NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT #141

COLUMBUS, GA 31904

Our ChurCh StaffChildren’s Ministry Director Kelley ConkleChoir Director Lyn PharrisChurch Administrator Susan SniderCustodians Martha Conklin Barbie Morris Music Director Bob LeeNursery Worker Martha ConklinWorship Leader/Youth Minister Andy UngerPastor Rev. Scott Hagan

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

Church Website: epworthumc.com

Epworth connects and equipsall kinds of people

to seek, serve, and share Christ.

thiS COming WeekSunday, March 1, 2015 9:00 AM Contemporary Service 10:00 AM Sunday School11:00 AM Traditional ServiceMonday, March 2, 201510:00 AM Prayer Shawl Ministry Tuesday, March 3, 201510:30 AM HIS Group Meeting 6:00 PM God Chicks Meeting 6:30 PM Youth Bible StudyWednesday, March 4, 201512:00 PM Prayer Team Meeting 6:00 PM Wednesday Night Supper

6:30 PM Praise Practice 6:45 PM Program 7:45 PM Choir PracticeSaturday, March 7, 201528th Annual Open Door Classic Sunday, March 8, 2015 9:00 AM Contemporary Service 10:00 AM Sunday School11:00 AM Traditional Service

upCOming eventSSaturday, March 14, 2015 6:00 PM More of the Best Songs EverMonday-Friday, March 23-27, 2015Muscogee & Lee County Spring Break

March 1, 2015

The Sanctuary flowers are given to theGlory of God and in honor of Doris Sawyer’s

Birthday by Steve Sawyer.

EpworthUnited Methodist Church2400 Devonshire Drive Columbus, Georgia 31904 706-322-6973

EpworthUnited Methodist Church

Epworth’s Transformation: More Than Surface Deep I never saw the Bill Murray comic classic Groundhog Day when it came out in 1993. I was too busy not studying calculus. But, I am familiar with the folklore that says if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2, then spring will come early and, if is it sunny, then we’ll have winter for six more weeks. Last month, Punxsutawney Phil predicted we would have a long winter. Of course, that is not great science, is it? You cannot predict the future weather for months out based on one day’s conditions. Last week, I was delighted to write a report on all of the new construction and renovation projects that Epworth has tackled in the past 54 weeks. The list is long, and the changes are dramatic. ROCON is waiting on the delivery of the final piece, new entrance doors to the Fellowship Hall, and that project will be complete. But, I also promised to report on the transformations happening at Epworth that are more than surface deep. First, let me revisit the groundhogs. I don’t think you can predict the future based on one day’s weather. Just like I don’t think you can speak to the Spirit-led transformation happening at Epworth without considering a variety of measures. So, here goes:• The transfer of the Hamp-Stephens funds last January made a huge impact on our Spirit. More

than just allowing us to pay for the construction work, finally having the monies in hand freed up so many of our people from the sense of dread that the funds would somehow be lost to us.

• Our Vision Team that met from January to June of last year helped capture a clear mission: Epworth connects and equips all kinds of people to seek, serve and share Christ. People are learning and quoting this statement to each other and to folks outside our church.

• The Vision Team also laid out an ambitious goal of having 60% of our active people serving beyond the walls of our church in ministries in our community. I hear of people taking on new projects and passions all the time. This is the church being the church!

• Finally, I received feedback from our congregation in a survey I did on Epworth’s vision and our future. One of the questions asked, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rank your confidence in the statement, “Epworth will be a thriving congregation in the year 2025.” The average answer came back as 7.5.

Think about that last point. In a world that is changing so rapidly around us, our people nevertheless are very confident that Epworth will be here. I believe they are right and I believe that hope comes from the continuing work of the Holy Spirit to transform us. Like the word of promise spoken by the prophet Ezekiel to God’s people countless generations ago, “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” I don’t think this is some silly tradition that is poorly predicting the future weather - I believe Epworth is positioned to continue seeking, serving and sharing Christ with the world. Grace and Peace, Scott

Sunday SChOOl at 9:30 am

THE CHILDREN’S CLASSES Kindergarden - 2nd Grd.: Carolyn Gambill 3rd - 5th Grd.: Kelley Conkle

THE FRIENDSHIP CLASS Study: The Lamb of God Teacher: Bruce Zimmerman

THE JOY CLASS Study: Revival Teacher: Class

THE NATHAN PATTERSON/WESLEY CLASS Study: Matthew Ch. 7 Teacher: Kathryn Hargrove

THE NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS Study: When You’re a Christian... Teacher: Leslie Morris

THE “NO NAME” CLASS Study: Daddy is that Story True? Ch. 50 Teacher: Joyce Hickson

THE QUESTORS CLASS Study: Class Discussion Teacher: Glenn Griffin

THE SEEKERS CLASS Study: If Experience is Such a Good Teacher Teacher: Class

THE YOUNG ADULT CLASS (in Old Kitchen) Study: The Gospel of Mark Teacher: Scott Hagan

thOSe WhO Serve Sunday, marCh 1, 2015

9:00 AM Worship Service: Greeter: Janie Nellums Ushers: Diane Morris Acolyte: Gracie Conkle Children’s Church: Janie Nellums11:00 AM Worship Service: Greeter: Susan Davis Usher: Donny Davis, Doug Revell Acolyte: Emma Cheraisi, Jack Hagan Children’s Church: Suzy RevellFinancial Secretary: Steve SawyerTurn Key: Helen PharrisOur SteWardShip

February 22, 2014Tithes & Offering: $3,957.50Received To Date: $60,682.50 NEW BUILDING/MAINTENANCEReceived This Week: $85

ATTENDANCESunday School: 69 Worship: 9:00 AM 5011:00 AM 90Total 140Ash Wednesday 65

yOuth & ChildrenYouth Bible Study - Join us on Tuesday, March 3, at 6:30 PM, in the Youth Room. Spring Breaks - Lee and Muscogee County from March 23-27 and Russell and Harris County from March 30 - April 3.Family Picnic & Epic Easter Egg Hunt - Sunday, March 29, from 4-6 PM, Heath Park. Fried Chicken, drinks and dessert will be provided. Sign up on the Information Board to make dinner reservations and to bring a covered dish to share. Donations of individually wrapped non-chocolate candy and plastic eggs are needed. You may leave them in Kelley Conkle’s office.

paStOral COunSelingOur church is partnered with the Pastoral Institute to offer our people counseling at deep discounts and priority scheduling. This service is such a help to families and individuals. Call the church for more information or give our church name when scheduling an appointment, (706-649-6500). The Pastoral Institute is located at 2022-15th Ave., Columbus. Hours are Monday - Thursday, 8 AM - 9 PM, Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM.

What’S happeningPrayer Shawl Ministry Meeting - Monday, March 2, at 10 AM, in the Fellowship Hall. HIS Group UMW Meeting - Tuesday, March 3, at 10:30 AM, in the Fellowship Hall. Jan Shackelford will present the devotional and program. Judy May, Ann Smith and Barbara Stubbs will be our hostesses. Our mission for March is the “Showering Program” at Open Door. Please bring a covered dish to share.God Chicks Meeting - Tuesday, March 3, at 6 PM, in The Garden.Wednesday Night Supper & Program - Plan to join us on Wednesday, March 4, for supper at 6 PM, and a wonderful program given by Deb McCrainie, Pastoral Institute counselor, at 6:45 PM. Sign-up for supper on the Information board. Menu: Three Ingredient Chicken, Hashbrown Casserole, Broccoli, Salad, Roll and Dessert.Day Light Saving Time begins - Sunday, March 8. Spring forward your clocks one hour. New Life UMW Meeting - Monday, March 9, at 6:30 PM, in The Woods. Hostesses are Margaret Gosden and Linda Smith.Growing Chrisian UMW Meeting - Tuesday, March 17, at 6:30 PM, in the Fellowship Hall.Vintage Group Meeting - Game Night, Thursday, March 12, at 6 PM, in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite game and covered dish to share.2015 Epworth Leadership List - is available on our website at epworthumc.com and copies are in the Information Center. Wireless internet - Log on to the server Epworthchurch; Password - jesusyall.

memOrialSGiven to the General Fund in memory of

Marie Beasley by Friends of Hamp Stevens.

Back By Popular Demand...More of the Best Songs Ever - A Night of Music and Dinner with Bob Lee, Andy Unger and Friends on Saturday, March 14 , at 6:00 PM. Catered by Country’s BBQ, Pork or Chicken, childcare provided by Martha and featuring songs from across the years, all for only $1 2 to support missions through the United Methodist Men. Limited seating; to hold a space, sign up by March 8 on the Information Board.Reachers UMW Meeting - Tuesday, March 31, at 7 PM, in the Questors classroom.Upper Room Daily Devotionals - March/April issue is available from the WWC for $1 each.Lilies & Hydrangeas for Easter - for details and to order, see the sign-up sheet on the Library door to order in memory or honor of your loved ones. Keeping You Informed - Refer to the online calendar on our website - epworthumc.com - that is kept up to date for all events, meetings and happenings of Epworth.2015 Flower Calendar - is on the Library door to purchase Sanctuary flowers in honor or memory of someone. Each Sunday arrangement is $50. Available dates are March 22 & 29: April 12 & 19.Good Friday Service - April 3, at 6 PM, in the Sanctuary.Epworth Praise Team - meets every Wednesday at 6:15 PM, in the Sanctuary to practice and sing at the 9 AM worship service. If interested or you have questions, email Andy at andy@epworthumc.com.

COntaCt uS by emailScott: scott@epworthumc.comSusan: susan@epworthumc.comAndy: andy@epworthumc.comKelley: kelley@epworthumc.com

epWOrth prayer liStChurch FamilyKristi Miller Blount King Gladys Plant Trudy Harris Vanessa DeSoto Aaron Jackson Thrower Family Joe Flynn Leslie Morris Jack Osteen Jan Shackleford Diane Champagne Donny Davis Jane Sanders Keri McElvey Milard WilsonFred & Emilie Carswell Sara Rice J. T. Morgan Sibyl Wells Kittye Crocket Scott Dunn Linda Coleman Betty Sawyer Eloise Jones Sidney Crews

Extended Church Family Steve & Carol Guilbeault Michael Taff David Olson Doyle Adams Annie L. Watts Ricky Clark Robbins Family Andrew WadeBobby Barrow Bill Garnto Alverta Champagne Linda Bush Jayce Foster Preston Silvernail Joel Barrett Bill Hortmann Willie Ryles Judy Patterson Brian Tench Jennifer Rono Cassie Prochaska Billy Hill Brea Grafal Laurie OsteenDorothy Ogg Susan Simpson Billy Casey Bobbie Brown Linda Lee’s Family Marilyn Buck Danny Chidester Amanda Davenport Marian Young Shirley Mann

Homebound Asheville, NC - Susan Squiers Morningside - Alta Kimbrough, Eloise Jones Covenant Woods - Nelle Lloyd Summer’s Landing - Doris Toney, Cammie Van Over, Gardens at Calvary - Bob Nellums, Doris Sawyer Bob Wait Holly Hills, FL - Bertha Carter Wesley Glen (Byron, GA) - Nancy Hiller

Due to changes in privacy laws, hospitals have restricted or eliminated a list of patients by church affiliation. Please help us minister to you effectively by calling the

church office at 706-322-6973 about yourself or a family member.

Updating Prayer List: If anyone on the prayer list needs to be removed or added, pleasecall or email the church office or leave a note with updates. Thank you for your help.

miSSiOnSLooking for a way to serve within the church? Needed: an Usher for 1st Sunday at the 9 AM service and 2nd Sunday at the 11 AM service of each month, a Financial Secretary for the 3rd Sunday of each month and a Turn Key for the 4th Sunday of each month. If you are interested or have questions, please call or email the church office.The Mission Focus for February - Rose Hill UMC Health Kits. Items needed are men’s razors, small tubes of toothpaste, wash cloths (any color), gallon zip lock bags, new or gently used devotional books or used, outdated Upper Rooms or study materials. Place your donated items on the Mission Cart. Monetary gifts are always appreciated. Mark your offering envelope “Health Kits.”28th Annual Open Door Classic - Saturday, March 7, Woodruff Park in Uptown Columbus. 5k registration begins at 7 AM, run starts at 8 AM. Walk registration begins at 8 AM, walk starts at 9 AM. To register, go to joinus.opendoorcommunityhouse.org/classic.March Mission Focus - Open Door Classic.If you would like to donate to the Epworth Team, mark your offering envelope with “Open Door” or register online at opendoorcommunityhouse.org/classic.A Taste of Epworth Cookbooks - are still available. Only $5 each. Pick up your copy(s) from the Whitehurst Welcome Center. All proceeds go towards missions. They make great gifts for all occasions.Feeding Our Neighbors at Rosehill UMC - Thursday, March 26, beginning at 3:30 PM. If you would like to volunteer, see Barbara Stubbs. Monetary donations are always appreciated.

ServerS fOr marChSunday School:K - 2nd Grade 3rd-5th Grade1st: Carolyn Gambill Margaret Gosden2nd: Kathryn Hargrove Margaret Gosden3rd: Debra Johnson Dawn Wilson4th: Kelley Conkle Quinley Russell5th:Teacher Needed Leslie MorrisChildren’s Church: 9 AM 11 AM1st: Janie Nellums Becky Moseley2nd: Jeanne Guilbeault Janet Cheraisi3rd: Becky Britton Debra Johnson4th: Anne Wilson Kelley Conkle5th: Mary Lee Crews Melonie PhillipsGreeter: 9 AM 11 AM1st: Janie Nellums Susan Davis2nd: Barbara Stubbs Lillian Wooldridge3rd: Anne Wilson Maxine Willis4th: Mary Lee Crews Suzy Revell5th: UMW UMWUsher: 9 AM 11 AM1st: Diane Morris Donny Davis, Usher Needed Doug Revell2nd: Randy Morris Steve Whittington Usher Needed3rd: Jimmy Bridges Fraser Wooldridge, Bruce Zimmerman4th: Shawn Jandreau, Walter Champagne Steve Sawyer James Faircloth5th: UMW UMWFinancial Secretaries: Turn Keys:1st: Steve Sawyer 1st: Helen Pharris2nd: Shawn Jandreau 2nd: John Daniel3rd: Fin. Sec. Needed 3rd: James Johnson4th: Carson Revell 4th: Turn Key Needed5th: Steve Sawyer 5th: Steve SawyerIf you are interested or have questions about available positions to serve within the church, please call the church office at 706-322-6973 or email Susan at susan@epworthumc.com.

march birthdaysSay a prayer and write a note...

1 Sue Vining Ellen Hutchinson 3 Joseph Hutchinson Carrie Smith Borum 4 Matthew Ledbetter Bobby Clark 5 Taylor Walsh 7 Doris Sawyer 8 Marjean Waters 9 Becky Britton Sara Rice 11 Bill Dozier 12 Betty Sawyer 13 Kristi Stokes Miller 14 Joy Shellnut Joshua Brown 15 Trevor Whittington 16 Shawn Jandreau 18 Shane Morris Jackson Phillips 22 Nicole Farrar Kaysen Wilson 25 Lee Spencer 31 T..J. Daniel

A Birthday PrayerMay God bless you today and each day that follows,

May you hear His voice and follow His footsteps,

Be comforted by His care and live in His grace now and forever,

May this day and all your days be filled with the wonder of God’s special love for you. Happy Birthday, Amen.

March 2015Epworth United Methodist Church2/24/2015

Calendar of Events04:28 PM

WednesdayTuesdayMonday Thursday Friday SaturdaySunday

1 2 3 4 5 6 710:00a-Prayer Shawl

Ministry

9:00a-Blended Woship

10:00a-Sunday School

11:00a-Traditional

Worship

10:30a-HIS Group

UMW Meeting

6:30p-Youth Bible

Study

6:30p-God Chicks

Meeting

12:00p-Prayer Team

Meeting

6:00p-Supper &

Program

6:30p-Praise Team

Practice

7:00p-Choir Practice

7:00a-Open Door

Classic Walk

Registration

8:00a-Open Door

Classic Run

Registration

1413121110986:30p-New Life UMW

Meeting

9:00a-Blended Woship

10:00a-Sunday School

11:00a-Traditional

Worship

6:30p-Youth Bible

Study

12:00p-Prayer Team

Meeting

6:15p-Praise Team

Practice

7:00p-Choir Practice

6:00p-More of the Best

Songs Ever

6:00p-Vintage Group

Meeting

15 2120191817169:00a-Blended Woship

10:00a-Sunday School

11:00a-Traditional

Worship

6:30p-Youth Bible

Study

6:30p-Growing

Christians UMW

Meeting

12:00p-Prayer Team

Meeting

6:15p-Praise Team

Practice

7:00p-Choir Practice

28272625242322Muscogee & Lee

County Spring Break

9:00a-Blended Woship

10:00a-Sunday School

11:00a-Traditional

Worship

6:30p-Youth Bible

Study

12:00p-Prayer Team

Meeting

6:15p-Praise Team

Practice

7:00p-Choir Practice

3:30p-Rosehill Feeding

Our Neighbors

313029Harris & Russell Co.

Spring Break

9:00a-Blended Woship

10:00a-Sunday School

11:00a-Traditional

Worship

4:00p-Family Picnic &

Epic Easter Egg Hunt

6:30p-Youth Bible

Study

7:00p-Reachers UMW

Meeting