March 7, 2024
Dear Members, Friends, and Guests,
The message this weekend is a joy to deliver! We’re going to answer the question, “Can you know for certain that you are going to Heaven when you die?” The answer is, “Yes!”, for 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” And that’s where we are headed this weekend.
On Wednesday evening, our midweek Lenten sermon will explain a spectacular miracle that occurred immediately after Jesus died, the raising of the saints from the dead! Matthew 27:52-53, “…the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
Finally, we’re going to conduct an experiment for most of the remainder of March. We’re reversing the order of the welcome and the prelude at our traditional style worship services. You can visit, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company (i.e., Christian fellowship) and then I’ll begin the worship service with the Welcome (i.e., announcements).
We’ll then prepare our hearts for worship with the prelude, followed by the opening hymn.
Joyfully Serving Jesus,
Pastor Mark
This Week at Epiphany
Thursday, March 7~
7:30 pm ~ Choir Practice in Worship Center Loft
Saturday, March 9~
9:00 am ~ ABC Bible Study in Room 325
6:00 pm ~ Traditional Worship
Sunday, March 10~
8:30 am ~ Traditional Worship
9:45 am ~ Education Hour
Coffee & Cake Bible Study in Fellowship Hall
Pastor’s Bible Study in Room 112
Sunday School (ages 3 yrs. – 6th grade) in Rooms 104 & 108
Confirmation in Room 325
High School Bible Study in Room 110
11:00 am ~ Contemporary Worship
Tuesday, March 12~
6:30 am ~ Early Bird Bible Study on Zoom
To join contact Karen Wilson wilsonwk@cox.net
Wednesday, March 13~
5:30pm – 6:30 pm ~ Lent Dinner in the Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm Lent Worship with Holy Communion
Thursday, March 14~
7:30 pm ~ Choir Practice in Worship Center Loft
Holy Week and Easter at Epiphany
Palm Sunday Weekend ~
Saturday @ 6:00pm
Sunday @ 8:30am and 11:00am
Holy Thursday @ 7:00pm (with Holy Communion)
Good Friday @ 7:00pm
Easter Weekend ~
No Saturday evening worship
Sunday @ 6:00am (sunrise in courtyard)
8:00am (traditional in worship center)
9:30am (traditional in worship center)
Easter Breakfast will be served in the Fellowship Hall from 7:00am – 10:00am. Free will donations will benefit youth for National Youth Gathering 2025.
Easter flower donation forms are available in the Narthex. Please place it in the offering plate after completion.
Ironmen
The next Ironmen breakfast is Saturday, March 16 at 8:00 am. Wray Johnson will provide a devotion. Please sign up at the Connecting Point tables.
New Member Class
Pastor’s New Member Class is scheduled for Sunday, April 14, 12:15pm – 2:30pm. Lunch is provided. To sign up please email: pam@epiphanychandler.org
Arizona Tax Credits for 2023
Arizona provides two separate tax credits for individuals who make contributions to charitable organizations for 2023: 1. Qualifying Charitable Organizations (QCO) – $421 single, married filing separate or head of household; $841 married filing joint. 2. Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organizations (QFCO) – $526 single, married filing separate or head of household; $1,051 married filing joint.
Arizona law allows QCO and QFCO donations made during 2023 and donations made from January 1, 2024 through April 15, 2024 can be claimed on a 2023 Arizona Personal Income Tax return. Detailed information at https://azdor.gov scroll down to “Tax Credit” link. Check with your tax preparer for advice and appropriate forms.
Epiphany Outreach opportunities that qualify for Arizona Tax Credit and would welcome your financial support (see dates above for 2023 donations made in 2024) are:
- Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank – QCO 20497
- Orphan Grain Train Phoenix Branch – QCO 22046
- Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona – QCO 20434
- I-HELP (Interfaith Homeless Lodging Program) – QCO 20491
- Christian Family Care (Epiphany’s “Christmas in July Shoeboxes”) – QFCO 10024
More information about these Epiphany Outreach opportunities is at the Connecting Point.
I-Help Volunteers Needed
The first Thursday of each month Epiphany volunteers supply food, (cooked at home), and serve dinner at Holy Trinity Church in Chandler for the men and women in the I-HELP program (Interfaith Homeless Lodging Program through AZEND). Please sign up at the Connecting Point Tables.
Sisters of Strength
Orphan Grain Train
Sorting & boxing is scheduled at the OGT warehouse this Saturday, March 9 and Saturday, March 24 from 8:00 am to Noon. Currently, OGT is in need of all clothing: men’s, women’s, children’s. Supplies are low!
Please contact Jean – westsidewebers@cox.net, or David – kdeide@cox.net for more information.
Volunteer Opportunities at Meals to Grow & Matthew’s Crossing
SAVE THE DATE! MEALS TO GROW PACKING SESSION!
Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Praise & Worship Center, 2551 Arizona Ave., Chandler
Sign up: jodyschmoll@me.com
Meals to Grow will be closed the weeks of March 11 and 18 for Spring Break. We will return the week of the 25th and pack backpacks on Tuesday, March 26.
Volunteers are needed for all shifts, five days a week at Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank. To volunteer, complete the volunteer application at www.matthewscrossing.org or text Mike Dippre at 602-295-3091.
Feed to Succeed! Read to Succeed!
2024 brings an urgent need to help those hungry and vulnerable in our neighborhoods. If you are able, place food, books, etc. in the donation boxes in the Narthex. Your donations are appreciated. “…for I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Matthew 25:35
ASU Prep South Phoenix has a need for books in Spanish for grades K-12.
Weekly Food Fact:
Nearly two million New York City residents, including one in four children, lived in poverty in 2022, an increase of 500,000 people that amounted to the biggest single-year jump in a decade. Overall, 23 percent of the city’s residents lived in poverty, defined as not being able to afford basic needs like housing and food, according to a new report by a research group at Columbia University and Robin Hood, a large philanthropic organization. In 2021, that number was 18 percent. www.robinhood.org
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
Please email us at mailto:info@epiphanychandler.org
or to sign up for any of the events above.