Fall 2017 Eastwind by Eastminster Presbyterian Church

Fall 2017 60th Anniversary Special Edition

,” U O

LAR C E D

E S T HE L O

. •

AV E

Glorify God. Follow Christ. Transform Lives.

W THE PL A

“ FO

TO G EN E R A TIO

NO K I R

T I ON ERA

30 60 O

.•

•

THE

PA S T. F O C U SI N G

F E H

U T U

Invitations & Vision by Pastor Stan Van Den Berg

It Started with an Invitation In 1957, a Presbyterian church planter named Jim McConnell knocked on doors and invited people to be part of a church he was starting in East Wichita. After extending many invitations, 38 people came to the first worship service held at Kos Harris Elementary School. These people became the founding members of Eastminster. Thirty-eight people came who had no church, yet they became the foundation of a new work the Lord was doing. As I get to know the members of Eastminster, I ask them how they came to Eastminster. Nearly all of them will say, I was invited or my children were invited. Invitations work! Its more effective than advertising. Eighty percent of new members in our church came to Eastminster for the first time because someone invited them. Ask the Lord who you might invite, ask him to put someone in your path, ask him to open your eyes to opportunities. Who knows who might come to know Christ because of our invitation? Who knows how many people that person we invited will invite to know Christ? Eastminster started with invitations. It continues to grow by 142 people gathered for the invitations. By being an inviting first worship service at 9th person, you join Christ in his and Armour on July 14, 1957 work of bringing redemption to people’s lives.

Unique Vision Great things are built by people with vision. Several years ago, a group of people at Eastminster located at 9th and Armour, realized they had outgrown their property. A group of visionaries had their eyes set on a property located on Webb Rd. Soon this

Eastwind Newsletter

group was given authority to purchase the property. Some in the church called them crazy. Negative voices put them down and said, “Webb Rd is in the middle of nowhere!” It was, but these visionaries knew the city would grow in that direction and that they would have a prime location in the new East Wichita. What many do not know is that there was a group of people who stayed at the old property. They had grown comfortable in their setting, they were risk adverse and did not like change. So as Eastminster moved east and built a new campus on Webb Rd., money was given to a group who stayed at 9th and Armour. A pastor was called for them and they continued on as a Presbyterian church in that location. They had a building, they had a pastor, they had money in the bank. But the church started to decline and soon it disbanded. What they lacked was a vision beyond themselves.

Ground breaking for the Webb Rd. building

The Webb Rd. building under construction

Webb Rd. “move-in day” 1987

Vision that can discern the times and the will of the Spirit, vision that can move courageously in new ways is what has always propelled the church forward. Our 30/60 celebration gives us opportunity to look back on where God has led us and what he has done in us to form us into the unique church we are. It also gives us an opportunity to ask God for his vision for our next 5-10 years. New vision will build on our strengths and calling, it will call us to repent of and do differently things that have held us back, it will discern the times we live in, where God has placed us, and what Jesus is calling us to be and do. Our church leadership is doing the work of discerning God’s unique vision for our church. A small group of 15 started the initial work of study and prayer, 150 church leaders are giving their input and by the beginning of the year we hope to share with you what we discern is God’s unique vision for our church. God’s vision always moves us from where we are to where God wants us to be. It has always been this way since God has started interacting with people. People of vision see what God is doing, and courageous people follow God into that place of greater promise.

The Recovery of the Mission of God by Ben Marquez

f you’re like me, you may have at one time or another wondered why some Christians care so deeply about a series of events, beginning with Martin Luther, that happened so long ago. How is it that the Reformation has had so much historical precedence in Protestant churches, yet so many within the church can hardly articulate its significance or what it was. Don’t worry, I’m not here to shame you for your ignorance regarding the Reformation (I must confess much of my own ignorance), but I do want to help you understand, at a very basic level, why it was so important.

Easter redemption, recorded for us in the New Testament. In the New Testament we come to learn that the Father appointed his own Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver his people from bondage by defeating the enemy (Satan) and providing pardon for their sins through his Son’s death, now leading them in this world by his Spirit, and securing their place with him in eternity. Without the Exodus, that is, without the work of Jesus Christ on behalf of all who believe, all men will die in their sin and face the righteous wrath of God (1 Thess. 1:10) in eternity. During the Reformation period, Luther and others began the unveiling of the dark cloud the church had, over centuries, placed over the gospel. Luther’s initial protest (hence protestant) unleashed a series of events within the church that were to bring the gospel front and center.

In his book, Nichols recounts an early turning point in Luther’s life as he was journeying back to Erfurt (where he had just received his law degree) from a visit with his parents. Nichols writes, “A violent thunderstorm caught up with Luther. He took it to be the very judgment of God upon his soul. He clung to the only mediator he knew, or at least the only mediator he dared approach—St. In his book The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed Anne, the patron saint of miners, his father’s profession. He cried the World, Dr. Stephen Nichols spends the first chapter helping out, ‘Help me, St. Anne, and I will become a monk.’ He survived his readers discover the importance of history, and especially the storm and made good on his vow. His troubles, however, did recognizing why the Reformation still matters. He likens the not find resolution in the monastery. In fact, Luther’s struggles importance of the Reformation to the Exodus. Nichols makes the intensified.” The chief struggle to which Nichols is referring, was appropriate distinction between biblical history and church history, that Luther found himself at a loss as to how he, a sinner, could but as I read through this chapter I was struck by the importance meet the demands of a holy and righteous God. (Psalm 130:3) of these two great events. In the Exodus God appointed Moses This was one of the two major theological issues underlying the to deliver his people from bondage by defeating Pharaoh and Reformation. his army, providing his people an escape from his judgment through the Passover lamb, leading them by his presence through Theologically speaking, the doctrine implicit in Luther’s struggle the wilderness, and securing their entrance into the promised was the doctrine of the justification by faith alone. This doctrine land. The Exodus was the gospel in the Old Testament. It was teaches that faith in Jesus Christ, and faith alone, is the basis of a prefigure of the second Exodus, what one author calls the our justification. When we believe in Christ alone for his Eastminster Presbyterian Church

salvation, God declares us “just” on the basis of the work of Christ alone. There is a great exchange that takes place when we come to faith in Christ. Our sin is imputed to Christ (2 Cor. 5:21) and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us (Philippians 3:9), reconciling us to God. Fast forward 12 years from that encounter in the storm. Luther has received various degrees, including his Doctor of Theology, and was also ordained. On October 31, 1517, he posts his 95 Theses on the door at Wittenberg Castle church. At the time of posting his 95 Theses Luther hadn’t even formulated the doctrine of justification by faith alone as we articulate it today, but his 95 Theses began the unraveling of the shroud that was covering this precious truth. For those of you unfamiliar, the posting of theses was a common practice in Luther’s day, so there was nothing terribly scandalous about what Luther did. It was the right of the doctors of the church (teachers) to dispute or debate any subject, and it was also their right to subject those who were candidates for becoming a teacher to defend their theses. According to the University of Wittenberg, theses were to be posted on the doors of the churches in town. Theses would then be circulated and taken up for debate. This is what Luther did. So why all the fuss? Well, the shorthand version is that Luther’s 95 Theses began debates surrounding the issue of sacerdotalism (pronounced sass-er-doh-tal-ism). Dr. R.C. Sproul defines sacerdotalism as the idea that salvation was accomplished chiefly by the ministrations of the church, specifically through the priesthood and the administration of the sacraments (of which indulgences were included and were among Luther’s chief objections). Now, to help you understand what was at stake here, if someone today were to ask you, “How can a person who knows he is guilty be saved; justified?” What would you say? Would you respond by saying, “By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone?” Or would you say, “Through the ministrations of the priest and the partaking and participation of the sacraments?” The answer to that question reveals the difference between Protestants and Catholics. This was the unraveling of the Reformation.

because it points us to the true authority, the Word of God. Since God is sovereign and supremely loving, good and just, he is worthy to be obeyed and can be trusted. If you do not think that submission to the authority of the Word of God is relevant, then I would ask you point me to a greater and more life-giving authority. Authority abhors a vacuum. Authority is bound up in the nature of God and to deny it is not to live without it, but is to live under an assumed authority be it your own autonomy, political ideology, philosophy, or favorite TV personality.

“The Reformation matters because it points us to the true authority, the Word of God” Secondly, the Reformation matters because corruption, immorality, pain, addiction, hostility and despair are the only realities in a world without the gospel. If we deny the authority of the Word of God, then we deny what that Word declares as it relates to the remedy to these problems. And thirdly, the Reformation matters because people matter. The necessary consequence of a church that knows she has been justified and forgiven by Jesus Christ alone, is that she will now view herself as a beggar telling other beggars where to find bread. The love that is poured into her heart and mind through the power of the Holy Spirit will be a love that manifests itself not only towards Jesus, but also to her neighbor. In the end, the Reformation was the recovery of the mission of God in the world.

Many in the church today are confused about the mission of God because they didn’t learn from history. The Reformation taught us that our loves need to be ordered: God, his Word, his gospel, and our neighbor. I think this speaks to the church in America today because it is often the evangelical’s tendency to reverse the order. Our mission cannot prioritize the love of our neighbor as our supreme love. Conversion of the sinner should be among our chief desires and motivations in this world, but it should not be placed above our desire to love and obey Jesus. It was not mean to. Luther’s theses, though not his initial intent, questioned the Jesus made this very clear when he said, “Whoever loves father or authority of the church, calling attention to the second major mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son theological issue undergirding his protest. Namely, the issue of the or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37, authority of the Scripture versus the authority of the church, and ESV) which of the two had ultimate authority to bind the conscience of believers. This issue was not new! Jesus’ refutation of the The story was once told of a small Methodist church whose pastor Pharisees for allowing their traditions to usurp the authority of the had just retired after 35 years of faithful ministry. It came to pass Word of God that is recorded for us in Mark 7:5-13 was the same that the church formed a pastor search committee and together sort of controversy stirred up by Luther 1,500 years later. they drew up a letter and sent it to their bishop requesting another pastor who preached hell, fire and brimstone. Their bishop wrote So why does the Reformation matter today? First, it matters back and said they only had a few of those

Eastwind Newsletter

left in their denomination, but he would see what he could do. A few weeks later the congregation received their new pastor, but to their chagrin, they let him go two weeks later. The committee reconvened and wrote another letter to the bishop with the same request. A few weeks later they received their pastor. This pastor made it a month, but once again, was asked by the congregation to leave. Just as before, the committee met, drew up another letter and made the same request to their bishop, “Send us another pastor who preaches hell, fire and brimstone.” The bishop sent the last pastor he knew that fit their description and this man served his church faithfully for 25 years. The church held a retirement party for their beloved pastor, and the bishop, now in his 80s, was to be a guest. At the party the bishop pulled aside one of the old-timers who had been on the pastor search committee and remarked, “I sent you two other pastors prior to this one who preached hell, fire and brimstone, why is it that you chased the other two away and kept him?” To which the old-timer responded, “Well, this man treated us as though he didn’t want us to go there.” I share this as an illustration because I want Eastminster Church to remember that love for the truth and love for our neighbor are not mutually exclusive. In our culture we have been led to believe they are because we have been inundated with the lie that to believe that man is a sinner in need of a Savior is hate speech. It is not. The most loving thing we can share with the world is that Christ died for sinners. In April of 1521 Luther was brought before the assembly of Rome (known as the Diet of Worms; pronounced Vermz) to publicly confess that his views were not in line with previous statements made by the church and its former popes. One of his most famous quotes prior to his denunciation by the church at the Diet or Worms was, “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason, I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me. Amen.” Luther and others stood up to the corruption that plagued the church so that the gospel could resound in all the world. The gospel that freed Luther is the same gospel that has freed us. And the gospel that has freed us is the same gospel that we are to take into the world. To call others to faith and repentance in Jesus Christ is to call them to their highest joy. The Apostle Paul labored to love his neighbor because he wanted those who didn’t believe to share with him in the blessings of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:23). This labor requires a deep love for Christ, an unflinching commitment to his ways and his word, and a humility expressed

with a great concern for those who are without Christ. This is why the Reformation still matters. I would invite you to pray with me for the Lord to burden Eastminster Church with an abiding passion to make the name of Jesus famous as we GO the end of the street and to the ends of the earth.

Martin Luther by Eric Metaxas now available at Eastminster Eric Metaxas’ new book Martin Luther is now available through the church for the suggested donation amount of $20. At the 500th anniversary of the Reformation comes a brilliant and inspiring biography of the most influential man in modern history, Martin Luther. On All Hallow’s Eve in 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted a document he hoped would spark an academic debate, but that instead ignited a conflagration that would forever destroy the world he knew. Five hundred years after Luther’s now famous 95 Theses appeared, Eric Metaxas paints a startling portrait of the wild figure whose adamantine faith cracked the edifice of Western Christendom and dragged medieval Europe into the future. Written in riveting prose and impeccably researched, Martin Luther tells the searing tale of a humble man who, by bringing ugly truths to the highest seats of power, caused the explosion whose sound is still ringing in our ears. Luther’s monumental faith and courage gave birth to the ideals of faith, virtue and freedom that today lie at the heart of all modern life. Pick up your copy on Sundays in Fellowship Hall, or in the office during the week. Donations accepted via cash or check.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

The Importance of Good News by Eric Metaxas and G. Shane Morris Copyright 2017 by the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Reprinted from BreakPoint.org with permission. It’s been a summer of rough news for America. Racism, riots, and political violence. Communities on the Gulf Coast continue wading through the devastation of hurricane Harvey, and now another storm is bearing down on Florida. We have plenty of reasons to be praying and doing all we can to alleviate suffering. There’s cause for grief about the news—but not for pessimism. Writing at The Guardian, Oliver Burkeman suggests that despite a dragging civil war in Syria, heart-rending photos of drowned refugees, North Korea’s nuclear saber-rattling, disasters, terrorist attacks, and racial violence, the world is objectively better now than it’s ever been. Hard to believe? Well, here are the facts: Swedish historian Mark Norberg breaks down global indicators of human flourishing

into nine categories: food, sanitation, life expectancy, poverty, violence, the state of the environment, literacy, freedom, equality, and the conditions of childhood. And in nearly all of these categories, we’ve seen vast improvement in my lifetime. Despite the fact that nine out of ten Americans say worldwide poverty is holding steady or worsening, the percentage of people on this planet who live on less than two dollars a day—what the United Nation’s defines as “extreme poverty”—has fallen below ten percent, which is the lowest it’s ever been. The scourge of child mortality is also at a record low. Fifty percent fewer children under five die today than did thirty years ago. Worldwide, 300,000 more people gain access to electricity every day. In 1900, global life expectancy was just 31 years. Today, it’s an impressive 71 years. And violent crime rates in the United States are the lowest they’ve been in half a century. Nicholas Kristof wasn’t too far afield when he called 2016 “the best year in the history of humanity.” This year may see even more progress. So why do these cheery pronouncements strike us as inaccurate—even outrageous? Why—according to a recent poll

HISTORY TIMELINE OF EASTMINSTER

Eastwind Newsletter

by YouGov—do a vanishingly small six percent of Americans think the world as a whole is becoming a better place? Burkeman lays much of the blame on the press. Thanks to a 24-hour news cycle that actively seeks out and overplays the worst stories, our perception of the world is skewed. “We are

not merely ignorant of the facts,” he writes. “We are actively convinced of depressing ‘facts’ that aren’t true.” And no wonder! It’s hard to sell papers and get Web traffic with good news. No one reports when a plane takes off. They only report when they crash. But a great deal of the blame for our unjustifiably gloomy view of the world also falls on our shoulders. Quite simply, we often enjoy being angry about the state of the world, especially when it allows us to blame someone else. We are addicted to news-induced anger. That’s why it’s so important—while acknowledging the desperate evil and suffering around us—to appreciate the good news, the progress, and the things we have to celebrate. After all, how can we truly comprehend what’s wrong with the world if we don’t recognize when something is going right? War, famine, disease, and hatred should all remind us that God’s world, which He created and pronounced “very good,” is broken, and it’s our fault. But here’s the real comfort: It’s still—as the hymn says—our Father’s world. Let us therefore never forget that “though the wrong seems oft so strong God is the ruler yet.” As Christians, we know where history is headed, and we know how the story ends—with the redemption and restoration of all things. We who have the good news should be the first to recognize all good news, not in spite of, but in the midst of the bad. Learn more about Eric on page 19

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

T r R

For the Glory of His Name A His tory of Music a t Eastminst e r 2. Eastminster has two distinct services â&#x20AC;&#x201C; traditional and contemporary. 3. Our congregation is one in love and faith. Together we love God, and we love each other and cannot let anything divide us. We should dwell on what things bring us together and take lightly what separates us.

Traditional Music

Have you ever experienced a worship service with no music? Not likely, for music has been a part of worship since before Christ. The Bible contains more than 400 references to singing and 50 direct commands to sing. We have always had music for Sunday services at Eastminster; in fact, our church was architecturally designed to have music. We have music at funerals and weddings and we have particular music for Communion. We have special music at Christmas and Easter. Music is a valuable part of worship because it enriches the experience, taking us to a higher place, awakening our soul, stimulating our senses and aiding our memory. While reading about our music please keep three things in mind: 1. The music is intended to draw us into worship of the Lord, regardless of the musical style; music in the church is genuine praise and prayer to God. The hundreds of references to song in the Bible are not style specific.

Eastwind Newsletter

Eastminster saw a parade of choir directors and organists come and go from 1957 until 1959 when Session, in good Presbyterian fashion, established a music committee. With the challenge of directors coming and going, a new approach was approved by Session in 1962: a combination organist-director. By 1978 the choir found its groove. The chancel choir now directed by Vernon Yenne had about 35 members. Anna Jeter replaced Dennis Bergin as organist in 1981. And by 1986, there were 50 choir members and Dr. Yenne was attempting to provide music, which appealed to a variety of members at three

The men sing for Mother’s Day 2016

The choir’s first rehearsal in the Webb Rd. building

The Children’s Choir in 2016

services. By then we also had five bell choirs, one of which played with the symphony in a Christmas music program. Also, once a month there was a Sunday night service with informal praise music, and this is the first appearance of praise music in an Eastminster service. As of 1990, we were in a new building on Webb Road, Dr. Cecil Riney, the director of Friends’ University’s Singing Quakers had also become our choir director (1988), and there were at least 70 in the choir. Also, there was a teen choir and a children’s choir with 38 kids and at least three bell choirs. Along with Anna as coordinator, Dr. Tom Wine, director of choirs at Wichita State, became Eastminster’s choir director in 2004. Now the choir has more than 70 members, including several music students. While we have had Christmas music with choir and orchestra for years, in about 2010 we began offering an additional Christmas concert on Monday evening. We also currently have a kids’ choir for first through fifth graders. Eastminster is well known for its traditional music.

Our Choir and Organ At Eastminster, Dr. Wine often gives the choir special insight into lyrics and relationship of the music to the topic, such as Christ, the joy and hardships of earthly life, or the gift of heaven. The choir offers a wide variety of music but all music is coordinated between the pastor and the director to amplify the meaning of the sermon. For example, for one

Christmas in the early 2000s of the “GO” sermons the choir sang Butler’s “Go Ye Into All the World” and for a sermon in the Exodus series, the spiritual “My God is a Rock in a Weary Land.” The pastor also selects hymns to enrich the meaning of the sermon and to have the congregation offer praise in song. While orchestra accompanies the choir on special occasions, our usual accompaniment is our amazing pipe organ. Pipe organs similar to ours have been used in churches since the 1400s. Most European cathedrals have one. The original 11-rank pipe organ was installed in 1972 at 9th and Armour and was small compared to our current 47-rank organ with 2,620 pipes, which was installed in 1988. Our current organ was purchased at around $300,000 and today is worth well over a million dollars. Organs are built to last hundreds of years with little maintenance. Organs require no sound system and can nevertheless be infinitely loud - no wonder the organ is called the “king of instruments.” The organist, however, the one behind all this sound, is often hidden. Sometimes the organist is in a balcony or shielded by a screen. Anna sees playing the organ as worship and truly prefers not to have any attention, even though Eastminster’s configuration has her visible and uses mirrors to see the director. Eastminster is unusual in that we have a second large pipe organ of 15 ranks in the chapel, used at worship services as well as weddings and funerals. Both organs are

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

similar to the type of instrument on which Bach composed much of his music.

Bells Like the pipe organ, bells have a long history in the church, particularly since the church was once the center of a community. In fact, the development of the organ may have caused bells’ usage to decline at the end of the Middle Ages. They came back in the last century, after change ringing became popular.

In the early 1970s an anonymous donor offered to buy the first three-octave set of bells if Lois Gordon would be the bell choir director. Thus Mrs. Gordon, already a music legend, set out to learn about that kind of music and eventually had five bell choirs. For many years she served as a volunteer. When she retired in 1993, Leora Osborn directed until 2006 when Deb Harris, a bell ringer and music teacher, became director. Deb’s goals for this group are to support the Word, bring new life to music for the glory of God, and offer first fruits. Deb’s greatest joy is when the music comes together, everyone is pleased to be like a family, and to accomplish something challenging to honor the Lord. A bell group is almost like a miniature church in that it needs every person and develops great fellowship. The bell choir plays monthly in church and is planning to play several places in the community this year.

Contemporary Music

The Bell Choir in the early 80s

Bell music is printed in full score fashion like piano music. Each ringer is responsible for finding his or her notes as they come. While a pianist uses all 10 fingers to play the keys of a piano, each individual in the bell choir is like one finger. All individual “fingers” work together to play the right notes at the right time. Thus, ringing requires extreme coordination and teamwork. When one ringer or one note is absent those missing notes are obvious.

Eastwind Newsletter

During the 1970s a new type of music began to sweep into churches and offer a different musical worship experience, which has come to be known as praise music. This type of worship music was being sung and loved at Eastminster’s all-church family retreats and in other church events during the 1980s and early 1990s, led by volunteer musicians. More and more church members desired that this music be used in a church worship service. This desire matched up with that of Pastor Bob Henley who came to Eastminster in 1993. A few years later Session agreed to a combined service of traditional and praise music at 11 a.m. Praise music was incorporated into the service, though at first the choir remained and some hymns were

sung. Volunteers who loved the music, vocal and instrumental, still led the music. After a while the transition to completely contemporary music was made at that service. Terry Glanville was hired as pianist and Cathy Biggs coordinated the music. There were numerous people involved, many with a traditional choir background. Around 2008 when ekklesia began, the Huntingtons were hired to do the music for it and eventually took over the musical leadership role at the contemporary service as well. Cassidy Cheray led for a few years, then Matt Jaderston stepped up to lead. We recently hired Stephen Morton as the worship leader.

We are excited for Stephen and an excellent team of volunteers to lead us into the future and stay on top of evolving music trends. Get ready!

Praise songs, like hymns, often have lyrics almost directly from Scripture and function for us to recall and remember Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words. As with hymns, the congregation is encouraged to sing with most of the music. Accompanying instruments vary: piano, keyboard, drums, violin, guitar and bass are typical. Some of our early praise music leaders say they wish to remain open to whatever new music reaches young people today and not present a stumbling block.

...come before him

Shout for joy to the Lord

all the earth

with joyful songs

Psalm 100

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

Creating Community

A History of Women’s Ministries | by Wendy Stevens began placing a rosebud on the organ to celebrate the birth of a new child in our congregation. They were known as some of the finest cooks in Wichita and began tackling bigger events such as wedding receptions and congregation dinners. These women were also mission-minded, which influenced the basis of our women’s circles today. Circles always offer Bible study, fellowship and mission outreach, as well as serving the needs of the church.

Women’s event in the 1980s

Eastminster has had a rich history of opportunities for women since its beginning days at 9th and Armor. At the first congregational meeting in January 1958, a call went out to a “meeting of all women of the congregation for the purpose of organizing a Women’s Association.” What began with a monthly luncheon and speaker, quickly resulted in forming the United Presbyterian Women (UPW). With leadership from Frances McConnell, wife of Rev. Jim McConnell, the 40 women divided up into two circles and were off and running! Eastminster Women began with Bible studies and service projects to the church. They saw what needed to be done and tackled every project with enthusiasm. This included things like projects within the church to dinners for members. Within a few years, they

Eastwind Newsletter

Women were randomly assigned to a circle each year, mixing the generations. By 1982, Martha, Priscilla, Rebecca, Ruth and Lydia Circles were vibrant, meeting monthly. Then, in 1983, a group of young mothers asked to have a circle for their own age group, and Hannah Circle was formed. From that point on, women decided which circle they would like to attend. The circles soon became more age dependent, letting generational and life experience be the connecting factors. Hannah Circle continued their goal of connecting young women and training leaders, and soon began welcoming women from the community. Eventually, EPW had a yearly budget to use for mission support of several thousand dollars. The women enjoyed supporting our Eastminstergrown missionaries as well as other missions around the world. They supported Trans World Radio, AIDS orphan Timothy at the Makobe

Mother-Daughter Tea in the 1990s

Hannah leadership 2017

value in both of these programs and worked to keep them both vibrant. After a few more years, Eastminster was recognized by the National Presbyterian Women’s Leadership website as an example of a successful women’s ministry.

Home in Kenya, Pinki Ruth in India, literacy training for women in Bangladesh, and many more missions. A lot started to happen as membership grew at Eastminster. There was an increased desire for strong Bible studies, retreats, more events, and training for women. The first women’s retreat was offered in 1987 and continued annually, drawing up to 225 women. Abigail Circle formed in the early 1990s as a desire to connect women who had school-age children and have an in-depth Bible study. Christmas brunches and spring teas continued to be annual events as they are today. These increased activities and the desire for more Bible studies and retreats laid the foundation for change. In 2002, the Eastminster Women’s Ministries team began. Retreats continued to be offered, usually in February. Programs flourished: there were many new Bible studies, Piece Sewers, Newcomers, Women in Action, Connections group, and some new circles (Hannah Eve and later Esther Circle). Book Club continued to be strong. Cooking Fellowships were organized, and a freezer was donated for meals to grieving families. New ideas took shape: a fall kick-off, a holiday market called Beneath the Wreath benefiting missions and Hannah child care. Nationally, churches began to dissolve a circle structure in favor of a new Women’s Ministries format. Eastminster women saw

In 2006, a part-time position was created to hire a Director of Women’s Ministries which remained for four years. Eventually, the name EPWM evolved to Women’s Ministries. Today, it is run once again solely by volunteers who believe in furthering the spiritual growth of women. There have been continuing changes in Women’s Ministries. Retreats are often on campus as a single day event and can take advantage of available simulcasts. Christmas teas and spring teas continue to be popular must-attend events. Bible studies and circles continue to expand and draw people from the community. Available child care has been a tremendous blessing for some study days and Hannah Circle. Hannah continues its large outreach to women in the community, becoming a staple throughout Wichita and is recognized through many local event pages as a way to connect to others while growing in Christ. Summer has become a popular time for women explore new studies. While all of our studies and circles have evolved, they are all rooted in Scripture and have much to offer. This fall a new circle for mothers who have children in school began, reusing the name Martha. Over the past 60 years it has been exciting to see where God has led us as we prayerfully seek his lead. We strive to connect women to each other, equip them to be disciples, help them grow in the word, encourage them to be effective ministers within their families and community, and be involved with mission projects locally and around the world.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

Investing in the Next Generation

A History of Eastminster’s Boy Scout Troop 524 | by Rob Ramseyer with Ty Schwertfeger Many years before Eastminster implemented the GO missions philosophy, a group of dedicated fathers implemented their own GO philosophy with involvement in Boy Scouts. This was aimed towards mentoring their own sons and other young men within the newly formed Boy Scout Troop 524 here at Eastminster.

Troop 524 at NASA in 2000

Formed in 1992, this troop has flourished and contributed to the lives of several hundred boys, many of whom are now adults and are successful men and fathers themselves.

The founders of Troop had several goals in mind when they started the Troop more than 25 years ago. They wanted each member of the troop to have a great Scouting experience. That means learning skills that will benefit them their entire life such as first aid, managing their personal finances, making presentations to groups of their peers and adults, camping, hiking, map reading, and survival in the outdoors, to name just a few. It also teaches leadership, service and goal setting. Each Scouting rank requires service to others in the community, with the service project for the Eagle Rank being the

Eastwind Newsletter

most ambitious, requiring a great deal of detailed planning and leadership. Becoming an Eagle takes several years and requires all the skills mentioned above and more. Only a small percentage of those who start in Scouting ever earn the rank of Eagle. The percentage for Eastminster’s troop is significantly higher, with 94 Eagle Scouts having graduated from Troop 524. Troop 524 was founded as a Christ-centered troop with the goal of helping boys develop Christian character in the passage from boyhood into manhood. In addition to saying the pledge of allegiance and reciting the Scout Oath and Law, each meeting is opened and closed in prayer. Also, a Troop 524 requirement for each rank is for the Scout to memorize two Bible verses for each point of the Scout Law. By the rank of Eagle, a Scout has memorized a total of 24 verses. Another of the founders’ goals was to put a heavy emphasis on the participation of the fathers. With work schedules and other

e agl e sc o u t s t ro o p 5 2 4 Quetico, Canada, High Adventure trip, 2015 activities, father-son time can be difficult to come by. The time dads spend with their own sons and the other young men mentoring, teaching, camping and having lots of fun doing it is so important, not only for the here and now but also for the future. The dads and leaders of Troop 524 have been living the GO philosophy for more than 25 years. They had and are still having a fun and rewarding time with their own sons as well as the other young men in the troop.

Canada, 1996

1992

Brian Smith Michael Olsen Cody Nath Tanner Erdman Brett Davis Robby Ramseyer Austin Ochs E.W. Kuhlman Will Messamore Jon Payne Stephen Granberry Garrett J. Green Daniel W. Holmes Graham Castro-Miller Tyler Doehring Alex Fornshell James Toomey IV Kyle Koser Alan Ramseyer Tyson Erdman Brad Bankston Steven Jansen John Van Winter Adam Robinson

Dane Saksa Gordon MacLeod Frederick Brock Erdman Jordan Tell Parris Brian Funk Greg Huenergardt Taylor Smith Jack Gandy Brian Jansen John Paul Mathews Jeff Synder Luke Humphries Ryan Ramseyer Stewart Grindel Stephan Olson Bradley Ray Zachary Marsh Daniel Hawkins Ryan Dahlke William Marsh Mark Waalkes Cooper Hanning Phillip Heironimus

Austin Cooper Adam Grider Zach Killingsworth Garrett Roskam Nate Humphries George Bachman Wilson Alexander Paul Lewis David Amstutz Greg Schaulis Ben Strickfaden A.J. Wehner Aaron Schneider Pierce Shimp Luke Lewis Andrew Blick Matthew Sondergard Josh Van Bebber Luke Schwertfeger Mason Ryel Christian Davis Austen Henry Grant Alexander Jacob Mathews

Ben Henry Parker Morris Joshua Ralston John Brosz Trevor Elwell-Cuddy Nathanael Lawton Ben Waalkes Joshua Lawton Joshua Hixon Asa Castro-Miller Drew Duncan Paul Amstutz John Ralston Hudson Parris Isaac Montgomery William Morris Jack Hillard Cozine Nikolaas de Jung Jacob Hammil Isaac Yoder Griffin Lamp Levi Schwertfeger Jack Thornberry

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

LAR E S T HE L O

. •

30 60 .•

HO Eastwind Newsletter

TO G

•

EN E R A TIO

“F

T I ON ERA

N OW T H E P L A N

IK R O

HA VE

EC ,” D

THE

TH G N PA S T. F O C U SI

T FU

30/60 Anniversary Weekend Schedule Friday, November 10 | Anniversary Dinner & Special Program Dinner at 6 p.m., Program at 7

This is the night we will gather as a church family to celebrate all God has done in and through Eastminster over the last 60 years. The evening will begin with dinner in Fellowship Hall and the Gym. Then, we’ll laugh, remember and celebrate together during a special program featuring Dr. Don Davis, founder of World Impact’s The Urban Ministry Institute, and the Rev. Dr. Doug Pratt, former Eastminster pastor. As we look back at the landscape of the last 60 years, we’ll see God’s hand at work through the generations. Reservations: Dinner is $15 per adult, $7.50 for students eighth – 12th grade, and includes a commemorative gift for each family. Make reservations at eastminster.org/60 or call Dana at 634.0337. No reservation required for program. Kids: Kindergartners through seventh graders will have their own celebration in the Student Center. We’ll enjoy pizza in our pajamas and watch Veggie Tales written by Eric Metaxas. Cost: $5 per child. (Parents, sixth/seventh graders are welcome to attend either the kids event or the program as you feel appropriate.) Child care for 0 – Pre-K is available with advance RSVP.

Saturday, November 11 | An Evening with Eric Metaxas 7 p.m.; WSU Hughes Metroplex (5015 East 29th St. N.) Open to the Wichita community, this evening will feature keynote speaker Eric Metaxas in a lively discussion of faith and culture. Tickets: A free ticket is required for entry. Reserve yours at metaxaswichita.com. Upon registering, you will receive an email confirmation, with the option to print your tickets from the email. You may either bring printed tickets the night of the event, or simply show the email on your smart phone as you enter. Questions? Call Dana at 634.0337.

Sunday, November 12 | Worship Celebration 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. (no 8 a.m. service) A worship celebration honoring the Lord’s faithfulness during the last 60 years and looking to all he has for us in the future. The morning includes special music and a message from Eric Metaxas.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

ERIC METAXAS #1

BESTSELLING AUTHOR

S AT U R D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 1 | 7 P. M . WSU HUGHES METROPLEX RESERVE FREE TICKETS AT METAXASWICHITA.COM OR CALL DANA AT 634.0337. BUS TRANSPORTATION FROM THE CHURCH AVAILABLE WITH RESERVATION TO DANA

“Eric Metaxas [is] one of our nation’s most brilliant and morally serious public intellectuals.” - Robert P. George, Princeton University

Eastwind Newsletter

Eric Metaxas is the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Bonhoeffer, Miracles, Seven Women, Seven Men, Amazing Grace, and If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty, and the forthcoming Martin Luther, a biography of Luther marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. He is also the host of the Eric Metaxas Show, a nationally syndicated radio program. He speaks to thousands around the U.S. and internationally each year, and was the keynote speaker at the 2012 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC. Eric is the founder and host of Socrates in the City: Conversations on the Examined Life, an event series of “entertaining and thoughtprovoking discussions on ‘life, God, and other small topics.’” Along with his colleague John Stonestreet, Metaxas is the voice of BreakPoint, a radio commentary that is broadcast on 1,400 radio outlets with an audience of eight million. You can learn more about Eric and listen to his podcasts at ericmetaxas.com.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

Non Profit Org. US Postage

PAID

Wichita, KS Permit No. 1293

Eastminster Presbyterian Church 1958 N. Webb Road • Wichita, Kansas 67206 316.634.0337 • www.eastminster.org

The goal of Eastwind is to support the mission of Eastminster Church: Glorify God. Follow Christ. Transform Lives. Director of Communications: Courtney Browning (cbrowning@eastminster.org). Associate Director of Communications: Jill Clavin (jclavin@eastminster.org).

Up and Coming Find details at eastminster.org • Membership Class Wednesdays, October 25, November 1, 8, 6:30 p.m. Register with Ginger Cox at 634.0337 or gcox@eastminster.org. • Operation Christmas Child Collection dates: October 22, 29, November 5 • Singing Quakers Alumni Concert Saturday, November 4, 7:30 p.m.; Sanctuary • Citywide Prayer: Praying for the Persecuted Church Sunday, November 5, 7 p.m.; Pathway Church (2001 N. Maize Rd.) • Thanksgiving Boxes Saturday, November 18, 9 a.m.; Gym The morning includes both filling and personally delivering boxes of food. Great for all ages. • Congregational Meeting Sunday, November 19, 10:30 a.m.; Sanctuary Members are invited to elect the next class of elders and deacons.

TRUNK OR TREAT Sunday, October 29 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Last year, more than 4,000 people packed our campus for this fun Halloween-alternative. This is our chance to show the love of Jesus to those in our community! Families with Kids We encourage you to invite another family without a church home to join you at the event. This is often a fun way for people to experience our church for the first time. There are invite cards at the church, or use our Facebook event to spread the word on social media. No kids? This is your opportunity to serve our community. There are all sorts of ways to help out at Trunk or Treat, including helping with games, serving food, welcoming and greeting, and of course, hosting a Trunk. All the details on serving are at church kiosks or eastminster.org/serveattrunkortreat. Bring Candy It takes 70,000+ pieces of candy to pull off Trunk or Treat! Drop donations in the buckets in the lobby or outside the Children’s Ministries office.