Eastminster Edition - August 2011

IN THIS ISSUE

Speaking of Budgets

From your Interim Pastor

On June 26, Elder Mike Ferney shared with those of you at our church’s midyear congregational meeting the present financial status of EPC … and he presented a challenge – to all of us!

Mike reminded us that at the beginning of the year the Session intentionally added a $50K carry-over from 2009 to projected giving in order to establish a “resurrection budget” for 2010.  It is this budget that has underwritten the hiring of the program staff of your church (Steven, Luke & Kelly) – a very fine staff that now is in the process of rebuilding the mission and ministry of EPC.

This“resurrection budget” created by the leadership of your church was the first step.  The second step is yours!  In order for EPC to move from resurrection to “flower” Mike Ferney and the Stewardship Team challenged every member of EPC to “step up” your giving” over the remaining 6 months of this fiscal year.

Stepping up your giving will insure that we do not completely exhaust our savings – putting us into a budgetary hole entering 2012.  Increasing your giving as sacrificially as you are able will allow the personnel and programs already in place to begin to bear fruit.  Increasing your giving will put your church on the kind of sound financial footing that your new pastor (when he or she is called in several months) will need as EPC continues to move forward.

A letter from Mike will be in your mailboxes shortly.  Please read it.  Do the very best you can for the life and ministry of EPC.  Please “step up” for your family of faith!

Pastor Steve

Pastor Nominating Committee Update

Since posting our Church Information Form (CIF) in mid-June, the PNC has received over 50 Personal Information Forms (PIF’s) from interested candidates.  This is a remarkable number for such a short time period and speaks volumes about Eastminster’s strength and spirit. We have an efficient review process that happens to include some really good meals, so we’re moving along steadily with full minds and bellies. Please keep in mind that while we would love to tell you about these interesting and impressive people, we cannot divulge any information until the final person accepts. It is a humbling task and we still aren’t sure how a diverse team of seven will ever whittle down from 50 qualified and faithful servants to the one who is called to be here. Fortunately, God is smarter than us and we trust that God’s hand is part of the process. 

We appreciate your continued prayers. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions, thoughts or concerns (or food!) to share.

Grace and Peace,

Brian Norton (PNC Co-chair) briancnorton@charter.net

Susan Carlson (PNC Co-chair) susantcarlson@gmail.com

Note: For anyone interested in reading the CIF, please contact Sherry Hirt (sherry@eastminster.com) or Susan Carlson. There are hard copies in the office.

EPC Sunday School  - Soaring to New Heights

Join us Sunday, August 21 as we begin our new Sunday School year with at really big RALLY DAY.  We will gather in the sanctuary at 9:15.  We will meet the teachers and learn about our new cirriculum.  Afterwards we will visit with the teachers in the classrooms.

After the worship service, we will have a "subs and sundaes" lunch, and the children will play games and maybe even launch some balloons!  Suggested donation for lunch is $5.00 per person/$20.00 family maximum.

So circle the date on your calendar, invite a friend and plan to attend.

BACK TO SCHOOL !

I know what you are thinking - "Craig are you kidding me".  It seems only yesterday that the kids were getting out of school, VBS was going on, and summer activities were in full swing, but now summer activities are winding down and it is time to start collections for the children in need at Robert Cashion School.  This is one of our major Outreach programs and your generous support is always appreciated. Supplies needed are: pencils, notebook paper, crayons, glue sticks, back packs, safety scissors, rulers, erasers, washable markers, etc. We will begin collecting school items on Sunday, July 31^st and will continue to collect them until Sunday August 14th. They not only need our donations, they also need our time to read to the students and assist the teachers.  Questions? Contact Craig Winebarger at 864-458-9680 or cwinebarger@att.net     

Ladies' Circle

Ladies’ Circle will meet Thursday September 8, 2011 at 10:00 at the home of Carol Irick.  We will begin a new Horizons Bible Study “Confessing the Beatitudes”.  Women of all ages are invited to join us as we explore these beloved teachings of Jesus and seek ways to reach beyond ourselves in service to God.  For more information, contact Carol Irick at carolirick@charter.net or 962-2492.

WOMEN'S FALL BRUNCH

Saturday, September 10, 2011

10:00 a.m.    Keeping Room

All women ~regardless of age or membership ~are invited

Discover the many ways you can connect with others through Bible study, book discussions, mission/service activities, and social events throughout the 2011-2012 year.

This is a great way to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones.

~Hosted by Ladies’ Circle~

Please sign up on the kiosk.   Childcare is available.  For more information, contact Carol Irick at carolirick@charter.net or 962-2492.

EDUCATION MINISTRY NEWS

August brings Rally Day on the 21^st and the launching of a new year!

Come to Rally Day at 9:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary on August 21^st for fun & music and a meet & greet with teachers.  After the Worship service there will be a lunch and ice cream!!!

The 2011 – 2012 year brings with it excitement about new curriculum in the preschool, elementary, and youth classes!

The classes will be divided as follows: Preschool (3 yr-olds) – Kindergarten; 1^st – 3^rd Grade; 4^th& 5^th Grades; Mid High; and Senior High.  Children under 3 years-old have the opportunity to stay in the Nursery with Corky.

Nursery: EPC provides a staffed nursery during Sunday school and the Worship service for newborns through 2 years-old.  The nursery staff is on duty from 9:15 a.m. –11:30 a.m. Sunday mornings.

The Youth Group schedule/calendar is on the Eastminster website www.eastminster.com under the EPC life tab.  Sometime in August there will also be a Children’s Ministry schedule/calendar on the website.

CLASSES/CURRICULUM FOR 2011 – 2012:

For additional information on the curriculum for each class, go to the Children's Ministry page or the Youth Ministry page on the EPC website or to the link given below.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY:

PRESCHOOL(3 YRS-OLD) – KINDERGARTEN: Walk with Me for preschool from Faith Alive. For more info go to: http://walkwithmeonline.org/index.php

Walk With Me grows faith, builds community, and celebrates diversity.  It is fun, Biblical and Reformed, and kid-friendly.

1^STGRADE – 3^RD GRADE: DWELL from Faith Alive. For more info go to: http://dwellcurriculum.org/home

4^THGRADE & 5^TH GRADE: DWELL from Faith Alive. For more info go to: http://dwellcurriculum.org/home

In a culture that worships busyness, DWELL encourages kids to pause and wonder, imagine, and interact with different parts of God’s Story. And as they do, they’ll discover that God is still at work in the world and in their lives. DWELL can awaken kids to God’s amazing invitation to find their own place in his story, to live into and out of it for the rest of their lives.

YOUTH GROUP:

The youth group program is divided into three areas.  The areas are as follows: 1.) Classroom/Instruction; 2.) Service/Mission; 3.) Activities/Events.  The program areas allow us to nurture our youth through a “head, heart, and hands” approach.  Their monthly schedule will rotate between the three areas so that we may build them up through intentional discipleship.  The monthly schedule will include class meetings, service projects, and fun activities & events.

The schedule can be found on the Eastminster website:www.eastminster.com under the EPC Life tab.

MID HIGH(6^TH – 8^TH GRADES): Akaloo from Augsburg Fortress. For more info go to: http://www.akaloo.org/

Akaloo:  What does Akaloo mean?  The word Akaloo is inspired by the Greek verb “to follow”   (akolouthein). Are you ready to Akaloo?

Discipleship is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor, so Akaloo brings a"stage-specific" approach to faith formation.  The Mid High class curriculum will focus on service…learning discipleship…following Jesus’ example.

SENIOR HIGH (9^TH – 12^TH Grades): Feasting on the Word will be the curriculum for this class. For more info got to: http://www.feastingontheword.net/

Feasting on the Word:  Youth are figuring out who they are as they search for whose they are. Feasting on the Word materials provide opportunities for this age group to explore their personal and communal identity in Jesus Christ through meaningful community-building experiences, engaging Bible study,and relevant learning activities. Biblical stories will come alive in new and creative ways. In response to God's amazing, unconditional love, youth will be challenged to put their faith into action as they grow to understand themselves as Christ's disciples. Each session includes a media connection section that ties the week's Scripture passage to a film, video, song, or Web site.

ADULT MINISTRY:

**PLEASE STAY TUNED TO THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND WEBSITE TO LEARN ABOUT PARTICULAR STUDIES IN EACH OF THESE CLASSES**

FAITH & LIFE: Faith & Life meets at 9:15 A.M. in the Resource Room/Library in the Presbytery Building

This class is about relationships; being in relationship with one another and God.  How does one live out their faith in relationship with others and with God?  This is one of the core questions this class explores.  Building stronger relationships and personal growth through faith are the foundational principles of this class.  The class uses a variety of books, studies, and DVD based materials. A prerequisite for the class is a sense of humor and the ability to laugh at yourself… …A much needed quality when dealing with life!

SEEKER’S FORUM: The class meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Adult Classroom at the back of the sanctuary.

This class studies contemporary theology and topical studies in an effort to seek a better understanding of how to live out our faith in today’s rapidly changing world.

**Please be aware that issues and concepts discussed in this study will challenge many people's worldview and offer a new way of understanding the Gospel**

BIBLE & THEOLOGY: Meets at 9:15 a.m. in the Presbytery building, conference room on right.

This class uses various studies to explore books of the Bible, particular Scripture, themes within the text, literary elements, and theology.  In doing so, this class strives to achieve a better grasp of God’s Word and its message.

  JOYS AND CONCERNS

BIRTHS

Heidi & Nick Anastos (friends of the church) are celebrating the birth of their second child Drew.  A rose will be on the communion table this Sunday.

DEATHS

Elaine Weigart's Aunt (Ruby Lee Powell) died on Monday, July 25 in Spartanburg.

Brian Norton’s grandmother Lou Covalt, died in Atlanta on Monday, July 18.

CURRENT CONCERNS

Amy Campbell is recovering at home from surgery (7/6) and taking it easy as she mends

Steve James is struggling with severe back pain.  Medication seems to be helping at the present time, but surgery may be in the offing.

Wanda Ingle (fmr mbr) Wanda finished her cancer radiation treatments on June 17.  She is quite weak now but the doctors expect that in a couple months she will be back to herself again.  She and her husband Gordon are caring for her mother Mildred Overby suffering with Alzheimer’s.  The Ingles live at 511 Laurel Tree Lane, Simpsonville, SC 29681.  Home phone is 297-3851.

HOMEBOUND MEMBERS/FRIENDS

Emily Phillips has returned home from rehab in NC.  She has home care.

NURSING HOMES/CARE FACILITIES

Betty Brantley - Rolling Green Health Care, Room #25

Sylvia Meyer - Rolling Green “Evergreen” Alzheimer’s Care Unit, Room #343

Doris McLellan, Carol Irick’s mother - Emeritus Senior Living Center, Memory Care Unit

Mary Grace Fleitz, Jim Flietz’s mother - Palmetto Assisted Living Center, Memory Care Unit

August Birthdays

Eastminster Staff

Interim Pastor - Steve Vance

Director of Christian Education - Steven Putnam

Choir Director - Luke Browder

Accompanist - Kelly Herd

Administrative Assistant - Sherry Hirt

Treasurer - Wanda Grant

Eastminster Session