Last Sunday, worship at Epiphany paused for a special moment. Emily Mize and Sierra Muchow were called forward, and Vicar Mike Copp led the congregation in a prayer of blessing over them as they prepare for lives of church work. It was also the moment Epiphany introduced Stars in the Making, a renewed effort to support members of our own church family who are pursuing full-time ministry.

Epiphany is reinvigorating Stars in the Making, a congregational fund first established years ago under Pastor Wemmer to support members of our church family who are pursuing full-time church work. The fund will be dispersed equally among members currently enrolled in church-work studies, and details on how to give will be posted on the church website soon.

Right now, three of our own are the fund’s first beneficiaries, and all were blessed during worship this weekend.

Emily Mize is studying at Concordia University Texas for a Director of Christian Education (DCE) degree, preparing to serve young people in ministry. Sierra Muchow is studying nursing at Concordia University Texas and was recently accepted into the university’s Called to Lead program, the first nursing student ever admitted to it. Vicar Mike Copp is beginning the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, while continuing to serve as a vicar at Epiphany Lutheran Church and School. Through the program, he is preparing to serve as an ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.

During the service, Vicar Copp led the congregation in a recognition and prayer for Emily and Sierra, grounded in 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” The congregation affirmed its support aloud, answering “We will, with the help of God,” and each young woman received a small token gift from her Epiphany family as a send-off blessing.

If you’d like to support Emily, Sierra, Vicar Copp, and future Epiphany members pursuing church work, whether through prayer or a gift to the fund, watch the church website for details on how to give.