January 3rd, Newsletter
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Baptism of the Lord
January 7, 2024
First Sunday after the Epiphany
Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11
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Welcome to 2024! Future Liturgists…We need you! We need liturgists for all of January and February. Won’t you give it a try – it provides an opportunity to stretch yourself a little, interact with scripture in a different way and interact 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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Ephesians 6:19-20
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Quotes about prayer:
Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. - Mahatma Gandhi
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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Joy offering: The amount collected for the Christmas Joy offering was $325.00. The mission committee thanks you for your generosity.
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
Other Mission News:
Crossroads Campus, a Nashville ministry whose stated mission is “Transforming lives by creating opportunities for individuals facing poverty and homelessness to care for homeless dogs and cats.”
We believe in the healing power of the human-animal bond.
Crossroads Campus. Where people and animals connect.
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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.**
If you want to make a one-time charitable donation, please consider giving to one of EPC’s ongoing missions:
• The Oasis project – our year-round mission to assist the Oasis Center with special needs as they arise and to supply goody bags that are distributed to Nashville’s homeless youth ages 18-24;
• The Community Garden – our seasonal mission to grow and harvest fresh produce for the residents of Maple Village and to provide a free gardening opportunity for anyone with a desire to grow their own vegetables.
• The Gateway to Higher Education Scholarship Fund
• Or to EPC’s general fund – to help offset our deficit.
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• Join us for fellowship and a fresh cup of coffee around the kitchen window! Donuts not guaranteed but they sure look good in the picture.
• Jan has signed up to supply us with goodies this coming Sunday. Thank you Jan. Barb is signed up for Feb 18 but every date up til then is available
• If you would like to sign up, there is a sheet on the stand in back. Please pick a date that works for you.
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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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January 7: Communion Sunday
January 7: and remove Christmas tree and building ornaments
January 14: Congregational Meeting to elect elders for class of 2026.
January 14: Worship committee meeting after church
January 21: Childrens services start for 2024
January 21: Fellowship/Mission/Congregational Care committee meeting, 9:30 am
January 22: Session meeting, 6:30 pm
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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: The children’s church program for ages 3-10 will return on Sunday January 21st.
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The vegetable garden outside looks old and dead but the plans for it inside my head are swirling a million miles a minute. Thanks to the session’s approval, I will be leading an effort to add 3 more 4’ x 4’ plots to the area. If you are interested in working on the garden project, please let me know. This is the time to think, catalog shop and plan your space! Let’s do this!
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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