E Update

EASTMINSTERPRES.ORG

VOLUME 39 N UMBER 29 | SEP T E MBER 20, 2015

Dear Eastminster Family,

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. ELIZABETH BOWER
EDS Director
MR. WILLIAM L. COLLINS, JR.
Business Manager

A Congregational Meeting will take place this Sunday at the

close of the 11:15 a.m. Sanctuary Service to deal with two
matters for which our Book of Order assigns responsibility to
the entire church family. The election of church officers for the
class of 2018 is the first item, and the purchase of the land we
currently lease from the Carolina Childrens Home is the second
item.
Eastminsters Officer Nominating Committee, composed of two
active Elders, two active Deacons, a representative of the Presbyterian Women, and five members at large selected by the four
officers, discern the twenty people they believe God is calling to serve as Deacons and Elders
for the class of 2018. For Deacon, the nominees are: Jason Burbage, Randy Cottrell, Louise
Cruea, Harper James, Beau Long, Berry Mattox, Julie McCue, Beth Oliver, Anne Seabrook,
Rodney Swan. And for Elder: Sally Ames, David Beitz, Sara Lynn Curtis, Melanie DaVega,
Bill Francis, Rusty Harris, John Hart, Susan Jones, Greg Moise.
Purchasing the land we currently lease across the street will involve expending a significant
amount of money, but will mean owning the property and not having to continue paying
the annual lease we currently pay. Together, Eastminster and Trenholm Road Methodist
lease the roughly 3 acres where many of us park on Sundays. The plan, which would see the
two churches pay roughly $640,000 for the land, has been carefully evaluated and endorsed
by three groups within Eastminster: a Task Force including John McArthur, Don Tomlin,
Michael Schraibman and others; the Finance Ministry chaired by Andy Lowrey; and the
Session led by Clerk Clay Robinson.
I am grateful to those men and women who have given of themselves and the unique gifts
and talents God has entrusted them to help Eastminster be the church our Lord has for us
to be. Whether through a year-long process of real estate conversations, evaluations and
determinations; analysis of financials; or a process of discernment and recruitment leading
to a slate of servant-leader officers; Eastminster is blessed by people stepping in and serving
in so many, many ways. Thank you. It is a privilege to be your pastor.
See You Sunday,

MS. JULIE MCDANIEL

Member Involvement
Coordinator

Eastminster Receives Partner Award

Transitions Homeless Recovery

Center has awarded Eastminster its
first Faith-Based Partner of the Year
Award. The presentation was made
at a luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 1,
and came about as a result of the
time, effort, financial support and
yes, pound cake that made a contribution to Transitions work to
end homelessness in the Midlands.
Eastminster delivers and serves
dinner at Transitions on the third
Thursday of each month. To get involved, please contact Laura
Long at laurapricelong@att.net.

Bradley Elementary Lunch Buddies Needed

Bradley Elementary has 15 fifth-graders who need a Lunch

Buddy two Tuesdays per month, 11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.,
beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15. Lunch Buddies get to know their
fifth-grader and help him or her with reading skills. If interested, please contact Julie McDaniel in the church office, 2561564, or by e-mail to jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.org.

Middle School Prayer Breakfast Resumes

Middle school students are invited to morning prayer breakfasts, beginning in September, before school. On the first and
third Tuesdays, the breakfasts will be at the home of Sarah
Long; on the second Thursday of each month the breakfast will
be at the home of John Bailey and Lyndsay Moore. Rides from
the breakfast to school are available if needed. Come enjoy the
Bible and Bacon.

Eastminster Youth Ministry

Will meet on Sunday nights in the Christian Life Center from 5-6:30 p.m., beginning Sunday, Sept. 13. Middle school students
will meet in the Arts & Crafts Room of the CLC; high school students will meet in the Multi-Purpose Room of the CLC. Both
rooms are on the third floor. This is a time for students to grow in their relationship with God and others in a fun, casual environment. Its a time for games, meeting friends from other schools, reading the Bible and eating together.
Adult volunteers are always needed. To volunteer, please contact Laura Long at 530-6731.

Tab Collection for Ronald McDonald House

Aluminum can tabs are being collected to financially support Ronald McDonald House. In Columbia,
Ronald McDonald House Charities serve families and children who travel to a Columbia medical facility
so that the children can receive medical care they need. Since January 2014 Eastminster has donated 60.5
pounds of aluminum tabs to Ronald McDonald House. That includes 29 pounds collected by the Eastminster Day School. Eastminster tabs, along with many others, are sold by Ronald McDonald House,
generating about $4,000 per year. Aluminum tabs come from beverage cans and from many soup and
other canned goods. If in doubt about a tab being aluminum, test it with a magnet. If the magnet attracts
the tab, it is not aluminum. Bring your tabs to Shelli Knapp in the church office; look to the left as you
enter for a bowl labeled for tabs.

Cookie Party to Begin School Year

A start-of-the-school-year Cookie Party for families with babies

through Kindies will be at Citadel Park, Sunday, Sept. 27 from
3:30-4:30 p.m.

EPC Golf Tournament, Sunday, Sept. 20

The Fellowship Committee and Eastminster friends will gather

Sunday, Sept. 20 for a Captains Choice golf tournament at
Windermere Club. Shotgun start is at 1 p.m. The cost is $42
/person (four-person teams), which includes all golf cart and
fees, and a box lunch. Participants can sign up as a team or as
individuals and be added to a team. A portion of each entry
will benefit the Eastminster Youth Mission activities. Friends
welcome. To register, please visit the Eastminster website, email Shelli Knapp at sknapp@eastminsterpres.org, or pick up a
form at the Welcome Desk in the church Narthex.

Eastminster Women Bible Study Meets

Sundays and Tuesdays

Eastminster Presbyterian Women (EPW) will be studying the

book of Esther this fall. The study, Esther: The Hidden Hand
of God, will meet Sundays, 5-6 p.m., in Room 350, beginning
Sept. 20 and concluding Nov. 8. The study will also be taught
on Tuesdays from 10-11 a.m. in Room 351, beginning Sept.
22 and concluding Nov. 10.

Eastminster Helping Habitat Celebrate 30 Years

Eastminster is joining with Spring Valley and New Kirk Presbyterian

churches to help Habitat for Humanity celebrate its 30th year in the Midlands. The building project will kick off Saturday, Oct. 10 with a First Nail
Ceremony at 8 a.m., a time to meet other team members, the homeowner,
and Habitat representatives. The first shift will begin at 8:45 a.m. Construction will occur each day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Saturday, Oct. 17,
finishing with Saturdays in November as needed. To join the project, please
visit the Eastminster websites Habitat Build slide.

Dr. John Frye Will Speak at Combined Sunday School, Sept. 20

All adults are invited to a combined Sunday School class in Thompson Hall on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 10
a.m. Dr. John Frye, former EPC pastor, will be the guest speaker. In addition to the special Sunday
School time, Dr. Frye is leading the Officers Retreat and EPC worship services. Come early for doughnuts, coffee and fellowship.

Save the Date! There is a Redeemer!

The choirs and orchestra of EPC will present a program of sacred and secular music,
There is a Redeemer! on Sunday, Nov. 1, 4-5 p.m., in the sanctuary.

JESUS ROCKS! Kicks Off Fall Season,

Sunday, Sept. 20, 5-6 p.m.

The monthly Service, Fellowship

& Study Group for students first
through fifth grades will kick off the
fall season, Sunday, Sept. 20 from
5-6:30 p.m. Drop-off will be at
Thompson Hall with pickup in the
gymnasium. Friends are welcome.
Each child is asked to bring $3 for
a hotdog meal, a canned good for
Harvest Hope Food Bank, and please
wear tennis shoes. Following dinner,
children will have a devotion time
together and then enjoy play with
inflatables, popcorn and games. This is a great opportunity to
become reacquainted with one another and is a reminder that
God is with us at both work and play.
Parents, volunteers are needed for safety and security during
the program. The ministry also needs to borrow Corn Hole
game sets. To volunteer or help, please e-mail Croskeys at croyall@eastminster.org.

Memorial Gifts Supporting the Eastminster

Endowment

In memory of Sally Quantz Ellerbe, given by M/M W.F.

Littlejohn.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE & CONCERN

Deaths

Congregational Love and Sympathy are extended to:

Dicky & Ivey Bouknight on the death of his mother, Marguerite Blair Bouknight, September 5.
The family of Wylma Anne Wates, September 5.
Robbie & Lib Foster on the death of her aunt, Anne Johnson, September 8.

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.

Explore Local and Global Mission Service and Appreciation

The beautiful new console tables in the narthex were designed
Get Involved
In 2015, Eastminster will contribute $450,000 back to the
local and global community. EPC members underwrite local
missions like Circle of Giving, Family Promise of the Midlands, Habitat for Humanity, and Harvest Hope Food Bank.
Globally, the church supports missions in Africa, Haiti and
missionaries across the world doing Gods work.
The Mission Service and Benevolence Committee is currently
reviewing its 2016 proposed budget. Please review the ministries receiving financial support from Eastminster. These are
listed on the church website. Pray about your involvement,
choose a ministry, and get involved. The committee also wants
to hear about mission opportunities. Please contact Julie McDaniel at 256-1654, ext. 143, or jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.
org; or Hagood Tighe, chair of Mission Service and Benevolence Committee at 255-0000 or htighe@laborlawyers.com.

and hand-made by Eastminster member Mike DaVega. The

tables are made of solid walnut, and their curved fronts reflect
the arc of the communion table. They were commissioned by
the EPC House Committee and were made possible through
generous donations from the Eastminster Ushers, led by Bill
Coggins.

Deadline for UPDATE

Send your information to share with the congregation

to communications@eastminsterpres.org.
Please have your information in by September 27th
for the October 18th update.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

3200 Trenholm Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29204

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

People Enjoying People (P.E.P.) will meet Tuesday, Sept. 22, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Thompson
Hall. The guest speaker will be Columbias Jack
Van Loan, a Vietnam War Air Force fighter pilot
shot down by enemy fire in May, 1967. He was a
prisoner of war for six years.

P.E.P. meets Tuesday, Sept. 22

Brad Sherrill is a 30-year Atlanta-based performer

who brings Scripture alive through his one-man
performances focusing on Scripture memorization and stage theatre. On Sunday, Sept. 27 and
Monday, Sept. 28, 6-7:30 p.m., Brad will perform
his most recent show, Apostle, focusing on the
writings of Paul. Both performances will be in
Thompson Hall and are presented at no charge.
However, due to seating limitations an RSVP is
preferred and may be made by calling the church
office at 256-1654 or sending e-mail to Julie McDaniel at jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.org. Childcare for up to age 10 can be provided with advance
reservation.

Brad Sherrill returns to Eastminster

Performing Apostle - the writings
of Paul

Called Congregational Meeting,

Sunday, Sept. 20

There will be a Called Congregational Meeting after worship on Sunday, Sept. 20 for the purpose
electing new officers and voting on the proposed
purchase of property offered by The Hearth (formerly Carolina Childrens Home).

Update for September 20, 2015