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Upcoming Virtual Worship, Gatherings, & Meetings

March 19, 2020

Worship, Communion, Prayer, Teaching…

This page provides all the information for connecting to our virtual meetings: The upper part of the page lists our connecting tool options, and the lower part (scroll down a bit) shows a listing of upcoming meetings with their tools and codes:

There are two tools for virtual gatherings to choose from: Zoom and Facebook Live. Zoom meetings/gatherings will be simulcast on the Epiclesis Facebook page.

  • To join a Zoom meeting (video and audio), click on the invitation link and use the codes emailed to you. You don’t need a free Zoom account, but you’ll be asked if you want to set up one and can if you like. Use your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone for this tool. If you’re joining from a computer or smartphone (for the first time),  you’ll be prompted to download a small application file or app. There is also an option with Zoom of connecting by telephone-only (audio only).
  • To see the Facebook Live stream (video and audio), simply go to the Epiclesis Facebook page. Use your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone for this option. With Facebook Live you can comment/post emojis, but will not be seen or heard.
  •  

Upcoming Events:

  • Join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM (Pacific Time). “See” you then! And the Lord be with you….

Don’t forget to get communion items to celebrate Table.

Here’s a copy of the liturgy for the Fifth Sunday in Lent: March 26, 2023.

Note: We’ll use the Zoom meeting tool and the service will also be simulcast to Facebook Live.

If you join us by Zoom, please remember to turn off both your mic and camera when you join us. You may turn back on your mic and your camera if we give clear directions to do so.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/871340673?pwd=UStMejNhZkVzUjZ4Z3h6QmdzTUJqQT09

Meeting ID: 871 340 673
Password: 022315

Or you have the option to join Zoom by telephone (audio only):

(213) 338-8477 or (669) 219-2599 or (669) 900-6833 or (253) 215-8782. (Same Meeting ID and Passcode as above).

To join us on Facebook, simply navigate to the Epiclesis Facebook Page.

 

  • Join us on Thursday mornings for a refreshing time of Celtic Prayer and Communion. The time is 8 AM (Pacific).

You’ll need three things (Scripture references available one day prior):

1. Here is the current Winter Liturgy: Here is the full booklet/print-ready version (print landscape/duplex/color for best results). And here is your single-page-view version.

2. Scripture references/meditations for the day: For Thursday, March 23.

3. Communion items for you to celebrate Table along with us.

Coming Soon: We’ll change to the Spring Communion Liturgy. Here’s the print-ready booklet version. And here’s the single-page-view version.

IMPORTANT PROGRAMMING NOTE for MARCH: The Zoom link for the meetings for March (2, 9, 16, and 23) will be different than the standard one. You’ll be using this unique Zoom link for those three meetings:

Join Zoom Meetings on March 2, 9, 16, and 23:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87843646078

+++

Join Zoom Meeting (Standard Link for Normal Weeks):
https://zoom.us/j/139359101?pwd=cHJqK3RqZ1oxWFQyN290Ukh1MlJ1QT09

Meeting ID: 139 359 101
Password: 021621

Or you have the option to join Zoom by telephone (audio only):

(213) 338-8477 or (669) 219-2599 or (669) 900-6833 or (253) 215-8782. (Same Meeting ID and Passcode as above).

Note: This gathering uses the Zoom meeting tool only. We are NOT simulcasting to Facebook Live.

Filed Under: News

Lent 2023: “Those who…”

February 3, 2021

Virtues and Blessings in Jesus’ Kingdom

Lenten blessings! Our prayer is that our email- and text-based devotional series for Lent will be a great companion as we “set our face” towards the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. Starting Sunday, February 26, you’ll receive one email devotional idea each week for the remainder of Lent. Your email will arrive on Sunday afternoons. Throughout the week, there’ll also be a text or two to encourage you along the way. Not signed up for emails or texts from Epiclesis? Just let us know.

The goal of Lent is not to survive a period of sacrifice, but rather to grow as “giving up” things creates space and time to “take on” disciplines and virtues. Lent is a time to walk with Jesus intentionally to the cross.

Throughout the devotional series we’ll be considering two questions:1. What do we learn about Jesus? 2. What do we learn about ourselves?

Each week you’ll receive questions (email and text) to prompt your study and meditation. We’re focusing on Matthew 5:1-12 and specifically the virtues and blessings in living as a subjects of Jesus’ Kingdom.

A collection of each of the five weekly emails can be found here.

Now, an additional two things to help:

We’ve put together a podcast conversation between the three of us that we’re hoping you’ll very helpful. Listen to it as soon as possible and it’ll help provide a foundation for the entire series (find that podcast here).

Pastor Rick also created a daily prayer based on Matthew 5:3-12 to incorporate into your Lenten journey (which we’ll both provide at church and also digitally here). We challenge you to start each day with this prayer.

Pay careful attention to how the virtues and blessings build on each other in Jesus’ teaching. It’s not just a random “to do” list… it’s an invitation to step into Kingdom-shaped living right now!

Grace and peace as you explore the kingdom virtues and blessings through this Lenten journey!

Filed Under: General, News Tagged With: Beatitudes, Lent 2023, Those who

Israel 2023

August 8, 2017


We’re off to Israel in…

Journey to Israel: March 1-13, 2023

Pastor Chris is teaming up with friends and colleagues Dr. Carl Peters and Dr. Teresa Gardner (left) for another legacy pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Carl and Teresa are well-loved and already known to many in the Epiclesis church community: Carl for his teaching visits to California, and Teresa for her teaching visits to us, her international dance ministry based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and her nearly 60 trips to Israel– a place she calls her second home. Chris, Carl, and Teresa will teach and lead throughout the tour.

All along the way, we’ll have an expert, top-rated, and seasoned Israeli guide, our dear friend Moti (right), to help give us a personal and informative tour.

Latest Important Trip-Related Document Downloads:

Please note: Things like travel connections and, most especially, itineraries are tentative. Things can change, especially when it comes to the order/date of things when we get to Jerusalem. Thanks so much for your flexibility and understanding.

  • Here’s the Main Trip Brochure (as of 2/15 we’re at version 2.1). Check back here often as this document will be updated along the way. The brochure includes flights, hotels, itinerary, and general information and handy tips. NOTE: The document is laid out for print-readiness and should be physically printed out, in color, 8.5 x 11, landscape, front and back, and then assembled for best viewing.
  • Trip Photo Directory (as of 2/21 we’re at version 2.0). NOTE: The directory is laid out for print-readiness and should be physically printed out, in color, 8.5 x 11, landscape, front and back, and then assembled for best viewing.
  • Customized Daily Prayer and Devotional Guide (as of 2/15 we’re at version 1.0). You do not need to print the devotional because a hard copy has been mailed, along with a little gift from Pastor Chris, to everyone. NOTE: If you do choose to print, the devotional is laid out for print-readiness and should be physically printed out, in color, 8.5 x 11, landscape, front and back, and then assembled for best viewing.

 

Video Tutorial from Pastor Chris on How to Use the Trip Daily Devotional Booklet
(posted on 2/14/2023)

 

Link to Second Group Zoom Meeting (held on 1/29/23):

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/lwTntGFESZE2Ttb1P5_Ru4HWslWLQDCDsCb9ykyXRG-Nxuj5899tg-6E1RmWkxI.E46NAIr6rOzVBp8I?startTime=1675038700000

(Passcode: f1.se18Y)

Link to First Group Zoom Meeting (held on 10/16/22):

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/4OKar_0Kn7boEI92h_Qp4VkrRLFwBhFtvkba46DEAiJRrP9h1FWy3-pXflUzhP4S.FhIourokx_H9gB8Y

(Passcode: ^3wCin!J)

Note: A contact for Trip Insurance: Cathy Reavis with World Travel Mates: (704) 697-1501 or cell (704) 641-6892

Fun and Educational Audio-Visual Resources:

Please Note: Items listed below are for general information and aren’t necessarily endorsed by Pastor Chris for their general accuracy, theological content, or scriptural interpretation. Listings/pictures here do not necessarily mean we will visit that particular site. Please let us know if any of the links are not working. The main categories below are listed in alphabetical order:

Articles/Information/News/Websites

     Tutorials/Recommendations

  • Mobile Passport Control App (VERY handy and a MAJOR time saver on reentry into the US).
  • Two-prong plug adapter mentioned by Pastor Chris at the Zoom meeting.
  • Three-prong plug adapter mentioned by Pastor Chris at the Zoom meeting.
  • Customs Guides for Tourists Coming into Israel (incl. prohibited items).
  • Must-Have Resources for Bible Lands Study (recommended books, atlases, albums, DVDs, etc.).
  • How to Prepare for a Trip to the Holy Land (practical, physical, mental, and spiritual preparation).
  • Travel Power Converter and Adapters.
  • Charging an iPhone in Israel.
  • How to Pack Linen Clothes.
  • Dos and Don’ts When in Israel.
  • A Suggested Packing List.

     News/Educational Items

  • ‘Jerusalem of Gold’: Volunteer unearths artifact of ‘great value’ at archaeological site.
  • Written Records of Biblical King David Discovered by Researchers.
  • Jerusalem’s 2,000-year-old Pilgrimage Road preparing for modern revival.
  • Silver coins found near Temple Mount help prove Jewish history of Israel.
  • Biblical site where Jesus healed blind man excavated for public view.
  • The discovery of a 1,500-year-old pool and fountain at the site of an ancient church near Jerusalem.
  • Magdala, the Home Town of Mary Magdalene, Is Being Resurrected (includes an embedded video).
  • Rare Coins found in Temple Mount Excavation.
  • Seal of King Hezekiah found in Jerusalem.
  • Virtual reality tour brings ancient Jerusalem to life.
  • 5 Surprising Differences Between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews.

     Featured Locations/Misc. Information

  • Virtual Tour of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.

Bible References (.pdf files)

  • Scripture references for Jerusalem.
  • Scripture references for Jerusalem and surrounding area.
  • Scripture references for the Galilee.
  • Scripture references for the Jordan and the Dead Sea.
  • Scripture references for the desert.

Our Hotels for March, 2023

  • Tel Aviv: Dan Panorama.
  • Tiberias/Galilee: Galei Kinneret.
  • Jerusalem: Dan Panorama.

Maps (.pdf files)

  • Israel Distances Relative to Sacramento, Knoxville, and Lexington
  • Jerusalem Map.
  • Another Jerusalem Map.
  • Basic Jerusalem Geography (single map).
  • A Christian’s Map of the Holy Land.
  • Israel Map (“In the Footsteps of Jesus”).

Practical Video Tutorials

  • 23 Travel Hacks (Airplane Tips) (13 min).
  • 27 Packing Hacks- How to Pack Better! (7 min).
  • How to Pack Your Suitcase Like a Pro! (19 min).
  • 10 Travel Essentials for Women Over 60 (12 min).
  • How to Pack 100 Items into a Carry-On (2 min).
  • How to Pack 50 Outfits into One Tote Bag (2 min).

Videos

     Israel/Holy Land

  • Drive Thru History: Holy Land with Dave Stotts, Vol. 2: History of Israel in 8 Minutes.
  • Enjoy this 7 minute fly-over tour of the Holy Land.
  • Drive Thru History: Holy Land with Dave Stotts, Vol. 1 (27 min).
  • Things to Do in Israel: Best Places to Visit (4 min).
  • Amazing Israel: A timelapse video featuring Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, The Dead Sea and Red Canyon (3 min).
  • Holy Land Tour: Jerusalem and the South (14 min).
  • The Deep Mysteries and Dark Secrets of the Holy Land (1 hour 26 min).
  • 68 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know about Israel (6 min).
  • Geography Now! Israel (20 min).
  • Israel Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know (11 min).
  • Drone Footage of Caesarea Maritima (9 min).

     Jerusalem/Surrounding Area

  • Jerusalem: Discover the Heart of the World (stunning IMAX film by Nat Geo narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch). A must-see. Read a story about the film here. Rent or purchase it here (42 min).
  • Great Tour of Jerusalem. “Travel Guide: Everything you need to know” (11 min).
  • Jerusalem Booklet: Be Your Own Guide (4 min).
  • Jerusalem Travel Guide: All You Need to Know (2018) (7 min).
  • Jerusalem in 72 Hours (with a professional guide) (10 min).
  • Interactive, 360-degree video experience of walking through the Old City of Jerusalem! This same thread of videos features many places we’ll be visiting. (Titled “Israel 360 Video English” produced by the Texas International Bible Institute) (3 min).
  • Exploring the Old City of Jerusalem (16 min).
  • Hezekiah’s Tunnel: Pilgrim Tours (5 min).
  • News report of Seal of Hezekiah found in Jerusalem (3 min).
  • The Ultimate Jerusalem Food Tour (41 min).
  • Four Mountains in the vicinity of Jerusalem: The Mount of Olives; The Temple Mount; Mount Zion; and Mount Herzl (30 min each).
  • Video Tour of the Pool of Siloam and Hezekiah’s Tunnel in Jerusalem (7 min).
  • A Video Tour Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (8 min).
  • National Geographic Explorer: The Secrets of Christ’s Tomb. A must-see (46 min).
  • City of David, Pool of Siloam, Gihon Spring, Hezekiah’s Tunnel (37 min).

     Galilee

  • Archaeologists uncover gate to biblical city of Zer.
  • The Galilee, or “Jesus,” Boat.
  • A drone trip around the Sea of Galilee.
  • Sacred Sights Along the Sea.
  • Capernaum.
  • Galilee from Above.
  • Nazareth.

     Dead Sea/Masada

  • Extinct Tree from Masada and the Time of Jesus Rises from the Dead. (BBC short film) (8 min).
  • Floating in the Dead Sea, Masada Sunrise, and the West Bank (14 min).
  • The Dead Sea: Why Do You Float? (5 min).
  • Floating on the Dead Sea + Mud Baths = Family Spa Day! (5 min).
  • Is the Dead Sea Really Dead? (5 min).

Images on this page: Top, right: Via Dolorosa; Right, center: Alleyway in the Jewish Quarter; Masada; Bottom, right: Jerusalem Night Spectacular.

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized Tagged With: Israel, Jerusalem, Masada, Pastor Chris Alford, Petra, Teresa Gardner

Missionaries Partnering with Epiclesis

June 27, 2022

Epiclesis has recently expanded its mission partnerships!

We are now working with three (wonderful) sets of missionaries, and each of them are doing very different things in far-flung places.

Check out their stories here and use the links provided to learn a bit more about them.

Susan McCrary. Susan (right) serves as the Europe Regional Member Care Coordinator with “TeachBeyond.” Susan and husband Larry live in Madrid, Spain, and love their urban lifestyle. After 11 years of church planting with the North American Mission Board, they moved to Madrid with the IMB (International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention) in 2001 with their two children, then 6 and 9, to begin church planting among urban professionals.  They started a home group and a Spanish church plant in the northern suburbs of Madrid, and were also involved with an international church called Immanuel as well as a Spanish church. Larry moved into leadership roles becoming city strategist of Madrid, to leader of the Southern Europe countries and Susan received her ESL certification from a Cambridge program and began to teach.

After their affiliation with the IMB ended in 2019, Susan writes, “I began to seek God’s will for where I could work that would allow us to stay in Madrid and continue our local ministry here.  I remembered 13 years ago our wonderful experience in Germany at the Black Forest Academy, which was started by TeachBeyond. That organization recruits and sends Christian educators, administrators, and workers to serve in many different schools and organizations across the globe. I reached out to them to inquire of any opportunities and accepted the position of Europe Member Care Coordinator. The position is responsible for ensuring that our staff in Europe have the resources and care needed to thrive in their overseas ministry and service.

“I am so excited to begin this new ministry as I have the utmost respect for TeachBeyond and its vision and mission of transformative education. It’s an honor to serve the TeachBeyond staff in Europe and feels like a gift from the Lord to have this opportunity. Larry continues to lead The Upstream Collective and consults with churches all over the world to help them develop a missional identity.

 

Dianne Collard. Epiclesis has long been a supporter of Dianna Collard and her ministries through the arts, which include “Montage International” and “Meraki Connection.” Dianne is the Europe Director for “Artists in Christian Testimony, International,” the author of I Choose to Forgive, and is a veteran missionary and intercultural trainer.

Dianne herself is a montage of many experiences, abilities, and roles, including being the wife of Glenn, a mother of three, and grandmother of five. She’s been a missionary and intercultural trainer since 1986, and is a well-traveled speaker and writer and spiritual mentor to many artists. She holds degrees in speech and communication, intercultural studies, and missiology.

She writes about her personal mission statemen: “To live my life in worship of God and be a messenger of His hope through speaking, writing and encouraging for the purpose of contributing to the development of people and the celebration of the Kingdom of God.”

 

Tim and Rebecca. We can’t share Tim and Rebecca’s full name or location because they are doing extraordinary work in a sensitive international location. The story of their calling is breathtaking, and Epiclesis members will long remember the day that they shared their passions and plans shortly before deployment. Tim, Rebecca, and family are working under the auspices of “Launch Global,” a missions organization that “exists to mobilize churches to develop laborers and leaders who multiply healthy churches among unreached people groups.”

 

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Artists in Christian Testimony, Charlotte, Collard, Launch Global, McCrary, Meraki Connection, missions, Montage International, North Carolina, Spain, TeachBeyond, Tim and Rebecca

Liturgies for Year A (2022-2023)

November 26, 2022

Liturgies for Year A (2022-2023)

Advent 1, Advent Lessons & Carols, 2, 3, 4

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Christmastide 2

Epiphany: Baptism of the Lord, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Transfiguration Sunday

Lent: Ash Wednesday, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Resurrection Sunday

Eastertide: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Ascension Sunday

Day of Pentecost

Season after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Christ the King Sunday

 

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized, Weekly Worship Liturgies

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