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Message from Pastor Ford |
When Everything is Pending, are You Depending on the Lord?
March 23, 2020
Is this the new normal? Pending? The test results are pending. Whether or not we will meet or worship together is pending. When restaurants and businesses open again is pending. When sports, movies, and schools begin again is pending. What a day when everything seems to be pending.
There is One who is not pending: our Lord! He is faithful and true. His love never fails. He will always be our help and guide, no matter the challenge or how confusing the road ahead may be. Jesus is our solid rock; he is the anchor for our lives. You can depend on him!
What we do know about upcoming services and church meetings: they are pending. Nothing is canceled for April at this time. Decisions about future meetings and worship will be made as more information comes in during March.
While all church meetings are canceled through March, we will continue:
This situation will pass, and our God will get us through it with his peace and assurance. Let us continue to pray and support each other, our community, nation, and world during these unprecedented times.
In pursuit of God’s best with you during these challenging days,
Pastor Ford
March 23, 2020
Is this the new normal? Pending? The test results are pending. Whether or not we will meet or worship together is pending. When restaurants and businesses open again is pending. When sports, movies, and schools begin again is pending. What a day when everything seems to be pending.
There is One who is not pending: our Lord! He is faithful and true. His love never fails. He will always be our help and guide, no matter the challenge or how confusing the road ahead may be. Jesus is our solid rock; he is the anchor for our lives. You can depend on him!
What we do know about upcoming services and church meetings: they are pending. Nothing is canceled for April at this time. Decisions about future meetings and worship will be made as more information comes in during March.
While all church meetings are canceled through March, we will continue:
- To worship and pray. Join us Sundays @11:00 a.m. on Epworth’s Facebook page or watch later on our Epworth UMC Ripley YouTube channel. See our website, www.epworthumcripley.org for details.
- To give our financial tithes and gifts through electronic giving (see our website) or by mailing them directly to the church to support our ongoing ministries, maintain salaries, and pay our expenses. (299 Church St., N., Ripley, WV 25271)
- To communicate through the church email ([email protected]) or telephone (304-372-3493)
- To follow the CDC guidelines and maintain social distancing as long as they are in place. We will also look to Jackson County Schools in determining when public meetings are safe again.
- To keep the food pantry open during normal hours each week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- To assist anyone who needs help through our caring lay servants
- To call on our pastor, Rev. Price, when needed at home (304-372-5800) or on his cell (304-416-1018)
This situation will pass, and our God will get us through it with his peace and assurance. Let us continue to pray and support each other, our community, nation, and world during these unprecedented times.
In pursuit of God’s best with you during these challenging days,
Pastor Ford
Where Are We Going?
May, 2017
What an incredible year it has been at Epworth! It is hard to believe that our first year together is almost complete, filled with significant ministry and cherished memories. And oh how fast it’s gone! It seems like we’ve been here only a few months, and it’s June already! Carolyn and I are thankful to be a part of this great church and wonderful community, but most of all, we are thankful for you. You have invited us in and made us a part of the Epworth family. If we become too busy with our activities and ministry, we just may miss the most important part, our relationships and our purpose together.
Charles Swindoll tells the story of Thomas Huxley in Dublin, Ireland. The time? Toward the end of the nineteenth century. The event? A series of blistering attacks on Christianity, especially the "alleged resurrection" of Jesus of Nazareth. Huxley was a famous biologist, teacher, and author who tried to disprove Christianity and God with the theory of evolution. He was a bold, convincing self-avowed humanist.
Having finished another series of public assaults against Christianity, Huxley was in a hurry the following morning to catch his train to the next city. He took one of Dublin's famous horse-drawn taxis and settled back with his eyes closed to rest himself for a few minutes. He assumed the driver had been told the destination by the hotel doorman, so all he said as he got in was, "Hurry . . . I'm almost late. Drive fast!" The horses lurched forward and galloped at a vigorous pace. Before long Huxley glanced out the window and frowned as he realized they were going west, away from the sun, not toward it. Leaning forward, the scholar shouted, "Do you know where you are going?" Without looking back, the driver yelled a classic line, "No, your honor! But I'm driving very fast!"
That true story is more than a story. It's a summary not only of the spirit of Huxley and his followers in the nineteenth century but of many in our own day. Great speed, much motion, rapid movement, but an unknown destination. As Rollo May, the contemporary psychologist, once admitted: “It is an old and ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way.”
Does that describe you? Are you running so fast, is your life so full that you don’t have time to stop and rest and think about where you are going in life? Chances are if you are running that fast, something in your life is not healthy—it could be physical (neglecting diet and exercise), emotional (you’re stressed), or spiritual (you spend little time reading the Bible and pray on the run). The faster we run and the fuller our lives are, the greater the chances we have lost or will lose our way in life.
Jesus knew his destination and how to get there. When the crowds clamored for him to stay and take care of all their overwhelming needs, he kindly moved on; he knew his mission and stuck to it.
In Luke 4:43, he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
In the upcoming year, my hope and prayer is that we can slow down a bit and listen to the Spirit of God together to discern our mission and direction. God is working marvelously in our midst and showing favor to us for a purpose. We can be busy with a lot of good activities and events, but they may not necessarily be according to the mission Christ is giving us in this time and these circumstances. We can go nowhere fast! It is something we are going to do as a church with a series of leadership meetings. It’s also something we need to do as individuals and families to discern what God is say and where God is leading us to ensure that we arrive at his destination for our lives.
Carolyn and I are looking forward to this next year of ministry together. With God’s grace, love, and Spirit, we will not just enjoy the journey, we will arrive in God’s “Promised Land” of blessing where his kingdom comes and his will is done in us as it is in heaven. It’s going to be an exciting journey and a great year!
In pursuit of God’s best with you,
Pastor Ford
What an incredible year it has been at Epworth! It is hard to believe that our first year together is almost complete, filled with significant ministry and cherished memories. And oh how fast it’s gone! It seems like we’ve been here only a few months, and it’s June already! Carolyn and I are thankful to be a part of this great church and wonderful community, but most of all, we are thankful for you. You have invited us in and made us a part of the Epworth family. If we become too busy with our activities and ministry, we just may miss the most important part, our relationships and our purpose together.
Charles Swindoll tells the story of Thomas Huxley in Dublin, Ireland. The time? Toward the end of the nineteenth century. The event? A series of blistering attacks on Christianity, especially the "alleged resurrection" of Jesus of Nazareth. Huxley was a famous biologist, teacher, and author who tried to disprove Christianity and God with the theory of evolution. He was a bold, convincing self-avowed humanist.
Having finished another series of public assaults against Christianity, Huxley was in a hurry the following morning to catch his train to the next city. He took one of Dublin's famous horse-drawn taxis and settled back with his eyes closed to rest himself for a few minutes. He assumed the driver had been told the destination by the hotel doorman, so all he said as he got in was, "Hurry . . . I'm almost late. Drive fast!" The horses lurched forward and galloped at a vigorous pace. Before long Huxley glanced out the window and frowned as he realized they were going west, away from the sun, not toward it. Leaning forward, the scholar shouted, "Do you know where you are going?" Without looking back, the driver yelled a classic line, "No, your honor! But I'm driving very fast!"
That true story is more than a story. It's a summary not only of the spirit of Huxley and his followers in the nineteenth century but of many in our own day. Great speed, much motion, rapid movement, but an unknown destination. As Rollo May, the contemporary psychologist, once admitted: “It is an old and ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way.”
Does that describe you? Are you running so fast, is your life so full that you don’t have time to stop and rest and think about where you are going in life? Chances are if you are running that fast, something in your life is not healthy—it could be physical (neglecting diet and exercise), emotional (you’re stressed), or spiritual (you spend little time reading the Bible and pray on the run). The faster we run and the fuller our lives are, the greater the chances we have lost or will lose our way in life.
Jesus knew his destination and how to get there. When the crowds clamored for him to stay and take care of all their overwhelming needs, he kindly moved on; he knew his mission and stuck to it.
In Luke 4:43, he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
In the upcoming year, my hope and prayer is that we can slow down a bit and listen to the Spirit of God together to discern our mission and direction. God is working marvelously in our midst and showing favor to us for a purpose. We can be busy with a lot of good activities and events, but they may not necessarily be according to the mission Christ is giving us in this time and these circumstances. We can go nowhere fast! It is something we are going to do as a church with a series of leadership meetings. It’s also something we need to do as individuals and families to discern what God is say and where God is leading us to ensure that we arrive at his destination for our lives.
Carolyn and I are looking forward to this next year of ministry together. With God’s grace, love, and Spirit, we will not just enjoy the journey, we will arrive in God’s “Promised Land” of blessing where his kingdom comes and his will is done in us as it is in heaven. It’s going to be an exciting journey and a great year!
In pursuit of God’s best with you,
Pastor Ford
Get Ready—Easter’s (or Resurrection Day’s) A Comin’!
How do you get ready for Easter? There are dying the Easter eggs and making the Easter baskets, shopping for new outfits and the family dinner, and then finding time to hide the eggs, prepare it all, and enjoy each other’s company. That’s a lot of work to squeeze into a holiday for which most people don’t get extra time off from work and school. Used to be many people had Good Friday off (interestingly the New York Stock Exchange still closes, pauses from all the buying and selling, for this day). At least at Christmastime, we have Christmas Eve.
That’s Easter. What about your celebration of Resurrection Day? Is this not the main event? Is this not what it’s all about? How do you prepare? There’s nothing to buy, but it does take time, something that’s in short supply. Instead of hurry up and cramming in more, spiritual preparation means slowing down and clearing things out. Just as we have to clear out stuff from our homes after it accumulates, we need to clear our calendars of things that steal our time from the important things, the lasting things such as our relationship with God, loved ones, and our church family.
So I am asking you to adjust your schedules to rediscover the power and joy of this important event. To fully experience it requires at least as much preparation as you might put into planning a vacation, studying the NCAA teams in order to fill out your March Madness brackets, or looking through the ads for the bargains at Kroger’s or Macy’s. You enjoy and benefit from all of these events and endeavors more if you’ve prepared and invested the time. The same is true for your Resurrection celebration.
I invite you to make preparation for Resurrection Day a priority. We are offering you some of the best opportunities available to insure your celebration is both transforming and joyous. Please make plans to attend all the Holy Week Services and luncheons @12 noon, Monday through Friday. Epworth is the host this year. Monday is our day to lead worship and serve lunch. You will not want to miss the Maundy Thursday and Tenabrae Service @ 7 p.m. in our sanctuary. Ponder the seven last words of Christ; receive the holy sacrament that Jesus instituted on this holy night; let your soul be stirred by the power anthem the choir will sing. Good Friday will be a day of contemplation and prayer throughout the day. Please sign up for the Prayer Vigil. You may take your turn to pray either at home or in the sanctuary which will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. A sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex for you to designate your prayer time.
Finally, we will have two identical Celebrations of Resurrection on Easter Sunday @9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary to praise God for Christ’s victory over the grave, granting us the joyous life that will never, never die!. There will be a reception and refreshments between the services, 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. (Sunday School classes will not meet unless they make special arrangements). For you early birds, I invite you to join me at the Sunrise Service @7:30 a.m. at Cedar Lakes. I’ll be giving the message.
So get ready! Resurrection Day is coming with all of its glory. The main thing is to be sure you keep the main thing the main thing! Carolyn and I wish you a joyous, warm, and meaningful Easter and Resurrection celebration.
In pursuit of God’s best with you,
Pastor Ford
How do you get ready for Easter? There are dying the Easter eggs and making the Easter baskets, shopping for new outfits and the family dinner, and then finding time to hide the eggs, prepare it all, and enjoy each other’s company. That’s a lot of work to squeeze into a holiday for which most people don’t get extra time off from work and school. Used to be many people had Good Friday off (interestingly the New York Stock Exchange still closes, pauses from all the buying and selling, for this day). At least at Christmastime, we have Christmas Eve.
That’s Easter. What about your celebration of Resurrection Day? Is this not the main event? Is this not what it’s all about? How do you prepare? There’s nothing to buy, but it does take time, something that’s in short supply. Instead of hurry up and cramming in more, spiritual preparation means slowing down and clearing things out. Just as we have to clear out stuff from our homes after it accumulates, we need to clear our calendars of things that steal our time from the important things, the lasting things such as our relationship with God, loved ones, and our church family.
So I am asking you to adjust your schedules to rediscover the power and joy of this important event. To fully experience it requires at least as much preparation as you might put into planning a vacation, studying the NCAA teams in order to fill out your March Madness brackets, or looking through the ads for the bargains at Kroger’s or Macy’s. You enjoy and benefit from all of these events and endeavors more if you’ve prepared and invested the time. The same is true for your Resurrection celebration.
I invite you to make preparation for Resurrection Day a priority. We are offering you some of the best opportunities available to insure your celebration is both transforming and joyous. Please make plans to attend all the Holy Week Services and luncheons @12 noon, Monday through Friday. Epworth is the host this year. Monday is our day to lead worship and serve lunch. You will not want to miss the Maundy Thursday and Tenabrae Service @ 7 p.m. in our sanctuary. Ponder the seven last words of Christ; receive the holy sacrament that Jesus instituted on this holy night; let your soul be stirred by the power anthem the choir will sing. Good Friday will be a day of contemplation and prayer throughout the day. Please sign up for the Prayer Vigil. You may take your turn to pray either at home or in the sanctuary which will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. A sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex for you to designate your prayer time.
Finally, we will have two identical Celebrations of Resurrection on Easter Sunday @9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary to praise God for Christ’s victory over the grave, granting us the joyous life that will never, never die!. There will be a reception and refreshments between the services, 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. (Sunday School classes will not meet unless they make special arrangements). For you early birds, I invite you to join me at the Sunrise Service @7:30 a.m. at Cedar Lakes. I’ll be giving the message.
So get ready! Resurrection Day is coming with all of its glory. The main thing is to be sure you keep the main thing the main thing! Carolyn and I wish you a joyous, warm, and meaningful Easter and Resurrection celebration.
In pursuit of God’s best with you,
Pastor Ford
You Made the Team!
Recently I went to watch the Ripley Football Team practice at the high school. It’s exciting to watch these young men striving for excellence under the guidance of their dedicated coaches to prepare for a positive and winning season. It takes so much more than athletic ability to produce a winning team. Prized values such as showing respect, working as a team, always giving your best, getting up after a hard blow or fall, learning from mistakes, and never giving up are necessary to be successful on and off the field. And to stay on the team, those players will have to continue to work hard, follow their coaches, do their best, maintain good attitudes, and play with heart.
Unfortunately, not everyone can make the team. Players have to demonstrate a certain amount of talent, proficiency, size, and commitment to make the team. I can remember when I tried out for the school basketball team. No one wanted to play more than I did, but that wasn’t enough. I could never jump high enough or be quick enough compared to other players who were taller, faster, and had training opportunities I never benefitted from. My dreams of being a NBA star were dashed.
Not really. It was an unrealistic dream, but as a child I was told I could be anything I wanted if I just tried hard enough. Not. Yes, hard work is critical to success, even for the most talented players like LeBron James, but it alone can’t compensate for ability and skill. I didn’t even have to be a starter; I just wanted to be on the team!
That’s the same feeling many people have about being accepted by God or joining the church. Many people don’t think they are good enough or know enough about God or the church to be a part. Perhaps they’ve done something in the past that they feel disqualifies them, or they aren’t sure if they really believe everything that the church proclaims. The rituals and vocabulary are unfamiliar and make some feel like an outsider. They simply don’t feel like they have what it takes to make the team.
Jesus faced the same situation. The religious people of his day had so many rituals and rules that the average person couldn’t keep up or understand them all. They didn’t feel like they could make the religious team or have a chance with God. Jesus changed all of that.
He invited in everyone alike: Jews, non-Jews (Gentiles), and even Samaritans (an interracial group the Jews hated and segregated themselves from). He proclaimed that God sent him to offer love, acceptance, and salvation to everyone regardless of race or gender (John 3:16). He said for all who are weary and burdened to come to him for rest and a relationship with God (Matthew 11:28-29).
Everyone makes the team with Jesus! There are no spectators. And yes, everyone is to be a starter; there is no second string! What’s interesting is on Jesus’ team no one comes with any talent or ability to perform the work of God’s Kingdom. We all come the same, but we won’t stay that way. Jesus is more than a coach; he actually transforms our lives, putting in us all the gifts (see Spiritual Gifts in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12) and abilities we need to succeed in everything God calls us to. The only ability God wants is availability; God’s Spirit will do the rest.
How available are you for playing on God’s team? Are you showing up to practice through Bible Study, Sunday School, and prayer gatherings? Are you growing in enthusiasm and joy by encouraging the team and exalting our Lord in worship? Are you on the playing field of life showing your God-given abilities and gratitude by serving others? Are you giving witness to the One who calls us to invite others to be on the greatest team there is: the community of faithful followers of Jesus Christ?
It’s great when fall comes around and we get to cheer on our sons and daughters performing in various sports or playing in the band. It’s fun to root for our favorite teams. But nothing can compare to actually being on the team and playing in the game! Let us remember that we are part of something far bigger and more significant: being the team of believers in the world who make the difference in people’s lives with God’s good news in Christ.
Congratulations! You are a part of God’s team! I look forward to seeing you each week at practice and our rallies together in worship. We have the greatest Coach of life in Christ who will equip us, train us, and lead us to victory in every area of life if we will listen and follow him (“we are more than conquerors” according to Romans 8). Let’s live in such a way that others will know whose team we are really on and join us on the greatest team there is!
In pursuit of God’s best with you,
Pastor Ford
June,2016
When I think of you and beginning our ministry journey, I am reminded of the words Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Eph. 1:15-19)
Yes, you have been in our thoughts and prayers ever since Bishop Steiner-Ball and her Cabinet asked us to come to Epworth in February. How good it will be to meet you face-to-face and know you by name. God will knit our hearts together in love as we share life, grow in faith, and serve together. During the next few months, we will listen to and learn from each other. We want to hear your stories and discover what God has been doing in you and through you. We will listen to God’s Spirit to discern where he is leading us to build up each other in love and reach our highest potential for his Kingdom.
You have been blessed with many years of excellent ministry with Rev. Terry Deane. Her witness and love will follow her as we begin our chapter of ministry at Epworth. As we enter the next phase of ministry, I will give you my best in love, friendship, and ministry. My hope is that God’s will will be done and God’s Kingdom will come in new and powerful ways as we follow Jesus. May the years ahead be filled with many blessings and much joy.
Carolyn and I will meet you on Sunday, July 3 in worship. May God bless us to be a blessing for many years of fruitful ministry with grace, peace, and love!
In pursuit of God’s best with you,
Ford
When I think of you and beginning our ministry journey, I am reminded of the words Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Eph. 1:15-19)
Yes, you have been in our thoughts and prayers ever since Bishop Steiner-Ball and her Cabinet asked us to come to Epworth in February. How good it will be to meet you face-to-face and know you by name. God will knit our hearts together in love as we share life, grow in faith, and serve together. During the next few months, we will listen to and learn from each other. We want to hear your stories and discover what God has been doing in you and through you. We will listen to God’s Spirit to discern where he is leading us to build up each other in love and reach our highest potential for his Kingdom.
You have been blessed with many years of excellent ministry with Rev. Terry Deane. Her witness and love will follow her as we begin our chapter of ministry at Epworth. As we enter the next phase of ministry, I will give you my best in love, friendship, and ministry. My hope is that God’s will will be done and God’s Kingdom will come in new and powerful ways as we follow Jesus. May the years ahead be filled with many blessings and much joy.
Carolyn and I will meet you on Sunday, July 3 in worship. May God bless us to be a blessing for many years of fruitful ministry with grace, peace, and love!
In pursuit of God’s best with you,
Ford
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Message from Rev. Deane |
June, 2016
Dear Epworth Church Family and Friends,
Summertime is here, another part of our cycle in life and growth. Spring flowers and soft greens are giving way to the deeper, warmer hues of summer. The birds sing in the parsonage yard at five in the morning, and it’s not full dark 'til nine. I love these long days and starlit nights, full of the sounds of living things and growth. At the farm, the whip-poor-wills are singing, and the fields are full of wild turkeys and deer. I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful and abundant world.
We are blessed in church, too, with so many things to celebrate! As I write this, we are just past graduations, Pentecost, Mother’s Day, and before that the long and lovely season of Easter. We’ve had balloons and butterflies in church, anthems and special songs, baptisms and hat contests. We’ve decorated with reds and blues, gold and white, spring flowers and flowing blue cloth symbolizing the living waters. It’s been fun and inspiring. Just as the paraments on the altar change to green now, during this season after Pentecost, to signify the growth of Christianity, so our focus changes now, too, toward sustained growth and faithful stewardship in the church. This is the time when we are farmers of the faith---the crops need water and care, protection from weeds and winds, a loving presence to nurture them along. Behind our efforts, we know that God provides sun, rain, and growth.
Scripture tells us “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven....” Ecclesiastes 3:1. This is our season to take care of the crops as they grow, and to gracefully move forward into God’s future for all of us. Times of transition require us to be especially careful not to lose sight of the future harvest. Think about that harvest: we have dozens of sweet children who need your love and support as they grow in faith. We have faithful musicians and choir members who need to continue with the strong leadership and loving direction that Joyce has provided, as she transitions into retirement. We have programs like Centershot that need volunteers so they can reach more of our community’s children and youth. I have every confidence that just as God raised up leaders in the Bible, God is working at Epworth to find the right tools for the jobs in front of us. I trust the process, and the seasons. I have loved, loved, loved being your pastor, but God has called me to another field and I must go. The same God has called your new pastor here, and I will be praying for all of you, and for Ford Price, during this summer and all the seasons to come. God bless you now and always.
Love,
Terry
Dear Epworth Church Family and Friends,
Summertime is here, another part of our cycle in life and growth. Spring flowers and soft greens are giving way to the deeper, warmer hues of summer. The birds sing in the parsonage yard at five in the morning, and it’s not full dark 'til nine. I love these long days and starlit nights, full of the sounds of living things and growth. At the farm, the whip-poor-wills are singing, and the fields are full of wild turkeys and deer. I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful and abundant world.
We are blessed in church, too, with so many things to celebrate! As I write this, we are just past graduations, Pentecost, Mother’s Day, and before that the long and lovely season of Easter. We’ve had balloons and butterflies in church, anthems and special songs, baptisms and hat contests. We’ve decorated with reds and blues, gold and white, spring flowers and flowing blue cloth symbolizing the living waters. It’s been fun and inspiring. Just as the paraments on the altar change to green now, during this season after Pentecost, to signify the growth of Christianity, so our focus changes now, too, toward sustained growth and faithful stewardship in the church. This is the time when we are farmers of the faith---the crops need water and care, protection from weeds and winds, a loving presence to nurture them along. Behind our efforts, we know that God provides sun, rain, and growth.
Scripture tells us “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven....” Ecclesiastes 3:1. This is our season to take care of the crops as they grow, and to gracefully move forward into God’s future for all of us. Times of transition require us to be especially careful not to lose sight of the future harvest. Think about that harvest: we have dozens of sweet children who need your love and support as they grow in faith. We have faithful musicians and choir members who need to continue with the strong leadership and loving direction that Joyce has provided, as she transitions into retirement. We have programs like Centershot that need volunteers so they can reach more of our community’s children and youth. I have every confidence that just as God raised up leaders in the Bible, God is working at Epworth to find the right tools for the jobs in front of us. I trust the process, and the seasons. I have loved, loved, loved being your pastor, but God has called me to another field and I must go. The same God has called your new pastor here, and I will be praying for all of you, and for Ford Price, during this summer and all the seasons to come. God bless you now and always.
Love,
Terry
July, 2015
Dear Epworth Church Family and friends,
It’s my joy to greet you again, in the name of the Lord we serve together!
This has been the busiest summer I can remember (or am I just getting OLD?). Seriously, there’s been no break, no down-time, in the life of our church this summer. We’ve had good numbers at “early church,” our 9am informal worship, and very good numbers (and experiences) at our G-Force Vacation Bible School. The Bible studies on Monday evening and Thursday mornings continued through June, took July off, and are back up and running! Right now, we are studying Paul’s letters to the churches, the New Testament books of Thessalonians, Galatians, Corinthians, Romans, etc. Come any week, even if you can’t come every week.
Beginning August 1st, we welcome Mark Stover back to Epworth, as he begins service as our coordinator/leader for “older” youth—middle and high school and college. Mark has shared lots of enthusiasm and ideas for reaching young people for Christ, and we welcome him to our paid staff. All staff and volunteers who work with children and youth are required to have our “safe sanctuary” child protection training. Ralph Summers will be offering that class on August 31st in the evening. Check with the church office for details.
And please send in your registration for our third annual family fun retreat, scheduled for Friday September 11th at dinnertime, through Sunday the 13th at 10am, at Cedar Lakes. We have reserved cabins, so that you can spend lots of time with church friends, and make new friends, too. There will be Bible studies and games, arts and crafts, outdoor fun, campfires, and contests. A flyer is found elsewhere in this newsletter, with more registration and housing information.
Looking even further into fall, we have our charge conference on Sunday, November 1st----which means that the officers, budget, and other foundational items that support all our ministries and programs, must be in place for 2016 by then. If you are interested in serving your church in a new way, if you have ideas for new ministries, or other feedback, please call me or email me at the church. I believe what the Bible says about the Body of Christ, and the many and varied gifts that God gives to us, so that the whole is made stronger by each part. I hope you will do your part to serve and strengthen the church.
Again, it’s a joy to serve Christ together with you. Let’s prayerfully and gladly make this a great year for Epworth, for our people, and for our community, as we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Blessings,
Terry
Dear Epworth Church Family and friends,
It’s my joy to greet you again, in the name of the Lord we serve together!
This has been the busiest summer I can remember (or am I just getting OLD?). Seriously, there’s been no break, no down-time, in the life of our church this summer. We’ve had good numbers at “early church,” our 9am informal worship, and very good numbers (and experiences) at our G-Force Vacation Bible School. The Bible studies on Monday evening and Thursday mornings continued through June, took July off, and are back up and running! Right now, we are studying Paul’s letters to the churches, the New Testament books of Thessalonians, Galatians, Corinthians, Romans, etc. Come any week, even if you can’t come every week.
Beginning August 1st, we welcome Mark Stover back to Epworth, as he begins service as our coordinator/leader for “older” youth—middle and high school and college. Mark has shared lots of enthusiasm and ideas for reaching young people for Christ, and we welcome him to our paid staff. All staff and volunteers who work with children and youth are required to have our “safe sanctuary” child protection training. Ralph Summers will be offering that class on August 31st in the evening. Check with the church office for details.
And please send in your registration for our third annual family fun retreat, scheduled for Friday September 11th at dinnertime, through Sunday the 13th at 10am, at Cedar Lakes. We have reserved cabins, so that you can spend lots of time with church friends, and make new friends, too. There will be Bible studies and games, arts and crafts, outdoor fun, campfires, and contests. A flyer is found elsewhere in this newsletter, with more registration and housing information.
Looking even further into fall, we have our charge conference on Sunday, November 1st----which means that the officers, budget, and other foundational items that support all our ministries and programs, must be in place for 2016 by then. If you are interested in serving your church in a new way, if you have ideas for new ministries, or other feedback, please call me or email me at the church. I believe what the Bible says about the Body of Christ, and the many and varied gifts that God gives to us, so that the whole is made stronger by each part. I hope you will do your part to serve and strengthen the church.
Again, it’s a joy to serve Christ together with you. Let’s prayerfully and gladly make this a great year for Epworth, for our people, and for our community, as we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Blessings,
Terry
June, 2015
Dear Epworth Church friends and family,
The great Cycle of the Christian year continues, and now as I write this we are at Pentecost, and celebrating the Church’s mission of telling the world about God’s amazing love, a mission that is made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I have enjoyed this spring, as the beauty of the growing things reminds me that we, too, are constantly called to growth and new life. I’ve also appreciated our many and various ministries, and so I want to say a brief “thanks” to the following:
I thank my God every time I remember each and every one of you. Thank you so much, to all the prayers, singers, cooks, ushers, greeters, card-senders, caregivers, liturgists, and those who simply sit quietly and worship God. We are all part of God’s amazing, unfolding story here at Epworth.
Within this newsletter, we celebrate our joys from this spring, note our stewardship and how that’s going, and give you some brief notes about summer activities. Stay connected via weekly worship attendance—summer church at 9 am or traditional worship at 11, beginning in June---and check out our church website, too!
In June, our church’s Annual Conference will be held in Buckhannon, on the campus of WVWC. Please be in prayer for the pastors and lay members who attend, receive reports, and vote on issues, in much the same way that our local church Board performs that ministry here in Ripley. Through our local church website or the WV Conference United Methodist Church website, you may receive daily updates and live-stream much of what happens, including the worship sessions.
Give yourself the gift of staying connected with the whole Body of Christ in the UM Connection! Pray for each other, for our community and our world.
Bless you!
Terry
Dear Epworth Church friends and family,
The great Cycle of the Christian year continues, and now as I write this we are at Pentecost, and celebrating the Church’s mission of telling the world about God’s amazing love, a mission that is made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I have enjoyed this spring, as the beauty of the growing things reminds me that we, too, are constantly called to growth and new life. I’ve also appreciated our many and various ministries, and so I want to say a brief “thanks” to the following:
- Centershot Archery instructors and volunteers for another 4 week session, sharing the good news and having fun on the indoor archery range.
- Rose Circle, for the gift bags and “thinking of you” cards sent out on behalf of our church.
- Social life, for “linger longer,” game (Bunko) night, and Sunday School social this spring.
- Our youth volunteers including cherub choir, King’s Kids, and our outgoing youth director Mike Knopp for providing quality programs for Epworth’s youth.
- Monday and Thursday Bible study groups for praying and studying with me every week.
- The church’s administrative committees, who take care of the building, the money, and our “nuts and bolts” needs.
- My choir and worship team, for planning and sharing in Sunday mornings full of music and praise.
- The United Methodist Women, for meetings and support of missions that inspire us.
- The Tuesday morning Muffins-n-More, for making me laugh!
I thank my God every time I remember each and every one of you. Thank you so much, to all the prayers, singers, cooks, ushers, greeters, card-senders, caregivers, liturgists, and those who simply sit quietly and worship God. We are all part of God’s amazing, unfolding story here at Epworth.
Within this newsletter, we celebrate our joys from this spring, note our stewardship and how that’s going, and give you some brief notes about summer activities. Stay connected via weekly worship attendance—summer church at 9 am or traditional worship at 11, beginning in June---and check out our church website, too!
In June, our church’s Annual Conference will be held in Buckhannon, on the campus of WVWC. Please be in prayer for the pastors and lay members who attend, receive reports, and vote on issues, in much the same way that our local church Board performs that ministry here in Ripley. Through our local church website or the WV Conference United Methodist Church website, you may receive daily updates and live-stream much of what happens, including the worship sessions.
Give yourself the gift of staying connected with the whole Body of Christ in the UM Connection! Pray for each other, for our community and our world.
Bless you!
Terry
April, 2015
Dear Epworth Church Family and Friends,
Here we are, at the beginning of Holy Week, remembering Jesus’ entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem, and the events recorded in the Bible about the last week of his life: the conversations, the visits to the Temple, the gathering in the Upper Room, prayers in the garden at Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, trial, conviction, and then the ultimate sacrifice of his death on the Cross. We will gather at noon every day during Holy Week, with our friends from other local churches in the Jackson County Ministerial Association, to listen to these sacred stories about Jesus, and on Good Friday our church will again host an all-day Prayer Vigil to commemorate his death. We Christians are Easter People, living in the aftermath of God’s powerful resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his death, and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the community of believers on the Day of Pentecost. Many of the worship events of the coming months celebrate the new reality of life after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven. Our study groups and Sunday School classes, our fellowship meals and mission projects, all of these are ultimately powered by our abiding faith in the new life offered to us by Jesus. We are the Church because he is the Christ.
I am rejoicing in the many ways God blesses us, and feeling the call of God to take our blessings and pass them on. We live in a world where there is much trouble, with wars, terrorism, famine, disease, and loss around us. But it is also a world that God loves passionately: John 3: 17 says that God sent his son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. If God loves and sustains this earth and its people, surely God calls us to do the same. A group from Epworth met at Cedar Lakes in March to pray, study, and move forward with our Ministry Action Plan. We wanted to generate some new ways we can reach people with God’s love, ways we could build community and help each other, ways to grow and serve as followers of Christ. The summary of our MAP is within this newsletter, along with a request for YOU to share your ideas, vision, hopes, and needs with others from the church. There are so many good things we could do, so many ways we could serve. Let’s move forward with prayer and faith, confident in God’s promises and God’s faithfulness.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:13. We are not left on our own, to try without hope of success. Instead, God works with us and through us to take what we have and bless and multiply it, strengthening the Church and each of us as needed. The future is as bright as the first light on Easter morning, and we are so blessed to be a part of it. Let us never grow tired of doing good!
Love,
Terry
Dear Epworth Church Family and Friends,
Here we are, at the beginning of Holy Week, remembering Jesus’ entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem, and the events recorded in the Bible about the last week of his life: the conversations, the visits to the Temple, the gathering in the Upper Room, prayers in the garden at Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, trial, conviction, and then the ultimate sacrifice of his death on the Cross. We will gather at noon every day during Holy Week, with our friends from other local churches in the Jackson County Ministerial Association, to listen to these sacred stories about Jesus, and on Good Friday our church will again host an all-day Prayer Vigil to commemorate his death. We Christians are Easter People, living in the aftermath of God’s powerful resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his death, and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the community of believers on the Day of Pentecost. Many of the worship events of the coming months celebrate the new reality of life after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven. Our study groups and Sunday School classes, our fellowship meals and mission projects, all of these are ultimately powered by our abiding faith in the new life offered to us by Jesus. We are the Church because he is the Christ.
I am rejoicing in the many ways God blesses us, and feeling the call of God to take our blessings and pass them on. We live in a world where there is much trouble, with wars, terrorism, famine, disease, and loss around us. But it is also a world that God loves passionately: John 3: 17 says that God sent his son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. If God loves and sustains this earth and its people, surely God calls us to do the same. A group from Epworth met at Cedar Lakes in March to pray, study, and move forward with our Ministry Action Plan. We wanted to generate some new ways we can reach people with God’s love, ways we could build community and help each other, ways to grow and serve as followers of Christ. The summary of our MAP is within this newsletter, along with a request for YOU to share your ideas, vision, hopes, and needs with others from the church. There are so many good things we could do, so many ways we could serve. Let’s move forward with prayer and faith, confident in God’s promises and God’s faithfulness.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:13. We are not left on our own, to try without hope of success. Instead, God works with us and through us to take what we have and bless and multiply it, strengthening the Church and each of us as needed. The future is as bright as the first light on Easter morning, and we are so blessed to be a part of it. Let us never grow tired of doing good!
Love,
Terry
February, 2015
Dear Epworth Friends and Family,
This newsletter begins in winter, but we will be moving all the way to Easter over these next 2 months. The cycle of life and faith continues! With that in mind, let me start this newsletter by thanking all our Epworth ministry teams and volunteers for the amazing work done for Christ and the Kingdom during the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany cycle of the year.
We laughed and wrapped 12 Days of Christmas gifts, we smiled and sorted Adopt-A-Family groceries and gifts, we had wonderful meals and watched proudly as our Kings Kids and cherub choir shared music and the story of Christmas with us. There was fabulous music, from the bells and the chancel choir, and from special singers and instrumentalists during the Christmas season. The church was aglow with light and life and quiet joy sometimes, and with loud and happy enthusiasm on Student Sunday. How awesome to worship with you! What a difference you are making in lives and hearts!
Given how much I see being done and given, behind the scenes, I’m always hopeful that we can keep growing in faith and be ever ready to do more. My sermon series in January has focused on new beginnings, depth of commitment, and being called by God. As we move into the season of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday on Feb 18th (service at 7pm), we will be talking about the Spiritual Disciplines, and one of my hopes is that some of you would be willing to share your faith by giving a 3-5 minute devotion/testimony/praise during worship about how the practice of Christian discipline and life has helped you. I need speakers to talk about Prayer Fasting (could be fasting from food, but just as important is “fasting” from the self-centered life and sins to which we all are prone), Bible study, simplicity in living/ stewardship, service, and worship/being intentionally in Christian community. If you would like to share your faith in this way, please contact me via email or cellphone, or talk with our Worship Committee chairperson, Georgia Hughes Webb.
The Jackson County Ministerial Association has voted to return to our former schedule of Lenten services, every day during Holy week, rather than weekly during all of Lent. Epworth will host these services, beginning on Monday March 30th at noon and going through Good Friday, April 3d. As always, the worship service will last about a half hour, and then we will gather in the Fellowship Center for a meal. Our church is responsible for the meal and service on Monday. If you would like to help, contact any member of the United Methodist women.
We live and worship in the midst of life, which has both winter and summer, hard times and moments of joy. As a community of faith, these past months we’ve shared gladness as many of our families (and staff) welcome new babies, or find new beginnings in faith and life, and we’ve cried together as some walked through the valley of the shadow of death. In all these things, God is with us. I am trusting and praying for you, and for all of us, that as we walk through the calendar year 2015, we will hold deeply to God and to each other. We are blessed, and we are called to love and serve in the name of our amazing, loving, with-us-in-everything God.
Love you!
Terry
Dear Epworth Friends and Family,
This newsletter begins in winter, but we will be moving all the way to Easter over these next 2 months. The cycle of life and faith continues! With that in mind, let me start this newsletter by thanking all our Epworth ministry teams and volunteers for the amazing work done for Christ and the Kingdom during the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany cycle of the year.
We laughed and wrapped 12 Days of Christmas gifts, we smiled and sorted Adopt-A-Family groceries and gifts, we had wonderful meals and watched proudly as our Kings Kids and cherub choir shared music and the story of Christmas with us. There was fabulous music, from the bells and the chancel choir, and from special singers and instrumentalists during the Christmas season. The church was aglow with light and life and quiet joy sometimes, and with loud and happy enthusiasm on Student Sunday. How awesome to worship with you! What a difference you are making in lives and hearts!
Given how much I see being done and given, behind the scenes, I’m always hopeful that we can keep growing in faith and be ever ready to do more. My sermon series in January has focused on new beginnings, depth of commitment, and being called by God. As we move into the season of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday on Feb 18th (service at 7pm), we will be talking about the Spiritual Disciplines, and one of my hopes is that some of you would be willing to share your faith by giving a 3-5 minute devotion/testimony/praise during worship about how the practice of Christian discipline and life has helped you. I need speakers to talk about Prayer Fasting (could be fasting from food, but just as important is “fasting” from the self-centered life and sins to which we all are prone), Bible study, simplicity in living/ stewardship, service, and worship/being intentionally in Christian community. If you would like to share your faith in this way, please contact me via email or cellphone, or talk with our Worship Committee chairperson, Georgia Hughes Webb.
The Jackson County Ministerial Association has voted to return to our former schedule of Lenten services, every day during Holy week, rather than weekly during all of Lent. Epworth will host these services, beginning on Monday March 30th at noon and going through Good Friday, April 3d. As always, the worship service will last about a half hour, and then we will gather in the Fellowship Center for a meal. Our church is responsible for the meal and service on Monday. If you would like to help, contact any member of the United Methodist women.
We live and worship in the midst of life, which has both winter and summer, hard times and moments of joy. As a community of faith, these past months we’ve shared gladness as many of our families (and staff) welcome new babies, or find new beginnings in faith and life, and we’ve cried together as some walked through the valley of the shadow of death. In all these things, God is with us. I am trusting and praying for you, and for all of us, that as we walk through the calendar year 2015, we will hold deeply to God and to each other. We are blessed, and we are called to love and serve in the name of our amazing, loving, with-us-in-everything God.
Love you!
Terry
November, 2014
Dear Epworth Family and Friends,
“Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come!” It seems amazing to write these words in the autumn, although I find myself singing them in my head all year. But this is the winter newsletter, after all, and so it’s time to evoke not just the changing seasons and this first period of Thankfulness, but also the amazing gift of Advent/Christmas. I can’t really do justice to all these gifts, and the gratitude with which I receive them, in only a page. But let me tell you this: every day, for those of us who live and believe in the Body of Christ, is a small Thanksgiving, a day of grace and gladness for all that God has done for us; and every day is also a little Christmas, a remembering of the amazing gift of the Incarnation, when the Son of God became flesh and dwelt among us; finally, every Sunday we sing and worship because all of those days are little Easters, when the Church proclaims with all her heart, “Christ the Lord is Risen! Alleluia!” We sing because the Christ came to us, lived for us, and died for us and our salvation, and God raised Him up, the “first fruits, “ the Bible says, of all of us.
During these coming weeks, we have many ways to deepen our spiritual lives, offer service in His name, and celebrate together. November begins with special singing during worship by “Glory Bound,” Mr. Batten’s sister and her group of singers from Oklahoma. We also remember our Epworth saints who have gone to be with God during this past year, during our candle lighting service that day. That night, November 2nd, Epworth host the community choir sing. Two weeks later we host the UM Churches of Jackson County for our annual charge conference, beginning with lunch at 12:30 and then the business meeting to follow. It’s only another week until our Thanksgiving dinner, and then the community Thanksgiving dinner at Parchment Valley Baptist Church on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. With so much to be thankful for, how can we not sing and celebrate?
Advent is the four week period of preparation for Christmas, with purple and blue, the colors of royalty, for our Jesus, born in a stable but yet a King. We will have lots of special music, and many ways to worship and to help others. Our Adopt a Family program will be filling the gym with gifts for needy families, our shoe boxes will be underway for children around the world, and the Rose Circle will be packing off 12 Days of Christmas gifts for some of our church folk. Elsewhere in this newsletter, you can read about the special children’s choir performance, and our own Epworth cantata. Christmas dinner will again feature our Epworth kids in a Christmas program. We will go Christmas caroling, and exchange gifts, always remembering the gift of God to us, that makes everything else possible.
There isn’t room here to talk about all the other exciting on-going programs, but we update during the bulletin notes weekly. Come and see what’s happening here! And thanks, always, to our many volunteers, singers, musicians, behind the scenes workers, children and youth workers, prayers and planners and stewards of the faith. God Bless you all.
Much love,
Terry
Dear Epworth Family and Friends,
“Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come!” It seems amazing to write these words in the autumn, although I find myself singing them in my head all year. But this is the winter newsletter, after all, and so it’s time to evoke not just the changing seasons and this first period of Thankfulness, but also the amazing gift of Advent/Christmas. I can’t really do justice to all these gifts, and the gratitude with which I receive them, in only a page. But let me tell you this: every day, for those of us who live and believe in the Body of Christ, is a small Thanksgiving, a day of grace and gladness for all that God has done for us; and every day is also a little Christmas, a remembering of the amazing gift of the Incarnation, when the Son of God became flesh and dwelt among us; finally, every Sunday we sing and worship because all of those days are little Easters, when the Church proclaims with all her heart, “Christ the Lord is Risen! Alleluia!” We sing because the Christ came to us, lived for us, and died for us and our salvation, and God raised Him up, the “first fruits, “ the Bible says, of all of us.
During these coming weeks, we have many ways to deepen our spiritual lives, offer service in His name, and celebrate together. November begins with special singing during worship by “Glory Bound,” Mr. Batten’s sister and her group of singers from Oklahoma. We also remember our Epworth saints who have gone to be with God during this past year, during our candle lighting service that day. That night, November 2nd, Epworth host the community choir sing. Two weeks later we host the UM Churches of Jackson County for our annual charge conference, beginning with lunch at 12:30 and then the business meeting to follow. It’s only another week until our Thanksgiving dinner, and then the community Thanksgiving dinner at Parchment Valley Baptist Church on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. With so much to be thankful for, how can we not sing and celebrate?
Advent is the four week period of preparation for Christmas, with purple and blue, the colors of royalty, for our Jesus, born in a stable but yet a King. We will have lots of special music, and many ways to worship and to help others. Our Adopt a Family program will be filling the gym with gifts for needy families, our shoe boxes will be underway for children around the world, and the Rose Circle will be packing off 12 Days of Christmas gifts for some of our church folk. Elsewhere in this newsletter, you can read about the special children’s choir performance, and our own Epworth cantata. Christmas dinner will again feature our Epworth kids in a Christmas program. We will go Christmas caroling, and exchange gifts, always remembering the gift of God to us, that makes everything else possible.
There isn’t room here to talk about all the other exciting on-going programs, but we update during the bulletin notes weekly. Come and see what’s happening here! And thanks, always, to our many volunteers, singers, musicians, behind the scenes workers, children and youth workers, prayers and planners and stewards of the faith. God Bless you all.
Much love,
Terry
August, 2014
Dear Epworth Family,
I write this on a humid August morning, just after the start of the new school year. On Sunday, we promoted many of our Sunday Schoolers to their new classes, which will start in September. We gave out attendance awards, Bibles, and acolyte awards, too. It’s a good time to make a fresh start, so if you’ve been traveling this summer, come on back and let’s learn and grow together.
If you haven’t been at home this summer, you might not have seen the new paint, carpet, and chairs in our sanctuary. The repairs/renovations look fabulous, and we also have new crosses hanging on the chancel walls, a gift from this year’s vacation Bible school kids, who created the wonderful mosaic pattern using wood and colorful buttons.
The Monday and Thursday Bible reading groups are continuing, with an average of about twenty folks divided between the two groups. I know that many more of you picked up the reading list so you can follow along at home. Anyone who wishes to join up is always welcome! We meet on Mondays at 7pm and Thursdays at 9:30 in the Inner Circle classroom. Muffins-n-More continues to meet for fun, fellowship, refreshments, and sometimes a brief educational component every Tuesday morning at ten, also in the Inner Circle room. These groups meet year-round.
As our youth groups, choirs, and program areas start their fall schedules, I want to celebrate the many awesome volunteers who make good things happen here. From A for Acolytes through B for bells and C for choir and Centershot, we have all kinds of talent! We also have B for building committee through T for Trustees, because a space this size needs careful attention. We have F for Food Pantry and for Finance Committee, S for Social life (with movies, Linger Longer, and the new 3 Plus 1 dinners, which are a lot like the Hearth & Home dinners that some of you remember), V for VBS ( Workshop of Wonders was wonderful!), and Y for all our youth groups and children’s ministries. I am so lucky that I get to see all these work areas in action; everything here is open to anyone who wants to stop by, so feel free to check out the programs that seem interesting to you. And, if there’s something you would like to begin (or re-start) let us know, too. For example, we’ve been able to tie knots and pray over quilts for two of our sick members the last couple of weeks, because Helen and Janet (and others) are working with the Prayer Quilt ministry.
A church is always in motion (or anyway it should be) and among our transitions recently have been blessings and goodbyes to two of our active church families, as life pulls them on to new places. We wish Ruth and Steve Hollandsworth much happiness in Florida, and Larry Chew and Dannette Lowry the same in Indiana. The loving God who brought them into our lives will go with them as they move away, and we will welcome others, strangers to us but not to God, who will join us on our faith journey.
Finally, let me say how much I appreciate the groups working to plan our fall family retreat, and to continually enliven our worship and outreach---the enthusiasm and creativity that everyone brings to these conversations is a gift to me and to the whole church. Plan now to attend the fall family retreat at Cedar Lakes, and to come worship with us every Sunday morning as we move into the cool crisp days of Autumn.
God Bless You this day and always,
Terry
Dear Epworth Family,
I write this on a humid August morning, just after the start of the new school year. On Sunday, we promoted many of our Sunday Schoolers to their new classes, which will start in September. We gave out attendance awards, Bibles, and acolyte awards, too. It’s a good time to make a fresh start, so if you’ve been traveling this summer, come on back and let’s learn and grow together.
If you haven’t been at home this summer, you might not have seen the new paint, carpet, and chairs in our sanctuary. The repairs/renovations look fabulous, and we also have new crosses hanging on the chancel walls, a gift from this year’s vacation Bible school kids, who created the wonderful mosaic pattern using wood and colorful buttons.
The Monday and Thursday Bible reading groups are continuing, with an average of about twenty folks divided between the two groups. I know that many more of you picked up the reading list so you can follow along at home. Anyone who wishes to join up is always welcome! We meet on Mondays at 7pm and Thursdays at 9:30 in the Inner Circle classroom. Muffins-n-More continues to meet for fun, fellowship, refreshments, and sometimes a brief educational component every Tuesday morning at ten, also in the Inner Circle room. These groups meet year-round.
As our youth groups, choirs, and program areas start their fall schedules, I want to celebrate the many awesome volunteers who make good things happen here. From A for Acolytes through B for bells and C for choir and Centershot, we have all kinds of talent! We also have B for building committee through T for Trustees, because a space this size needs careful attention. We have F for Food Pantry and for Finance Committee, S for Social life (with movies, Linger Longer, and the new 3 Plus 1 dinners, which are a lot like the Hearth & Home dinners that some of you remember), V for VBS ( Workshop of Wonders was wonderful!), and Y for all our youth groups and children’s ministries. I am so lucky that I get to see all these work areas in action; everything here is open to anyone who wants to stop by, so feel free to check out the programs that seem interesting to you. And, if there’s something you would like to begin (or re-start) let us know, too. For example, we’ve been able to tie knots and pray over quilts for two of our sick members the last couple of weeks, because Helen and Janet (and others) are working with the Prayer Quilt ministry.
A church is always in motion (or anyway it should be) and among our transitions recently have been blessings and goodbyes to two of our active church families, as life pulls them on to new places. We wish Ruth and Steve Hollandsworth much happiness in Florida, and Larry Chew and Dannette Lowry the same in Indiana. The loving God who brought them into our lives will go with them as they move away, and we will welcome others, strangers to us but not to God, who will join us on our faith journey.
Finally, let me say how much I appreciate the groups working to plan our fall family retreat, and to continually enliven our worship and outreach---the enthusiasm and creativity that everyone brings to these conversations is a gift to me and to the whole church. Plan now to attend the fall family retreat at Cedar Lakes, and to come worship with us every Sunday morning as we move into the cool crisp days of Autumn.
God Bless You this day and always,
Terry
March, 2014
Dear Epworth church family,
I woke this morning to light snow falling, coating the yellow daffodils at the parsonage. This is
the season when all the images and metaphors of scripture seem to come alive for me: contrasts between light and darkness, fire and ice, hope and despair, life and death. This week’s lectionary text is the bringing of sight to a blind man, and the first week of April we will read and study the raising of Lazarus. Both these gospel lessons remind us that light and life are often paired with blindness or death, that both are part of the human condition. Palm/Passion Sunday shows us the contrast between cheering crowds who hail Jesus
as the King of Kings, and mobs who called for his crucifixion only hours later. And then there’s Holy Week, when we remember the story of Jesus’ last supper with the disciples. We will do this during a Maundy Thursday service, which will include a time of prayer and the option to receive anointing with oil, and will conclude with communion. Oil has been used for centuries as a reminder of the penetrating power of the Holy Spirit, and the Book of Worship for our church includes a blessing and prayer time surrounding this ritual; it is not something we have done often here, but the service is beautiful and I hope you will come, to watch and pray as we remember Jesus’ words and actions during the Last Supper.
On Good Friday, the church will be open for a prayer vigil. Sign-up sheets are available at the church; if you can’t come to the sanctuary, you may still sign up for a time and pray where you are. Just call or email the church office to let us know when you will be praying that day. As with last year’s vigil, copies of traditional prayers for the day will be available if you would like to use them.
Easter Sunday is late this year, April 20th, but our celebration of Christ’s resurrection will be worth the wait! Sights, sounds, flowers, bells, beautiful children, new steps in faith as some of our youth are confirmed, and the re-telling of our most powerful story, the Empty Tomb that marks the beginning of a new world! It will be wonderful, and I hope to see all of you here. We will gather in the fellowship center at eleven am. Come prepared to worship.
On the last Saturday in March, at about the time you are receiving this newsletter, we will be gathering at Parchment Valley Conference Center for a day of prayer, reflection, and conversation as we continue to improve our church Ministry Action Plan. This will be our third spring planning retreat, which is open to any of our church family. Even if you haven’t signed up and/or can’t attend, I hope you will be open to participating in new ministries and supporting our ongoing ones, as we move ahead into summer. Your ideas,
hopes, and dreams are an important part of Epworth. God put you here for a reason, and I am glad that we share this church family together. Please let yourself be part of the larger conversation about what God is calling us to do in this time and in this place.
You are beloved children of God, who “sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17).
During this season of light and life and hope, may you grow and prosper, and walk always in the ways of faith.
Love,
Terry
Dear Epworth church family,
I woke this morning to light snow falling, coating the yellow daffodils at the parsonage. This is
the season when all the images and metaphors of scripture seem to come alive for me: contrasts between light and darkness, fire and ice, hope and despair, life and death. This week’s lectionary text is the bringing of sight to a blind man, and the first week of April we will read and study the raising of Lazarus. Both these gospel lessons remind us that light and life are often paired with blindness or death, that both are part of the human condition. Palm/Passion Sunday shows us the contrast between cheering crowds who hail Jesus
as the King of Kings, and mobs who called for his crucifixion only hours later. And then there’s Holy Week, when we remember the story of Jesus’ last supper with the disciples. We will do this during a Maundy Thursday service, which will include a time of prayer and the option to receive anointing with oil, and will conclude with communion. Oil has been used for centuries as a reminder of the penetrating power of the Holy Spirit, and the Book of Worship for our church includes a blessing and prayer time surrounding this ritual; it is not something we have done often here, but the service is beautiful and I hope you will come, to watch and pray as we remember Jesus’ words and actions during the Last Supper.
On Good Friday, the church will be open for a prayer vigil. Sign-up sheets are available at the church; if you can’t come to the sanctuary, you may still sign up for a time and pray where you are. Just call or email the church office to let us know when you will be praying that day. As with last year’s vigil, copies of traditional prayers for the day will be available if you would like to use them.
Easter Sunday is late this year, April 20th, but our celebration of Christ’s resurrection will be worth the wait! Sights, sounds, flowers, bells, beautiful children, new steps in faith as some of our youth are confirmed, and the re-telling of our most powerful story, the Empty Tomb that marks the beginning of a new world! It will be wonderful, and I hope to see all of you here. We will gather in the fellowship center at eleven am. Come prepared to worship.
On the last Saturday in March, at about the time you are receiving this newsletter, we will be gathering at Parchment Valley Conference Center for a day of prayer, reflection, and conversation as we continue to improve our church Ministry Action Plan. This will be our third spring planning retreat, which is open to any of our church family. Even if you haven’t signed up and/or can’t attend, I hope you will be open to participating in new ministries and supporting our ongoing ones, as we move ahead into summer. Your ideas,
hopes, and dreams are an important part of Epworth. God put you here for a reason, and I am glad that we share this church family together. Please let yourself be part of the larger conversation about what God is calling us to do in this time and in this place.
You are beloved children of God, who “sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17).
During this season of light and life and hope, may you grow and prosper, and walk always in the ways of faith.
Love,
Terry
February, 2014
Dear Epworth church family and friends,
Welcome to the “It’s still Winter but we are looking ahead to Spring” newsletter!
During the two months of February-March, we move from the liturgical season of“ordinary time” (when the scripture readings and sermons focus on the ministry of Jesus and the life of the Church) through the beginnings of Lent.
Lent, as many of you know, is the six week period leading up to Easter. The early church used this time to prepare persons to receive baptism and become professing Christians, or to be reunited with the Church if they had strayed. It reminds us of the 40 days in the wilderness that Jesus endured after his baptism and just before he began his ministry, which of course then led to his crucifixion and resurrection. Easter is “late” this year, on April 20th, so our Lenten services don’t begin until the first week of March.
Here at Epworth, we will have our traditional Pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday, March 4th, and the Ash Wednesday service on the 5th. That day will also mark the Jackson County Ministerial Association Lenten Luncheon Series, which is hosted this year at Calvary UMC. (Details to follow in bulletin notes and emails after the JCMA meeting in mid-February)
The “outer” preparations for Holy week and Easter are not as important as the internals. How do we prepare our own lives and hearts for the great celebration of the story that is central to our faith? How do we incorporate the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, teaching, death and resurrection into our own lives? How do we deepen our commitment to God? These are the questions I ask you to think about, during the short, cold days of February and then on to Lent.
May I suggest that you look up the following scriptures for your daily Bible reading and prayer time:
Joel chapter 2, especially verses 12-17, Psalm 51, 2 Corinthians 5:20 to chapter 6 verse 10, and the
3 parallel stories of the temptation of Jesus, found in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4: 1-13.
I look forward to worshiping with you during these holy weeks.
Blessings,
Terry
Dear Epworth church family and friends,
Welcome to the “It’s still Winter but we are looking ahead to Spring” newsletter!
During the two months of February-March, we move from the liturgical season of“ordinary time” (when the scripture readings and sermons focus on the ministry of Jesus and the life of the Church) through the beginnings of Lent.
Lent, as many of you know, is the six week period leading up to Easter. The early church used this time to prepare persons to receive baptism and become professing Christians, or to be reunited with the Church if they had strayed. It reminds us of the 40 days in the wilderness that Jesus endured after his baptism and just before he began his ministry, which of course then led to his crucifixion and resurrection. Easter is “late” this year, on April 20th, so our Lenten services don’t begin until the first week of March.
Here at Epworth, we will have our traditional Pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday, March 4th, and the Ash Wednesday service on the 5th. That day will also mark the Jackson County Ministerial Association Lenten Luncheon Series, which is hosted this year at Calvary UMC. (Details to follow in bulletin notes and emails after the JCMA meeting in mid-February)
The “outer” preparations for Holy week and Easter are not as important as the internals. How do we prepare our own lives and hearts for the great celebration of the story that is central to our faith? How do we incorporate the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, teaching, death and resurrection into our own lives? How do we deepen our commitment to God? These are the questions I ask you to think about, during the short, cold days of February and then on to Lent.
May I suggest that you look up the following scriptures for your daily Bible reading and prayer time:
Joel chapter 2, especially verses 12-17, Psalm 51, 2 Corinthians 5:20 to chapter 6 verse 10, and the
3 parallel stories of the temptation of Jesus, found in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4: 1-13.
I look forward to worshiping with you during these holy weeks.
Blessings,
Terry
December, 2013
Dear Epworth family and friends,
Merry, merry Christmas, and may you be blessed in the New Year!
I’m writing to you in mid-December, when the days are short and dark. History and archeology tell us that in cultures around the world, including many who did not know about the Christ child, people looked and longed for the return of the light, and held festivals and celebrations near the solstice, to ward off the darkness and then celebrate when the days started to grow longer. I’m reminded of the
beautiful passage from Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light....” and also of the passages in Isaiah and Romans (and indeed through much of scripture) that speak of the universal human longing for God, even when people don’t know exactly what they are looking for. Part of our shared ministry as the Church is to tell people the story that they are longing to hear, a story of love and redemption, of healing and hope.
We do this with spoken words, songs, with sign-actions or sacraments such as Holy Communion and the candlelighting service on Christmas Eve; we also tell the story of God’s love through our actions. This season, Epworth volunteers have helped 35 families through the
Adopt-A-Family program, sent “12 Days of Christmas” packages to another twenty-some folks, encouraged our college kids with finals packages, prepared and sent Shoeboxes to low income kids in foreign lands, and worked through a wide variety of social and community organizations to deliver many kinds of assistance to those in need. I’m grateful for our resources and ability to help. Thank you to all of those who were able to lend a hand, say a prayer, give a dollar, offer a smile or a word of encouragement to someone in Christ’s name. Jesus promised that this faithfulness will be rewarded; I can tell you that the smiles and thanks from some of the Adopt-A-Family recipients was completely rewarding! I wish you all could see the results that I see. Doing good helps the giver and the receiver. May we all continue to be blessed and a blessing.
My kids (and granddaughter!!!!) will be here soon, and I hope to spend some relaxing time with them before our New Year pulls us forward into another round of activity and excitement. My prayer for you, and for our church, is that the love of God becomes so real and powerful in our lives, that we SHINE with it, and are always willing to walk through the darkness to bring others to the light.
I love you,
Terry
Dear Epworth family and friends,
Merry, merry Christmas, and may you be blessed in the New Year!
I’m writing to you in mid-December, when the days are short and dark. History and archeology tell us that in cultures around the world, including many who did not know about the Christ child, people looked and longed for the return of the light, and held festivals and celebrations near the solstice, to ward off the darkness and then celebrate when the days started to grow longer. I’m reminded of the
beautiful passage from Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light....” and also of the passages in Isaiah and Romans (and indeed through much of scripture) that speak of the universal human longing for God, even when people don’t know exactly what they are looking for. Part of our shared ministry as the Church is to tell people the story that they are longing to hear, a story of love and redemption, of healing and hope.
We do this with spoken words, songs, with sign-actions or sacraments such as Holy Communion and the candlelighting service on Christmas Eve; we also tell the story of God’s love through our actions. This season, Epworth volunteers have helped 35 families through the
Adopt-A-Family program, sent “12 Days of Christmas” packages to another twenty-some folks, encouraged our college kids with finals packages, prepared and sent Shoeboxes to low income kids in foreign lands, and worked through a wide variety of social and community organizations to deliver many kinds of assistance to those in need. I’m grateful for our resources and ability to help. Thank you to all of those who were able to lend a hand, say a prayer, give a dollar, offer a smile or a word of encouragement to someone in Christ’s name. Jesus promised that this faithfulness will be rewarded; I can tell you that the smiles and thanks from some of the Adopt-A-Family recipients was completely rewarding! I wish you all could see the results that I see. Doing good helps the giver and the receiver. May we all continue to be blessed and a blessing.
My kids (and granddaughter!!!!) will be here soon, and I hope to spend some relaxing time with them before our New Year pulls us forward into another round of activity and excitement. My prayer for you, and for our church, is that the love of God becomes so real and powerful in our lives, that we SHINE with it, and are always willing to walk through the darkness to bring others to the light.
I love you,
Terry
November, 2013
Dear Epworth Church Family and Friends,
I have so much to tell you that I hardly know where to start!
First, on a personal note, thanks so much for all the Pastor Appreciation cards during October, and for all the “congratulations Nana” cards and wishes before that, after my beautiful granddaughter Silby Ellen was born on August 12th! Silby had the same problem with her hip that I was born with, but an early diagnosis led to her being in a splint for two months and now she is fine. My son and his family will be coming home for Christmas, so I am excited about that.
Time has been flying since I returned from England in early September, and I just want to share some of the highlights. Choir picnic was at Hughes Lake again this year, and was lots of fun and fellowship for our singers and their families. Reminder, the choirs are always recruiting! Come sing with us!
Thanks, Jim and Polly!
Fall youth group activities kicked off that same evening with Sundae Sunday night. Way to go, Mike Knopp and all the parent volunteers.
The first ever Epworth Family Fall Retreat was at the end of September at Spring Heights; we had more than forty people of all ages there for the event, which began Friday at dinnertime and concluded after morning worship on Sunday. It was fabulous and I’m already looking forward to next year’s outing!
Thanks to the Retreat Team led by Larry Chew and Greta Tyler.
October included World Communion Sunday & Undie Sunday. Epworth donated 11 coats and two trashbags full of new underwear and socks. We also celebrated two baptisms, two big birthday parties at the church, and, just this weekend, our amazing and packed with people All Saints Party (thanks, Beth and all volunteers).
Tonight, our ever-expanding Centershot Archery Program resumes, with over 50 kids registered, and folks being turned away.
Frank & Janet Strohl, a large group of trained volunteer archery instructors, and our youth pastor Mike make this happen. Thanks!
November will be just as packed with excitement. We remember all our Saints on this first Sunday in November, with candle lighting and Holy Communion. Then, we will jump into our cars and go to Ravenswood at North UMC for our annual charge conference. For those new to Methodism, this meeting elects officers and sets salaries for the coming year, conducts any other necessary business, and hears about the connectional church from our District Superintendent, former Epworth pastor Ken Krimmel.
Our Community Choir Sing is the following week, also at North UMC (and don’t forget Veteran’s Day ! Ripley will have a big parade.)
On November 17, everyone is invited to Epworth for a social hour/light breakfast sponsored by the social life committee, during the normal Sunday School hour. Even if you usually don’t come to church until the main worship service at eleven, drop by at 9:45 on the 17th to meet and greet your church family.
Our annual Thanksgiving Dinner is the following Sunday, at 12:30pm after the worship service here. A community Thanksgiving service is scheduled for Tuesday November 26th at Parchment Valley Baptist Church, across from the State Police.
And then there’s ADVENT! Join your church family during December as we count down the days of preparation until Christmas---there will be stories from scripture about the yearning of people for a Savior, about the words of God’s prophets, and we traditionally symbolize this longing by the lighting of candles in the Advent wreath and the singing of“O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” The sights, sounds, colors, and pageantry of our seasonal worship culminate in our Christmas Cantata on December 22nd and the beautiful Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Watch your church email and look on our new website (www.epworthumcripley.org) for the dates and times of our other special December events, including the UM Women’s Christmas dinner, the church Christmas dinner and the children’s program, Caroling, and Adopt A Family.
I am so glad to be sharing this Holy and happy time with you.
Love,
Terry
Dear Epworth Church Family and Friends,
I have so much to tell you that I hardly know where to start!
First, on a personal note, thanks so much for all the Pastor Appreciation cards during October, and for all the “congratulations Nana” cards and wishes before that, after my beautiful granddaughter Silby Ellen was born on August 12th! Silby had the same problem with her hip that I was born with, but an early diagnosis led to her being in a splint for two months and now she is fine. My son and his family will be coming home for Christmas, so I am excited about that.
Time has been flying since I returned from England in early September, and I just want to share some of the highlights. Choir picnic was at Hughes Lake again this year, and was lots of fun and fellowship for our singers and their families. Reminder, the choirs are always recruiting! Come sing with us!
Thanks, Jim and Polly!
Fall youth group activities kicked off that same evening with Sundae Sunday night. Way to go, Mike Knopp and all the parent volunteers.
The first ever Epworth Family Fall Retreat was at the end of September at Spring Heights; we had more than forty people of all ages there for the event, which began Friday at dinnertime and concluded after morning worship on Sunday. It was fabulous and I’m already looking forward to next year’s outing!
Thanks to the Retreat Team led by Larry Chew and Greta Tyler.
October included World Communion Sunday & Undie Sunday. Epworth donated 11 coats and two trashbags full of new underwear and socks. We also celebrated two baptisms, two big birthday parties at the church, and, just this weekend, our amazing and packed with people All Saints Party (thanks, Beth and all volunteers).
Tonight, our ever-expanding Centershot Archery Program resumes, with over 50 kids registered, and folks being turned away.
Frank & Janet Strohl, a large group of trained volunteer archery instructors, and our youth pastor Mike make this happen. Thanks!
November will be just as packed with excitement. We remember all our Saints on this first Sunday in November, with candle lighting and Holy Communion. Then, we will jump into our cars and go to Ravenswood at North UMC for our annual charge conference. For those new to Methodism, this meeting elects officers and sets salaries for the coming year, conducts any other necessary business, and hears about the connectional church from our District Superintendent, former Epworth pastor Ken Krimmel.
Our Community Choir Sing is the following week, also at North UMC (and don’t forget Veteran’s Day ! Ripley will have a big parade.)
On November 17, everyone is invited to Epworth for a social hour/light breakfast sponsored by the social life committee, during the normal Sunday School hour. Even if you usually don’t come to church until the main worship service at eleven, drop by at 9:45 on the 17th to meet and greet your church family.
Our annual Thanksgiving Dinner is the following Sunday, at 12:30pm after the worship service here. A community Thanksgiving service is scheduled for Tuesday November 26th at Parchment Valley Baptist Church, across from the State Police.
And then there’s ADVENT! Join your church family during December as we count down the days of preparation until Christmas---there will be stories from scripture about the yearning of people for a Savior, about the words of God’s prophets, and we traditionally symbolize this longing by the lighting of candles in the Advent wreath and the singing of“O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” The sights, sounds, colors, and pageantry of our seasonal worship culminate in our Christmas Cantata on December 22nd and the beautiful Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Watch your church email and look on our new website (www.epworthumcripley.org) for the dates and times of our other special December events, including the UM Women’s Christmas dinner, the church Christmas dinner and the children’s program, Caroling, and Adopt A Family.
I am so glad to be sharing this Holy and happy time with you.
Love,
Terry
