April 3rd, 2024 | Newsletter
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Worship: Communion Sunday
Last Sunday was Easter Sunday. It was a very emotion-filled service ranging from tears of grief to tears of exultation.
The Sunday prior was Palm Sunday, another busy day in the life of the church as we mourned for what we know is coming.
There are many pictures that were sent to me and a sampling of them are printed at the end of this newsletter.
This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month and as such, we will offer communion to anyone wishing to partake.
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• First reading
o Acts 4:32-35
• Psalm
o Psalm 133
• Second reading
o 1 John 1:1-2:2
• Gospel
o John 20:19-31
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Litergical readers and schedule notes
Date Pulpit Liturgist Notes
4.7.24 Herring Sandra H Communion
4.14.24 Herring Mark S.
4.21.24 Herring Darrell H.
4.28.24 Herring Karen R.
5.5.24 Herring Ginia W. Communion
5.12.24 Herring Barb Mother’s Day
5.19.24 Herring
5.26.24 Herring
1. Thanks to all the liturgy volunteers!!!
2. It is so nice to be able to give Pastor Jane and John advance notice of the liturgist schedule, it helps them so much in their service planning.
3. We have 3 slots in May left to fill. Won’t you give it a try? – its fun, allows you to stretch yourself a little, helps interact with scripture in a different way and connect with God from a new perspective.
4. If you wish to volunteer, please send an email to: epcbusiness9770@gmail.com or call 615-473-3510.
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The amount collected for the Christmas Joy offering was $325.00. The mission committee thanks you for your generosity.
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Romans 15:30, 32-33 New International Version (NIV)
30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me… 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Quotes about prayer:
I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. ~ George Mueller
You are invited…
Prayer is a gift from God, like life itself. Come join us some Wednesday evening from 6:00-7:00 pm (or so) to have both individual and group conversations with the Creator of the universe (how utterly cool is that!). It doesn’t have to be a long-term commitment, we enjoy visitors. We talk to God about a lot of things, focusing on the prayers of our congregation and our community, but including prayers for the world and everything in it.
We rejoice in the fellowship and the relational connection with God, and share the gift of prayer with you all.
EPC prayer group
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OASIS
Volunteer opportunities for Oasis Center:
Contact Felisha at fbaquera@oasiscenter.org if you are interested in either of these.
1.Gosh Darn Gravel Gathering
East Nashville Beer Festival
Saturday 4/13/2 Proceeds from this beer festival will benefit the Oasis Bike Workshop!
Volunteers receive an event glass and our adoration. We need volunteers in an early shift or later afternoon shift. Everyone will get a short break to enjoy the festival; however, there is no early entry.
11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Volunteers will assist with check-in lines, hand out glasses, clean-up, lift and empty buckets. Many roles involve standing and can be made accessible for sitting as needed.
2:20 – 5:20 P.M. Volunteers will hand out glasses, clean-up, lift and empty buckets, and give out wristbands. Many roles involve standing and can be made accessible for sitting as needed.
Great job EPC – 159 Goody Bags assembled!
Nueva Vida:
A request has come in for help from our Hispanic neighbors at Nueva Vida, a church we have partnered with in the past. They operate a food pantry that provides other necessities as well. Think of this as a Lenten “give to” item instead of a Lenten “give up” item. The following starred items are the most needed:
*Diapers (both those for children and for adults)
*Feminine hygiene products
*Laundry detergent and fabric softener
Cooking oil
Rice
*Red beans, black beans
*Tortilla corn flour
*Cornmeal
Beds of all sizes
Powdered milk
Warm weather gear - coats/hats/gloves/warm socks
This Sunday will be the last day to contribute to the collection for Nueva Vida.
Thank you so much for helping us meet this need and share in community.
Tax Help:
• United Way is using our sanctuary to provide free income tax preparation: January 31st – April 10th (for those making less than $70,000).
• Wednesdays only, by appointment 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Call 615-206-7560 or go online to: Unitedwayfilefree.com
• Pass the word to others who might be interested
Red Cross
Blood Drive update:
We have had two very successful blood drives and we want to build on that momentum. There is an attachment of a Red Cross Blood Drive flyer you can share on the front page of this email.
Date: May 31, 2024 (Friday) Time: Noon – 5:00 PM
sign up is now live, donor sign-ups are needed
go to: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time
1. Key in zip code: EPC19
2. Click on : “Emmanuel Presbyterian Church” then choose your time slot
We need your ideas, we need your creativity, we need your networks. We are seeking collaborators for a variety of tasks in the months leading up to and on the day of the Blood drive, including:
• People with social media savvy to help make a plan for getting the word out
• People with creative skills to help develop flyers, messaging, and thank you tokens
• People with extensive networks that can help recruit donors
• People willing to help on the day of the drive to check in donors, make sure donors are offered thank you tokens, help place signage and help with clean up. If you are willing to be a partner in this meaningful mission work, please contact Barb Halverstadt at 615-473-3510 or via email at epcbusiness9770@gmail.com
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Financial Support for Missions:
• Call it what you will, for a small church we are involved in many different local ministries, missions or outreach programs.
• Funding for these giving programs come from various places, one of these places is you!
• If you would like to donate additional funds for a specific program, checks can be made to the following ongoing missions of EPC.
Community Garden
Gateway to Higher Education Scholarship
Crossroads Campus
Maple Village
Special Music Ministry events
Oasis
Please note on the memo line of your check which mission you intend to support.
Financial Support for EPC:
If you are not able to attend worship service and still wish show your support for Emmanuel Church, you can contribute in the following ways:
• Online–send an electronic payment, your bank can help you set this up if you have questions.
• By Mail – our mailing address is EPC, 9770 Hwy 96, Nashville, TN 37221
• Through EPC’s website www.epcnashville.com or www.epcnashville.org Simply click on the “GIVE” button, then the “donate” button, to donate via PayPal or debit/credit card. This can be a one-time donation or can be set up as a monthly donation, although currently, this is not working, see below.
In regards to the PayPal online donation function:
Staff and volunteers are working diligently to remedy the issues with our website donation function. Reconstruction was needed due to access issues and vendor changes have made the process more complicated than they were during initial set up of the account.
We apologize for any inconvenience this is causing for anyone, and we remain optimistic that this will be resolved within an unreasonable amount of time (not a typo) ��
Current donations should be made by mailing a check to the church or sending an online payment through your banking payment function. (Or in person, wink, wink)!
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We look forward to April 20th when the ladies of EPC and their guests will gather in community for a “high tea” to celebrate our friendship and love & support for each other. Wear your fancy springtime best and your “off to the steeplechase hat” and prepare to let the good times roll. Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler! See Diana for translation, details and answers to your questions. RSVP requested by April 13 to diana.braud@gmail.com
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Join us for fellowship and a fresh cup of coffee around the kitchen window after service!
Thanks to the following:
• March 24 - Claire
• March 31 - Karen and Fred
• April 7 - Marilyn
• Aoril 14 – Terry and Ginia
• April 21 - Jan
• April 28 - Doug and Sue
• May 5 -
• May 12 – Barb
• May 19 - Claire
If you would like to sign up, there is a list on the table next to the entrance/exit door from the sanctuary. Please pick a date that works for you. Sign up and if you remember, it is helpful to let me (Faith) know.
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Communication:
Welcome Visitors! We are excited to call your attention to, and encourage you to visit, our upgraded website! Go to www.epcnashville.com or www.epcnashville.org for all your questions. Cut and paste one of these sites in your browser. If you can’t find it there, try the options below.
• Visits with Pastor Jane Herring must be by appointment.
• Reach out to Pastor Jane on her church phone (call/text) 615-818-9727 or email at janemherring@gmail.com about what it means to be baptized, to be confirmed in the church (if you have already been baptized), to join the church or any other questions you might have.
• General EPC email can be sent to epcnashville@gmail.com (be aware that multiple people have access to this email account.
• If you ever have any questions about anything dealing with EPC’s finances or other business topics, email your question or request to epcbusiness9770@gmail.com
• Email announcements for the Sunday bulletin to janemherring@gmail.com
• Email Information or corrections for the weekly newsletter to frhanchey@gmail.com
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Ongoing:
Worship Committee Mtg every 2nd Sunday after service
Mission/Fellowship Committee Mtg every 3rd Sunday 9:30 am
Session Mtg every 3rd Monday
Each Wednesday through April 10th – United Way tax prep workshops 1 pm – 6 pm.
2nd Thursday of each month (except for December) - Rug Hookers meet 10 am – 2 pm.
April 13: RSVP date for Ladies Tea to Diana.Braud@gmail.com
April 18: Adam Bessar at 2nd Pres in Nashville 9-11 am to discuss “The Church in Nashville
April 20: Ladies High Tea at EPC 1-3pm
June 9-15: Montreat Youth Conference
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Inquirers of all ages:
• Please reach out to Pastor Jane about what it means to be baptized, to be confirmed in the church (if you have already been baptized) or to join the church.
• Lent begins next week on Wednesday February 14th. Pastor Jane will offer a Lenten service complete with the marking of a cross on one’s forehead if you so choose. This is done as a way to pronounce the importance of Jesus Christ in your life.
• After the Lenten service is complete, there will be a meal served and a short Lectio Divina which is comprised of short bible readings, contemplation and a time to listen to what has turned out in past times to be deep meaningful conversations. At 7 pm there will be a short simple meal served.
• Please let Jane know if you are willing to bring one of the Lenten meals for sharing. You can reach her at 615.818.9727.
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• The children, big and small, (all those under 18!) are invited to participate in a special practice time for something being planned on Palm Sunday. If possible, I need parents to allow their children to come to the kid’s classroom when Jane finishes her sermon, sometime during the offertory til the end of church. Thank you.
• At Emmanuel we offer a “kid’s message” during the early part of the worship service, followed by a “children’s church” in the kid’s classroom for those up to 10 years old or still in elementary school. The message is a short story that usually has some sort of lesson related to it and in children’s church we usually discuss the story in more depth and follow it with a craft or activity that helps the story (and the lesson!) sink in.
• A nursery is available for those under 3.
• We offer a “chat time ” in a safe space for those over 10 who want some time to share what is on their mind.
• We always have two adults with the children and their safety and education is our top priority.
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The kids still need items to keep doing preliminary plantings and to prep for future gardening success. If you have any of the following we could use them, as we are trying hard to do gardening and recycling for free.
Pease put them on the table in the classroom.
Cardboard boxes (broken down if you can please)
2-liter soda bottles with tops
½ gallon milk waxed square cartons
Large plastic sided containers (It’s the flexible plastic that I need, like large yogurt, sour cream, whipped cream containers etc…)
1 gallon milk jugs (clear or not) w lids
1½ quart ice cream containers
Old pool noodles of any length
odd or left-over worn-out socks
unused garden stakes
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Class of 2024
Ginia Wood, Fellowship and Mission
John Denton, Building and Grounds
Class of 2025
Greg Burlison, Personnel
John Sevier, Director of Music
Class of 2026
Theresa Denton, Worship and Polity & Procedure
Jan Russell