The Keene Koinoia

Keene Evangelical Free Church Newsletter March 2012

Pastors Corner
THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT Often it is very hard to even conceptualize that we have the Holy Spirit, who being God, living within us. Growing up I always pictured the Spirit as a traveling buddy someone who tags along with you to help you along the way. This week I was reading in Johns Gospel [16.5-16] about Jesus promising to send the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, to us and I began to see the Holy Spirit in a different way. As you read these few verses you will see that the Spirit is sent to convict [in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment]; and also, to speak and to guide us in the truth. He is the one who will bring glory to Jesus and make known to us that which comes from the Father. The verse I like the most, however, is verse 12. Verse 12 states that Jesus could say so much more about what the Spirit is going to do but we are not able to bear it sometimes. I took this as a very positive thing. There is so much about the Spirit that we cannot grasp that Jesus has to give it to us in installments. I think this is part of Gods sanctifying work that he is doing in us has we are able to handle more, he gives more. The Spirit is in some ways a traveling buddy, just as Jesus is my friend. However, there is so much more to our relationship with God, through the Holy Spirit. What is it? I dont always knowthe Lord is still giving me little glimpses at a time, only when I can handle it. What does the Holy Spirit mean to you? Do you realize it is God indwelling you? Ask the Lord what place the Spirit has in your life and see what He shares with you. Let us, together, allow the Spirit to work in our lives. In Christ, Pastor Matt

Inside this Issue

Page 1 Pastors Corner -Womens Circle - Mission Update Page 2 -S.W.A.T. Ministry -Awana Ministry -Wednesday Bible Study -SWAT Breakfast Brunch Buffet Page 3 -Womens Ministry News Garage Sale Info -Church Work Days -Family Night -Messiah Information -Summer Camp Info

Womens Circle for March

Circle #2 headed up by Nurita and Rachel is responsible for serving at events taking place at church in March. Thank you ladies!

Mission Update
The Mission Keene EFC is supporting in March is Juan and Maria Santos Camino de Vida Lexington Church Plant

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AWANA Ministry News

AWANA March Schedule: March 7th at 3:30 p.m. March 14th at 3:30 p.m. March 21st at 3:30 p.m. March 28th at 3:30 p.m.

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Spiritually Willing Active Teens

March Madness This month is all about how God wants to do a wild work in your life! "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.." I Corinthians 1:18 "We are fools for Christ's sake..." I Corinthians 4:10a Come to our meetings to hear more and bring a friend! SWAT Meetings in March Wednesday, March 14th 7:00 -9:00 p.m. To Save a Life Its a movie night! Come for a powerful movie about the teenage years and how one life can change! Bring your favorite drink and well provide the movie snacks! Wednesday, March 28th 7:00 p.m. Special Guest Speaker, Sonny Birnie Sonny got involved in drugs and other worldly influences as a young teenager that resulted in time spent in prison. Now, he is a transformed man because of Jesus. He will be sharing his life story, his past struggles and mistakes. Most importantly, he will be sharing how a relationship with Jesus Christ has changed his entire life. You dont want to miss this exciting night! SWAT Hosts Breakfast Brunch Buffet Sunday, March 25th Following Morning Worship SWAT will be hosting this meal for the entire church (a yummy buffet of egg casseroles, pancakes, sausage and bacon, biscuits and gravy, fruit, baked goods, juice and coffee). All proceeds from the freewill donations will go toward our SWAT Youth Ministry! National EFCA Youth Conference Everything is New July 1-6, 2012 New Orleans, LA Check it out at challengeconference.org. Information regarding registration and deposit deadline will be coming in the mail.

Please sign up to bring cookies for the kids on the bulletin board at church. We are also in need of circle stickers (red, blue, green, yellow) and blue painters tape (1 inch wide) used to mark the floor for game time. The Duck Release Brand is the least expensive and works great! Thank you!

Wednesday Bible Study

Bible Study will take place on March 7th, 14th, and 21st. There will not be Bible Study on the 28th. Meet in the back Sunday School room on the 14th due to SWAT taking place in the Fellowship Hall.

S.W.A.T. Breakfast Brunch Buffet

Sunday, March 25th Following Morning Worship Our Youth Group, S.W.A.T. (Spiritually Willing Active Teens), will be serving you Pancakes Sausage & Bacon Egg Casseroles Fruit Baked Goods Juice and Coffee Everything is provided. Freewill donations. All proceeds will go towards our SWAT Youth Ministry! Thank you for supporting your Youth Group!

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Womens Ministry News

Church Garage Sale Friday, March 9th 7:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Axtell Community Building We need help in the following ways: Garage Sale Donations We will accept anything sellable that you are willing to donate. Donate books, clothes, collectibles, household and decorative items, kitchen stuff, toys, furniture, appliances, sports equipment, etc. If you donate it, well ! sell it.

Family Night
Saturday, March 17th 6:00 p.m. Meal Served (Circle #2 in charge Nurita and Rachel) Come for a fun St. Patricks Day themed evening! Youd better wear green!

Bake Sale Donations We will also be having a bake sale, so we welcome any baked goods (breads, pastries, cookies, bars, etc.). If you bake it, well sell it. Bags Please recycle your old shipping bags (and boxes) for us to use at the check-out for our shoppers. Garage Sale Shifts We will need ladies throughout the day to keep our inventory organized and looking spiffy, as well as someone to check out shoppers and take the money. Please come and work, whether you can help for an hour or many hours. We appreciate any time you can give (plus we always have a lot of fun hanging out together). Set-Up Thursday, March 8th 3:30-7:00 p.m. Axtell Community Building Please bring your donations during this time. We will be organizing and pricing all of our items. Come when you can and help out however you can! Many hands make light work. (If you are unable to bring your donations to the Axtell Community Building that night, please have them in the Church Fellowship Hall by 3:00 p.m.

Messiah Rehearsals
Messiah 2012 Axtell Area Oratorio Society CHORUS MEMBERS! Its time for rehearsals to begin Sunday, February 26th Sunday, March 4th Sunday, March 11th Sunday, March 18th Sunday, March 25th 2:30-4:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell (just east of the school) Saturday, March 31st Dress Rehearsal at 1:00 p.m. at the Kearney Evangelical Free Church MESSIAH Concert Palm Sunday, April 1st, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. Kearney Evangelical Free Church

Spring Church Work Days

Saturday, March 31st and Saturday, April 21st both dates work times are 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Please mark your calendars and plan to work at one of these days. We will be working on inside and outside projects around the Church. A list of jobs will be posted in the Fellowship Hall both work days. Pick a job and cross it off when its done!

Summer Bible Camp

Timberlake Ranch Camp, our local EFCA church camp, will be sharing on Sunday, March 11th. Check out their website at timberlake.org!

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