Epiphany Star

Editor: Rusty Ogden Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 1101 Sunset Drive; P. O. Box 116 December 2016 Guntersville, AL 35976 256-582-4897 www.EpiphanyGuntersville.org

POINSETTIAS FOR FLOWERS AND CANDLES FOR 2017

CHRISTMAS 2016 The Altar Guild is taking dedications for

The Altar Guild is taking dedications for flowers and candles for 2017. This isa red Poinsettias. We will need 50 to beautiful and thoughtful way to celebrate, decorate the church for Christmas. and remember those in our lives who mean Each poinsettia plant is $15.00. so much to us.

Dedication forms are at the back of the The candle and flowers signup sheets for nave and on the counter in the church 2017 are posted on the nave bulletin board. Please re- office. This dedication, which appears in the Christmas bul- member that these are done on a first come – first serve letins, is a beautiful way to honor those people who are basis. Place your order now or you may call Susan Arm- special in our lives and to celebrate the birth of a baby born strong at 256-302-3801. If a flower date you would like is so long ago in a stable and under a starry sky. already spoken for, look at that same date on the candle list. We appreciate your payment when you sign up or no later than December 23rd, so it can be processed for year-end. Rodney’s Flowers bills each individual directly for the Sunday altar flowers. If you have any questions please see/call Susan Armstrong at 256-302-3801. The candle dedications are $10.00 per date and are paya- ble to Epiphany. We appreciate your payment before your dedication date so the church’s records and your year-end statement are correct. This helps the office mark your donation(s) properly and promptly. Please make your check payable to Epiphany and note that it is for candles “Jesus’ Family Tree” and for what date. Sunday December 18th, 10:30a.m.

Children of all ages are invited to participate in this year’s Advent Pageant, “Jesus’ Family Tree” adapted from the skit Epiphany “Christmas written by Dineen Dowling for Faith Lutheran Church. Casting includes narrators, Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, in Advent” Party Joseph, Moses, King David, Mary & Joseph, Elizabeth, Wednesday December 14th 5:30p.m. Grandma and four children with speaking parts. Woodall Commons

Rehearsals will take place on Sunday, December 11th fol- lowing the 10:30a.m. service (lunch will be provided) and Mark your calendars for a special night of dinner, on Saturday Dec 17th 10:30a.m. – Noon. fun and fellowship. Bring an ornament that repre- sents your family and help us trim the tree. And A sign-up sheet is located on the children’s bulletin board just for fun, wear your tackiest Christmas sweater! outside Sanderson Hall. Please sign up so we know who will be participating. If you have questions please contact This event will be in lieu of regular Wednesday evening pro- Meredith Jackson 256-558-0237 or Shelly Hardin grams. 404-285-6044. Epiphany Star Page 2

Church of the Epiphany held their Annual Parish Elections on October 30, 2016 in Sanderson Hall at 1101 Sunset Drive, Guntersville, Alabama. Before the meeting, Fr. Aaron announced that all members of the Inquirer’s/Confirmation class over the age of 16 who intend to be confirmed in January 2017 are eligible to vote during this meeting. The meeting was called to order by the Rev. Aaron Raulerson at 12:10 p.m. and opened in prayer with approximately 75 parishioners in attendance (including children and youth).

Fr. Aaron stated the purpose of the meeting and thanked outgoing vestry members Jim Coleman, Barry Jones, Linda Katz, and Jan Maxwell for their service. He explained that these outgoing vestry members served as the nominating team for the candidates on the ballot: Jackie Camper, Ray Klaver, Tiffany Martin, and Jan Maxwell. He explained that Jan has served one year to replace a member that was unable to complete her term, and that the Canons would allow Jan to serve another two years. A mo- tion was made, seconded and passed to allow Jan to run for election. Since no nominations were made from the floor, the candidates were elected by acclamation.

Election of diocesan convention delegates and alternates was the next order of business. The ballots listed already nominated candidates Anita Duncan, Valerie Fleming and Shari Harrison. A call for nomi- nations from the floor was made resulting in Cheri Blair and Rachel Morris being nominated. Everyone was instructed to add both new candidates to the ballots. The outgoing vestry members collected and counted the ballots and reported that: Anita Duncan, Valerie Fleming and Shari Harrison were elected as delegates with Cheri Blair and Rachel Morris to serve as alternates.

Treasurer Shari Harrison took the floor to explain the chart that was emailed to parish members (and available as handouts during the meeting). She stressed the need for the Finance Ministry and Vestry to balance Epiphany’s budget in 2017 and for parishioners to fulfill their 2016 pledges and turn in their 2017 pledges. A question and answer session followed.

Fr. Aaron turned attention to positive aspects for Epiphany: When pledging is over, the focus will shift to time and talents. Demographic shifts in church membership are global & not unique to Epiphany. Epiphany’s Outreach Ministry is opening a food pantry. The church building continues to be shared with many groups in the community. Epiphany facilities are beautiful.

Fr. Aaron reminded everyone that we are “called to pray, work, and give for the sake and spread of God’s Kingdom, and asked that we give thanks for the gift of Epiphany”. After questions and answers, the meeting was closed by all in the Lord’s Prayer at 1:00 p.m.

Nancy Brennan - Vestry Clerk

Epiphany Star Page 3

A Letter from the Rector and Vestry Epiphany wishes all a

Dear Everyone: Merry Christmas I am writing on behalf of the Vestry to share some information and a regarding upcoming repairs and improvements in our worship space. Many of you know that a pipe burst in October in the sacristy (the small room immediately behind the pulpit). The Joyous New Year damage was extensive, resulting in insurance claims and on- EYC Christmas Party going repairs. Saturday, December 11, 5:00 p.m.

We subsequently discovered that the water damage was not Christmas in Advent Party limited to the sacristy, but also extended out into the nave, Wednesday, December 14, 5:30 p.m. even affecting the organ console. The insurance adjustor, our own Wardens, and members of our Buildings & Grounds Church Office Staff and Office Volunteer Ministry assessed the damage and discovered that the floor of Christmas Party the nave will have to be fully replaced. A “patch” or “repair” is Friday, December 16, 11 a.m.—1 p.m. impossible with the hardwood flooring. Advent Pageant The good news is that the entire cost should be completely Sunday, December 18, 10:30 a.m. covered by our insurance policy. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the repairs will not affect our budget. Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24 All this goes to say that we will begin these repairs in mid- Christmas Family Service 6:00 p.m. January, and hopefully see them completed by March 1, 2017 Festival of Carols 10:30 p.m. (Ash Wednesday). Midnight Mass 11 p.m. While the repairs take place, Sunday worship services will be Christmas Day held in Sanderson Hall. This will require some logistical plan- ning and coordination, and our life together will no doubt see Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m. some disruption. There will be many details to work out regarding the regular use of Sanderson Hall and Woodall Commons. As we all know, life happens!

At the same time, it is important to remember that the church is not simply a building, but rather a community of people – A Casual Christmas Lunch and ultimately, the Body of Christ. At times like these, it is important that we work together with a spirit of patience and for forbearance. Many of us will need to pitch in and help as we are able, putting our minds, backs, and hands to work for the Office Staff and Office Volunteers sake of our parish life. It will be a challenge, but there is no Friday group better suited for the task than Epiphany! December 16, 2016 We will do our best to keep everyone updated as these chang- es unfold. If you have questions or concerns, please don’t Epiphany Church Office hesitate to discuss them with me, Vestry members, or Drop in Anytime members of the Buildings & Grounds Ministry. From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Blessings & Peace, Fr. Aaron+ Epiphany Star Page 4 Episcopal Youth Community (EYC)

Weekly

Sunday School – Sundays 9:30a.m.

Epiphany is entering a float in the December 10th 6th & 7th grades – Youth Loft Woodall Commons

Guntersville Christmas Parade. If you would like to th th ride on the float please sign-up on the children's 8 – 12 grades – Library bulletin board outside of Sanderson Hall. Children Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) – five years old and younger must be accompanied Wednesdays 6:30p.m. – 7:30p.m. by an adult. 6th & 7th grades – Youth Loft Woodall Commons We will be meeting at Epiphany on Wednesday, December 7, at 3:30 pm to decorate the float. We 8th – 12th grades – Library can use all the help we can get and it's fun! Sr. EYC – Sundays 5:00p.m. – 7:00p.m. We could use more Christmas lights to decorate 8th – 12th grades – Youth Loft Woodall Commons the float. If you have extra working lights sitting around your house please consider donating them December for the float. 2 – Jr. & Sr. EYC helps host Room in the Inn 4:30p.m. – 7:30p.m. Thank you to Sherry Mayberry for coordinating this 4 – Youth Confirmation 3:30p.m.– 5:00p.m. activity. Sherry may be contacted at 256-200-1996. 4 – Sr. EYC shop for Christmas Coalition gifts– 5:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.

11 – Youth Confirmation 3:30p.m.– 5:00p.m.

11 – Jr. & Sr. EYC Christmas Party – 5:00p.m. – 7:30p.m.

hosted by the Health & Wellness Ministry EYC CHRISTMAS PARTY December 11th, 5:00p.m. – 7:30p.m. 14 – Epiphany Christmas in Advent Party - 5:30p.m. – 7:30p.m.

18 – Advent Pageant, meet at 9:15a.m.

18 – Youth Confirmation 3:30p.m.– 5:00p.m.

EYC Thanks You!

Epiphany youth wish to thank everyone who purchased tickets for Jr. & Sr. EYC will be meeting together for fun and the quilt raffle. We raised $541! You have helped provide six children with gifts this Christmas. fellowship. Bring a $5 wrapped gift for the “dirty Santa” gift swap. Congratulations to Patsy Carter who was the lucky winner of the quilt! The Health & Wellness ministry will be providing our meal and leading some fun games. EYC Helps Host Room in the Inn (RITI) Friday December 2nd, 4:30p.m. – 7:30p.m.

EYC will help set up our guest’s sleeping quarters, make sack lunches, serve dinner and provide fellowship for our homeless neighbors. Epiphany Star Page 5

Bishop Kee Sloan to Visit Epiphany We are saddened by the death, November 7, of one of our members, Larry Pfeiffer. The Epiphany family extends our sympathy, love, prayers and The Rt. Reverend Kee Sloan, support to his wife, Rosie, and family. Bishop of Alabama, will visit Epiphany on January 18.

Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord. A pot luck dinner will follow the And let light perpetual shine upon him. 6:00 p.m. service.

I wish to extend a heart felt thank you to everyone that baked goodies for the bake sale. I truly appreciated everyone's help. Thanks, Try these ways to improve your day in five Kathy Thompson minutes.

Pray / Meditate – When distracting thoughts

interrupt your mind, turn your attention

back to your breathe or prayer.

Make your bed – Do this small ritual first

thing n the morning to help create a calm

The Monday Morning Book Study group invites you environment. to join us at 10:00 AM in the church library for in Stretch – Stretching can help you improve depth conversations centered on our latest readings of inspirational books. your circulation, and ease the tight muscles

We will begin Living on the Border of the Holy by that come from stress especially during the William Countryman on December 7. The book is holiday season. available in hard copy or Kindle from Amazon. Turn on your favorite music. This has been

shown to boost your mood and reduce ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKS COMPLIMENTS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS MINISTRY stress. Listening to your favorite music

Free Living Well Through Advent 2016 booklets are avail- throughout the day will make you smile. able at the back of the nave or in the church office. The Keep a gratitude diary. Write down all the booklet contains readings and reflections for each day of Advent, which connect the Scriptures of the week to a things you’re thankful for. Keep your mind life of wellness in the 21st century. on all these positives in your life. Epiphany Star Page 6

PLEASE NOTE: IMPORTANT IRS NOTICE

2016 Charitable Contribution Deductions and December 31st Deadline.

Donors must deliver or mail (and postmark) checks on or by this date in order to claim a charitable con- tribution for 2016. Checks that are placed in the church offering during the first worship service of 2017 will not qualify for a charitable contribution deduction for 2016 even if the check is postdated to 2016 or was actually written in 2016. However, checks that are written, mailed, and postmarked in 2016 will be deductable in 2016 though they are not received by a church until 2017. Epiphany Star Page 7 Epiphany Star Page 8

TAX IMPLICATIONS OF QUID PRO QUO DONATIONS By Shari Harrison, Treasurer

It’s the time of year when we are thinking about tax implications for the end of the year, and therefore a good time to reiterate some Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations regarding gift substantiation and disclosure requirements. These IRS regulations have been in place for many years, however the guidelines can be far from clear when non-profit entities, such as The Church of the Epiphany, attempt to apply them in the real world. This article provides an overview of quid pro quo donations.

The annual contribution statements historically provided by Epiphany typically identified every donation made, without distin- guishing between those donations that were a true gift, and those that were actually quid pro quo donations. This left the donor in the position of identifying which items were tax deductible from those that were not in order to report the correct amount to the IRS. This year, your contribution statement will be a little different than in years past in order to comply with the following IRS guidelines.

From IRS Publication 526: If you pay more than fair market value to a qualified organization for goods or services, the excess may be a charitable contribution. For the excess amount to qualify, you must pay it with the intent to make a charitable contribution. Example 1. You pay $65 for a ticket to a dinner dance at a church. Your entire $65 payment goes to the church. The ticket to the dinner dance has a fair market value of $25. When you buy your ticket, you know its value is less than your payment. To figure the amount of your charitable contribution, subtract the value of the benefit you receive ($25) from your total payment ($65). You can deduct $40 as a charita- ble contribution to the church. Example 2. At a fundraising auction conducted by a charity, you pay $600 for a week's stay at a beach house. The amount you pay is no more than the fair rental value. You have not made a deductible charitable contribution.

In these cases, the church is required to provide a good faith estimate of the fair market value of the benefit received. A gift must generally be reduced by the fair market value of any benefit received by the donor in exchange for the gift to determine the net charitable contribution. Common examples of benefits are books, CD’s, and Bibles.

Donors must reduce their charitable deduction by the fair market value of goods or services they receive even when the goods or services were donated to the church for use as gifts or when they were bought by the church at wholesale. Therefore, churches cannot pass along to donors the savings realized by receiving products at no cost or buying products at a discount.

The IRS calls these types of donations quid pro quo. Further details about them can be found in the IRS code section 6115. The main reasons these changes are being made at Epiphany are two-fold. First, we now have the capability with our new accounting system to identify categories that should be included on the contribution statement from those that should not. Second, the IRS can impose a penalty to churches that do not follow the above rules. These penalty amounts are found in IRS code section 6714. Section 6714 states as follows: (a) Imposition of penalty - If an organization fails to meet the disclosure requirement of Section 6115 with respect to a quid pro quo contri- bution, such organization shall pay a penalty of $10 for each contribution in respect of which the organization fails to make the required disclosure, except that the total penalty imposed by this subsection with respect to a particular fundraising event or mailing shall not ex- ceed $5,000. (b) Reasonable cause exception - No penalty shall be imposed under this section with respect to any failure if it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause.

Additionally, the IRS can impose a penalty to the church of $1,000 per person per year for aiding and abetting an understatement of tax under IRS code section 6701. This means that “the church knows or has reason to believe that members will rely upon the contribu- tion statements the church provides in connection with reporting their tax liability and that the reliance on those statements will result in an understatement of tax.” This is serious stuff indeed!

The simplest way for the Church of the Epiphany to abide by the IRS regulations is to make sure certain categories of contribu- tions are not shown on the donor’s charitable contribution statement. For example, when you make a donation to the church in exchange for any item, such as a book, a calendar, a T-shirt, a meal, or a raffle ticket, the amount of that donation will not show up on your contribu- tion statement, even if the sale of those items is intended to raise funds. This is because these items are not offered for less than their “fair market value”. This also includes items purchased from the church at the Trash to Treasure sale and the Epiphany Holiday Faire.

Any contribution over the “fair market value” of an item received, such as an item purchased at the Annual Live Auction, will be shown on the contribution statement either with a deductible amount and a non-deductible amount, or a net deductible amount. In lieu of including these items on the contribution statement, there may be individual letters sent to auction donors identifying these amounts in order to comply with IRS regulations. The exact method of acknowledging these donations will be determined by the auction team work- ing with tax specialists, and by studying the best practices of other churches that comply with these IRS regulations.

None of these changes will affect any contribution for which you receive nothing other than intangible religious benefits, i.e. pledges, plate contributions, candle and flower dedications, memorial gifts, gifts to ministries and designated funds of the church or in support of other charitable ministries and organizations the church supports.

If you have any questions, please contact Shari Harrison, Treasurer, at 256-673-3458. Epiphany Star Page 9

CODE: CC—Children’s Church; DOK—Daughters of the King; EYC—Episcopal Youth Community; HE—Holy Eucharist; RITI—Room in the Inn; SS—Sunday School; VYP—Very Young Persons; Birthdays

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 Morning Prayer Men’s Break- Make up day Vestry Person for December 9am fast & Bible Portrait sittings Grant Armstrong Study 7am 12N—7pm 256-302-0248 Charlotte RITI 6pm French

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 HE 8 & 10:30am Mon. Morn Book Morning Prayer Healing Service Men’s Break- Brotherhood 8am Breakfast 8:45am Club 10am 9am 11:30 fast & Bible Beans & Rice Lectionary Discussion EfM 6pm Decorate Christmas Study 7am 10—1 Group 9:30am Stewardship float 3:30pm Guntersville Confirmation Class 9:30am Ministry mtg. HE 5:30pm Christmas Parade SS & Nursery 9:30am 6pm Nursery 5:30pm 5pm CC 10:30am Dinner 6pm Ultreya 5:30pm Youth Confirmation 3:30pm Programs 6:30pm Sr. EYC 5pm Jr. & Sr. EYC Benjamin Booth 6:30pm Anna Brown Lena Parker Shaun Packard Teresa Hunter Tyrus Dorman Holly Andries

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 HE 8 & 10:30am Mon. Morn Book Morning Prayer Healing Service Morning Prayer Men’s Break- Advent Pageant Breakfast 8:45am Club 10am 9am 11:30 9am fast & Bible rehearsal Lectionary Discussion DOK 11:30am Buildings & Christmas in Ad- Finance Study 7am 10:30am—12N Group 9:30am EfM 6pm Grounds 6:30pm vent Party 5:30pm Ministry 6pm Office Volun- Confirmation Class 9:30am Choir Practice teer Party SS & Nursery 9:30am 6:30pm 11am—1pm Outreach Ministry 9:30am CC 10:30am School out Advent Pageant rehearsal early 12N Youth Confirmation 3:30pm Jr. & Sr. EYC Christmas Party 5pm Sara Hembree Taegan Meredith Misty Clanton

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Instructed HE 8 & 10:30am Mon. Morn Book Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Christmas Eve Breakfast 8:45am Club 10am 9am 9am Family Service Lectionary Discussion EfM 6pm Vestry meeting 6:00 p.m. Group 9:30am 6:30pm Festival of Carols Confirmation Class 9:30am 10:30 p.m. SS & Nursery 9:30am Christmas Eve Advent Pageant 10:30 “Midnight Mass” Youth Confirmation 3:30pm 11:00 p.m. Sr. EYC 5pm

Rebecca Raulerson Crystal Scott Billy Green Lee Ward Grace Martin

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Christmas Day Morning Prayer Morning Prayer New Years Eve HE 10:00am 9am 9am

John Rogers Micky Gaines Nori Rungruang Doris Benson Hayden Doris Webb JoAnn Overton Jody Chorba Tony Pate Rungruang