SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: From Our Pastor....1 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Worship News …...2 Spiritual Formation News………………..3 Missions and Service……………..4 Upcoming Events……………..5

The Epistle East Cobb United Methodist Church

SEPTEMBER 2016

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A Note from our Pastor An Update on Finances

We express our faith in a variety of ways. A primary way in which we express faith and gratitude is through our financial giving. The Finance Committee is committed to ensuring the church is a good steward of your financial expressions of faith.

The reports below tell a story of our expression of faith through giving. You will notice the story tells us some ministry goals may go unmet this year at our current rate of giving. Today is a great day to catch up your commitment if you have fallen behind in your pledge.

You can also give in person or online. This can be an especially attractive option for those who travel or juggle busy weekend schedules. Visit https://eastcobbumc.onthecity.org/give to make a one-time gift, or set-up recurring contributions. And, stay tuned for more monthly updates from your Finance Committee.

See you in church,

Continued on pg. 2

Budget Actual

Budget Balance

% of Budget

Where We Should Be

2016 Pledges 561,910 267,185 294,725 48% 58%

Non-pledge Offerings

94,956 60,035 34,921 63% 58%

Other income 99,512 54,492 45,020 55% 58%

Total Revenue 756,378 381,712 374,665 50% 58%

Total Expenditures

756,378 417,987 338,391 55% 58%

Net Revenue over Expenses

(36,275)

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Rev. Nanci Hicks Senior Pastor nanci@eastcobbumc.org

Join ECUMC in worship this September as we discuss the Kingdom of God and the work that we are called to do as part of God's realm.

September 4 “Yielding to God” Jeremiah 18:1-11

September 11 Commissioning Cindy Campbell “Seeking the Lost” Luke 15:1-10

September 18 Luke 6:10-13

September 25 Special guest preacher District Superintendent, Terry Walton Charge Conference to follow 11:00 AM Worship service

Continued from pg. 1

Worship in September

Pledge Amount

Actual Contributions

Pledge Balance

% of Pledges

Where We Should Be

Be Bold (110 pledgers)

689,344 687,514 1,830 100 100%

REACH (80 pledgers)

725,000 251,234 473,766 35% 39%

Other contributions

225,334

Expenditures (140,471)

Building Project Net Total

1,023,611

Midweek Vespers

RESUMES SEPTEMBER 14

WEDNESDAYS | 6:30 PM

WEEKLY WORSHIP

SUNDAY 9:30 AM

HeartLight Contemporary Worship with

HeartLight Worship Band

11:00 AM Traditional Worship with Chancel Choir

3:00 PM Kenyan Congregation

Worship

WEDNESDAY 6:30 PM

Vespers Worship (Resumes Sept. 14)

Healing Service

(Takes the place of Vespers on the 3rd Wednesday of each

month)

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SPRC Welcomes New Staff Members

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SPRC is pleased to announce the hiring of two new members of the ECUMC staff. We hope that you will join us in welcoming Dena Kitchens and Bailee Lauersdorf!

Children's Choir at ECUMC is in full swing, and we’re already looking forward to Christmas!

Auditions for this year’s Christmas program, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be held on Wednesday, September 7 at 6:30 PM in Room 117. Children ages 7-13 should come prepared to read from the script. And, be sure to mark your calendars for the performance, Sunday, December 11 at 5:00 PM!

Contact Associate Minister of Music and Worship Arts for Children, Ashley Kaczorowski at ashley@eastcobbumc.org to learn more about the Christmas program and children’s worship arts at ECUMC!

Auditions for Children’s Musical

Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 18 when ECUMC’s Chancel Choir will present “Christmas at East Cobb” at 5:00 PM in the Sanctuary. This musical program will include our Children’s Choir and guest musicians and is guaranteed to put you in the true Spirit of Christmas!

Singers from Upper High School age and beyond are encouraged to come join the Chancel Choir as seasonal singers. We will have a day-long workshop to prepare this music on Saturday, September 10 at the Hilton Conference Ctr. The first portion of Wednesday night rehearsals will be devoted to Christmas music prep, as well.

Please prayerfully consider joining our wonderful fellowship and email Ira Pittman, Chancel Choir Director to indicate your interest (Ira@eastcobbumc.org). You WILL be blessed!

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Dena Kitchens joins ECUMC as our new Director of Children’s Ministries. She is a Christian Educator with several years of experience in Early Childhood Education and Special Education as well as Children and Youth Ministry.

She has served in several churches in the roles of Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries and has trained others in National Conferences as well as smaller workshops. Dena is passionate about bringing the word of God to learners of all ages and abilities. She is returning to school as well, seeking a Masters of Practical Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary.

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Bailee Lauersdorf joins ECUMC in the position of Community Involvement Liaison. Bailee is an Atlanta native. She studied at Mercer University in Macon, which is where her passion for community outreach and serving others really began taking shape. Bailee's work with a transitional congregation in Atlanta set the stage for her move to the mission-minded ECUMC. A note from Bailee:

I have enjoyed meeting everyone here at East Cobb. I am excited by your passion and commitment and I cannot wait to do great things together!

Peace, Bailee

Become a Seasonal Singer!

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Honoring Cindy Campbell

Flooding in Louisiana has been devastating, but you can make a difference through prayers and partnership with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). There are three ways you can help now:

• Give through your local church using NGUMC Fund #4390 for UMCOR US Disaster Relief.

• Pack UMCOR kits –www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies

• Get ERT or CARE team certified or re-certified this month.

Respond to Flooding with

UMCOR

Family Promise Fast Facts

Did you know?

• Families comprise nearly 40% of all who are homeless.

• Among families who are homeless with children, the majority cited loss of a job as the cause, followed by the lack of affordable housing, poverty, low-paying jobs and domestic violence.

But, there is hope. Family Promise of Cobb County is committed to assisting homeless families with children achieve adequate income, stable housing and lasting independence by mobilizing our local interfaith community. Learn more about how you can be a part Family Promise’s life-giving ministries at www.familypromisecobbcounty.org.

Join ECUMC on Sunday, September 11 for a celebration of Cindy Campbell’s ministries with this community. We’ll commission Cindy at each worship service for her new work with Cobb Country Senior Wellness Center. And, after the 11:00 AM service, we'll hold a luncheon in her honor in ECUMC's Fellowship Hall, where we will share our memories of Cindy's time at ECUMC and wish her well in her new job. Tickets are $5.00 per person and can be purchased in the Narthex on Sundays, Sept. 4 and 11. In addition to the festivities, SPRC will collect a love offering for Cindy on Sundays, Sept. 4 and 11. Please clearly mark your

checks, “Cindy Love Offering,” and place them in the collection plate on Sunday morning. You won’t want to miss this special day of celebration!

& Missions

Service

Wednesday Night on Sunday What is a Wednesday Night on Sunday? Every 5th Sunday, ECUMC will host a fellowship luncheon to benefit the REACH campaign. Join us for our next luncheon on Sunday, October 30, catered by the fabulous Wednesday Night Supper crew. Dinner will be chicken & dressing, succotash, green beans, gravy, fruit salad and pound cake. All donations go to REACH!

Sunday, September 4 Food Pantry Open 12:30 PM (Crossroads)

Monday, September 5 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

Wednesday, September 7 Children’s Christmas Program Auditions 6:30 PM (Room 117)

Saturday, September 10 Chancel Choir Retreat 9:00 AM (Hilton Conference Center)

Sunday, September 11 UM Men’s Fellowship/New Dawn Circle Meeting 8:30 AM (Fellowship Hall)

Luncheon for Cindy Campbell 12:00 PM (Fellowship Hall)

Monday, September 12 Finance Meeting 7:00 PM (Room 202)

Tuesday, September 13 Family Promise Training 7:00 PM (Fellowship Hall)

Wednesday, September 14 Wednesday Night Activities Resume 5:00 PM (Fellowship Hall)

Thursday, September 15 SPRC Meeting 7:00 PM (Room 203)

Sunday, September 18 Food Pantry Open 12:30 PM (Crossroads)

Aging Parent Support Group 12:30 PM (Café 33)

Monday, September 19 Administrative Council Meeting 7:00 PM (Room 103)

Wednesday, September 21 REACH Fundraiser Dinner 5:00 PM (Fellowship Hall)

Healing Service 6:30 PM (Sanctuary)

Sunday, September 25 Charge Conference 12:00 PM (Sanctuary)

For a full calendar of

events, visit the church website.

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Featured Events

Join ECUMC for Wednesday night supper, Vespers worship and activities for all ages,

beginning Wednesday, September 14! Pricing for dinner is $7/adult with a

maximum of $22/family. Children under 8 eat free. Presale tickets will be available

at previous prices ($6, Family $20) on Sundays, Sept. 4 and 11, and can be used at any time during fall meals! Sept. 21 is a special BBQ dinner to benefit REACH! We’ll also be selling whole smoked pork butts

($40) and chopped BBQ ($8/pound). Place your pre-orders beginning Sept. 4!

September 14 Beef tips, rice & gravy, succotash, biscuits, banana pudding, and chicken fingers and French fries for the kids

September 21 – REACH Fundraiser BBQ, baked beans, mac & cheese, Brunswick stew, Texas toast, Sherbet & cookies

September 28 NO DINNER - COBB COUNTY FALL BREAK

East Cobb United Methodist Church 2325 Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30062 Phone: 770-971-3643 Email: office@eastcobbumc.org Website: www.eastcobbumc.org

A mosaic of God's family, GATHERING to embrace God and all people, GROWING in faith, love and joy, and GOING into the world to serve and share Jesus.

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Bronwyne Butler Director of Lighthouse Academy Bronwyne@eastcobbumc.org Lighthouse Academy: 770-971-3671 Calissa Dauterman Communications Specialist Calissa@eastcobbumc.org Trenton Dockery Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries Trenton@eastcobbumc.org Rob Frank Director of Music & Worship Arts Rob@eastcobbumc.org Rev. Nanci Hicks Senior Pastor Nanci@eastcobbumc.org Ashley Kaczorowksi Associate Director of Music and Worship Arts for Children Ashley@eastcobbumc.org

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Daniel Kaimathiri Kenyan Youth Ministry Rev. Peter Kaimathiri M'Tuamwari Pastor of Kenyan Congregation Peter@eastcobbumc.org Dena Kitchens Director of Children’s Ministries Dena@eastcobbumc.org Bailee Lauersdorf Community Involvement Liaison bailee@eastcobbumc.org Christine McRee Administrative Assistant Office@eastcobbumc.org Ira Pittman Associate Director of Music & Worship Arts Ira@eastcobbumc.org Rev. James L. Perry, Jr. Minister of Congregational Care & Discipleship Jim@eastcobbumc.org Charlene Smith Business Administrator Charlene@eastcobbumc.org

East Cobb United Methodist Church 2325 Roswell Road, NE Marietta, GA 30062-4953 www.eastcobbumc.org