EastminstEr UpdatE

Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina

Volume 37 Number 6 February 10, 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

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, FebruAry 10

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

11:15 a.m. Jubilee

dr. bradley d. Smith

“To Whom Do You Listen?”

Luke 9:28-36

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 Friends,

How fitting that as Eastminster celebrates its 65th birthday, and as we await our vision 2020 Coordinating Team report in early April, that I also tell you of an exciting plan to step forward to update the facilities of this campus, particularly the sanctuary.

The notes here are to help those of you that were not in worship to hear this yesterday. The good news is that those that have gone before us did a wonderful job building a high-quality resource center for ministry. The bad news is that our 57-year-old sanctuary needs some work. The other good news is that, by banding together, you and I can leave a legacy of our commit-ment to Jesus Christ for those who will follow!

1. The sanctuary heat and air systems are old and inefficient. The plan is to replace these sys-tems, as well as the supporting ductwork and electrical wiring.

2. A men’s bathroom near the sanctuary is needed, as is updating the women’s bathroom to make it ADA accessible. The plans call for a men’s restroom to be built immediately op-posite the women’s restroom, on the left as you leave the narthex, and before you get to the steps that lead to the Administration Building.

3. We need an elevator to help people get from the sanctuary level down to the Memorial Garden and the Thompson Hall walkway, and further down to the choir area. Adding an elevator in the parlor, where the closets are located, will make this possible.

4. Currently we have no covered drop-off for the sanctuary. A porte-cochere extending from the Nell Gunter Room entrance would enable family members to drive in undercover and drop people off in inclement weather.

5. We want to make the chancel design more consistent with our theology while also using that limited space in a more efficient manner. When the sanctuary was built, it was de-signed so that people’s eyes would be drawn to the communion table. However, when the pipe organ was added in 1988 that changed. When people enter the rear of the sanctuary today, what catches the eye is not the communion table, but the stained-glass window and the organ pipes. Our understanding of God’s Word and of reformed theology tell us that the three most important pieces of furniture in our sanctuary should be the pulpit, from which God’s word is proclaimed, the baptismal font where we are reminded in a tangible way of God’s covenant promise, and the communion table, which reminds us of our Lord breaking bread with his disciples in that most intimate meal. Unfortunately, however, our table is at the furthest, most distant point from the congregation and, because it is nearly against the wall more people call it an altar than a communion table. Only we Presbyterians do not have altars! Imagine the table, not back there, but brought forward, enabling us to see one another’s eyes as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. To do this, a small semi-circular addition, on which the baptismal font will sit, will be added to the front edge of the chancel. The communion table will sit where the font is currently, with a modesty rail behind the communion table and the choir sitting behind the modesty rail, facing the congregation. This enhancement will provide better acoustics, require less shuffling from the choir, and increase the capacity of the choir loft.

The changes listed here come at the recommendation of our Sanctuary Evaluation Commit-tee and have been unanimously approved by the Session. Although there are many “t”s to be crossed and “I”s dotted, I share these with you now so we will all be on the same page. A Capitol Campaign, which will culminate in May, will be held to raise the $2.6-$3mm anticipated cost of the total effort. Information on other pieces of the effort will be shared in next week’s Update.

Brad

Daily CalENDaRSuNdAy, FebruAry 10

8:00 Celebration Choir Rehearsal9:00 Worship & Children’s Church10:00 Sunday School Pastor’s Class Jubilee Band Practice Eastminster First Step Worship Discovery Trebel Choir Rehearsal10:05 Chancel Choir Rehearsal11:15 Worship & Children’s Church Nathan James Hall Bapt. Jubilee Worship3:00 Cubscouts Wolf Den4:00 Webelos 1 & 2 Cubscout Bears, Tigers Youth Band Practice5:00 P.E.A.C.E. Service JESUS Rocks5:30 Youth Group Dinner & Mtg.5:45 Childcare6:00 Kerygma6:15 Women’s Bible Study

MoNdAy, FebruAry 11

7:00 Men’s Prayer Breakfast9:00 Count Team Fifty Plus Exercise Class Circles #3, #110:30 Circle #212:00 Worship & Ministry Mtg.2:00 Pastor’s Mtg.2:30 Program Staff Mtg.5:30 Men’s Basketball League Yoga Webelos 1 Stephen Ministry Leaders6:00 Stephen Ministry Mgt.7:00 Sr. High Guys Bible Study Boy Scouts Troop 10 Lee/Orlandini Small Group

TueSdAy, FebruAry 12

9:00 Drop-In Nursery9:30 Staff Meeting10:00 Women’s Bible Study11:45 Tuesday Lunch12:00 Property Committee Mtg. NED Mtg.2:00 Circle #75:00 Tai Chi5:30 Girls on Run Zumba6:00 Handbells6:30 C7:00 Zumba Fitness Scottish Country Dance WedNeSdAy, FebruAry 13

9:00 Drop-In Nursery Fifty Plus Exercise Class9:30 Prayer Shawl Ministry EDS Chapel11:00 Lenten Study - John’s Gospel5:00 Angel, Junior Choir Rehearsals5:45 Childcare6:00 Fellowship Meal7:00 Ash Wednesday Service

THurSdAy, FebruAry 14

7:00 MS Prayer Breakfast HS Prayer Breakfast9:00 Drop-In Nursery5:30 Girls on the Run Zumba7:00 Zumba Fitness7:30 Jubilee Band Practices

FrIdAy, FebruAry 15

9:00 Fifty Plus Exercise Class11:00 Support Staff Mtg.4:00 Sr. High Girls Bible Study

SATurdAy, FebruAry 16

9:00 Youth Basketball League Games

February is HEART Month!Did you know? Your heart is strong enough to lift about 3,000

pounds-roughly the weight of a compact car. Did you know? The blood vessels fed by your heart are over 60,000 miles long. They could wrap around the world twice! Want to know more? Join us on

Monday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m. in the Adult reception Hall,

to meet our new parish nurse, Parker Sparrow, RN, and learn more fun facts about the heart! Please RSVP to Mary mbaldauf@eastminsterpres.org or 256-1654 to make sure we have enough materials.

Senior High Urban Mission Trip - June 9 - 15, 2013The 2013 Eastminster Senior High Urban Mission Trip will be in Nashville, TN. The

total cost of this trip is $320.00 which includes transportation, lodging, programming, and the majority of meals. Scholarships are available. Please return your registration and the full payment by Friday, April 5, 2013. (If you have misplaced your form, additional forms are available on Tricia’s desk.) There are only 20 spots available; these will be filled as registrations are received.

FREE February Parenting WorkshopsParents, join us on Sunday, February 17, at Eastminster for:• Child Safety for Parents - Ways to keep your kids safe in our world today

from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., in the Adult Reception Hall. Sign-up on line http://goo.gl/st0hDSafety for Women - Tips and practical ways for prevention and awareness to protect yourself when

out on a date, jogging, at school, and other times. From 4:15-5:15 p.m., in the Adult Reception Hall. Sign-up on line http://goo.gl/w1GnO

Workshops will be given by Larry Bonney, a former FBI agent who worked his way up into the upper ranks of that agency, working on several of our country’s high profile crimes along the way. After retirement, he served as Deputy Director of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He now lives in Wilmington, NC and works as a consultant. Among other things, he helped with the production of the film “The Silence of the Lambs” (and has a guest appearance near the beginning of it!) and has been featured on “Dateline NBC.”

Childcare will be offered! Keep watching for workshop registration and more details on how to register.

Attention Parents!!! Hold the date! Vacation Bible School will be June 17 - June 20, 2013! Additional details

will be out soon. Volunteer parents please remember that we offer free childcare for younger children of VBS volunteers in the Drop In nursery rooms that week.

Congregational Meal - February 24Eastminster will have a congregational meal in the gym on Sunday, February 24 following

the 11:15 a.m. worship service. Make plans to enjoy a delicious lunch and fellowship with your church family! Regualr pricing will apply. Please call 256-1654 for reservations.

Jesus Rocks FOOTBALL FRENZY!When: February 10, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Please be prompt!Where: Gather first in Thompson Hall for a pizza dinner; pick up will be in the CLC gym area.What to bring: $3.00 for pizza; 2 or 3 canned goods for Harvest Hope; Wear your favorite team’s jersey, tee-shirt, or cheerleading outfit. Bring a friend or two!

What are we doing? Test your athletic skills on football kick and throw inflatables loaned to us by Souper Bowl of Caring! Try some flag football on the floor of the gym or improve your cheerleading skills! Learn about Souper Bowl of Caring and what it does.Parents HeLP! We need some extra hands (particularly from dads!) to help in the gym area with the inflatables and football drills. If you can help, please email croyall@eastminsterpres.org.

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, those serving in our military, Stephen Ministers & their care receivers and all those in need of God’s special care.

In Extended CareMargaret Zeigler

Hospitalized this weekEthel McCants Lowder, Charlotte Law

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, February 6, to be shared in our next newsletter on February 17, 2013.

Never lose an opportunity . . .

for seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting, wayside sacrament. Welcome it

in every fair face, in every fair sky, and thank God for it as a cup of His blessings. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ash Wednesday Service - February 13The Eastminster Ash Wednesday Service with imposition of ashes will be

held at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. All WE@EPC classes will be cancelled for this evening, giving everyone an opportunity to attend this service. But, there will be a meal in Thompson Hall at 6:00 p.m. (note time change). Child care will be provided for infants through 1st grade. Wednesday evening classes will resume on February 20.

TransitionsEastminster will be serving the residents of Transitions on Thursday, Febru-

ary 21. Transitions is located in downtown Columbia where it houses and trains around 200 homeless and transitional people. You have the opportunity to prepare food, serve or donate money toward this night. You will think that you are the one serving, but you will be touched beyond belief at the outpouring of love shown to you by the residents. Please join us! Opportunities include serving or mingling with the residents (we will meet at EPC at 4:30 p.m. and return by 6:30 p.m.); pre-paring food in advance from your home-pasta salad or pound cakes; or donating money toward chicken and biscuits. Please respond to Laura Long at 530-6731.

Treble Choir Practice ScheduleTrebel choir for 6 -12 graders will practice in room S-90 on the following days:

Sundays, February 3, 10, and 17 from 10:00-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, January 30, February 6, and 20 from 6:15-6:45 p.m.

For our loved ones . . .In memory of Virginia Anne Singletary, given by M/M James B. Murphy, Jr.,

Alex & Betty Jenkins, Clare Hancock, Ms. Constance Parramore, Sally & Richard Ames, Mitzie Trotter.

In memory of Evelyn Murphy, given by Sally & Richard Ames.

P.E.A.C.E. Service, February 10, in the Adult Reception HallThe P.E.A.C.E. 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. A nursery is available in the Drop-In nursery rooms in the CLC.

Did you know . . . … That Eastminster was able to donate $75,000 in 2012 to Columbia-

based homeless shelters and other underprivileged organizations? Some of these organizations were as follows:

Transitions Homeless Center

Washington Street Soup Cellar

Family Shelter

CHamPS (Communities, Helping, Assisting, Motivating,

Promising Students)

Bradley mentoring Program

oliver Gospel mission

Salvation army

Thank you for allowing a portion of the blessings God has provided to Eastmin-ster, to be a blessing to so many people in need of our care and love. Robbie Foster

February 10 isScout Sunday at

EastminsterAll scouts are invited to attend

church on Sunday dressed in their uni-forms and asked to sit together in the pews near the front of the sanctuary

that will be roped off for you.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church3200 Trenholm RoadColumbia, South Carolina 29204

Update for February 10, 2013

Nonprofit Org.US POSTAGE

PAIDColumbia, SC

PERMIT No. 27

SERvINg ON SUNDAY

February 10oFFICer’S PrAyer:

Elder Tara BarrdeACoNS: Lisa Dunbar & Simpson Fant Elder Becky Smythe(Jubilee) Deacon Abbott Carnes (Jubilee)P.e.A.C.e. SerVICe

Deacon Jason Tompkins, Kara Glenn Elder Marilyn Stradtman, Herman SnyderuSHerS: Steve Searcy & John McCabeINFANT rooM - CLC 119

(9:00) Anna & Justin Fleming(11:15) Lori & Wade DourouxToddLer rooM - CLC 117

(9:00) Ned & Kerry Boykin(11:15) Matt & Andrea Reynolds2-K rooM - CLC 115

(9:00) Myles & Olivia Burns(11:15) Matt & Kelty RiddleCHILdreN’S CHurCH 103 - 3K

(9:00) Brad & Erin Dampier(11:15) Warren & Shannon DarbyCHILdreN’S CHurCH 105 - 4K

(9:00) Matt & Amy Hill(11:15) Bowen & Susie HorgerCHILdreN’S CHurCH 107 - 5K

(9:00) Dean & Jeannie McDaniel(11:15) Billy & Shannon McGee

gospel of John Lenten StudyIn Plenary or Small group Settings

Join Dr. Mark Durrett for a six-week walk through John’s Gospel. In addition to mirror classes that will take place at the church Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. and again at 6:15 p.m., some small groups will also offer this study. Dr. Durrett will teach live at the two Wednesday classes, while the small groups, which are offered at various times and locations, will utilize a 25 minute video of the teaching and discussion guide. Please register at http://EPC2013Lentsmallgroups.notlong.com or call Julie McDaniel at 256-1654.

gospel of John Lenten BrochuresAnyone who who would like to read throught the Lenten series in their quiet

Bible study time, brochures are available in the reception area, narthex, CLC and Thompson Hall during Jubilee. Pick yours up the next time you are at church.

John Lenten Study BooksWe have ordered “John for Everyone” by N.T. Wright to use with our Lenten

study of the Gospel of John. Stop by Julie McDaniel’s office to pick up your book. The two-volume set is $20.

Have You visited the Library?If you have, you know what a pleasant, useful, comfortable, and well-kept space

it is for all the members. Sharon Derham our volunteer librarian, has recently “re-tireded” from her volunteer position. The church wishes to thank Sharon for her dedicated and wonderful help! If anyone would like to volunteer to help maintain the library, please contact Mark Durrett, mdurrett@eastminsterpres.org.

Savvy Seniors Meet February 26Baseball fans this is for you and anyone who would like to hear Ray Tanner

speak. The meeting and lunch begins at noon in Thompson Hall. Please call Mary at 256-1654 to make your reservation for lunch.

February Circles SchedulesCirCle #1 Monday, February 11 @ 10:00 a.m., ParlorCirCle #2 Monday, February 11 @ 10:30 a.m., 5130 Hillside Lane (Ann Duncan)CirCle #3 Monday, February 11 @ 10:00 a.m., 810 Hampton Hill Rd. (Johnnie Pearce)CirCle #6 Sunday, February 10 @ 5:00 p.m., C-265CirCle #7 Monday, February 11 @ 2:00 p.m., Church ParlorCirCle #8 Tuesday, February 12 @ 6:30 p.m., Church Parlor