The New Service: 

The Session of the Church (our governing board) made this decision in order to accommodate for the growing number of people that have been attending our holiday services.  We do not want any attender on Easter morning - whether a long-time member of this church, or a first-time visitor – to not have a seat in our service of worship.  Easter morning is a special time for family and friends – but more importantly, it is a morning to hear the good news of Jesus Christ as we celebrate the historical truth of Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead and what that means for our lives.

We all believe that the ideal would be to worship together in one service, but our facilities simply cannot accommodate that reality on these special services, and packing people together is starting to become uncomfortable.  Again, our desire is that everyone who comes would have a seat and an opportunity to meet God that Sunday morning.  We ask that a number of you consider attending our new 9:00 Easter morning service, inviting your family and friends to join you at that time.  If this were done, we would have two comfortable yet fairly full services – with room for late arrivers.  Both services will be identical in terms of the Order of Worship.

Pancake Breakfast:

Our pancake breakfast will still be held at 8:00 am, so those attending the first service could come, eat and join us in worship at 9:00.  Those attending the second service and joining us for breakfast could attending the second hour of the meal, from 9:00 to 10:00 and join us for worship at 10:30.  There will be a half-hour time between services where attenders of either service can meet and greet each other on the outside patio.  Consider this a time of Fellowship between services!

Parking:

If you are a regular attender, please, please, consider walking just a little farther that morning – parking in the hogan parking lot, the Masonic Lodge lot, or the the old bank lot so that parking spaces around the church can be saved for visitors and seniors.

We will be advertising extensively in the coming weeks – please make plans accordingly and communicate to new visitors that Easter Morning this year will have two worship times – 9:00 am and 10:30 am.

The Prodigal God Sermon Series

1. February 28 – The People Around Jesus (Luke 15:1-10)
2. March 7 - Give Me My Share (Luke 15:11-24)
3. March 14 – He Refused To Go In (Luke 15:25-32)
4. March 21 – Everything I Have Is Yours (Luke 15:1-6, 25-32)
5. March 28 – We Had To Celebrate (Luke 15:11-32)

Win $100, closest to the Hole. Get your tickets at the Escalon Club house. $1.00 for Three Balls!!   Your donation to this event will benifit the 2010 Youth Mexicali Mission Trip.

Best Ball Golf Tournment & Dinner…March 21 – 2:00 pm – Escalon Golf Course

It’s time for the EPC annual Golf Tournament.  This year the proceeds received  will benefit the 2010 Youth Mexicali Mission Trip, April 3-10.

Shotgun at 2:00 pm Sunday March 21

Get some friends together and make a foursome.  Singles are welcome also.  Dinner will follow the tournament at aprox 4:00 pm.

Cost:

$25.00 per person
$5:00 Dinner Only

Tickets will be available at EPC, beginning March 7th.

Please register at:

Registration Dedline is Sunday March 14, 2010

We appreciate and need your help to further this event.  Please see the attached flyer which shows the avenues of help needed.

Sign-up sheets will be in Faith Center beginning Sunday March 7^th.  You may also pre-purchase your breakfast tickets beginning March 7^th.

Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 12.

If you have any questions or desire to help and need information please contact Carol Adams, 838-2798.

We Need Your Help Flyer

One son kept the rules religiously. One son broke them all. One father loved them both beyond anything they could ever imagine. The Prodigal God is a dramatic teaching film, sermon series and group study resource based on Jesus’  parable – The Prodigal Son.

 This new teaching resource dramatically illustrates Timothy Keller’s core message: that the gospel is neither religion nor irreligion, neither morality nor immorality, but something else entirely.

 The Prodigal God is for both curious outsiders and established insiders of the faith as it is meant to lay out the essentials of the Christian message, the gospel. If the teaching of Jesus is likened to a lake, this famous parable would be one of the clearest spots where we can see all the way down to the bottom. —Pastor Timothy Keller

Join us beginning  in rediscovering the heart of the Christian faith.  Class begins February 28, 9:00 am in Faith Center.

Uncover the “hidden” meaning of Scripture with an exciting faith discovery series that brings the Bible to life! Uniquely captivating, Faith Lessons reveals keen insights into the relevance of God’s Word, making it truly applicable to today’s Christian.

 Filmed on location in Israel, Faith Lessons is a unique five week video series that brings God’s Word to life with astounding relevance. By weaving together the Bible’s fascinating historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan reveals keen insights into the Scriptures’ significance for modern believers. These illuminating “faith lessons” afford a new understanding of the Bible that will ground your convictions and transform your life.  Individual believers and families will gain vital insights from long-ago times and cultures through this innovative approach to Bible study.

This study is led by Scott Mayfield and begins February 28, 9:00 am in EPC Fireside Room.

We look forward to seeing you.

Our Worship service begins at 10:30 in the Sanctuary.  If you need driving directions to our church, click here:  Directions.  If you need to contact us through the web, or are looking for a phone number and/or email click here:  Contact.

EPC This Sunday

• Sermon Series: To Walk and Not Faint (Isaiah 40:)
• This week’s Sermon: To Walk and Not Faint
• Scriptural Text:  Isaiah 40:27-31
• Sunday School:  Begins at 9:30

Current Sermon Series

For the next four weeks we will be walking through the great biblical chapter of Isaiah 40.  The Sermon Series title is taken from an excellent book of devotions by Marva Dawn, which has a month’s worth of reflections on Isaiah 40:  To Walk And Not Faint.

1. Jan 17 – Isaiah 40:1-5
2. Jan 24 – Isaiah 40:6-11
3. Jan 31 – Isaiah 40:12-26
4. Feb 7 – Isaiah 40:27-31

Read more about Mission Aviation Fellowship here:  www.maf.org

About Ralph and Valerie

Ralph and Valerie Dawson and their children Kathryn, Elliot, Emilee, and Elisabeth, are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship. They are currently serving at MAF’s headquarters in Nampa, Idaho. Their previous terms have been spent in Irian Jaya (now Papua) Indonesia.

Ralph shares that the highlight of their ministry in Indonesia was working together with the local church to reach the remaining isolated areas of Irian Jaya, bringing the Gospel to those who have not yet heard. He flew more than 800 hours a year to help support the church development in areas where there is no other transportation. Valerie loved seeing God work in the lives of the national people. She shares, “As I saw each person change and grow in Christ, I was being changed and grew in ways I never imagined.”

Ralph is currently part of the Learning Technologies Department in MAF Headquarters. He plays an integral part in helping the church deliver Biblical teaching to remote, hard to access parts of the world.  Valerie enjoys participating on MAF panels representing the MAF wives’ role, addressing the new candidates coming into MAF. She opens her home providing meals for candidates and orientees. Valerie also shares her musical talent through singing and playing her violin for MAF Chapels and other functions.

Ralph was born in Escalon, California and grew attended Oakdale High School. The evidence of Christ in the lives of some of his high school friends was instrumental in his decision to accept Christ as his Savior. Attending an Urbana Missions Conference confirmed Ralph’s desire to serve in missions. Ralph earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology, and his Airframe and Powerplant mechanic license from LeTourneau University in Texas. He received his flight training at Moody Aviation in Tennessee. He holds a Commercial Pilot License, Instrument Rating. In November 2002, he received his Commercial Flight Instructor-Instrument rating. In 2003 Ralph went back to school part time and in 2007 earned a Masters in Spiritual Formation from Talbot Seminary, a part of Biola University.

Valerie grew up in Modesto, California. At age 19, she heard and truly understood the Gospel message, accepting Christ as her Savior. She attended Modesto Junior College and California State University at Chico, where she received a B.A. in Elementary Education. Valerie also attended Urbana in 1976 and 1979 where the Lord challenged her to make a commitment to missions. Ralph and Valerie met in 1978 and were married in 1980.

Ralph’s favorite verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  Lamentations 3:22-23, is a special passage for Valerie. “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.” The Lord’s grace is sufficient for whatever situations she finds herself in.

To fund the worldwide ministry of MAF, God is faithful in providing loyal, generous ministry support from His most caring people. He has called the men and women of MAF to serve Him in a unique way. He is also calling people like you around the world to play a special role in the ministry of MAF.  You are invited to become a ministry partner with Ralph and Valerie in this strategic ministry. Please prayerfully consider involvement with them through prayer or financial support.