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I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Stewardship 2

Calendar 3

Planned Giving

Sunday School

Yard Sale

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Ladies Night Out 5

Worship Leaders 6

Database Update 7

Caritas 8

When God Created 9

Men’s Group

Sympathy

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Days of Blessing 11

Just the Facts 12

F R O M F A T H E R A N D R E W . . .

WHO WE ARE:

The Church of the Epiph-

any is one of 181 parishes

of the Episcopal Diocese

of Virginia, which is one

of 110 dioceses in The

Episcopal Church (USA),

one of 44 member

churches in the worldwide

Anglican Communion.

T H E C H U R C H O F T H E E P I P H A N Y

T H E S T A R May 2017

"Seven Stanzas at Easter"

By John Updike (1932–2009)

Make no mistake: if He rose at all it was as His body; if the cells' dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle, the Church will fall.

It was not as the flowers, each soft Spring recurrent; it was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled eyes of the eleven apostles; it was as His flesh: ours.

The same hinged thumbs and toes, the same valved heart that-pierced-died, withered, paused, and then regathered out of enduring Might new strength to enclose.

Let us not mock God with metaphor, analogy, sidestepping, transcendence; making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the faded credulity of earlier ages: let us walk through the door.

The stone is rolled back, not papier-mâché, not a stone in a story, but the vast rock of materiality that in the slow grinding of time will eclipse for each of us the wide light of day.

And if we will have an angel at the tomb, make it a real angel, weighty with Max Planck's quanta, vivid with hair, opaque in the dawn light, robed in real linen spun on a definite loom.

Let us not seek to make it less monstrous, for our own convenience, our own sense of beauty, lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, we are embarrassed by the miracle, and crushed by remonstrance.

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Stewardship Committee: Stewardship Committee will resume meeting in May, the April meeting was cancelled.

Ann Henderson – Stewardship Chair

Stewardship

Over and over in the Bible we read scripture that tells us to give 10% of our harvest to the Lord. Most of us give more than 10% to charity each year but have you ever wondered what the reason for giving 10% is. In my recent readings I stumbled upon ten Biblical reasons for giving 10% of the first harvest to the Lord’s work. It is kind of long so I will share five this month and five next month. 5 of 10 Biblical Reasons to Give 10% OR MORE of Your Income to the Lord’s Work 1. It is a proven pattern of giving done by Christ followers for many generations. In 1899, a bibliography was compiled of books related to systematic Christian giving. There were over 500 books listed in this bib-liography from over 100 years ago, and yet many Christians today do not understand the importance of faithful giving. Scriptures: Genesis 14:17-20, 28:16-22, Leviticus 27:30, Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:7-15, Matthew 23:23 2. It will help you reverence God more in your life. If you showed me your check book records, I would be able to quickly tell you who or what you feel is important. By giving the best of what you have been given to God, you are expressing your allegiance to Him and you will grow in your respect for the Lord and His working in your life. Scriptures: Deuteronomy 14:23, Malachi 1:6-8 3. It will bring God’s wisdom and order to your finances. If I get dressed in the morning and get the first button out of place on my shirt, all the rest of the buttons will be messed up. When it comes to finances, the first button to get in place is your giving. When you get this area in order, everything else follows. Giving is also the only known antidote for “affluenza” (the desire for more things) that permeates our world today. Scriptures: Matthew 6:19-21, 24-34; Luke 12:16-21, I Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Ecclesiastes 5:10 4. It will serve as a practical reminder that God is the Owner of everything in your life. By faithfully giving the Lord 10% or more of all you ever receive, you are actively acknowledging His ownership in your life. As someone once told me, “God owns it all and God loans it all.” We are not owners, only temporary possessors and managers of what God entrusts to us during our lifetime. Scriptures: I Chronicles 29:11-18, Psalm 24:1-2, 50:10-12, Haggai 2:8riptures: Matthew 6:19-21, 24-34; Luke 12:16-21, I Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Ecclesiastes 5:10 5. It will allow you to experience God’s creative provisions. One of the most amazing things about learning to faithfully give to the Lord is the joy so many people have experienced in receiving unexpected blessings in their lives. When you acknowledge God’s ownership through your generous giving, you begin to experi-ence His creative provisions in amazing ways. Scriptures: I Kings 17, Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:7-15, Haggai 1:4-11, 2:15-19; Luke 6:38, Deuteronomy 28, Philippians 4:15-19, Mark 12:41-44

Blessings, Ann

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May Parish Calendar

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Women & Girls Corporate

Communion & Breakfast

Sunday, May 7 at the 8:15 Service. The speak-er, Jill Baughan, is a Christian author and will be speaking on “Finding Joy in Every Season of the Soul”. Jill is an English instructor at VCU and serves on the worship ministry team at Cool Spring Baptist Church in Richmond, VA. She has written two books “Born To Be Wild” and “A Hope Deferred”.

Yard Sale—-May 13th

The Shrine Mont committee will be host-ing the yearly yard sale on Saturday, May 13th from 8:00 AM—Noon.

As you begin your spring cleaning bring your ‘treasure donations’ to the church marked ‘Yard Sale’. They can be stored in the room under the stairs.

If you need assistance for larger items, please contact Aggie Gallagher or Pat-ty White.

The money we raise will be used to pay for the parish youth to attend the annual Parish Retreat in October.

Baked Goods Table As we have done in the past, we will be holding a Baked Goods/coffee sale, during the Yard Sale on Saturday, May 13th, with proceeds to benefit our kitchen supplies and upkeep.

We would love to have anyone who would like to contribute, to bring their baked goods either Friday evening (between 5-7pm) May 12, or early Saturday morning (before 8 am) May 13. For this event, we find individual items (e.g. one brownie or two cook-ies) are the most popular, but we will gladly take any and all donations! We’d appreciate it if they are wrapped and if you would like to suggest prices for your items that can also be helpful.

Donuts are also a big seller!

YES Sunday—May 21st

Youth Education Sunday Recognition Day for all involved in programs for the youth at Epiphany.

Kids will be greeters, ushers, readers and more.

Hotdogs will be served at coffee hour—we hope you will attend!

Mark your calendars!!

Planned Giving & Potluck dinner Planned giving is a vital part of the Diocese's stewardship program. It can generate current gifts to support your church's annual operating budget and capital campaigns as well as long term gifts. Planned giving is simply creative giving in that it helps people make gifts they did not think they could make using assets they had not thought of using. Join us on June 10 for a Potluck dinner at 6:30PM and to learn more about creative giving with Deal Tompkins.

The Speaker: Deal Tompkins —-A native of the Roanoke Valley and a graduate of Ran-dolph -Macon College, Deal has over thirty years of experience in higher education and healthcare philanthropy. He has worked in planned giving and capital campaigns at Randolph-Macon, Sweet Briar and Emory & Henry Colleges among others. Deal retired in April, 2012 as Executive Director and CEO of the Virginia United Methodist Foundation. He now serves as the planned giving officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and is a member of St. James the Less Episcopal Church in Ashland.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 2ND 7:00 PM – 9:00?

All the women of the church are invited for a relaxing, fun event. Bring

a sweet or savory snack to share. We will be providing beverages. Cas-

ual dress.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR A

For more info call Kathy Jimerson 804-651-2559

or Vivien Mitchell 804-262-8732

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May 7 — Easter 4

Altar Guild: Dottie Strabley, Lucy Whitlock, Lauryn Boyd

8:15 AM—Holy Eucharist

Usher: George Baynes

Reader: Lauryn Boyd

Chalice: Harrison Higgins

10:30 AM—Holy Eucharist

Lessons: Cheri Blackwell, Jeri Townley

Prayers: Jeri Townley

Chalice: Herb Williams, Harrison Higgins

Acolytes: Zack Nixon, Sam Tucker, Eric Ludwig, Bailey Nixon

Greeters: Gray Corbett, Patty White

Nursery: Gail Wood, Patty White, Christine Couturi-er, Loyce Kipligat

May 14 — Easter 5

Altar Guild: Jean Riddick, Debbie Crawford

8:15 AM—Holy Eucharist

Usher: Mike Nicholas

Lessons: Sam Craver

Chalice: Harrison Higgins

10:30 AM—Holy Eucharist

Lessons: Randy Holden, Gray Corbett

Prayers: Gray Corbett

Chalice: David Tuck, Harrison Higgins

Acolytes: Jay Tucker, Camryn Whittlesey, Makenzie Lawrence, Logan Abernathy

Greeters: Jeff Pegram, Carol Campus

Nursery: Gail Wood, Dwight Ludwig, Scott Blackwell

May 21 — Easter 6

Altar Guild: Kathy Jimerson, Melba Shumaker, Carol McElhinney

8:15 AM—Holy Eucharist

Usher: Chris Tignor

Reader: Tad Blackburn

Chalice: Harrison Higgins

10:30 AM— Holy Eucharist

Lessons: Clement Wani, David Tuck

Prayers: David Tuck

Chalice: B.J. Mills, Harrison

Higgins

Acolytes: Lucas Couturier, Gift Elionai, Will Craver, Camille Wood

Greeters: Scott Blackwell, Karen Holden

Nursery: Gail Wood, Karen Holden, Sandy Ruder, Heather Hollister

May 28 — Easter 7

Altar Guild: Karen & Randy Holden, Cheryl Lineberry

8:15 AM—Holy Eucharist

Usher: Paul Jones

Reader: Irene Temple

Chalice: Harrison Higgins

10:30 AM—Holy Eucharist

Lessons: B.J. Mills, Buddy Dunn

Prayers: Buddy Dunn

Chalice: Gray Corbett, Harrison Higgins

Acolytes: Austin White, Kayleigh Gilbert, Nick Lud-wig, Ava Whittlesey

Greeters: Vivien Mitchell, Clement Wani

Nursery: Gail Wood, Joy Baynes, Peggy Wilson

Worship Leaders for May

10:30 Ushers: Chuck Strabley, Kim Ruder, Lee Poates, Mike Nicholas

Counter: Buddy Dunn

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DATABASE UPDATE Extended until the end of May!

In order to make communication with the parish the most effective and useful for us all, we need to make sure information on our parishioners is current and up-to-date! We would love to have as much information about you and your family as you are willing to give, and except for the published information in the Parish Directory, it will be for office use only!

We would also love to print an updated directory and thought it would be fun to use casual family pictures, which our own Stacy Mitchell has agreed to do for us, or you can provide a picture of your own. Pictures can be taken before or after the 10:30 service on Sunday. This would save a lot of money and time and would add a more personal style to the directory.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Karen Holden (804) 840-7356 or Lucy Whitlock (804) 266-2503.

Name:____________________________________________________ DOB:_________________

Email address:________________________________________

Home Phone:____________ Work Phone:_____________ Cell Phone:_____________

(Check the number(s) you would like to have published)

Spouse:___________________________________________________ DOB:_________________

Email address:________________________________________

Home Phone:____________ Work Phone:_____________ Cell Phone:____________

(Check the number(s) you would like to have published)

Mailing Address:____________________________________________ Anniv:_______________

_____________________________________________

Children:__________________________________________________ DOB:________________

___________________________________________________ DOB:________________

___________________________________________________ DOB:________________

___________________________________________________ DOB:________________

Emergency contact:_________________________________________ Phone:_________________

Ministries within our parish that you are involved with or would like more information about:

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

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Please note the “kids worship bags” hanging in the Narthex—they are for use in church for our little ones who want to hang with Mom & Dad during the service.

Let’s all remember to wear our name-tags—they really are so helpful for everyone, newcomers and oldtimers! If you need a nametag, there is a sign-up sheet in the hallway. Thanks!

Thank You Ron and Denise Russell & family would like to thank their Church family for the prayers, cards and phone calls after the passing of Ron’s mother, Lelo Russell. Your kind words of support are very helpful during this difficult time.

Update

In March 2017, We attended an informational meeting presented by CARITAS Board Members. We learned the future plans for CARITAS. They will house all partici-pants at a newly acquired facility on Stockton Street in Richmond, Va. Board Members expressed this has been in the planning stages for some time and expect to be in their new facility in 2018/19. The site will be purchased mainly through private donors. Their fund raising cam-paign is in the early stages and will expand soon.

What does that mean? The participants will no longer be bused to area churches, because Caritas will have a facility to house, feed, train and treat participants in a totally controlled facility.

We learned the new location will allow them to eventual-ly rent apartments or rooms to those individuals in the program to help them become self sufficient. This will be funded by a blend of donations and grants etc. This is part of the CARITAS master plan which will help these individuals successfully integrate back into the commu-nity.

In October of 2017 (7th-14th) We (The Epiphany) will partner again with our good friends of Emmanuel Episcopal Church for most likely one of the last CARITAS events at the church.

As we plan for this event at Epiphany, We will provide updates, seeking your involvement and participation. We know that with your help this CARITAS Event will be Special for all.

CARITAS Committee: Kathy & Mike Nicholas

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For your reading enjoyment! Happy Mother’s Day!

When God Created Mothers by Erma Bombeck

When the good Lord was creating mothers He was into His sixth day of “overtime” when an angel appeared and said “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And the Lord said, “Have you read the specs on this order!”

♥ She has to be completely washable, but not plastic;

♥ Have 180 moveable parts…all replaceable;

♥ Run on black coffee and leftovers;

♥ Have a lap that disappears when she stands up;

♥ A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair;

♥ And six pairs of hands;

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands…no way.”

“Its not the hands that are causing me problems,” said the Lord. “It’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have.”

“That’s on the standard model?” asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. “One pair that see through closed doors when she ask, ‘What are you kids doing in there?’ when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn’t but what she has to know, and of course, the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and says, ‘I understand and I love you’ without so much as ut-tering a word.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching His sleeve gently, “Go to bed. Tomorrow…”

“I can’t,” said the Lord, “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick…can feed a family of six on one pound of ham-burger…and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower.”

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed.

“But she’s tough!” said the Lord excitedly. “You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure.”

“Can it think?”

“Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise,” said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told You——You were trying to push too much into this model.”

“It’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.”

“What’s it for?”

“It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride.”

“You are a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. “I didn’t put it there.” He said.

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Fellowship Activities Want to go to Brunch in May?

Sunday, May 28th,

the ‘lunch brunch group’ will be going to lunch at

Yen Ching, 9033 W. Broad Street.

If you are interested please contact Jean Riddick, 264-0935,

or call Lucy in the office, 266-2503

Adult Forum

Sundays at 9:30 am in the parlor

Join them at 9:30 am.

Sympathy The prayers and sympathy of the con-gregation are extended to David Skinner & family on the death of his brother, Bill Skinner, who died on Sunday, April 23rd. The Visitation will be held here at Epiph-any at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 5th, fol-lowed by the Memorial Service at 4:30 PM. May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Chapter 11— Men’s Group

The Men’s group meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 30 @ 6:30 pm. Mark your calendars and plan to attend!

Maundy Thursday Reflections Thanks to Father Andrew, the Worship Committee and the Altar Guild, we celebrated Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thurs-day during Passion Week, with a much different service compared to past years at the Church of the Epiphany. In addition to our service and special communion to celebrate Jesus’ last supper with his disci-ples, Father Andrew and Deacon Harrison performed a foot washing ceremony to commemorate Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples. Watching the ceremony, I wondered what was going through Jesus’ mind as he cared for his disciples. It was feelings of love from Jesus to those he touched that made me realize the true meaning of this cer-emony. The service was very powerful with an impressive message to everyone. I urge everyone to consider attending our next Maundy Thursday service. Until now, I have never witnessed nor participated in a Maundy Thursday service at Epiphany that included this cere-mony. This service is simply telling us as Jesus told his disciples, let’s go forth to love and serve one another!

Kim Ruder

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Happy Birthday

May 1 Betty Van Valkenburg

May 3 Benjamin Gallagher

Mike White

May 4 Stacy Van Valkenburg

May 5 Michael Stone

May 7 Hannah Schulte

Lauren Williams

May 8 Melaina Russell

May 11 Nancy Tucker

May 12 Andrew Reinholz

May 14 Pam Pegram

May 16 Michael Nicholas

May 20 Sloan Rutledge

Alexandra White

May 25 Bryan Lassiter

May 27 George Baynes

May 30 Jean T. Riddick

Ron Russell

Happy Anniversary

May 20 Wes & Meghan Barger

May 21 Tim & Marty Shephard

Tom & Robin Gilbert

May 31 Ryan & Rebecca Mitchell

Days of Blessing in MayDays of Blessing in May

New to the Prayer List: Sara Mateyka—friend of Megan O’Toole’s

Parishioners: Dot Hudson, Dottie Strabley, Sarah Jenkins, Mike Young, Lydia Callaway, Caroline Hager, Milton Jenkins

Homebound: Peggy Adleman, Betty Fore, Sarah Fore, Ray Hampton, Ray & Charlotte Lovelace, Connie Neal, Juliet Wynne;

Family & Friends: Michael Abraham— cousin of Sandy Ruder & Denise Russell, Dave Holsapple—Stacy Mitchells friend, Norma

Hanko— Lucy Whitlock’s mother, Pam Melton—friend of Karen Holden, John Stone lV—John Stone’s father, Bobby Tucker—friend

of Kathy & Bob Jimerson, John Jorstad—father of Sandy Tignor & Marty Shephard.

Those Serving in the Armed Forces especially: Benjamin Hoffert, Patrick Lineberry, Caitlin Mitchell, Bryan Murphy, Billy Tucker,

Andrew Smith and Tyler Watts.

For the Birth of a Child: Matt & Leslie Guyer

Prayers for the departed: Bill Skinner—David Skinner’s brother

Standing in the Need of PrayerStanding in the Need of Prayer

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Just the Facts:

Leadership and Contact Information at

Church of the Epiphany Office address: 8000 Hermitage Rd, Richmond, VA 23228 Phone: 804-266-2503 inquiry@epiphanyepiscopal.com

Father Andrew Reinholz, Rector 804 266-2503 office (Pastoral care) 1 610-780-1420 (cell)

The Rev. Deacon Harrison Higgins, IV, Deacon 804 355-5501 (Cell)

Lucy Whitlock, Office Administrator lucy.whitlock@epiphanyepiscopal.com

Anita Williams, Music Director

Timon Kenyi, Sexton

Vestry

Gray Corbett, Senior Warden

Mary Sam Abernathy, Junior Warden

Marty Shephard, Treasurer

Karen Holden, Register

Gray Corbett (2017) Vivien Mitchell(2017)

Jeff Pegram (2017)

Mary Sam Abernathy (2018) Scott Blackwell (2018)

Carol Campus (2018)

Karen Holden (2019) Clement Wani (2019)

Patty White (2019)

Office Hours :

Lucy is in the office Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 2 pm. Call before stopping by to

make sure someone is here to let you in.

May the light of God’s blessing, like the Epiphany star, always guide

you on the path toward Him.