Epworth connects and equipsall kinds of people to

seek, serve, and share Christ.

Friday, December 16, 2016 6:00 p.m. Seekers’ Class PartySaturday, December 17, 201610:00 a.m. Choir PracticeSunday, December 18, 2016 9:00 a.m. Christmas Musical 10:00 a.m. Sunday School11:00 a.m. Christmas Musical

Upcoming EvEntsTuesday, December 20, 2016 6:00 p.m. Youth Christmas Party 6:30 p.m. Growing Christians UMW Meeting 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

December 11, 2016

2400 Devonshire Drive • Columbus, GA 31904706-322-6973 • www.epworthumc.com

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oUr chUrch staffChildren’s Director Dawn WilsonChoir Director Lyn PharrisChurch Administrator Susan SniderCustodians Martha Conklin Barbie WebbMedia & Communications Dawn Wilson Music Director Bob LeeNursery Worker Martha ConklinPastor Tony G. CrosbyWorship Leader/Youth Minister Adam McNeil

contact Usadam@epworthumc.comdawn@epworthumc.comsusan@epworthumc.comtony@epworthumc.com

Pastor’s Home (706) 327-2927Pastor’s Cell (706) 329-2484

Church Website: www.epworthumc.comChurch (706) 322-6973

Fax (706) 322-0492

The Advent wreath is given to the Glory of God and in honor of Carole & Bruce Zimmerman’s 56th Wedding Anniversary.

this coming WEEkSunday, December 11, 2016 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School11:00 a.m. Traditional ServiceMonday, December 12, 2016 6:30 p.m. New Life UMW Christmas DinnerTuesday, December 13, 2016 6:30 p.m. Youth Bible Study Wednesday, December 14, 201612:00 noon Prayer Team Meeting 6:15 p.m. Praise Practice 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

The Prophets Point to JesusThe days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

Jeremiah 31:31 (NRSV)O, Jeremiah, Open up the book; shine a little glory in the dark of night. O, Jeremiah, open up the book; open our hearts, show us the light.

Joseph Martin Back in July, I attended a music workshop with Bob and Lyn where we spent more than two hours listening to new songs from various music publishers for choirs. As always, there are some songs that aren’t so great, mixed in with others, that are just beautiful. I have attended events like this before, some as long as a full week. Eventually, as the week wears on, all the music can start to sound the same. As I sat there listening to music on that July night, one song struck me immediately. It was the song that the choir is singing this morning, “O, Jeremiah!” I had been wrestling with the idea of preaching through the entire Bible. Frankly, there were a lot of reasons not to do it. Studies show that people respond well to short-term sermon series. There was the danger of boring people with too much historical information and not enough practical application - which is a big part of preaching and something both you and I hope to get from a sermon. There was the fear that people would tune out at some point where it wasn’t interesting enough or didn’t have a “hook” like some sermon themes use to draw people to come to church. There were many reasons not to do this project. I kept looking at all of the negatives associated with preaching through the Bible and trying to take into account all of them, but I continued to feel this nudging that seemed to be coming from God to do this. And then I heard this song that night. The verses read, “The prophets searched the holy books, they trusted in the Lord. Through the eyes of faith they saw a day when hope would be restored. Daniel saw Messiah’s reign, Isaiah saw His birth. Malachi foresaw a day when peace would rule the earth!” Another verse says, “Elijah saw a chariot burning in the sky. Obadiah spoke and warned the world to put away all pride. Ezekiel saw the dead arise as bones began to sing. And Zachariah spoke in joy the coming of the King.” Finally, “Aaron, Amos, Abraham, Moses, Micah, Miriam. Jonah, John and Joshua, David, Jacob, Deborah. Zechariah, Haggai, Obadiah, Malachi. Prophets of the living word, witness to the Lord of lords!” Thissong,publishedthisyear,wasthewordofGodtomethattheOldTestamentisfilledwiththegoodnewsofGodanddeserved tobe taughtandpreached toourchurch.Mydecisionwasfinal thatverynight - I would preach and teach The Big Picture whether it was popular or not. I would do it because we have a responsibility to live by the book. First Baptist of Columbus is currently running a brilliant advertising campaign on television where they continue to use the phrase “by the book.” Our own founder of Methodism, John Wesley, was as widely read and educated as they come, yet he referred to himself as a “man of one book.” So, Jeremiah, open up the book! The culmination of Advent awaits as we see the glory of Jesus in the dark of night. Continue to stay with us on the journey of The Big PictureaswefinishourOldTestamentjourneytoday and begin to turn the page toward the New Testament with the birth of Christ at Christmas. Open our hearts! Show us the light!

In Christ,

sUnday school at 10:00 amTHE CHILDREN’S CLASSES Kindergarten - 2nd Grd.: Debra Johnson3rd - 5th Grd.: Margaret GosdenYouth: Adam McNeil

THE FRIENDSHIP CLASS Study:AnAffirmationofthePromise Teacher: Barbara Stubbs

THE JOY CLASS Study: I Love Growing Older, but... Teacher: Class

THE NATHAN PATTERSON/WESLEY CLASS Study: Acts, Ch. 23 Teacher: Bobby Smith

THE NEW CONNECTIONS CLASS Study: A Hop, Skip and a Jump through... Teacher: Doug Franks

THE NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS Study: If You’re Going the Wrong Way... Teacher: Leslie Morris/Melonie Phillips

THE NO NAME CLASS Study: Heroes, Rogues and the Rest, Ch. 7 Teacher: Steve Sawyer

THE QUESTORS CLASS Study: Genesis 32-33 Teacher: Rev. Tim Paulk

THE SEEKERS CLASS Study: Are We True Christians? Teacher: Bruce Zimmerman

thosE Who sErvE sUnday, dEcEmbEr 11, 20169:00 a.m. Worship Service: Greeter: Barbara Stubbs Usher: Randy Morris Acolyte: Hayden Wilson Children’s Church: Jeanne Guilbeault11:00 a.m. Worship Service: Greeter: Lillian Wooldridge Ushers: James Faircloth, Steve Whittington Acolyte: Ema Cheraisi, Emma Knight Children’s Church: Janet CheraisiNurseryVolunteer:VickyGriffinFinancial Secretary: Shawn JandreauTurn Key: John Daniel

oUr stEWardshipDecember 4, 2016

Tithes & Offering: $7,035.00Received To Date: $285,463.36Needed To Date: $324,284.45 Building Fund: $10.00

ATTENDANCE:Sunday School: 89 Worship: 9 a.m. 27 11 a.m. 71

98

What’s happEningFellowship Hall Reserved - Saturday, December 10, from 3-6 p.m.New Life UMW Christmas Dinner - Monday, December 12, 6 p.m., at Michele Thurman’s home. Bring a covered dish to share.Seekers Class Christmas Party - Friday, December 16, at 6 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. Choir Rehearsal - Saturday, December 17, from 10 a.m. until noon, in the Sanctuary. Epworth’s Christmas Musical - presented by the Epworth Praise Band and Sanctuary Choir, Sunday, December 18, at both services. Growing Christians - Tuesday, December 20, at 6:30 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. Office Closed - Friday and Monday, December 23 and 26 for the Christmas holidays.Christmas Day Service - One service at 11 a.m., on December 25. Upper Room Devotionals - January/February issue is available from the WWC. $1.25/small print and $1.75/large print.

thank yoUThe family of Judy May would like to express their love and gratitude to Epworth UMC for their many expressions of love. Our Mother loved this church and its members so much. We are overwhelmed by your kindness while Mom was sick and in Hospice. We thank you all so much, Claire, Brooks, Susan, John, Aunt Connie and Uncle Bud.mEmorials& honoraria Given to the Discretionary Fund in honor of our teachers: Glenn Griffin, Rev. Tim Paulk, Gary Tomlin and Bruce Zimmerman by the Questors Sunday School class. Given to the Instrument Maintenance Fund in memory of Judy May by Martha Conklin. Given to the Prayer Shawl Ministry in memory of Judy May by Janie Nellums.

yoUthYouth Bible Study - Tuesday, December 13, at 6:30 p.m., in the Youth room. The Youth Christmas party will be Tuesday, December 20, at 6:30 p.m. For more details or questions, contact Adam McNeil.

2017 floWEr calEndarWehavemovedtheflowercalendarfor2017next to the churchofficedoor, in theofficewindow. First come, first served, so sign uptoday to reserve your special Sunday. Each flower arrangement is $50.Questionsor torequestadate,callthechurchoffice.

missionsDecember Mission Focus - Helping Our Neighbors at Christmas Offering - Our Missions Committee has set goals to support Open Door ($1,000), Rose Hill UMC ($1,000) and Brown Bag of Columbus ($1,000). The total received will be shared among them. If you feel led to give beyond your regular contribution to Epworth, consider supporting this opportunity. Donations can be made in honor or memory of loved ones or you can receiveacertificatethroughthechurchofficeto give as a gift.Christmas Post Office - is open in the foyer, to mail your Christmas cards to your fellow members for 25¢ each. Money collected will go to the Helping Our Neighbors at Christmas Offering. This is a great way to connect and save money! Wynnton Neighborhood Network November Report - We served 1,908 bags of food to 476 families which included 489 children. This included the Thanksgiving food bags Epworth donated. We helped 38 families with utility assistance, spending $1,870.67. Thank you for your generosity by supporting WNN. A Taste of Epworth Cookbooks - are $5 each. Pick up your copy(s) from the WWC. The cookbooks make great graduation, wedding, new home and Christmas gifts and money collected goes toward missions.Christmas Sock Tree - The HIS UMW Group is collecting socks, mittens, gloves, and scarves for men, women and children. These will be donated to Open Door and Damascus Way. Place items on the “sock tree” or the marked container in the Fellowship Hall by this Sunday, December 11. We invite the congregation to participate in our efforts to provide warmth this winter to folks in need.

nEEdEd volUntEErsBelow is a list of key positions for Sunday schoolandSundayservicethatneedfilling.Ifyou feel led to volunteer, please contact the churchofficeandwewill trainyouandaddyou to the schedule. There are also positions available on our 2017 Leadership List.9 a.m. Acolytes: 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays9 a.m. Ushers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Sundays Children’s Sunday School Teachers: 3rd, 4th and 5th SundaysFinancial Counter: 4th SundayTurn Key: 1st and 5th Sundays

EpWorth prayEr listChurch FamilyKristi Miller Blount King Gladys Plant Trudy Harris Vanessa DeSoto Betty Sawyer Thrower Family Kittye Crockett Sibyl Wells Keri McElvey Jan Shackelford Helen PharrisFred & Emilie Carswell Spencer Family Judy Scanling Scott & Sheila Dunn Barbara Watson Doug Franks Annette Tate Faircloth FamilySue Vining Susan Dunn Elsie Spanogians

Extended Church Family Steve & Carol Guilbeault Michael Taff David Olson Doyle Adams Dotty Baker Ricky Clark Robbins Family Andrew WadeDr. Drew Williams Laurie Osteen Jayce Foster Preston Silvernail Dora Spires Willie Ryles Judy Patterson Brian Tench Shirley Mann Cassie Prochaska Billy Hill Ken Green Kim Jordan Charlie Rolling Clyde Hutto Kristy StierDorothy Ogg Susan Simpson Elaine Miller Bruce Chapman Joyce Kuester Marilyn Buck Danny Chidester Jim & Marian YoungTyrone Mims Stephanie Bryan Glen Horace Daniel Pearce Family Ralph & Sandy McGough Bill & Pat Waldo Joseph McKey Henry Dunn Robin Grantham Diane Wiggins Jim Wetherington

Nursing Homes/Homebound Covenant Woods - Nelle Lloyd River Towne Center - Jerry WilliamsMagnolia Manor - Doris Halouska Phenix City Health Care - Anne Whitehurst Manor House - Doris Toney, Savannah Grand - Linda Coleman Cammie Van Over Wesley Glen (Byron, GA) - Nancy Hiller

(Please continue to pray for our homebound folks. They would love a visit.)

If the prayer list needs to be updated, please call, email the church office

or leave a note with updates. Help us minister effectively by

calling the church office about yourself or a family member. Thank you for your help.

Poinsettias for Loved Ones

In Memory Of: Given By:Rose McNure and Moses McNure Rosemary DiSimoneLloyd & Irene Britton Becky BrittonTommy Britton Becky BrittonCara Vola & Edd Paulk Rev. Tim & Betty PaulkThomas Lamar Rodgers Rev. Tim & Betty PaulkGambill Family Carolyn GambillHugh & Mary Nell Oliver Marguerite HayMary Conklin The ConklinsMary & Pope Holliday Kay & Gabe DenesMike Holliday Kay & Gabe Denes

In Honor Of: Given By:Dawn Wilson Hayden and Kaysen WilsonAnne Wilson Millard & Dawn Wilson

The plants will be placed in the sanctuary through Christmas Eve. You are encouraged to pick up your poinsettias after one of the Christmas Eve services.