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August 3
Limitless
Renewal
Rev. Hudson
Communion
August 10
Limitless
Refreshment
Dr. McConnell
Rev Up for
Fall
Small Groups
August 17
Limitless
Revival
Dr. McConnell
August 24
Limitless Strength
Rev. Hudson
August 31
Limitless
Peace
Dr. McConnell
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Birthdays
1
Ray Westerlage
1
Austin Barner
1
Nicholas Edwards
2
John Buchanan
2
Todd Byrd
4
Helen Moran
4
David Pirlot
4 Wonyean Gaye
4 Noah
Hammett
5
Paige Hammett
5
Daniel Jones
6
Anders Dickerson
8
Jane Kennedy
8
Randy Tahsler
8
Reed Goodwin
9
Dan Wolfram
11 Brad
West
11
Michael Dembski
11 Joel Guske
12 Peter
Sullivan
12 Lynne
Segars
14 Dave Boyenga
14 Sally
Tinsley
14
Kristy Sneeden
14 Wendi
Shreiner
15 Kathy
Wolfram
17
Debbie Bussart
17
Christy Thomas
17 Ella
Starnes
18 David
Brentzel
18 Brady
John
19 Don
Fifield
20 Grant
Ramsay
20 Grant
Thomas
21 Paul
West
21
Elizabeth Ramsay
22
Connie Scott
23 Paul
Denison
23 Karl Tousett
23 Mike
Hays
23
Jessica Welborn
24 Kevin
Wang
24
Parker Morris
24 Renske Strydom
25 Sally
Stebbins
25
Chelsea Darling
27 Merrilyn Burke
27
Anderson Taylor
28 Tanya
Rizk
28 Beth
Crump
29 Jim Huckaby
29 Joe Arcuragi
29
Reston Goodwin
30 Liam
McConnell
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2
Robert & Erica
Jansen
3
Stan & Merrilee
Morris
5
Mike & Jennie Adams
5
Jack & Cathy Clark
5
Hal & Ellen Parkerson
5
Steve & Kathryn Todd
7
Lee & Nancy Smith
10 Stan
& Flo Sharp
10 Lewis
& Myrall
Wiggins
11
Jonathon & Rosie
Jeffries
11 Roger
& Suzanne
Yates
12 Karl
& Sharon
Melcher
14 Harry
& Merrilyn
Burke
14 Lee
& Hayley Nagel
14 Stan
& Judy
Parkinson
15 Todd
& Shirley Byrd
15 Tom
& Sara Dilworth
15 Dan
& Jo Ann Kiser
15 Kevin
& Christi
Laverty
16 Dick
& Cathy
DuBose
19 Rod
& Karen Clark
20
Matthew & Jamie
Ryder
24 Brian
& Candice
Sherlock
25 Richard
& Elaine
Crock
26 Cliff
& Barbara
Lowery
27 Barry
& Beth Gannon
27
William & Cindy
Moran
29 John
& Janie Bunch
31 Tom
& Jane Baskin
31 Pat
& Leila Ramsay
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August 3
9:00
Dick & Cathy
DuBose
Debbie Taylor
11:15
Jim &
Debbie Bussart
Ray & Judy
Westerlage
August 10
9:00
Piet &
Ester Strydom
Valerie Mote
11:15
Dan & Jo
Ann Kiser
Scott &
Angie Wessner
August 17
9:00
Scott &
Michelle
Baumann
Leslie Michael
11:15
Frank & Jo
Byrd
Joel &
Jill Guske
August 24
9:00
Sara Dilworth
Adrienne Riga
Jay Oliver
11:15
Eric &
Alison Horton
Tommy Nickles
August 31
9:00
Helen Hvizdak
Sharon Melcher
11:15
Ellen
Parkerson
Gail Sorrells
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Christian Sympathy
is expressed to . . .
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Abigail
McConnell's and family in the loss of her grandmother, Gladys
Blevins.
Judy Parkinson
and family in the loss of her brother, Bill Coleman.
Connie
Weems-Scott and family in the loss of her sister, Nancy Drake.
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Dear
Eastminster Church Famiy,
Thank you for
all your prayers and cards during my father's illness and recent
passing. It is comforting to have such a supportive church family.
Fondly,
Suzanne Edmond
and Family
My daughters and
I want to thank all of our caring church families, which includes
our awesome and loving staff for such support that you have shown
during my wrists surgery. I truly appreciated all the cards, calls,
meals, visits, and prayers as they really helped me to recover. We
pray for many blessings for all of you.
Love,
Pat Provan
and Families
In the past
year and a half, I have lost 5 family members, three siblings and
two of their spouses. The last two were in the last 30 days. Through
all of this, it gave me great comfort to have each of the five on
our church's prayer list. Just knowing that there were so many
prayers in their behalf, helped inspire the courage needed to
continue. Many thanks to you, my church family.
Judy Parkinson
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Thank you to
all who participated in our "Day of Service" Saturday,
July 12th. We had 23 to participate, all ages, and completed
such a large volume of projects; hats/mittens/scarves for M.U.S.T. and
our W.VA mission, baby blankets, stuffed fabric animals and fleece
blankets for our W.VA mission, pet beds for animal shelters and
pillow cases for our soldiers overseas. What a fun day of
fellowship while working "together in service" on much
needed mission projects!
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Limited Vacation, Limitless God
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Relying On The Only Thing That Never Runs Out
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On nearly
every vacation I've ever taken, I wait until the last moment to pack
my things for the trip back home. There's something sad about
placing all the vacation things - the casual clothes, books,
magazines, chargers, movies, sunscreen, beach towels, sandals -
back into the suitcase. That melancholy feeling only grows worse
when you zip it closed and carry it down to the car. And even if it
was the best vacation ever, there's always a
sadness when you begin your journey back to your
"normal" life. For some of us, there's a sort of dread.
This isn't because life back home is terrible, but because our
normal lives are more than a little busy, hectic, overscheduled and
overwhelming. Vacations are great because we get to take a break
from the exhausting pace of our suburban lives - the only place our
kids need to be is at the beach, the only meetings take place in
the sand, and our commute has more to do with the tides than
traffic.
So whether you
have kids heading back to school or you're returning home after a
wonderful getaway, most of us feel the same way on the way home: that
ended way too soon. Yes, vacations allow us to get away from our
overloaded schedules and hectic routines for a time, but they never
quite provide us with that deep rest and renewal that we desire so
deeply. Although some of our exhaustion is lifted, our hearts are
still fundamentally weary. See, even when we follow God's command
to rest in our lives, our busy seasons keep claiming more and more
of our year and commandeering more and more of our time and energy.
With school starting so early and sports requiring so much, our
world seems especially prone to loading us down with more than we
can handle.
Faced with the
responsibilities around us, it's hard to ignore the reality that
all of us have our limits. We aren't strong or wise or patient
enough to handle the pressures of this life on our own. We can only
go so far. But the Good News of the Gospel is that our Lord has
promised us access to His limitless nature, which directly remedies
our frustrations and tendency to try and make it on our own. Unlike
us, His strength and life-giving support is without limits. In a
relationship with Him, we are renewed, refreshed, revived and
strengthened through an eternal source that never runs out. The
weariness we feel in our lives isn't a sign of God's absence, but
our ignorance of the connection we have been given in Jesus Christ.
As summer ends and our lives get back to "normal", come
to worship this August and hear how the limitless nature of our God
has been opened to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Amen!
Rev. Blake
Hudson
Associate
Pastor
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August Calendar
Saturday August 9, 6-9 AM: Mystery Morning
This is our
fun way of welcoming the new sixth graders to youth group! After
breaking up into teams, we go and "kidnap" the unsuspecting
youth and take them to breakfast at IHOP on Johnson Ferry
Road. This is a joyful event and the more the
merrier, so if your youth can help, let me know!
Sunday August
10: Rev Up For Fall/ Youth Kick-off
10 AM: Christian Life Training
2
PM: Parents Meeting In Youth Room
4-7 PM: Youth Group All Grades (2nd Annual Color
Games!!!)
7-8:30
PM: High School Coffee/Ice Cream Outing
(Bring a change of clothes)
Sunday August
17: First "Regular" Youth Group
4:15-5:30: Middle School Youth
5:30-6:00:
Dinner
6:00-7:30:
High School Youth
Sunday August
31: Regular Youth
4:15-5:30: Middle School Youth
5:30-6:00: Dinner
6:00-7:30:
High School Youth
Youth
Reminders
Sunday morning classes meet in three different places beginning on August
11...
6th-7th Grade Sunday School, Room 207
8th
Grade/Confirmation Class, Room 203
High
School Sunday School, Youth Room
Wednesday Night Bible Study begins on Wednesday, September 3...
5 PM: Pre-Dinner Fellowship, Youth Room,
6 PM: Wednesday Night Dinner, CLC
7
PM: Bible Study
Girls, Youth room
Boys, Room 203
Youth Group meets Sunday nights...
Middle School Youth, 4:15-5:30 PM
Dinner,
5:30-6:00 PM
High
School Youth, 6:00-7:15 PM
Confirmation
Update
Eastminster
Presbyterian Church is delighted to present a yearlong Confirmation
Program for our youth! Open to any and every Eighth Grade Youth,
this is a comprehensive program designed to help youth take those
first steps of faith, and if desired, to join the church as a full
member in the spring of 2015. In addition to meeting every Sunday
during the Christian Life Training in Room 203, we will also have
special activities outside of Sunday morning throughout the year.
If your family is interested, please contact Rev. J. Blake Hudson
at the church office blake.hudson@epres.org.
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Fall Retreat at Sharptop
Cove
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Dates: August 22-24, 2014
(Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon)
Ages: Current 5th-11th graders
Cost: $165; (the price increases to $180 August
12)
Spots are essentially unlimited,
but note the price differences!
How To Sign
Up: Send me an email or text as soon as possible and send in your
check. blake.hudson@epres.org.
Over the past
two years, we were invited to a youth ministry kick-off at Sharptop Cove in Jasper, GA with other churches
from the Cobb County/West Georgia area. This is a weekend full of
passionate worship, small group Bible studies, crowded cabins and
an entire afternoon playing on the amazing things Sharptop Cove offers (they have a
"blob", zip lines, slides, giant swing, climbing wall,
and tons of open space).
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The Standing Congregational Nomination Team
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The Standing
Congregational Nomination Team is having the Officer Nomination
Form placed in the bulletin during the month of August for use by the
Congregation to present names for the office of ELDER, DEACON,
TRUSEE and NOMINATING TEAM to the Team. Please read the cited
Scriptures and carefully read the form before providing the Team
with names that you feel are called to SERVE and would make good
officers.
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"Rev Up For Fall" will be on Sunday, August
10. Come join us in the Fellowship Hall from 10-11am for
food, fellowship and information booths representing all of the
different ministry teams in the church. This is your chance to find
out everything you ever wanted to know about all of the various ministries
at Eastminster and to sign-up for classes, Bible studies, choirs,
youth group activities, Men's and Women's Ministry, etc. Children
should join their parents in Fellowship Hall from 10-10:30am to get
some food and check out all of the booths, but then from
10:30-11am, the children will be dismissed to go to their new Fall
Christian Life Training classes to meet their teachers and fill out
registration cards, etc. Adult Christian Life Training classes will
begin the following Sunday, August 17.
Fall Training for all teachers of Christian Life Training classes as well as Youth
Ministry Leaders/Volunteers will be on Sunday, September 7, from
2-4pm in CLC Room 208. Please mark your calendars and plan to
attend.
Wednesday Night Dinners as well as all of our Wednesday evening programs
(Adult classes, Youth Bible studies and the Children's SLAM
program) will start back up for the Fall on Wednesday, September 3.
Thanks to JC Russell and Matthew Gramling, our two interns, for their faithful service this summer
to the children, youth, and adults here at Eastminster. Matthew
will resume his studies at Princeton Theological Seminary this fall
and JC will be starting the Bachelor of Divinity program at Mid
America Seminary in January.
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Building Use
Requests
A friendly
reminder from Building & Grounds that Building Use Requests
(and AV forms if needed) are required to reserve church facilities
for all groups, including groups within EPC. The forms can be
found in the B&G box in the usher's closet or in the church
office. Thank you!
Are You the
Parent of College Students?
If you are the
parent of a college-bound student this fall, the Nurture Team needs
their address. We like to send notes of encouragement and treats a
few times during the school year, but we need your help. Please
send your child's name and address for the 2014/15 school year to beth.hartt@gmail.com.
Attention
Mature Single Ladies
The Widow
to Widow ministry is expanding to include single mature women in
the congregation that would like to attend social events together.
If you would like to join in on the fellowship and fun,
please join us at our next planning meeting on Saturday, August 2nd
at 3 p.m. in the Parlor. Contact Jeanne Chesser with any questions 404-374-2381 or jachesserga@gmail.com.
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Kevin Melcher,
a member of EPC's youth group and local Boy Scout Troop 565, is
starting his Eagle Project, a fire ring behind the church for the youth
group, cook outs, and any other events the church might need it
for. One critical part of this process is the fundraising. If you
are interested in supporting this project, please submit your check
to Eastminster and include "Kevin Melcher Eagle Project"
on the memo line. Thank you so much for your support!
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Blessings In A
Backpack Mission
Did you know
that there are children in Cobb County who do not have enough to
eat? Students who are provided free breakfast and lunch at school face
a weekend of hunger. We are almost ready to begin another
school year, and Eastminster's local
mission which helps to provide food for
needy children is ready to go! We partner with Grace Pointe
Church in Marietta to provide food for the weekend for needy
children in Cobb County. Food will be collected throughout the
month and delivered the last weekend of each month. Bins will
be placed in the Narthex and the lobby of the CLC building for
donations beginning in August. The following types of food are
needed: cheese crackers (no peanut butter due to food
allergies), granola bars. Mac n Cheese, juice boxes, fruit
cups/fruit chews, individual cereal boxes, Any non-perishable
snacks that will fit in a backpack. Please join us in this
mission opportunity. Please contact Dick and Cathy DuBose at mtns2beach@bellsouth.net if you have any
questions.
Hands of Hope
Mission
The Mission of
Hands of Hope is to provide a pathway of hope by building
relationships and reaching out to others with the love of
Jesus Christ in McDowell County West Virginia. Eastminster Mission
Teams travel as the "hands and feet of Christ" to this
impoverished area in the Appalachian Mountains twice a year.
We have just
learned that several of the still operating mines are closing which
will lay-off approximately 560 workers starting in August. This
will have a major impact on the already poor economy and residents
of McDowell County. It will be a hard Christmas and winter in the
mountains.
The EPC
Mission Team will travel to West Virginia on October 23,24,25,26
this fall. Please follow the information in the church bulletin for
types of donations needed.
The Eastminster
Teams participate in programs that foster building relationships
and bringing hope and purpose to the lives of the people of
McDowell County We provide and participate in Women's
programs, Children's programs, home repair projects, food programs,
and visits to the Hollers to provide food boxes and lunch bags. The
diaper fund is another ongoing project. Thanks to the
congregation's financial support we have been able to supply an
awesome 18 cases of diapers as needed since February.
If you would
like to join the Mission Team for October: please
contact Suzie or Norm Baur, EPC
Coordinators for Hands of Hope, at ladybug112@bellsouth.net, nbaur@bellsouth.net or
770-321-0188.
In April a Hands of Hope Support Team was formed which
provided baked goods, craft project assistance, and much more prior
to the trip. Their participation was a very valuable support and
help for the Mission Team! The donations, prayer and
financial support provided by church members are an essential part
of this mission! We thank you so much for your continued support
and generosity for Hands of Hope.
"If you want to see God, walk among the broken
and the beaten, the unattractive and forgotten - there you will see
Him."
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Ladies Night
Out
Ladies, save
the date for our kick off Ladies Night Out. Monday August 11th, we
will gather in the CLC at 7pm for a great time of fellowship, some yummy
desserts and an overview of the year's Bible studies, circles,
small groups, missions and ways to go deeper in our walk with
Christ. So plan to join us, you don't want to miss it!
Craft Circle
Craft Circle
will NOT meet for August on our normal 2nd Monday. Please
join us in September to complete all projects in the works before
beginning a new mission project in
October.
Sonflower Sisters
Get Ready for
a new year with the Sonflower Sisters!
Are you a mom
with an elementary-age daughter(s)? A new year of Sonflower Sisters activities is getting ready
to kick off, and we'd love to see you there! Our first
meeting will be Friday, September 5th at 7 p.m. Mark you calendars and watch your email and the
church bulletin for details. It's going to be a great year
filled with fun and service. If you have any questions,
please contact Beth Hartt at beth.hartt@gmail.com.
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Here is the
perfect opportunity to get an early jump on your Fall and Christmas
sales. If you are planning to have a booth at this year's Fall
Festival, you need to get your registration submitted early.
We will have up to 15 booths available and they will be assigned on
a first come, first served basis. Pick up a form at the
church office or email Sally Brentzel at s.brentzel@comcast.net.
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Session Meeting Highlights
July 2014
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Session
received the following new covenant partners: Richard & Lara Atalla, Suzanne Bryan, David & Liza
Clifton, Kimber Delgado, Laura DuBose, Mary Lindsay Grady, and
Steve Todd.
Session
acknowledged with sadness the passing of Marge Thomson on June 19,
2014.
Session
approved the baptism of Jensen Guske, son
of members Joel & Jill Guske, on
August 3, 2014, at the 9am service.
Session
approved a Kenya mission trip in 2015. The approximate dates are
May 27-June 12; the approximate cost is $2900 (plus $900 for the
optional safari) for a maximum of 18 missionaries.
Session
approved conducting monthly visits to 7 Bridges to prepare and hand
out food parcels to the poor and homeless.
Session
approved four distributions from the Barnabas fund to members in
need.
Session
approved the hiring of Bryan Bontrager as
a part-time Campus Ministry Intern for The Journey at KSU. At 25 hrs/week, the
position is not eligible for benefits. Bryan will be responsible
for raising the funds necessary to pay his salary.
The next ECO
Synod Meeting will be held Monday, August 18, 2014, in Dallas
Texas.
The next
Stated Session Meeting will be Thursday, August 21, 2014, at 7:30pm
in Room 204.
Respectfully
submitted,
Diane L. Brock
Clerk of
Session
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Faithful 50 Campaign
- The Journey KSU
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This summer
there are parades of new students touring campus while clutching
bright yellow bags from the KSU bookstore as they journey through Orientation,
registering for classes, learning about the different programs and
opportunities that KSU provides them with,
meet their roommates, learn about student life, and more. During
the tour, registered student groups gather to represent their
organization and recruit new students for their organization. The
Journey has attended every one of these events, called Orientation
Tailgates, so far this summer. We've connected with approx. 500+
incoming freshmen so far, and we have a few more to go. We anticipate
that will result in approx. 150-200 students attending our annual
Fall Kickoff BBQ and Concert on August 18th.
Joining a
Christian ministry is the last thing many of these young adults are
looking for. They want fun and laughter, parties, new experiences,
romance, and success. They want the ever-mysterious and hard to
define "good life."
The world tells these young adults that life is found in copious
amounts of alcohol, sex, conquest, and self-centered relationships
with beautiful and successful people.
You and I know
this is a lie. It's full of lies, actually. The truth about this is
substance abuse is a self-medicating escape from a painful reality.
And the people who live there are running from something. The
parties, sex, conquest, and self-centered life are nothing better
than the neon signs hanging over the casinos and brothels of the
world, promising fulfillment... for now.
Christ died so that we really could live the "good life",
not a "good for now" life. Because of that, our students
are giving their all to meet the next class with the truth, and
grace, of this good life found in Christ. They are faithfully
seeking to make real, solid, and growing connections with at least
50 new students this year. They need your help; this ministry is on
the front lines of discipleship with the next generation. Turn on
the news. Read a newspaper. Scroll through your facebook
feed. It'll take you less than :60 seconds
to realize this world needs Christ. These young adults are trying,
with all their might, to usher Him onto this campus.
If you're in a position to do so, I'm asking for your support. We
need 50 people to be as faithful as these young adults, and pledge
$50/month above and beyond their tithe to the church. This simple
goal provides us with $2,500/month, or $30k/year. This is an
investment in the next generation.
Pledge now: thejourneyKSU.org/give.
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The third
Saturday is suggested to be set aside by the
participants of Suppers of Eight.
For those who are not
acquainted with this program,
it is a wonderful way to meet and get to know other members or
visitors. Participants spend one evening in September, October and
November with three other couples. Each couple brings one food
course to help the host family with the meal! Singles are welcome
to sign-up also. Please complete the form below and mail to the
church, place in the offering plate, or call Reta
Frew at 770-955-0588. The deadline to sign up is August 16.
Name:_______________________________________
Phone:
______________________________________
Address:_____________________________________
Please
indicate here if you wish to participate only as an alternate (on a
periodic basis if a primary participant is not available). ___
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Eastminster Presbyterian Church
info@epres.org | www.epres.org
3125 Sewell Mill Rd, Marietta, GA 30062
770-977-2976
Rev. Dr. Timothy P. McConnell, Senior Pastor
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