Sunday, September 10 began a new year for our Adult Sunday Morning Communities. There are six different communities. The topic of study is listed below:
COLLEGE & CAREER:
Why Jesus by
Ravi Zacharias
REFORMATIONS:
Mark: A 12 Week Study
by Dane C. Ortlund
BEREANS: "The Gospel of Luke"
GOSPEL LIFE:
Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God by Rankin Wilbourne
LIVING STONES:
"Christ in the Book of
Ecclesiastes"
SOLA SCRIPTURA:
"David: A Man After God's
Own Heart"
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This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. We are offering this class as an introduction to the document that helped change the history of the world Luther's "theses" were particular countercultural in his day and continue to be revolutionary today! Join us for 5 weeks as we seek to explore this subject and its significance in our daily lives.
Wednesday Nights
6:15 pm Fellowship Hall
Led by Rev. Pardue
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PIPs are planning a day trip to Anniston, AL. on September 21 to visit the Berman Museum of World History and have lunch at the historic "Classic on Noble." We will leave the parking lot at 9:30 am and return by 4:30 pm. We need at least 10 to sign up in order to make the trip. Cost of the museum is $4.50 for seniors, $5 for adults. Bring money for lunch. Please sign up in the church office by Tuesday, September 19.
In addition, the PIPs will hold their monthly luncheon, Thursday September 28 at 11:45 am in the Fellowship Hall.
Dr. Aaron Rice will be our guest speaker. All are welcome to join us for a delicious lunch catered by Duffy's Deli Please make a reservation with the church office. Invite a friend and join us for great food, fun and fellowship.
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Upcoming Youth Events
Jr. High Fall Retreat
October 20-22
Sr. High Winter Retreat
December 26-30
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Community Project
Visit the SERVE board across from the coffee room in the Christian Life Center (King Hall) to learn how you may help!
46% of the city and 33% of the county students receive SNAP or TANF, are homeless, unaccompanied youth, or are in the foster system. Brighter Birthdays strives to ensure that every child in our community feels celebrated on their birthday.
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Hurricane Relief Fund
The people of areas
impacted by recent hurricanes and the surrounding areas need our prayers and support. Many volunteers have been aiding in the relief effort and need you! You can help! The main way you can help is donating money. Money, unlike blankets and bottled water, can be very versatile to those in the devastated areas.
Donations can be made to
our denomination's relief efforts through the church (with the designation that it is for the EPC Hurricane Relief Fund) or to the EPC directly. The Salvation Army and Samaritan's Purse are also accepting donations online and would appreciate your support.
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Missions Spotlight:
Vance Luke
Where would you like to celebrate your 99th birthday?!
If you are Vance Luke the answer is Kenya, Africa!
Our own, Vance Luke, will be travelling once again to Kenya, Africa in October. He will be accompanied by family (8!), friends, and 33 suitcases! One focus of the trip will be to conduct a Vacation Bible School at Naomi's Village Orphanage and to bring much needed supplies. Naomi's Village is located near
the truck stop town of Maai Mahiu, Kenya.Their website, https://www.naomisvillage.org/Home/About, shares the sad truth that "seven hundred Kenyan children every day hug their parent for the last time - one every two minutes." Unicef reports 2.6 million orphans, more than the total population of Dallas and Fort Worth combined. Six years ago, Naomi's Village was started
by Julie and Robert Mendonza. Bob was an American orthopedic Physician at the Mission hospital in Kijabe. God had other plans for him! Vance's daughter, Kay Mason, shared, "Naomi's Village is one of my favorite places on planet Earth! You can feel the Spirit of God when you step onto the grounds. All staff are active Christians. These children have been through so much and God is a major part of everyday - through singing, praying and worship. These children will be the future of Africa. They are given a top notch education, spiritual training, loved deeply by all staff from the cooks to the house "aunties".
Another major project for this trip will be to build a new classroom for the Kijabe preschool.
Just five years ago, the classroom had no supplies, teachers had not been paid for 2 months, the building was falling apart, and they were down to 8 students who were the poorest of the poor who could not pay tuition. Today they have 64 students, refurbished buildings, a kitchen, a lunch program and all three teachers and 2 aid/cooks-are paid on time. While Vance's little mission group completely sponsored them for three years, they are now self- supporting and growing - hence the need for a new classroom. Vance will serve as one of the two main mission team construction supervisors.
The school is even equipped with solar panel powered internet and computers! The preschool also provides a lunch program, which is the only meal for many of these children.
Upon graduating from pre-school, many could not attend the public school 1st grade, because they could not afford the required uniform. All graduating students are given 2 uniforms with shoes, sweater, and hat. These are provided by sponsors at some of the Luke family churches.
Ke
nya has sent teachers from other districts to see what is happening in Kijabe.
Vance Luke and his family noticed a decline in food production from local family garden plots. Upon investigation, they realized the plots planted in the hills, were being ravaged by monkeys. They have moved the fields down to lower plains and sent 3 workers to a "Farming God's Way" conference. Their fields have started to produce! Ten percent of the harvest goes to the school lunch program. None of these programs would be possible without God and His merciful equipping of Pastor Alex. Pastor Alex Mwaura pastors a Baptist church. He is involved in many ways with the entire community of Kijabe, which is predominantly Christian. He is a visionary and is always looking for ways to improve the lives of his people - both physically and spiritually. Pastor Alex manages each project during the year and uses each resource to its fullest. 
Vance Luke and his family are excited to see the miraculous way God will move on this trip. Vance Luke's daughter, Kay Mason, summed it up this way, "We don't know what we are doing, but God does!" They are already looking toward next year celebrating Vance Luke's 100th birthday surrounded by those he loves in Africa. Hometown Headlines recently published the following article on Vance Luke:
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Women...
There is still time to join a Small Group Shake Up. Choose from 3 different days at 4 different times.
Tuesday 10:30 am
Tuesday 1:30 pm
Wednesday 6:15 pm
Thursday 8:00 am
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Financial Report
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August
2017
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Monthly Budget
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Monthly Actual
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YTD Budget
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YTD Actua
l
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Income
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$190,932.09
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$121,120.00
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$1,572,456.64
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$1,224,842.14
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Expenses
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$190,932.16
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$165,067.60
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$1,527,456.36
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$1,315,882.66
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Net Balance
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($0.07)
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($43,947.60)
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$0.28
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($91,040.52)
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