Broadway Music Series: The Phantom of the Opera.

This Sunday

A "New" Piano for Epiphany

Christian Education classes this Fall at Epiphany

Outside Worship and Blessing of the Backpacks

Outreach Opportunities

Education Commission survey

Capital Expense Fundraiser

Harvest Day at Epiphany Community Garden

From the Office---

Next Sunday

Winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber's masterwork is a timeless story of seduction and despair. Set at the Paris opera house, a beautiful soprano becomes the obsession of a mysterious, disfigured musical genius.

Join Phil Campbell at 7 p.m. TONIGHT as he provides the story behind the story of Christine Daae, Raoul, and the "Angel of Music."

Sermons Online

View the sermons preached each week at Epiphany, online www.youtube.com/epiphanyep/ This link is also located on the left side of this e-News labeled "Sermons", along with other links you may find useful.

Parish Goals

First goal: Spiritual practices
We will grow as Christians by learning and practicing spiritual habits that deepen our relationships with God and each other.

Second Goal: Stewardship
We seek to grow in gratitude, generosity and commitment to our church, each other and the wider community, by recognizing more fully our many gifts from God in our parish and in our own lives.

Third Goal: Church Beyond the Walls
We will ensure that Church Beyond the Walls continues to thrive as a worshiping community, by defining its future relationship with Epiphany, and by creating a plan for its sustainability.

The feast day of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne is observed every year on August 31. This is the prayer most attributed to him:

The Prayer of St. Aidan
Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart,
alone with you, God, holy to you.

Then with the turning of the tide
prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,
the world that rushes in on me
till the waters come again and fold me back to you.

In the mid- seventh century, Aidan worked with gentleness, hospitality and diligence to bring Christianity to northeastern England in the region of Northumbria as Bishop of the Island of Lindisfarne. He is one of the well-known "Celtic" saints in Christian history alongside Brendan, Columba, Cuthbert, Patrick and others. Lindisfarne is still a holy island and place of pilgrimage to this day where one can walk out on the land during low tide to reach the island and then must return by boat at high tide. Thus, Aidan's prayer to be an island set apart with God and then, with the turning of the tide, to be sent back into the world to carry the presence of Christ to others makes sense given his geography. In fact, geography has a critical place in the prayer and spirituality of the Celtic tradition.

It is something we'll explore at Epiphany this fall as we begin our adult formation series on "Thin Place." We will be studying the Celtic Christian traditions, theology, saints and worship during our adult formation hour at 9:15am this fall. By exploring the Celtic notion of "Thin Places," or places where the veil between heaven and earth seems more transparent, we hope to connect the wisdom of our Celtic ancestors with the many kinds of thin places in our daily lives.

Please plan to join us in the Parish Hall beginning Sunday, September 13. Tom Dee, co-coordinator for Adult Formation, or I would be happy to answer any questions as we plan the class content.

In the words of one Celtic prayer.....Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,

Rev'd Jennifer

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 30, 2015

8 & 10:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist
Sermon: The Reverend Jennifer Zogg

Scripture readings:
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Psalm 45:1-2, 7-10
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Read these lessons

Liturgical Ministers for this Sunday:

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Eucharist Minister-Arthur Manning
Lector-Sally Erskine
Ushers-Bruce Lambert & Carl Mayse
Greeter-John Guild
Healing Prayer Team-Janice Johnson & Susan Mason
Coffee Hour-Betsy Kelley & Mel Inman

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Eucharistic Minister-Theresa Mello
Crucifer-Christopher Utter
Lector-Suellen Franze
Ushers-John Eastwood & Scott Haggerty
Greeter-JoAnn Valentine
Healing Prayer Team-Denise Messier & Michelle Callahan
Altar Guild-Mel Inman & Shirley Baker
Counters-Kevin Kelley & Edie Menard
Coffee Hour- The Dee Family
Communion Bread (both services)- The Dee Family

"It feels like it's staying in the family." With those words, our dear friends Jim and Doro Hallan recently donated their piano to our parish. "It feels like it's staying in the family." Indeed. Perhaps some history is in order.

As you may know, the community now called Church of the Epiphany was, once upon a time, the site of St. Michael and All Angels Church. When that parish merged with Grace Church, in 1990, the name was changed to St. Michael & Grace Church. Then, in 2007, when St. Michael & Grace merged with St. Martin's (Pawtucket), the combined parishes were completely renamed: Church of the Epiphany. But let's go back to the forming of the first parish on this site - St. Michael & All Angels Church.

When that parish was established in the mid-1900's, it, of course, needed a music ministry. To form that ministry, St. Michael's called upon a Rumford resident who happened to be one of the country's finest musicians and choral directors, T. J. Hallan, Sr.

To make a long and wonderful story short, in 1990 our parish again found itself in need of a music director and, again, T. J. Hallan, Sr. answered the call. For the next decade, under his guidance, our choir was truly wonderful. Key components of the choir's nucleus were his son Jim, and Jim's wife, Doro. For several years, their daughter Megan was also part of the choir: Fast forward to 2015.

In April, Jim contacted us and offered to donate his piano to our parish. After a series of brief discussions - very brief discussions - it was determined that such an offer would be deeply appreciated. The donated piano now resides in our music room. In finalizing the donation Jim said, "It feels like it's staying in the family." Yes, Jim, it truly does.

Epiphany Choir Resumes - With Labor Day fast approaching, the start of many church programs is at hand. One such program is the choral element of our music ministry. Starting on September 13, our choir will meet at 9:45 a.m. each Sunday to rehearse the music for the 10:30 a.m. service. Whether you're a long-time chorister, have been away from singing for a while and want to start again, or are a novice who simply loves to sing, we hope to see you then! Please contact Phil Campbell at [email protected] or 508-761-4314 with any questions.

Classes resume on Sunday, September 13 and are held at 9:15 a.m. (please gather in the Parish Hall at 9:10) and finish around 10:15.

Christian Education classes for Children:
As a Christian community at Epiphany, one of the ways we fulfill our Baptismal Covenant is through our Christian Education programs. This year we will have 4 classrooms for the children, as follows:

• Kids aged 3-5 in our Godly Play program
• Kids aged 6-8 in our Holy Moly classroom
• Kids aged 9-10 in the Lectionary based Living the Good News classroom
• Tweens aged 11-12 will be using "Connect"

Join us on Sunday, September 6 at 10:30 a.m. for Holy Eucharist on the lawn of Epiphany. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on; some chairs provided. Also on that date, at both 8 & 10:30 services, you'll want to bring your backpacks to be blessed AND bring donations of school supplies (on or before Sunday, Sept. 6.) Donated items will be given to the families who visit the Bread of Life Food Pantry, the following Tuesday. Often families with young children come and would appreciate new, unused supplies to start the school year. At both the we will be blessing backpacks, briefcases & bags, so be sure and start your year off right by taking God's blessing into your September routine!

Collection of School Supplies for the Food Pantry Children - Between now and September 6, please bring in any of the following items and place them in the basket that is located in the Parish Hall. This collection of school items will be distributed at the Bread of Life Food Pantry on Tuesday, September 8.

□ Pencils
□ Highlighters, in all different colors
□ Pencil boxes
□ Notebooks (70 pages or more)
□ Boxes of Crayons
□ Plastic homework folders w/pkts
□ Eraser tips for pencils
□ Filler paper
□ Scissors for children
□ Rulers (centimeters and inches)
□ Pencil sharpeners
□ Book covers
□ Washable markers

Bread of Life Food Pantry requests during the months of August and September: Canned Fruit, Chili, Crackers and Dried Pasta (other than elbows and spaghetti.) Non perishable food items can be brought to the church during the hours of 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday or bring them when you come to services on Sundays. These donations will be presented at the offertory on the first Sunday of each month.

Last call! The Education Commission's survey for "Building a Retreat Ministry" will close on 8/31. If you have not completed the survey, please do so before Monday!

We encourage EVERYONE to complete it so we have very detailed and representative results. Information will be used to help develop a regular program of retreats in different locations, on different topics. If you have feelings about a retreat, let us know!

WE DID IT!

With the generous contributions of many of our parishioners we have surpassed our Capital Expense Fundraiser goal with a total of $15,160.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This past week the Epiphany Community Garden contributed 62 lbs! of fresh produce to the Bread of Life Food Pantry.

Nametags: As our new Rector, Jen Zogg (Rev'd Jen) begins her ministry at Epiphany it is especially important that parishioners make every effort to wear their nametags while at church. If you need a nametag please add your name to the list on the table in the entrance of the church or email Beth in the office at [email protected].

Announcements: If you would like an announcement to be included in Sunday's bulletin, please have your request into the office by the Wednesday before that Sunday. All submissions should be made to Beth, our Parish Administrator, by email ([email protected]). Please make sure that the announcement contains all details-who, what, where, when and contact information.

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 6, 2015

8 a.m., Holy Eucharist & Blessing of Backpacks
10:30 a.m., Outdoor Holy Eucharist &
Blessing of Backpacks
Sermon: The Reverend Jennifer Zogg

Scripture readings:
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Psalm 125
James 2:1-10,14-17
Mark 7:24-37
Read these lessons