Weekly e-News
from Epiphany Parish
November 9, 2021
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From Rev Christen
Dear Epiphany Parish,
This weekend, Kevin Miller, Janice Allman, and I will be attending (virtually) the convention of our Diocese. I ask for your prayers as we vote on financial matters, elect leaders, discuss ministry matters, and help to set priorities for our Diocese in the coming years. On Sunday at our 10:15am service and in the e-news next week, we will share more about the work of convention and about some of the decisions that are made.
I always appreciate time to be with and reflect on the ministry of the wider church. There are faithful Christians around the globe and across our country who are responding to God’s call for love and justice wherever they are. Even though meetings like Diocesan Convention deal with business, finance, and planning, they always remind me that the church is bigger than our one parish, and that God is at work at all places and through all people. It is good to be reminded of that from time to time.
I also commend to you this sermon preached by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at a virtual worship service to pray for our planet, scheduled to coincide with the COP26 meeting happening in Scotland right now.
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Presiding Bishop Curry’s sermon from Liturgy for Planetary Crisis: Episcopal Worship Service during COP26
There are many challenges in our world right now. I invite you to join me in prayer for all leaders in our church, in our country, and in our world who are meeting, planning, and working to make the world a more loving, healthier, and safer place for all people.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
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On Sunday, November 14th from 7pm-8pm via Zoom, we will be discussing the film, My Name is Pauli Murray, a documentary about the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, a Civil Rights icon, a lawyer, a poet, and the first Black woman to be ordained to the Episcopal Priesthood. Pauli’s work as a lawyer and Civil Rights activist was hugely influential in the desegregation of public schools, women’s rights, and LGBTQ rights in our country. And yet, despite the importance of her work, Pauli Murray is still relatively unknown, even in the Episcopal Church where she helped to shatter the ‘stained glass ceiling’ when ordained in 1977.
Please email office.epiphany@verizon.net if you would like to sign-up for this zoom discussion. Watch the film HERE streaming on Amazon Prime Video, on your own and then join us for a discussion of Rev. Pauli Murray's life and work.
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29th Annual Thanksgiving Meals Delivery - Full turkey dinners will be delivered to seniors, families and individuals in need in Walpole, Norfolk, Franklin, Wrentham, Foxboro, and other local communities on Thanksgiving Day. Anyone needing a meal should contact Dianne Langer at: 508-384-7053 (leave a message with name and phone # ) Please sign up before Nov. 23rd, if possible (but no one will be turned away ). Calls and emails for meals will be confirmed. Menu Turkey and gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots, squash, cranberry sauce, rolls and apple cider Pie slice for dessert.
Blessings to all! Dianne Langer
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"Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…” James 1:17, NRSV
2022 Stewardship Campaign - Our theme this year, Every Perfect Gift, speaks to all the ways in which we have been blessed by God and how that inspires us to give back to our neighbors, our church, the world.
In our efforts to make pledging as flexible and convenient as possible, we are once again offering the option to submit your pledge electronically. Click here to make your pledge electronically today! Hard copy pledge cards have been mailed out and remain an option for those that prefer to mail or bring the pledge card in.
Every dollar that we raise has a face behind it, a story, a purpose, a mission . As you consider pledging your gift, I ask that you consider how you have been blessed, and how you will bless this church and our neighbors. What is the story of your gift, how will it unfold?
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common cathedral - Thursday, November 18th Drop Off
We are signed up for 20 pieces of fruit and 50 granola bars.
Common cathedral has requested to bring only soft fruit (like bananas, oranges, grapes) no hard fruit (like apples). Please bring more bananas than oranges if able.
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Fall Epiphany Parish Programs
Confirmation Class - This fall we will be running a Confirmation Class for students who are interested in being Confirmed in the Spring. This class is for Students in grades 9-12 who are interested in learning about God, deepening their faith, and getting a better understanding of the church. Students in 7th and 8th grade may also sign up if they are ready and interested in confirmation.
After October 17th, we will send out a survey to families of the confirmands in order to schedule classes and plan the logistics. Also, if you are an adult who is interested in baptism, confirmation, or reception into the Episcopal Church, please let Rev. Christen know so we can discuss the possibility of an adult class this year.
This Bread and This Cup: Communion Class for Children and Parents - This late Fall/Winter we are going to be running a class for children called "This Bread, This Cup." First Communion is not traditionally practiced in the Episcopal Church, however, there is a desire for children to learn more about this important sacrament. The "This Bread, This Cup" curriculum is geared for children about ages 6-8. It is a workbook that parents and children will do together at home. There will also be two in-person gatherings at the church to put what the children are learning into practice. After the class is over, we will recognize the participants during our 10:15am service. Please email the office at Office.Epiphany@verizon.net if you and your child are interested in participating in the ‘This Bread, This Cup’ Communion Class at Epiphany Parish. We will send out a survey to schedule the gatherings.
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Sunday, November 14, 2021
Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Morning Prayer via phone - 8:30 AM
Sunday Worship In-door, In-Person or on Facebook Live at 10:15 AM
The Bulletin & Prayers of the People will be emailed on Friday.
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Notes from the Office
Prayer Hours - The Sanctuary will be open on Wednesdays from 10:00am-2:00 pm for prayer. Please enter from the driveway side door.
Altar Flowers - Flower bouquets have returned to the altar. If you would like to have flowers placed on the altar in memory of a loved one please email the office at office.epiphany@verizon.net. A sign up sheet is also located in the undercroft outside of the kitchen. November 14th - Flowers are in Loving Memory of David Alan Hutchins.
Weekly Calendar
Sunday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 8:30am
Sunday Morning Worship - Indoor & Facebook Live at 10:15am
Youth Group - Every other Sunday 5-6:00pm South Walpole United Methodist Church - 11/21/21
Tuesday Open Vestry Meetings - virtually every third Tuesday via Zoom
Wednesday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 7:15
Wednesday - Sanctuary open for Prayer - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Fridays - AA Meeting - Undercroft 8:00pm
Office Hours
The office is open on Wednesdays 10-2:00pm.
Please call or email to arrange a time to meet in person for different days or times.
Please contact Rev Christen directly if you have a pastoral emergency.
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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; 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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Want to Get Involved?
Gifts for Kids - With help from generous donors like you, we provided more than 1,200 children with holiday gifts in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need is greater than ever and our program is more in demand. While we hoped in 2021 to return to our traditional format of pairing donors with children, in response to the ongoing pandemic Gifts for Kids will only be able to distribute gift cards to parents/guardians. Once again, we are accepting only monetary donations this holiday season. All donations will be converted to gift cards and our affiliated social service agencies will distribute them to families on behalf of Gifts for Kids. While our donors, like you, will not have the same experience of shopping, these gift cards will empower parents and guardians to select gifts for their children they otherwise would not have been able to provide.
Thank you for understanding that, while the pandemic has changed the vehicle through which we accomplish our mission, our purpose has not changed.
Help us reach our goal of $150,000 by Friday, December 3, which allows us to provide for at least 1,200 children. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated:
3. Send your donation to @GiftsForKidsMA on Venmo (phone last four digits: 8570).
4. Mail a check payable to Gifts for Kids to PO Box 464, Sharon, MA 02067.
5. Text GFK to 202-858-1233.
If your company offers, having them match your donation is a wonderful way to increase your impact.
P.S. Did you know it is possible to support Gifts For Kids while shopping on Amazon? Visit smile.amazon.com and select Gifts for Kids Sharon. We will receive a percentage of select purchases made on the site.
Gifts for Kids is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 20-3361694) and donations are tax deductible.
Migration and Refugee Ministry - If you are looking for ways to get connected with other people who are interested in refugee ministry and migration ministry to support refugees from Haiti and Afghanistan, you can find more information at Episcopal Migration Ministries. https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/afghan-allies/
Seafarers' Friends - Seafarers' mission is to extend the ministry of the churches to meet the unmet spiritual, social and practical needs of seafarers in the New England Maritime Community. It was founded and incorporated in 1827 in Boston as The Boston Seaman’s Friend Society. Currently, Seafarers' Friends are looking for folks to knit hats, balaclavas and neck warmers. Their goal is 750 by November 20th! Epiphany Parishioner Shirley Hutchins has been knitting for the Seafarers for many years. For more information go to: Get Involved | Seafarer's Friend (seafarersfriend.org).
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Epiphany Parish Welcome Statement
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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Fraudulent emails are still continuing to become 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| 508-668-2353| 62 Front Street, Walpole, MA 02081
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