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Epiphany Lutheran Church
2370 West Main Street
Rock Hill, SC 29732
803.324.8877
epiphany@epiphany-rockhill.org
The Proclaimer
Epiphany's weekly newsletter to help keep you informed.
March 25, 2020
Fifth Sunday in Lent

March 29, 2020
Click on the links below to read this Sunday's scriptures:
A Conversation With Your Pastor
“I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.”    Ezekiel 37:5 
  
Ezekiel’s prophetic words reflect the message that God’s Spirit has been placed in us in order to give us life!  It is my prayer that God’s Spirit is sustaining you with hope and faith during this extended time of limited mobility.  
 
We continue to provide livestream video of our Wednesday night and Sunday morning worship services on Epiphany’s Facebook page. The same videos have recently been uploaded to the church website and are available under the drop down menu tab “Worship Service Videos.”  When you watch the worship videos on Facebook, you are encouraged to share them with your social network of friends, so that others can worship with us and the gospel message of hope can be extended!     
 
As the CDC guidelines become more restrictive and the outbreak more widespread locally, members have the option to contact our Ministry of Support (for people to run errands to the grocery store, pharmacy, or other destinations for you or people that you know). Contact Christia at  christia@fmhm.org  or 803-370-1010.  
 
Some have mentioned how they have missed the sense of being together and the opportunity to participate in Holy Communion. After discussion with Worship MLT leaders and correspondence with the SC Synod office, we will be planning to share communion during our livestream worship service this Sunday, March 29. Please read the instructions below to prepare in participating in receiving Holy Communion while in your home watching the livestream video.  May God’s Spirit unite us as gather “virtually” to hear God’s Word proclaimed and to celebrate the sacrament of Jesus’ presence in Holy Communion.  
 
See you in church on LIVESTREAM! 
Pastor Ken  
The Gifts of God for the People of God.
THANKS BE TO GOD!
OPTIONS FOR OFFERINGS DURING THIS TIME OF LIVESTREAM WORSHIP:
1) DIGITAL/ELECTRONIC GIVING - This has become the most convenient and consistent way for people to direct their offering. We have a number of people at Epiphany who have set up this process so that when they are not at a church worship gathering their tithe/contribute continues on a regular basis. WE HAVE AT LEAST 28 HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE SIGNED WITH SIMPLY GIVING WHO HAVE ARRANGED FOR AN ELECTRONIC WITHDRAWAL FOR AN OFFERING CONTRIBUTION TO BE MADE TO THE CHURCH (some are set on a monthly basis, others bi-weekly or weekly). It is a great way to ensure faithful giving!!! And with the projection that many of our worship services will be on-line, this is a simple way to make your offering. Click here to learn more about Digital Electronic Giving .
 2) MAIL OR DROP YOUR OFFERING BY THE CHURCH OFFICE- For now the church office will remain open Tuesday-Thursday, 9am-2pm. If you do not feel comfortable going out of your house or risking exposure during the virus outbreak, a member has offered to meet you at a central place or possibly even stop by your home to pick up your offering at the door . Call the church office if this is something that you would prefer.
3) CONTRIBUTE VIA CELL PHONE / TEXT (803-618-4003 an amount with a "$"; you will receive a reply with directions). A QR code box can also be scanned by inputting credit card info on a secure site. Click here for details Cell Phone Giving

YOUR GIFT SUPPORTS THE LORD'S WORK AT EPIPHANY and will enable our ministry to reach out to support many others who are struggling throughout this extraordinary time. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! 
 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN HOLY COMMUNION DURING THE SUNDAY MARCH 22 LIVESTREAM VIDEO WORSHIP SERVICE
You will need the following to be placed on a table in the room where you are sitting so that you can receive Holy Communion: 1) A plate with bread on it (preferably unleavened bread; however, any type of bread is fine); 2) Small cups/glasses of wine (or juice) for each person receiving communion. After speaking the Eucharistic Prayer and singing the "Lamb of God," the Pastor will invite participants to take a piece of bread and eat it simultaneously; and then, the Pastor will invite participants to take a cup of wine/juice and drink it simultaneously. CLICK HERE to download a Unleavened Communion Bread Recipe that may be used to bake at home for taking communion for livestream worship service. We will make available this bread at church for those who would like to pick it up or have someone deliver it to your home.
EASTER LILLIES
If you would like to reserve an Easter lily in memory or in honor of a loved one, please call Lisa at the church office at 324-8877. The cost is $14.15
Click below for livestream videos of Sunday 10am Worship Service and Wednesday 7pm Message and Music Service:


Greetings from Sebastian
and "The Guys-Todd, Little Jeff, and Uncle Marvin."
The church office received a message from Sebastian and The Guys: So me and the guys wanted to make sure you are staying healthy and keeping clean. We responded, " What a surprise to hear from Todd, Little Jeff, and Uncle Marvin!!! They are looking good. I hope they stay safe from the virus. Remind them about social distancing. I know it's hard to take a picture 5-6 feet apart! It's good to see "the guys." Maybe they can make an appearance in helping to share the gospel message in one of our upcoming livestream worship services.
FAMILY RETREAT
Please join us June 11-14 at Coastal Retreat Center in Isle of Palms, Charleston for the 2020 Family Retreat. We are planning a weekend of family fun and devotion, and of course beach time! Price per room: 3 nights for $355 or 2 nights for $240. Linens can be provided for a one-time charge of $20. Please let Angie Gregory or Robert Richardson know if you can join us.
Here are some of the ways that we can stay connected in the days and months ahead:  
  • Epiphany's Congregational Life MLT has organized a ministry of support in running errands to offer assistance such as shopping and going to the pharmacy. If you have a need for this help or know others who do, contact Christia Humburg (christia@fmhm.org or 803-370-1010) or the church office. Volunteers are also encouraged to call to offer their time and help.
  • Hallowed Hands Prayer Team and Prayer Requests - If you have a prayer request you can contact Julie Waldrop (360-903-0719) or call the church office. 
  • Daily Video Devotion from the SC Synod Office - Click this link for the SC Synod Facebook page that will provide a daily weekday video devotion each Tuesday at 10AM (available anytime afterwards)  https://www.facebook.com/scsynod
  • We will be videotaping a Service of Message and Music on Wednesday nights(at 7:00pm; available anytime afterwards) and a version of our Sunday Morning Worship Service (at 10:00am; available anytime afterwards). If you need tech assistance to figure out how to view these videos, you may contact James Brooks (803-325-4024) or Margaret Gillikin (803-673-3441).  A COPY OF SUNDAY'S BULLETIN WILL BE AVAILABLE to download and print from CHURCH WEBSITE and as a link on the Facebook Page livestreaming. 
  • Daily Lenten Devotion Emails - If you would like an inspirational daily devotion, I recommend Luther Seminary God Pause Lenten Devotion.                    
Worship Arts Opportunities
As we’ve seen during this past week, we are in a time for imagining and coming together in new ways! We’re finding that we can indeed be together without being in the same room! If you haven’t checked out the streamed recordings of last week’s Wednesday, Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon events, take a look and imagine what you, we, might do to help continue to create meaningful worship community gathering and welcoming. 
Looking toward Easter Season worship on April 19 and 26, we’re still wondering about re-imaginative readings and responses to the story of the two disciples on the road to the town of Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), April 26. Can we have dancers? Visual artists? Readers of a poetic reflection on the event?    A chorus of multigenerational voices and faces from different physical locations?
 Questions? Suggestions? Epiphanies?
Contact Marilyn Magers at 803-280-0082 (text or call) or marilyn2m@outlook.com.
UPDATE ON FAMILY PROMISE ACTIVITIES
The  spring yard sale , a major fundraising event for this ministry, has been changed to May 1-2, at the Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church family center on Oakland Avenue. The OAPC space will be open for donations beginning April 14 (check with Family Promise office for times (329-2456). The congregational rotation sheltering program has been shut down (March 19-April 5) due to risk of exposure to virus. This closure will likely continue to effect Epiphany's next hosting week, April 12-19. We will wait for an update as the situation is re-evaluated.
Census Taker Jobs Available Locally
There is an opportunity for employment ($17.50/hr) for temporary positions through July to be a census worker. Click below if interested Census Taker Employment Info

BE SURE TO COMPLETE CENSUS FORMS that have recently been mailed to households. This will help prevent workers from having to call or go door to door and will benefit the local community.

"Hallowed Hands Ministry"

I would like to extend an invitation to Epiphany members to join our prayer group. We meet every second Tuesday of the month at 11:00am for updates and support. We need more committed prayer partners. Updates are included every week in the Proclaimer and take-home sheets are available in the Gathering Area. Please join us, Julie Waldrop

Please email Julie at w70julie@outlook.com with additions or deletions to this important ministry.

Shawn Price ( Phyllis Lewis)
Jacob Rast (father of Judy Krenzer)
Sara, Ava, & Joey Coiro (Krenzers)
Sandra & Freddie Stewart (Krenzers)
Joyce Gillette (health issues)
Cindy Mobley (J. Gillette)
Ella Kingston (13-month-old Cerebral Palsy/Deb Zaken)
Holly, Kristina & Annabeth Truitt (Sandra Hinson)
Shirley Robinson (Joy Robinson)
Family of Carol Borkowski (sister of Shirley Meyer died)
Ellen & Kenny Green
James Bennett
Charley Williams and husband (Pat Tucker)
Larry Sampson (Barbara Eggert)
Norm Greiner
Bill and Jenny Marsh
Marilyn Washington (Ann Kilburg)
Elizabeth Nilsson (sister of Ann Kilburg)
Katie and Matt McCoy/unborn twins (male has a heart problem/Lisa Off. Adm)
Janie Sigmon
Nancy Namestha (illness and pain) /J. Gillette
Dereck Buuck (son of Julie Waldrop) loss of hearing
Ginney Elmgreen (J.Gillette)
Tom and Sharon Gillette (ill after trip/ J. Gillette)
John Percival Family (tragic death in house fire/Admin.'s brother-in-law)
Shawn Howard (surgery/ J. Gillette)
Nancy Smith (Christia Humburg's mother)
Emory McLaurin (cancer/D.Keener)
Jamison Humburg (safe travel from Peru then 14 day quarantine/ Humburg's son)
Epiphany Lutheran Church (praying for everyone during this Coronavirus crisis)
Pat and Desi Ware (Sharon Eichler)
Cindy Johnson (Marilyn Magers)
Ella Mae Sampson (Marilyn

                                                                                                                           
updated 3/25/2020            
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Epiphany Lutheran Church
2370 West Main Street
Rock Hill, SC 29732
OFFICE HOURS:
9am - 2pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

If you have a Proclaimer news item, please send it to the office by Tuesday evening of each week at admin@epiphany-rockhill.org or call Lisa at 803.324.8877. Thank you!