First Free Church
Parables: The Shrewd Manager
Barret Moore
Locations & Times
First Free Church
1375 Carman Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
New Here?
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/connectJoin us on Sunday!
We're excited to announce that we're re-opening our 9 am in-person service! If you like to join us in the auditorium at 9 or 11 am, please make a reservation at efree.org/reservation! This helps us ensure that we're within our capacity limits, and also helps with COVID tracing, should we hear of someone who has been exposed. Please note that Kid Connection is open during the 11 am service only.
https://efree.churchcenter.com/registrationsKid Connection is Open!
Kid Connection is open during the 11 am service! We ask that you reserve a spot for each child that will be in attendance - to make a reservation, visit efree.org/reservations. To view a more detailed reopening plan for our Children's Ministry, visit efree.org/kids. If you have any questions, please email kidconnection@efree.org.
https://efree.churchcenter.com/registrationsThrive Baby Bottle Fundraiser and Bottle Drive
We’re excited to be partnering with Thrive to help them support pregnant women in crisis. We’ll be distributing baby bottles starting May 9th, and invite you to grab a bottle, fill it up with loose change, cash, or a check, and bring it back on June 20th. We're also collecting diapers!
https://www.efree.org/event/thrive-baby-bottle-and-diaper-drive/Connections Community Breakfast
If you are serving in the Connections ministry, this event is for you! Join us on May 22nd for food, fellowship, a little bit of training, and a whole lot of fun. Register at efree.org/events.
https://www.efree.org/event/connections-community-breakfast/Spring Carnival
We're hosting a spring carnival for our First Free family on May 23rd! We’ll have food trucks, carnival games, a petting zoo, and pony rides! All activities (except the food trucks) are free, so join us for an afternoon of family fun! The event will be held on the north patio, parking lot, and corner property.
https://www.efree.org/event/spring-carnival/Groups Pastor Candidate Forums & Vote
We're excited that Nick Parker has been unanimously nominated by the elder board to join our team as our Groups Pastor! We will have two open forums for you to meet Nick, hear his testimony and heart for discipleship, and ask him questions, on May 27th and 29th. The congregational meeting and vote will be Sunday, May 30, between services in the main auditorium, with an online option. To learn more about Nick, the forums, and the voting process, please visit efree.org/candidate.
https://www.efree.org/candidate/Baby Dedication
We are holding a Baby Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, June 5th at 9:00 am. Any young child that has not been previously dedicated is welcome to be a part of the ceremony. This ceremony is specifically for the children being dedicated, their families, and invited guests. We will be sharing in the celebration with the rest of the congregation at a later time during the main service! Registration closes on May 28th.
https://www.efree.org/event/baby-dedication-2/Mission Community Breakfast
During the pandemic everything seemed to shut down, but God was still at work through our missionaries! Come and hear their stories at 9 am on June 6th in the Activity Center during our Mission Community Breakfast. Please register in advance at efree.org/events.
https://www.efree.org/event/mission-community-breakfast/Ironton Family Mission Trip
First Free and Bethel Churches will partner this summer to bring the message of Christ to children and youth through a free Bible camp experience from June 20-25! Get the details at efree.org!
https://www.efree.org/irontonKanakuk KampOut!
Kanakuk KampOut! will be at First Free this summer from July 19-23! KampOut! is a 1-week, high-energy, non-stop excitement, traveling Christian day camp experience from Kanakuk for children ages 5-12.
https://www.efree.org/event/kanakuk-kampout-2/Fresh Start for Fusion
We’re so excited to be reopening Fusion! If you’re not in the know, Fusion is our ministry to 4th and 5th graders. We want to create a fun and welcoming space for them, so if you have old board games or video games lying around that you’d like to donate, we’d love to put them to good use. Check out efree.org/fusion for more information.
https://www.efree.org/fusionArk Encounter / Creation Museum Trip
Join us for a four-day trip to the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Kentucky this July! These state-of-the-art attractions present biblical truth and quality scientific research through engaging and interactive exhibits. Both kids and adults will learn and be encouraged in their faith. Kids (10 and under) are free at both locations in 2021, so this is a great time to go! Learn more at the link below!
https://www.efree.org/arkHoly Land Tour
In 2019, a group of people from our church traveled to Israel together and were able to see the Sea of Galilee, walk on the Mount of Olives, float in the Dead Sea, explore the old city of Jerusalem, and more. Our 2020 trip was postponed due to the pandemic, but we’ve been able to reschedule and we hope that you can come with us in November of 2021! To learn more, visit efree.org/israel.
https://www.efree.org/israel/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.
Bridge of Hope provides the curriculum and training you need to be successful.
To learn more about how you can get involved and help change a life, email robin@bridgeofhopestl.org.
Bridge of Hope provides the curriculum and training you need to be successful.
To learn more about how you can get involved and help change a life, email robin@bridgeofhopestl.org.
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
Church Center 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!).
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
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://www.efree.org/rightnowmediaNeed 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/phototeamCare Team Counseling
Life often includes challenges that are too big to face alone. Our lay Care Team Counselors are trained to walk alongside and assist people who are in need of hope, care, and direction. Counselors are available by appointment every Wednesday evening - email care@efree.org.
http://www.efree.org/care/SOS - Servants On Site
God uniquely gifts every person for service, and SOS is a way to serve by using your maintenance skills on minor jobs such as painting, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc. To get involved, contact Tom Siener at 636.779.2160 or tsiener@efree.org.
Messages
Our sermons and Preparing for Worship emails are now available as podcasts!
http://www.efree.org/messages