Exodus For Followers Of Jesus

Dr. Bradley D. Smith Pastor Dr. Mark E. Durrett Associate Pastor Rev. Lynn A. Grandsire Associate Pastor Rev. Jeffrey S. Smith Associate Pastor Dr. James I. St. John Parish Associate Rev. Jonathan S. Wagner Associate Pastor Mr. Croskeys Royall Director of Childrens Ministries Mrs. Fredna Lee Director of Music Ministries Mr. William L. Collins, Jr. Business Manager
Our Missionaries: Rev. & Mrs. Donald Marsden-Virginia/Russia Steven & Natalie Hall - Alaska Sarah Snapp - Bolivia Rev. John McCall - Taiwan Steve & Kathy Amar - Virginia/Muslims in the US George & Anne Harper - Philippines Cindy Correll - Port au Prince, Haiti Dr. John and Gwenda Fletcher - Congo

From Wilderness To Wonder

STAFF

EASTMINSTeR UPDATe
803-256-1654 / www.eastminsterpres.org
Volume 38 Number 13 March 23, 2014

Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina

Dear Eastminster Family, As we continue our look at Lent through the Psalms, I want to thank you for the good spirit with which you have been approaching worship. Ive recently heard nice comments from visitors who were greeted warmly and from members who are digging deeper. Its been fun to all sing a few Psalms even as we benefit from the leadership of our wonderful music team. Thank you! It makes my heart glad to see you being intentional about following our Lord, especially during this time of preparation. Looking ahead, I want to encourage you to take advantage of three multi-generational opportunities for faith formation, that also offer a little fun on the side. This Sunday evening, March 23, at 5:30 p.m., Gamecock quarterback Dylan Thompson will share his faith story as part of a special event to take place in the sanctuary. Dylan will speak to the children of Jesus Rocks in the gym before coming to the sanctuary to speak with our Middle Schoolers, Senior Highs, and adults. Parents, dont just tell your children to come, join them! The event will end by 6:30 p.m. Coach Dan Reeves will speak at the Sportsmans Banquet on Thursday, April 3, but you do not need to be an athlete or a man to attend! The cost for dinner is $10 and tickets can be purchased via our website or at the church office. Coach Reeves weaves stories of football and of Gods grace in humorous and engaging ways. Reach out and invite someone to be your guest for this night of fun, fellowship, and faith. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. with a fellowship time beforehand. Further details are inside this edition of the Update. Sunday, April 6 at 5:00 p.m. come to the EPC gym and pack meals for hungry people. We have room for 300 people who will pack 30,000 meals in an hour and fifteen minutes. Those that participated last fall know what a good experience we had and I hope we have a good showing of new people this time. Singles, families, and couples aged 5 to 95 are welcome. Requested donation to pay for the food is $10 per person with a cap of $25 per family. This is another opportunity that is wellsuited to inviting someone. Who do you know that would benefit from the joy of serving? Grace and peace,

SUNDAY, MARCH 23
9:00 & 11:15 a.m. - Sanctuary 11:15 a.m. Jubilee Dr. Bradley D. Smith Looking at Lent Through the Psalms Are Our Hearts Hardened? Psalm 95

Brad
Doorway from sanctuary to Thompson Hall. Preparations beginning for the installation of an elevator.

DAILY CALENDAR
SUNDAY, MARCH 23
8:00 Celebration Choir Rehearsal 9:00 Worship & Childrens Church Blakely Scott Stoneburner Bapt. 10:00 Sunday School Classes Jubilee Band Practice Worship Discovery Eastminster First Step Confirmation Examination 10:05 Chancel Choir Rehearsal 11:15 Worship & Childrens Church Jubilee Worship 2:00 Cub Scouts Mtg. 3:00 Cub Scouts Mtg. 4:00 Margaret Smolka GS 5:00 Elementary Programming Sunday@5 Childcare Combined Youth-Dylan Thompson Jesus Rocks

Renovations are in progress in the basement. We know this sounds intriguing, but for your safety, we ask that you do not enter the basement until the renovations are complete. It is a Hard Hat Area. Thank you for your understanding and support. One of our greatest privileges and responsibilities at Eastminster is the election of church officers. Your input is an essential and critical part of the process by which the Nominating Committee puts forth its recommendations to the congregation. The Book of Order (G2.0104) states that church officers ...should be persons of strong faith, dedicated discipleship, and love of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Based on these criteria, prayerfully consider those members whom you feel are called by God to serve. Using the Nomination Form you received in the mail, please submit names and information for further consideration to Carol Sutton in the church office. If you prefer, you can also e-mail names for consideration, sending the persons name as well as your understanding of their gifts and involvement to csutton@ eastminsterpres.org. Please submit any names by Monday, March 24, 2014. The Eastminster 2013 Annual Review is available at the church for pick-up, or for viewing on line: www.eastminsterpres.org under Quick Links on the front page. Hard copies can be found in the narthex, reception area, and CLC. Please pick up your copy today or view on line! You asked, When can we do it again? Here is your chance! Sunday, April 6 we will again partner with Stop Hunger Now to pack 30,000 meals which will go to schools, orphanages, and medical clinics. We need 20 people to help unload the truck and get the materials set up in the gym, beginning at 4:30 p.m. At 5:00 p.m., we have space for 300 folks to pack the bags. Minimum age requirement is 5 years old. Childcare for children infant - 4K is offered beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the CLC nurseries. The meals cost 25 cents per bagor $7,500 for the 30,000 meals. Cost to participate is $10 per person, or a family maximum of $25. Sign up on the website! Or contact Julie McDaniel at 256-1654 x 143. All middle and high school students and parents are invited to come for a special evening of worship in the sanctuary, on Sunday, March 23 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., when Dylan Thompson will be sharing his journey of faith with us. Dylan is a strong Christian who is excited about sharing how God has worked in his own life and is coming to encourage us in our own walk of faith. Because this is a special evening, we will not have our usual dinner, and we will meet in the sanctuary from 5:30-6:30 p.m. We invite everyone to bring a canned good with them that evening to donate to Harvest Hope Food Bank. Be on the lookout for more information about our newest Habitat build, planned to begin May 7. Well work with volunteers from SCANA and other Habitat for Humanity volunteers. The site is located off 12th Street in West Columbia. Led by a group of more than 25 dedicated female leaders from across the Midlands, the WomenBuild Project will oversee the entire construction process of one Habitat Home from start to finish, providing more than 360 volunteer opportunities for women of all ages. Men are encouraged to participate too! Contact Mark Rosenberg at 446-0003 for more info. On Wednesday, May 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Shred 360 truck will be in the CLC parking lot accepting up to 5 boxes or bags of paper to be shredded. Staples, clips, binders, checkbooks, hanging files, and all other document-related items are acceptable - no separation is required. This event is open to the community and is a food drive for Harvest Hope Food Bank. When you come to shred, bring canned food to donate!

Basement Renovations

Officer Nominations for 2017

MOnday, MARCH 24

7:00 Lenten Prayer Breakfast 9:00 Count Team Fifty Plus Exercise Class 10:00 Senior Fitness 2:00 Pastors Mtg. CHAMPS Tutoring 2:30 Program Staff Mtg. 3:30 Staff Mtg. 5:30 Yoga Cub Scouts 6:30 BSF Stephen Ministry Training Class 7:00 Sr. High Girls D-Group

2013 Annual Review Available

TUESDAY, MARCH 25
9:00 10:00 10:30 11:45 12:00 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 3:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:45 7:00

Drop-In Nursery COA Mtg. Senior Fitness EPW Bible Study EDS Summer Registration EPW Bible Moderator Mtg. Tuesday Lunch Savvy Seniors Finance Mtg. Bradley Lunch Buddies Footcare Ministry Tweeting with Sparrow Directory Photos Exercising for Arthritis Stewardship Comm. Tai Chi Zumba Fitness Diaconate Mtg. Handbell Rehearsal Joint Mtg. Session Mtg. Scottish Country Dancing Zumba Fitness

Its Back! Stop Hunger Now

Special Evening of Worship with Dylan Thompson, USC Quarterback

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

9:00 Drop-In Nursery Fifty Plus Exercise Class 9:30 Prayer Shawl Ministry EDS Chapel 11:00 Psalm Bible Study 11:35 Saunders Lunch Buddies 2:00 Directory Photos 3:15 Brownies 4:30 Love Bearers 5:00 Angel & Junior Choir 6:00 WE@EPC Dinner 6:15 Womens Divorce Group 6:30 Childcare 7:00 Senior High Guys D-Group Chancel Choir Practice

WomenBuild with Habitat for Humanity

THURSDAY, MARCH 27

9:00 Drop-In Nursery Praying Moms Bible Study 10:00 Senior Fitness 2:00 Directory Photos 3:00 Exercising for Arthritis 5:00 Yoga 5:30 BSF Leaders 7:00 Zumba Fitness 7:30 Jubilee Band Practice

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

9:00 Fifty Plus Exercise Class 2:00 Directory Photos 11:00 Support Staff Mtg.

Shred 360 at Eastminster - May 7

SATURDAY, march 29
7:00 9:00 BSF Leadership Directory Photos

Daily devotionals reflecting on the Psalms are being distributed throughout the forty days of Lent, and Sunday sermons will come from the Psalms, as well. There are still opportunities for you to write a devotional. Please contact Dr. Mark Durrett (mdurrett@eastminsterpres.org) about writing a devotional, and he will give you a passage of scripture.

Looking at Lent through the Psalms

CARE & CONCERN

EPC Prayer List Part of what it means to be a Family of Faith is to be in prayer for one another. Contact the church office at 256-1654 to be included on this Prayer List. EPC Special Concerns Boots Fuller, Remer Waguespack, Dr. Mary Tobin, Bill McInnis, Dave Steven, and those serving in our military, Stephen Ministers & their care receivers and all those in need of Gods special care. Hospitals Margaret Brown, Mary Martha Campbell Births Congratulations and love to:

Psalms Daily Readings for Week of March 24 - 29

Mon. - Mar. 24: Psalm 53 Tue. - Mar. 25: Psalm 62 Wed. - Mar. 26: Psalm 63 Thur. - Mar. 27: Psalm 66 Fri. - Mar. 28: Psalm 73 Sat. - Mar. 293: Psalm 84

Have you taken the opportunity to attend one of the Lenten Bible Studies at 7:00 a.m. on Monday morning? Everyone is invited during Lent, as one of our pastors teaches on the book of Psalms. We gather in Thompson Hall for a full breakfast, the Bible study, fellowship, and prayer. We conclude at 8:00 a.m., so that everyone can get on to the office or begin their day. No reservations needed! The Flower Guild is accepting memorials and honoraria for Easter lilies to decorate the sanctuary for Easter. Please write the wording you wish to have printed in the bulletin and enclose a check for $15.00 made out to the Eastminster Flower Guild for each lily. Checks may be mailed to the church or placed in the Flower Guild box in the workroom. Forms are available in the reception area. The deadline for your order is Wednesday, April 9 . Lilies may be removed by the donor from the sanctuary after the 10:30 a.m. service on Easter. A special Womens Self Defense class will be offered at Eastminster on Saturday, April 12, from 9:00 a. m. to 1:00 p. m. in CLC rooms 271-273. The class, open to Eastminster members and the community, is conducted by the Richland County Sheriffs Office, with sponsorship by STS of the Midlands. There is no cost to participants. For more information or to sign up, contact Bill Ketchin at bketchin@ eastminsterpres.org or call (803) 256-1654. Be sure to sign up early as class size is very limited! Due to the ongoing church construction VBS will be a bit different this year. With our space limitations we are forced to place a cap on the number of openings we have. We are prioritizing our slots for EPC members and children in the EDS Summer program. We are currently looking for volunteers who can commit to all four mornings with open hearts for where we can place you. This is with the exception of those who want to shepherd their own childs class. (Just chaperone and relationship-build with the kids...no lessons to teach!) Please let us know if you want to be with your child. If you are willing to volunteer all four mornings, we will register your children for a guaranteed spot. Also, if you volunteer and have younger siblings in your household (babies - rising 3K) our CLC Drop-In Nursery is open that week FREE of charge for VBS volunteers with younger children. If youd like to volunteer for all 4 mornings, please email Croskeys at croyall@eastminsterpres.org.

Lenten Monday Morning Breakfast Bible Study

Lilies

Jessica & Cannon Bixler, on the birth of their daughter, Stella Grace Bixler, March 12, 2014. Brady & Patrick Cutler, on the birth of their daughter, Mae Breeden Cutler, March 13, 2014. Berry & Ginny Mattox, on the birth of their daughter, Eden Virginia Mattox, March 15, 2014. Grandparents, Buddy & Ann John, Great grandmother, Virginia McCracken.
On weekends a minister is on call. If you have a crisis which one of the ministers needs to know about, phone 256-1654 and leave a message. A minister will return your call.

Special Self Defense Class for Women

Son Treasure Island VBS - June 16-19, 9 AM-12 PM

Dont miss out! Send your information to share with the congregation to tcarter@eastminsterpres.org. Please have your information in by Wednesday, March 26, to be shared in our next newsletter on April 6, 2014.

Deadline for UPDATE

Eastminster Presbyterian Church 3200 Trenholm Road Columbia, South Carolina 29204

Nonprofit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Columbia, SC PERMIT No. 27

Update for March 23, 2014

Thank you to those of you who have taken the opportunity to schedule your appointment. Our first week of photography still has a few openings. If you have not yet taken the time to sign up, please do. Our directory will not be complete without YOU! Dates: March 25 - 29, April 1 - 5, April 8 - 12 Tuesday - Friday - 2:00 - 9:00 PM Saturday - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday, May 20, 2:00 - 9:00 PM - Make up day Photos will be taken on the second floor of the CLC in rooms 265 - 263. First - fifth graders, join us for Jesus Rocks from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 23. Dylan Thompson, USC Quarterback, will be stopping by to greet you, and Kevin Cartee, Director of Camp Fellowship, will be here to lead camp games and share information about the opportunities Camp Fellowship is offering this summer. It will be an action-packed evening, with fun and food. Please remember to bring $3.00 for pizza. The annual Sportsmens Banquet is Thursday, April 3, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Speaker, Dan Reeves, spent 23 years coaching for the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons. He attended the University of South Carolina, where he played quarterback from 1962-1964, and in 1977 he was inducted into the schools Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition to wild game and not-so-wild game, there will be door prizes. The cost is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 8 years of age and under. Sign-up on line at www.eastminsterpres.org or call Mary (256-1654.)

Photo Directory Sign Ups . . .

Serving on Sunday March 23

OFFICERS PRAYER: Elder Marilyn Stradtman DEACONS: Field Wardlaw, John Hudson Elder John Barr (Jubilee) Deacon Becky Smythe (Jubilee) Ushers: Eddie Laney & Joey Copley GREETERS: (9:00) Marilyn Hupp, Andrew Jones Buzz Smythe, Janet Katz (11:15) Jane Williams, Kay Lydon Randy & Kelley Liggitt King & Alana Holmes INFANT ROOM - CLC 115 (9:00) Sara & David Ellison (11:15) Mandy & Will Brawley TODDLER ROOM - CLC 117 (9:00) David & Kelly Ross (11:15) Liza & Stephen Sansbury 2-K ROOM - CLC 119 (9:00) Jennifer Branham (11:15) Will & Beth Brownlee CHILDRENS CHURCH 101 - 3K (9:00) Will & Ashley Yarborough (11:15) Stuart & Rebecca Arrington CHILDRENS CHURCH 103 - 4K (9:00) Josh & Nicky Wilson (11:15) Alice Whiteside CHILDRENS CHURCH 106 - 5K (9:00) Jay & Sunny Phillips (11:15) Stephen & Susan Porter

Jesus Rocks - March 23!

Sportsmens Banquet - April 3

In memory of Hollis Cone, given by Austin & Barbara Boyd, Scott & Mary Boyd. In memory of Annie Coleman, given by Austin & Barbara Boyd, Scott & Mary Boyd. In memory of Ernestine Dickerson, given by Suzanne & Leonard Odom. In memory of John R. Mobley, given by Jerry Foster, Amy Martin. In memory of Dr. Joseph Wallace, given by Mary Lou Mapp. In honor of Margaret M. Brown, given by Priscilla Smith.

For our loved ones . . .