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Epiclesis... An Ancient-Future Faith Community |
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Advent, 2012 |
Monday, December 24 |
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Light in the Darkness | |
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Greetings!
 The Scripture for today, Christmas Eve, is that familiar passage from Isaiah: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light."
Isaiah, like the prophets we've been reading in these days of Advent, saw very clearly the dark times in which they lived and also saw the need for a savior. So much gloom and darkness.
It was surely so, in every possible way, at the time of Isaiah.
And it is surely so, in every possible way, now.
Just at the right time, just when we needed Him most, God reached down and pierced the darkness. He is our hope, and our peace. And He is our Light:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. -John 1:1-5.
See you tonight, Christmas Eve, at 5 PM-- and see you again for worship next Sunday morning.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Pastor Chris |
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In This eNewsletter Issue |
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Sunday Worship...
10:30 AM
The Carmichael Chapel (on the campus of the Carmichael Seventh Day Adventist Church) 4600 Winding Way Sacramento, CA 95841
General Information Line: (916) 572-9113 
Epiclesis is a Constant Contact 2011 All Star Award Winner |
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Movie Night Showing the film "Furious Love"
We're gathering on Friday night, January 4, at 6 PM, at the home of the Sutters for a tasty meal then a movie: "Furious Love", a film that highlights the miraculous ways that God is using ordinary people to do miraculous things across the globe.
What to bring? Just you! The Sutters are providing everything. See you then!
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Discipleship in January Two Mini-Studies Coming!
We're planning for two fun and practical mini-discipleship studies in the new year: One about the Bible, and one that tells the Epiclesis story. Stay tuned for news about the start date for each study. Here are some details:
 The first will cover the basics on where we got the Bible and how to choose a translation that's just right for you. We love and cherish Scriptures as believers, but we don't really know as much about where they came from as we should. And what about translations: These days there are so many to choose from.
Join us for this terrific two-session course-- and take note of this: Kids are welcome, too! We're also developing a separate track for kids that will feature hands-on learning (including memorization of the Bible books).
About the Location: We'll do these two sessions in a large group setting located in the Fireside Room of the Carmichael Seventh Day Church (our regular Sunday morning worship location). The Fireside Room is on the South end of the Carmichael church campus and is accessible via Pasadena Ave.
 Next, we're working on a series for the winter as a kind of follow-up to "Epiclesis 101": It's been about two years since we put that introductory class together, but our hope for this new mini series of three sessions is to go beyond the basics of who we are and tell the bigger story: How did Epiclesis come to be? What does it mean to be "Ancient-Future?" We want to share the Epiclesis story, talk about what makes our community of faith truly unique, and also take the time to focus on how the structure and leadership works at Epiclesis.
So, this 3-session small group series will be the perfect time to ask questions, learn our story, ponder and pray for our future, and (most important of all) grow closer together with other members of Epiclesis. Stay tuned! We'll have more information about the start date in this space soon. (It will probably launch the last week of January or the first week of February).
One more thing: We'll do this mini-series in small groups, so if you don't already have a regular group, we'll be happy to give you some choices. The series is also open to folks who don't normally worship with Epiclesis.
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An Ancient-Future Quote to Note
God with Us
 What humans could not attain because they could not raise themselves to God, God attained by descending to humans. ...There can be no such thing as spirituality without God initiating relationship with human persons, a relationship that is traced back to the momentous event we celebrate as Christmas-- God with us. But there is another side to spirituality that issues from the incarnation as well. That is the necessity of the human nature choosing to unite with God.
-Robert Webber
For a daily verse of Scripture, a word from the Church Fathers, some sacred art, or for brief bio sketches of the Fathers, visit The Chapel of the Ancient-Future Faith Network.
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Epiclesis Website Tip of the Week:
We've posted the new Epiphany devotional booklet for 2013 on the website. Want to see or download it? Just click right here.
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