May 12th 2015

COMMUNITY
FREE CHURCH
!

WEEKLY
Graduation
Parties!

Everyone is invited to
come out and celebrate
these great students
achievements!
Justin Reed Celebration
Saturday, May 23rd
12 - 3:00pm

How can you help?

Drop off your stuff to help the students raise money.
Drop off: Wednesday
12-5:00pm
Thursday
12-5:00pm
Friday morning 9-12:00pm

1705 Oakwood Drive

Mahomet, IL 61853

Isaac Ekberg Celebration

Saturday, May 23rd
12 - 3:00pm

1615 E. Lake in the Woods Ct.

Mahomet, IL 61853

Come out to help the

students price items
Thursday.
Come out and help
with the sale Friday
night and Saturday
morning!
Contact Jake to let
him know if you
can help serve the
students as they
prepare to be

Call the Church:

217-586-5165
Contact by Email:
jbarrett.cfcmahomet@gmail.com

Whats Happening This

Week at Your Church?
Wednesday 5/6

Youth Ministry 6:00pm

Just Do Something 7:00-8:00pm
With Rob and Michelle Shafer at church

Thursday

5/7

Just Do Something 5:00-6:00pm

With Jacob Barrett at church

Worship Practice 7:30pm

Friday

5/8

Youth Rummage Sale 3-6:00pm

Saturday

5/9

Act Like Men 7:00am

Youth Rummage Sale 9-1:00pm
Macy Rilea Baby Shower 2-4:00pm

Sunday

5/10

Christian Education 9:30am

Just Do Something 9:30-10:30am
With Jim Sackett and Dean Ekberg at church.

Childrens Sunday School

9:30-10:30am
Childrens Church 10:45am
Worship Service 10:45am

Just Do Something 6:15-7:15pm

With the Eichstedts at church

Monday

5/11

Church Office closed

Martial Arts 6:00pm
Free - Come out and check it out!

Natalie Portman Gets It (Almost)

Forget flaunting the Oscar statuette on the
mantel. Natalie Portman prefers to keep
her trophy tucked away. In fact, she's not
actually sure where it is.
"I think it's in the safe or something. I
don't know. I haven't seen it in a while,"
Portman said in the May 15 issue of The
Hollywood Reporter.
The actress, 33, who won the Academy
Award for Best Actress in 2011 for her
Black Swan performance, explained why
she isn't one to worship the gold statuette
or dwell on the big win.
"I was reading the story of Abraham to my
child and talking about, like, not
worshipping false idols," she said. "And
this is literally like gold men. This is
literally worshipping gold idols if you
worship it. That's why it's not displayed
on the wall. It's a false idol." E!Online
Natalie doesnt yet know the saving grace
of Jesus Christ, but she can! Start praying
for her family, and thank God she is
reading the Bible to her son.

National Day of Prayer

A Chinese province, where authorities have

forcibly removed hundreds of rooftop crosses
from Protestant and Catholic churches, has
proposed a ban on any further placement of the
religious symbol atop sanctuaries. The draft, if
approved, would give authorities in the eastern
province of Zhejiang solid legal grounds to
remove rooftop crosses.

Since early 2014, Zhejiang officials have

toppled crosses from more than 400 churches,
sometimes resulting in violent clashes with
congregation members. They have said the
crosses violate building codes, but critics say
the rapid growth of Christian groups have made
the ruling Communist Party nervous.

This past week 10-15 people met at 7:00-7:20am at the

Mahomet Administration building in pray for our community,
nation, and world. We prayed for repentance, protection, and
wisdom as we stand for truth and righteousness in a world
that has frankly lost its way.
As I left I felt two things. First, I was blessed by those that
stopped on the way to work and the prayers that were
spoken. Second, I realized we need more of this. We need
more holy disruptions that bring us together in humility to
seek Gods Face on behalf of our nation.
if my people who are called by my name humble
themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive
their sin and heal their land. 15Now my eyes will be open
and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this
place. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (ESV)
So starting next week are going to have an open time of
prayer in the parking lot of CEFCM, Thursdays from
7:00am-7:20am. Stop by on your way to work and join in as
we seek God together. This will be an open invite to ALL
who call on the name of the Lord Joel 2:32, Romans 10:17
(ESV)

"The authorities have attached great importance

to this religious symbol," said Zheng Leguo, a
pastor from the province who now lives in the
United States. "This means no more prominent
manifestations of Christianity in the public
sphere."
A draft of rules on religious structures released
by government agencies this week says the
crosses should be wholly affixed to a building
facade and be no more than one-tenth of the
facade's height.
The campaign comes amid Beijing's increasing
restrictions on civil liberty, Zheng said, as
authorities have stepped up persecution of
advocates for civil society and rights lawyers,
and placed more restrictions on nongovernmental groups. AP Didi Tang

The Youth Group is selling fresh Krispy Creme

Doughnuts between May 10th through May 16th,
to be picked up at the church on 5/24.
The cost per dozen is $8.00
Contact Jake Barrett, Hannah Willey, or your favorite
student and order some today!

After much prayer, the Elders and Deacons feel that not
only has the Lord said YES to AWANA for 2015/2016,
but He has provided some pretty neat confirmations along
the way.
Therefore, this year we are going to lay our hands on this
calling like we never have in my almost 4 years at CEFCM.
Joyfully, we will press on as a church in faith that God will
provide every volunteer, financial, and logistical need for the coming year.
In the coming weeks, we will be sharing Gods vision for AWANA for the coming year. We hope that you will
get excited about the big and small ways you can help in reaching kids. This may involve getting out of our
comfort zone and into the community to let families and kids know that there is a great place to learn the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. But dont worry, we have already lined up an official AWANA training on August 2nd, so
you are equipped to serve!
What can you do now?

Pray for AWANA.

Pray for the AWANA committee planning for the next years program.
Pray for how God might use you to help make AWANA amazing!
Pray that God would prepare hearts to answer the call to serve.
Pray for boldness in going out into the community to share about AWANA.
Pray that God would open doors to reach kids who have never heard the Gospel.
Pray for wisdom, clarity, and direction for the AWANA committee.
Are you interested in helping with AWANA? Email Michelle Shafer: shafer5@mchsi.com

Each of the movements Hebrews 11 is marked by the phrase by faith.

What we learn as we read each verse weekly, is that the people of God live
by faith at every turn. What we notice is the events dont always appear to
bless them, but they, by faith, serve as a blessing in Gods bigger plan.
Likewise, you are a blessing in His greater purposes.
Read Hebrews 11:23.
Oftentimes as parents we are afraid that our children dont measure up. We
look at other kids, families, and believe that we have to measure up to some
mythical standard. In todays passage the parents of Moses see that he is
beautiful, and they defy the Kings edict and save the child.
Pray today to see your childrens (and grandchildrens) true beauty, and for
the strength to defy the trap of comparing them up and against some false
standard apart from who Christ called them to be. Ask God how He
wonderfully and beautifully made them to be, and follow His lead.

Weekly Bible Reading

May
May
May
May

10th
11th
12th
13th

1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians

1
2
3
4

May
May
May
May

14th
15th
16th
17th

1 Corinthians 5
1 Corinthians 6
1 Corinthians 7
1 Corinthians 8

Titanic Truth and Titanic Myth

This past week I had some time on my day off,

so I watched the new Left Behind movie with
Nicholas Cage. I will admit that I have not read
any of the books, nor have I fully watched the
original series starring Kurt Cameron.
About 3/4 of the way through the film there was
a scene that really hit me in the gut. After
realizing that the rapture has occurred, the
daughter of Nicholas Cages character goes to
their church to seek answers. When she arrives
the pews are empty, save the clothes of those
who were raptured, and one person: the pastor.
In the original film this same scene opens with
the pastor sitting behind the podium, bouncing
a rubber ball, saying:
Oh boy, what a fraud I am, everyone bought
it. Everyone except You, as he jumps to his feet
pointing at the cross, I knew Your message, I
knew Your Words. I stood right here and I
preached it and I was good, but knowing and
believing are two different things... **
There is a growing number of people today
who are in this same boat, walking around
believing they are unsinkable, and in doing so,
they tarry very close to the lines of sin and
disbelief. This is what they call the Titanic myth
of faith.
The Titanic myth is the belief that I can take on
a little water and I wont sink. That I can take
on a little doubt, and I wont sink. I can defer a
few small things in the Bible to my disbelief,
and I wont take on so much water that I will
fall into total disbelief.

forgot, the fundamental truth, is this: that a hole

in a boat is a hole in a boat none the less.
Many of us live segmented lives in such a way
that we think we are unsinkable. We have our
church life, our work life, our home life, and
our sin life. We keep each separate, hoping that
if we take on a little water (sin) there it wont
effect the rest. The problem is, as I said, a hole
in the boat is a hole in the boat, which only
grows to be a gaping hole over time.
John MacArthur, at a recent conference said:
While it is imperative that we reach out with
the Gospel, we also need to be evangelizing in
the church with solid Bible teaching and
conversations that challenge us by enriching
and protecting our faith.
I could not help but watch that scene in the
film, and think to myself:
Who will ask us the tough questions, so
that we dont ever wind up like that?
The answer is each other.
In these days where the waves of heresy are
high and the storms of secularism are intense,
we cannot afford to take on any unintended
water. Therefore, none of us can afford to live a
segmented life apart from the inspired, inerrant,
and infallible truth of who God is, and the
encouragement that we experience together.
The truth of scripture is this:
At some point Jesus comes back.
At some point we have to answer for our faith.
And, do we really think that you will be able to
say, Look at my home life, look at my church
life, look at my work life without Jesus
addressing the gaping hole in the hull of our
lives?
Its not at some later point, but right now, that
we have been given everything needed for faith
and godliness in Christ Jesus so, that you and I
are prepared for that great day.

You see, the Titanic was the first ship that

featured a segmented hull making it appear, at
least in theory, unsinkable. What the builders
** Watch the scene here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig_zGghP4YA

New Sunday AM Christian Education Classes:

Join Tasha Schifo this summer as she launches

into an 8 week study on Biblical Womanhood
through True Woman 101: Divine Design On
Wednesdays: June 10th ,17th, 24th and July 1st,
8th, 15th, and 22nd from 8:30am-10:00am.
In this study, Mary A. Kassian and Nancy Leigh
DeMoss share the key fundamentals of biblical
womanhood. Each week includes five individual
lessons leading to a group time of sharing and
digging deeper into Gods Word.
If youre tired of the worlds cheap imitations and
knock-offs - or if youre tired of clichd advice,
shallow caricatures - then this foundational
teaching and insight from Gods Word is for you!

Starting Sunday, June 7th,

with Pastor Jason:
We are going to be looking
at some of the toughest
issues Christians are facing:
Marriage, Poverty, Racism,
Sex Slavery, Persecution,
Abortion, Pornography, and
Orphans.
This will be a high
discussion group, as we
read and wrestle these hard
issues with truth and grace
together.
Cost is $20 for 10 weeks

Thousands of women are tossing the worlds

brand of womanhood and joining a quiet
counter-revolution... Biblical Womanhood!
Find out why...
Email Tasha at tschifo@gmail.com or
call her at 309-857-2693 to sign up for this study.
The cost will
be: $15 for the
book, and there
will be childcare available
at a cost of $2
per week,
per child.

Starting Sunday, June

7th, with Jim Sackett:
God doesn't demand
hectic church programs
and frenetic schedules;
he only wants his people
to know him more
intimately, says topselling author D. A.
Carson.prayer.
The apostle Paul found that spiritual closeness in his
own fellowship with the Father. By following Paul's
example, we can do the same. This study calls
believers to reject superficiality, and revolutionize
their lives by embracing a God-guided approach to
prayer.
Cost is $12 for 10 weeks
Sign up for a class today by emailing:
communityfreechurchofmahomet@gmail.com