On Sun., Oct. 25, join us as we celebrate Stewardship Sunday! Every year, the ELPC congregation is encouraged to financially support our church’s ministries by submitting a pledge as part of our Stewardship Campaign. Your tithes and commitments help us establish the coming year’s budget and ensure that we are living out our faith through the sharing of resources to support mission work, pastoral ministry, spiritual growth and educational opportunities for all. The theme for this year’s Stewardship Campaign is Faith in Action, guided by the words of James 1:25—“Be not hearers who forget but doers who act.”
Everyone is invited to bring their completed pledge cards to worship. It is the hope of the Stewardship Committee that people will maintain or slightly increase their current financial giving to the church so that we can continue to support the ministries of ELPC. As our congregation prepares for our 200th anniversary in 2019, now is the season to be “doers who act.”
Worship Services
Journey Worship | Sunday, at 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Moving On. Pastor Heather will preach from 2 Corinthians 4:7–15.
Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, at 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. This week, Pastor Randy will preach from Mark 10:46–52. His sermon will be titled “Let Me See Again.”
Taizé | Wednesday, at 7 pm
An hour-long service including sung prayers; simple, beautiful music; a time of silence; spoken and silent prayers; and an opportunity for individual prayer and anointing. The Rev. Mary Lynn Callahan will lead worship. Stay afterward for Contemplative Prayer.
Christian Education Classes
We offer Christian Education classes for persons of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, on Sundays from 9:45–10:45 am. Click the links for adult class descriptions and children and youth offerings.
Contemporaries | Second Floor Parlor
Immigration in the 21st Century
“A Christian perspective on immigration challenges us above all to love immigrants, to establish justice for them, and to seek to be reconciled with them in a new and transformed community” (from Clifton Kirkpatrick’s introductory comments in the PCUSA Policy Statement on Immigration). Michele Bossers and Sherry Anderson will lead our exploration of the history and issues of immigration and integration into a new land.
Journey With Scripture | Second Floor Library
“God has made my heart faint…if only I could vanish in darkness”—Job 23:16, 17. October’s readings continue to explore wisdom traditions, including the Book of Job. Through extreme suffering, Job engages God and friends. He emerges with radical new images of God and the world—faith becomes far richer, more complex. Join us as we journey with Job.
This week, Pastor Randy will serve as facilitator. Our readings are: Job 42:1–6, 10–17; Psalm 34:1–8, (19–22); Hebrews 7:23–28; Mark 10:46–52.
Seekers | Room 234
Rebellious Women of the Bible and why they Matter
Mary Schinhofen, retired educator, has always been fascinated by the stories of the Bible. She will share with us her analysis and reflections about the women of the Bible.
This week, our lesson is “The Marys.” The many Marys in the New Testament can be confusing, but each can teach us significant lessons. We will discuss these women and what we can learn from them.
Soul Food | Third Floor Music Room
This week, we will discuss chapter three of An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor.
Young Adults | Pastor’s Conference Room
Come explore current topics in light of a common reading material. Timothy Kurek’s The Cross in the Closet will enhance our conversation, but it is not necessary to read it.