Weekly e-News from
Epiphany Parish
September 15, 2020
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From Rev. Christen's Desk
Dear Epiphany Parish,
This year, Epiphany will be partnering with Church of the Advent in Medfield and St. John’s in Westwood to host an adult education opportunity called Sacred Ground. Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. This program is free (with the exception of two books that will need to be purchased) and open to all. If you choose to participate, each month you will have some reading to do and some films to be watched (no more than 90 minutes of film per month) on your own. There will then be a monthly zoom gathering on the first Wednesday of each month from 7pm-8:30pm to enter into a facilitated time of prayerful conversation and dialogue. At each zoom gathering, we will spend some time in a large group with all participants from the three parishes and then the rest of the time will be spent in breakout groups by parish. Margaret Lias, our Intern for the Diaconate, will be the facilitator for Epiphany Parish. I will also be joining as a coordinator and participant.
This work is critically important and also it is substantial. Therefore, we are asking for folks to commit to the entire year of learning and discussion and to register by September 30 by emailing office.epiphany@verizon.net.
Also, the video below is of Presiding Bishop Curry discussing this curriculum and its importance.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
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common cathedral
Sign up to donate fruit and granola bars!
We are again seeking donations of fruit to be dropped off at Epiphany on Tuesday, September 22nd to be brought into common cathedral the next day. There will be a bin at the side entrance of the church from 10am-6pm for you to drop off your contributions on Tuesday the 22nd.
Thank you to all who have been donating food regularly - if you did not have an opportunity to do so, this is your chance!
We have signed up for 50 pieces of fruit and 50 granola bars! We are looking for 5 people to sign up to each donate 10 pieces of bananas and/or oranges and 5 people to sign up to each donate one box of 8-12 granola bars.
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. Please do not drop off your fruit early--we want to make sure it is fresh when it arrives!
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.
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Please RSVP for Sunday, September 20, 2020
In-Person Outdoor Worship - HERE
Link for full COVID - Regathering Information available - HERE.
For Worship on September 20 ~ The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In-Person & Virtual
(We are using the Track 2 readings)
You can also 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.
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. OR view us on Walpole Media on Wednesdays at 11:30. Verizon Channel 31 or Comcast Channel 8.
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Sacred Ground at Epiphany
We are excited to announce that starting on Wednesday, October 7th Epiphany Parish of Walpole, Church of the Advent in Medfield, and St. John’s Church in Westwood will be partnering to form a Sacred Ground dialogue circle. Sacred Ground will meet virtually once a month from 7-8:30pm on the first Wednesday of each month using Zoom.
Sacred Ground is a 10-session ‘film and readings based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith…The 10-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.
Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. This series is open to all, and especially designed to help white people talk with other white people'.
Participants will watch the videos online at home, read from articles and from two assigned books, and gather for 90 minutes virtually once a month to discuss in a facilitated group setting. In each gathering, some of the time will be spent in a plenary session and the rest of the time will be in small groups by parish.
The expectation is that participants will sign-up to commit to the full 10 months of learning and discussion. For more information about the program, please visit the website: https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground. This is a free program, but there are two core books that all participants will need to purchase (or borrow or download). Financial assistance is available to cover the cost of the books--the cost should never be prohibitive to joining Sacred Ground. Our first meeting will be Wednesday, October 7th from 7pm-8:30pm via zoom. Please register in advance so we can send you the zoom link.
If you would like to register for Sacred Ground, please either email our parish office at office.epiphany@verizon.net or call the church at 508-668-2353.
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Becoming Beloved Community
Becoming Beloved Community is the vision and commitment of the Episcopal Church that, “frames a path for Episcopalians to address racial injustice and grow as a community of reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers who share a passion for the dream of God”. The path has 4 distinct and yet overlapping areas:
1. Telling the Truth about our Churches and Race
2. Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community
3. Practicing the Way of Love in the Pattern of Jesus
4. Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions
Epiphany Parish will be creating a ‘Becoming Beloved Community Leadership Team’ to help us begin to think through ways that our parish can live more deeply into the work of racial justice and this dream of God. If you are interested in learning more about serving in this way, please email Rev. Christen at Christen.Epiphany@gmail.com. To learn more about the Becoming Beloved Community vision, please click HERE: https://episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community
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Need help? Please CLICK HERE for a list of resources and support for mental health, domestic violence, and substance abuse disorders.
Food insecurity: Contact the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline: 1-800-645-8333; available in 160 languages, open 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays throughout the crisis (TTY line: 1-800-377-1292).
Financial Assistance: There are also some funds available at Epiphany Parish to help members of our community in a financial emergency. Please reach out confidentially to Rev. Christen (978-758-7270) if you have any questions or need financial support. If you are struggling to buy food or medicine, pay bills, buy gas, or struggling in any other way, please do not suffer in silence. We are all in this together and Epiphany Parish is here to support you in whatever ways we can.
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Outreach Opportunities - Walpole & Beyond
Daily Stand Out for Justice - We continue to Pray and Act for an end to racism in our country. There will be a daily vigil from 5:00pm-6:30pm on the Walpole town common to support Black Lives Matter. Click HERE for more information. All are welcome. All attendees are asked to please wear a mask and practice physical distancing.
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.
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
Weekly Announcements
Altar Flowers ~ It is unclear when we will be able to resume the use of altar flowers. As soon as we hear that there are flowers available we will resume getting arrangements.
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.hat you need to know this week:
Weekly Calendar ~ Outdoor Worship has begun on Sundays, weather permitting. All in-person parish gatherings should still meet virtually unless permission has been granted. Please see the COVID-19 Response tab of the website to learn how you can join us for virtual worship services.
From the Office
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 now open! Hours are 10-2:00 Tuesday through Thursday. Please follow our Covid - Regathering regulations. Announcements and notices for the Weekly e-News e-mails should 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.
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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