Dear Eastminster Family,

Let me use this space to mention four important Items of interest.

General Assembly follow-up discussion to take place at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, August 10. Actions taken by the recent General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. have generated quite a stir. As your pastor, I need to do my best to interpret these actions, to share my

own reflections, and to try to answer your questions. Please join me in the Christian Life Center, rooms 271-275, on Sunday, August 10 for this discussion. We will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.

Thank you and Godspeed to Jeff Smith, Mele Baize, and Carol Sutton. These three dedicated Eastminster staff members are making transitions. After 14 years lead-ing the Eastminster Day School, Mele Baize has accepted the director position at the Lake Murray Presbyterian Day School in Chapin. A reception thanking Mele for her service will take place Friday, August 8, from 11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. in Thompson Hall. Current and previous Day School parents and students are welcome to attend. Carol Sutton, who serves as Administrative Assistant to the Senior Pastor, is retiring after 15 years at Eastminster. Carol has been a great help to me, even as she has also assisted with ministry ranging from baptism scheduling to making sure Session re-cords are kept in ways that are decent and in order. Carol will be honored at a lunch on Monday, August 4. Finally, as you know, the Rev. Jeff Smith has been called to serve as Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian in Boone, NC. A reception honoring Jeff, Angela and family will take place after worship July on 27.

Rally Day, August 17. Yes, it’s time to start planning for Rally Day! Sunday, Au-gust 1700, is the day we will resume our usual schedule with three worship services and Sunday school classes for all ages. While some usual components of Rally Day, such as the congregational meal, will be delayed until the sanctuary is reopened for worship, August 17 is the day. As you will begin seeing shortly, our theme for this year will be “We are the Body.”

Sanctuary Renovation. A four-minute video update can be found by visiting east-minsterpres.org, then clicking on “Construction Updates” in the lower right corner. The asbestos removal from the side rooms in the sanctuary building is underway. While it is the right course, our decision to undertake the asbestos abatement has added both time and cost to the project. Beyond that, Mashburn Construction has kept the project on track, and we are scheduled to return to the sanctuary in October.

In joy,

Brad

EastminstEr UpdatE

Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina

Volume 38 Number 24 July 20, 2014

803-256-1654 / www.eastminsterpres.org

STAFF

Dr. Bradley D. SmithPastor

Dr. Mark E. DurrettAssociate Pastor

Rev. Lynn A. GrandsireAssociate Pastor

Rev. Jeffrey S. SmithAssociate Pastor

Dr. James I. St. JohnParish Associate

Rev. Jonathan S. WagnerAssociate Pastor

Mr. Croskeys RoyallDirector of Children’s Ministries

Mrs. Fredna LeeDirector of Music Ministries

Mrs. Mele BaizeDay School Director

Mr. William L. Collins, Jr.Business Manager

Ms. Julie McDanielService Coordinator

Our Missionaries:

Rev. & Mrs. Donald Marsden-Virginia/Russia

Steven & Natalie Hall - Alaska

Sarah Snapp - Bolivia

Rev. John McCall - Taiwan

Steve & Kathy Amar - Virginia/Muslims in the US

George & Anne Harper - Philippines

Cindy Correll - Port au Prince, Haiti

Dr. John and Gwenda Fletcher - Congo

Sunday, July 2010:00 a.m. Jubilee10:15 a.m. - Gym

Walking Through Galations 8Rev. lynn a. Grandsire

“Is Freedom Free?”Galatians 4:21-5:1

From WildernessTo Wonder

Exodus For FollowersOf Jesus

For our loved ones . . .In memory of Walter Hayden, given by M/M J. Michael

Ash, Wayne & Jacquie Corley, Dr. & Mrs. Jerry C. Langley, Joyce B. Wise & Jennifer, Phil & Beth Wilson, Ann & An-drew Cameron, Frank & Emily Windham, Ed, Joann & Myra Burrell, Patti & Andy Tuite, Lucie & Bob Eggleston, Gus & Kim Dixon, Richard Demarest, John Pritchett, Marit Bobo.

In memory of Virginia McCracken, given by Ann G. Dun-can, Wayne & Jacquie Corley, Wray & Loretta Sercy, Martha & Harvey Studstill, Nancy & Boyd Scott, Patti & Andy Tuite, Lucie & Bob Eggleston, Ethel McCants Lowder, Russell & Gail Jeter, Frank & Mackey Norris.

In memory of Toby Cassels, given by Ann G. Duncan, Wayne & Jackie Corley.

In memory of Jerry Foster, given by Ann G. Duncan, Mary & Billy Keenan, M/M Rodney R. Hull, Clare McLain McMa-han, M/M Cherry D. Stribling, Nancy & Boyd Scott, Timmy Dorn, Bill & Elaine Littlejohn, Lucie & Bob Eggleston, Jane Williams.

In memory of Bill Barron, given by Lucie & Bob Egg-leston, Dr. & Mrs. Hugh H. DuBose, Candytuff Garden Club.

In memory of W. R. McWilliams, given by Lucie & Bob Eggleston.

In memory of Marjorie Stands Wallace, given by William & Betty Strohecker, Richard Demarest.

In memory of Missy Boyd, given by Drs. Bud & Sally Klein.

In memory of Marnie Pearce, given by Dr. & Mrs. Hugh H. DuBose.

In honor of Cornelia & Leland Williams, given by Mrs. Ferrell Crowley.

peace Service - august 10, 5:00 p.M.The PEACE Service offers you a place to come away and

be quiet before the Lord. It is a service where we pray for all kinds of needs and celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. If you desire a quiet place of worship, join us at 5:00 p.m. in the Adult Reception Hall. During the summer if you will need childcare, please contact Croskeys (croyall@eastminsterpres.org).

columbia pastoral counseling centerPlease save the date for the Dinner and Silent Auction on

October 9 at 6:30 p.m. Full details will follow.

TRaNSITIONSEPC will prepare and serve dinner for the 200 residents

at Transitions Homeless Shelter on Thursday, August 21. Children as young as 10 are allowed to serve with their fam-ily. Each month we prepare pasta salad (recipe provided), homemade pound cakes and bananas. Our servers meet at the church at 4:30 and return by 6:30. Please contact Laura Long at laurapricelong@att.net to help. Thank you!

Want to Write an advent Devotional?Eastminster is currently accepting devotionals, written by

members, to be published in our yearly Advent Book. If you would like to write a devotional to be included in this year’s edition, please e-mail tcarter@eastminsterpres.org.

Thanksgiving Reception for Jeff SmithPlease join us on Sunday, July 27 immediately after 10:15

a.m. worship to thank and affirm Jeff, Angela, Brennan, and Lawson Smith for their service to Christ at Eastminster these past four years. The reception will take place on the second floor of the CLC, rooms 269-273.

peanut Butter Sunday, July 27Harvest Hope reminds us each summer that their food

supply cannot keep up with the demand. Check out your lo-cal grocer for their BOGO deals on peanut butter and other canned goods, and remember to pick them up while you are doing your weekly shopping and bring them to church with you.

Save Your Wednesdays for children’s choirsPlan ahead! Angel and Junior choirs will meet every

Wednesday beginning SepTember 3 FrOm 5:10-5:55 pm.

• ANgel ChOir – K5-grade 1, Room E-253 - Exciting news as a new director will be joining us soon. Keep watching for all the info.

• JuNiOr ChOir – Grades 2-6, Room E-255 - Fredna Lee will be directing this age group.

Israel Through the eyes of eastminsterMake plans to attend dinner and an Israel trip presenta-

tion on Wednesday, August 27, in Thompson Hall from 5:15 - 7:15 p.m. Hear from the trip participants who journeyed there in January 2014. Save the date!

New Members Joined June 29BRett and lauRa Bayne join, Brett by reaffirmation of faith and Laura by transfer of letter from Westminster Presbyterian in Colum-bia. They live in Blythewood on Lower Forest Court. Brett is an attorney for McAngus, Goudelock, and Courie,

and Laura is the director of communications with the South Carolina Public Charter School District.

Matt CoRnwell joins by reaf-firmation of faith. He and his wife, Sarah-Porter, who joined last fall, live on Woodrow Street, and he is a market-ing specialist with the SC Department of Agriculture.

will and BRandi elliSon join by reaffirmation of faith. They live on Northridge Road with their baby daughter, Isla. Will is a sales manager for Total Strength & Speed, and Brandi is director of policy for New Morning

Foundation.

BRian and SaRah FoRd join, Brian by reaffirmation of faith and Sarah by transfer of letter from First Presbyterian in Myrtle Beach. Brian is an assistant controller with the SC Education Lottery, and Sarah is a manager at First Citizens Bank. They live on Heyward Street.

eMily heRndon joins by reaffirma-tion of faith. She is a registered nurse with Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital and lives on Hampton Forest Drive.

Clay lovelaCe joins by transfer of

letter from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia. Clay is a project manager with Shealy Electrical. He lives with his wife, Staci, on Shady Lane and joins her and her mother Kathy Hymson at Eastminster.

BRad and apRil MCCRaRy join by transfer of letter from North-east Presbyterian Church. They live on King’s Grant Drive with their children Baylor, Avery, Brody and Ainsley. Brad is a radiologist with Pitts Radiology and April is a full-

time homemaker.

ed and Cynthia niCkS join by reaffirmation of faith. They live on Stratford Road. They join their daughter, Melissa and grandson, Jonas Lindsay at Eastminster

MiChael RaMa joins by reaffirma-tion of faith. He is a security consul-tant and lives on Sinkler Road with his wife, Sarah Monteith Rama, who is a member.

Cole SandeRS joins by reaffirma-tion of faith. She is a teacher in Lexington District 2 and lives on Shandon Place. She joins her sister and brother-in-law, Matt and Sarah-Porter Cornwell here.

Matt and CaRoline niCh-olS join by reaffirmation of faith. They live on Sylvan Drive. Matt is a partner in On Point Strategy, and Caroline is a recruiting manager with CEO, Inc.

Julia GlazeBRook tRippe joins by reaffirmation of faith. Julia is a nurse anesthetist with Pal-metto Health Richland and lives on Ravenwood Road with her husband Preston. She joins Preston and his

parents Paul and Phyllis at Eastminster.

Teachers 5K - 5th Grade - We Need You!We are currently recruiting teachers for the 5K, 1st, 2nd,

3rd and 5th grade classes. We will use a team approach this school year and need 5 to 6 teachers a class that will alter-nate teaching/assisting each week. Please note, this does not mean that you will need to be there each week, generally it is a commitment of two Sundays a month (although, if you

want to make that commitment, that would be great). If you have questions or are willing to teach one of these classes, please e-mail croyall@eastminsterpres.org.

Farewell party by Middle School YouthThe middle school stu-

dents surprised Jeff Smith with a “surprise” party dur-ing their July 7 - 11 in-house mission week. The youth served Christ Central Min-istries, St. Lawrence Place, Jubilee Academy, Harvest Hope Food Bank and Thorn-well Home in Clinton.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church3200 Trenholm RoadColumbia, South Carolina 29204

Update for July 20, 2014

Nonprofit Org.US POSTAGE

PAIDColumbia, SC

PERMIT No. 27

Prayer ConcernsEPC Prayer ListPart of what it means to be a Family of Faith is to be in prayer for one another. Contact the church office at 256-1654 to be included on this Prayer List.

EPC Special ConcernsBoots Fuller, Remer Waguespack, Bill McInnis, Dave Steven, and those serving in our military, Stephen Ministers and their care receivers, and all those in need of God’s special care.

On weekends a minister is on call. If you have a crisis which one of the ministers needs to know about, phone 256-1654 and leave a message. A minister will return your call.

Hospitalized this weekKatie Barthel

BirthsCongratulations and love to:

Katie & Aaron Barthel, on the birth of their son, Bowen Wil-liam Barthel, July 14, 2014.

Deadline for UPDATEDon’t miss out! Have your information to share with the congregation in to tcarter@eastminsterpres.org.our next newsletter will be august 17, 2014. please have your information in by wednesday, august 6.

Rally Day - August 17It’s Back! Rally Day will be on Sunday, August 17, with

the return of services at 9:00 and 11:15 am. New Sunday School classes begin, and our children move to their new classes. Keep watching for ALL THE NEWS!

Adopt-a-flower bed programCheryl Yates, Nelle Hol-

combe, Judy Small, and Sha-ron Derham have been weed-ing and edging the flower beds along the front walkway and around the Easminster sign. The maintenance staff have helped with mulching, watering and even pressure washing the steeple. Our goal is to make the outside look as good as the inside is going to look at the end of construction. There are many more beds to weed and edge! If you can help with this project, please call or e-mail Sharon Derham at 803-787-2690, or derham@earthlink.net

Stay Tuned . . . Information about the new Presbyterian hymnal entitled . . .

“Glory to God” coming in August.

Last Tailgate Sunday Schoolaugust 3 - 9:00 aM

Join us for our last relaxed Sunday school tailgate time on the front lawn this summer. The idea is for you to bring your own lawn chair and team up at one of our tailgate tents. We will have coffee, juice, and whatever our tailgate friends decide to bring. Our hope is for us to get to know one another better and to share how God is at work in our lives. There’s no curriculum, just fellowship and intentional time of being together. Please dress casual and invite your friends!