FAITH news

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FAITH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

OCTOBER 2015

Welcome to the McDaniels

Pastor Gordon McDaniel joins the staff of Faith Christian Fellowship as Lead

Pastor. Born in May, 1971, in Xenia, Ohio, his family relocated a year later

to Lancaster, Ohio, where he spent the following 17 years. His home was

loving, faith-filled and foundational in his journey with the Lord. Two signifi-

cant outcomes of his undergraduate years at West Virginia University were

a love for whitewater rafting and kayaking and a heart for long-term ministry.

Upon graduation, he faced the decision of campus ministry or seminary. So,

he packed up his bags and drove to Dallas Theological Seminary to contin-

ue his education. His final year in seminary was the first year in ministry partnership with his wife, Bev-

erly. It has now been more than 15 wonderful years of marriage - a real picture of a mid-west, meat

and potatoes guy meeting and marrying a Tex-Mex girl! God has graciously added to their family Nick

(11) and Hope (9). And then, through prayer and patience, their family embraced foster care. As a re-

sult, they adopted their third child, Isaiah (2), last October. Some of his personal hobbies include: regu-

lar exercise, family game nights, reading theology and counseling books and date nights with his wife.

Pastor Gordon has had the privilege of more than 13 years of Pastoral experience in a variety of roles

including Youth and Young Adult Pastor, Student Ministry Pastor and Family Pastor at Allen Bible

Church, Allen , TX. He have served in ministry at Allen Bible for 11 years, since it was established as a

new church plant in 2004.

We count it a privilege at FCF to welcome Pastor Gordon and his family. We are excited to see what

God has in store for FCF.

FCF TEXT ALERTS:

As we enter the fall and winter seasons, the weath-er can be very unpredicta-ble. Sign up to receive texts from FCF regarding weather-related service

changes as well as information on FCF events. To sign up for FCF texts, text MBXUNZ29405 and your name to 88202 or scan the QR code with your phone.

Pastor Appreciation Month

October is traditionally Pastor’s Appreciation

Month. This year, we will be welcoming Pas-

tor Gordon and his family during the month of

October and have some special events

planned to welcome them. To help alleviate

confusion, we have decided to postpone Pas-

tor Appreciation Month for FCF Pastors until

February 2016. During the month of February

2016, we will plan to Shower the Pastors with

Love. Please watch the bulletin, website and

January newsletter for more information.

Fall Campus Tracks Join us on a Sunday morning at one of the Cam-

pus tracks to dig deeper in the Scriptures by

choosing a track and time that suits you.

9am: LIFE TRACK - Global Outreach - Dave Glaze

FAITH TRACK - Holiness - Jeremy Kortright,

Ryan Null

BIBLE TRACK - Carl Brindley

10:45am LIFE TRACK - Marriage - Mike & Carol McNamee

FAITH TRACK - Work as Worship - Chad Vaughn

Join us as we Welcome Pastor Gordon, Beverly, Nick, Hope and

Isaiah to FCF! Pastor Gordon will officially begin as Lead

Pastor at FCF on Sunday, October 11, he

and his family will be moving into their new

home in Falling Waters, WV the weekend of

October 16-17.

Opportunities to Help

There are opportunities available to help

Pastor Gordon and his family as they move

and begin to make this area their new home.

MOVING HELP: We are looking for some

strong arms to help unload and carry furni-

ture and belongings into their home; some

who can help prepare and provide food for

moving day.

MEALS: Also, you can sign up to provide

them with meals as their kitchen items will

be boxed up and scattered at first.

Let’s all work together to give our new Pas-

tor’s family a “Red Carpet Welcome.” Visit

the table in the foyer at FCF for information

or contact the church office at 301-223-4803.

Most Importantly

Please continue to pray for them as they

transition from Texas to Maryland and begin

the process of settling into a new church,

new schools, a new home and learn to know

and love a new and wonderful church fami-

ly!

Y@H News for those 50 years of age and older....

Fall is in the air!!!! Summer has flown by; the leaves are starting to turn to their vibrant red, or-

ange, and browns. The air is getting crisp, and it won’t be long before another holiday season will

be upon us.

For Y@H that means the scheduling of our Annual Holiday Trip (see details below); our celebrations of Thanksgiving

and Christmas as we plan ways to reach out to those in need; and of course, our own Y@H holiday celebration which

we enjoy each New Year’s Day. Next month we will have more details.

Now, however, is the time to sign up and reserve your spot for our Y@H Holiday Trip which will take place this year

on Wednesday, December 2. Our group will travel by FCF Bus, FCF Van, and individual cars to the American Music

Theatre in Lancaster, PA to enjoy “Deck the Halls,” the new 2015 Christmas Show. Following the show, lunch will be

at the Plain & Fancy Restaurant. In the afternoon we will be treated to the gifts of a local chalk artist as she creates a

chalk mural while a story unfolds. Cost for the day will be $65. Sign up forms will be in the bulletin on Sunday, Oct

4th and 11th. Reservation and payment deadline is Wednesday, November 4th. Please contact Dianne Birl for more

information.

Once again a reminder of the impact the new church driveway and exit will have on Y@H. On Wednesdays, we will

continue to park up on the hill along the side of the building, and the door at the far end will continue to be open and

available to us. However, once you are “on the hill” (meaning past the point where the driveway curves around in front

of the church), there will be no exiting back the way you came in!!! Once on the hill, no turning back!!! On Sundays

the only ones who will be parking in the new lot will be those who are in attendance at multiple services. On Sundays,

the door along the side at the far end will not be opened, but will remain locked. There are additional handicap parking

spaces provided on the hill, providing entry into the foyer thru the side door.

Y@H Bible Study continues meeting weekly on Wednesdays from 10:00 – Noon. Monthly potlucks and other events

will be publicized in the weekly bulletins as well as the monthly Faith News.

For more information regarding Young @ Heart activities contact Dianne at 304-274-2888 or email

jdbirl@comcast.net. May our hearts begin to prepare for the upcoming holiday season. Jesus is the reason for all sea-

sons, but as summer gives way to fall, our minds and hearts (and energy) prepare us for the love and joy of the holi-

days. Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Blessings!!

Wednesday Evenings at FCF Friendship and Fellowship

We are very grateful that you are allowing us the opportunity to partner with you in your child’s walk with Christ. While your children are attending Awana or Switchback, we encourage you take this time to fel-lowship with other parents in the foyer, go out to a nearby restaurant with your spouse or a friend, or volunteer to help with Awana or Switchback.

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Ladies Coffee Connection

Saturday, October 24

9:30am-11:30am

Bring a breakfast item to share.

Come and enjoy a coffee and

study in the Word with the ladies.

Join us in serving the Williamsport Community on

Friday, October 30. This Community Outreach is

a great opportunity to share the Gospel with the

community. We will have games, inflatables, bar-

rel rides, food and decorated trunks for families

to enjoy. There are several opportunities where

you can serve. Please look over the list and con-

tact the church office (301-223-4803) or email

communications@explorefcf.com to let us know

where you can serve.

Set-up (beginning at 1pm on Friday afternoon)

Parking attendants

Greeters

Registration

Decorate your trunk*

Hand out goodie bags

Food Stand

Game attendant

Candy and prize coordinator

Pre-event preparations

Security

Clean-up

Candy donations (can be brought in to FCF any

time and put in the designated box at the Faith Kids

Welcome Center

*We encourage you to be creative in decorating your

trunk in a fun and exciting way! For ideas, Google

“trunk or treat” for examples of how trunks have

been decorated. Children will be visiting trunks and

receive a bag of candy.

We would like to invite you to

help serve in a new ministry at

FCF, the First Impressions Min-

istry, which is a branch of the

Welcome Ministry at FCF. This group will serve in

the parking lot to help direct regular attenders to

available parking spots, direct guests to a parking

spot reserved for them and direct them to the Wel-

come Center, help with the flow of traffic during the

transition of the two services and help ensure the

safety of everyone in the parking lot. Those serving

in the ministry, in teams of 4-5, will serve one Sunday

a month, on a monthly basis. For instance, you

would serve the first Sunday of every month.

If you would like to accept this invitation and be a

part of the First Impressions Ministry, please contact

Christy Hixon, communications@explorefcf.com or

call the church office at 301-223-4803.

Praise and Worship

We would like to encourage you to listen to the following songs. The FCF Praise and Worship Team

is currently practicing these songs to add to the Sunday morning Praise and Worship Time through-

out the remainder of 2015.

Freedom Reigns Great Are You Lord All to You Because He Lives Greater I Am Even So Come Shout Hosanna Jesus Loves Me Set a Fire Take It All This I Believe We Believe Worthy of It All

Bring a breakfast item to share.

This summer I had the exciting opportunity to spend seven and a half weeks in the third-world country of Nicaragua. While there, I served as a summer camp instructor at Nicaragua Christian Academy- a school for both nationals and children of missionaries. I pri-marily taught English to elementary aged students. While serving in Nicaragua I was able to meet other missionaries who allowed me to serve along with them and their ministries which was extremely hum-bling and eye opening. It was an awesome experi-ence mixed with a variety of thoughts, feelings, and personal convictions. I’m thankful for everyone who supported me on this trip through prayers and finan-cial and support. It is greatly appreciated. Through this trip, the Lord really worked in my heart, giving me new perspectives, a broader world view, and a greater confidence in who I am in Christ. As a result, I think the Lord clarified some confusion I had and gave me some clarity on how He wants to use me for the advancement of His kingdom. I would defi-nitely do it again and am currently praying about what the future holds for me in the international ministry field. Please pray alongside me that I would be sensitive to the Lord’s guidance and that ulti-mately wherever I end up would be in His will.

Emory Rowland

Serving in Nicaragua

—Summer 2015

Global Missions Please be in prayer two Global Missions Teams that will be traveling and serving in October. A

group will be serving in Uganda, October 1 -11. Another group will be serving in Haiti, Octo-

ber 17 -24. Please pray for the travelling mercies of both groups and that God’s message will

speak loud and clear through those sharing the Gospel.

The next Global Ministry Meeting is Thursday, October 15 at 7pm. Anyone interested in hear-

ing more about Global Ministry opportunities is encouraged to attend.

Support FCF Global Missions by pur-

chasing a bag of freshly ground coffee

from Nicaragua. Donation of $5 for

250 gram bag. Stop by JBrew

(Kitchen) to get a bag. Also makes a great gift.

SEEKING VENDORS FOR

Switchback’s Annual

Christmas Craft and Vendor Fair

Saturday, November 21

Switchback Student Ministry is taking appli-

cations for vendors for our annual Craft and

Vendor Fair.

Spaces are 10x6 and includes one 8 foot table.

$40 for non electric space $45 for electric space

Please see Pastor Brian for a vendor applica-

tion or pick one up at the Welcome Center.

Space is based on first come and is limited to

one vendor per product. For more infor-

mation, please contact the church office

(301-223-4803) or Pastor Brian

(youth@explorefcf.com) Money raised

through the sale of vendor space supports

students going on the 2016 local and interna-

tional mission trips.

Senior High Trip to Cedar Point

October 16-18

$75 per person

DEADLINE IS APPROACHING: Reservation and money due to Pastor Brian by October 11. **Reminder - if you are scheduled to work in Faith Kids, please find someone to cover your shift!!

October 4

Junior High Harvest Party

at Summers Farm

$10 each * Bring a lunch

Dinner Provided

12:30pm-6pm

Parent Help Needed -

DRIVERS for November 1st Junior High Event

If you have a vehicle that can haul 3-5 students safely for a Junior High event, please contact Pas-tor Brian (youth@explorefcf.com. If you can pro-vide the transportation, your passengers will be sure to provide entertainment!

Parent help is need-ed in JBrew - the Sun-day morning coffee house at FCF. If you would be willing to be put on the schedule,

please contact Kathy Crampton. Her email ad-dress is ccrdk@myactv.net.

Faith Kids Christmas Program

“Star of Hope” practice will begin on Sunday, Octo-

ber 4. Drama practice will be during the 9am ser-

vice. Choir practice will be 10:30am-11am in the Faith

Kids Worship Room. Mark your calendars for Satur-

day practices on December 5 and 12 from 9 to

12noon.

We would greatly appreciate assistance in helping

get ready for the program. If you can help in any of

the following areas, please contact Pastor Brian:

Costume Coordinator

Assistant during Saturday practices

Set construction

Set up

Clean up

Help the day of the performances

Awana is in full swing on Wednesday evenings. We

are excited to have a wonderful group of students

and leaders here each evening. There is still room

for more! Registration is open throughout the year

and all children, age 3 (by 9/1) through 5th grade.

Thank you for all the donations that we were able

to send to the orphanage in Uganda. During the

months of October and November, we will be col-

lecting cold weather items including gloves, hats,

and socks. More information will be sent home

with the students.

Opportunities to Serve

There are a variety of opportunities for you to

serve within the Faith Kids Children’s Ministry.

Contact Pastor Brian to let him know where YOU

can serve:

Early Learners - 9am Week 4,5

Faith Kids Worship—10:45am - Week 1,2 3

Faith Kids Check in - 9am or 10:45 - Week

1,2,3,4,5

Substitutes for Nursery, Toddlers, Early Learners,

Preschool, Faith Kids Worship and Check In

October 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4

1:pm SB Junior

High Event

5 6

Prayer and Fasting

7pm Rescue Mis-

sion

7

1oam Young at

Heart

6:30pm Awana &

Switchback

8 9 10

11 12

7-9pmHosea

Ladies Bible

Study

13 14

1oam Young at

Heart

6:30pm Awana &

Switchback

15

7pm—Global Min-

istry Meeting

16 17

18 19 20 21

1oam Young at

Heart

6:30pm Awana &

Switchback

22 23 24

9:30am Ladies

Connection

25 26

7-9pmHosea

Ladies Bible

Study

27 28

1oam Young at

Heart

6:30pm Awana &

Switchback

29 30

6:00pm Trunk or

Treat—

Williamsport Park

31

Uganda Mission Trip

Uganda Mission Trip

Haiti Mission Trip

SH Switchback to Cedar Point