Epiphanies Happen!
Interim Rector's Reflection

"We have come to a decisive moment as the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. I have come to a decisive moment as your bishop." 
The Rt. Rev'd Mariann Edgar Budde

In January, Epiphany joined other parishes at the annual diocesan convention. The delegates, clergy and church leaders heard Bishop Mariann carefully explain her goals for  future collaboration and mission. To better prepare us for being Christ's hands and feet in the world, she urged all of us to work together more closely. "The challenges before us are bigger than any one congregation can meet on its own. The opportunities before us are greater than any one congregation can fulfill on its own. The vision entrusted to us is larger than any one congregation can realize on its own."

As we look to expand the ministries and lay leadership of Epiphany, we also have some unique opportunities to expand relationships and mission work with others. In many ways, we are doing that now. Thanks to the Revd. Kent Marcoux and Worship Leader James McKinney from  St. George's Church on U Street, we were able to have a wonderful 10th Birthday Celebration for Street Church ( see below). More than 10 priests from various churches around the diocese joined the Revd. Anne-Marie Jeffers, the Revd. Randolph Charles and folks from many denominations as we feted our weekly Franklin Park worship community with songs and prayer.

But before we look for new projects, it might be nice to just strengthen basic friendships with our neighbors. Fortunately the parishes closest to Epiphany are inviting us to join them them in outreach opportunities already in progress:
  • St. John's Lafayette Square hosts a robust monthly Theology on Tap for their 20s&30s group. On Wednesday, April 20 the Rt. Revd. Gene Robinson leads the conversation at Bier Baron Tavern beginning at 6:30pm
  • If rolling up your sleeves is more desirable, St. John's Lafayette Square is leading a Rebuilding Together project on Saturday, April 23 and Saturday, April 30. Rebuilding Together makes significant repairs and improvements to homes in Southeast Washington. (Think Habitat for Humanity but on existing homes.) 
  • Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes is Blessing Bicycles! On Saturday, May 7, you are invited to join them as they bless and celebrate the growing bicycle community in Washington and host a fun bike ride. 
A blessing is the showering of divine goodness. As you bless our parish in many ways,  please consider how you can share your gifts with our neighbors and how they might bless you with their events and work in the world. I will be at the Rebuilding Together days (Full Disclosure: I met my husband, Chris, at a RT house 19 years ago and he is the chair this year). I might even load up our bikes and head to ASA in May. Whatever I do, it will be with a grateful heart for the growing collaboration between the unique and wonderful parishes of our amazing diocese. 

Faithfully,
Elizabeth
Spirituality & Ministry Spirituality

Worship at Epiphany

Parish Announcements
Being Christian: Coffee and Conversation
9:00am in the Dunlop Room, Breakfast provided
Gather to explore the essential elements of Christian life and life at Epiphany Parish.  Open to all, especially those preparing for confirmation or baptism.
April 17- Eucharist
April 24- Prayer
May 1- History
May 8- Discipleship

Joint Service for Pentecost
Pentecost is a special day in the church where we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. To honor that day and building on the success of Palm Sunday, the vestry suggests another joint service at 10:00am. We will have singing and prayers at 8:00am and our Welcome Table programming will remain the same. However, we will combine our services of Holy Eucharist so that we can worship together as a parish community. Please join us at 10:00am on Sunday, May 15 for a Pentecost Celebration followed by a parish picnic. To volunteer at the service or for the picnic, please contact Elizabeth Gardner at [email protected] or by calling the parish office. 

May 14- Cathedral Confirmation
The Diocese of Washington will hold a confirmation service at the Washington National Cathedral on May 14. If you are interested in exploring confirmation, please contact Elizabeth or Catriona 

Street Church
Street Church, founded on Mardi Gras 2006, held a celebration of 10 years of ministry on Tuesday, April 12 to a joyful backdrop of colorful balloons and the sounds of "Happy Birthday." Volunteers were blessed by the clergy, and were joined by Rev. Anne-Marie Jeffery and Rev. Randolph Charles. View photos of our celebration on Facebook.

Volunteer Opportunities
Fellowship and service can be found in all aspects of life at Epiphany. 
To volunteer in worship, with Welcome Table programs, Street Church, the Tuesday Concert Series or any other ministries contact the Parish Office. 202-347-2635. Explore the work of the people on our website

Calling Committee Communique
Survey Results! If you have not yet had the opportunity to review our parish survey results ("Parish Report") please do so! These will be sent by e-mail this week or you can find copies in Community Hall. If you have questions or comments about the results, you may wish to join us in a fellowship group session, which will give us the opportunity to explore some of the themes that emerged from the survey in greater depth. If you are interested in coming to a fellowship group as a participant, please contact Sandi Ingram ( [email protected] or  202-746-4491). Sandi will also be contacting the fellowship group hosts to coordinate scheduling. We plan on holding the groups between now and Pentecost (May 15th, 2016), and we look forward to our conversations!

Gracious God, we pray for this parish church and for the Calling Committee as we seek to call a new Rector. Help us to be strong, open, forgiving -- and truthful to those discerning a call to minister in this place. Accompany us on our journey in the knowledge of your love for us and your power to unite us all. AMEN

Godly Play
The Godly Play lesson for  Sunday, April 17  is "The Synagogue and the Upper Room." The first part of the presentation evokes the Liturgy of the Word, which the Christian Church developed from the readings of the Jewish synagogue. The second part of the presentation evokes the Liturgy of the Table, which Jesus instituted during the Last Supper in the upper room. The synagogue and upper room are joined together to form a model of Christian worship, the joining of the Old and New Testaments, and much more. The event in the synagogue is based mainly on Luke 4:16-30, but there are overtones of Mark 6:1-6 and Matthew 13:53-58. This Godly Play lesson, like all of the lessons, is accessible on various levels to children of all ages. Children ages four to twelve are welcome to participate in the Godly Play room on the second floor. Ann Gordon will facilitate. 
Music & The ArtsMusic

Tuesday Concert Series
On April 19 at 12:10pm Martin Labazevitchpiano performs Modest Mussorgsky's monumental Pictures at an Exhibition (1874)


January-June 2016 Tuesday Concert Series brochure.

We need your help to improve the Tuesday Concert experience! Please  click here  to take a brief survey about the TCS.

Upcoming Guest Performances

April 22, 2016, 7:30pm- The Imitative Game
Presented by the Choral Arts Society of Washington's Choral Arts Chamber Singers
This concert highlights the beauty and complexity of counterpoint through a wide range of repertoire spanning multiple centuries. Now in their second season, the Choral Arts Chamber Singers continue to expand Choral Arts' mission by exploring the richness and variety of chamber music. For more information and tickets, please visit the Choral Arts  website.

April 30, 2016, 7:00pm- Honor and Majesty: Music of Bach and Handel
Presented by Choralis
Enjoy a concert that highlights works by the giants of Baroque music. With a stunning cast of soloists and the Baroque specialists Three Notch'd Road, the program will include Handel's  Dixit Dominus Let the Bright Seraphim , and  The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba , as well as Bach's  Christ lag in Todesbanden , BWV 4,  Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft , BWV 50, and  Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 , BWV 1050, along with a few surprises! For more information and tickets, please visit the Choralis website

May 5, 2016, 7:30pm- Let's Rock
Presented by Encore Creativity's Encore Rocks DC and Encore Rocks Glen Echo
More than 120 singers take the stage to present a concert featuring Rock classics including, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Stairway to Heaven," as well as a medley of Rock & Roll "Oldies" and hits by Elvis and Frankie Valli

May 12, 2016, 7:30pm- With A Song in My Heart
Presented by Encore Creativity's The Capital Encore Chorale
Encore: Creativity of Older Adults returns with a concert featuring the romantic music of Rodgers and Hart, blues favorites by Hoagy Carmichael and a medley from the Broadway show Guys and Dolls.

Please note that all of Epiphany's guest artists and ensembles handle their own ticket sales. Please contact the respective individuals/ensembles for ticket sales and information pertaining to these concerts.
 
Learn more about musical events at Epiphany by visiting our website
 

Blogs & Websites
Toast Newsletter from the EDOW Young Adults Office with ideas and tools for integrating the Christian way into everyday life
Episcopal Cafe   S ite featuring Episcopal news, commentary, and meditations 
Sojourners  Faith in action for social justice
Sacred Space  Daily Prayer from the Irish Jesuits

Epiphany@Metro Center | 202-347-2635 | [email protected]
1317 G St, NW  |   Washington, DC 20005