Yearly Meeting Highlights
Notes from the 2009 Yearly Meeting Epistle:
The 197th Yearly Meeting of EFC-ER was held July 18-21, 2009 in Canton, Ohio and brought an increased mix of ages, worship styles, and experiences. The theme for this year’s meeting was “Hearing the Call; Taking the Risk.” Listed below are a few highlights from the gathering. A complete copy of the Outgoing Epistle along with additional pictures are available on the website (www.efcer.org).
• Saturday Morning began with board meetings and the annual Hispanic Leadership Conference which has grown to include over 250 families and leaders from the EFC-ER Hispanic churches.
• Saturday Evening’s Missionary Banquets welcomed over 600 attendees. Missionary speakers this year were Dave and Cindy Aufrance, home from Hong Kong, and Jason Harsh, who is leaving for India in fall 2009, where he will be working with Arun and Shobha Massey.
• Sunday Evening’s worship service brought over 200 teens from FY United together with delegates from across the region. The service was not only inter-generational but also multi-cultural in nature.
• Monday’s events included the Concert of Prayer, Serve time, the Women’s Missionary Fellowship Luncheon, and an afternoon of business sessions. The evening guest speaker was Dr. John Ed Matheson.
• Tuesday’s events included the Memorial Service (See page 8 for recent Memoriums). Tuesday evening concluded our sessions with the Recording Service followed by a time of fellowship.
Yearly Meeting Business Meeting Highlights...
2009 Business Session Highlights:
The Christian Education Report included the following: over $22,000.00 raised in the Easter offering for Evangelical Friends Missions; almost $4,000.00 raised so far this summer in vacation Bible Schools for work in the Philippines; and over 500 campers at Camp Gideon this summer.
Camp Gideon described a year of transition and the naming of Tom Lincoln who has a background in food service and construction (two needed skills at the camp) as the part time director during this time of reorganization.
E.P. & E. Report recommended the following for recording in this year’s session: Peter Fowler, Andy Albertini, Roger Foote and Dave Aufrance. Additionally, Living Hope Evangelical Friends church in Virginia was received into full EFC-ER membership.
The Friends Disaster Service announced that this past year the service performed disaster relief assistance 194 days involving 395 volunteers.
The Friends Action Board reported results of grant recipient awards, including a first person account from a church that created community garden plots to be able to share fresh fruits and vegetables with those in need.
Malone College report presented by Dr. Streit, reporting the 5th consecutive year of increased enrollment with 2455 this academic year.
Evangelical Friends Mission (EFM) announced that a prospective missionaries’ retreat was held with 28 prospective missionaries who plan to be on the field within 5 years.
Variety of Worship Styles Enrich Sunday Evening Service
Sunday evening’s worship service brought over 200 teens from FY United together with delegates from across the region. The
worship was not only inter-generational but multi-cultural in nature.
The combined choir and orchestra, made up of members from local friends churches, led the entire group in a lively medley of well-known Sunday School songs which started the evening on a high-spirited note. Then the worship group from Hungary presented Christian music of the Hungarian, Gypsy, and Jewish-Gypsy genre, building the energy to welcome the presence of a men’s quartet from Canton, Ohio and a Christian Rock band, the Adam Cappa Band, who successfully involved the entire crowd in shouting to the Lord and singing praises corporately.
Although the worship styles and corporate responses to music varied with the venue, the heart and focus of the worship was Christ and a fresh celebration of His love for each one.
Monday's Serve Time Brought Smiles Following the Monday morning Concert of Prayer, the entire delegation was sent out into the community to demonstrate “Love in Action.”
Work sites included ministering at a local fire station that recently lost a fire fighter, the Jewish Community Center, the Pregnancy Support Center, a nursing home, the yearly meeting children’s program, a playground, and private homes. Love in action included praying, washing a fire truck, picking up trash, sorting clothes, weeding a garden, visiting elderly, washing windows, playing games with children, and more.
Dr. John and Carol Williams Recognized for Years of Service
Pastor Dan Cale and the E.P.& E. Board recognized Dr. John and Carol’s 20 years of service with gifts and a word of gratitude. Delegates expressed appreciation with applause for their faithful and continual service to the Lord.
Tuesday Evening Service
The Recording Service recognized newly recorded pastors Andy Albertini of Riverbend Friends in Tecumseh, MI,
Dave Aufrance, missionary to Hong Kong, Roger Foote of Canton (OH) First Friends, and Pete Fowler of Salem (OH) First Friends Church. The evening featured brief messages from international leaders and times of prayer for these pastors.
