Epiphany StarEpiscopal Church of the Epiphany1101 Sunset Drive; P. O. Box 116Guntersville, AL 35976256-582-4897 www.epiphanyguntersville.org

December 2010

Editor: Rusty Ogden

My Dear Parishioners,

Ah, the season of Advent, a season that is truly counter culture. Maybe that’s why I like it so much. Our culture each year attempts to tell us that December is a time to think of speeding up, get busy, and spend lots of money. All this craziness often seems to make us enjoy the season that much less. Commercialism wants to tells us that if we spend enough we can ease the hole in our souls, but the only sure way to do that is to become more intoned in preparing for Christmas and the coming Christ.

I remember growing up looking at all my presents under the Christmas tree. I loved seeing all those beautiful packages with the fancy bows. Everything peaked when Christmas morning came and we opened our presents. I was thrilled to tear through everything as fast as I could. Unfortunately, after all the boxes were opened and my mother had cleaned up, it was sort of depressing. When all was said and done, with all the unwrapped presents put neatly back under the tree, it didn’t seem so great after all. Then the funk hit when the expectancy was over.

I believe that if we can each spend a few moments each day with a private devotion it helps keep the meaning of the season alive. Maybe one of the little devotion books that we offer for free at the church or advent candles on the dinner table. If nothing else just read the Gospel of Luke and the story of Christ’s nativity. Don’t over due it, just a nice devotion to center yourself. Take some time to think about your priorities? What is truly

important to you? How can Christ stay in your heart and mind through this mind boggling season? Remember that giving a gift to say that you care is an important thing, sometimes we can go way overboard.

A wonderful tradition came out of Europe centuries ago. I’ve never been able to do it because of my children and our culture, but… Their tradition is to celebrate the Twelve days of Christmas (remember the song). Each of the 12 days a gift is given (or received) and on the twelfth day, the day when the wise men arrived, you gave the greatest gift. Unlike the song, the gifts weren’t par-ticularly big until the last day. On the last day you gave the greatest gift that you could manage – as if you were giv-ing to the Christ Child. Maybe some-day Rita and I will give it a try. I be-lieve it might help me focus better on the true reason behind Christmas.

As I have grown older, I have discov-ered that I really don’t have much more room in my house for things. Memories and relationships have become much more meaningful. Giving to others who need a gift of kindness and love also becomes more meaningful. I really don’t need much anymore. I enjoy receiving gifts, but really… I have been blessed so much by God. What more could I want or desire? I have a God

who truly loves me, a wife that is so much better than I deserve. I have wonderful children and a grandson that is GREAT, and all of us have been reasonably healthy. If I never received another gift under the tree I would still be happy. God is SO Good! I pray a similar experience for each of you.

I hope and pray for a meaningful Advent and a very Merry Christmas to each of you. You are all in my heart and mind this season. You are loved!

Peace

Bill

Epiphany wishes all a very Merry Christmas

and a Joyous New Year.

Please plan on celebrating Christ’s birth with your church family.

Christmas services are as follows:

Sunday, December 19 Christmas Pageant 10:30 a.m.

Sr. EYC Christmas Party 6:00 p.m.

Friday, December 24Christmas Family Service 5:30 p.m.

(Nursery provided)Festival of Carols 10:15 p.m.

1st Eucharist of Christmas 11p.m.

Saturday, December 25Christmas Day 10:00 a.m.The Nativity of our Lord

Sunday, December 27Lessons and Carols with

Epiphany Star Page 2

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PAGEANTDebbie Moss and Jenny Baker are directing this year’s Christ-mas Pageant which is December 19. If your child would like to be in the pageant, the sign up sheet is on the bulletin board outside the Nave. Debbie would like to encourage the children to participate in this fun filled Christmas tradition.

Rehearsals are scheduled for December 12 at noon and Decem-ber 18 at 10 a.m.

GUNTERSVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE“It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas”

The EYC and young people of Epiphany are entering a float in the Gun-tersville Christmas Parade December 11. If you would like to help there is a sign up sheet on the EYC bulletin board.

CHRISTMAS CAROLINGOn Wednesday night December 15th at 5:30pm, in lieu of evening activities, all are invited to head out into the community for a little Christmas caroling followed by pizza, hot chocolate, and Smores.

Christmas Poinsettias

The Altar Guild is planning for Christmas. It is time to order your poinsettias that are used to decorate our sanctuary. Red and white plants are used to make a cross in front of the altar and to decorate the windows. Your dedication will go in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins.

For your convenience, the sign up sheets will be on the counter in the church office. The poinsettias are $10.00 per plant and are yours to take home after Christmas. Please make your check out to Epiphany and note that it is for poinsettias. Place your order before December 12 or you may call Marsha at 571-2300.

2011 Flower and Candle Dedications Signup sheets for flower and candle dedications for 2011 are on the bulletin board across the hall from the office. Dates still available are:Flower: February 27, May 22, June 5, July 24 & 31, August 7, October 23, November 20Candles: January 23, February 6 & 13, September 4, November 27.

PLEASE NOTE: IMPORTANT IRS

NOTICE

2010 Charitable Contribution Deductions and December 31st

Deadline.

Donors must deliver or mail (and postmark) checks on or by this date in order to claim a charitable contribution for 2010. Checks that are placed in the church offering during the first worship service of 2011 will not qual-ify for a charitable contribution de-duction for 2010 even if the check is postdated to 2010 or was actually writ-ten in 2010. However, checks that are written, mailed, and postmarked in 2010 will be deducted in 2010 though they are not received by a church until 2011.

PARENTS NIGHT-OUT FUNDRAISEROn Friday night December 17th, Lauren Wainwright and the EYC are hosting a Parents Night Out fundraiser. Parents can drop their kids off at the church to do some last minute Christmas shopping or have an evening out while the EYC and children hang out, play games, and watch movies. Parents can drop off kids beginning at 6pm and pick up until 9pm. Snacks will be pro-vided. A monetary donation will be appreciated.

CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATINGPARTY FOR

CEDAR LODGECedar Lodge is very excited to have us host a tree decorating party for the residents. Anyone in the parish is welcome to attend but will need to sign a confidentiality paper. We will meet at the church, ready to leave at 3:45 on December 2nd. We need homemade goodies, cookies, cupcakes, etc, for our party during the decorating. If anyone in the parish has questions, please contact Lee Hoggle at 256-558-3571 or Susan Armstrong at 256-302-3801.

In trying to put together a “thank you” for the success of our recent church auction, there just seems to be no end to folks we want to include. It is just so amazing how our church pulls together to get things done.

Our food sign-up sheet was not filling up, and looked like we were going to be lacking in this area. Well, low and behold around 5:00 p.m. the day of the auction – the food began to pour in and what a spread! Many auction attendees commented on our good food. Thanks to all who stood in their kitchen, or went out and purchased, it was grand!

To all those who contributed items to be auctioned, you are so special. Because of your gifts, you share in the success of our auction.

All who worked the event and were on the committee, please be mindful that without you we could not have even come close to pulling this off! Every year since we chaired the first auction, we are more and more blessed with your encouragement as we mull over and work up to this event. It was our pleasure and a blessing to have worked with each of you.

God’s blessings and praise for you and his wonder-ful gifts. He is always there to nudge us – even though at times we think we just cannot move forward.

Joe and Linda Katz

Dear Church of Epiphany,

I want to thank Fr. Bill and the members of Epiphany for the appreciation Sunday for me. I had the best weekend and the best time on Sunday morning at church.

I thank you for the plaque and the nice gift that you gave me. The luncheon was wonderful and the food was delicious. I enjoyed it so very much.

I want to thank the choir, the ECW, The Daughters of the King and the Brotherhood for all your work. I really felt that you loved me and appreciated me. Thank you for every thing that you did for me.

I will remember my appreciation Sunday for the rest of my life.

Kay Benefield

Marsha Babb and Rusty Ogden would like to thank all those who worked so hard for the Holiday Bazaar.

A big thanks to Kathy Thompson and Penny Moses’ efforts of getting baked goods and to all who responded to the call.

Meredith Jackson and Kelly Potts were busy making beautiful customized ornaments.

Velma Atkins and Paula Dabney sold lots of raffle tickets and took in a good amount of money.

Rita Hayes and Susan Armstrong did a great job at taking everyone’s money.

Maggie Muegge and Will Smith did a wonderful job of selling your vintage jewelry

Lee Jones cooked lots of frozen casseroles and Martha and Sid Ross cooked 124 quarts of soup. Dawn Alves, Barbara Warnes and Ellen Jones, manned the Frozen Food table. They called Ellen the freezer elf. Ellen was the one wearing gloves and a toboggan to survive all those trips to the freezer.

Sid Ross, Rick Cooley and Bill Thompson, along with the vendors, leant their muscle power to setting up and tearing down tables and chairs. Thanks to The Whole Backstage for the loan of the stanchions and ropes.

And an extra big thank you to all those who came to browse and buy.

Marsha Babb and Rusty Ogden

Epiphany Star Page 3

The Outreach Committee would like to thank all those who responded to the their call for the ingathering. This is the largest ingathering response we have had in over 20 years.

Your generosity supplied The Salvation Army, Home Place and Ogden House with food and supplies that are desperately needed.

Thank you again

Bob Davis and the Outreach Committee

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January 9 Bishop Sloan’s visit and confirmation 14 Sr. EYC ski Trip thru 17th 23 Parish Business Meeting

February 11 Diocesan Convention 18 Vestry Retreat

April 17— 24 HOLY WEEK

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1Centering Prayer 10:30am

HC & Healing Service 11:30am

HC 5:30 p.m.Dinner 6pm

Programs & Choir 6:30pm

2Dream Group

12pmCenter Prayer

6:30pm

Payton Burrows

3Christmas Party at Cedar Lodge 4pm

EYC Boys Camp-Out 6pm

4Altar Guild

Workday 9am

Anna BrownClay Burrows

5Discretionary Fund HC 8 & 10:30am

SS 9:30amInquirers Class 9:30am

Children’s Church 10:30am

Taizé Service 5pmSr. EYC 6pm

Judy Sears Laurie Woodall

6EFM 6pm

Benjamin Booth

Betti KennamerShaun Packard

7

Teresa Hunter

8Centering Prayer 10:30am

HC 5:30 p.m.Dinner 6pm

Programs & Choir 6:30pm

9Dream Group

12pmCenter Prayer

6:30pm

Karen BorsBitsy Packard

10 11Brotherhood of

Saint Andrew 8amGuntersville

Christmas Parade 5pm

Sara HembreeRobert Hodges

Tony Lee

12HC 8 & 10:30am

SS 9:30amInquirers Class 9:30amOutreach mtg 9:30am

Children’s Church 10:30am

Pageant Rehearsal 12pmSr. EYC 6pmUltreya 6pm

Carmen Hurff

13DOK 11:15am

EFM 6pm

14

Jacob McAllister

George Newman

LaRue Shuart

15Centering Prayer 10:30am

HC & Healing Service 11:30am

Christmas Caroling and Pizza Party 5:30pm

16Dream Group

12pmCenter Prayer

6:30pm

Haley Ryan

17Parents Night Out

6pm—9pm

Misty Clanton

18Pageant Rehearsal

10amChristmas Party at Barfield Nursing

Home 10am

19HC 8 & 10:30am

SS 9:30amInquirers Class 9:30amMission Team 9:30am

Christmas Pageant 10:30am

Drawing for Quilt 12pmCeltic Service 5pm

EYC Christmas Party 6pm

20EFM 6pm

Vestry 7pm

21Hospitality

Committee mtg 7pm

Lee Auman

22Centering Prayer 10:30am

HC & Healing Service 11:30am

Lynn BeasleyLee Hoggle

23Dream Group

12pmCenter Prayer

6:30pm

Grace Martin

24OFFICE CLOSED

Family Service 5:30pm

Festival of Carols 10:15pm

First Eucharist of Christmas

11pmCarol Jean ExbyRebekah Mohr

25Nativity of Our

Lord Service 10am

26Lessons and Carols 9am

Jack CamperEd Hayes

27EFM 6pmDOK 7pm

Donna BruceJack ThomasDoris Webb

28

Doris BensonJoAnn Overton

29NO EUCHARIST

OR PROGRAMS TODAY

Jody Chorba

30Dream Group

12pmCenter Prayer

6:30pm

Tony Pate

31OFFICE CLOSED

Micky Taylor

January 1

CODE: HC—Holy Communion; DOK—Daughters of the King; SS—Sunday School; Birthdays

Vestry Person for the month of December— Jim McAllister

256-582-3077

Epiphany Star

Schools out until January 4