Celebrating God's Generous Gifts

Transcription

1 AUGUST 2017 Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 1101 Sunset Drive P. O. Box 116 Guntersville, AL Celebrating God's Generous Gifts Please join your Epiphany Family as we renew our Stewardship commitment and Celebrate God's Generous Gifts on Wednesday, August 9th in Sanderson Hall. Last year we came together and celebrated God's Gifts to us such as "Love," "Faith," "Jesus," "Family" and many more. This year we will offer God OUR gifts, remembering His invitation to "love one another, as I have loved you." The Pot Luck Fellowship Meal (with ribs cooked by Sam Harrison) will start at 6:00pm. After a musical procession to the Woodall Commons patio we will celebrate the Eucharist with joyful song!

2 Epiphany Star Page 2 Over the past many weeks, our Old Testament readings on Sunday mornings have focused on the foundations of our faith. That is, we have been reading a great deal from the book of Genesis. Recently we have been exploring the lives of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Let us not forget the matriarchs, as well: Sarah, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel.) These stories provide an introduction to one of the founding principles of the Old Testament a recurring theme that guides the affairs between God and humanity. That theme is covenant. A covenant might be thought of as a kind of contract between two parties, governing the terms and conditions of their relationship. And that is true, as far as it goes. God s covenant, however, goes a step further. A contract is considered null and void if either side breaks the terms of the agreement. And that was certainly true of humanity in the Old Testament. Under a contract, God would be considered well within His rights to abandon human beings and leave them to their own devices. But God chose to honor the covenant, even after human beings went astray. The covenant of the Old Testament is a sign of God s enduring faithfulness. Even as human beings fell away from, sinned against, or ignored God s covenant, God remained true to His promises. In fact, God chose finally to raise the stakes. In the end, God gave us humans the ultimate sign of His faithfulness. God gave us His son: Jesus Christ. We are now inheritors of the new covenant, sealed by Christ s blood with his sacrifice on the cross. His was the final sacrifice for human sin and disobedience. Our challenge is to live out the consequences of Christ s action. Since Jesus established a new covenant of love with humanity, we are now responsible for sharing that love with one another. As we gather for all the wonderful opportunities for community and fellowship as the fall months begin, let us remember the covenant we enjoy with God through Jesus Christ. Let us together seek ways to reach out to one another and the world. Let us learn to love one another, as Christ loved us. Blessings & Peace, Fr. Aaron+ (the waning days of) Summer, 2017 VESTRY LIAISONS Sr. Warden-Sam Harrison Jr. Warden-Rick Cooley Building & Grounds Rick Cooley Sam Harrison Ray Klaver Christian Outreach & Service Rick Cooley Jack Frost Sam Harrison Faith Formation Jackie Camper Tiffany Martin Jan Maxwell Fellowship Grant Armstrong Dave Burks Jan Maxwell Kitchen Dave Burks Tiffany Martin Memorial Garden Sam Harrison Office and Communication Doug Cook Jack Frost Sara Hembree Tiffany Martin Pastoral Care Dave Burks Jackie Camper Tiffany Martin Stewardship Dave Burks Ray Klaver Jan Maxwell Worship Grant Armstrong Doug Cooke Sara Murphree

3 Epiphany Star Page 3 Trash to Treasure Sale The annual Trash to Treasure Sale will be held in the parking lot and inside Sanderson Hall August 26 from 7am to 1:00pm. We need your GOOD unwanted items! We will accept clothes that are in good condition. Please, no stained or torn clothing. We will start accepting items August 23. Please consider volunteering to help with this event! We especially need volunteers August 24 & 25 to help arrange donated items. A signup sheet has been placed in the hallway on the bulletin board by the nave. Please call Nancy McAllister or Marsha Babb Thank you in advance for always stepping up to help!

4 Epiphany Star Rev. Mary Catherine Akamatsu Saturday, September 23, 2017 Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 1101 Sunset Drive Guntersville, Alabama Cost: $35, includes lunch Registration deadline: September 14 Registrations forms in Epiphany s Office Scholarships available Nursery available upon request 8:30 AM Registration and Gathering 9:00 AM 3:00 PM Program Click here for registration form. Page 4 The Rev. Mary Catherine Akamatsu is the Executive Director of Metagem Institute. She received an M.Div. from Sewanee: The School of Theology and a B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of North Alabama. Mary Catherine is an instructor at the Alabama Integrative Ministry School (AIMS), which prepares postulants for ordained ministry. She is a member of the Diocese of Alabama s Commission on Spirituality; practices Centering Prayer; and engages in dreamwork. She is a Spiritual Director, trained in Jungian practices at the Haden Institute in NC. Mary Catherine is frequently invited to lead prayer retreats and workshops on integrative and spiritual practices. She is currently studying under spiritual master teachers at the Living School for Action and Contemplation. Mary Catherine is a life-long learner and gifted teacher. The Program: Rev. Akamatsu will guide us through an exploration of our divine calling to participatory relationship with the Holy Trinity. We will survey metaphors for this relationship through the teachings of the church fathers, Cynthia Bourgeualt, Richard Rohr, and modern physics. The program will unpack material from Rohr s The Divine Dance and Bourgeualt s The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three. Join us as we consider such questions as: Why is symbolic language necessary for our growth in Christ? How might we live more faithfully through connection with and in the divine flow? What does it mean to dance with the Trinity?

5 Epiphany Star Page Page 6 5 Do you enjoy gardening? The Church needs a group of volunteers to help maintain our yard areas and flower beds. The group will work for a few hours several times throughout the year to make our space look tidy and well-ended. Tasks include removing dead plants, cutting back and shaping bushes, picking up sticks & branches, weeding flower beds, and organizing garden supplies in the storage shed. If you could help with these tasks, please call Melanie Dorman or melanierdorman@yahoo.com August 6, 10:30 a.m. Children, youth and teachers will be heading back to school soon! Please join us for our blessing of the backpacks 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. Looking for a way to serve? Would you like to meet some of our young people? Providing a meal for EYC is a way to do both! Spaghetti, 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 Please join us on August 13 th for an Ice Cream Social to welcome everyone back from summer vacations. Join us in Sanderson hall following the 10:30a.m. service for a light lunch and ice cream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Breakfast and Wednesday Night Meals Returning The suggested donation for breakfast and dinner: $6 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 13 th. Wednesday Dinners will be served every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. beginning August 16 th.

6 Epiphany Star Epiphany Star Page Page 46 Wednesday 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Sunday mornings CHILDREN Room 207 Children in Kindergarten through 5th grades Weaving God s Promises, curriculum written for the Episcopal Church will be used: 1. To teach children how God s promises of salvation are woven into our lives. 2. To teach children the way of Christ, not only in the church but also in the world as Christ s ambassadors. 3. To give children a solid grounding for future youth and high-school formation programs, which prepares them for Christian adulthood. To foster the spiritual formation and growth of our children in Christ s love and mercy and to teach the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation. YOUTH Youth Loft in Woodall Commons youth in 6th through 12th grades Reform, a youth ministry program of 40 lessons that tackle questions about the Bible, creed, disciples, Jesus, other beliefs, and hot topics will give youth the tools for critical thinking, faithful reflection, and discovery. Children in kindergarten through 5th grade gather for faith formation, fun and fellowship. The Workshop 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! Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) where youth in 6th through 12th grades come together to share a meal, spiritual formation and fun! We participate in community outreach, go off-campus for fun fellowship and join other Episcopal youth for diocesan activities. Jr. EYC comprises 6th-8th grade youth and Sr. EYC comprises 9th through 12th grade youth. Jr. & Sr. EYC will meet together unless otherwise noted. Please join us! Sunday 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 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. EYC meets in the Youth Loft in Woodall Commons

7 Epiphany Star Page 7 Weekly Sunday School Sundays 9:30 a.m. (begins August 13) 6 th - 12 th grades Youth Loft Woodall Commons Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) (begins August 16) Wednesdays 6:30p.m. 7:30p.m. 6 th - 12 th grades Youth Loft Woodall Commons Sr. EYC Sundays 5:00p.m. 7:00p.m. (begins August 20) 6 th 12 th grades Youth Loft Woodall Commons August 9 God s Generous Gifts dinner & Eucharist, 6:00 p.m. (Parish Event) 16 Wednesday Programs Begin 5:30 p.m. Eucharist 6:00 p.m. Dinner 6:30 p.m. EYC 20 EYC begins, 5:00 p.m. Youth Loft Woodall Commons Mark Your Calendars for September Events September 17 Bring a Friend Sunday, Parish Picnic 24 Diocesan District Days Diocesan Youth Ministry Diocesan Youth Ministry Offerings can be found here. Check back often for registration links to the event you are interested in attending. Happening #71 November 3-5, 2017 Happening #71 will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Birmingham. Happening is open to youth in grades Space is limited so sign -up now! The cost is $60. Scholarships are available. Happener Applications click here. Staff Applications Adult Staff Applications More Information

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10 August Epiphany Star Page 10 CODE: DOK Daughters of the King; HE Holy Eucharist; Men s B & B Men s Breakfast and Bible Study; Birthdays in italics Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Lib-Library SH-Sanderson Hall HR-Heritage Room 1 2 Healing Service 11:30 Centering Prayer 1 pm Children's Chapel Hannah Wildhagen 3 Reunion 9:30am Ministry Council Mtg 6pm-SH 4 Men s B & B 7am-HR Bob Amburn 5 Paula Dabney Matt Moses Lilie-Grace Reeves 6 Discretionary Fund Blessing of the Backpacks HE 8 & 10:30am Nursery 9:30 Lectionary 9:30 CC 10:30 7 MMBC 10am-Lib 8 Buildings & Grounds 6 pm Lib School Starts Guntersville 9 Healing Service 11:30 Centering Prayer 1 pm Children's Chapel Gods Generous Gifts Dinner 6:00p.m. Eucharist 6:30pm 10 Reunion 9:30am Parlor Finance 6pm-Lib 11 Men s B & B 7am-HR 12 Brotherhood 8am HR Beans & Rice 10am David Roadruck Judith Brown Doug Cooke Matthew Morris Hartford Nichols 13 HE 8 & 10:30am Mark Harris Back Breakfast 8:45 Nursery & SS 9:30 Lectionary 9:30 OutReach 9:30am CC 10:30am Ice Cream Social N Sr. EYC 5pm Barbara Warnes 14 MMBC 10am-Lib DOK 11:30am Parlor 15 Vestry 6:30 Lib Lucy Alves Hudson Epperson 16 Healing Service 11:30 Centering Prayer 1 pm Children's Chapel Eucharist 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Dinner 6:00 pm Programs 6:30 pm 17 Reunion 9:30am Parlor Hack Ross 18 Men s B & B 7am-HR Jeannine Wilder 19 Ray Klaver 20 HE 8 & 10:30am Breakfast 8:45 Nursery & SS 9:30 Lectionary 9:30 CC 10:30 am Sr. EYC 5pm 21 MMBC 10am-Lib Healing Service 11:30 Centering Prayer 1 pm Children's Chapel Eucharist 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Dinner 6:00p.m. Programs 6:30pm 24 Reunion 9:30am Parlor 25 Men s B & B 7am-HR News Articles Due 26 Brotherhood 8am HR Trash to Treasure 7am 1pm Bryce Blair Jennifer Moore Setup for Trash to Treasure Elizabeth Mayberry 27 HE 8 & 10:30am Breakfast 8:45 Nursery & SS9:30 Lectionary 9:30 CC 10:30 am Sr. EYC 5pm Ultreya 5pm WC Clinton Payton Pat Woodal 28 MMBC 10am-Lib DOK 11:30am Parlor 29 Ann Branum Wyatt Martin 30 Quilters 9am Healing Service 11:30 Centering Prayer 1 pm Children's Chapel Eucharist 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Dinner 6:00pm Programs 6:30pm Nancy McAllister 31 Reunion 9:30am Parlor Brandy May Kay Meleski Robin Moore Katherine Woodall 4 Office Closed September October November December Labor Day 17 Bring a Friend Sunday Parish Picnic Celtic Service 1 Blessing of Animals 5 All Saints Day Blessing of Pledge Cards 19 Celtic Service 15 Celtic Service 11 Veterans Day 25 Office Closed 19 Vestry Meeting 25 Fall Festival 19 Celtic Service 23 Carol Jean Rives Forum 29 Parish Elections 18 Holiday Faire Thanksgiving Office Closed 25 Iron Bowl Christmas Day