Bi-Weekly e-News from Epiphany Parish
June 30 - July 14, 2020
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Please note that this is the first of our summer bi-weekly newsletters.
Summer publishing schedule will be July 14 & 28; August 11 & 25. Weekly
e-News will resume Sept 1.
We will continue to publish worship information every Saturday.
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From Rev. Christen's Desk
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Dear Epiphany Parish,
Thank you for everyone who attended the ‘Journey by Stages’ re-gathering forum this past Sunday. If you were not able to attend, the restrictions and guidelines that we covered can be found in our Diocesan ‘Journey by Stages’ re-gathering document which can be found by clicking
HERE
.
The Epiphany Re-gathering Advisory Committee has also created a survey to collect feedback and information from the parish community that will inform our re-gathering plans. We would like to hear from everyone in our community. If you have not taken the survey yet, please
CLICK HERE
to do so by Thursday evening.
Finally, there is a lot of frustration and confusion about the restrictions for in-person worship, especially around the continued restriction on celebrating Holy Eucharist (Communion). Right now, I am gathering my thoughts and sending out a pastoral letter to the congregation about the Eucharist sometime in the next week or so. But for now, please know that I hear (and understand) your frustration. The uncertainty about what our common worship will look like over the next few weeks and months is unsettling — especially because our community worship has been something that has been such a constant and comforting presence in our lives. The re-gathering committee hopes to alleviate some of this uncertainty by being as open and honest about our plans as possible as we prepare to re-gather. We all are doing our best to keep our families, our parish, and our community safe during this unprecedented time. Thank you for your patience, support, and feedback as we chart these new waters together.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
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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; available in 160 languages, 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.
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Daily Stand Out for Justice
We continue to Pray and Act for an end to racism in our country. There will be a daily vigil from 5:00pm-6:30pm on the Walpole town common to support Black Lives Matter. Click
HERE
for more information.
All are welcome.
All attendees are asked to please wear a mask and practice physical distancing.
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Worshiping with Us, Virtually
Many of you have come to enjoy worshiping with us on Sunday mornings via Facebook Live. Although you do not need a Facebook account to view our services, some have found the experience a bit of a challenge.
In response, we have created a YouTube channel and we will be posting a video of the 10:15am service each Sunday by 11:45am.
So now you have two ways to join us for worship.
Click here
to watch us on
Facebook Live
at 10:15am (the video is also available anytime on Facebook by following the same link). OR you can view the video on
YouTube
by
clicking here
.
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Outreach Opportunities - Walpole & Beyond
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
.
Errand Angels
Please sign up to be an Errand Angel! There are many folks in our parish that do not want to be in public right now. We have created an online sign-up sheet to collect a list of parishioners who are willing to run errands for people who are unable to run errands for any reason right now. If you are healthy and feel comfortable running errands for others over the next few weeks, please sign up
HERE
.
If you need an errand run for you for any reason, please call or email Rev. Christen and she will put you in touch with someone who can help.
common cathedral
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. In December, half of the money we raised at our celebration of New Ministry service went to common cathedral and more recently, we collected socks, underwear, and toiletries to be handed out at their City Reach overnight. common cathedral has been adapting their programs over the past few weeks in order to continue to safely support the members of their community. And now they are asking for help. They need partners to donate homemade sandwiches, fruit and granola bars. If you can help sign up
HERE
. Any food that is prepared in your home needs to follow strict ServSafe guidelines. All donations need to be dropped off at Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street by 9am on the day that you sign up for.
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
Donate Masks, Gloves, and Other Protective Gear
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is asking for anyone who has extra masks, respirators, and/or other protective gear to donate them to the city for medical staff at hospitals to use. If your business uses these items, please consider donating them. You can call the City Mayor’s hotline at 617-635-4500 to find out how to donate them.
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Note from the Treasurer
I hope this note finds you all well. It has been a trying time for all and for some more than others.
As you are aware, even though we are not meeting in person at Epiphany, we have expenses and obligations that need to be paid. We are monitoring all spending and trying to be prudent.
I want to thank everyone who has continued to financially support Epiphany by sending in their pledges and donations. We have members who have been sending their pledges in weekly and someone who has been sending a weekly anonymous cash donation. I especially want to thank those who find that during this difficult time that they are financially willing and able to provide additional support beyond their pledge. All of this has been essential in keeping us going.
God bless you all and keep you safe.
Susan Cosman
, Treasurer
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Weekly Announcements
Altar Flowers
~ It is unclear when we will be able to resume the use of altar flowers. We have talked to our florist and their wholesalers are closed, so they are unable to get the flowers to make the arrangements. As soon as we hear that there are flowers available we will resume getting arrangements. Liz in the office will be in touch with anyone who has requested flowers for the coming weeks and will set up new tentative dates for you.
+ + + + +
Cancellations (weather or otherwise)
~ Cancellations will be communicated via e-mail and a notice on our website. We make every effort to hold regular Sunday services, and we never want you to travel if you do not feel safe doing so. And although we encourage sharing, please do not share your germs with your church family & friends - if you are sick, please stay home. If there is any question as to whether church is cancelled please check your e-mail and the church website before venturing out.
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What you need to know this week:
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Weekly Calendar
All in-person parish gatherings have been suspended for the near future. Please see the COVID-19 Response tab of this website to learn how you can join us for virtual worship services.
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For Worship on July 5
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
lectionary readings
(We are using the Track 2 readings)
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From the Office
E-Mail & Sunday Announcements Deadlines
Announcements and notices for the Weekly e-News e-mails must be received in the office by noon each Monday - call or e-mail the office.
To have your announcement included in the Sunday bulletin, please have it in the office by noon on Wednesday.
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
Office Hours
The office is not maintaining regular office hours during the quarantine period. Staff will be picking up the mail and checking e-mail and phone messages.
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Welcome to Epiphany Parish
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We gather with joy in the power of Jesus’ name, to care for one another and to include all people through our fellowship, education & outreach.
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:
As fraudulent emails are becoming 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
62 Front Street
Walpole, MA 02081
508-668-2353
epiphany-walpole.org
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