Every Now and Then

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NRSV)

The 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians is known almost universally among Christians as “the love chapter.” Even though the passage isn’t really about romantic love at all, it is probably the most read scripture passage at weddings. We are familiar with these well-known lines…

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…Love is patient, love is kind…Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude…Love bears all things, believes all things…Love never fails.

The last section of this chapter connects love to an important spiritual principle and that is maturity. Suddenly, Paul is telling us that when he was a child he spoke and thought like a child, but now that he is an adult he has put away childish ways. If we didn’t catch the context of this, we would wonder where in the world that comes from in a discussion about love. But the sentence before gives us a clue.

“For now, we know only in part….For now, we see in a mirror dimly.” For now.

Therealityisthatthe“now”isoftenconfusing,trying,anddifficult.Aswefacethesadnessofgriefand loss, we ask why. Why my mother? Why my brother? Why my sister? Why now? Why this way? The sting of death calls on us to have a spiritual maturity that we sometimes don’t have yet. The “now” is almost more than we can bear. The good news is the “now” is not the end of things. “Then” is coming. “Then we will see face to face…then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” Andfornow?Wehavefaith,hope,andlove. Today, as we remember those who have gone on to claim their eternal reward, we are stuck in the “now” as they have already entered into their “then”. Let us abide in faith, hope, and love with one another until our “then” comes and we inherit for ourselves the promises of God. May God comfort you in your loss and walk beside you in your grieving. God loves you and I love you.Andthegreatestthingislove. Peace,

Epworth connects and equipsall kinds of people to

seek, serve, and share Christ.

6:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice 6:35 p.m. Study 7:00 p.m. Choir PracticeThursday, November 9, 20179:00a.m.AdultBibleStudy12:00 noon Prayer Team Meeting12:00 noon Vintage Group MeetingSaturday, November 11, 20175:00p.m.AAGroupMeetingSunday, November 12, 2017 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service10:00 a.m. Sunday School11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service 3:00 p.m. Tony Crosby & Friends Recital 7:00 p.m. WNN Thanksgiving Service

November 5, 2017

2400 Devonshire Drive • Columbus, GA 31904706-322-6973 • www.epworthumc.com

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

This Coming WeekSunday, November 5, 2017Day Light Saving Time endsAllSaintsSunday 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service10:00 a.m. Sunday School11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship ServiceMonday, November 6, 201710:00 a.m. Prayer Shawl Meeting Tuesday, November 7, 201710:30 a.m. HIS Group UMW Meeting6:30p.m.AAGroupMeeting 6:30 p.m. Youth Meeting Wednesday, November 8 , 2017 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Supper

our ChurCh sTaffChoir Director Lyn PharrisChurchAdministratorSusanSniderCustodians Martha Conklin Barbie WebbMedia & Communications Dawn Wilson Music Director Bob LeeNursery Worker Martha ConklinPastor Tony G. CrosbyInterim Worship Leader Kayla Moss

ConTaCT usbob@epworthumc.com

dawn@epworthumc.comkayla@epworthumc.comlyn@epworthumc.com

martha@epworthumc.comsusan@epworthumc.comtony@epworthumc.com

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

Church Website: www.epworthumc.comChurch (706) 322-6973

ThesanctuaryflowersaregiventotheGlory of God and in memory of Knowlen &

Polly Gambill by Carolyn Gambill.

Those Who serVe sunday, noVember 5, 2017

9:00 a.m. Worship Service: Greeter: Janie Nellums Usher: Diane Morris Acolyte:Usher Children’s Church: Janie Nellums11:00 a.m. Worship Service: Greeter: Susan Davis Ushers: Donny Davis, Doug RevellAcolyte:EvaCheraisi,JakeDiSimone Children’s Church: Debra Johnson Nursery Volunteer: Lisa CrosbyFinancial Secretary: Steve SawyerTurn Key: Needed

our sTeWardshipOctober 29, 2017

Tithes & Offering: $1,315.80Received To Date: $234,625.36Needed To Date: $296,928.00 Building Fund: $0

ATTENDANCE: Sunday School 67 Worship: 9 a.m. 40 Worship: 11 a.m. 62

102

WhaT’s happeningPrayer Shawl Ministry Meeting - Monday, November 6, at 10 a.m., in the Fellowship Hall.HIS Group UMW Meeting - Tuesday, November 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Our hostesses will be Janie Nellums, Carol Osteen and Barbara Stubbs. Jan Shackelford will present our program. Please bring items for the fruit baskets to be delivered to our shut-ins.Asyouareable,pleasebringacovereddishtoshare.Allladiesareinvitedtojoinus.Wednesday Night Supper & Study - November 8, at 6 p.m. Menu: Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, roll, salad bar and dessert. To make reservations, sign up on the informationboard.At6:30p.m.,wewillbegina two-part study, on The History of the Church - St. Peter to Martin Luther. Vintage Group Meeting - Thursday, November 9, at noon, in the Fellowship Hall.WNN Unity Thanksgiving Service - Sunday, November 12, at 7 p.m., at the Shearith Israel Synagogue on the corner of River Rd. and Mountainbrook Dr., Columbus. UMM Meeting - Monday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall.Fellowship Hall Reserved - Tuesday, November 14, from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.New Life UMW Group Meeting - Tuesday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m., at the home of Sandra Burns.

Thank youThanks to everyone who came out and supportedtheFallFestival.Aspecialthanksto the United Methodist Men for sponsoring the hot dogs, the Sunday School classes and individuals who provided baskets for the auction and those who baked goods for the sweet shop. It was a great success and fun was had by all.

sunday sChool aT 10:00 amTHECHILDREN’SCLASSES Kindergarten - 5th Grd.: Margaret Gosden

THEFRIENDSHIPCLASS Study: God’s Conditional Covenant Teacher: Class

THEGENESISSUNDAYSCHOOLCLASS Study: Have You Ever Seen a Hearse... Teacher: Melonie Phillips

THEJOYCLASS Study: I Love Growing Older, but... Teacher: Class

THENATHANPATTERSON/WESLEYCLASS Study: No Class Teacher: Bobby Smith

THENEWCONNECTIONSCLASS Study: 40 Days of Community Teacher: Doug Franks

THENONAMECLASS Study: Wired Word Teacher: Suzy Revell

THEQUESTORSCLASS Study: Class Discussion Teacher: Rev. Tim Paulk

THESEEKERSCLASS Study: Class Discussion Teacher: Lillian Wooldridge

missionsNovember Mission Focus - Help someone with a Thanksgiving meal. Pick up a bag with a coloring sheet and list of needed items to make Thanksgiving bags for Wynnton Neighborhood Network (WNN). Deadline to return the bags is Sunday, November 12.Helping Hands Ministry - Pick up a form from the information rack. Return to Becky Britton, BarbaraStubbsorthechurchoffice.Tree of Life Memorial - Memorials can be made for members of the Epworth UM or Hamp Stevens UM churches. Fill out a form and return it with your gift made out to Epworth UMC. The minimum donation for an engraved leaf is $50. Forms are in the information rack in the foyer or the website. A Taste of Epworth Cookbooks - are $5 each. Pick up your copy(s) from the WWC. The cookbooks make great gifts and money collected goes toward missions. Rose Hill Clothing Bank Closed - Sadly, the clothing bank has closed. On behalf of all of the recipients over the past years, thank you for your generosity and clothing of all kinds. 2018 Flower Calendar - is in the officewindow. Sign up today to reserve your special Sunday. Questions or to request a date, call thechurchoffice.Tony Crosby and Friends - The pastor will present his annual musical program on Sunday, November 12, at 3 p.m. The program will feature Sam Brown as collaborative pianist and Tony’s children, Nicholas (trombone) and Natalie (vocal). The program is free, but an offering will be received to support the Voices of the Valley Chorus (of which Natalie is a member and Mr. Brown is the accompanist) in the upcoming tour to England next summer.

youTh & ChildrenYouth Meeting - Tuesday, November 7, at 6:30 p.m., in the Youth room. You are welcome to invite a friend.Youth Camping Trip - Saturday, November 18, meet at the church at 1:30 p.m., leaving at 2 p.m. for Pine Mt. RV Resort. We will return to the church on Sunday, November 19, at 9 a.m.Volunteers Needed in the Children’s Ministry! Youth & Children Sunday School Classes - For a great lesson, wonderful fellowship in a Safe Sanctuaries approved environment, classesarebyage/gradebeginningat10a.m.

serVanTs neededIf you feel led to volunteer or would like more information, please contact the church office.Youwillbetrainedandaddedtotheschedule. 9 a.m. Acolytes:AllSundays9 a.m. Ushers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Sundays Children’s Sunday School: 4th Sundays Children’s Church: 9 a.m. - 2nd SundayChildren’s Church: 11 a.m. - 4th SundayNursery 11 a.m.: 4th SundayTurn Key: 1st and 5th Sundays

epWorTh prayer lisTChurch FamilyFred & Emilie Carswell Blount King Gladys Plant Trudy Harris Vanessa Desoto Ron & Betty Sawyer Thrower Family Kittye Crockett Sibyl Wells Keri McElvey Jan Shackelford Kernodle FamilyJudy Scanling Barbara Watson Helen Batastini Scott & Sheila Dunn ElsieSpanogians AaronJackson JoeFlynn JimmyBridges AnnSmith GlennGriffin AndreaCarbaugh

Extended Church Family Steve&CarolGuilbeault MichaelTaff DavidOlson DoyleAdamsDottyBaker RickyClark RobbinsFamily AndrewWadeMiranda “Randy” Jones Laurie Osteen Preston Silvernail Dora Spires Willie Ryles Judy Patterson Cassie Prochaska Billy Hill Kim Jordan Kristy Stier Dorothy Ogg Bruce Chapman Joyce Kuester Marilyn Buck Danny Chidester Beth Goodwin Sandra&JeffAnthony HenryDunn AdamsFamily GingerJarvis Ralph & Sandy McGough Diane Wiggins Stephanie Bryan Robin Grantham

Assisted Living/Nursing Homes/Homebound Calvary Community - Lou Williams River Place - Betty CummingsCovenant Woods - Nelle Lloyd River Towne Center - Jerry WilliamsMagnolia Manor - Doris Halouska Savannah Grand - Linda ColemanManor House - Cammie Van Over The Lodge - Lorene CarlislePhenixCityHealthCare-AnneWhitehurstWesleyGlen(Byron,GA)-NancyHiller

(Please continue to pray for our homebound folks. They would love a visit.)

If the prayer list needs to be updated, please call, email the church office

or leave a note with updates. Help us minister effectively by

calling the church office about yourself or a family member. Thank you for your help.

Helping Hands MinistrySponsored by Epworth UMW

Areyoulivingalone?Doyouneedsomeonetohelpyouwithreplacinglightbulbs?ACfilters?Batteriesinasmokedetector?Have you given up driving? Do you need a ride to the doctor? Grocery store? The local drug store?

HelpingHandsMinistryjustmaybeforYOU!Epworth’sUMWwillconnectyouwithvolunteers at Epworth to help you with these tasks. If you have questions, feel free to ask Becky Britton or Barbara Stubbs more about this new ministry for those who live alone.

Complete one of the forms at the bottom of this sheet if you want to be part of this ministry. Put the form in the collection plate, give it to Becky Britton or Barbara StubbspersonallyortoSusanSniderinthechurchoffice.

Those who need HELP:

Name:______________________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________

Home phone:____________________________Cell phone:_______________________

Those who will VOLUNTEER to help:

Name:_______________________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________

Home phone:___________________________Cell phone:_________________________