Weekly e-News from Epiphany Parish
January 14-21, 2020
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From Rev. Christen's Desk
Dear Epiphany Parish,
One Weekend in the Life of Epiphany Parish:
On Friday evening, around 8pm, our building was host to an AA meeting. There are three different AA meetings that call Epiphany their home and it is a major part of our mission and outreach to provide space for these 12-step groups to meet.
On Saturday morning, I arrived at Epiphany around 8:30am to help with the Pageant rehearsal. When I arrived, I met Roger our parish sexton in the driveway. He was in the middle of cleaning our parish building which he does every week to get it ready for worship on Sunday and all the other events and meetings that take place during the week.
When I unlocked the doors of the church, I heard a drilling noise and went to investigate. I found Mark, our Junior Warden, working with another man to install a door in the back of our building (near Mrs. G's classroom). The old door to the outside had begun falling apart and could no longer be repaired. A few months ago, the vestry voted to approve the money to replace the door in order to make our building safer as well as more environmentally friendly.
Around 9am, children from our parish and adult volunteers began to arrive to rehearse for the Epiphany pageant that would take place the next day. 10 children and their families participated in the pageant rehearsal that was led by Jamie and Elyse. While the children were practicing, Mary Jane, a member of our altar guild came to set up the altar and prepare the sanctuary for Sunday worship she was helped by Jane, another member of our altar guild. Jane and Mary Jane met the delivery person from Judy Village Flowers in Foxboro and put the new flowers in the vases on the altar.
After the pageant, around 10am, Susan, our treasurer, stopped by to pick up some check requests in the parish office and gather information that she and Nancy, our assistant treasurer needed to pay bills and invoices on behalf of our congregation.
On Saturday evening, our building was quiet, but our community was still at work doing ministry. The vestry was voting by email to allow for the possibility of a new support group to use space in our building on Tuesday nights. Also, many other people from our parish were at home, preparing for the music, Sunday school, pageant, worship, and youth group that would all occur the next day.
On Sunday morning, the church building was a busy place. 15 people gathered to worship together at 8am. Kevin and Peter served at the altar and did the readings. At the 10am service, 53 people experienced a wonderful pageant that the children of our parish performed (
Click here
for pictures!). Paul, Leia, and Pam helped serve at the altar. Dick and Janice served as readers. Brian and Ellen served as ushers and Alison gave the vestry announcements. At both services, we prayed for people and places around the world that need our prayers and we celebrated communion together.
After church we gathered for a time of fellowship that Alison organized and over 22 parishioners met to discuss and dream next steps for the 72nd annual Village Fair. Hope and Janice counted and deposited the money collected during the offertory to help support the ministry and mission of Epiphany Parish and volunteers including, Jane, Hope, Kevin, Corwin, Rob, Alan, Rhonda, and Alan stayed to help take down all the Christmas decorations in the sanctuary.
Late Sunday afternoon, after a much needed break, our building was host to the Walpole Multi-Church Youth Group. 10 young people from 4 different churches and 6 adult volunteers came together for games and a discussion about baptism and what meaning baptism has in their lives. The volunteers from Epiphany were Michael and Tommy. Afterwards, interested parents and youth met to plan an upcoming week-long mission trip that will take place this summer.
This was a busy weekend in the life of our parish, but it was not an unusual one. Our building and our parish community is full of life and energy. Epiphany's community and impact are much wider than just Sunday mornings, although Sunday mornings are the primary event in the life of our parish. Ministry is going on all the time and it takes many, many volunteers, staff, and leaders to keep our community running. I am so grateful for this parish and for the faith and love that you all share throughout this parish community.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
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Community Martin Luther King Observance
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Monday, January 20, 2020
Beginning at 6:30 pm with a candlelight vigil on the Walpole Common at the corner of Common and Main Streets, at 7:15 pm the observance will move into United Church in Walpole, 30 Common Street, for prayers, readings, poems, reflections, and songs. You are welcome to bring candles or lights for the vigil. Refreshments will be served in the United Church in Walpole Hall following the observance.
Sponsors for this event include the Walpole Peace and Justice Group, United Church in Walpole, Epiphany Parish, Union Congregational Church, South Walpole United Methodist Church, Walpole Multi-Church Youth Group, the Walpole Recovery Center, and Action Together Walpole. This Martin Luther King Day Observance provides an opportunity for people in Walpole to come together to promote peace and unity in our community.
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Calling All Youth ~ Ages 14 and Up
You are invited to attend City Reach, an overnight at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Boston, on March 13th & 14th. Hosted by common cathedral, City Reach is an opportunity for young people to learn about homelessness in Boston from folks who are homeless or are formerly homeless.
Rev. Christen is organizing a group of youth and adult leaders from churches in our area to attend from Friday, March 13th to Saturday, March 14th. On Friday evening, youth are addressed by staff who are experiencing, or have experienced, homelessness. They walk through the city guided by members of common cathedral and end the evening with a simple worship service. Participants sleep at a local church. On Saturday morning participants offer clothing that they have collected and a simple meal to unhoused guests who come to "shop" for clothing from among the donated items. Participants form teams for street outreach, taking sandwiches and clothes to people at South Station, Copley Square, Boston's waterfront and other sites. All then eat lunch and reflect together about their experiences in light of the Gospel, write a prayer, and talk about next steps for them personally and/or as a group. Housed participants prepare to present their experiences to their home congregations.
If your youth is interested, please let Rev. Christen know. There will also be a dinner in early February for participants to get to know each other and to prepare for the City Reach experience. Space is limited so let Rev. Christen know soon if you are interested. The cost is $70 a person and scholarship money is available.
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Epiphany Parish Annual Meeting - February 2
Mark your calendars! Plan to join us for our parish annual meeting on February 2 following the 10:00am service. Our annual meeting is a time when we come together as a parish to do the business of the church. We ratify budget, elect officers, and review the reports of our different ministries and committees.
If you are the leader of one of your various ministries, please start to think about your annual report. Reports will be due in the office by Wednesday, January 22 so Liz and begin to put the annual report together.
This is a great time to gather and review all that we have done over the past year as well as to look toward our future!
Nominations for elected positions are now open!
In advance of our Annual the Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for elected positions in our parish. Beginning next Sunday, January 12 you will find vestry nomination boxes in the lower Narthex near the front door and on the shelf next to the side door to the parking lot. We will be voting on the following positions:
Officers:
Senior Warden (1-year term)
Junior Warden (1-year term)
Clerk (1-year term)
Treasurer (1-year term)
Vestry Members:
2 members each for a 3-Year Term
1 member for a 1-Year Term
Representatives:
2 members each for a 1-year term as Diocesan Convention Delegate
1 member for a 1-year term as Diocesan Convention Delegate Alternative
2-3 members each for a 1-year term as Deanery Assembly Representative
1 youth member for a 1-year term as Vestry youth representative
More information about vestry positions and term-lengths will be posted next to the nomination boxes and sent out in next week's e-newsletter. We are also accepting nominations via email. Please email the parish office if you would like to nominate yourself or someone else.
Be sure to include:
· the name of the person you are nominating
· the position you are nominating them for
· contact information for the person you are nominating (don't assume we have it in the office)
All nominations should be in by Sunday, January 26th. If you would like to nominate someone for a position, please get that person's permission before placing their name in the box.
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Weekly Announcements
Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting ~
There will be a teachers’ meeting on Sunday, January 19 following the 10:00am service. If you are a teacher and are unable to attend, please let Jean Ford know.
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Save the date! Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper ~
On Tuesday, February 25th, come to our all ages pancake supper featuring our famous pancake flipping races! Volunteers are needed to plan this event and to cook pancakes. If you are interested in helping to plan this event, please let Rev. Christen know.
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Altar Flowers ~
Our regular delivery of altar flowers has begun. Donating altar flowers for Sunday morning is a wonderful way remember loved ones who have passed or to celebrate something or someone special to you. The recommended donation is $40 for one vase/$75 for both. If you would like to sign up for flowers in the coming months please see the poster on the bulletin board in the lower Narthex (to the left of the door upon exiting the church) to see available dates, or contact the church office during the week.
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What you need to know this week:
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Weekly Calendar
Wed, Jan. 15, 2020
7:00 pm Women's AA (undercroft)
Thurs, Jan. 16, 2020
11:00 am Pastoral Care
(Vestry Room)
2:00 pm Walpole Healthcare/Harrington House
Fri, Jan. 17, 2020
8:00 pm AA (undercroft)
Sun, Jan. 19, 2020
8:00 am Holy Eucharist ~ Rite I
9:45 am Sunday School
10:00 am Holy Eucharist ~ Rite II
11:00 am Coffee Hour (undercroft)
11:15 am Book Study
5:00 pm Youth Group (undercroft)
Mon, Jan. 20, 2020
Martin Luther King Day
5:30 pm Breaking Bread Community Meal Served (United Church)
6:30 pm Community MLK Observance (Town Common)
6:30 pm Soup Supper
(Vestry Room)
7:00 pm Bible Study
(Vestry Room)
Wed, Jan. 22, 2020
12:00 pm Eucharist with Healing Prayer
7:00 pm Women's AA (undercroft)
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Participating in Worship on January 19
The Second Sunday after Epiphany
lectionary readings
8:00 am
Acolyte:
Peter Ellison
Worship Leader:
Kevin Miller
10:00 am
Acolytes:
Dimitrius Martinez
Ella Martinez
Worship Leaders:
George Ford
Cindy Stockwell
Nancy Barry
Ushers:
Jay Barrett
John Parnagian
Altar Guild:
Jane Giovannucci
Betty Riley
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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
If you or a loved one would like a visit from Rev. Christen while in the hospital please call the church office or e-mail Rev. Christen at
christen.epiphany@gmail.com
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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 open this week
(week ending Jan. 18)
Mon - Wed - Thurs
10:00am - 2:00pm
The office is open next week
(week ending Jan. 25)
Tuesday - Thursday
10:00am - 2:00pm
(The office will be closed on Monday in observance of MLK Day)
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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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