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Midweek Blast of Epiphany Light

June 22, 2016

We're Talking About Practice?
Over Christmas break during my freshman year of high school, I got my first job.  I was the only English speaking dishwasher at a seafood restaurant in Seaside, OR.  The great byproduct of this job was that I got really good at speaking Spanish.  I kept working there until I went to college, and over the summer I would speak about as much Spanish as English.  But after that I didn't speak much Spanish and, as you know with any foreign language, if you don't use it, you lose it.
 
I have taken guitar lessons off and on since I was in my mid 20s (I had one yesterday, actually) but I was never very good at practicing on my own and when I didn't practice what I learned in my lesson, no matter how good my teacher was, my guitar playing ability remained at a few Blink 182 and Smashing Pumpkins riffs.  Practice was necessary.  
 
Up at camp last week, with our middle school students, the theme for our learning sessions was "The Jesus Way."  We looked at the different ways Jesus lived and how we could live like that in our own lives.  We talked about things like serving, praying, forgiving, loving our neighbor and including those that others might reject.  The Bible stories fit perfectly, the discussion was great, the activities complemented well what we were talking about, and for the rest of the day, the students did a pretty good job living out what we discussed. 

But the real test came when we got back to church.  After 4+ hours in the van, the kids were more than ready to get out of a stench-y vehicle ("Who just took off their shoes?!"), to see their parents, and just get home.  The LAST thing on their mind was picking up their trash and helping carry things into the church. They needed to be reminded to practice what we preached.  
 
Maybe that's why we use the phrase practicing our faith.  To live this way isn't our natural response.  We are programmed for self preservation, and to live like Jesus isn't our default.  We have to practice it until it becomes our natural response.  We practice it until our souls develop the muscle-memory that tells us this is how a follower of Jesus lives.  Practice isn't only necessary, it's essential.  
 
I haven't fully lost my ability to speak Spanish; it's just rusty.  If I had to pick between Spanish and English, I would pick English because it's easier for me; it's what I know.  But if I am stuck, my Spanish comes back, enough at least to hold a broken conversation.  
 
How do you practice your faith?  What do you do to help yourself live like Jesus?  It's not our natural way to live and, contrary to what Allen Iverson might think, practice is the only way we get there.  So yeah, we are talking about practice, because practice is the way we become more compassionate, gracious, humble, loving, and caring.  It's the way we live out our faith and become like Jesus.
 
So, how do you practice? 

Pastor Chris 
 

Wednesdays at the Well tonight
Wednesdays at the Well icon
Wednesdays at the Well is our midweek service. Come worship with us at 7 p.m.!
Community meals at 6 p.m. and Imagine children's choir will resume on August 17th.

Pastor Chris continues a study of the Book of Psalms in June. 

Come, be refreshed at the Well!

Going out of town this summer?
Epiphany never takes a summer vacation!
Please don't forget about your weekly giving when you do vacation! Sign up for automatic giving through your bank's bill pay or through our church website and Epiphany connect. epiphanysuwanee.org

If you would like more information or assistance getting your offerings set up, please fill out the Blue slip at church and the church office will contact you.
 
The Experience Touring Choir this Friday!
Come enjoy this great performance at 7 p.m.!
Pastor Chris's former church, Christ Lutheran in Charlotte, NC, is bringing 62 high school students to our church to complete their summer tour. The Experience program, At Your Command, focuses on the 10 Commandments and their meaning for our life today. It is their mission to tell the story of Christ to the world through contemporary song, drama, dance, visual arts and much more!

Come and enjoy a family friendly night of laughter, music, and worship. This performance is free and open to the public. 

Invite your friends and neighbors!
 
Epiphany Youth at Affirm
Several youth at Berry College this week!

Be sure to ask them about their faith building experience this week at Affirm this week!
 
Father's Day Car Wash raised $825 for Haiti Summer Camp!
Car Wash art
Thank you to all who helped wash cars and those who had their cars washed! Your contributions will go a long way helping towards travel costs for our youth traveling to Haiti in July.
 
VBS is next week!
June 27-July 1st, 9-12 p.m.
It's going to be a fantastic Vacation Bible School! Many thanks to all of the hard-working volunteers who have been preparing to make this a very special event for our children and the kids in the community. 100 children are enrolled this year! 
 
Epiphany Lutheran Church
1350 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Suwanee, GA  30024
770-831-1966