Call Us: (620) 342-0375
Address: 802 Commercial Street,
Emporia, KS 66801
Welcome to the Emporia Presbyterian Church
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.

In-person worship service Downtown
802 Commercial Street, 10:45a.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/
April Events
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Palm Sunday

Holy Week
Monday, April 2-Friday, April 8, 2023
See Schedule Below

Saturday, April 8, 2023
Youth Group will fill and hide Easter eggs

Sunday, April 9, 2023
Easter Sunday
Easter Brunch 9:30a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt 10:15a.m.
Easter Worship 10:45a.m.

Monday, April 10, 2023
Office Closed

Sunday, April 30, 2023
4:00p.m. Ordination of Kevin Ireland
Followed by Reception
Janet & Donald Rees Apr 12
Cole Olivier Apr 4
Abigail Noll Apr 4
Eric Tucker Apr 6
Jodi Heermann Apr 10
Miriam Winter Apr 14
Don Miller Apr 15
Abbott Severin Apr 18
Debbie Doudican Apr 21
Charles Crosby Apr 22
Cora Severin Apr 23
James Aber Apr 25
Ronald Dodge Apr 25

Ready or Not
 
I don’t know where March went. I don’t know how we’re already at the end of Lent. I don’t know if I’m ready for Holy Week – shouting Hosanna! on Palm Sunday, participating in The Last Supper, watching darkness fall on Good Friday, and waiting through the long silence of Saturday for Easter Sunday’s glory. Honestly, I don’t know that I’ll be ready on Easter Monday, either, or even by the end of April when Eastertide will be well underway.
 
Here’s what I do know. I know that Holy Week marks four of the holiest days in our Christian year. I know that ready or not, the present promise and future hope that come to us in Jesus the Messiah are rekindled each year during these holy days. I know that Jesus is ready to extend his love and grace to us in ways beyond our imagination and full comprehension. I know, because our Lord is doing this already.
 
As Easter people, we live in the weird, time-bending space of knowing and not knowing. Each year, we watch as a litany of hate is spewed in the public sphere targeting beloved children of God whom Jesus commands us to love; not knowing how such hate can continue. Each year, we watch as violence trumps peace, just as it did that fateful Friday when the crowds mindlessly shouted, “Crucify!” to appease a powerful minority with a vested interest in maintaining divisions among the people and shunning the Prince of Peace; not knowing how Jesus can forgive us, again, after 2000+ years of the same ol’ thing. Each year, we mourn the death of innocents, lament the state of the world, and marvel that in the midst of all the awfulness that floods our newsfeeds and TVs and wakes us up at night; not knowing how, in the midst of it all, we’re supposed to claim God’s present promise, holding tight to a future hope that seems a long time (centuries!) in coming.
 
As Easter people, each year – on one of the single, holiest days of the Christian year – we gather to remember and to remind each other that we actually do know. We know that the present promise of Christ with us never wavers. We know that we are each empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak love to the voices of hate; to insist on and model peace when we’re told violence is the only way; to lift our prayers and pattern our daily actions so that our witness, as Jesus’ disciples, counters the awfulness rampant in the world. We know that just as the Risen Christ reaches out to us, extending his love and grace to us in ways beyond our imagination and full comprehension, we are called as Christians to do the same for others, serving as Christ’s hand and feet in the world and speaking truth, promise, and hope in Christ’s name.
 
Are you ready? I don’t know if I am either, but that’s the call laid upon us – ready or not. Jesus is ready to show us the ways of love and grace and for us, as his followers, to do the same. May we live up to the claim we make each time we proclaim ourselves Easter people, Jesus’ disciples, followers of the Risen Christ.

Vespers at West Truly Extraordinary
Thank You  to everyone who made this year’s Vespers at West: Ordinary to Extraordinary such an incredible time of learning, fellowship, prayer, and shenanigans. Together we:
  • took ordinary items and dreamed up extraordinary uses for them
  • shared regular meal menus and developed special menus worth celebrating
  • made dinner together (crescent rolls and box brownies are definitely our forte)
  • explored Easter traditions from around the world
  • toured an in-house art exhibit of depictions of The Last Supper
  • washed each other’s hands (ala Jesus washing the disciples’ feet)
  • offered prayers of hope and blessing
  • shared moments we had heard God’s voice and/or seen God’s face each day
  • and more.
 
The return of Vespers at West was a rousing success thanks to everyone who joyfully participated in each evening’s activities and thanks to everyone who graciously hosted our meals. The soup, lasagna, pizza, tacos, baked potatoes, and assorted fruits, veggies, salads, fixin’s, and desserts were a blessing.  
Holy Week Worship at EPC
As Lent gives way to Holy Week – the seven holy days leading to Easter – join us in the Downtown sanctuary as we mark the celebration, solemnity, and deep spirituality of these sacred days.

Sunday, April 2 – Palm / Passion Sunday at 10:45am with a procession of the palms and special music. Manor Chapel at Presbyterian Manor with palms at 2:00pm.

Thursday, April 6 – Holy Thursday Service at 6:00pm with a Communion Service of the Table and Tenebrae Service of Darkness combining elements of both the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday traditions, drawing from Mark 14:12-26 and “first person” narratives by Adam Hamilton.

Friday, April 7 – Ecumenical Stations of the Cross at 12:00pm hosted by LCMA. This interactive walk begins at St Andrew's Episcopal Church, follows a route through downtown Emporia, and concludes at Grace United Methodist Church.

Saturday, April 8 – Youth Group meets 5:00p.m. to prepare for the Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Brunch.

Sunday, April 9 – Easter Brunch in the Friendship Room at 9:30am, our traditional children’s Easter Egg Hunt preceding worship at 10:15am, and celebration of Christ’s Gospel Good News during worship at 10:45am as we hear God’s Word from John 20:1-8.
Please bring candy for the Easter Egg Hunt. You may drop off your candy to the church office. Church office hours, Tuesday-Friday, 9a.m. to 3p.m.

Youth will fill and hide Easter eggs on Saturday, April 8.

Easter Sunday, April 9:

Easter Brunch 9:30a.m.

Egg Hunt 10:15a.m.

Easter Worship 10:45a.m.
Above: OGHS Offerings from Easter 2022. Our basket overflowed!
Easter's One Great Hour of Sharing
The One Great Hour of Sharing offering is collected each Easter by Presbyterians and ecumenical partners around the world. This special offering aids neighbors who are hungry, hurting, or in need. Throughout the Season of Lent, we add our mites (little bits) to our mite boxes (fish banks, drawn from the ancient ichthus symbol used by early Christians). These small gestures added together make a huge impact.

To see how OGHS gifts are bringing aid and relief to neighbors near and far through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People
Click here or visit the One Great Hour of Sharing website at https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/offering/oghs/ and tap on the map to learn more about dozens of projects enabled by the very fish we fill and share on Easter.
Final "Seminarian" Update - Ordination Edition
On Sunday, April 30, (soon-to-be Rev.) Kevin Ireland will be ordained as a Minster of Word and Sacrament of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Come celebrate!
 
In August 2019, EPC commissioned Kevin to vocational service within Christ’s church, blessed him as he answered God’s call to pursue a seminary education, and we promised to be a continual support to him through encouragement and prayer. Since then, Kevin excelled in his studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, graduated, and currently serves as a pastoral resident in Austin. Following this service, Kevin will officially be Rev. Ireland with all the rights and responsibilities that come with this office. 
 
The day’s festivities will include a joint worship service with First Presbyterian Church of Cottonwood Falls and members of the former Americus Presbyterian Church, hosted at EPC, with Kevin preaching; afternoon service of ordination led by a commission of Northern Kansas Presbytery; and post-service reception to help send folks back out into the world well fed by God’s Word and “substantial snacks.”
 
In Kevin’s words: The Irelands are looking forward to returning to Emporia for my ordination. I am excited to be preaching that morning at EPC, and we hope that you can join us for one or both of the services.
 
Don’t miss a moment:
  • 10:00-10:30am – Fellowship Time in the Friendship Room
  • 10:45am-12:00pm – Joint Service of Worship at EPC, Kevin preaching
  • 4:00-5:00pm – Worship Service of Ordination at EPC
  • 5:00pm – Reception in the Friendship Room
 
To help with the reception, please contact Nickie Edwards. Many hands make light work, and Nickie would love to have extra hands helping to make this day special for Kevin, his family, his church families, and our presbytery. 
Graduation Sunday,
May 14, 2023
Graduation Sunday will be May 14. If you have a high school or college graduate this spring, let us celebrate with you! Send the full name and photo of your graduate, along with the name of the school, college, or post-college, and include their degree.

Please email a picture in jpg or png format along with information to businessoffice.epc@gmail.com by April 14 so that we can include this in our May newsletter.


Vacation Bible School
Intergenerational VBS at West Campus

June 21, 28, July 5, 12
So Much To Celebrate!
Taylor Moorman
From left: son of Karen and Mitch Moorman, Taylor Moorman, and another student on the K-State Sales Team win first place at the University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition.

From left: Taylor Moorman and Jack McGuire recently placed first at the University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition.
The Kansas State University Sales Team placed first in the University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition, or UTISC, on Feb. 23-25. The competition saw 36 universities and 72 students participating in the event. The competition is the first and only national sales competition to focus exclusively on non-seniors.

Competing for the K-State States Sales Team were Taylor Moorman, sophomore in professional strategic selling, Emporia, and Jack McGuire, junior in professional strategic selling and business economics, Shawnee.

The competition consisted of multiple role-play events that were sponsored by 3M. In addition, students participated in engagement opportunities with all sponsors of the event, including coaching sessions, development blocks, a career fair and a social media competition. The team placed first overall with combined points from both the role-play and engagement events.

Students competed in two different divisions: sophomore/freshman and junior. Moorman finished fourth out of 36 competitors in the freshman/sophomore division. In the junior division, McGuire finished fourth out of 36 competitors. Moorman also had two social posts selected as winners as part of the social media competition.

"The UTISC is a great opportunity for students to enhance their sales skills," said Kellie Jackson, K-State Sales Team coach. "With 3M as the sponsor, it provides students the opportunity to sell a technical product with a clear return on investment, unlike other competitions that concentrate on selling a service with perceived value. In addition, the engagement opportunities allow students to grow professionally while developing their professional network. I was proud of the team's accomplishment and their effort on both the role-play and engagement events and look forward to their continued success."

The K-State Sales Team is in the College of Business Administration's National Strategic Selling Institute, which has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for 11 straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. The team consists of students who are enrolled in the certificate or major in professional strategic selling. In fall 2018, Kansas State University became just the 19th university in the U.S. to offer a major in professional strategic selling. Students can also earn a certificate in professional strategic selling, which is open to all majors at the university. The professional strategic selling program introduces students to the fundamentals of sales and the innovative curriculum and sales labs allow students to develop the skills needed to be successful.

The K-State Sales Team will compete in several competitions throughout the school year across the country. For more information on the National Strategic Selling Institute or the K-State Sales Team, please contact kstatesalesprogram@k-state.edu
Great Reads From Your Church Library by Katherine Weaver
THEN SINGS MY SOUL Book 2
BY Robert J. Morgan

One can only hope that our library has Book 1 of this delightful and informative accounting of the worship songs in our hymnal and in others. Songs are arranged chronologically in the front and alphabetically in the back. Each entry includes the music and verses on the left page with the title, date written, inspired scripture, and history on the right page.

Take “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” written in 1864 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In 1861 not only did his second wife die tragically in a fire but the country erupted into Civil War. Two years later, during the fiercest days of the war, his 17-year-old son, Charley, ran away from home to join President Lincoln’s army. Having escaped death not once but twice during the conflict, Henry brings Charley home from Washington to Massachusetts to recuperate. For weeks Henry sat by his son’s bedside, slowly nursing his boy back to health. The poet feels like dropping his head in despair, but then he hears the Christmas bells. Their triumphant pealing reminds him that “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.”
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 March, we disbursed $1,311.00

Currently, the Local Mission Assistance Fund balance is $14,474.36.
Monthly Collections
For the month of April we are collecting for the Men’s Shelter: body wash, deodorant, and toothpaste.

Place items on the table Downtown in the sanctuary or drop off in the church office.


Little Blessings Box
We encourage everyone to continue filling the Blessing Box outside of West Campus filled with nonperishable items, as great need continues in our community.
Free Yard Signs
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.
"Growing with EPC" signs
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.
Weekday Office Hours:
Downtown Campus
Tuesday – Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm
Office Phone:  620-342-0375
Office Email: businessoffice.epc@gmail.com
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
Committee Members
SESSION MEMBERS
Meets Second Monday of the Month Downtown at 6:00p.m., or via Zoom
Pastor Phyl moderator
Kathie Buckman clerk of Session (620)412-1971
email: kbuckman@hotmail.com
Nickie Edwards (620)794-3541
nickieedwards@yahoo.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
Brett Stewart (620)340-9590
email: brett@trustpointservices.net
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: Art Gutierrez,
Adriane Lang, Sharon Stewart
STEWARDSHIP & FINANCE COMMITTEE
Chair, Connie Jobe, Tammy Cheeseman, Rhonda Gordon, Carolyn Turney
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND NURTURE COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs, Amanda Gutierrez & Connie Jobe; Amanda Cunningham
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Chair, Brad Stewart; Kathie Buckman; Linda Miller
PROPERTY COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs, Amanda Gutierrez & Lois Schrock; George Durler, Tammy Cheeseman
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
George Durler, Sue Jones,
Don Miller
WORSHIP COMMITTEE
Chair, Ken Weaver; Karen Moorman; Margaret Davidson, Nickie Edwards, Becky Hadicke
VISITATION COMMITTEE
Chair, Sue Jones; Kathie Buckman, Betty Campbell, Margaret Davidson, Nickie Edwards, Karen Moorman, Max & Sharon Stewart
MISSION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Chair, Amanda Gutierrez, Amanda Cunningham,
Lois Schrock
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Betty Campbell, Kim Stewart,
Lee Tucker
802 Commercial St. • Emporia, KS 66801
(620) 342-0375