From Our Office to You... Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so grateful for my blessings this year. God's faithfulness to our family is great and we are thankful. As we look back on the year, our family was saddened by the death of my father-in-law in August. The holidays won't feel "quite right" without dad and our hearts are still heavy with our loss, but it doesn't lessen the realization of how much God loves us and the very wonderful gifts He has given us this year.

We had a new grandson the day before dad died. Luke was born on August 26. We are flying out to see our new grandson on the east coast tonight. We haven't met him yet and we are so very excited to hold him in our arms for the first time. What a special gift to our family!

This year we have been given a new son-in-law. Meleia married Brandon Patterson in May. We rejoice! We will also have a new daughter-in-law this year. David will marry Lisa Miller in June and we are thrilled! The best part of all, is that all of our children and their spouses walk with Jesus Christ and this gives us great joy!

Yes, we are so richly blessed in spite of our hurt and pain in this last year. Christ came so that joy is ours for the asking.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Joyfully serving,
Jeanne
(The office will be closed on Friday and Monday. I apologize for any inconvenience).

Thank You Pine City High School Students For a Wonderful Performance

Brad Mariska directed a performance that went beyond good, it was excellently done! From Tiny Tim, to Bob Cratchit, from Fred, to Scrooge, we were treated to a high quality, meaningful performance this past weekend at Pine City High School's fall play. It was fun to see students, highly talented and gifted, who we know and love, use the abilities God gave them. The music was beautiful and well-chosen as it enhanced our focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Thank you Pine City High School students and all adults who put hours and hours into this wonderful production!

Thankful

I am coming up on six months on serving at PCEFC. I just want everyone to know that it has been wonderful. Of course there are up and downs, but every Sunday morning I am refreshed. It is great to sing in the 1st row because I can hear everyone else. It is great to get to know people. I am thankful for the Christians who serve God. I am thankful for the seekers who visit us who are looking for the answer to their pain. We have experienced tragedy and joy. We are forming our vision. We are setting up ministry structure. We are listening to God for what He would have us do.

Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving early with a big potluck. I just pause and thank God for my first PCEFC potluck 6 months ago on our first official weekend.

Partnering with you-

Pastor Darren

Familiar Faces On Stage
at performances of this holiday classic

Practice is done. The performances have begun! Tonight is night two of Pine City High School's production "A Christmas Carol". Keep your eyes peeled to the stage because you will see some familiar faces- Nick Basta, Franklin Foster, Britt Gonyea, Taylor Gonyea, Chloe Johnson, Elijah Johnson, Aaron Nisley, Ben White and David White have all worked very hard, putting in long hours of practice.... and we are proud of everyone of these kids! The play is directed by Brad Mariska. Come and support our students and our school. You'll enjoy this very special performance! You can still buy tickets at the door for tonight (Friday) at 7:30, Saturday, 2:30 pm or 7:30 pm, and Sunday's matinee at 2:30 pm.

Committed to Peacemaking

One book I would recommend to everyone on the planet - The Peacemaker. It is a helpful guide that is attached close to Scripture. Someone passed on to me last week a thought from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7 and 18. The moment we see the speck in someone's eye is the moment we know we have a log.

That is, if you find yourself being able to point out on a constant basis, others sin, and gleefully rejoice when they do sin, you yourself are the one with a terrible problem. It is so easy to see others fail. But will we come to them and beg them to repent? Will we not care for our own agenda but desire only what is best for the person we see in sin?

I personally feel so much better after I have spoken with someone face to face. I try to cut out imaginary conversations. I try not to "share" my concerns with others. I just want peace. If the Lord can love me, I can love them.

Our church is made up of saints that are hurt, sinful people. Your pastor is one of them. Read the NT and Paul is always struggling with those he has ministered to. Yet, they are still the church! Eventually we will run each other over, say something we shouldn't say or do something out of spite. At that point the gospel will enter, and we will be peacemakers.

Pastor Darren

Dinner-Theater
at Pine City EFC
Entertaining and imaginative theater served up with dinner!

Smile, laugh and hum along to your favorite Christmas carols as a tone-deaf angel, an absent-minded census taker, a cow, a little drummer girl, and several other misfits share their offbeat and charming stories of the first Christmas at a “Misfit Christmas” this year’s production by “Theater For the Thirsty”. This music-filled morsel presented by a two-person theater company (Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble) specializes in entertaining, music-infused, funny, thought-provoking, soul stirring and imaginative theater, is perfect for this holiday event that PCEFC is providing for your enjoyment.

The Dinner-Theater will be Friday, December 19, 6:30 pm at the Lighthouse, mark your calendar and come to this special Christmas event. Tickets are now on sale. Cost is: $12. Because seating is limited, call the church office soon (629.2584) to reserve your tickets today!

Chili Feed

Bake Sale & Silent Auction

Benefit for Bette (Nelson) Roote

Bette is in the middle of a very difficult battle against cancer and her family would like to invite you to help meet her needs for medical treatments and other expenses. Please come and enjoy good food and a fun outing with your friends, neighbors, and relatives. By doing so, you will help Bette meet financial needs during this difficult time.

When: Saturday, December 6
Time: 3:00 pm-7:00 pm
Where: Redeeming Grace Church - Pine City
Directions: (East) Behind A&W Restaurant, Old Hwy 61
Cost: Freewill offerings are gratefully appreciated!

Donations are being accepted for the Bette Root Benefit Fund by the Pine City Horizon Bank

For more information call: Bruce Nelson 320.629.2070

Shoe Box Lined Hallways
at Pine City EFC

We are an official drop off site for Operation Christmas Child. You may drop your filled shoe boxes off at Pine City EFC this week (Nov. 17-24) on the following days (note time):

Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Saturday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Sunday, 12 noon-1:00 pm
Monday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm

Ruby’s Pantry
Food Distribution
Saturday, November 22
10:00 – 11:30 am
At Pine City VFW

Note: Doors will open at 9:30 am and participants will be brought inside to wait to go through the distribution line that will be outside in the parking lot. A $15 donation appreciated.

For more info call: 651.674.2537 or go online to: http://www.rubyspantry.org/

Comments we've received: "This is an AWESOME outreach & my family & I have been truly BLESSED by this ministry. The food received is 10-fold the donation amount, and we are happy to continue to support Ruby's Pantry! I would encourage ANYONE to stop by one of the locations & volunteer or take advantage of the food distribution. Thank you, THANK YOU for providing this food for MY family, and for many families in our community ~ BLESS YOU, THE VOLUNTEERS & THIS MINISTRY ABUNDANTLY!!" -Tina, Cloquet

HONORING ALL
WHO SERVED

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776

It’s harvest time and at Pine City EFC

we're gathering up our blessings!

You are invited to a Thanksgiving Eve Service at Pine City EFC on Wednesday evening, November 26 at 7:00 pm. Join in for this opportunity to give thanks to the Lord for all he's done in our own individual life and in the lives of those around us.

Our Harvest Worship Gathering will be on Sunday, November 23 at 10:15 am. We will take a special offering to give to three ministries: Pine City Food Shelf, Pregnancy Resource Center and Grindstone Lake Bible Camp. After worship, everyone is invited to a Harvest Fellowship Dinner.

International Day of Prayer
for the Persecuted Church
Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners,
and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3



Please unite in prayer on Sunday, November 9 for Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Take sometime to focus in on intercessory prayer on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith. Pray for the souls of the oppressors, the nations that promote persecution, and those who ignore it. Prayer changes things. God invites us to present to Him our requests and to pray without ceasing. Persecuted Christians often plead for prayer to help them endure. Please pray for these dear people, not just on Sunday but throughout the year. Compelling Fact List

And So I'm Back (but not from outer space)

We have returned and I am back to praying, preaching and meeting with many of you. We are now starting to tabulate the feedback from the church from our focus groups. We are thankful to everyone for your input.

There have been many good thoughts regarding our church. It has been good to hear the heart's of those who attend on a regular basis. We are hoping to have the results to everyone by Christmas. I think you will be surprised how much we agree on so much and how little difference there is in what we value at the core of our church.

Pastor Darren

Right to the Heart

Pine City EFC Women’s Ministries presents to all women, all ages, evenings that will go... “Right to the Heart". These special evenings are held on Tuesday nights, 6:30 pm, every three weeks at Pine City EFC, Lighthouse and are designed for the purpose of fellowship, worship and Bible study. We want all women to be motivated, inspired and encouraged in their walk with Christ. This event for women includes uplifting music along with the opportunity to study life-changing Bible truths that will speak to the heart of each woman. All women are invited to attend! The next time we meet is Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30 pm. The material we are using this year is entitled, "Breaking Free" written by Beth Moore. If you have questions or are interested in these evenings, you may contact me, Jeanne Johnson, at office@pcefc.com.

Pray For Today’s Presidential Election
and please vote!

“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain…” Exodus 18:21