EastminstEr UpdatE

Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina

Volume 37 Number 17 May 5, 2013

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

Mr. William L. Collins, Jr.Business Administrator

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

SuNdAy, MAy 5

9:00 & 11:15 a.m. - Sanctuary

11:15 a.m. Jubilee

Rev. Jeffrey S. Smith

“Witness of the Light”

John 1:1-16, Matthew 5:13-16

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit

on all people.

Your sons and daughters will

prophesy, your young men will see

VISIonS

your old men will dream

dreamS

a C T S 2 : 1 7

Dear Eastminster Family,

Thank you to all of you who were involved with and attended the “To-

ward 2020” lunch yesterday after worship. The enthusiasm and good spirit were evident, and I am encouraged by the initial commitments some of you have made to update and upgrade Eastminster’s facilities. This church is uniquely positioned to touch lives literally from “cradle to grave,” and I hope

you will join me in praying that we will pull together as a church family to step boldly into the future to which God is calling us.

Noticing the rain yesterday, as we made our way from the sanctuary to lunch in the Chris-tian Life Center, I was thinking how nice it will be that, upon completion of this work, people using wheelchairs and walkers will no longer be forced to weather the elements to get from our sanctuary to other buildings on campus. Similarly, people will no longer have to navigate the gauntlet of steps to get from one building to another, or to use the restroom.

Looking back, I am struck by the selflessness of the elders of this church (both ruling elders and elders in age), who put others before themselves, building a Christian Life Center used by future generations, when they could have opted to address some of these accessibility issues years ago. Today, you and I have the opportunity to make Eastminster more welcoming for these people, even as our efforts will also positively impact future generations.

To be sure, the construction process will include some inconveniences. Our choirs will be temporarily relocated away from their homes in the sanctuary basement; alternate gyms will be needed to accommodate basketball season; and, of course, sanctuary worship will have to take place in the gym. As with generations past, we have the choice of grumbling at tempo-rary inconveniences, or like some of the men and women that have gone before us at East-minster, we can act selflessly for the greater good. Thank you for choosing the latter.

There is no better investment of resources than in the work of Jesus Christ, and I encour-age you to participate in this exciting effort. If you were not able to be here Sunday, or even if you were here but want to see the video again, visit www.eastminsterpres.org and click on the “Toward 2020” video link. Oh, and to see a glimpse of the future, be sure to join us this Sunday as our Middle School students lead us in worship.

In Christ’s joy,

Brad

Daily CalENDaRSuNdAy, MAy 5

8:00 Celebration Choir Rehearsal9:00 Worship & Children’s Church10:00 Sunday School Jubilee Band Practice Eastminster First Step10:05 Chancel Choir Rehearsal11:15 Worship & Children’s Church Jubilee Worship4:00 Blue & Gold Banquet Youth Band Practice5:30 Senior High Youth

MoNdAy, MAy 6

7:00 Men’s Prayer Breakfast9:00 Count Team Fifty Plus Exercise Class10:00 Senior Fitness2:00 Pastor’s Mtg.2:30 Program Staff Mtg.5:30 Yoga Fellowship Committee7:00 Sr. High Guy’s Bible Study

TuESdAy, MAy 7

9:00 Drop-In Nursery9:30 Staff Meeting10:00 Senior Fitness EPW Coordinating Team Savvy Seniors Planning Team11:45 Tuesday Lunch12:30 Visitation4:00 CHAMPS Tutoring5:00 Tai Chi Girls Volleyball5:30 Zumba6:00 Handbell Rehearsal 7:00 Zumba Fitness Scottish Country Dance WEdNESdAy, MAy 8

9:00 Fifty Plus Exercise Class Drop In Nursery9:30 Prayer Shawl Ministry9:30 EDS Chapel10:00 Shred 360 Event6:15 Crossroads Career7:15 Chancel Choir Rehearsal

THuRSdAy, MAy 9

9:00 Drop-In Nursery10:00 Senior Fitness4:00 CHAMPS Tutoring5:00 Yoga Girls Volleyball5:30 Zumba6:00 Scotland Rehearsals7:00 Zumba Fitness HS Girls Bible Study7:30 Jubilee Band Practice

FRIdAy, MAy 10

9:00 Fifty Plus Exercise Class Mother’s Day Tea11:00 Support Staff Mtg.6:00 Jesus Rocks Almost Lock-In

SATuRdAy, MAy 11

Vacation Bible School June 17 - 20, 2013!!CALLING ALL RISING 4K - 6 GRADERS! Join us June 17-June

20 from 9:00 a.m. - noon to retrace the journey of the Apostle Paul through Asia Minor and Europe. You can register with a paper registra-tion or on our website www.eastminsterpres.org, buT plEASE NoTE

THAT WE NEEd youR REgISTRATIoN pAyMENT by THE

MoRNINg oF JuNE 6 To FINAlIzE youR REgISTRATIoN. For $17.00 your child is registered and will receive a T-Shirt.

REMEMbER, if you want to volunteer, but have children younger than the ages for VBS, we will have our Drop-In Nursery open for you that week to take care of volunteer children.

Our VBS volunteer café will be open Mon.-Wed. of that week; the VBS closing event will be on Thursday evening, giving all parents and grandparents an opportunity to attend; information about the off-site actvities for the rising 5th and rising 6th graders coming soon. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JuNE 5!!! After this date, you are not guaranteed a T-Shirt or a

slot in VBS.

Day School Summer RegistrationEDS has added an additional classroom for the four-year-old class and school-age children

for this summer. If you are interested in enrolling your child at EDS during the summer, please stop by the Day School or call us at 771-1512. Summer registration packets are outside of the Day School office on the table.

Mother’s Day OfferingOn Sunday, May 12, churches across South Carolina will participate in the Mother’s Day

Offering for Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina. This special offering supports seniors who outlive their resources and depend on the generosity of others for their care. Thanks to the support of Presbyterian congregations and generous individuals, over $1.1 mil-lion in charitable care was provided last year by PCSC. Please consider participating in the special offering and making a difference in the lives of older adults who are counting on us! Please use your separate pledge envelopes marked Presbyterian Communities or write this of-fering name on the memo line of your check.

Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Work Trip to Elizabeth, NJ We have reserved 20 spots with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for the week of September

29-October 5, 2013, to help with Hurricane Sandy rebuilding. Mark Rosenberg will be the trip leader. We will be housed at First Church in Elizabeth, NJ, where we will be helping with cleanup of homes, home sites, local churches and with general home repairs and rebuilding. Cost is $180 plus helping with the gas for the round trip. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE AMOuNT GIVEN BEFORE. Contact Julie, (jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.org) with questions.

Shred 360 at EastminsterOn Wednesday, May 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Shred 360 truck will be in the

CLC parking lot accepting up to 5 boxes or bags of paper to be shredded. This event is open to the community and is a food drive for Harvest Hope Food Bank. When you come to shred, bring canned food to donate!

Pre-K Movie Night and Book Drive Coming! For families with kindergartners and younger (older sib-

lings welcome too!) Join us at the church (Courtyard yard or Thompson Hall if it rains) on May 3 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. for a family movie night. The feature film is “Wreck-It Ralph”

Pizza, popcorn, and juice boxes served. Event is FREE but please bring a couple of new or gently used children’s books

for our book drive. Questions? Please email Courtney at cpcurnias@yahoo.com.

CARE & CONCERN

EPC 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 ConcernsWalker Pearce, Boots Fuller, Remer Waguestack, Dr. Mary Tobin, those serv-ing in our military, Stephen Ministers & their care receivers and all those in need of God’s special care.

BirthsCongratulations and love to:

Sara & David Ellison, on the birth of their son, James David Ellison, April 24, 2013.

DeathsCongregational love and sympathy

are extended to:

Nelle Holcombe, on the death of her hus-band, Ross Holcombe, April 23, 2013.

Charlie Weston & Ellen Moore, on the death of his brother, Robert Weston, April 24, 2013.

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.

Deadline for UPDATEDon’t miss out! Send your informa-tion to share with the congregation to updates@eastminsterpres.org.Please have your information in by Wednesday, May 8, to be shared in our next newsletter on May 19, 2013.

Eastminster’s officers retreat was concluded on the night prior to the South Carolina-Georgia football game on Saturday. Senior Pastor, Brad Smith, a Georgia graduate and Bulldog supporter, asked someone to read the closing

scripture, Philippians chapter 3, It read, Beware of the dogs . . .

Did you know . . . ...Eastminster supports missionaries working in Alaska, Bolivia,

Taiwan, and the Philippines. We support a couple working in the Washington DC area with Muslims in the uS. In addition, we send

funds to Amazon Mission Fellowship, Nile Theological Seminary, Good Shepherd Hospital in the Congo and Bethel Evangelical Secondary School in Ethiopia. Our financial assistance also goes to the Medical Benevolence Foundation which sup-ports medical mission work in Africa, Haiti, Nicaragua and Southeast Asia. Your contributions help. Johnny Hudgens

May 26 - august 11, 10:00 a.M. Sanctuary & Jubilee

9:00 a.M. - sunday school(8:45 A. M. Gathering Fellowship)

Eastminster’s pastors will rotate teaching a combined Summer Sunday Class from 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. in the Adult Reception Hall from May 26 - August 11. It will be a “Theology 101” class using the book “Faith Seeking Understanding” by Daniel L. Migliore as the basis for the lessons. This mode was introduced as early as Augus-tine (354-430) the phrase from Augustine, “Faith seeks understanding. I do not seek to

understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand” has been articulated throughout the history of the church. Christian philosophers have traditionally sought to think Christianly by thinking in the mode of faith seeking understand-ing.

Jesus Rocks - May 10 Pizza! Games! Bible Study Blast! Movies! Popcorn! “Midnight” Basketball!

Bring $3.00 for pizza and wear sneakers. Parents, we need help in shifts for this

night. If you can help for the 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. shift or the 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. shift, please email Susie Horger at shorger@richlandone.org.

Friday, May 17— Church Closing at Noon!The church buildings and CLC will close at noon on Friday, May 17, so the Per-

sonnel Committee can recognize the staff with a luncheon in Thompson Hall and a well-deserved afternoon off! Please keep this in mind as you plan your meetings or errands to the church. Thank you for your cooperation. (Eastminster Day School will remain open. Parents may pick up their children using the CE building entrances.)

Presbyterian Women’s Circle Meetingcircle #1 - Monday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the parlor.circle #2 - Monday, May 13 at 10:30 a.m. 1659 Rosyln Dr., Laura Taylor.circle #3 - Monday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. 16 Heathwood Circle, Faye Jeffcoat.

circle #6 - Sunday, May 19 at 5:00 p.m. in C-265.circle #8 - Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the parlor.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church3200 Trenholm RoadColumbia, South Carolina 29204

update for May 5, 2013

Nonprofit Org.uS POSTAGE

PAIDColumbia, SC

PERMIT No. 27

SERViNg ON SUNDAy

May 5oFFICER’S pRAyER:

Elder Steve DraffindEACoNS: Matthew Burns, Myles Burns Deacon Peggy Spann (Jubilee) Elder Madison Dye (Jubilee)uSHERS: Bill Coggins, Randy LiggittgREETERS:

(9:00) Kim Andrews, Sara Davis Drew Richardson, Beth McInnis John & Agnes Asman(11:15) Dina Boorda George & Phyllis Beighley Nicole Lucas Sam & Liz AgeeINFANT RooM - ClC 119

(9:00) Todd & Cecilia Powell(11:15) Emily & Tim ThorntonToddlER RooM - ClC 117

(9:00) Patrick & Beth Moore(11:15) James & Julie Moss2-K RooM - ClC 115

(9:00) Joey & Nancy Derrick(11:15) Dean & Courtenay GivensCHIldREN’S CHuRCH 103 - 3K

(9:00) Doug & Tracy Stursburg(11:15) Mark & Christina RichardsonCHIldREN’S CHuRCH 105 - 4K

(9:00) Tommy & Missy Boggs(11:15) Brad & Jennie BradleyCHIldREN’S CHuRCH 107 - 5K

(9:00) Staff(11:15) Jennifer Davis

Sportsman’s Banquet - May 16The 2013 Annual Sportsman’s Banquet will be Thursday,

May 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in gym. Guest speaker is base-ball great and Sumter native, Bobby Richardson. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children (8 and under). If you have questions or need to purchase tickets, please contact Mary at 256-1654 / mbaldauf@eastminsterpres.org or email kit-

pound@earthlink.net. We will have exhibits from several conservation groups and SCDNR with a portion of the proceeds going to “Farmers and Hunters Feed-

ing the Hungry.” Grand prize is an Oyster Cooker!

Congratulations to our graduating High School SeniorsSumner Arbuckle, Caroline Besley, Robert Bradley, Coleman Bramlett,

Schroder Carlton, Makayla Chandler, Jeff DeVega, Warren Derrick, Hunter Fant, Lizzie Francis, Hugh Gailey, Tyler Garvin, Spencer Green, Bennett Hall, Fred Hanna, Jay Hill, Haynes Hill, Jack Hudgens, Nancy Jenkins, Annie Kemper, Afton Kitchens, Mary Anne Kleitches, Cate Mabry, Cecilia McDonald, William McElveen, Harriet McGowan, Guthrie McQueen, Ellie Moore, John Orlandini, Will Parks, Grace Plowden, Caroline Price, Will Reiland, Joe Roddey, Breeden Shockley, Jake Skeppstrom, Cam Stuckey, Collin Trenery, Sam ulmer, Alex Williams, Jordan Willis.

Would you Like Help with Lawn Care?Each summer volunteers help the church’s maintenance staff maintain the

campus grounds during the spring and summer growing season. If you would be interested in helping with this Lawn Care ministry, contact Kit Pound at 556-8746.

Weekly Newsletter Monthly During the SummerThe UPDATE will become monthly for the summer after the May 28 is-

sue. An issue will be published on June 23, July 21, and August 18 returning to weekly status. Deadline dates are as always, ten days before the publication date. We will remain in touch weekly over the summer with E-news. If we do not have your current e-mail address, please send it to the church to be included in our data base.