September 13th, 2026

Welcome to our Worship Service!

Order Of Service

Welcome

Call to Worship: [Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV]

[3] And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Worship in Song

Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism

Lord’s Day 46, Questions 120 & 121

Q120: Why did Christ command us to call God “our Father”?

A120: To awaken in us at the very beginning of our prayer what should be basic to our prayer— a childlike reverence and trust that through Christ God has become our Father, and that just as our parents do not refuse us the things of this life, even less will God our Father refuse to give us what we ask in faith.

Q121: Why the words “in heaven”?

A121: These words teach us not to think of God’s heavenly majesty as something earthly, and to expect everything needed for body and soul from God’s almighty power.

Confession of Sins

Old Testament Reading: [Isaiah 55:6-13 ESV]

[6] "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; [7] let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [10] "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. [12] "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. [13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

Dedication and Collection of Tithes and Offerings

Sermon Text: [Mark 4:1-20 ESV]

The Parable of the Sower

[1] Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. [2] And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: [3] "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. [5] Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. [6] And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. [8] And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." [9] And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

The Purpose of the Parables

[10] And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. [11] And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, [12] so that "'they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.'" [13] And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? [14] The sower sows the word. [15] And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. [16] And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. [17] And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. [18] And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, [19] but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. [20] But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

Closing Song

Announcements

Closing Prayer

Benediction: [Psalm 1:3 ESV]

[3] He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

FEC News & Updates

FIGHTER VERSES:

·     This week’s verse to be memorized: [2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV] And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

· Next week’s verse to be memorized: [2 Corinthians 12:9 [10] ESV] ..."My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [¹⁰For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.]

SPANISH TRANSLATION:

·     Live, real time translation of the sermon will be available during the service. To listen, call (425) 436-6329 at the beginning of the sermon. Use access code 8933632 followed by #.

TITHES & OFFERINGS:

·     If you’ve been visiting us, please feel no pressure to give. However, if you call FEC your home church and you’d like to give, you can do so online, or place your offering in the offering plate in the back of the church. You can also mail your offering as well. http://faithfreehold.org/giving

FAITH FAMILY IN FOCUS:

·  The Brush Family: Each week we pray specifically for FEC families or congregants. This week, please pray for Emily and family.

MISSIONARY IN FOCUS:

·  Mohan and Rajkumari Masih: Mohan is an indigenous missionary serving as a Pastor in Uttar Pradesh, for over 5 Years, and has been preaching the Gospel in Northern India for over 20 years. Please pray for them and their family as they train, teach, and raise up leaders, missionaries and church planters.

THIS WEEK AT FEC:

·  Wednesday ‘House of Prayer’: Starting September 9th, joins us from 7:30-8:30 PM on Zoom (link below)

OTHER FEC INFO:

· Wednesday ‘House of Prayer’: Starting September 9th, Join us from 7:30-8:30 PM each Wednesday evening on Zoom for a devotional and prayer time. Click here to join the meeting.

· Thursday Men’s Group: Will meet every other Thursday from 7:00-8:15 PM as we explore Ecclesiastes.

·   Not getting email updates? If you haven’t been receiving email updates, please check your ‘promotions’ folder, then move the email into your inbox and add us to your contacts. If we don’t yet have your email, text faithfree to 609-598-9928.

·  Text Updates: If you are not receiving text updates from FEC, and you would like to receive them, please text faithfree to 609-598-9928 (474747 is no longer active). This will add you to our text update list. 

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE:

·     Sound Person needed! No experience necessary. Looking for an assistant in the Sound Booth for a couple times per month during service. Please see Domenic in the sound booth for more info.

·     Podcast management: Each week we convert our Sunday sermon into a podcast. We are looking for someone to edit and convert the audio file and upload it to our website. Total time is about 30-45 minutes per week. Training will be provided. Please email us for details freeholdefc@gmail.com.

·     Streaming Video Projection/Slide Operator: We are looking for assistants to help operate our live streaming and slide presentation during the worship service. Please email us for details freeholdefc@gmail.com.

·     Kings Kid’s Helpers Needed:We are still in need of teachers to cover the children’s church classes every Sunday. If you’re interested in helping, please see the sign up sheet in the back of the sanctuary.

·     Nursery Helper Needed: Please see Lisa Bauman or email us for details freeholdefc@gmail.com.

FALL SCHEDULE:

· ‘Foundations’: Come join us each Sunday at 10:00 AM as we return to and discuss the marks of a healthy church.

·    Worship Service - Each Sunday at 11:00 AM.

·    The Lord’s Supper - First Sunday of each month during our 11:00 AM worship service.

·    Fellowship Lunch - Second Sunday of each month immediately after our 11:00 AM worship service. Food sign up will be in the back of the church, or see or contact Elvira Engholm elvirae1726@gmail.com.

· Wednesday ‘House of Prayer’ Zoom Meeting - Starting Sept 9th, Each Wednesday evening at 7:30PM.

· Thursday Men’s Group – Every other Thursday from 7:00-8:15PM.