January 8, 2016 | Baptism of Our Lord
The Epiphany | Friday, January 6 
Tonight (Friday) we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus with Byrd's Mass for 3 Voices, the Blessing of Chalk, the Singing of the Epiphany Proclamation and a champagne reception.

The mass begins at 6:30pm. Childcare is available.
What happens if it snows? | Fr Steve Rice
As I'm certain we've all heard, there is snow in the forecast for this weekend. A couple of folks have asked if anything changes at St Timothy's when it snows.

Generally speaking, the worship services will always remain the same regardless of weather. Depending on the circumstances, however, we may cancel one or more services, but never all. As long as I can make it to church, we will have the Holy Eucharist. We don't cancel (and that goes for the shelter, too).  Any changes to our normal routine will be announced on social media, the website, and this communication. It is assumed that individuals and families will use their best judgement as to their ability to safely make it to church. 

We always work to have the parking lot cleared in the event of snow and ice but we are at the mercy of vendors and their schedules. In the past, I've posted video on the roads and the parking lot to help you determine what is best for you. If possible, I will do the same again. So buy your milk and bread and enjoy the snow if it comes. If you can safely make to church, do come. The grace and strength Our Lord gives in the sacraments washes us, "and makes us whiter than snow" (Psalm 51.7).
Marked as Christ's Own Forever
This Sunday we welcome Julianna Grace Johnston through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at 9am. 

Julianna is presented for baptism by Dan and Becky Johnston, Sinclair Seavey, Maegan Hemphill, and Cherilyn Rice.
Sunday's Music | Christin Barnhardt
We are pleased to have St Timothy’s Brass Ensemble playing for us  Sunday  at the  9am  mass, and we hope that the hymn texts chosen for our celebration of the Baptism of Our Lord will help deepen your worship experience. The Gradual Hymn, “Christ, when for us you were baptized,” ends with a lovely prayer in the final stanza that we can take with us through the week ahead: “Baptize us with your Spirit, Lord, your cross on us be signed, that, likewise in God’s service we may perfect freedom find.”

The Offertory Hymn, “We know that Christ is raised and dies no more,” is a triumphant celebration of our Lord’s victory over death and the grave. As we remember our Lord’s baptism and observe the baptism of Julianna Grace, let us be mindful of the resurrection symbolism present in the sacrament of baptism. Verse two of this hymn reminds us: “We share by water in his saving death. Reborn, we share with him an Easter life as living members of a living Christ. Alleluia!”  

9am  prelude: St Timothy's Brass Ensemble
11am  prelude: Improvisation, Raymond Hawkins

Hymns:
Songs of thankfulness and praise, No. 135
Christ, when for us you were baptized, No. 121
We know that Christ is raised and dies no more, No. 296
I want to walk as a child of the Light, No. 490
O love, how deep, how broad, how high, No. 448

God's peace,
Christin Barnhardt & Robert Matthews
Children and Outreach | Katie Bryant
Katie
Children's Formation

Happy Epiphany!   “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5).  On Epiphany, with the wise men, we are journeying towards the great light.  The older children will have a chance to experience the gifts of the wise men--the gold, frankincense, and myrh.  It's wonderful for our children to grow up with a close-up knowledge of these holy gifts-- connecting the incense we use in worship at St.Timothy's to the gifts the wise men gave the Christ child.  

This Sunday and every Sunday, PreK children (ages 3 and potty-trained to age 5) gather downstairs during the 9am mass for a time of songs, stories, wonder, and play in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd..  Parents can drop children off as early as 8:45am in our Atrium (room C-4).  Children join their families in mass at the passing of the Peace.

All children (PreK through 5th grade) can follow the wooden processional cross at the end of the 9am mass.  We will lead the children downstairs and help them find their class. Here is the list of 10:15am formation classes for the fall:

PreK Formation--Room C-2
K-2nd grade Catechesis of the Good Shepherd--Room C-4
3rd-5th grade Advanced Godly Play--Room C-5
Middle School & High School Youth Formation--Drake Hall youth rooms
Adult Small Groups--at various locations around the church campus

All classes end just before the 11am mass.  Parents, please pick up your children from their classes in the downstairs hallway.
Outreach Updates
Thanks to all who brought gifts to the Angel Tree this Christmas season.  Tonight the children's gifts will be delivered by the magi at Anthony's Plot.  While different from the frankincense, gold, and myrh the wise men brought--your gifts will bring joy and hope to the neighborhood children of Sunnyside.  The socks and underwear and detergent and coffee will sustain our shelter guests this weekend, especially in the bitter cold.  And the meals you bought for New Communion made their cups overflow and they have surplus to share into the New Year.   Thank you for sharing the light of Christ across our community this winter!
Shelter News:
At the hint of inclement weather, it never fails that someone will ask me if we keep our shelter open during winter weather. While we may joke about having enough bread and milk to sustain us for a couple of days, our guests lives truly depend on us offering them a warm, safe place to get out of the weather.  So, yes! The shelter is most definitely open this weekend!  We will keep our guests at St.Tim's this weekend (instead of moving them downtown to First Baptist--that is our ice storm plan).  If you live close to the church or are comfortable driving in the snow, please let Katie Bryant know if you are willing to be on call to help this weekend ([email protected] or 828-230-4209).  We may especially need people with four-wheel drive who are willing to help transport to and from the shelter Saturday morning, Saturday evening, and Sunday morning.  

Shelter Needs:  Earplugs (the disposable foam kind), sleep masks, cough drops, bottled water, sweatpants/pajama pants, and bus passes.  We're also looking for a few volunteers willing to help with laundry on Mondays during the day (we wash all linens in Drake Hall).  Please let Katie know if you can help!   

Our Lady of Walsingham Lamp
is given to the Glory of God and in honor our their grandchildren - Joseph and Anne Marie - by Jerry and Ann Sneed.
 

St Timothy Shrine Lamp
is currently not sponsored for January.
 
The flowers for the altars
 are given to the Glory of Almighty God and in memory of Betty Ann Austin by the Austin Family and in memory of parents Kathryn and Carmel Hoge and Mary Lou and Moses Daniels by Barnes and Pat Daniels.
 


 

 

Sanctuary Lamp
is given to the glory of God
and in honor of Fr. Steve Rice by the Machado Family.