INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Mission News 3

St. Patrick’s

Day lunch

3

Children’s

Ministry

6

Youth

Ministry

6

Room in the Inn

Volunteers

7

Centering

Prayer Info

7

The “G

OOD NEWS” Letter is

a monthly newsletter

of Epworth UMC. All visitors are welcome to

worship with us each Sunday at 8:00 am and

10:30 a.m. at 4340 Arno Road. Sunday School

begins at 9:15 a.m. with classes for all a

ges.

Church offic

e is 4241 Arno Road, Franklin, TN

Offic

e: 615-790-1160

Website: E

pworth-umc.com

Dr. A

ngela

Ha

rris, S

en

ior P

asto

r

Rev. M

ark Coursey Associate Pastor

Jaime Rochester, C

hildren & Youth Director

Newsletter D

eadline: All a

rticles for th

e next

newsletter are due on the third Sunday of m

onth.

Bulletin Deadline: In

formation for th

e church

bulletin is due by Friday morning at 8:00 a.m.

Information for both publications may be emailed

to janie.jefferson@epworth-umc.com

Ep

wo

rt

h

Un

it

ed

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et

ho

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st

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hu

rc

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41

A

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Epworth’s “Good News” Letter

1 Tommy Goodgame

2 Bea Ball

Jacob Fast

Ruth Kurzrock

3 Cade Wallace

6 Nathan Mohnke

7 Samantha Temple

13 David Kelly

Tony Reasons

15 Jeremiah Underwood

17 Joyce Alexander

Charlie Morris

18 Susan Smith

Beth Wallace

20 Lauren Howell

Marsha Preston

21 Richard Jefferson

26 Chuck Hawkins

Charlotte Lillard

28 Beth Bonson

John Meade

Tom Wesley

29 Rob Roten

30 George Rembert

Daylig

ht S

avin

g

Tim

e B

egin

s on

March

10th

Upcoming Activities for the Lenten Season

New Site (N) Historic Site (H) Pavilion (P)

MARCH

3 House of Hope Speaker (9:15 am, N)

6 ASH WEDNESDAY

10:00 a.m. House of Hope Speaker (H)

11:00 a.m. Lunch (H)

5:30 p.m. Dinner (H)

6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Worship (H)

10 9:15 a.m. Pretzel Sunday (H)

17 11:30 a.m. St. Patrick’s Day Lunch (H)

(fundraiser for Choir Mission Trip)

24- 4-5 p.m. Centering Prayer Class (N)

(continues through April 14)

APRIL

14 PALM SUNDAY

8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Worship (N)

9:15 a.m. Sunday School (H, N)

2:00 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt (N)

18 MAUNDY THURSDAY

6:30 p.m. Worship (N)

19 GOOD FRIDAY

21 EASTER

6:00 a.m. Worship (P)

8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Worship (N)

9:15 a.m. Sunday School (H, N)

28 MISSION CELEBRATION SUNDAY

2

7

SPRC-Staff News

In an effort to keep up with our church’s growth, the SPRC Committee has realigned

some key responsibilities for our clergy. Going forward, Rev. Mark Coursey will

assume the title of Minister of Discipleship & Congregational Care. In addition to

Mark’s existing role with discipleship he will also be coordinating our hospital and

shut in visitation. We are developing a team of Lay Leaders, coordinated by Russell

Lindsey to provide additional visitation support. This realignment does not mean our

clergy will not be involved in visitation, but with current and projected growth of our

church, the SPRC committee felt we needed a better way to manage this important

ministry. If you, or anyone you know has a need for visitation or some event that

could benefit from a visit, please contact the church office.

If you would like to learn more about joining our visitation team, contact Russell

Lindsey through the church office.

Room in the Inn Volunteers

For March

March 14/15

Driver: Jeff Lillard, Mike Merkel

Inn Keepers: David Sellers, Donnie Reed

Dinner: Boy Scouts Troop #16

Breakfast: Cindy Kurzrock, Gayle Gower

Laundry: Mark/Misty McGrady

Lunch: Youth (Lisa Mohnke)

March 28/29

Driver: Mike Thompson, Jeff Lillard

Inn Keepers: George Rembert, Russell Lindsey

Dinner: Mark & Kristin Lovan

Breakfast: Mike Thomas

Laundry: Rini Rembert

Lunch: Youth (Bonson family)

Lent? Why are we Methodist so hung up

on Lent?

What is Lent, for that matter?

The United Methodist Book of Worship tells us that the

name Lent comes from an Anglo-Saxon word – lencten

– which means spring. The reason the Anglo-Saxons

termed this season Spring is because of the early

church’s practice of baptizing new converts on Easter.

Before these new Christians, however, could be

baptized, the early church asked them to examine

their lives for 40 days. The early church wasn’t being

punitive. They really wanted new converts to under-

stand that making the choice to follow Christ could

cost them their families, their livelihood and possibly

their lives.

So for 40 days, the new converts were to ask

themselves, “Is there anything in my life that is resist-

ing the Lordship of Christ? Am I willing to live and die

for Christ?” The interesting thing is that Christians

soon began to recognize what a powerful spiritual

exercise it is to examine whether you are letting Christ

be your Lord or not. As a result, the season of Lent

became a part of the early church life and is practiced

by many Christians throughout the world. So how can

you and I practice Lent?

Some people take 40 days to add a spiritual

practice into their lives. For example, people have

made a commitment to read the Bible, when they

have not been doing so before. Others seek to im-

prove their prayer life. Still others take these 40 days

to examine if they need to add more service ministries

into their life (for example, helping with the homeless,

visiting the prisons or contacting shut-ins).

Lent isn’t a legalistic exercise. You don’t have

to keep it if you don’t want. Lent, rather is an opportu-

nity to see how you can grow closer to this Lord who

though you were worth giving all for.

YOU are invited to come and to

learn more about the practice of

Centering Prayer. We will meet

March 24-April 15 from 4-5 p.m.

at the new site. The time will

begin with scripture and a brief

devotion, instruction on how to

pray in this format, time in

silence and then time in discus-

sion processing the experience.

Contact Pastor Angela if you

have any questions, or would

like to know more about the

practice of Center Prayer.

6 3

Church Family,

Our hearts are filled with thanks when thinking of the delicious post funeral

dinner and the awesome Michigan/golf table decorations! We also appreciate

the prayers, visits and love during Ron’s illness. We thank God for our church

and for each you.

—-Joyce Alexander and family..

Epworth has partnered with the House of Hope in Santiago,

Chile, for many years. Estefania (Steffie) Layseca was one of the

first graduates of this program, and is now the director. What a

testimony of coming full circle! Steffie visited here several years

ago, and now we have the opportunity to welcome her again.

She and her husband Alfredo Torres will be in Franklin the first

week of March. On Sunday, March 3 they will be with us in both

services, and Steffie will give a presentation during the Sunday School hour in the

sanctuary. Everyone is invited to come and learn more about this life-changing

ministry that your Faith Promise pledges help support. In addition, the Women's Bible

Study will host a repeat presentation by Steffie on Wednesday, March 6, at the

Historic Site. After the presentation at 10:00, you are invited to lunch at 11:00. Invite

your neighbors and friends from other churches so we can spread the word about the

transforming work of God!

Every spring the Outreach Team plans a special Mission Celebration Sunday in order

to enlarge our vision of God's mission in the world. This year it will be on April 28. We

have invited guests who represent a variety of missions--addiction recovery, Native

American ministry, outreach in Haiti, mentoring and job-training for at risk young men

in Nashville, and the Samaritan's Purse shoe box ministry. You will have the opportu-

nity to visit their display tables, learn more about these ministries during the Sunday

school hour, welcome them in worship, and continue communing with them during

lunch afterwards in the pavilion. Watch for more details, and don't miss this exciting

day in the life of our church!

St. Patrick's Day Luncheon on Sunday, March 17 in Vaden Hall

All are invited to come enjoy a St. Patrick's Day Luncheon immediately

following the 10:30 service in Vaden Hall at 11:45 a.m. The menu

includes Irish Stew, Vegetable Soup, Tossed Salad, Bread, delicious

desserts and Irish music! There will also be bake sale items available

for "take home" desserts. All donations for the meal and bake sale will

help toward those going on the Music and Mission trip to Ireland/Scotland in

June, 2019. The Epworth Mission Singers will be spreading God's love through

music throughout Ireland and Scotland (Homeless shelter, St. Giles Cathedral,

Christ Church in Balleymartle, Reconciliation Ministry, Retirement Community and

others...). See you on March 17!!!

Pretzel Sunday will be on March 10 during the Sunday School hour

in Vaden Hall. There will be pretzel making and decorating, story

telling, crafts and activities for 2 year olds through 5th graders.

Parents are encouraged to stay and participate in the activities.

The church bus will be available for transportation.

Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be on April 14 from 2:30-4 p.m. at the new site! If

you are available to volunteer for this event please contact Jaime Rochester

at jaime.rochester@epworth-umc.com. If you would like to donate eggs or treats, you

can drop them off at the church office during office hours or place in the basket in

the Narthex.

Epworth’s Youth Ministry for grades 6-12 meets on

Sunday from 4-6 p.m. and Wednesday from 5-7 p.m.

On Sunday, March 3 we will not meet at our regular time

but will have a fun day outing after the worship service

to include lunch and some group activities. Our Youth

Leadership Team will meet on Sunday, March 10 for lunch and a planning meeting

directly following worship. Contact Jaime Rochester for more information

at jaime.rochester@epworth-umc.com for more info.

4 5

United Methodist Women News-

CHILDREN'S TOTE BAGS

All ladies of Epworth are invited to

join us in Vaden Hall at 1pm on Sat.,

March 2nd for our first project of the

year. We will be sewing together and

stuffing 25 small tote bags for

the children at

Vanderbilt

Children's

Hospital. Items in the bags will

include a coloring book, crayons,

stickers, and some small toys. Sew-

ing machines will be available, and

ladies are needed to pin the patterns,

cut out the pattern, and stuff the

bags with goodies. So come out for

some fun and fellowship!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Older Adult Committee of the Tennessee Conference will present its Spring Conference on Thursday, March 14 at Franklin First UMC. Conference Leader will be the Rev. Dr. W. Craig Gilliam. For more infor-mation contact Julie Mowery at 612-812-2892 or Nellie Elder at 615-595-2017. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Reachers will take the church bus to travel to Miller's Grocery in Christiana, TN for lunch on Friday March 22. More details will be in the Sunday bulletins!

Please join us for worship on

Sunday!

8 am and 10:30 am

Sunday School at 9:15 am

Daylight Savings Time

Sunday, March 10