From Pastor David

EPIPHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH Epiphany’s Epistle

April 2015 INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

From the Pastor 3

Worship 4-5,18 Council President 6

Stewardship 7

Congregation News 9,14

Bible Study & 8,12 Education Youth Fund Raiser 10,17

Activities 12,13 Support Ministries 15 Birthdays & 16 Anniversaries Thrivent 18,22

Council Minutes & 19-21 Financials

We are disciples of Christ We follow Him by leading others to His Grace through Worship, Education, Stewardship and Outreach To those in need And in service To All

Special Announcements

New reader? Come Visit Us! We’re glad that you picked up this newsletter and hope you will find it interesting and worth your time. If you do not have a church home, please worship with us. Our Sunday worship times are 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM, with Sunday School at 9:45 AM. We are a growing, active church with friendly people who are journeying with God through Jesus Christ. Come join us! Please call us at 770.483.6222 for more information.

Pastor David’s Office Hours Monday through Thursday Sunday, April 12th is the 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM deadline for information to be The afternoons he will dedicate to submitted for the May newsletter. You can e-mail hospital or communion visits; please call the office, 770.483.6222, if you wish to your news to the church office make an afternoon appointment. at [email protected] or place your news in the basket in the Church Office. Thank You! Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

For 20 years, Epiphany has The Altar Flower calendars for the been my extended family, as year 2015 are now available my family lives primarily on in the narthex We have two the West Coast. Now, as I calendars available so peo- start a new job in Jacksonville, FL, I ple can share the same date. thank you each and every one of you for You will be able to purchase all of your support, kindness, and fellow- one flower arrangement for ship during all of my life challenges over $25.00. Check your calendar for spe- the years. It has meant the world to me cial dates you would like to give glory and I give you all big hugs and kisses. I to God through the gift of altar flow- will be back to visit, rest assured, and I ers. If you have any questions, please look forward to Epiphany’s next chapter call the church office at 770.483.6222. as I look forward to finding a new church in my next chapter.

I love you all and God bless you and keep you.

Julie Sisson

2 From Pastor David

“Christ is risen!”

We are about to cry out on the highest celebration of the church year, shouting out the central mystery of our faith.

“Christ is risen!”

But what do we mean when we proclaim this church, for it is more than just a body being resusci- tated. After all, we are told that Lazarus was in the tomb for four days when Jesus raised him, but we do not follow Lazarus.

“Christ is risen!”

On the one hand, we say that as Jesus was raised from the dead, so we too shall be raised from the dead. Christ is “the first fruits of those who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20), Paul declares. Because we know that God raised Jesus, we know that we do not need to fear death. Death is not the end. It is but the beginning of a life found in God.

“Christ is risen!”

On the other hand, the resurrection is not simply about the afterlife. The resurrection of Jesus is also about this life. The resurrection tells us that we are not bound by our old life with its sin and strug- gles. Jesus took upon himself all of our hostility. Jesus took on all the violence from Jew and non-Jew alike. When God raised Jesus from the dead, God made a statement that our hostility and our violence and our sin will not have the last word. Love wins. Grace wins. Forgiveness wins.

Paul has a marvelous way of expressing this, using the words of our baptism:

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

We identify with Jesus in his crucifixion as we die to our old self, so that we may identify with Jesus in his resurrection and walk in newness of life. Whatever has happened before in our lives no longer matters. We can be changed. We can be transformed through the power of God’s grace, love, and forgiveness shown in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So let our voice be heard in this Easter season. Let them ring out with this proclamation of hope and love. May the good new change us, and may we be the change we wish to see in the world.

“Christ is risen! Christ is risen! Christ is risen!”

Christ is risen indeed! Amen!

In Christ,

Pastor David

3 Worship

March 29th SUNDAY OF THE PASSION PALM SUNDAY

8:30 AM Holy Communion Service 11:00 AM Holy Communion Service

April 2nd

Holy Communion Service at 7:00 PM with stripping of the Altar at the end of our worship in preparation for Good Friday.

April 3rd GOOD FRIDAY

You may visit the sanctuary for a quiet time of prayer from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Good Friday Service at 12:00 PM

Good Friday Evening Service at 7:00 PM

April 5th EASTER SUNDAY

6:30 AM – Outdoor Sunrise Service

st 7:30 – 8:15 AM, 1 seating Easter Breakfast*

8:30 AM – Festive Holy Communion

nd 9:45 –10:30 AM, 2 seating Easter Breakfast*

11:00 AM – Festive Holy Communion

*Cost for the Easter Breakfast is $3.00 per person or $10.00 per family. The breakfast menu will be scrambled eggs, ham, pancakes, fruit, juice and coffee.

5 Ash Wednesday Service of Holy Communion

Council President

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the past couple of months you have heard talk about Epiphany starting to do Missional Planning. On March 14th we held our first Missional Planning Workshop. There were six (6) people who attended it from the church council and there were six (6) more people that attended from the congregation. It was wonderful to have this participation and to have input from such a diverse group.

I am sure a number of people in our congregation have heard of this planned process and have imaged that this will lead to major changes in our church. As is usual, people can be scared of change. Missional Planning should not be a scary process but should be looked at as a way to better serve God. Part of the process involves the re-examination of who Epiphany is, what we do internally and externally to spread God’s word.

During the workshop we did an exercise which was called “SWOT”. This is a method of identifying Epiphany’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It was so encouraging and exciting to see the large number of strengths Epiphany has, the ways we reach out to each other and to people outside our church, all in service to God. Sometimes we can be so close to something that it is hard to see the reality, not being able to see the forest for the trees.

Over the next couple of months we will be continuing the process. We would like to ask everyone to prayerfully consider becoming a part of the process. There will be a lot of opportunities for everyone to plug in. Please become a part of our Missional Planning. Continue looking in the newsletter and the bulletins for announcements.

Yours in Christ,

Ron Lyons Council President

6 Stewardship

A Word About Stewardship From The Council President

When the word Stewardship is mentioned many people cringe. They feel that the discussion is going to be about financial Stewardship. As discussed in the past Stewardship involves Time, Talents and Treasures. There are hundreds of books and papers written about Stewardship. Many definitions exist for Stewardship and we have talked about Stewardship many times. Today I want to simply leave everyone with this prayer.

Stewardship Prayer

O God, I resolve to put You first in my life.

I recognize that You have blessed me with all that I have and all that I am.

As your steward, I resolve to sacrifice when necessary but always to do so out of a spirit of sincere love, just as your Son, Jesus, did for me.

I humbly accept the challenge to share from my means rather than from my excess.

I recognize that being a good steward is nothing more than being truly Christian.

Dear God, I resolve, to be generous with my time, talent and treasure, giving in proportion to the gifts I have been given.

I commit myself to taking care of my body and all of creation.

I know there will be times when I will fail to be good steward, but I pledge to keep trying.

I will confidently live each day with a spirit of true peace and joy in knowing that I am doing your will.

Amen

7 Education

Confirmation Room 6 with Pastor David, for all 6th,7th and 8th graders Welcome! To Sunday School During April & May as notified of schedule

Phil the Fish will still be around, so be sure to bring your Sunday School offering and let's see how many people we can help get access to clean water!!

9:45 AM - Children's Choir, for Pre-K thru 5th grade, meet in the Choir Room.

10:00 AM Sunday School

Pre-K - Room 2

K-5th Grade- Room 10 Come join our discussion: High School- Room 9  On the 1st & 3rd Sundays Pastor will facilitate

 On the 2nd & 4th Sundays We will discuss Sunday’s Lesson

10:00 AM Room 4

8 Congregation News & Information

Help Wanted – Webmaster

We are in search of a new volunteer to help keep our website up-to-date! If you are interested in web design A delicious Brunch of biscuits with sausage and would like to learn more about this gravy along with scrambled eggs, fruit, sweets and drinks was served to a rather smaller please contact Jeanna Dawson at crowd than usual of hungry souls on March 678-663-7754 or 1st. Now in case any of you have wondered [email protected] what is happening in Fellowship and why

have the monthly articles not been included in the recent editions of The Epistle, the answer is rather electrifying. Simply put, the computer at Epiphany decided (by benefit of an upgrade) to stop talking with the computer at 1656 Woodcrest which still runs on a version that is “too old” to be recognized by the new upgrade. So this is really being done in a make-do manner utilizing a patch as a go In Search of Photo Directory between the old and the new. If nothing else, Coordinator Volunteer/Team! this shows how easy it is to mess with electronic communication. As it is still un- It is that time again. We need a new, known whether this effort to bridge the “age” updated photo directory! We are looking of our computers, this will be a rather short for someone to put together a team to epistle. Just be prepared for longer forms info sharing if it actually works. work with the photographers and help get families and individuals in the Soup and sandwich evenings during the congregation scheduled for a photo Lenten season are well under way, In fact, directory. there are only two more to go. Then comes Easter breakfast, which this year falls on the If you are interested in helping to first Sunday of the month, April 5th. Soooooo!!!!! Easter breakfast will take the coordinate this effort please contact place of the normal brunch. Hope you are Jeanna Dawson at 678-663-7754 or looking forward to pancakes, ham, eggs, fruit, jeanna7997@Photo Directory Time! juice, coffee and, most likely, some sweets.

The committee will meet again on Monday morning, April 6, at 11:00 AM in the church library.

Bill Schroeder (Margaret Hill, council liaison)

FUN

Talent Show, Spaghetti Dinner & Cake Auction

Sunday, April 12th 12:30 PM

The High School youth and Middle School youth will be hosting a talent show on Sunday, April 12th in the Main Hall immediately following the 11:00 AM service.

This will include a spaghetti dinner and cake auction. Please join us for some fun entertainment and great food.

All proceeds will go towards the cost of the Epiphany youth programs.

Laughter Talent Good Food

10 Youth Fund Raiser TALENT SHOW …. CAKE AUCTION Show Off Your Immense Talents Open to All Ages Sunday, April 12th at 12:30 PM Entry Deadline Sunday, March 29th

Our High School and Middle School Youth will be hosting a talent show, in the Main Hall immediately following the 11:00 AM service. This will include a spaghetti dinner and cake auction. The talent show is open to all ages. If you would like to participate in the talent show, complete the form below and either place it in the offering plate during Sun- day worship, or the church office. A medal will be awarded to all participants.

If you don’t want to show off your talents, then perhaps you would like to support our youth another way. Bake a cake to be auctioned off after the show.

Please let us know by March 29th if you are going to bake a cake.

All proceeds go towards the Epiphany youth programs!

Name: ______

Phone Number: ______

Type of Act: (for example…vocal, instrumental, dance, skit):

______

Name of Song (if performing a vocal or instrumental act):

______

Equipment needed on stage that you need us to supply:

______

If you have a CD for your act, the name of the CD (CD must not have voice track):

______

Bake a Cake ______

11 Activities

Need a break from the hectic daily grind, a place to quietly WINGS reconnect with the Spirit of God (Women IN God’s Service) in all of us? Come join us in Centering Prayer. Easter “We Care” packages were assembled Centering Prayer is a way of practicing con- during our March meeting and were mailed templative prayer, and through it we seek to to the college students of our congregation. open our entire being to God simply by sitting quietly and being open to God's These packages had an Easter theme and presence. No experience necessary. contained plastic eggs filled with candy, an inspirational note and ‘goodies’. Inside each We will meet on Tuesday, April 7th at package we placed an extra treat bag for each 6:30 PM, at our new location, the Prayer Chapel next to Salem United Methodist student to give away to a roommate, class- Church, 3962 Salem Road. mate or a friend in need. WINGS will meet

For more information, please contact again on Sunday, April 19th to put together Evelyn Brown at 404-825-4615 or our last care package of the school year. e-mail [email protected]. These packages will have a “Good Luck with All are welcome! Finals” candy bar theme (i.e. you are a ‘smartie’ and ‘mounds’ of knowledge). If

you would like to help assemble these pack- MEN’S BIBLE STUDY ages, please feel free to join us at 9:45AM in Meets every Thursday morning from the library. If you are unable to make the 7:00 to 8:00 AM in the Main Hall. April meeting but would like to contribute Please join us for this time of study and fellowship! items to the care package, please call the church office for ideas. Donations to help cover the cost of shipping would also be

greatly appreciated. Denise Baker Women’s Bible Study (WELCA)

The women of WELCA will meet on Tuesday, OWL’s April 7 at 9:30 AM in Rooms 4, 5, and 6. This (Older and Wiser Lutherans) organization is growing and we welcome all women to join us for Bible study, fellowship, The OWLs will be meeting for their monthly and community/global projects. Our donations Brown Bag Luncheon on Friday, April 17th at 12:00 PM in the Main Hall. We this month for the Rockdale food bank will be welcome new members and invite all over applesauce, and donations to the Preschool will 50 seniors to join us for lively conversation, be baby wipes. Please join us. friendship and fellowship.

Epiphany Women's Book Club All women of Epiphany are invited. Social Ministries We would love to have more members. Social Ministry will be the church leaders from They Epiphany Women's Book Club will Epiphany for Rockdale County's volunteer day meet on Tuesday April 21 at 7PM to discuss on Saturday April 18th. Projects to help our "The Orphan Train" by Christina Baker community will be assigned closer to the day. Kline. It is about the pairing of a seventeen Please check the bulletin for more information year old foster girl who must do a community and plan to join us in reaching out to our com- service project with an elderly lady to stay munity. out of Juvenile detention. It turns out the elderly lady was an orphan in NYC who was Keep Saturday morning May 2 open to join us put on a train with other orphans to start new at Salem United Methodist Church to help pack lives in the Midwest. The projects helps both food for their Stop Hunger Now event. Each of them in different ways. Our discussion meal packed costs about 29 cents and will feed leader is Megan Beaucher an our hostess is a hungry child so they can go to school and stop Miriam Holcomb. the cycle of poverty. Look for our display in the For more information call Narthex. Please contribute your time or money Evelyn Brown at 404-825-4615 or to this cause. e-mail [email protected]. Back Pack Buddies is in need of food to finish out the ELDERCARE WORKSHOP school year. Our cupboard

Sponsored by the Stephen Ministry only contains snacks. Please contribute, canned meats, Speaker: Victoria Collier vegetables, water, fruit, and Sunday, April 19th 9:30-11:00 AM cereals so we can pack our in the Fellowship Hall 108 bags. If you would rather donate money,

Ms. Collier is a certified elder law attorney make checks payable to Epiphany and note it is nationally recognized for her work in for Back Pack Buddies. Veterans' benefits and long term care issues. Knowing how to care for your aging parent For more information call Evelyn Brown or loved one will save you time, energy and at 404-825-4515 or e-mail money. If your loved one is a qualifying [email protected]. veteran, you will learn strategies to help Thank you so much. them receive the benefits they are entitled to. Evelyn Brown and the Social Ministry Team.

A question and answer period will

follow the presentation.

A light brunch will be served before I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all of you that sponsored Christopher and me for the presentation. the Hunger Walk! Please call Joyce Mecca at 678.227.3548 God Bless You! to make reservations. Mary Lou Gomes

13 Information The 2015 Hunger Walk Participates

THANK YOU TO ALL! WE REACHED OUR TEAM GOAL AND RAISED OVER $3,000. WE WILL KNOW OUR EXACT AMOUNT SOON! Barbara Drasher, Team Captain

Don’t Throw Away That Please Remember to Recycle Empty Cartridge! Paper and aluminum cans The Youth are continuing their fund-raising project, Empties4Cash, with the help of a small re- **Your papers, envelopes even with cycling company. Empty inkjet cartridges can be recycled and remanufactured. Our youth windows, phone books, magazines and groups will receive up to $4.00 for each car- crushed cardboard can go in the blue tridge that is brought in. This program has raised bin. Plastic bags must be emptied, the over $1,000.00 that have directly benefited our load will be rejected if there are any youth programs. You can help! Any cartridge non-paper items in it. All proceeds go with a print head can be recycled, regardless of to Family Promise of New Rock. brand or type. They only accept inkjet cartridges. Do you have an HP, Lexmark, Xerox, Com- **Your aluminum cans go in the wire paq, Samsung, Kodak, Canon or Apple printer? container and all proceeds benefit the Bring in your empty cartridges (placed in the Youth programs at Epiphany. original box that you would have thrown away to keep it safe from spills. and damages, or a Ziploc bag) to the recycle bin that can be found in the Narthex.

14 Support Ministry Support Offered For Family of Mentally Ill

Meets April 6th and April 20th at 7:00 - 8:30 PM, in rooms 4, 5, 6.

Too often, mental illness is an isolating experience, accompanied by profound anxiety. When your family member or friend is diagnosed with a mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other condition, talking with someone to share coping strategies and insights, as well as problems and con- cerns, can be an important part of recovery.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family Support Group is a recovery support group program for people whose loved one is living with mental illness. These groups provide a place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope.

NAMI Family Support meets at Epiphany Lutheran Church on the first and third Monday of each month,

The group is led by trained individuals who themselves have loved ones living with a mental illness. They understand your daily challenges and can offer you encouragement and support. All group sessions are confidential—you can share as much or as little personal information as you wish.

There is no need to register—just come when you feel like you need someone to talk to. NAMI Family Support Groups are open to all adults who have a family member or friend who is living with mental illness, regardless of diagnosis. Please feel welcome to drop by and share your feelings, difficulties, or successes. Everyone is a valued participant.

If you have any questions please contact Barbara Nieman at 770.823.8912.

Learn, Grow, and Just a quick reminder Serve by Becoming a Stephen Minister It seems obvious to say that life isn’t easy. Stephen Ministers provide Most of us have experienced a time when emotional and spiritual “difficult” doesn’t even begin to describe our support and care to people situation. When these challenging times con- who are going through a difficult time, such as front you, whether in marriage, family, or divorce, grief, hospitalization, chronic illness, unemployment, terminal illness, relocation, or personal life, remember that the Christian loneliness. Stephen Ministers are God’s represent- walk is one we share together. Epiphany has atives who bring his love to those who are hurting. many resources to support you: counseling God is waiting to make a difference in their lives with Pastor David, listening and companion- through you! Do you have gifts for caring, encour- ship through one of our Stephen Ministers, or agement, and listening? If so, please prayerfully therapy through the Care and Counseling consider becoming a Stephen Minister. To find Center of Rockdale and Newton Counties out more about becoming a Stephen Minister or (supported, in part, by Epiphany Lutheran). how you or someone you know could be matched All of these ministries are confidential. with a Stephen Minister, talk with one of our Please call the church office if you would like Stephen Ministry Leaders: Kim Johnson this type of support or the Care and Counsel- 404.660.2719, Joyce Mecca 678.227.3548, Marty ing Center at 770.922.3044. Gunzenhauser 404.545.6560 or call the church office 770.483.6222.

15 Birthdays & Anniversaries

1 Greg Chapman 18 Jennifer Coker

2 Phillip Brown Elizabeth Shead Date Years Fidensio Malphurs 19 Ary Grijalva Lloyd & Merri 1 26 Kuykendall Alicia Simmons Ola Hawes George & Inam Withers 5 18 3 John Garst Brad Smith Grethel Moore Tom & Nancy Cook 11 28 Walter Oakley 20 Jeff Drasher Gordon & Charlotte Hall 11 56 Drew Payseur Sabrina Jones

5 James Livermont Paul & Linda Wood 16 26 21 Joseph Atkins 7 Verna Bass John & Kathy Dear 17 3 22 Alanna Hart 8 Phillip Bentley James Thrower Janet Cecchettini & 22 15 Bette Brown Greg Potratz

Savannah Bryan 25 Marilyn Oakley Ralph & Jane Jones 17 48 9 Connor Dennis Tracy Longbottom Shane & Julie Honig 23 10 27 Mary Leach Michael Reisinger Ed & Margaret Hill 24 44 28 Ed Hill 12 Marie Danford Sam Johnston Bill & Beth Cate 26 12 Donald Jenkins 29 Shane Honig Chelsea Stewart Gary & Carla Lindemann 28 35 Nicholas Lyons 14 Rachel Flow Horace & Jean Sullivan 29 54 Lori Weber 15 Jessica Ard Did we miss announcing your birthday 16 Mary Lou Gomes or anniversary? Please e-mail the Henny Winslow church office at [email protected]

so that we may update our records. Thank you.

16 “Eggstra, Eggstra!” Read all about it!

“Egg”citing news here at Epiphany Lutheran Church.

Saturday, April 4th, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to noon will be our first annual Friends and Community “Egg”straordinary Easter Festival. We invite all of our church youth as well as our young friends from the preschool, Family Promise of Newrock and children and youth with special needs in our community to join us for some fun and fellowship. Racing Rabbits Obstacle Course, egg tossing, crafts, refreshments and of course our “egg”stra Special Egg Hunt will be some of the “egg”citing fun to be had by all.

The church and preschool are sponsoring this event and are looking for “egg”straordinary people to help us make this a memorable event for our youth. Gifts of your time to stuff eggs, working the day of the festival or candy to put in the Easter eggs are just a couple of ways that you could help. We will be plac- ing a basket in the Narthex for donations for this event.

For more information about this “egg”citing event you can call Jenny Lyons or Mona Longbottom at 678-602-5939.

Want to start out 2015 with a Clean Garage?

Get to cleanin’ and bring your gently used items to Epiphany, beginning on Sunday, April 12th. The youth will be having their annual yard sale and car wash:

Saturday, May 2nd from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM No clothing please.

All of the proceeds will go directly to benefit the youth program. Thank you!

Ron Barron Youth Director

Combined Worship Service April 26th 10:00 AM Outside in the Pavilion Come meet the members that attend the “other” service!

Then after service the preschool will be providing munchkins and coffee. Donations will be accepted and will benefit the Ronald Ewerth Scholarship Fund. **If you would like to pre-order a box of munchkins, there are order forms in the narthex. Put your completed forms in the basket next to the order forms.

Thank you for your support!

THRIVENT NIGHT AT THE GWINNETT BRAVES! Saturday, May 30, 2015 Thrivent Tailgate 4:45-6:00PM, Game begins at 7:05PM Gwinnett Braves vs. Columbus Clippers

Ticket Orders: Tickets for the game are $8.00 per person (children under 2 are free) Pre-paid parking is $4.00 per car ($5.00 at the gate.) Make your check payable to Epiphany and note “Braves tickets” on memo line . You can put it in the offering plate or bring it to the church office. All checks must be received by Sunday, May 3.

This year, Thrivent will be sponsoring an Armed Forces Appreciation event at the pre-game, hot dog tailgate dinner. Thrivent members are asked to consider bringing current Armed Forces members and veterans as a special “Thank You!” Also, there will be blank greeting cards at the event for attendees to sign and send words of encouragement to the men and women in our Armed Forces.

We are asking each congregation to nominate an active duty serviceperson or veteran to throw out the first pitch. All nominations must be received, in the church office by May 10—Thrivent will have a random drawing to choose the lucky pitcher! The winner will be contacted ahead of time and announced at the pre-game tailgate.

18 Council Minutes - March Council Meeting March 22, 2015

The meeting was called to order @ 12:30 PM. In attendance were Pastor David, Riki DeLamar, Ron Ly- ons, Jeanna Dawson, Kim Johnson, Nancy Cook, Bertie Thomas, Paul Rowe, Margaret Hill and guest Mary Armstrong-Reiner.

The group had sharing time.

Pastor's report moved up so that he could go down to CWL to see Jeannette Harris.

The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed. Motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting as submitted: Motion was seconded and approved.

The agenda for today’s meeting was reviewed. Motion made to accept the agenda with the following addi- tions: Add Music Camp Designated fund to New Business. Motion was seconded and approved. FINANCIAL REPORTS: 1. FINANCIAL SECRETARY Art Viohl 2. TREASURER Penny Houlihan-Mockoski 3. FINANCE Ron Lyons OLD BUSINESS: 1. Table Talk - nothing to report. 2. Missional Planning Committee/Community Teams - Pastor updated group that he is moving forward with this. 3. 30th Anniversary Celebration - Sheila Sipe is chairing this group, planning in process. 4. Outdoor Service (4/26) - Will be a joint service. No meal, no Sunday School. 5. Janitorial Services - Cleaning company has been hired. They have recommended the addition of buff- ing the Fellowship Hall monthly, for $100. Motion made to ask them to do this quarterly, initially; and see how the floor holds up. Motion seconded and passed. 6. OWL's - Discussion about reviving this group and giving the support they have requested. Possible to move with Jenny Lyons in starting the SOAR program, and tie the two in together. 7. Finance Committee Back-Up - Ron having trouble keeping up with President position, and would like help. Also, we do not currently have a back up appointed in case of emergency. Motion made to have Kim Johnson fill both of these positions. Motion seconded and approved. 8. Sunday School Director - no progress with this yet. Several teachers have stepped up and are helping with duties weekly; still looking for an official Director. 9. Mission Statements from Committees - call for mission statements. Some submitted last month. Ron will check with Bob. 10. Mutual Ministry - See Pastor's report. 11. Organ Fund - Letter from Art Schlueter outlining needed repairs for the organ. We currently have approximately $5800 in the organ escrow fund. Will ask him to go ahead with the repairs, and will explore what is needed for the further upgrades. 12. VBS-SN - update from Pastor Mary; possibly 3 or more area churches to share hosting duties. Pro- gram is one she has used in Illinois. Back-ground checks will be needed on all volunteers, but the Police Department doesn't charge for this service for the churches. First Baptist has expressed interest. She would like to get permission to host here, this first year. Motion made, seconded and approved.

19 Council Minutes - March Continued NEW BUSINESS: 1. Doug Longbottom's Council Position - Doug has had to resign sooner than expected. Ron will ap- proach members to see if he can find someone with interest in serving. 2. Committee Liaison's Job Description - 2 Council, Pastor and 1 other at-large member. 3. Synod Assembly 6/5-7 Birmingham, AL. - Ron and Paul are willing to attend from council. 4.Announcement Boards - Would like to move forward with this project that we tabled last year. Would scroll announcement, prayers, upcoming events, etc. Located at 2 places in the building to share information with members. Quote for approximately $1200. Motion made, seconded and approved. 5. Organ Repairs - Discussed under number 11 above. 6. Music Camp Designated Fund - Discussed Asante Children's Choir, need for funding to support this cause. Motion made to use Music Camp funds to donate. Motion seconded and approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. Discipleship - No Report 2. Outreach - 25 Backpacks made for Back Pack Buddies 3. Nurture - No Report 4. Administration - Director Committee being formed. Facebook updates regularly. Forming property committee. Jeanna will be taking a Social Media for churches class. 5. Worship - trying to figure out how often information needs to be assimilated between council and the groups as they meet at different intervals.

Financial Secretary: Current envelope offerings for February were $26,007.00. Loose offerings were $459.25. Total for the month was $36,896.85.

Treasurer: Operating income for February was $26,466 with $10,431 in designated funds. Total expenses were $31,136. The operating fund balance is $6,369.

Pastor’s Report: Written report: Worship Services (5) Special Worship (4), Hospital visits (3), Member Visits (7), Life Passages (0) Pastors Meeting (2) Committee Meetings (1-Exec Council), Education (11), Counseling Sessions (0), Staff Meetings (2), Private Communions (0), Other Meetings (5). Continuing Education (1).

President’s Report: No written report. Discussed changing the finance information presented on the bulletin each week. Discussion about state of finances; operating account showing $6,369 but we still need to move the Organ escrow and Bldg Maintenance escrow monies over to designated funds. This would leave us with around $1000 in the Operating Fund. Motion made by Kim Johnson to only move the Organ Es- crow account at this time. Motion seconded and approved.

Vice President’s Report: No written report. All discussion under Administration.

Columbarium’s Report: None.

Date for April's council meeting will be 4/19/15. Margaret Hill will provide lunch. Motion to adjourn was made and seconded, and was approved.

Respectfully submitted, Rikita S. DeLamar

UPCOMING EVENTS - Outdoor Service 4/26 - 30 year anniversary: May 2015

20 Financial Report –February, 2015

21 Thrivent

22 Thrivent continued

Thrivent Wants to know, "What's your favorite Bible story and why?"

We all have a favorite Bible story. Maybe it’s when Noah built the ark or when Jesus fed the 5,000. Thrivent magazine wants to hear from kids what their favorite Bible story is and why. It’s the topic of our fourth annual Contest for Kids. Children Pre-K through grade 12 are eligible to enter a drawing or an essay. There are cash awards for top entries!

Get all the details at Thrivent.com/contest. Deadline to enter is April 26, 2015.

Thrivent Got Action!??!

All Thrivent members (Associates too) are eligible to act with an Action Team starting this year, actually twice a year. What are you passionate about? It is so simple to start a movement toward a ministry of outreach that you are personally

concerned and passionate about. Give generously!

Also, don’t forget your Thrivent Choice Dollars deadline is March 31st to direct

any remaining 2014 Choice Dollars.

If you have any questions, please talk with Mona Longbottom.

23 Non-Profit Organization Epiphany Lutheran Church U.S. Postage Paid 2375 Georgia Highway 20 Conyers, GA 30013 Conyers, Georgia 30013-2421 PERMIT #150

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Epiphany Lutheran Church

Early Worship 8:30 AM Sunday School 9:45 AM Worship 11:00 AM

2 miles south of I-20 Church Office 770.483.6222 Fax 770.760.9211 E-mail: [email protected] www.conyerselc.org