May 26, 2022

Dear Members, Friends, and Guests, 

Our Annual Voters Assembly is Thursday May 26th at 6:30 pm.  I encourage all confirmed members over the age of 18 to attend and cast your votes.  Baptized members, guests, and friends are warmly welcomed to attend; however, due to our constitutional limitation, only confirmed members over 18 may vote.

At this meeting, we elect our Board of Ministry Directors and Spiritual Care Ministry Team.  We also share and approve our Annual Ministry Plan and Budget.

My Message this weekend is “Thoughts and Prayers”.  As the news of another mass school shooting unfolded on Tuesday, debates began on social media and cable news about how to prevent school shootings in the future.  To advance the discussion, passionate advocates frequently disparaged “thoughts and prayers” as an ineffective response.  While it shouldn’t be our only response, the Bible does tell us that empathy and prayers are the Christian way of immediately responding to tragedies causes by sin.  In this timely message, we will also learn how we can discuss contentious issues in a Christian way as we seek to find an effective solution to reduce (and by God’s grace, end) this horrific violence.   

As you observe Memorial Day, please take a moment to thank God for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States, especially the freedom to worship the Triune God.  Please pray for the families of those who lost their lives in our nation’s conflicts, special operations, training exercises, and in other ways while serving in the armed forces.  Pray that effective solutions may be found to reduce the suicide rate of veterans and those on active duty.  Finally, pray for the diplomats of our nation and allies that future conflicts may be avoided, and that peace may prevail.

 

This Week at Epiphany

Saturday, May 28~

9:00 am – ABC Bible Study – Rooms 325-326

ABC Bible Class launched a new study, Who Am I? Kind of an adult confirmation class! Here’s an introductory link…https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/Iny6dF28JScCRQQ3trUyZ47QAs9oCzeIvrDU9DVvIbf

6:00 pm – Traditional Worship – Worship Center

 

 Sunday, May 29~

8:30 am – Traditional Worship – Worship Center

9:45 am – 10:45 am – Education Hour

Coffee & Cake Bible Study – Fellowship Hall

11:00 am – Contemporary Worship- Worship Center

12:15 pm – Vacation Bible School Volunteer Meeting – Room 112

 

Tuesday, May 31~

6:30 am – Early Birds Bible Study on Zoom

To join contact Karen Wilson – wilsonwk@cox.net

 

Vacation Bible School Volunteers

If you’re helping with Vacation Bible School this year, please plan to attend the upcoming volunteer training meeting:

This Sunday @ 12:15 pm in Room 112

The meeting will last approximately 30 minutes. 
Questions? Email pam@epiphanychandler.org.

 

Christmas in July! 

Epiphany and Orphan Grain Train are partnering to share HIS love with little ones in foster placements through Christian Family Care Phoenix. 62 shoeboxes were “signed out” with requests for more. 13 Additional shoeboxes are available in the Narthex.  Deadline to return filled shoeboxes is no later than July 9th. 

 

Vacation Bible School: June 13-17; 5:30pm – 7:30pm

This year, we have a goal of 50 registrations for VBS. (50 is also our maximum).  If you have a child or grandchild that would like to participate, please register ASAP.  We have plenty of scholarships for those in need!

 

In person Registration is now open for children 3 years thru 6th grade.  Stop by the Connecting Point Tables to complete your registration.  Cost is $20 per child.  Scholarships are available. For more information contact pam@epiphanychandler.org.

 

Orphan Grain Train

In the period January – March 2022 Epiphany has donated 650 pounds of goods to Orphan Grain Train.  Thank you.

Orphan Grain Train current needs:

-Gently used men’s clothing

– women’s and children’s clothing

– shoes

-new underwear and socks

-school supplies

-medical equipment

– household & kitchen items

– quilts, blankets, bedding, towels

– bicycles

– stuffed toys

-hygiene kits and feminine kits.

Volunteers are also needed currently for the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month between 8:00 am and noon.  You can volunteer for as many or few hours as you’d like.  Treats and beverages are provided along with a 30-minute fellowship break.  Please contact Jean Weber westsidewebers@cox.net, or David Eide kdeide@cox.net

 

Matthew’s Crossing

Thank you to the many volunteers that have helped Matthew’s Crossing this year.  We’ll break from our Epiphany group volunteering for the summer and will tentatively resume in September.

 

If you’d like to volunteer at Matthew’s Crossing outside of Epiphany’s group, they are actively looking for volunteers.  To get involved go to matthewscrossing.org and complete a volunteer form. 

 

Matthew’s Crossing is accepting donations of canned food, cereal, peanut butter, hygiene items, etc. as well as grocery bags.  No expired items or glass containers can be accepted. Please place all donations in the designated container in the Narthex. 

 

Live Stream on YouTube

Each Sunday at 8:30 am, we live stream the traditional worship service on our YouTube channel, “Epiphany Chandler”. The recording is saved and can also be viewed later on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/EpiphanyChandler

 

The service bulletin is available before the service as a PDF download at https://www.epiphanychandler.org/daily-devotional/

 

Holy Communion with Deacon Bob by Private Appointment

Contact Pam at pam@epiphanychandler.org or call her at 480.606.8045.

 

May God richly bless and keep you safe as we celebrate the season of Easter!

Joyfully Serving Jesus,

Pastor Mark Rossington