Eastminster Update

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see

Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina

803-256-1654 / www.eastminsterpres.org

Volume 37 Number 22

July 21, 2013

Dear Eastminster Family, Even as so many of us have been coming and going this summer, God is still at work! The ideas and dreams shared during the Vision 2020 process are beginning to move from broad visions to specific steps. I look forward to sharing details with you in the coming weeks, but here is a start. Capital Campaign/Sanctuary Renovation Update. Pledges are now at $3,251,000 which is fantastic. Thank you to all of you who are supporting Christs work through EPC so generously! The architects are finishing the Design Drawings which will then be distributed to selected contractors interested in bidding on the work. At this point, it appears October 1 will be the absolute earliest that construction will begin, so that is the tentative date we are setting for the gym to be ready for worship. An insight offered by one of you, If there is anything that needs to be done in the sanctuary, make sure we do it while were out of there, coupled with the solid financial commitments is enabling the Building Committee to explore two additional issues. The first is to explore making the ten or so steps leading from the narthex down to the Thompson Hall breezeway less steep. The second is to look at removing the tile on the sanctuary floor, replacing it with a different surface. To explain, the tile in the sanctuary contains asbestos. Undisturbed, the tiles are not a safety issue; however, at some point they will need to be removed. While were out of the sanctuary, and rather than kicking the can further down the road, the Building Committee is exploring what removal and replacement would cost. Naturally, until the Committee brings a recommendation and the Session makes a decision, this is merely research, but please do pray for the Committee and thank Warren Propst for his work as Chairman. Fall Opportunities for Individuals, Couples, and Families. Vision 2020 made clear that you want to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and that our parents want to live out the vows made to God at their childrens baptisms. To better meet your needs, Eastminster will be changing our format so that we will begin offering variety of growth options on Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights and now Sunday nights, as well. In response to parental input, the Sunday night Middle School and Senior High Youth Fellowship programs will be shorter in length. Rather than the youth having a meal with other youth as part of youth fellowship, both youth and adult activities will be offered from 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. In addition to Kerygma, several other adult tracks will be offered for adults on Sunday evenings. Watch for full details in the next Update! A new day is dawning. Even as our physical plant will undergo renovation, so I encourage each of you to open yourself afresh to the renovating, resurrecting work of Jesus Christ. In joy,

Visions
your old men will dream

dreams
ACTS 2:17

Dr. Bradley D. Smith Pastor Dr. Mark E. Durrett Associate Pastor Rev. Lynn A. Grandsire Associate Pastor Rev. Jeffrey S. Smith Associate Pastor Dr. James I. St. John Parish Associate Rev. Jonathan S. Wagner Associate Pastor Mr. Croskeys Royall Director of Childrens Ministries Mrs. Fredna Lee Director of Music Ministries Mr. William L. Collins, Jr. Business Administrator
Our Missionaries: Rev. & Mrs. Donald Marsden-Virginia/Russia Steven & Natalie Hall - Alaska Sarah Snapp - Bolivia Rev. John McCall - Taiwan Steve & Kathy Amar - Virginia/Muslims in the US George & Anne Harper - Philippines Cindy Correll - Port au Prince, Haiti Dr. John and Gwenda Fletcher - Congo-

STAFF

Summer Worship
Join us for Worship Sundays @ 10:00 a.m.
(Sanctuary & Jubilee)

Brad

Sunday School @ 9:00 a.m.

In memory of Ross Holcombe, given by Dr. & Mrs. Frank Wyman, Franklyn & Susan Owen, Leland & Cornelia Williams, Sally & Richard Ames, Alice & Doug King. In memory of Robert Weston, given by Franklyn & Susan Owen. In memory of Margery Pearce, given by Alice & Doug King. In memory of Virginia Anne Singletary, given by Barbara Graham. In memory of Lisa Jeffcoat, given by Alice & Doug King, M/M Lloyd Liles. In memory of Martha Ann McCullough, given by Walker Covin. In memory of Molly Wood, given by Jo & Frank Hines, Jr., Diane & Charlie Bruce, Donna & Curt Rone, Friends at A-46, M/M Jerry M. Brennecke, Patty Hancock, Tracey Ely, Fred & Betsy Miller, M/M James B. Murphy, Jr., Harriet H. Keenan, Jan Jernigan, Herbert Louthian, Leland & Cornelia Williams, Carrol & Linda Bush, Jean Blount, Marion & Palmer McArthur, John T. Moore, Joy & Joe Padgett, Nick & Cason King, Jerry Brewer, Ben Boyd, Alice & Doug King, Cindy Dieringer, Brenda B. McMillan, Laura Cowan, Pat & Ralph Owings, Connell Owings, Nancy Whitten, Tina, Al, Bill & Shelley Stokes, Dr. & Mrs. Edmund Taylor.

For our loved ones . . .

2013 Advent Retreat Go Tell It on the Mountain Dr. Bob Fuller and The Story Behind the StorY Mark your calendars now! December 6-8
Black Mountain, NC along with Eastminsters own Appalachian Band featuring

Save these dates! Cooperative Ministry School Supply Drive

The Cooperative Ministry is hosting their 23rd annual School Supply Drive, now through August 2, for families who are unable to buy school supplies for their children. Supplies may be dropped off at the church in boxes in the administration lobby, the elementary Sunday school hall, the CLC entryway and in Thompson Hall. Items needed are pencils, crayons, new three-ring binders, notebook paper, glue sticks, rulers, pencil holders, composition notebooks, calculators, boxes of tissue, and hand sanitizer. The Arthritis Exercise Program with Parker Sparrow our Parish Nurse has had a time change. Both the Tuesday and Thursday program will be from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. You can do either or both classes at no charge. Classes will be in the Christian Life Center Room 265. Call the CLC desk to register, or pick up an application packet in the administration building near the concerns board and return to Bill Ketchin in the CLC.

Bradley Lunch Buddies

Our first group of Bradley Lunch Buddies has graduated from Elementary School! Thank you to those of you who have walked with your students since they were in third grade. This has been such a positive ministry of presence, that we are recruiting a new crop of Eastminster members to be Buddies. If you would be open to sharing a lunch hour once every two weeks during the school year, please contact Eastminster member John McArthur (jmcarthur@hsblawfirm.com) or staff person, Doretha Evans (devans@eastminsterpres.org).

Arthritis Exercise Program - Time Change

Three Day Music Camp

July 28 - 30 Students rising K5-Grade 5 are invited to our music camp from Sunday, July 28-Tuesday, July 30. The cost is $10.00 per student and features fun, games, singing, instruments, and movements. Sunday, July 28 from 4:30-7:15 p.m. Monday, July 29 from 6:00 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 30 from 6:00 8:00 p.m. The classes will be held in the Gray Music Room. Grades K-5 1 taught by Katie Leitner. Grades 2-5 taught by Joshua Day. Please e-mail flee@eastminsterpres.org or sign up online in the E-News.

Interested in Church Membership?

Our next First Step Class will begin on August 25 and end November 17, when the class will join the church. Go ahead and put this date on your calendar for August.

Did you know that Eastminster Presbyterian Church has budgeted for 2013 $446,000 to be given to local and global missions? GIVE AWAY!- this number doesnt include expenses or money spent right here in our church where so much of Gods great work is done.

Did you know . . .

Harvest Hope reminds us each summer that their food supply cannot keep up with the demand. This is caused by the increase in families meals while children are out of school and not receiving free or reduced meals. Please remember to pick up your peanut butter while you are doing your weekly shopping.

Peanut Butter Sunday, July 28

Sanctuary Flowers
If you would like to honor or remember someone in a special way, there are dates available for dedicating sanctuary flowers in the months of August and September. Call Carol Anderson at 252-9800 or e-mail her at jander7@bellsouth.net.

Summer Youth Activities

Missionaries from the Sudan

Rev. Jacob and Aliamma George will be visiting Trinity Presbytery from July 24 - July 28th. Please join them on Wednesday evening July 24 at First Presbyterian in Aiken, SC, or at Saxe Gotha in Lexington on Sunday, July 28, for Worship, or at the Laurens County Cluster on that Sunday evening. They teach and model a holistic approach to ministry in Malakal, South Sudan. For more information, contact Bill Andress (BillAndress@ureach.com).

Middle School (Rising 6th-8th Grades) Lunch Devotional Days Thursdays: 12:30-1:30 p.m. July 25 - Five Guys on Forest Drive August 8 - Pizza Joint on Forest Drive Parents: Please drop off and pick up your students from the restaurant Senior High Lunch Devotional Days On Thursdays well be getting together for good food and great fellowship, concluding our time with a short devotion. Thursday: 12:30-1:30 p.m. July 25 - Casa Linda on Beltline We will meet at the restaurant. Sr. High Duck Dynasty Marathon Join us on Friday, July 26, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. Come dressed in camo to watch your favorite episodes of Duck Dynasty!

Brad Sherrill, the Atlanta-based professional stage actor who gained national recognition with his off-Broadway and subsequent national touring performance of The Gospel of John and Red Letter Jesus, will be returning to Eastminster on November 10 and 11 with his newest one person performance of Exodus. Mark your calendars and tell your friends! Savvy Seniors will not meet in July or August, but will return with new programs on Sept. 24. Eastminster will travel to Elizabeth, New Jersey the week of September 29 - October 5, 2013, to help with Hurricane Sandy rebuilding. We will be working with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and staying at the Best Western Riverview Inn and Suites, Rahway, New Jersey. The hotel offers free breakfast, parking, and in room internet and is five minutes from where we begin our missions each day. The rooms have two queen beds with two to a room, though they can accommodate three to a room if desired (three beds in suites, one is a sofa bed). The work may include clean up or rebuilding of homes, home sites, local churches, and general home repairs and rebuilding. Cost is $180 plus helping to share the cost of gas for the round trip. Mark Rosenberg will be the trip leader, so contact him at 446-0003 or Julie at the church, (jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.org) with questions. The Session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, August 18, immediately following the 11:15 a.m. service in the sanctuary for the purpose of nominating and electing officers.

Brad Sherrill Returns In November to EPC

Savvy Seniors

Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Work Trip

Middle School Mission Trip to Washington, DC You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich or strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln

Congregational Meeting

Eastminster Presbyterian Church 3200 Trenholm Road Columbia, South Carolina 29204

Nonprofit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Columbia, SC PERMIT No. 27

Update for July 21, 2013

Time to Plan For the Fall!

Rally Day is coming . . .
Rally Day is Sunday, August 18. The new Sunday School class year begins at EPC, and we return to our two worship service schedule at 9:00 & 11:15 a.m. We heard your requests from the Vision 2020 reports and are responding. There are exciting NEW CHANGES in the works for Sunday evening beginning August 25! We are currently recruiting teachers for the 2K - 5th grade classes. We will use a team approach this school year and need 5 to 6 teachers a class that will alternate teaching/ assisting each week. Please note, this does not mean that you will need to be there each week (although if you want to make that commitment, that would be great). If you have questions or are willing to teach with the 2K-5K classes, please e-mail louisecruea@yahoo.com; the 1st-5th grade recruitment contact is croyall@eastminsterpres.org.

Prayer Concerns
EPC Prayer List Part of what it means to be a Family of Faith is to be in prayer for one another. Contact the church office at 256-1654 to be included on this Prayer List. EPC Special Concerns Boots Fuller, Remer Waguestack, Dr. Mary Tobin, those serving in our military, Stephen Ministers & their care receivers and all those in need of Gods special care. On weekends a minister is on call. If you have a crisis which one of the ministers needs to know about, phone 256-1654 and leave a message. A minister will return your call. Deaths Congregational love and sympathy are extended to:

Teachers 2K - 5th Grade - We Need You!

Friends & family on the death of, Leland Humphrey, July 8, 2013. Jay & Sunny Philips, on the death of his mother, Gale Kennedy, July 10, 2013. Grandchildren, Maddy, Sarah Lil, Nettie, and Rigby Philips. Lynn Grandsire, on the death of her step-father, Herb Waller, July 10, 2013. William & Kappy Hubbard, on the death of his mother, Bernice Coleman Hubbard, July 11, 2013. Friends & family, on the death, Katherine Sawyer, July 13, 2013.
Births Congratulations and love to:

Sunday Evening Sustenance - 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday evenings from August 25 - November 24, from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. youth programs for elementary through senior high are starting, and we are adding adult classes to this schedule! The classes offered will be different from those offered on Wednesday evenings and there will be no meals, giving everyone the opportunity to return home or go out to dinner with family and/or friends. In addition, there will be two special nights - October 6 (Family Night) and November 24 (Mission Night) with a break from classes on October 13. Childcare will be provided for children 5K and under on these evenings.

Janet & Joe Katz, on the birth of their grandson, Maxwell Lazer Katz, July 13, 2013. Dont miss out! Have your information to share with the congregation in to tcarter@eastminsterpres.org. Our next newsletter will be August 18, 2013. Please have your information in by Wednesday, August 7.

WE@EPC will be returning on Wednesday, August 28 - November 20 with dinner at 5:15 p.m. and classes at 6:15 p.m. There will be a class break on October 9. Please pencil in these dates and times and keep watching for ALL the details.

WE@EPC Resumes Wednesday, August 28

Deadline for UPDATE