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Faith that unleashes love will change the world.
16391 CHILLICOTHE ROAD
CHAGRIN FALLS OH 44023
440.543.5643
WWW.FELLOWSHIPCLEVELAND.COM
Bibles are available in the back of the Worship Center. If you do not own a Bible, please feel free to take one home with you.
#3 in Series “5 Tough Questions”
Pastor Dave Lynden November 13, 2011
Aren’t All Religions Th e Same?
We’re glad you’re here!
We’d like to get to know you. There is a Connection Card in the seat in front of you to get you started. Please use the card to communicate
your interests, praise and prayer requests, or contact information (especially if you’re new here) with our staff. Drop it in the offering
basket, hand it to an usher, or bring it by the Connection Corner. Feel free to call our office staff for any reason (440.543.5643).
The Connection Corner is in the Atrium (on the right as you leave); an Elder and his wife are available there to meet you,
pray with you, and/or answer your questions.
Devices to help the hearing impaired are available at the sound booth in the back of the Worship Center.
Dear Church Family:
This week I saw the season’s first snowflakes. It was for only a couple of minutes and they barely hit my windshield. But…you know what’s coming. You were tempted to say “winter”, right? Well, I was thinking Thanksgiving and Christmas and the holiday reminders they bring. I have been reminded of the holidays early this year as we have been going through this series on Five Tough Questions. I have had the joy of chatting with many first time guests, several of whom are really grappling with the call to Christ! This is the exciting part about ministry...having meaningful and open conversations and sharing the God who came down among us, who gives us tangible reason to give thanks. If this is what comes with the snow, then bring it on!
For more information…
We are online at www.fellowshipcleveland.com. You can access message archives, ministry information, what we believe, and learn
about opportunities to help you grow deeper and stronger.
I. What are the _________________ to say “All religions are the same”?
Reason #1 - Religious differences only create ____________________! Reason #2 - If you boil all religions down to their _________________, they
say fundamentally the ___________ ______________!
Reason #3 - The “____________________” in the room. We each can
describe only a part of the whole when it comes to _________!
II. Do the ______________ ______________________ agree that they are all
basically the same? III. Let’s take a closer look at the five major ______________
_________________________. Are they the same in belief?
IV. Are the major religions the same in how they are ____________________ to
life?
1Zacharias, Ravi, The Lotus and the Cross- Jesus Talks with Buddha, pub. by Multnomah Publishers,
2001, p. 41 2O’Callaghan, Sean, The Compact Guide to World Religions, pub. by Lion Hudson, 2010, p. 151 3McDermott, Gerald R., World Religions- An Indispensible Introduction, pub. by Thomas Nelson,
2011, p.16 4McDermott, p. 114 5Moucarry, Chawkat, The Prophet and the Messiah- An Arab Christian’s Perspective on Islam and
Christianity, pub, by Intervarsity Press, pp. 101-05
Holiday Missional Opportunities There are many ways this Thanksgiving and Christmas that you can “sow the missional seed”. Listed below are brief descriptions of opportunities through Fellowship’s ministries. Detailed information is available in the Atrium. The 9th Annual Men’s Ministry Thanksgiving Outreach helps local families who have a real need by providing a full meal and/or essential items like paper products, shampoo, toothbrushes, laundry soap, etc. You can: 1) Contribute financially. Each box costs $25; you can donate any amount. Please make checks payable to Fellowship and designate Men’s Ministry Thanksgiving Outreach on the memo line. Give checks to Jeff Janis or Dick Thompson or put your donation in the Atrium box using an available envelope. 2) Pack and/or deliver boxes on Saturday, November 19, 8AM-11AM. Community Groups, men, women, moms, dads, teens, and entire families are needed to separate and pack. Sign up in the Atrium. Contact Jeff Janis (440.479.6082 or [email protected]), or Dick Thompson (440.248.4844 daytime or [email protected]). Fellowship’s Encouragement/Outreach Team collects items to send to military personnel (through the USO) each November as a way to let them know they are remembered, loved, prayed for, and appreciated. A suggested donation list is available in the Atrium. Please bring all donations to the Children’s Atrium by Sunday, November 27. Contact Al & Lorrie Schindler (440.286.3981). Fellowship would love to send 250 or MORE carolers into the Chagrin Valley on Sunday, November 27. Quality of voice is not an issue! Carolers should arrive at Fellowship at 6PM. There will be a short rehearsal and instructions; song sheets with lyrics will be provided. Carolers will return to Fellowship for cocoa, cookies and more caroling. Join us as we celebrate God’s incarnation and reach into our community. Families are encouraged to participate; Community Groups, come as a group and sing together! Fellowship’s Women’s Ministry is providing “Baskets of Hope” (gift cards and small gift items) for under-resourced women (Chagrin Falls Park Community Center). A list of specific items needed is available in the Atrium. Items must be at Fellowship by December 4 and can be placed in the brown barrel in the Children’s Atrium. Gift cards can be donated in the Atrium on Sundays or to the office during the week. Contact Erina Calder (440.537.7226 or [email protected]). Fellowship will share Christmas gifts and Christ’s love with the children of prison inmates through Angel Tree. “Angels” will be available in the Atrium on December 4, 11 and 18. Delivery of gifts will not be through Fellowship; all gifts must be mailed or delivered to the address on the angel. Contact Matt Lynch (440.821.2247 or [email protected]). Fellowship has partnered with Pastor Johnny Whitehair and The Storehouse of God Ministry (near Morgantown, WV) for several years through the Family Mission Trip. AWANA would like provide new toys for children of all ages and gift cards (small denominations) from Giant Eagle and Walmart. Please drop off donations in the Children’s Atrium by December 14. Contact Ron Cole (440.285.2230 or [email protected]). Fellowship’s Global Outreach (GO) Team wants you to connect with our GO Partners this Christmas. A GO Tree will be in the Atrium; partners’ pictures and information, as well as cards, will be available there. Contact Carol Loparo (440.209.0797). On Saturday, December 17, there will be an Angel Tree Christmas Party at the Boys & Girls Center (6114 Broadway Avenue, Cleveland 44127). We need people to help at the party and/or to donate items for the party (books, crayons, candy canes, new toys or coats). Contact Lynn Lax (440.479.8709) to volunteer at the party (meet at Fellowship on December 17 at 8AM and return at 2PM). Donations can be placed in the Children’s Atrium.
16391 Chillicothe Rd Chagrin Falls OH
44023 440.543.5643
440.543.9587 (fax), [email protected] www.fellowshipcleveland.com
FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY STAFF
Valerie Aiken Ext 228
Office Manager
Stephen Burks Pastor of Worship & Creative Arts
Kathy
Chamberlain Ext 223
Pastor of Care & Support
Ed Holt Ext 242
Pastor of Children’s Ministries
Terry Klebes Ext 233 Pastor of
Administration and Global Outreach
Tish Luciano Ext 222
Pastor of Service Inside & Out
Dave Lynden
Ext 224 Senior Pastor
Joe McGinnis
Ext 225 Pastor of
Community & Family Formation
Keith Melugin
Ext 226 Pastor of High School Ministries
Margo Most Ext 240
Interim Director of Middle School Ministries
If you would like to talk to or pray with someone, an Elder and his wife will be at the Connection Corner after the service.
General Fund Budgeted Through November 6 .......................................................... $1,510,250 General Fund Actual Receipts Through November 6 ................................................ $1,425,478 General Fund Receipts Last Year YTD ........................................................................... $1,520,066
Year-to-Date Facility Fund .................................................................................................... $15,269 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance....‘What should we do then?’ the crowd asked. John
answered, ‘The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has
food should do the same’.” Luke 3:8a, 10-11
If you missed the offering basket this morning, offering boxes are in the Atrium.
For people of faith, living generously means allowing God to use every aspect of your life—your time and energy, your talents and influence, your priorities and possessions—for His purposes.
2011 Incom e Report2011 Incom e Report2011 Incom e Report2011 Incom e Report
Middle School CORE and High School COLLIDE meet TONIGHT at 6PM. Check for ongoing high school ministry information at fbcsrhighuth.blogspot.com. Parents of high school students are invited to “Coffee Connection with Keith” (a parents’ meeting), TONIGHT, 6PM-7:30PM at the home of Vickie Kendra (10075 Widgeon Dr, 44023). The topic is “Boundaries with Teenagers: How to Say No and When to Say
Yes.” RSVP to Amy Melugin (440.539.8219). All Fellowship friends and members who are 60+ are invited to a Christmas Luncheon on Tuesday, December 13, Noon, hosted by Senior Pastor Dave Lynden (in Fellowship’s Fireplace Room). This luncheon will be the launch of a tri-annual seniors luncheon . If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Valerie Aiken (440.543.5643 ext. 228 or [email protected]) by Friday, December 9. Fellowship’s Annual Meeting takes place Sunday, February 12, 2012. If you are a member and would like to submit a recommendation for an Elder nomination to the Board, please prayerfully read I Timothy 3 and Titus 1:6-9 before speaking with a member of the Elder Nominating Committee (Bill Murschel, John Abbott or Gary Most). It is advisable to speak with the potential nominee before submitting their name. Please note that it is the function of the Nominating Committee of the Elder Board to bring forward a slate of candidates for a vote by the membership; the Committee welcomes recommendations from the church body. Nominations are requested by December 31,
2011; the sooner candidates are brought forward, the better, as it allows the Committee time for due diligence. If you were unable to have your photo taken for the Picture Directory, you may submit a
photo (digital or printed) for a $10 fee (make checks payable to Fellowship). Photos should be no larger than 5x7 in size and should be of vertical orientation. Please submit
pictures to Valerie Aiken ([email protected]) by November 21.
Rooted in CommunityRooted in CommunityRooted in CommunityRooted in Community − GO PARTNERS: Goran & Beth Tomic (Serbia). Our GO Partners’ latest newsletters
are available at goteamfbc.blogspot.com.
− MILITARY: Christopher Millard − COMMUNITY: South Russell
Inner Life Inner Life Inner Life Inner Life — PrayerPrayerPrayerPrayer
Milestones was held last Sunday and was a wonderful time of being a church family together. The following people participated in Dedication, were welcomed into Membership, and/or were Baptized as a testimony of their faith in Christ: FAMILY DEDICATION: Jud & Heather DiVincenzo (Juliana Sofia), Jeff & Lauren Downing (Aliza Beatrice), Brian & Jennifer Foss (Jack Joseph), Hans & Adrienne Geho (Calla Grace), Ashley Haines (Grace Alexandria), Chris & Kristy Hull (Ethan Christopher), Jim & Heather Leshovsky (Zeke James), Dan & Samantha Lister (Jonathan Hudson), Daniel & Stacey MacRaild (Iain William), Josh & Kristen Petro (Amelia Ann), Jarrod & Calli Rapalje (Loralei Cate and Violet Marie), Brandon & Karen Schaedlich (Troy Edward), and John & Suzanne Vincek (Eliot Finch and Kaley Wren) MEMBERSHIP: Brian & Lisa Ayer, Lynn Barras, Karen Bartlett, Hope Clark, Brian & Jennifer Foss, Larry & Kathy Kohler, Julie Koleszar, Bob & JoAnn Rabe, Dan Roberts, Paul & Debbie Solano, Betty Thompson BAPTISM: Kathleen Binder, Melissa Bowdren, Charlie Brooks, Ariane Geho, Faith Geho, Jim Kristoff, Nathan Kristoff, Samantha Lister, Carol Oglesbee, Marcie Oglesbee, Brianne O’Keefe, Micayla O’Keefe, Dan Roberts, Alex Wiebe Special thanks to Carrie Gensur, who made the beautiful cupcakes that were enjoyed by all!
MilestonesMilestonesMilestonesMilestones
Study Questions for November 20
1. Have you ever heard that it is arrogant and presumptuous for Christianity to proclaim that it is the only way to God? Was the person making the statement being presumptuous? Is it or is it not arrogant? Why or why not?
2. Read John 14:6. What is Jesus saying? Is He being arrogant or presumptuous? Why or why not?
3. Read Acts 4:12. What is Peter saying? Is he being arrogant or presumptuous? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever heard someone say something that was arrogant, but also true? What was it? Is all perceived presumption necessarily false? Why or why not?
5. How would you handle discussing the exclusive claims of Christ in a thoughtful way? What about the person who never hears the gospel over against what Paul says in Romans 10:14-18?
Study questions for the series can be found at
www.fellowshipcleveland.com/#/grow-deeper/resources
Study Qu estionsStudy Qu estionsStudy Qu estionsStudy Qu estions
Starting on Wednesday, November 30, 7PM, Pastor Dave Lynden will lead a discussion group (“Questions about Christianity”), for those who are struggling with doubts or who are skeptical about the Christian faith. All are welcome as we tackle issues surrounding the intellectual difficulties to faith in Christ. Sign up at the Atrium kiosk or contact Delene Kirtland (440.543.5643, ext. 239 or [email protected]). The registration deadline is Monday, November 28.
Questions About Ch ristianityQu estions About Ch ristianityQu estions About Ch ristianityQu estions About Ch ristianity
TODAY .................................................... Check It Out1
November 20..................................................... Check It Out2/Pizza with the Pastor
November 18..................................................... Breathe
November 27..................................................... Caroling Outreach
Upcoming EventsUpcoming EventsUpcoming EventsUpcoming Events
9:00AM-10:15AM
Worship Service Nursery - 5th Grade
10:45AM-Noon
Worship Service Nursery - 8th Grade
Engaging the Word Adult Bible Fellowship (in the Teaching Center)
Regular Sunday Sch eduleRegular Sunday Sch eduleRegular Sunday Sch eduleRegular Sunday Sch edule
6:00PM
Middle School CORE Senior High COLLIDE
BOOKS:
• Christianity at the Religious Roundtable by Timothy Tennent • World Religions by Gerald McDermott • The Prophet and the Messiah by Chawkat Moucarry • The Lotus and the Cross by Ravi Zacharias WEBSITE
• www.biblicaltraining.org � go to resources tab, lectures, search “world religions” by topic. It is free and there is a whole list of lectures from excellent Christian scholars.
Suggested ResourcesSuggested ResourcesSuggested ResourcesSuggested Resources
If you are new to our church, in addition to filling out a Connection Card and visiting the Connection Corner in the Atrium, we offer Check It Out and Pizza with the Pastor, where you can learn more about Fellowship. Check It Out1 is TODAY at 10:45AM; Check It Out2 is on Sunday, November 20, 10:45AM, followed by Pizza with the Pastor at 12:15PM. Sign up in the Connection Corner or contact Kathy Chamberlain ([email protected] or 440.543.5643 ext. 223).
ConnectionsConnectionsConnectionsConnections
Congratulations to Rene & Sheryl Guerra on the birth of their granddaughter, Aria Marie Webb, on November 8, 2011, to Ryan & Kasey Webb.
CongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulations
