The document discusses a church, Everett Family Church, entering a two month period of sabbatical where they will scale back programming and events in order to focus on becoming lovers and worshippers of Jesus Christ. During this time, the only organized event will be a weekly extended worship gathering on Saturdays. The pastor invites the congregation to join in this sabbatical season of rest and intentional time spent refreshing their relationship with God.

1.
online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975
A Sabbatical Season for EFC
by Pastor Mike
God gathered the Jews at the foot of Mount Sinai and
ascended on the mountain in a magnificent display of smoke
and fire. In those weeks Yahweh and Israel met and
established a covenant that would extend for all generations
of his people. This was a unique covenant that would cause
God’s people to look very different from neighboring
nations. The point was not looking different, the point was
God’s people depending completely on Yahweh and loving
Him wholeheartedly. Exodus records the instructions of their
regular observance of a Sabbatical. Every week they would
take a full day to rest from their regular work and anticipate
God’s perfect rest that would come in the Promised Land.
Every seventh year was called the Sabbatical and all fields
would be rested, slaves set free and work would cease.
Yahweh promised to meet their needs during the Sabbaths.
Stoppage from regular work, refreshment and focusing on
God’s perfect rest was a regular part of Jewish life. I don’t
think we do that very well. How often have you or I needed
a vacation from our vacation? Isn’t our “day off” usually
busy catching up on all the work we didn’t finish the
previous week? Sabbath as prescribed by God is hard to
do. It is time to consider the implications when God’s
worshipers fail to Sabbath regularly and well. I know well
the strain and depletion this causes on one’s soul and spirit.
I’m leading EFC into a Sabbatical season. It is probably
coming later than it should have and I’ve never done this
with a church before. I share the ministry exhaustion many
of you are experiencing. I’m tired and my fire is waning. A
small church with the unique ministry we’ve been involved in
has taken a toll on all of us. As a result, September and
October are being set aside to scale down the busyness of
EFC programs so we are able to focus on one thing. We
need to become lovers and worshipers of Jesus. This is why
God made us and it is the one thing I want to do well.
The one organized event at EFC during this Sabbatical
season is a time of extended worship. The dinners we have
served, breakouts we have led, events we have
planned, meetings we have held, and
programming we have provided are stopping
during this time for all ages.
I invite you to join me in this Sabbath season.
Come rest and intentionally refresh yourself as we
re-kindle the love we have for Jesus. Gather with
us free of expectation and responsibility. Worship
the King of kings and give him the space to pour
His Spirit afresh upon you and your family.
WORSHIP
GATHERING
S A T U R D A Y S @ 6 P M
Everett Family Church is in the midst of
a church wide sabbatical - a season of
rest, refreshment as we seek to become
lovers and worshippers of Jesus Christ.
Saturday evenings will be a simple and
extended time of music, prayer and
Scripture reading. All ages are
welcome to participate in this worship
time. Parents needing something for
their little ones will have a room for
presc hoolers and a space for
elementary children to play.
E F C F O C U S S E P T E M B E R 2 015
Are you ready to sabbath well?
While this Sabbath season clearly effects the
programming of EFC you are encouraged to consider
how you are sabbath-ing beyond church. This is not about
sleeping in, taking naps, watching Seahawks games, and
eating junk food. Those things may be part of your
Sabbath, but this is about redeeming our time to enjoy
Jesus and express our gratitude to Him and learning to
listen and love our Savior. It is about waiting on Him and
creating space for Him to show up. It is about persistence
until He opens the door and meets with us. Here are
some ideas:
Clear a day every week for your family as a Sabbath.
Re-schedule appointments, commitments, and busyness
for 24 hours. Find an activity for your family, cook a
meal together, read a passage from Scripture and talk
about it.
Fast from something and use the time normally devoted
to this to pursue Jesus. Cut out/down TV, movies, meal
prep, talk radio, a hobby, lunch, sugar, etc.
Consolidate your home chores to free up time on other
days. Do laundry and cleaning all on one day; work
as a family to clean-up after dinner; prep your Sabbath
dinner the day before.
Give your spouse a day off from family responsibilities.
Encourage him/her to spend time with the Lord in a
park or on a hike or some other getaway.

2. online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975
Family Camp 2015: We had a wonderful time as
a church at Entiat Valley Family Camp the
last weekend of June.
Baptism: On July 11th we celebrated as Janell
was baptized at Silver Lake. She shared her
testimony with the church during the Family
Gathering and then confessed that Jesus
Christ is her Lord and Savior.
Missions Week: The last weekend of July we
partnered with the team from Humble Area
First Baptist Church in leading a Kids Club
here in Everett. 51 children attended this
Vacation Bible School program and invited
their parents to come to a carnival at the
week’s end.
SUMMER REWIND
E F C M a n a g e m e n t T e a m
THE TEAM: Dan Bell, Michelle Linke, & Mike Wright
You may turn your Joy Box gifts in during the
Gatherings or send payments to “Everett Family
Church” to the mailing address listed below.
Total Joy Box gifts in July $5,195.................
Total EFC spending in July $11,227..............
Community Ministry & Missions Abroad $903....
Everett Family Church is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization.
Tax Identification # 71-1025722
EFC BIRTHDAYS:
We are celebrating the following
birthdays this month.
September 7 Rob....................
September 14 Jenn..................
September 21 Casey..................
September 26 Mary..................
UPCOMING EFC DATES
The following are the important dates
for EFC this months.
September 5 Worship Gathering @ 6pm
September 12 Worship Gathering @ 6pm
September 19 Worship Gathering @ 6pm
EFC Youth this Summer: What a summer for our
youth! Working the fireworks stand with
Pastor Spud, Tuesday night fellowship, and
rafting the Yakima River at summer’s end!