First Free Church
The Impact of Christmas: Christmas and the Cross
Adam Bowers
Locations & Times
First Free Church
1375 Carman Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Welcome!
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/connectMission Gate Christmas Angel Tree
Christmas is the season of giving, and we’re proud to be partnering with Mission Gate’s Christmas Angel program again! Grab an angel (or multiple angels!) from the tree in the main lobby, shop for the gift(s), and then bring the wrapped gifts back and put them under the tree by December 5th.
https://efree.org/event/mission-gate-angel-tree-2/Take Back Black Friday
Each year we challenge our congregation to spend less on Black Friday and holiday shopping and give sacrificially to support Kingdom-building efforts. Learn about our two projects and give by clicking the link below!
https://efree.org/blackfriday/Red Cross Blood Drive
Participating in our Red Cross blood drive this holiday season gives you the opportunity to give something that means something. Make an appointment to give on December 8th below!
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=FirstFreeChurchA Christmas Carol Radio Drama
Join us for a celebration of Christmas with a reimagining of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Performance dates: December 9 @ 7:30 pm / December 10 @ 7:30 pm / December 11 @ 2:30 pm / December 16 @ 7:30 pm / December 17 @ 7:30 pm / December 18 @ 2:30 pm The play will be held in the Chapel (east entrance of the main building) and doors will open half an hour before the performance starts. Admission is $10/ticket. Refreshments will be served during intermission. Grab some friends and come along for a wonderfully festive event to start the holiday season!
https://efree.org/event/a-christmas-carol-radio-drama/Christmas Eve Services
Join us for Christmas Eve services at 4 or 6:30 pm.
We’ll be having cookies and cocoa between the services in the north lobby, so if you come at 4, plan to stick around, and if you come at 6:30, plan to get here a bit early to enjoy some treats and time in fellowship with your church family.
The nursery will be open during the 4 pm service only.
We’ll be having cookies and cocoa between the services in the north lobby, so if you come at 4, plan to stick around, and if you come at 6:30, plan to get here a bit early to enjoy some treats and time in fellowship with your church family.
The nursery will be open during the 4 pm service only.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year. Rather than having live services, we will be sending out (and posting to this page) a pre-recorded Christmas service with worship and a special message for your family to enjoy on Christmas morning.
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://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/firstfreechurchNeed 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/phototeamSOS - 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