Holy Week at Epiclesis

March 18, 2017

Holy Week at Epiclesis…

Our community of faith will commemorate the events of Holy Week with four special gatherings, each at the Carmichael Chapel. Won’t you join us?

Palm Sunday: April 14, 10:30 AM. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and the triumphal entry of our Lord into Jerusalem. It also signals that the biblical drama of the salvation of the world is now rapidly moving to a climax. Scripture tells us that as Christ drew near to the city gates, the people welcomed him with shouts of “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Others waved palm branches and spread their cloaks on the road before Him in an act of royal homage. Join us on Palm Sunday as we lift up our “Hosannas!” to the Lord.

Maundy Thursday: April 18, 7 PM. A service that our worshiping community eagerly looks forward to, we’ll gather for an evening of prayer, contemplation, and communion. The word “Maundy” derives from the Latin translation of the phrase “A new commandment I give you…” (Mandatum novum…), which Jesus shared with His disciples on the night of the Last Supper and before His passion. Part of our Maundy Thursday service will include some intentional time of quiet contemplation as we consider the cross. More information here.

Holy Saturday Vigil: April 20, 6 PM. Join us for this very moving Holy Saturday service at Epiclesis. The Easter Vigil has a long history in the Christian church, going all the way back to the very first centuries of worship– in fact, in some ways it was the most important service of the entire Christian year. Look for several wonderful elements in the service, including a baptismal renewal and a big surprise to end the service. The evening will last about one hour and include Scripture and prayer. More information here.

Easter Sunday: April 21, 10:30 AM. The Lenten season comes to a glorious close with the angelic announcement on Resurrection Morning, “He is not here. He is risen, just as He said!”. Easter Sunday is the high point of the entire Christian year, and has been since the beginning. Here’s something you may not know: In the early church, Easter Sunday was the day when new Christians were baptized into the faith, ending their long discipleship process. We’re continuing the Ancient-Future tradition at Epiclesis and, after the worship service, we’ll adjourn to the beautiful outdoor rose garden pool where we will baptize Jesus’ latest disciples.

Maundy Thursday Service of Worship

March 3, 2016

Mark your calendars for Maundy Thursday, April 18, at 7 PM, for a quiet, contemplative, candlelit service of worship. Maundy Thursday, the night we mark Christ’s last supper with His disciples in that upper room in Jerusalem, gets its name from the Latin phrase, “Mandatum novum,” or “new commandment.” Jesus told His followers of a new commandment that He was given them– that they love one another just as He had loved them. Our service will include Scripture, prayer, music, art, and we’ll gather around the Table of the Lord for Communion before departing in silence.

The service is free and open to the public… and it’s sure to be a highlight of your Lent and Easter season. Won’t you join us?

Please let us know if you have questions, and hope to see you and yours on Maundy Thursday, April 18, at 7 PM, in the Carmichael Chapel at 4600 Winding Way in Sacramento (our regular Sunday morning worship location).

Holy Saturday: Stations of the Tomb

March 3, 2016

Stations of the Tomb: Holy Saturday, April 20, 6 PM.

After Jesus breathed his last on the cross, after the chaos of the earthquake and the torn veil at the temple, after darkness fell, there was a deep pause as if all creation held its breath.

Stations of the Tomb is an interactive, family-friendly worship gathering for all ages. We will explore the time between the cross and the resurrection. Place yourself in the upper room with the disciples, reflect on your lenten journey, and listen as the story of God is recounted. Experience the ancient christian traditions of Holy Saturday– And cultivate your faith in a multigenerational environment that celebrates all Christ has done, is doing and has promised to do!

Compelled By His Love: Epiclesis Women’s Retreat, 2019

May 6, 2018

We are delighted to announce the third annual Epiclesis Women’s Retreat: June 28-30!

Please join us in prayer as the Epiclesis women get prepped and ready to go!

They’re headed this June to the Jesuit Retreat Center in Applegate, California (about 10 minutes northeast of Auburn), for a three days of worship, study, prayer, and fellowship.

The dates are June 28-30 (two nights and three days; five meals; lodging) and the cost is $185. Questions or want to sign up? Please email us.

Our retreat leader: Connie Hice

Connie and her husband Larry live (right) in Post Falls, Idaho. They have been married over 50 years. They currently attend New Life Church where she is active in the prayer team ministry. She and her husband have two grown children and four grandchildren. Her testimony of divine healing from a liver disease is encouraging and inspiring.

Connie’s greatest desire is to Love God and Love His people. The cry of her heart is to see God’s people “fall in Love” with Jesus and to be totally healed and set free by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Connie is a former elementary school teacher and holds ministerial credentials with the Assemblies of God. In the last few years, Jesus has called her into a deeper relationship with Himself, into a prophetic ministry, and into ministering His Word and His healing to His beloved Bride. He has also raised up a team of intercessors to pray alongside her in a team ministry that demonstrates His working through the body of believers. Come expecting to be encouraged by the LORD, to enjoy soaking in His wonderful Presence, and to receive prayer for your needs.

Finding Jesus in the Tabernacle… 2019 Fall Retreat!

January 31, 2019

You simply cannot miss this opportunity!

Mark your calendars for October 11-12 (and Sunday the 13th) as very special guest Ben Westlund leads us in a fascinating, in-depth, and life-changing tour of Moses’ wilderness Tabernacle.

Recent Epiclesis travelers to the Holy Land were captivated by their amazing guide at the Timna Park Tabernacle replica. Ben Westlund was his name (left), and we have invited him to come all the way to Sacramento to spend two days unpacking the many ways that the Old Testament Tabernacle points to the person and work of Jesus.

Said Pastor Chris, “We were astonished at the depth of knowledge and the passion of this outstanding young man– all of us. I can only say that it’s a huge blessing that Ben is coming here, and I can’t wait for folks to meet him!”

Be sure to see the biographical sketch, plus pictures, of Ben just down below…

Some Details For You:

The retreat location will be the Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse (in Old Fair Oaks, directly across from the Epiclesis Chapter House). See handy maps below.

The cost (including lunch on Saturday) is $40 per person.

You MUST reserve your spot with a paid reservation of $40; space is limited and we are expecting heavy interest in this rare opportunity.

You Can Reserve Your Spot Three Ways:

1) Online with a Credit Card via our secure payment portal. Very Important Note: Please add $2 for each reservation to cover electronic processing fees. Mark “Fall Retreat” (and the name[s] you’re registering) in the notes field. Click here to go to our secure online payment portal.

2) By Mailing a Check: Payable to “Epiclesis” and marked “Fall Retreat” in the notes (please also list the name[s] you’re registering). Mail to 11230 Gold Express Drive, #310-214; Gold River, CA; 95670-4484.

3) In Person by Check on Sunday mornings at Epiclesis. NOTE: Please write a separate check for your registration(s) [e.g. separate from tithes or offerings], make a note that it is for the fall retreat, and also list the name[s] you’re registering.

Mini-retreat schedule/overview: Friday night, 6:30-9 PM; Saturday, 9-5. (Note: This is not an overnight retreat). Ben will also teach in the Sunday morning service at Epiclesis (10:30 AM). For Friday night, consider coming to the Village early, finding a bite to eat (there are several wonderful spots), and getting a good parking space.

An important note about parking: Parking in Old Fair Oaks Village can be a challenge. We picked the retreat date, in part, because there were no other known scheduled Village events. However, parking everywhere, including at the Clubhouse, is on a first-come, first-served basis. We strongly encourage you to come early and find a spot at the Clubhouse, or surrounding lots where appropriate (including across the street at the Fair Oaks Park and Rec building), at the Epiclesis Chapter House, or where allowed on nearby surface streets. We also strongly recommend that you carpool with friends.

Maps? Questions? Retreat Brochure?

Old Fair Oaks Village Map-Simple (showing the Chapter House and the Community Clubhouse).
Old Fair Oaks Village Map-Satellite (showing the Chapter House, Community Clubhouse, and primary streets).
Questions? Email us by clicking right here.
Want a copy of the Tabernacle Retreat brochure for printing? Click right here.

Be on the lookout for more information soon, but in the meantime mark your calendars and share this amazing opportunity with a friend!

About our retreat leader…

Ben Westlund (right) was born in 1992 in the city of Eilat, located on the Red Sea at the southernmost tip of Israel. His father, an American from Minnesota, moved to Israel at 23 to marry his mother, an Israeli of Finnish descent from Beersheba. Her grandfather had moved to British Palestine from Finland after being called by God to import, and later print, Bibles for Jews who were returning from around the world after a 2,000-year exile, resulting in the subsequent creation of the State of Israel.

He writes, “All 12 years of my education were spent in Israeli public schools, except for 5th and 6th grades which I spent in Minnesota. Two weeks after my final matriculation exam in 12th grade I found myself in the green Israeli Defense Forces uniform.

“My 3-year army service saw much disappointment, hardship, and spiritual warfare, but always accompanied with great blessing, learning, faith, and God’s grace. My army service finished with a bang as I spent my last two weeks as part of Israel’s 2014 invasion of the Gaza Strip.

“After my army service I traveled in the U.S. and other countries, spent 6 months with an Israeli Christian discipleship program, and worked both in Israel and the U.S.

“Now I am back in Israel, and for the past year and a half I have worked as a guide for the Tabernacle replica in Timna Park (see photo, left). Since working at the Tabernacle, I have made great strides in my understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures as I keep reading and studying their relevance to living a full and complete life in Christ.”

About the art used in our retreat logo: “Joy” is the title of the stunning profile depiction of Jesus. The artist is Yongsung Kim, a favorite of ours at Epiclesis (he’s the creator of the “Hand of God” found on the wall of our Chapter House). He writes, “I spent my youth in the beautiful countryside of Korea, which is rich with the emotion that I hope is captured in my paintings. I started painting in middle school and spent much of my time growing up drawing. After I became an adult, I began to worry about the path my life would lead, so I prayed. Through the inspiration I gained while painting, I decided I would live a life devoted to bringing glory to God. Even though I didn’t formally study painting, I felt I had been blessed with natural talent and aesthetic taste and I began a life as a Christian artist.”