January 23, 2019
Congratulations to Luc (Associate Pastor at The Friends Church: Broadview Heights) and Conner Bohler with the birth of Judson King Bohler on December 31, 2018!
Rescheduled - Retirement Celebration for Rick Sams
Due to inclement weather, the retirement celebration service for Pastor Rick Sams has been postponed to Sunday, January 27, 2019. There will be two identical celebration services at 8:00am and 10:45am at Alliance Friends Church this Sunday. Please pass this information on to anyone who may be interested in celebrating Rick and Joyce Sams.
EFM Missionary Speakers
David and Jonathan Howell, EFM missionaries to Ireland, will be in EFC-ER during February and part of March.  Tricia and Moriah remain in Ireland this trip. Learn more about the Howells by clicking on the video link to the right and by visiting their EFM page here .

The Howells are available to share in Sunday worship, mid-week small groups, and family meals. Please email Julie Jenkins (jjenkins@efcer.org) to schedule the Howells.
Babir and Lalita Gautam  - Please pray for the Friends ministry in northeast India. Key leaders recently met and set goals to plant 25 new churches, start 50 house fellowships, and train youth ministry workers in 2019. Please join them in trusting God and launching out in faith. “Commit thy work unto the Lord and thy thought shall be established.” (Proverbs 16:3, KJV).
Prayers for the Church (3/7) - A prayer for wisdom (Dan Reiland)
"God, thank you for the promise of your wisdom. Our thoughts, ideas, and creativity have little to no eternal value without you. We pray for the courage to act upon that wisdom. May it help us as leaders in making good decisions. Grant us the wisdom to more fully understand your will and purpose for the church, in the specific circumstances in which we serve. We seek your wisdom and guidance to lead the church in a way that brings glory and honor to you."
Mutual of Omaha Insurance Questions
We have received a few recurring questions from our pastors regarding insurance forms We hope this information will bring clarity:

  1. Both Life and Long-Term Disability forms need to be completed for Mutual of Omaha insurance and returned to the Evangelical Friends Headquarters. The two go together; neither is optional for our full-time pastors.
  2. Voluntary Life Insurance is available during open enrollment (now through January 31) if you want to purchase supplemental insurance. If you do not want to enroll in Voluntary Life Insurance, please disregard the form.
  3. Everyone currently on Voluntary Life Insurance needs to complete the new form for Mutual of Omaha and return to the Evangelical Friends Headquarters, even if you are not changing your coverage.
Visit the events calendar on our website at www.efcer.org/events .

* January 23-24 -  Multiplication Team meetings at the EF HQ.
* January 24 -  Finance & Administration Team meeting at the EF HQ.
* January 25-27 -  Youth Awakening Retreat at New Life Community Church in Ridgeway, VA. Find out more at https://nlccalive.com/youthawakening .
* January 28 - February 1  - NAE Christian Student Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. Find out more and register at   www.NAE.net/cslc .
* February 8-9 - Malone University Board of Trustees meetings at Malone University.
* February 12-13 -  Oversight Board meeting at the EF HQ.
* May 6-10 - Pastors Conference in Gatlinburg, TN.
* July 20-23 - Yearly Meeting at First Friends Church in Canton, OH.
Quotes for the Week

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13 (ESV)
Julia McDonald, Editor | 1-800-334-8863 | jmcdonald@efcer.org | www.efcer.org

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