Epiphany full logo    "that all might thrive and serve ..."

Midweek Blast of Epiphany Light

February 17, 2016
It's the Final Countdown
For Christmas Gina and I gave the kids a box that contained three tubes of sunscreen.  The present wasn't really sunscreen but instead a way to let them know that one of their presents was a trip for spring break.  On December 25th, April 4th seems like a long way away, but the kids have been looking forward to that trip from the moment they opened up that recycled Amazon box.  What are you looking forward to?
 
We need to have things that we are hoping for, excited about, and anxious to arrive.  This is something Lent teaches us.  In Lent we look forward to Easter.  We sing songs about "being there when Jesus was crucified", we rub dirt on our foreheads, and we deprive ourselves of something that we like.  All of these acts add to the excitement of Easter.  We look forward to the day when we talk about resurrection, life, and new beginnings.  The struggle makes the victory that much more powerful.  What are you looking forward to?
 
At Epiphany I am looking forward to the day when we find out who our intern might be and when they might start.  I am excited to see a playground built outside of our youth rooms.  I am excited every Sunday when someone comes to our church for the first time and they get to experience the warmth of this church and hear us talk about a God who loves everyone. What are you excited about?
 
If we don't look ahead or dream about the "what if", we run the risk of getting stuck.  If we don't challenge ourselves to go somewhere, we may never step out in faith and realize that we are capable of doing that thing that we never thought was possible. What is that "next thing" that you are eagerly anticipating?  God wants us to be excited about life and what might be just around the corner.  When we live this way we challenge ourselves to step out in faith and trust that God will safely lead us into the unknown.  It's not just sunscreen.  What are you counting down to?
 
See you in church,
 
Chris 
Wednesdays at the Well tonight
Wednesdays at the Well icon
Wednesdays at the Well is our midweek service which begins with a community meal at 6. Tonight's meal is chili with beans and nachos with fixings.  Suggested freewill offering is $6 for adults and $3 for children. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted.
Imagine Children's Choir at 6:25 welcomes all kids pre-K through 5th grade.
Lenten Worship at 7.  
MOPS meeting
Sunday, February 21, 4-7 p.m.
"Eyes to see...LOVE" will be the theme for our monthy meeting of the MOPS chapter at Epiphany. Pastor Chris Hermansen will be our guest speaker and will be talking about love and marriage. All mothers of pre-schoolers are welcome, and bring a friend! http://www.epiphanysuwanee.org/disciples, mops@epiphanysuwanee.org
 
Serving Dinner at Rainbow Village
February's Team
Joan Doorley, Pam Ramkumar, the Pugsley family, Sarah Nataupsky, and Sean and Stewart LaFave served dinner at Rainbow Village. There are many ways to serve Rainbow Village, including monthly dinners (the 2nd Tuesdays) and Big Recess, which happens the 3rd Thursdays each month. We invite you to get involved!
 
Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
Invite your kids and friends to this fun, annual event on March 19th. The event is free, but we ask you to bring a canned food item for the North Gwinnett Co-op.

Donations of pre-packaged, non-chocolate candy and plastic Easter eggs are needed. Please deliver candy and eggs to church by March 12th.

Bring a dessert or cupcakes to the event! 
Green Tips
Think: REDUCE
Bring your own shopping bags!!: AND don't take bags at stores unless you truly need them. Fruits and vegetables don't need bags, meats don't need bags (put in take-home bag separately if you are concerned about leaking. Department store items don't need bags when you are going straight to your car.

Epiphany tip: Bring your own cup to Wednesdays at the Well dinner and coffee cup on Sunday to reduce plastic and styrofoam waste.
 
Epiphany Lutheran Church
1350 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Suwanee, GA  30024
770-831-1966