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Midweek Blast of Epiphany Light

April 6, 2016

Winners, Losers, and God
I just finished watching the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game and it's one thing to have one dramatic three-point shot, but 2(?!?!) that's just too much!  In 5 seconds we witnessed the entire range of emotions, exuberant celebration and heartbreaking defeat.  
 
Last year for Easter during the kids' sermon, I gave them all party hats and noise makers (the nursery staff still isn't talking to me) and told them that Easter was like a giant party that everyone is invited to.  Easter is an event where everyone wins.  In this victory we are all winners and the only loser is death.
 
Whether it is the NCAA Championship game, the Super Bowl, the World Series, or any other major final game, when they show the faces of the losers, I always feel bad for them.  (Cue crying piccolo girl.)  Wouldn't it be great if everyone won?  Wouldn't it be great if everyone got a trophy and was invited to be a part of the celebration and victory party?  (Second place never gets a parade.)  But that isn't the world we live in.  If there is a winner, there has to be a loser.  I don't believe this is how God's championship ends.
 
What we find in Easter is a gift.  There is nothing you or I have done to make this happen.  This is God's act.  You and I weren't helping roll away the stone and we weren't reaching for the nearest defibrillator to revive Jesus.  We didn't do anything for this to happen, but we are direct recipients of this victory.  It's not about what we do, but what has been done for us.  If God is on the playground picking his kickball team, we all get picked, and we all are a part of the victory.  That's how God works. 
 
So even though we live in a world where one team wins and one team loses, we know about a place where everyone wins.  This victory is a gift and this victory is for everyone.  We are all invited to the party and we all share in the celebration.  This is the power of Easter.  So blow that noisemaker as loud as you can because we are all on God's team and we all win!
 
Welcome to the winner's circle! 
 
Chris 
 
Wednesdays at the Well does not meet tonight
Wednesdays at the Well icon
Wednesdays at the Well is our midweek service which begins with a community meal at 6 and worship at 7. It is spring break, so we are not meeting.
If you are traveling, be safe and have fun. Join us for worship on Sunday at 8:30 and 11 and Sunday school at 9:45.
Rainbow Village "Hats Off to Women Luncheon"
Rainbow Village logo Wednesday, April 13th, 10:30 am to 2:00 pm., St. Ives Country Club, Johns Creek, GA

Help Rainbow Village celebrate its 25th Anniversary with a luncheon, raffle, gift shop with local vendors, and a mimosa and wine bar. Guest speaker will be Monique Honaman, author of "The High Road Has Less Traffic." For more information and volunteer opportunities, visit this link: 
 
Rainbow Village Annual Golf Classic
tee shot Monday, May 2 at TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, GA, 12:00-7:00 p.m.
Join Rainbow Village for a day of fun, fellowship, and laughter at the 25th Anniversary Annual Golf Classic.
Organize a team and sign up by visiting the link: http://rainbowvillage.org/events/2016golf/
 
Reconciling in Christ
Official Affirmation of Welcome
Epiphany has a Reconciling in Christ Team that is developing an Official Affirmation of Welcome to publicly welcome people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as others that might feel unwelcome in church communities. Visit this website for more information https://www.reconcilingworks.org/

For questions or more information, email ric@epiphanysuwanee.org.
 
Creation Care Formation
In celebration of Earth Day, April 22
On Sunday, April 17th, the formation hour will focus on ways we can care for creation. This will be a center-based all-ages formation hour in which we will begin our TeraRecyle recycling program and learn more about how we can be better stewards of our planet.
Be there at 9:45!
 
Vacation Bible School 2016
"Surf Shack" Catch the Wave of God's Amazing Love
It's time to register for VBS! Our vacation bible school will be held June 27-July 1 from 9-12. Register here or sign up to volunteer:
http://2016.cokesburyvbs.com/epiphanysuwanee
 
Green Tips
Save your plastic bottles for VBS!
Please save your clean, empty plastic juice bottles (Naked, Bolthouse) with lids, 16 oz. Pepsi product plastic bottles with lids, or ICE plastic bottles with lids. Place in bags and mark VBS. Thank you! 

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