Early Days at Peachtree-Pine
by Jeanette Hanson
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In the late 1990’s, I was in an Adult Sunday School class. Lani Walsh, a member of Epiphany at the time, told us of her work as a therapist with formerly homeless men who were in permanent housing. She described the challenges they faced, their triumphs and failures. After that, Claiborne, our priest, asked what we thought about Epiphany taking dinner once a month to the Peachtree-Pine Shelter or maybe she just said that it was something we should do. She asked Lani to head it up and for another person to volunteer to be a co-leader. I had a full-time job and two children in middle school. Suddenly, my hand was in the air. If I had thought seriously about it, I’m sure I wouldn’t have volunteered; my life was already busy enough.
Originally, the nightly occupancy was about 125 men. There was no dining room, a few tables to serve from and lots of folding chairs in the basement of the building. The basement was a parking deck. Oil stains were still there, it really was a pit. We showed up with our chicken salad sandwiches (it was August), Moon Pies, fruit, iced tea and started serving. I’m an introvert. Small talk isn’t easy, much less to dozens of homeless men. I was so grateful to have Lani there. She was a very outgoing person. She greeted each one as they went through the line, saying that she was happy to see them and that she hoped they would enjoy the meal. If someone wanted to respond they could, if not, fine. I was so glad to have someone there to model behavior. Over time, the number of men we served swelled to 400, we became members of the food bank, and Epiphany continued to serve at Peachtree-Pine until it closed in 2017.
During the two years I was involved, we served hundreds of meals. I would see people come and never see them again. There were people who came every month the entire time. We were putting a band-aid on a much more serious problem. We were also providing members of the parish and their friends the opportunity to serve and meet a different part of our community. At the time, we didn’t know that this ministry would be a big part of Epiphany for the next twenty years. To feed 400 people, takes a lot of helpers to do the shopping, preparing and cooking the food, transporting, serving, and cleaning up. I remember Liz Romo-Rasha telling the menu of the month during announcements when she asked for volunteers. A tradition of volunteers having dinner together afterwards was added. I received so much more out of this experience than anything I may have given.
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Online Formation during Lent |
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Adult Formation
Sundays at 10:15 a.m.
Join us as we continue to reflect on our stories and discern God's call together in community.
This Sunday, March 14, we will continue discussing "the story of us." Lisa Daily will moderate a panel featuring various parishioners who will share how Epiphany has discerned God's call together in the last few decades.
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The Calling to Women — Laura Keys
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The Calling to People with HIV/AIDS — Bill & Pat Graves
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The Call to feed the Hungry — Jeanette Hanson
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The Call to accompany the Homeless — Erin Braden
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The Call Beyond Our Borders — Kim Finnegan
Next Sunday, March 21, the Rev. Bobbi Patterson will lead a discussion on "Telling the Story of Place."
Meeting ID: 532 38 5901
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Shared stories from the first series:
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Click the image to learn more. |
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On Saturday, March 27, you are invited to walk the Emmaus House Outdoor Stations of the Cross from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Presenting the stories and the history of the Peoplestown community, the Emmaus House Stations of the Cross recontextualizes elements of the traditional Stations service for a 2021 Lenten reflection.
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Please take a moment to fill out this short survey!
We hope you will participate in our effort to collect the stories and hopes of more Epiphanites as we continue our formation series this Lent.
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Results of the survey will be unveiled as we progress through the class. Join us on Sundays. Your story is a part of our story. Let's discern together how God might be calling us into community even now! |
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Living Contemplatively Spirituality Group
Mondays at 11 a.m. through April 26
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During Lent, the Living Contemplatively Spirituality Group is looking at Spiritual Lessons from Thomas Merton—a Cistercian monk who introduced 20th century Christians to the contemplative dimensions of Christianity.
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We are looking at his life, his teachings on contemplative spirituality, on nature, on war and peace, racial justice, social justice, and our captivity to technology and consumerism, as well as his interest in the teachings of other religious traditions, particularly Buddhism, and what he might have to teach us about our own spiritual journeys. Email the Rev. Amy Dills-Moore if you would like to be part of the group.
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Children's Formation
During Lent we will use the updated Faces of Easter, created by our own Ann Fowler for the Godly Play Foundation, to explore the life of Jesus. With this story we will wonder what children can bring to put next to the story so we can know more; don't be surprised to see your children looking for things to bring to the story mid Zoom session on Sunday mornings.
Meeting ID: 890 5875 0509
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Youth Formation
Youth Formation takes place during our in-person Evening Prayer gatherings on 2nd and 4th Sundays from 5 - 6 p.m. There will be time for a group check-in, as well as time to discuss the week's devotional material.
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- Weekly devotionals are sent Saturdays
- Newsletters are sent Mondays
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- Outdoor Services are by RSVP only.
- Click the button below for more details and RSVP links.
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Stations of the Cross
Two options are available for Stations of the Cross this year.
1 - You can take a virtual tour online anytime.
2 - You can sign up to come in person to walk the stations in the nave on Monday and Thursdays afternoons.
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Easter Flowers & Music
If you would like to make an offering in thanksgiving or memory of someone for Easter, donations are now being accepted.
Please complete this online form. From there you can choose to make your donation via online giving, or if you can also mail a check payable to Church of the Epiphany noting Easter Flowers and/or Easter Music in the memo line.
To be printed in the Easter bulletins, donations must be received in the parish office before 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 26.
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Don't forget to set your clocks forward an hour when you go to bed THIS Saturday, or you might be late for church on March 14! |
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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.
Links for the Sunday morning login and bulletins can also be found on our homepage. Sermon recordings are posted Monday afternoons to epiphany.org/sermons and archived for a year.
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Dial 646.558.8656
Meeting ID is 532 385 901
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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.at
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.
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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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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, March 14 are given to the Glory of God and in memory of Bob & Lucy Yntema.
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.
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The Sanctuary Light is given this week to the Glory of God and in memory of her father, Bill Lawrence, by Terri Lawrence.
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.
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Sign up by noon on Wednesdays to be listed in the weekly Friday email and the Sunday online bulletin.
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Move a Shrub, Plant a Tree |
Thanks to everyone who donated a tree to the matching program, we have with Trees Atlanta. We had hoped to have 20 trees donated so that we could plant 40 trees on our campus. However, we have enough donations to purchase 45 trees, which means we now have 90 trees to plant!
With that many trees to plant, the plans have been amended to make room and now we have two dates available for parishioners to volunteer their help with this project.
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MOVING SHRUBS
Saturday March 13, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
There are five shrubs that need to be relocated to make room for the trees.
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PLANTING TREES
Saturday March 20, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Trees Atlanta will bring some volunteers with them, but twenty spaces have been reserved for Epiphanites to take part and there are still some slots open.
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A Ride for Arlen
Saturday, March 13 at 9:30 a.m.
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Some of our former cycling team members are gathering for a ride in honor of Arlen Gray and would like to invite you to join them.
In 1997, Arlen created the Epiphany All-Stars—our very own cycling team—which rode in the MS-150 every year until 2012. The fundraiser was for research on multiple sclerosis and support of people living with multiple sclerosis.
The course they have chosen is about 12 miles and no one will be dropped. It is not a hilly course, but there is one medium climb. If you would like to join them, meet in the Epiphany parking lot at 9:30 a.m. If they have to cancel for weather issues, the backup date is April 10. Email John Keys if you plan to ride.
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Epiphany Art Ministry
presents custom wreaths by
- Beth Beck -
(sister of parishioner Liefy Smith)
March/April 2021
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In Beth's own words
“I love floral design because it is the perfect converse to my left brain focus and my refuge from my computer into the land of color, softness and the wonder of nature and it makes me feel marvelous to create something that brings a smile.”
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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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Required Trainings for Staff & Lay Leadership
If you are not sure of your training status, contact the parish office.
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Dismantling Racism is offered by the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, and runs from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Safeguarding Training: The New Inclusion Module OR the Healthy Boundaries and Preventing Abuse Module via Zoom is required for people who need re-certification for either Safeguarding God's Children or People as well as people who have never had either training.
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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 you back.
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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What's New with our Refugee Families?
by Beverly Lorenzo
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When COVID 19 put us into quarantine, no new families could be sponsored by us. However, we have been very busy helping the ones that are already here. None of our families had the luxury of working from home. They had to go to work or not get paid. Almost all the families that I know have gotten the virus. When they were sick, they did not have any income. This left several in vulnerable positions. We did help some families with rent and utilities thanks to the Harvey Fund and DEAM.
During these trying times, many babies were born to these young families. We received help from a couple of organizations for Moms and from Next Door Neighbors contributions. They provided clothes, baby strollers, car seats, baby walkers etc. We also received pots, pans, knives, utensils, and towels etc., our most common needs. The things we have not received are diapers, body wash for kids, and wipes.
Kelli Gantt has graciously volunteered to start a diaper drive for our refugee families. Diapers are expensive and I know that for some families it is very hard to put food on the table, pay the rent and buy things like diapers. Please think about supporting this drive. We are hoping to get enough diapers to cover families in need for several months. Bless all of you for the generous way in which you have nurtured our families over the years. Just a note: we no longer take furniture. We gave our truck to a Hispanic family that needed it. We have also reached an age that makes furniture moving, well, better left to the younger volunteers. ;-)…
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Diaper Drive for Refugee Families |
While we are not receiving new families to help, there is a need to restock the diaper pantry for our existing families.In this case, the pantry is Bev Lorenzo's garage, where she generously keeps items so parents can “shop” for needed items like diapers. |
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We are collecting donations of Diapers sizes 1-4 through March 21.
How to Donate:
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Money may be donated online to Epiphany at https://www.epiphany.org/ways-to-give and we will use the money to buy diapers. Please choose “Outreach” as the fund, and when you are making your payment, write “Diaper Drive” in the memo field.
- Diapers may be brought to the church during any in-person gathering and left at the front door. (Please don’t disturb the gathering!)
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Diapers may be dropped at the front door of the church on Monday and Thursday afternoons. Please be sure to ring the bell so Shea can bring it in to add to the bins inside.
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NON-FOOD Pantry Drive for March |
The ECW sponsors a pantry drive for Emmaus House twice a year in March and October for non-food items not covered by the Food Stamp program. For March, the ask is for liquid dish soap and paper towels. Bins are by the front door.
You can also donate $10 to the church and they will shop for you. Make checks out to Church of the Epiphany, noting Emmaus House in the memo field.
Cumulative Tally: 41 Rolls of paper towels, 22 Bottles of dish soap
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The United Thank Offering
The ingathering will take place on Sunday, April 11
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The United Thank Offering (UTO) contributions support Episcopal missions and ministries. UTO envelopes and coin boxes are available outside by the entrance. Please make checks out to The Episcopal Church Women, noting UTO in the memo field.
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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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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:
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 on the Ways to Give page about how to make a pledge.
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Daughters of the King meet 4th Sundays |
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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.
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Youth Group
Youth Group alternates between in-person (outdoors) and online gatherings.
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In-person Gatherings meet outdoors in the church parking lot 2nd and 4th Sundays from 5 - 6 p.m. The first half is dedicated to games and social time, while the second half is set aside for prayer and formation. Masks and social distancing are required.
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Online Gatherings take place via Zoom on 1st and 3rd Sundays from 5 - 6 p.m. and offers a a time for building community through conversation and games.
Meeting ID: 812 0747 2601
Pass code: 979729
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Epiphany Book Group meets 1st Mondays |
The Epiphany Book Group meets 1st Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Email Linda Ryder-Wolf for the Zoom link. The selection for April is Pale Horse Pale Rider: Three Short Novels by Katherine Anne Porter
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Racial Justice Group meets 2nd Tuesdays |
The Racial Justice Group (RJG) meets 2nd Tuesdays at 8 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 last Wednesdays |
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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 antiracist 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 • Beth Galvin • Henry Laird • Ann Rowles • 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 • Chris and Dan Belcore, brothers of Barbra Belcore • Erin & family, sister and family of Beth Galvin • Michael Zakel, brother-in-law of Sandy Land • Kayre & David, friends of Phillip Ranglin • Tom Brother of Nancy Thompson • Gibby Seals, mother of Amanda Kay Seals • Joslyn McGuire, friend of Ellen Mintzmyer
For those who have died: Christy Green, friend of Nicole Lambelet • Avis & family, friends of Ruth & Eric Olson • Melba Sides, mother of Leah Felcher
For those celebrating anniversaries for the week of 3/14-20: Sara & Paul Dangel
For those celebrating birthdays for the week of 3/14-20: Brett Boatright • Robert Cunningham • David Draper • Pat Graves • Gus Braswell • Dorsey Howarth • Natalia Kertscher • Bobbi Patterson • Stephanie Everett • Ian Boswell • Laura May • Brian Smith • Annie Strahan • John Frazier • Jordan Moody • Douglas Runnion • Bob Thompson
For those expecting a child: Amanda Kay Seals & Zac Toy
For members who desire our continuing prayers: Ron Hutcheson • Rod MacLeod • Chris Miller • Tom Mundy • Terry-Lee Ross • June Sparks
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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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