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online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975
Who is the Reigning Queen? by Pastor Mike
A couple of weeks ago my dad asked me how the bees were doing. We were at my place and I looked over at the boxes housing the bees. Usually there are a few dozen near the entrance preparing to enter or exit the hive. I was alarmed to see frantic activity of the bees. I’m new to beekeeping so my mind raced through the possible causes of this buzzing cloud. A few days earlier I had seen some cells inside the hive that I thought were new queen cells. (FYI - there are times when a hive will decide it is time to raise a new queen and most of the hive will leave to make a new home.) I feared my bees were swarming.
Well I left my dad mid-conversation running in fear that I was about to lose a majority of my bees. I donned my bee suit, used a little smoke to settle them down, found my reigning queen and one by one destroyed the new queen cells. Everything seemed to calm down as I paid more careful attention to the queen situation.
Last month I wrote that bees are about one thing, their queen. As a Christ-follower I join Jesus’ church in being about one thing, our king. Am I paying attention to the king situation in my life? Is there a distraction growing in my life keeping me from being about one thing? We are constantly threatened by new “queens” that subtly show up. Most are a good and natural part of our lives. But they grow to an importance that requires our best time and energy and focus. As these distractions reach maturity we shorten and skip those things that fueled our relationship with king Jesus - prayer times, Bible reading, tithe offerings, and serving others, to name a few. The frantic activity of my life has resembled the buzzing cloud I witnessed two weeks ago. I still love and appreciate Jesus, I just haven’t made time for Him. Work, family time, and house projects have gobbled up my best time, energy and focus. Can you relate? One by one I have searched and dealt with the distractions. Joyously, in recent days I have experienced the intimacy that comes when Jesus alone is king in my life.
This picture is from my hive. You
can see the cups that
will eventually become a queen cell. This frame of comb is where bees make their
home.
E F C F O C U S J U N E 2 0 1 4
EFC FAMILY GATHERING S A T U R D A Y S @ 5 P M
Our Family Gathering is a worship concert built upon the truth of God’s Word empowered by the Holy
Spirit. Music typically opens our time with an interactive time of worship and a creative
presentation of God’s Word. There is an age-graded breakout for elementary and youth while adults are challenged in a sermon based on the day’s Biblical text. The evening
concludes with a simple dinner. All who desire to grow in Jesus
and the Bible are invited!
SCHEDULE:4:30pm, prayer time 5pm, family worship
6pm, breakouts 7pm, dinner
Family Camp at Entiat Friday-Monday, June 27 - July 1
Join us for our annual camp experience in Entiat, Washington. It is approximately a 3 hour drive from
Everett located north of Wenatchee and south of Chelan. The weather is splendid. The fellowship is
deep. The meals are prepared by others. The personal growth is deep. The activities are
refreshing. The weekend will be a highlight of your family’s summer!
The cost of camp is $145/adult, $45/child (5-17 yrs), under 4 years is free. Register online.
Contact Perry Travis for more information (206) 412-0688 or [email protected].
Free Kids’ Club for K-5th July 28-August 1, 6-8pm We are partnering with Humble Area First Baptist Church, who is sending a missions team from Texas, to host a VBS-type program for children in the community. We will play games, sing songs, learn about Jesus, and do some arts and crafts. Families are invited on Friday to a carnival with inflatables, fun games, snow cones, popcorn, and food! This is a free event.
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online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975
Pasta Night at Family Tree. One of the highlights of the month is our time serving at the Family Tree Apartments. After our dinner this past month the residents asked if they might show their gratitude by putting together a potluck dinner for us. It was a touching thing. Our time together is a special and joyous time.
The youth went out for Gelato afterwards for a time to connect and share what God has been doing in their lives this past month.
Women’s Bible Study. During our Family Gatherings we took time to listen, ponder and share what the Holy Spirit has been personally saying amidst our time of worship and Bible teaching. Several of the women have shared how grateful they are and the deep love they experience with the women at EFC. The weekly women’s Bible Study has been the wonderful venue the Spirit has been using to forge these special relationships and do a fresh work.
Moving Parties. Teams from EFC worked three different weekends to move Kevin, Angelique, Rose, Kathy and Darell into their new homes. It is a joy to be Jesus with hands, feet and strong backs as we serve!
Women’s Retreat. The overnight retreat happened at the Gaylord Manor (aka Paul and Amanda’s home) in North Everett. It was a time of laughter, crafts, personal growth, encouragement and friendship building among the women of EFC.
God’s Word Creatively. We have enjoyed the teaching skits that have come in with our gifted presenters, Jenn, Rob, Paul and Dan. Israel’s Breaking news and the “Walking Tall, Talkin’ to Y’All” with Lem were a couple of the fun ways that we looked at the Bible.
Thank you to Northview. We have been blessed to have the support and partnership of Northview in the discipleship of our youth. Brookes and Wilson, the youth pastors at Northview, have welcomed our youth to participate in their weekly iGroups each week. The friendships have grown and they have been challenged in their relationship with Jesus. The Gospel Journey and studies from Philippians and Romans have been some of the curriculums they have been working through.
Church Picnic. The final weekend of the month we gathered at Hauge Homestead Park at Silver Lake for a picnic. This event was organized so that we could invite friends and build relationships with our church family. Many, many folks attended and brought family and friends. What a night!
M A Y R E W I N D
E F C M a n a g e m e n t T e a m Dan Bell, Janine Ripley, & Mike Wright We continue to celebrate God’s provision through the generosity of our church family. Everything we have is a gift from the Lord and our Joy Box gifts are a recognition of His generosity.
Monthly operating budget $5,200 ...............Total Joy Box gifts in May $5,175 .................................Total EFC spending in May $5,410 ............................... Community Ministry & Missions Abroad $565 ............! !
Everett Family Church is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Tax Identification # 71-1025722
Visit the EFC online for a current calendar of all events, times, and locations.
YOUTH - Alive in the Park Tuesday & Thursday, 6:30-8pm
The Northview iGroups have concluded for the school year and the summer schedule begins Tuesday, July
8th at 6:30pm. The middle and high schoolers will be ALIVE in the Park for games and a devotion. Contact Wilson McSwain ([email protected]) or Brookes
August ([email protected]) for information.
COMMUN I T Y GROUPS F R I D A Y , J U N E 2 0 T H
We meet in homes rather than at the Hope Church building this weekend for personal sharing and fellowship More information to come from the Community Pastors.
E F C B I R T H D A Y S !June 6 Abby W .............................June 6 Amanda .............................June 16 Luke H...........................
Family Dinner @ Family Tree Tu e s d a y , J u n e 10 t h
All are invited to help us prep and serve a meal to the folks who live at the Family Tree Apartments. We will meet at Hope Church at 5pm to prepare the meal and serve the meal at the Family Tree Apartments at 6pm. We will clean-up and head home around 7pm.
MENU:
Taco bar (sign-up online to bring food or help)
