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

www.EpiphanyGuntersville.org

August 2016

Editor: Rusty Ogden

Epiphany Star

August 7, 10:30am

Children, youth and teachers will be heading back to school soon! Please join us for our “blessing of the back-packs” where we will ask God’s blessing for children, youth, teachers and parents as we resume our school routines and some start new school routines. Bring your school backpacks or other bags used at school.

August 14

Please join us on August 14th for an Ice Cream Social to welcome everyone back from summer

vacations. Join us in Sanderson hall following the 10:30 a.m. service for a light lunch and ice cream,

you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

"CELEBRATION OF GOD'S GENEROUS GIFTS"

ALL are invited to a "Celebration of God's Generous Gifts" Wednesday, August 17th, 5:30-7:30, Nursery provided. The Vestry will prepare grilled ribs, hot dogs for the kids, coleslaw, rolls and drinks. Please bring a salad or dessert to share. Join us in Sanderson Hall for dinner; be inspired by our garden, and celebrate with songs a special Eucharist on the patio at Woodall Commons!

On August, 21st, we will hold an Acolyte meeting immedi-ately after the 10:30 a.m. service for a training and refresh-er course in all of the various duties performed by acolytes. Lunch will be provided.

Anyone interested in becoming an acolyte is welcomed to attend. If you are currently an acolyte, you need to attend. Several of you have expressed a desire to partici-pate in other acolyte duties. All, veterans and newbies, are very welcomed to train for whatever service you would like to perform. Just let Tiffany momstr@icloud.com Or Will Smith anglican.will@gmail.com know ahead of time.

On that note, we will especially needs adults willing to train as Torch Bearers for regular Sunday services Frankly, most of the batch of youth serving now are growing at a rapid pace and want to graduate to serving at the altar itself. Please, give this some thought.

Epiphany Star Page 2

The Rite of Confirmation for Young People

The Book of Common Prayer tells us the following regarding the Rite of Confirmation:

“In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibil-ities of their Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.”

Some have asked important questions: when is Confirma-tion appropriate for a young person? Is my child ready?What opportunities for youth Confirmation Classes do we have at Epiphany? Hopefully, this will answer some of your questions.

At Epiphany, there is no “automatic age” for Confirmation, as some have experienced it in the Episcopal tradition in the past. If we "say what we mean, and mean what we say" about this very important moment in our life of faith, then it is easy to see why there is nothing automatic about it.

When a young person becomes capable of taking such an important step, we want to do all we can to encourage them (regardless of age). But in order that we have some guide and parameters, however, we follow diocesan guidelines. In practical terms, that means that this pro-cess is appropriate for those young people thirteen years of age and older who show themselves capable of making such a decision.

We encourage parents to discuss this rite with their young person. Talk about what it means to make a statement of their faith and belief. Discuss the idea of making a pledge and becoming a full, committed member of our Christian tradition and the parish of Epiphany. Talk about making this decision for themselves, not for the sake of the wants and desires of anyone else.

When you have had such a discussion, and wish to proceed, please contact Shelly Hardin at the church office. EpiphanyYouth@EpiphanyGuntersville.org

We are seeking to determine the level of interest in a possible Fall Youth Confirmation Class. We must have at least three students to conduct such a class; with fewer than three students the curriculum does not work well. Classes would be taught by Fr. Aaron and Shelly and held on Sunday afternoons (3:30 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.) weekly for approximately eight weeks.

These students would then be confirmed in January when Epiphany receives its yearly visitation from the Bishop. That visit will take place on Sunday, January 8th, 2017.

TELEVISION WATCHING An overlooked health risk?

Mayo Clinic HealthLetter, July 2016 www.HealthLetter.MayoClinic.com

Watching TV or videos may be a potentially over-looked health risk, a new study shows. In the study, every two-hour increment of daily TV watching increased the risk of death over the 14-year course of the study by 14 percent. The research, published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, looked at questionnaires from more than 200,000 Americans in good health between the ages of 50 and 71. The overall increased risk of death over the course of the study associated with TV watching was mainly due to much larger increases in risk of dying of several diseases, including diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver or lung disease, flu or pneumonia, heart disease, and—to a lesser extent—cancer. Researchers also divided the subjects into a group that got more than four hours of physical activity a week, and a group that got less physical activity. When compared, the inactive group predictably fared worse than the more active group when amounts of TV watching were the same. However, being active didn’t cancel out the negative effects of TV. This research has some limitations, but it’s confirma-tion of other studies that have come to similar conclu-sions. If you watch TV, keep it to a minimum. Avoid snacking and instead look for ways to stay active. If you do watch TV, try walking during commercials, or perhaps walking on a treadmill, riding an exercise bicycle or doing chores when the TV is on.

Epiphany Star Page 3

VESTRY LIAISONS

Building & Grounds

Grant Armstrong

Dave Burks

Sam Harrison

Christian Outreach & Service

Rick Cooley

Linda Katz

Jan Maxwell

Faith Formation

Jim Coleman

Rick Cooley

Sam Harrison

Fellowship

Jim Coleman

Sam Harrison

Barry Jones

Memorial Garden

Jan Maxwell

Office and Communication

Grant Armstrong

Doug Cook

Sara Hembree

Pastoral Care

Jack Frost

Barry Jones

Linda Katz

Stewardship

Sara Hembree

Linda Katz

Jan Maxwell

Worship

Dave Burkes

Doug Cooke

Rick Cooley

The days are drawing near when our students (and teachers!)

will make their way back to school. The season of summer is dwindling

to its final few days. With a new school year come new books and new

faces, challenging classes, and school sports. At our house, Jacob, Lydia

and Michael are studiously ignoring the calendar so they can enjoy the

last few days outside the classroom!

I am reminded that as Christians we are called to be life-long

learners – “seekers” for new ways to know God and experience God’s

love. In the Episcopal Church, we have been given a special place to

enjoy our role as students. Ours is a tradition that respects history,

scholarship, and critical thinking.

I remember my graduation from seminary (quite a few years ago

now) as if it were yesterday. The single thought that stands out is the

realization that after three years of work, I thought I’d only just gotten a

good start! I could have easily spent three more years in an academic

setting, just catching up on the things I missed the first time around.

God gave us the gift of reason and intelligence in order that we

might best enjoy the Creation. Everything from scientific pursuits to

writing poetry (and all things in between) can be expressions of the love

that God has for us. We share the creative and imaginative impulse with

the divine. In fact, many would argue that we are closest to God when

we are creating, imagining and discovering.

As you know, the “church year” closely follows the school year in

terms of programs and offerings in Faith Formation. As the year ramps

back up, I look forward to sharing time with you – fellow students – ex-

ploring our lives together in Christ at Epiphany.

Sharpen your pencils and pull out your notebooks. School is

about to be in session!

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Aaron+

(the waning days of) Summer, 2016

Epiphany Star Page 4

9:30 am – 10:15 am Sunday mornings Children

Room 204 – Children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade Room 207 – Children in 3rd through 5th grades

Youth Youth Loft in Woodall Commons youth in 6th & 7th grades Woodall Commons (downstairs) youth in 8th through 12th grades

Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) where youth in 6th through 12th grades come together to share a meal, spiritual formation and fun! We participate in commu-nity outreach, go off-campus for fun fellowship and join other Episcopal youth for diocesan activities.

Jr. EYC is for 6th & 7th grade youth and Sr. EYC is for 8th through 12th grade youth.

Please join us!

Sunday 5:00pm – 7:00pm Sr. EYC meets in the Youth Loft in Woodall Commons

Wednesday 5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist in the nave 6:00 p.m. dinner in Sanderson Hall 6:30 p.m. Jr. EYC meets in the Youth Loft in Woodall Commons Sr. EYC meets in the library

Looking for a way to serve? Would you like to meet some of our young people? Providing a meal for Sr. EYC is a way to do both! Spaghetti, chilli, casseroles, sub sandwiches, tacos and more are all good options. 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 join us for the meal and our planned activity. If the culinary arts are just not your thing, please donate $35 to EYC to help us purchase food to prepare a meal (be sure to note EYC meal in the memo area of your check).

To sign up CLICK HERE

Wednesday 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Children in kindergarten through 5th grade gather for faith formation, fun and fellowship. The Work-shop Cycles curriculum is used to provide creative, hands-on activities to help children learn the stories of God and God's people through art, music, drama, cooking and play. Come join the fun!

Room 204 - Kindergarten through 2nd grade

Room 207 – 3rd through 5th grades

Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) Dates for August

Jr. EYC (6th & 7th grades)

Date Time/Location Activity

Aug 17 5:30pm - Sanderson Hall Parish Celebration

Aug 24 6:30pm - Youth Loft

Aug 31 6:30pm - Youth Loft Game Night

Date Time/Location Activity

Aug 14 5:00pm - Youth Loft Welcome & check in

Aug 17 5:30pm - Sanderson Hall Parish Celebration

Aug 21 5:00pm - Youth Loft

Aug 24 6:30pm - Library

Aug 28 5:00pm - Youth Loft

Aug 31 6:30pm – Youth Loft Game Night

Sr. EYC (8th – 12th grades)

Epiphany Star Page 5

The annual pilgrimage honoring slain civil rights advocate Jonathan Myrick Daniels and others who were killed in Alabama during the 1960s movement, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13, beginning at 11:00 a.m. in Hayneville.

Jonathan Daniels was an Episcopal seminarian who answered the call of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to help register African-American voters in Alabama. He was shot and killed on Aug. 20 1965, while shielding then 16-year-old Ruby Sales from a shotgun blast as she attempted to enter a store to buy something to drink. Daniels was added to the Episcopal Church Calendar of Saints and Martyrs in 1994 to be remembered each Aug. 14.

The pilgrimage begins at the Courthouse Square in Hayneville. The procession will go to the old county jail where Daniels was among those detained for a week after being arrested in Ft. Deposit for picketing whites-only business-es. The procession will then move to the site of the old Cash Grocery Store where Daniels was killed. The pilgrim-age will end at the Courthouse where a service of Holy Communion will take place in the courtroom where the man who shot Daniels was tried and acquitted by an all white jury of men. The Rt. Rev. Santosh Marray, Alabama’s assistant bishop, will preach.

Following the service lunch will be available for purchase from vendors on the first floor and outside the court-house. Commemorative t-shirts will also be available for purchase.

A tent equipped with television monitor and fans will be set up in the park across the street in the event of an over-flow crowd.

This year, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Selma will host the Young Pilgrims Lock-in Aug. 12. Click here for additional information.

Annual Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage set for Aug. 13 in Hayneville

July 25, 2016 By DioAla Staff

Join us in community Labor Day weekend at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, Alabama. The weekend will be full of opportunities to reconnect with your heritage and obtain forgotten knowledge leading you

back to your roots. It will begin Friday night with the option to stay until Monday! The weekend will include class time, free time, old time dancing and corn shucking, culminating with a champagne brunch Sunday at the barn.

Classes being offered: Mushroom Foraging Preserving/Pickling

Creek to Table Flower Arranging

Small Animal Processing Cheese making Soap Making

Natural Fermentation Garden-to-glass Bread making

Jam Sessions and much more!

*Cost $110-$310 depending on type of lodging selected.

Click HERE for more information and registration.

The 34th Annual Live & Silent Auction will take place on Thursday, November 3rd, beginning with silent auction and hors d'oeuvres at 5:30 p.m. with the Live Auction beginning at 7:15 p.m.

We are looking for parishioners to join this amazing ministry and need lots of different skills to make this the best FUNdraiser yet. There are little details that need to be ironed out and YOU are just the person to make it happen. Below you will see just a few areas where you are needed.

*Food Team *Beverage Team *Decoration Team *Muscle Crew (before& after) *Silent Auction Team *Live Auction Team *IT Team *Checkout Team *Procurement Team *Entertainment Team *Program Team

Please contact Tiffany Martin to find out more and join us to help raise money for our Outreach Minis-

If you are seeking more knowledge on spirituality from contemporary authors, please join the Monday Morning Book Club. Beginning Monday, August 1st, we will be dis-cussing the first three chapters of Dr. John Shelby Spong's The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic. We meet at 10:00 am in the Library.

BEANS & RICE MINISTRY celebrates 1st Anniversary!

Epiphany's "Beans & Rice" Ministry started a year ago last August with the mission to provide nourishing food to those in need. This ministry is a project of Epiphany Out-reach.

On the 2nd Saturday every month, our signs get set-up, along with our blue tent out by the street and then from 10 -1 we distribute shopping bags with 2lbs of beans and 2lbs of rice in each, to anyone who has a need.

Many times our Epiphany Youth join us to distribute the bags, often putting in bread and cookies they bake. We also have parishioners who bring by bags of onions or fruit to include in the bags.

When we started the "Beans & Rice" Ministry, we distrib-uted less then 20 bags, now we distribute 50-60 bags a month. During the winter, Sam Harrison generously fixed B&R soup which folks really enjoyed as a filling hot meal. We have even had the Guntersville Fire Department stop by and pick up bags of B&R to deliver to seniors.

We invite any of the Epiphany Ministries to join us in the B&R Ministry. This Fall we will be adding certain food items like small cans of meat and fruit in order to provide more nutritious meals.

Watch for the Fall In-Gathering to support increasing our Outreach Food Supply.

If you would like more information about the Beans & Rice Ministry please contact Epiphany's Office.

Epiphany Star Page 6

There will be a meeting of the Hospitality/Fellowship Ministries Sunday, August 7, at 12:00 N in Sanderson Hall. Epiphany is moving right along and we need to go with it. We have a wonderful group of people with great talent we can use. Please consider sharing your gifts with us. You may contact Jackie Camper at (256) 506-4356 or Sam Harrison at (256) 673-3457. Blessings, Jackie Camper

Monday Morning Book Club

Epiphany Star Page 7

If there are questions or comments, please call Charlene Mason, Financial Assistant at 256-582-4897.

The minutes of the vestry are posted on the bulletin board across from the office.

Epiphany Star Page 8

Epiphany Star Page 9

Contact Information: Church Phone: 256-582-4897 church@EpiphanyGuntersville.org rusty@EpiphanyGuntersville.org www.EpiphanyGuntersville.org

Join us for a Celebration of

Our Ministry With Bishop Santosh & Lynn Marray

Sunday August 28th

3:30 Reception

5:00 Service

St. Mary's on the Highlands 1910 12th Ave South

Birmingham, Al 35205

In honor of Bishop Marray's ministry with us, we invite

you to give a monetary gift to help support the ministries and missions of the Diocese of Easton. Gifts should be sent

to Carpenter House and made out to the Diocese of Ala-bama marked 'Bishop Marray Fund' or made on-line at

www.dioala.org

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

Marshall County schools

begin August 4.

Guntersville schools begin

August 10.

Please Drive Carefully.

We are saddened by the death, July 28, of Bill Barker’s father-in-law, Myron Harold Collins of Live Oak, FL. The Epiphany family extends our sym-pathy, love, prayers and support to Bill and Bonnie Barker and family.

Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord. And let light perpetual shine upon him.

Greeters make sure our parishioners and guests

are welcomed to Epiphany. They also carry the

oblations up to the altar and help the ushers pass

the offertory plates.

If you would like to participate, please contact

Maggie Muegge at maggiemuegge@att.net

Breakfast and Wednesday Night Meals Returning

The suggested donation for breakfast and dinner: $5 for adults, $3 for children under ten with six and under eating for free.

Breakfast will be served every Sunday at 8:45 a.m. beginning August 14.

Wednesday nights begin August 17 at 6:00 p.m.

Epiphany Star Page 10

CODE: CC—Children’s Church; DOK—Daughters of the King; HE—Holy Eucharist; SS—Sunday School; Birthdays in italics

August 2016

September October November

5 OFFICE CLOSED for LABOR DAY 2 Blessing of the Animals . 3 Annual Auction

11 Bring a Friend Sunday and Parish Picnic 26 Fall Festival 19 Holiday Bazaar

20 Vestry meeting 30 Parish Elections 24 Thanksgiving Day

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Monday Morning Book Club 10am

Stewardship Ministry 6pm

Lisa Pate

2 Morning Prayer

9am

3 Healing Service

11:30am

4 Morning Prayer

9am

Bob Amburn

5 Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study

7am

Paula Dabney Matt Moses Lilli-Grace

Reeves

6

7 HE 8 & 10:30am Nursery 9:30am

Lectionary 9:30am Children’s Church 10:30 Blessing of Backpacks

10:30am

Hospitality/Fellowship Ministry mtg 12N

8 Monday Morning Book Club 10am DOK 11:30am

Health & Wellness 6pm

David Roadruck Brittany Rungruang

9 Morning Prayer

9am Auction Team mtg

6pm Buildings and

Grounds 6:30pm

10 Healing Service

11:30am

Judith Brown Jack Hyatt

11 Morning Prayer

9am Finance Ministry

mtg 6pm

Doug Cooke Matthew Morris

12 Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study

7am

Jean Cobb

13 Brotherhood of St. Andrew 8am Beans & Rice 10am—1pm

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

SS & Nursery 9:30am Outreach mtg 9:30a.m

CC 10:30am

Sr. EYC 5pm

15 Monday Morning Book Club 10am

Lucy Alves Kathrine Birch

Hudson Epperson Sam Jones

Kathy Thomas

16 Morning Prayer

9am Vestry mtg

6:30pm

17 Healing Service

11:30 Celebration of

God’s Gifts 5:30pm—7:30pm

Hack Ross

18 Morning Prayer

9am

Bonnie Barker Jeannine Wilder

19 Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study

7am

Ray Klaver Ana McKenney

20

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

SS & Nursery 9:30am CC 10:30am

Acolyte Training 12N Sr. EYC 5pm Bryce Blair

Jennifer Moore

22 Monday Morning Book Club 10am DOK 11:30am

23 Morning Prayer

9am

24 Healing Service

11:30 Eucharist 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm

Dinner 6pm Programs 6:30pm

Jr. & Sr. EYC 6:30pm

25 Morning Prayer

9am

26 Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study

7am

Elizabeth Mayberry

27 Brotherhood of St. Andrew 8am Ultreya 5:30pm

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

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

29 Monday Morning Book Club 10am

Ann Branum Wyatt Martin

30 Morning Prayer

9am

Skip Harborth Nancy McAllister

31 Healing Service

11:30 Eucharist 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm

Dinner 6pm Programs 6:30pm

Jr. & Sr. EYC 6:30pm

Kay Meleski Robin Moore

Katherine Woodall

Vestry Person for August

Rick Cooley 256-455-0021

12N