Church guide

“Today, we are praying for you! That you would know just how loved you are by the Creator of the universe. That you would be so secure in His love, you would easily and lavishly give it away. That His extravagant love shown through you would change the lives of those around you. And ultimately, we pray that the whole world would know the love and kindness of God through His love overflowing in you.” _____________________________________________ Did you know we meet twice a month to pray together as a Church Family? Meet us in the Youth Room at 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month as we come together for a night of prayer. (The next one is July 23rd!) Learn more at spartaefc.org/prayer

STARTING TODAY AT 11am after church. We’re preparing a place for you to come and worship, and it’s happening All. Summer. Long. Raw. Unplugged. Bring your voice, bring your instrument, bring Him your praise. Make sure you invite someone (or many someones ☺️)! Photos by Ryan Kurz

“The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ What we experience when we rest in His presence is REAL LOVE! We hope you were blessed and encouraged this morning! Spread His love, and know that we are here for you, we love you, and we are praying for you! If you missed this morning’s message, watch or listen to it in our church app or at spartaefc.org/messages Photo by Ryan Kurz

What a Sunday! We are speechless at the number of people that are changing their lives forever with the decision to follow Jesus. Praise God that we get to celebrate new life in Christ together, and we’re only getting started! Baptism Celebrations continue on August 11th!! Signup in our app or at spartaefc.org/baptism if you’re ready to be baptized. We’re just a few weeks away from watching more of our Church Family shouting out publicly that they love and follow Jesus! We hope you’re ready to worship, celebrate, and cheer everyone on! Photos by Randy Klimek Photography

We can’t wait for more totally awesome weeks at Breakaway Day Camp! You have until TODAY at 10am to register your children for Week 2, beginning this Monday the 15th. There’s still time! ⏰ Breakaway Day Camp provides 4 weeks of action-packed fun for children entering grades 1-6. We think camp memories should be among the best childhood memories - filled with fun, laughter and sunshine! Join us for daily adventures with wacky water games, Bible-based lessons, time with friends old and new, sports, farm fun with Anderson farms, arts and crafts, singing, dancing, fun weekly themes, obstacle courses, gaga, sand volleyball, giant inflatables, STEAM activities and all the fun of a classic, unplugged, day camp. Sign up now for Weeks 2, 3, or 4 of Breakaway Day Camp! Visit spartaefc.org/camp 🌈 July 8 - August 2, 2019 for children entering grades 1-6 Photo by David Hurley

We can’t wait to see smiles this big all July long at Breakaway Day Camp! Register your children for Week 1, beginning this Monday the 8th. There’s still time! ⏰ Breakaway Day Camp provides 4 weeks of action-packed fun for children entering grades 1-6. We think camp memories should be among the best childhood memories - filled with fun, laughter and sunshine! Join us for daily adventures with wacky water games, Bible-based lessons, time with friends old and new, sports, farm fun with Anderson farms, arts and crafts, singing, dancing, fun weekly themes, obstacle courses, gaga, sand volleyball, giant inflatables, STEAM activities and all the fun of a classic, unplugged, day camp. Sign up now for any of Breakaway Day Camp’s four totally awesome weeks! Visit spartaefc.org/camp 🌈 July 8 - August 2, 2019 for children entering grades 1-6

Join us at 11:00am for our Church Picnic outside on the church property after our first summer Sunday service. (Summer Sunday services are at 9:30am all summer long starting this Sunday, July 7th). Come along, bring a dessert, and invite a friend!

Luke Mihail has accepted the call to be our next Youth Pastor. Pray as he and his family transition, expecting to arrive early September from Australia!

Happy Independence Day!

Our Summer Sundays start THIS SUNDAY, and we’re kicking it off with a church picnic at 11:00am after our 9:30am Worship Service and baptism celebration! Bring your family, your friends, and a dessert. We CAN’T WAIT to fellowship with you and to celebrate new life for Christ with baptisms this Sunday! Summer Sundays One combined Worship Service at 9:30am all summer long 4REAL Children's Ministry 9:30am Nursery 9:30am Resonate photos by Nate Thuen

What’s new in our church app? We’ve added new events to the Events tab, making sure you can stay in community all summer long! Registering your kids for the biggest event of the summer, Breakaway Day Camp, couldn’t be easier. Just tap the BDC banner on the app’s home page. Photo by Nate Thuen Photography

Resonate and Black Light Dodgeball raised $2,600 for Save the Storks last month!! All the glory to God. We are so filled with awe at all He has done through our youth. #SavetheStorks partners with pregnancy centers to give free ultrasounds to women who are pressured into abortion. Just $35 “helps to save one mother and her child from abortion.” 4 out of 5 women who get on their “Stork Buses,” choose life for their baby! Resonate photos by Nate Thuen and Black Light Dodgeball photos by Ryan Kurz

Only 1 week to go! Are you ready for The African Children's Choir? They will be live in concert at our church on June 7th at 7pm. The Just As I Am tour features live performance and a stunning visual story of God’s faithfulness - don’t miss out! Photos courtesy of The African Children’s Choir

There will be no CORE Classes this Sunday. Instead, all are invited to join us at a special church membership meeting at 9:45am in our Worship Center. We'll see you there!

Who are the The African Children's Choir? The first Choir performed in 1984 and since then 50 choirs have toured, acting as the ambassadors for Africa’s most vulnerable children. Music for Life, the official fundraising charity for the Choir, have educated over 52,000 children and hundreds of thousands of lives have been impacted by their international relief and development programs. They will be coming to our church to perform on June 7th at 7pm. It’s your chance to be part of their inspirational story!

Only 26 hours to go! Are you ready for Resonate Worship Night? We know we are! We’re preparing to raise our voices for the voiceless, and worship in song and in giving as God moves our hearts in response to the pro-life ministry of Save the Storks. It’s all happening at 7pm - don’t miss out! Photos by Katie Emma Photography

The best weeks of summer just got better. Breakaway provides 4 weeks of action-packed fun for children entering grades 1-6. We think camp memories should be among the best childhood memories - filled with fun, laughter and sunshine! Join us for daily adventures with wacky water games, Bible-based lessons, time with friends old and new, sports, farm fun with Anderson farms, arts and crafts, singing, dancing, fun weekly themes, obstacle courses, gaga, sand volleyball, giant inflatables, STEAM activities and all the fun of a classic, unplugged, day camp. Sign up now for Breakaway Day Camp! Tap the link, or visit spartaefc.org/camp 🌈 July 8 - August 2, 2019 for children entering grades 1-6 spartaefc.org/camp

Thank you all for your generous love offering. Ken & I arrived safely in VA and we will miss you! Cindy & Ken Morrow

Prepare to be inspired! The The African Children's Choir will be performing at our church on June 7th at 7pm, and sharing their stories of God's faithfulness. Mark your calendars for a night full of inspirational video storytelling, beautiful voices, dance, and lively African songs. Don't miss out!

O Lord, I know you created me uniquely as you fashioned me in my mother's womb. Yet I know I can never have the freedom or creativity in my life that you long for me to discover, unless I first seek you and your strength. Please bless me with the assurance of your nearness as I seek you with all of my heart and use my abilities in creative ways to bring you glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Luke Mihail has accepted the call to be our next Youth Pastor. Pray as he and his family transition, expecting to arrive early September from Australia!

The best weeks of summer just got better. Breakaway provides 4 weeks of action-packed fun for children entering grades 1-6. We think camp memories should be among the best childhood memories - filled with fun, laughter and sunshine! Join us for daily adventures with wacky water games, Bible-based lessons, time with friends old and new, sports, farm fun with Anderson farms, arts and crafts, singing, dancing, fun weekly themes, obstacle courses, gaga, sand volleyball, giant inflatables, STEAM activities and all the fun of a classic, unplugged, day camp. Sign up now for Breakaway Day Camp! Tap the link, or visit spartaefc.org/camp 🌈 July 8 - August 2, 2019 for children entering grades 1-6 spartaefc.org/camp

Prepare to be inspired! The The African Children's Choir will be performing at our church on June 7th at 7pm, and sharing their stories of God's faithfulness. Mark your calendars for a night full of inspirational video storytelling, beautiful voices, dance, and lively African songs. Don't miss out!

Look what God did now! Over $100,000 has been raised through our church for refugees in South Sudan from the start of our collection for the Sudan Project just six years ago. Church, your faithful giving provides wells, food distribution, nutritional supplies for mothers and young children, and hospitals. "When we think about the future of South Sudan, we know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the thing that that country needs to rise from where they are to where God wants them to be, and everything we do as a ministry is done in the name of Jesus." - Samaritan's Purse Learn more about the Sudan Project at www.spartaefc.org/thesudanproject Video thanks to Samaritan's Purse

“We’ll be holding our pro-life fundraiser again at this year’s Resonate on Saturday May 25th (7:00pm). All of the funds raised during this evening will go to Save the Storks to help support the amazing work that they’re doing. So please come out to join us for some coffee, worship, and a chance to support the pro-life movement.” - Sophie Sandgran and Emily Kosker

SUNDAY CORE CLASSES, SPRING 2019 New series begin Sunday the 28th at 9:45am! Our new CORE Classes are - Eschatology: End Times Young Adults: Spiritual Disciplines Women's: Even Better Than Eden Hispanic: El Libro de Juan Men's: Living Victorious Over Trials (Joshua) New Testament: Finding Joy (Philippians) Video by Nate Thuen

SUNDAY CORE CLASSES, WINTER 2019 New series begin THIS SUNDAY at 9:45 am! Learn more at spartefc.org/core Our new CORE Classes are - Covenants (Theology) El Evangelio de Juan (Hispanic) Basic Training: A Study of 1st Timothy (New Testament) Revolutionary Parenting Experiencing God (Men's) The God Who Will Never Let Us Go: A Study on the Book of Hosea (Women's) Defending the Integrity of the Bible (Young Adults') Video by Nathanael Thuen

We’re hosting UNLEASHED, a leadership summit on revitalizing your passions and purpose. For those who volunteer for even just five minutes in our church, we want you to hear your thoughts and questions as we explore themes of passion, talent and resources, spiritual gifts, and seasons of life. Give a 👍🏻 if you’ll be there! - Register for Unleashed. Come enjoy breakfast and lunch with good company, and engage in important conversation about leadership. No cost. - spartaefc.org/unleashed - Video by Nate Thuen

Hey church family, 👋 we couldn't be more excited for Saturday's worship night! - Two seniors in our SEFC Student Ministry, Emily and Sophie, are THIS excited to raise money for Save the Storks at Resonate, and we want you to be too! Watch WHY. - Grab a friend, talk over a cup of coffee, and come to celebrate community with us. See you Saturday at #spartaefc! - Video thanks to Emily Warncke

Throw a dodgeball. Make a difference. Middle school and high school students, Blacklight Dodgeball is for you. May 11-12 7 pm. - Your team’s sign up fee will go to Restore NYC as they provide safe housing and safe work to survivors of sexual slavery. - SEFC Student Ministry, sign up by April 26 at spartaefc.org/events/dodgeball to get a special #dodgeforfreedom t-shirt. - Video by Nate Thuen