday experiences.
JOIN OUR TEAM! As we seek to effectively make disciples of the next generation, we are always
looking for potential teammates who enthusiastically love Jesus Christ and who also really like teens.
Email nate@faithcommunity.net if you’d like to begin that conversation!
VISIT ONLINE TO STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST:
Twitter @ fccyouthmd
Facebook @ fccyouthmd
Website: www.fccyouthmd.net
Faith’sCommunity Newsletter is Heading for the Web!!
We are excited to announce that Faith’sCommunity
Newsletter is transitioning to be an Online publication each
month! Beginning in January, we will no longer issue a
printed version of Faith’sCommunity, but will continue
to offer it online, with new features and greater access
to information & church news. Each month, we will
publish it at our faithcommunity.net website.
Visit us Each Month at
faithcommunity.net
If you want to continue receiving a printed version, please
email us at office@faithcommunity.net and let us know. We
look forward to the exciting features and expanded access
our online version will bring to the congregation!
Be sure to check us out online each month!!
Mission Awareness Week Follow Up
The week may be over, but there’s work to be done!
Going Beyond Awareness
Faith Community Church recognizes the vital importance of missions at – and beyond - our local address to
introduce people to Jesus Christ and equip them to become His devoted followers. In October, a week of
activities for all ages was dedicated to the theme of “On Mission with God” to highlight FCC missionary
progress locally, nationally, and internationally.
Here are a few highlights:
We had the privilege of sitting under the teaching of Alvin Hull of Pioneers Missions who exhorted us to “let God
break our boxes and to live out loud our journey with God”.
Milly and Dillon Bateman transformed activity room 2 into a hands-on mission field (including real huts!) and
helped the children visualize the many foreign destinations where God is at work.
For the adults during Sunday School, several FCC-supported missionaries spoke about their contributions
including our very own Jon Evans with Good News Jail and Prison Ministry.
Throughout the week, several families hosted a meal at their homes to get an up close and personal look at the
ministry of Pat and Lanette Hillman who live among Muslims in the Middle East.
On Friday night and at a breakfast on Saturday morning Brian and Carole Wechsler shared the exciting ministry
called Village Missions, which keeps country churches alive in the U.S.
So, Now What? Let’s go BEYOND awareness and TAKE ACTION. Every week there is a list of FCC-supported
missionaries at faithcommunity.net and the Missions board at Church. Why not begin praying faithfully for them and
how you as well can join this incredible mission to make God known in our homes, neighborhood and to the nations?
Have you ever checked out the PC’s website: pregnancyclinicministry.org. Find information about its history and mission of;
and how this ministry is changing the world for Christ. Check out the “Foundation of Hope” project, the many ways you can get
involved and much more information about this vital ministry.
The 2014 Walk/Run event, held on September 20th. Over 700 people, young and old, participated and helped raise over
$80,000. THANKS to everyone who came out and supported it in any way! Rebecca Kiessling told her amazing story, “Conceived
in Rape, A Story of Hope”, at Bay Area Community Church on Friday night, October 17th. Rebecca is THE top pro-life speaker in
the Nation who focuses on the topic of abortion in the case of rape or incest, because of her own life story. Did you know that
over 60% of “Pro-Life” people believe abortion is wrong EXCEPT in the case of Rape or Incest? Rebecca’s own story highlights
the fact that a stance of this nature would have meant a “death sentence” for her had she been born just 90 days later based on
the approval of Roe vs Wade. For more information and to learn more about Rebecca’s, and other rape victims’ stories visit
rebeccakiessling.com .
What is the best and greatest thing you can do for the Pregnancy Clinic? PRAY! PRAY – as we fight not against flesh and blood
but against the spiritual world. PRAY – as we work to further God’s Plan for each person who walks through our doors, all our
employees and volunteers, and for this Nation. PRAYER – you have the power to change our world. PRAYER – the greatest force
for any Christian! PLEASE keep the Pregnancy Clinic in your PRAYERS.
Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and
who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
AWANA is in full swing this year with lots going on!
Cubbies have 59 pre-school, 3 & 4 year olds, registered this year with an average of 45 per Tuesday night!
They are still looking for an additional teacher; a helper for a special needs child and a puppeteer!
SPARKS have had as many as 71 Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders in one night but averages about 65!
They’ve had at least one new person every club night so far and as many as four new members in an
evening.
T & T, 3rd – 6th graders, have an average of 45 clubbers each week who are not only from FCC but from 13
other churches, which is one of the reasons why we say AWANA is one of the greatest community
outreach programs at FCC. These other churches do not have AWANA programs so they come to FCC!
TREK (middle school) and JOURNEY (high school/young adults) each average 12 youth during their
Monday night meeting time. They are still looking for some volunteers to be able to listen to verses and
also two adults interesting in assisting as leaders.
Key dates and activities for Tuesday nights in November:
Nov 4 No AWANA (Election night – FCC used as election location)
Nov 11 Bring items for Operation Christmas Child
Nov 18 Bring items and pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child
Nov 25 No AWANA (Thanksgiving Holiday week)
If you would like to assist in any way with our AWANA program, please contact Dave & Debbie Jarvis at:
410-729-7898 or Gary & Alice Glossop at: 410-987-4328.
-- Iva Grahek
To Submit an Item for the FCC Newsletter
Please contact Chad Aleshire via e-mail at:
chadaleshire@comcast.net
by phone on 443-336-7203.
FAITHCOMMUNITY.NET Brings The Gospel To Your Fingertips
Church Isn’t Just on Sunday. FCC Online is a Great Way to Stay Connected in Our Faith All Week Long
Make faithcommunity.net A Resource You Use Every Day!
News and Upcoming Events Stay Up to Date On What’s Happening at FCC
Ministries & Missions News on Missions We Support & Ministry Opportunities Here @ FCC
Church Calendar Plan Your Month, Find a Bible Study, Find Opportunities for Fellowship
Recorded Pastor Messages Hear Your Favorite Messages on Your Phone, Tablet, or Computer
Thought for the Month: Thanksgiving
What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?
I googled “Christian Thanksgiving” and one of the many pictures and word clouds that came up was the question above and it
pierced my heart, causing me to Thank God for way more than I usually do in my routine bed-time prayer. I thank God for the
big things every day: salvation, health, home, job, family, parents, food, church, etc. Then I began to thank God for the many
things I obviously take for granted like my freedoms and rights as an American, the ability to think, create and innovate, the
spare change in my pocket, limbs that work, life without persecution, His protection, His Peace, His Holy Spirit and His Soon
Triumphant Return. He is the Life-giver, the Giver of all things – and He gave His Life for us. We thank Him by giving him our
lives. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “In all things, give thanks. For that is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”
Happy Day of Giving Thanks! – Carrie Aleshire
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to
implore his protection and favor– and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the
People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors
of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
(Quote from the Thanksgiving Proclamation signed by U.S. President George Washington, October 3, 1789)
9:00 AM
Worship
Children’s Bible Studies
Adult Bible Studies
1
3
8:00 AM
7:00 PM
4
9:30 AM
4:30 PM
6:30 PM
5
9:00 AM
9:30 AM
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
6
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
Men’s Bible Study (every Saturday)
AWANA JV and Varsity (every
Monday)
Ladies Bible Study (every Tuesday)
Homeschool Freeplay (every Tuesday)
AWANA Cubbie, Sparks, T&T (every
Tuesday)
Men’s Bible Study (every Wednesday)
Pre-school Play Group (every Wed.)
Choir (every Wednesday)
Youth Small Groups (every
Wednesday)
Deacons Meeting
Ladies Bible Study (every Thursday)
In-depth Discipleship Class (every
Thursday)
10:45 AM
Worship
4 Year Old - 6th Grade Junior Worship
Adult, College-Age & Teen Bible Studies
7
9
11
13
16
18
24
26
27
30
9:30 AM
10:45 AM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
12:30 PM
12:30 PM
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
6:00 PM
Ladies Bible Study (every Friday)
Knollwood Manor Ministry
Youth Directional Team Meeting
Elders Meeting
Ladies Luncheon
Orchestra Rehearsal
Baltimore Rescue Mission
Mission Meeting
Choir Rehearsal
Thanksgiving
Communion