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

December 2013

Editor: Rusty Ogden

Epiphany wishes all a

Merry Christmas

and a

Joyous New Year

Please plan on celebrating Christ’s birth

with your church family.

Christmas services are as follows:

Advent IV

Sunday, December 22

Holy Eucharist, 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Pageant 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve

Tuesday, December 24

Christmas Family Service 5:30 p.m.

Festival of Carols 10:30 p.m.

Festival Choral Eucharist 11 p.m.

The Nativity of Our Lord Wednesday, December 25 9:30 a.m.

First Sunday of Christmas

Sunday, December 29

Morning Prayer 8:00 a.m.

A Festival of Nine Lessons

and Carols 10:30 a.m.

Second Sunday of Christmas

Sunday, January 5

No 8 a.m. service

Holy Eucharist with

Confirmation and Reception

Visitation: The Rt. Rev. Kee Sloan,

Bishop of Alabama

Epiphany Star

Advent - Come, Lord Jesus

It is late November. We observed the

signs of Christmas months ago in the

discount pharmacy, tucked down the aisle

with the school supplies and Halloween

candy. Even now, we hear Christmas car-

ols in the malls and TV commercials have

a holiday twist. Meanwhile in the church

we begin a whole new season before we

reach the manger. Some call Advent a

season under stress, a season of confusion,

a season of the already and the not yet, a

season of beginning our new church year,

alongside readings of the end time and last

things. And yet it is here, in this “end

time”, that we get a glimpse of the work-

ing out of God’s purposes, the goal of cre-

ation. It is only by focusing on God’s ulti-

mate holy intention that we can truly un-

derstand the birth, life, death, and resur-

rection of Jesus.

But it is not easy to talk about themes of

judgment, watchfulness and the end of the

world amidst a secular season of festivity

and parties and Christmas concerts. And

yet, it is imperative that we defend the

church against the commercial boom of

Christmas that begins in the fall and ends

as early as Christmas Eve with “after

Christmas sales.” And so I hope you will

partake of the beauty of Advent, the songs,

the prayers, the hopeful longing that leads

us to the incarnation. May he guide us into

the way of peace, give light to those who

sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

and kindle in us the fire of his love.

God faithful and true, make us eager with

expectation,

as we look for the fulfillment of your

promise in Jesus Christ our Savior.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Nancy+

Epiphany Star Page 2

The City of Guntersville will hold its annual

Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 14th at

5:00 p.m. The theme is “Catch the Christmas

Spirit!” We will need four adults to walk the

parade route alongside our float and pass out

candy. We will also need two older youth or adults

to carry our banner. We invite all of our Epiphany

family and friends to walk with us behind the

banner.

Thanks to Mr. Ed Hayes for the use of his

warehouse, and to Mr. Chris Jackson for the use of

his truck and trailer.

Dinner will be provided for meetings on the

following days:

Sunday, December 1st, 1:00 p.m.

in Sanderson Hall

Wednesday, December 3rd, 5:45 p.m.

in Sanderson Hall

Sunday, December 8th, 5:00 p.m.

at Mr. Hayes’ warehouse

Thursday, December 12th, 5:00 p.m.

in Mr. Hayes’ warehouse

Friday, December 13th, 5:00 p.m.

in Mr. Hayes’ warehouse

Saturday, December 14th, 1:00 p.m. in Sanderson

Hall for lunch, and at 3:30 p.m. we will line up on

Scott Street. At 5:00 p.m. the Christmas Parade

begins. After the parade, we will return to

Epiphany for coffee, hot chocolate and cookies.

Everyone interested, please contact:

Michelle Bradshaw text message: 256-689-1487

or e-mail: bradshawm77@gmail.com

We are excited to present the Epiphany Christ-

mas Pageant for its 35th year! This Epiphany

tradition was started in 1978 by the late Bet

McQueen. We have created a bulletin board by

Sanderson Hall highlighting the history of the

pageant. Included on the board is a tribute to

Mrs. McQueen as well as "Where are They

Now?" updates of some past pageant partici-

pants. The pageant will be presented during the

10:30 service on December 22. Practices will

be at noon on Sunday, December 15 and

10:00am on Saturday, December 21.

There is a sheet on the bulletin board for you to

sign up your children or grandchildren. Please

see Meredith Jackson or Michelle Bradshaw for

more information.

CHRISTMAS TREE

DECORATINGPARTY

FOR CEDAR LODGE

Cedar Lodge Treatment Center is very excited to

have us host a tree decorating party for the

residents. Anyone in the parish is welcome to

attend but will need to sign a confidentiality

paper. We will meet at the church, December

5th, ready to leave at 3:30pm for the party at

4:00pm. We need homemade goodies, cookies,

cupcakes, etc., for our party during the decorat-

ing. We also need ornaments and voices/

musicians. If anyone in the parish has questions,

please contact Lee Hoggle at 256-558-3571 or

Susan Armstrong at 256-302-3801.

The residents decorate the tree and we all sing

Christmas carols. This is a simple, but wonderful

experience. You will be glad you participated. If

you would like to contribute but cannot attend,

please leave your food or ornaments in the

church office on Wednesday or Thursday and

label Cedar Lodge.

Epiphany Star Page 3

The Outreach Committee would like to thank all those who

responded to our call for the ingathering.

Your generosity supplied The Salvation Army, Home Place and

Ogden House with food and supplies that are desperately needed.

Thank you again

Bob Davis and the Outreach Committee

ROOM IN THE INN starts Friday, December 6th. We welcome

our homeless "Neighbors" at 6:00pm in Sanderson Hall for a warm

Fellowship Meal.

Cots with fresh linens and blankets will have been setup starting at

4:30, and of course Sheila Myrick will have started cooking the

meal even earlier! This year we are happy to offer the opportunity

for showers in Woodall Commons.

Lots of effort goes into hosting RITI at Epiphany and I really ap-

preciate all who have attended to two planning meetings held re-

cently. If you are interested in helping with this ministry please

contact:

Jan Maxwell, 256-582-4228 or

jan.max05@gmail.com

Peace & Blessings,

Jan Maxwell

ROOM IN THE INN AT EPIPHANY

EPIPHANY'S AUCTION SCORES A TOUCHDOWN!!

The auction team would like to extend a very special thank you to

all that helped - donating items, working and attending the event,

bringing food, setting up chairs, kitchen help, clean up, etc. - to

ensure that our auction was a success! We raised over $23,000.

Without you we could not have done it!

As stewards of these proceeds, we pray that God will guide

Epiphany within our community to share the blessed gift of love

and caring.

Hallelujah, God's blessings surround Epiphany!

Joe and Linda Katz

Christmas Poinsettias

The Altar Guild is taking dedications

for red Poinsettias. We will need 50 to

decorate the church for Christmas.

Each poinsettia plant is $15.00.

Dedication forms are on the counter in the

church office. These dedications, which ap-

pear in the Christmas bulletins, are a beauti-

ful way to honor those people who are special

in our lives and to

celebrate the birth of a baby born so long ago

in a stable and under a starry sky.

We appreciate your payment when you sign

up or no later than December 26th, so it can

be processed for year-end.

If you have any questions please see Marsha

Babb or call her at 256 571-2300

2014 Flower and

Candle Dedications The sign up sheets for flower and

candle dedications are posted on the

bulletin board across from the

office.

Rodney’s Flower Shop bills each

individual for the Sunday flowers.

The candles are $10.00 per dedication and are

payable to the church (please note on your check

that it is for candles and for what date).

These dedications, which appear in each

Sunday’s bulletins, are a thoughtful and beauti-

ful gesture to celebrate, honor, and remember

someone who has touched our lives. Think of

the delight and pleasure you feel when someone

does something nice for you for no particular

reason or season! Give that feeling to your

spouse, sibling, parent, or pew-partner.

Epiphany Star Epiphany Star Page 4

Peach Salsa Dip By Melissa Brazelton-Reeves

1 1/4 cups frozen sliced peaches, thawed

and diced

(1/2 of a 16 oz. bag)

1 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 green onion, thinly sliced

3 Tbsp. mild salsa

1 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

Mix together in a medium bowl. Makes

about 3 cups.

(To use fresh peaches, just add a 1/4 cup

more than frozen)

Life expectancy in the U.S. rose

from 75.2 in 1990 to 78.2 in 2010.

Those three extra years sound great,

but the average American spends an

increasing number of years in poor

health. What’s more, compared to 34

other developed countries, we dropped

from #20 to #27 in life expectancy,

because we haven’t kept pace with the

reductions in most major causes of

premature death seen in many of these

other countries. This news was high-

lighted in The State of U. S. Health

1990-2010,” recently in the Journal of

the American Medical Association.

A POOR REPORT CARD

Our Canadian readers may wonder

where they stand. While they have

dropped from #5 to #12 in the life

expectancy rankings during the past

two decades, Canadians still live 2.4

years longer than American, on aver-

age. This is true even though per-

capita health-care spending in the

U.S. is nearly double that in Canada

and far higher than any other country,

and we lead the world in medical

research.

Why is the U.S. trailing its eco-

nomic peers in so many matter of

health? The researchers suggest that

poor diet and physical inactivity are

major factors. The U.S. ranks 27 out

of 35 in body weight and in disease

burden that can be attributed to dietary

factors.

National health statistics, however,

hide big differences that correlate with

geography, race, education, economic

status, and access to health care. For

instance, within the U.S., life expectancy

is 6 to 7 years shorter in Mississippi and

Alabama than in Hawaii and Minnesota.

Socioeconomic status plays a particular-

ly large role in the health of Americans.

For instance, the gap in life expectancy

between high and low wage earners is

about 5 years and has widened in recent

decades

Spinach Balls By Lee Jones

2 pkgs. Frozen spinach, thawed and

drained

6 large eggs

1 stick butter, softened

2 cups Pepperidge Farm bread crumbs

1 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1 small onion, grated

1 to 2 Tbsp. olive oil

8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Mix all ingredients. Roll into 1 inch

balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 20

minutes. (May freeze on baking sheet

and transfer to plastic bags. Don’t thaw

before cooking.)

Epiphany Star Page 5

The Epiphany family extends its most heartfelt

sympathy, love, prayers and support to Jim and

Wendy Phelps and family in the loss, November

14, 2013 of Jim’s mother, Gertrude Eiler of Be-

thal Park, PA

The Epiphany family extends its most heartfelt

sympathy, love, prayers and support to Mike and

Judy Murdock and family in the loss, November

23, 2013 of Mike’s mother, Helen Estelle

Murdock , of Boaz.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

The Rt. Reverend Kee

Sloan, Bishop of Alabama,

will visit Epiphany on Janu-

ary 5 to celebrate “The

Epiphany”, our name day,

and to confirm and receive

new members to Epiphany.

THERE WILL BE NO

8:00AM SERVICE. A pot

luck lunch will follow the

10:30am service.

Bishop Kee Sloan

to Visit Epiphany

Change of phone number

Scott and Velma Atkins

256-486-3872

Many thanks to those who came to my

rescue at church and then brought food

by the house on Sunday, November 10.

We are so very blessed to have our

Epiphany family

Ray Werden

Congratulations to

Amanda and Clayton

Gosselin on the birth,

November 19, 2013 of

Nicholas Anthony

Gosselin.

Congratulations also to

proud grandparents, Rick

and Velvet Cooley.

I would like to thank Pastor Nancy, the vestry and the staff of Epiphany for their understanding and coop-

eration in allowing me to work different and unusual hours during the five weeks of Chuck’s hospitaliza-

tion in Huntsville. Volunteers, Velma Atkins, Paula Dabney, Jerry Ann Holt, Linda Katz and Ann Thomas.

also covered for many of my duties.

The Mission Team built the most beautiful wheel chair ramp for Chuck’s homecoming in the, I hope, near

future. A huge thank you to Grant and Susan Armstrong, Lamar and Kelly Auman and Tom Downes.

Chuck and I are truly blessed to be members of Epiphany.

Rusty Ogden, Secretary of Epiphany

PLEASE NOTE: IMPORTANT IRS NOTICE

2013 Charitable Contribution Deductions and December 31st Deadline.

Donors must deliver or mail (and postmark) checks on or by this date in order to claim a charitable con-

tribution for 2013. Checks that are placed in the church offering during the first worship service of 2014

will not qualify for a charitable contribution deduction for 2013 even if the check is postdated to 2013

or was actually written in 2013. However, checks that are written, mailed, and postmarked in 2013 will

be deducted in 2013 though they are not received by a church until 2014.

STEWARDSHIP

Have you made your pledge for 2014?

The Stewardship Committee would like to

thank the 91 Epiphany families who have

made a pledge for 2014. If you have not yet

made your pledge, please consider making a

financial commitment to advance God’s king-

dom through the ministry, mission and

outreach of the Church of the Epiphany in

2014.

On Sunday, November 24th, we placed our

commitments on the altar in Thanksgiving to

God for our blessings. It’s not too late! There

are several ways you can still pledge:

Complete your pledge card and place in the

alms basin, deliver to the church office, or

mail to the church

Call your pledge into our Treasurer, Shari Har-

rison, at 256-582-4897, or E-mail your pledge

to Shari@EpiphanyGuntersville.org

Wonderful things are in store for Epiphany’s

ministries in 2014. We need everyone to make

a pledge toward these efforts. We look forward

to hearing from you.

Your gifts are appreciated!

2014 Pledged by Dollar Range

As of November 26, 2013

$2,999.99 or less 61

$3,000 - $4,999.99 13

$5,000 - $9,999.99 12

$10,000 - $19,999.99 5

Total Number of Pledges 91

Total Dollar Amount of Pledges $258,300.00

Average Pledge $ 2,838.46

Epiphany Star Page 6

I have been asked to write about volunteering in our Church, so ....

My Episcopal volunteer journey began with the words, “ God Is Love’, that is what the Episcopal Church

is about.” Aunt Betty Dorman told me many years ago. Personally, I wanted a God that loved, not one that

you had to fear would strike you down for any number of offenses I could easily commit. I was a member

of St. Stephens in Eutaw, Al. and Aunt Betty had brought me a copy of the Children’s Christmas Pageant

that Epiphany was doing. Shortly after I sold my home Rosemount and moved temporarily(?!) to Gun-

tersville to regroup. Aunt Betty immediately took me under her wings to introduce me to the volunteer

work she did...she was one of Father Joe’s ‘Angels’. Father Joe’s Angels, as one of their many gracious

volunteer services helped set up food for families after a funeral service. Aunt Betty pointed out I should

look for ways to help my church in a way that made me happy…

Bet McQueen was director of the Christmas Pageant for 25 years..and for a few years I helped her by as-

sisting the children with their costumes and before I knew it I was ‘Director of Costumes’, and Debbie

Moss became the Director. We retired last year after 18 years. I am looking forward to watching the pag-

eant under our Youth Leaders direction this year.

A group of ladies under Catherine Reed did an Easter ‘Do’ after service for many years...Bobbie Camper,

and several others helped her. The group slowly through death , relocating and other changes dissolved and

Catherine came to me and asked if I would take it over. Thus began the Easter Reception which has a base

core of loving volunteer church members (Bob and Connie Hembree, Linda and Joe Katz, Barb and Rush

Sedberry, Anita Duncan (the Punch Lady), Melissa Brazelton-Reeves, Diana Ratliff and Michael Kirkpat-

rick, Cassandra and Wally Kistler, Dawn Alves, Liz Riehl, Bill and Kathy Thompson, Terry and Jack

Camper, Rhonda and Pete Sparks, Lee Hoggle and Jim Ward, Barbara and King Nye, and Catherine and

Edwin Reed) This has become a most loved tradition that fills a need for young families, widows and just

those that want to commune together on this joyous celebratory day.

About 10 years ago, before the confirmation service I was passing through Sanderson Hall. Now on a nor-

mal year the tables would be decorated for the traditional Confirmation Pot Luck Sunday ..alas, the tables

were still naked. It seems the volunteer that had done the beautifully set tables with a wooden cross with

greenery on each table had passed away... The next year I made sure it was decorated for such an important

after service meal. I decorated for this for many years, last year was my last year to do this ..it was time to

let a newer parishioner take over this church volunteer activity. What I have learned is look around. Your

strengths and talents will be presented the opportunity to use in the service of our Father in Heaven who

has blessed us with his love. If you see a need, volunteer with thanksgiving, knowing that in your giving

‘paying it forward’, there comes the fruits of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, goodness, peace,

forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, Because God is Love.

Matthew 7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Thank You,

Jennifer “Jenn” Baker

Page 7 Epiphany Star

Page 8 Epiphany Star

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH

5—Bishop Sloan’s Visit and Confirmation 21 & 22—Diocesan Convention 4—Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

19—Parish Business Meeting 28 Vestry Retreat 5—Ash Wednesday

27—Seafood Bash at Crawmama’s 7—World Day of Prayer

CODE: BSA—Brotherhood of St. Andrew; CC—Children’s Church; CP—Centering Prayer; DC—Discernment Committee; DOK—Daughters of the

King; DG—Dream Group; HC—Holy Communion; HE—Holy Eucharist; RITI—Room in the Inn; SS—Sunday School; Birthdays

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Discretionary Fund HC 8 & 10:30am

SS 9:30am Mission Team 9:30am

CC 10:30am EYC 5pm Taizé 5pm

2 Book Study

10:30am EfM 6pm

3 Morning Prayer 9am Hospitality 6:30pm

4 CP 9:45am

Healing Service 11:30am

Worship 5:30pm Dinner 6pm Programs &

Choir 6:30pm

Anna Brown

5 Morning Prayer

9am DG 12pm

Cedar Lodge Christmas Party

4pm DC 6:30pm

Daniel Garrison Laurie Woodall

6 RITI 6pm

Benjamin Booth Betti Kennamer Shaun Packard

7

Teresa Hunter

8 HC 8 & 10:30am

SS 9:30am Outreach 9:30am

CC 10:30am EYC 5pm

9 Book Study

10:30am DOK 11:30am

Staff mtg 11:45am EfM 6pm

Tyrus Dorman Bitsy Packard

10 Morning Prayer 9am

Holly Andries Jim Friday

11 CP 9:45am

Healing Service 11:30am

Worship 5:30pm Parish Christmas

Party 6:00pm

Sara Hembree Tony Lee

Taegan Meredith

12 Morning Prayer

9am DG 12pm

DC 6:30pm

Carmen Hurff Nancy Jones Whitt Lacey

13

Alora Alexander

14 Brotherhood 8am Garden Workday

8am Christmas

Parade 5pm

Diane Livengood Jacob McAllister George Newman

LaRue Shuart

15 HC 8 & 10:30am

SS 9:30am CC 10:30am

Pageant Rehearsal 12pm

EYC 5pm Celtic Service 5pm

Ultreya 6:30pm

16 Book Study

10:30am EfM Christmas

Party 6pm

Haley Ryan

17 Morning Prayer 9am

Vestry mtg 7pm

Misty Clanton

18 CP 9:45am

Healing Service 11:30am

Worship 5:30pm Dinner 6pm Programs &

Choir 6:30pm

19 Morning Prayer

9am DG 12pm

DC 6:30pm

Patrick Gasvoda

20 RITI 6:00pm

21 Pageant

Rehearsal 10am

Lee Auman

22 HC 8 & 10:30am

SS 9:30am Outreach 9:30am

Christmas Pageant 10:30am EYC 5pm

Lynn Beasley Lee Hoggle

Royce Baucom

23 DOK 11:30am

Grace Martin

24 OFFICE CLOSED

Family Service 5:30pm

Festival of Carols 10:30pm

Midnight Choral Eucharist 11pm Carol Jean Exby

L. P. Jones

25 OFFICE CLOSED

Nativity of Our Lord 9:30am

26

Jack Camper Ed Hayes

27

John Rogers Nori Rungruang

Doris Webb

28 Brotherhood 8am

Doris Benson Carol Friday

JoAnn Overton Mark Thronton

29 Morning Prayer 8am

SS 9:30am CC 10:30am

Lessons & Carols 10:30am EYC 5pm

Jody Chorba

30

Tony Pate

31 Morning Prayer 9am

Micky Gaines Hayden Rungruang

JANUARY 1 OFFICE CLOSED

Vestry Person for December

Gloria Kilner

256-582-8620