Interim Rectors Reflection
Dear Friends,
Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of a king, the breaking into the world of the Son of Man, the Human One, the One of Absolute Integrity and the Feast of the Incarnation. At the Church of the Epiphany, Advent is also a season of preparation for shaping our life together in the year to come. Our Annual Parish Meeting took place even as the ministry of the Welcome Table was underway. We elected wardens and new members of our vestry. Now the work of appointing vestry members to oversight of various areas of our common life is under discussion between the 2017 wardens, Bea Dermer and Ann Gordon, and me.
One of the tasks that overseers of ministries will undertake is participating in the formation and development of our 2017 budget. It is important that we have some idea of what resources will likely be available for the work we are given to do. That means that we really need to hear from more of the 85 or so among us who have been giving regularly in the past but who have not yet expressed their intentions for giving in 2017.
Making and honoring a pledge is first and foremost a spiritual practice of generosity of the 'sustained and sustaining' variety. But it is also part of belonging in a community of faith so that those charged with stewardship of the gifts we release for ministry can make wise and thoughtful decisions for our common life. If we have not yet heard from you, could I ask that you let me or any member of the vestry know your intentions as soon as possible. You can use the forms that are around the church or go to the donation button on our website that gives you the option of making your pledge on line; or you can send an email to
gmhoare@epiphanydc.org
or
treasurer@epihanydc.org
.
My grateful thanks to the fifty of you who have already made your commitments known to us. Making a pledge is but one of the actions that bind us together in this remarkable community of faith. My thanks to you and, as always, Thanks be to God.
Geoffrey
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Mission & Ministry
Worship at Epiphany
Gospel Art Sale: December 11 - 13th in the Epiphany Mission Center
Volunteer dates and needs:
Saturday, December 10: Any time between 10am and 2pm to assist with framing, matting and mounting of artwork.
Sunday, December 11
12:30-2:30 pm
Monday - Tuesday December 12-13 11:30-2:30pm
-Volunteers need to host visitors and manage sales
Gospel Art Sale Dates and Times
Sunday: 9:30 -10:45am 12/11 (Preview sale for parishioners):
Sunday: 12:30 - 2:30pm 12/11
Monday & Tuesday 12/12-13: 11:30 - 2:30pm
Please come out to shop the artwork and Christmas cards, all proceeds to fund the Welcome Table breakfast.
Welcome Table Book Drive
In need of more shelf space? Donate any unwanted books to the Welcome Table Ministry, where free reading materials are offered to parishioners each week. Donating is easy, drop any fiction or non-fiction books, Bibles, or magazines in the shopping cart upon entering church on Sunday or on weekdays. Please contact Kathy Gallagher if you have any questions, kbgallagher8@gmail.com
In this season of considering our stewardship, I am told that in the past we have been slightly
'loose' with regard to how and when end of year gifts are credited. Under IRS rules we can
credit any gift that is received or post marked by December 31, 2016 to the current year. Any gift or check received beginning January 1, 2017 will be credited to your giving in 2017 regardless of the date on the check. If you could take this into account in your end-of- year-planning we can avoid disappointment or confusion. Complete financial transparency is a goal of your vestry and we are very close to having a clean audit for 2015 as well as accurate statements for 2016. Kudos to vestry and staff who have labored to bring this about.
-Geoffrey Hoare-
Around the Neighborhood
Handel's Messiah at Ascension and St Agnes: December 14
Join the Church of the Ascension and St Agnes Choir and Baroque ensemble for a performance of Handel's Messiah at 7:00pm on December 14. Ascension and St Agnes is located at the corner of 12th St and Massachusetts Ave.
The Fourth Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence: December 14
Join St. Mark's, Capitol Hill, from 7:00-8:00pm on the fourth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Since the shooting, an estimated 120,000 people have died from gun fire in the United States, and another 300,000 have been wounded, sponsors of the vigil say. St. Mark's, along with the Newtown Foundation, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and Organizing for Action, are bringing families of victims and survivors of gun violence from Newtown and around the country to Washington for the vigil, which is part of Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend.
Cathedral Celebration with Bethlehem
Join Christians in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. The Washington National Cathedral 10am service on December 17 will be via Live Satellite Telecast with Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine. Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Budde, and Lutheran Bishop of Washington Richard Graham will participate, along with Bishops and clergy in the Holy Land. Christmas readings, carols, and choir performances will occur in both locations.
You can participate by visiting the Cathedral at 3001 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. or watch online.
4th Annual Homeless Vigil
The People for Fairness Coalition invite you to participate in the "Save a Life" overnight vigil in honor of those who were homeless and died on the streets of DC. Candlelight procession to Freedom Plaza will begin at 5:00pm on December 20, followed by a memorial service and lunch on December 21 at New York Ave Presbyterian Church. For more information and to RSVP, please visit their website.
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Music & The Arts
Tuesday Concert Series
December 13 at 12:10pm: Marilyn Moore
Marilyn Moore,
soprano, along with Carlos Rodriguez,
piano, present "The Art of the African American Voice."
A Tribute to Four Ladies that Stand in History: Matilda "Sissieretta Joyner Jones" The Plack Patti; Marian Anderson,
Leotyne Price, and Margaret Bonds, Composer
Admission is free but a donation of $10 is suggested to support both the Artists and the Concert Series.
Upcoming Guest Performances
December 9 at 6:00pm, St. Timothy's School Lessons and Carols
A women's ensemble from St Timothy's school will present A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas at the Church of the Epiphany on Friday, December 9 at 6:00pm. The event is free and open to the public, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend. In this annual celebration, students share both their vocal and instrumental talents to mark this special time of prayer and preparation. For more information, visit www.stt.org or call 410-486-7401.
December 10 at 7:00pm, Christmas with Bria
United Help Ukraine hosts the North American Christmas Tour with Bria on Saturday, December 10 at the Church of the Epiphany. Please visit their website for tickets.
December 11 at 3:00pm, DC Concert Orchestra
The DC Concert Orchestra Society brings classical music to the metropolitan region while providing performance opportunities and continuing education for amateur adult musicians to enjoy a lifetime of music-making. The DCCO is in its fifth season of bringing high quality orchestra repertoire to the community. Please visit their
website for more information.
December 15 at 7:30pm, The Capital Encore Chorale
The Capital Encore Chorale invite the community to a FREE Holiday Choral Concert. The program conducted by Jeanne Kelly, will feature holiday and seasonal pieces including And the Glory of the Lord, Irving Berlin's Christmas, Shepherds Pipe Carol, and others. Visit their
website for more information.
December 18 at 5:00pm, Comfort and Joy: Christmas with the Washington Master Chorale
On
Sunday, December 18, 2016
, at the historic Church of the Epiphany, the Washington Master Chorale will present a tasty blend of seasonal treats as we drive away the dark and prepare to usher in a promising new year. You'll hear carols, motets, and hymns by Chorale favorites - Lauridsen, Vaughan Williams, Jacques, Tavener, MacMillan, Pärt, Purcell, Mendelssohn, Willcocks, and more. Of special interest will be the Chorale's performance of two carols by little known, post-WWII Scottish composer Ronald Center (1913-1973). An intensely shy man who lived with his wife, soprano Evelyn Morrison Center, in the rural town of Huntly, Center taught piano to local school children, directed the church choir and played the organ. He rarely allowed his music to be played and at the time of his death in 1973, many of his compositions remained unpublished. Thankfully, we have his Three Nativity Carols, two of which, "There is no Rose" and "Wither's Rocking Hymn" will be performed by the Chorale. In tribute to the late J. Reilly Lewis, the Chorale joins with other Washington-area choruses in honoring the man and his music and will perform "Lobet Den Herrn Alle Heiden" by Johann Sebastian Bach. Please visit their website for tickets.
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.
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Service in Mission & Ministry
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How might you become more involved in the mission and ministry of our parish? There is so much going on at Epiphany and we are so grateful for the contributions you all offer towards making this happen. There are a few areas where we could really use your help! Please have a look at the list below and think where you might feel you could benefit from and contribute to the life of our community.
Sundays:
The Welcome Table team are looking for more volunteers to help in the kitchen and dining room. Please contact Maria Hunter if you are interested in getting involved in this important aspect of our ministry at Epiphany (
mhunter@strategicm.com).
Coffee Hour after the 11am service. Pat Pickering and John McDermott do a fantastic job, but they can't do it every week. Coffee Hour can be as simple or as elaborate as we want to make it. What's important is that we have a time of fellowship after worship. Please contact Catriona if you can help (
claing@epiphanydc.org).
Liturgical Leaders: We are always looking for people to help with the important ministries that make our Sunday worship possible. We welcome new additions to the ranks of greeters, ushers, readers, lay Eucharistic ministers, as well as the flower guild, and altar guild. If you are interested in learning more about any of these roles, please contact Catriona (
claing@epiphanydc.org).
Weekdays:
Office Volunteers: We are looking for volunteers to sit at the front desk between 10am-2pm on weekdays. Bertha does a great job on Tuesdays and we're looking for others to help throughout the week. If you want to find out more, talk to Bertha and please contact Catherine in the office if you can help (
cmanhardt@epiphanydc.org).
Music Library: Epiphany's music director would appreciate a volunteer to help with organizing the music library, including alphabetizing, rearranging shelves, labeling boxes, and updating the music library spreadsheet. Please email Jeremy at
jfilsell@epiphanydc.org.
If you are interested in learning about one or more of these ministries, you can also complete our Epiphany volunteer poll here.
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Prayer & Pastoral Care
Prayer List
We invite you to add those on your heart to our prayer list.
We will pray for them aloud on Wednesdays at our 12:10 Healing Service and will add them to the Sunday list. Contact the church office with the name of the person and what we need to know about them.
Pastoral Care
If you or someone you know is in need of prayer or conversation, please contact the church office. We would rather hear from many than miss the opportunity to connect with someone.
Wednesday Silent Prayer
Come and join us for 20 minutes of silent prayer and meditation followed by a short time of prayer for the parish. We will meet in the sanctuary on Wednesdays at 11:30am. All are welcome. To find out more, contact Catriona: claing@epiphanydc.org.
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Blogs & Websites
Episcopal Cafe
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