Happy December BirthdaysP.O. Box 1527 202 North Goldsboro StreetWilson, North Carolina 27894-1527Phone: (252) 291-8220 Fax: (252) 291-1096

St. Timothy's Episcopal ChurchNon-Profit Org.US PostagePAIDWilson, NCPermit #125

Return Service RequestedThe Reverend Marty Stebbins, Rector revmarty@sttimothyswilson.orgPeggy Metts, Senior WardenRoyce Poythress, Junior WardenTheresa Swain, Parish Administrator parish@sttimothyswilson.orgGiGi Logan, Youth Minister eyc@sttimothyswilson.orgDexter Ruffin, Music Minister music@sttimothyswilson.orgJean Webb, Financial Coordinator jwebb@sttimothyswilson.orgTammy Mooring, Housekeeping

the Epistle

our office is open Mon-Thurs 9-5; Fri 9-3

December 2013

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church is a Christian community, welcoming to all, that nurtures worship, prayer, study, fellowship, and service.

Season of Advent

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church202 North Goldsboro StreetP.O. Box 1527Wilson, North Carolina 27893252-291-8220www.sttimothyswilson.org

Calendar of EventsDecember 1 12:00 pm Youth Commission/GLUE 5:00 pm Contemplative WorshipDecember 3 5:15 pm Pastoral Care Commission(ofc)December 4 5-7:00 pm EYC CHILISUPPERDecember 5 5:15 pm Worship CommissionDecember 7 10:00 am CPR & AED Defibrillator Training Ushers TrainingDecember 8 9:00 am PARISH BREAKFAST 9:15 am ANNUAL MEETINGDecember 10 4:30 pm Finance Commission 5:15 pm Vestry Meeting (AH)December 11 5:30 pm Parish Life Commission @ QuinceDecember 13 12:00 pm EPISTLE DEADLINE!December 13-15 -- Bishops Ball, Denton, NCDecember 15 3:00 pm Confirmation Class 4:00 pm Advent Lessons & Carols w/First Christian Church 5:30 pm EYC Tacky ChristmasDecember 16 4:15 pm Communications Comm. (ofc)December 22 -- UTO SUNDAYDecember 23-January 2/3 Wilson Co. Schools/Greenfield OUTDecember 24 5:15 pm Christmas Eve Services 10:30 pm Christmas Eve ServicesDecember 25 10:30am Christmas Day Services -- Church Office CLOSED -- Soup Kitchen CLOSEDDecember 30 5:30 pm Missions Comm. (Anderson Hall)December 31 -- NEWYEAR’SEVE

EYC meets December 1, 8, & 15, from 5:30-7:30 pm.Choir Practice every Wednesday: 6:00 pm Angel Choir,

7:00 pm Adult Choir. No choir rehearsals on December 25.An AA Group meets every Tuesday night, 7:00-8:00 pm, in the

Common Room. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

What’s inside . . .ECW p. 2Sr. Warden p. 3From the Rector p. 4 Youth p. 5-7Liturgical Moment p. 7 Music Minister p. 8Commissions p. 9-11Announcements p. 11-14Prayer List p. 15Altar Flowers p. 15Birthdays p. 16

1 Paige Webb

Charles Glenn Watkevich

2 George T. Stronach III

Laura Bardin

4 Holmes Smoot

Clark Ballard

5 Linda Sheen

6 Pete Dempsey

Lydia Bardin

7 Ding Campbell

Brenda Womble

Ann Bikle Bissette

8 George Hondros11 Genevieve Rand12 Katy King14 Watson Barnes Jane Fleming Clayton Matthew Stakes15 Elizabeth Parker Garrett Radford Garrett IV Thompson James Holt17 Peggy Wilson18 John Boddie Crudup Jr.19 Dewey B. Sheffield Jr. Suzanne Hackney

20 Beth McKinney21 Janet Hackney24 Garland Homes Toby Barnes26 Ann Griffin Devon Stronach28 Sarah Warden Brett Wilber Nathan Barrett Wright31 Cynthia Wall

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Greetings!As you take time to reflect on the blessings of this past year, and to wait and prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas, I want to thank ALL of you for your support of the 73rd Annual Bake Sale. The sale is the primary source of revenue for ECW to support outreach projects, which last

year included programs at St. Timothy’s (youth mission trip, Carriage House, Rector’s Discretionary Fund) and in the community (Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, The Spot, St. Mark’s/Guadalupana Summer Program, Wesley Shelter, Hope Station, and Flynn Home).

Melba Martin, Judy Mansell, and I represented you at the ECW Annual Meeting held last month near Charlotte. Highlights of the two-day meeting included the keynote address by our new Bishop Suffragan, the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, and the inspiring Holy Eucharist service. The ECW granted $2,000 to Harvest for Hospitality, an initiative of the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry in NC that takes church, in its most inclusive meaning, to where the congregation (tens of thousands of farmworkers and their families) lives and works. You can read more about the Episcopal Farm Ministry at www.efwm.org.

The fall 2013 ingathering for the United Thank Offering will be Sunday, Dec. 22. The United Thank Offering originated in 1889 as part of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Board of Missions. Emphasis was on mission work in the United States and overseas and on support and training for women working in the church. The ECW continues to support daily Thanksgivings in the Blue Boxes. Our blue boxes remind us to give a thank offering for our blessings, large and small. For information, see Julia Fielding or call the church office at 291-8220.

After seven months of wonderful rehabilitation in Pennsylvania, Eva Morriss is back in her home in Wilson. She is doing well and enjoys contacts and communication with her church family. Phone 237-5020. Welcome home, Eva!

Date to remember: December 22 UTO Fall Ingathering

Blessings! Paula Wright, ECW President

The Parish Prayer ListJohn Green

Pete WilliamsLemuel WinsteadBryant McCarthy

Barbara FrantzJohn Mutchler

Billy PriceKathy Moore

* * * * *Carol Campbell

Mary Ann Everett

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Jeanette NealJoshua Primm

Dave DeadmonAndrew Etheridge

Dirk PetersonLeon Wilson

Peter RamagliaEllie HammondCelia BatchelorEmilie EnglishLandon Davis

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Bonner WagnonEdwin Knott

Cathe Gregg VickEva Morriss

Amanda BatchelorDavid Orcutt

Dr. Alan CarterTracey HollandJennings LammEileen Walters

Fred Jinks

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Beth WeaverDebbie Cavallero

Jewel BrittJohn Miller

Dot WillifordHarrison Barnett

Bettie TewLodus Joyner

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Altar Flowers, December 2013Altar flowers are given to the glory of God and . . .

December 8

December 29

December 1

in loving memory ofJohn Campbellby Ding Campbell

in loving memory oftheir parents

by Mr. and Mrs. Clark Ballard

in loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Turner B. Bunn Jr.

and Mrs. Cynthia Bird Bunnby Mr. and Mrs. Turner B. Bunn lll,

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Eagles Bunn, and Mr. Frederick Moye Bunn

* this date is available ... if interested,

contact Katherine Scott at 237-3348

December 22-25

Selma and James Lucas Barnes& Mary Ellen and Reynold Delos Hogle

by Mr. and Mrs. Watson Barnes

Ula Hubert and Janet Riley Cozart& Charles Thomas and Eloise Moore Bissett

by Mr. and Mrs. U.H. Cozart lll

The Special Christmas Greens are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of

The Advent Wreath is given to the glory of God and in loving memory of John Christopher Gauss

by Anna Jane and Bud Ruffintheir grandparents

by Taylor, Shelton and Missy Griffin

December 15

in loving memory ofDenzill C. Warden, Samuel Kushner,and their grandson Paul Macrae Kushner

by the family

The Christmas Tree is given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Patricia Lee Casey by her daughters Meredith Casey Bourne and Lambeth Casey Overman.

The calendar year is coming to a close, giving us an opportunity to reflect on what has transpired over the past twelve months. Soon the news media will compile lists of the year’s highlights and low points. Radio stations will play the countdowns of popular music. Fashion faux pas will be laughed at. In our own lives, although only twelve months have passed, nostalgic feelings will arise when we think back to the times we shared with family and friends during the year.

I think God gives us contrasts to help heighten our awareness of things around us. It seems fitting that as we prepare to close out the calendar year, our church year commences. Rather than focus-ing on what has already passed in our lives, we can focus on what will come. Certainly, preparing for Jesus’s arrival is always a glorious occasion.

We recently had a personal experience related to preparing for Jesus. Bishop Curry was invited to a vestry dinner at our house, which was exciting for all of us. On the day of his visit, in the midst of the flurry of last-minute preparations, I received a text that read, “Jesus will b there at 4.” I have to admit that for a brief moment I thought, “Oh, dear! Not only is the bishop coming for dinner, but Jesus is coming too?!” We all had a good laugh when we realized that the person who had been hired to blow the leaves off the driveway happened to be named Jesus (pronounced hay-soos).

I knew, of course, that Jesus wasn’t really coming for dinner. And I don’t think he would have texted me his RSVP. But, for a brief period, it was exciting to let my heart and spirit guide me with that belief. I marvel at how easy it was to be led. Like a child believing in the wonder of Santa Claus! After all, the hope of Jesus’s presence is something we carry with us each day. That brief moment for me was an affirmation of all of those hopes.

It reminded me of the seasonal phrase, “If you don’t believe, you won’t receive.” While the empha-sis of that phrase has been on maintaining a belief in Santa Claus, it seems more apt to apply it to our Christian beliefs. In fact, Matthew states, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:22). What wonderful gifts we can and do receive through our faith! And, unlike Santa’s gifts, these are given throughout the year. We are even given the gift of grace when we make mistakes, which is infinitely more rewarding than coal in our stockings.

Just as God enriches our lives with contrasts, he also gently reminds us of the many cycles in life. As one thing ends, another one begins. As Jesus died for us, he also came to life for us. I fin-ish out my tenure as Senior Warden here at St. Timothy’s a much richer person, grateful for the experience, and humbled by the honor. St. Timothy’s is a wonderful place to be, and I know the upcoming year will affirm that belief. Peggy Metts, Senior Warden

From the Senior Warden

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Announcements

St. Timothy’s Book GroupSt. Timothy’s Book Group

readings (and hostesses) for the next few months are (no meeting in December):January 21: The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout (at Holmes Smoot’s) February 18: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark (at Betty Lou Walston’s) March 18: The Mirrored World, by Debra Dean (at Debbie Styles’s)

YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE!

A CPR & AED Defibrillator Training class is scheduled for December 7, 2013, 10:00am. in Anderson Hall. Please contact the church office to reserve your seat. A count of participants is needed to ensure that enough training

materials are available.Three keys to the main parts of the church are now available for checkout when you temporarily need access outside of normal church hours. You will need to come to the church office, in advance, during normal office hours to check out a key. Please remember to return it when you are finished.

Church Key Check-Out

EPISCOPAL SHIELD DECALS

The Episcopal Church shield, as an adhesive or window cling decal, is available at the church office for $1.00 each. The decals measure approximately 3”wide x 4” high.

GOT CANS?The Altar Guild is in need of tall aluminum cans (46 ounce), with the top removed, to put flowers in each Sunday to take to those who cannot attend services. If you have cans of this size, it would be greatly appreciated if you would drop them off at the church office, or place them on the counter in the sacristy.

2014 Vestry ElectionsVestry elections will take place at our Annual Meeting on December 8. If you are interested in running for Vestry please contact Peggy Metts, 293-9849, mettsmc@yahoo.com, or Royce Poythress, 237-6452, rpoythre@gmail.com. Four new vestry members are needed for 2014.

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Reflections from the RectorMelchior, Caspar, and Balthazar

According to the Gospel of Matthew, the Magi visited Jesus and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” [Matt2:11] This is the only mention of the Magi in the entire New Testament. “Magi” is a Greek word normally used to describe priest-astrologers, generally from the Zoroastrian tradition. This visit is the trigger for King Herod to slaughter all the young children in Bethlehem. The intensity of this short story has triggered a multitude of stories and legends, including one about the number and names of the magi. Imagine being Mary, already experiencing God’s grace by bearing God’s son and having Joseph accept this miracle as reality. Imagine her opening the door one day to find this group of strange men standing there. Then, amazingly, they kneel before Jesus and give him homage! By their language and actions, she must have known that they were “not from around here.” Before leaving, they open their treasure chests to him.

What should be striking to us is that these men came from across the vast desert to a foreign country to find a king who was not their own and had not yet achieved a publically recognized throne. Even more startling is that they worshipped him and gave him significant material gifts. And then they left without asking for anything: no favors, no power, and no future promises. They worshipped him and gave freely of their resources, without asking for anything in return. What a miracle!

Christ crossed the vast chasm of human sin to be born of human flesh. He gave his life so that no one had to die an eternal death. Christ offers this gift of eternal life freely to any who will accept it. What a miracle!

Rev. Marty

Announcements (cont’d.)

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Important Meeting Dates (Regular Sunday night EYC Meets from 5:30-7:30 pm)

December 1, 2013: EYC MeetsDecember 4, 2013: CHILI SUPPER 5:00-7:00pm (take-out only)December 8, 2013: EYC MeetsDecember 13-15, 2013: Bishop’s BallDecember 15, 2013: EYC Tacky Christmas PartyDecember 22, 2013: NO EYCDecember 29, 2013: NO EYCJanuary 3-4, 2014: EYC Lock-in!!January 5, 2014: EYC Feast of Lights Worship Service (5:30 pm)

CURRENT EVENTS

DINNER ANGELS are needed to provide dinners for the Fall Semester and other occasional meals for our EYC teens! WE NEED A DINNER ANGEL FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1st and 8th!! Check out our online sign-up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/dinner420. We don’t want our teens to go hungry on Sundays! Part of the duties of the Dinner Angels is to share the meal and evening program with our teens, so we ask that our dinner angels stay for the entire evening and join the teens during EYC Program. Please contact GiGi or Holmes Smoot if you have any difficulties with the online sign-up. NOTE: this is open to ALL members of the parish! Chili Supper: Our EYC Chili Supper is on December 4, 2013. Proceeds of the chili supper will help offset the costs of our EYC Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast this summer! Please purchase your tickets by Sunday, December 1!! TACKY CHRISTMAS PARTY: YOU’RE INVITED to EYC’s Annual Tacky Christmas Party! Prizes will be given for outfits in the following categories: Most Tacky, Most Bright, Most like a Christmas tree, and best Headwear. Those attending are asked to bring a wrapped unisex gift (don’t go out and buy something, just wrap something in your house that you don’t need or use anymore) for a gift exchange! We’ll also watch a movie, so feel free to bring friends and family! No need to RSVP, just show up and embrace the tacky! EYC Lock-in! Plans are in the works for our EYC Lock-in January 3-4, 2014. Teens and their families should be on the lookout for info in the mail! DIOCESAN YOUTH MINISTRIES: Registration for ALL Diocesan youth events is LIVE online. Registrations can be found online at: http://www.dionc.org/Youth/youth-main.html. The Fall events and their dates are as follows:• December 13-15, 2013 Bishop’s Ball (Register with the Diocese by Dec. 2!!!)

Announcements (cont’d.)

UNITED THANK OFFERING FALL INGATHERING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22

Our Fall UTO Sunday is coming again soon, so PLEASE pick up your little blue box in Anderson Hall and start filling it up every time you feel thankful for something. We have so many blessings that others do not have. UTO reaches out to people all over the world and to those in our own community who need our help. The United Thank Offering prayer sums up what UTO is all about:

Gracious God, source of all creation, all love, all true joy; accept, we pray, these outward signs of our profound and continuing thankfulness for all of life. Keep each of us ever thankful for all the blessings of joy and challenges that come our way. Bless those who will benefit from these gifts through the outreach of the United Thank Offering. This we ask through Him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Since 1889, UTO has been fulfilling this vision and only with your contributions can this ministry continue to change the lives of those in need. Please give generously!

Thanks for your support, Julia Fielding UTO Chairman

Dear Parishioners,The Altar Guild has a great need for additional linens for our main altar in the sanctuary. Obviously linens wear out, and occasionally purificators disappear. At this time we do not need purificators, however. What we do need:

1. 2 credence cloths - $150.60 each2. 4 corporals – 2 at $58.00 each, 2 at $73.00 each3. 3 lavabo towels - $28.50 each4. 1 fair linen for the main altar at $1,002.58; may be embroidered with the name of a person you wish to remember

This is an opportunity to remember a loved one with a memorial. At the time of our last request, eight years ago, several people commented that it was wonderful to know of something specific that the church needed, and they responded graciously.If you are interested in giving a memorial, please call Rev. Marty, me, or the church office.Sincerely, Lou Ann Cozart, Memorial Committee Chair

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RE-CAP OF PREVIOUS EVENTS

Operation Christmas Child: Thank you to all who supported our Operation Christmas Child efforts! We have collected 41 boxes! A few shy of our 100 box goal, but we are thankful for what we have! Special thanks to GLUE member Elizabeth Johnson for helping coordinate and plan this special event. Column: Why I love teenagers.I recently found this article by Meghan Harper, which so accurately described why ministering to teenagers is so incredibly important. This article is geared mainly toward teenage girls, but I think to some extent it is relevant to teenage guys too. I have abridged the article and cleaned up some of the language. To read the full, unedited article, please visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/why-i-fing-love-teenage-girls_n_4156383.html.

GiGi Logan, Youth Minister

Stars…the kind in the sky, that is.My favorite part of the Advent Season and the Christmas Story is the part about the Star. The part where the star emerges over the holy family to guide the shepherds and the wise men has always fascinated me. Where did the star come from? Has any star (besides our sun) ever shone so bright in our night sky? This is what keeps me up at night.

I’ve always enjoyed looking at the night sky. I love being able to find the big and little dippers, and being able to find Orion’s belt in the sky. Imagine my excitement when I found an app for my smart phone called “Sky Guide,” where when I open the app, even during the day, I can see what stars and constellations are in the sky above me. I can click on a star or constellation and read about the story of whom the constellation was named after, or the story of who discovered the star, when it was discovered, etc. I am fascinated by the fact that during different parts of the year we see different stars and constellations. Looking at the sky gives me the same feeling I have when standing by the ocean: just how incredibly small we are compared to everything else that is out there, and how the God that created us still cares so deeply for us.

While not all of us have stars named for us with the International Star Registry or the International Astrological Union, I think we each have metaphorical stars in our lives. The people or things that guide us to discover wonderful gifts become like the stars. Sometimes these stars gather together to create a constellation. That’s what we as EYC want to be and create: a constellation of stars that become a guide to our teens to discover God’s love. We want to be a safe place to ask the questions, and to light the path to God for these teens. However, constellations are usually best created with more than one star. No matter how big or bright that one star may shine, it will at some time burn out, and it cannot effectively connect teens to other stars unless it is connected to other stars that are willing to shine their light on teens and light the path for our youth. That one star cannot be, by definition, a constellation. That is why my job as our Youth Minister is not to be the bright shining Star in the East, but to be the architect that assembles the constellation around our teens.

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Announcements

ANNUAL MEETINGSt. Timothy’s Annual Parish Meeting will be held between the 8 AM and 10:30 services on December 8 in Anderson Hall. The men of the church will be serving breakfast. The State of the Church will be presented by the rector, Rev. Marty Stebbins, and by the officers of the church: Tad Rhodes, Treasurer; Royce Poythress, Junior Warden; and Dr. Peggy Metts, Senior Warden. We will also be electing four new vestry members to a three-year term. Nominees must be confirmed Episcopalians at least 16 years of age, in good standing and pledging to the parish. Only confirmed adult (16 years of age) members of the parish who are physically present at the meeting may vote on any matters. The Canons of the Diocese do not allow for absentee ballots.

COMING IN JANUARY!!!The diocese’s Commission On Ministry has asked Rev. Marty to assist in the formation of a new vocational deacon. The deacon aspirant is from another Episcopal church and will spend her ten-month internship with us at St. Timothy’s, beginning in late January. Keep an eye on our website for more news as it happens!

PARISH LIFEGET ON OUR LIST: We are always updating and adding to our list of volunteers to help make our church meals and events enjoyable for all. Your talents and help are needed in the following areas: cooking clean-up waiters flowers decorating moving/hauling

Please contact Jill Pittman at jspittman@barton.edu and let her know where you feel you can help.

ADVENTIf you are interested in lighting the Advent Wreath one Sunday this December, you may sign up at the back of the church.Advent Lessons & Carols will be with First Christian on December 15 at 4:00pm, at First Christian Church, 207 Tarboro St NE.Service music during Advent changes to reflect its penitential season. The Gloria will become the Kyrie S-91; the Santus will be S-130; and the Fraction will be S-169.

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This is why we need adult volunteers to spend time with the teens on a regular basis. Shining your light on a teen’s path is much more effective if it is a constant light, and not a flicker. Also, your light in combination with the light of others makes for a much brighter journey for all our teens. So are you willing to shine your light on EYC? Please consider it as an option for your Advent discipline. Amen.

GiGi Logan, Youth Minister

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CHRISTIAN FORMATION

STAR Schedule:The December schedule for the STAR program will be --

December 1 Advent WreathsDecember 8 Men’s Breakfast Annual MeetingDecember 15 STAR Play-A Star is BornDecember 22 Christmas BreakDecember 29 Christmas Break

Adult Formation Schedule:December 1 Advent Wreaths making with STARDecember 8 Men’s Breakfast Annual MeetingDecember 15 Join with STAR Play-A Star is BornDecember 22 Christmas BreakDecember 29 Christmas Break

Advent is a penitential season, and so we are encouraging everyone to use the UTO boxes as an Advent practice of sacrifice and prayer, putting change into them daily and returning them to the church on the fourth Sunday of Advent (December 22) .This year, our Angel Choir will sing at the lighting of the Advent Wreath candles for the 10:30 service. Families are invited to sign up to light the candles. Rev. Marty will train interested families. Sign-up sheets are at the back of the church.Dexter Ruffin and members of St. Timothy’s choir will be joining with Casey Whaley and the choir of First Christian and other singers and musicians from the community for Advent Lessons and Carols. This service will be at First Christian on Sunday, December 15, at 4 PM. The service will follow the format of the original service from King’s College in England. There will be a chance for fellowship afterward.Our Christmas Eve services will continue at their traditional times of 5:15 PM and 10:30 PM. Please remember that the 5:15 service is popular and plan accordingly. There will be a quiet Christmas Day service at 10:30 AM.Sunday, December 29 will have Morning Prayer at the 8 AM service and Christmas Lessons and Carols at the 10:30 AM service.

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WORSHIP

Liturgical Moment of the MonthThis is part of a series that I hope will be both educational and entertaining for the reader. You are invited to use the information to help you in your faith walk and to entertain your friends with your new-found knowledge.

Advent WreathThe Advent wreath comes to the Episcopal Church from the German Lutheran tradition. The stories of its origins vary; one tradition is that it is the descendant of a northern Europe pagan ritual; another claims that it was a German Lutheran teaching tool in the 1800s. The wreath, a circle, usually comprises evergreen branches and is placed horizontally on a table or a stand or hung from the ceiling. Nestled in the greenery are four candles placed equidistant from one another, each representing a week in Advent. These candles match the liturgical color used in the local church, usually violet or blue. Sometimes one rose-colored candle is used to represent the third Sunday in Advent, Gaudete Sunday. Normally there is a central white candle called the Christ candle, which is not lit until Christmas Eve. The blue or violet candles remind us that Advent is a season of penitence; the rose candle reminds us of the impending joy of Christmas and its meaning. On the first Sunday of Advent, one candle is lit. Additional candles are lit for successive weeks until Christmas Eve, when all the candles are lit. Traditionally the wreath is kept in the sanctuary and lit every Sunday until Epiphany, which marks the end of Christmas.

Vestry Commissions 2013Senior Warden Peggy Metts 293-9849 peggy.metts@wilmed.orgJunior Warden/Property Royce Poythress 237-6452 rpoythre@gmail.comChristian Formation Paige Webb 245-0144 paigelwebb@yahoo.comChristian Formation John Wright 991-2533 johnandpaulawright@yahoo.comCommunications Marcus Fielding 292-6741 Marcus.Fielding@wellsfargoadvisors.comDevelopment Dan Wilhelm 243-5234 dwilhelm@myglnc.comDevelopment Lee Stephenson 291-6901 lee.s@smcinc.comMissions Mike Miller 243-1321 mike@frankshomeplace.comParish Life David Taylor 291-5784 specialtypackagingcorp@gmail.comProperty Royce Poythress 237-6452 rpoythre@gmail.comStewardship Sam Stronach 291-1032 sam@stronachproperties.comWorship Cliff Blanton 243-1727 tblanton@myglnc.comYouth Vickie Thompson 243-4822 vickie.thompson@wilsonschoolsnc.net

From the Commissions MISSIONS

The Mission Team will be involved with two projects this Christmas season: We have a list of 48 requests from children and mothers from the Wesley Shelter for Christmas gifts. The requests for these individuals will be available on the Angel Tree in the Sanctuary on Advent 1 and will need to be completed by December 13.

The other activity is the coordinated effort with First Christian and First United Methodist to provide a Christmas Day meal and gifts for some of the less fortunate. Our role has been to provide the baked potatoes for the meal and hats and gloves for the gifts and volunteers to help with the meal. So if you are out doing some shopping and you see a good deal on some hats and/ or gloves, or anything else that would be an appropriate gift, it would be a great opportunity to help out.

The next Missions Commission meeting is scheduled for 5:30 pm, December 30.

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Most of the St. Timothy’s parish remembers me as a fledgling, scrappy boy who would sprint (in some cases!) from Darden-Vick Middle School to the church to practice the piano. I had inexaustable energy and wanted to learn any and every thing regarding the subject of music and piano playing. Equally, I had an unwavering fascination with the faith of my parents: belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. In many ways, I was a better Christian then; pure, undefiled, naive about how my faith would be tested in years to come. Nonetheless, I took charge of the faith of my parents just as I took charge of my musical development without any nudging from anyone save the Holy Ghost.

Are we justified by faith alone or by faith and works combined? This question has intrigued me since those days of sprinting to St. Tims to play the piano. As I look at the world today, the seeming contention in Holy Scripture between James and St. Paul is no less diluted and always fires up in my mind grounds for Christian reflection.

Paul exposits (Romans 3,4) that we Christians have nothing to boast about when we do good deeds because deeds are often done to pay off a debt or to abide by and align one’s self with an established law or rules of custom. James, on the other hand, says that by our works our faith in God is made whole. This appeared to be an obvious contradiction in scripture for my young mind (I was baptized in the eighth grade and started reading the Bible avidly). I thought: Well, how could one book contain such blatant lack of agreement and consistency? But now that I am older and off the Gerber baby diet, I am ready for the true flesh and blood of our Saviour. There is NO contradiction. Yes, Paul points out that Sarah’s womb was made alive through Abraham’s unwavering trust in God. And by the same token, James argues, as it were, was not Abraham’s offering of Isaac the perfect physical manifestation of “faith.” (For as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also). We all can agree that we are saved and justified by faith, but what good is my faith if I can’t fellowship with my brethren, Christian or not, with open arms? Or what good is my faith if the love of Christ isn’t seen in me or if I choose to not help the poor even though I have plenty? Of what good is it if I have a falling out with a family member and choose not to forgive him or her? In other words, faith isn’t just a belief, it is action, it is behavior. Many a Beelzebub can deceive us speaking pleasing-to-the-ear Christian rhetoric. But as Christ says, “we shall know them by their fruit.” Many of us think our faith is a sofa on which we can rest and not worry about the responsibilities of having faith, and what that faith should prompt us to do as Christians. It should prompt us to make a real difference!

Dexter Ruffin, Music Minister

From The Music Minister

FINANCE & STEWARDSHIP

Pledging Do you know why you are asked to make a formal pledge?“Isn’t it enough that I put money in the plate each week?” you may ask. The short answer is that a formal pledge helps the church to budget and plan. But the conscious de- cision to make a pledge is important for other, perhaps less obvious, reasons.Pledging gives the church a priority in our lives. It is part of our covenant of faith, evidence that we put God first, not last, in our lives. Making a commitment in the form of a pledge helps us to be regular and systematic in our giving and lets our church family know that it can count on our financial support – barring any unusual circumstances, of course. Our commitment becomes planned and not just a part of what is left over after our other pledges and commitments have been met.The fact of making a pledge is actually more important than the amount of the pledge. Making a pledge of your money to the Church is an outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace of your faith.By pledging, you move from the aggregation to the congregation, the fellowship of active participants within our par- ish family. Jesus talked about the stewardship of our money often. You could summarize all his teaching in his famous sentence: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Of course, your “treasure” includes your time and talents, and all are truly appreciated by this community of faith.More than just support, your pledge represents your promise. Your commitment that you will be there – that St. Timothy’s can count on you. This allows us to plan for the year and the future.

borrowed from St. Lukes Episcopal church in Ypsilanti, MI