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Epiclesis... An Ancient-Future Faith Community |
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Christmastide, 2012-13 |
Wednesday, January 2 |
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Happy New Year! | |
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Greetings!
 Happy New Year, everyone! A bit of a shorter eNewsletter this week because of the holiday, but I did want to remind you quickly of a couple of items:
Because of the unique way the calendar falls this year, the Day of Epiphany comes on a Sunday (pretty nifty). So, this coming Sunday will be a particularly special one at Epiclesis with an Epiphany Service of Lessons and Carols. No teaching this week (but we will come around the Table of the Lord) and the service will also feature Scripture readings and some good quotes from the Church Fathers.
If you'd like a copy of this year's Epiphany Sunday devotional, just click right here.
Meanwhile, let's see: What else? Ah, yep: Don't forget about the movie night at the Sutter's house this Friday (you can get all the details just down this page a bit).
And make sure, too, to check out the details in this edition of the eNewsletter about two really terrific discipleship opportunities coming later in the month.
Already looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday (especially after the wonderful and remarkable way the Lord moved among us last week!).
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 this 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
Complete Work
 | | Gregory of Nyssa |
Soldiers don't arm themselves partially, leaving the rest of their bodies unprotected. For if they received their death wounds in the unprotected area, what would be the point of their partial armor? Again, who would consider some feature flawless when in an accident it lost something essential to beauty? The disfigurement of the mutilated part destroys the grace of the untouched part. The gospel implies that those who try to build a tower, but spend all their time on the foundation and never finish, are ridiculous. From the Parable of the Tower, we also learn to work hard and finish every lofty goal, to complete the work of God through the varied structures of His commandments. Of course, one stone doesn't make an entire tower any more than obeying one commandment lifts the soul to the required height of perfection. By all means, the foundation must be laid first. But, as the Apostle Paul says, the structure of gold and precious gems must be built over it. For the psalmist cries, "I have loved Thy commandment above gold and many a precious stone."
-Gregory of Nyssa
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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