Weekly e-News from
Epiphany Parish
January 17, 2023
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From Rev. Christen
Dear Epiphany Parish,
Do you know what the most difficult part about visiting a new church is for me? Figuring out what to do at Holy Communion and Coffee Hour! Both of these things are meaningful and important to me, but I always get anxious the first time I’m at a new church. Where do I go? What are the practices at this church? Should I stand or kneel? Will anyone talk to me? Is the coffee any good here?
Even as a “Church Professional”, Communion and Coffee Hour always feel a little tricky the first time I’m in a new place. But the secret is, even just one person can make a huge difference in what my experience is like: all it takes is one person showing me where to go, one person inviting me to coffee hour, one person coming up and introducing themselves. It makes a world of difference.
Epiphany Parish has been blessed with a number of new members and visitors over the past few months and years. And I’m so excited that we are able to bring back our annual newcomer lunch on Sunday for everyone who has joined or visited the Epiphany community over the past three years. If that is you, I hope that you will join us! All the details can be found in the announcement below.
Even if you aren’t a newcomer now, but once were, I’d love to hear what your first time at Epiphany was like. What was good? What was difficult? What ideas do you have for how we can be more welcoming? How we can make Holy Communion and Coffee Hour less anxiety-making for first-time visitors and guests? Feel free to email me with stories and ideas at christen.epiphany@gmail.com or pull me aside sometime at church. I’d love to hear what your first time at Epiphany was like.
Peace in Christ,
Christen
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Epiphany Parish News
common cathedral - Drop off - TODAY January 17th - We are signed up for: 50 granola bars, 50 pieces of fruit, 2canisters of ground coffee, 2 pounds of sugar.
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.
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.
Sunday, January 22nd - There will be a ‘Newcomer and Visitor Luncheon’ for everyone who has joined or visited Epiphany for the first time within the past three years. We want to give everyone a chance to meet each other, build community, and learn more about Epiphany Parish! This lunch will take place on Sunday, January 22 nd after the 10am service in the undercroft. Childcare (and lunch for kids) will be provided. If you are new (ish) to Epiphany or would simply like to come and learn more about this parish church, please email our Parish Administrator, Cindy Falcone, to RSVP. Her email address is office.epiphany@verizon.net. We are looking forward to getting to know you better and officially welcoming you to Epiphany!
Sunday, February 12th - Annual Meeting - following the 10:00am worship service.
A Call to Prayer
As the new year begins, I would like to call together all those who would like to be involved in a prayer group that prays with intention for those needing God’s ear. At Epiphany, we have seen within our community, the power of prayer in relieving the pain of illness, anxiety, loss, and just the stress of everyday life. We also have seen the avenue of thanksgiving that prayer allows us to offer. I would like to restore the prayer group we had years ago. We will receive names from Christen, our rector, and include those in need in our daily prayers. There is power in prayer to comfort, to heal, to give us the grace of God’s love. If you would like to be a member of our Epiphany Prayer Group, you can let Christen or me know and we will keep you informed of those who can be added to your daily communion with God. Thank you and Happy 2023!
Jay Barrett - Jebarrett322@verizon.net 781-686- 3010
2022 Dutton Scholarship
Congratulations to Alexia Clinton for winning the 2022 Dutton Scholarship! Typically awarded in June, the Dutton Scholarship is a one-time scholarship given to graduating High School seniors who have been consistently involved as an acolyte or in another ministry that supports the mission and ministry of Epiphany Parish. Alexia is a freshman at Merrimack College and served as an acolyte for all of her High School career (until COVID intervened). In her application essay, Alexia writes, “The members at Epiphany really made me feel good and made church a great experience. After church I would help my mom with the altar guild and talk with other members who were also on altar guild duty. As soon as I turned 10 I began acolyting, I loved it just as much as I thought I would. After a few years my little sister, Briella began acolyting alongside me and it was a really special experience that is unforgettable…Next year I am very excited to be attending Merrimack which is a Christian college and I am taking Christianity in Context course. Not only in College but in my everyday routine in the future I want to include the values and beliefs that Epiphany Parish has provided me with”.
Congratulations, Alexia!
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Saturday, February 4th
Rev. Hal Edmonson's Ordination to the Priesthood at Epiphany Parish at 2:00pm.
Please RSVP to the office at office.epiphany@verizon.net
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Nominations for elected positions are now open!
In advance of our Annual Meeting the Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for elected positions in our parish. Vestry nomination boxes can be found in the lower Narthex near the front door and on the shelf next to the side door to the parking lot. For more information about the different positions, please click HERE. 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)
* We are especially looking to fill the Senior Warden and Treasurer positions. If you are considering nominating yourself or someone else for either of these positions, please email Rev. Christen at christen.epiphany@gmail.com for more information.
Vestry Members:
2 members each for a 3-Year Term
1 youth member for a 1-year term as Vestry youth representative
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
We are also accepting nominations via email. Please email nominations.epiphany@gmail.com or call 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.
Their contact information (don't assume we have it in the office!)
All nominations should be in by Sunday, January 29th. 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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Community News
Run into the new year at HESSCO's 12th Annual Mick Morgan's 5K on March 11, 2023. HESSCO's largest fundraiser of the year is a fun event for runners, walkers, children, and adults. Two good reasons to register now:
- The first 300 registered runners will get an official race t-shirt.
- During the month of January, adult registration is only $30. The rate increases next month.
Registration for children 12 and under and those 65+ is only $20! Click here to learn more and register.
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Sunday, January 22nd
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Rite I with Holy Communion - 8:00am
Rite II with Holy Communion - 10:00am - Live streamed
The 10:00am Bulletin will be posted to the website by Friday.
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Coffee Hour
Our after worship coffee hour back to the undercroft! This informal time of fellowship, coffee, and snacks happens each week immediately following the 10am service. We are in need of people to host coffee hour! More information available online.
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Altar Flowers
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.
Flowers will be ordered for the altar on weeks when they are sponsored by someone. If you would like to sponsor flowers, please call the office and leave a message at 508.668.2353 or email at office.epiphany@verizon.net.
The cost is $40 for one vase and $75 to sponsor both vases.
Altar Flowers for January
January 22 - In Loving Memory of Dean by the Najarian Family
January 29 - To celebrate Grant Matthew Hayes Baptism by the Hayes Family
Altar Flowers for February
All weeks available
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Notes from the Office
Annual Meeting - February 12th - following the 10am worship service.
Requesting all Vestry Members Annual Reports to be emailed to the office by the end of January. Thank you!
Weekly Calendar
Sunday Morning - Rite I - 8:00am in person
Sunday Morning - Rite II - 10:00am in person & live streamed on Facebook
Monday Bible Study - 6:30-9:00
Tuesday Open Vestry Meetings - every third Tuesday
Wednesday Morning Prayer - 7:15am by Phone
Wednesday - Sanctuary open for Prayer - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Fridays - AA Meeting - Undercroft 8:00pm
Office Hours - The office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 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.
Safe Church Training - The staff and the vestry members of Epiphany Parish are required to take the Safe Church Training. If any other members of the parish would like to also take the training, please email the office and an invite will be sent to get you started on the online training.
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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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Epiphany Email Policy
Fraudulent emails are 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.
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Epiphany Parish| 508-668-2353| 62 Front Street, Walpole, MA 02081
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