January 31st, 2024 | Newsletter
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Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
February 4, 2024
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
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Date Pulpit Liturgist
2.4.24 Herring Ginia
2.11.24 Herring Diana
2.18.24 Herring Jan
2.25.24 Herring Diana
3.3.24
3.10.24 Barbara
3.17.24
3.24.24
3.31.24 Karen
Thank you to those who have signed up to be liturgists. We are now looking for someone for the first and third Sundays in February and the first four Sundays in March. Won’t you give it a try? – it provides an opportunity to stretch yourself a little, interact with scripture in a different way and connect with God from a new perspective.
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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Quotes about prayer: Prayer, then, is a matter of our participating in the life of Jesus Christ.- Michael Casey
James 5:16 (NIV)
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
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:
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 is a list of most needed items:
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
(**WalMart had kids coats on clearance on Monday, FYI)
Muchas gracias a todas!
(Many thanks to all!)
Tax Help:
• UnitedWay 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
Red Cross:
Partners needed – believe it or not, it takes a small village to host a successful Blood Drive. We are already planning for our 3rd annual Blood Donation Drive to be held in May 2024. We have had two very successful blood drives and we want to build on that momentum.
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
Oasis
We continue to collect donations to help support the Oasis goody bag mission. When you give to this mission, please put “Oasis” in the memo line of your check. The first delivery of goody bags for 2024 will be done in late Feb./early March.
Crossroads Campus
Young Adult Programs: Job Training
We provide young adults with paid job training internships through our Pet Retail Store, Grooming Salon, Animal Care/Pet Adoptions and Dog Treat Bakery. All the proceeds from these services go back into supporting the mission of improving the lives of the youth and animals in the community. Our program participants also receive social work case management and have access to affordable housing.
As part of Crossroads’ mission to help people and animals in our community, our Caring Connections program offers Humane Education classes to students & adults, so they may learn about proper pet care, communication, patience, and empathy for animals and humans alike.
Humane Education can be defined as education that promotes compassion, empathy, and respect for all living beings. It encompasses the intersection of people, animals, and our shared environment. It nurtures compassion in children and adults as they learn to see the world through the eyes of others and gain respect & empathy for those around us. We could all use lessons like this.
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As you may have noticed from our lengthy Mission section, we are involved in many projects in multiple ways. Some of our funding comes from the budgeted mission or other committee funds and some of it comes through special designated funds from members or previous members of our congregation. 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 Center
• EPC’s general fund is a separate category that can be supplemented to offset our deficit.
Please note on the memo line of your check which mission you intend to support.
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.
**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.**
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• February 4: THIS SUNDAY!! The fellowship committee is planning an outdoor get together with a weather-dependent wienies and marshmallow cook-out. It will be a gathering time to catch up with each other as we relax and reset after the craziness part of the holidays.
So the weather was a little warmer last time around but lots of fun still awaits!
• Join us for fellowship and a fresh cup of coffee around the kitchen window! Thank you to the following:
• Claire -- February 4
• Jan – February 11
• Barb – Feb 18
• Doug and Sue – March 10
• Doug and Sue – March 17
• Karen and Fred -- March 31st
• If you would like to sign up, there is a sheet on the stand in back. Please pick a date that works for you. Thank you all so much for your willingness to serve.
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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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February 4: Communion Sunday
February 4th and 11th: There will be no children’s church these two Sundays.
February 18: Worship Committee meeting after service
February 18: Fellowship/Mission meeting 9:30 am in children’s classroom
February 19: Session meeting
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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.
• Mollie and Ellie shared the spotlight last Sunday as they were baptized by Pastor Jane. It was both a time of smiles and tears. We vowed, as a congregation, to welcome, guide and encourage them as they travel on their Christian journey.
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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 and we offer a “chat time ” in a safe space for those 10 and over 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.
Special Note: There will be no “children’s church” on Sunday February 11th.
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It’s time to start prepping for spring gardening.
Needed:
• Clean one-gallon translucent milk or ice tea jugs, complete with lids
• Empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls.
• There is a box outside by the children’s classroom door for you to place them in.
• Let me know if you want to reserve a plot for this year.
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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