Parish Notices for April 23, 2021 |
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- Bishop's Response
- Small Groups Announced
- Committee Spotlight
- Finance Summary
- EFM on Zoom
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The death of George Floyd last May sparked outrage around the country and around the world and has spurred many to a new awareness of the persistence of violence against black men and women.
While there is relief that justice was carried out in the verdict this week, we also know there are many cases where that has not happened and that there is still much work to be done. We hold the family of George Floyd and all victims of violence in prayer as we continue our work for justice.
If you would like to join in that work, our Racial Justice Group meets monthly, and offers many ways to engage in learning and in advocacy work. Please contact Kay Lee or Erin Braden to find out more about how to engage with that group’s work.
See below for Bishop Rob Wright’s statement following the verdict Tuesday.
Grace and peace,
Amy+
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Bishop Rob Wright issued the following statement on the conviction of a Minneapolis police officer in the death of George Floyd.
This evening we have learned that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of every charge in the death of George Floyd.
If this is a victory, it is a victory for the role of law in affirming human dignity. If it is a victory, it is a victory for the countless law enforcement officers who embrace accountability and who practice appropriate use of force as they protect and serve without prejudice.
Still, justice requires more than sending one man to prison. Justice requires us to acknowledge and change the fact that Black, Brown, and poor Americans are often treated differently than other Americans, particularly in encounters with law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
So, today’s verdict does not signal the end of our work for equity and justice but rather confirms that to fight for equity and justice is the right fight to be in.
The Rt. Rev. Rob Wright, D.D.
Bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
April 20, 2021
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Sunday Morning Worship at 9 a.m.
Login at 8:50 a.m. to greet one another. Remain online afterwards for Small Groups Virtual Coffee Hour. Formation classes start at 10:15 a.m.
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Dial 646.558.8656
Meeting ID is 532 385 901
Links for the Sunday morning login and bulletins can also be found on our homepage.
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Weekday Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Login around 8:45 a.m. for Virtual Coffee Hour. The Zoom Link is not public. Email the parish office to receive the login information.
Wednesday Noonday Prayer at 12:30 p.m.
Login around 12:20 p.m. to greet one another. The Zoom Link is not public. Email the parish office to receive the login information.
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Outdoor Worship
Registration Required.
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Sunday Morning Worship at 11:30 a.m.
Wi-Fi outside is spotty, so print the bulletin at home and bring it with you - and remember to bring a chair.
In the event of inclement weather or if temperatures fall below 45°, we will cancel the outdoor service by way of email by 8 a.m. that morning. Check your email before coming to church if the weather is uncertain.
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Service Registrations move to Realm Next Week |
The link above will still take you to the Signup Genius page to sign up for this Sunday’s Service – April 25. However, starting next week for the May 2 service, we will be using Realm to register people for outdoor worship.
You can still register from links on the website or in the Friday email, but now you can also register from your Realm account via the web or your smart phone app. For those of you who have created your Realm logins, the fields will auto-fill for you once you select your name. Guest registration is also an option. If you have not created your Realm login yet, email the parish office to get a new invitation link to register.
Look for a dedicated email next week with instructions and a link to the May 2 outdoor service.
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Blessing of the Trees
Sunday, May 2 at 12:30 p.m.
I want to thank all the donors and volunteers again for the incredible response we had to what started as a simple idea for planting "a few trees" at Epiphany and grew into a community of people who made a big impact on the beauty and conservation of our little piece of land at Ponce and East Lake. Your efforts will benefit generations to come.
We will have a brief service of blessing for our newly planted trees on Sunday, May 2 at 12:30 p.m. (following our 11:30 a.m. Outdoor Eucharist service) and honoring those in whose memory or honor they were donated. We would love for you to join us for then. ~ Amy +
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Give in Honor of Memory of Someone
The Altar Arrangements and the Sanctuary Light can be given as a memorial, thanksgiving or for a special occasion.
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The Arrangements at the Altar for this Sunday are given to the Glory of God.
The Altar Arrangements are used for both online and outdoor services. You may request a particular flower or color be used on the signup. Suggested donation is $75.
The Sanctuary Light is given this week to the Glory of God. The light is a visible sign of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament held in reserve in the Tabernacle and burns for seven days. Suggested donation is $6.
Sign up by noon on Wednesdays to be listed in the weekly Friday email and the Sunday online bulletin.
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Adult Formation
Sundays at 10:15 a.m.
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Discerning God's Call in Community continues this Sunday April 28 with the Rev. Nicole Lambelet concluding our Spring semester series with a discussion on "the story of now." We hope you'll join us for this important conversation as we continue to discern how the Spirit is at work at Epiphany! |
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Youth Formation
Stay Informed
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Weekly devotionals are sent Saturdays
- Newsletters are sent Mondays
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Email Matt Schramm to be added to the email list.
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In-Person Evening Prayer
Evening Prayer is held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 5 - 6 p.m. The first half is dedicated to games and social time, while the second is set aside for prayer and formation.
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Youth Group Online
Virtual Youth Group is held via zoom on 1st and 3rd Sundays from 5 - 6 p.m.
Virtual Youth Group is a time for building community through conversation and games.
Zoom Link:
Meeting ID: 812 0747 2601
Passcode: 979729
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Children's Formation
Godly Play stories are offered online each Sunday at 10 a.m. It is a time for our children to connect with one another, hear a story, wonder, pray, and sing. All ages are invited.
Meeting ID: 890 5875 0509
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Newcomers' Gathering
Sunday, April 25 at 4 p.m.
Epiphany’s membership committee invites all newcomers and visitors, both individuals and families, to a welcome reception on April 25 from 4 - 5 p.m. in the courtyard. Old-timers welcome too! RSVP is required.
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This social gathering will be a time to get to know one another and learn more about our parish, programs, and ministries from clergy and parishioners.
We will follow diocesan protocols including social distancing and masking. Unfortunately, this means no refreshments will be served. However, our newcomers will be gifted with welcome bags that will include “to go” snacks. And we also hope to provide a taste of our parish life and help familiarize folks with our physical space. We look forward to welcoming you in person on the 25th!
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"This Land is Your Land" Survey |
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You are invited to take the Epiphany Grounds survey before Sunday, April 25 to share ideas about what we might do with respect to our space, and how you might be willing to help–with ideas, labor or both. |
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Deadline Sunday April 25, 2021 |
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- Yes, there’s a lot of options—but that’s because there’s a lot of ideas that might be done! In our April 11 Walkabout, even more ideas were flagged, so please share your ideas too! Thanks to the April 11 Walkabout Group of Susan Ashmore, David Draper, the Boulee Family (thanks for the basketball hoop idea!), Lisa Daily and Jim Rabb, Pam Tipton, John Yntema, Barbara Belcore, Pam Hall, Sam Owens, Kay Lee and Amy+.
- That survey also includes a question about whether you would like to “adopt” or “name” a tree or shrubbery you planted or donated to plant.
- There’s also a question or two at the end about the “building” because—in case you forgot—we actually do have a building and we hope to be doing more inside of that building in the soon-ish time frame, so we will need to care for it.
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So, take the survey before 11 p.m. on Sunday, April 25.
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During the months of May and June, Epiphany will be launching four small groups. Each group is organized around a specific text or theme, and will last 7-8 weeks. These groups will continue to provide us with a platform for sharing stories, deepening relationships, and continuing the discernment about what God might be calling us to next. Below you will find more details about each of the groups we have organized so far. If you would like to sign up for a small group please email the Rev. Nicole Lambelet and kindly indicate what group you would like to join. We'll cap each group at twelve participants. |
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Discussion Group on Faith & Citizenship |
Facilitators: Evan Gibbs and Paul Hinson
Dates and Time: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., starting on May 11
Platform: Zoom
Texts: This group will discuss Broken we Kneel, by Diana Butler Bass. We will explore what it means to live as a Christian in the context of twenty-first century North America. How do we practice neighbor love, when our neighbors are disrespecting or diminishing others because of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or economic status? How do we understand our relationship to the state, especially when it co-opts and distorts Christianity? And where do we find hope in the midst of it all? What role does humility play? We hope you'll join us as we take the time to learn one another's stories and grapple with some of these hard questions (and others) together.
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Discussion Group on Eco-theology |
Facilitators: Phillip Ranglin and Pam Hall
Dates and Time: First meeting is Sunday, May 9, at 10 a.m. on Zoom. We will then discuss the platform for subsequent meetings (in person or on Zoom depending on participants’’ needs and comfort level). This will be discussed at the first meeting. (Seven meetings total, once per week)
Platform: Zoom on some days and in person on others. First meeting on Zoom for sure.
Texts: Portions of Jennifer Ayers’ book, Inhabitance and essays on eco-theology by James Cone "Whose Earth Is It Anyway?” and the Himes Brothers “The Sacrament of Creation.”
Special Activities: Bird watching field trip (day and time TBA) and possible other field trips.
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Discussion Group on the Life & Theology of Howard Thurman |
Facilitators: Alix Janke and Susan Ashmore
Dates and Time: TBA
Platform: TBA
Texts: TBA
Howard Washington Thurman (November 18, 1899 – April 10, 1981) was an American author, philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader. As a prominent religious figure, he played a leading role in many social justice
movements and organizations of the twentieth century. Thurman's theology of radical nonviolence influenced and shaped a generation of civil rights activists, and he was a key mentor to leaders within the civil rights movement, including Martin Luther King Jr.
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Discussion Group on Trauma and Healing |
Facilitators: Julia Weidmann and the Rev. Nicole Lambelet
Dates and Time: Wednesdays, 6:30 – 8 p.m. starting May 12 - June 30.
Platform: In-person, outside at church
Texts: My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem and "The Future of Healing: Shifting From Trauma Informed Care to Healing Centered Engagement" by Sean Ginwright.
Special Note: Julia and Nicole want participants to know the space we will create for and with one another is not a therapeutic space. It will be a space for deepening relationships, sharing stories, learning about the effects of trauma upon the body, trauma-informed care, and various practices that aid us in the journey of healing.
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Beth Beck's wreath exhibit comes down on Friday, April 30 and Liefy does not have another artist scheduled yet for May.
During the pandemic, we've been featuring parishioners' work or the work of their near and dear. While there is not a lot of foot traffic, we started putting the shows online and they have done well. So if you or a loved one has a body of work they are willing to show, please contact Liefy Smith.
View the Exhibit online 24/7
View the Exhibit in-person
Stop by the church Monday and Thursday afternoons from 2 - 5 p.m. and follow the protocols posted on the above link.
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Committee Spotlight
By Shelle Bryant, Senior Warden
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It is my honor to publicly recognize and thank the Epiphany Finance Committee for their faithful service to our church community. The Committee comprises Phillip Anderson (Chair), Richard Messner (Member-at-large and your Junior Warden), Susie Boyko (Bookkeeper), Randy Shearin (Treasurer), and Amy Dills-Moore (Priest in Charge). It is my privilege to serve as the Vestry Liaison.
Each month we gather to review financial reports, compare spending against budget, worry about too little cash on hand, or rejoice when the coffers are full. You may be surprised to learn that we also laugh, a lot. All humor aside, the concern for, care of, and practical interest in the business of our church exhibited by this group is truly remarkable. Each person brings unique perspectives and skills that, when taken together, result in meaningful, mission-driven decisions for managing our church finances.
Some may consider the business of the church to be its secular side – disconnected from the spiritual worship that draws us to this place. I would argue, however, that I have seen Jesus in the face of every member of this Committee each of whom works so diligently to ensure that Epiphany is financially sound and able to live out our mission in the world.
It may not be glamorous work, but it is important, and you could not ask for a better group of people for the job. Please join me in thanking each member for their steadfast stewardship of your gifts.
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Calling all Crafty, Clever and Colorful Creatives! |
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We're looking for a small team of folks to revitalize our baptism banner-making ministry. We would love to be able to continue to bless all our newly baptized members with a handmade banner on the day of their baptism. If you have any interest in taking on or supporting this ministry at Epiphany, please email the Rev. Nicole Lambelet for more information.
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Because of the uncertainties of the next year, Education for Ministry (EFM) will meet on Zoom for the 2021-22 school year. This makes it a great opportunity to get to know people outside of our usual geography and ways of thinking, and perhaps even some people from other countries! EFM is a four-year extension program of the School of Theology of the University of the South. It is partly academic readings, but the heart of EFM is theological reflection, or “TR“. In a TR, participants discuss issues of faith, what they believe, what they question, how it relates to their everyday lives, and how they keep faith alive. Students sign up one year at a time for this four-year program. The cost of the program is $350 per year. The meetings will be held from early September through May. For further information, email Esther Harbert.
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This year we will plan to honor all 2021 graduates and celebrate Youth Sunday on May 9. If your young person would like to participate in the virtual 9 a.m. or in-person 11:30 a.m. Youth Sunday worship service please email our Youth Director Matt Schramm. If you would like to celebrate a 2021 graduate, please send a recent photo along with the graduate's name, degree, and school to the Rev. Nicole Lambelet.
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Georgia Freedom Letters
A collective of Georgia organizers and advocates are working to connect those inside and outside of Georgia's prisons through letter writing. Epiphany members are invited to get out their pens and paper to participate in their recently launched project entitled Georgia Freedom Letters (GFL).
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As people who care about ending systems of criminalization, GFL desires to recognize and center the experiences and stories of those inside prisons and their goal is to build a pen pal system to bridge these connections.
If you would like to sign up to correspond with someone inside you can do so by clicking here. Now, more than ever, we cannot forget or ignore the 55,000 people who are inside Georgia's prisons.
Finally, Epiphany would like to offer the church address to anyone who is interested in becoming a pen pal with GFL. Going forward any returned correspondences can be picked up in a cubby marked Georgia Freedom Letters outside the Epiphany office. Please email contact the Rev. Nicole Lambelet if you have any questions about this project or the letter writing process. You can also contact GFL directly at georgiafreedomletters@gmail.com.
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Camp Mikell is offering a summer program this year, but camp will be different from previous years due to concerns related to COVID. More details on what that will look like can be found on the registration page. See link below.
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Youth Camp: May 30—June 4, Rising 10th Graders-Just Graduated
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Performing Arts Camp: June 6—June 11, Rising 4th-9th Graders
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Intermediate Camp: June 20—June 25, Rising 8th and 9th Graders
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Junior Camp: June 27—July 2, Rising 6th and 7th Graders
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Kid Camp: July 11—July 16, Rising 3rd-5th Graders
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Work Camp: July 18—July 23, Rising10th Graders-Just Graduated
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Church Building Remains Closed |
The staff continues to work mostly from home. They check their email and voicemail messages regularly.
Pastoral Emergencies: Please call the church at 404.373.8338 and leave a message for Amy (ext. 14) or Nicole (ext. 16). They receive message alerts and will return your call.
Building Sign-In Required: The building is closed to in-person worship and meetings, however, if you need to enter the church building for any reason, please sign in and out using the logbook at the entrance.
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Financial Summary for March 2021 |
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Ways to Give
The easiest way for you to give to Epiphany is through Realm, our secure online community. You can make one-time donations or manage your giving as a recurring transaction in a secure, easy-to-use environment. Contribution statements are always available via your profile.
If you have not yet created a login to our online church ministry tool, there is more than one way to create one:
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Go to onrealm.org/epiphanyatl to register
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Click the Member Login link at the top of epiphany.org
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Email the parish office and you will be sent an invitation email
Visit epiphany.org/ways-to-give to learn about the different was to give to Epiphany. You'll also find links to more information about Realm. Finally, if you have not already made a financial pledge to support Church of the Epiphany this year, there's also a link about how to make a pledge on the Ways to Give page.
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Year End Statements
Year end statements were sent via email on January 15 with the subject line “Your giving statement from Church of the Epiphany.” Statements are also available on Realm. If you have not yet done so, please enroll so you have immediate access to your giving record and the church directory. Should that be impractical for you, email our bookkeeper Susie Boyko to request a PDF by email or paper statement by mail be sent to you.
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AmazonSmile Foundation
Epiphany received $69.55 from 4th quarter 2020 shopping by our members. If you shop through AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate 0.5% to your chosen charitable organization. Bookmark https://smile.amazon.com/ch/58-0838713 to support Epiphany every time you shop.
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Daughters of the King meet 4th Sundays
The Daughters of the King (DOK) meet online on 4th Sundays at 2 p.m. The DOK is open to all women in the parish interested in fellowship and study. Email Barbara Ryder if you would like to receive the Zoom link each month.
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Epiphany Book Group meets 1st Mondays (NEW TIME)
The Epiphany Book Group is moving their meeting time up to 7 p.m. for the next two months. Until we here differently, we will continue to meet on Zoom. Email Linda Ryder-Wolf for the link.
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May: The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson
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June: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
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August: Barkskins by Annie Proulx
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Racial Justice Group meets 2nd Tuesdays
The Racial Justice Group (RJG) meets 2nd Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Called by our baptismal covenant to strive for justice and peace among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being, the RJG is focused on lifelong learning and action steps we can take as individuals and as a church community to help achieve racial equity and justice. All are welcome. Email Erin Braden for the Zoom link, and reach out to Erin or Kay Lee with any questions or suggestions. We welcome your thoughts.
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Racial Justice Book Study Group meets 4th Wednesdays
You are invited to join Epiphany’s Racial Justice Book Study group on the last Wednesday of the month from 6:45 - 8 p.m. We are currently reading Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson and will continue to read and discuss the book through April.
The purposes of our Book Study are to:
- educate and inform ourselves on the history of racial injustice
- better understand the challenges of changing racial inequities and seeking racial justice, and
- work toward pragmatic and effective ways to be better anti-racist advocates.
Please consider ordering your books from Black owned, local bookstores, which you can find by searching for “black owned bookstores Atlanta.” Email Lisa Daily for the Zoom link. Contact Lisa Daily or Kay Lee, if you have any questions.
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Grief Pastoral Care Group meets 1st Thursdays
The Grief Pastoral Care Group meets online 1st Thursdays at noon for a healing and faith based conversation around grief and loss. Led by parishioners Megan Fraijo-Paul and Nancy Thompson, both trained psychotherapists. Email either Megan or Nancy to join the group and receive the Zoom link.
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Flex & Stretch and Chair Yoga
The Flex & Stretch class—which is the basic SilverSneakers class—meets online on Fridays and the Chair Yoga program meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All at 11 a.m. Email Ellen Mintzmeyer for the Zoom link.
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Send prayer requests to the parish office.
- Names of our friends and family remain on the list for four weeks.
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The Anniversary & Birthday List for the month can be found here.
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For members who are bidding our prayers: Sally Brockington • Lily Burnett • Sam Burnett • Alma Fuller • Beth Galvin • Judy Jarady • Henry Laird • Neela Ram • Ann Rowles • Paul Thompson• Stephanie Thompson • Lindsay Todd
For friends and family: Isabel, granddaughter of Mike & Beth Towers • Betty Porter, relative of Christen Erskine • Dave Tipton, brother of Pam Tipton • Rosalind, sister of Katharine Hilliard-Yntema • Nicky Cullen, friend of Linda Ryder-Wolf • Einar Sagstuen, friend of Sandy Land • Andrea Akers, niece of Bill & Pat Graves • Sarah Werkman, friend of Erin Braden • Mary Ann DiBello, mother-in-law of Stephanie DiBello • Maureen Cooper, sister-in-law of George Councill • Zach, friend of Henry Bryant • Evelyn, mother of Lisa Daily
For those who have died: Erin, sister of Beth Galvin
For those celebrating anniversaries for the week of 4/25 - 5/1: Cyndi & Nicholas Carpentieri • Kenan & Ben Morrissey • Beverley & Ralph Lorenzo • Kay Lee & Bert Bender
For those celebrating birthdays for the week of 4/25 - 5/1: John Booth • Laura Eby • Mike McAuliffe • Bill Phelps • April Maa • Aidan Bassett • Brian Gross • Lena McBath • Lily Brandon • Chris Introna • Lou Squyres • Jimmy Rabb • Esther Bryant • Rekha Gross • Evan Vega
For members who desire our continuing prayers: Ron Hutcheson • Rod MacLeod • Chris Miller • Tom Mundy • Terry-Lee Ross • June Sparks • Pat Spivey
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The weekly parish notices are published Friday mornings at 7 a.m.
The submission deadline is Wednesdays at NOON.
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