Episcopal Church of the Epiphany1101 Sunset DriveP. O. Box 116Guntersville, AL 35976 www.EpiphanyGuntersville.org

February 2012

Editor: Rusty OgdenEpiphany Star

My Dear Parish Family,

Towards the end of February we once again re-enter the holy season of Lent. Lent always has the true potential to change us and bring us closer to the heart of Christ. I can tell you, however, that Lent certainly will not change us if we don’t allow it the possibility of touching and penetrating or hearts. There are many ways we allow this to happen.

First, and foremost, it requires attending worship regularly. Christianity was never meant to be an individualistic religion. Our faith, to be effective, needs to be shared with others – it is a team sport. The sharing begins with coming to share our faith with our sisters and brothers and then receiving the body and blood of Christ - as the Bible says, on the Lord’s Day. I truly believe that failing to worship together weakens us in our daily walk and life. Beyond that you don’t really know the whole story if you don’t come and hear it unfold each week. This happens as we hear the drama of the word of God brought to life before us through the Eucharist. Nothing else truly replaces Sunday worship (or Wednesday worship if necessary) as much as we might say or hope that it does.

Secondly, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, truly a powerful day within our tradition. Ash Wednesday reminds us once again who we are, “We are but dust and to dust we shall return”. This powerful, stunning sentence is said to each of us as ash is placed upon our forehead in the form of a cross. Through this action we remember once again that we ourselves are not God. We often behave as our own God, but we always miserably fail. Ash Wednesday is the gateway that ushers us through the entire season of remembering who we are and what we are. We are creatures not Creator.

Thirdly, each year we offer an amazing Lenten class. I am always amazed that more people don’t take advantage of these few minutes each week to learn something about our Lord, and ourselves. The program will begin on February 29, right after din-ner at 6:30pm, and will last no longer than one hour. Rita and I will lead this year’s class in our new Woodall Commons.

Fourth, each year we place Lenten Devotions in the back of the church. These small pamphlets composed of short devotions for each of the forty days of Lent. Each devotion can be read in the morning as you drink your cup of coffee before running off on your daily chores or as you lay in bed as you rap up the day (or obviously anytime in between). Their purpose is to helpus keep our focus during the season and give us a little something to chew on during the day. If you have a family I always include a devotional for families. These are small devotions that are just perfect to read around the table together. The bestreligious training is always accomplished at home.

Finally there is the old tradition of giving up something for Lent. I confess that most years I do. Sometimes I actually succeed through the season. Most often I give up things like my beloved Coke, or wine, or chocolate. It really doesn’t matter, be brave, and be imaginative. If I do give something up I try to give the money I would have spent to a charity such us UTO (United Thank Offering). Another, way to do this is not to give up something, but to add something. Some people add going to church each Sunday, or going to the Wednesday program, or working for a local charity. What ever floats your boat works. Again, these time-tested ways keep us focused on what Christ has done for us.

And, I almost forgot. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the only fast days subscribed by the church. While none of us may be able to fast an entire day, just skipping lunch makes a difference, especially if we use that time for personal prayer and again giving to charity the small bit of money we save by not eating. Remember, that if your doctor says that you should not fast, don’t fast. I do believe that the majority of us, however, can find spiritual riches and probably nutrimental value denying our-selves a meal once in a while.

Peace,

Father Bill

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Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Shrove Tuesday is February 21 this year. Epiphany will celebrate this day with a Pancake Supper served from 5:30pm to 7:00pm by the EYC. Cost is $5 with children under ten eating for free.

February 22 is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The name “Ash Wednesday” comes from the traditional practice of imposing ashes on worshipers’ foreheads. We will have two services on the 22nd: noon and 7:00pm. There will be no other regular Wednesday activities or the 11:30am Healing Service.

Please bring your blessed palm crosses from last year’s Palm Sunday to the office. The Altar Guild will

Ash Wednesday

EASTER LILIES AND RED TULIPS Beginning with Ash Wednesday, our sanctuary will be “dressed” in the penitent color of purple. There will be no flowers on the altar. We will use the plain pottery communion vessels instead of the gleaming silver, the wooden offering plates instead of the brass and the crosses will be veiled.

These is just the first steps leading up to a joyous Easter morning! Then you will see the crosses unveiled, the purple replaced with tapestry, and the pottery put away in favor of the silver. AND beautiful Easter Lilies and red tulips!

Easter Sunday is celebrated on April 8. The Altar Guild is taking dedications for the lilies and tulips which make the cross in front of the altar.

Each Easter Lily is $20.00 and each Tulip is $20.00. The order forms are on the counter in the church office. You may have more than one dedication per tulip.

This dedication is a beautiful way to honor people special in our lives and to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Your dedication will appear in the bulletin.

We appreciate your payment before dedication date so the church’s records and your year-end statement are correct.

If you have any questions please see Marsha Babb or call her at 256-571-2300.

Holy Week Schedule

PALM SUNDAYApril 1

8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

MAUNDY THURSDAY April 5 – 7 p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY April 6Services

12 noon & 7 p.m.Living Stations of the Cross

5:30 p.m.

HOLY SATURDAY, EASTER EVE

April 7Easter Egg Hunt and hot dog lunch 11 a.m.

Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m.

THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

April 88:00 a.m. & *10:30 a.m.

Easter Sunday Reception immediately after the 10:30 a.m. service. Bill and Rita Winter’s

Cheap Champagne Easter Hoo Rah 4:00 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE

March 24 – PLTE at St. Luke’s Birmingham

March 26—30 - School Spring Break

April 1 – 8 Holy Week

April 14 – Trash to Treasure Sale

April 15 - Silly Sock Sunday

April 26 – Holy One Golf Tournament at Gunter’s Landing

`

April 27 - Carol Jean Rives Forum

May 3 – Pilgrimage to France

May 13 - Mother’s Day

May 20 - Youth Sunday and Year End Party

June 17 - Father’s Day

August 24—26 - Parish Retreat at Camp McDowell

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Mission Team

Spotlight

SUPPLIES FOR CRAIN COURT’SAFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

Due February 12

There are bins available in Sanderson Hall

School Paper * Spiral NotebooksConstruction Paper

Pencils * Pens * CrayonsColored Pencils & MarkersBottled Glue * Glue Sticks

Craft SuppliesHand SanitizerFacial Tissue

John Burrows will be leading our Wednesday night adult Christian Formation classes from now until Ash Wednesday, 22 February. The class will feature a short 20-minute video discussion of a prominent church scholar or topic followed by group discussion. Epiphany is an active Christian community, and as such this class will help us hone our Christian identities so that we can become even more effective in our individual and corporate ministries. Please come and join John for some lively conversations on various church topics.

Sunday Morning, 9:30 AM, Bible Study (Commons Building)

Wednesday Evenings, 6:30 PM, Our Christian Identities 6:30 PM, Woman's Study Group

Fr. Bill and Rita Winters will conduct a Lenten Program on Wednesday nights in Woodall Commons beginning February 29 at 6:30 p.m.

Lenten Program

Adult Christian Formation

Sue Beiter, President of Daughters of the King, has announced new meeting dates effective February 6.

They will meet each month on the first Monday at11:00 a.m. and the fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m

CURSILLO YEARLY REPORT Earlier this year, we started doing stations of the Cross as a way to pray for those attending each Cursillo. The Cursillo group has been active, meeting each month. Back in April we had Donna Burrows, Patsy McCoy, Rick Cooley and Ray Klaver attend Cursillo, along with Doug Dixon, Valerie Fleming, Barbara and Rush Sedberry on staff. We had Ron and Ann Thomas attend Cursillo in June. We have done some coffee hours and we will assist our church as needed in the coming year. We are looking forward to having more people attend Cursillo as a way to further their spiritual life.

Respectfully Yours in Christ, Kathy Thompson – Lay Rector

Editor’s note: The Cursillo Report for 2011 was inadver-tently left out of the 2011 Annual Report. My apologies to Kathy and the Cursillo group.

FR. BILL’S NEW STUDAY GROUP

Fr. Bill is beginning a new study group based on The Heart of Christianity, rediscovering a Life of Faith.

The study group will meet on Monday’s at 10:30am in the Heritage Room.

The Heart of Christianity is a book by Marcus J. Borg and costs $12. This highly readable book is essentially about looking at Christianity again for the first time.

There are free devotional books for the Season of Lent on the cart

at the back of the church.

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EYC is still collecting cell phones and ink cartridges for recycling. Please bring them to the church office.

Last Chance for Beans ‘N Greens

Tennessee Valley Family Services is holding a Beans ‘N Greens lunch, March 8, 11am-2pm in Sanderson Hall. Turnip Greens, pinto beans, great northern beans, cornbread and dessert, prepared by Shelia Myrick, will be served, all for $5.00. The proceeds will aid the agency in continuing to provide services to runaway, homeless and at-risk youth in residential programs and to help their families through support programs.

As the storm season approaches, we would like to have contact information to be used by the office to check up on our parishioners. Please e-mail, call or drop us a note with the following information for yourself and family members.

E-mail addresses Cell phone numbers Home phone numbers Work phone numbers Contact name and numbers of family members or friends not living with you.

This information will be kept confidential in the church office.

Happening is a Christian Experience for youth in grades 10-12 from across Alabama. Happening brings it's own staff to lead theweekend. Epiphany will provide the space, meals, snacks and showers.Thank you to those who have volunteered to help us prepare.

We still need help with transportation, showers, snacks and drinks. Of course monetary donations are always welcome. Please contact one of the Happening steering committee members if you have any questions or would like to volunteer your help.

Shelly Hardin - Youth Director - 404-285-6044 or 256-582-4897Lamar Auman - House Dad - 256-755-7305Kelly Auman - House Mom - 256-738-9347Shari Harrison - Transportation/Shower coordinator - 256-673-3458Lee Jones - Meals coordinator - 256-506-5518

Epiphany Hosts Happening #60 March 2-4

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

MEALS FOR EYC

Interested in providing a meal for the EYC on a Sunday night? If you would like to cook or contribute $35 towards food, contact Shelly in the office.

WELCOME TO EPIPHANYOn January 22 the following joined the church by the laying on of hands of The Right Rev. Bishop Kee Sloan at the Confirmation Service.

Confirmed:Josh and Michelle Bradshaw, Cecil “Tank” Conerly III, Janet DownesTracey and Harold “Richie” Jimerson, Sonny Johnston, Tammy Kyle Jamie Robinson

Received:Patrick Gasvoda

Re-affirmation:Holly Andries

E-mail: rustyogden@bellsouth.netChurch: epis_ala@bellsouth.netFax #: 582-4899www.epiphanyguntersville.org

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The Epiphany family extends its most heartfelt sympathy, love, prayers and support to:

Bob, Robin, Savannah and Haley Ryan in the loss of Bob’s father, Donn Ryan of Naples, Florida

Shelly, Randall, Clay and Amanda Hardin in the loss, December 21, of Shelly’s uncle, Howard Hildebrandt, of Port Byron, NY.

Kim Adams and her family in the loss, December 21, of her nephew, Michael McLean, of Springfield, Illinois.

Maggie Muegge in the loss, December 24, of her brother, Ed Naylor, of Boaz.

Will Smith and his family in the loss, January 4, of his aunt, Patricia Prickett Cazalas, of Huntsville.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord

Address Change

Chris and Meredith Jackson5155 Wyeth Mountain RoadGuntersville, AL 35976256-558-0237

The annual Parish Business Meeting was held January 15 and the budget for 2012 was passed. If you were not able to attend, but would like a copy of the 2011 Annual Report, with the 2012 budget, you may get a copy in the church office.

You Are Invited to a Baby Shower

Honoring

Kelly Potts

Sunday, February 26, 20122:00 P. M.—4:00 P. M.

In Sanderson Hall

Hosted byFriends and Family

Kelly is registered at:Target,

Wal-Mart Baby Depot

The baby’s name is John Kemper Rogers, III

(also known as Jake)

Do you know of someone that cannot make it to church on Sunday or would you like to listen to the service again or share with friends?Go to our web site http://epiphanyguntersville.org/ and click on worship then recorded worship to listen to the complete Sunday 10:30 service.

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CODE: BSA—Brotherhood of St. Andrew; CP—Centering Prayer; DOK—Daughters of the King; DG—Dream Group; HC—Holy Communion; HE—Holy Eucharist; SS—Sunday School; Birthdays

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1CP 10:30am

HC & Healing 11:30amWorship 5:30pm

Dinner 5:45pmPrograms & Choir 6:30pm

Becky Moses

2DG 12pm

CP 6:30pm

3

Barbara Gardner

Betsy King

4Dancing As Stars

6:30pm

5Discretionary Fund

SundayHC 8 & 10:30amBreakfast 8:45am

SS 9:30amChildren’s Church 10:30am

EYC 5pmTaizé Service 5pm

6Fr. Bill’s Study Group 10:30am

EFM 6pm

7Hospitality

Committee mtg 7pm

8CP 10:30am

HC & Healing 11:30amWorship 5:30pm

Dinner 5:45pmPrograms & Choir 6:30pm

Chris Hoggle

9DG 12pm

CP 6:30pm

Tiffany Martin

10 11Garden Workday

7amBSA 8amHappening Overnight

12HC 8 & 10:30amBreakfast 8:45am

SS 9:30amOutreach mtg 9:30am

Children’s Church 10:30amEYC 5pm

Ultreya 6pm

Jim Ward

13Fr. Bill’s Study Group 10:30am

EFM 6pm

Ann Parrish

14

Bob Vass

15CP 10:30am

HC & Healing 11:30amWorship 5:30pm

Dinner 5:45pmPrograms & Choir 6:30pm

Grant ArmstrongHollis BabbRobin Ryan

16DG 12pm

CP 6:30pm

17 18

19HC 8 & 10:30amBreakfast 8:45am

SS 9:30amChildren’s Church 10:30am

EYC 5pmCeltic Service 5pm

20Fr. Bill’s Study Group 10:30am

EFM 6pm

Sam Duffey

21Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

5:30pm

Cheri Blair

22 CP 10:30am

Services 12pm & 7pm

Paul GrassLinda Harborth

23DG 12pm

CP 6:30pm

24 25BSA 8am

26HC 8 & 10:30amBreakfast 8:45am

SS 9:30amChildren’s Church 10:30am

Potts Baby Shower 2pmEYC 5pm

Carol CodoriMike Murdock

27Fr. Bill’s Study Group 10:30am

EFM 6pm

Adele Woodall

28

Lisa Amburn

29CP 10:30am

HC & Healing 11:30amWorship 5:30pm

Dinner 5:45pmPrograms & Choir 6:30pm

February 2012

Vestry Retreat 10—12

Diocesan Convention

Vestry Person for the month of FebruaryJack Camper 256-582-3228

March April2—4 Happening #60 1—Palm Sunday

11—Daylight Savings Time ends 5—Maundy Thursday

24—PLTE at St. Luke’s 6—Good Friday

26—School Spring Break begins 6—Stations of the Cross

7—Easter Eve & Easter Egg Hunt

8—Easter Day

May3—Pilgrimage to France

6—UTO Ingathering

13—Mather’s Day

20—Youth Sunday

25—Last Day of School

28—Memorial Day

Happening #60 March 2—4