Weekly e-News
from
Epiphany Parish
February 9, 2021
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Happy Valentines Day
Fun Fact: Do you know the Origins of Saint Valentine's Day?
See 'Notes from the Office' below for the gory details.
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FROM REV CHRISTEN'S DESK
Dear Epiphany Parish,
Next Sunday is the last Sunday after the Epiphany, the day when we hear the story of the Transfiguration, the moment on the mountaintop where God's glory is revealed in Jesus Christ to his closest disciples. It is also the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
The most important thing to know this week is that on Sunday, our 10:15am service will be taking place over zoom. It will be a service of Holy Communion and if you live locally, we encourage you to pick up consecrated wafers in advance. More information about how to sign up for communion can be found above this letter. To join the service, please click here at 10:10am on Sunday, February 14th (This link will also be sent out again on Saturday evening). You can also join by phone using the same information as the 8:30am service. If you need help to connect on Sunday, please email me so we can help show you what to do!
Meeting ID: 925 092 9345
Passcode: 123
There will be a brief fellowship time immediately after the service this Sunday. We hope that you will join us as we try something new! This week, our 8:30am service will take place over the phone as usual. For Lent, beginning on February 21st, we will return to worship on Facebook Live.
Also, next Wednesday, February 17th, is Ash Wednesday. We will be worshiping by Facebook Live in the evening and ashes will be available to be picked up in advance at the church for self-imposition either during or before our live streamed service that evening. More information can be found in this e-newsletter.
I am so grateful for the patience, creativity, and perseverance that our parish community has shown over the past several months and I am looking forward to worshiping with you all this Sunday on zoom!
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
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Message from the Treasurer
Pledge envelopes for those who requested them will be available this week during wafer pick up and ash pick up times. (Friday, 2/12 from 5-6:00PM, Saturday, 2/13 from 10-12PM, Tuesday, 2/16 between 10-1:00PM & 5-6:00PM) If you are unavailable to pick up at these times, please contact the office at 508-688-2353 or email at office.epiphany@verizon.net and other arrangements will be made to get the envelopes to you.
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Woodworking Help Needed
Do you own tools? Are you handy at woodworking? Rev. Christen is looking for someone to help make 14 large wooden crosses for a Lenten Stations of the Cross project. Please email christen.epiphany@gmail.com for more information if you are interested in helping out! |
Ash Wednesday – February 17th at 7pm
On Ash Wednesday, February 17th, there will be a virtual opportunity to worship with the Epiphany Parish community on Facebook Live. Ashes will be available for advance pick-up at the church for self-imposition of ashes during the virtual service. The link to sign up to pick-up ashes can be found here:
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common cathedral
Our February Dates for common cathedral donations are:
Today, February 9th and February 23rd.
Donations of fruit and granola bars can be dropped off on the Tuesday inside the driveway door, due to the snow. Please drop off items by 6:00 PM.
We are signed up for 50 pieces of fruit and 50 granola bars each time.
And although we appreciate anonymous drop-offs/donations it really does help if you sign up by e-mailing the office (office.epiphany@verizon.net) to let us know what you plan to bring. Please do not drop off your fruit early as we want to make sure it is fresh when it arrives!
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
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The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Virtual Worship with Communion
This Sunday, February 14th, the 10:15am worship service will be a special service held on zoom. To join us, please click below before 10:15am this Sunday:
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 925 092 9345
Passcode: 123
Or join by phone by calling 1-929-436-2866 and entering the following information when prompted
Meeting ID: 925 092 9345
Participant ID: (Just press #)
Passcode: 123
This will be a service of Holy Communion, so if you live locally, we encourage you to sign up to pick-up consecrated wafers at the church to receive communion during the service. If you are not able to pick-up wafers in advance, please join us anyway!
We will attempt to livestream this zoom worship to Facebook Live on Sunday, but we do encourage everyone to join us on zoom so we can worship together in this new way!
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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.
Diocesan COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund ~ The Diocese of Massachusetts has established a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to help meet emerging, urgent needs in congregations and affiliated organizations, and in support of collaborations with ecumenical, multi-faith and community partners. The fund will address critical community needs and congregational sustainability during the time of the pandemic. The fund is now open to receive online gifts at www.diomass.org/give-now.
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Outreach Opportunities - Walpole & Beyond
Give blood ~The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe shortage of blood because many blood drives have been cancelled around the country in recent weeks. If you are eligible to give blood and wish to do so, you can make an appointment online here: https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html
Hospital Visitation - At this time Rev. Christen is only visiting the hospital or other care facilities in times of extreme emergency or for end-of-life needs. If you or a loved one is in need of a hospital visit please contact Rev. Christen at christen.epiphany@gmail.com.
Feeling a call (or a tug, or a pull) - to get involved in the life of our Parish, but don't know where to start? Please contact Rev. Christen at christen.epiphany@gmail.com to learn about the many opportunities to serve.
Vestry Meetings - The Vestry of Epiphany Parish meets the third Tuesday of every month (virtually) at 7:00pm on Zoom. All are welcome! Please email Rev. Christen for the zoom link at christen.epiphany@gmail.com.
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Notes From the Office
Fun Fact: The Gory Origins of Valentine's Day. The holiday began as a feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr, or perhaps two. So how did it become all about love? To find out visit Lisa Bital, Professor of History & Religion at the University of Southern California's article on the Smithsonian web page - HERE https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gory-origins-valentines-day-180968156/
Another Fun Fact: According to University of Nevada, Las Vegas Professor Elizabeth Nelson, via https://www.unlv.edu/news/release/hidden-history-valentines-day, 'One of earliest American valentine businesses was run by Esther Howland in Worcester, Mass. She was the daughter of an insurance agent who ran a stationary store. She asked her father to import fancy paper, lace, and other decor from England to make valentines to sell. She employed female friends of the family, and asked her brothers to share sample valentines during their work trips as traveling salesmen. Esther received many orders and created a successful business during the 1850s and 1860s. Her story is quite amazing because we don’t think of women as running businesses in the 19th century.'
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Annual Meeting Postponed - Our 2020 annual meeting which would typically be held in early February will be postponed until late spring when we can meet in-person (either indoors or outside). More information about nominations will be coming soon. In the meantime, we are working to put together the 2020 Annual Report which will be emailed out to the parish in March. If you are in charge of a ministry at Epiphany and need to submit a report, please have all reports into Cindy by 2/21/21.
Weekly Calendar
Sunday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 8:30
Sunday Morning Worship - on ZOOM at 10:15
Tuesday Open Vestry Meetings - virtually every third Tuesday, February 16 at 7:00
Wednesday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 7:30
Wednesday February 17th - Ash Wednesday - Virtual Zoom Worship TBA
Fridays - Wafer Pick Up - 5:00pm - 6:00 PM
Saturdays - Wafer Pick Up - 10:00am - 12:00PM
Office Hours
Please note that due to the continuing COVID pandemic the office hours are irregular. Please call and we will arrange a time to meet in person. All phone messages and emails will be picked up Monday through Thursday mornings. Please contact Rev Christen directly if you have a pastoral emergency.
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 at 508-668-2353.
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Epiphany Parish| 508-668-2353| 62 Front Street, Walpole, MA 02081
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