Advent Observances

This Sunday

December Adult Forum Study

December Youth Formation Schedule

Candlelit Compline in the Garden

East Bay Community Action Christmas Giving Tree

Christmas Flower Memorials and Thanksgivings

Meet your Vestry Members

A Noteworthy Christmas Concert -

December Community Prayers

Next Sunday

Advent Observances for Nurturing your Soul and Waiting in Hope:

Thursday, December 7 Candlelight Compline, 7 p.m.

Friday, December 15
Labyrinth Night, 6-9 p.m. (5-6 p.m. Youth time)

Tuesday, December 19: Celtic/Blue Christmas 7p.m. (featuring the music of a Celtic harpist.)

Music Director's Corner

The PRELUDE
When you enter the sanctuary each Sunday, you expect, for a few moments before the service, to hear a musical Prelude. It is listed in the bulletin. But what is the purpose of the Prelude? It has been called a bridge between our everyday context and communal worship. It has been called a time of meditative preparation. It has been called "the music accompanying the entrance of the people of God." It is not background music, but it is also not a performance.

When I, as your music director, choose the music for prelude, I consider the season, the liturgical readings and collects, hymn tunes and variations that belong to the season and the day, musical keys and styles that lead seamlessly into the service music, and, ultimately, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. How do I hope you, as the congregation, will accept this musical offering? With the same attitude of prayerful attentiveness you give to the worship service.

Someone once said: "Prelude music, reverently played, is nourishment for the spirit. It invites inspiration." The moments before the liturgy begins are precious because they give us time to prepare our hearts and minds for worship. As Reverend Frank Hughes Jr. put it:

We speak to God before the service.
God speaks to us during the service.
We speak to each other after the service,
and go forth renewed for service in our daily lives

Mary Therese Martinez

(With grateful thanks to Rev. Frank Hughes Jr. for his insightful article on Prelude, Offertory and Postlude music @ revfrankhughesjr.org)

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (Expanded): O Root of Jesse
Sunday, December 3, 2017

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

Adult Forum, Book Study: Barbara Brown Taylor's "Learning to Walk in the Dark," 9:15 a.m.
Adult Bible Study: The Book of Exodus, 9:15 a.m.
Youth Formation classes, 9:15 a.m.

Ornament Crafts & St. Nicholas Activities, 11:45 a.m

Scripture readings:
Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37


Read these lessons

Liturgical Ministers for this Sunday:

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Altar Server-Ian Miller
Lector-Fran Motroni
Ushers-Kristin & Bill Chase
Greeter-John Guild
Healing Prayer Team-Janice Johnson
Coffee Hour-Janice Johnson

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Altar Servers-John Eastwood, Will Haggerty & Gabby Virtue
Lector-Susan Kelley
Ushers-George & Carol Nunes
Greeter-Scott Haggerty
Healing Prayer Team-Shirley Baker & Denise Messier
Altar Guild- Susan Bergstrand & Michelle Callahan
Communion Bread- Linda Mendonca
Coffee Hour-Virginia Rocha, Charlie Bodell & Kerry Lonergan
Counters-Maurice Holmes & Gladys Murino

December Adult Forum Study (Dec. 3 & 10): "Learning to Walk in the Dark," Barbara Brown Taylor, Episcopal priest, author and well-known preacher has written a book exploring the spiritual richness and opportunity of darkness in all its forms. Our Christian conviction is that Jesus was born in the darkness of a cave at night and was risen to new life from the darkness of a tomb. Darkness is not bad. In this season of ever-decreasing light outside, come explore with us the often overlooked invitations and blessings of darkness, both physical and spiritual, in our lives and in the Bible. In order to prepare, please obtain and read Barbara Brown Taylor's book, "Learning to Walk in the Dark."

Sunday, Dec 3 & 10: Classes, 9:15 a.m.
Sunday, Dec 3: Ornament Crafts & St. Nicholas Activities, 11:45 a.m.
Friday, Dec 15: Labyrinth Night Experience, 5-6 p.m. and 6 p.m. Youth Group Dinner with the Rector (Jr & Sr High)
Sunday, Dec 17: Godly Play Worship (pre-schoolers), 10:15 a.m.

First Thursday of the month
7 p.m., December 7
Epiphany Welcome Garden
The Vestry is sponsoring a new way to feed your hearts and spirits this fall and winter. As the days get shorter and the darkness grows, join us for a brief 20 minute service of prayer. We'll illuminate the garden with our candles, a bonfire, and some warm refreshments. Invite the neighborhood and rest in the peace of Christ at the end of the day.

Please return your wrapped gifts with tag attached to them by NEXT Sunday, December 10. Any questions can be directed to Maurice Holmes (401-433-3192) or [email protected]

Use Amazon Smile when shopping for your holiday gifts this season and Amazon donates .5% of any purchase to the church. Link us to your existing account for an easy and fast way to support Epiphany. Follow this link or the Epiphany website (epiphanyep.org) to set it up.

The flowers and greens that add to the beauty of our Christmas worship are provided by the Altar Guild with donations from members and friends. If you would like someone remembered with flowers on our memorial and thanksgiving list, please use the form on the table in the entrance of the church and return with your check to the church office by December 17.

Please make checks payable to: Church of the Epiphany. You may also pay online by visiting our website or by credit card using the kiosk located in the entrance of the church. Christmas plants and greens generally cost $20 or more.

The Vestry of an Episcopal Church is our name for the elected group of leaders of the parish. They are concerned with the spiritual and financial health of the congregation and charged with being good stewards of our resources (program, property and budget). They meet once a month, for two retreats a year and offer guidance and work in between. In this space we hope to better introduce you to these people. Ask them questions and present to them your feedback, prayers and ideas.

Vestry Member - Bill Dench
Bill and his family are long-time members of Epiphany since it was St. Michael and Grace. He grew up Roman Catholic in the Boston area. Bill now works as a Finance Director in the Asset Management segment of Broadridge Financial, commuting to downtown Boston five days a week. Bill has served previous terms on the Vestry as Treasurer and Junior Warden. You will see him as a lector and usher on Sunday mornings as well as Coffee Hour host. His wife, Beth, is our Parish Administrator and his two grown daughters, Sarah and Emily, grew up singing in our choir and participating in youth groups and mission trips. Thank you, Bill, and God bless you for your gift of time and talent to us!

Noteworthy, is pleased to announce their return to Epiphany for the 5th year with their Christmas Concert to be held on December 10 at 4 p.m. While the concert is free of charge, we ask that you bring a canned item to benefit the Bread of Life Food Pantry or a free will donation of $5 is always appreciated. For more information contact Phil Campbell: 508-761-4314 or [email protected].

During the month of December our community is praying for:

Locally: The Wish List children and their families.
Globally: The peace of Jerusalem and all of the Middle East.
At Epiphany: The children of this parish and their families.

The Fifth Sunday of Advent (Expanded): O Key of David
Sunday, December 10, 2017

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

Adult Forum, Book Study: Barbara Brown Taylor's "Learning to Walk in the Dark," 9:15 a.m.
Adult Bible Study: The Book of Exodus, 9:15 a.m.
Youth Formation classes, 9:15 a.m.

Scripture readings:
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8

Read these lessons

Liturgical Ministers for next Sunday:

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Altar Server-John Turner
Lector-Tammi Miller
Ushers-Neal Harrington & Kya LeDuc
Greeter-Judy Phillips
Healing Prayer Team-Virginia Rocha
Coffee Hour-Kristin Chase & Karen Virtue

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Altar Servers-Theresa Mello, Lyla Halkyard & Emma Chartier
Lector-Michelle Callahan
Ushers-Bill Dench & Denise Messier
Greeter-Marilyn Fuller
Healing Prayer Team-Linda Vaughan-DuBois & Carol Marsland
Altar Guild- Cal Loven & Mel Inman
Coffee Hour-Carol & Richard Marsland & Denise Messier
Counters-Kevin Kelley & Dawn Campbell