Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 1101 Sunset Drive P. O. Box 116 Guntersville, AL 35976 256-582-4897

www.EpiphanyGuntersville.org

January 2017

Editor: Rusty Ogden

BISHOP SLOAN COMING TO EPIPHANY

ANNUAL PARISH BUSINESS MEETING January 29, 2017— 9:15 a.m.

We will meet in Woodall Commons at 9:15 a.m. to discuss our 2017 budget. Hear Ministry Reports and a presentation of the 2017 Parish Program (budget).

Come at 8:45 a.m. and enjoy a $6, all you can eat, breakfast.

The Bishop of Alabama, the Rt. Reverend Kee Sloan, will be coming to Epiphany Wednesday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. and officiate at a Holy Eucharist and Confirmation service.

The undesignated, loose plate offering will be given to Bishop Sloan for his Discretionary Fund which will be administered by him. This is not a fund for his personal use but for the special needs that arise out of the life of the diocesan community. This fund is a direct, personal part of his ministry. Strict confidenti-ality is maintained as to the charitable uses to which it is used. Donations by check should be made out to “The Church of the Epiphany” and designated Bishop’s Discretionary Fund.

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There will be a Parish Pot Luck dinner in honor of the visit of Bishop Sloan on January 18. The parish will provide the main course, beverages and rolls. Parishioners are asked to bring a side dish of a vegetable, salad or dessert. Please take your dish, with your name on it, to the kitchen before the service.

A Word from the Leadership at Epiphany

As most of you know, the month of January will see a great deal of activity here at Epipha-ny. Your Vestry, Buildings & Grounds Ministry, and many other ministry leaders are gearing up for the repairs to the flooring in the nave.

Immediately after the Bishop’s visit for Confir-mation (Wednesday, January 18th), we will begin the process of setting up our temporary worship space in Sanderson Hall. Our first Sunday worshipping in Sanderson Hall will be Sunday, January 22nd.

We are hoping that repairs will be complete and we will be back in the nave by March 1st (Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Season of Lent). We are prepared, however, to be flexible depending upon the progress of those repairs.

Sanderson Hall will remain set up as our wor-ship space throughout this time. All meals – Sunday morning breakfasts and Wednesday night suppers – will take place in Woodall Commons. All of the outside groups we regularly host in Sanderson Hall will be re-located to other spaces throughout our church campus.

This is a time for working together with good will and in good faith. We must exercise patience and forbearance. There will undoubt-edly be logistical changes we haven’t anticipat-ed, but nothing we cannot surmount.

These repairs and our temporary re-location for worship is a reminder that the church is more than a building. We are a community of believers, called together for mission and ministry, and collectively we form the Body of Christ.

Members of your church leadership, including the Vestry, Buildings & Grounds Ministry, office staff and Rector are always available to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Epiphany's Outreach Ministry continues to grow and inspire! With the stocking of the ministry's food pantry we are now able to add to the Beans & Rice bags additional foods such a peanut butter, canned meats and fruits. In December we distributed 80+ food bags that even included fresh oranges and candy canes. Our expanded food pantry allows us to put together bags of food for our church office volunteers to give away during the month when there is a need.

At the December Advent Party, parishioners welcomed the families from Marshall County Home Place. Outreach Min-istry provided food bags, fruit baskets and gift certificates to these families to help them have a Merry Christmas! We're very excited about the new "Outreach Nook" in the hallway outside the Church office! As part of Epiphany's Outreach Ministry you can continue to drop off small food items in the "Nook" to help stock the food pantry. In addition we will be collecting used eyeglasses and box top coupons to help those in need. Oh, and don't forget to recycle your plastic shopping bags in the "Nook"; they are a big help for the Beans & Rice food distributions! Finally, Epiphany is again a host church in the "Room In The Inn" program of Marshall County Homeless Ministries. Epiphany hosted lady neighbors on Friday, December 2 with a delicious fellowship meal, a warm place to sleep that night and breakfast and sack lunches to take with them Saturday morning. Several of our EYC provided help and fellowship that night. Our upcoming host dates are January 6th, February 3rd, and March 3rd (all Friday nights!). All Parishioners are invited to be part of "Room In The Inn" host nights. There are lots of ways to make our host nights successful, and if you would like to help, please call Jan Maxwell at 256-582-4228 to volunteer.

Dear Epiphany Family,

I want to express my gratitude to

Fr. Aaron, the Altar Guild and all who

attended or served at Larry’s memorial

service.

Thank you to Jackie Camper and the Hos-

pitality Ministry for making the

visitation time so nice for me and my

family.

I deeply appreciate your expressions of

sympathy with cards of condolence.

My family and I are grateful for friends

like you during this time of sorrow.

Rosie Pfeiffer

We are saddened by the death, December 21, of Jim McAllister’s mother, Ann McAllister, of Nashville, TN. The Epiphany family extends our sympathy, love, prayers and support to Jim, Nancy and their family.

We are saddened by the death, of the following members: December 27, Doris Webb. The Epiphany family extends our sympathy, love, prayers and support to her daughters, Charlotte Webb and Susie Conerly, and their families. December 28, Ernie Moore. The Epiphany family extends our sympathy, love, prayers and support to his son Robin, his daughter Lynn, and their families. December 30, John Branum. The Epiphany family extends our sympathy, love, prayers and support to his wife Ann and their sons, John and Scott. Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord. And let light perpetual shine upon them.

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Welcome to 2017 – Happy New Year!

The New Year is upon us, and we have the opportunity to “take stock,” to reflect, to gain some perspective on the year that is past and the year that has arrived. It is a chance to consider our lives, our calling, and our place in this world.

As we all know, a new calendar year is often accompanied by New Year’s resolutions. As individuals we take on new disciplines and/or change our behaviors, always in the hope that we can stick to it – what-ever “it” may be.

To that end, we as Christians (especially as Episcopal Christians) must begin any resolution with prayer. We appeal to God for strength, for determination, and for resolve. I asked myself: what might a prayer for 2017 at Epiphany look like…? Perhaps you can add a petition, as well:

Let us seek God’s will together, as One Body in Christ.

Let us commit ourselves to common prayer and common purpose.

Let us consider how we might be renewed, reconciled, and redeemed in our daily lives.

Let us count the blessings we’ve received, and count the blessings we might share.

Let us give thanks.

Let us reject all that would separate us from God.

Let us learn to give of ourselves freely – our time, our talent, and our treasure.

Let us bear one another’s burdens.

Let us reach out in love.

Let us empty ourselves of selfish desires, so that we might be filled with God’s holiness.

Let us join together in works of charity and good will.

Let us cast aside our fears.

Let us learn to forgive our brothers and sisters, as God has forgiven us.

And finally, Let us learn to depend on God’s grace.

Each of us has our own hopes for 2017, and our parish community is no different. It is important to know that with God’s grace, anything is possible. I look forward to discovering together all the possibilities God has in store for us. May God bless you and keep you in this New Year!

Yours in Christ, Fr. Aaron+ The Season of Christmas, 2016-2017

FR. AARON’S LECTIONARY GROUP

Fr. Aaron will continue the Sunday Lec-tionary Discussion during the Sunday school time. Please meet in Sanderson Hall after breakfast, 9:30 to 10:15.

FROM THE ALTAR GUILD There are several Sundays left for

flower and candle dedications for

2017. The sign up sheet is on the bul-

letin outside the nave.

The Monday Morning Book Study will re-sume meeting at 10:00 a.m., January 9, in the Library. You are invited to join us as we read and discuss "The Color Purple", an inspiring novel by Alice Walker.

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Thank You! Thank You!

Thank you Meredith Jackson for coordinating the Advent pageant. More than twenty children and adults helped tell the story of Jesus’ family tree. Thank you parents for recognizing the pageant as a meaningful time for our

children and youth to prepare for the arrival of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I would also like to take this time to thank everyone who has volunteered with Children & Youth ministries. Sunday school leaders and assistant leaders for both children and youth, EYC mentors, special event volunteers, cooks, drivers, clean-up crews, for cutting and pasting in preparation for craft activities and most importantly prayed for us. Each one of you is helping to shape the faith of our children & youth! God’s Peace, Shelly

HAPPY NEW YEAR! CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH PROGRAMS RESUME Wednesday, January 4th - VYP (Very Young Persons) and EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) resume as

well as our regular Wednesday Eucharist, dinner and programs.

Sunday, January 8th - Sunday school at 9:30am, children’s church at 10:30am and Sr. EYC at 5:00pm.

Weekly

Sunday School – Sundays 9:30a.m.

6th & 7th grades – Youth Loft Woodall Commons

8th – 12th grades – Library

Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) –

Wednesdays 6:30p.m. – 7:30p.m.

6th & 7th grades – Youth Loft Woodall Commons

8th – 12th grades – Library

Sr. EYC – Sundays 5:00p.m. – 7:00p.m.

8th – 12th grades – Youth Loft Woodall Commons

January

8 – Youth Confirmation class 3:30p.m. – 5:00p.m.

18 – Bishop Sloan visit and confirmation, 6:00pm

Please consider making a simple meal for our youth. Spaghetti, chilli, casseroles, soup, tacos and sub sandwiches are all good op-tions. Please refrain from pizza as pizza is our last minute go-to meal in the event a meal is not provided. We invite you to stay and join us in the meal and our planned activity. It is a true bless-ing to arrive on Sunday evening to a meal that has been lovingly prepared by a parishioner. It is also a wonderful way to get to know our youth and our youth get to know you. If you are not able to bring a meal, but you would like to help, please donate $35 to help us purchase food to prepare a meal (be sure to note EYC Meal in the comment of your check).

To sign up CLICK HERE

For EYC

The IRA charitable rollover legislation passed by Congress has been signed by the President. This law ex-tends the IRA charitable rollover retroactively for 2015 and makes it permanent. The legislation is part of a larger package on other tax extenders and the budget.

Under this legislation, if you are 70 ½ or older, you will be allowed to make certain charitable contribu-tions directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to an eligible charity, and the transferred assets will not be recognized as income for tax purposes.

As a rule, withdrawals from IRAs are taxed as income; you would receive a tax deduction for your dona-tion, but other federal, and sometimes state, tax rules can prevent the deduction from fully offsetting taxable income.

The charitable IRA rollover, or qualified charitable distribution, makes it easier for you to use your IRA assets to make charitable gifts. It is a special provision that allows individuals age 70 1/2 or older to ex-clude from taxable income - and count toward their required minimum distribution - transfers of IRA assets, up to a total of $100,000, that are made directly to public charities, such as The Church of the Epiphany. To take advantage of the extension for 2015, donors need to arrange a direct transfer from their IRA to an eligible charity by December 31, 2015. Direct transfers from IRAs to an eligible charity made earlier in 2015 in anticipation of the IRA charitable rollover being extended will also count.

Making a donation under this provision is simple and straightforward. If you would like to make a contri-bution to such as The Church of the Epiphany from your Individual Retirement Account, please speak with your IRA administrator.

2015 IRA Charitable Rollover

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Church of the Epiphany Balance Sheet

Consolidated—November 2016

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JANUARY 2017 CODE: CC—Children’s Church; DOK—Daughters of the King; EYC—Episcopal Youth Community; HE—Holy Eucharist;

Men’s B&B—Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study; RITI—Room in the Inn; SS—Sunday School; VYP—Very Young Persons; Birthdays

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 The Holy Name

HE 10am

Nicky Erwin

2

Rick Cooley

3 Morning Prayer

9am

Jordan Bolding Gayle Roadruck

Tara Smith

4 Service of Healing

11:30 HE 5:30pm

Nursery 5:30pm Dinner 6pm

Programs 6:30pm Jr. & Sr. EYC

6:30pm

5 Morning Prayer

9am Finance 6pm

6 Men’s B & B

7am RITI 6pm

7 RITI—6am

Mary Davis

8 HE 8 & 10:30am Breakfast 8:45am Lectionary 9:30am

SS & Nursery 9:30am Outreach 9:30am

CC 10:30am Youth Confirmation 3:30pm

Sr. EYC 5pm

9 Mon. Morn Book

Club 10am DOK 11:30am

EfM 6pm Stewardship 6pm

10 Morning Prayer

9am Vestry Budget mtg

6:30pm

Barbara Panazze Barbara Wayne

11 Service of Healing

11:30 HE 5:30pm

Nursery 5:30pm Dinner 6pm

Programs 6:30pm Jr. & Sr. EYC

6:30pm

12 Morning Prayer

9am

13 Men’s B & B

7am

Doug Dixon Melanie Dorman

14 Brotherhood 8am

Beans & Rice 10—12

Bill Barker Anita Duncan Mitch Harbin

15 HE 8 & 10:30am Breakfast 8:45am Lectionary 9:30am

SS & Nursery 9:30am CC 10:30am Sr. EYC 5pm

16

Cole Nichols Katy Watz

17 Morning Prayer

9am Building &

Grounds 6:30pm

18 Service of Healing

11:30 Nursery 5:30pm

Bishop’s Visit and Confirmation 6pm

Dinner 7pm

John Breyfogle Jackie Camper

19 Work begins on

Nave Morning Prayer

9am

Guy Caffey Rachel Morris

20 Men’s B & B

7am

21

Randal Hardin

22 HE 8 & 10:30am Breakfast 8:45am Lectionary 9:30am

SS & Nursery 9:30am CC 10:30am Sr. EYC 5pm

Ellen Perryman Alex Watts

23 Mon. Morn Book Club 10am library

DOK 11:30am EfM 6pm

Ministry Reports

due Feb. news articles due

24 Morning Prayer

9am

25 Service of Healing

11:30 HE 5:30pm

Nursery 5:30pm Dinner 6pm

Programs 6:30pm Jr. & Sr. EYC

6:30pm

26 Morning Prayer

9am

Vincent Meleski

27 Men’s B & B

7am

28 Brotherhood 8am

29 HE 8 & 10:30am Breakfast 8:45am

Parish Business mtg 9:15am

SS & Nursery 9:30am CC 10:30am Sr. EYC 5pm

Billy Blevins

30 Mon. Morn Book Club 10am library

EfM 6pm

31 Morning Prayer

9am

Vestry Person for January

Grant Armstrong

February March April

3— RITI 1—Ash Wednesday 9—Palm Sunday

17—18—Diocesan Convention 3—RITI 13—Maundy Thursday

24—25—Women’s Retreat 14—Good Friday

15—Holy Saturday

16—Easter Day

29—Holy One Golf Tournament