Clergy Reflection

"A light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it" -  John 1:5

On Monday of this week we again woke up to news and images of unfathomable tragedy. The massive loss of life in Las Vegas at the hands of an angry person has us all struggling for answers and responses. These days are filled with world wide suffering and many are trying to determine how best to offer assistance. Do we pray, send money, and/or march in the streets? All of these are places to start. Last Sunday in my sermon I invited us all to do a bit of good, where you are, when you can. 

At Epiphany doing good where we are looks like continuing our various ministries with those who are experiencing homelessness. During the week the church is open for all in the community to come in and have a time of refuge in an inviting space, including great musical offerings on Tuesdays. On Sunday our mornings are filled with Welcome Table, Gospel Art, Bible Study, and now three services of Holy Eucharist at 8:009:30, and 11:00am, with childcare beginning at 9:30am. We are proclaiming the "Good News" in so many ways.

In an effort to do some theological study together to learn and deepen relationship, we will begin regional book studies later this fall. The books we will be reading include; Toxic Charity, Life Together, and Doing Justice. Please be on the lookout for how and where you may participate. Our goal is to have online and in person discussion groups. 

Our Stewardship Campaign kicked off October 1st. The theme comes from a quote by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, "Love God, love neighbor, change the world." Epiphany is uniquely poised to share the light of Christ in the world. With our Mission Center work, our music ministry, Street Church, and organizing to address issues faced by those experiencing homelessness, we are impacting the District and surrounding communities in profound ways. In order to continue this good work we will need to invest our time, talent, and financial resources into the church. The Stewardship Committee, Vestry, and I ask that you prayerfully consider a pledge that will help make these valuable ministries happen.

When we turn on the news, read the paper, or spend any time on social media, it is clear that there is much to lament. People are hurting all over as a result of natural disasters, violence, racial hate, and dangerous public policy. There is also much to rejoice in as we reflect on the ways we are spreading God's love from this church. We will continue to pray with and for our brothers and sisters who are suffering in these days. We will also not be swept up in the anger and fear that has become dangerously pervasive. May our stewardship, ministries, and commitment to share the Good news of God in Christ be a healing salve in a grieving world.

Love God, love neighbor, change the world.

Blessings,
GJH+
Parish Announcements

- Church Closed October 9 -
We will be closed on Monday, October 9, 2017 in observance of Columbus Day.

2018 Vestry Nominations are Now Open
At Epiphany, vestry responsibilities include:
- Offering talents to support the congregation's ministry
- Praying daily for the rector, leaders and members of the congregation
- Pledging financial support
- Bringing one's whole self to the table, being present - mind, body, and spirit in all conversations and decision-making.
- Attending monthly meetings (typically the third Wednesday of every month) as well as an annual retreat.

If you would like to nominate someone for the vestry, please forward their name, contact information, and a short paragraph on their qualifications to Bea Trapasso Dermer, Senior Warden, at  btdermer@gmail.com .  

Self-nominations are welcome as well!  Nominations will be accepted through the month of October and a slate of candidates will be put forth in November.

Nominations are also being accepted for 2018  Diocesan Delegates.

The Nominating Committee consists of outgoing vestry members Jennifer Walsh, Annie Wright, Glenn Greene, Bea Trapasso Dermer, and Junior Warden Ann Gordon.

Signing up for Realm
October 22, 2017
The Church of the Epiphany has launched a new online database called Realm. If you have not been able to sign up as of yet or have additional questions, we are here to help! 

On Sunday, October 22, a volunteer will be in the Parish Office to assist those who need any technical assistance in joining our online community.

Buildings & Grounds Committee Update
The Building and Grounds Committee is in the process of developing plans and solutions for maintaining a safe and sanitary sanctuary. Our discussions are currently centered around fiscally responsible and implementable solutions for the pew cushions. When a decision is reached we look forward to sharing that with the congregation. 

-Irvin Peterson, Building and Grounds Chairperson

Observing St Francis Day
On October 1 Epiphany celebrated the feast of St Francis of Assisi by blessing pets at our inaugural 9:30am service. Thank you to all who brought their pets to be blessed - we had cats, dogs, and even stuffed monkeys! 

Stewardship Reflection

Count Your Blessings
by Rachel Barham
           
I ride my bike a lot, and I always pick up any money that I see on the ground. It's no way to make a living, but it adds up, even the pennies. In 2015, I found a total of $8.51. Then 2016 was a boom year at $27.21 (plus 10 Hong Kong cents and an Aladdin's Castle arcade token), but it was significantly more because in addition to all the change, I found a ten-dollar bill and two ones. I always set this money aside to give to the church because it's a concrete reminder that everything we have is lent to us, temporarily, through the mercy of God. I try to say a prayer of thanksgiving for each cent I find. (Maybe I cheated on that effort just a little with the ten-dollar bill.)

I'd just started a recent morning bicycle commute when I got stung by a yellow jacket on my arm. It hurt like fire and made me want to scream. I turned around and went home for an antihistamine, then I started back on the way to work, dazed and in pain the whole time. I was almost there when I saw a quarter on the street.

Still in pain and feeling sorry for myself and angry at that bug, I picked up the quarter. I thought this would be a really good time to count 25 blessings by name before I got to work, just five minutes away. I started a list that included (in no order) my family, coral reefs, good enough health to ride a bike to work, James (my spouse), the sandwich in my backpack, the fact that I'm not allergic to bee stings, stable housing, the purrs of my two black cats, safe travel, rufous-sided towhees, a working refrigerator/freezer, butterflies, a job to commute to, Benadryl, trees, safe drinking water, and on and on. And you know what? I couldn't stop at 25. In fact, I think I could have made it to 1000 and made up for that ten-dollar bill.

When you're making your pledge to Epiphany, you can and should think of the nuts and bolts: that the vestry needs pledges so they can plan next year's finances; that the biblical model is the tithe, which is ten percent of your income; that you have a lot of demands on your resources and may need to so some boring math to figure out how much you can give. But I encourage you also, as the hymn says, to "count your blessings - name them one by one." They add up.

As we prepare for 2018, please begin to prayerfully consider how you may give to Epiphany with donations, time, and/or talent in the upcoming year.
October Rotas

Coffee Hour Hosts
October 8 - Pat Pickering
October 15 - Tonda Rush 
October 22 - Susan Weinbeck 
October 28 - Vivian Dandridge-Charles 


Offertory Counters
October 8 -  Rick Guadalupe and Bea Dermer
October 15 - Ann Gordon and Kathrine Ebert
October 22 - Myris Dierlich and Lars Hansen
October 29 -  Brad Rickel and Rasheen Carbin

Liturgical Leaders
The October Rota for the 8:00am service can be found here.

The October Rota for the 11:00am service can be found here
Seeing the Face of God in Each Other

Six members of the Church of the Epiphany, Rasheen Carbin, Vivian Dandridge-Charles, Ann Gordon, Rick Houghton, Maria Hunter, and Caroline Klam attended the Diocesan workshop on Seeing the Face of God in Each Other at the Cathedral on September 22nd and 23rd.

It was a powerful day. We learned that the inequalities in America between European colonialists and enslaved Africans were established by the American Anglican Episcopal Church in the Virginia colony as the church/state authority at the time. This was done to prevent European indentured servants and enslaved Africans from forming family and community bonds that would enable them to overcome the system of forced servitude that enriched the church/state establishment.

These racial dynamics were established through dehumanization - the depiction of enslaved Africans as inferior, inhuman, and therefore unworthy of dignity or compassion. Laws and social customs were built up around this construct and became indoctrinated to a point where people do not question basic assumptions, or see their own prejudices. Laws have changed, but prejudices have lingered and continuing examination is required to break down the barriers to education and opportunity for African Americans. 

The Episcopal Church has attempted to correct these wrongs, beginning with a series of resolutions at the 1991 General Convention in Phoenix, and continuing through to today. More work remains to be done to see and acknowledge the truth of these wrongs, to recognize African Americans as fully worthy citizens of this country, and to remove the barriers that prevent them from fulfilling their dreams and having their gifts and achievements recognized. 

There is a biblical mandate for this work. In fact, an understanding and attempt to comply with the teachings of Christ actually demands it.  

We left with a fuller understanding of the deep embeddedness of racism and white privilege and a hunger to do more to make a difference in Epiphany and our world.

We plan to continue meeting as a group to explore these issues and to find ways to engage others at Epiphany. We have some ideas for faith formation opportunities about this issue as we move forward together - AND we hope to offer the Seeing the Face of God in Each Other workshop at Epiphany in the near future. In the meantime we are committed  to continuing to address the pernicious affects of racism, classism, sexism and all other isms in our own lives and our life in the community of Epiphany.

-Caroline Klam,  Vestry Member
Music & The Arts


October 10 
Darya Gabay & Hyeweon Gessner , piano duet , piano arrangements of 
classical ballet and opera scores including West Side Story, the Magic Flute, and  Petrushka.

October 17
Amy Domingues &Donna Fournier, violas da gamba, & Anthony Harvey, theorbo, European Treasures - works of French and Dutch masters Marin Marais & Johannes Schenck.

October 24
The Polaris Piano Trio featuring Laura Kobayashi, violin, Kenneth Law, cello, and Julee An, piano. They will perform music by Lili Boulanger, D'un matin de Printemps alongside Schubert, Coleridge-Taylor, and Lois Farrenc's Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano Op. 45.

October 31
Anna Ouspenska, piano, Fedor Ouspenska, violin, and Igor Zubovsky, cello, in Soviet music of the Second World War era; Shostakovich's Second Piano Trio and the Prokofiev Cello Sonata, Op. 119.

Concerts are held each and every Tuesday at 12:10pm. Admission is free but a donation of $10 is suggested to support the Concert Series.
 

Support the arts at Epiphany by making a donation online now, or set up a recurring gift.
 
Learn more about musical events at Epiphany by visiting our  website

Guest Performances

Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Fall Concert
Sunday, October 22  at 3:00pm 

Ben Roundtree,  Symphony No. 1 "Heroes"
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Violin Concerto, op. 35 in D major
Leonid Sushansky, Violin

WMP kicks off its 47th season with two special pieces. Local Virginia composer Ben Roundtree's five movement Symphony No. 1, based on five of Roundtree's spiritual and inspirational heroes and mentors, leads this first program of the season. Then the Philharmonic teams with rising local star violinist Leonid Sushansky to perform Tchaikovsky's beloved virtuoso Violin Concerto. Overall lyrical, the concerto is in turns graceful and brilliant, then elegaic, and the piece finishes with a dazzling display of pyrotechnics. Tickets can be purchased  here.
Happening Around Town

Spiritual Power for Persistence Panel Discussion
October 24, 6:00pm
Metropolitan AME Church
1518 M St NW
Washington, DC 20005
How do you prevent burn out? How do you seek clarity?  How do you prevent depression and handle fear? Join a panel of distinguished people of faith, including Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life, Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK, Rev. Traci Blackmon, Executive Minister of Justice & Witness Ministries of The United Church of Christ, Greisa Martinez, Advocacy Director of United We Dream, and Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Director of Bend the Arc, to learn how they handle difficult times with grace and hope.
Save the Dates


 
Prayer & Pastoral Care

We ask for your Prayers
For all who seek healing in mind, body, spirit or relationship, especially:
Selma Wise
Bryce Hutt
Kathrine Ebert
John McDermott
Bill Johnson
Jonnie Lee Walker Martin, cousin of Irvin Peterson
Susan Sutton
Carroll Pye
Ernest Xamboj 
Zalira Ayers
Anne Schmidt
Holly Foster, daughter of Barbara Ford-Foster
Jyl Woolfolk 
Kelly Miller
Elaine Hollingsworth, sister of James Hollingsworth

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.

Labyrinth entrance 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.

Service in Mission & Ministry
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).

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 ).
 
If you are interested in learning about one or more of these ministries, you can also complete our Epiphany volunteer poll here.
 

Epiphany@Metro Center | 202-347-2635 | info@EpiphanyDC.org
1317 G St, NW  |   Washington, DC 20005