Weekly e-News
from
Epiphany Parish

March 16, 2021
For Seven Surprising Facts about St Patrick's Day - See 'Notes from the Office' below.
Communion Wafer Pick Up - Click Here
From Rev Christen

Dear Epiphany Parish,

Last Friday was one of those perfect weather New England spring days. And even though it became chilly again soon after, last Friday was a reminder that Spring is coming! It was such a sign of hope after a particularly difficult winter.
We are more than half-way through our Lenten season. How is it going? Have you been able to spend some time in prayer and quiet? Have you taken up a Lenten discipline to help you focus on God for these 6 weeks? I invite you to use this week as a time to reflect and recommit yourself to a Holy Lent. Easter is coming. Spring is coming. Let us prepare our hearts so we are truly ready to celebrate with joy on Easter Day.

Lent is a time to take time to let the power
of our faith story take hold of us,
a time to let the events get up
and walk around in us,
a time to intensify our living unto Christ,
a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts,
a time to place our feet in the streets of
Jerusalem or to walk along the sea and
listen to his Word,
a time to touch his robe
and feel the healing surge through us,
a time to ponder and a time to wonder....
Lent is a time to allow
a fresh new taste of God!
Perhaps we're afraid to have time to think,
for thoughts come unbidden.
Perhaps we're afraid to face our future
knowing our past.
Give us courage, O God,
to hear your Word
and to read our living into it.
Give us the trust to know we're forgiven
and give us the faith
to take up our lives and walk.
~Lenten Poem by Ann Weems

Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
Epiphany Parish is participating in the Easter Boxing Project. On Easter Sunday the link provided will give you the clues you need to go on an adventure to the participating churches in search of their hidden Easter egg.
If you visit the site now, you will see the churches participating (including ours) and get more details. Easter Sunday the clues to find the eggs are posted on the site and the hunt begins.
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.
Lent Activities at Epiphany Parish

Lenten Book Study
Getting Involved with God: Rediscovering the Old Testament by Ellen Davis
For more information on this book - CLICK HERE.
The next meeting will be March 28th at 11:45 via Zoom
Lenten Cooking Class
Chef lead cooking class TBA
Stations of the Cross
Get ready for an outdoor interactive walk through the Stations around Epiphany Parish starting mid March.
Cathedral Church of St. Paul invites
acknowledging losses and keeping faith with COVID-19 memorial book
 
The cathedral’s COVID-19 memorial book is an effort to help make meaning of the many lives that COVID-19 has taken, and to give people a chance to begin healing. The book isn’t just about recording the names of Episcopalians who have died; all are welcome to be included, and the cathedral plans to open the memorial on Ash Wednesday, and continue to pray the names of those in the book at its Friday Compline service each week.
All are invited to send names to be included in the cathedral’s COVID-19 memorial book to cathedral@diomass.org To read entire article - Click Here.
common cathedral
March 24th - April 7th & 21st
Donations of fruit (bananas and oranges) can be dropped off on the Wednesday.
Please drop off items by 6:00 PM in the white box the driveway entrance.
We are signed up for 50 pieces of fruit.
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
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Morning Prayer via phone at 8:30 AM
Sunday Worship via Facebook at 10:15 AM
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!

The bulletin will be emailed on Friday and is also available on our webpage.
The Prayers of the People will now be included in the Friday email.
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.
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.
Notes from the Office

Seven Surprising Facts about St Patrick's Days - by History.com editors

  1. The Real St Patrick was born in Britain.
  2. There were no snakes around for St Patrick to banish from Ireland.
  3. Leprechauns are likely based on Celtic Fairies.
  4. The shamrock was considered a sacred plant.
  5. The first St Patrick's Day parade was held in America. (NY 1895)
  6. The Irish were once scorned in America.
  7. Corned Beef and cabbage was an American Invention. (You can't find it on the menus in Ireland! I tried!)

Check the History.com webpage for full details:

Annual Report - The 2020 Annual Report is in the final stages and will be emailed out tomorrow.
Palm Sunday - Palms have been ordered and will be available for pick up March 26th & 27th at Communion Wafer pick up times.
Weekly Calendar
Sunday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 8:30
Sunday Morning Worship - on Facebook at 10:15
Tuesday Open Vestry Meetings - virtually every third Tuesday
Wednesday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 7:15
Fridays - Wafer/Envelope Pick Up - 5:00pm - 6:00 PM
Saturdays - Wafer/Envelope Pick Up - 10:00am - 12:00PM

Office Hours
Please note that due to the continuing COVID pandemic the office hours are still 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.‌ ‌ ‌