October 28, 2021

Hi EPC Friends and Members!
Here's my "3-2-1" for this week... 

3 EPC Happenings 

1. It's stewardship season. As you'll notice in worship and the e-notes over the next few weeks, we'll be featuring people's stories about why they give to EPC. The sermon messages are focused on what kind of church God is calling us to be. I'm excited, optimistic, and full of hope.
2. Pop-Up Pantry! I know we're used to bringing items at the last minute, but please consider bringing your pop up pantry donations as early as possible so they can be sorted and inventoried. Please see the announcement below. 
3. Session Retreat -- Our session will be on a retreat on November 5-6 to pray and plan for the year to come. Please keep them in your prayers as they think about the future and direction of our congregation.

2 Interesting Links

1. I've been listening to the song New Every Morning with my morning coffee this week. It's a great way to start the day. 
2. My Church Doesn't Know What to Do Anymore, by Elizabeth Felicetti in The Atlantic -- I thought there were some similarities to our congregation and many differences, too. Still, I thought this article had some valuable food for thought. 

1 Thought

The worst thing we ever did
was put God in the sky
out of reach

pulling the divinity
from the leaf,
sifting out the holy from our bones,
insisting God isn’t bursting dazzlement
through everything we’ve made
a hard commitment to see as ordinary,
stripping the sacred from everywhere
to put in a cloud man elsewhere,
prying closeness from your heart.

The worst thing we ever did
was take the dance and the song
out of prayer
made it sit up straight
and cross its legs
removed it of rejoicing
wiped clean its hip sway,
its questions,
its ecstatic yowl,
its tears.

The worst thing we ever did is pretend
God isn’t the easiest thing
in this Universe
available to every soul
in every breath.

by Chelan Harkin

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

It's not the same without you there, 
Pastor Traci

On October 19, the session approved revised COVID-19 protocols for EPC. Please be sure to review them before attending worship.

Click here for the revised COVID-19 Protocols

EPC is raising funds to benefit an Afghan family of 11 who must leave Afghanistan due to exceptional risk. Your donation will go toward visa application, legal, and transportation fees. 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

EPC kicked off our 2022 Stewardship Campaign, A Future With Hope, this past Sunday in worship. Tom Mason, Clerk of Session shared why he gives - check it out below. Please be prayerfully considering how you will support EPC in 2022 with your time, talent, and treasure. You'll be invited to make a pledge in a few weeks.

Click Here to Read Tom Mason's "Why I Give"

As we shared earlier this week, longtime EPC member Dick White died on October 26th. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, December 11 at 2:00 PM at EPC. Please light a candle for his family and include them in your prayers.

This Sunday, there's no Sunday School. The kids will be joining in the worship service! Tuning in online? Be sure to print out the coloring sheet below to use during the livestream.

Click Here for the 10/31 Coloring Sheet

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the Community Kids Mission Project! The blessing bag assembly at the Trunk or Treat was a huge success. See below for a few photos of the event. Do you or your organization have a mission that needs support? Contact Emily with your ideas -- our kids would love to help!

10:30 Sunday Worship Livestream - Click Here!

Give to Elmhurst Presbyterian Church