Epworth connects and equipsall kinds of people to

seek, serve, and share Christ.

This Coming WeekSunday, May 15, 2016Pentecost Sunday 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School11:00 a.m. Traditional ServiceTuesday, May 17, 201610:30 a.m. GRSA Meeting 6:30 p.m. Growing Christians UMW Meeting 6:30 p.m. Youth Bible Study Wednesday, May 18, 201612:00 noon Prayer Team Meeting 6:15 p.m. Praise Practice 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

Thursday, May 19, 2016 9:30 a.m. AAA Defensive Driving ClassFriday - Saturday, May 20 & 21, 2016Fellowship Hall ReservedSunday, May 22, 2016 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School11:00 a.m. Traditional Service12:00 noon VBS Meeting

UpComing evenTsTuesday, May 24, 2016 7:00 a.m. Election held in the Fellowship HallMonday - Friday, June 6 -10Vacation Bible School 5:30 - 8:15 p.m.

May 15, 2016

2400 Devonshire Drive • Columbus, GA 31904706-322-6973

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

oUr ChUrCh sTaffChildren’s Director Dawn WilsonChoir Director Lyn PharrisChurch Administrator Susan SniderCustodians Martha Conklin Barbie MorrisMedia & Communications Dawn Wilson Music Director Bob LeeNursery Worker Martha ConklinPastor Tony G. Crosby

The sanctuary flowers are given to theglory of God and in honor of Abby Knight and

Anne Wilson on their birthdays.

ConTaCT Usdawn@epworthumc.comsusan@epworthumc.comtony@epworthumc.com

Pastor’s Home (706) 327-2927Pastor’s Cell (706) 329-2484

Church Website: epworthumc.com

Come, Holy Spirit!

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God…

16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit

that we are children of God…” Romans 8:14-16 (NRSV)

Today is Pentecost Sunday. As much as I am praying for a new and fresh wind of the Holy Spirit on me and on our congregation, I want to take a moment today to share my prayers and my heart for our dear United Methodist Church. A few days ago, a very important meeting began called the General Conference. In South Georgia, where we are surrounded by Baptists and non-denominational churches everywhere, it is important for us to remember that the way we do our church polity is significantly different. We are a connectional church. We are related in a very real way to every other church that is United Methodist all around the world. Every four years, delegates from conferences all over the world who are a part of our denomination gather to set policy and priorities for our life together as United Methodists. In fact, regardless of how many bishops or preachers share their opinions about our church, the only official body that can speak for the United Methodist denomination is the General Conference. This meeting is being held in Portland, Oregon. Already, there is great angst among many who are concerned about how the conference will handle the controversial and divisive issues of our day. If anything from our global gathering makes the news, it will likely be something related to our deliberations surrounding human sexuality and the church’s stance on same-gender marriage. In advance of the conference, a well-known bishop and several clergy have “tested the system” by performing some of these ceremonies. Other clergy have “come out” as bisexual or gay and have challenged the system as well. I realize there are many who are passionate about these issues and I have great compassion for opinions that differ from my own. Like many, I remain concerned at how those who disregard our duly passed policies strain our denominational unity. When pastors and others begin to simply disobey our mutual covenants by which we have agreed to live, the fabric of trust that holds us together is strained and torn. This is happening and it grieves my heart for the church that I love. I can’t predict the future and I don’t know how all of these things will look at the end of the meeting this Friday. I can make predictions, but they would be only that. What I can say today on Pentecost Sunday is that the church of 2016 A.D. needs the Holy Spirit just as much as the church of 33 A.D. It has been said that if the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the early church, 90% of what they were doing would have ceased immediately, but if the Holy Spirit were withdrawn from the modern church, 90% of what we are doing would continue and few would notice the difference. If this is true, it explains much of what is wrong with United Methodism and the entire church of today. My prayer for our General Conference, for Epworth, and for me is that more things will happen in my life and in our lives together that can be explained in no other way than by the power of the Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit, come! In Christ,

sUnday sChool aT 10:00 amTHE CHILDREN’S CLASSES Kindergarten - 2nd Grd.: Dawn Wilson3rd - 5th Grd.: Dawn Wilson

THE FRIENDSHIP CLASS Study: Humble Faith Teacher: Tim Paulk

THE JOY CLASS Study: Devotional Teacher: Class

THE NATHAN PATTERSON/WESLEY CLASS Study: John 19 Teacher: Bobby Smith

THE NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS Study: Noah Built His Ark in the Sunshine Teacher: Leslie Morris/Melonie Phillips

THE “NO NAME” CLASS Study: I Love Growing Older... Teacher: Ron Sawyer

THE QUESTORS CLASS Study: Class Discussion Teacher: Gary Tomlin

THE SEEKERS CLASS Study: Class Discussion Teacher: Lillian Wooldrige

Those Who serve sUnday, may 15, 2016

9:00 a.m. Worship Service: Greeter: Anne Wilson Usher: Jimmy Bridges Acolyte: Hayden Wilson Children’s Church: Debra Johnson11:00 a.m. Worship Service: Greeter: Maxine Willis Ushers: Fraser Wooldrige, Bruce Zimmerman Acolyte: Ema Cheraisi, C.S. Di Simone

Children’s Church: Dawn Wilson Nursery Volunteer: Lillian WooldridgeFinancial Secretary: Lee SpencerTurn Key: James JohnsonoUr sTeWardship

May 8, 2016Tithes & Offering: $7,421.00Received To Date: $102,218.15Needed To Date: $125,743.10 Building Fund: $0.00

ATTENDANCE:Sunday School: 65 Worship: 9 a.m. 42 11 a.m. 102

144

WhaT’s happeningAttention All Graduates - Contact the church office if you have graduated from college or will be graduating from high school for 2015-16 to receive a special gift from the UMM.Epworth T-Shirt Orders - If you would like to order this year’s t-shirt, then be sure to put your name and size on the sign-up sheet on the Information Board. Deadline is May 22.Fellowship Hall Reserved - Saturday, May 14, all day.GRSA Meeting - Tuesday, May 17, at 10:30 a.m., in the Fellowship Hall. Growing Christians UMW Meeting - Tuesday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m., at the church. Defensive Driving Course - Thursday, May 19, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. To reserve your spot, sign up on the information board. Free to the congregation. Bring your lunch for the 30-minute break. Any questions, see James or Marjean Waters or Becky Britton. Fellowship Hall Reserved - Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday, May 21, all day.Epworth Voting Site - Fellowship Hall closed Tuesday, May 24, all day, for voting. Fellowship Hall Reserved - Sunday, May 29, 1 - 6 p.m.Office Closed - Monday, May 30, in observation of Memorial Day.Graduate Breakfast - Sunday, June 5, at 8:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All graduates and their families are invited. Please sign up on the Information Board.Feeding Our Neighbors at Rose Hill - Tuesday, May 24, at 4:45 pm. People are needed to prepare the meal, serve, and clean up. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Barbara Stubbs.

missionsMay Mission Focus - Brown Bag of Columbus. Brown Bag is a nonprofit agency which provides groceries to low income elderly individuals and receives no government assistance. Our GOAL is for 100 families/individuals to donate $5.00 to Brown Bag this month. Last week to support The Vashti Center - Due to the decline in participation, Campbell’s has decided to end the Labels for Education program in July. Vashti has asked us to send our labels to them in May. Please bring any labels you have by Sunday, May 15, so Vashti can have time to process the labels and mail to Campbell’s. Helping Hands Ministry - Sponsored by the UMW of Epworth. Are you living alone and need someone to help with little things around the house or do you need a ride? Are you able to help with this ministry? Pick up a form from the information rack or in any online bulletin. Give forms to Becky Britton, Barbara Stubbs or the church office.Clothing Our Neighbors at Rose Hill - There is a great need for men’s work pants, jeans and socks. We are collecting men’s, women’s and children’s spring/summer clothing. Majority of the clients are homeless, so no dress pants, sport jackets or suits. Place items in the bin in the New Storage Room. The clothing bank needs volunteers. If interested, contact Joe Morrow at 706-332-9314.Can Recycling - Please leave aluminum cans outside the back kitchen door. They will be picked up and recycled by the HIS Group for missions.Education Labels - We continue to collect for Allen Elementary. Place the labels in the appropriate box on the Mission Cart.

Youth & ChildrenYouth Bible Study - Tuesday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m., in the Youth Room.VBS Meeting - Sunday, May 15, at noon, in the Fellowship Hall. If you plan to volunteer for VBS, please plan to attend this important meeting. A light lunch will be served. VBS, Surf’s Up - Monday - Thursday, June 6-9, Beach Party, Friday, June 10. Each day is from 5:30 - 8:15 p.m. Online registration is available at epworthumc.com. Come and catch the wave of God’s amazing love. For children in pre-school through 5th grade (ages 4-12). Look for more information to follow on our summer fun Wacky Wednesdays.Help Needed, VBS and Wacky Wednesdays - Both are quickly approaching and the Children’s Ministry would love your help to make these a success! We need volunteers for VBS and Wacky Wednesdays, an individual, group, or Sunday school to provide a meal or make a monetary donation to pay for a meal, and beach balls and splash rings for VBS decorating. See the sign sheets on the information board and place the balls and rings in the bucket near the church office. “Thank You” in advance for your continued support.

epWorTh prayer lisTChurch FamilyKristi Miller Blount King Gladys Plant Trudy Harris Vanessa DeSoto Betty Sawyer Thrower Family Andrea Carbaugh Sibyl Wells Carol Osteen Jan Shackleford Helen PharrisFred & Emilie Carswell Joyce Hickson Keri McElvey Scott Dunn Judy Scanling Barbara Watson Doris Halouska Kittye Crockett Kristii Daniel Jack Phillips Doug Revell Walter ChampagneCharles Newton Doug Franks Anne Wilson Donny Davis Extended Church Family Steve & Carol Guilbeault Michael Taff David Olson Doyle Adams Annie L. Watts Ricky Clark Robbins Family Andrew WadeBobby Barrow Dr. Drew Williams Alverta Champagne Laurie Osteen Jayce Foster Preston Silvernail Dora Spires Willie Ryles Judy Patterson Brian Tench Shirley Mann Cassie Prochaska Billy Hill Ken Green Kim Jordan Charlie RollingDorothy Ogg Susan Simpson Elaine Miller Bruce Chapman Joyce Kuester Marilyn Buck Danny Chidester Kristy StierTyrone Mims Stephanie Bryan Glen Horace Daniel Atha AllisonRalph & Sandy McGough Bill & Pat Waldo Dotty Baker Billy & Judy Dunn Henry Dunn/Job Clyde Hutto Robin Grantham Diane Wiggins Doug Franks Francis Harris

Nursing Homes/Homebound Asheville, NC - Susan Squiers Oxton Place - Doris Toney, Cammie Van OverCovenant Woods - Nelle Lloyd Phenix City Health Care - Anne Whitehurst Gardens at Calvary - Doris Sawyer Wesley Glen (Byron, GA) - Nancy Hiller Savannah Grand - Linda Coleman

(Please continue to pray for our homebound folks and they would love a visit)

Updating Prayer List: If anyone on the prayer list needs to be removed or someone needs to be added,

please call, email the church office or leave a note with updates. Help us minister to you effectively by

calling the church office about yourself or a family member. Thank you for your help.

Helping Hands MinistrySponsored by Epworth UMW

Are you living alone? Do you need someone to help you with replacing light bulbs?AC filters? Batteries in a smoke detector? Have you given up driving? Do you need a ride to the doctor? Grocery store? The local drug store?

Helping Hands Ministry may be just for YOU! Epworth’s UMW will connect you with volunteers at Epworth to help you with these tasks. If you have questions, feel free to ask Becky Britton or Barbara Stubbs more about this new ministry for those who live alone.

Complete one of the forms at the bottom of this sheet if you want to be part of this ministry. Put the form in the collection plate, give to Becky Britton or Barbara Stubbs personally or to Susan Snider in the church office.

Those who need HELP:

Name:______________________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________

Home phone:____________________________Cell phone:_______________________

Those who will VOLUNTEER to help:

Name:_______________________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________

Home phone:___________________________Cell phone:_________________________