Birthdays

September 14 Michele Crumrine, Nikole Hempy

September 16 Brynn Jacobson

September 18 Christina Schiebel

September 22 Tim Welton

September 24 Attison Fuller (great-granddaughter)

Linda Finders

September 26 Diane Rash, Shelly Smith

September 27 Jami Jacobson, Laura Arneson, Sarah Schutt

September 29 Brenna Hempy, Pattie Warnell

September 30 Clara Schiebel, Lavonne Stover, Marcos Doran

October 1 Jerry Appel

October 5 Emily Heath, Kyle Smith

October 8 Dan Gudith, Gabriel Doran

October 11 Larry Stover

October 13 Chasity Doran

October 16 Mercy Lovin

Anniversaries

September 19 Phil and Lexi Metz

September 29 Leo and Carol Driscoll

October 2 Adam and Brittany Tyrrell

October 10 Mike and Shelly Fuller

October 13 Harris and Michele Crumrine

Evangelical Free Church of Marshalltown September/October 2017 Monthly Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 16 Saturday Family Retreat at Hidden Acres SEPTEMBER 17 Sunday Hidden Acres Service 10:30 a.m ****No church at EFree Marshalltown Building ****For those not going to retreat, consider church at New Life EFree in Tama! 10:30 a.m.

Family Retreat at Hidden Acres Each year in September, we have planned one

Sunday out of the year, to gather the church

and go camping together at Hidden Acres,

the E. Free Camp north of Ogden. There will

be NO Worship Service or Sunday school

here at our building in Marshalltown on

Sunday, September 17th. The Retreat

starts on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 16th and

concludes in the afternoon of Sept. 17th. We

say “camping,” but the accommodations are

very nice, especially if you choose to stay at

the Inn or Welcome Center. The food is

incredible and the fellowship is even better!

It provides a time for the “church” to do life

together outside the 4 walls of the church

building. The kids and families love it as the

660 some acres overlooking the Des Moines

River are beautiful and have SO many fun

activities & places to hang out! If you didn’t

make it this year, maybe you’ll consider it

next year! If you come just one time, you’ll

be hooked – so watch out!! We want to say a

Big THANK YOU to Lee and Danielle Gudith

and Tracy and Val Troutner for all their

oversight of the Retreat & registration this

year!!

Church-Family Retreat September 16-17, 2017 Hidden Acres!

See ya there!

Please arrive no earlier than noon and remember to be

packed up and out of your rooms by noon on Sunday!

Discipleship Training Tim Welton Matthew 28:18-19a tells us, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has

been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations’…” Why is disciple-making of such urgent

importance to us as the Church? We could say because Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the Supreme and Just

Judge, Ruler of heaven and earth told us to. We could also say that if we love people we should move toward them

and persuade them of their ultimate, eternal fate apart from Christ. These are each good answers. However, the

answer that seems most encouraging comes from God’s ultimate plan for us and our world found throughout the

New Testament. In Revelation 7, the apostle John communicates to us his vision from the Lord of a countless

multitude, from every nation and people group standing before the throne of God and before the crucified and risen

Christ, who is pictured as the Lamb. This mass of purified and glorified humanity cries out in celebration:

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” The ravages and frustration of earthly

life—pain, injustice, hurricanes, tears—will all be gone. Furthermore, in Titus 2:11-14 we see that “the grace of

God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,” and that we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing

of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us…” This teaches us we live between

two great days in history: the day Jesus hung on the cross before all men and the day all men will stand before the

Judgment Throne and the Lamb who was slain. Our task during this time is to be trained “to renounce ungodliness

and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age...” as well as to “save

others by snatching them from the fire,” (Jude 23). The end to which God is moving all of human history involves

a people who have been redeemed from sin and death by the gracious self-giving of Jesus Christ—“a people for his

own possession who are zealous for good works”—who will love God and enjoy him forever on the new earth. We

have been given the opportunity to participate with Jesus Christ as he builds this vast throng of worshipers called

his church. This task requires intentional and ongoing training and it is why our Elders have started a discipleship

training class on Sunday mornings during the ABF hour. The goal is that this and future classes and opportunities

in the coming months can move the church body in the direction of more intentional disciple-making work. We

believe a true disciple is one who comes to follow Jesus, grows spiritually to be more like him and moves out in

love to duplicate themselves in other people of the community. Please join us as we seek to follow Jesus and allow

him to make us fishers of men.

From Pastor Bob Our emphasis over the past few months and now into the Fall has been and is - “What is a Disciple?” and “How do we

Make Disciples?” One of the books that I read clear back in college (that was a Long time ago!) and still have in my

library is entitled, “The Lost Art of Disciple-Making” by Leroy Eims. Another book that I read years ago was

“Disciples are Made – Not Born” by Walter Henrichsen. Making disciples has been a theme of Gospel ministry ever

since the days of Jesus and His earthly ministry. It’s not new but it can be easily overlooked as to whether it is

actually happening or not! The more individualistic and self-centered our Christian faith becomes in America, the less

disciple making will occur in the Church and the weaker the Church becomes! I see the tendency toward mediocrity

and “just coasting” in my spiritual life all the time! So, as we have been studying what Jesus had to say about what it

means to be His “Disciple,” I have been greatly challenged and convicted, myself. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul writes to

Timothy - “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful

men, who will be able to teach others also.” I truly desire our ministry at spiritual lives are being multiplied in the

lives of others around us! We must be intentional about this if it is going to happen! I think that our ABFs, Small

Groups, Women’s Studies, Men’s Studies, Youth Groups and etc., can be places where disciple-making and multiplication

are occurring, but there is no guarantee that it is happening! This is why we have started some “Discipleship Training”

sessions during our ABF hour that meet in the Prayer Room. If you are interested in checking this out or have

questions about it, please see one of the Elders. These will continue in the months ahead, so if you aren’t able to jump

in right now, keep it in mind for the future. Another training opportunity that we have coming up is a “4 Chair

Discipling” Seminar on Saturday, October 14th from 8:30 AM-Noon here at E. Free. We are very excited to host this

Sonlife training seminar to act as a catalyst for disciple-making in our church and community! Call the church office

or stop by the information table on the Commons for more details. I hope you will ask yourself: Am I truly making

disciples? Am I multiplying my life in the life of others? If so, how is that happening? If you are struggling to

answer that question, plan to check out one of these upcoming or ongoing trainings! Please see an elder if you have

interest or questions about upcoming or ongoing discipleship events!

4 Chair Discipling Seminar We are excited to host this disciple-making

training seminar of Sonlife Ministries on

Saturday, October 14th from 8:30 AM –

Noon. The cost is $25 per person or $40

per couple (with 2 manuals). If a couple

shares a manual, the cost is just the $25.

Call the church office or stop by the

information table in the Commons if you are

interested or have questions.

Adult Bible Fellowships (ABFs) Our ABFs meet from 9:00-10:00 AM

on Sunday mornings in the north

hallway of the church. At this time,

we have 4 different ABFs with various

ages represented in each ABF. As Fall

begins, it would be a great time to

check out an ABF for the first time.

Feel free to visit 2 or 3 of them to

see which might be the best fit for

you! If you have been attending one

and feel like visiting a different ABF,

no problem – this would be a good time

to do that! If you have questions

about involvement in an ABF, please

see Pastor Bob or one of the Elders.

Small groups are a great way for people to become involved in the life of the church! If you are currently not involved in a small group but would like to join one or just want information on them, please call Scott Johnson at 641-750-7626 or the church office at 641-752-7171. Remember- iron sharpens iron!

Men’s Ministry Summary

In many men’s ministry circles today, men gather for

connection, fellowship, Bible study and other good things that can

lead to a man’s spiritual growth. The key thing that is often missing is

work on a man’s heart. While this is often a rocky road to work on, it

is essential work and the only work that will lead to our church-body

becoming a ‘transformative learning’ community that Pastor Bob

spoke of in a recent sermon. In their book, How People Change, Tim

Lane and Paul Tripp describe the heart as “the steering wheel of every

human being. Everything we do is shaped and controlled by what our

hearts desire. That is why the Bible is very clear that God wants our

hearts. Only when God has your heart does he have you. As much as

we are affected by our broken world and the sins of others against us,

our greatest problem is the sin that resides in our hearts. That is

why the message of the gospel is that God transforms our lives by

transforming our hearts.” Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else,

guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” We can come to a

deeper understanding of the profound implications of this verse but

only by laying a firm foundation in the gospel.

The men are currently meeting twice monthly on Tuesday

evening to engage in a study called “Gospel in Life: Grace Changes

Everything” by Tim Keller. It focuses on how the gospel can change

your heart, your community, and how you live in this world. We have

already faced some tough issues around the idea that the default mode

of the heart is religious performance or work in order to earn God’s

favor. We have seen that the gospel tells us Jesus performed

sufficiently for us on the cross so that we can rest in God’s favor and

acceptance on a daily, in fact, moment by moment basis by the grace

and mercy He shows toward us. The “Rough Road Ahead” sign is

clearly visible as we move into the subject of idolatry—one of the

most insidious heart issues—in the weeks ahead. I would invite all

men to join us in this endeavor as we push back on the deception of

sin in our hearts and pray that “he who began a good work in you will

carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”.

WOMEN’S STUDY This summer, the women studied the War Room. We had anywhere from 12-23 women who attended each night. Topics included dealing with spiritual lukewarmness, Christian accountability, grasping grace and the gospel, engaging in spiritual warfare, and trusting God in prayer. New friendships were made and existing friendships strengthened. It's amazing to have friends that are willing to get on their knees and go to war for you! This fall we are studying Jonah-Navigating A Life Interrupted. They shock us; they shake us; they compel us to change. You can't escape life's interruptions, but you can change the way you look at them. An interruption may truly be God's divine intervention. I can't wait to see what comes out of this study! Watch the bulletin for upcoming studies!

Fall Quarter Sunday School

We will begin our fall study of God”s Word with Unit 25: “Jesus the Anointed One.”

Key Passage – Luke 4:18; Big Picture Question – Why do believers share the Lord’s Supper? Believers share

the Lord’s Supper to remember Jesus’ life and death and to proclaim Him until He returns.

9/10 – The Last Supper: Matthew 26:26-30; John 13:1-15. Main Point: Jesus and the disciples ate the first

Lord’s Supper at the Passover.

9/17 – No Sunday school. The Family Retreat.

9/24 – Jesus was Arrested: Matthew 26:36-27:2. Main Point: Jesus was betrayed and arrested.

Unit 26: Jesus The Savior

Key Passage – Ephesians 2:8-9; Big Picture Question – Why did Jesus die on the cross? To save us from

our sins and to come back to life to show we are forgiven.

10/1 – Jesus Crucifixion: Matthew 27:11-66. Main Point: Jesus was crucified on the cross.

10/8 – Jesus’ Resurrection: Matthew 28:1-15; John 20:1-18. Main Point: Jesus was resurrected on the

third day.

10/15 – The Emmaus Disciples: Luke 24:13-35. Main Point: Jesus taught that all the Scriptures point to

Him.

Sunday School NOTE: Kindergartners (those who are five years old) will have “Seedlings” nametags

located at the nursery counter for nursery check-in during the worship service. They will have a

separate “ROOTeD” nametags located at the Garden check-in for Sunday school. Please do not

transport “ROOTeD” nametags to the nursery for nursery check-in during the worship service. If you

have questions about this, please contact me at the church, 641-752-7171

Fall Pre-Teen youth meetings are in full swing. We meet each

Wednesday from 6:30 to 8pm at E Free. If your student is a

fifth or sixth grader this school year, we would love to have

them join us! Bring a friend!

This semester, we are walking through E Free’s ten statements

of faith and learning what our church believes and studying the

scripture upon which those statements are founded. There will

also be a lot of fun games, snacks, and time spent getting to

know one another. I love this time with the students and look

forward to seeing them this Fall! If you have any questions

about pre-teen youth, don’t hesitate to give me a call. I can be

reached at the church, 641-752-7171.

Children’s Christmas

Musical The musical cast list will be

posted by Sept 24th. There

will be a special presentation by

the Toddler and PreK classes.

The Kindergartner’s will take

part in the Choir with those

children who do not wish to

have a role in the musical

production, but would like to

participate. This year’s script

has plenty of laughs, wonderful

music, and most importantly, a

clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Our performance date has yet

to be determined.

Good News Club and Truth Trek The Good News Clubs and Truth Trek Fall 2017 session is set

to begin on October 10th and run once per week for six

weeks from 3:20 to 5pm. We will need many volunteers to

staff Anson, Franklin, and Lenihan. I am praying that many of

you will want to be a part of this wonderful Gospel opportunity

to children in our community! If you believe that you would

like to volunteer in a club or Truth trek, please contact at

brent@marshalltownefc.org. A number of individuals have

already volunteered, but we still need two more volunteers at

Franklin; five more at Anson; and two more at Lenihan! I am

excited to see who of you God will provide!

The approved dates for the Good News Clubs and Truth Trek

are listed below:

For Anson and Lenihan: Tuesdays, October 10, 17,

24, 31, and November 7 and 14, from 3:20 to 5pm.

For Franklin: Thursdays, October 12, 19, 26 and

November 2, 9, and 16, from 3:20-5pm.

If you are interested in serving children in our community this

Fall in a Good News Club or Truth Trek, please contact me as

soon as you are able! Thank you in advance for your service!

Student Ministry Kickoff @ the Big House August 30th marked the kickoff to our 2017-18 student ministry season! We're convinced that God uses junior high & high school students to change the spiritual climate of neighborhoods, communities & nations. That’s why we decided to host our fall kickoff outside the four walls of our church. We wanted it to be symbolic of how our Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings function -- as training grounds for our students to engage the world with the love of Christ. In other words, we come in to be sent out; we gather to scatter. We had a blast reconnecting after our August break with a grill out and color wars, and then sharing the vision for 2017-18 with our students!

Wednesday Night Series in the Book of Romans: Unashamed Please join us in praying for our students & leaders as we spend most of our year together studying through the book of Romans in our series entitled Unashamed. Paul’s letter to the Romans is regarded as the most complete summary of the gospel message and Christian doctrine found in any single biblical book. The message it contains is no less than “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (1:16). Please pray that as God’s Word is proclaimed, studied, received & celebrated, students & leaders would treasure Christ. For he is exceedingly beautiful.

9/13 – Youth 9/20 – Youth 9/27 – Youth 10/4 – Youth 10/11 – Youth 10/18 – Come Together (First Presbyterian Church, 6:30-8pm, 7-12th grade) 10/23 – Oktemberfest Bonfire @ the Byers (6-9pm, 7-8th grade)

DATES!!!