VBS Needs You! July 26-30, 6-8:30 PM

Hopefully you have seen and heard a lot around our church about Vacation Bible School this summer--fliers, banners, slides, ministry moments on Sunday mornings....So by now you know that the VBS theme is Hero HeadQuarters - Where Kids Join Forces With God! and it's for children going into grades 1-6 (there is a preschool program available for volunteers only). And don't forget, it's an EVENING VBS from 6 to 8:30 PM, July 26-30! VBS is going to be a fun, meaningful and memorable time for the kids and you, yourself, will want to be a part of the action!

The BIGGEST thing about VBS that we want to emphasize is that it's first and foremost an OUTREACH event. We want our SSEFC kids to use VBS as an opportunity to take part in the Great Commission. At VBS this summer, our kids (and their parents) are challenged to be a Hometown Hero and invite at least ONE FRIEND who needs to hear the gospel message. Colorful fliers/registration forms are available both at the VBS table in the foyer and the Welcome Desk. So take a few and invite some children and hopefully one or more will be able to come. Summers fill up fast for people, so pray and invite today!

Hero HeadQuarters needs YOU! There are still many areas that need adult and youth volunteers. Visit the VBS table in the foyer for areas available. One of the biggest areas that need volunteers is the Crew Leader position. Crew Leaders have an assistant and their main function is to stay with their designated age-group of kids as they move from site to site (snacks, games, story time, etc.). The Crew Leader will have a great opportunity to get to know the kids, review the Bible memory verse, answer questions (about the stories, salvation, etc.), help kids with the craft, eat snacks with them,....This is a really hands on opportunity to minister to the children and play a huge part in making VBS a special experience. The more people we have willing to be Crew Leaders, the smaller and more manageable groups we can have. Please see Jeff Larson or Steph Buckland with questions regarding any of the areas that need your service.

Perhaps you can't volunteer at VBS? There are still plenty of ways you can help out. First of all, please PRAY!

• Pray that all needed service areas get filled.
• Pray that at least 150 children participate (with at least 50 being guests!).
• Pray for safety, health and fun for all.
• Pray for children to make salvation decisions for Jesus.

Also, there are opportunities for you to donate needed items for VBS. Watch for a snack board soon with listings of food items that you can donate. Also, one of the crafts the kids will be doing is decorating new, kid-sized flip flops that will be sent to children in poor parts of the world through the ministry of the Flip Flop Fleet. There is a flip flops collection box in the foyer by the Welcome Desk.

Lastly, registration is up and running. It REALLY helps the organizers to know sooner rather than later what our numbers might be. So please go online or fill out a form today. Thank you for your considered participation in VBS and thank you for your prayers.

Let's Have Coffee! Tuesday, May 25 @ 7 pm

It's time for another Let's Have Coffee! Please come to the Apple Valley Panera Bread Tuesday, May 25 at 7 pm for a fun and relaxed time to connect with other ladies from South Suburban EFC. Look for a sign on a table indicating our group. No children please.

Let's Have Coffee! meets the last Tuesday of each month from 7 pm to when you need to leave. These fun gatherings will continue to meet over the summer but the location will change. Mark your calendars now for the June meeting date: June 29. We will be meeting at Donna Morrison's home (16815 Edinburg Way, Farmington, 55024). Watch this blog and the bulletin for future locations.

These gatherings are a great opportunity to meet new people and make some connections so please come....and be sure to invite other ladies to join you.

Join the SSEFC Women's Book Club!

Do you love to read? A book club is forming at SSEFC and you and your friends are welcome to join us! Our first meeting will be Tuesday, June 22 at 7 pm at Panera Bread in Apple Valley. Our first book that we will read and discuss together is In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols. Two copies are available in our church's library or you can find it on sale at Amazon. Visit Amazon and you can click on the Look Inside feature to read some exerts from the novel. This book club is a great opportunity to invite some friends from outside SSEFC and read and discuss some important topics - and, of course, it's fun! This book club hopes to meet every 4 to 6 weeks. The next book will be chosen at the first meeting in June. The type of novels to be read will be Christian fiction - contemporary, historical, romance, suspense. For more information, contact Sharon Moore via the church directory. See you at book club!

Please note: You can run your mouse over the words of a different color within the post above and click on them. These are links that will take you to additional, helpful information.

Summer Bible Study Opportunity!

A women's Bible study will be held this summer at SSEFC on Tuesday afternoons from 2-3:30 pm. The first meeting will be held on June 22. We will be going through the book, Being Yourself: How Do I Take Off the Mask? from the Women of Faith Series. Childcare will be available. Sign-ups begin in June! Questions? Contact the leaders, Janice Krall and Marth MacAlpine via the church directory. Hope to see you at Bible study this summer! Friends welcome!

Jubilee planning meeting Tuesday, May 4 @ 7 pm

The next Jubilee planning is meeting is tomorrow, May 4 @ 7 pm at SSEFC. The main agenda item for this meeting will be to pray for the event and confirm areas of commitment and service. Please come and find out where your gifts and talents are needed.

The date is set for the next Jubilee Celebration: Saturday, September 18 at the Apple Valley Aquatics Center. Please mark your calendars.

Reminder that SSEFC is collecting nail polish and products for Jubilee during the month of May.

Great quote: "God doesn't want our results; He just wants our obedience."

What a Beautiful & Inspiring Women's Brunch!

WOW! Thank you, thank you, to the many hands that donated their time, efforts and creativity to the SSEFC Women's Brunch! It was truly beautiful, powerful and inspiring! Cindy Finch's story was an incredible testimony of the the Lord's consistent and tender care in our lives. Thank you wonderful SSEFC gentlemen for reserving your Saturday morning to sweetly serve us ladies. We hope to provide some photos of the brunch on this blog soon so be watching for that. We would love to hear about your brunch experience and learn how it impacted you and perhaps your guest who joined you. Please use this blog to post a "comment" and let us know. If you are receiving this info in an email update, you will actually need to visit the blog by clicking on the blog link at the top of the email. Once at the blog site, go the bottom of this post and click on the word "COMMENTS". Follow the instructions and let us know about your brunch experience. Then come back and visit the blog and read what others had to share. We hope the brunch was a blessing to you!