Welcome to EFC-ER's Weekly Encourager. We trust that this will become a bright spot each week in your emails. The purpose of the Weekly Encourager is to provide up-to-date information about region-wide events, prayer requests, and helpful resources from the local churches.

We have put up our Christmas tree at the World Outreach Center and would love your help with ornaments! If you didn't get a chance last year, please send a nativity scene ornament - possibly one that is unique to your area or special to your church. Ornaments may be sent or delivered to the WOC. Thank you for your help in being a special witness this Christmas season! 
Upcoming Events:
* January 22-23  
- Youth Awakening 
details to come.
* February 11 
- Grand Board Retreat and Executive Board 
in Canton, Ohio. Details have been emailed to board members. Contact Julia at jmcdonald@efcer.org with questions. 

We trust that every church is sharing these prayer requests within their local prayer community. Here is this week's request: 

1 - Please continue to pray for Wayne Evans, General Superintendent, as he finishes his time in India and returns to the USA early next week.
Celebrate with Friends!

The Christmas season is upon us! This past weekend in Ohio, Sebring Friends (above) and North Olmsted Friends (below) hosted live nativities for their communities.

Morningside Church in Florida had a Very Merry Christmas concert featuring Newsong, Plumb, Reno, Building 429, and the Centennial Drum Corp (below). 

Canton First Friends hosted "The Gift" Christmas concert on Sunday night with skits, choirs, orchestra, videos, a painter, and more. Click the following link for a glimpse: www.facebook.com/cantonffc/videos/10153256653542286.

If your church hosted a special Christmas outreach event or concert, please let us know! We would love to share what your church is doing for the Kingdom. 
News from the World Outreach Center
Pastors & Statisticians: the end-of-the-year statistical forms and Christian Education reports will be sent in the new year.

There are pastoral openings at  Urbana (part time);  Barberton (part time) currently welcomes Vicki Breckner as Interim;  Portsmouth, RI; and  Gilead. Contact Randy Heckert (rheckert@efcer.org) for more information.      

Camp Gideon has a new number for reservations. You can contact Julie Martin at    (330) 247-2474. 
kids_reading_book.jpg
Instead of the CE Board giving out curriculum materials this year, they have gifted each church with a $25 gift certificate to Lion & Lamb Bookstore. These gift certificates need to be used by Monday, December 28. You can either visit or call the store (330) 332-8501 to make your order. Even if you don't need it until January, you can still make the purchase, pay now, and receive it in January.  

Partnership Resources to Help Prepare Houses of Worship for Emergencies

Date : Wednesday, December 16
Time: 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. (ET)
Register Click here.  (Enter your email as the login and set your password.)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to invite you to a  webinar to help connect faith-based and community organizations with federal government tools, resources, and partners to help prepare their houses of worship for all hazards, including active shooter incidents. You can access guidance, training and more today at  www.fema.gov/protecting-houses-worship

CONTACT US
World Outreach Center
5350 Broadmoor Cir., NW
Canton, OH 44709
1-800-334-8863
Julia McDonald, Editor
jmcdonald@efcer.org
A Little Extra.... QUOTES  FOR THE WEEK:

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities." - Psalm 130:5-9 (ESV)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes Him should not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
- John 3:16-17 (ESV) 

We hope you've enjoyed catching up with news from the EFC-ER office.
More information and news will be coming each week. 
Please send Julia ( jmcdonald@efcer.org ) any of your suggestions, quotes,  and/or ideas for weekly encouragement .