Hi EPC Friends and Members, 

Here's my "3-2-1" for this week...

3 EPC Happenings

1. Easter -- THIS SUNDAY!  Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Join us for worship at 10:30, followed by an egg hunt after service. 

2. All Church Visioning! SUNDAY, April 24th -- All church visioning from 9-3 -- we'll be guided by Elmhurst University Professor Eric Sanders and Colleagues for a long morning of visioning and planning for our church's future. All are welcome and invited. Guests from our partners in ministry at New Deliverance Church in Chicago will join us. The schedule for the day includes breaks for worship (at our normal 10:30 time -- abbreviated service!) and also a simple sandwich lunch. Plan to be there as we talk about the exciting things in store for us and for our future. Dr. Sanders and his colleagues are guiding us in a process called "appreciative inquiry." The thing I love about it is its focus on strengths and positivity. It's about listening to one another, too. Please plan to come. 

3. Community Kids! Calling all kids! (of all ages) We need YOU (and your grownups!) on Sunday, May 1, from 11:30 - 12:30. We'll be loading up a TON of mattresses that are no longer needed by DuPage PADS and will be donated to Grace and Peace church in Chicago. (We will just be loading the truck... a volunteer will drive it to Chicago on Monday.) Please invite your friends and neighbors to help with this fun and easy service project. Community Kids helps kids connect with the value of serving and helping others. 

2 Interesting Links

1. What does the death of Jesus mean? I had a series of conversations with friends about this over the past few months. All of them are authors and well respected for their scholarship. You can watch or listen to them if you're interested in thinking through this central doctrine of the Christian faith. My conversations were with Dr. Laura Alary, Rev. Danielle Shroyer and Daneen Akers/Herb Montgomery. 

2. This poem had me thinking about resurrection in a very new way: LET THERE ALWAYS BE LIGHT.

1 Thought

I'm reading Prince Caspian to the boys right now (I think we'll finish on Easter!), and this quote is so, so good, especially if you know the series and the characters. 

"Aslan" said Lucy "you're bigger".
"That is because you are older, little one" answered he.
"Not because you are?"
"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."
― C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian

There you have it! Our 3-2-1 for the week. See you Sunday! 

It's not the same without you there, 

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Join us for our Easter Sunday worship service at 10:30 AM, followed by an egg hunt for the kids after the service. 

Our Pastoral Assistant, Kaleigh, has put together a Virtual Stations of the Cross Video for all who are interested. These artistic renditions of the Stations by Illustrated Ministry with accompanying reflections will invite you into the journey with Jesus. Click Here for the video!

Don't forget to bring in your fish money banks on Easter Sunday for One Great Hour of Sharing! Want to know more about One Great Hour of Sharing? Click Here!

Join us on SUNDAY, April 24 from 9-3 for a day of discussion and excitement around the future mission, vision, and direction of EPC! This event will be facilitated by Dr. Eric Sanders, professor of Organizational Development at Elmhurst University and his colleagues. Lunch will be provided, and there will be an abbreviated worship service at 10:30 AM. Come one, come all! PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS SUNDAY! 

The Garden Work Day is TOMORROW, Saturday, April 16 from 9-12, for all who can make it. Any questions, please contact Ruth Schroeter.

Elmhurst University’s Late Night Blues Vocal Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Gayle Bisesi, is teaming up with Chicago artists Jess Brooks, Lewis Achenbach, and Kristin Wenc live in concert at Elmhurst Hall, 119 N. York Road on Thursday, April 28th from 7:30-9:30 pm to raise money for the people of Ukraine.  Come enjoy an evening of Live Jazz, Live Painting, and a Live Auction! For more information, contact Gayle Bisesi.

The Worship Team is looking for folks to serve as Liturgists or Ushers on Sunday Mornings. Ushers are responsible for welcoming worshippers, handing out bulletins, lighting and extinguishing candles, and setting out offering plates and returning them to work room. Liturgists participate in worship by leading the congregation in the call to worship, the passing of the peace, and the prayer of dedication. There is a sign up sheet in the lobby or contact the church office. 

This year an assortment of Easter lilies, tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils will be made available for purchase on Easter Sunday. Any of the flowers on Easter morning can be purchased for $20. The monies can be placed in envelope on the lectern with "Cristi/Paula" on it or see Paula Reckley on Easter morning. We ask that you take your flowers home on Easter. The ones that remain will be donated to EPC friends by the deacons or for the garden.

Stay tuned! Pastor Traci is starting a live video podcast called EPC Live!  It will feature guests from our own congregation and community talking about various topics including outreach, service, big dreams, and the Holy Spirit. It'll stream live to our YouTube and Facebook pages. Stay tuned for our first episode.

Masks are now optional in church, as of March 20. While we no longer require masks to enter, please be kind to those who choose to wear a mask. We will continue to offer the Peace of Christ using Covid friendly gestures. If local regulations change, we will update our masking policy.

Afghan Support Fund Update! A gift was made to Church World Service Afghan Assistance and Placement Program. The family has moved from an AirBNB to an apartment. Due to that change, our fund cannot help them with rent. We look forward to being able to help them with the airfare for 11 family members once their paperwork is processed. Please consider making a contribution by giving online, text to give, or placing a donation in the offering plate noting “Afghan Family Support.”

Make a Donation to Afghan Family Support

There is a lot going on in the life of the church in the next few months. Please make sure you mark your calendars for all of our upcoming events: 

April 16 -- Garden Work Day
April 17 -- Easter Sunday + Easter Egg Hunt
SUNDAY April 24 -- All Church Future Visioning 9am - 3pm 
May 1 -- Community Kids Event!
May 7-8 -- Art in the Park 
June 5 -- Pentecost Sunday
June 25 -- PRIDE! 

There will be Sunday School downstairs this Sunday! All kids are welcome to join us for a time of learning and fellowship. Tuning in online? A Zoom Link will be sent out Sunday Morning. There's a coloring sheet below for the young and young-at-heart. 

Click here for an Easter Coloring Sheet!

Join us this Sunday after worship for an Easter Egg Hunt. All kids ages 0-13 are welcome to join us in the lawn by the garden. If the weather isn't great, we will gather in Calvin Hall. Baskets will be provided. We can't wait! 

Join us for our next Community Kids Event on Sunday, May 1, from 11:30 - 12:30. We'll be loading up mattresses that are no longer needed by DuPage PADS and will be donated to Grace and Peace church in Chicago. Please invite your friends and neighbors to help with this fun and easy service project. Community Kids helps kids connect with the value of serving and helping others.

10:30 Sunday Worship Livestream - Click Here!

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