MARRIAGE COACH: February Workout Schedule

All through the month of February we are working to strengthen marriages and families.  Make sure you are on track with these great opportunities to bring health to your home!

• Marriage Coach Sermon Series: Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.  Dive deeper at www.themarriagecoach.us!
• Membership Class: Sunday, February 10, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  A vibrant church connection is a key ingredient to a healthy family.  You are invited to discover how your family can connect with the ministry and vision of EFC!
• Valentine Banquet: Wednesday, February 13.  Enjoy an evening of laughter, fun, and fine dining at the Annual EFC Valentine Banquet.  Seating is limited, tickets are on sale in the church foyer while supplies last!
• “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage” DVD Seminar: Sunday evening February 17 & 24, at 6:00 PM.  Mark Gungor will have you rolling on the floor laughing as he equips couples with the tools necessary to engage in life-giving conversations and strengthen marriages. 
• Family Skate Night: Friday, February 15.  The big yellow bus will depart from EFC at 5:00 PM, as we head to the First Baptist Church of Abilene’s Family Life Center for an evening of bowling and skating.  The cost of $10 per family covers transportation, pizza, and all the family fun you can handle!

Podcast

Each week of January’s “Bringing Faith to Life” sermon series is now available online!  Click here to listen.

Video Intro

What does Sunday morning like around your house?  Click here to catch the video introduction from the February 3, Marriage Coach message.

You Heard it at EFC

1. “Your Love Never Fails” by Bethel Music
2. “I’ve Found A Love” Jenn Johnson version
3. “Draw Near” by Matt Stinton
4. “One Thing Remains” by Bethel Music

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, February 10, we continue the Marriage Coach with a look at the impact of healthy finances on healthy families.  Our youth, grades 6-12, will continue to meet in the Salvage Yard for both services during the Marriage Coach Series, and quality children’s ministry is available every Sunday morning in both the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM services.

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REAL TALK FOR REAL MARRIAGES

The Marriage Coach: Real Talk for Real Marriages

Sundays in February at Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Sweetwater

Services at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM

Get the details at www.themarriagecoach.us

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DON’T DO IT!

 

Podcast

Click here to listen to “Out of Bounds,” Pastor Eric’s message from last Sunday, and catch the entire Marriage Coach sermon series online.   

On the Radar

• Sunday, March 4, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., we will have a Membership Class at Emmanuel Fellowship Church.  If you are new to EFC and would like to discover more of our history, mission, and vision, you are welcome to join us for this informative and entertaining afternoon.
• IGNITE: Creativity! On Wednesday, March 7, beginning at 7:00PM.  Join us for an evening of worship and creativity as we celebrate the grace of God through a special presentation.
• EFC will host a Backyard Bible Club over Spring Break at the Spanish Arms Apartments.  You are invited to be part of the team as we reach out to children and their parents with the message of Jesus’ love.  The Backyard Bible Club will run March 12-14 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM each day.

Links 

Don’t give up on that family budget just yet! Click here for Dave Ramsey’s 21 Ways to Leap Out of Debt. (I’m working hard on #19!)

Family Connection

Parents! Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.

• Worldchangers – Discussion starters from Sunday’s Kids’ Church lesson.
• The Salvage Yard – Youth Ministry Website. Click “Parent Connect.”

You Heard it at EFC

1. “See His Love” Kim Walker version
2. “Father of Lights” Kim Walker version
3. “I Will Exalt” by Amanda Faulk
4. “This Is Our God” by Hillsong

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, March 4, we are excited to host Randy Boyd of Prepare International as our guest speaker in both the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM service.

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THE MARRIAGE COACH CONTINUES

Sundays in February at Emmanuel Fellowship.

Response to The Marriage Coach sermon series has exceeded our expectations.  Each Sunday, we are thrilled to share life-giving marriage principles and overjoyed to hear testimonies of their applications.

This Sunday, February 18, Pastor Mindy will lead us on an examination of Ephesians 5 and introduce an essential foundation to healthy marriages.  Join us at 9:00 or 11:00 and learn how to keep “unnecessary roughness” out of your marriage by breaking the crazy cycle!

Podcast

Click here to access the first two messages in the The Marriage Coach sermon series. 

On the Radar

• Friday and Saturday, February 24-25: Marriage Conference featuring Dr. Mark and Alison Rutland at FountainGate Fellowship Church in Abilene.
• Sunday, March 4, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., we will have a Membership Class at Emmanuel Fellowship Church.  If you are new to EFC and would like to discover more of our history, mission, and vision, you are welcome to join us for this informative and entertaining afternoon.

Links

Pastor Mindy recently completed a marriage-building countdown to Valentine’s Day on her blog, Treasure the Ordinary.  It is filled with life-giving marriage tips.  Log on to invest in your spouse!   www.treasuretheordinary.blogspot.com

Family Connection

Parents! Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.

• Worldchangers – Discussion starters from Sunday’s Kids’ Church lesson.
• The Salvage Yard – Youth Ministry Website. Click “Parent Connect.”

You Heard it at EFC

1. “Father of Lights” by Jesus Culture
2. “Consuming Fire” by CFNI
3. “Be Lifted High” by Brian Johnson

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THE MARRIAGE COACH

In 19 years of ministry and hundreds of hours of pastoral counseling, I have repeated a few basic marriage truths countless times.  Now, I’m organizing my top 4 keys to a healthy marriage into one dynamic sermon series this February, “The Marriage Coach.”

Friends, I want you to have the marriage you have prayed for, and this series will move you in the right direction.  I encourage you to make Sundays in February a priority as you determine to invest in your marriage.  Make plans to attend every Sunday.  Come prepared to laugh and learn, but, most importantly, come prepared to receive truths that will immediately begin to improve your marriage.

Even if you are not married, this series will be filled with tools to bring life to any relationship.  Don’t miss out — every relationship needs coaching!

I believe wounded marriages will find healing, and healthy marriages will grow more vibrant.  And I look forward to growing in this process together!

Ready to get to work?  Head over to www.themarriagecoach.us for more details, and send the link to some friends.  They will be glad you did.

Podcast

“Everyone is Significant,” Pastor Mindy’s message from the “Dance of Grace” sermon series is available online.  Click to listen.

On the Radar

• Sunday, January 29: Discipleship Training “How to Balance Your Budget” from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Childcare is provided.
• Wednesday, February 1: Ignite Prayer for Families!  Join us for this evening of worship and encouragement to build, strengthen, and renew family relationships.  You will leave with encouragement directly from the heart of the Father!
• Friday and Saturday, February 24-25: Marriage Conference featuring Dr. Mark and Alison Rutland at FountainGate Fellowship Church in Abilene.  Register today to get the early bird rate!

Links

Our Budgeting Class is off to a great start.  As promised, here are two follow-up links to Dave Ramsey.

• Click here for Dave’s talk on being Weird With Your Money.
• Click here for an Online Budget Calculator.

Family Connection

Parents! Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.

• Worldchangers – Discussion starters from Sunday’s Kids’ Church lesson.
• The Salvage Yard – Youth Ministry Website. Click “Parent Connect.”

You Heard it at EFC

1. “Nothing but the Blood” by Andy Cherry
2. “I Will Exalt” by Amanda Faulk
3. “Our God” Chris Tomlin version
4. “Be Lifted High” by Brian Johnson

Sunday Preview

This Sunday, January 29, we will conclude our “Dance of Grace” sermon series by exploring the amazing truth for those who are followers of Jesus, “Nothing is Impossible!”  Make plans to join us at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. for a life giving morning of worship, fellowship, and ministry.

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STAGES OF MARRIAGE

A recap of the stages of marriage from last night’s Sweetheart Banquet.  It is important to know where you are at, but, more importantly, to know how to move forward.

“I still think she’s hot!”

Understanding how to keep the sweet in your sweetheart relationship:

The Honeymoon Stage:

• A sweet time of enjoying being together
• Easy to focus on what is good about the other person
• Endorphins are released in the brain during this stage that create a feeling of being “high on love;” these endorphins last around 3 years from the onset of a new relationship
• Very important to be honest during this stage and establish good communication skills

The “What Was I Thinking?” Stage:

• Reality and disillusionment set in as we realize our spouse is not the perfect specimen we had convinced ourselves they were in the honeymoon stage
• Other person’s negative habits and behavior patterns become uncomfortably clear
• Very important to learn about problem solving, conflict management, and better communication during this stage

The Challenge Stage:

• Life crises factor into this stage, causing the relationship to have to grow in order to accommodate hardships
• One temptation during this stage is for one or both of the spouses to reflect back on past relationships with other people (often ones that remained shallow and untested), creating unrest and sometimes unfaithfulness
• Very important to focus on improving the relationship and keeping open communication during this stage, as well as focusing on the good points of the relationship

The Crossroads Stage:

• This stage comes at a point in the spouses’ lives where they are each asking themselves, “What do I do at this stage of my life?” and the answer to that question must involve the family unit as a whole
• A big temptation during this stage is to try to force the other person to be different, instead of working to change your self
• Very important to stay emotionally engaged with your spouse during this stage and to resist withdrawing

The Rebirth Stage:

• The art of compromise has been learned by this stage, making conflicts last for short amounts of time and without intense emotional backlash
• People who reach this stage are willing to give each other the benefit of the doubt
• Couples learn to re-appreciate and re-love each other at this stage, making time together sweet

Marriage Links

• Why Marriage Matters
• Online Focus on the Family Marriage Resources 
• You Paid How Much For That?  (Financial Planning for Married Couples) 
• Love and Respect Ministries

Podcast

Click here for the latest Family Foundation podcast!

On the Radar

Emmanuel Fellowship is now in TWO SERVICES.  Our Sunday morning worship times are 9:00 and 11:00.  A pre-school nursery only is available during the 9:00 service, and full children’s ministry is offered in the 11:00 service.

Sermon Series – Each Sunday, during the month of February, we will be looking at different aspects of healthy Family Foundations.  From marriage to parenting to grandparenting, there’s something for everyone.

Youth Led Service – Our youth are going to get in on the action by blessing us with leading every aspect of our Sunday morning services on Sunday, February 20^th.  You won’t want to miss this special time.

Kingdom Principles for Raising Children Seminar – All parents are invited to attend our parenting seminar, Sunday, February 27 at 6 pm and Monday, February 28 at 7 pm.  Session 1 will cover how to discipline effectively and speak your child’s love language.  Session 2 will cover how to impart Godly principles into your child’s life.

Family Connection

Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.

• Worldchangers – Discussion starters from Sunday’s Kids’ Church lesson.
• The Salvage Yard – Youth Ministry Website

You Heard it at EFC

Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang?  Here is our worship list from yesterday for those of you who just absolutely need a copy for yourself.  You can usually find them for purchase on itunes.com.

1. “Beautiful One” by Tim Hughes
2. “Your Love is Everything” Jesus Culture version
3. “Fire Fall Down” Rita Springer version
4. “You’ll Come” by Hillsong

Sunday Preview

Join us next Sunday as we continue our Family Foundations Series with a Youth Led Service!

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