Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Worship Committee Meeting

Session Meeting

Thursday, May 2, 2024

National Day of Prayer

Friday, May 3, 2024

CWU May Friendship Day

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Cinco de Mayo

Gardening Goodness & Taco Bar Potluck

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Ascension of the Lord

Visitation Committee Meeting

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Mother's Day

Friday, May 17, 2024

Last Day of Sunday School, USD 253

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Day of Pentecost

Graduate Sunday

Monday, May 21, 2024

Last Day of School, USD 251

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Fellowship Potluck at West

Monday, May 27, 2024

Memorial Day

Church Office Closed

All Will Be Well

Julian of Norwich is revered for saying:

All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.

Her mystic vision parleyed into a mantra for faithful Christians from the time Julian first put pen to page in the 14^th century to our modern day. That her words endure from an era when women’s voices were rarely amplified, speaks to the import of her vision and her understanding of God’s grace, gifts for faithful discipleship, and unquenchable love.

This year, Julian’s words have been my mantra, as well, both personally and pastorally. I see, time and again, God’s love overflowing in my life. I see abundant gifts for service and leadership shared freely within our church family. I see God’s grace extended within and beyond the walls of EPC, touching the lives of neighbors throughout our community. Come what may, Julian was onto something:

All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.

To that end, as many of you know, I will be away for a few weeks of medical leave beginning May 20. As we’ve done before when I’ve been away on vacation, for continuing education, sabbatical, and bereavement leave, EPC is well placed to seamlessly continue Christ’s work in creative and compassion ways. We’ll tap into God’s love, use the talents, gifts, and gumption God has given each of us and members of our larger church family across the presbytery, and keep sharing God’s grace with neighbors and community partners like always.

How exactly will it all get done?

- Worship Committee is finalizing pulpit supply and worship leadership with the gracious help of Rev. Pat Ireland, Rev. Carmen Raines, Elder Mary Gill of Cottonwood Falls, as well as elders and members of EPC who are stepping in to preach.

- Visitation Committee will cover routine care with our regular Care Members, while Rev. Pat Ireland will be available in an emergency.

- Jacob Stutzman has volunteered to keep online worship up and running and will help facilitate recording weekly sermons with guest preachers in addition to his regular editing duties.

- Taylor Wilson, in the office, will keep the trains running on time (or at least activities, calendaring, and weekly administration on track).

- Diana Hizar will continue to be in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

- And I should be back before anyone misses me! 

Of course, we do still need to fill in a few blanks. You may get a call to help with a Sunday Children’s Moment, Manor Chapel, watering the garden at West, or another need. Or, you can sign-up proactively and reach out to Nickie Edwards (Worship Committee) or Sue Jones (Visitation Committee) or Taylor (in the office) or me (before May 17)! Many hands make light work, as we always say. 

And all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.

Pentecost began as a Jewish harvest festival celebrated fifty days after the Passover festival. The Greek work pentekoste literally translates to fiftieth. So, fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection (during Passover), “when the day of Pentecost had come, [Christ’s disciples] were all together in one place. And suddenly, from heaven” came the sound of rushing wind, tongues of fire, and the gift of God’s Holy Spirit filling all the faithful. _{(Acts 2:1-4)} 

This permanent outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit marked the birth of Christ’s church and became a festival celebration for Christians, as well. Now, each Pentecost, we celebrate the day when all followers of Jesus became empowered to share the Good News and Light of Christ with the world. 

This Pentecost, EPC will celebrate with a special Reverse Tenebrae Service, or Service of Light, to round out the Easter season and carry us and Christ’s Light on through the rest of the year. Tenebrae is a Latin word denoting shadows or darkness. The Tenebrae Service, or Service of Darkness, is a traditional part of our Holy Week preparations for Easter. On Holy Thursday, we hear from witnesses who were there as the world dimmed and Christ was crucified. Following each testimony, a light is extinguished, symbolizing the growing darkness in the world on Good Friday. On Pentecost, we will hear from witnesses who were there after – from Easter evening to Pentecost and beyond. Following each reading, extinguished lights will be relit, symbolizing Christ’s Light still growing in the world and extending beyond the first disciples’ wildest imaginations.

Join us for this exciting service. Wear red (the traditional color for Pentecost) on Sunday, May 19! And let your light shine every day, as you bear witness to the power of Christ alive and at work in your life.

Worship Committee needs you on Sunday, May 19!

We need seven readers to fill the shoes of Rufus, Cleopas, Philip, Tabitha, Paul, Ananias, and Eunice – both in-person on May 19 and for our online service. The online recording deadline is Wednesday, May 15.

Each account is drawn straight from the biblical witness. Contact Pastor Phyl to lend your voice to this joyful celebration!

In the February and March newsletters, the Stewardship and Finance Committee

requested your suggestions for shows/movies/documentaries/series and

books/magazines/newsletters/articles, respectively, that uplift our souls, nourish us spiritually, or inform the sacred.

This month the committee is requesting you to email Taylor in the church office (officeassistant.epc@gmail.com), put a slip of paper in the collection plate, OR respond to the church’s Facebook post with your favorite inspirational music and how to access it (for example, page number in the hymnbook, URL on YouTube).

The purpose of this request is creating and strengthening caring connections among the members of Emporia Presbyterian Church to glorify God and enjoy God forever! The list will appear in the newsletter later this year and will be updated as the congregation adds favorites.

THANK YOU!