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Call Us: (620) 342-0375
Address: 802 Commercial Street,
Emporia, KS 66801
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Welcome to the Emporia Presbyterian Church |
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Faith Statement: Through the love and inspiration of Jesus Christ and each other we reach out beyond ourselves to support others, continue to grow in faith, praise God, and celebrate His gifts.
Sunday's June 20 - August 8 indoor worship services at West and online
1702 W. 15th Avenue, 9:30a.m.
Join us for Online Worship
Go to our EPC website:
www.emporiapresbyterianchurch.org
click on the Worship tab
or watch from our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EmporiaPresbyterianChurch/
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Sunday, July 4
Independence Day
Worship indoors at West, 9:30am
Worship also continues online
Monday, July 5
Office Closed
Sunday, July 11
Seminarian Kevin Ireland, Preaching
Monday, July 12
No Session
Sunday, July 25
Session Sunday
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Takako Iyadomi &
Toshi Takami Jul 7
Katelyn & Blake Sprague Jul 9
Karen & Mitch Moorman Jul 11
Adriane & Jacob Lang Jul 12
Kala & Trent Olivier Jul 12
Sophie Thayer &
Scott Irwin Jul 18
Nickie & Rick Edwards Jul 31
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Mark Shook Jul 1
Annora Stutzman Jul 1
Kala Olivier Jul 10
Andrew Heermann Jul 10
Sharon Kaiser Jul 11
Kathie Buckman Jul 15
Ella Fessler Jul 17
Troy Chapman Jul 19
Scarlett Doudican Jul 22
Virginia Suddock Jul 22
Leo Atchison Jul 23
Taylor Cunningham Jul 26
Lee Tucker Jul 29
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What Time Is It?
I recently wished a friend Happy Birthday a few days late. I did not wish her a “Belated” Happy Birthday, just Happy Birthday, because, “really, time is just a construct anyway. Keep enjoying your day / month / new year!”
We talk about time in myriad ways. Some people are habitually on time. Procrastinated tasks are past time. Much needed, holy rest is Sabbath time. September – May is school time, while June-August is vacation time (roughly speaking). We carve out holiday time, family time, and me time as best we can. Sunday morning is traditionally God’s time, though there is actually an ancient term for God’s time. Kairos is God’s time, and just to be confusing to mortal sensibilities about chronological, linear time, kairos does not move in one direction or fall on any particular time or day. Strictly speaking, kairos is the propitious moment for a decision or action to take place – God’s opportune moment to act or spur God’s people to action. Cue Ordinary Time.
For years now (there’s another measure of time!), we have begun our worship time (there it is again!) by welcoming each other to worship on the 1st Sunday of Advent, the 2nd Sunday of Lent, the 3rd Sunday of Eastertide, or the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time. And every year, someone starts to snicker (okay, yes, it’s me) as those “ordinary” Sundays climb higher and higher in number. And every year, someone asks, “What is Ordinary Time, anyway?”
For the more visual among us, above right is the best explanation I’ve seen yet about the concept of the Christian year, the way we as Christ’s Church mark time. Half our year, we hear the Story of Jesus. These are extraordinary days filled with holy moments and historical glimpses of kairos. We hear what God did in and through Jesus. We hear how Jesus wants us to be with the Holy Spirit’s help. We celebrate. We reflect. We prepare and repent, and then we celebrate some more. Then the Christian calendar turns, and it’s Ordinary Time. It’s our time to be the people God creates us to be, following the teachings Christ instills within us, following the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit who nudges (and shoves) us along in due time.
Maybe it seems boring – ordinary time. Maybe it seems impossible – the last year and a half decidedly anything but ordinary by the measure of modern memory. But as summer takes hold on the prairie, as the agricultural year, the academic year, and the seasons of life roll on around us at their own paces, we find ourselves in a unique position to determine how God’s story will be told and unfold this time. Ordinary Time is our time to care of God’s creation entrusted to our stewardship. Ordinary Time is our time to be as Christ for those who need Good News. Ordinary Time is our time to take risks, imagine new expressions of being church, and act in ways that ignite faith and hope and love in a weary world. Ordinary Time is our time, not narrowly defined but constructed over years and lifetimes of worship, witness, and work in Christ’s name.
What time is it? It’s time to be the church God calls us to be, to be the family of faith EPC has nurtured itself to be, to live and tell our story of faith. You know, the ordinary things.
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Welcome, Family Promise of the Flint Hills
by Amanda Cunningham
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Family Promise of the Flint Hills is open and has hired its first Executive Director, Jessica Corpening. Jessica is passionate about helping people and has spent the last 8 years working to improve the lives of others. She lives in Americus, Kansas, is married, and has a young son.
The Family Promise office opened May 10th in the upstairs, north wing of West Campus which will also serve as the day house. Plans are being made to have lodging for the first homeless family in the next couple of months through the utilization of a hotel and the Emergency Solutions Grant that was received to help with funding. Jessica has moved into her office and is working on getting all the things necessary to running an organization and being ready to help the first family. She is working closely with the Midwest Regional Director of Family Promise and attending lots of trainings and information sessions.
The Family Promise Board, working closely with EPC's Session and Property Committee, hopes to start renovations at the West Campus for the day center to include showers and laundry facilities soon after having the first family identified, using funding primarily from grant and donation sources. In the meantime, families in the Family Promise program will come to West Campus during the day to attend classes, gain support from Jessica, and to have an opportunity to work on job applications and other necessary things to move into more independent living. Due to the confidential nature of participants in the program, especially the children, and church and Family Promise requirements around volunteer training and safety, please contact Jessica before dropping by or wandering through the day center area of West Campus. You can reach the Family Promise office at 620-208-7774.
Hopefully you have seen other updates through Facebook and The Emporia Gazette, as well as heard about it on KVOE. The Family Promise Board also sent out information to all of our partnering churches and has gone to various clubs to talk about the mission of Family Promise and the progress made. Communication has gone out to those individuals who signed a Family Promise Club 273 pledge to let them know they can now send their donation to the West Campus. We are grateful that EPC signed on early to be a strong partner of Family Promise, and we are excited to organize EPC volunteers soon.
Family Promise will hold an Open House at West Campus, Monday, June 28, 4:00-6:00pm.
Please reach out to Amanda Gutierrez or Amanda Cunningham if you have any questions.
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Local Mission Assistance Fund Update |
Our Local Mission Assistance Funds are to help out locally for those in need. Funds are used primarily to pay for food vouchers and some utility bills. Thank you to those who have offered their gifts to keep the fund going.
In the month of June, we disbursed $251.38
Currently, the Local Mission Assistance Fund balance is $7,375.71
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Monthly Mission Food Collection |
Please donate food items at West in the Little Blessings Box located outside. Be mindful of the weather as you pick non-perishable items. Take a selfie of you and your donation, and email it to the church at: businessoffice.epc@gmail.com |
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Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 2021 Pictures |
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Church Family Vacation Bible School Pictures
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Hello from the Irelands in Austin! by Michael Ireland
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It was a joy to meet with the Session this month to re-connect and update y’all on my progress at Austin Seminary.
What a year it’s been - COVID lock down, three students on Zoom in a small 3-bedroom duplex, Rachel’s loss of employment, February snowstorms, power and water outages - sledding in Austin! We have been blessed to be part of the seminary community, and I’m grateful to have been a student during this weird time. Our family has grown closer, and it’s been a joy to watch the kids grow into their own.
Kiran was thrilled to be accepted into the McCallum Fine Arts Academy where she will attend as a freshman next year. Rowan swam competitively on the High School swim team - a huge step up from the Cottonwood Falls pool. Both have managed to traverse the obstacles of online learning with aplomb (but really missed time with friends). Rachel is slowly building a private practice provide in-home therapeutic massage treatments, after the spa where she was previously working closed during the pandemic.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my classes at APTS and received a 4.0 GPA for the spring term. I served as the student representative on the seminary Worship Committee and as a Resident Assistant for campus housing and am serving as a student senator for the senior class for the ’21-’22 school year. I also, passed my ordination exams in church polity and biblical exegesis.
This spring I began an internship at Westlake Hills Presbyterian - a corporate sized congregation just outside of Austin. It’s been a joy to be back working in a church. I’ve had the pleasure to plan and lead bible studies, and retreats, participate in worship, and learn how to play with all their fancy toys for streaming on-line worship. I’m working full-time for the congregation this summer helping to re-establish their ministry for elderly folks as facilities began to re-open, and I’m excited to preach for both services later this summer. I will complete the second half of my internship in the fall.
I’m thankful to the Session and all y’all for your continued support and prayers for our family as we continue on this journey, and I’m grateful for your recommendation to approve moving me to Candidate for Ordination. We’re blessed to walk the path with you.
I look forward to seeing y’all on July 11th!
Peace, Love, and Grace,
Kevin Ireland
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Thank you to Takako & Toshi |
Emporia Presbyterian Church mailed off a packet to Takako Iyadomi and Toshi Takami in Japan to honor them for generously providing us with a weekly Hymn of the day for our online worship service.
The packet we sent to Takako and Toshi included thank you cards, and a copy of the Glory to God Hymnal, the Accompaniment Edition.
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Thank You from
Taylor Moorman
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EPC presented Taylor Moorman with a devotional book for his High School graduation.
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You may have seen “Love Your Neighbor” signs springing up in your neighbors’ yards the past few months. Now, thanks to a grant through Kansas Leadership Center, “Love Your Neighbor” signs are being shared with Lyon County Ministerial Alliance member churches which includes EPC! EPC still has 26 signs available on a first come-first serve basis. You can pick one up from the church office, or let us know and we can deliver. |
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We also have “Growing with EPC” signs still available from our family sign drop last Fall, a nice reminder as the grass keeps growing with all the rain. There are 9 of these left, if yours blew away, has seen better days, or if you missed the first run. Again, stop by to pick one up, or let the office know and we’ll drop one by. |
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Church Library Great Reads by Sharon Stewart
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Children's books can serve as a creative way to explain basic truths to children. They can also help adults to form their own opinions about creation, life, death, and God. We have some beautiful books in the children's church library that illustrate in words and pictures these concepts.
GENESIS, art by Ed Young, illustrates the beginning as told from the King James version of the Bible.
GOD'S PAINTBRUSH by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. "Have you ever wondered about God? What does God look like? Is God ever sad? Where would you look for God? What does God want you to do?"
WHEN GOD WAS A LITTLE GIRL by David R. Weiss, winner of the Nautilis Books Award, and Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. While on a long car trip, a little girl imagines that the creator sings the world into being, aided by paint, glue, glitter, and laughter.
EVOLUTION by Joanna Cole. This is a fascinating look at the process of evolution created in an especially thought-provoking, yet easy to understand way.
THE NEXT PLACE by Warren Hanson. In simple terms this is a celebration of life. "Hear the music, feel the warmth, and be carried away along life's everlasting flight."
You can find these and other Great Reads on the piano in the Friendship Room Downtown.
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MBF Financial Administrator Needed |
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The MBF Trustees currently consist of seven trustees and two Financial Administrators. The committee has identified the need to have a third person to be on deck in case someone is unable to fulfill their duties. There is also concern that there needs to be some succession planning to ensure there is knowledge to fill a Financial Administrator role.
MBF Trustees would like to ask the congregation if anyone may have an interest in learning about the MBF Financial Administrator role. If so, please contact Don Miller, MBF Financial Administrator.
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Chimes Updated by Sharon Stewart
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Have you heard the new carillon chimes ringing out hymns and the Westminster chimes chiming on the quarter hour throughout the day, broadcasting their songs up and down Commercial Street?
Upon hearing familiar melodies you can't help but stop, listen, and think "God's in his heaven, all's right with the world."
Chimes were originally given by Clara Eckdall in memory of her husband, Dr. Funston Eckdall. Sue Longbine updated them in memory of her mother, Lee Handy. Sharon and Max Stewart replaced the chimes dedicating them to Sharon's mother, Margaret Spencer.
Recently, both Sharon and Max Stewart, and the Emporia Presbyterian Church, replaced the old chimes with a new digital version that caretaker, Bob Edmiston, says is easier to run, and less likely to need repairs.
At noon, and throughout the day, sit in the church parking lot, wander down the street, delight in a coffee, a cold drink, or a chocolate, and listen to the melodies assuring the listeners that God is Love.
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Treasurer's Report by Tammy Cheeseman
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Treasurer’s Report June 2021
1. As of the end of May, 22 Sundays (or 41.5% of the calendar year) have passed.
2. Pledges received in May totaled $8,355.00. Loose offering received was $490.00.
3. Operating expenses for May totaled $19,162.21.
4. We received a check from Wells Fargo for $9,059.20.
5. Utility cost for May were $1,626.43.
6. Through the first five months of the year, here are the percentages of budget expended (see the Budget Comparison report for dollar figures).
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Information needed by
July 15th
for the August 2021 Presby News.
To submit or suggest articles, contact
Diana Hizar, Business Manager,
620-342-0375.
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Weekday Office Hours:
Downtown Campus
Tuesday – Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm
Office Phone: 620-342-0375
Office Email: businessoffice.epc@gmail.com
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Website: www.emporiapresbyterianchurch.org
Pastor: Rev. Phyllis Stutzman
Email: pastorphyl.epc@gmail.com
Address:
Downtown - 802 Commercial Street, Emporia KS 66801
West - 1702 W 15th Avenue, Emporia KS 66801
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SESSION MEMBERS
Meets Second Monday of the Month Downtown at 6:00 P.M.
Pastor Phyl moderator
Kathie Buckman clerk of Session (620)412-1971
email: kbuckman@hotmail.com
Rhonda Gordon (620)366-5169
rgordon7713@gmail.com
Amanda Gutierrez (620)794-7770
email: flick25_2000@yahoo.com
Becky Hadicke (620)343-5547
email: rhadicke18@gmail.com
Connie Jobe (620)255-3441
Email: connie_jobe00@hotmail.com
Linda Miller (620)342-5448
email: lemiller_2214@yahoo.com
Brett Stewart (620)340-9590
Kim Stewart (620)342-4792
email: bobandkim2915@gmail.com
Ken Weaver (620)757-1920
email: knweaver51@gmail.com
Church Treasurer – Tammy Cheeseman
email: tammy_cheeseman@yahoo.com
MISSION AND BUILDING FUND TRUSTEES
Dean Edmiston and Don Miller, Financial Administrators.
Chair, Brett Stewart (Session);
Vice-Chair, Rhonda Gordon (Session)
Secretary, Amanda Cunningham;
Members: Nickie Edwards, Martha Shook, Sharon Stewart
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Betty Campbell, Lee Tucker
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STEWARDSHIP & FINANCE COMMITTEE
Chair, TBD, Tammy & Michael Cheeseman, Connie Jobe, Mitch Moorman, Carolyn Turney
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND NURTURE COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs, Amanda Gutierrez & Connie Jobe; Amanda Cunningham, Karen Moorman, Laura Parish
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Chair, Brad Stewart; Kathie Buckman; Linda Miller
PROPERTY COMMITTEE
Chair, Lois Schrock; Tammy Cheeseman, Amanda Gutierrez, Max Stewart, Sharon Stewart
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Adriane Lang, Susan Severin, Martha Shook, Brett Stewart (Session), Becky Hadicke (Session)
WORSHIP COMMITTEE
Chair, Ken Weaver; Karen Moorman; Margaret Davidson, Nickie Edwards, Becky Hadicke
VISITATION COMMITTEE
Chair, Sue Jones; Rick Buck, Betty Campbell, Margaret Davidson, Nickie Edwards, Pat Ireland, Maxine Mitchell, Karen Moorman, Max & Sharon Stewart
MISSION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Chair, Amanda Gutierrez, Amanda Cunningham, Lois Schrock
EMPORIA CHILD CARE BOARD
Board Member, Nickie Edwards
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802 Commercial St. • Emporia, KS 66801
(620) 342-0375
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