J A N U A R Y H O L Y T R I N I T Y E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H. Merry Christmas -- Especially all you Dads!

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1 The Grapevine H O L Y T R I N I T Y E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H A M e s s a g e f r o m F r. T o m Fr. Tom Fiske Merry Christmas -- Especially all you Dads! We forget Joseph, or we kinda dismiss him: "OK Joseph, you got us here, to Bethlehem, thank you, you can leave now. But, Joseph is just as important to the Christmas story and to our faith, as are Jesus, the Shepherds, Mary and the Angels. Joseph does not get enough recognition. How do we get to know this person in the Bible? What does he have to teach us? Well, we have to get to know and recognize Joseph through the experiences of our own lives and through the experiences of our own family and through our own introspection. We have to really work to know this fellow. So what kind of guy is Joseph? Joseph is a quiet guy. Maybe we would call him unassuming. He says nothing in the Bible at all. Joseph is a dreamer... an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said -- get out of town. We don t hear Joseph say "why" or "what for." He doesn t ask for an explanation, he... goes. He follows his dream. We have known men like that maybe we are like that -- maybe even our own Dads are like that. Personally I get kind of irritated that he doesn't say anything. He should say something! Joseph, say something! I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Sr. Warden s Report 2 How Do Ya Get Out of Mt. Pisgah? 3 Calendar 4 Thank You, Birthdays & Anniversaries Epiphany is a Time for Meetings Vestry Minutes & Elections Steward Schedule 8 We don t even get to hear him grumble about Egypt! Why should I go to Egypt! Don t even like Egyptian beer... I don t know. Egypt! I may as well go to Milwaukee! Egypt. What will I do in Egypt? Did Joseph have work waiting for him when he got to Egypt? We don t know that either. He must have because he was a carpenter and carpenters always have work. Joseph is a blue-collar worker. He is in fact the Patron saint of hard workers, of carpenters, masons, mechanics, and teachers. So I can easily imagine that Joseph was the first one who could say with authority, patience and conviction Jesus! Where is my hammer! Jesus! Look what you did to this plane blade! I know I have said these things to my sons. So I have always been kind of fascinated by Joseph's role as father. Joseph is a quiet man who takes care of his young wife, Mary, and his infant adopted son, and raises Jesus up to be a carpenter just like himself. This is what fathers do. Joseph could have rejected Mary and Jesus, but he didn t. He married the young mother and adopted her "first-born" son. The bible calls him just, a just man. We have known other just men and maybe when we think about our own sense of justice, we think about our fathers. We know where Joseph was from. He was born in Bethlehem, but later made his home in Nazareth. We know that the Nazarenes were not held in high esteem

2 P a g e 2 A M e s s a g e f r o m F r. T o m c o n t i n u e d T h e G r a p e v i n e that in fact they were the butt of jokes as in can anything good come out of Nazareth? Joseph came from Nazareth. Once I went to the medicine chest to get an aspirin for our baby when he had the croup, I didn't recognize St. Joseph at first. Mom was out doing whatever moms do and left me in charge. St. Joseph was there on the bottle of aspirin, an unassuming figure with a huge burden of responsibility -- keep this child safe at all costs. We know him. Joseph is the protector! But, it is easy to overlook Joseph, much as we overlook those millions of men, some without passports or influential friends, who do their work quietly and well, without the least fanfare, and who for the most part never make the papers. They are good providers. They too are chosen to care for God's children, to watch over them, teach them, shape them, and to protect and love them. We don't think of their role as patient protectors as the foundation of our well-being - these modern day Josephs. As we hear the nativity story, or the story of the flight to Egypt in the dead of night, and really listen, straining our ears, we can almost hear Joseph say as he leads the way to safety, we can almost hear the whisper God, I do love you... and I love the Child you have called me to protect. Greetings in Christ! Happy New Year! S e n i o r W a r d e n s R e p o r t As we start 2013 we can look to a new year of opportunity and challenges. It is also time for each of us to examine our lives and to make New Year resolutions. Most if not all resolutions are slowly forgotten as the year progresses. If you think about just finishing Advent and changing your spiritual focus, what better way to follow Advent than to continue the change as a New Year s resolution. I am a believer in making resolutions that I commit to do all year long. Sometimes it has only been one resolution. For example, I prayed each day for my spouse and thanked God that he was part of my life. Another example was I started a daily journal where I wrote down at least one thing for which I was thankful. As you think of what your resolution(s) may be I ask you to consider one question. In what new way is God asking you to use your talents or gifts for His service and the service of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church? If you pray for the answer, you may be surprised at what God has planned for you (like being asked to be the Senior Warden). But, I can tell you it will be the right answer. I want to mention that the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Monthly Prayer Cycle will be updated in January. If you have any changes, please give them to Fr. Tom or myself. I want to thank everyone for all the hard work that has been done at Holy Trinity this last year. I would also encourage anyone who would like to serve as a vestry member to see Fr. Tom or any vestry member. I think 2013 will be an exciting year. Our annual meeting will be January 27, I pray that everyone has a blessed I will close with the words from 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. May God s peace and grace be with you, Maggi McCreery-McCoy

3 P a g e 3 A U G U S T - S E P T E M B E R T h e G r a p e v i n e H o w D o Y a G e t O u t o f M t. P i s g a h? Well, most people don t get out of Mt. Pisgah, unless they are part of the wandering tribe of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. The chapel at Mt. Pisgah could get comfortable. The chairs are padded, it s usually warm enough, the roof doesn t leak The uncomfortable part of the arrangement is someone has to drive The Sacristy (the Fr. Tom's RV) to the chapel every Sunday, the altar and all the accessories need to be set up, and some of you have noticed that if you come just a bit early, you may become a member of the choir. Remember Moses who led the children of Israel right to the border of the Promised Land and sent in some spies to check it out? They came back with a frightening report, so the refugees from Egypt turned around and spent 40 years gathering up the courage to try again. How close is Holy Trinity to the border the time when we can break ground and begin to build the building that will enhance Holy Trinity s visibility and mission to this community? We are getting closer, but a quick look at the Building Fund balance and the goal of $400,000 shows we have a ways to go. This is the time of year many of us take a look at our finances and scratch our head. What is Washington going to do about taxes and deductions? Well, who knows! And who knows what the tax situation will be in As for this year, a gift to the Building Fund could make the tax bill a little less (or the refund a little larger). We are already working together. We ve sold hot chocolate, poinsettias, mice and cookbooks this Fall with the proceeds going to the Building Fund. We have generously given of time and talent. And just as the wandering Israelites cried for food and God provided manna, the Building Fund also cries for food. If you remember, manna was given in small quantities just enough for a day. Investments in the Building Fund can also be any size small, medium, or large weekly, monthly, or yearly. With our help, God will provide and Holy Trinity will get out of Mt. Pisgah. C a p i t a l C a m p a i g n C o m m i t t e e Leaders: Mary Appel and Press Stephens Donor Vision Team: Mary Appel and Press Stephens Donor Vision Meetings: Every Tuesday at 5:30 pm in Fr. Tom s Office Innovative Fundraising Managers: Sheryl Matthews and Nancy Parkison Creative, Imaginative, Dependable, Steadfast, Reliable Supporting Cast: YOU Please contact Nancy or Sheryl with other fundraising ideas!

4 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY T h e G r a p e v i n e P a g e 4 Sunday held at Mt. Pisgah Chapel Wednesday Eucharist and Education for Ministry Fr. Tom s Office is located at First Presbyterian 6 EPIPHANY 7 Office Closed 21 Agnes, Martyr 1 8 1:15 pm Conversion of 5 8:30 am Vestry Meeting held at First Baptist Church, 501 S. Gillette Ave. Church, 511 S. Carey TBD Vestry Dinner at the Rectory am Annual Meeting 14 Year-end Reports Due Office Closed Office Closed 28 Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Friar Office Closed January 2013 Bible Study 5:30 pm Daughters of the King 1:15 pm Bible Study 5:30 pm -Capital Campaign Mtg 1:15 pm Bible Study 5:30 pm -Capital Campaign Mtg 1:15 pm Bible Study 5:30 pm -Capital Campaign Mtg at Pioneer Manor Soup Kitchen 31 Confession of St. Peter, Apostle at St. Paul, Apostle 1 pm at Primrose Timothy and Titus, Companions of St. Paul To all coffee hosts who bake or bring the wonderful cookies and make the coffee, tea and such. You know.... that's just half the ministry :^)! Please remember to clean up the fellowship area afterwards. We appreciate your service to our community and we'll all pitch in to help. Tom+

5 P a g e 5 T h e G r a p e v i n e J a n u a r y B i r t h d a y s & A n n i v e r s a r i e s 3 Grace Keeney 9 Kylie Todd 11 Mike Matthews 12 David Hill 12 Karly Borchers 15 Carol Pierce 16 Nancy Bolin 19 Olathe McCollum 20 Risa Ann Pilon 21 Gail Rankin 21 Dan & Mickey Heuton

6 T h e G r a p e v i n e P a g e 6 E p i p h a n y i s a T i m e f o r M e e t i n g s F r. T o m F i s k e During the 1980's I taught Junior High School. The principal of the school, Mrs. Patricia Stiendler, seemed to thrive on meetings. For my colleagues and me, meetings were something to be endured and gotten through; for Trish meetings seemed to be something exciting, even energizing. The often talkative art teacher, Ms. Scheri, looked forward to our weekly faculty meetings too. Those who don t like meetings might suggest that the drawback to working in different settings such as schools and other government agencies is the endless number of meetings that come with the job. To have a job without meetings would be heaven for these folk. Not all meetings have to be insufferable "duties" that we must endure. Meetings do have their place and can do real good. Meetings, despite their tendency to wear some of us down, can be real blessings and produce remarkable benefits. Such, I pray, will be the case for the annual meeting coming up January 27th. Over the years I have come to find that some meetings can become truly sacramental encounters such as the one between Mary and Elizabeth. The meeting of Elizabeth and Mary can be a model for us of what such "coming together" can potentially become and how to make divine happening possible. So many of our meetings with one another can seem to be far from sacramental; we don t sense or experience any moment of grace or contact with a divine presence. There is no book or manual written to help us Make Every Meeting a Visitation. I will sometimes pick up Robert's Rules when I am having trouble sleeping. (Works every time!) In Making Every Meeting a Visitation Luke may have a great start in writing that book when Elizabeth greets Mary, she says, "Blessed are you!" (and a bit paraphrased) "and blessed is the fruit of your labors!" (Luke 1: 42). Elizabeth did not give into the murmurings and complaints she may have heard from others concerning her niece, Mary. Elizabeth listened to the Holy Spirit that put her heart in Mary's heart. Blessed is Holy Trinity and blessed are the fruits of our labors of the year past -- and the year coming to greet us. I pray that you and I will be meeting the next year just as boldly and as compassionately as we have in the past. We go with confidence that as we practice the small rituals, sounds, and signs associated with Christian life in our community of Holy Trinity, we are adding bit-by-bit to the spiritual fabric - the blessings - that sustains the larger communities of Gillette and Campbell County. I pray that we may keep Liturgical Stewardship foremost in our Christian life. "Liturgia" from the Greek means -- "the work of the people." We will keep up the good work! For the Eucharist is where we encounter a meeting with the divine. As we go on into Epiphany after Christmas we will come with joy to meet our Lord in the bread and in the wine shared at his table. We will meet not only Him but all who come to greet Him too. As we go ahead into the annual meeting on January 27th, I asked Maggi McCreery to serve another year as Senior Warden. She has agreed and I look forward to working with Maggi again. More nominations for the Vestry are needed before the annual meeting for a true election. Currently there will be four openings on the Vestry. Please see any of the Vestry Members if you are able to serve your church as a Vestry Member and feel called. The current members are: Maggi McCreery, Sr. Warden (Epiphany Class -2013) - eligible for election to Epiphany Class of 2014 *Raymond Pierce, Jr. Warden (Epiphany Class 2013) *Mary Appel (Epiphany Class of 2013) Bernie Damori Epiphany Class of 2015 Sheryl Matthews, Secretary (Epiphany Class 2014) *Lane Keeney (Epiphany Class 2013) Rollie Parkison (Epiphany Class of 2014) *Vacant seat (Epiphany Class TBD) Mike McGowan, David Hill, Cathy Raney, Steve Russo, and Dan Heuton are praying about serving on the Vestry, but to date have not been formally nominated. In addition, Carol Pierce has accepted the nomination for a one-year term. She has also expressed a desire to serve as Treasurer and has the bookkeeping and computer skills and recent Diocesan training required for the position. At the annual meeting we will vote for these postions: - Maggi McCreery is eligible for another year as Sr. Warden - 1 person for a one-year term (Epiphany Class of 2014) - 1 person for a two-year term (Epiphany Class of 2015) - 2 people for a three-year term (Epiphany Class of 2016) Any of these persons may be nominated as Jr. Warden or Treasurer. Let us go into the New Year knowing "God looks with favor on His servants."

7 T h e G r a p e v i n e V e s t r y M i n u t e s N o v e m b e r 3, M e e t i n g The meeting was called to order at 8:40 am with a Bible Study. Vestry members present were Maggi McCreery- McCoy, Raymond Pierce, Rollie Parkison, Mary Appel, Bernie Damori, Lane Keeney, Sheryl Matthews, Treasurer Beth McGowan, and Father Tom Fiske. The meeting was called to a recess at 9:15 am regarding a pastoral concern. At 10:30 am the meeting was called back to order. The October minutes were presented. Mary Appel moved to accept the minutes as presented and Raymond Pierce seconded the motion. Motion passed. Beth McGowan presented the Treasurer s Report. It was reported that the Daughters of the King checking account needs to have the DOK officers be the signers not the vestry members. Raymond Pierce moved to accept the Treasurer s Report and Rollie Parkison seconded. Motion passed. Raymond Pierce reported that the storage sheds on the Tanner property should be painted. Sheryl Matthews made a motion that the sheds be painted entirely in tan. Mary Appel seconded. Motion passed. Father Tom reported arrangements have been made with Smiths to get discounts for the purchase of meals to be given to the Y.E.S. House for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The vestry agreed to keep the same prayer partners as last month. The next vestry meeting will be December 1st at 8:30 am. Meeting adjourned at 11:15 am. Respectfully Submitted, Sheryl Matthews E l e c t i o n T i m e i s C o m i n g! P a g e 7 It's that time of year for Elections!! The Vestry needs your time and your talent because these are among the treasures you can give to support Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in our time of transition. At the annual meeting scheduled for January 27, 2013, the church we will elect members to fill four positions open on the Vestry. Please pray about serving your church in this ministry. Open positions are: two positions with terms to end in January 2016 one position with a term to end in January 2015 one position with a term to end in January 2014 The varying lengths of the terms stagger replacement requirements and allow for continuity each year. Currently the Vestry meets the first Saturday of the month from 8:30 am to about 10:00 am. The first Vestry meeting after elections will be an introductory training and planning meeting held a week after the annual meeting from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Please see Sheryl Matthews, Maggi McCreery or Fr. Tom about serving the church as a Vestry member. Remember it is difficult to move forward without you!

8 H O L Y T R I N I T Y E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H 511 S. Carey Avenue Gillette WY Sunday Service Date Chalice Bearer Acolytes & Crucifers Readers Ushers Eucharistic Visitor Counters Sunday School Teachers Coffee Hour Hosts January 6th Lane K. Vivian W. Sheryl M. Cathy R. Mike M. Beth M. Fr. Tom Raymond P. Lane K. TBD Linda D. Vivian W. January 13th Rollie P. Andrew R. Donna B. Norma A. Sam B. Donna B. Lane K. Rollie P. Bernie D. TBD Nancy P. Sheryl M. January 20th Karolyn J. David H. Karolyn J. Annemarie D. Colleen O. Brad C. Colleen O. Maggi M. Mary A. TBD Rognmoes Damoris January 27th Jay M. Lindsey P. Vivian W. MC Fiske Laurie T. Annemarie D. Rollie P. Raymond P. Sheryl M. TBD Pot Luck Brunch