December 13th, Newsletter
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• First reading
o Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
• Psalm
o Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55
• Second reading
o 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
• Gospel
o John 1:6-8, 19-28
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Litergist’s Schedule:
The rest of 2023 is now covered, thanks to all who serve! We are now seeking liturgists for January 2024. If you wish to volunteer, please call 615-473-3510 or send an email to: epcbusiness9770@gmail.com
12.17 … Diana
12.24 ….. Darrell
12.31….. Sandra
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Samual Polanco is no stranger to the power of walls.
Especially their potential to exclude.
Polanco, a 2022 graduate of the Menaul School — a PC(USA)-related, grades 6-12 college preparatory school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico — has faced walls his entire life.
Throughout his 19 years, Polanco has known and seen walls, both literal and figurative, that separated him and others from being their best selves.
He credits his experience at Menaul, which he entered as a sixth grader, as being instrumental in breaking down life’s many barriers.
Polanco’s Menaul education was made possible, in part, by gifts to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Christmas Joy Offering, which helps Menaul provide scholarships to exceptional students. A cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s, the annual offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
“When I first came to Menaul, I felt like the school was made for me because I’d been bullied a lot in elementary school, not only by the students but also by their parents,” he said. “When I came here, I felt free of that — able to explore the ideas I wanted to explore, learn what I wanted to learn and just be myself for once in my life. And that’s what Menaul has done for all of us. We can just be ourselves here.”
And although Polanco’s observation applies to Menaul more broadly, he also intended it as a special nod to his friends and classmates, Abigail Nyase and Michael Hedenberg, with whom he spent five days on the U.S.-Mexico border for the school’s traditional “mission week.”
This past April, the 35 members of the class of 2022 became students and volunteers through Frontera de Cristo, whose mission is to build relationships and understanding across borders.
As Polanco headed into the mission week experience with some fears about Covid — which he had the previous November — he was also understandably concerned about confronting the racist legacy and behaviors evoked by the border wall and the ongoing immigration crisis.
“I knew that this was going to be a difficult trip for me personally because my dad is originally from Mexico,” he said. “And the day we were waiting to get on the vans, there were some jokes being made about the border by some other students in the lower grades. That upset me very much, and I told them to knock it off.”
John Sitler, who teaches Upper School religious studies at Menaul and was a senior adviser to the Class of 2022, praised his three former students, Polanco, Nyase and Hedenberg, as among the top leaders in their class. They — and he — were profoundly moved by what they saw and heard during mission week, especially walking the Migrant Trail to the wall.
“It may sound like a cliché, but one thing that the students got out of the experience of seeing this ‘scar’ on the earth, which seems obvious, is that the most dangerous walls are the walls in our minds,” Sitler said.
Then, citing the school’s relatively new motto, “World Smart Education — Educating Students in Mind, Body and Spirit,” he added, “Menaul being ‘World Smart’ means to break down the walls toward our common humanity.”
Wherever the students saw hate and division, Sitler said they were glad to have an opportunity to connect with others “in person,” especially during mission week.
“Jesus is the model for that,” Sitler said.
• Joy offering to date: $250.00
• If you are donating with a check, please put “Joy Offering” in the memo line.
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Psalm 145:17-19
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God. -Teresa of Avila
You are invited…
The EPC prayer group is a small but dedicated group that meets on Wednesday evenings from roughly 6-7pm. It is a time to open your heart to offer God the praise and prayers of our congregation and those of your own. Barb sends out email requests for any prayers you would like lifted up in the belief that all prayers matter, all prayers are important and all prayers will be heard.
All prayers are kept confidential unless you specify otherwise.
If your request is private or sensitive, you may request that your prayer be limited to Pastor Jane and Barbara. Confirmation emails will be sent affirming that your request was lifted.
As a small church, offering praise and prayers for those who are struggling, no matter the reason, sends a powerful message about the love we share and express for each other. If you feel called to do so, come join us on Wednesday night at 6.
It is our fervent prayer that this ministry is a blessing to the rest of our EPC family and beyond.
EPC prayer group
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Missions:
Oasis:
• We have chosen the Oasis Center to be the recipient of our Christmas giving this year. We’ll sponsor 3 families and will be following Oasis’ suggestion of gifting a $25 Dominoes card, $25 Kroger card & a $25 Amazon card per family. Oasis will pick the families.
• Oasis has also provided us with a list of winter items that would be most appreciated (see below). Sue has decorated the collection box and it is set up in the sanctuary. These items will be delivered just before Thanksgiving. Share your blessings, as you are able, with those less fortunate.
Requested winter Items: (any size)
• Hats, beanies, gloves, hand & foot warmers, blankets, jackets, coats, long-sleeved t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, leggings, chap-stick, and fast-food gift cards.
• The assembly of the goody bags will be done as part of the regular service on Dec 17. The delivery will be December 20th.
• If you wish to contribute to this mission, submit your contribution with “Oasis Project” in the memo line.
Maple Village:
We will be delivering Christmas cookies on Dec 17. This is the day of the “Carols and Cookies” celebration after service so bring cookies to eat and cookies to share with our friends at Maple Village. Cookie delivery will take place when the fellowship time has ended.
Red Cross:
Volunteers needed – believe it or not, we are already planning for our annual Blood Donation Drive to be held in May 2024. We want to build on the last two years of successful Blood Drives and your help is needed. We are seeking volunteers 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 lend a hand, please contact Barb Halverstadt at 615-473-3510 or via email at epcbusiness9770@gmail.com
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Finance:
If you are in the habit of making year-end charitable donations, please consider giving to one of EPC’s ongoing missions:
• The Oasis project—our year-round, multifaceted mission to assist the Oasis Center with special needs as they arise and goody bags that are distributed to Nashville’s homeless youth.
• The Community Garden
• The Gateway to Higher Education Scholarship Fund
Financial Support:
If you are not able to attend worship service and still wish show your support for Emmanuel Presbyterian 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.
**We are currently having a problem with the online donation function. We hope to have it corrected as soon as possible. Any year-end donations should be made by mailing a check to the church or sending an online payment through your banking payment function.**
2024 Generosity/Stewardship Campaign:
The deadline for submitting your 2024 Pledge Card was October 29, 2023. If you wish to pledge and have not yet done so, please make your submission by emailing it to epcbusiness9770@gmail.com or epcgenerosity@gmail.com
• Thanks to all who pledged to support EPC for the upcoming year!
• Thanks to all who give to support EPC, whether the giving is pledged or not!
• Thanks to the many who give above and beyond their pledge to support missions, our youth, and all the many things that EPC does with and for our community!
• Thanks to the many who give of their precious resources of time and energy to maintain and improve our worship, facilities, and programs!
• And a special thank you to Pastor Jane for her insightful and inspirational messages each week.
*2024 Budget will be presented to the congregation for a vote on Dec 17th
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• Saturday December 16: Advent Workshop with Dean Victor Judge on Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These, 9-2 (RSVP to Jane for lunch). Jane still has one book available if anyone is needing a copy.
• Sunday December 17 we share the holiday spirit with cookies and carols. Bring some to eat and some to share. We will be making our last 2023 visit to the residents of Maple Village as we deliver some Christmas Cookie cheer!
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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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December 10: Worship committee meeting after church
December 10: Second Sunday of Advent, Service of Worship and Lighting of the Advent Wreath, 10am
December 13: Wednesday evening Blue Christmas Service of Hope and Healing, 6-7pm
December 16: Saturday Advent Workshop with Dean Victor Judge on Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These, 9-2 (RSVP to Jane for lunch).
December 17: Third Sunday of Advent, Service of Worship and Lighting of the Advent Wreath, 10 am
December 17: Fellowship/Mission/Congregational Care committee meeting, 9:30 am
December 17: Assembly of Goody bags during worship service
December 17: Cookies and Carols after service, bring some to eat and some for Maple Village.
December 17: Cookie delivery to Maple Village
December 18: Session meeting, 6:30 pm
December 20: Wednesday evening contemplative Advent practice, 6-7 pm
December 24: Fourth Sunday of Advent, Service of Worship and Lighting of the Advent Wreath, and Lessons and Carols, 10 am.
December 24: Sunday evening Candlelight Christmas Eve service of Christmas Readings and Song, 4:30 pm
December 25: Christmas morning (Monday) brief, contemplative service and lighting of the Christ candle on the Advent Wreath, 8-8:30am, coffee and breakfast items served at 8:40am
January 1: Happy New Year, 2024
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Christian Education:
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.
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Children’s Services:
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 also available for those under 3. We always have two adults with the children and their safety and education is our top priority.
Special Note: There will not be any kids message reading or children’s worship service offered on December 24th as both teachers will be out of town.
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Thrift (pink spring flowering ground-cover) is available to anyone who wants it.
It has been dug up and is on the ground under the tree by the front office window.
There is plenty, help yourself or your friend or your neighbor.
Orange Tiger lily (?) bulbs are also available.
Let Faith know this week if you are interested.
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Presenting Your Slate of Elders
Class of 2023
Theresa Denton, Worship and Polity & Procedure
Jan Russell
Class of 2024
Ginia Wood, Fellowship and Mission
John Denton, Building and Grounds
Class of 2025
Greg Burlison, Personnel
John Sevier, Director of Music