September 2015 copy 2

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Escalon Pres September 2015

! !

SEEK: to bring others to Faith in Jesus Christ ! v SUPPORT: personal Growth through God’s Word ! v

SERVE: in Mission locally and globally SUSTAIN: a Christ-Centered Fellowship

Reading The Bible - Life with God Trust, Courage and Growing Up

As we head into the fall, its important to have, once again, a reminder that the daily reading of the Bible for spiritual transformation is essential to the life of the Christian. Just as it’s folly to dismiss the claims of the Bible without ever actually reading it, it is hubris to claim to fully believe that the Bible is God’s Word without consistently submitting to it personally in regular reading. This was a challenge that I gave to myself, to make sure that I’m daily reading more than just for weekly sermon preparation. I addressed this and the importance of Bible reading this past Sunday and I’ve received quite a bit of feedback this week - some even going out and buying Bibles! So I have printed here for your reading the quotes from this message, taken from Richard Foster’s book Life with God. For our upcoming sermons, we will be looking this fall at Genesis (The Gospel According to Genesis) and beginning in Advent to Easter, the book of Luke (The Gospel According to Luke). September 2015 Newsletter

! Richard Foster: There is, simply, no book that is remotely close to achieving the significance and the influence of the Bible. Is it truly The Book. But the intrinsic power and greatness of the Bible does not make it easy for us to receive the life it offers. [3] Think of the multiplied millions of people who say, sincerely, that the Bible is the guide to life but who still starve to death in the presence of its spiritual feast. [4] ! The source of the problem is rooted in the two most common objectives people have for studying the Bible. The first is the practice of studying the Bible for information or knowledge alone. . . The second common objective people often have for studying the Bible is to find some formula that will solve the pressing need of the moment. [4-5] ! What we must face up to about these two common objectives for studying the Bible, is that they always leave us or someone else in charge. They are, in 1

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fact, ways of trying to control what comes out of the Bible rather than entering the process of the transformation of our whole person and of our whole life into Christlikeness. If we want to receive from the Bible the life “with God” that is portrayed in the Bible, we must be prepared to have our dearest and most fundamental assumptions about ourselves and our associations called into question. We must read humbly and in a constant attitude of repentance. [5] ! [Reading for understanding matters deeply: this is where a good study bible comes in; but reading for the heart is just as important. Traditionally this is called Lectio Divinia - divine or spiritual reading.] ! It means listening to the text of Scripture - really listening; listening, yielded and still. It means submitting to the text of Scripture; allowing its message to flow into us rather than our attempting to master it. It means reflecting on the text of Scripture; permitting ourselves to become fully engaged - both mind and heart - by the drama of the passage. It means praying the text of Scripture; letting the biblical reality of this with-God life give rise to our heart cry of gratitude or confession or complaint or petition. It means applying the text of Scripture; seeing how God’s Holy Word provides a personal word for our life circumstances. And it means obeying the text of Scripture; turning, always turning, from our wicked ways and into the way everlasting (Psalm 139). [12] ! As you read the Bible, be on the lookout for the formation - indeed, the transformation - of those who walk across its pages. Pay attention even to those who resist God’s initiatives and are never really formed into Christlikeness. . .Look for the intention, or the lack of intention. Observe the various and sundry Spiritual Disciplines used. Watch the movement back and forth: defiance and obedience, rebellion and submission, loyalty and unfaithfulness. Give special attention to those who do come through on the other side - albeit with many slips and falls. Note their joy. Their peace. Their strength. Their love. They are the ones who are experiencing every more fully The Immanuel Principle, the with-God life. Then, go and do likewise. [13-14] Recommended Bibles: Study Bibles: Zondervan Study Bible, ESV Study Bible, ESV Gospel Transformation Bible Reading Bibles: NIV or NRSV Single Column, ESV Reader's Bible or Gospels, The Message 2

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Baptism & Reaffirmation Sunday, September 13 @ 3:30 pm

I have a friend who’s a pastor at First Pres in Missoula, MT. Regularly throughout the year, after worship, they make a short walk to the Bitterroot river where he dons fishing waders and baptizes many in those cold waters. Another friend of mine whose Presbyterian church lines Lake Tahoe, baptizes followers of Jesus Christ in the blue waters of that mountain lake. In Escalon, well - the closest body of water contains certain water not worthy of such an act of worship. So, we have to find other options. When we have larger number of people we offer an off-site baptism, often in a pool. This fall, on Sunday, September 13, we will have a service of baptism at Richard and Corinne Thompson’s house at 7603 S. Jack Tone Rd, Stockton. The entire congregation is invited to attend, where not only will we be baptizing those who have requested it, we will also be re-affirming the baptism of those who have already been baptized, yet desire to declare their faith in Christ as well. See the pamphlet on Baptism in the back of our church or online for more information. Those who are interested in Baptism should talk with Pastor Troy very soon!

Membership at EPC New Members Class This Fall

This fall we will be having a new members class - to those who want to join EPC as Covenant Partners in ministry. We have put together a pamphlet about membership which you can find in the back of the church or online. Please read through this short pamphlet and connect with Pastor Troy soon concerning membership at our church we invite you to join us in faith as a part of this particular member of the body of Christ.

September 2015 Newsletter

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All Church Picnic Hogan Park


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Studies for Adults • • • • •

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Various

Adult Sunday School - Sundays (9:15 -10:15 Fireside Room) Women’s Circle - 2nd Monday of Each Month (1:30 pm Fireside Room) Women of the Word (W.O.W.) - Mondays (7:00 pm Fireside Room) Women of Faith Bible Study - Wednesdays (6:30 pm Hall Classroom B) Men’s Study - Saturday Weekly (7:00 am Escalon Golf Course)

EPC Youth Group

Wednesdays / JR High / SR High

EPC Junior High group meets at 5:30pm and the Senior High Youth meet at 7:00pm in the Youth Room. For further information contact our Youth Director Mike Fahey. Come join us and have some great fellowship, teaching and fun!

Men’s Breakfast / Ladies Night Out

September 7 & 11

Men! Join us for breakfast on the first Monday of every month at Perko’s in Riverbank. We meet at 8:00am and enjoy faith, food and fellowship. Come be a part of this group and connect! Ladies! Join us on September 11th (Second Friday of every month) to ‘get away from it all’ and go out to dinner. We will be meeting at 6:00pm. Come have great fellowship with us while enjoying a cooked meal out at various restaurants. Please R.S.V.P. to Joyce Noble.

Third Wednesdays

Beginning September 16

Join us for Third Wednesday Night, starting back up on September 16th. Hosted by your Youth Ministries Team, there will be a light meal provided from 5:30PM-6:30PM followed by activities for children 5th grade and under. There will also be a time for fellowship for adults. Following the meal Women of Faith Bible Study at 6:30 pm, Youth Group will gather (6th-High School) and at 7:00PM the choir will begin. Youth Group parents are invited to stop by and meet the Youth volunteers and join in the study for the night if they are so inclined.

Deacons Yard Sale

October 3

We know it’s only September, but October is right around the corner and it’s time to start looking in your closets and garages for any items that you may want to donate to the Deacon’s Yard Sale on October 3rd. You may drop off your donations between September 29 - October 2nd in the Faith Center. Contact Charlie Dodge or Steve Reader if you have any questions.

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Sunday School

Women’s Circle

September 13

September 14

Sunday School begins on Sunday, September 13 at 9:15am with a breakfast bar/activity day in the Faith Center.

Women’s Circle for Bible Study and Fellowship will begin our 2015-16 study meetings on Monday, September 14 at 1:30 PM in the Fireside Conference Room. The circle is a small group meeting of very special women where:

Schedule and Classes: Sunday School grades pre- K-8th meet in the Choir Room each Sunday at 9:15am. High School students gather at 9:30am in the Youth Room. Our teachers and helpers are excited to get started, join us as we begin a new year! Nursery - Jesus Loves Me - Nursery is provided also for those staying on campus or attending a class (Jayne Fahey) K-1 - Tell Me The Stories Of Jesus (Corinne Thompson, Dawn Machado) 2nd Grade - Seeking God’s Word (Ellen Nelson) 3,4,5th Grades - Exploring The Building Blocks Of Faith (April Adams, Lisa McCune, Janet Nickerson) 6, 7, 8 grades - “Its a jungle out there” The Pathway Finding Gods Word (Sandy Thompson, Don Nickerson, Jason Jericoff) High School - Sabbath Cafe - -Bible Study and discussion (Mike Fahey, Jen Schmidt) Rover - Patti Farhat Volunteers are needed: As the school year begins we are once again beginning to set the Nursery Schedule for the church during worship. We need more people to volunteer to help once or twice a quarter with our nursery time. If you are willing to devote some time to this service please let Sherry Branscombe or Sandy Thompson know. Thank you for serving.


• Faith is nurtured and growth takes place through study, friendship & outreach • We are challenged to stretch beyond our limits • We move beyond the safe places of life and reach out to others. Our Women’s Circle will meet the second Monday of each month (September – May) from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM in the Fireside Conference Room. All women of the church are welcome to attend. This year we will be studying Come to the Waters by Judy Record Fletcher. Its focus is the rich imagery of water throughout the Bible and how it helps us understand and articulate our faith. Just as water nourishes our bodies, so the scriptures on water nourish our souls. In this study, we will consider the waters of chaos in Genesis, and the River of Life in the last chapter of Revelation, where chaos is no more. Water plays a central role in the stories of creation, the delivery of God’s people, judgment of a people weak in faith, and the adoption of the people of God through baptism. Together, we will explore some of the Bible’s 800 references to water. Please join us on Monday, September 14 as we plan to expand our perceptions, deepen our understanding, and reflect on our lives as Christian women.

Women Of Faith September 9

Starting September 9th on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm 8:00pm in hall classroom B. Cultivating Contentment will be the subject. Childcare will be provided. The Bible study will be facilitated by April Adams and Sandy Thompson. April 209-606-6487, Sandy 209-471-0774. 5

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Session Notes

Vibrancy of Heart

By Cheryl Hall

By Joel Adams

Session met Tuesday, August 18, 2015 in the Fireside Room at EPC. Our moderator, Rev. Troy Onsager, opened the meeting with prayer. ! Session: Mission - Salvation Army dates have been picked for 2016. They are checking on a “Feed My Starving Children Event” in Escalon. Jennifer Schmidt leaves for training at YWAM soon.

There is a contagious energy in worship I like to call “vibrancy of heart”!

Adult Education classes will start on September 20. A new women’s and young women’s Bible Study will begin in September, more details later. Church Life had a great turnout for the church picnic-151 was the count that day. Finances are under budget but we are doing well.

I’ve seen it in formal, traditional, contemporary and informal settings. It’s been evident to me within homes, in majestic sanctuaries, and in humble meeting places. The energy is not “fabricated” or “worked up”. It is not something that can easily be described without being in that place, during that time, and with that group of people. This energy is known when we are worshipping with full engagement of mind and heart. Jesus gave us the greatest commandment to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” This is all-encompassing of life. Love God with everything you are! In all that we do, in what we say, what we think, who we are – love God.

This principle of full engagement is true of corporate worship, as well. We come not expecting to receive, but excited to give worship to God. We use our active and God-given minds to listen, process, affirm, struggle thru, Trustees moved the storage container with help from uphold, and apply ideas, scripture, and theology. We Mark Hogan. respond thru prayers, confessions, and rich songs of praise and adoration. When our minds and our hearts Pastor Troy: The Nominating Committee will meet are fully active during worship, God is pleased. We soon, filling 3 positions each for Session & Deacons. often turn this around and ask “what am I going to receive” or “how is God going to speak to me”. We shift The new directory is almost finished. Baptism is being the focus to us and no special music, polished sermon, offered this Fall; around 20 students are interested. A or rock’n praise tune can meet our expectation. The motion was passed to hold the baptism off site. engagement of heart and mind with God as our object and subject of worship is our answer. Wrapping Troy is working on a Membership Booklet and a class he ourselves in the worship of God is where we transcend, would teach to make the congregation aware of how to find answers, and are blessed. It is the fully engaged become a member and benefits of being a member. heart and mind that we bring and God gives the Also, Troy might do a class on “Being an Elder or “vibrancy”! I pray for vibrant worship at EPC! Deacon”. Our choir has been working on new music for the Troy encouraged Ministry Teams to find volunteers to be season. I challenge myself and the choir to lead with full on their team. This would bring more ideas and help for engagement of mind and heart. We pray this is evident each ministry. and helps facilitate God-centered music during the services. It is not too late to join the choir! Practices are Troy is putting together a “Resources Page” for the Wednesday at 7pm in the choir room. Please contact Joel website. This page would have many topics available Adams with any questions at 643-3933. including articles, books, website links. Youth Leaders had a planning meeting for the start of Sunday School classes that begin on September 13th.

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7:00 AM Men's Fellowship Group & Study 8:00 AM Deacon Yard Sale

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7:00 AM Men's Fellowship Group & Study

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6:00 PM Ladies Night Out

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Newsletter Deadline

7:00 PM Session Meeting

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8:00 AM Men's Breakfast

Labor Day Church Office Closed


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C.A.R.E. Sunday - Bread

Sunday

Escalon Presbyterian Church

US Holidays

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