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This Sunday

Lenten Sunday Forum

Lenten Devotionals and Activities

Epiphany's Lenten Youth Event:

Hygiene Kit Collection

Broadway Musical Series:Jesus Christ Superstar

Fundraising for Kelly Chartier's surgery

Credit Card Donation Kiosk

Next Sunday

Remember to set your clocks forward, this Sunday!

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.

Henry Ossawa Tanner, "Nicodemus Visiting Jesus"

Dear Epiphany,
This Sunday, we read from the Gospel of John about Nicodemus. He is a Jewish leader who comes to Jesus by night to ask his questions of faith. Nicodemus famously misunderstands Jesus' insistence that we must be "born again" (or "born from above" or "born anew," as it can also be translated). This phrase unfortunately has been misappropriated by some Christian voices over the years to serve as a litmus test of Christian membership and faith. We'll think together this Sunday about the difference between believing and having faith.....about how we are born again.....about questions we ask God at night versus the daytime....In the meantime, you might consider this poem below that I came across earlier this week.

Yours in Christ,
Rev'd Jen

Born Yet Again
by John van de Laar (inspired by John 3:1-17)

Why do we settle, O God, for only being born once, or even twice,
     as if the world never changes,
     as if everything is just fine the way it is
        and we have no need for new life,
        new encounters with you,
        new promptings of your Spirit,
        and new awakenings in our souls?

Why do we turn your invitation into a mark of our own achievement,
    as if your life is anything other than an extravagant gift,
    as if the glimpses of your reign that we receive
        are earned,
        or deserved,
        or make us somehow 'better' than others?

We praise you for the shocking miraculous truth, God,
     that we can always be - that we need to always be
        born again;
     that daily you welcome us into a surprising new life,
        the wonderful, creative, unpredictable world of your          Spirit;
     and that all we can do is allow ourselves to be pushed -
        birthed, by your grace,
        into new experiences of your reign.

Here we are, O God;
     Let us be, once more,
         in this moment, in this place,
     Born yet again.

Amen.
(found at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/05/prayer-born-yet-again.html)

The Second Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Remember to set your clocks forward!

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

9:15 a.m., Christian Education for All Ages

Scripture readings:
Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm 121
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
John 3:1-17
Read these lessons

Liturgical Ministers for this Sunday:

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Altar Server-John Turner
Lector-Fran Motroni
Ushers-Geri & Arthur Manning
Greeter-Betsy Kelley
Healing Prayer Team-Janice Johnson
Coffee Hour-

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Altar Servers-Suellen Franze, Liam Dee & Lyla Halkyard
Lector-Phil Campbell
Ushers-The Pilato Family
Greeters-Patrick & Sydney Trudeau
Healing Prayer Team-L Vaughan-DuBois & Carol Marsland
Coffee Hour-Charlie Bodell, Kerry Lonergan & Virginia Rocha
Communion Bread (both Services) -Beverly Fairhurst
Altar Guild- Betsy Kelley & Susan Bergstrand
Counters-Kevin Kelley & Edie Menard

The Joy of Confession:
Reclaiming Reconciliation in the Episcopal Church
March 12, 19, 26, April 2
Maybe joyful is the last thing you associate with memories of going to confession. Perhaps you've heard a lot of talk about reconciliation in our divided world and wonder what it really means in terms of our faith. We'll be exploring this new book, currently a manuscript, to be published by Forward Movement in the summer and piloted now by our congregation. Copies available for free however a $3 donation would be appreciated to cover the cost of printing. The manuscript will be available at the Adult Forum on Sunday. Each chapter will explore topics of "Sin," "Reconciliation in the Bible," "Shame/Guilt/Joy", "Forgiveness & Release," and "Resurrection and Renewal."

Note: There will NOT be a Wednesday Evening Lenten program this year. Despite an initial advertisement we have decided to cancel it.

Lenten Devotional Materials Available
We have several options to support your daily meditation and Scripture study during Lent:

1. Episcopal Relief and Development's daily meditation booklet,
2. "Moving Toward the Cross" daily meditations from the works of Frederick Buechner
3. A children's devotional guide, "Journey to Jerusalem."

Mark your calendars for Epiphany's Lenten Youth Event!
Saturday, March 25, 4-6 p.m.
(Pizza supper provided around 5:45 pm.. or 6 p.m.)
We will be:
1. Making Soup & Communion Bread to be served at our Maundy Thursday Supper & Worship
2. Assembling Hygiene Kits for Crossroads Homeless Shelter (see below for details and a list of items the congregation is collecting.)
3. Baking Pretzels, a traditional Lenten activity using simple ingredients and teaching a prayer.

Please Note: I'm inviting the children to help host our Maundy Thursday Supper and Worship this year. So please plan to have them arrive on April 13 at 5 p.m. (prior to the 6 p.m. service.)

RSVP to the office ([email protected] or 401-434-5012) so we know how many of our young people to expect on March 25. All are welcome, though the activities are most appropriate for children ages 7 and up and older hands are most welcome to help the younger ones.

If you are looking for resources to support your families observance of Lent, www.buildfaith.org and www.growchristians.org are great places to start.

As an Outreach program for Lent this year, we will be making hygiene kits for Men and Women. These will be assembled by the church school children and distributed by Crossroads, a non-profit organization that works with the homeless population and family's at risk. People are encouraged to donate products or money (checks made out to Church of the Epiphany, memo: hygiene kits) that will be used to make the kits. Please leave the items in the collection box in the Parish hall by March 19. Contact Lynne at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Both Women & Men's Kits: Toothpaste/Toothbrush, Deodorant, Shampoo/Conditioner, Lotion, Soap, Razors. Feminine Hygiene products are also a much needed item for the Women's kits.

Whether you've seen the musical or not you already know the story. Join us Friday, March 24 at 7 p.m. and hear the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice masterpiece. Listen as Jesus' friends support him in his time of trial while his antagonists mock and deride him. Feel what it might have been like to witness one of history's most critical events. There can be no musical more appropriate for Lent than Jesus Christ Superstar.

Friends at Epiphany, many of you know the four Chartier children who have blessed our community and church school. And many of you know their mother, Kelly Chartier, who grew up at our church and her mother, Pat Lange. What you may not know is her struggle with a rare intestinal disorder over the last several years that now requires a special surgery not covered by insurance. Please consider giving what you can to support this chance for healing and a better quality of life for her and her family. She has persisted so bravely on a daily basis for love of her children, for the children she teaches at the Smithfield schools and for so many friends and family - so let's support her now with our love, our prayers and any financial gift we can. Please share the link widely with other friends and community members.

For those who seldom carry cash or would prefer to use a credit card, there is a kiosk in the entrance hall outside the sanctuary, next to the elevator, that allows you to use the "Square" app on our iPad to use your credit card. You may either insert your chip card, wave your phone for Apple Pay or swipe the magnetic strip on your card. You can designate your gift as a "loose plate" donation, give an offering for Sunday or holiday altar flowers or even contribute to your pledge. Ask an usher for help if you have any questions, but the kiosk is self-service. Give it a try today!

The Third Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 19, 2017

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

9:15 a.m., Christian Education for All Ages

Scripture readings:
Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 95
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42
Read these lessons

Liturgical Ministers for next Sunday:

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Altar Server-John Eastwood
Lector-Jodi LeDuc
Ushers-Neal Harrington & Carl Mayse
Greeters-Nancy Leggat & Carol Robitaille
Healing Prayer Team-Janice Johnson
Coffee Hour-The Halkyard & Pilato Families

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Altar Servers-Michelle Callahan, Liam Dee & Gabby Virtue
Lector-Kristin Chase
Ushers-Dave & Nastara Allen
Greeters-Beth & Bill Dench
Healing Prayer Team-Virginia Rocha & Shirley Baker
Coffee Hour-Carol & Richard Marsland & Denise Messier
Altar Guild- Cal Loven & Betsy Kelley
Counters-Kevin Kelley & Gladys Murino