Episcopal Church of the Epiphany1101 Sunset Drive - P. O. Box 116Guntersville, AL 35976256-582-4897 www.EpiphanyGuntersville.org

September 2012

Editor: Rusty Ogden

The 12th Annual Bring a Friend Sunday,

September 16Now is the time to begin inviting friends and family to the 12th annual Bring a Friend Sunday. What can be better than to invite a friend to share God’s message to all.

There are invitation cards available in the back of the church to assist you with inviting family and friends. Please make use of them. They are an effective tool at your disposal.

The Hospitality Committee is preparing a lasagna and salad lunch for members and guests after the 10:30am ser-vice. The meal is com-pletely free, but we would like each of you to bring your favorite dessert just

before the service to insure that it is placed just right.

We will be giving a small or mini loaf of bread to all visitors. If any of you can make a few loaves and bring them to the church on Friday, September 14 before 12pm, or Saturday, September 15 between 10am and 12pm, we will wrap them as gifts.

Epiphany Star

Presents

with Sybil MacBeth

Praying in Color is a short, three hour seminar on a different kind of prayer that combines mind, body, spirit, and imagination. It will be held from 9 am to 12 noon on September 22 in Woodall Com-mons. Breakfast at 8:30 am and all materials are included in the $20 seminar fee. A sign up sheet is on the Nave bulletin board or call the office. The book, Praying in Color, will be available at the seminar for $15.

If you want to pray but words escape you, you might try Praying in Color. If sitting still and staying focused in prayer are a challenge, you might try Praying in Color.

If your body wants to be part of your prayer, you might try Praying in Color. If you want to just hang out with God but don’t know how, you might try Praying in Color. If listening to God feels like an impossible task, you might try Praying in Color. If your mind wanders and your body complains, you might try Praying in Color. Or if you want a visual, concrete way to pray, you might try Pray-ing in Color.

Sybil MacBeth is a dancer, a doodler, the wife of an Episcopal priest, and a soul on the journey. She has brought the Praying in Color to congregations throughout the country and is in much demand.

For more information, see the internet site www.prayingincolor.com or see the brochures available at the church.

Breakfast ReturningSheila Myrick will start serving breakfast every Sunday at 8:45am beginning September 30. Breakfast is for a voluntary donation but a good rule of thumb would be Wednesday night dinner prices of $5 and $3.

My Dear Friends,

Whoever said that the Episcopal Church wasn’t interested in education? I can tell you that the statement is far from true, at least at Epiphany (and I assume at most Episcopal Churches).

This year I was dumbfounded that EFM (Education for Ministry) was almost forced into having two groups because so many people were clamoring for the course. AND EFM COSTS REAL MONEY! Finally they settled for a maximum class of 12 students, and two folks were asked to wait until next year because of space.

I started a Monday morning class about a year and a half ago. I really thought it would last about six weeks with maybe four or five people showing up. Well, to my amazement, the class has grown. I guess people really are interested in having a mature Christian discussion. Our class began again this past Monday, working on John Dominic Crossan’s

book, The Power of Parable. It was exciting to see 18 people showed up. The class meets on Monday’s at 10:30 am and lasts one hour. We have more chairs if you are thinking of coming.

Continuing on education – our next Carol Jean Rives Forum is Saturday Morning, September 22nd, from 9 am until 12pm. This class will bring to Epiphany and Guntersville an exciting new way to pray. Jim Coleman alerted us to the work of Sybil MacBeth and paved the way for her making a stop at Epiphany on her nationwide schedule. You will want to bring your friends to this exciting conference. We have dropped our price down to $20 so everyone can afford to hear this remarkable woman.

Add to this the continuing out-standing Sunday School class that Lamar Auman is teaching, a devel-

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CONFIRMATION BEGINS WITH INQUIRER’S CLASSOn September 23

The Episcopal Church is an odd church in many ways, but perhaps the most incredible truth is that one can only officially join the church once a year. As any good Episcopa-lian can tell you, confirmation day is the day when our Bishop comes for a visit. And no one can be confirmed without the bishop laying his hands on our head. At Epiphany, the bishop normally comes right around January 6th or the day of Epiphany. This year our Bishop’s visit is scheduled on Sunday, January 6, the exact day of Epiphany. His visit is always a highlight of the year.

If you are interested in being confirmed, or received (you come from a catholic tradition), Inquirer’s class is the class you need to take. You will learn all about the Episcopal Church, from what we believe, a little bit of history, how our church conducts its business, and all sorts of interesting things.

Inquirer’s Class this year will be during the Sunday School hour of 9:30am. We will begin meeting on Sunday, September 23, and finish on November 11 – 8 classes. The class will meet in one the Sunday School rooms upstairs. If you are interested in being confirmed, please contact Fr. Bill in the office.

If you are already an Episcopalian and would like a refresher class, your presence is welcome.

oping Wednesday evening program led by Lamar and Rick Cooley, and two insight-ful dream classes that run throughout the year.

Truthfully, education at Epiphany is com-ing on strong. It has taken twelve years of hard work by numerous dedicated people but our program is blossoming. I am so grateful and thankful for what is happen-ing. Truthfully, I am amazed. After all, how can we worship Jesus if we truly don’t know Him. We aren’t there yet, not by a long shot, but we have come light years from where we were, and who knows what God has in store for us in the next few years.

I love you all. Keep getting involved and don’t forget Bring a Friend Sunday on September 16. We have much to show and tell!

Blessings,

Father Bill

WANTED: NEW VESTRY MEMBERS

A Nomination Committee has been formed by the current vestry to search for prospective candidates for next year’s vestry. The Nomination Committee includes Meredith Jackson, Jim King and Bill Thompson. If you or someone you know is interested in election to the vestry, please submit their name to any of the listed people or to the office. Remember that election to the vestry is a three year term.

Please check with your nominee before submitting their name to make sure that they are willing to serve.

A candidate for the vestry must:

be a confirmed or received member of Epiphanybe a member in good standing:

received communion in the church at least three times in the past yearpledge to the General Fund of Epiphany

make a firm commitment to attend monthly vestry meetings (meets third Tuesday of every month).attend the yearly Vestry Retreat held at Camp McDowell (scheduled for February 8—10, 2013).commit to one month a year as Vestry Person of the Month to lock

all doors and make sure lights are off after all services. have a positive attitude toward the spiritual and physical well-being

of the parish.

DIOCESAN CONVENTION NOMINATIONS WANTED

We need four delegates and two alternates for the Alabama Diocesan Convention which will be held at in Montgomery on February 22 and 23, 2013. Nominees for voting delegate must be members in good standing, known by the treasurer and attend services regularly. Please check with your nominee before submitting their name to make sure that they are willing to serve.

The following vestry members are completing their third year of service. When you see them, give them a big THANK YOU.

Parish Elections will be held October 28Parish elections will be held after the 10:30 am service. These elections are very important as you choose those who will make the decisions on the corporate running of the church and those who will represent our parish at the diocesan convention. Shelia Myrick will serve a free soup lunch.

Gloria Kilnerfulfilled Bob Moses’ termShe may be nominated for

another term

Meredith Jackson

Jim King

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Bill Thompson

Bob Moses

Each candidate for vestry and convention needs to get a bio to Rusty Ogden in the office. Matters of interest in the bio are where you were born, how long a member of the church, what service you attend, and what activities you have participated in since becoming a member of Epiphany. This information will be handed out to the parish in suitable places. Rusty will use your directory picture with the bio. Please have information to Rusty as soon as possible but no later than Sunday, Oc-tober 14. Failure to do this will not mean that a person can’t run for vestry but that they will go into the election without in-formation being given to the parish which may hurt their chances.

By Lamar Auman

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAMS START SEPTEMBER 12 AT 6:30PM

Adult Christian Formation

Who were Matthew, Mark and Luke?

We are a liturgical church and our Gospel readings follow a three year calendar cycle. Have you ever thought about how the placement of the readings came to be? Have you ever thought about why the oldest gospel is half the length of the two later Gospels? Have you ever thought about how these Jewish scrolls may have been written to correspond with the Jewish lectionary calendar?

On alternating Wednesday Evenings we will explore the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. We will allow these Jewish writers to speak to us by study of the Jewish liturgical calendar of the time. This may allow us to hear the Good News afresh and find new meaning in texts that we think we know so well. Please bring your bible and join us on Wednesday nights!

Alternate Wednesdays will be an open reflection group lead by Josh Bradshaw and Rick Cooley. Share your life experience’s with Christ and help others with their Christianity. It is an open discussion about Piety, Christian Study, and Action.

Christian Formation is about the formation of our Christian identities.

Christian Formation is also about "transformation" ... Transformation of ourselves, our beings, our identities, on this side of death, into an identity that reflects a spark of Christ’s life in our world. Please plan to join us on our journey this fall during one or more of our many "formation" opportunities.

Sunday Morning, 9:30 AM, New Testament Bible Study (James through Revelations)

Monday—10:30AM, Fr. Bill's Study Group Wednesday—10:30AM, Centering Prayer Wednesday Evenings, 6:30 PM Thursday—6:30PM, Centering Prayer

With God's help, these will be transformative opportunities for us all.

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Our summer is over and now the fall season of work and ministry is upon us. We have lots of opportunities for fun and fellowship coming up. First, let us get together Wednesday, September 12th at 10 am in the choir room to finalize upcom-ing fundraisers and participation in the bazaar. Of course, the main focus will be participation in the ECW Fall Conference in Albertville at Christ Church. (see article below) Please plan to attend this wonderful gathering of your sisters in Christ. Registration forms are available in the office.

See you on the 12th! Call me, Cheri Blair, at 256-673-5079 if you have any questions. God Bless you all

123rd Annual Episcopal Church Women Fall Conference

“Welcoming the Stranger”

Christ Episcopal Church 607 East Main Street, Albertville, Alabama 35950

256-878-3243

October 4-5, 2012

Speaker: The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, the 11th Bishop of Alabama.

$35 registration fee includes: Speaker, workshops, Wine and Cheese Reception with entertainment and Silent Auction, Catered Dinner, after dinner concert by local choir, two lunches + homemade goodies at breaks, wonderful worship and fellowship!

Send registration check to ECW Mountain Convocation. Return form and check by September 15th to: Christ Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 493, Albertville, Alabama, 35950, Attn: Susan Cumming, Registrar

Or

$37 by PayPal (includes service fee $2) onhttp://www.alabamaecw.org/FallConference.htm

Questions e-mail: Mountain@alabamaecw.org or 205-559-4769 for Pat Clanton

Parish Sharing Highlights and Small Groups Friday at 8:30 am: Three minutes each. Sign up Thursday.

Hotel: The Jameson Inn (256)891-2600, located on Highway 431 and Microtel Inns & Suites (256)894-4000, Highway 75N. Rates range from $58.50 to $65.00 per night plus tax which includes a continental breakfast at both locations. Reserve by September 1, 2012

The church office will be closed September 3 for Labor Day

Interested in providing a simple meal for our EYC group on Sunday nights at 5pm?

You can cook or donate $35 for food.See Shelly in the church office for more details or fill out the

sign up sheet on the EYC bulletin board.

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EYCNow that school has started back, it is time for EYC to return!! Be-ginning on September 9, we will resume EYC for all those in the 6 thru 12th grades. We will meet on Sunday evenings from 5 to 7pm. The evening will include dinner, fellowship and fun activities. Josh Bradshaw will once again be a mentor for our youth.

You are welcome to participate in our EYC as an adult mentor and join in on the activities. See Shelley Hardin in the office.

Attention All Parishioners -The children need your help!

We need volunteers for the following minis-tries. Whether you feel called to help every week orjust once a month, we need you! You don't need a teaching degree or even have children of your own, just a loving heart.If you can help or if you want to know more before you volunteer please contact Shelly Hardin at 404-285-6044 or epiphanyyouth@epiphanyguntersville.org

Sunday School Teachers9:15am - 10:20am

We primarily need teachers for the 3yr old thru kinder-garten class. We use the on-line curriculum Weaving Gods Promises.

A schedule will be made listing the lesson for each week. Prior to your week to teach you would go on-line to the lesson and review the lesson, print out what you will use, and gather materials needed from our re-source room. Occasionally we may need someone to teach the 1st grade thru 5th grade class, and on some occasions we combine the classes.

Sunday School Helpers9:15am - 10:20am

Primarily for the 3yr old thru kindergarten class. Help-ers assist the children with crafts, restroom breaks and ensuring the children's well being while they are away from their parents.

Children's Church Leaders10:20am - offertory (time varies)

We need leaders to perform the children's service in the children's chapel. A children's bulletin is provided and a weekly lesson bulletin is also provided. You would bring the children to the Nave during the announce-ments, accompany the children's as they carry their of-fering to the altar during the offertory and ensure the children are returned to their parents for the remainder of the service.

Children's Church helpers10:20am - offertory (time varies)

Help the children follow the children's service, assist with restroom breaks and ensuring the children's well being while they are away from their parents.

Nursery Volunteers10:15am - communion (time varies)

We will have a paid nursery worker on Sunday morn-ings, but we will need an adult volunteer so there will be two people in the nursery. There is a speaker in the nursery so you will be able to hear the service.

Fall FestivalMark your calendars for Wednesday, October 31, for the annual Fall Festival! It actually falls on Halloween this year! Plan to wear your Halloween costume and join us for the fun!

RALLY DAYSeptember 9

Rally day kicks off the fall Sunday School and children's church fall semester.

Michelle Bradshaw and the children have been rehearsing a special skit for our enjoyment. The children’s Sunday school teachers, the Children’s Church leaders and EYC mentors will be blessed during the service.

Ministries will have a booth or display in Sanderson Hall. This is a great time to explore how you can volunteer or minister to your church. They will also have deli-cacies to eat at each booth.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS RESUMESeptember 12

Worship at 5:30pmDinner at 5:45pm

Programs and Choir Practice at 6:30pm.

The guideline to make a donation for your dinner is as follows: $5 for adults, and $3 for children under ten.

Sheila Myrick is once again our most excellent chef.

Sign up sheets for meals will be on the bulletin board outside the Nave soon.

A nursery will be available starting at 6:15pm.

Best of the Blessed

Enjoy a unique dinner theater experience and support the ministry of

Christian Women’s Job Corps.

Saturday, September 15

6 p.m. at The Church at Lake Guntersville • 4525 Wyeth Drive

Featuring Entertainment By:

Concert Pianist Phil Brannon from Birmingham offers a unique style of traditional and contemporary Christian music that has been enjoyed by audiences all across the Southeast.

VocalEase is a select ensemble from the award-winning Albertville High School Show Choirs, with a repertoire of music in pop, gospel and jazz styles.

Church at Lake Guntersville Worship Band features acoustic instrumentals and ear-pleasing harmony, an upbeat, hand-clapping experience.

Sweet Home Sounds from Sweet Home Baptist Church will provide a blend of violin, piano, keyboard and guitar during dinner.

Advance Tickets $50 (No tickets at the door)Purchase now at: The Church at Lake Guntersville 256-582-5312From CWJC Board Members 256-571-0175

Mission Team Spotlight

Save the Date - September 8th

A wheelchair ramp is being built at the request of CASA in Albertville.

The place and time will be announced via e-mail.

Epiphany Eats Out

September 13 6:30pm

For anyone who needs a helping hand with something around the house, the Mission Team is happy to assist with jobs as small as dusting a top shelf, putting something in or getting it out of an attic, replacing a hard-to-reach light bulb, picking up limbs, or as big as building a ramp, installing handrails, etc. We plan to set aside a Saturday each month to meet these needs.

We have a “Maintenance Request Box” in the office for anyone who would like to take advantage of this service. Or email the church and your request will be dropped in the box.

Church@EpiphanyGuntersville.org

This project will be ongoing through the year.

A Helping Hand

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We are seeking items to be auctioned. It can be artwork, jewelry, furniture, vaca-tion packages or something that is new and different to us. If you have an inter-esting item to donate, please contact the office.

As most of you are aware, the auction is Epiphany's largest fund-raiser and biggest party each year. Your auction team is dili-gently working to maintain this record.

We thank you for your continued prayers and support as the big day approaches.

Barbara Sedberry is chairing the food table and needs hors d'oeu-vres. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board outside the office.

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Featuring

Baked Goods Frozen SoupsCustomized Christmas Ornaments

Vintage Jewelry Accessories TableIndependent Vendors

Soup Lunch

We need your help to make this bazaar a rousing success.

The jewelry table will need your gently used jewelry. Please, nothing broken, an earring missing its mate, and so forth, please bring them to the office.

If you have gently used handbags, wallets, billfolds, scarves, men’s ties, hats, or gloves, please bring them to the office.

There is also a sign up sheet on the bulletin board outside the office if you can bring baked goods.

If you have any questions, please contact Marsha Babb at 256-571-2300 or Rusty Ogden at 256-582-4897.

October 18 November 10

Blessing of the Animals Coming In OctoberOn October 7 we will honor St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, by blessing our beloved pets. The service and blessing takes place at 2:00 p.m. on the lawn of the church. Please have pets leashed, tethered or caged. We have blessed all sorts of critters, so no matter what species your best friends may be, bring them to receive God’s blessing.

EPIPHANY ACCEPTS CREDIT CARD’S IN

OCTOBER AND NOVEMBERThanks to Susan Armstrong, and the Live Auction and Holiday Bazaar, Epiphany will be able to accept credit cards throughout the month of October and November. This means that if you desire to purchase something at the Auction or Bazaar on your credit card and receive points on your card, we will be able to do this transaction.

It also means that if you want to use your credit card to finish out your pledge, debt reduction pledge, or even commons building pledge this is possible in October and November.

Or, if you want to give a gift to the common’s building and use your credit card, here you go. The credit card access is not meant to be pushy, but because so many people said they enjoyed earning the bonus points that credit cards offer.

The service costs money so we will only be financially able to offer it in October and November.

Cards accepted are:

NEW ADDRESS

Jim and Regina Coleman2099 Hickory TrailArab, AL 35016

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Building NewsHollis Babb

Property Warden

Thanks to some generous gifts we have the money to concrete the front ditch to clean up the front of our beautiful church and make the ditch drain properly. We are just waiting on the city to do the labor.

The next project we have is the grassy area outside the kitchen back door and behind the wall where the mobile grill sits. The Brotherhood of St. Andrew has given a generous donation toward this, but we still need $2,000 to be able to concrete the complete area. Since the Woodall Commons building has been put into use, we find that most people end up walking through this area of grass to get there. We need the complete area concreted so we will have a spot for the mobile grill to be stored. Now it sits on the grass and not only kills the grass, but makes it difficult to cut around it. One person cannot move it.

The generator we purchased last year is now being installed (as I write this). We have had some new outside lights for the garden area and the parking lot side of the Parish Hall for some time. These will match the outside lights on the Woodall Commons. Those should be installed by the time you get this.

We have pole lights installed at the basketball court and playground. We hope to have these wired up soon. Due to a generous donation of labor and material from Rick Cooley, we now have poles for the patio lights at Woodall Commons. We hope to have those installed very soon.

We continue to try to improve and beautify our prop-erty.

Joe and Linda Katz

cordially invite you

to join them for

a luncheon to

celebrate their

50th Wedding Anniversary

Date: Sunday ~ September 23,

Time: 12:00 noon~2:00pm

Place: Sanderson Hall

No gifts, please

Contact Information:rusty@EpiphanyGuntersville.orgchurch@EpiphanyGuntersville.orgChurch Phone: 256-582-4897www.EpiphanyGuntersville.org

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

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2

Dates to remember

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1St. William Catho-lic Church Seafood

FestivalThomas HarwellTrena Houston

2 Discretionary Fund Sunday

HE 8 & 10:30amSS 9:30am

Mission Team mtg 9:30amTaizé Service 5pm

Roger RehfeldAnn Thomas

Autumn Thompson

3Labor Day

Shelly Hardin

4

Debbie Moss

5CP 9:45am

(No 11:30 service)Rally Day dress rehearsal 6pm

6DG 12pm

CP 6:30pmStations of the

Cross 7pm

7 8Garden Workday

8amBrotherhood 8am

Mission Team builds wheelchair

rampAllison Benson

Meredith Jackson

9HC 8

HE & Rally Day 10:30amSS 9:30am

Outreach mtg 9:30amUltreya 6pm

10Fr. Bill’s Study Group 10:30amDOK 11:30am

EFM 6pm

Andy Hunter

11Hospitality mtg

6:30pm

Larry Pfeiffer

12ECW 10amCP 9:45am

HC & Healing Service 11:30amWorship 5:30pm

Dinner 5:45pmPrograms & Choir

6:30pmJanet Downes

Sue HartLiz Riehl

13DG 12pm

CP 6:30pmEpiphany Eats

Out 6:30pm

Boots Groff

14

John HoustonTiffany Martin

15Altar Guild Work-

day 9amHospitality in kitchen 10am

Gary BeasleyAl Morita

Jake Woodall

16 Bring a Friend Sunday

HE 8 & 10:30amSS 9:30am

CC 10:30amBAFS Luncheon 12pm

Celtic Service 5pm

Lee JonesJason Moore

17Fr. Bill’s Study Group 10:30am

EFM 6pm

Joe HardyKyle Keck

Dixie Riggins

18Vestry mtg 7pm

19CP 9:45am

HC & Healing Service 11:30amWorship 5:30pm

Dinner 5:45pmPrograms & Choir

6:30pm

Sam Harrison

20DG 12pm

CP 6:30pm

21 22Brotherhood 8amPraying in Color

Seminar 9am

Anne Hyatt

23HE 8 & 10:30am

SS 9:30amCC 10:30am

Katz Anniversary Luncheon 12pm—2pm

Erin McAllister

24Fr. Bill’s Study Group 10:30am

EFM 6pmDOK 7pm

25

Hunter Gaines

26CP 9:45am

HC & Healing Service 11:30amWorship 5:30pm

Dinner 5:45pmPrograms & Choir

6:30pmRandy Panazze

27DG 12pm

CP 6:30pm

28 29

Rachel AmburnVelvet CooleyShelia Myrick

30HE 8 & 10:30amBreakfast 8:45am

SS 9:30amCC 10:30amGene Black

Vestry Person for SeptemberMeredith Jackson 256-558-0237

October November December

4—ECW Annual Conference 4—UTO Fall Ingathering 2—First Sunday of Advent

7—Blessing of the Animals 3pm 10—Holiday Bazaar 23—Christmas Pageant

18—Live Auction 11 Veterans Day 24—Family Christmas Service 5:30pm

28—Parish Elections 21—Thanksgiving Service 7pm Festival of Carols 10:30pm

31—Fall Festival 1st Eucharist of Christmas 11pm

25—Nativity of Our Lord 9am