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Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina

Eastminster Update
803-256-1654 / www.eastminsterpres.org

Volume 38 Number 43

December 14, 2014

Dear Eastminster Family,

SHARING HIS LIGHT

1 COR. 12

STAFF
Dr. Bradley D. Smith
Pastor
Dr. Mark E. Durrett
Associate Pastor
Rev. Lynn A. Grandsire
Associate Pastor
Dr. James I. St. John
Parish Associate
Mr. Croskeys Royall
Director of Childrens Ministries
Mrs. Fredna Lee
Director of Music Ministries
Mrs. Lucy Corley and
Mrs. Anita Poole
EDS Co-Directors
Mr. William L. Collins, Jr.
Business Manager
Ms. Julie McDaniel
Member Involvement Coordinator

Christmas is about light coming into the darkness. I dont think its an
accident that the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World, is celebrated at
the time of the winter solstice, the darkest time of the year. After all, light
shines brightest in the darkness.
And while there is a certain beauty to the lights upon lights that dot and
decorate the landscape this time of year, by themselves decorative lights
do not and cannot produce enough lumens or candlepower to eliminate
the darkness. I am reminded of that truth as the news once again details tensions between
races, classes, cultures and creeds, both in our country and around the world. Im tempted to
hunker down, ignore the divisions, demonize the pot-stirrers and hope it all goes away. But
that wont help, will it?
Progress has been made, but a quick look around on Sunday mornings reminds me that
the division between people of different races is not just a thing of the past. And while
it doesnt correlate entirely along racial lines, reputable studies tell of a growing disparity
between people labeled haves and have nots. I wouldnt want to be a police officer for all
the tea in China. I cant imagine the stress of instantaneous decisions that might mean life
or death for me or another person. But to be transparently honest, I think being born white
in the family I was born to, with the opportunities I was given, was a far easier path than
that of many people, including some people of color or poverty.
I can feel guilty. I can become calloused. Or, alternately, opening myself to the One who
is the Prince of Peace and King of Kings, I can walk in the light of Jesus, the Light of the
World by reaching out and loving others, including people who are different from me, one
relationship at a time, right here in Columbia.
Pray? Yes, absolutely. Take the risk of moving beyond ourselves by stepping into the
world? Yes, this too. After all, isnt that what God has done for us in the birth of the Christ
child?
Blessings,
Brad
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the
house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. Luke 1:32-33

Pledge Status Report - We Need Your Help!

(6 weeks out from Dedication Sunday for 2015)

Sermon
Sunday, december 14
9:00 & 11:15 a.m. - Sanctuary
11:15 a.m. - Jubilee
Dr. Brad Smith
Big Brown is Back in Town
Luke 1:26-35, 38

176
195
48
68

Pledges With No Change

Pledges Increased
Pledges Decreased
New Pledges

For a total of 487 pledges totaling $2,544,991

135 Pledges were made for 2014, but not yet for 2015
(Last years pledges @ 6 weeks = 490 - $2,481,660)
If you have not yet pledged, please join us in pledging to support
Christs work through Eastminster in 2015.

Daily CALENDAR

2015 GREAT STARTS in January

SUNDAY, December 14

8:00 Celebration Choir Rehearsal

9:00 Worship & Childrens Church
10:00 Jubilee Band Practice

Sunday School

Generation Change

First Step
Officer Examination

Wee Rock
10:05 Chancel Choir Rehearsal
11:15 Jubilee Worship

Worship & Childrens Church
12:15 Farewell Reception Semih Sendur
1:00 Basketball Practices
3:00 PEP@EPC Christmas Drop-In
4:00 Cub Scout Pack 10
5:00 Sunday@5

PEACE Service
6:00 MS & HS Christmas Party

Monday, December 15

7:00 Mens Prayer Breakfast

9:00 Count Team

Fifty Plus Exercise Class
10:00 Senior Fitness
1:30 Pastors Mtg.
2:30 Program Staff Mtg.
3:00 Basketball Practice
3:10 Staff Mtg.
4:00 CHAMPS Tutoring
5:30 Yoga

Personnel Committtee
6:00 Mens Basketball League Games

TUESDAY, December 16

7:15 Jr. High Breakfast

9:00 Drop-In Nursery
10:00 Senior Fitness
11:45 Tuesday Lunch
12:00 Finance Committee
12:30 Visitation
1:00 Footcare Ministry
3:00 Exercising for Arthritis

Basketball Practice
5:00 Tai Chi
5:30 Zumba Fitness

CLC Committee
6:00 Handbell Rehearsal
7:00 Scottish Country Dancing

Zumba Fitness

WEDNESDAY, December 17

9:00

9:25
9:30
12:00

3:00
3:30
5:00
5:15
6:10
7:00
7:15

Fifty Plus Exercise Class

Drop-In Nursery
EDS Chapel
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Still Hopes Visit
EDS Ministry Team
Basketball Practice
CHAMPS Tutors
Gingerbread House Event
Angel & Junior Choirs
Childrens Choir Rehearsal
Guys Senior High Christmas Party
Chancel Choir

THURSDAY, December 18

9:00 Drop-In Nursery

10:00 Senior Fitness
11:00 EDS Christmas Program
3:00 Basketball Practice

Exercising for Arthritis
4:30 Transitions Meal
5:00 Yoga
7:00 Zumba Fitness

Eagle Board of Review
7:30 Jubilee Band Practice

FRIDAY, December 19
9:00
11:00

3:00
6:30

Fifty Plus Exercise Class

Support Staff Mtg.
EDS Christmas Play
Basketball Practice
Staff Christmas Party

SATURDAY, December 20

9:00 Youth Basketball Games

3:30 Choir & Orchestra Rehearsal

SUNDAYS@5 - January 4, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Discovering the Bible (Kerygma): New Testament - John Arnold and John Asman
continue Discovering the Bible class. Kerygma Bible Study is a methodical introduction to the
books of the Bible. In January, the class takes up the New Testament. The class is an encounter with the texts of scripture by reading select passages and participating in class discussion.
New participants are welcome to join in. Christian Education Building, room 351. Runs
through April 26.
Pauls Letter to the Romans - Faith comes to life in this real letter to real people.
In what is called the most inspirational letter ever written, these words to the Church in
ancient Rome echo still with energy and power. Encounter theology in the making as Paul
wrestles with enduring issues: justification and grace, sin and salvation, a vision of unity, and
the faithfulness of God. Dottie Pratt and Bick Halligan will facilitate this 12-week class.
Christian Education Building, room 357. Runs through March 29.

WE@EPC - January 7 - February 11, 6:15 - 7:15 p.m.

Legacies and Gifts - Rev. Lynn Grandsire, Rev. Dr. Brad Smith and others in the congregation with particular expertise will lead the class in looking at issues of our Christian legacy
related to end of life planning. Some of the topics are powers of attorney, living wills, funeral
planning, and financial gifts as faith testimony. Christian Life Center, room 265.
Conversions - Rev. Dr. Mark Durrett will look at the stories of well-known Christians,
whose conversion accounts span 2000 years of Christian history. Learn the stories of people
including the apostle Paul, Augustine, Theresa of Avila, Billy Sunday, Dorothy Day, C.S.
Lewis, Charles Colson and others. Christian Life Center, room 263. (Also offered at 11:00 a.m.
on Wednesdays, same room.)
Marriage Study - Christian Marriage in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a sixweek study published in 2013, which is organized around the Statement of the Gift of Marriage from the Book of Common Worship. We will look at Scripture, the Book of Confessions,
the Book of Order, and the Book of Common Worship as we discuss the following topics.
Week 1 - The Gift of Marriage
Week 2 - God Created Us
Week 3 - The Expression of Love
Week 4 - The Well-Being of Society
Week 5 - A Holy Mystery
Week 6 - A New Way of Life
Lucie Eggleston and Emma Bryson, two members of the Clerks Committee, will facilitate
this class. The Clerks Committee has studied denominational issues on marriage for the past
three years. In November, the Session adopted the recommendations of the Committee, one
of which was to offer a class on Christian marriage. Christian Life Center, room 261.

The Body at Work

Your time, talent, and treasure at work in Gods Kingdom

Eastminster provides financial assistance for church members -- children
and adults -- to participate in mission trips both at home and abroad.

P.E.P.@epc Christmas Drop-In

People Enjoying People (PEP@EPC) is having a Christmas Drop-in on Sunday, December 14, 3:00-4:30 p.m. Lisa and Madison Dye are hosting, and you are
invited! There will be bus transportation from the church available or come to
10 MacKays Point in Kings Grant. Please call Mary Baldauf (256-1654) if you are
coming. We will have a basket for receiving childrens (age 3-10) books to use
with Family Promise.

Haiti Trip - January 24-31, 2015

If you are interested in being a part of this mission trip group, please join us in
the Byrd Room, on Sunday, December 14, at 12:15 p.m. If you have already committed to go, we ask that you bring your checkbook, a photocopy of your passport
picture page and your birth date. If you want to get some questions answered first,
please come for that! We need to make a firm commitment by December 14. Our
partnership with the Medical Benevolence Foundation will include both nonmedical and medical work. Questions about the January trip, please contact Julie
at jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.org.

PEACE Service December 14

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 Lords
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.

Living Nativity, December 21

Join us on Sunday, December 21, for one of the three performances of the Living Nativity, at 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., with a cast of live animals, angels, shepherds, and wisemen! This years performance will be in the courtyard (note location
change). Hot chocolate and cookies will be available.

Christmas Lunch at Transitions

Eastminster will take LUNCH to Transitions on December 25. Join us for

worship at 10:30 a.m. and leave afterwards for the noon lunch at Transitions.
The meal is BBQ, potato salad, clementines and pound cake. Contact Laura
(laurapricelong@att.net) to donate money for the BBQ and potato salad, or to
provide fruit and/or pound cake. Whether you donate or not, please join us at
Transitions!

Fourth Annual Family Gingerbread House Decorating Party

Join us on Wednesday evening, December 17, at 5:30 p.m., in the CLC gym for
a pizza dinner, drinks and decorating pre-assembled gingerbread house kits for
$20.00 PER FAMILY. Infants through 5th grade and their siblings are welcome.
Bring a canned good for Harvest Hope (HH) or a monetary contribution for HH
with checks made out to EPC.

Early Closing for Church December 19, Please Make Note

The church facilities will close at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, to allow the
staff to attend their Christmas party. If you have a meeting planned that evening at
the church, please reschedule or plan to meet elsewhere.

For our loved ones . . .

In memory of Henry Sherrill, given by Betty Ann & Dewey Chapple.

In memory of Adair Crawley, given by Jennifer Cheek Blumenthall, Bonnie &
Steve Lynch, Mr. Boyd Jones & family, Jane W. Trinkley.
In memory of Trudy Bates, given by Grace & Mark Hershberger.
In memory of Peggy Seigler, given by Winnie Jenkins, Cam Melton, Robert
Melton.

CARE & CONCERN

EPC Prayer List
Part 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 Concerns
Remer Waguespack, Bill McInnis, Dave
Steven, and those serving in our military,
Stephen Ministers and their care receivers,
and all those in need of Gods special care.
Hospitals
Jim Cartright
Births
Congratulations and love to:

Anne & Walter Bristow, on the birth of

their granddaughter, Katherine Stewart
Patrick, November 22, 2014. Parents,
Katy & Richard Patrick, great grand
mothers, Abbot Carnes & Stewart Bristow.
Caroline & Thomas Rhodes, on the birth of
their daughter, Virginia Campbell Rhodes,
December 2, 2014.
Christy & Phillips McWilliams, on the
birth of their son, Phillips Lancaster McWilliams, Jr., December 5, 2014.
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.
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

Deadline for UPDATE

Dont miss out! Send your information to

share with the congregation to tcarter@eastminsterpres.org.
Please have your information in by Wednesday,
December 10, to be shared in our next newsletter on December 28, 2014.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

3200 Trenholm Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29204

Nonprofit Org.
US POSTAGE
PAID
Columbia, SC
PERMIT No. 27

Update for December 14, 2014

Tax Donation Notice

Your contributions must be received in the church by Tuesday,

December 31, or postmarked by Wednesday, December 31 in
order to receive a tax deduction in 2014. Stock gifts must be
transferred into the churchs account by this date, also. If you are
sending stock, please notify the treasurers office so that you will
receive the proper credit.

December 14 Reception for Semih Sendur

Semih Sendur, our Jubilee worship service music leader, has graduated from
school and accepted a job in Charleston, SC. December 14 will be his last Sunday
at Eastminster. Following the 11:15 a.m. worship service there will be a reception
in the CLC Game Room for Semih. Please stop by to thank him and wish him
well.

Christmas Eve Worship - December 24

5:00 p.m. Childrens Service
Infant Nursery - 2K

7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service

Infant Nursery - 5K

9:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service

Christmas Day Worship - December 25
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
No Childcare

Christmas 2014 - Church Facilities & CLC Holiday Hours

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014

9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
(Worship Services: 5:00, 7:00 & 9:00 PM)
Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
ALL facilities close following services
Friday, Dec. 26, 2014
9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014
CLC Open 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014
Regular Worship; 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m (CLC)
Monday, Dec. 29, 2014
Regular Worship; 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m (CLC)
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014
9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014
9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015
Closed - New Years Day Holiday

Serving on Sunday
december 14
OFFICERS PRAYER:
Deacon Jason Tompkins
DEACONS: Coke Mann & Katie Evatt
Elder Billy Newsome (Jubilee)
Deacon Jeff Burden (Jubilee)
Ushers: Steve Searcy & John McCabe
PEACE SERVICE:
Elders John Derham & Elaine Fairey
Deacons Betsy McDonald & Becky Smythe
GREETERS:
(9:00) Janet Katz
Andrew Jones
Wilson & Betsy McDonald
Jack & Marilyn Hupp
(11:15) Roy & Laura Taylor
Stephen & Holley Van Horn
Craig & Judy Stoneburner
Mark & Frances Stuckey
INFANT ROOM - CLC 115
(9:00) Joe & Julie Keenan
(11:15) Laura & Justin Self
TODDLER ROOM - CLC 117
(9:00) Staff
(11:15) Sara & David Ellison
2-K ROOM - CLC 119
(9:00) Ashley & OHara Howard
(11:15) Mollye & Zack Hudson
CHILDRENS CHURCH 102 - 3K
(9:00) Staff
(11:15) Greg & Laura Moise
CHILDRENS CHURCH 104 - 4K
(9:00) Elizabeth & George Hutton
(11:15) Bernie & Susan Kuhn
CHILDRENS CHURCH 106 - 5K
(9:00) Tommy & Heather Stallworth
(11:15) Tyler & Lesley Stone