Epiphany Edition eNews
January 6, 2022
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This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany and consider together what it means to Follow the Star. We will introduce Star Words, a spiritual practice that invites you to set your intention for the new year, and will have chalk available for those who want to bless their homes in 2022. We continue our safeguards of mask wearing and social distancing, and we will refrain from congregational singing, but some of our singers will return with seasonal favorites. Join us in-person or online at youtube.com/c/StAndrewsEpiscopalChurchGreensboroNC.
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Join Bishop Curry today at Noon for an Epiphany Celebration
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Washington Bishop Mariann Budde, the Rev. Glenna Huber, and other local and national leaders offer a livestreamed celebration of the season of light, from the Church of the Epiphany in Washington, D.C.
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This Epiphany, we will proclaim that we recognize Christ alive and moving wherever people are looking, acting, and loving like Jesus. Bishop Curry will invite Episcopalians to commit afresh to becoming vibrant, loving, healing, truth-telling embodiments of Jesus and his light—in our communities and in our nation.
The worship service will feature the witness and voice of a diversity of people who are the face of Christ—from ordained Episcopal ministers to unhoused people who are also leading the church. Artists will include Kory Caudill, composer and musical director for Concert for the Human Family, and Chanda Leigh Adeogba, lead musician for Imagine Church-Atlanta.
Bishop Curry also will offer a videotaped address to the nation later that day.
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The New Year is Here! Bless Your Home and Chalk Your Door
After Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, three Magi from the east came to worship Christ and bring him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We celebrate their journey on Epiphany (also called Theophany, Twelfth Night, or Three Kings), the oldest feast day recorded in the Church. On Epiphany, it is traditional for families to bless their homes, remembering the hospitality of the Holy Family to the Wise Men by “chalking the doors,” a centuries old practice that dedicates our homes to God. To bless your home, you can use a piece of chalk to mark the door or threshold with the inscription:
20 + C +M + B + 22.
The 20 and 22 represent the current year. The + reminds us of the cross of Christ. The C, M, and B stand for the traditional names of the Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Bathasar—as well as an abbreviation for the Latin phrase, “Christus mansionem benedicat,” which means "Christ bless this house." We will have chalk available at church on Sunday.
Gracious God, you sent your son, Jesus, to become like us, so that we might become like him. Bless our home with his presence. May he always be here among us; may he nurture our love for each other, share in our joys, and comfort us in our sorrows. Inspired by his teachings and example, let us make our home a dwelling place of love, which spreads far and wide the goodness of Christ. Amen.
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Epiphany at Home
Please use this handout as you celebrate Epiphany at home, today and in the coming days and weeks. We will have printed copies available this Sunday at church.
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Beginning Tonight — My Grandmother’s Hands Part II, Book Study Online
Would you like to be more comfortable talking about race—to your children, your colleagues, your friends? Resmaa Menachem has written a brilliant book to provide pathways for releasing the constrictions we all carry in this racialized society. Part I examines the nature of this constriction. Part II provides specific practices we can use to release the trauma that we carry and settle ourselves in anxiety provoking situations.
A study group is forming to learn these practices. The group is open to anyone who has read and reflected on Part I, either in a group or as an individual. The group will meet on Thursdays from 7.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. for eight Zoom sessions, beginning on January 6 and ending on February 17. Priority will be given to the participants in the Part I study and to members of St. Andrew’s. If you have questions or would like to sign up, contact John de Beer at connect.john@gmail.com.
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We Welcome an Afghan Family!
We are delighted to welcome a holy family from Afghanistan to Greensboro. Thank you to all who helped with our recent “Home Workday.” Stay tuned for more opportunities to help in other meaningful ways in the days and weeks ahead. If you have questions, please contact Doug Sanecki by text at 732-546-5934, or at dpsanecki@gmail.com.
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Prepare to Share the Love! Soup Volunteers Needed
The Soup Sale fundraiser returns, with all proceeds dedicated to St. Andrew’s co-sponsorship of the Safi family from Afghanistan. Our sale features four delicious soup varieties. Prepared fresh by small crews of parishioners who enjoy fellowship while cooking, the soups are then frozen for you to keep ready until Super Bowl Sunday or whenever you’d like to serve them. Sign-ups will open at standrewsgso.org on January 8 for helpers to cook, take orders at the Corner Market, and manage soup pickup. For those who want to help in another way, Soup Sponsorships will be available. Pre-order four kinds of soup beginning January 15 from our online Soup Store (link coming soon) or beginning January 22 at the Corner Farmers Market.
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Your Generosity Makes Our Life Together Possible — Thank You!
Thank you for all the ways you support our mission and ministries. To make a new gift or continue your pledge, you may donate at https://abundant.co/standrewsepiscopalch/give, mail a check to the church, or use the “Abundant Giving” app, choosing St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro.
Using Abundant/E-Giving for 2022?
If you changed your giving amount for 2022, please remember to make this change in the Abundant app. The church does not have the ability to make that change on your behalf.
Giving via ACH Bank Draft
If you changed your ACH giving amount for 2022, please send Ray Marsh a note or email (bookkeeperstagso@gmail.com) authorizing St. Andrew’s to change the monthly ACH amount.
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Annual Reports are Due Friday, January 14
It’s time for all committee and group chairpersons to report on what your ministry accomplished in 2021. Please send your report as a Word document to Susan at parish@standrewsgso.org. Pictures are also welcome.
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This Week at St. Andrew’s
Sunday, January 9
Feast of the Epiphany
Worship In-Person & Online, 10 a.m.
Monday, January 10
Note: The St. Agatha/ECW Chapter will not meet on Jan. 10.
Tuesday, January 11
Staff Meeting, 10 a.m.
Prayer in the Chapel, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Abundant Life Meal Delivery, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 12
Hearing the Gospel, 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 13
Education for Ministry (EfM), 6 p.m.
My Grandmother’s Hands Part II, Book Study, 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 15
Corner Farmers Market, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Saturday, January 16
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Worship In-Person & Online, 10 a.m.
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Marion Seaman, Co-Senior Warden
Sandy Shelton, Co-Senior Warden
Mike Van Ormer, Junior Warden
Chris Berger, Treasurer
Susan Brannan, Clerk
Catherine Clifton
Cheri Courtright
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Anthony DeLoreto
Melissa Fleming
Shelley Kappauf
Corinth Milikin
Eric Revell
Karen Rierson
Jankoba Sambola
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We Pray for...
Those on our parish prayer list: Mary Stalter, Ella Janssen, Norma Bullock, Moira Ermentrout, Bruce Adkins, Charles and Rebecca Goodrum, Dee Dee Fulton, Judy Stancil, Maria Wilmoth, Barbara Sherer, Leslie, Johnetta Shablack, Dorothy Cook, Jenna Cottrill, Jimmye Olivey, Karen Hall, Don Lowe, Jamie Smith, Larry Phillips, Paula Pile, Sandra Witherspoon, Val Swan, Dick Montgomery, Mike, Jeff Cummer, Linda Shablack, Scott Lee, Dale Brinley, Libby Eberhard, Charles Kelshaw, Camille, Poppy and her parents, Jim and Ali Ostridge, Patrick and Margaret Miller, Page Davies, Julie Jennings, Nancy Brown, Barbara Van Cleve, Frank and Sandy Tatem, Gia Yunker, Karen Moth, Amanda, Ann Hardin, Debbie M., Doug Sanecki, John and Gisela Smith, Galen Hill, Mary Lou Strohl, Heather, Ed Morea, Glenn Strohl, Cindy Shane, Jean Phelps, Jeanette Lowe, Sally Brannan, Leslie Ehrlich, Megan Bailey, David Heflin, Dave Sellers, Amos Fisher, Elaine Williams, Eleanor Baker, Mike Patterson, Jimmy Hyler, Laura Shinn, Betty Fueller and her family
Those serving in our military: Wes Durham, Tom Stauffer, Paul Zeigler, Stephen Johnson, Benjamin Phillips, Kenneth Gearhart, Alex Reyes, Raymond Harrison, Catharyn Nosek
Birthdays: Charles Kelshaw, Dylan Phillips
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