Epiphany Star
Newsletter, Church of the Epiphany
May 2022
Clergy Clatter

  From time to time I hear a story that I think would make a good "Clergy Clatter." Sometimes I invite the story teller to write a "Clergy Clatter." My invitation is usually refused, but this month Tina Wright accepted. Please enjoy.

Richard  
A Special Visitor to The Church of the Epiphany
 
My husband, Len, and I recently went to church to set the altar for Sunday. He walked into the fellowship hall ahead of me while I turned into the office to pick up the bulletins we would need to set the hymn board. When I entered the fellowship hall, THIS was on the floor just outside the nursery door. Had Len grabbed a creepy toy from the nursery to scare me? 
 
“Did you do this?” I demanded. He turned, and his “What?” response conveyed he didn’t know what I was talking about. 
A rug was a few inches away, so I used my foot to nudge it near the toy, which immediately sprung into this position. Yikes! It coiled! That got my pulse going. It was small but it was real. Len took this picture before I grabbed a shoebox (thank you, Lord, for that shoebox within arm’s reach) and dropped it upside down over the snake. Len sat in a nearby chair and started googling to identify the snake. 
I texted the photo to the two Co-Wardens just in case they were aware of Epiphany having slinking visitors in the past. As Len scrolled through photos, he looked up and saw a tiny snake head peeking out of a quarter-sized hole in the shoebox. Len stayed on lookout while I leapt over the shoebox toward the kitchen to grab a plastic tub to cover the shoebox. Done! Whew! Okay, but this is new to us, are there any other precautions we should take? Well, it was a skinny little snake, might it be able to slither under the box along the grout line? We didn’t want it to be loose inside the church on Sunday when so many dogs attend service. I grabbed a chair to add weight to the plastic tub. 
We stood back and looked; this was getting ridiculous. I hadn’t heard from the Wardens, so just to be safe, we called animal control. Fifteen minutes later Len ushered smiling Officer C. Durr into the building. I could have kissed her for arriving so quickly. She said it was probably a rat snake, picked it up with her bare hand (it looked even smaller when she held it), placed it in a covered bucket and took it outside to release behind the building so it wouldn’t be far from its family. 
We thanked her profusely but asked that she pardon us for not wanting to shake her hand.

On Sunday, Fr Bridgford’s homily was on our First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21. 
THUS SAYS THE LORD . . . I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me . . .
Aha, now I get it. Our little friend heard that Epiphany is an animal friendly church and wanted to visit. 

Tina Wright   
Calender
HRRC Board Meeting

The board of the Hampton Roads Rowing Club will meet at Epiphany every second Tuesday of the month. They will meet at 6:30pm.
Vestry Meeting

The vestry will meet on May 12th, dinner will be at 6:30pm and the meeting will start at 7pm.
Yard Sale

The yard sale has been scheduled for May 21st. Collection boxes are out in the Parish Hall. Start bringing your treasures.
Congratulations Graduates!

Congratulations to our graduates! Cassidy Fernandez is graduating from Norview High School and will be attending Washington and Lee in the fall. Anna Cronin is graduating from EVMS.
Warden Updates

HVAC Contract has been authorized by the vestry and we have signed off.

Replacement will begin approzimately May 2nd and will last about a week. During this time please avoid the alley.

The good news is contributions have reached $8,000. Lets keep up our efforts.
May Service Schedule

May 1, 2022 - Third Sunday of Easter

  • Celebrant- Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Homily - Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Lector - Ariel Fernandez
  • Altar - Len & Tina Wright
  • Flowers - Marcia Cronin
  • Usher - Susie Pedigo

May 8, 2022 - Fourth Sunday of Easter

  • Celebrant- Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Homily - Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Lector - Tina Wright
  • Altar - Kevin LaPointe
  • Flowers - Jim fisher
  • Usher - Tom Gilleland

May 15, 2022 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

  • Celebrant- Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Homily - Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Lector - Mary Shaffer
  • Altar -Ariel Fernandez
  • Flowers - Joyce Williams
  • Usher - Jackie Rochelle

May 22, 2022 - Rogation Sunday (Beating of the Bounds)

  • Celebrant- Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Homily - Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Lectors - Anita Colburn
  • Altar - Kevin LaPointe
  • Flowers - Jim Fisher
  • Usher - Kathy Moore

May 29, 2022 - Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day

  • Celebrant- Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Homily - Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Lectors - Brian Pritchard
  • Altar - Kevin LaPointe
  • Flowers - Jim Fisher
  • Usher - Kevin LaPointe


A video will be on YouTube, Facebook, and our Web Page a few hours after the Sunday service.
Vestry Highlights
April, 2022

This was an abreviated meeting following the Maundy Thursday service and Agape meal.

  • Reported that the overcharge on our water bill has been resolve, and a credit issued.
  • Reported that the furnace contract has been signed and work is to begin shortly.
  • Discussed sources of funds to pay for the furnace.
  • Discussed guidelines for administration of wine at communion.
  • Tabled election of vestry persons to fill vacancies.
Ushers Needed

If you are interested in being an Usher, please contact Kathy Moore at kmoore1234@cox.net or phone 757-647-6606
May Birthdays

  • Arden Porter, 2nd
  • Ann Bolen, 6th
  • Kaylee Fernandez, 14th
  • Dan Swain, 16th
  • Len Wright, 16th
  • Bodie Foster, 16th
  • Cassidy Fernandez, 17th
  • Nolan Marshall, 18th
  • Kenneth Barrineau, 20th
  • Gail Irby, 23rd
  • Kathy Moore, 27th
  • Joan Feret, 31st

May Anniversaries

  • John Childers & Mike Diaz, 9th
  • Julia & Chan Ashby, 17th