Dear Eastminster Family,

Embrace. Encourage. Engage. These three words are our theme for this year. Even as God embraces us in Jesus Christ, let us joyfully respond. Please note these seven opportunities:

Sunday, August 16- We return to our regular worship schedule

THIS Sunday, August 16! Sanctuary worship will be at 9:00 am and 11:15 am with a concurrent Jubilee service at 11:15am. (See page 2 for more infor-mation.)

Sunday, August 23- “Discovering the Bible.” New to Bible study? Start here! Join John Arnold and Mark Durrett for this year-long, interactive introduction to the entire Bible. Sign up with Julie at jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.org or just show up! 5:00-6:30 pm, E-351.

Wednesday, August 26- Small Groups Kick-off Dinner for returning participants and newcomers in the Gym, 5:15-7:00 pm. Contact Caroline at cbennett@eastminster-pres.org for information on facilitating or joining a group. Contact Anna at 256-1654 or abower@eastminsterpres.org to RSVP for the dinner. (See page 4 for more information.)

Sunday, August 30- Unveiling of Eastminster’s new visual identity. It’s time we em-brace a logo that comes to represent EPC. Come August 30 and see!

Wednesday, September 2- Join us for “Letters of Paul” led by Mark Durrett. Alpha and Small Groups will be meeting throughout the church.

Sunday, September 13- Celebration Day, Opportunity Fair, and Congregational Lunch. Join us in the gym immediately after worship to launch fall at EPC with a BBQ lunch and an Opportunity Fair. Contact Shelli at sknapp@eastminsterpres.org

to RSVP for lunch.

Sunday, September 20- Dr. John Frye Preaching. Long-time Eastminster Associ-ate Pastor will lead our Friday-Saturday Officer Retreat and will preach on Sunday morning.

See You Sunday,

EastminstEr UpdatE

Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina

Volume 39 Number 24 August 16, 2015

803-256-1654 / www.eastminsterpres.org

STAFFDr. Bradley D. Smith

Pastor

Dr. Mark E. DurrettAssociate Pastor

Rev. Lynn A. GrandsireAssociate Pastor

Dr. James I. St. JohnParish Associate

Mr. Croskeys RoyallDirector of Children’s Ministries

Mrs. Fredna LeeDirector of Music Ministries

Mrs. Elizabeth BowerEDS Director

Mr. William L. Collins, Jr.Business Manager

Ms. Julie McDanielMember Involvement Coordinator

SERMONSunday, auguSt 16

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

11:15 a.m. Jubilee

“What’s In Your

Viewfinder?”

dr. Brad Smith

Ephesians 5:15-20

We are the Body

SHARING HIS LIGHT1 COR. 12

EPC Lost & FoundMissing a pair of glasses? Umbrella?

Jacket?Contact Shelli Knapp at the church office

(sknapp@eastminstepres.org) to claim your

lost and found item.

Brad Sherrill’s “Apostle”“Apostle” is Brad Sherrill’s riveting new performance

based on Paul’s epic journey found in Acts along with many of Paul’s most inspirational letters. “Apostle” is also presented with a beautiful new multimedia design featuring original videography captured in 2015 by Brad’s team at various Paul sites throughout Turkey and Greece. Join us September 27-28.

New Confirmation Class BeginsEPC has twenty-three 9th-grade students that will begin

a year-long journey of confirmation on August 23. Please pray for these students as they learn about God, the church, serving, and what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ! During the year students will spend two weekends away learning and sharing. They will serve together on various mission projects and will spend much time in small groups learning, laughing, and praying! The class will be confirmed in April 2016.

Library Open HouseCome visit your EPC Library before or after the congrega-

tional lunch to check out our newest books, Bible studies and DVDs!

We have new selections in every category, from children to youth, from Christian fiction novels to the newest non-fiction writings by well-known authors. Many of the new releases are displayed on top of bookshelves for easy viewing. Take a look at some of our newest titles:

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk KiddChasing Sunsets by Karen KingsburyThe Third Target by Joel RosenbergThe Case for Grace by Lee StrobelWhat to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do by Dr. David JeremiahHosea by Jennifer Rothschild

Red Cross Blood DriveEastminster will be sponsoring a blood drive on Sunday

August 30 in the Christian Life Center gym. The Red Cross will be set up from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm to take your dona-tion. Please come and help up to four people with your donation. August is usually a critical time when donations are down due to vacations and the summer period.

Promotion Sunday August 16August 16 we will return to our regular schedule with ser-vices in the Sanctuary at 9:00 am and 11:15 am. The Jubilee service will begin at 11:15 am with all Sunday school classes meeting at 10:00 am. Children entering 3K pre-school through youth entering 12th grade will move to their new grade level for the school year.

Steve and Kathi Amar to lead Sunday School August 16!

Join us in Thompson Hall at 10:00 am on August 16 as Steve and Kathi Amar tell us of their ministry to American Muslims. Kathi and Steve are members of Christar (www.christar.org), an inter-denominational faith mission. During Steve’s Seminary training at Columbia International Univer-sity, he and Kathi attended Eastminster Presbyterian Church and thoroughly enjoyed its ministries. The Amars have been ministering to the Iranian population in the Washington, DC, area (which is believed to number as high as 250,000), since 2001.

TRANSITIONSEPC will prepare and serve dinner for the 200 residents at

Transitions Homeless Recovery Center on Thursday, August 20. Children as young as 10 are allowed to serve with their family. Make Transitions a family goal for the summer! Each month we take pasta salad (recipe provided), homemade pound cakes and bananas. Our servers meet at the church at 4:30 pm and return by 6:30 pm. Please contact Laura Long at

laurapricelong@att.net to help. Thank you!

Welcome Morgan MayPlease take a moment to welcome Morgan May, our new

Jubilee Worship Leader. Morgan is a student at USC ma-joring in English with a minor in Music and Vocal Per-formance. She has been working with the Jubilee band for several weeks and assumed the responsibilities of Worship Leader as of a few weeks ago.

Youth Basketball RegistrationRegistration for Eastminster Youth Basketball begins

August 15. If you have any questions, contact Bill Ketchin at the church office (803-256-1654) or by email (bketchin@eastminsterpres.org).

Youth Kick-off Celebrations, Sunday, August 30, 5:00-6:30 p.m.

High school youth will be at the home of Emma Barr, 4809 Clemson Avenue. Middle school youth will meet at the home of Coley Brown, 484 N. Kings Grant Drive. Remem-

ber to bring $5 for dinner.

Family Promise Returns September 6-13Family Promise is a ministry that serves homeless families

in our community. Our next opportunity to host them is the week of September 6-13. Yes, we will be hosting families on the Labor Day holiday! There are many volunteer opportu-nities, and all are family-friendly! Please contact Elizabeth Barber (ebarber77@gmail.com) or Lucy Corley (lcorley2@sc.rr.com) for any questions or sign up on the EPC website.

Memorial Gifts Supporting the Eastminster Endowment

In memory of Wade Hampton Oliver, given by Aimee & Michael Schraibman, Cathy & Marshall Ramsey, Debbie & Rick Boyer.

In memory of William W. Ketchin, Jr., given by George & Phyllis Beighley.

In memory of Julian J. Nexsen, given by John & Anna Welborn.

Memorial Gifts Supporting the Children’s Choir Fund

In memory of Wade Hampton Oliver, given by John &

Caroline Molter.

Key Card Access ChangesThe Key Card (FOB) Access System

for the church has been enhanced for the Christian Education Building with the addition of the Afterschool Program, which will begin August 17. An additional reader has been installed in the elevator. An indi-

vidual will use the reader once inside the elevator to go to the floor desired (much like hotels use for premium floors). This enhancement will improve safety and will only be active during the week when the EDS and Afterschool Program are in session.

Work Trip to New Orleans with RHINO!RHINO is an outreach program of St. Charles Avenue

Presbyterian Church which actively works to help New Orleans residents restore their lives both physically and spiritually through the service of nationwide partners. We’ll be working with them to renovate homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, and continue to serve those in need as God calls us to do. The trip is Sept. 21-26 . Contact Mark Rosenberg (803) 446-0003 for questions and Julie McDaniel jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.org to sign up.

ALL EPC MUSICAL GROUPS RESUMEREHEARSALS SEPTEMBER 1-3 IN THE SANCTUARY BASEMENT.Everyone is welcome to join any of the choirs or instrumen-tal groups at EPC. No auditions necessary!

Handbells Sr. High to Adult Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 Children’s Choirs K-5-5th Grade Wednesdays 5:15-6:00 Chancel Choir Sr. High to Adult Wednesdays 7:15-8:30Celebration Choir Sr. High to Adult Sundays 8:00-8:45Youth Choirs Middle & High School Sundays TBD

Cub ScoutsAll rising 1st - 5th grade boys are invited to be part

of Eastminster’s Pack 10 Cub Scouts. They meet on Sunday evenings at the church. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, please contact Jason Anders at janders115@sc.rr.com or call at (803) 467-7781.

HospitalsHal Lane - Richland

DeathsCongregational love and sympathy are extended to:

Lucy Carson on the death of her sister, Johanna Stadler Thomas, July 20.

Family of Sarah “Sally” Quantz Ellerbe, August 9.

BirthsCongratulations and love to:

Kyle & Katie Johnson on the birth of their daughter, Wallis Gray Johnson, born June 10. Sister Ella Johnson.

Mikell & Annie Scott on the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth (Liza) Ann Scott, born August 2.

Paul & Phyllis Trippe on the birth of their granddaugh-ter, Collins Montague Trippe, born August 4. Parents, Preston & Julia Trippe. 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 min-ister will return your call.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE & CONCERN

Small Groups Kick-Off DinnerDrawing close to one another. Drawing close to God.Wednesday, August 26, 5:15-7:00 pm in the CLC Gym$6/adult. $3/child 8 years and under. Childcare provided.Whether you’re currently in a Small Group or you are inter-ested in joining one, this celebration is for you!Dinner RSVP: Call Anna Bower, 256-1654.Small Group Info: Caroline Bennett at cbennett@eastmin-sterpres.org.

Regular Sunday School returns August 23All adult Sunday school classes meet from 10 to 11 am on

Sundays, August 23, 2015, through May 22, 2016. Signing up in advance isn’t necessary, just come! There is always room for more. Information on specific classes is available on the church website, or on brochures available through the church.

Fireside Class— CE Building, room 353Frank Harden Class—CE Building, room 350GIFT Class—CE Building, room 356HOPE Class—CLC rooms 269-271Ichthus/Disciples—CE Building, room 355JOY Class—CE Building, room 357Parenting Teens—CLC, rooms 273-275Solid Rock—CE Building, room 358Spiritual Discoveries—CE Building, room 351

Ted Haigler Class— CE Building, room 352

Eastminster Presbyterian Church3200 Trenholm RoadColumbia, South Carolina 29204

Update for August 16, 2015

Nonprofit Org.US POSTAGE

PAIDColumbia, SC

PERMIT No. 27

Deadline for UPDATEDon’t miss out! Send your information to share with the congregation to communications@eastminsterpres.org.Please have your information in by august 23rd for the September 13th update.

Regular Worship Times Resume this Sunday!Traditional Worship in Sanctuary at 9:00 & 11:15 am

Sunday School at 10:00 amJubilee Service in Thompson Hall at 11:15 am