Weekly eNews

January 9, 2026

Come Celebrate Epiphany!

Let’s Welcome the Season of Light with Children’s Chapel

January 11 during 10 a.m. Worship

Our children are invited to celebrate the start of Epiphany with Children’s Chapel during 10 a.m. worship this Sunday. We’ll have a story and special offering for our first gathering in 2026! 

After Church, Join Us for Coffee, Conversation, Chalking the Doors, and King Cakes

Our Epiphany Celebration continues after worship in the Parish Hall, with coffee and special “King Cakes” made by Carol Phillips. Chalk and instructions will be available for those wishing to bless their homes in 2026 with the ancient tradition of Chalking the Doors. This practice consists of marking a blessing in chalk to invite God’s blessing on a home, church, or other entryway, and on all who enter its doors during the year. The markings are usually made above the front door in this pattern: 20 + C + M + B + 26. The numbers reflect the new calendar year. The letters have two meanings—as the initials of the traditional names of the three magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar), and as the initials of the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat, or “Christ bless this dwelling.” The + signs are for the Cross of Christ. With the chalking of the door, a prayer might be offered: 

O God of Stars and Journeys, we ask your blessing on this threshold. May all whose journeys lead them through these doors be blessed with health, generosity of spirit, a joyful heart, and deep peace. O God of Welcome, may all who enter this doorway rejoice to find Christ living among us, and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is the incarnate Word, now and forever. Amen.

Additional information about Epiphany and this tradition is included in our Epiphany at Home handout, available after church this Sunday and at the link below.

Abundant Life Reminder

Help Share God’s Love—Cook for Abundant Life

Bring Frozen Dish by this Sunday, January 11

Many neighbors are struggling with winter heat bills, and one simple way we can help is by cooking for Abundant Life’s weekly dinners, where hospitality, fellowship, and good food abound. St. Andrew’s next turn is Tuesday, January 13, and we invite you to join the aproned faithful!.

Here’s how to help:

• Click on the "Sign Up Now" button so that we know to look for your donation.
• Prepare your dish, using a disposable 9x13 pan. Label it with your name and the name of the dish and freeze it at home.
• Place your frozen dish in the church's pantry freezer by Sunday morning, January 11. (Note there is no drop-off on the meal day this month.)

Looking Ahead: We serve on the second Tuesday of each month. Next month we provide the February 10 meal, with dishes due to the pantry freezer by the morning of Sunday, February 8. Thank you! for being part of this ministry of hospitality—your cooking brings hope and connection to our neighbors!

The Week Ahead

Worship & Community Observances in Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

All are invited to the following worship and community events. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 19. Make a Difference Day is an extension of the celebration and is a time for giving to our community.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Shabbat Service

Friday, January 16, 7:30 p.m.


Temple Emanuel, 1129 Jefferson Rd.

and on Facebook

A special Shabbat Service, welcoming Wake Forest University School of Divinity’s Rev. Dr. Corey D. B. Walker, honored guest. Donations of the following will be collected for Faith Action: food (uncooked beans, rice, vegetable oil, dates), hygiene products, and diapers.

Worship and Make a Difference Day of Service

Sunday, January 18

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Sanctuary and on YouTube

8:30 a.m. Contemplative Eucharist (Chapel)

10 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary & Online)

11:15 a.m. All-Parish Make a Difference Day Service Project (Parish Hall)

Morning worship and Eucharist with The Rev. Pamela Haynes, Deacon, preaching, followed by an all-parish Make a Difference Day service project. We will join in filling and decorating “Comfort Bags” to be distributed later to members of Greensboro’s houseless community.

Greensboro Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Event

Monday, January 19, 7:00 a.m.

Sheraton Greensboro /

Koury Convention Center

(3121 W. Gate City Blvd.)

Hosted by Greensboro’s Human Rights Commission, this year’s event theme is “From Words to Action: Advancing the Dream Together,” with keynote speaker Karrie G. Dixon, Ed.D., Chancellor, North Carolina Central University. (Tickets are sold out. See Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast | Greensboro, NC for details.)

21st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Interfaith Worship

Monday, January 19, 12 p.m.

In person at St. James Presbyterian Church, 820 Ross Ave., and on YouTube and Facebook

Service with Rev. Dr. Phanta Lansden, Senior Pastor, and Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson.

Announcements

Sign Up for Our Women’s Retreat, “Grounded: Rooted Wisdom”

Saturday, January 31 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)

We are planning a special morning of reflection, conversation, and intention setting for the new year. Our Women’s Mini Retreat will be led by Mother Ginny and parishioner Sarah Chowning. Signup is now open at the link below! Note correct time is 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Have a Question about Your Giving?

If you have questions about setting up or changing a recurring draft, making gifts of stock or other funds, or other questions about your giving, please email Ray Marsh (link above) or call him at 336-275-1651, ext. 3. Ray is in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We Pray For

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America

Today we are continuing to share prayers from Anglican prayer books around the world. Here is an Epiphany collect from the New Zealand Prayer Book, considered by many to be one of the most remarkable contributions to the global liturgical renewal movement.

Jesus, light of the world,

Let your bright star stand over the place

Where the poor have to live;

Lead our sages to wisdom and our rulers to reverence.

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. John’s, Battleboro; Church of the Holy Comforter, Burlington; St. Paul’s, Cary

Those on our parish prayer list: Norma Bullock, Traci and Erik, Jeff Cummer, Betty Atwell, Mack Baker, Lauren, Martha and Jim Kaley, Nancy O’Donnell, Tina Sink Gangi, Heather, Victoria, Pauline Tatum, Jim Tatum, Pia, Katelyn Flowers, Jeannie Phillips, James, Madeline Colavito, Hilary Towle, Sarah Sellers, Sue Keith, Myra Stephens, Derek, E. MacKenzie, Carolyn Ritchie, Glenna Ohaver, Susan Seaton, Karl Towle, Heidi Dohmeier, Donnie Robertson, Barbara Van Cleve, Nancy Antrim, Bert and Bev, Mary Lou Strohl, Frank Tatem, Faye Thompson, Ethan Shoffner, Paul, Karen, Sabrina, John Bald, Keats, Alicia, Gloria, Jo, Julie Dameron, Lynn Hayworth, Gayle Aiken, Denise, Vicky, Barbara Cole, Patrick Miller, Terese Southern, Jordan, Laura Shinn, Bill Hill, Carl and Angie Smith, James R. Smith, Lauren Vasquez and family, Clare, Maggie, Ken Sisk, Ken, Doug Sanecki, Carol Holden, Patricia

Seminarian: Ryan Waide

Special concerns: The people of Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, and Sudan; all those impacted by recent storms

Those serving in our military: Tom Stauffer, Paul Zeigler, Stephen Johnson, Benjamin Phillips, Kenneth Gearhart, Alex Reyes, Michael McNeil, Jordan Payne, Catharyn Nosek

The departed: Anne Collins, Maria Wilmoth

Those expecting: Sean and Olivia Toso, due March 2026

Birth: Bennett Nicholas Kappauf, son of Martin and Samantha Kappauf and grandson of Charles and Shelley Kappauf, on January 7, 2026

Birthdays: Leung Chan, Linda Cummer, Willa Fowler, Charles Kelshaw, Nancy O’Donnell, Pat Stultz, Lindy Taylor

Anniversary: Janice and Dennis Pollard

Please send prayer requests to Susan Frye, Parish Administrator, by email or at 336-275-1651, ext. 1. Names remain on our parish prayer list for six weeks. Please let Susan know if you would like a name to continue to be listed. Please also contact Susan with birthdays and anniversaries for the bulletin.

HOW THE LIGHT COMES

by Jan Richardson

I cannot tell you

how the light comes.

What I know

is that it is more ancient

than imagining.

That it travels

across an astounding expanse

to reach us.

That it loves

searching out

what is hidden,

what is lost,

what is forgotten

or in peril

or in pain.

That it has a fondness

for the body,

for finding its way

toward flesh,

for tracing the edges

of form,

for shining forth

through the eye,

the hand,

the heart.

I cannot tell you

how the light comes,

but that it does.

That it will.

That it works its way

into the deepest dark

that enfolds you,

though it may seem

long ages in coming

or arrive in a shape

you did not foresee.

And so

may we this day

turn ourselves toward it.

May we lift our faces

to let it find us.

May we bend our bodies

to follow the arc it makes.

May we open

and open more

and open still

to the blessed light

that comes.

From Jan Richardson’s 

Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons

St. Andrew's Weekly Calendar