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Epiphany Episcopal Church, Sedan
St. Matthew’s Church, Cedar Vale
The STAR
January 2015
My Dear Brothers and Sisters of Light,
I am so grateful for all the energy and effort that each of you have put into making the
past year a wonderful year. It is in this light that I am looking forward to all the opportunities
that will present themselves to us in the New Year!
Among the first of these opportunities will be the celebration of our patronal feast, the
Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We will celebrate this “Principal Feast” of the church with
a Festal Eucharist on the Eve of Epiphany, Monday, January 5th at 6:00 pm. The service will
be followed by the St. Agnes Guild’s Soup & Chili Supper in the Parish Hall.
As a parish we are blessed to have a very dedicated Vestry who provides the
leadership that makes what happens here possible. On Sunday, January 18 th we will have
our Annual Meeting where, in addition to the business of the parish, we will all have the
opportunity to thank the Vestry and elect two new members. The meeting will occur after our
10:30 am service. Please plan on being here as we need to here your voice and vote!
Speaking of those who work tirelessly for the parish, the St. Agnes Guild is the face of
Epiphany within the community in so many ways. On Wednesday, January 21st, St. Agnes’
Day, we will have the opportunity to give them thanks as we celebrate the feast day of the
Guild’s patron saint with a Holy Eucharist at 9:00 am followed by refreshments and a short
meeting.
As we embark on this new year amid celebrations and resolutions, it is important that
we as a parish continue to reflect upon our direction and purpose for the new year and the
years to come. I look forward to hearing and sharing more ideas as we continue to make our
ministry in the community more vibrant in 2015!
Yours in the Light,
Foster+
The FOOD
PANTRY NEEDS
Monetary Donations
For more information
call —
Deanna Faler at
620-725-5399
St. Matthew’s
Church
Healing Service with
Communion
Saturday,
January 10th
4:00 pm
Summer youth ministry internship
applications now available.
Do you know a college student interested in
pursuing a vocation in ministry? If so, ask
them if they are interested in applying for
the Summer Youth Ministry Internship.
Applications are due Feb. 28. Learn more
about the program and how to apply
at http://edokyouth.wordpress.com/
internship/
What is The Feast of Epiphany?
Epiphany is commonly known as Three Kings’ Day or the Feast of the Epiphany. It means
“manifestation” or “showing forth”. It is also called Theophany (“manifestation of God”), especially by
Eastern Christians. Epiphany refers not only to the day itself but to the church season that follows it –
a season that has a varied length because it ends when Lent begins, and this depends on the date of
Easter.
It commemorates the first two occasions on which Jesus’ divinity, according to Christian belief, was
manifested: when the three kings (also known as wise men or Magi) visited infant Jesus in
Bethlehem, and when John the Baptist baptized him in the River Jordan. The Roman Catholic and
Protestant churches emphasize the visit of the Magi when they celebrate the Epiphany. The Eastern
Orthodox churches focus on Jesus’ baptism.
Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian feasts. It was celebrated since the end of the second century,
before the Christmas holiday was established. Like other Christian seasons, the church appropriated
Epiphany from an old pagan festival. As early as 1996 BCE, the Egyptians celebrated the winter
solstice (which then occurred on January 6) with a tribute to Aeon, the Virgin. It is important to note
that the holiday was established prior to the Gregorian calendar’s introduction.
Please Join Us In celebration of
The Feast of Epiphany
Monday, January 5th at 6:00 p.m.
Service followed by Soup & Chili Supper
Yes, January 5th! In the past the service had been held on the Sunday
closest to Epiphany. This year Fr. Foster and the Vestry wanted to
emphasize the importance of the Feast Day by holding it on its day.
However, given all things Sedan, there is a home basketball game that day.
So we are holding it after sunset on the 5th which technically makes it the
Sabbath of the Feast.
EPISCOPAL GENERAL CONVENTION — JUNE 25TH—JULY 3
Every three years, the Episcopal General Convention convenes. This year it will be held in Salt
Lake City. A key conversation will be around the idea of what should the Episcopal Church look
like. At the last convention, a Task Force for Reimaging the Episcopal Church (TREC) was
formed. It has been meeting to brainstorm on the vision. The group’s work has been widely
anticipated and closely followed by many across the Episcopal Church.
Recently, TREC presented its final report to the 78th General Convention and to the Church, and
for inclusion in Reports to General Convention.
The report, a 73-page PDF, can be viewed and downloaded online at
https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/12219.pdf.
Register for Miqra now! Jan. 17-19 at Grace Cathedral in Topeka. For youth in grades 6-12. Miqra
(meek-rah) is a weekend retreat that focuses on the Bible and allows teens to discover what’s in it,
why they should care and how to read it. This year’s educational focus will be on the Pentateuch.
Registrations are due Monday, January 5 and are available online at
http://edokyouth.wordpress.com/miqra/
THE BIBLE CHALLENGE
A wonderful, meaningful, not hard to keep New Year’s Resolution would be to join us who are already
participating in The Bible Challenge. You can download the The Bible Challenge booklet at
www.epiphanysedan.org or pick up a copy in the Parish Hall.
If you have a question or just want to talk about the readings join us Wednesday night at 7:00 pm and/or
Sunday morning at 9:00 am.
Some of the more intriguing thoughts/questions raised recently are:
John 14, 15 — “Indeed the son of man must be lifted on high, even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
desert, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
What does Psalm 71 mean?
The Battle of Gibeah and the Levite’s dead concubine...what???
Is Peter the dominant one in Acts?
9:00 am TGBC
10:30 am MP Sedan
25
9:00 am TGBC
10:30 am HE Sedan
ANNUAL MEETING
18
9:00 am TGBC
10:30 am HE Sedan
11
9:00 am TGBC
10:30 am HE Sedan
4
SUNDAY
8:00 pm Grateful AlAnon Group
26
8:00 pm Grateful AlAnon Group
19
8:00 pm Grateful AlAnon Group
12
8:00 pm Grateful AlAnon Group
6:00 pm Epiphany
Service & Supper
5
JANUARY
MONDAY
14
7:00 pm TGBC
27 8:15 am MP
Fr. Foster Council of
Trustees
20 8:15 am MP
7:00 pm TGBC
28
7:00 pm TGBC
5:00 pm Choir
Eucharist
29 9:00 am
Simple
22 9:00 am Healing
Agnes Day, Eucharist Eucharist
and Brunch
21 9:00 am St.
7:00 pm TGBC
6:00 pm Vestry
Meeting
Eucharist
15 9:00 am Simple
Eucharist
5:00 pm Choir
8 9:00 am Simple
9:00 am Remove
Christmas
Decorations
1
Book — a Bible discussion, open to all
*TGBC—The Good
THURSDAY
7
WEDNESDAY
Fr. Foster Fresh Start 12:00 pm Naomi
Lunch
13 8:15 am MP
Fr. Foster Clericus
6 8:15 am MP
2015
TUESDAY
30
23
16
9
2
FRIDAY
31
24
17
4:00 pm St.
Matthew’s Healing
with Eucharist
10:30 am Diocesan
Ordinations—Topeka
10
7:00 am Sedan
Men’s Breakfast at
Epiphany
3
SATURDAY
DAY
JANUARY LECTIONARY READINGS
PSALM
LESSONS
GOSPEL
January 4
Christmas 2
Psalm 84
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Matthew 2:13-15;19-23
Ephesians 1:3-6; 15-19a
January 5
Epiphany
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
January 11
Epiphany1
Psalm 29
Genesis 1:1-5
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11
January 18
Epiphany 2
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17
1 Samuel 3:1-10
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51
January 25
Epiphany 3
Psalm 62:6-14
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
LITURGY STEWARDSHIP
Sunday, January 4
Lectors:
June Mendenhall and Dee Farris
Intercessor: Kate Stettler
Chalice:
Sally Newton
Acolyte:
Nick Mays
Usher:
Bryon Newton
Sunday, January 18
Lectors:
Jackie Jones and Dee Farris
Intercessor: Kate Stettler
Chalice:
Dee Farris
Acolyte:
Nick Mays
Usher:
J.D. Rector
Monday, January 5 — 6:00 pm
Lectors:
Charlie Meadows and Mary Simpson
Intercessor: Jill Gray
Chalice:
Jackie Jones
Acolyte:
Jake Mills, Nick Mays, Timory Hills
Usher:
J.D. Rector
Sunday, January 25
Lectors:
Charlie Meadows and Mary Simpson
Intercessor: Jill Gray
Chalice:
Sally Newton
Acolyte:
Jake Mills
Usher:
Bryon Newton
Sunday, January 11
Lectors:
Lois Cain and June Mendenhall
Intercessor: Jane Meadows
Chalice:
Tim Hills
Acolyte:
Timory Hills
Usher:
J. D. Rector
HOSPITALITY STEWARDSHIP
Cookies
Sunday, January 4 Maria Kinkaid
Sunday, January 11 Dee Farris
Sunday, January 18 Mary Simpson
Sunday, January 25 Sally Newton
Coffee
Maria Kinkaid
Dee Farris
Mary Simpson
Janet Kimple
January Altar Guild:
Pat Jones & Nancy Floyd
January Linens:
Dee Farris
Communion Bread:
Dee Farris
Vestry Minutes – December 18, 2014, 6:00 p.m.
Present: Charlie, Mary, P.J., Jill, and Fr. Foster
Following a Thanksgiving for the mission of the church, the attendees updated each other
about what was going on in their lives. The minutes of the November meeting were reviewed
and approved unanimously on motion by P.J. and second by Charlie.
Charlie presented the Treasurer’s Report, which was received upon motion by Mary and
second by Jill. In addition, Charlie reported that 17 pledges, totaling $65,770, have been
submitted to date; there are three outstanding pledge cards; Charlie will follow-up on those.
With respect to old business, Fr. Foster asked who would be willing to coordinate the
disposition of Don Cox’s bequest; P.J. and Charlie expressed an interest and asked that Fr.
Foster arrange a trip to visit the property.
As for property, two additional items – plumbing repair/replacement and repair/replacement of
the sidewalk – were added to the list of needed repairs.
With respect to Vestry homework stemming from the next steps of the Vestry Retreat, only one
member had completed the assignment. Fr. Foster asked the other members to continue their
efforts so that we might have something to report to the Annual Meeting.
As for new business, Fr. Foster presented a Resolution for a Housing Allowance Exclusion to
the Vestry for approval. Following a motion by Charlie and a second by Jill, the resolution was
approved unanimously by a quorum of the Vestry at this meeting.
There followed a discussion of possible nominees for the Vestry. In addition, there was
discussion about a policy for the use of the Parish Hall. Recognizing a pattern of past uses and
the particular circumstances of the community, the consensus was for the Vestry to have
latitude to consider requests on a case-by-case basis, with adequate advance notice, and to
include a provision for fees.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. following Compline.
The next Vestry meeting is scheduled for January 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Foster Mays +
Our Bottom Line …
As of:11/30/2014
Receipts - Actual vs. Budget
20,000.00
18,000.00
16,000.00
1,002.43
1,000.00
14,000.00
12,000.00
1,675.00
8,000.00
1,000.00
Other Income
Armstrong Trust
10,000.00
4,540.17
8,000.00
Investment Draw-down
Pledge Payments
6,000.00
4,000.00
7,867.00
6,795.00
2,000.00
0.00
Actual
Budget
As of the end of November, Epiphany has drawn-down investments
by $69,500. These draw- downs are essential to meeting our budget;
they represent approximately 33% of our budgeted income.
Epiphany Episcopal Church
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
PO Box 367
Sedan, KS 67361
THE CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY
309 West Elm Street, Sedan, Kansas
[email protected] ~ 620.725.3701 ~ www.epiphanysedan.org
Holy Eucharist: Sundays, 10:30 a.m.
Morning Prayer: Tuesdays, 8:15 a.m.
Eucharist: Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.
The Reverend Foster M. Mays, Rector
[email protected]
C: 215-284-9160 H: 620-725-3170
The Vestry
Jill Mills, Mary Simpson, P. J. Buck,
Reta Pipher and Kate Stettler
Treasurer: Charles Meadows