online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975

A Sabbatical Season for EFC by Pastor Mike

God gathered the Jews at the foot of Mount Sinai and ascended on the mountain in a magnificent display of smoke and fire. In those weeks Yahweh and Israel met and established a covenant that would extend for all generations of his people. This was a unique covenant that would cause God’s people to look very different from neighboring nations. The point was not looking different, the point was God’s people depending completely on Yahweh and loving Him wholeheartedly. Exodus records the instructions of their regular observance of a Sabbatical. Every week they would take a full day to rest from their regular work and anticipate God’s perfect rest that would come in the Promised Land. Every seventh year was called the Sabbatical and all fields would be rested, slaves set free and work would cease. Yahweh promised to meet their needs during the Sabbaths. Stoppage from regular work, refreshment and focusing on God’s perfect rest was a regular part of Jewish life. I don’t think we do that very well. How often have you or I needed a vacation from our vacation? Isn’t our “day off” usually busy catching up on all the work we didn’t finish the previous week? Sabbath as prescribed by God is hard to do. It is time to consider the implications when God’s worshipers fail to Sabbath regularly and well. I know well the strain and depletion this causes on one’s soul and spirit.

I’m leading EFC into a Sabbatical season. It is probably coming later than it should have and I’ve never done this with a church before. I share the ministry exhaustion many of you are experiencing. I’m tired and my fire is waning. A small church with the unique ministry we’ve been involved in has taken a toll on all of us. As a result, September and October are being set aside to scale down the busyness of EFC programs so we are able to focus on one thing. We need to become lovers and worshipers of Jesus. This is why God made us and it is the one thing I want to do well.

The one organized event at EFC during this Sabbatical season is a time of extended worship. The dinners we have served, breakouts we have led, events we have p lanned, mee t ings we have he ld , and programming we have provided are stopping during this time for all ages.

I invite you to join me in this Sabbath season. Come rest and intentionally refresh yourself as we re-kindle the love we have for Jesus. Gather with us free of expectation and responsibility. Worship the King of kings and give him the space to pour His Spirit afresh upon you and your family.

WORSHIP GATHERING S A T U R D A Y S @ 6 P M

Everett Family Church is in the midst of a church wide sabbatical - a season of rest, refreshment as we seek to become lovers and worshippers of Jesus Christ. Saturday evenings will be a simple and extended time of music, prayer and Scr ipture reading. All ages are welcome to participate in this worship time. Parents needing something for their little ones will have a room for p re sc hoo le r s and a space f o r elementary children to play.

E F C F O C U S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5

Are you ready to sabbath well? While this Sabbath season clearly ef fects the programming of EFC you are encouraged to consider how you are sabbath-ing beyond church. This is not about sleeping in, taking naps, watching Seahawks games, and eating junk food. Those things may be part of your Sabbath, but this is about redeeming our time to enjoy Jesus and express our gratitude to Him and learning to listen and love our Savior. It is about waiting on Him and creating space for Him to show up. It is about persistence until He opens the door and meets with us. Here are some ideas:

Clear a day every week for your family as a Sabbath. Re-schedule appointments, commitments, and busyness for 24 hours. Find an activity for your family, cook a meal together, read a passage from Scripture and talk about it.

Fast from something and use the time normally devoted to this to pursue Jesus. Cut out/down TV, movies, meal prep, talk radio, a hobby, lunch, sugar, etc.

Consolidate your home chores to free up time on other days. Do laundry and cleaning all on one day; work as a family to clean-up after dinner; prep your Sabbath dinner the day before.

Give your spouse a day off from family responsibilities. Encourage him/her to spend time with the Lord in a park or on a hike or some other getaway.

online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975

Family Camp 2015: We had a wonderful time as a church at Entiat Valley Family Camp the last weekend of June.

Baptism: On July 11th we celebrated as Janell was baptized at Silver Lake. She shared her testimony with the church during the Family Gathering and then confessed that Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior.

Missions Week: The last weekend of July we partnered with the team from Humble Area First Baptist Church in leading a Kids Club here in Everett. 51 children attended this Vacation Bible School program and invited their parents to come to a carnival at the week’s end.

SUMMER REWIND

E F C M a n a g e m e n t T e a m

THE TEAM: Dan Bell, Michelle Linke, & Mike Wright

You may turn your Joy Box gifts in during the Gatherings or send payments to “Everett Family Church” to the mailing address listed below.

Total Joy Box gifts in July $5,195 .................Total EFC spending in July $11,227 .............. Community Ministry & Missions Abroad $903 ....

Everett Family Church is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Tax Identification # 71-1025722

EFC BIRTHDAYS: We are celebrating the following birthdays this month.

September 7 Rob ....................September 14 Jenn ..................September 21 Casey ..................September 26 Mary..................

UPCOMING EFC DATES The following are the important dates for EFC this months. September 5 Worship Gathering @ 6pm September 12 Worship Gathering @ 6pm September 19 Worship Gathering @ 6pm

EFC Youth this Summer: What a summer for our youth! Working the fireworks stand with Pastor Spud, Tuesday night fellowship, and rafting the Yakima River at summer’s end!