Weekly e-News from
Epiphany Parish

December 13, 2022
From Rev. Christen
Dear Epiphany Parish,
A Christmas Poem by Christina Rosetti

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
 
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
 
Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
 
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
 
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
 
I hope to see many of you at the Christmas Carol Sing-Along next Sunday, December 18th at 6:30pm! More information can be found below. Advent Blessings to you all as we continue to wait and prepare for the coming Christmas season!
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen 
 Gifts for Kids
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who shopped and donated gifts for our Gifts for Kids tree! We were able to help 3 local children receive all the Christmas gifts on their lists this year. 
Thanks for your support!
Holiday Events at Epiphany Parish


Christmas Carol Sing
Join us Sunday, December 18th at 6:30pm for a special holiday carol sing-a-long. Bring friends and family and get into the Christmas spirit! Festive treats will be served. All are welcome!




Advent Story Walk
Joanne Douglas, one of our Sunday School teachers has put together another story walk! Starting on Sunday, November 27th, there will be an outdoor story-walk exhibit along the side of the church. Come at any time during the next 4 weeks to explore this children’s book and learn what Advent is all about!
Plainsong Chanting During Advent
Just a reminder that we will be chanting the psalm each week at the 10am service during the 4 weeks of Advent. Come to the 10am service and sing along with us!
Christmas Eve Worship
This year our Christmas Eve services will be at 5pm and 10pm on Saturday, December 24th. Both services will include Holy Communion and music.
Christmas Day Worship
Our Christmas Day worship will be at 10am on Sunday, December 25th. Together we will celebrate Holy Communion, sing Christmas hymns, and there will be a make-your-own hot chocolate bar after the service.  

Please note that there will not be an 8am service on December 25th. 

No Sunday School
December 25th
January 1st
poinsettias.jpg
          Christmas Greens & Plants 2022
Forms are on the Sunday bulletin or write your information on any note or email and return to the office with your check to donate for greens and plants.
           
 
Name:                                     ________       ______                    
 
I am enclosing $                                                  
 
 In memory of/in thanksgiving for:
 
                                                                                                                      

 Please make your requests by December 19th with a check made payable to Epiphany Parish with “Christmas Flowers” in the memo line.
Merry Christmas!
common cathedral - Drop off - TODAY Tuesday, December 13th
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. common cathedral has adapted their programs during the pandemic in order to continue to safely support the members of their community. They are also asking that you please also consider a monetary gift to support this meaningful and very needed ministry: https://commoncathedral.org/donations
Stewardship
Sunday, December 4th was Giving Sunday don't forget to turn in your pledge card.

We are in the middle of our annual Stewardship Pledge drive!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who has already turned in a pledge card. We are so grateful to you and for your generous support of Epiphany Parish!
This year Giving Sunday will be on Sunday, December 4th. We ask that all pledge cards be submitted by then so that we can celebrate together the gifts that God has given our community and so that the finance committee can begin the important work of putting together the 2023 budget. It is simple and easy to make your pledge online using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedl_gRl7_FVEqI_ZVQBZzp1RLyHk5o_6fEoDa325mXFOfNTg/viewform
I also want to thank Epiphany Parishioners Jo-Anne Barrett and Dick Power who have shared with us a little bit about why they financially support Epiphany Parish. If you missed their stewardship testimonials, you can click to watch them below.
Stewardship Reflections
George Ford Stewardship Letter - Click Here
Dick Power Stewardship Testimonial https://youtu.be/zNduvapaScw
Jo-Ann Barrett Stewardship Testimonial https://youtu.be/pa9vws3f9OU
"What does frozen pizza dough have to do with Stewardship? - Rev. Christen Mills 2022 Stewardship Reflection" - Click Here
The 2023 Stewardship pledge cards have been mailed. Additional copies are in the pews.
Stewardship Chair Letter - HERE
Diocesan News

Bishop Alan M. Gates has appointed Bishop Carol J. Gallagher to serve as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Massachusetts.  

The appointment comes as Bishop Suffragan Gayle E. Harris prepares to retire after 20 years of active episcopal ministry. A start date of Feb. 1 for Gallagher will allow for transition consultation as Harris completes her work in the diocese on Dec. 31 and then takes sabbatical time ahead of her official retirement date of March 31.
Bishop Harris Update
Diocese of Virginia Bishop E. Mark Stevenson announced today his appointment of Bishop Gayle E. Harris to serve as assistant bishop in that diocese.
Harris will complete her work in the Diocese of Massachusetts as of Dec. 31 of this year and then take sabbatical time ahead of her official retirement date of March 31, 2023. She will begin as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Virginia on April 1.
"As the Diocese of Massachusetts has been blessed by Bishop Gayle Harris's ministries these 20 years, we are certain those in the Diocese of Virginia will soon know themselves to be blessed by her presence in their midst," Diocese of Massachusetts Bishop Alan M. Gates said of the appointment.
Harris reaches the church's mandatory retirement age of 72 in 2023; church policy allows for continued work in retirement that is carried out under a different employer.

Bishop Gayle E Harris Fund Announced
In honor of Bishop Gayle E. Harris's 20 years of service as bishop suffragan, a new fund has been established to support leadership development for women of color in the Diocese of Massachusetts.
Bishop Alan M. Gates announced the Bishop Gayle E. Harris Fund for Leadership Development for Women of Color during the recent Diocesan Convention, held Oct. 28-29 in Danvers--Harris's final one as bishop suffragan.
Gates announced to the convention that the new fund in Harris's honor will "provide financial support for women of color in the Diocese of Massachusetts to participate in trainings, workshops or other formation programs fostering the development of leadership skills. It will be available to those furthering their gifts as lay leaders as well as persons preparing for ordained leadership."
Donations to the Bishop Gayle E. Harris Fund for Leadership Development for Women of Color are being gratefully accepted online at www.diomass.org/give-now or by mail to: The Bishop Gayle E. Harris Leadership Fund, c/o Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts,
138 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02111.
Community News



Grace Church in Norwood patronizes our Pumpkin Patch please think of them when you are looking for your tree!
Trees start at $40 and decorated wreaths at $25.


Hair for the Holidays - The purpose of this event is to provide basic hair care supplies for all hair types to The Home for Little Wanderers in Walpole. Other goals include raising awareness about the importance of hair care, uplifting the residents with inspiring quotes about hair love; all while sharing with the community the history, services and support The Home gives to everyone it serves. Link to donate and for More info Click here.
Sunday, December 18th
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Rite I with Holy Communion- 8:00am in person
Rite II with Holy Communion - 10:00am in person & Live Streamed
The 10:00am Bulletin will be posted to the website by Friday.
Coffee Hour
This past Sunday we moved 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! You can sign up to host here: Click Here
Hosting involves providing snacks, coffee, and juice for about 25 people after the service. It can be as simple as buying cookies from the grocery store and putting them on a platter. If you've never hosted coffee hour before, but would like to, please email our parish office and we can send you the simple instructions on how to host. 
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 December
December 18th - In Loving Memory of Beverly Happnie given by Betty Riley
December 25th - Open for Christmas Flower Donations. Please include the loved one you wish to honor.
Notes from the Office
Covid Protocols - As of September 4, 2022, our COVID-19 protocols have changed. To read more about the changes, please visit COVID-19 Response | Epiphany Parish (epiphany-walpole.org)
Holiday Events
December 18th - Christmas Carol Sing 6:30 pm
December 24th - Christmas Eve Worship 5:00pm & 10:00pm
December 25th - Christmas Day Worship 10:00am - NO Sunday School
January 1st - 8:00am Rite I & 10:00 am with Lessons & Hymns - NO Sunday School
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.
‌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.
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.