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Midweek Blast of Epiphany Light
August 26, 2015
Where Is the Line?
For the most part I love Progressive Christianity.  I love the openness, the willingness to ask questions and wrestle with things that might need to evolve.  But nothing is perfect.  What I fear is lacking in Progressive Christianity is accountability and the willingness to call something out when it needs to be.
It is a good time to be in the news business because we have no shortage of breaking headlines.  Maybe you have heard about a website called Ashley Madison.  This website allows (encourages) "discreet encounters and extramarital affairs." When did someone come up with this idea and think it was a good thing?  How does this help us progress as a society?  What a way to make a living!  What makes the Subway scandal involving their former spokesman so disgusting is that it has wrecked the lives of dozens of people.  Not only the family of the perpetrator and those that he preyed upon but the fact that there were others helping him achieve his sick conquests.  Why didn't anyone ever sound the alarm on this one? 
This morning I read an article about the hook-up culture prevalent with millennials.  It says that most can find a "hook-up" in 10 texts or less!  We are way past kissing on the first date.  And one of the frontrunners to be the next president makes headlines insulting people!  Maybe REM was right, maybe it truly is The End of the World. But here's the problem: I don't feel fine.  
Can you be progressive and open and still call out sin?  Can you challenge someone when they step out of line and the decisions they are making are not only hurting themselves but others?  Does that church exist?  If it doesn't we better start one real soon.  Jesus broke down walls, and he challenged the status quo, but he also stood in the face of blatant sin and opened the door to a better way of living.  Can we follow that example?  What the world needs is people who will be honest about their own struggles yet, at the same time, lovingly challenge others to live a better life.  I believe the world needs more of that. Will you be that person?  Can we be that church?
See you in (that) church,
Chris 
Wednesdays at the Well tonight
Wednesdays at the Well icon
Community meal at 6 serves penne pasta with meat sauce. 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 shares messages from Old Testament prophets.
Let's clean up Epiphany's great outdoors!
Many strong hands are needed to spread mulch and trim shrubs this Saturday morning, 8 to noon. Bring your heavy garden equipment, including chain saws, wheelbarrows, weed eaters and blowers. We'll also need flat shovels, pitchforks, Roundup (or similar products) and work gloves. (Be sure to put your name on any equipment that you bring.)
Thanks to Epiphany's Men's Group and to Thrivent Financial for organizing and supporting this work day.
Help furnish the new infant nursery
Epiphany opened a new infant nursery earlier this month to care for children who are not yet walking. We still need a few items - glide rockers, wall cabinets, etc. - to better equip the space for infants.  
Please check out the Amazon Wish List to donate an item for the nursery.  
HTF Golf Classic on October 8
HTF camp Now registering golfers, signing up sponsors
Epiphany is partnering with the Haitian Timoun Foundation (HTF) to again sponsor the tournament at Olde Atlanta Golf Club, Suwanee. The "best ball scramble" tournament is set for Thursday, October 8, 10 am shotgun start. The event will help fund HTF camps in Haiti next summer.
Download the flyer or visit the HTF Golf Classic website to learn more about the tournament and HTF summer camps, which have grown to touch the lives of hundreds and hundreds of children in Haiti. This year alone, some 1,300 children were served by HTF camps in Jacmel, Fermathe and the Central Plateau.
Contact htfgolfclassic@epiphanysuwanee.org to offer your help with the tournament or to donate door prizes or goody bag items. 
Epiphany Lutheran Church
1350 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Suwanee, GA  30024
770-831-1966