ANNUAL PARISH MEETING AND 2006 REPORTS JANUARY 28, 2007 9:00 AM
THE CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY (GLENBURN) CLARKS SUMMIT, PA 18411
The Church of the Epiphany (Glenburn) Clarks Summit, PA Annual Parish Meeting Sunday, January 28, 2007 9:00 am
Agenda
Opening Prayers Appointment of a Secretary Approval of Minutes of the 2006 meeting Nominations and elections to Vestry, Christian Outreach Committee and Endowment Committee Counting of ballots Results of elections
2006 Report of the Nominating Committee 2006 Committee Members: John Baildon (Chair), Rachel Baildon, Nancy Bird, Letha Reinheimer, Larry Theilgard, Father Sweeney (ex-officio) Continuing and new terms will be until the parish meeting after the completion of the year shown. Vestry: Because of the unusual circumstance of the senior and junior warden‟s terms of office having been extended during our search for a rector and the change from four year terms to three year terms several years ago, our vestry rotation is out of balance. We request the suspension of the bylaw setting the term of office at three years in order to redress this imbalance as indicated. Three members of vestry (Mary DeNault, Amy Fleming, and Eileen Hewitt) are eligible for election to full terms because they were appointed to replace members who resigned before their terms were finished. In addition, Jack Matechak has resigned and Rick Little, Dan Ranlet, and Kathy Whitney have completed their terms of office. Accordingly, we recommend the following seven people for vestry, with the understanding that those nominated for one year terms will be eligible for election to full terms at the next parish meeting. Nominations for Vestry Mary DeNault Amy Fleming Eileen Hewitt Carl Reynolds 2009 2009 2009 2009 Schelly Kalmanowicz Jody Post Linda Rogers 2007 2007 2007
Continuing Vestry: John Bachmann 2007 John Baildon 2008 Justus Hoyt 2008
Robin Pinches Joe Skinner
2008 2008
Nomination for Christian Outreach: Kathy Whitney
(3 years through 2009)
Continuing: Joyce Enders (2007), Linda Rogers (2008), Penny Mason (2008) Term ending: Bob Lewis Nomination for Endowment: Don Ryan (3 years through 2009) Continuing: John Bachmann (2007), John Enders (2008) Term Ending: Karen Voigt Nominations for Convention Delegate: Derry Bird Linda Little Alternate: (2008) (2008) Letha Reinheimer
(2007)
Continuing:
Ken Reinheimer (2007), Amy Fleming (Vestry) (2007)
RECTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Actually, „half-annual‟ report, since I was only blessed to arrive here in July! I can‟t say I was surprised - for that would imply doubt - that Epiphany Parish was and is everything its Profile said it would be. But I was and am delighted that it is. I saw a lot of Parish Profiles in my search, and after a while one grows dubious that every church is as perfect as they claim! Epiphany isn‟t perfect - but it is truly exceptional. We are loaded with talented people, blessed with task-oriented servants, and gifted by our physical plant and traditions. We worship beautifully (though I dream of the occasional incense!), and our music tradition is fantastic. It was a blow for us - more for you than me since you knew him so well - to lose Dr. Richard Barshinger in July. I‟ve heard so much about him - his presence at the church, the many, many gifts he gave, his efforts and personal contributions to and care of our wonderful organ. I dearly wish I had gotten to know him and his wasn‟t the first funeral I did here. I know that God will further his purposes in heaven - surely in the heavenly choir, taking his turn at the organ! While Robin and I settled in over the rest of the summer, carefully poring over our maps to learn our ways around here, the parish ran itself - thanks to Holly and Ray, and to Rick Little and Dan Ranlet. I‟m not sure if you all know what a gift these folks have been to this place. Holly, after 20 years, knows everyone and just about everything about Epiphany! We will miss her very, very much - but pray for a joyous and blessed retirement. Ray was a faithful Sexton and more - a dear, dear friend who loves Epiphany and cared for it as such. He was always available and always had a smile and good laugh. We‟ll miss Ray, too - and pray for his health and peace as he retires, too. As I look back at the history of this good place over the last years, I want you to know that God blessed you with exceptional lay leadership during these times. Rick Little has been an outstanding Senior Warden and went out of his way to keep lines of communication open to the parish with the Town Meetings and to speak forcefully as needed to remind the community of who and whose you are. Dan Ranlet has done an excellent job as Junior Warden and has gracefully made Robin and me feel welcome here, spending much time with me to help me learn about the parish. I‟ve known a lot of wardens in my life, and you have been blessed with some of the best. Of course, the Altar Guild made sure that our worship continued in excellence - we so rarely thank those who tend to the details of the altar, a precious ministry. Thank you ladies (men, note: you, too are welcome to join!). I wanted to keep this to one page, but it isn‟t possible! I need to thank the Choir and Melissa Driscole - it is a joy to have their regular offerings and vocal strength to make our worship experience glorious. Judi Jones brings the Cherubs to us monthly and they always gladden my heart, as do the chimers under Kathy Whitney and Sue Six.
I can‟t say enough about our acolytes and „Uncle Rick‟ who leads them with the help of Amy Lange, Charlotte Massoudi and Dave DeNault. If you don‟t get to other Episcopal churches very often, please know that we are exceptionally blessed to have so many and such well-trained and dedicated acolytes. I can‟t remember many times when I have been so proud as I was in the National Cathedral at the acolyte festival in October, though I had had nothing to do with their excellence - thanks to all the parents who came along to help. Epiphany has a blessed tradition of outreach, and I want to mention Joe Skinner and the Agape Fund as well as Bob Lewis and the Christian Outreach Committee - they are all good and thoughtful people and discharge their ministry faithfully. I also want to thank Josh Frank, our youth minister - especially for the powerful ministry trip to Mississippi with our young people this last summer: things like that change lives, and thanks to those who went along, you made us all very, very proud. We can be exceptionally proud of our Christian Education program thanks to Barb Little and all who help her, especially our excellent nursery staff. What a joy to see all the little ones pouring upstairs after classes to go to „Bird Church!‟ Thanks, too, to Nancy Bird and Judy Jones! And, thanks to Charlie Pinches for coordinating the Adult Forum. And, thanks to some „unsung heroes,‟ Marian Beninato and Jean Birtch, the „kitchen angels.‟ Thanks to Carl Reynolds for Sunday morning conversations, tireless work in our Memorial Gardens and delightful photos. It is dangerous to write a list of thank-you‟s, for I have surely forgotten someone important. Let me just say this: everyone who is regularly involved at Epiphany has my heartfelt thanks - I come up with a half a dozen names every time I stop to think. If I haven‟t named you here, please know that you are in my heart, and you know who you are! I pray in thanksgiving at least daily for God‟s calling me to this amazing parish. We are healthy, we are sound, we are young, we are beautiful and we have huge potential. My dreams this year are to work on Stewardship and on developing a parish Vision Statement. Following that, I pray we will get serious about marketing ourselves and growth. While we are blessed with an endowment, we must begin to pay our own way from annual giving. And before we get serious about inviting folks to join us, we must know who and what God dreams for us to be and become. I dream especially of a local, hands-on ministry for us to specialize in, for that kind of work truly develops our likeness to God. And, finally, I must thank our wonderful Vestry. These good people have guided our parish through the search process, trusting the excellent search committee as they wound their way through a tortuous process. They have struggled with financial issues and kept the faith through challenging times. Again, Epiphany is blessed with outstanding lay leadership. Thank you for blessing me with this call, and I am excited about being your Rector for a long, long time. Fr. Craig Sweeney
Senior Warden’s annual report for 2006 My fellow, Epiphany Parishioners, 2006 was, indeed, an eventful year. I look back on it as a year of departures for Epiphany. At the end of June we said “good-bye” to Father Alan (and Pat) whose 18month interim ministry came to a close. Then in July, we experienced extreme joy and sadness in one day. That day was that Sunday in July when we welcomed our new Rector, Father Craig Sweeney and his wife Robin, on their first day of a hopefully, long, and prosperous ministry here at Epiphany. Later that same day I got the call that our beloved organist Richard Barshinger had died suddenly. Awhile after that we learned that Holly Gilpin, our dedicated and wonderful office administrator was planning to leave at year‟s end. Holly has meant so much to Epiphany. She is solely responsible for a lot of what makes the “Epiphany engine” run smoothly. During our recent periods between rectors, Holly was the one that the parish could count on to keep things organized and functioning. As Senior Warden I cannot properly express my gratitude for all that she has done to assist me. Holly is going to be difficult to replace but I am sure we all wish her and her family happiness, good health and prosperity, Then, if that weren‟t enough, Ray Barnard, would also be leaving us by the end of the year. Ray‟s Cleaning Service had been hired originally to keep our church and parish hall spotless…and what a great job he did!!! Ray, soon, began on doing so much more, much of which went unnoticed by the general population of the parish. He was always there helping to set up for parish events, funeral lunches, vestry meetings, and so on, and so on. Ray became another beloved member of our Epiphany family and he will be sorely missed. This past year also had us enjoying so many wonderful programs here at Epiphany. Their success was due to the large number of our parishioners who stepped up and saw them through. I extend a huge, blanket “Thank You” to everyone who stepped up to volunteer this past year and to all of you who will this coming year …but don‟t know it yet! I have said time and time again, many hands make light work, so I am happy to see more and more people rolling up their sleeves to contribute. As I compose this report I realize that this will be my final one to the parish as your senior warden. At the Bishop‟s request, I stayed on past the end of my allotted term on vestry and continued as your senior warden until we were settled with a new rector. Now that Father Sweeney is in place the time has come for him to name a new senior warden. I will, of course, continue serving as your humble acolyte leader, so it is not like I‟ll be “fading away”. I have found these last four years a tremendous challenge. I feel that because of the love, caring and resiliency of this wonderful parish, we were able to successfully navigate through those challenges and become the stronger, growing parish that we are today and hope to continue into the future. I thank you all for all that you have done during my term as senior warden. Finally, I want to thank all of the vestry members I was fortunate enough to serve with, our clerk, Amy Lange and our treasurer, Charlie Trentalange. It has been truly awe-inspiring to work with such a dedicated group of individuals whose love and caring for this parish is so finely exemplified by their service on vestry. Respectfully Submitted RICK LITTLE Senior Warden
Junior Warden’s annual report for 2006 A Personal note. As I complete the my forth year as your Junior Warden I wish to thank all the members of the Building & Grounds Committee for their support and hard work as we strived to maintain and upgrade our facility here at Epiphany. Also all the other volunteers who step forward when they see a need. The ladies who maintain the kitchen, the folk, young and old, who set out to help on our annual Spring and Fall property clean ups, and several others who give their time and efforts to our work. EERE (EAGER-ENTHUSIASTIC-RETIRED-EPISCOPALIANS) deserve a special commendation for stepping forward to take on some rough jobs so that we do not have to employ contractors for things since they have a variety of skills that they are EAGER to use. When you are at your job – Thank these retirees. They are also willing to help you out at home should you have a special need. Building & Grounds. Our Parish Hall building is 33 years old and things are wearing out. Our electric heating systems and the air conditioning in the Secretary‟s and Rector‟s offices are becoming increasingly unreliable with frequent repairs needed while parts are getting harder to find. Rather than replace just the two office units and ignore the rest it was decided by Vestry to have an engineering study made in stages in order to determine what would be necessary to upgrade the building especially for heating with gas, air conditioning, handicap access requirements, and storage needs. The first phase of this engineering is 50% complete as of the beginning of December. The week before our Welcome back breakfast in September our large 33 year old commercial hot water heater which supplies hot water to our kitchen dish washer failed. Before the week was over our contractor, Associated Electric, had a new unit in place so our breakfast dishes were well cleaned. During 2006 we installed two new highway signs to help people find us. We have two more to put up as soon as we get the necessary sign posts. The Parish hall received full length dark shades to be used when projecting images in the day time. Routinely; minor repairs were made through out the Church and Parish Hall. Grass was cut by a contractor and the same contractor plowed the snow and put salt on the ice. Mike Washo had his company maintain and repair our driveway and parking area as his gift to Epiphany. Security. As I was writing this today (Dec.8) I was interrupted by a call from our alarm company that our alarm had been activated. I met the local police at the Church and together we determined that there was no break in. There have been at least seven times this year that someone has gone in or out without properly dealing with the alarm system. We are fortunate to have this system to protect us from a disaster. Only recently we grieved for Fr. Craig‟s home parish that was destroyed by fire blamed on intruders. To further enhance our security we have added a motion detector light to the back door overlooking the furnace room as well. The motion detector added at the Choir door had been malfunctioning but that has been rebuilt and is working properly. Anyone approaching the building on a dark night appreciates these lights (unless you are a burglar.) If you don‟t know the system codes call someone who does. We were saddened by the retirement of Ray Barnard our cleaning contractor who has become much more than a cleaning service to us. We will miss Ray and wish him and Marilyn, his wife, Happy Retirement. We are presently looking for a replacement and again a member of our congregation stepped up to volunteer to take on this work until a replacement is employed. Dan Ranlet
Dear Epiphany Family, Having served as your acolyte leader for almost 13 years now, I am amazed at how fast the time has passed and how many youth I have worked with. I have worked or am currently working with almost 100 of our parish‟s youth in those years. It is hard to believe that I have been associated with that many kids, watching in awe, as they grow and mature into fine young men and women. June had us bidding adieu to 7 of our seniors because of graduation. Gone are, Katrina Schmaltz, Martha Washo, Albert DeNault, Stacy Lange, Heather Spangenberg, Nathan Pinches and Irena Enders. This coming year we‟ll see at least 6 more graduating. Our ranks are being greatly depleted by graduation so I am eyeing the younger members of our parish looking for replacements. Once again, this past spring, the Epiphany family came through with overwhelming support for our annual chicken BBQ. That event helped us fund our annual trip to our nation‟s capital for the National Acolyte Festival in October. We had 18 of our fine acolytes representing your church at the National Cathedral. My thanks go out to our adult chaperones that traveled with us. In addition to myself, my assistants and Father Craig we had Bill Fish, Evelyn Munley and Kathy Whitney accompanied us. We were also blessed to have our new Rector, Father Craig attend his first acolyte festival and process in with one of the largest group of kids attending the festival. You could see the pride on his face during the festivities. You, too, should be proud of the reverent representation of our parish by its youth at that annual event…I know I sure am. Finally, my thanks go out to my dedicated assistants, Dave DeNault, Amy Lange and Charlotte Massoudi. Without their dedication and hard work our acolyte program would not be the success that it is. Each year I close this report with the same statement; I feel it is a true blessing for me to be able to work with such a wonderful group of Epiphany‟s youth. Humbly Submitted, UNCLE RICK Acolyte Leader
AGAPE Committee 2006 Annual Report On behalf of the AGAPE committee, which is comprised of David DeNault, Joan Theilgard, Nancy Bird, Lois Morgan, Linda Rogers and myself Joe Skinner, I respectfully submit this annual report. The committee would also like to extend our thanks to Fr. Alan Mead and Fr. Craig Sweeney for their moral guidance and insight during some very hard decisions. The purpose of the AGAPE fund is to assist those of our parish, yet not restricted to only those of our parish, who may find themselves in need of financial assistance. AGAPE assistance may be of an emergency nature or it may be long term. The AGAPE committee, on behalf of those many people that were helped during 2006, would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks for the generous support of our Epiphany family and we encourage them to continue to use the pink envelopes during the 2007 calendar year. We are also very thankful for many other gifts and memorial contributions. Together we are able to ease the burdens, which can sometimes feel like the weight of the world. The AGAPE committee was Blessed to be able to grant assistance to 7 persons or families for the amount of $5900. We were also able to assist 3 organizations with the sum of $450, and $100 to the rector‟s discretionary fund. Our income from deposits & interest from 01/01/06 through 10/31/06 was $5,940.82. The balance at the beginning of the year was $1,412.41, and the balance as of 10/31/06 was $1,254.23. We are still waiting for the bank statements for the month of November, but from bank deposit slips our current balance as of 11/20/06 is $1,759.23 If anyone in the parish is aware of someone in need that could be helped by the AGAPE fund, please contact any member of the AGAPE committee or Father Craig. All we ask is a small amount of non-intrusive background information to assist us in our decision making process. ALL requests, grants, and information are kept in the strictest confidence. Yours in service to God and community, Joe Skinner, Chairperson - AGAPE committee
Altar Guild The Altar Guild is a dedicated group of fine individuals who willingly serve behind the scenes at Epiphany preparing the church for worship services. The Guild‟s responsibility is not only for the weekly services, but for any ceremony taking place throughout the year such as Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. Seven teams of three members each share these duties in weekly rotation. From this group a special team handles weddings and funerals. The duties include maintaining all linens, hangings, candles, and communion vessels, flowers, sconces and vases. In addition, Altar flowers given for Sunday services each week in memory or honor of loved ones are delivered afterward by Guild members to parishioners who are homebound or perhaps celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Special flowers to decorate the Church at Easter and Christmas, as memorials, are also delivered by the Guild. The Altar Guild takes special pride in decorating the Church at both Christmas and Easter with wreaths, floral baskets and preparing palm crosses. Once again we thank Linda Phillips and Pat Lewis for their labor preparing the Church with these beautiful memorial flowers. We are grateful for Jack Matechak‟s assistance again this year with the hanging of the wreaths. We of the Altar Guild find pleasure in serving the church in this manor. We are happy to announce two new members as of our December meeting, Ann Hawk and Marie Bianco. We welcome and encourage anyone who would like to join us in our labor of love and faith. We wish to proclaim our heartfelt thanks for Holly Gilpin and Ray Barnard. Their willingness to help us successfully achieve our tasks in many ways is much appreciated and will be sorely missed. Marie A. Zawislak Altar Guild Director
Christian Education 2006 Sunday School Statistics: A heartfelt “Thank you” to all who serve Epiphany through ministry to our children.
Grade Preschool/ Kindergarten Grades 1,2,3 Grades 4 & 5 Grades 7,8,9 High School Teachers Schelly Kalmanowicz, Sharon Vipond, Marie Zawislak Dan Fish, Barbara Little Christine Bachmann, Sue Six Mary DeNault, Karen Voigt Bill Rowe Class Enrollment 11 15 8 8 10 Average weekly attendance 5 8 5 4 4
Sunday School Offering: Our Sunday school offering continues to support Luz, a child in Honduras, through the Christian Children’s Fund. Our present commitment to her is for $427.50 per year or a little over $36 each month. Lawrence D. Ketchum Memorial Scholarship: The recipients of the 2006 Ketchum Scholarship were: Albert DeNault, Irena Enders, Stacy Lange, Nathan Pinches, Katrina Schmaltz, Ryan Shovlin, Heather Spangenberg and Martha Washo. Vacation Bible School: “Share the Peace” was the theme of this year’s Trinity/Epiphany VBS. 43 children, preschool through grade 6, attended along with 5 enrolled for nursery care. We had the invaluable assistance of 22 adult volunteers and 8 youth throughout the week of June 19 – 23. For our mission project, we raised $400 for the family in Mississippi that the Epiphany youth had just returned from helping on their mission trip. SundaySchoolScoop: Our Sunday school website can be visited at www.sundayschoolscoop.homestead.com/ . Check in to see Christmas pageant and Vacation Bible School photos, as well as letters from Luz, a calendar of upcoming events and more. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Little Coordinator of Christian Education December 2006
Christian Outreach Committee Report 2006 The Christian Outreach Committee has its roots from 25 years ago when a bequest by Joseph and Grace Rothwell left property of 80 acres on Gravel Pond Road to us that was sold for $125,178. An ad hoc committee determined the bequest to be used to establish the Epiphany Memorial Trust Fund. This committee has granted almost $400,000 over its history to worthwhile projects to do Christ’s work. Mission Statement In keeping with our church’s Mission, the Christian Outreach Committee seeks to support a balanced portfolio of regional, national, and global projects that help meet people’s physical and spiritual needs, thereby empowering them to serve Christ in the world. While remaining open to any initiative that supports the church’s Christian Mission, in general the Committee favors projects that: Seek to provide long term value rather than short term immediate benefit; Are start-up in nature or designed to establish new frontiers for existing programs; Are in need of funding for direct-benefit rather than administrative expenses. Disbursements in 2006 1. $250 Granted to Jody Pinches to support his Habitat for Humanity trip to Raleigh, NC. 2. $1,000 Granted to Bill Fish to support travelers going to Mississippi to work for Hurricane Relief ($500) plus relief grant to Danzler Methodist Church in Moss Point, MS. 3. $1,300 Granted to Fr. Fred Tumusiime for the automobile used in the Pygmy Ministry. 4. $2,000 Granted to Clarks Green Methodist Church to support the Appalachian Service Project. 5. $500 Granted to Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth Initiative of the Abingtons. 6. $320 Granted to Demery Bader-Saye to support a retreat for the youth of the Diocese of Bethlehem. 7. $2,000 Granted to St. Mark‟s Episcopal Church, New Milford, to aid flood reconstruction. 8. $1040 Granted to Josh Frank to support Epiphany youth trip to Moss Point, MS to assist in hurricane damage repairs. 9. $6,000 Granted to Trinity Episcopal Church, Carbondale, for aid to replace flood damaged heating system. 10. $200 Granted to New Hope Academy, Factoryville (home for troubled youth) for aid to repair fire damage. 11. $1,000 Gregg and Mary Jo Loboda to aid their adoption of five children from a Guatemalan orphanage. 12. $4,440 Reaching the Pygmies Ministry – financial support for establishing medical staff at the McMahon Clinic Total Dispersements: $20,010 Allotted as follows: $10,020 Regional, $4290 National, $5,700 International Members: Joyce Enders, Linda Rogers, Penny Mason, Bob Lewis Thanks to all for their services. Bob Lewis, COC Chairman
Convention Report October 14-16, 2006 Delegates: Letha Reinheimer, Amy Fleming, Ken Reinheimer The convention opened with the Bishop‟s address. Following Bishop Paul‟s address, two sessions of hearings were held. Ken attended Budget, and Amy attended the Peace Commission which involved resolutions to be voted upon the next day. The second session: Ken attended New Canons for Parishes under review, Father Craig went to Stewardship and Amy went to World Mission. After Evensong there was social time and a family style dinner at the Bethlehem Masonic Temple. We began our Saturday session with a Convention Eucharist and then went into the business sessions including balloting if necessary. Below are the resolutions, and there were several resolutions that were very emotional to some of the delegates. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N Resolution on the Budget of the Diocese of Bethlehem Passed Resolution of the Personnel Committee Regarding the 2007 Clergy Salary Schedule Passed Resolution on Millennium Development Goals and the ONE Episcopalian Campaign Withdrawn and placed with Resolution M Resolution on Fundamental Immigration Principles Tabled & sent back to Committee Resolution on Violence: Condemning the Use of Torture Passed but close vote Resolution on Warfare: End the War in Iraq Passed but very close vote Resolution on Active Nonviolence Training Passed Resolution on Stewardship of Relationships Not carried Canon XXVIII Parishes under Review Passed Canon XXVIV Parishes at Risk Passed Canon XXX Closing of a Parish Passed Resolution on “Holy Habits” From the Diocesan Stewardship Commission Defeated Resolution on the Millennium Development Goals Passed Resolution on Companion Relationship with Kajo-Keji Passed
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you at the convention. Since some of us will be your delegates next year, we will come to you before the convention and get your feedback on the resolutions. Amy, Letha, Ken
Forum Report The forum committee continued to work in 2006 to bring interesting and challenging programs in the 9:00 Sunday Forum time. Committee members Nancy Bird, Rachel Baildon, Barb Decker, Charlie Pinches and Fr. Craig Sweeney met periodically to plan the schedule. Highlights for 2006 included a series in Lent on Jesus‟ final week in Jerusalem, a fall series on the Trinity and an Advent series on judgment and hope. Charlie Pinches
Memorial Garden The care and up-keep of the Gardens, (the "All Saints" & the "Woodland Memorial "), have proceeded as needed again this year. Our "Bi-yearly CleanUps" in the Spring & the Fall, were well-attended by our Parishioners, (and the weather)! Also noted is the important care that Carl Reynolds has been giving to the gardens, solely of his own choice. Carl's volunteerism, as well as Bob Ross's, (who covers & wraps the bushes in the garden for us each year), should be praised! They both pitch in where I've had to leave off throughout the year! In the Memorial Gardens: a large, dead tree has been cut down by our "Crew" during the Fall-Clean-up, along with some dead bushes. Carl took care of ordering and getting mulch delivered, and then spreading it all too! (No small feat)! No new additional plantings were added for this year, just routine main-tenance. The "Fall clean-up" did extend down to the bridge by the highway. Much of the tangled brush, ground-cover, and some dead trees were pulled-out, trimmed back and then removed. This improved the appearance of the roadway, as you pass the stonewall sign and the lower driveway on the left. (More can always be done as many branches fall down through there, and that's where the "run-off" from the rain goes to). In the "All Saints Garden": our Carl has also cleaned that out so that you can tell it's a garden, again! There is even a fabulous, abstract glass artpiece down in there that can now be seen! (The plants take kindly to being forgotten and grow quite well, especially the "Crown-vetch". In some areas around the Church grounds, it has been left to flourish there purposely, as thriving ground-cover with purple flowers)! It doesn't take long for these areas to get "unruly", and all they need is consistent maintenance! So grab a rake or some gloves and “garden” whenever the "need" strikes you! Sincerely, your "green-eyed, green-thumb", part-time gardener, Janine L. Port
Missioner for Pastoral Care and Adult Formation First I want to say how grateful I am to share in the life, fellowship and ministry of Epiphany, Glenburn. To appreciate your support, interest and involvement in Christ‟s mission in this community. I‟m extremely glad that Fr. Craig is on board as our new rector and value the collegial relationship we have established. My main ministry has been to provide pastoral care, especially to our homebound folk. They are always receptive to this ministry and appreciate all that we do to express our care and love for them. This includes Holy Communion, cards, altar flowers, phone calls and Christmas baskets. Do keep in touch with folk that can no longer be actively involved in the parish. Unfortunately four of our members died this last year – Jim Jones, Phyllis Hoyt, Mary Graham and Rita Julius. We remember them with thanksgiving knowing that they are now a part of the “cloud of witnesses” who surround and support our work. I‟m always thankful for the ministry of our Lay Eucharistic Ministers – Walter Redel and Dr. Lee Rancier – and would encourage others to consider this meaningful service which extends the ministry of the Lord‟s Table beyond the confines of the church building. I have shared with Fr. Craig in supplying some of the care offered to folk during their hospital stays. A special thanks to Marian Beninato for checking the hospitals twice a week to apprise us of members in need of a visit. Please notify the office if you want a loved one visited in hospital or at home as we aren‟t always informed. It is always a privilege to share in the worship at Epiphany, especially to celebrate the Eucharist and to preach occasionally. I‟ve also enjoyed the opportunities to participate in the forum on Sunday morning and to lead study groups. Perhaps a few people might be interested to meet monthly to discuss and share in “spiritual formation” This could be in the evening to make it available to a broader constituency. Do know that you can always contact me to arrange an appointment or visit concerning pastoral care or spiritual formation. We are still considering “Stephen Ministry” as a way of increasing our lay ministry in the parish. Thank you for all that you do in the name of Christ. Fr. Graham
Missioner to Youth 2006 was a re-beginning of sorts for the high school youth group program at Epiphany. I came on board the second week of January, and we started right away by re-establishing a weekly youth group meeting time. The late winter and early spring saw us in a whirlwind mode of preparing and fundraising for our mission trip to Moss Point, MS. Our meetings averaged 10-12 youth. The parents really pitched in and helped to make much of the fundraising happen. Our budget for the trip was $8569; actual cost of the trip came in more than $300 under budget. We raised a total of $7226 through our fundraising efforts, and COC contributed the remaining $1040. To my knowledge, this has been one of the most successful efforts of funding the majority of the mission trip through our own fundraising. More important than money, the trip itself was a huge success, thanks in no small part to the 12 youth themselves and our two adult sponsors, Barb Decker and Emily Rancier. We helped the Rush family to complete the clean-up of drywall work, painted the entire interior of the home, and took on major yard and garage clean-up and organization projects. We also spent time getting to know the family, played with the four boys, helped them fix their bikes and get their inflatable swimming pool back into operation, and took up a collection to purchase new socks and shoes for the boys. The trip had a great impact on all who went and served. Post-mission trip was a time of rest, recovery, and fellowship. We met several times over the summer: once in a youth‟s home to share pictures and tell stories as we reflected on the trip; we also met for late breakfasts for table fellowship through August. The beginning of the school year has seen the return, as much as possible, of our weekly meeting times. We have begun to explore several spiritual practices such as lectio divina and the use of icons as tools for prayer. The fall is a busy time for the church and for the youth; this made for some weeks of sporadic meetings due to the acolyte trip, holiday weekends, the Happening retreat, choir rehearsals, etc. Still, we have maintained a strong core of active members and have welcomed at least 2 new freshmen into the group. With the loss of five very active graduating seniors, our fall numbers have fallen a bit; we expect to see 8-10 people on a regular basis. It has been a wonderful experience working with the youth at Epiphany during my first year. I am excited to see the program grow as we move forward together. With my hiring as the part-time Director of Youth Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Clarks Summit, we have even more opportunities to partner in mission and ministry with the youth of our area. I also look forward to establishing a relationship with Heather Klien, who was hired this fall to work with the youth at our covenant partner in ministry, Trinity Lutheran Church. Peace to you, Josh Frank Missioner to Youth
Pygmy Report The Pygmy ministry in Uganda continues to be a vital part of our church‟s mission in the world. In 2006, Epiphany School grew once again by one grade, and now includes 5 grades with approximately 150 students. A new medical clinic, called the McMahon Clinic, was opened in May. It is located 100 yards from the school ground, and within easy walking distance of the Batwa Pygmy Resettlement. The clinic was funded by a combined gift from the McMahon family and Epiphany‟s Christian Outreach Committee. Population in the Pygmy Resettlement increased significantly during the year, perhaps due to the clinic. Roughly 75 Pygmies now farm family plots on the roughly 13 acres of land. Robin and Charlie Pinches visited the region with a group of students from the University of Scranton in May. They noted many good signs, especially in the health and vitality of the Pygmies living in the Resettlement. The Pygmy Ministry Committee met periodically during 2006 to coordinate efforts for fund raising and to provide updates for supporters. Two newsletters were sent out in the year. The committee also ran the annual Christmas Pygmy fund drive. Wayne Divis is the new coordinator of the Pygmy Ministry Committee. Charlie Pinches
Ugly Quilt Annual Report for 2006 Can you believe it‟s been 12 years since we started making Ugly Quilts for the homeless. Our small group continues to meet the first and second Tuesdays from 10AM to 11:30AM, from April to December. The Advent Event is our last meeting for the year. We complete one or two bags a month which are then taken to St. Joseph‟s kitchen for distribution to a homeless individual who needs protection from the cold. There is a great sense of accomplishment when we finish the bags and we always have a good time. There are no boring meetings to sit through and there is no cost involved with this project (all the materials are donated). We start on time and end on time, and if you need to miss it is not a problem. If you‟re looking to join a low key, but very worthwhile group, consider joining us in the spring when we start up again April 3, 2007 at 10AM in the Parish Hall. If you have any questions, just contact Sue Bullwinkel at 586-8761.