"Thegreatdesireofthehumanheartisto knowGod."Thesewerethewordsspokenby Eastminster'sfirstfull-timepastor, Rev.T. RobertFulton, inhisinitialsermonpreached inthechurch's"BrownBuilding"in 1949. Sincethen, Eastminstermembershavestrived toknowGodmoreandmorealongtheir spiritualjourneys- nowcapturedinstories andphotosboundinEastminster'snewest hardcoverbook.ScheduledforalateJanuary 2023release,HisStory. OurStory: Celebrating75 Years ofMinistryfeatures over 100pagesofrecollectionswrittenby52 members.
Followingotherarchivebooks,suchas The Flrst 35 Years and Eastmlnsterjubllee: The First 50 Years, this latestvolumeofEastminster's
historicalaccountsspotlightsthemostrecent 25years, 1998-2023. Catchglimpsesof God's handatworkthroughstoriesofresiliencerisingwaters, flames, andvalleysofdarknessor doubt.Frompagetopage,you'llbegintosee howourstoriesarewrappedinGod'sbigger storyofdisciplesreachingoutandgrowing faith.
Thiscommemorative, hardcover, full-color bookis 6"x9"insize,perfectforacoffee-table communicationpiece, anadditiontoyour homelibrary,oragifttosomeonewhohasbeen touchedbyEastminster.
Pre-ordersforHisStory. OurStory: Celebrating75 YearsofMinistryare availablenowbyvisitingourwebsite, eastminsterpres.org, andclickingon "Publications"fromthe"Resources"tabonthe homepage, oryoucanscanthe QRCodewith yourcameraphonetobe directedtothepreorderform.Booksareonly$25each.Prepurchasedbookscanbepickedupatthe75th AnniversaryGalaonJanuary28orafterwardat Eastminsterthroughthemonthof February.A limitednumberofcopiesareavailableandonly soldonafirst-come, first-served, pre-order basis.
Brian Marsh, associate pastor for Membership & Outreach and Missions, Service & Benevolence, preached his last sermon at Eastminster Presbyterian on December 11, 2022, and he is now serving as pastor at Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC.
Brian announced his resignation on November 16, 2022, through an emailed letter to the congregation. In his letter, he said, “It is with joyful and yet heavy hearts that Marya and I are letting you know that I have accepted a position at another church. We are joy-filled and excited about what God has in store for us as we embark on our next adventure as a family, and yet it comes with heaviness knowing that our time at Eastminster is quickly coming to an end.”
Clerk of Session- Sarah Lynn Curtis, Chair of Personnel- Clay Robinson, and Senior Pastor and Head of Staff- Brad Smith, joined together echoing the same sentiments of mixed emotions saying, “After six and a half years of faithful service as associate pastor here at Eastminster, Brian Marsh is being called, by God, to serve as pastor at Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC. With mixed emotions, we grieve the departure of Brian, Marya, and their family, while also thanking God for this family, for our time together, and for Christ’s work in our midst.”
In 2016, Brian was hired as Eastminster’s associate pastor for Young Adults and Evangelism and Membership (now known as Membership & Outreach). He was responsible for working closely with Young Adults to develop and encourage their growth as disciples of Jesus Christ for leading,
equipping, and encouraging members to embody the Good News to other members and to potential members; and for providing the primary leadership responsibilities in the area of Evangelism. Then, in 2019, Brian was named Eastminster’s associate pastor for Membership & Outreach and MSB. However, Brian laughed and said he, “Really had a hand in about everything and worked with about every committee at some point in time except Personnel and Day School. So I jokingly say it, but I really think I have. I even helped with Safety for a while, so pretty much everything but those two committees.”
One of the joys of being able to work in so many ministries was the opportunity to work with many different people. Brian said, “The admins I’ve been able to work with, people like Laura Long, and the work that we’ve all done, those things stand out in my mind.” However, not only was Brian impacted by those he was able to work with, but also the lives of those who worked with him were impacted.
Membership Involvement Coordinator and Administrative Support for Missions, Service & Benevolence, Christina Siokos, worked for Brian for almost two years. Christina said, “The impact Brian has had on my life will be unforgettable. I can't even begin to put into words what it has meant for me to work with
OneoftheconstantsatourEastminsterCLCDrop-In overthelast20yearshasbeenEastminsterdeacon, KelleyLiggitt.Withawelcomingsmileanda reassuringnatureforchildandparentalike,shehas overseenthecareforhundredsoflittleonessince joiningourstaff.AngelJeffcoat,our Drop-InNursery director,observesthatoneofKelley'sspecialgiftsis that"shetreatseveryonelikefamilyfromthedayshe meetsthem,"andindoingso,"setsthetoneforacaring andgrace-filledenvironmentfortheyoungchildren thatshe workswith."
Alwayshumble,Kelleypointstowardtheoverall missionoftheDrop-Inwhenaskedabouthertalents andhowshehasbuiltsuchagenerationalfanbase.She says,"TheDrop-Inisawaythatwecanserveour churchfamilyandcommunity.Bytryingtoshowthe waythatJesuscaresforchildren,wehelpsupport parentsandfamiliesinthehardworkthattheyare doinginnurturingandraisingtheirlittleones."
Kelley'slong-timecommitmenttoEPCandtheCLC Drop-Inhaspersonallybeenrewardingforher,as someofthechildrenshewatchedwhenshewasjust beginning,20yearsago,arenowgraduatingfrom collegeandstartingfamiliesoftheirown."Theyall stillcallmeMs.Kelley,"shesmiles,"andIstillloveit!"
IfyouseeKelleyoncampusoroutinourcommunity, besuretothankherandcongratulateheronmany yearsofdedicatedservicetoEPC'sDrop-Inministry.
THE DROP-IN NURSERY IS FOR CHILDREN 8-WEEKS TO 4-YEARS-OLD, AND OPEN ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, FROM 9AM-NOON. THERE IS NO WAITLIST OR REGISTRATION, AND EASTMINSTER'S DROP-IN IS OPEN TO MEMBERS AND GUESTS ALIKE. WWW.EASTMINSTERPRES.ORG
11 Everyone knows, from the kids to their parents to their grandparents, that when the youngest are left in f<elley's care, that they are in very good hands. That's a huge comfort to I II everyone.
LAUREN HALTER, CHILDCARE COORDINATOR EASTMINSTER STAFF
DR. BEN SLOAN
PartofwhatmakesEastminster'sstorysouniqueis thesacrificiallovethecongregationmembers possess. Notonlydomemberspossessthis sacrificiallove, butalsotheyputitintoaction,and sometimesthatmeansliterally givinghealthand lifetoothersinneed.
TommyBoggsandAaronBarthelhaveknown eachothersincetheirClemsondaysandstillenjoy watchingClemson footballgamestogether. They arealsobothmembersofEastminsterandhave mutualchurchfriends. Earlierhisyear, Tommy discoveredhewasgoingtohavetobeonkidney dialysisbecauseofafailingkidney. Oneoptionto preventthiswastofindadonor. Tommy immediatelyaskedhisfamily, buttherewereno matches. Then,hereachedouttoacircleofabout 20friendsincludingchurchmembersandwork colleagues, andheprayedforamatch.Aaron turnedouttobethematch.
saysnowheisawareofthenewkidneyeverysecond andissograteful. Now,thereisathirdtiebesides thecommonfaithat Eastminster-thecommon schoolandteams,andacommonorgan!
Justacoupleofweeks later,AaronandTommy (above)wenttoMUSCwhereAarongavehis kidneytoTommygivinghimhealthandlife. Tommysaysitwasasurreal momentforhim. He
"No
SusanRatteree, Eastminsterelderelectanda StephenMinister,heardherhusband,Bill,hada cousinwhosewifewasinneedofakidney.She testedtoseeifshewasamatch,butshewasnot. However,throughMUSC'sKidneyExchange Program,Susandonatedherkidneytoanother individual,whichmovedBill'sfamilymember higheronthekidneytransplantlist.Susan underwentlaparoscopicroboticsurgeryandcame throughfine. Sherecommendsotherstoconsider givingthegiftoflifeandhealth.
Jesusdidnotgivehiskidneyforus,buthegavehis body-exchangingthegoodnessofhislifeforthesin inours.Now,thedeedisfinished.Allwehavetodo isacceptit,andthenseektolivealifeofgratitude.
"Greaterlovehasnoonethanthis: thatthey givetheirlifefortheirfriends."
Oesus-John 15:13)Missy & TommyBoggswithAaron & KatieBathe/ NameSmallGroup": Terry & RandyCottrell,Crissa & fonKeith, Susan & BillRatteree,Ann & JimSt.JohnandNan & Bil(Babcock
Ms. Teri Smith has been a teacher at Eastminster Day School for 32 years and has left an impression on countless children in our community.
Teri came to EDS in 1991 because of the great reputation the school has in the Midlands. EDS also provided a part-time teaching position that allowed Teri to also focus on being a mother to her two children. As Teri’s children grew older, she eventually accepted a full-time position.
Teri currently teaches in our three year old program. When asked what keeps her coming back year after year, Teri smiled and said, “I believe in this school and feel we are the best in the city. We have the best staff and the best families, and I love watching our program grow.”
Scan the QR Code with your camera phone to see a historical clip on EDS, and hear how "Ms. Teri" describes EDS from 10 years ago.
The most rewarding part of the job to Teri is the unconditional love that children so freely share. She also loves to see how they grow each year and cherishes the fact that she plays a small part in their journey.
Margaret Deans Grantz, EPC member and EDS alumnus, had Ms. Teri during her time at EDS and now has the privilege of watching her daughter, Leni, in Ms. Teri’s class this year. Grantz shared, “Ms. Teri is one of the most impactful teachers I have had in my life. My best friend was diagnosed with cancer when we were in her class, and I’ve never forgotten (even though I was young) how wonderful she was. I have a vivid memory of the best St. Patrick’s Day party where the leprechaun made a mess! For Leni, my daughter, to now be impacted and influenced by Ms. Teri truly means so much to me. Every student needs a teacher like Ms. Teri to teach them how smart and wonderful they are. I am lucky to have been one of those students, and it means even more now that Leni is one now, too!”
We are so grateful for Ms. Teri’s service to Eastminster Day School over the years and look forward to her being here for years to come!
Teri Smith with Leni Grantz & Margaret Deans Grantz
"Imostenjoyedmeetingpeoplefromthe differentchurches.Itissogoodforustobe connectional.Wedon'tleavechurchesouton theirowntoflounder.Ifyouhaveaquestionora problem,thereisalwayssomeoneyoucancall."
ThatispartofwhatEastminsterRulingElder, MarthaCasto, enjoyed themostaboutherservice asmoderatorofTrinityPresbytery- theregional governingbodyofthePresbyterianChurch (USA)comprisedofalltheministersand congregationsfrom11countiesincentralSouth Carolina(Fairfield,Richland,Lexington, Saluda, Edgefield,McCormick, Greenwood,Laurens, Newberry,Aiken,Abbeville). .co ll)
online,whichpresentedchallengesformaintaining decentorder,themakingofmotions,recordingof seconds,andtakingofvotes.Theseactionswere muchmorecomplicatedthantheywouldhave beeninperson.
HavingpreviouslyservedonthePresbytery's committeeonministryandhavingbeenayouth advisorydelegateandaneldercommissionerto GeneralAssembliespast,Marthaisaseasoned presbyter.Shewasanexcellentchoicetoleadthe Presbyterylastyear.Wewereblessedtohaveherin thechairthispastyear,andsherepresented Eastminsterwithfaith,understanding,andgrace.
Withthefulfillmentofhertermattheendof December,Marthacompletedthreeyearsof servicetothePresbyteryonourbehalf.In2020, shewasvicemoderatorofthePresbytery's CoordinatingTearnbeforemoderatingthatteam in2021.Thatexperienceleftherwellpreparedfor herserviceasPresbyterymoderatorin2022.
Whatthosethreeyearshadincommon,ofcourse, wasaPresbyterylifethatwasdisruptedbythe pandemicandrequiredthePresbyterystaffand officerstolearnhowtocarryonitsessential businessinnewways.Meetingsweremoved
"Ihopewecangetmoreelderparticipationinthe workofthePresbyteryinthefuture-morepeople servingoncommitteesandofferingthemselvesto theworkofthelargerchurch,"Marthaadded.
PresbyterianwitnesstothegoodnewsofGod's lovefortheworldextendsbeyondtheministry capacityofanyonecongregation.Being connectionalisessentialtowhoweareas Presbyterians.Wehaveasharedresponsibilityfor andjurisdictionoverourcommonwitnesstothe Gospel.ServicetothechurchabovethesessionPresbytery,Synod,andGeneralAssembly-isa privilegeanda joy,anditexpandsourawarenessof andappreciationforthediversityofcircumstances inwhichPresbyterianwitnessismade.
