Youth Formation Classes Resume!
Both youth classes resume meeting this Sunday, January 14. Please consult the schedule sent by email or contact Beth in the church office ([email protected]) for dates. Classes will meet about twice a month for the winter and spring and there will be extra youth events around Lent and Easter so stay tuned!
Preschool Chapel Worship (ages 3-K): NEXT SUNDAY, January 21, during 10:30 a.m. service join us for a Godly Play program to be held once a month during the 10:30 a.m. service. We will meet downstairs in the community room at 10:15 and proceed to the classroom while parents enjoy a peaceful mass. Before Communion, we will bring your children to join you in the church. Please email Meg Pilato at [email protected], or talk to Rev'd Jen or Meg.
Becoming a People and following a God of---Creativity, Compassion & Connection. 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. |
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Dear Epiphany,
Do you ever feel like no one listens when you speak?
You know the feeling. Your coworker forgets a conversation you had just the other day, your children have selective hearing about their chores, or your spouse forgets you said to pick up milk for the third day in a row. We can understandingly laugh those off most of the time, but what about the deeper ways we long to communicate our needs and desires and have them heard and honored by those we love? It can be hard to slow down and show up for one another in the midst of our busy days. Or maybe you find that others misunderstand and let their own perspectives get in the way of truly listening sometimes. Truly listening without distraction is hard.
This Sunday's story from our Old Testament reading tells of the boy Samuel who will become a great prophet and his teacher, Eli the priest. Samuel hears a voice calling his name over and over again, but doesn't understand who it is. He needs Eli to recognize that voice as God and to teach him to reply with an open heart and open ears, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."
If we pray nothing else in this season of Epiphany, let it be those words.
One way we are practicing our listening for the Spirit is at our "Simple Table" dinner church programs. It is a time to observe Sabbath (God's weekly gift to us of a restful time set apart) on a Saturday night with your family and faith community. Like the earliest followers of Jesus after the Resurrection, we pray evening prayers at our tables, light candles, enjoy a simple home-cooked meal and share fun and holy conversation. In November, we explored God's Word for us through sacred poetry. Now, on January 27, we'll listen for God's Word to us through images and photography. Please sign up on Sunday or by emailing [email protected] and bring a friend to "come and see" what God is up to in our midst!
So again, I wonder - do you ever feel like no one listens when you speak? I wonder if God sometimes feels that way about us? If our ears are too plugged up with news, music, radio and tv programs, conversations and to-do lists to hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit? I know mine often are and I have to make an effort to get quiet and listen, whether out for a walk or just sitting mindfully in meditation. Listening is a practice and a skill as well as a spiritual gift. The thing about God is that our Lord waits with infinite patience and loving-kindness for us to answer, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."
There is a whole lot more to the process of being a disciple of Jesus and growing in our faith that we will explore together as the year goes on, but the first step is listening for the One who is always seeking us out and calling us by name to "come and see" (John 1:39). Won't you come to Sunday worship or Simple Table dinner and join me in listening for God?
Yours in Christ, Rev'd Jen |
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This Sunday |
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The Second Sunday after Epiphany Sunday, January 14, 2018
8 & 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Sermon: The Reverend Jennifer Zogg
9:15 a.m.Christian Formation Youth classes Adult Bible Study: The Book of Exodus
Scripture readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 Read these lessons Liturgical Ministers for this Sunday: 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist Altar Server-John Turner Lector-Carl Mayse Ushers-Kristin & Bill Chase Greeter-Judy Phillips Healing Prayer Team-Janice Johnson Coffee Hour-Janice Johnson 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Altar Servers-John Eastwood, Emma Chartier & Liam Dee Lector-Phil Campbell Ushers-George & Carol Nunes Greeter-JoAnn Valentine Healing Prayer Team-Shirley Baker & Carol Marsland Communion Bread-Susan Kelley Altar Guild- Susan Bergstrand & Michelle Callahan Coffee Hour-Carol & Richard Marsland & Denise Messier Counters-Kevin Kelley & Edie Menard |
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Simple Table Returns |
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DATE CHANGE! Saturday, January 27, 5-7 p.m. Mark your calendars and join us for our second dinner church evening of the year. Come for a simple meal, a Sabbath time of rest, fellowship and evening prayer with our community. Last time we discovered God through poetry, this time we will experience the sacred through the images of photography. Families and children welcome, invite neighbors and friends too! |
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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"Simple Table" Dinner Church Sunday, 1/27/18, 5-7 p.m. Parish Hall
Parish Annual Meeting Sunday, 2/4/18 Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. followed by potluck brunch & Annual Meeting Parish Hall
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Tuesday, 2/13/18, 5:30-7 p.m. Parish Hall |
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Epiphany "Star Gifts" |
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If you didn't receive your "star word" during worship last Sunday, see Rev'd Jen today after church. Each star has a particular word for focus and prayer throughout the year. We'll share our stories about their meaning in our lives as 2018 goes on. |
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ECC 2018 Summer Camp Scholarships |
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Thanks to a generous gift from Florence Hodgson's estate, Epiphany has an endowed fund to send young people/families to summer camp at our Episcopal Camp and Conference Center in Pascoag, RI. Last year we were able to help 10 campers with scholarships! If your child would like to attend camp this summer (http://www.eccri.org/campprograms/) and apply for a scholarship to do so, please contact Beth in the church office for the form. Also, February 11 will be ECC Sunday with a special speaker from camp and stories of campers' experiences. |
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Adult Formation Classes: Winter/Spring 2018 |
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- January - No classes, enjoy fellowship at 9:15 a.m.!
- Lenten Study: February 18 & 25, March 4, 11, 18 -- The Social Justice Bible Challenge - A 40 Day Bible Study. The Bible mentions poverty, justice and power more than anything else. Poverty alone is mentioned 2,100 times. Using a book as our guide, join the parish to daily study passage of the Bible that call us to justice and compassion for one another and to engage with our world to help bring these about. Take the challenge to do a daily reading of Scripture accompanied by a reflection, a question for current application and a prayer. We'll make it our daily discipline and gather on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. to share what we've learned and dive deeper.
- Easter Study: April 15, 23 & 30, May 6 & 13 -- The Good Book Club: Study of the Acts of the Apostles. We'll join parishes across the Episcopal Church, in an initiative sponsored by the Presiding Bishop, to study the book of Acts (the story of the earliest followers of Jesus after the Resurrection) and discover how the early church got started and the wisdom it has to share with contemporary communities following Jesus.
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Broadway Series: West Side Story |
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- How could a successful musical ever include street gangs, violence and death? Well, it could start by being based on a story which, itself, is based on a legendary Shakespearean play. Then, one of the greatest musicians around could provide the score and Tony or Oscar-worthy actors would be hired. Once finished, it would be called West Side Story. Join us Friday, January 26 at 7 p.m. for the next installment of our Broadway series as we learn West Side back-stories and follow Tony and Maria on their all-too-short journey of love. What better way to spend a cold winter night than thinking about a warm summer week? Please bring goodies to share with others if possible. Contact: Phil Campbell, 508-761-4314; [email protected]. |
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2018 pledge envelopes |
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2018 pledge envelopes are now available. Please pick them up from the table located in the entrance of the church. If you would like pledge envelopes or no longer wish to use them, please contact our Pledge Clerk, Janice Johnson: [email protected] or 508-761-8622. |
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Next Sunday |
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The Baptism of Our Lord (transferred) Sunday, January 21, 2018
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist & Holy Baptism Sermon: The Reverend Jennifer Zogg
9:15 a.m.Christian Formation Youth classes Adult Bible Study: Book of Exodus
10:15 a.m. Preschool Chapel Worship-Godly Play
Scripture readings: Genesis 1:1-5 Psalm 29 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11 Read these lessons Liturgical Ministers for next Sunday:
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist Altar Server-Arthur Manning Lector-Fran Motroni Ushers-Carl Mayse & Judy Phillips Greeters-Nancy Leggat & Carol Robitaille Healing Prayer Team-Janice Johnson Coffee Hour-Sally Erskine & Judy Phillips 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Altar Servers-Theresa Mello, Caroline Haggerty & Nastara Allen Lector-Caroline Haggerty Ushers-Scott & Will Haggerty Greeter-Ernie & Bev Fairhurst Healing Prayer Team-Denise Messier & Michelle Callahan Altar Guild- Betsy Kelley & Charlene Underhill Coffee Hour-Dee & Haggerty Families |
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