Introducing '5th Sunday Fellowship' for 2016

This Sunday, January 31 is the 5th Sunday of the month. And we are starting a new tradition at FIBC for months with 5 Sundays. We're calling it '5th Sunday Fellowship' (it's a working title for now). In 2016, there are 5 Sundays in January, May, July, and October.

Unlike all other Sundays at FIBC, on 5th Sundays in 2016, there will be no formal fellowship hour at the church after the service. INSTEAD, we are encouraging everyone to go out with a friend(s) for coffee or lunch or a walk through Norrebro or back home for a cozy potluck meal.

So, go ahead and text someone you've been meaning to meet up with a schedule an appointment for after the service THIS SUNDAY. We hope you enjoy this new 5th Sunday Fellowship tradition (and if you have a better idea for the name, let us know in the comments!).

Christmas With Grace Cafe

FIBC Volunteers, serving dinner to the homeless men and women at Grace Cafe in December.

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Luke 6:20-21

This year, because Allan’s parents were spending Christmas with his Grandma in France, our family had decided we would dedicate our Christmas Eve to help support Grace Cafe and serve the homeless.

Only hours before the appointed time on Christmas Eve, we were informed that the venue had changed. Instead of serving at Kristuskirken, we were going to be meeting the Grace Cafe team at Amalienborg Castle. As we rushed towards the “stables” of Amalienborg Castle, all kinds of questions went through our minds. Would we meet the queen? Had we dressed finely enough? Would it be a royal feast for the homeless? Not knowing if we were even expected, we quickly downed a quick meal in the car so we would not need to eat and could focus on serving.

Upon arriving at the palace, we realized we were, in fact, not expected, nor really needed as volunteers, as there were plenty of hands to help serve the homeless. We recognized many of the homeless from the previous times serving the homeless at Kristuskirken and we agreed with Søren, the evening's host, that we wouldn’t serve food or eat anything but instead mingle and talk with the homeless.

The venue was formerly the stables of Amalienborg and currently serves as the garage of the palace. The Crown’s fleet of cars is overlooked by Søren, and it was he, his wife, their children and their parents who had taken it upon themselves to cook a Christmas meal for the homeless. It was clear that this event was not organized by her Majesty the Queen of Denmark, but by a single individual (and his family) with the resources he was willing to share. How wonderful to see such unselfish efforts made by local Danes.

The homeless were primarily foreigners from Eastern Europe (Romania, mostly) and from Africa, but there were also a few Danes among them. We gathered that most of them were here in Denmark in hoping of finding work to support their families either back in their home countries or in other countries where they had stayed. They were reasonable, rationally thinking, able individuals who were making great sacrifices to support their families.

The food was traditional Danish Christmas food, and the garage had been nicely decorated for the occasion, and there was a sound setup with a microphone and a loudspeaker, which provided a nice atmosphere. There was plenty of wine and beers which also helped bring people together, and the room was filled with joy, laughter, music and even dancing.

Although we did not always speak the same language – many did not know any other language than Romanian – we were delighted with the friendliness and the sincerity of everyone we spoke to. Common to all was the feeling of being away from their own country, away from families, and the hope for work and a better future. And everyone showed respect and care for one another. It was clear that these friends sharing the same situation had become family, and we felt very welcome in this family and loved by all whom we met.

The presence there of our kids seemed to be appreciated by some of the homeless who were missing their own children, and both Anna and Eric began to feel at ease with the homeless just as we parents did. So much that Anna was taking selfies with her new homeless friends (using her new camera) and Eric refused to leave the party before stopping to hug one of our newfound homeless friends. This takes a lot for our shy little Eric to do, so this says a lot about how much we felt welcomed in this family of new found friends.

In summary, we are very thankful for the opportunity FIBC has provided to serve the homeless in cooperation with Grace Café. We are thankful for all those who make sacrifices for these people, and by playing a small part in this work we believe we have received just as much care and love as we have given – or possibly more…

Proverbs 19:17: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”

Happy New Year,

Allan, Jannie, Anna, and Eric Silfverberg.

The December 24 Christmas Dinner at Amalienborg Palace, sponsored by Grace Cafe.

Save the Dates: FIBC + WVM Summer Camp 2016

The FIBC Outreach Team is happy to announce that next summer, our church will once again be partnering with our friends at Warsaw Volunteer Mission to help support their 2016 Summer Camp outreach project for families in crisis. The tentative dates for the trip are July 1 - July 10, 2016 and FIBC team member sign-ups are now open.

More information about this mission project will follow in the new year, but in the meantime, please watch the video below (from 2015's camp) and prayerfully consider joining us for 2016's camp project in Southern Poland.

Share the Video By Using Link: https://vimeo.com/148070331

Christmas at grace cafe

For five dates this December, FIBC has the opportunity to partner with our friends at Grace Cafe. Grace Cafe is a ministry supported by the Danish Blue Cross that serves one of the most overlooked and underserved populations in Denmark: homeless and undocumented migrants. Most of these men and women are from Africa and Eastern Europe and have come to Copenhagen for numerous reasons: many live rough on the streets - collecting bottles for the pant money and working odd jobs, but all have left their families and friends back home. 

For the past 3 years, FIBC has partnered with Grace Cafe to help provide basic services to these men and women - preparing meals, buying groceries, and sharing our time and prayers with them. This Christmas, we are proud to once again partner with Grace Cafe to help show God's love and grace to those in need. 

There are three ways that YOU CAN HELP 'Give Compassion' this holiday season:

1. Volunteer at the Grace Cafe's dinner & shelter on one or more of the following dates: Dec 2, Dec 7, Dec 17, and Dec 19. The basic plan for those evenings is to arrive at Kristuskirken at 19:00 for dinner with the other volunteers, then at 19:30 the doors of the shelter open and we will help serve the homeless men and women a warm dinner and spend time fellowshipping together with them. Volunteers for these evenings will also be asked to help with washing up, taking the trash out, and being available for any little tasks that may arise. For each date, 5 - 10 volunteers are needed from 19:00 - 23:00 (if you have kids and you need to leave earlier than 23:00, that is, of course, okay).

*Note: Anyone who would like to help even further, can also volunteer to stay the night at the church (from 23:00 - 07:00) as part of the city's safety protocol requirements. This is a serious need for the Grace Cafe team, so let Austin know if you are available or if you have questions.

2. Come and join / support / volunteer at the annual Grace Cafe Christmas celebration on December 24. The details for this event are still being finalized, but this is an opportunity to give our homeless friends a proper Christmas meal and a time of celebration. More details to come (I believe this event happens around midday, early afternoon).

3. If you can't participate in one of the above hands on volunteer opportunities, you can still provide gifts for the Grace Cafe Christmas party. Practical items that the homeless need everyday: water bottles, warm socks, gloves, hats, tooth brushes, disposal pocket warmers, vitamins, tissues, etc. This gifts will be collected during Sunday services at FIBC starting on December 1. 

If you would like to participate in any (or all) of these Christmas volunteer / service opportunities - please email me today (austin@fibc.dk). 

FIBC + Grace Cafe Volunteers, from Christmastime 2013.

FIBC + Grace Cafe Volunteers from 2014.

FIBC + Grace Cafe Volunteers from 2014.

FIBC DAY 2015

Well, the string of gorgeous sunshine-filled FIBC Days may have been broken this year, but that didn't do anything to dampen the spirit of this year's event. International potluck foods, meat off the grill, testimonies, and games made for a wonderful and memorable day. As you will see in the photos below, it takes a lot more than temperamental weather to ruin an FIBC event. 

Thanks to all who participated in FIBC Day, can't wait for next year!

A great big thank you to Rochelle Coote for the extraordinary photos. 

FIBC SUMMER BAZAAR

On Saturday, August 22 FIBC organized our first ever Church Bazaar in the courtyard of Kristuskirken. By all accounts, the Bazaar was a great success - a day full of sunshine, fellowship, face painting, delicious food, and bargains, bargains, bargains.

Over the past few months, as the event took shape, different people in the church stepped forward as volunteers to manage tables selling gently used items, make delicious food to sell, and run fun activities as well as do the ever important set up and break down. Many others who could not attend donated items to sell and lifted up prayers for a successful event... and no rain!

The loppemarked (Danish for 'flea market') side was organized into departments featuring adult clothing, children's clothing, books, toys, music, electronics, household goods/miscellaneous. The food table overflowed with asian noodles, egg rolls, cookies, carrot cakes, pinwheel rolls, pizza rolls, pakoras, brittle, soda, juice, coffee, and tea. Cheery jazz music wafted through the air as faces were painted, cupcakes were decorated, temporary tattoos were applied, golf putts found their hole, and a haircut was given.

In looking back at our first church bazaar, we can count it as a success in many ways. First of all, all who participated had a great time. Secondly, we raised an impressive 15,000 kroner while reaching out to the community to let them know that we are a vibrant congregation made up of people who both love the Lord and each other. We also built relationships among ourselves by working side by side enjoying a fun day of fellowship in perfect weather. Of course, there were some things that worked better than others, and we will try to learn from those observations when we hold the next bazaar. 

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day special - each contribution was a blessing. If you have ideas on how to make the next Bazaar even better, or if you would like to help organize the next event, please talk to Cyndi at church or email council@fibc.dk.

Text Contributed by Cyndi.