The Proclaimer

Our weekly newsletter to help to keep you informed.

Epiphany Lutheran Church

2370 West Main Street

Rock Hill, SC 29732

803.324.8877

[email protected]

February 1, 2023

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

February 5, 2023

Click on the links below to read this Sunday's scriptures:

PLACING OUR HOPE AND TRUST IN GOD

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust… from my youth. Psalm 71 verse 5

We hear a prayer from one who is older, asking for help in the midst of trouble.

Few other psalms make reference to young and old age like the words of Psalm 71. It is in looking back at how God has been faithful to protect and provide for us, that we are encouraged to put our hope and our trust in God’s promises. We still have our worries in old age, but we have a lifetime of proof that God helps us! 

We are a week and a half away from our 12th Annual Chocolate Festival!!! This is a chance for us to welcome the community to our church for a fun and spirited event. "Why do we have a Chocolate Festival?" and "How did it all get started?" Check out this summary that provides an answer to these questions: Chocolate Festival. We need everyone's help! Find out more details below.

We have a special opportunity this Sunday during worship to hear from a guest speaker, Shahram Mazhari. He is a professor at York Technical College and is Persian. He is a friend of Amanda and Essie Maghsoud. He will speak to us at the beginning of our worship about the atrocities taken place in Iran and why many Iranian-Americans are protesting against what the Iranian government is doing. Shahram will also play music for us on his santour (Persian/Iranian dulcimer). Shahram is a passionate human rights advocate, and Amanda's husband, Essie, is Muslim. We have the opportunity to learn from their sharing with us and to stand in solidarity with them during this difficult time for their people.

We have ONE SERVICE this Sunday at 10:30am, with a covered-dish lunch after worship.

We also have children's Sunday School (ages K-12; 9:15am-10:15am). The adult Bible Growth Group is gathering during the Sunday School hour in the Community Room.

See you in worship or on-line!

Pastor Ken

HELP NEEDED BAKING CHOCOLATE ITEMS!!! SIGN UP HERE

We need your help baking anything with chocolate in it for our fabulous bake sale at our Chocolate Festival. Sign-up using link above or on sheets in the Gathering Area.

Please bring your items to the church no later than noon on Friday, February 10th. If you would like to bring your items earlier in the week, there will be room in the church refrigerator and freezer. In 2020 we had more than 1,00 baked goods to sell, so we need an ample amount of time to box and price the items.

Please include your name, the name of your item, and indicate if there are nuts or peanut butter in the recipe (for allergy purposes). Place your name on your containers so we can be sure that they are returned to their owners. There is no need to slice your baked goods. We will take care of the packaging, labeling, and pricing. We have plastic cake totes and 9 inch pie containers available.

After the last Chocolate Festival, we had requests for MORE chocolate covered bacon, Rice Krispy Treats, footballs, plain fudge-no nuts, MORE pies, MORE chocolate covered strawberries, buckeyes, chocolate cheesecakes, whoopie pies, MORE cake pops.

If you have any questions about the bake sale, please contact Shirley Meyer.

HELP NEEDED: MAKING CHOCOLATE CHILI AND SIGN UP HERE TO HELP WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OF FESTIVAL - Our Chocolate Festival is approaching so I am calling on our Epiphany family to help our subcommittees. On Thursday evening, we need help to make the Chocolate Chili. On Friday (all day) we need people to receive the baked good and price them plus cutting up fruit. On Saturday, we'll need help setting up, serving during the festival and taking down. Sign up for a time slot at the link above or on the back table in the narthex.

COMING DOWN THE HOME STRETCH

The Chocolate Festival committee is busy, busy preparing for February 11th. With finalizing for the various areas, we are confident everything will be ready as planned.

We are blessed this year with our corporate sponsor, O' Darby's Spirits. Thank you, Doug and Sandra Hinson. Our bounce house also received a sponsor, Alexander Realty and Construction.

This Epiphany family is a special place with special people. We thank everyone that has signed up to work next week. We can't stop there thanking people. The

bakers are a big key to our Chocolate Festival, so thank you to all of you. Such an exciting time!!

NOTE THE CHANGE IN MEETING TIME: The Chocolate Committee Meeting is Thursday, February 2, at 6:30pm

Barbara Eggert

PICTURES OF PLAYGROUND BUILD -

Saturday, January 28

A picture of the group of scouts and church members.

The scouts getting the playground equipment in right spot.

Putting together the different pieces of the playground

Dianne, James, and Cooper working together.

The Playground structure is up; rubber mulch to be added.

It's next to our building storage shed behind the church.

TEACHERS AND CHILDREN AT YORK ROAD ELEMENTARY NEED OUR HELP-

We have developed a partnership with teachers/students at York Road Elementary. We are SHARING THE LOVE OF GOD! 

The guidance counselor shared that many of the children are either on the verge of homelessness or are homeless. That’s why everything we do to help them is so appreciated. Her recent message said “when our school nurse went to look for clothes for one of our kids she told me she had to just sit on the floor in the clothing closet and cry out of overwhelming joy at seeing all the wonderful clothes, coats and everything your church donated to us.” Right now they are in need of fun pencils, folders and other small items (rubber bracelets, erasers, stress balls, fidget items, or Happy Meals from McDonalds) they can use as incentives and rewards. An urgent need is lice shampoo, backpacks and Kleenex. They also need men to serve as mentors for at risk students. If you feel led to be a mentor contact Sharon Eichler. All other items can be placed in the bin marked “York Road Elementary”. Thank you!

Sunday, February 19

After the 10:30am Worship Service - We will have our Annual Congregational Meeting on Feb. 19 to vote on the Proposed 2023 Ministry Spending Plan, Elect Nomination Committee persons, and to hear reports about our ministry.

Discussion Forums are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 5 and 12, at 11:30am, for members to ask any questions about the Proposed 2023 Ministry Spending Plan (MSP) (click this link to view). The MSP was handed out after worship on Jan. 29 for members to review.

SAVE THE DATE- March 23- 26

WOMEN'S RETREAT

 We really hope you will join us for the 2023 Women of Epiphany Retreat at the Coastal Retreat Center in Isle of Palms! 

We are planning a weekend of fellowship, laughter, learning, devotion and of course time at the beach.  The price per room is based on how many people share: single room is $180, two sharing is $95 each, three sharing is $67 each and four sharing is $53 each. If you want to bring your own towels and sheets, you can save $20 per room. Please let us know if you can join us - We would love for you to be there!

Any questions please feel free to ask Arlene Vecellio, Angie Gregory or Angela Sugameli

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE - SEGMENT THREE - Schedule and Reflection Booklets

We continue with our third segment (2 Chronicles-Malachi; Jan. 9- May26). The Reading Schedule and Reflection Question Booklets are available in the Gathering Area (or on website).

WORSHIP SCHEDULE:

Sunday, February 5, 10:30am (ONE SERVICE)

Covered Dish after service

It is the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. The 10:30am service will be livestreamed. Join us in-person or on-line.

Shawn Price (fighting cancer) /Phyllis Lewis

Drew Wolynies (ongoing health issues / Marilyn Magers)

Amelia List (ongoing health issues) / Pastor Ken

Judy (cancer of the spine) /sister -in-law of Jo Giliberti

Ilana Cohen (stage 4 lung cancer) /J. Gillette

Donna Pontus (cancer) / D. Keener

Cindy Althouse (Del Eggert's cousin/ terminal cancer) /B. Eggert

Fred Patriaca (cancer) / Jan Droz

Jordan Meader (husband of Jean Woods' granddaughter) /Pastor Ken

The Hall Family (continuing spiritual support) /M.Magers

Sean Wiggins (stage 4 ovarian cancer) /J. Gillette

Jack Lewis (eye issues /Phyllis Lewis' husband) / Pastor Ken

Weltha Martin (moved to Nursing Skill Care ) /Pastor Ken

Jenny Gwaltney ( recovery from surgery/ Pastor Ken

James Bennett (Parkinson's disease) Pastor Ken

Family of Brandon Evans (death of Brandon) /J. Gillette

Jan Droz (recovering from shoulder surgery)

Anne Blackwell (prayers for ongoing issues) /Leslie Cooper

Jimmie Stewart /J. Krenzer

Updated 01/24/2023

Important Reminder: Please call the church office to update your prayer request. If you don't update your prayer request after two months, they probably will be removed. You can always add them back. (J. Waldrop)