Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 1101 Sunset Drive P. O. Box 116 Guntersville, AL Café

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1 Epiphany Star Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 1101 Sunset Drive P. O. Box 116 Guntersville, AL Editor: Rusty Ogden November Café November 20 8am - 2pm Something for everyone on your list! Breakfast $2.00 8am 10am Biscuit, Coffee, Juice Snack: $1.00 Two cookies and coffee or cider. Dave Burks Photography Alice s Cheesestrawz Stone Engraving by Ed Kilner By Tiffany Martin Raffle Tickets for sale Two Iron Bowl tickets to the November26 game At Bryan-Denny Stadium $1 each, $5 for six, $25 for thirty Drawing 1:00 p.m. (Tickets available in the office now) Frozen Soups and Casseroles You may pre-order Vegetable Beef Soup on the sign up sheet by the door to the Nave. $8/qt Christmas Shoppe VINTAGE JEWELRY SALE Personalized ornaments and gifts Silent Auction Table To volunteer to bring baked goods, jewelry, or to work at the bazaar, call Rusty Ogden at or Marsha Babb at

2 Epiphany Star Page 2 EYC The EYC is once again sponsoring Operation Christmas Child as their Christmas Service Project. This program brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God s love. Shoe boxes are in the Parish Hall and we are asking for parishioners to bring items to fill the boxes. A complete listing of possible items to include or not to include follows this article. Brochures on the project can be found on the Christmas tree in the Parish Hall. We are also asked to include a donation of $7 in each box. If you are unable to donate items, but would like to make a financial contribution, the EYC will be making a special shopping trip to pick up items to include. The last day to contribute to this project is Sunday, November 14 for money and November 17 to turn in your boxes. The following are some gift ideas for your shoebox: TOYS Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky, etc. SCHOOL SUPPLIES Pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc. HYGIENE ITEMS Toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc. OTHER Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries) A PERSONAL NOTE In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.) DO NOT INCLUDE Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans. EYC Happening Zeke Jones and Lee Auman will be on staff for EYC Happening at Trinity in Wetumpka November 5 thru 7. Hannah Mohr will be a happener. Please keep these young people in your prayers. FLOWER AND CANDLE DEDICATIONS FOR 2011 The Altar Guild is taking order for dedication for flowers and candles which will appear in the Sunday bulletins for This is a beautiful and thoughtful gesture to celebrate, honor, and remember those in our lives who mean so much to us. For your convenience, sign up sheets are posted on the bulletin board outside the church office. Please remember that these are done on a first come first serve basis. Place your order now or you may call Marsha at If a flower date you would like is already spoken for, look at that same date on the candle list. Rodney s bills each individual for the altar flowers. The candles are $10.00 per dedication date and are payable to the church. Please make your check payable to Epiphany and note that it is for candles and for what date. It is helpful and acceptable to pay ahead. This helps Martha mark your donations properly and promptly. ALL SAINTS DAY FLOWER DEDICATIONS A form for your dedications, in memory of a loved one, is on the counter in the church office. Each dedication, which appears in both the 8am and 10:30am bulletins on November 7, is Make your check to Epiphany and note in the memo field that it is for All Saints flowers. Christmas Poinsettias It is time to place your order for red and white poinsettias that are used to decorate the sanctuary for our beautiful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. You may also dedicate your plants and the dedications will appear in the Christmas bulletins. For your convenience, an order form is on the back page of this newsletter and on the counter in the church office. The poinsettias are $10.00 per plant. There are only 30 red and 20 white plants so please return this form and your check to the church office as soon as possible but no later than December 12. Please make your check out to Epiphany and note that it is for poinsettias. You may pick up your plants after the Christmas Day service.

3 Epiphany Star Page 3 My Dear Parish Family, The warm and beautiful autumn weather hasn t shown it, but by the time you receive this issue we will be within three weeks of the season of Advent and less than two months to Christmas. Believe it or not I have been doing a great deal of thinking and praying about our observance of Advent and celebration of Christmas. This year has been difficult for all of us. The national and local politics that have swirled around our heads this election year have divided us in so many ways. People have lost their jobs. Sometimes there often seems to be an anger separating even the people of God. I believe that Advent and Christmas are antidotes for the pain we experience, both in our country, and in our lives. The Good News is that Christ has come into the world and we can live differently. There is a better way to live and we must discover it. Advent is our yearly time of preparation I believe that is so healthy and beneficial to our lives. We truly wear ourselves out if we don t take advantage. We can easily prepare ourselves by remembering our prayer. The church will offer all sorts of devotional books, and advent wreaths. Keep in mind that the Advent Taizé service on Sunday, December 5 th, the Celtic service, on both November 28 th, and December 19 th, provide long stretches of silence and meditation. These can be a sure and certain remedy to a chaotic unruly season and life. In the grace of silence we can begin to focus on the needs of others. There is no doubt that if we take the time in preparation, our Christmas will come to us in the spirit in which it was meant. This year Epiphany will attempt to surround Christmas with sweet family moments, moments to cherish the family God has provided each of us at Epiphany. These times will be soft and nurturing. They will not add to the pressure of the season but enhance it. They will call us together to sing, eat Smores around a fire place, head out to have a nice dinner with others, and so it goes. My prayer for each of us is that we greet the coming of God s child in the manner in which it was intended. Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace among God s people in whom God is pleased. Peace, Bill PARISH ELECTION RESULTS Parish Elections were held Sunday, October 24. Elected to the Vestry were Lamar Auman, Hollis Babb, Jack Camper and Lee Hoggle. Although they do not vote, Guy Caffey will be Church Treasurer, and Martha Ross will be the Clerk and take minutes. Marsha Babb, Skip Harborth, Wally Kistler and Jim McAllister are going off the vestry this year. Thank you for all your work. Elected as Convention Delegates for 2011 were Lamar Auman, Marsha Babb, Rusty Ogden and Joyce Rehfeld. Alternates to the convention are Susan Armstrong and Cheri Blair. Thank you Sheila Myrick for your wonderful Sante Fe soup. Stewardship 2011 Each of us should have our 2011 Pledge Card by the time you receive this newsletter. Just a few notes to mention before you say a prayer as you sign this year s card. Please give from your heart. Pledging is vital to all to keep Epiphany s ministry strong. We depend on each other. Please get your pledge card in by November 7. Even if you are unable to pledge this year, just write Zero on your card and send it back. This will avoid us calling you regarding your intention. Taizé and Celtic Services Taizé worship continues on the first Sunday of every month at 5pm. There is a committed group that shows up each month for this refreshing worship experience. If you haven t tried Taizé why not come and see for yourself on November 7. Those already attending believe it is a secret well worth sharing with all. What s more, there is no preaching, just some prayers, scripture, and simple, easily sung, songs. The Celtic service, on the third Sunday of every month at 5pm, combines Celtic music, mostly derived from the music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Britain. The next service is November 21. The worship is very creation oriented, as all creation was created by God for our pleasure and dominion. This makes this particular type of worship very earthy. Celtic worship is also distinctively Trinitarian with numerous references to the triune God. The church is adorned with candles at both services signifying the light of Christ that shines through creation. Both services feature communion.

4 Epiphany Star Page 4 Outreach Committee Thanksgiving Ingathering The Outreach Committee will sponsor their annual Thanksgiving Ingathering of food and personal items. Brown paper bags, with suggested items needed, will be distributed on Sunday, November 14 to be turned in on Sunday, November 21. All items will be divided between Ogden House, Mountain Lakes Behavioral Center and the Salvation Army for them to distribute. November Mission Team Spotlight Shopping for Marshall County Christmas Coalition November 15 th There will be a sign up sheet for anyone that would like to meet and shop for MCCC children. We will leave after church, eat lunch together (Dutch) and then shop. Who doesn t like to shop with other peoples money? Seniors on the Holy Roller Seniors On The Go are planning a Shopping, Browsing and Lunch Day in Scottsboro, November 11. The bus ride is $5 and lunch is Dutch treat. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board outside the Nave. Your Parish Choir has begun its fall rehearsal schedule. We meet every Wednesday evening at 6:30 and every Sunday morning at 9:15. Advent and Christmas music has been chosen and we are hard at work. This is a great time to join us for this vital ministry at Epiphany. You do not need to read music.we will help you along. If you cannot make every rehearsal that is ok. You are welcome. Come and sing praises to our Lord! Kay Day On November 7 we will celebrate the 26 years of service that Mrs. Kay Benefield has given as our organist. There will be a pot luck lunch after the 10:30am service. The church will supply turkey and ham and a cake. Please bring a covered dish. By Cheri Blair Marshall County Mission Day Project Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. That s a phrase we hear nearly every Sunday as we leave our beautiful church building and step into the rest of the week. Saturday, November 13 th we have an opportunity to do just that, serve by helping a neighbor. CASA is sponsoring Marshall County Mission Day. Volunteers will come together, receive assignments and go out to help a neighbor get their home ready for winter. You need no skills we ll be doing jobs such as applying weather stripping, plastic on windows, etc. Watch the bulletin for details!

5 Epiphany Star Page 5 rustyogden@bellsouth.net Church: epis_ala@bellsouth.net Fax #: The Epiphany family extends its most heartfelt sympathy, love, prayers and support to Nancy and Jim McAllister and family in the loss, October 14, of Nancy s sister, Emma Durand, of Rhode Island. Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord We are saddened by the loss of one of our former members, Walter J. Price, Jr. on October 14. The Epiphany family extends its most heartfelt sympathy, love, prayers and support to his family. Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord Congratulations to Leif and Jennifer Thornton on their marriage. The wedding took place October 10, Christmas Pageant December 2009 There will be a Thanksgiving Service November 24 at 7pm. Afterwards we will eat pumpkin pie. Update on Commons Building Fund October Donations Year to Date Balance ( ) 29, CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Debbie Moss and Jenny Baker are directing this year s Christmas Pageant which is December 19. If your child would like to be in the pageant, the sign up sheet is on the bulletin board. Debbie would like to encourage the children to participate in this fun filled Christmas tradition. Especially need is a baby for the Christ Child and a fun loving man willing to be the donkey. Rehearsals are scheduled for Sunday, December 12 at noon and Sunday, December 18 at 10 a.m. Our Goal to begin completion of Building $200,000.00

6 Epiphany Star Page 6 By Joanna Brooks Joanna Brooks, Cheri Blair, and Lauren Wainwright attended the 121 st Annual ECW Fall Conference in Anniston, AL on October 7-8. We were inspired by the presentation of Rev. Margaret Rose who is the Director of the Mission Leadership Center at the Episcopal Church Center, New York. The theme of the conference was Serving Others in Christ: Mission and Ministries in the Diocese of Alabama. She shared with us a brief history of the work of women in mission in the church s history and what we can do in the future. She is quoted as saying, I share the conviction that the work women are doing today in the church and the world is essential for its well being. Each ECW parish in attendance shared what they do for mission in their own church and community. Great ideas came from that time. Lauren gave a wonderful speech about her experiences at the UN Conference. We at Epiphany were very proud to help sponsor her trip to New York. As you know, your Epiphany ECW is constantly evolving and growing. There is much to do and we know that our work also overlaps other ministries in the parish. But, ECW has a few special ministries of its own, United Thank Offering and Church Periodical Club for example. These are uniquely Episcopal Church Women and vital to the church. We appreciate your support of these ingathering's. As of this writing, the ECW Harvest Sale made $455.Thank you! We hope you enjoy the cheese balls and pepper jelly as much as we did making them. We plan on assisting the EYC Scholarship Fund and the Commons Building with the proceeds of that sale. Look for our White Elephant table at the Holiday Bazaar. Keep ECW in your prayers as we continue to serve Epiphany and our world to the best of our ability. United Thank Offering November 14 It is that time again. Time to fill those blue boxes with your coins and blessings. The UTO offering goes to support projects that address compelling human needs and/or expand mission and ministry both domestic and worldwide. Please make any checks payable to ECW as we cannot send personal checks to the Diocese. Epiphany has been a strong contributor to the UTO fund and we are proud of our participation in years past. Look for the blue boxes and envelopes as you come into the church. Take a minute and read the sides of the boxes and receive the blessing there for you. Fill a box or write a check to ECW and place them in the offering plate Sunday, November 14. Dreamwork as a Spiritual Discipline For those of you have expressed an interest in Dreamwork, this is your chance to explore it. On November 20 the Diocese Commission on Spirituality is offering several workshops in Birmingham. MoJenn will be leading the dream workshop and members of our Epiphany dream group will be doing the demonstration. Other workshops will be offered in the morning and in the afternoon, so in addition to Dreamwork you can choose from Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, Introduction to SoulCollage, or Writing as Prayer. The lunch lecture will be What is Spiritual Direction? Brochures with further information and registration forms are in the office. Registration deadline is November 12. Call Donna Farish ( ) or use the sign up sheet in the hall for car pooling. Since this is the same day as our Bazaar, we suggest that you meet at church and browse the bazaar then car pool to Birmingham.

7 Epiphany Star N O V E M B E R Page 7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Centering Prayer 10:30am HC & Healing Service 11:30am Eucharist 5:30pm Dinner 6pm Programs and Choir 6:30pm 4 Tinkers Club 10:00am Dream Class 12pm Centering Prayer 6:30pm 5 6 EYC Happening thru 7th DOK Diocesan Fall Retreat 9am Kim Lindstrom Lief Thornton Jeanne Tibbitt Bert Benson Spencer Panazze Sue Ann Harwell Debi Houston 7 All Saint s Day Daylight Savings Time Kay Day HC 8 & 10:30am Sunday School 9:30am Pot Luck dinner 12pm Coalition Shopping 2pm Taizé 5pm Youth Confirmation Class 5pm Sr. EYC 6pm Terry Rainey-Camper 8 DOK 11:15am Rachel Jarmon 9 10 Centering Prayer 10:30am HC & Healing Service 11:30am Eucharist 5:30pm Dinner 6pm Programs and Choir 6:30pm Dottie Mosley John Pate 11 Senior Bus Trip Tinkers Club 10:00am Dream Group 12pm Centering Prayer 6:30pm 12 J. R. Foster 13 Brotherhood of St. Andrew 8am Mission Project Help Marshall County 14 UTO Ingathering Pick up Outreach bag HC 8 & 10:30am Sunday School 9:30am Outreach 9:30am Youth Confirmation Class 5pm Sr. EYC Shopping for Christmas Child 6pm Ultreya 6pm Maggie Muegge 15 Vestry 7pm Ronald Holt Brian Keck 16 Hospitality 7pm Will Smith 17 Centering Prayer 10:30am HC & Healing Service 11:30am Eucharist 5:30pm Dinner 6pm Programs and Choir 6:30pm Sr. EYC packing Christmas Child boxes 6:30pm 18 Tinkers Club 10:00am Dream Group 12pm Centering Prayer 6:30pm Bradley Burrows 19 EYC Girls Lock-in 20 Holiday Bazaar 8am 2pm Taste and See 21 Fall Ingathering HC 8 & 10:30am Sunday School 9:30am Mission Team 9:30am Shopping for Christmas Coalition 1pm Youth Confirmation Class 5pm Celtic Service 5pm Sr. EYC 6pm Donna Burrows Tony Clines Catherine Reed 22 DOK 7pm Brain Marr Kenny Shifflett 23 Distribute Outreach Ingathering 9am 24 Centering Prayer 10:30am HC & Healing Service 11:30am Thanksgiving Service 7pm Open Cans for Thanksgiving 8:30pm 25 Francis Ruddy Jan Sanderson Thanksgiving School Break thru 26th 28 First Sunday of Advent Year A HC 8 & 10:30am Sunday School 9:30am Ryan Howell Vestry Person for the month of November Gary Beasley December 11 Guntersville Christmas Parade 5pm 19 Christmas Pageant 20 Christmas break for schools begins 24 Christmas Services 25 Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ January 9 Bishop s Visit and Confirmation 14 Sr, EYC Ski Trip thru 17th February 11 & 12 Diocesan Convention Vestry Retreat March 9 Ash Wednesday 14 Spring Break for schools thru 14th

8 Epiphany Star Page 8 QUILT RAFFLE A hand made quilt, made by the Lakeside Quilters, is to raise money for our Scholarship Fund. The quilt is displayed on the wall of the stairwell. This quilt is 90 by 102 and will fit a queen size bed. It is machine washable. To dry, place a drop cloth on a bed, lay the quilt on it and turn after three hours. The ladies made this quilt for us in appreciation for the use of Sanderson Hall. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and are available in the office. The quilt is on display at the stairwell going up to the second floor. ST. THOMAS LOBSTERFEST St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Huntsville is holding their annual LOBSTER- FEST on November 13. There are order tickets available in our church office if you are interested in ordering lobster, ribs or BBQ. Every penny that St. Thomas makes at Lobsterfest goes to support our three major outreach efforts. In recent years, our annual medical mission to Honduras, Habitat for Humanity, and First Stop have been funded. The actual amount varies from year to year, but in 2009 we netted $45,000. None of it goes to support our church. CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA ORDER & DEDICATION FORM Enclose $10.00 per plant. Please return this form and your check to the church office ASAP or no later than December 12. Thank you. Please specify for the bulletin: To the Glory of God and in Thanksgiving for Memory of Honor of By Number of: RED or WHITE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY: RECEIVED: PAID: