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

Midweek Blast of Epiphany Light

April 27, 2016

But Who's Going to Give the Sermon?
On Thursday I walked into a scary place, a room filled with pastors!  Now I am guessing this isn't news to most of you, but pastors can be interesting people.  Many of us love to talk, and a room full of us could be hell for an introvert!  Now to take this to another level, the next day, the room was filled with just as many individuals who are studying to be pastors!  (God help us!)  Now, we could fill the rest of this blog with many, many jokes, but what happened over this 48-hour retreat was actually pretty cool.  We worked together!  (For those of you who just passed out, the rest of this blog isn't nearly as shocking.)
 
This was a retreat for seminary students who are going out on an internship and the pastors who will supervise them (and who hopefully won't screw them up!)  Quite often when you get pastors together, the numbers game begins? How big is your church?  How big is your budget?  What's your attendance?  How many seats in your sanctuary?  (I prefer to brag about how big Epiphany's mortgage is!  That usually shuts them up.)  The mood in the room wasn't one of competition but of collegiality.  A united community that we were equally a part of and doing whatever we could to help this movement succeed.  There wasn't a sense of competition, but a sense of "how can we work together to make a difference?"  "What can we do to make sure we are helping these individuals grow into the leaders that God has called them to be so that they can go out into the world and make a difference for the Gospel?"  It was a cool vibe.  
 
This concept is by no means new, but we are a community that lacks unity.  We are a country, church, family defined by our differences instead of our similarities.  I don't think Jesus is encouraging this.  Ask yourself: what are you doing to bring others together and build up the community?  Or, are you adding to the division that is growing daily?  For there to be unity we need to find something that we have in common, and we need to check our egos so they don't get in the way.  If pastors can work together, there is hope for the rest of us!
 
What are you working toward?

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, Imagine children's choir at 6:25, and worship at 7. 
Tonight's meal is chili dogs, potato wedges, coleslaw, and ice cream floats. Suggested freewill offering is $6/adult and $3/child. Cash, checks and credits cards are accepted.

Come, be refreshed at the Well! 

This will be the last community meal on Wednesdays for the summer, resuming on August 17th. Worship at 7 continues through the summer!
Parent's Night Out!
Saturday, April 30, 4-10 p.m.
Enjoy a night out while your kids have a blast playing games and eating pizza at church! The Bluhm family is hosting this event, a fund-raiser for our youth summer camps. The confirmands (middle school) and high school kids will be volunteering their time to babysit the kids. Email Eric Bluhm to reserve a spot. ebluhm121@gmail.com
 
Rainbow Village Summer Lunches
Great opportunity for kids to meet the 12-hour challenge!
To help with Rainbow Village's summer programming, Epiphany will be providing one week's worth of sack lunches for their children attending day camp. That's 250 sack lunches! Our children and youth will be adding a personal touch to these lunch bags by decorating them during the formation hour on May 8th. This is a fun way for them to earn an hour of service for our 12-Hour Challenge. We are asking each child to bring a jar of peanut butter and/or jelly with them on Sunday, May 8th. See you then!
 
Epiphany's New TerraCycle Recycling Program
Decrease our environmental footprint
and raise money for our church! TerraCycle is a program that recycles "hard to recycle" items for free and earns points and money for non-profit organizations. Epiphany has 3 new bins, located by the doors downstairs, where you can deposit #6 rigid plastic cups (Solo), Tom's of Maine natural care products (toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes), and plastic triggers, pumps and caps, and flexible product packaging. Pictures on the bins identify what is accepted. Check it out! For more information visit our website http://www.epiphanysuwanee.org/terracycle.
 
Reconciling in Christ (RIC)
Information session Sunday, May 15th at 9:45 am.
Epiphany has a team that is developing an Official Affirmation of Welcome to people of all sexual orientation and gender identities, as well as others that might feel unwelcome in church communities. If you have questions about RIC, attend the info session May 15th during the formation hour. You may also visit Epiphany's website for more information. 
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