Epworth connects and equipsall kinds of people to

seek, serve, and share Christ.

June 17, 2018

2400 Devonshire Drive • Columbus, GA 31904706-322-6973 • www.epworthumc.com

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

THIS COMING WEEK & BEYOND

OUR CHURCH STAFFChildren’s Ministry Director .............Lindsey FossaChoir Director ...........................................Lyn PharrisChurch Administrator ......................... Susan SniderContemporary Music Director .............Kayla MossCustodians ...........Martha Conklin & Barbie WebbInterim Youth Minister........................Kristii Daniel Media & Communications ................Dawn Wilson Music Director .................................................Bob LeeNursery Worker ............................... Martha ConklinPastor ...................................................Tony G. Crosby

Sunday, June 17Father’s Day Tuesday, June 19 5:00 p.m. Feeding Our Neighbors @ Rose Hill 6:30 p.m. AA Group MeetingWednesday, June 20 6:00 p.m. Wacky Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Worship Team Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir RehearsalThursday, June 21 12:00 noon Prayer Team Meeting

The sanctuary flowers are given to the glory of God and in honor of

Father’s Day by the Conklin family.

CONTACT USstaff’s first name@epworthumc.comexample: tony@epworthumc.com

Pastor (706) 329-2484Church Office (706) 322-6973

www.epworthumc.com

Verses of Love

1 Corinthians 13:8aLove never ends. (NRSV) Love will last forever. (NLT) Love never fails. (NIV… and many others)

This week, we get to talk about love, and this wasn’t a surprise. I knew the “love chapter” of the Bible would come up. This was read at many of your weddings and has probably been preached from the pulpit many other times as well. The Bible has so much to say about love. Jesus has so much to say about love. The apostle John writes extensively about love. But for some reason, this is the chapter of the Bible we call “the love chapter.”

Some of the submitters of this text wrote that the whole chapter was one of your favorites. Others referenced specific passages. The most popular among them is this portion of verse 8. Interestingly, the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible translates this well-known three word phrase as “love never ends.” Many other translations render it as “love never fails.” It turns out that how you translate this word depends upon which ancient Greek text you study. But enough about Greek.

Part of the reason these three words are so powerful is that they give us something to put our highest hope in. So often, it seems like everything we hold dear fails us. Sometimes, the people we love fail us and the world leaves us skeptical that any good remains. Lately, my family has been watching the television show, Once Upon a Time on Netflix. One of the running themes throughout the show is that true love’s kiss can break any spell. While our God is not a God of magic, authentic and real love is the most powerful thing there is gives us hope. It can often point us to solutions to our greatest relational problems. If we can learn to truly love our family, our friends, our neighbors, and even our enemies, then we will have truly discover the power of the divine in our lives.

Nothing in this passage suggests that authentic love is easy or common. But it does affirm that it is supremely powerful. God’s love for us will never end or fail. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. An ancient commentator on Paul’s writings from the 4th century said it this way…

“Faith embraces, hope envisions, love reigns.” - Ambrosiaster

One day, everything in this world will pass away and we will find ourselves in the realm of the new heaven and the new earth. There will be no more need for faith because our faith will be made sight. There will be no more need for hope because our essential hope for eternity with Christ will be fulfilled. But love will never end or fail. God is love and that makes love eternal and unfailing.

So let’s look for new ways to be a people of love. It won’t be easy or popular or there would be a lot more of it. But it will be of God. So let’s get to loving!

In Christ,

Sunday, June 24 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Traditional WorshipMonday-Friday, June 25-29 6:00 p.m. VBS - Rolling River RampageSunday-Friday, July 1-6Youth Mission Trip - Indianapolis, INMonday, July 2 10:00 a.m. Prayer Shawl MeetingWednesday, July 4 - Office Closed

THOSE WHO SERVE JUNE 17, 2018

9:00 a.m. Worship Service Greeter: Anne Wilson Usher: Jimmy Bridges Acolyte: Usher Children’s Church: Becky Britton 11:00 a.m. Worship Service Greeter: Maxine Willis Ushers: David Hay, Fraser Wooldridge Acolyte: Ema Cheraisi, C. S. DiSimone Children’s Church: Lindsey Fossa Nursery Volunteer: Lillian Wooldridge Financial Secretary: Lillian Wooldridge Turn Key: Rev. Tony Crosby

OUR STEWARDSHIPJune 10, 2018

Tithes & Offerings: $5,078.00Received To Date: $121,169.19Needed To Date: $152,301.12Building Fund: $10.00

ATTENDANCE: Sunday School 84 Worship: 9 a.m. 41 Worship: 11 a.m. 59

100

WHAT’S HAPPENINGUpper Room Devotionals - July/August issue is available in the welcome center. Price as noted.

Wireless internet - Log on to the server Epworthchurch; Password - jesusyall.

AA Support Group Meeting - every Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m., in the Questors classroom.

Prayer Team Meeting - Thursdays at noon, at Margaret Gosden’s home.

July Communion Moved - to the 2nd Sunday (July 8) instead of the first Sunday, so Tony can be present to preside over the sacrament. Tony will be gone with the youth group on their mission trip to Indianapolis, IN on July 1-6.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Meeting - Monday, July 2, at 10 a.m., in the fellowship hall.

Independence Day - July 4, office closed.

Feeding the Golden Agers - at Open Door, Monday, July 9. Please have your food item at the church by noon or at Open Door Community House by 1 p.m. We will begin lunch around 2 p.m. Questions or to volunteer, contact Sandra Burns.

UMM Meeting - Monday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m., in the fellowship hall.

Vintage Meeting - Thursday, July 12, at noon, in the fellowship hall.

Epworth Goes to Epworth - November 6-14, our pastor will host a trip to England for the Wesley Heritage Tour. The cost is $3,400 per person. Visit wesleytour2018.info for details. Extensions to the trip are available for an additional cost: 3 days on your own in London ($700) or a 4-day journey to Ireland ($1,300).

SUNDAY SCHOOL AT 10:00 AMThe Children’s Class Kindergarten - 5th Grade: Margaret Gosden 6th - 12th Grade: Kristii Daniel

The Friendship Class Study: Jesus Teaches About Justice Teacher: Rev. Tim Paulk

The Genesis Class Study: Have You Ever Seen a Hearse... Teacher: Leslie Morris

The Joy Class Study: O Say Can You See? Teacher: Class

The Nathan Patterson/Wesley Class Study: Genesis 23 Teacher: Bobby Smith

The New Connections Class Study: 40 Days of Community Teacher: Doug Franks

The Questors Class Study: Grace in a Tree Stump Teacher: Glenn Griffin

The Seekers Class Study: Wired WordTeacher: Lillian Wooldridge

MISSIONSJune Mission Focus - Allen Elementary School Clinic. Items needed: 3 oz. paper cups, self-adhesive bandages, zip closure sandwich bags, pump hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Children-themed items would be great. Place items on the mission cart. The children will also collect items during VBS.

Epworth To-Do List - For a list of church projects the Trustees have identified as needing attention, please see the information board. If you are interested or have the necessary skills, contact John Daniel.

Feeding Our Neighbors at Rose Hill UMC - We will provide supper on Tuesday, June 19. Preparations will begin at 5:00 p.m.; serving at 5:45 p.m. If you want more information about serving or helping to prepare the meal, contact Debra Johnson or Becky Britton.

Wynnton Neighborhood Network May 2018 Report - We served 1,284 bags of food to 318 families which included 408 children. We helped 27 families with utilities and spent $1,819.21. Thank you to all of our congregations for your incredible generosity in donating food, money and time!

A Taste of Epworth Cookbooks - Pick up your copy(s) from the welcome center for $5 each.

Out of the Darkness Walk - Plan to be a part of the walk! Join the team, raise funds, volunteer, participate! The walk will be on Saturday, September 29, at Lakebottom Park, Columbus. To make donations or to join the Epworth team, sign up online at https://afsp.donordrive.com/Epworth and/or the sign-up sheet on the information board. If you would like to learn more about how to get involved, see Suzy Revell or Donna Faircloth.

CHILDREN & YOUTHWacky Wednesday - June 20, from 6-8 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Each week, we will discuss one of the fruits of the Spirit followed by an activity. Dinner will be provided. Questions, call the church office or email Lindsey Fossa at lindsey@epworthumc.com.

VBS - Rolling River Rampage - Monday - Friday, June 25 - 29, 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. You may register online at epworthumc.com or sign up at the church. We welcome children Pre-K through 5th Grade.

No Summer Youth Study - We will resume at the start of the new school term on Tuesdays.

SUMMER OF PRAYER This summer, we are placing an emphasis on another of our discipleship commitments. Last year, we celebrated acts of service. This year, we are focusing on prayer. In your bulletin is a bookmark with a weekly prayer emphasis for some area of our church’s ministry. We are also inviting you to share your joys and concerns on post-it notes which are on the display in the Whitehurst Welcome Center. Use yellow for joys and orange for concerns. Let’s fill our wall with the prayers of our congregation and put them before the Lord in faith. Prayer Focus This Week: Mission Ministries

EPWORTH PRAYER LISTChurch FamilyFred & Emilie Carswell Blount King Gladys Plant Trudy Harris Vanessa Desoto Ron & Betty Sawyer Thrower Family Kittye Crockett Sibyl Wells Keri McElvey Shackelford Family Kernodle FamilyJudy Scanling Barbara Watson Joe Flynn Lillian Wooldridge Elsie & Jim Spanogians Andrea Carbaugh Glenn Griffin Daniel Family Anne Wilson Jimmy Bridges Rabon Family Annette Taff Jackie Chambers Extended Church Family Steve & Carol Guilbeault Michael Taff David Olson Doyle Adams Dotty Baker Ricky Clark Robbins Family Andrew WadeMiranda “Randy” Jones Laurie Osteen Preston Silvernail Dora Spires Willie Ryles Judy Patterson Cassie Prochaska Billy Hill Kim Jordan Kristy Stier Dorothy Ogg Bruce Chapman Amanda Hay Marilyn Buck Danny Chidester Beth Goodwin Luby Family Henry Dunn Adams Family Ellen Pilgreen Ralph & Sandy McGough Diane Wiggins Stephanie Bryan Robin Grantham McDaniel Family Al Fohan Mark Oliver Charles Holmes Dana Thurston Stan Hames Hattie Campbell

Assisted Living/Nursing Homes/Homebound Magnolia Manor - Doris Halouska, River Towne Center - Jerry Williams Cammie Van Over Savannah Grand - Linda ColemanPhenix City Health Care - Anne Whitehurst The Lodge - Lorene CarlisleRiver Place - Betty Cummings, Wesley Glen (Byron, GA) - Nancy Hiller Elizabeth Harbert, Jane Sanders

(Please continue to pray for our homebound people. They would love a visit!)

If the prayer list needs to be updated, please call, email the church office

or leave a note with updates. Help us minister effectively by

calling the church office about yourself or a family member. Thank you for your help.

MONDAY-FRIDAY

JUNE 25 -296:00-8:30 PM

MONDAY-FRIDAY

JUNE 25 -296:00-8:30 PM

Helping Hands MinistrySponsored by Epworth UMW

Are you living alone? Do you need someone to help you with replacing light bulbs?AC filters? Batteries in a smoke detector? Have you given up driving? Do you need a ride to the doctor? Grocery store? The local drug store?

Helping Hands Ministry just may be for YOU! Epworth’s UMW will connect you with volunteers at Epworth to help you with these tasks. If you have questions, feel free to ask Becky Britton or Barbara Stubbs more about this new ministry for those who live alone.

Complete one of the forms at the bottom of this sheet if you want to be part of this ministry. Put the form in the collection plate, give it to Becky Britton or Barbara Stubbs personally or to Susan Snider in the church office.

Those who need HELP:

Name:______________________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________

Home phone:____________________________Cell phone:_______________________

Those who will VOLUNTEER to help:

Name:_______________________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________

Home phone:___________________________Cell phone:_________________________

Tree of Life Memorial for Epworth UMC and Hamp Stevens UMC

Given by The Friendship Class in memory of Jean F. Morriswhose generosity and caring spirit made this world a better place.

You may remember a family member or friend, now deceased, on the lasting Tree of Life Memorial that graces the entrance of our Sanctuary. Consider commemorating their life with a leaf placed on this handcrafted piece of art.

Memorials can be made for members of the Epworth United Methodist or Hamp Stevens United Methodist churches. Initiated by the Friendship Sunday School to honor Jean’s life, it is carried forward by Epworth’s Board of Trustees.

Complete the section below and return it with your gift made out to Epworth UMC. With limited space, we will only be able to include names on the leaf-no other messages. The minimum donation for an engraved leaf is $50.

Name of Donor: _______________________________________Address: _______________________________________Phone Number: _______________________________________Email Address: _______________________________________Donation Amount: _______________________________________Names to be Engraved: 5 rows of up to approximately 12 characters on each row

SAMPLE

__________________________________

__________________________________

__________________________________

__________________________________

__________________________________

Sebastian Williamson

Jim & JeanWilliamson& Family