Parish Notices for May 21, 2021
New in this issue...

  • COVID Protocol Changes in the works
  • Pentecost Note for the Outdoor Service
  • Diocesan Survey
  • An Epiphany Star
  • Guest Preacher for 5/30
  • Youth Ministry Schedule
Dear Epiphany family,
In response to the CDCs new guidelines about vaccinated individuals and mask wearing, the Diocese has updated their guidelines for worship. The Safely Together Task Force will meet and discuss how some of these changes might be implemented at Epiphany. We know this is complicated because some adults and all children under age 12 are still unvaccinated and we want to create space that is safe and welcoming for all people. Thank you for your patience as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of community life during COVID. 
 
One change that is clear is that we can now have congregational singing, with masks on, at our outdoor Eucharist. We implemented this last Sunday and it was joyous to worship together outdoors with singing and sharing Eucharist. More updates on our guidelines will be coming soon. I look forward to worshipping with you all this Sunday and seeing you at the parish picnic afterwards.
 
Grace and peace,
Amy+
Pentecost & Picnic this Sunday May 23
Picnic follows the 11:30 a.m. service
Pentecost Service: If you are attending the outdoor service this Sunday, please arrive a bit early to set up your chairs, then move to the courtyard for the beginning of the liturgy.

Bring Your Own Picnic: Parish Life, (remember us?), is excited to offer an opportunity to gather after the outdoor service on Sunday, May 23 for a Bring Your Own Picnic. With the protocols easing up a bit, we can now gather for a picnic if we bring our own food and drink. So plan on some much needed social time with your Epiphany friends, sitting either in the parking lot or in the meadow. Again, please bring your own food and drinks as nothing can be provided at this time. And don't forget a chair or blanket.
 
Questions or concerns? Email Polly Nodine.
Worship Services
Online Worship
Sunday Morning at 9 a.m.
Login at 8:50 a.m. to greet one another. Remain online afterwards for Small Groups Virtual Coffee Hour.

Sermon recordings are posted Monday afternoons to epiphany.org/sermons and archived for a year.
Dial 646.558.8656
Meeting ID is 532 385 901

Links for the Sunday morning login and bulletins can also be found on our homepage.
Weekday Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Login around 8:45 a.m. for Virtual Coffee Hour. The Zoom Link is not public. Email the parish office to receive the login information.

 
Wednesday Noonday Prayer at 12:30 p.m.
Login around 12:20 p.m. to greet one another. The Zoom Link is not public. Email the parish office to receive the login information.
NEW in June: Next month on June 2, the Noonday Prayer service will take place outdoors in the Memorial Garden and include Healing and Eucharist! Masks are required and we will observe distances. The other services will be on Zoom in the month of June. Stay tuned for further services in July and August.
Outdoor Eucharist - Registration Required
Sunday Morning at 11:30 a.m.
 
Please Bring
  • a mask
  • a chair
  • a pre-printed bulletin or electronic device.

Cancellation notices due to weather will be sent to the registrant email at 8:30 a.m. Check your email before coming to church if the weather is uncertain.
Registration
Click on links provided on our website, in this newsletter OR NOW from your Realm account via the web or your smart phone app. For those who have created your Realm logins, the fields will auto-fill for you once you select your name. Guest registration is also an option.

A pop up confirmation notice appears when you complete your registration, and a confirmation email is immediately sent. If you don’t receive a confirmation notice or email, try again and be sure to click the last button marked REGISTER.

If you have not created your Realm login yet, email the parish office to get a new invitation link to register.

It's new, so give it a minute. I'm also happy to walk anyone through it over the phone and if all else fails, email or call me and I can sign you up. ~Shea
Altar Arrangements and the Sanctuary Light
The Altar Arrangements and the Sanctuary Light can be given in honor of an anniversary, birthday or in memory of a loved one.
The Arrangements at the Altar for this Sunday are given to the Glory of God and in memory of Randy Lynn Seals, by Amanda Kay Seals.

The Altar Arrangements are used for both online and outdoor services. You may request a particular flower or color be used on the signup. Suggested donation is $75.
The Sanctuary Light is given this week to the Glory of God and in memory of John Wickins by Linda Wolf.

The light is a visible sign of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament held in reserve in the Tabernacle and burns for seven days. Suggested donation is $6.
 
 
Sign up by noon on Wednesdays to be listed in the weekly Friday email and the Sunday online bulletin.
Guest Preacher on Sunday May 30
Trey Phillips will be our guest speaker for services on Sunday, May 30. Trey is a Candidate for holy orders here in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. A recent graduate of the Candler School of Theology, he currently serves as a Spiritual Health Resident (Chaplain) at Emory University Hospital Midtown, providing spiritual and emotional support to both the hospitalized and the medical staff. Trey is married to Annie Phillips who is a first-grade teacher at Glennwood Elementary in Decatur, GA. 
Children & Youth Ministries
Coming soon...

"Summer." Just the word conjures up memories of the end of school, vacations with family, trips to stay with your grandparents, and more. It is one of those words that remind us of the child in each of us. This year has been challenging for children (and their parents) and this summer things will continue to be a little bit different. That is why Children's Ministries is asking everyone to help us create a new summer experience that will be one our children will never forget.

The church offers a special place where people across generations develop relationships. The relationships our children develop with those trusted adults in our community as storytellers, the nice person who greets them, the person who sits behind them and makes faces with me during the sermon, their friends' parents, or the choir member who winks as the procession goes by; these relationships form us all in the image of Christ.

I hope you are curious and can't wait to hear more how you can show up to play and be an important part of the formation of Epiphany's children. Children's Ministries will be reaching out to parishioners asking for your help; we hope you will say yes. Many hands make light work! Let's show our children what it means to be a member of Epiphany.
I'd love to hear a story!

Our online Godly Play sessions will end Sunday. However, if you and your family would like to meet Christen (or another storyteller) in the Godly Play room on Sunday morning before outdoor worship, sign up with this link
All participants must wear masks during the session. A parent, grandparent, or guardian needs to be present with the children; no previous Godly Play experience required. All children old enough to sit and listen to a 10-15 minutes story with their family are welcome. The art shelves and story shelves will be open for response time! Email Christen Erskine, Interim Director of Children's Ministries if you have any questions or to request a particular story.
Youth Ministries
May 22 - Youth Group Hike at Arabia Mountain
Youth and families are invited to hike Arabia Mountain together on May 22. We will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, at the Arabia Mountain South Parking Lot on Klondike Rd.
May 23 - In-Person Evening Prayer
Evening Prayer is held every Sunday from 5-6PM. The first half is dedicated to games and social time, while the second is set aside for prayer and formation.
Youth Group will not meet on May 30 or June 6. Weekly Youth Group will resume June 13.
Weekly Youth News
Members of the parish with youth age children can subscribe to a newsletter with updates just about Youth Ministries. Email Mat Schramm, Director of Youth Ministries to sign up for the weekly newsletters.
Parish Announcements
Input Needed | Diocesan Survey
Given that this is the 9th year of Bishop Wright's episcopacy, and that we find ourselves coming out of a pandemic, transitioning into a new way of being, now is the time to check the pulse of the Diocese again, and gather feedback to guide us in strategic decision making for the new season to come. 
We ask for your partnership in this initiative by providing your feedback. Those asked to provide feedback are any member of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, especially Clergy, Wardens, Treasurers, parish ministry heads, members of Diocesan Commissions, and Annual Council delegates. 
he survey will help us determine the best means of communication with members of the Diocese, our priorities for the future, the needs of our parishes, and strategic goals for our future together. 
Thank you, and may God continue to bless our common life,
+Rob Wright
Epiphany Stars

Riley Davis was awarded one of the “Most Outstanding Brass Player” awards for the Decatur High School band for her trumpet playing. There were three total given out for all three different levels of band. She got the one for her level. 

Have you or another parishioner you know given a gift of their time and talent to Epiphany? Do you know someone who has received recognition for a personal achievement? If so, please let us know!
Living Contemplatively Spirituality Group
Mondays at 11 a.m. on Zoom

Beginning Monday, June 6
 
The Living Contemplatively Group will begin a new book study in June on the book Anchored in the Current: Discovering Howard Thurman as Educator, Activist, Guide, and Prophet. The book is edited by Gregory C. Ellison II and includes essays about Howard Thurman by Barbara Brown Taylor, Luther Smith, Marion Wright Edelman, and others on Thurman’s influence on our understanding of vocation and living a life anchored in faith. If you are currently participating in the small group studying Thurman’s book Jesus and the Disinherited and want to do deeper into the spiritual foundation that grounded Thurman’s life, or if you are encountering for the first time this civil rights activist, pastor, professor, poet, and spiritual guide, you are invited to join us for this study. For more information or to sign up, email the Rev. Amy Dills-Moore.
Let's Finish the Playground!

After last fall’s fall of a tree that crushed most of the playground equipment, the repairs to walkways, fencing and playground structures are just about complete – but we need some final volunteer help in four different parts.

We can do this – with your help! Email John Wierwille if you have questions about which job is right for you.
Pantry Drive for DEAM
June 6 – June 30

Next month we will be collecting items to help the Decatur-area Emergency Assistance Ministry (DEAM) pantry.
 
We’ll be collecting:
  1. small cornbread mixes like Jiffy
  2. any size of shelf-stable milk, canned or dry, except Sweetened Condensed canned milk.
 
Collection will be from June 6 – June 30. Bins will be by the front door.
Harvey Fund Grant Application

The Catherine D. Harvey Legacy Fund grant application cycle for the Summer term is now open. If you are aware of an organization that might qualify, please share the application.
 
Applications must be received by August 1, 2021. Questions? Email the Harvey Fund Advisory Board.

EFM is Zooming!
Because of the uncertainties of the next year, Education for Ministry (EFM) will meet on Zoom for the 2021-22 school year. This makes it a great opportunity to get to know people outside of our usual geography and ways of thinking, and perhaps even some people from other countries! EFM is a four-year extension program of the School of Theology of the University of the South. It is partly academic readings, but the heart of EFM is theological reflection, or “TR“. In a TR, participants discuss issues of faith, what they believe, what they question, how it relates to their everyday lives, and how they keep faith alive. Students sign up one year at a time for this four-year program. The cost of the program is $350 per year. The meetings will be held from early September through May. For further information, email Esther Harbert.
Summer at Camp Mikell
Camp Mikell is offering a summer program this year, but camp will be different from previous years due to concerns related to COVID. More details on what that will look like can be found on the registration page. See link below.
 
  • Youth Camp: May 30—June 4, Rising 10th Graders-Just Graduated
  • Performing Arts Camp: June 6—June 11, Rising 4th-9th Graders
  • Intermediate Camp: June 20—June 25, Rising 8th and 9th Graders
  • Junior Camp: June 27—July 2, Rising 6th and 7th Graders
  • Kid Camp: July 11—July 16, Rising 3rd-5th Graders
  • Work Camp: July 18—July 23, Rising10th Graders-Just Graduated
 
Church Building Remains Closed
The staff continues to work mostly from home. They check their email and voicemail messages regularly.
 
Pastoral Emergencies: Please call the church at 404.373.8338 and leave a message for Amy (ext. 14) or Nicole (ext. 16). They receive message alerts and will return your call.
 
Building Sign-In Required: The building is closed to in-person worship and meetings, however, if you need to enter the church building for any reason, please sign in and out using the logbook at the entrance.
Finances
Ways to Give

The easiest way for you to give to Epiphany is through Realm, our secure online community. You can make one-time donations or manage your giving as a recurring transaction in a secure, easy-to-use environment. Contribution statements are always available via your profile.
 
Realm Login
If you have not yet created a login to our online church ministry tool, Email the parish office and you will be sent an invitation email
 
Visit epiphany.org/ways-to-give to learn about the different was to give to Epiphany. You'll also find links to more information about Realm. Finally, if you have not already made a financial pledge to support Church of the Epiphany this year, there's also a link about how to make a pledge on the Ways to Give page.
Year End Statements

Year end statements were sent via email on January 15 with the subject line “Your giving statement from Church of the Epiphany.” Statements are also available on Realm. If you have not yet done so, please enroll so you have immediate access to your giving record and the church directory. Should that be impractical for you, email our bookkeeper Susie Boyko to request a PDF by email or paper statement by mail be sent to you.
Online Gatherings
Daughters of the King meet 4th Sundays
The Daughters of the King (DOK) meet online on 4th Sundays at 2 p.m. The DOK is open to all women in the parish interested in fellowship and study. Email Barbara Ryder if you would like to receive the Zoom link each month.
 
Epiphany Book Group meets 1st Mondays (NEW TIME)
The Epiphany Book Group is moving their meeting time up to 7 p.m. for the next two months. Until we here differently, we will continue to meet on Zoom. Email Linda Ryder-Wolf for the link.

  • June: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
  • August: Barkskins by Annie Proulx
Racial Justice Group meets 2nd Tuesdays
The Racial Justice Group (RJG) meets 2nd Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Called by our baptismal covenant to strive for justice and peace among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being, the RJG is focused on lifelong learning and action steps we can take as individuals and as a church community to help achieve racial equity and justice. All are welcome. Email Erin Braden for the Zoom link, and reach out to Erin or Kay Lee with any questions or suggestions. We welcome your thoughts.
Racial Justice Book Study Group meets 4th Wednesdays
You are invited to join Epiphany’s Racial Justice Book Study group on the last Wednesday of the month from 6:45 - 8 p.m. We are currently reading Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson and will continue to read and discuss the book through April.
 
The purposes of our Book Study are to:
  • educate and inform ourselves on the history of racial injustice
  • better understand the challenges of changing racial inequities and seeking racial justice, and
  • work toward pragmatic and effective ways to be better anti-racist advocates.
 
Please consider ordering your books from Black owned, local bookstores, which you can find by searching for “black owned bookstores Atlanta.” Email Lisa Daily for the Zoom link. Contact Lisa Daily or Kay Lee, if you have any questions.
Grief Pastoral Care Group meets 1st Thursdays
The Grief Pastoral Care Group meets online 1st Thursdays at noon for a healing and faith based conversation around grief and loss. Led by parishioners Megan Fraijo-Paul and Nancy Thompson, both trained psychotherapists. Email either Megan or Nancy to join the group and receive the Zoom link.
Flex & Stretch and Chair Yoga
The Flex & Stretch class—which is the basic SilverSneakers class—meets online on Fridays and the Chair Yoga program meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All at 11 a.m. Email Ellen Mintzmeyer for the Zoom link.
Prayers of the People
  • Send prayer requests to the parish office.
  • Names of our friends and family remain on the list for four weeks.
  • The Anniversary & Birthday List for the month can be found here.
For members who are bidding our prayers: Jewel Allen • Joy Boydon • Sally Brockington • Alma Fuller • Beth Galvin • Judy Jarady • Henry Laird • Neela Ram • Ann Rowles • Paul Thompson• Stephanie Thompson
 
For friends and family: Isabel, granddaughter of Mike & Beth Towers • Betty Porter, relative of Christen Erskine • Dave Tipton, brother of Pam Tipton • Rosalind, sister of Katharine Hilliard-Yntema • Nicky Cullen, friend of Linda Ryder-Wolf • Einar Sagstuen, friend of Sandy Land • Laura Sinyard, niece of Laura Keys • John Watson, brother of Laura Keys • Ronnie Troglione, uncle of Lisa Carlson • John Quinn, step-father of Amy Shipp • Joslyn McGuire, friend of Ellen Mintzmyer • Michael Seymour, neighbor of Ellen Mintzmyer • Shannon & Zane Gold, neighbor of Ellen Mintzmyer • Bill & Becky and their family, friends of Jewel Allen • Gary Davis, father of Jeremy Davis • Blanca Ester Solis, friend of Jeff & Wallace McGrath • Joann Hambalek, mother-in-law of Barbara Belcore • Sherie McGowin, friend of Noelle Reetz • Eleanor Whitman, aunt of Noelle Reetz • Nell Witman Sandemeyer, cousin of Noelle Reetz • Ansley, friend of Esther Bryant • Zach, friend of Henry Bryant • Dab Belcore & Kathy Brannon, brother and sister-in-law of Barbara Belcore
 
For those who have died: Maureen Cooper, sister-in-law of George Council • Winston Johnston, friend of Paul Hinson • Faith, friend of Edie Brush
 
For those celebrating anniversaries for the week of 5/23-29: Elizabeth & Matthew Rose • Neela Ram & Brian Gross
 
For those celebrating birthdays for the week of 5/23-29: Paige Tipton-Thierry Caroline Peacock Annie Ballou Libby Ballou Paul Dangel Paul DeSandre Paige Howell Sophie Mawson-Puckhaben Jennifer Patico Adam Gaeddert Mindy Pillow Lauren Marcewicz

For members who desire our continuing prayers: Ron Hutcheson • Rod MacLeod • Chris Miller • Tom Mundy • Terry-Lee Ross • June Sparks • Pat Spivey
The weekly parish notices are published Friday mornings at 7 a.m.
The submission deadline is Wednesdays at NOON.