The Anchorline Grace Episcopal Church 103 Darby Avenue Sheffield, Alabama graceepiscopalsheffield.dioala.org graceoffice1@comcast.net The Rev. Rick Oberheide, Rector NOVEMBER 2012 From The Rector Stewardship Season is Upon Us If I were King of the Church, there would be no such thing as once a year Stewardship campaigns. Giving, rather, would be a natural part of the life of the church week in and week out done with an attitude of generosity and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, I am not king of anything or anyone. Soooooooo, it s that time again. One thing I love about the Episcopal Church is that it does not operate by threats or punishment. Stewardship would be so simple if it did. Give 10% or you re going to Hell would basically do the job. On the flip side, give a whole lot and God will help you win the lottery, get five promotions, and get your daughter into Harvard. I don t believe any of that, and hope you don t either. My sense is that stewardship (giving) is more a practical than theological/spiritual matter in most churches. The tendency is toward giving just enough to keep the place open, pay the bills, be cool in the summer & warm in the winter, and pay salaries. Giving in such terms is sort of like porridge in the story of Goldilocks: not too hot, not too cold, but just right not too much, not too little, but just enough. Here s my pledge card to you. I pledge to be there for our members 24/7 for any and all problems or needs. I promise to help non-members when referred to me by you or others. I pledge to not look at the list of who gives what. I promise to provide my services and those of the church whether you give $10,000 a year, or not a cent. In summary, your pledge is your business, as are your beliefs and priorities. Generally, when I write something subversive or offensive, I ask one or two others to give it a look. I cheerfully admit to deserving an F in fundraising, and am sure the next Rector will do a much better job. For the moment, you remain stuck with me. Having said all of that, I ve asked Tim Zuelke to be the Stewardship Chairperson for the coming year. I m absolutely certain he will do a much better job than I could.
What s Happening Stewardship Campaign & Annual Meeting Our pledge card campaign, vestry and convention nominations and elections will kick off in two weeks. Our schedule will be a little different from previous years: November 14 Budget Committee Meeting November 18 STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY (Pledge cards and budget distributed) December 7 Deadline for Vestry and Convention Delegate nominees December 9 Election of Vestry and Convention Delegates after church January 13 Annual Meeting Following Church (*new date) Our budget (which is usually formed after the pledges have been turned in), will be shaped by the vision and needs of our shared ministry. Our ability to pay for such will be determined by pledges. Our Annual Meeting will be in January, so as to keep from adding to the to-do list of the pre-christmas rush. Elections for vestry need to occur prior to January in order to meet the Diocesan Deadline. This year we have three Vestry members going off their three year rotation. We will be nominating three new members and three convention delegates. Please be considering your nominations for Vestry members. This is the last year for Ro Larsen (Sr. Warden), Brent Scott and Barbara Sherrill. 125 th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION A very special thank you to those who worked so very hard on our 125 th Anniversary Celebration Concert & Reception. It was an outstanding success, with many wonderful memories being made. An extra special thank you goes to Barbara Sherrill, Amanda Lee, Darrell Todd, Janet Port, Danny Hovater, Margaret Heath, Susan Kirkland, May Woodie Christopher and of course Christa Milligan and Nancy Hughes for outstanding music, as well as our wonderful Grace Choir. What a wonderful way to celebrate our history! Pictures will be available for our December Anchorline. If you have any pictures, I would love to use them for our website. You can bring them to me or send me digital files via email.
EQUIPPING THE SAINTS FOR JESUS HEALING MINISTRY The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed -Luke 4:18 The Rev John Rice from North Carolina will be with us on Friday (6-8pm) and Saturday (8-3pm), November 16 th & 17 th for a Healing Prayer Ministry Workshop. Titled, Equipping the Saints for Jesus Healing Ministry, this event is offered to educate and to empower those who wish to claim and share the gift of wholeness in body, mind, spirit and emotion that God offers and desires for us. This workshop is open to all. Cost is $10, and you can register Friday evening or by calling the office in advance. Flyers are available to pass out to those you know that might be interested. WEDNESDAY NIGHT HEALING SERVICE TO RESUME Our Healing Prayer Service will resume Wednesday, November 7 th at 5:15. The service will be held weekly instead of the first Wednesday of the month as previously announced. Healing Prayer and Unction (anointing with oil) will also be available each Sunday Morning during Holy Communion at the rail. Welcome Deacon Tom Osborne! Tom joined us at Grace on October 28 th as the permanent Deacon. His duties will include: taking regular part in the Sunday Worship (reading the Gospel, assisting at the altar, and preaching), teaching adult education class (a class on The Apostle Paul begins on November 4 th ), and service to our community. We are blessed to have such a humble servant of God among us. You can contact Tom at trosborne@una.edu, or by phone 256-764-1766, cell phone is 256-810-5859. His home address is 546 Riverview Drive, Florence 35630
Men s Events! Men s Breakfast, Wed, November 7 th, at 7 am Book Club will have their last meeting on November 14 th to finish discussion on their current book and will not meet again until after the first of the New Year. Youth Events! The Trunk or Treat Halloween gathering was great! The parking lot was full of kids and cars. Thank you all who came and participated. Thanks to Amanda Lee for helping get all the food and supplies. We are still looking for a Director of Youth Ministry. The Job description is posted on our website if anyone knows someone who has experience and might be interested. We will plan a Youth Event for December. If you have any ideas, please let Krista or Father Rick know.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT GRACE NOVEMBER 2012 11/3 Spangler/Faust Wedding, 4:00 p.m. 11/4 All Saints Memorial Service, 3:00 p.m. at St. Johns in Tuscumbia, AL 11/4 The Apostle Paul Bible Class begins (Deacon Tom is teaching in the EfM Classroom) 11/7 Men s Breakfast, 7 am 11/7 Healing Service Resumes at 5:15 Book Club 11/14 BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING Healing Service, 5:15 Last Book Club until after the New Year 11/16 Healing Prayer Workshop with Rev. John Rice 11/17 Healing Prayer Workshop 11/18 Stewardship Sunday (pledge cards distributed) 11/21 Healing Service, 5:15 11/22, 23 Office Closed for Thanksgiving 11/28 Healing Service, 5:15
November Birthdays & Anniversaries! Jessie Wilson Nov 4 Wyatt Blake Nov 7 Charlotte Kennamore Nov 17 Charlotte Savage Nov 18 Kathryn Balch Nov 18 Jim Wesson Nov 18 Brent Scott Nov 21 Nick Ware Nov 22 Frank Harscheid Nov 23 Mary Holland Black Nov 23 Shannon Byrd Nov 26 Drew Daniel Nov 27 Chris & Scott Oberheide Nov 1 Diana & Bobby Terry Nov 3 Mary Ann & Bob Allan Nov 7 Allison & Jason Bigbie Nov 8 Charlotte & John Savage Nov 19 Karen & Jim Wesson Nov 23 Paula & Sam Brentnall Nov 28 December Birthdays & Anniversaries! Linda Joly Dec 1 Tanya Rawlings Flemings Dec 3 Wil Heflin Dec 3 Anne Youngblood Dec 3 Haley May Dec 4 Elizabeth Ann Heflin Dec 5 Raymond Griffin Dec 8 Holly Underwood Dec 11 Kerrie Blanke Dec 11 Jane Booth Dec 12 Fred Joly Dec 13 Beth Kimbrell Dec 14 Mary Margaret Coats Dec 16 James Hunt Dec 18 Spencer Byrd Dec 19 Ayuishi Patel Dec 19 Ray Balch Dec 22 Joni Rhodes Dec 22 Charlie McCutchen, Jr. Dec 30 Hunter Richardson Dec 30 Will Lee Dec 31 Charlotte & BJ Kennamore Dec 31 Natalie & Darren Richardson Dec 31 Check out our website! Stay in touch with church events! http://graceepiscopalsheffield.dioala.org You can find an audio recording of each week s sermons here, as well as our monthly calendar. Like us on Facebook for news and announcements: Facebook/Grace Episcopal Church Sheffield Grace Episcopal Church (256) 383-2014 graceoffice1@comcast.net 2012 Vestry Ro Larsen, Sr Warden May Woodie Christopher Brent Scott Cornelia Heflin Amy Daniel Barbara Sherrill John Savage, Jr. Warden Richard Parker Amanda Lee Ron Kirkland/Fred Joly, Treasurer Janice Glor, Clerk Church Staff Rev Rick Oberheide, Rector rickober61@gmail.com Christa Belue Milligan, Director of Music cbeluem@gmail.com Nancy Hughes, Organist Sheila Shelton, Bookkeeper Krista Manchester, Church Administrator graceoffice1@comcast.net