Baggage: It's Time to Let Go!

May Sermon Series – Baggage: It’s Time to Let Go

People have issues – all people. Christians are no different. Every relationship we enter into causes us to realize that many of these issues are unresolved. I call these unresolved issues “Baggage.” As a result, our relationship with God and others suffer and we never become all that God intends us to be. Why? We refuse to deal with our baggage.

In Psalm 139, David openly (and I might say dangerously) invites God into his life to deal with his baggage. While David never became perfect, He did become a man after God’s own heart.

Do you want to go to the next step in your relationship with God? Then, like David, we must invite God into our lives to deal with our baggage.

Join us for the following Sundays, 10:30 a.m. at Pine City EFC, Lighthouse:

May 1 – Baggage Check: Discover What’s Inside

May 8 – Mother’s Day “A Woman to be Praised”

May 15 – Emotional Baggage

May 22 – Overcoming Addictions

May 29 – Released from Depression

Celebrate Easter in a New Way!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. They were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Jesus lives and reigns for eternity. He has reclaimed life for all those who believe in Him. Through God's work on the cross, we may have eternal life as well. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). Death is not the end. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it.

If you put your faith in Christ, then Easter means that you will live forever in the presence of God. Consider Him Today!

We warmly invite you to our Easter Celebration this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Ladies' Morning Out


Hey, gals... we're grinding up the coffee beans and steaming up the espressos as we look forward to the next “Ladies Morning Out” on Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. at Jenine Preston’s home. Come on out for a wonderful time and a "latté" love!

Sharing the Hope of Easter


Join us this week as we come together in thankfulness for God's willingness to sacrifice His Son on the cross for our sins, and to celebrate the power of the resurrection. Join us for a Thursday evening service at 7:00 p.m. or on Easter morning at 10:30 a.m. at Pine City EFC, Lighthouse.

Pine City High School
Prom 2011

Below are just a few pictures of some of our students who enjoyed going to this year's Pine City High School Prom. We hosted this fun event again this year at the Lighthouse.

An Egg-stra Special Kids' Sunday Afternoon
at Pine City EFC

An egg-ceptional kids' Sunday afternoon was enjoyed by thirty children at Pine City EFC. There was an Easter egg coloring activity, a Veggie Tale Movie, "Twas the Night Before Easter", a coloring contest and lots of treats handed out. It was truly an eggstra special day!

Ruth Geisler, Very Much Loved


As a church family we extend our sincere sympathy to Chuck and Jaci Broz and Tim and Candy Geisler. Ruth went home to be with the Lord last Wednesday. Please keep the Geisler family in your thoughts and prayer today and in the days ahead. The following are the dates and time for visitations and funeral service in memory of Ruth:

Pine City EFC, Lighthouse
Sunday, April 17
Visitation: 4:30-7:00 pm

Pine City EFC, Lighthouse
Monday, April 18
Visitation: 10:00 am
Funeral: 11:00 am

Sign Up For the Team!

We are getting excited to start a church softball team this year (we’ve taken a few years off and now we're ready to take the bats out of the lockers once again)!

Tony Gonyea will organize the team and he wants to know who is interested in playing. Sign up if interested at the Welcome Desk on Sunday or talk to Tony!

Sixth Grade
Adventure with Aaron


All 6th grade students are invited to an afternoon adventure with Aaron Goodenow, Student Ministries Director. Meet at South Building at 3:00 pm, Sunday, April 17.

An Egg-ceptional Kids’ Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, April 17, 3:00-4:30 p.m. at Pine City EFC South Campus, children, 4 year olds to 5th grade are invited to a Veggie Tales movie, that will help to teach them the true meaning of Easter. They'll find out that it's not about chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs, but a reminder (from a tomato and cucumber) that Easter is a celebration of ‘new life’ because Jesus was resurrected on the third day – giving us new life in Him. Your child will have the opportunity to color Easter eggs, watch “Twas the Night Before Easter” with discussion time afterwards and participate in a coloring contest! Easter treat bags will be given out at the end!

A Memorable Evening Coming Up
for Pine City Students

The Pine City EFC, Lighthouse is in the process of being transformed to accommodate 200 plus Pine City High School students at the 2011 Senior High Prom tonight (Saturday). This is a fun event that Pine City EFC hosts each year. If you would like to help with the take down/set up/clean up come at 7:00 pm. If you'd like to help with the many dishes come at 5:15 pm. A huge thank you to all who have helped with arrangements and transformation of the building.

A Powerful Palm Sunday Planned
with Teen Challenge

A Powerful Palm Sunday coming up tomorrow morning (10:30 a.m.) with men from Teen Challenge. Teen Challenge is a Christian, long term, inpatient treatment program for drug and alcohol addictions. There will be a group of 50 individuals from Teen Challenge, Duluth, who will sing and share powerful testimonies of the Lord’s healing hand in their life. This is an opportunity to encourage your friends and relatives to attend this very
meaningful worship service.

Our Students in Duluth

Our students, 22 of them, are in Duluth for the weekend at the EFC North Central District Youth Conference, affectionately called "Districts". Each year our students look forward to this special "weekend away" as they not only have loads of fun but grow in their relationship with Christ and with each other.

Over 2900 students and adults are attending. As you have opportunity, ask God's presence in this event in the following ways:

Pray for speaker, D.A. Horton and worship team
Pray for the 22 seminar leaders and those attending
Pray for the ministry options as the participants bless Duluth on Saturday afternoon.

Below is a few pictures of some of the group before they left yesterday afternoon.

Relationships 101: Put Into Practice

Don't forget to sign up for Dinners 6 Plus 2 on Sunday...

Ok, here’s the idea. To help us be intentional about relationships with others, we want to put a schedule together for what’s called Dinners 6+2. Here’s how it works: If you sign up to be part of Dinners 6 + 2, you will receive a calendar once a month with your name as the “Host”, “Baker” or “Gardener”. The “Hosts” are responsible to host the dinner 1 time during the month, arrange with the “Bakers” and “Gardeners” the date and time of the dinner, provide the main dish, and invite the +2. The +2 could be neighbors, co-workers, friends, people from other churches, or people from PCEFC that are not part of Dinners 6 + 2. The “Bakers” are responsible to bring the bread and dessert, and the “Gardeners” bring a salad or fruit. You may be the host one month with one set of “Gardeners” and “Bakers” and the next month you may be the “Baker” with different “Host” and “Gardener.”

Remember the point of this is to build relationships with others not just fill the 6 + 2 quota (numbers really don’t matter). You may want to invite younger singles, or elderly singles to be the +2. Also, if you are single, you can still sign up to be on the rotation of Dinners 6 + 2. The hosts, gardeners, and bakers together can decide if it is adults only or a whole family event. You may sign up in the foyer this week and next to be on the schedule for Dinners 6 + 2 or call Nate and Lisa Johnson at 629.1106. The first schedule will be put in your church mailbox for April.

Acts 2:46b-47 “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”