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Midweek Blast of Epiphany Light
August 19, 2015
It's Contagious!
I have noticed a recent trend in my church that I fear is contagious.  Over the past few months I have seen at the parties I (or my kids) have been invited to or that I heard about or saw on social media an alarming new trend in birthday parties.  These kids are having parties but they aren't asking for gifts!  Instead they are asking their guests to bring an item that can be given away to a nonprofit organization!  I have seen stacks of items that were given to an animal shelter, a mountain of canned goods for a food pantry, clothes for needy children in a third world country and toys for kids who are in transitional housing.  Kids who don't want presents?!?! Has everyone completely lost their minds!?!?
I am not sure who started this trend (or if it even started here) but it almost seems like every kid at church feels they must do their party like this because all of their friends in Sunday School did it this way.  I love this kind of peer pressure.  Regardless of the motivation the end result is beautiful.  Guilt, shame, competition to assemble more - it doesn't matter; God can work with any of that.  At a time when we are encouraged to think about ourselves first and amass as much stuff as we can, how refreshing it is to see not just someone but kids doing something different.  
So what trend are you going to start?  If a four-year-old can do it certainly you can.  (I don't even care if you copy the kids, just do something.)  Now to make this possible you have to talk about it (this part causes the classic Lutheran to cringe).  You have to post pictures and let people know where the stuff is going and people will respond.  You have to challenge them.  You have to invite them to do it too.  You might have to show them how.  They will respond because everyone wants to be a part of something that makes a difference, everyone wants to be a part of something that goes beyond themselves.  This is something that can catch on.  It is contagious but it has to start somewhere.  Why can't it start with you?  
See you in church,
Chris 
Tonight: Sermon series begins, dinner returns
Wednesdays at the Well icon
Wednesdays at the Well resumes the school-year schedule tonight. Join us!
Community meal at 6 serves poppy seed chicken casserole, an Epiphany favorite. Suggested freewill offering is $6/adult, $3/child; cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.
Imagine Children's Choir at 6:25 welcomes all kids pre-K through 5th grade.
Worship at 7 is a 30-minute service of prayers, songs, scripture and Holy Communion. Tonight Pastor Chris begins a new sermon series based on messages from Old Testament prophets. 
HTF Team meeting tonight at 6
Children served by Tetkole in Haiti
After returning from their week in Haiti, our youth invited Epiphany people to "show up" to make a difference in the world today and especially to consider standing with our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Tonight you have the chance! If you have an interest in using your time to stand with Haiti, come to the Epiphany HTF Team meeting at 6 pm. Bring your dinner to the HTF Team table and learn more about how you can be the hands and feet of Christ in Haiti through Epiphany's partnership with the Haitian Timoun Foundation.
CIA orientation Sunday afternoon
Epiphany's confirmation ministry - Confirmands in Action - launches a new year with an orientation meeting this Sunday at 12:15 pm. All middle school youth and their parents are asked to attend the orientation; the year's calendar of CIA sessions and information on the fall retreat will be shared. Lunch will be provided. Meet downstairs in the fellowship hall and CIA Room.
The first Sunday session of CIA will be September 13. 
Epiphany at Suwanee event Saturday
The Girl Scouts included Epiphany as an honorary sponsor of Saturday's 3rd Annual Thin Mint Sprint, a 5K and 1 mile fun run. The event takes place at Suwanee Town Center and benefits the Girl Scout Council of Greater Atlanta. Onsite registration opens at 7 am for the 5K and at 8 am for the fun run.
Epiphany's Reach Team is hosting an information booth at the Saturday morning event. Stop by and say hello! 
Epiphany Lutheran Church
1350 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Suwanee, GA  30024
770-831-1966