These December Events Celebrated the Birth of Our Savior!
Advent
Advent began this year on December 2. Each Sunday morning an Advent candle was lit during the 11:00 am worship service. A Biblical character presented a short dialogue on the meaning of the last candle lit that day. During the Christmas Eve Worship Service on December 24 at 5:00 pm, all of these characters joined together in a short play.
Old Fashioned Christmas Party
There was an Old Fashioned Christmas Party (making things to share with others) on Sunday, December 2, from 5:00-7:00 pm. We made cookies and other treats for our shut-ins. These pictures are from this party.
The Pumpkin Patch
Thank you for your support of the Pumpkin Patch!
Our annual Pumpkin Patch for Missions was a success! Thanks in large part to the wonderful Boy Scouts of Troop 98 and their parents (collectively known as the Pumpkin Pilers); we unloaded a semi-truck full of pumpkins on Saturday, October 6th. Starting on Sunday October 7th, we were open 12-8 Sunday through Thursday, Friday 12-9 and Saturday 10-9.
Harvest Day was October 20th. We had many FREE children's games with prizes and craft projects going on throughout the day! At dark, we had a showing of Charlie Brown's "The Great Pumpkin" movie as well as a "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!" Popcorn and drinks were provided. Grilled hamburger and hot dog plates were available for purchase. There was a wonderful bake sale of goodies from the kitchens of our members!
As in all preceding years, the money our wonderful customers exchange for our pumpkins will be given to local organizations that serve the needy and to the mission work of our church. The Second Harvest Food Bank and the Open Door Community House as well as future EPC mission trips will receive all of the profits from this year’s Patch.
And don’t forget to join us for worship every Sunday morning at 11:00 A.M.!!!
Dinner Theater Comedy
Our drama team recently performed the dinner theatre comedy, “Mission Possible” by Shelly Sellepack. A full house of theater goers were treated to a great dinner and watched a cast of quirky characters conduct the church’s annual budget meeting. Nobody at the meeting could agree on where the church’s money should go or what the church mission really was until they hired a super-slick PR consultant named Stuart Ship. He delivered a fiery speech designed to convince them that the church is the sum of all the sharing parts rather than the ideas, wealth, or talent of any one person. There were hilarious television inspired snippets of an “Extreme Makeover”, of Dr. Phyllis, and of a cooking infomercial where Tess T. Honcho vainly attempted to make her famous green marshmallow salad. In the end, would-be budgeteers understood that everyone must share their God given gifts to make the mission of the church possible.
Vacation Bible School
We called it “Galilee By-the Sea” and our prayers for a Vacation Bible School to please the Lord may very well have been answered. Meaningful songs and dancing; the chance to know each other better; great and imaginative meals; a variety of nearly-authentic crafts, costuming, setting, and the enactment of a visit from Jesus were just some of the reasons listed for why Vacation Bible School was memorable this year at EPC. At Galilee By-the Sea, everyone got to explore the culture of Jesus' world. Families lived what they learned everyday as they encountered shopkeepers, the local Rabbi, and even Jesus' disciples. We explored authentic Jewish family customs that brought fresh life to Bible stories. Each day kids and adults alike joined one of the tribes of Israel and experienced life in the context of a Jewish tribal family. We had faithful attendees from one to ninety years old and we were graced with the presence of quite a few visitors. It was a joy! Join us next year!
