Seek Opportunity. Give Joyfully. Meet Needs. Change Lives. Be a Blessing.
Our mission is simple: To love our neighbors and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. God tells us many times in His Word that we need to love our neighbors. In fact, Mark 12:30-31 tells us that this is the second greatest commandment after the command to love God.
Why is this so important? Because loving God and loving people go hand-in-hand. You can’t help but love others if you love God and have a relationship with Him: "And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21). Therefore, our challenge for you—for us as a church—is to seek out opportunities to give joyfully and love your neighbor. By doing this we can meet the needs of others, change lives, and be a blessing.
Need help finding ways to bless others? No problem, we’ve compiled a list for you of all the ministries and organizations we’re partnering with this season. Check them out below.
Operation Christmas Child: Shoeboxes due back by November 17
Empty shoeboxes will be available for pick-up at the Ministry Booth in our church lobby. Every shoebox gift is an excellent resource for evangelism and discipleship which leads to the multiplication of new believers and churches around the world. Please consider packing a shoebox to bless children around the world this Christmas season.
PLEASE BRING PACKED SHOEBOXES BACK TO CHURCH BY NOVEMBER 17!
Community Food Drive: November 17-24
No one should go hungry. Sadly, there are many in our community who do. Join our efforts in collecting much needed items for the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Collection begins Sunday, November 17, and runs through Sunday, November 24. Collection bins will be located in the lobby near our Cafe. Our goal is to deliver the food to the pantry before Thanksgiving so shelves can be stocked for the holiday season.
Here is a list of THE MOST NEEDED ITEMS:
• Ramen noodles
• Flour/ Sugar/Baking Oil
• Hot and cold cereal
• Canned soup and broth
• Canned chicken
• Canned vegetables
• Canned fruit
• Canned beans
• Canned pasta (Spaghetti-Os, Raviolio-Os)
• Side dishes
• Hamburger Helper/ Rice A Roni/ Noodle Roni
• Baby food
• Spaghetti sauce
• Syrup
Prison Fellowship Angel Tree: November 17 - December 7
EFCCL is spearheading an event to reach out to 100 children whose parent or parents are incarcerated. Prison Fellowship has supplied us with the names of these children and we need you to help us bless these kids this Christmas.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Select a name from our Angel Tree and purchase a $10-$15 gift. Please wrap your gift. ALL GIFTS MUST BE RETURNED BY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7.
HOW TO GET A CHILD’S NAME:
• Please stop by the Angel Tree in the lobby beginning Sunday, November 17, to get a name from our tree.
On Saturday, December 14, from 11 am - 2 pm, we are hosting an event in the Activity Center to which all the kids will be invited with their guardians. We will provide some fun interaction, snacks and Christmas cookies, and hand out the gifts purchased for them—by you—in the name of their parents. We will also be sharing the gospel and an open invitation to attend and get involved with our fellowship at EFCCL.
Have questions? Email Dave Bryan
Christmas Cards for the Evangel Children’s Home: Cards due by December 1
For years our church has been sending Christmas cards to some amazing kids at Evangel Children’s Home over in Hong Kong—there are OVER 100 children on the list! This is a simple way you can share the love of Jesus with these children and bring them joy this Christmas!
For more details on how to choose the name of a child and send a card, CLICK HERE. You may also visit the booth in the lobby and someone will be happy to help you.
**NOTE: ALL CARDS MUST BE RETURNED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1 so we can send them to Hong Kong in time for Christmas.
Have questions? Contact Peggy Strasser: 815-459-1095 x323 or pstrasser@efccl.org
“Behold Your King” Harvest Arts Christmas Concert: December 8 at 6:00 pm
Join us for an evening of beloved Christmas carols fused with classical and Celtic folk music featuring the Harvest Arts Chamber Ensemble—with Anna (Stenzel) Bone on the violin.
This event is FREE and open to the public—don’t forget to invite someone to come with you! Behold Your King begins at 6:00 pm in the Worship Center.
Christmas Services:
Sunday, December 22 | 9:00 and 10:45 am
We will have two services that morning, at 9:00 and 10:45 am. Our regular childcare and classes for kids, students and adults will be available.
Christmas Eve Night, December 24 | 5:00 pm
This is one of our highest attended services! This is a perfect opportunity to invite friends and family to this service full of Christmas music to help celebrate the birth of our Savior. No childcare will be available.
Sunday, December 29 | 9:00 am
We will have just ONE service that morning, at 9:00 am. No classes for kids, students or adults that morning.