First Free Church
The Impact of Christmas: Christmas and Conflict
John Richardson
Locations & Times
First Free Church
1375 Carman Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Welcome!
If you’re new, welcome! We’re so glad you’re with us today, and we’d love to get to know you! Please connect with us at efree.org/connect or by texting CONNECT to 636-251-4778. You can also stop by the Welcome Center in the lobby to fill out a Connect Card and get a free gift.
https://www.efree.org/connectTake Back Black Friday
Each year we challenge our congregation to spend less on Black Friday and holiday shopping and give sacrificially to support Kingdom-building efforts. Learn about our two projects and give by clicking the link below! <br> **Please note that all gifts are applied equally to both projects. We cannot designate gifts to one project or the other.
https://efree.org/blackfriday/Christmas Eve Services
<b>Join us for Christmas Eve services at 4 or 6:30 pm.</b><br>We’ll be having cookies and cocoa between the services in the north lobby, so if you come at 4, plan to stick around, and if you come at 6:30, plan to get here a bit early to enjoy some treats and time in fellowship with your church family.<br>The nursery will be open during the 4 pm service only.
Christmas Day Service
To give our volunteers and staff time with their families, we will not be having live, in-person services on Christmas Day, but we will be sending out (and posting to efree.org/christmas) a pre-recorded Christmas service with worship and a special message for your family to enjoy on Christmas morning.
https://efree.org/christmas/Women's Winter Bible Studies
Our next round of women’s Bible studies kicks off on January 10 & 11 and registration is open now, so head to efree.org/events to sign up.
https://efree.org/events/Men's Bible Study
Men’s Bible studies start their next semester on January 11th, so mark your calendar and plan to attend! You can get the details at efree.org/men.
https://efree.org/men/Bridge of Hope Tutoring
Right now, the two elementary schools nearest Bridge of Hope in north St. Louis city have only a 4-6% reading proficiency rate, but you can help improve that number. If you’ve been looking for a tangible way to impact the lives of others during the pandemic, we’ve got a great one for you! Bridge of Hope has created an online tutoring program to help these children learn to read. It only takes 40 minutes, twice a week, and the impact can last a lifetime. <br><br>Bridge of Hope provides the curriculum and training you need to be successful.<br><br><b>To learn more about how you can get involved and help change a life, email robin@bridgeofhopestl.org. </b>
Groups
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul encourages believers to “share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Life can be hard sometimes, and we aren’t meant to go it alone - we’re meant to do it as part of a group. If you're interested in joining or starting a Group, check out efree.org/groups!
https://www.efree.org/groupsConnections Ministry
Every Sunday could be someone’s first Sunday so our Connections team - our parking lot team, greeters, Welcome Center hosts, and ushers - strives to provide a welcoming environment from the moment someone pulls into our parking lot. if you have a love for others and a heart for hospitality, we'd love to have you join the team! Get in touch using the link below.
https://www.efree.org/connectionsChurch Center App and Directory
<b>Church Center</b> is a hub for First Free - you can manage giving, find a group, reserve your spot for a Sunday service, and more. The app also has a directory! Download the app, go to your profile and ‘My Directory Settings’ and choose the information you’d like included in the Directory. If you need help, email directory@efree.org.
http://www.efree.org/directoryLibrary Open!
The library is back open for business before and after the 11 am in-person service on Sundays (hooray for books!). <br><br>Please be sure to return the books you already have out, even if the library is technically closed when you are there. There's a slot in the security gate where books can be placed. When in the library, please keep your masks on and s
RightNow Media
We wanted to remind you that RightNow Media has thousands of videos for your kids and loads of Bible studies for you to help you stay grounded in your faith during all of this stay at home time. We’re giving you free access to the RightNow Media library, so head over to efree.org/rightnowmedia to learn more and get signed up.
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/firstfreechurchNeed Help?
We know that the coronavirus outbreak is impacting us all a little differently. If you need help, let us know by heading to efree.org/care and clicking on ‘I need help’. And if you can offer help, click on ‘I can help’. If you need prayer, visit efree.org/prayer. We want you to know that we’re here for you even if we can’t be physically here for you, and we’ll get through this together!
https://www.efree.org/carePhotography Team
We’re looking for volunteers to join our Photography Team! To get involved, fill out the form at efree.org/phototeam.
http://www.efree.org/phototeamMessages
Our sermons and Preparing for Worship emails are now available as podcasts!
http://www.efree.org/messages