March 27th, 2024 | Newsletter
Looking to Holy Week:
· Maundy Thursday, March 28th at 6:30 Supper of the Lamb at EPC:
o John and Terry Denton provide lamb and we all bring side dishes and desserts.
o We break bread together, have a brief liturgy of prayers and readings, and share memories and stories
o Just as Jesus gathered with his beloved disciples, we gather ourselves up in His presence to break bread and remember.
· Good Friday, March 29th at 6:30 in the sanctuary:
o We will have a quiet, contemplative service of Word, Prayer, and Lamentation, as we acknowledge the continuing ramifications of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world.
o Bring the burdens of your heart and put them upon the cross of Jesus Christ at this Good Friday service.
· Easter Sunday March 31, 10 a.m.
o Bring fresh flowers to place on the cross on Easter Sunday and we will see this cross flower as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord.
o Enjoy special music, Easter tidings and treats.
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We will have a cross outside the front entrance of the church. Please bring flowers to help decorate it as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ from his earthly grave. It is covered with wire so you can easily weave your flower stems through to secure them in place. They can be from your yard, from the side of the road, of from the local grocery or florist. Yay, it is a glorious day. We will take pictures of you by the cross after service if you wish. 2022 Easter Cross
Last Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday as we gathered outside for our annual Procession of the Palms in memory of the day Jesus approached Jerusalem, greeted by shouts of “Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”
As a sidenote, the Palms that we use for this event were obtained through a partnership with the Presbyterian Hunger Program. They are harvested, processed and sold for use in Presbyterian churches across the USA. One more way the church is trying to be a good steward of this land that we are watching over.
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Resurrection of the Lord
March 31, 2024
Easter Day
ART -- PRAYER
*Acts 10:34-43
or
Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
or
Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18
or
Mark 16:1-8
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Litergical readers and schedule notes
Date Pulpit Liturgist Notes
3.31.24 Herring Karen R. Easter
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
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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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Quotes about prayer:
To desire revival…and at the same time to neglect (personal) prayer and devotion, is to wish one way and walk another. ~~ AW Tozer
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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OGHS
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is a significant initiative within the Presbyterian community. It is one of 4 special collections that are brought to the congregation in a calendar year, the others being Peace and Global Witness, Christmas Joy Offering and the Pentecost Offering. Typically received during Lent, each gift to OGHS supports hunger relief, development, and disaster assistance Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of those in need. 100% of what is donated will go to the Mid-Tennessee Presbytery to be sent where it is needed.. Although donations to any of these programs can be made at any time, next Sunday is the last day to contribute to the OGHS collections for 2024
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
Saturday 3/30/24
This A three-day gravel cycling event in Hickman County, TN.
6 – 6 - 10 A.M. Parking: Volunteers must be able to stand for 4 hours
M – 11 A.M. - 5 P.M. Aid Station: Volunteers will cheer on riders, refill water bottles, and hand out snacks.
East Nashville Beer Festival
SatSSaturday 4/13/2 Proceeds from this beer festival will benefit the Oasis Bike Workshop!
bbolVolunteers receive an event glass and our adoration. We need volunteers in an early shift or later
afte afternoon shift. Everyone will get a short break to enjoy the festival; however, there is no early entry.
11 a 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Volunteers will assist with check-in lines, hand out glasses, clean-up, lift and
Buc empty buckets. Many roles involve standing and can be made accessible for sitting as needed.
2:202 – 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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This is Holy Week:
Maundy Thursday Supper of the Lamb: We will gather at EPC on Maundy Thursday, March 28th at 6:30. John and Terry Denton provide lamb and we all bring side dishes and desserts. It is a beautiful time together and I encourage all to attend, truly a church family occasion. We break bread together, have a brief liturgy of prayers and readings, and share memories and stories. Just as Jesus gathered with his beloved disciples, we gather ourselves up in His presence to break bread and remember.
Good Friday, March 29th at 6:30: We gather in the sanctuary for a quiet, contemplative service of Word, Prayer, and Lamentation, acknowledging the continuing ramifications of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world.
Bring the burdens of your heart and put them upon the cross of Jesus Christ at this Good Friday service.
This same cross will flower on Easter morning as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord.
Easter Sunday: We gather for our 10am Worship Service in great gladness to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Special music, the flowering cross, Easter tidings and treats.
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Join us for fellowship and a fresh cup of coffee around the kitchen window!
Thanks to the following:
• March 31 - Karen and Fred
• April 7 - Marilyn
• Aoril 14 – Terry and Ginia
• April 21 - Jan
• April 28
• 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…that’s this Sunday!
Session Mtg every 3rd Monday
Each Wednesday through April 10th – United Way tax prep workshops 1 pm – 6 pm.
Lectio Divina every Wednesday during Lent at 6 pm with a simple meal@ 6:30 pm.
2nd Thursday of each month (except for December) - Rug Hookers meet 10 am – 2 pm.
Collecting Lenten “gifts of love” for the Nueva Vida community through end of March, next Sunday will be the last Sunday for this opportunity to share our gifts with our Latina/Latino neighbors.
March 28: Maundy Thursday
March 29: Good Friday
March 30: Volunteer to help at the Oasis fundraiser: the Gosh Darn Gravel Gathering
March 31: Easter
April 18: Adam Bessar at 2nd Pres in Nashville 9-11 am to discuss “The Church in Nashville”
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. Please put them on a table in the pavilion or bring to the classroom.
2-liter coke bottles with tops 1½ quart ice cream containers
½ gallon milk jugs (clear or not) w lids ½ gallon milk waxed square boxes
old pool noodles of any length Large yogurt or sour cream containers
more toilet paper rolls odd or left-over worn-out socks
Thank you.
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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