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

www.EpiphanyGuntersville.org

AUGUST 2017

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 cele-

brate the Eucharist with joyful song!

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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

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 princi-

ples of the Old Testament – a recurring theme that guides the affairs be-tween 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 faith-

fulness. 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

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 256-677-3231 or Marsha Babb 256-571-2300. Thank you in advance for always stepping up to help!

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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 Con-templation. 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 teach-ings 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?

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.

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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, weed-ing flower beds, and organizing garden supplies in the storage shed. If you could help with these tasks, please call Melanie Dorman 256-582-3824 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.

Please join us on August 13th 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 13th.

Wednesday Dinners will be served every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. beginning August 16th.

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 activi-ty. 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 ar-ea of your check).

To sign up CLICK HERE

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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 fu-ture youth and high-school formation pro-grams, 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 reconcil-iation.

YOUTH

Youth Loft in Woodall Commons – youth in 6th through 12th grades

Reform, a youth ministry program of 40 les-sons 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.

Wednesday 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Children in kindergarten through 5th grade gather for faith formation, fun and fellow-ship. 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

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Weekly Sunday School – Sundays 9:30 a.m. (begins August 13)

6th - 12th grades – Youth Loft Woodall Commons

Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) – (begins August 16) Wednesdays 6:30p.m. – 7:30p.m.

6th - 12th grades – Youth Loft Woodall Commons

Sr. EYC – Sundays 5:00p.m. – 7:00p.m. (begins August 20)

6th – 12th 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

2017-2018 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 Epis-copal Church in Birmingham. Happening is open to youth in grades 10-12. Space is limited so sign-up now! The cost is $60. Scholarships are avail-able. Happener Applications click here. Staff Applications Adult Staff Applications More Information

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CODE: DOK—Daughters of the King; HE—Holy Eucharist;

Men’s B & B—Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study; Birthdays in italics

September October November December

4—Office Closed

Labor Day

1—Blessing of Animals 5—All Saints Day

Blessing of Pledge Cards

19—Celtic Service

17—Bring a Friend Sunday

Parish Picnic

Celtic Service

15—Celtic Service 11—Veterans Day 25—Office Closed

Christmas Day

19—Vestry Meeting 25—Fall Festival 19—Celtic Service

23—Carol Jean Rives Forum 29—Parish Elections 18—Holiday Faire

23-24—Thanksgiving

Office Closed

25—Iron Bowl

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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

David Roadruck

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

Judith Brown

11 Men’s B & B 7am-HR

Doug Cooke Matthew Morris

12 Brotherhood 8am

HR

Beans & Rice 10am

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

Bryce Blair Jennifer Moore

22

23 Healing Service 11:30 Centering Prayer 1 pm

Children's Chapel Eucharist 5:30pm Nursery 5:30pm Dinner 6:00p.m.

Programs 6:30pm

Setup for Trash to Treasure

24 Reunion 9:30am

Parlor

25 Men’s B & B 7am-HR

News Articles Due

26 Brotherhood 8am

HR

Trash to Treasure 7am—1pm

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