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]

January 17, 2024

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

Third Sunday after Epiphany

January 21, 2024

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

TRUSTING IN GOD'S POWER AND LOVE

For God alone I wait in silence; truly, my hope is in God.  Psalm 62 verse 5

These words are a personal expression of trust in God, followed by particular instructions to trust in God. They are repeated from verse 1 as a refrain in the psalm, with the additional words, “God alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so I shall never be shaken.”  We are told that we can trust in God’s power to save us from what we fear and what threatens us, because God’s steadfast love is always available to us. This psalm can be read and prayed in a lot of situations, giving us words to express our trust in God’s promise.

There are a couple things happening of which I want to make you aware. The Proposed 2024 Mission Spending Plan (MSP-budget) is being emailed to members this Friday for review. On Sunday, there are two forums (9am and 11:40am - after both worship services) that are scheduled for members to attend and ask questions to clarity what is presented in the Proposed 2024 Mission Spending Plan.

We have a supply minister this Sunday who will be preaching and leading worship, Rev. Norbert Hahn. Rev. Hahn and his wife, Lyn, have been worshipping with us over the past five months. I will be taking a vacation this Sunday.

This Sunday we have two worship services, 8:00am and 10:30am.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Ken 

Sunday School (4K through High School) is meeting on the 1st and 3rd Sundays -

Sunday School will meet THIS SUNDAY (Jan. 21, 9:15am-10:15am) for children/youth in 4K through High School. Any questions, contact Debbie Keener. In addition, an adult class will also be meeting in the church office conference room, using The Wire Word for their curriculum.

INTRODUCING THE REV. DR. NORBERT F. HAHN SUPPLY PASTOR JAN. 21 - Pastor Hahn, as he likes to be called, currently serves as campus minister at Winthrop Ecumenical Lutheran Campus Ministry (WELCM), a collaborative effort of congregations in the SC Synod and hosted by Grace Lutheran Church in Rock Hill.

He brings an international perspective with him as he has lived and has been educated in both the United States (M.Div., Harvard; PhD., Emory) and Germany. He has served as parish pastor in Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Northern Germany and as campus minister at three different universities in the U.S. In a previous chapter of his ministry, he served as church growth consultant.

He enjoys walking, cooking, and gardening with his wife, Lyn, playing his guitar, reading, and, occasionally, binge-watching an interesting TV series. He and Lyn serve as staff to their two cats. They have been worshipping at Epiphany

with Lyn’ sister, Lisa. Pastor Hahn can be reached at [email protected]

IN MEMORY AND THANKS TO GOD FOR JOYCE GILLETTE.

 (see picture below of her and her beloved cat, Hans Solo)

Her memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 13, at Epiphany. It was livestreamed and is available on Facebook for viewing (click HERE to view). It was very meaningful service for her friends and family.

HOSPITALITY PROJECT COMPLETED-

Thanks to the group of men who installed pavers outside the kitchen door that will greatly improve access to this door for the Chocolate Festival and other occasions.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will be meeting at 10:00 AM on the 1st and 3rd Mondays each month. The next meeting is Monday, Feb. 5. Please come and join us!!! No experience is needed!!! Great time of fellowship. Any questions, please contact Sue Helmken or the Church Office.

COUNCIL APPEAL FOR GIFTS TO SUPPLEMENT GOOD SAMARITAN FUNDS - There was a request of financial assistance to help a member the week before Christmas. Good Samaritan funds were used to meet this need. Because the gift given was a larger amount than usual, Council agreed to announce a short-term appeal to match the funds given, so that Good Samaritan funds will be available for others in the future. Any one who wishes give to this appeal, can make their checks to "Epiphany Lutheran Church," with the designation, "Good Samaritan Funds - Dec. appeal." If you have questions, you may contact Pastor Ken.

What is the Good Samaritan Fund? It is a fund that was set up by Council in April 2023, utilizing half of the interest from the major gift given to the church (Oct. 2022) in order to assist outreach ministries. The Treasurer will determine the amount (50% of interest earned on a bi-annual basis) and place in a designated fund so that the Pastor in consultation with the Community Ministries MLT and/or the Council can disperse funds to support outreach ministries and help people who have need. It is preferred that funds be used to match contributions made through an appeal of funds that are collected from the congregation.

Chocolate Festival

Saturday, February 10

11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Calling all bakers!! 

We need your help in preparing anything you wish that contains chocolate for our fabulous Bake Sale at the Chocolate Festival. Sign-up sheets are located in the church narthex. 

Items need to be brought to the church by Thursday, February 8 at 7:00 pm. If you would like to bring your items earlier, there will be room in the church refrigerator and freezer. Please include the name of your item and indicate if there are nuts in the recipe (for allergy reasons). There is no need to slice your baked goods. We will take care of packaging, labeling, and pricing. Place your name on your containers so that we can be sure they are returned to their owners.

If you have any questions, please see Shirley Meyer or text (803) 487-7344. Thank you in advance!!!

Thanks, Shirley Meyer

UPDATE ON CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL PLANNING MEETINGS

Thursday, Jan. 18 (TOMORROW) 6:30pm is the next meeting. We will meet every Thursday 6:30pm (Jan. 18, 25, and Feb. 1) until the Chocolate Festival on February 10.

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY - BOOK OF REVELATION - BEGINNING JAN. 17 9:30AM - A five week session will be led by Delbert Eggert, utilizing a couple resources, Breaking the Code, by Bruce Metzger, and a study by Lutheran Pastor, David Armstrong. The first meeting on Jan. 17 will involve watching a session of the DVD series (9:30am-11:00am). The meeting times thereafter, Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7, and 14, may be adjusted to 10am-11am. If questions, contact Del Eggert.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE:

Festival of the Epiphany, January 21

8:00AM & 10:30AM

The 10:30am service will be livestreamed.

Join us in-person or on-line.

Worship Videos on Epiphany's Facebook Page - Sunday 10:30am and anytime afterwards

Worship Videos on Epiphany's Website (uploaded livestream; available by 12:00pm)

Epiphany Lutheran Church Rock Hill YouTube channel - Sunday 10:30am and afterwards

Shawn Price (fighting cancer) /Phyllis Lewis

Drew Wolynies (ongoing health issues / Marilyn Magers)

Amelia List (ongoing health issues) / Pastor Ken

Pamela and Bobby Hall (continuing spiritual support) /M. Magers

Weltha Martin (Hospice care ) /Pastor Ken

James Bennett (Parkinson's disease) Pastor Ken

Anne Blackwell (prayers for ongoing issues) /Leslie Cooper

Ella Campbell ongoing health issues/friend of Marilyn Magers

Pauline Zazula (Julie List's mother/ongoing health problems) /Pastor Ken

Jimmie Stewart (cancer) /J. Krenzer

Carl and Jean Blaylock /friends of J. Krenzer

Joseph Border (Lynn Arnson's dad) /J. Krenzer

Ken Douthitt (ongoing health issues/healing) /M. Magers

Rebeka Carlin and her husband Joshua) /niece of Karen Whitley

Jeffery Sligh (cancer treatment/ friend of the Magers) /M. Magers

Shirley Robinson (mother of Joy Robinson/ cancer screening) / M. Magers

Martha Zook (ongoing health issues) /J. Marriott

Kathy Glancy (Ray Kilburg's daughter) /A. Kilburg

Irene Lewis (mild stroke) /P. Lewis

Ronnie Sanders (friend of Bill and Jan Droz)

Margaret Matteson (cancer diagnosis/ daughter of Ellen Morrison) P. Ken

Libby Welter (complications from diabetes/ mother of Robin Brooks) P. Ken

Joy and Shirley Robinson (storm damage to house/displaced) /P. Ken

Caitlen Wiedel (surgery on 1/15) P. Ken

Keyara Bellamy (car accident/surgery on leg/ granddaughter of Anne Kilburg)P. Ken

Mona Belk (Karen Hall's cousin)

Updated 1/17/2023

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)