E Update

VOLU M E 4 0 N U M BE R 8 | F E BRUA RY 21, 2016

EASTMINSTERPRES.ORG

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
REV. CHRIS SCOTT
Parish Associate
MR. CROSKEYS ROYALL
Director of Childrens Ministries
MRS. FREDNA LEE
Director of Music Ministries
MRS. ANITA POOLE
EDS Director
MR. WILLIAM L. COLLINS, JR.
Business Manager
MS. JULIE MCDANIEL
Member Involvement
Coordinator

Presidential primaries and a church-wide focus on

prayer may seem mutually exclusive, but our reformed
understanding of God leads us to understand that all of
life - private and public, sacred and secular - falls under
Gods sovereign rule. Our Lord has created us to live in
community with others and Scripture is clear that God
judges nations as well as persons.
As Christians, our understanding of Gods Word and
Gods Will should shape both our views and our votes. I
encourage you to be a good steward of the great freedom
we enjoy as a country by voting. Furthermore, I encourage you to cast your vote as an
act of faithfulness to God.
Mindful of the privilege of praying for others and of the perspective that prayer can
provide, let me share a portion of the pastoral prayer from this past Sundays Jubilee
worship
We pray for the men and women who are campaigning for, and those who hold,
offices of public trust. Knowing that You are sovereign over all life, may soundbites
be replaced by a sense of sacred responsibility, and may the politics of division and
destruction give way to a spirit of unity, community and shared sacrifice for the common good.
We pray for missionaries who bear witness to You in distant lands - John McCall in
Taiwan, Sarah Snapp in Bolivia and the Fletchers in the Congo, and we pray for one
another in this place, that we too would be missionaries, bearing witness to You in
the homes, cars, neighborhoods, offices and places of commerce of this community.
On this and every day, we give thanks for the great love You give each of us in
Jesus Christthat regardless of our circumstance or situation, we are loved by You,
our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sustainer. Knowing Your great love for even us, help
us, O Lord, in grateful response to share Your life changing love with others.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
See You Sunday,

Recently at EPC...On Ash Wednesday,

Dinner and a Communion Service, the Beginning of Lent...Our New Associate Pastor and his
Family were Introduced by APNCs Chair,
Boo Griffin...Beautiful Art was Received for
Youth Sunday, Created by Julia & Anna...
A Choral Group Came to Sing for Valentines
Day all over Campus...Grandparents Day Was
a Success! Pictured below, the Threes of EDS...

WE@EPC - MENUS
WEDNESDAYS 5:15 PM- TH
FEBRUARY 17

Assorted Individual Pizzas: (3 kinds)

Pepperoni/Sausage/Onion/Mushroom &
Peppers
OR Chicken/Spinach Alfredo
OR Ham/Pineapple & Peppers
Salads
Dessert
Childrens Menu: Pizza (Cheese OR Cheese/Pepperoni), Salad & Sliced Apples

FEBRUARY 24

Baked Potato Bar with Assorted Toppings

Salads
Dessert
Childrens Menu: Baked Potato with
Cheese and Bacon & Fruit

MARCH 2

Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Steamed Fennel and Potatoes
Roasted Butternut Squash
Rolls
Salads
Dessert
Childrens Menu: Hotdogs, Shoestring French
Fries, Carrots & Celery with Ranch Dressing

Please join us as we welcome

Rev. Brian Marsh as our new Associate Pastor of Young Adults,
Evangelism & Membership. If you
were present for the Congregational
Meeting on Ash Wednesday, you
have already had an introduction to
Brian and his wife, Marya and son,
Conner Brian, who will be returning
to South Carolina, after serving at the First Presbyterian
Church in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Both Brian and his wife, Marya, are Clemson graduates
originally from North Augusta. Maryas degree is in Elementary Education, and Brian graduated in Engineering in
2006. He worked as a Process Engineer for Bridgestone/
Firestone for four years before attending Gordon-Conwell
Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts,
where he received his Masters of Divinity in 2014.
As an Associate Pastor, Brian will work with EPCs young
adults and provide the leadership for Evangelism and Membership. In addition, he will supervise the middle and high
school youth directors. Brian will also help with hospital
visitation, congregational care, teaching, worship leadership
and more.
When Rev. Bobby Fuller, the Sr. Paster at Fairview
Presbyterian Church in North Augusta, who grew up here
at Eastminseter, was asked to say a few words on Brians
behalf, he had this to say:
Brian Marsh is one of the finest young ministers I know. His
professional work before seminary and his leadership in his home
church have given him the real world experience he needs to be a
great pastor. He and his wife Marya are grounded disciples of Jesus Christ. They are people of authentic compassion and theological depth because they are committed to His word and in love
with His gospel.
We are grateful to God for Brians gifts, experiences, and
passion to serve Jesus Christ, and we are so excited to welcome
Brian, Marya, their son, Connor, and Connors
soon-to-arrive little brother, to the Eastminster family.

EASTER 2016 SNAPSHOT SAVE THE DATES:

Holy Week Schedule:
March 24 - Maundy Thursday Seder Meal
& Communion Service
6:00 p.m. Seder Dinner in Thompson Hall
7:00 p.m. Communion Service in the Sanctuary
March 25 - Good Friday Service
12:00 p.m. Community Service with Shandon
Presbyterian Church in the EPC Sanctuary
March 27 - EASTER SUNDAY
Sunrise Service
6:45 a.m. Community Service in
Eastminsters Courtyard
Easter Worship Services
8:45 a.m. (Traditional)
& 10:30 a.m. (Traditional and Jubilee)
Easter Celebration
(9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Drop-in Fellowship in Courtyard)

Memorial Gifts Supporting the General Fund

In honor of Helen Childers, given by
Lindsey & Charlie Griffin.
Memorial Gifts Supporting the Youth Ministry
Enhancement Fund
In memory of Elyssa Grace Hill, given by
Sharmin & John Hill.

Congregational Care & Concern

Hospitals:
Meg Dillard - Richland

Special thanks and gratitude goes out to the Associate

Pastor Nominating Commitee, chaired by Boo Griffin,
for their faithful dedication and discernment in the
decision and recommendation to call Brian Marsh as an
Associate Pastor to Eastminster.

Deaths: Love and Sympathy go out to

Melanie (Michael) DaVega, in the loss of her
stepfather, Walt Rucker, on 2/9.
And to Phyllis Trippe and Val Sawyer, in the loss
of their sister-in-law, Stacy Sawyer, on 2/10.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

3200 Trenholm Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29204

Sr. High will attend the Fun in the Son

Youth Conference at Hilton Head, July
17-22, 2016. Cost: $430 for the 1st 10
to register. After that the cost goes up to
$460. A deposit of $100 is due by March
28th.

Retreats:
Jr. High will attend the Montreat
MS Conference at Maryville College,
Maryville, TN. (This replaces The Great
Escape) July 20-24, 2016. Cost: $425.
Deposit of $212.50 due by March 31st.

Sr. High will be attending Salkehatchie

Summer Service in Aiken, SC, June 1825, 2016. Cost is $250. A $50 deposit
is required to hold your spot and is due
by March 31st. To learn more go to
Salkehatchie.com to view pictures and
videos.

Missions:
Jr. High mission trip to Savannah,
GA, June 26-July 1, 2016 through
YOUTHWORKS. Cost is $340. A $100
deposit is due by March 1st.

SUMMER 2016 YOUTH MISSIONS &

FELLOWSHIP - SAVE THE DATES:

Deadline for UPDATE:

Send your information to share with the congregation to communications@eastminsterpres.org.
Please have your information in by February 28th
for the March 13th Update.

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

Update for February 21, 2016