Welcome to Edgewood Presbyterian Church

We've tried to think of questions you might have. If you have others, just ask anybody. You'll find that members are eager to help. If one person doesn't have your answer, he or she can find someone else who does. You can also e-mail your questions to <echurch@bellsouth.net>.

Campus Diagram
Nursery
Restrooms
Children's Church
- May my children stay in the Sanctuary during the service?
- What if my child is restless?
- What if my child is too restless to sit through the service?
Where does the Sunday School meet?

Ho w do I get in touch with the pastor?
How do I find out about special events or on-going projects?

At 10:55 the service begins with the entry of the choir and pastor. The pastor then makes any announcements and brings the congregation up to date on major activities in the church. If you are running late and miss the announcements, don't stay away because of that. The actual worship service begins as 11:00 and you are always welcome at any time.

On any given Sunday you will find worshippers on both sides of the clothing spectrum and everywhere in between from shorts and jeans to dresses and hats and three-piece suits to military uniforms. We promise you that we will be happy to see you in God's house no matter how you are dressed.

A Church bulletin that you will be given by an usher as you enter the sanctuary will guide you as to what will be happening in that particular service. It also indicates when, if you are able, you are requested to stand.

The service generally begins with a musical prelude by the organist followed by a choral call to worship by the choir and a responsive reading between a pulpit reader and the congregation. The reading is printed in the bulletin.

There is a Children's Message during which all children (and those young at heart) are invited to come and sit on the chancel steps to listen to the pastor speak directly with them.

The service also includes a Bible reading, hymns, a song performed by the choir, an offering and a sermon. You may not be familiar with some of the traditional parts of the Presbyterian worship service such as the Apostle's Creed (wherein we recite what we believe), the Lord's Prayer, and the Doxology but in the rack in front of each pew you will find a laminated card with the words to each of these events printed on it.

The service generally ends with a benediction by the pastor followed by the congregation leaving the sanctuary while the organist plays the postlude.

As you leave the sanctuary, one of our elders will be standing by the exit doors. They will be wearing a nametag identifying themselves. If you have questions, need information, or wish to explore the possibility of joining our family of worshippers, please speak to one of the elders.

The pastor will be at one of the outside doors greeting worshippers. You are encouraged to stop and speak with him

A Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certified sign language interpreter is a member of Edgewood and available almost every Sunday. If you or someone you know needs an interpreter, please contact the church before Sunday through a relay call (706-561-5137), call the interpreter (706-315-8151) and an interpreter will be provided. If you come on Sunday before 10:45 but didn't call first, and if the interpreter is there, you will be introduced to the interpreter. We will show you to a seat so that you can see well. We want the Deaf to feel comfortable in God's House. Let us know if we can help."

Communion is one of the two sacraments observed in the Presbyterian Church. The other is baptism. Sacraments are observances originally created by Jesus Christ that permit us to simultaneously confess our sins, renew our faith, and strengthen our relationship with Jesus. The most basic needs of life are water, food, and drink. Thus when we are baptized by water and partake of the bread and wine during Communion, we symbolically recognize that our relationship with God through Jesus is a basic requirement of accepting God's grace and His gift of eternal life.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month and sometimes at other special services.

Presbyterians believe that regardless of denomination, all who have been baptized are invited to partake of the Lord's Supper. Even those who have been baptized but whose faith may have slipped over time are welcome so that they can be reassured of God's love and grace in Jesus Christ. Children who have been baptized and who have been taught the significance of the sacrament are welcome to take part.

We usually celebrate Communion by Elders serving the elements directly to the worshippers in the pew. Each person breaks off a piece of the bread when the plate is passed and holds it until the pastor indicates that it is time for all to eat. Likewise, when the "wine" is served, everyone holds it until the pastor indicates it is time for all to drink. The "wine" is actually non-alcoholic grape juice.

The audio of recent sermons preached at EPC will soon be available at www.epclife.com.

Take Exit 6 off I-185 onto Macon Road heading east (away from town). Go to the third stoplight (intersection of University Avenue). We are on the corner.

If coming from Columbus State University Campus, just go south on University Avenue. We are an easy walk from the campus!

The nursery is located in the Life Center. Go down the breezeway, through the double entry doors and straight back to the last door on the left. We have a certified child care attendant on duty at all times when the nursery is open. Generally, anytime we are having a congregational function such as Sunday School, worship, church dinners, special music programs, etc., the nursery is open. Infants through age two are welcome in the nursery.

Restrooms are located in the Life Center and on both floors of the Education Center. There are no public facilities in the sanctuary building.

Children's church is a two-part event each Sunday morning during the worship hour. Because we believe that even very young children should experience worship in the sanctuary, all kids ages 3 to 8 attend the beginning of the main worship hour in the sanctuary. Relatively early in the service, the pastor invites all these children to join him in the pulpit area. He then gives them a mini-lesson in the same subject that he will later preach about. When he finishes the mini-lesson, he will lead all the children in prayer and then dismiss them to go to Children's Church. Adult leaders will accompany the children to the first floor of the Education Center where they will lead the kids though Children's Church. When the worship hour is over, you will find your child either in the Children's Church room on the first floor of the Education Center or out on the playground--both places will have adult leadership present. If your child does not want to leave you to go to Children's Church, they are welcome to remain with you in the sanctuary. If they later get restless, feel free to take them over to Children's Church and then rejoin us in the sanctuary.

We have Sunday School for all ages each Sunday morning from 9:30-10:30. Sunday School for children through age 12 meets on the first floor of the Education Center. Ages 13-15 meet in the "Middlers" room in the Life Center. Ages 15-18 meet on the second floor of the Education Center. There are a number of Adult classes some of which meet on the second floor of the Education Center and others that meet in the Life Center. Call the church office to get a listing of topics being discussed in the various adult classes.

Fill out the visitor card that you will be given during the worship hour and drop the information portion in the offering plate when it is passed.
On your way out of the sanctuary on Sunday morning, stop and introduce yourself to him and let him know that you have questions.
Call the church office (706 561-5137) and ask to speak with him or leave a message asking him to contact you.
E-mail the church office at echurch@bellsouth.net.

We have several ways to find out what is happening at Edgewood Presbyterian Church:

Our web site is updated regularly with the latest schedule of events.
If you have given us your mailing and/or e-mail address you will receive our newsletter that will tell about what is happening in the next month or so. Just e-mail or phone us and we'll send you the newsletter.
The Sunday worship service bulletin contains information about upcoming events, and the pastor makes news announcements at the beginning of the service.

By profession of faith and baptism.
By letter of transfer from another Presbyterian Church (USA) church
By letter of transfer from another Christian Church OR by reaffirmation of faith when a letter of transfer is not appropriate/possible.

Several people in your church "visited" for years before they decided to become a member. Of course we think that you receive full value from formally joining our fellowship of believers, but we accept you for who you are and the relationship you have with God through Jesus. So if you are hesitant about being Presbyterian but want a place to worship and serve, we welcome you.

You are always welcome to worship with us and participate regardless of whether or not you contribute money. However, giving money to the life and work of the church is an important expression of our faith and reliance on God. We would hope that everyone who considers Edgewood Presbyterian his or her church (whether as a formal member or not) would make a commitment (a "pledge") to contribute some amount. Most of us decide on a pledge amount for the entire year then contribute a portion of that amount each week or month until we have given the entire pledge.

It is entirely up to you to decide how much you can afford to give and how important the church is to you. The pledge isn't binding and we know everyone's circumstances differ and can change at any time. The financial secretary and the treasurer keep what you give confidential. Not even the pastor will know what you give.

If you would like help in deciding how much to give, we can provide you some guildelines and facts about our financial needs. In general, we like to think about giving in terms of a percentage of one's income. Tithing is the ultimate goal (10%), but the important thing is to do whatever you can.

We most often speak of serving the church through donations of our TIME, TALENT, and RESOURCES. Let's say you have a wood working hobby and a shop full of tools at home. You would be giving of your time, talent, and resources if you used your abilities and tools to help construct the set for the next church play. Or perhaps you can read music and sing or play an instrument. Our choir needs and welcomes you. Or maybe you enjoy tending flowerbeds and want to sign up to be responsible for an area around the church. Or you enjoy cooking and would like to help prepare meals for families with illness or some emergency. As you can see, the ways in which you can serve are limited only by your willingness and time.