Weekly e-News from Epiphany Parish
June 9 - 16, 2020
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From Rev. Christen's Desk
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Dear Epiphany Parish,
I was cleaning my kitchen the other day, when I realized that I had not yet switched my wall calendar from May to June. I flipped the page and there, on the second Saturday in June, circled in red pen, were the words, “72nd Village Fair”. I stopped cleaning for a moment and stared, almost in disbelief.
Back in February when we voted to re-brand the Village Fair and plan ‘Front Street Summer Fest’, no one could have predicted what was to come. Back then none of us could have guessed that we would be dealing with a historic public health crisis in the weeks and months leading up to the Fair. No one would have ever thought that we would have been worshiping virtually together for three months by Fair time. And while we were already planning on re-branding the Village Fair this year, the complete cancellation of this event that has been going on for over 70 years feels weighty.
Between the COVID-19 Pandemic, massive changes to the way we gather as a community, and an important grappling in our country with a 400 year history of systemic racism towards the black community, canceling the Village Fair certainly doesn’t have the weight of these issues that we’ve been dealing with these past few months.
However, it is an important moment for our parish community, and I don’t want to let this moment pass us by without a word of gratitude and celebration. Gratitude for the generations of members of Epiphany Parish who have dedicated themselves to the Village Fair and planning this fun event for their community year after year, gratitude for the hard work, creativity, and fellowship that it took to plan 71 Village Fairs over the decades, gratitude for the special memories we share of working at Village Fairs with beloved members of our community who have died, and gratitude for all of you who were looking forward to breathing new life and energy into the Fair this year.
Hopefully, this time next year, Epiphany Parish will be hard at work preparing for the first ever ‘Front Street Summer Fest’. But this year – this moment – calls for a celebration. A celebration of this fun annual tradition that had an amazing 71 year run, a celebration for all the people who helped keep the Village Fair going for so long, and a celebration of Epiphany Parish. The second Saturday in June will look very different for all of us this year but we know that soon we will be together again. And when that happens, it truly will be a celebration.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
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common cath
ed
ral - Sign up to donate food for June 12!
DON'T FORGET! We are again seeking donations of fruit and granola bars to be dropped off at Epiphany on Wednesday & Thursday, June 10 & 11. There will be a bin at the side entrance for you to drop off your contributions.
Thank you to all who donated this past time - if you did not have an opportunity to do so, this is your chance!
This time we have signed up for a total of 50 granola bars and 50 pieces of fruit!
And although we appreciate anonymous drop-offs/donations it really does help if you sign up by e-mailing the office (
office.epiphany@verizon.net
) to let us know what you plan to bring.
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Got some free time & some pent-up energy?
The building is looking great! Thank you to those who have been helping with the painting on the outside of the building.
If you are interested in being part of this project we are still looking for volunteers to help us do some painting at the church. Some lower sections of our building need to be painted as well as some areas of the fire escape on the parish house. All paint and supplies will be provided – but, due to social distancing, we can only have one person working on each area at a time.
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Worshiping with Us, Virtually
Many of you have come to enjoy worshiping with us on Sunday mornings via Facebook Live. Although you do not need a Facebook account to view our services, some have found the experience a bit of a challenge.
In response, we have created a YouTube channel and we will be posting a video of the 10:15am service each Sunday by 11:45am.
So now you have two ways to join us for worship.
Click here
to watch us on
Facebook Live
at 10:15am (the video is also available anytime on Facebook by following the same link). OR you can view the video on
YouTube
by
clicking here
.
We also continue to offer a Sunday School experience for our children and their families. Jean Ford and Joanne Douglas have been recording a lesson and posting it on our Facebook page. A link to the lesson and craft and game worksheets can be found on our website -
just click here
to be directed to our Children's Ministries page!
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Outreach Opportunities - Walpole & Beyond
NEW! -- ‘Regathering Shepherds’ Needed
Our Diocese is looking for volunteers who have an interest in public health ministry to help other parishes in our diocese prepare for resuming in-person worship. No experience is needed and all volunteers will be trained in our Diocese’s regathering guidelines. All volunteers should be in a low-risk category for COVID-19 and will be assigned to work with parishes in their region to help them understand the Diocesan re-gathering guidelines and how they should be implemented in each parish’s local context and physical space. If you have questions or are interested in serving the church in this way, please email Rev. Christen.
Diocesan COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
The Diocese of Massachusetts has established a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to help meet emerging, urgent needs in congregations and affiliated organizations, and in support of collaborations with ecumenical, multi-faith and community partners. The fund will address critical community needs and congregational sustainability during the time of the pandemic. The fund is now open to receive online gifts at
www.diomass.org/give-now
.
Errand Angels
Please sign up to be an Errand Angel! There are many folks in our parish that do not want to be in public right now. We have created an online sign-up sheet to collect a list of parishioners who are willing to run errands for people who are unable to run errands for any reason right now. If you are healthy and feel comfortable running errands for others over the next few weeks, please sign up
HERE
.
If you need an errand run for you for any reason, please call or email Rev. Christen and she will put you in touch with someone who can help.
common cathedral
common cathedral provides food, community, worship, and so much more to folks in Boston who are experiencing homelessness. Epiphany Parish has supported common cathedral in many ways throughout the years. In December, half of the money we raised at our celebration of New Ministry service went to common cathedral and more recently, we collected socks, underwear, and toiletries to be handed out at their City Reach overnight. common cathedral has been adapting their programs over the past few weeks in order to continue to safely support the members of their community. And now they are asking for help. They need partners to donate homemade sandwiches, fruit and granola bars. If you can help sign up
HERE
. Any food that is prepared in your home needs to follow strict ServSafe guidelines. All donations need to be dropped off at Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street by 9am on the day that you sign up for.
Give blood
The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe shortage of blood because many blood drives have been cancelled around the country in recent weeks. If you are eligible to give blood and wish to do so, you can make an appointment online here:
https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html
Donate Masks, Gloves, and Other Protective Gear
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is asking for anyone who has extra masks, respirators, and/or other protective gear to donate them to the city for medical staff at hospitals to use. If your business uses these items, please consider donating them. You can call the City Mayor’s hotline at 617-635-4500 to find out how to donate them.
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Note from the Treasurer
I hope this note finds you all well. It has been a trying time for all and for some more than others.
As you are aware, even though we are not meeting in person at Epiphany, we have expenses and obligations that need to be paid. We are monitoring all spending and trying to be prudent.
I want to thank everyone who has continued to financially support Epiphany by sending in their pledges and donations. We have members who have been sending their pledges in weekly and someone who has been sending a weekly anonymous cash donation. I especially want to thank those who find that during this difficult time that they are financially willing and able to provide additional support beyond their pledge. All of this has been essential in keeping us going.
God bless you all and keep you safe.
Susan Cosman
, Treasurer
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Weekly Announcements
Altar Flowers
~ It is unclear when we will be able to resume the use of altar flowers. We have talked to our florist and their wholesalers are closed, so they are unable to get the flowers to make the arrangements. As soon as we hear that there are flowers available we will resume getting arrangements. Liz in the office will be in touch with anyone who has requested flowers for the coming weeks and will set up new tentative dates for you.
+ + + + +
Cancellations (weather or otherwise)
~ Cancellations will be communicated via e-mail and a notice on our website. We make every effort to hold regular Sunday services, and we never want you to travel if you do not feel safe doing so. And although we encourage sharing, please do not share your germs with your church family & friends - if you are sick, please stay home. If there is any question as to whether church is cancelled please check your e-mail and the church website before venturing out.
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What you need to know this week:
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Weekly Calendar
All in-person parish gatherings have been suspended for the near future. Please see the COVID-19 Response tab of this website to learn how you can join us for virtual worship services.
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For Worship on June 14
The Second Sunday after Pentecost
lectionary readings
(We are using the Track 2 readings)
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From the Office
E-Mail & Sunday Announcements Deadlines
Announcements and notices for the Weekly e-News e-mails must be received in the office by noon each Monday - call or e-mail the office.
To have your announcement included in the Sunday bulletin, please have it in the office by noon on Wednesday.
Hospital Visitation
At this time Rev. Christen is only visiting the hospital or other care facilities in times of extreme emergency or for end-of-life needs. If you or a loved one is in need of a hospital visit please contact Rev. Christen at
christen.epiphany@gmail.com
.
Feeling a call (or a tug, or a pull)
to get involved in the life of our Parish, but don't know where to start? Please contact Rev. Christen at
christen.epiphany@gmail.com
to learn about the many opportunities to serve.
Office Hours
The office is not maintaining regular office hours during the quarantine period. Staff will be picking up the mail and checking e-mail and phone messages.
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Welcome to Epiphany Parish
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We gather with joy in the power of Jesus’ name, to care for one another and to include all people through our fellowship, education & outreach.
Epiphany Episcopal Parish welcomes all those who seek a spiritual connection to God. We embrace the young and the old; the seasoned and the newcomer; the married, single, separated, divorced and widowed; those of all sexual orientations and gender identities; those from any economic, ethnic, cultural or religious background; and those of all abilities. We not only welcome diversity at Epiphany, we celebrate it.
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Epiphany Email Policy:
As fraudulent emails are becoming more common and more sophisticated, please note that Rev. Christen, Epiphany Parish staff, and/or the members of our Vestry will never solicit money, gift cards, or personal information via email. If you have any questions or concerns about an email request you receive from a leader or staff person in our parish, please do not hesitate to contact the parish office at 508-668-2353.
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EPIPHANY PARISH
62 Front Street
Walpole, MA 02081
508-668-2353
epiphany-walpole.org
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