Weekly e-News
from Epiphany Parish

April 27, 2021

Communion Wafer Pick Up for Virtual Worship - Click Here
Sunday In-Person Worship Sign Up - Click Here
From Rev Christen
Dear Epiphany Parish,

Instead of a letter or announcement from me today, I’d like to share one of my favorite prayers with you. It is called ‘The Road Ahead’, or sometimes ‘the Thomas Merton Prayer’, by Thomas Merton from his book Thoughts on Solitude.

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” -Thomas Merton
Amen.

Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
Mother's Day Plant Sale & Strawberry Shortcake Kits
 
Mark Your Calendar: 
Saturday, May 8th ~ 9am - 3pm
 at Epiphany Parish
 
Don’t Forget…Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9th!
 
  Mother's Day Plants for Sale include a variety of flowers, vegetables and herbs. 
Get your green thumb and garden ready!
 
Then celebrate Mom with a sweet treat that feels like summer… 
Strawberry Shortcake Kits include:
biscuit, strawberries & whipped cream, all you need to provide is the bowl!

We have Egg Boxing Pictures!

More pictures are found on the Egg Boxing website Here

Have you tried to find our egg yet?
Finance Committee 
The Finance Committee meets periodically to review the current finances of the church, provide input and consultation on budget preparation, and provide financial planning for the long term financial health of our Parish. If you are interested in being a part of this work, please contact the Church office.
common cathedral
Next drop off - Tuesday May 11th* & May 25th*
*Note the change of dates from previously posted
Donations of bananas and oranges can be dropped off on the Tuesday. Please drop off items between 10:00 AM - 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
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Morning Prayer via phone - 8:30 AM
Sunday Worship In-Person, Outdoor or on Facebook Live at 10:15 AM

Please sign up in advance for attendance in-person or for wafers if worshiping virtually.

To sign up for in-person worship - CLICK HERE.

The bulletin & Prayers of the People will be emailed on Friday .
A Word from the Church - Diocesan News

A Letter from Bishop Gates introducing his upcoming sabbatical - Read Here
_______________

Barbara C. Harris FAMILY CAMP Fabulous Family Weekends - The Barbara C. Harris Center invites you to join them for a family time of rest and renewal. For details - Click Here
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.
Notes from the Office
Did you find our Egg yet? This project continues through the Easter season. So far we have had almost twenty visitors, including one who grew up at Epiphany! The clues are available at this link: https://illuminatedmyth.wixsite.com/website-5. If you want to find ours check the gazebo!
Annual Meeting - The Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 6th with the rain date of June 13th.
Hard copies of the Annual Report will be available.
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.

Weekly Calendar
Sunday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 8:30am
Sunday Morning Worship - In-Person & Facebook Live at 10:15am
Tuesday Open Vestry Meetings - virtually every third Tuesday
Tuesday - common cathedral drop off May 11th & 25th *Note Change of dates
Wednesday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 7:15
Wednesday - First of the month - Sacred Ground - May 5th
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 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: As recently as April 8th, 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.‌